Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 276

The Heavenly Thunder Descent Diagram was absolutely worth a million spirit stones. It was a great killing weapon. If he were to truly use it, he might even get a taste of the Heavenly Yin Spiritual Root’s power.

Speaking of which, the Demonic Embryo Mysterious Origin Curse, this demonic secret art, was something Wang Yu had been thinking of verifying once more. He always felt that the Mysterious Origin Demonic Embryo he cultivated was somewhat abnormal.

The main reason was that last time, when he devoured the Bai Family’s Grand Elder, who possessed dual spiritual roots, he obtained nearly a perfect tenfold feedback. However, according to the description of the secret art, if there was no bloodline connection, the feedback should not exceed one or two parts out of ten.

This time, he could verify it again.

Furthermore, regarding Fu Xiao, Wang Yu had already entrusted Zhuo Shouqing to investigate more about him. This man, in his early years, had devoured every member of his family who possessed spiritual roots and cultivation potential.

Now that he had advanced to the Heavenly Spiritual Root level, logically speaking, he must have devoured at least ten cultivators of the same attribute and grade to reach such a realm.

However, based on his life records, there were very few such rumors. The other party perhaps knew something, or perhaps the Mysterious Origin Demonic Embryo born from the perfected curse possessed many divine mysteries Wang Yu had yet to comprehend.

“City Lord, sir, reports from our spies say that Sanmao City has made a move. They seem to be gathering outside the city, preparing to confront us head-on.”

Wang Yu, who had been lost in thought, returned to his senses and asked Xu Ruzhou.

“How many people do they have? Any movement from the Black Blood Bandits?”“Currently, a few hundred have gathered. Based on Sanmao City’s size, they should eventually gather one to two thousand cultivators. Their Foundation Establishment numbers are likely fewer than ours.

“As for the Black Blood Bandits, there has been no news. The spies we sent might already be dead.”

That number was indeed low. After all, this was a grand city with a third-rank spiritual vein. It had a population of several hundred thousand, easily capable of supporting tens of thousands of cultivators.

However, in the past few decades, Luo Chen had employed the “Annihilation Plan” proposed by Wang Yu, earning a great deal of spirit stones but completely destroying Sanmao City’s cultivation ecology.

Its population had drained away to other cities in large numbers.

Aside from the subordinates Luo Chen brought from the Exalted Sect, the number of rogue cultivators and minor forces nearby had plummeted drastically.

Even with generous policies, it was difficult to attract influential clans or sects to settle in Sanmao City.

The two major Foundation Establishment talisman families that once existed were long destroyed.

Powerful cultivators within the city were scarce, and those capable of fighting had mostly been sent to reinforce the Black Blood Bandits. The depletion was no longer limited to Sanmao’s surroundings. The impact on the region’s cultivation ecology had become devastating.

Over time, it had become what it was today. Even the three-thousand-strong city guard could not fill its ranks.

“So, in terms of numbers, we actually have the advantage,” Wang Yu remarked.

“Yes, sir, except for Core Formation cultivators…”

Xu Ruzhou glanced nervously at the marching troops. Very few within the Jade Spirit Army knew the true number of Core Formation cultivators in Sanmao City.

Moreover, he could roughly guess Wang Yu’s reason for launching this war now.

Revenge was just an excuse.

Cleansing the bloated structure of the Jade Spirit Army was another key reason. Among the army’s ranks, only about eight hundred were loyal subordinates trained from the initiation stage. The rest were recruited rogue cultivators.

Those people had been drifting in the cultivation world for too long, often lazy and unreliable, easily tempted into betrayal.

Since Wang Yu planned to return to the sect, it was only natural for him to remove all hidden threats in Jade Spirit City. He had to ensure that nothing would go wrong in his absence.

This was his treasury, after all—he could not afford any mishap.

With Zuo Qiuming overseeing matters, it was somewhat reassuring. But Wang Yu feared the man might not have the time or energy to manage everything. After all, his assistance was a favor, not an obligation. Wang Yu did not have enough influence to demand more.

For a rising cultivator to earn spirit stones, it was indeed a difficult endeavor.

Several days later, after marching intermittently, the Jade Spirit forces finally stopped on a fertile plain outside Sanmao City, where the grass was lush and the land was rich.

“We’re here.”

“They’re here.”

Both sides felt their hearts tighten at once.

The Jade Spirit troops were fervent. It was rare to witness two city lords from the Exalted Sect engaging in open war. To them, this was a grand opportunity—one worth dying for.

If they won, Sanmao City’s wealth and resources would belong to them. Whoever seized it, owned it. The promise Wang Yu made before setting out was enough to ignite the bloodlust of these demonic cultivators who valued spirit stones over life.

As the two sides faced off—

High above, in the heavens.

Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen gazed at Wang Yu from afar. A shadow of gloom appeared in his heart. Others might not know, but he did—Wang Yu was once a Spirit Slave.

A wretch like that had somehow climbed to the position of City Lord.

His hatred toward Wang Yu was seventy percent due to this. He believed Wang Yu unworthy. The remaining thirty percent was his dissatisfaction toward Zhuo Shouqing.

But now—

He clearly sensed that Wang Yu’s aura had broken through the Core Formation stage.

How could that be possible?!

He himself possessed a Yin-type Heavenly Spiritual Root, one of the rare variant roots. Cultivating the Great Black Heaven Talisman Scripture was as natural as breathing, and he had never encountered a bottleneck.

Even with abundant resources, he had only successfully formed his Core a few years before reaching a hundred years of age.

Afterward, his cultivation speed dropped sharply. The Heavenly Spiritual Root still gave him an advantage, but progress was no longer smooth as before. His talent ensured a stable Core Formation and made him one of the most promising seeds for Nascent Soul advancement.

However, upon reaching the third rank, his pace inevitably slowed.

Even his master had not provided full Core Formation resources for him.

He was only given Sanmao City and told to earn on his own.

With both his cultivation speed and resource allocation reduced, he remained stuck at the third layer of Core Formation even after more than a hundred and twenty years, which made him somewhat anxious.

Do not be fooled by how many peak Core Formation death soldiers Wang Yu had encountered—those were all cultivated through special methods. Their actual strength was not much better than ordinary rogue cultivators of the same realm, and their lifespans were greatly flawed.

A Core Formation cultivator, especially one belonging to a hegemonic power, was still of high status. They were upper-class figures on this land, second only to Nascent Soul cultivators.

“Wang Yu, with such a grand display of force, could it be that you intend to take revenge?”

The two looked at each other from afar. Wang Yu gave a disdainful smile.

“Luo Chen, I kindly offered you help, yet you repay kindness with enmity. Today, I will let you experience what it means to regret too late.”

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes. He could feel that Wang Yu carried little killing intent. In that case... this might be a chance—an opportunity to kill this man!

He secretly sent a voice transmission to his two subordinates and Elder Qiao, then spoke aloud to Wang Yu: “Let us fight. If you win, I shall apologize to you. If you lose...”

Before his words fell, Wang Yu’s figure suddenly vanished into the air.

In an instant, he appeared before Luo Chen, his Demonic Dragon Fist striking straight toward him as he shouted arrogantly,

“Stop spouting nonsense and fight already!”

The City Lord’s initiative to attack caused the Jade Spirit Army to erupt in excitement, charging forward with wild shouts.

Two Core Formation second-layer cultivators of Sanmao City exchanged a glance and entangled themselves with Qingyang, though they did not exert their full strength. Part of their attention remained fixed on Luo Chen, ready to assist at any time.

This made Qingyang, who found himself under less pressure, rather surprised. Since when had he become this strong? So this was all the so-called strength of the Exalted Sect’s Core Formation cultivators?

Meanwhile, hidden among the clouds.

Elder Qiao, concealing himself with a secret stealth technique, pressed the Black Heaven Talisman onto the Dark Holy Sword and silently prepared a fatal strike.

Once Luo Chen gave the signal, his sword would certainly ensure Wang Yu’s body would never be found!

At the center of the battlefield, Luo Chen and Wang Yu’s duel became the pivotal clash.

“You have only just entered Core Formation, without even a life-bound divine ability or a life-bound magic treasure. How dare you fight me?”

Wang Yu’s fist, vast and heavy, struck down. Luo Chen took out his life-bound magic treasure, the Black Heaven Banner, and easily defended himself. From the surface of the banner, sheets of black talismans inscribed with silver characters flew forth.

They formed chains of talismanic light. No matter how refined Wang Yu’s movement techniques were, he could not evade under such overwhelming numbers. The black talismans surrounded him completely.

“Explode.”

With a soft command, pitch-black flames erupted, spreading searing heat in all directions.

“How does this Black Flame Talisman of mine taste?”

Although Luo Chen did not think Wang Yu would die from it, he was certain the man would not easily withstand it. Within the Black Heaven Banner, he had inscribed six third-rank talismans and twelve second-rank talismans.

Once spiritual power was injected, the banner could rapidly replicate identical talismans, enough to respond to any situation. The Black Flame Talisman was the most powerful among the second-rank talismans.

When the smoke cleared, Wang Yu stood unharmed, his entire body shrouded in Ice Chi Pill Flames. The freezing cold clashed against the scorching heat, effortlessly extinguishing the black fire.

His composed demeanor displayed nothing but utter confidence.

“You are truly noisy.”

Flame Forming Technique!

Although only a second-rank art, the Ice Chi Pill Flame was powerful enough that, under spiritual reinforcement, the third-rank ice flame could fully manifest its might.

The flames condensed into a colossal ice serpent over a hundred meters long. Mist coiled around it, blue flames surging skyward. Wherever it passed, the moisture in the air froze into crystals—it was actually hailing.

“A third-rank spirit flame?”

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes and hurled the Black Heaven Banner forward. More talismans flew out, forming a black fire dragon that clashed head-on with the blue flame serpent.

This was the evolved form of the Black Flame Talisman—Black Heaven Dragon Talisman!

As both attacks collided, they mutually annihilated, releasing vast amounts of steam that quickly reduced visibility.

Then, a terrifying crimson aura surged to the heavens.

Wang Yu’s entire body emanated a blood mist of killing intent. The murderous aura materialized behind him into a half-formed Asura Manifestation.

“Thump, thump...”

The sound of a heartbeat echoed in Luo Chen’s ears. Feeling a deep sense of dread, his vision blurred as he found himself surrounded by endless mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Fear, horror, panic—all manner of negative emotions flooded his mind. When he saw the corpses scattered across the ground, each with the face of the Black Heaven Talisman Lord, terror completely consumed his heart-mind.

In the next instant, his will utterly shattered.

“No!”

In reality, Wang Yu, who was observing his opponent through divine sense, showed a strange expression. This guy... had actually wet himself. His pants were soaked.

So this was the result of the Lesser Asura Killing Fist at Great Accomplishment—one punch and both excrement and urine flowed together?

What a move—Heart Shattering Dao Fist!

If one could not break free from the illusion formed by the killing intent, their Dao heart would be crippled for life.

Wang Yu then revealed a satisfied smile.

Taking advantage of this perfect opportunity, he executed the Yellow Springs Great Hand Seal toward Luo Chen. The Black Heaven Banner, as a life-bound treasure, possessed an instinct to protect its master.

Thus, even though Luo Chen was trapped within the illusion, it still rushed back to intercept the Yellow Springs Hand Seal. Its divine light dimmed rapidly, nearly half-ruined.

At that moment, Elder Qiao finally sensed something was wrong. His sword seal loosened in his hand.