Inheritance Treasures, Cultivation Methods and Secret Arts

As his level of strength rose, the opponents he faced became more sinister than the last, their methods more vicious than the last.

Chen Ping'an had suffered considerable losses in this battle.

To withstand the Blood Devouring Demonic Jar's strike, the Colored Square Cloth had nearly been scrapped. Its spirituality had been greatly damaged, and its grade had fallen.

The Dark Iron Ingot was in somewhat better condition, but its spirituality had also suffered a certain degree of damage. Restoring it would require no small expense.

The Hundred Illusions Divine Blade was in the best condition, having suffered only some wear and tear. There was basically nothing seriously wrong with it.

On the contrary, the Skyfall Cold Star Saber, Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flags, and Ink Jade Ring, which had been used most frequently in battle, had not suffered any damage at all. The grade of a divine weapon truly was particularly important.

Especially in battles of such high intensity.

Still, out with the old, in with the new. Though his losses this time were considerable, his gains were even greater.

Following the logic of starting small and working upward, Chen Ping'an first took stock of White Bone Young Master, Withered Vine Old Man, Sha Sha Old Monster, Yu Wenqiao, and the others.

Among them, White Bone Young Master was undoubtedly the wealthiest.

White Bone Young Master looked young, but he had actually lived for many long years. He was likely not much younger than Withered Vine Old Man.

White Bone Young Master truly lived up to the name of his White Bone Secret Technique. His accumulated possessions were extremely abundant. Aside from pills, spiritual items, treasure materials, and ores, he had also collected quite a few strange and peculiar objects.

There were also many biographies, accounts of experiences, and secret art inheritances.

On White Bone Young Master, Chen Ping'an found the inheritance of the White Bone Secret Technique. It was recorded on a pale bone fragment. The fragment was damaged, and the record was incomplete; it appeared to be only a fragmentary volume.

Merely a fragmentary volume possesses such power. What kind of might would the complete White Bone Secret Technique have? Chen Ping'an guessed inwardly.

But that matter could wait until later. His current priority was taking stock of his gains.

Aside from the treasures in the Thousand Mechanisms Pouch, the White Bone Jade Fan in White Bone Young Master's hand was also an exceptionally fine item. By Chen Ping'an's judgment, it should be a top divine weapon.

However, its precise capabilities would only be known after careful testing.

Judging from White Bone Young Master's previous performance in battle, this White Bone Jade Fan could fan out chilling winds and shoot countless bone spikes.

Aside from the White Bone Jade Fan, the Withered Wood Staff in Withered Vine Old Man's hand was also a top divine weapon. It appeared to be a restrictive divine weapon containing defensive functions.

While restricting its target, it also possessed a certain amount of Killing Power. But in terms of overall might, it was somewhat lackluster.

Yet taken as a whole, it was still an extremely valuable item.

Aside from the Withered Wood Staff, Withered Vine Old Man's accumulated possessions were also extremely substantial, second only to White Bone Young Master among the Great Grandmasters present.

Within Withered Vine Old Man's Thousand Mechanisms Pouch, wooden spiritual items and treasure materials were particularly numerous. Chen Ping'an also found an inherited cultivation method inside.

The Withered Wood Eternal Spring Skill appeared to be among the finest top-tier Supreme Divine Skills and had already touched upon the realm of a True Scroll of Divine Skill.

The Withered Wood Eternal Spring Skill emphasized nourishment of life. It was a cultivation method that grew stronger with age, and its overall compatibility did not quite align with the path Chen Ping'an followed. Still, that did not diminish the rarity of this cultivation method.

The only slight regret was that this cultivation method's inheritance had likely already been comprehended once. It was estimated that only one opportunity for comprehending its artistic conception remained.

Top cultivation methods generally came with several opportunities for comprehension. If the number of opportunities had been depleted, their overall value would drop somewhat. Furthermore, judging by the condition of this Withered Wood Eternal Spring Skill, the inherited artistic conception it contained might not be complete.

But the specifics could wait for future examination.

Sha Sha Old Monster's combat power was formidable, second only to White Bone Young Master and Withered Vine Old Man among them. But compared to them, his wealth was rather shabby. Forget matching those two—even Yu Wenqiao, a Rogue Cultivator, possessed more than he did.

By Chen Ping'an's estimation, Sha Sha Old Monster had likely not carried all his wealth with him. A great deal of it should have been stored within Great Banner Gate. As a Great Grandmaster with an affiliated force, many people were like Sha Sha Old Monster.

A cunning rabbit had three burrows, guarding against any mishap that might reduce years of accumulation to ashes.

Still, the banner on Sha Sha Old Monster was likewise a top divine weapon. However, it seemed to have some flaws and only barely qualified as a top divine weapon.

It ranked at the very bottom among top divine weapons.

Even so, it represented an enormous fortune.

Chen Ping'an's inventory continued swiftly. Yu Wenqiao's slender red chain and Ge Yuntao's Golden Light Spear were both supreme Powerful Divine Weapons, capable of barely rivaling top divine weapons.

Ge Yuntao's possessions had been obtained by the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master, so Chen Ping'an naturally proceeded to take stock of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master's wealth.

"Blood Devouring Demonic Jar!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up with delight, and excitement showed faintly on his face.

As a former true treasure, the Blood Devouring Demonic Jar's grade had fallen, but it was absolutely among the finest of Pseudo Treasures. Chen Ping'an had personally experienced its power not long ago.

Bzzz—

Spiritual Light lit up between Chen Ping'an's brows. After simply cleansing the aura on the Blood Devouring Demonic Jar, he put it away.

The Blood Devouring Demonic Jar bore the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master's divine soul imprint. Refining it would not be simple; he would need to spend quite some time studying it carefully.

Normally, whether Pseudo Treasures or true treasures, only Pseudo Celestials could truly use them. A Pseudo Celestial could wield the former relatively freely, while wielding the latter was somewhat forced.

It was not that Great Grandmasters absolutely could not use Pseudo Treasures, but the burden was simply too great. Great Grandmasters with ordinary foundations could not handle them at all.

Even someone like Withered Vine Old Man could only drive a Pseudo Treasure with extreme difficulty.

Yet this was not a problem for Chen Ping'an. Though he had not yet ascended to the upper realm, the spiritual foundation he possessed could already rival the most elite Pseudo Celestials.

Forget Pseudo Treasures—even true treasures could be used by him with some difficulty.

Aside from the Blood Devouring Demonic Jar, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master possessed quite a few other good items. The Ten Thousand Demons Blood Robe he wore was also an exceptionally fine protective treasure robe, its grade having already entered the level of top divine weapons.

Unfortunately, the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Robe had already been severely damaged in the previous battle. Now that it had fallen into Chen Ping'an's hands, its value had dropped even further.

But no matter how far its value had fallen, it was still an exceptionally fine protective treasure robe.

Even if Chen Ping'an chose not to repair it, he could sell it to Cultivators who might be interested. At the very least, he could sell it to seasoned forgers.

Whether its Forging Materials or its forging techniques, the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Robe was worth studying in depth. It held considerable value.

On the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master, Chen Ping'an also found an inheritance of a secret art called the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Prohibition.

This kind of secret art inheritance differed from cultivation methods. It was somewhat like the Spirituality Secret Tome Chen Ping'an had cultivated before, except this Ten Thousand Demons Blood Prohibition was on a far higher level.

Furthermore, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master possessed a vast amount of cultivation insights, life experience, and knowledge. Much of it should have been foundational inheritance from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.

However, Chen Ping'an did not find any Cultivation Technique Inheritance on the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master, which left him somewhat regretful.

Sure enough, not every expert carried the cultivation methods they had already mastered when venturing outside. Everyone had a different temperament and made different choices when faced with the same circumstances.

Still, Chen Ping'an gained plenty of intelligence from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master, such as maps of the distribution of Ten Thousand Demons Sect outposts and branch halls. But he did not obtain the most crucial intelligence. Clearly, such important information existed only in the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master's memories and had not been recorded anywhere.

What a pity I don't know a true soul-searching secret art. Otherwise, I could wipe out the Ten Thousand Demons Sect in one sweep.

The Seven Absolute Divine Skill recorded some soul-searching methods, but they were generally quite superficial, their methods crude and their Limiting Conditions numerous. They could only be used when there was an enormous disparity in cultivation, and even then, success was difficult to guarantee.

Such methods were clearly unsuited to Chen Ping'an's present circumstances.

Among the many items, Chen Ping'an found a token. It was entirely blood-red, adorned with images of ten thousand demons devouring people. It should have been the identity token symbolizing the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master.

Perhaps. Chen Ping'an's gaze flickered as thoughts had already formed in his heart.

He had never forgotten Old Chen's vengeance.

The Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master was already dead, but this...

Was far from enough!

The Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master's possessions delighted Chen Ping'an greatly. The items from this one man alone made him feel that this trip had not been in vain. Yet his inventory was far from over.

After taking stock of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master, his gaze fell upon the Skeleton Elder.

Compared with the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master, the Skeleton Elder's possessions were undoubtedly far more meager. It should be said that there was basically nothing inside the Skeleton Elder's Thousand Mechanisms Pouch.

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed as he saw a secret art within the Thousand Mechanisms Pouch.

"Ten Thousand Demons Blood Puppet Technique!"

It was a blood-red Jade Slip, crimson as blood and incomparably eerie.

The moment Chen Ping'an extended his spirituality into it, he grasped the general nature of this secret art.

"No wonder." This moment, understanding dawned upon him.

The Ten Thousand Demons Blood Puppet Technique sounded like a secret method for refining puppets, but it was actually a realm-breaking secret art.

A realm-breaking secret art that had strayed onto the wrong path.

The Ten Thousand Demons Blood Puppet Technique could also be called the Ten Thousand Demons Realm-Breaking Method.

Once one had Cultivated to the peak of Great Grandmaster, one could attempt to use this secret art. By consuming one's Life force as its foundation and supplementing it with secret medicine and essence blood, one could forcibly Break through into the Pseudo Celestial Realm.

If one failed, it would mean Death and Dao Extinction.

This realm-breaking secret art exacted an enormous price and had many Limiting Conditions. The Skeleton Elder from before was an example of someone who had broken through using this secret art.

Both emotions and pain would be stripped away to an immense degree. Moreover, a Pseudo Celestial who had broken through using this secret art would have, at most, thirty years of life remaining.

If one had already reached the brink of life and death before breaking through, it was even possible to die within three years after the breakthrough.

Furthermore, every time one fought, it was equivalent to shortening one's lifespan. The more one fought, the shorter one lived.

Forcibly breaking through was already an act against the heavens. How could one expect to do so without paying any price?

This secret art was incomparably sinister and evil, a true demonic path method. It used people as nourishment to forcibly induce a breakthrough. Though one still bore the name of human, one was in truth like a blood puppet.

To survive, one needed to nourish oneself with essence blood. Who could have imagined that after cultivating to such a point, one could no longer even remain human?

Tragic and lamentable.

Yet for those who urgently needed power for vengeance, it was an exceptionally fine realm-breaking secret art.

For the sake of revenge, they could cast aside even their lives. Why would they fear the few years remaining after the breakthrough?

However, Pseudo Celestials who broke through through secret arts generally occupied the bottom ranks among Pseudo Celestials. They were only a little stronger than ordinary Storm Cloud Great Grandmasters.

The Ten Thousand Demons Blood Puppet Technique was useless to Chen Ping'an, but it could serve as trade capital to exchange for things he wanted. As his strength rose, he would inevitably have dealings with people from Various Trades and Professions. Demonic path and evil path figures would likely be unavoidable as well.

Aside from the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Puppet Technique, the Skeleton Elder possessed one other valuable item: the Blood Colored Compass he had used in battle.

This Blood Colored Compass was likewise a top divine weapon. Its specific wonders would require careful investigation.

After taking stock of the Skeleton Elder, the only possessions left unchecked were those on the Evil Extremity Path Master.

Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened. The first thing that entered his sight was that deep, dark, sinister vertical pupil.

Evil Extremity Path, inheritance treasure, Evil Extremity Vertical Pupil.

A true treasure!

Suppressing the delight in his heart, Chen Ping'an mobilized his spirituality and cleansed the aura upon the vertical pupil.

A treasure's value was extraordinary, and understanding its mysteries was not something that could be resolved For the Time Being. Thus, after cleansing its aura, Chen Ping'an put it into his Thousand Mechanisms Pouch.

When storing it, he nested several layers around it. He first wrapped it in special cloth, then sealed it within a jade box, and placed that inside a wooden chest.

Chen Ping'an's eyes gleamed brightly as he turned his attention to an item nearby.

Its sickle body was dark red, its crescent-shaped blade like a blood-red waning moon.

An imitation treasure, the Blood Moon Sickle!

Chen Ping'an had also deeply felt the Blood Moon Sickle's power in the battle not long ago.

The Blood Moon Sickle had been derived from an exceptionally Powerful Divine Weapon treasure. It was a premium product among imitation treasures.

Its killing edge was sharp and its sinister nature peerless. In terms of might, it surpassed even the Skyfall Cold Star Saber in his hand.

The difference was that, as a Treasure Prototype, the Skyfall Cold Star Saber still had the potential to advance further. As an imitation treasure, the Blood Moon Sickle's grade had basically already been fixed.

Using the same method, Chen Ping'an put it away after cleansing its aura.

These were all rare treasures that could be carefully studied in the future. Even if he could not use them himself, they represented an extremely substantial fortune.

After inspecting Blood Nightmare Luo's corpse, Chen Ping'an found that, just as he had expected, the things the other party had claimed to possess earlier had been completely fabricated to deceive him into closing in.

After taking stock of everything, he naturally found no fragments.

Though Blood Nightmare Luo was the Evil Extremity Path Master, he used only a Thousand Mechanisms Pouch as his storage bag. Its space was merely much larger than that of an ordinary Thousand Mechanisms Pouch. Clearly, it was a premium specimen.

As Chen Ping'an's level rose, he also learned that storage tools of an even higher tier existed above Thousand Mechanisms Pouches.

Myriad Spirit Bags!

According to legend, demon beasts could live within a Myriad Spirit Bag. Unlike ordinary Spirit Pet Bags, the space inside a Myriad Spirit Bag was enormous and could easily house large demon beasts. Furthermore, its interior was divided into several areas that could be used for storing items.

Its grade and value were far beyond comparison with a Thousand Mechanisms Pouch. Even a Pseudo Celestial and leader of a major force like Blood Nightmare Luo had not possessed a Myriad Spirit Bag.

Though a Myriad Spirit Bag was not as valuable as a true treasure, it was absolutely more valuable than an ordinary top divine weapon. Using one as storage space was an extravagance even for Pseudo Celestials.

Unless there was a necessary reason, not even every true Martial Dao Celestial possessed a Myriad Spirit Bag.

Even among Martial Dao Celestials, there were different ranks.

Weaker Martial Dao Celestials became famous across Several Provinces and made their names within One side region. Stronger Martial Dao Celestials became renowned throughout the Northern Territory and stood at its very peak.

The Northern Territory was so vast that it exceeded the limits of ordinary imagination. Even Martial Dao Celestials might not be able to traverse the entire Northern Territory.

Blood Nightmare Luo was the leader of a major force, and the Evil Extremity Path had a longer inheritance than the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. But whether it was because its main headquarters had been destroyed and its lineage was on the verge of collapse, or because he had previously fought his way out of an encirclement and exhausted too much of his foundation—

Blood Nightmare Luo actually did not possess many rare spiritual items.

This disappointed Chen Ping'an somewhat.

Still, within Blood Nightmare Luo's Thousand Mechanisms Pouch, he found a secret art called the Soul Guiding Art.

It could use a special method to draw another person's soul into one's body and exploit one's home-field advantage to steal the other party's memories.

This secret art was an evil path secret art. Though it was not as domineering as soul capture, it had its own unique strengths.

Compared with the shallow techniques Chen Ping'an had learned from the Seven Absolute Divine Skill, this Soul Guiding Art was undoubtedly far more exquisite.

"A pillow delivered just as sleep came. Not bad!" Upon learning the Soul Guiding Art's marvelous use, Chen Ping'an was greatly invigorated.

The Soul Guiding Art's effects could make up for one of his shortcomings perfectly.

If handled properly, it could work together with his Black Mystic Iron Mask to produce tremendous results.

He could use the Soul Guiding Art to spy out information, then use the Black Mystic Iron Mask to pass the fake off as genuine.

With his current capabilities, even without using True Simulation, he could deceive the senses of Pseudo Celestials.

Furthermore, from Blood Nightmare Luo, Chen Ping'an learned the hidden history of the Evil Extremity Path.

The Evil Extremity Path had existed for three thousand years, raging across the territories of Several Provinces, including Canglong, Yanlie, and Xuanling. It even possessed a few outposts in Northern Mountain Province. Within the Azure Cang Realm, it was an Extremely Strong evil path force.

The Evil Extremity Path was not without roots. It had originated from a holy land of the evil path. It was a splinter branch that had separated from the Heaven Mending Dao, and after developing for many years, it had gradually grown into a force to be reckoned with.

The Heaven Mending Dao was a true behemoth among evil path forces. In terms of power and foundation, it was comparable to a force like the Heavenly Luo Sect. Across the Dynasty Territory, it was also a first-rate force.

According to legend, Purple Eye Demon Lord had dealings with the Heaven Mending Dao in his early years and had even nearly married the Heaven Mending Dao's Holy Maiden of that era. Yet in the end, they failed to become a destined pair and missed each other from then on.

After more than a thousand years, who knew whether that Heaven Mending Dao Holy Maiden from those days still remained in this world?

Martial Dao Celestials had a lifespan of a thousand years and could live no longer than that. Only by taking another step forward could one possibly remain in this world.

But becoming a Martial Dao Celestial was already as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Taking another step beyond that—would that not be like flowers in a mirror and the moon in water? Even a behemoth like the Heaven Mending Dao, with its most gifted Holy Maiden of the current generation bearing the standard, found it difficult to cross such a barrier.

Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talents emerged once every fifty years, with each gathering held every thirty years. Within the thousand-year lifespan of a Martial Dao Celestial, one could experience twenty generations of peerless prodigies.

Yet among these peerless prodigies, how many had ever been able to Break through that barrier and reach a higher realm?

How difficult was the path of cultivation! Even heavenly talents struggled to ascend the supreme peak, falling halfway and perishing as their Dao faded away.

Whoosh!

With a sweep of Chen Ping'an's hand, the many items before him all fell into his Thousand Mechanisms Pouch.

He sorted these items simply and stored them by category.

This time, his harvest was exceedingly bountiful and incomparably delightful.

Not to mention the other items—after obtaining the wealth of so many Pseudo Celestials and Great Grandmasters, the Origin Crystals on his person had already surpassed two hundred thousand.

And this portion accounted for only a tiny fraction of the wealth he had obtained.

One Evil Extremity Pupil treasure, one Pseudo Treasure Blood Devouring Demonic Jar, one imitation treasure Blood Moon Sickle, and four Top Divine Weapons—the Blood Colored Compass, White Bone Jade Fan, Withered Wood Staff, and Black Baleful Flag Banner. There were also divine weapons comparable to the top tier, such as the Golden Light Spear and the slender red chain, as well as things like the damaged Ten Thousand Demons Blood Robe.

There were countless precious materials and spiritual items, pills and ores—an incomparably abundant haul.

There were also secret arts such as the White Bone Secret Technique, Ten Thousand Demons Blood Prohibition, Ten Thousand Demons Blood Puppet Technique, and Soul Guiding Art, as well as the cultivation technique, the Withered Wood Eternal Spring Skill.

Beyond that, there were the gains from the cave abode itself: Yin Yang Dew, Shangqing Pills, Soul Condensing Jade Liquid, and more.

This harvest was rich beyond measure.

If Chen Ping'an's wealth before had merely reached the level of a Pseudo Celestial, then now, the accumulation on his person had likely surpassed that of a somewhat weaker Martial Dao Celestial.

And that was without even counting the Dream Illusion Pearl.

Such wealth was truly terrifying!

Before he could ponder it carefully, Chen Ping'an sensed that Gu Qingchan beside him was about to awaken.

With a sweep of his hand, the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flags, their banner faces snapping in the wind, fell into his hand. He glanced around, considered briefly, then scooped Gu Qingchan up around the waist and carried her into a Stone Chamber.