Lay Cards on the Table

In any case, he was growing stronger and stronger! He was not the slightest bit inferior to someone born with Divine Strength, utterly worlds apart from his days as a mortal.

Spirit Slaves had their own market rates. Qi Refining Second Layer already counted among the best, and across the entire Stone House Area, there was not a single Spirit Slave at Qi Refining Third Layer.

Perhaps they cherished their lives, or perhaps there were other reasons.

To break through again, he had to raise the upper limit of spiritual power in his body to one hundred strands. At this stage, Wang Yu could never burn more lifespan, so even relying on the Placement Slot would take ninety days—nearly three months.

As for his own cultivation, he would be burning incense in thanks if he managed to cultivate even one strand in three months. It was practically meaningless. He might as well devote that time elsewhere, where it could create far more value than cultivation.

After breaking through, Wang Yu felt some regret that Slot Three had not appeared. He guessed one possibility had been erased, leaving two remaining.

Either he would have to break through to the Qi Refining Mid Stage, or perhaps changes would occur only after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage.

This day.

Wang Yu left the Stone House for the first time in a long while. While heading to Bluestone Plaza to attend a lecture, he searched for Steward Duan. He had decided to put himself out in the open and trade his performance for benefits from Steward Duan.

Unlike twelve days ago, Wang Yu's black hair had turned to threads of snow. His once handsome features had become somewhat ugly due to his withered blood and vitality.

His straight, sturdy body had wasted away beyond recognition, even becoming slightly hunched.

He looked exactly like a little old man. Even among several thousand Spirit Slaves, he stood out conspicuously. This was the physical aging caused by losing a massive amount of lifespan in a short period.

Wang Yu had only paid ten years of lifespan. As his realm advanced, or if he spent time recuperating, his aged appearance could be restored.

There was simply no need for it yet. He planned to keep this appearance until he successfully became an Outer Disciple.

When the hour-long lecture ended and it was time for questions, Wang Yu forcibly squeezed his way to the front, drawing furious glares from many Spirit Slaves. But upon seeing his face, they all turned away and fell silent.

There was no other reason—this was a ruthless man!

"My lord, I wish to see Steward Duan. May I ask where I can find him?"

The Outer Disciple responsible for the lecture looked at Wang Yu's unnaturally aged face and felt a chill run through him. He possessed Three Spiritual Roots; without cultivating such a reckless, quick-success demonic art, he still had hope of catching a glimpse of the Foundation Establishment realm.

He hurriedly pointed at a two-story Elegant Pavilion beside Bluestone Plaza. "Steward Duan is usually stationed there. Go inside, and you will find him."

Wang Yu cupped his hands in thanks once more before leaving.

Seeing this, the Outer Disciple could not help speaking to his fellow disciple.

"This fellow must have burned half his lifespan. His aura has already reached Qi Refining Second Layer. Another ambitious man unwilling to remain ordinary."

His companion was dismissive.

"So what? A demonic art like the Blood Burning Art was designed as a rapid cultivation method for Spirit Slaves. It damages the fleshly body, and blood and vitality are hard to replenish. Foundation Establishment is beyond his hopes in this life."

"True..."

The two-story Elegant Pavilion.

Wang Yu knocked on the door. A familiar voice soon sounded from within.

"What is it?"

"This one is Wang Yu. I became a Spirit Slave of the Saint Sect twelve days ago, and I have come today to submit this month's Spirit Sand."

"Hm?"

In practically a Blink of an Eye, the doors of the Elegant Pavilion flew open. Steward Duan tugged at the few strands of beard on his chin and stared at him in surprise.

"A newcomer from twelve days ago? You—"

Wang Yu grinned, making himself look even more terrifying.

"To serve the Saint Sect is Wang Yu's greatest honor. I have cultivated the Blood Burning Art with all my strength, wishing to join the Saint Sect as soon as possible, become an Outer Disciple, and make greater contributions to the Saint Sect."

"Wang Yu, was it? Not bad, not bad!"

Steward Duan circled Wang Yu several times, his face full of satisfaction, then directly held out his hand.

"Where is the Spirit Sand?"

Wang Yu presented it with both hands. Steward Duan weighed it, then said instinctively, "Only one tael... Well, you have been here for less than a month."

Clapping his hands, Steward Duan took a large cloth sack from the Storage Bag at his waist and handed it to Wang Yu.

"Inside is Spirit Sand ground from three jin of Void Spirit Stone. Fill it slowly. Come with me."

Then, before Wang Yu could say anything, he was dragged to the plaza. Steward Duan cleared his throat several times, and with spiritual power reinforcing his voice, the entire plaza fell silent.

He pulled Wang Yu to his side and pointed at him as he declared loudly.

"This man is named Wang Yu. He has been a Spirit Slave for less than a month, yet he has already completed the task of one tael of Spirit Sand. You must all learn from him. This is what a fine example and good disciple of the sect looks like!

"If anyone wishes to advance to become an Outer Disciple, Wang Yu will absolutely be the first of this batch. I guarantee it with my reputation as a steward!"

Buying Horse Bones with Gold.

Whether Wang Yu could truly achieve it was not something Steward Duan could decide with a single sentence. A Spirit Slave steward did not possess that authority, but the Foundation Establishment True Disciple of Cold Blood Peak behind him did.

As the Spirit Slaves fell into discussion, Wang Yu felt the fervent gazes upon him and his scalp went a little numb. He had truly become famous.

Highly satisfied with the Spirit Slaves' reaction, Steward Duan pulled Wang Yu back to the Elegant Pavilion. This time, Wang Yu was invited inside.

He sat in a chair in the first-floor hall.

Steward Duan laid his cards on the table, without engaging in any of that messy scheming and infighting. Perhaps he was not qualified for it?

"You are willing to give, and I am willing to accept. Ambition is a good thing, but the rules of the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect are somewhat different.

"The disciples of the Nine Peaks' inheritances do not interfere with one another. They operate their respective mountains relatively independently. Beyond that, there is also the Sect Master inheritance of the Blood Demon Hall. That makes ten branches in total, all recruiting disciples according to their own wishes."

In the Great Lake Spirit Domain, the leader of a sect was generally a cultivator skilled in administrative affairs and of proper lineage. They did not need especially high cultivation to take the position. The true decision-making body was the Council of Elders.

But in the Red Kite Demon Domain, a sect's leader was often the one with the highest cultivation and greatest strength. Their authority was immense; they could mobilize all resources, and one-man rule was common.

The differences between righteous and demonic paths showed themselves in every aspect.

If a righteous sect's leader died, the sect could still carry on. Its foundations would not be shaken.

If a demonic sect's leader died, there was no need to think about it. Before Sixty Years had passed, that force would be destroyed—by enemies, internal strife, branch families... and countless other possibilities.

Thus, demonic forces changed generations very quickly.

Of course, top-tier forces were exceptions to the rule. The Demonic Path also had ancient sects that had endured for ten thousand years.

The Inverse Spirit Blood Sect possessed multiple Nascent Soul True Lords and was a top-tier force in the Red Kite Demon Domain. Cold Blood Peak was the Dao Field of a demonic True Lord.

The True Inheritor Disciples under him wielded enormous authority. Forget Outer Disciples—even Inner Disciples could be promoted and cultivated as trusted subordinates.

Steward Duan explained a few things.

Then he raised the most fundamental issue—benefits!

"That one tael of Spirit Sand belongs to Cold Blood Peak. The additional four taels belong to True Inheritor Su. Even if you worked yourself to death alone, it would not be enough to earn an Outer Disciple slot.

"You need to bring people into my faction. Let one hundred people be the target. Once you achieve it, you will become the first Cold Blood Peak Outer Disciple among this batch of Spirit Slaves."

Wang Yu lowered his head without speaking. As expected, this was not so simple. This was already the benefit he had gained by deliberately stepping forward; otherwise, Steward Duan would never have told him so much.

"Do you have reservations?"