Night Change

"Heavenly Yin Blood, Corpse Demon Bone..."

Wang Yu felt a splitting headache. The "Heavenly Yin" here did not refer to Grand Yin Moon Essence, but to a lesser grade of Yin Spirit Qi. As for Corpse Qi, it could only be found in bone-burial grounds like the Mass Burial Ground, or on zombies themselves.

The external conditions did not meet the requirements.

He simply could not cultivate it; he could only comprehend it.

True Inheritor Su and Steward Duan really thought highly of him. No wonder the Placement Slot could complete one training cycle per minute. Put bluntly, it meant using Yin Qi and Corpse Qi to transform himself.

The secret art served as a guide, preventing the cultivator from suddenly dying on the spot and truly mutating into a zombie.

"Since the external conditions are lacking, it seems I can only rely on the Placement Slot to fulfill the prerequisites."

The Placement Slot had always been capable of cultivating in his stead. The Ice Sword Technique was a purely spell-based art, granting him complete comprehension, practical experience, and even bodily memory.

The Blood Burning Art brought him insights into the cultivation method, along with additional cultivation—as though he had cultivated it himself. It was as natural as moving a finger, without the slightest difference.

As for the Corpse Demon Secret Art—

It was a secret technique geared toward transformation. Reattaching severed limbs was one part of it, and bodily transformation was another.

That meant that while Wang Yu comprehended it to completion, his body would simultaneously undergo the transformation. This conjecture aligned with the rules by which the Placement Slot had always functioned.

"I've actually discovered such a flaw!"

This realization had both benefits and drawbacks. If he did not complete it, those flaws would inevitably emerge bit by bit. Yet if he used the Placement Slot's effects to complete it, that had to be built upon reaching a point where he could advance no further.

By then, his body would already have been fully transformed before he began completing the secret art. As for what changes might occur, even Wang Yu himself could not predict them.

"Power..."

A cold glint flashed through his eyes. He decided to wait a little longer. With only the current number of Spirit Slaves in the Stone House Area, it would be far too difficult for him to turn things around. He had to bring in more people before there could be a change.

That wait lasted another ten days.

The fifty-third day of his life as a Spirit Slave.

A group of newcomers from the Great Lake Spirit Domain arrived at the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect, shrinking back timidly just as Wang Yu and the others had once done. They were all possessed of Mixed Spiritual Roots or Useless Spiritual Roots. Their numbers had tripled, reaching more than three hundred.

It might have seemed like a lot, but it was merely a drop in the bucket. Steward Liu had become increasingly dominant within the Spirit Slave hierarchy. Wang Yu had no way to recruit people as he had in the past.

Those few Qi Refining Second Layer Spirit Slaves who had promptly reattached their severed limbs alone would keep a close eye on him.

That was right.

Wang Yu's left hand had been completely ruined, while the three instigators behind that incident had managed to save an arm and a leg due to timely treatment. What bitter irony.

As long as they lived, Steward Duan, whom Wang Yu relied on, would have no authority whatsoever. Who would be willing to pay the price of burning away their lifespan for someone incapable, merely for a chance to become an Outer Disciple?

All those promises were nothing but painted cakes to stave off hunger. No one would believe them.

Once the instruction sessions began, the Spirit Slaves would exchange information and learn everything. This batch of newcomers could not solve the root of the problem, but they could help Wang Yu regain his footing. The matter was of grave importance and could not be delayed until the next day.

With that thought in mind.

Late that night, when all was silent.

Apart from the Outer Disciples on duty, everyone in the Stone House Area had fallen asleep. The Iron Fence of Stone House No. 83 quietly opened.

That thing could at most imprison probationary Spirit Slaves who had yet to enter the path. Any true Qi Refining First Layer cultivator could bend it with the reinforcement of a thread of spiritual power.

Its symbolic value outweighed its practical use.

Moreover, this was the interior of the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect, at the foot of Cold Blood Peak. Forget Qi Refining Cultivators—even Foundation Establishment or Core Formation cultivators would find it difficult to escape.

The Stone House Area was like a humanoid Spirit Stone mine: tightly guarded outside, lax within. Its watch was nowhere near as strict as one might imagine.

Wang Yu lifted the fence from below and crouched as he slipped out.

His gaze drifted restlessly as he pressed himself against the walls and swiftly approached the stone house occupied by the trio who had caused trouble.

With a thought, the Ice Sword Technique, now at the complete level, was already free from the constraints of its original form, able to alter its shape to some extent according to Wang Yu's will.

Ice swords as thick as fingers rapidly took shape.

They spiraled densely above his palm, like a dancing cold wind—wild and unrestrained.

In an instant, muffled pfft, pfft sounds rang out continuously from within the dark stone house. In less than a breath, all fell completely silent. Heartbeats and breathing ceased entirely.

Wang Yu could not help raising his head to look at the night sky. It was a moonless night.

"Next."

The next day.

The Outer Disciple responsible for distributing food passed by as usual. He kicked Wang Yu's fence and called out several times.

"Hey, breakfast."

Wang Yu, curled up on the bed with an aged face, completely white hair, and one arm missing, hurriedly got up, looking as though he wanted to explain himself.

But the man handing out food spat in disgust.

"So it's just some old bastard. What bad luck!"

"Bang—"

With neither a light nor heavy kick, he left a clear dent in the Iron Fence, then swaggered away.

Only then did Wang Yu return to normal, setting the cloth bag filled with buns and a water pouch by the bedside.

On the Demonic Path, strength was truth, but sometimes borrowing the rules was also a reasonable thing. Whether righteous or demonic, any power would have its own rules.

No matter how rotten they were, they were still rules.

In essence, abiding by the rules of the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect meant abiding by the Sect Master's rules.

There were plenty of people who acted recklessly, but once someone caught hold of their weakness and made a mountain out of it, they would still be unable to bear the consequences.

Spirit Slaves were the private property of Cold Blood Peak. In name, they belonged to the Cold Blood Peak Lord—namely, a Nascent Soul True Lord!

It was only that he disdained such paltry profit. By mutual unspoken consent, it had become a purse for the True Inheritor Disciples. But if it were exposed, whether for the sake of face or to set the rules straight—

They would never let off the one who had amassed wealth. Daring to line his pockets at the expense of a Nascent Soul cultivator—was that even acceptable? Were they going to give you the Sect Master's seat as well?!!

The method Wang Yu used to expose it was exceedingly crude. It just so happened that a few people needed to die, so he chose these three. It was a plan to kill three birds with one stone.

Whether it was true or false, the True Inheritor Disciple behind Steward Liu was in seclusion attempting Core Formation and would not emerge anytime soon.

If they could use offending the Cold Blood Peak Lord as an excuse to strip him of his chance to receive the Nascent Soul Inheritance, the other nine True Inheritor Disciples would all do it.

He had merely happened upon the moment and offered up a lame excuse.

No matter how untenable it was, the True Inheritor Disciples all knew that the Peak Lord himself had tacitly approved of this. But the inner and Outer Disciples of Cold Blood Peak did not know.

Whether the True Inheritor Disciples planned to fight for it through proper means or use dark methods to sabotage his Core Formation, so long as they could prevent him from obtaining the inheritance, they would certainly do it!

As the saying went: those in the game were lost in the maze, while onlookers saw clearly.

He had chosen a less-than-perfect opening. Now it depended on whether these True Inheritor Disciples dared seize this opportunity and join forces in unspoken understanding.

Wang Yu had to admit that there was an element of gambling in this.

If it failed, he had prepared a way out as well: drag Steward Duan into the water.

Or even pull "Big Brother" True Inheritor Su into the fray. Once matters blew up, he would be nothing more than a minor pawn.

Others would naturally be more inclined toward the guess that someone behind him had ordered it.

Not long after.

The Stone House Area descended into chaos!