Skinning

"Do you really want to learn these divine abilities?"

Seeing the eager look on Lu Yang's face, Wang Borong was somewhat surprised as well. He could not help saying, "Junior Brother, on the Immortal path, cultivation realm always comes first. You must distinguish between what is primary and what is secondary."

In his view, Lu Yang had earned so many Contribution Points at such a young age. Even if Foundation Establishment was uncertain, Qi Refining Great Perfection was at least well within reach. Why practice those divine abilities with such severe side effects? So what if his combat power reached the heavens? When his lifespan ran out, would he not still become a handful of dust and ash?

"Life is bitter and short. Do not lead yourself astray."

At this point, Wang Borong put on a mournful expression. "You are still young. You do not yet understand the truth that flowers may bloom again, but people will never be young a second time."

"You are in the prime of life now, but what about ten years from now? Twenty years from now?"

"You may find this choice satisfying today, but its drawbacks may not reveal themselves until decades later. By then, there will be no medicine for regret."

Before his words had even faded, Wang Borong seemed to have sunk into his memories again. Only after quite a while did he sigh. "You have no idea. When this old man was young, I was quite the figure in the Sacred Sect. But one wrong step ruined my entire life. Even now, every time I think of it, the pain is unbearable."

As he spoke, Wang Borong's eyes even reddened.

With the wine going to his head, he simply dragged Lu Yang into listening to tales of his glorious past.

There was not much to it, really. When he was young, he had not understood the importance of true qi rank. After accidentally obtaining a cultivation method below the seventh grade, he had cultivated it.

As a result, his true qi rank was too low. He had no hope of Foundation Establishment for the rest of his life and could not even achieve Qi Refining Great Perfection.

Over the decades, half his body had been buried in the yellow earth, while his former fellow disciples and the women who had admired him extended their lifespans one after another, remaining in the bloom of youth to this day.

How regretful, how heartbreaking was that? Yet who in life could start over?

"What? I can start over? Then it's fine."

Seeing Wang Borong pass out drunk just like that, Lu Yang finally rose to his feet and found the book, "Heavenly Demon Blood-Dissolving Divine Light," according to Wang Borong's description.

There was no denying that this truly was a demonic art.

Lu Yang exchanged for it, his expression grave. "Quick to master, severe side effects, highly dangerous—it possesses nearly every trait a demonic art should have."

To master this divine ability, one first had to choose a magical treasure, then use it to flay off one's own living skin, refine it with a secret method, and endure eighty-one days before producing a streak of Blood-Dissolving Precious Light. Once attached to the magical treasure, ordinary cultivators would be harmed if they brushed against it and die if they touched it.

"At the same time, I myself will become a blood shadow existing by relying on the magical treasure."

"As long as the magical treasure is unharmed, the blood shadow will not perish."

"The side effect is that my lifespan will be halved. After becoming a blood shadow, I will no longer possess a human body, only the empty shell of a humanoid form. My cultivation will therefore cease advancing as well."

"Good. It truly suits me!"

Lu Yang's eyes shone brightly as he immediately decided to practice this divine ability.

During his practice, however, he discovered that this divine ability actually had another version. It seemed that some great cultivator had revised and optimized it.

"After all, this divine ability truly is exceptionally profound."

"The revised version does not require the cultivator to skin himself for a blood sacrifice. Instead, it requires him to blood-sacrifice his own blood brothers or descendants."

"This can likewise refine the divine ability. However, since the blood shadow refined this way is ultimately not the cultivator himself, it is difficult to wield as naturally as one's own limbs, leaving the danger of backlash. But I am different. Whether in this life or the next, the blood shadow will only ever be myself!"

Several days later, Lu Yang left the Library Pavilion.

In addition, he purchased another complete copy of the Divine Firmament Sword Control Art. Only then would he be able to use it openly and aboveboard in the future.

The next day, the "cultivation method" arrived.

"Demon!"

Looking at Yun Miaoqing, who clutched the Dharma Sword at her neck and stared at him with an unbending expression, Lu Yang suddenly felt as though a lifetime had passed.

But he quickly cast the feeling aside.

"Sorry, I need the methods and experience for refining Sword Pellets."

"What? How do you know? Mmph. Wait, you—!"

The first time was unfamiliar, the second time familiar. Relying on his familiarity with Yun Miaoqing, Lu Yang went all out and soon plundered the knowledge and experience he needed from her.

Pulling up his trousers, Lu Yang turned and left.

This time, he went to Myriad Treasure Peak, the mountain corresponding to the outer sect's Treasure Refining Hall. It was one of the Four Inner Peaks, and most of the Sacred Sect's magical treasures came from here.

"I want to rent an earthfire furnace."

Upon arriving at the counter, Lu Yang directly stated his request. Once he paid enough Contribution Points, he was ushered into the highest-grade furnace chamber a quarter of an hour later.

After making all the necessary preparations, he took out the materials.

Three taels of Gold Essence, three taels of Jade Marrow, two taels of Cinnabar, and two taels of Sword Qi. Then he formed hand seals, drew raging fire from the earth's core, and threw them all into the furnace!

"Most Sword Pellets in the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion are refined by elders of the sect, but that is the righteous path, where there is no need to worry about anyone secretly tampering with them. This is the First Saint Sect. Rather than place my hopes in a refiner's moral character, I may as well do it myself. At worst, I will make a few more attempts."

One set of materials cost 2,000 Contribution Points.

Lu Yang had earned only 10,000 Contribution Points in total. After purchasing divine abilities and cultivation methods and repaying his debt, all his wealth could only buy three sets of Sword Pellet materials.

"If all three attempts fail, I'll come again in the next life!"

With that thought in mind, Lu Yang began to strictly follow the methods and experience he had plundered from Yun Miaoqing, controlling the earthfire to slowly condense the various materials.

Gold Essence fused with Jade Marrow; Cinnabar merged with Sword Qi.

Gradually, a pill formed within Lu Yang's spiritual perception. Yet before he could rejoice, the pill suddenly trembled in place.

Boom!

It exploded.

One set of materials was ruined. Lu Yang calmly swept away the wreckage with a wave of his sleeve and silently reviewed the lessons learned. "...My steps should not have been the problem."

"The problem lies in the final step."

Lu Yang recalled Yun Miaoqing's memories, and realization gradually surfaced in his eyes.

"To refine a Sword Pellet, sword and heart must become one. I have not cultivated the Divine Firmament Sword Control Art for long, so I am clearly lacking in my realm of the Sword Dao."

Ordinarily, this was a hard requirement that could only be polished slowly over time.

However, that was from the righteous path's perspective. The righteous path emphasized progressing step by step and rarely used methods that sought quick success and harmed the harmony of Heaven.

The demonic path did not care about such things.

"Sword and heart becoming one is, in the end, simply control over the Sword Pellet. In that case, if I cultivate the Heavenly Demon Blood-Dissolving Divine Light at the same time, the result should be the same!"

"Perhaps even better!"

After all, the Heavenly Demon Blood-Dissolving Divine Light sacrificed the body to a treasure. Once mastered, one would practically merge into one with the magical treasure, and the compatibility would surely surpass this so-called union of sword and heart.

"However, if I want to do this, I cannot use the anesthetic powder I prepared beforehand."

Refining a Sword Pellet was delicate work. If he took medicine to suppress the pain and caused his reactions to slow by even half a beat during refinement, failure was highly likely.

Therefore, he had to remain conscious throughout the entire process.

"This is the demonic path. You have to be ruthless toward yourself. Otherwise, how could you be called a talent?"

At that thought, a vicious gleam immediately appeared in Lu Yang's eyes.

A moment later, he sat cross-legged before the earthfire furnace and stuffed a wad of cloth into his mouth. Once the Sword Pellet took shape again, he controlled the Sword Qi and sent it slashing down upon himself.