"Intermediate Demonic Arts? May I ask, Senior Brother Zhao, is this cultivation method related to the 'Beginner Demonic Arts' that the menial disciples used to practice?"
Feng Ling suddenly changed her expression and asked.
"The 'Beginner Demonic Arts' are precisely a simplified version of the 'Intermediate Demonic Arts'."
"You must all cultivate this method diligently. It can accelerate the efficiency with which you condense your internal force."
At this, Zhao Wang grinned again and said with a deep meaning, "Of course, the effects of dual cultivation absorption will also make you far surpass before."
Wang Biao's eyes lit up, holding the cultivation manual as if he simply couldn't put it down.
His aptitude was mediocre, and he had originally worried about how to continue cultivating after becoming a formal disciple. Now, with this cultivation method, he could continue dual cultivation absorption to grow stronger using the old methods.
Lin Fan was relatively calm, because he had already cultivated the "Intermediate Demonic Arts", which only formal disciples could practice, to perfection, and he was extremely familiar with this cultivation method.
On the contrary, the "Talisman Secret Tome" sparked some interest in Lin Fan.
Lin Fan immediately asked, "Senior Brother Zhao, is the path of talismans also a primary direction of study for formal disciples?"
"You must mean this 'Talisman Secret Tome', right? It is enough for you to learn some basic talismans. As for the profound talismans recorded on it, I advise you not to try them easily. Wanting to become a blood talisman master without sufficient talent and effort is impossible."
Zhao Wang shook his head and said.
The reason Blood Soul Peak could rival the other two peaks was not only because its overall strength was strong enough, but also because of the existence of blood talisman masters.
Yet how rare blood talisman masters were; looking across the entire Blood Soul Peak, there were only a handful of people.
"In addition, since you are already formal disciples and enjoy the sect's treatment and welfare, you also need to fulfill the corresponding obligations."
"Formal disciples of Blood Soul Peak must complete a sect mission every year. At present, there are several sect missions on Blackwood Cliff: First, obey the arrangements of the inner sect senior brothers to go to the Mingyang Marketplace and purchase supplies needed by Blackwood Cliff; second, lead several menial disciples to guard the Spirit Beast Garden; third, go to the Hidden Scripture Pavilion Second Floor to continue copying books while assisting me in reviewing the books copied by the menial disciples for warehousing."
With that, Zhao Wang looked at Lin Fan and the other two.
Lin Fan understood in his heart that even upon becoming formal disciples, there was no way to completely be free from other duties; they needed to fulfill the obligations of formal disciples.
He himself was more inclined toward the third sect mission, yet he did not eagerly express his stance, watching Feng Ling and Wang Biao's reactions instead.
"I choose the first sect mission, to go to the Mingyang Marketplace to purchase supplies."
After a moment of thought, Feng Ling spoke up.
She had her own calculations; the Mingyang Marketplace was a certain distance away from the Blood Demon Sect, yet it was a rare opportunity to go out.
"Since Junior Sister Feng chooses to go out to purchase supplies, then I'll go to the Spirit Beast Garden. I'm sick of staying at that Hidden Scripture Pavilion."
"Sorry to trouble Junior Brother Lin."
Wang Biao grinned, looking at Lin Fan as he spoke.
"What is your intention?"
"I have no objections."
"Good, that's how it's arranged."
Zhao Wang nodded, then took out a few medicinal pills and handed them to Lin Fan and the other two respectively.
"Senior Brother Zhao, these are..."
All three looked at each other in dismay.
"The most important thing in the sect is loyalty. Every formal disciple must swallow a Bone-Gnawing Pill, and every month the sect will issue the antidote once."
"As long as you obey and are obedient, there is no need to worry about anything."
Zhao Wang said expressionlessly.
This was the Blood Demon Sect's powerful control over its formal disciples. Once any formal disciple dared to pay lip service to the sect's orders and disobey them in secret, they would be unable to obtain the antidote for the Bone-Gnawing Pill, and upon exceeding the one-month deadline, they would burst apart and die on the spot.
A demon sect truly is a demon sect; even the methods to control disciples are so cold-blooded and overbearing.
Lin Fan was secretly alarmed.
Reluctant though he was, he still swallowed the pill.
Seeing Lin Fan swallow the poison, Feng Ling knitted her delicate brows, yet she still swallowed the medicinal pill in one gulp.
Wang Biao was still dithering, but as Zhao Wang glared at him with a look, he also obediently ingested the poison.
"Rest assured, this Bone-Gnawing Pill is not only poison, but also a tonic. As long as you obtain the antidote every month, it can give your cultivation efficiency a certain boost."
Zhao Wang said with a half-smile.
"Alright, that's all for today. Tomorrow the three of you will begin executing your missions."
"Dismissed."
With that, he turned and fluttered away.
Wang Biao drooped his head and, lingering no longer, left.
Soon, only Lin Fan and Feng Ling were left inside the pavilion.
Feng Ling turned and made to leave.
Lin Fan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Sister Feng, going out to purchase supplies is very dangerous."
"How do you know?"
"I guessed it."
Continuing on his own accord, Lin Fan said, "There are more than a dozen cave dwellings in the area where we live, but according to what Senior Brother Zhao mentioned, Blackwood Cliff only has a few formal disciples. Those vacant cave dwellings..."
Lin Fan did not continue. He believed Feng Ling could understand what he meant.
"I have my own plans."
Feng Ling said softly.
Lin Fan shook his head and said nothing more.
Of course he knew Feng Ling's thoughts; she wanted to take this opportunity to transmit information to the outside world, but would the demon sect give her such an opportunity?
Not many deep-cover spies who infiltrated the demon sect met with a good end. If Feng Ling had not given him pointers before, Lin Fan wouldn't even have wanted to open his mouth to remind her.
After becoming a formal disciple, the treatment was much better than that of menial disciples.
As for contribution points, they could get twenty points every month, and each month they could also acquire a fixed twenty Grain Abstinence Pills and ten Blood Spirit Pills to aid cultivation.
Besides these, completing sect missions could also yield rewards of a certain number of contribution points.
There were also welfare benefits bestowed by the sect such as "Dual Cultivation Cauldrons".
In short, compared to menial disciples, the welfare of formal disciples was vastly superior.
Upon leaving the pavilion, Lin Fan began examining the "Talisman Secret Tome".
Whether to consume ten years of lifespan to pre-emptively advance the Talisman Secret Tome to Novice?
Soon, a line of glowing text floated before Lin Fan's eyes.
"Agree to pre-emptive advancement."
Lin Fan said without the slightest hesitation.
The next moment, a portion of comprehension regarding the "Talisman Secret Tome" poured into Lin Fan's mind out of thin air.
At the same time, an image suddenly appeared. A youth resembling Lin Fan was holding a talisman brush, outlining special symbols on pristine talisman paper.
Power gathered at the brush tip, and talisman characters leaped forth onto the paper, his movements changing from initial stiffness to ultimate fluency.
The essentials and movements of drawing talismans!
Lin Fan's eyes lit up.
He casually picked up a wooden stick, treating it as a talisman brush, and slowly outlined traces in the soil.
Power gathered at a point, talisman characters glossed with a luster amid the soil and finally slowly faded away, and a faint, intangible fluctuation diffused outward with Lin Fan at the center.
As the last trace of talismanic light vanished, Lin Fan's spiritual sense relaxed, and fine beads of sweat had already seeped across his brow.
Too busy to wipe his sweat, he hurriedly summoned the panel to check his own latest changes.
Name: Lin Fan Lifespan: 525 Talent: Pre-emptive Dao Fruit Realm: Meridian Condensing Realm (First Grade) Cultivation Methods: Intermediate Demonic Arts (Perfection), Blood Gathering Art (Proficient), Talisman Secret Tome (Novice)
So besides cultivation methods, talisman arts manuals can also have their related proficiency pre-emptively advanced.
Lin Fan was pleasantly surprised.
In this way, not only could he elevate his cultivation realm, but he could also practice the path of talismans.
If he could achieve something on the path of talismans, then within the demon sect he would be a skilled technician; whether in terms of treatment or status, he would definitely be much stronger than ordinary disciples.
The urgent matter right now is to go purchase some talisman materials so I can test my talisman-making ability.
It seems I have to make a trip to the Market Below the Mountain.
Pondering for a moment, Lin Fan walked outward.
Before you continue