Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 278

Over half a month later, in Jade Spirit City.

It was the fifty fifth year and twelfth month of his deacon career.

At this moment, Wang Yu was sitting cross legged in the underground cultivation chamber of the City Lord’s Manor. When he opened his eyes, dense fluctuations of mana burst forth. His aura had grown considerably stronger.

“Three hundred and one strands of mana, Core Formation second level.”

The rapid surge in cultivation gave Wang Yu an uncontrollable sense of exhilaration.

After obtaining the Yin Heavenly Spiritual Root, not only did the efficiency of his Idle Slots increase, but his own cultivation efficiency also rose noticeably. The double Idle Slots had increased from two strands per day to five strands per day of mana.

He would need only one hundred and forty days before breaking through to the Core Formation third layer.

This speed far surpassed Luo Chen’s performance when Luo Chen still possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root. This was the power of the Idle Slots. Every time he broke through a major realm, the early stage cultivation speed would explode, and only the mid and late stages would gradually slow down. He had already summarized the pattern, and everything proceeded smoothly.

Since the battle of Sanmao City ended, his wealth had inflated to the tens of millions. Although most of it consisted of lower grade spirit stones and there were few mid or high grade stones, among Core Formation cultivators he definitely ranked among the richest group.

He also had far too many magic treasures. Some suited him, while others did not. Especially a cultivator’s natal magic treasure, which, unless cultivated with the same cultivation method, would always feel awkward to use. Very few cultivators were willing to buy such items. Even if bought, they would usually be melted back down into materials to refine other magic treasures.Spirit items, talismans, pills, formation flags, golden cores, miscellaneous goods.

He had obtained a great amount of physical loot. After returning to the Exalted Sect, he planned to liquidate all of it. It would easily sell for three to four million spirit stones, a massive resource harvest.

By now, the population transfer of Sanmao City was nearing completion. He was also preparing to depart. After that battle, Jade Spirit City’s three thousand city guards had been struck by the talisman formation of Sanmao cultivators and suffered heavy casualties.

Six to seven hundred died outright. Later, the Blackblood bandits arrived with timely support. These killing oriented rogue cultivators slew another four to five hundred, greatly reducing Jade Spirit City’s military expenditure burden.

The unstable factors within the ranks had decreased significantly.

By contrast, Sanmao City’s nearly two thousand cultivators had been slaughtered until they collapsed entirely. Qingyang joining the frontal battlefield had swept through all opposition. After plundering the entire city, every cultivator in the City Lord’s Mansion was overflowing with wealth.

This contributed to the expansion of Jade Spirit City’s market, and Wang Yu was very satisfied with the tax revenue he collected.

However, once Sanmao City became essentially defunct, this news overshadowed even the monthly state struggles. Almost all of Cloud Ridge Prefecture was discussing Wang Yu.

Luo Chen after all was a disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator and had considerable fame.

As the person who killed him, the Cloud Ridge Prefecture capital immediately sent envoys once they received the news. Besides handling the aftermath of Sanmao City, they also intended to meet Wang Yu and question him. They absolutely would not shoulder the blame for Luo Chen dying in Sanmao City and intended to distance themselves completely.

…

City Lord’s Mansion of Jade Spirit City, small meeting room.

Zuo Qiuming had crawled out from the tender comforts of the Cloud Dream Pavilion and rushed over to find Wang Yu. The first thing he said upon meeting him was:

“How did you end up killing him?”

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow and placed on the table the only Black Heaven Talisman seized from Luo Chen.

“He wanted to kill me. I had no choice but to strike him down in return.”

Zuo Qiuming looked doubtful, scratching his rear uncomfortably.

“Really not because of Luo Chen’s Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude?”

“Of course. Am I that kind of person? I said I would teach him a small lesson and end it after venting a bit. But this bastard harbored malicious intent and tried to ambush me.”

Wang Yu flicked the Black Heaven Talisman.

Zuo Qiuming took it, his expression growing even more troubled.

“This is one of the core techniques of the Black Heaven Talisman Lord. He actually passed it down to Luo Chen. It seems he valued him greatly.

“You killing him will definitely enrage that Talisman Lord. This is serious trouble. By the way, did you consume Luo Chen’s spiritual root?”

“I did.”

“…”

“And you still claim you had no ulterior motive? Does the Demonic Embryo Mysterious Origin Curse not require planting a demonic thought seed in advance?”

Wang Yu answered without changing expression.

“I was simply avoiding waste. After all, he and I were enemies long ago.

“Ai—”

“Sir, do not look at me like that. It was not premeditated. It is called taking precautions, preparing before the rain, and…”

Seeing Wang Yu’s explanation becoming increasingly ridiculous, Zuo Qiuming hurriedly stopped him and said helplessly:

“You acted too impulsively. Have you thought about how to clean up the aftermath? If you have no solution, I will ask my father. If even he cannot protect you, you must come with me to Xianyin.”

Wang Yu’s expression shifted slightly. He stared seriously into Zuo Qiuming’s eyes, making the carefree and recently sentimental young master feel somewhat embarrassed.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Brother Ming speaks with such sincerity that your younger brother feels a bit ashamed.”

“You are saying unnecessary things. Since I have chosen to stand with you, I may be lacking in other abilities, but when it comes to protecting you, I will see it through to the end.”

“Thank you.”

Wang Yu wiped the corner of his eye in a fake gesture, earning Zuo Qiuming’s eye roll. “Cut it out. Tell me your plan already.”

To be fair, Wang Yu had originally thought his relationship with Zhuo Shouqing was stronger. He had not expected Zuo Qiuming to be more genuine, more likable, and more touching.

His friendship with the Three Young Masters had lasted a long time.

The eldest, Yu Xing, had a calm temperament and tended to protect himself wisely. With a genius elder sister shielding him, the pressure from the clan was not heavy. He mainly followed the wishes of his two brothers, which was why he had involved himself in this matter at all.

The second, Zhuo Shouqing, was sinister and greedy by nature, extremely shrewd in handling affairs. He had the strongest opinions among the three. Once he set his mind on something, it was hard for others to change it. His lifelong goal was to topple Zhuo Shouyun, his own younger brother.

Wang Yu had no particular objections toward him. After all, whenever they interacted, Zhuo Shouqing always laid out the terms clearly. If something could be done, he said it could be done. If it could not, then it could not.

Their friendship gradually faded with the realities of life and eventually settled into the practical exchange of the Nether River Contract.

The third, Zuo Qiu Ming, was passionate and unrestrained, valuing sentiment deeply. He would worry himself sick over Zhuo Shouqing's concealment, yet he would also quietly offer his blessings and digest the negative emotions alone.

Such a person truly did not resemble the young master of a great demonic clan. He seemed more like a sorrowful and romantic scholar from a melancholic chronicle, whose deep emotions were easily wounded, making it difficult for him to attain a good end.

After a moment of silence, Wang Yu took out the token given by Lord Lei Hou and explained.

"I remember that the Black Heaven Talisman Lord is an early Nascent Soul stage cultivator. Can this token suppress him?"

"Eh. This is Uncle Lei's token."

Zuo Qiuming snatched it over and studied it carefully. What he said next made Wang Yu rub his forehead. The three great families of the Exalted Sect were indeed frightening. Everywhere he turned, there were connections.

Unable to restrain his curiosity, Wang Yu asked, "What is the relationship between Lord Lei Hou and the Zuoqiu clan? Is he also one of your elders?"

"More or less."

Zuo Qiuming said with emotion.

"In Xianyin, there is a mysterious corpse pit said to be a secret realm that has existed since before ancient times. The corpses of cultivators inside are countless, and the corpse qi and baleful qi are extremely abundant.

"It was perfect for Uncle Lei's cultivation. When he was still in the Core Formation stage, he sought permission from the Zuoqiu clan. The patriarch at the time agreed. No one expected Uncle Lei to actually form his Nascent Soul and ascend within that place.

"This bond has lasted to this day. He became an elder to me, and he is sworn close with my father. You truly obtained a remarkable opportunity by receiving his personal token."

Wang Yu nodded and asked.

"Can this token resolve the issue with the Black Heaven Talisman Lord?"

"Absolutely. You can rest a hundred hearts on this."

Zuo Qiuming, though his expression returned to bleakness, patted Wang Yu's shoulder with full confidence. "The reputation of a late Nascent Soul cultivator is more useful than that of five or six early Nascent Soul cultivators. I am leaving."

With his concerns settled, he did not wish to disturb Wang Yu further.

Who would have thought he would be called back again.

"Wait. In a few days, I will return to the sect. The expansion of Jade Spirit City will be entrusted to you. Remember to extract the underground spirit vein on time.

"For the city tax revenues, ask Qingyang. Do not forget to submit the offerings to the Exalted Sect. Store more of the collected spirit stones and have someone send them to me. Your expenses can be deducted from them."

"I know, I know."

Zuo Qiuming waved impatiently, but his steps halted abruptly as he asked in suspicion.

"Why are you nagging me with so many instructions? Do you not plan to return?"

"How could that be? This is my property, and I still have more than two hundred and forty years of sovereignty left. How can I feel at ease if I do not watch over it personally? You are reliable, Brother Ming, but if it were Zhuo Shouqing, I would not feel reassured at all."

"True."

Zuo Qiuming left cheerfully, and Wang Yu finally let out a breath. He had a feeling he would be staying in the sect for a long time this time.

After dealing with Zuo Qiuming, Wang Yu quickly summoned Qingyang, Xu Ruzhou, and others to arrange Jade Spirit City's century-long development plan.

He paid special attention to the situation in Chasing Moon Prefecture. If there were any results, they were to immediately send word to the Exalted Sect. If nothing unexpected occurred, he would remotely oversee Jade Spirit City's development.

As for whether Wei Hao could persist and secure Wanglong City, he believed he could. Wei Hao was someone far more trustworthy than Luo Chen. Maintaining trade and exchange would not be difficult.

Several days later, without notifying anyone, and deliberately avoiding Jin Miaoshan, who had shown signs of pestering him again, Wang Yu left the city.

Alone, he rode the Flying Cloud Boat toward the mountain gate of the Blood Reversal Sect, just as he had when he first arrived.

Back then, his mindset had been anxious and full of expectation. Now his cultivation had risen by an entire major realm, and a surge of heroic spirit filled his chest.

"I know not the height of the blue heaven nor the depth of the yellow earth;

I see only the cold moon and warm sun that boil away the span of human life."

The journey passed through three thousand li of reed marshes.

Feeling an itch for music, Wang Yu took out the Ghost-Weeping Flute and pressed it to his lips. Besides killing enemies, swallowing souls, and refining Yin Crows, the flute could also play a tune like High Mountains and Flowing Water that purified the heart-mind.

In those days.

It was here that he met Lady Chaoyun. Knowing the road ahead would be perilous, he crafted the fierce plan to strike the barbarians and intimidate the powerful, which eventually allowed him to stabilize his footing and step by step become the Lord of Jade Spirit City.

Time passed in a blink. It had been more than fifty years.

"Time flows swiftly like water. The passing years cannot be chased."

He did not intentionally increase his travel speed.

He returned the same way he had come.

Crossing past Cloud Ridge and Blood Abyss.

In the blink of an eye, three months passed, and familiar twisted mountain peaks appeared in the distance.

The mountain gate of the Exalted Sect had not changed at all. It stood like an eternal and majestic giant mountain. At the base of its nine peaks lay dense clusters of buildings, where familiar figures could be seen moving about.

Lights of flight streaked endlessly across the sky. The Blood Demon Hall suspended in the center was still as mysterious and unfathomable as ever. Wang Yu instinctively activated his Golden Vision of Qi Observation, but the dense and overwhelming qi nearly blinded him.