Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 238

Silence.

The sudden voice startled the four men, who instinctively drew close together.

Then came another stretch of uneasy quiet.

A gulp sounded.

The thin man swallowed hard and said with a trembling voice, “I can’t sense any presence at all. Big Dog… what do your spirit birds say?”

Big Dog replied after a pause, “Within a thousand meters, no sign of anyone.”

Hearing this, Liu Yidao raised his long blade horizontally and shouted loudly, “Sir, there is no grudge between us. If you desire these items, Liu is willing to offer them as a gift. Perhaps we can be friends.”

“Friends? Wang does not dare claim that.”

The air rippled.

Before Big Dog could react, a wave of terrifying cold spread outward. Dozens of ice spikes erupted from the ground, skewering three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in an instant like candied hawthorns on a stick. The cruelty of it was beyond words.Liu Yidao leaped backward and swung his blade in panic.

That blade aura was something Wang Yu knew all too well. It was this very strike that had cost him his left arm years ago, forcing him to live with the pain until he reached the Jade Spirit City and recovered it.

Frost Moon Wings unfurled behind him, flashing with cold light.

In a burst of speed so fast it was almost like teleportation, Wang Yu crossed dozens of meters and kicked Liu Yidao straight into the ground.

The earth cracked like a spiderweb.

“You… who are you?”

That single blow shattered Liu Yidao’s organs and spine. He could no longer feel his lower body. Trembling, he reached for his spiritual weapon blade, but found only crushed soil and dust.

“Who am I? Steward Liu, it has been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Wang Yu leisurely removed the ghost mask. When taking revenge, one must let the enemy know who killed him, otherwise there would be no satisfaction.

The moment Liu Yidao saw his face, his pupils shrank. Memories of that year came flooding back. Because of this man, he had been forced to flee from the Blood Reversal Sect and hide in a chaotic place like Ten Thousand Poison Town.

How could he forget?

“It’s you… Wang Yu!”

“Since you still remember me, there is no need for more words.”

With a thought, slender ice swords formed at Wang Yu’s fingertips. Pillars of ice rose from the ground, binding Liu Yidao tightly.

It had been a long time since he last used his Ice Sword Technique, but now it had grown more refined—almost like his arms were commanding the blades themselves.

Each movement of the tiny swords sliced off translucent fragments of flesh no larger than fingernails. After each cut, a drop of saltwater dripped into the wound, repeating again and again.

Liu Yidao wanted to speak, but the agony silenced him. His screams filled the forest, wretched and piercing.

Within half a quarter of an hour, a thin layer of flesh had piled up on the ground. His throat was swollen from shouting. He had reached his limit and fainted several times.

Seeing this, Wang Yu fed him a few healing pills. Then, using nearby materials, he constructed a man-sized steamer, lit a fire beneath it, and steamed him alive.

Three hours later, when he opened the lid, the outer layer of Liu Yidao’s flesh had softened to the point that it would fall apart with a touch. Yet due to his Foundation Establishment physique and the effect of the healing pills, he was still alive.

“Continue.”

By the time night fell, only Liu Yidao’s head remained—impaled upon a broken branch, crawling with ants.

“Seems I overdid it… boring.”

Wang Yu dusted his hands. He had now reached the outskirts of the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest. He was about to release Snowjade from his spirit beast pouch when he suddenly turned toward the frozen old man nearby—the only surviving Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The man’s poison had been cured by Liu Yidao’s group, and his injuries stabilized. Against all odds, he had lived.

Wang Yu thought for a moment, then put the earth-net ghost mask back on. The cold aura dispersed.

“Wake up.”

A sweep of divine sense stirred the elder of the Ruan Clan from his daze. When he realized he was still in the forest, unease filled his heart.

Looking around, he saw only corpses—and the masked man before him. Sorrow washed over him as he faintly guessed what had happened.

Such scenes were all too common in the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain. Life and death among cultivators were far more frequent than among mortals. Though they lived longer, few ever reached their natural end.

“This Daoist friend… did you save this old man?”

“More or less.”

“And my young lady…”

“The corpses are all there, including the four who ambushed you.”

Elder Ruan fell silent again. Tears welled in his clouded eyes. After a long sigh, he sank into his memories, eyes dull and lifeless.

Seeing this, Wang Yu spoke again.

“I have something to ask you.”

Those words snapped the elder back to attention. He steadied himself against a tree and stood with difficulty.

“Please ask, sir. Whatever I know, I will speak without concealment.”

“No need to be so dramatic.”

Wang Yu was satisfied with the old man’s obedience. He was someone easy to talk to.

“When you entered the mountain, did you happen to see a strange mountain shaped like an inverted ‘mountain’?”

“Inverted… like a doorframe with no door?”

“Something like that. You have seen it?”

“No.”

This clue came from the inheritance jade slip Wang Yu had obtained during his escape through the Withered Leaf Marsh years ago. It marked the location of the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest and depicted an inverted mountain symbol.

If he could find that, he could locate the ruins of the ancient Heavenly Soul Sect.

He felt that this should be the shape of a mountain gate or some kind of sect symbol. Asking the Ruan Family elder was merely to give it a try, just in case he might learn something useful.

Since no one knew, he decided to continue exploring deeper.

This journey of his would last about twenty years, though it could be shortened or extended depending on when the conflict in Chasing Moon Prefecture came to an end.

Searching for the ruins of the Ancient Heavenly Soul Sect was one task.

Seeking spiritual objects that could rapidly increase his true essence was another. When he was in the Qi Refining stage, he managed to find the Ghost Eye; during the Foundation Establishment stage, there should also exist similar treasures.

It was merely due to his own lack of knowledge. If he could return to the Blood Reversal Sect and consult the Scripture Hall for information, it would actually be more appropriate, but at present returning was inconvenient.

Zuo Qiuming had mentioned several places he knew of.

Unfortunately, all were too far away.

It was said that under the control of the Yellow Spring Monastery, there was a place called Peach Prefecture, located south of the Deadly Silence Desert. It possessed a peach forest stretching thirty thousand kilometers. Among the peach trees, a few bore Violet Gold Peaches, which could increase true essence.

However, the yield was scarce, sufficient only for the monastery’s inner disciples.

Further south lay the territory of the Nether Mountain Sect. At the southeastern corner of the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain, there was a place called Pingbo Wharf, one of the largest seaports in the Demonic Domain.

Near the coastal abyss, a species of silver fish similar to ribbonfish could be found. Their hearts, known as Silver Fish Hearts, could also enhance the true essence of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The distance, however, was too great, leaving Wang Yu helpless despite his will.

As for the four prefectures under the Blood Reversal Sect, there were also spiritual objects of this nature, though none were produced on a large scale.

For instance, in Night Jewel Prefecture, there was a blood shell breeding ground that produced Blood Jade Pearls, whose effects surpassed that of the Silver Fish Hearts. Unfortunately, production was too low and reserved only for core disciples.

[T/N: Night Jewel Prefecture was Night Jade Prefecture before, it will be Night Jewel from now on]

Even the sect’s treasure vault did not offer them in exchange.

A cultivator like Wang Yu could only rely on himself, venturing into dangerous places such as the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest, the Boundary-Breaking Mountain Range, the Vermilion Bird Sacred Mountain, and the Ancient Savage Plains to search.

Returning to the main topic.

Since the Ruan Family elder had no useful intelligence, Wang Yu prepared to depart. Unexpectedly, the old man suddenly called out and explained.

“Honored sir, if you intend to seek out special terrains, it is best to bring a Earth Formation Master along. Venturing alone into the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest is highly dangerous and also inefficient.

“The outer perimeter of the forest is still manageable, with only occasional patches of toxic miasma. But once you enter the inner area, within three feet beneath the ground are layers of bones from beasts and humans alike.

“These corpses, after rotting for countless years, have fused with spiritual energy from heaven and earth, forming highly toxic miasma. If you encounter a Fog Demon, survival is uncertain.

“Even Core Formation cultivators have perished inexplicably inside. Although the Ruan Family has declined, we still maintain a few connections.

“To my knowledge, Formation Master Long is also searching for something within the Bone Forest. Here is a Ruan Family jade token. Should you encounter her, show her this token, and she will certainly assist you.”

Wang Yu fell silent upon hearing this.

He pointed toward the pile of corpses, then asked curiously.

“When your team was attacked by rogue cultivators, you must have fainted. Do you not suspect that it was my doing?”

The Ruan Family elder revealed a bitter expression.

“Honored sir, your cultivation is unfathomable. How could you possibly covet the few trifles we possess? This old man naturally trusts you.”

“Very well. I shall accept this, then.”

The name Ruan Family of Poison Scorpion City—Wang Yu committed it to memory. From what he understood, the family’s situation was not good.

Such a token of favor must be one-time use only, likely meant for a critical moment. Presenting it now to thank him for saving their lives was already the limit of what they could offer.

The ability of a Earth Formation Master could indeed save him much time.

As for the life-saving grace—

To tell the truth, when he arrived, he had already seen the light of a formation being activated from afar. When he got closer, he happened to witness that fatal sword piercing the heart.

He could have stopped it, but he did not.

He felt a faint sense of guilt.

Such emotions had not arisen in him for many years. Perhaps ever since he returned from Taihu, he had completely changed.

“Ruan Family… sigh…”

Watching Wang Yu’s figure fade into the thick mist, the Ruan Family elder began to gather the corpses. Upon seeing the body of his young lady, his tears once again could not be restrained.

He could only hurriedly collect the remains and leave that sorrowful place.

Several days later.

As Wang Yu drew nearer to the inner area of the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest, the number of poisonous insects and ferocious beasts he encountered increased rapidly. His feet never touched the ground as he flew at low altitude, about three meters high.

Too many poisonous insects lurked within the decayed leaves accumulated over the years, and even he had suffered their venom.

Poisonous insects, poisonous trees, poisonous miasma—he had to stay vigilant at every step. He once encountered a poisonous tree; merely standing upon one of its branches to survey the terrain made his entire body go numb and immobile.

Only after the Immaculate Jade Toad helped detoxify him did he discover that the cause was a type of resin seeping from the tree.

It was amber-colored, without any particular scent, yet merely smelling it caused paralysis throughout the body. Truly sinister.

Henceforth, the Immaculate Jade Toad remained in his robe, constantly monitoring his condition. Even with the intelligence he had on the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest, his journey was difficult and winding.

This was a matter of habit and experience. In this place, many ordinary behaviors from the outside world could be fatal.

He could not fly too high, or he would attract the attention of toad demons.

He could not step on the ground, or hidden poisonous insects would sting him.

He could not touch anything, or he would risk being poisoned. He could not breathe too deeply, or he would inhale excessive miasma. After experiencing all this firsthand, he became much more practiced.