Blood Refining Golden Silkworm Succeeds

Inside the comfortable and elegantly furnished Ming Xuan.

Chen Dengming, feeling somewhat weak after a recent life-force expenditure of six years to enhance his Spiritual Energy affinity, took a moment to rest.

During his break, he savored a cup of wolfberry tea prepared by Xu Wei and sat in quiet contemplation, focusing on his current status panel.

"Qi Cultivation Second Layer Cultivator [Chen Dengming] Lifespan: 102/188 Spiritual Root: Gold, Wood (Mid-grade 10/100) Martial Arts: Chen Family Martial Arts General Outline (Mastered 99/100) Daoist Magic: Gu Refining Chapter (Proficient 43/100), Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique (Second Layer 97/200), Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique (First Layer 3.3/100), Great Fireball Technique (Proficient 3/100), Artifact Control Technique (Beginner 19/100), Golden Spear Technique (Beginner 21/100)"

"It's a shame I don't have enough time. With twelve hours in a day, practicing the Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique twelve times would take six hours. Add in eating, drinking, personal hygiene, Gu refining, and rest, which takes another hour. I only have five hours left for cultivation."

"Although I'm in a spiritual land like the Lüo Family's, my Spiritual Energy recovery is fast, and I'm willing to spend Spirit Stones to replenish it.

Still, practicing three Daoist Magics daily with only five hours is incredibly tight. I wish I could split myself into four or five to cultivate simultaneously."

Chen Dengming looked at his current cultivation progress with both joy and regret over the lack of time, lamenting the limitations of a single person's energy.

Therefore, whenever he saw Xu Wei not cultivating, he felt a pang of regret, wishing she could act as his clone and cultivate for him.

However, with his encouragement, Xu Wei had indeed been diligently cultivating for a long time recently.

According to her, she was close to breaking through to Qi Cultivation First Layer.

As for Chen Dengming, his progress was even more significant, fully capitalizing on the 'precious land' resources during this period.

The Spiritual Energy density within the Lüo Family's courtyard where he resided was three times that of the Rogue Cultivator Gathering Place in the city, and about four times that of the wilderness.

Coupled with daily consumption of Pure Spirit Pills to enhance his Spiritual Energy affinity, his cultivation speed was astonishing. In just forty-three days, he had broken through one cultivation layer and reached nearly halfway through the second layer of Qi Cultivation.

Upon breaking through to the Second Layer, his lifespan also increased by another fifteen years, extending his maximum lifespan to 188 years.

Unfortunately, Daoist Magics like Great Fireball Technique, Artifact Control Technique, and Golden Spear Technique were at a similar level to the Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique.

Therefore, neither learning them nor breaking through had increased his lifespan.

However, the only pleasant surprise was that the Golden Spear Technique was likely a Gold-attribute Daoist Magic. With his mid-grade Gold Wood Spirit Root, his cultivation speed was much faster than practicing the Great Fireball Technique, and it consumed significantly less Spiritual Energy.

Consequently, he had focused most of his energy on this Daoist Magic during this period, with secondary practice on the fireball technique, gradually bringing this Daoist Magic to a respectable level.

This also highlighted the importance of 'Companion' in the saying 'Dao Companion, Law, Land'.

A companion could be a teacher, a friend, or other types of partners.

If he had a master to guide him earlier, he could have avoided many detours.

"The most important thing now is to consider upgrading my mid-grade Spiritual Root to the upper-grade level. With my current mid-grade Spiritual Root's affinity of 10, it would cost at least 135 years of lifespan to reach the affinity of an upper-grade Spiritual Root.

This..."

Chen Dengming shook his head slightly, blowing on the wolfberries in his cup.

"The extent to which this cultivation method enhances Spiritual Roots varies from person to person, ranging from a 50% to 120% increase. Based on my initial trial when progressing from the first to the second layer, I can increase my Spiritual Energy affinity by 4 points for every six years of lifespan consumed. After fully cultivating the second layer, I can increase my Spiritual Energy affinity by 120 points, which is the maximum possible, and I'm already fortunate."

Chen Dengming frowned, pondered for a moment, then opened his eyes, shook his head, and walked out of the Ming Xuan.

For now, he didn't have enough life force to '氪' (expend).

After all, he only had eighty-six years left to live, and a loss of 135 years of lifespan was simply too high. He could only consume it slowly over time.

He had made a decision and would begin cultivating the Wood Escape Technique, a Tier 1, Level 2 skill.

The Wood Escape Technique was at a higher level than the Great Fireball Technique and others.

If it didn't conflict with the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique, learning the Wood Escape Technique would increase his lifespan, bringing him more security.

But now, the Golden Silkworm Gu was nearing completion, and his time at the Lüo Family was running out.

If the refining failed, he might have to pack his bags and leave that very day, possibly facing severe punishment.

At that point, with everyone turning against him, his cooperative relationship with Xu Ning, the owner of the Golden Character Workshop, would undoubtedly change.

He would have no place to stand in the Gathering Place.

In the law of the jungle that was the Cultivation World, only by remaining strong and outstanding would people around you be benevolent.

Once you fall into destitution, even a stray dog on the street would bare its teeth at you.

Xu Wei clearly understood this principle as well. She had been particularly anxious these past few days, sleeping only two hours out of the twelve in a day, and spending most of her remaining time by the formation in the courtyard, closely monitoring the status of the Golden Silkworm Gu.

She had even set up a small shed in the courtyard and lived and ate there.

Every time Chen Dengming tried to dissuade her, she would smile and say she understood, only to revert to her old ways, making her difficult to dissuade.

This filled Chen Dengming with emotion.

He had originally intended to help her, but now Xu Wei was so dedicated that she had lost weight over the past forty days. The sickly pallor on her beautiful face was more pronounced. She seemed to fear that if the Golden Silkworm Gu refining failed and he was punished, it would make Chen Dengming, who was focused on cultivation, feel quite ashamed.

Compared to Xu Wei, he, the refiner of the Golden Silkworm Gu, had spent much less effort on it.

However, at this point in time, Chen Dengming could increasingly feel the blood connection and telepathic link with the Golden Silkworm Gu. The aura of this soon-to-be-born Gu worm was clearly growing stronger, indicating that the possibility of his refining failing was decreasing.

Six days later.

Inside the courtyard.

"Rise!"

Chen Dengming stepped forward, his Spiritual Might erupting, his robes fluttering as he formed a hand seal and pointed at the Golden Silkworm Gu within the incense burner on the ground.

Instantly, the Golden Silkworm Gu seemed to awaken from its slumber, its golden vertical pupils opening. Suddenly, the golden carapace on its back, etched with blood-red patterns, cracked open, revealing six wings as thin as cicada wings.

Buzz!

The Golden Silkworm Gu transformed into a golden thread in the air and vanished in an instant.

In the next moment, it flew before Chen Dengming.

Its speed was so swift that it surpassed the Blood Centipede Gu by more than double.

Chen Dengming curiously examined the Golden Silkworm Gu, which resembled a combination of a cicada and a silkworm, a look of joy on his face.

Its swift flight speed alone was much faster than low-grade Magic Items. The power of the Golden Silkworm Gu made him extremely satisfied.

However, the Golden Silkworm Gu's greatest strengths were not its speed, but its poison and its impenetrable body. Ordinary mid-to-low-grade Magic Items might not even be able to inflict significant damage on it.

"It's said that the Golden Silkworm Gu's poison is invisible and odorless. Those poisoned feel like thousands of worms biting them all over their bodies, enduring unbearable pain, unable to live, and unable to die. Is this true?"

At this moment, Xi'er's voice came from the side.

Chen Dengming's vital energy stirred, and he immediately turned his head to look. He saw Xi'er and another figure of elegant and captivating demeanor – the Lüo Family's eldest daughter, Lüo Bing.

With the Golden Silkworm Gu successfully formed, this young lady, with whom he had a brief acquaintance in the past, was finally willing to meet him.

"Junior greets Immortal Aunt. Immortal Master!"

Chen Dengming immediately bowed, almost calling her by her former title, Immortal Master.

"Immortal Aunt?"

Xi'er pursed her lips and smiled, secretly glancing at Lüo Bing's exquisite and beautiful profile beside her, giggling softly.

Chen Dengming cupped his fist and said to Xi'er, "The Golden Silkworm Gu's poison is indeed invisible and odorless, and very potent. It can cause the victim to suffer from severe abdominal pain and swelling like a cauldron, eventually leading to a tragic death.

However, as for its specific effects on Cultivators, this is my first time refining one, so I am unsure. But the Golden Silkworm Gu is said to be impervious to blades and spears, invulnerable to water and fire, and its sharp teeth are comparable to Magic Items. Ordinary Spirit Shields are as ineffective as nothing against it.

The only pity is that this creature is refined with blood and constantly needs to be fed the blood of spiritual beings, making it quite difficult to raise."

As he spoke, Chen Dengming's expression showed a hint of regret, and he felt a headache coming on.

He had a treasure now, but he could hardly afford to raise it.

The Blood Centipede Gu was manageable; it wasn't picky about food and occasionally feasting was enough. If it had nothing to eat, it would shrink into his ear and wouldn't rebel.

The Golden Silkworm Gu, however, was notoriously a big eater. If it didn't get fed, it would become very irritable. If he dared to starve it, this Gu would dare to rebel.

"Oh?"

Xi'er was surprised. She completely ignored Chen Dengming's last sentence and looked at the Golden Silkworm Gu with eagerness. She formed a hand seal and said, "Alright, I will cast the Spirit Shield Technique now. Let this little bug try it. If what you say is not true, hmph..."

With that, she released her Spiritual Might, and a spiritual light shield condensed almost instantly.

"A Spirit Shield Technique at the Proficient level..."

Chen Dengming raised an eyebrow but didn't seem concerned.

Even the Blood Centipede Gu had once bitten through a Spirit Shield Technique's protective barrier with a single bite, let alone the Golden Silkworm Gu. He suspected only defensive Magic Items could withstand it.

With a thought, the Golden Silkworm Gu suddenly opened its sharp tongue, resembling a spiral gear, and flapped its wings, flashing.

Whoosh!

Splat!

Almost as soon as the golden light flashed, the Spirit Shield that had just condensed around Xi'er shattered like a dream, its speed unbelievably fast.

"Ah!"

Xi'er flinched back almost reflexively in fright. A protective Magic Item, flashing with spiritual light, appeared just in time and struck the incredibly fast Golden Silkworm Gu with a 'ding', emitting a melodious bell-like sound wave and knocking it away.

But in just a moment, the Golden Silkworm Gu bounced back from the ground. It shook its head as if slightly dizzy, then slowly flew back to Chen Dengming's side, unharmed.

Seeing this scene, Xu Wei was stunned speechless. Even Lüo Bing's indifferent and exquisite beautiful face couldn't help but show a flicker of emotion.