Wang Quan found a wind-sheltered precipice and, after confirming the surroundings were safe, sat cross-legged. His consciousness sank into his mind, where the accumulated 229 skill points flickered with an enticing micro-glow.
He first attempted to deduce the Turtle Snake Coiling Dragon Strength. The art at Great Completion flowed through his consciousness, but when he tried to consume skill points to push toward the "Seeing Force" true intent and open the door to the Mortal Transformation Realm, he felt as though he had crashed into an invisible, thick wall.
[Deducing <Turtle Snake Coiling Dragon Strength - Mortal Transformation Chapter>... Failed!] [Prompt: Prerequisite conditions not met, lack of comprehension regarding the Seeing Force true intent. Unable to forcibly deduce.]
Indeed, realm breakthroughs could not be accomplished solely by piling up points. Wang Quan was not discouraged and instead cast his gaze toward the other cultivation arts.
"Upgrade the Shape-Shifting Art to Great Completion!"
[Consumed 7 skill points, Shape-Shifting Art upgraded to Great Completion realm!]
The Great Completion Shape-Shifting Art brought mastery over muscles, bones, and even aura to a minute degree; the transformation's sustained duration was greatly prolonged, and its consumption became even more negligible.
"Deduce the Shape-Shifting Art, fusing the transformation characteristics of demons, monsters, and the Corpse Clan!"
[Whether to consume 10 skill points to deduce the Shape-Shifting Art?]
"Yes!"
[Deduction successful! Acquired martial artist-grade art Thousand Forms Transformation Art!] [Thousand Forms Transformation Art: Based on the Great Completion Shape-Shifting Art, fusing the imitation and simulation of the original auras of demons, monsters, and the Corpse Clan. Can transform into the forms of demons, monsters, and the Corpse Clan at or below the Qi-Enlightenment Realm that one has contacted or studied in detail. Lifelike, difficult to see through except by special investigation or those one major realm higher. Note: The Nightmare Race is formless and substance-less, and the core required for transformation is spiritual resentment; this art cannot simulate its essence, allowing only a rough likeness that is extremely easy to see through.]
Very good! This was precisely the sharp weapon Wang Quan needed for infiltration, reconnaissance, and even framing others.
Immediately following, he looked at the Blood Shadow Tracking Art.
"Upgrade the Blood Shadow Tracking Art to Major Accomplishment!"
[Consumed 5 skill points, Blood Shadow Tracking Art upgraded to Major Accomplishment realm!]
"Upgrade to Great Completion!"
[Consumed 7 skill points, Blood Shadow Tracking Art upgraded to Great Completion realm!]
The Major Accomplishment and Great Completion Blood Shadow Tracking Art made his perception of auras and traces several times sharper, vastly enhancing his ability to track and lock onto enemies.
"Deduce the Blood Shadow Tracking Art, strengthen tracking capabilities, and incorporate a trace of fortune-misfortune induction!"
[Whether to consume 10 skill points to deduce the Blood Shadow Tracking Art?]
"Yes!"
[Deduction successful! Acquired martial artist-grade art Mysterious Mechanism Tracing Art!] [Mysterious Mechanism Tracing Art: Based on the Great Completion Blood Shadow Tracking Art, peer into a thread of heavenly secrets and trace the forms and tracks of all things. Can accurately capture, lock onto, and trace specific aura sources amidst complex realms, with range and precision greatly enhanced. Cultivated to profound depths, one can occasionally, during the process of tracking, experience a slight twitch of the mind, producing a profound induction regarding the auspicious or inauspicious qi mechanism of the target or the path ahead. Like watching clouds and rainbows to distinguish wind and rain, though hazy and difficult to fathom, one can thereby avoid or approach it to some degree. Note: This induction stems from the unpredictability of heavenly secrets, appearing and disappearing at times, and cannot be entirely relied upon.]
Beyond tracking, it actually carried a profound ability to foresee fortune and misfortune! Although unstable, it might play an unexpected role at critical moments.
Thus far, total consumed points: 39.
Remaining skill points: 190.
His strength was reinforced once more, especially having gained more practical auxiliary and early-warning abilities. Wang Quan opened his eyes, feeling the profoundness of the two new cultivation arts newly added to his mind, as well as an even more minute sense of control over his body. He tried operating the Thousand Forms Transformation Art; the skin on his arm underwent a subtle ripple, actually emitting the rough texture and faint monster qi similar to the previous Pig Demon before instantly returning to normal.
In the distance, the auras of those demons and monsters who had managed to escape had long since dissipated deep into the mountain forest, mixed and difficult to distinguish, making pursuit unprofitable. Wang Quan stood up and headed back in the direction of Anping County.
When Wang Quan pushed open that door once more, Madman Xu was staring blankly at a basin of bubbling purple slime. Hearing the movement, he slowly turned his head, his turbid eyes sweeping up and down over Wang Quan—especially the blood stench on his body, which, though cleaned, remained thick and unmelting, along with the hardened and icy aura belonging to a genuine slaughter that had not yet fully subsided in the depths of his eyes.
"Tsk tsk, kid, haven't seen you in a few days, and this skin and flesh of yours has been hammered... barelypresentable." Madman Xu smacked his lips, a strange light flashing in his eyes that looked like appreciation or perhaps the evaluation of a tool. "However, relying solely on the tendons, bones, and membranes of the human body ultimately has its limits. If you could graft on one or two suitable demon and monster parts, such as an arm from a Void-Rending Demon Ape or the wing membranes of a Nether Bat... Hehe, that would truly be entering the inner sanctum!"
Wang Quan did not pick up on his conversational thread and directly stated his purpose: "Old Xu, I want a drop of your blood essence."
Madman Xu's movements paused. He slowly straightened his hunched back, meticulously walking a circle around Wang Quan from head to toe, his gaze sharp enough to peel him open. "My blood essence?" He laughed hoarsely. "These old bones of mine have withered blood essence, impure and chaotic. It's of no great use to give it to you. However..."
He strolled leisurely over to a locked, aged iron cabinet, pulled out an oddly shaped key to open it, and felt out a palm-sized, black box that was neither jade nor wood from the very back. The box opened to reveal a lining of dark red velvet inside, upon which quietly lay a pigeon-egg-sized blood drop that was crystalline and translucent like a ruby?! That blood drop seemed to possess life, slowly writhing in the box and emitting an indescribable aura that blended boundless vitality with a certain profound majesty—completely distinct from the decadent and chaotic aura on Madman Xu's body.
"This drop of blood comes from a true expert. Of course, it was many years ago." Madman Xu narrowed his eyes, his fingertips pointing emptily at that drop of blood from a short distance, his tone unusually carrying a trace of solemnity. "It might be useful to you. But, kid, what are you trading it with?"
Without a word, Wang Quan retrieved a beast-skin pouch from his bosom, untied the drawstring, and dumped it onto the nearby broken wooden table with a clatter. Ten monster cores of varying sizes, colors, and shapes rolled out; the majority were of the Spirit Realm, among which two possessed particularly dense auras, clearly belonging to chieftain levels. They emitted pure monster power fluctuations and a faint blood stench, precisely part of the spoils from Wang Quan's prior extermination of demons and monsters on all sides.
Madman Xu's gaze was instantly drawn over, especially toward those two chieftain monster cores. He stretched out withered and bony fingers, cautiously picking one up to scrutinize it closely against the light outside the window, a satisfied guttural sound rumbling in his throat. "Not bad, the quality is very full, and the grievance qi has also been cleansed quite cleanly... You brat, just how many did you butcher recently?" He raised his eyes and took a deep look at Wang Quan, his gaze complex and difficult to fathom, containing surprise, inquiry, and a trace of comprehension. "The blood stench on your body is so heavy it's practically about to drip."
He asked no further questions, sweeping that chieftain monster core and the other monster cores into his own bosom before cautiously pushing the pitch-black box containing the mysterious blood essence toward Wang Quan.
"Take it. Remember, this drop of blood... is not simple. When you use it, be careful. Don't melt yourself into it." After finishing this transaction in the small room filled with madness and secrets,
Madman Xu waved a hand and squatted back down in front of his basin of purple slime, as if the transaction just then had never occurred.
Wang Quan received the cold black box, clearly feeling the faint pulse and obscure power emanating from that drop of blood within it. He said no more, tucked the box securely against his body, gave a slight nod toward Madman Xu, and turned to leave.
(If you can't find it by searching the book title, you can try searching the author instead—maybe it just changed its name!)
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