Sharpening the Blade

Wang Quan found a leeward cliff face, confirmed his surroundings were safe, and sat down cross-legged. His consciousness sank into his mind, where the accumulated 229 Skill Points shimmered with an alluring glow.

He first attempted to deduce the Turtle Snake Coiling Dragon Strength. The Cultivation Method at the perfected realm flowed through his consciousness, but when he tried to expend Skill Points to break through to the "Seeing Strength" true meaning and open the door to the Mortal Transformation Realm, he felt as if he had hit an invisible, thick wall.

[Deducing Turtle Snake Coiling Dragon Strength · Mortal Transformation Chapter... Failed!]

[Hint: Prerequisites not met, lack of comprehension regarding the Seeing Strength true meaning. Cannot force deduction.]

As expected, breaking through realms wasn't something that could be accomplished by simply stacking points. Wang Quan wasn't discouraged and turned his gaze to other Cultivation Methods.

"Upgrade Shape-Shifting Art to perfected!"

[Consumed 7 Skill Points, Shape-Shifting Art upgraded to perfected realm!]

The perfected Shape-Shifting Art allowed for control over muscles, bones, and even aura to an exquisite degree. The duration of transformations was greatly extended, and the consumption was reduced.

"Deduce Shape-Shifting Art, integrate Demonic Creatures, Corpse Tribe transformation characteristics!"

[Consume 10 Skill Points to deduce Shape-Shifting Art?]

"Yes!"

[Deduction successful! Acquired Martial Practitioner level Cultivation Method Thousand Forms Transformation Art!]

[Thousand Forms Transformation Art: Based on the perfected Shape-Shifting Art, it integrates the imitation and simulation of the origin auras of Demonic Creatures and the Corpse Tribe. It can transform into the forms of Demonic Creatures and Corpse Tribe members at the Spirit Awakening Realm and below that have been encountered or meticulously studied. The transformations are lifelike and difficult to discern without special detection or being a realm higher. Note: Nightmare beings are formless and insubstantial. The core required for transformation is mental resentment. This art cannot simulate their essence and can only achieve a crude resemblance, making it extremely easy to see through.]

Excellent! This was precisely the tool Wang Quan needed for infiltration, reconnaissance, and even framing others!

Immediately after, he looked at the Blood Shadow Tracking Art.

"Upgrade Blood Shadow Tracking Art to great accomplishment!"

[Consumed 5 Skill Points, Blood Shadow Tracking Art upgraded to great accomplishment realm!]

"Upgrade to perfected!"

[Consumed 7 Skill Points, Blood Shadow Tracking Art upgraded to perfected realm!]

The great accomplishment and perfected Blood Shadow Tracking Art made his perception of aura and traces several times sharper, greatly enhancing his tracking and enemy-locking abilities.

"Deduce Blood Shadow Tracking Art, strengthen tracking ability, integrate a trace of fortune and misfortune sensing!"

[Consume 10 Skill Points to deduce Blood Shadow Tracking Art?]

"Yes!"

[Deduction successful! Acquired Martial Practitioner level Cultivation Method Mysterious Mechanism Tracing Art!]

[Mysterious Mechanism Tracing Art: Based on the perfected Blood Shadow Tracking Art, it glimpses a thread of heavenly secrets and traces the forms of all things. It can precisely capture, lock onto, and trace specific aura streams amidst chaos, with greatly improved range and precision. When cultivated to a deep level, one can occasionally, while tracing, feel a subtle, mysterious sensation of good or ill fortune regarding the target or the path ahead, like discerning wind and rain from clouds and rainbows. Though hazy and difficult to comprehend, it can be used to avoid some dangers. Note: This sensing originates from the unfathomable heavenly secrets, appearing and disappearing intermittently, and cannot be relied upon entirely.]

Beyond tracking, it even came with a mysterious ability to predict fortune and misfortune! Although unstable, it might play an unexpected role at critical moments.

Up to this point, the total Skill Points consumed were: 39 points.

Remaining Skill Points: 190 points.

His strength was once again reinforced, especially with the acquisition of more practical auxiliary and early warning abilities. Wang Quan opened his eyes, feeling the profoundness of the two new Cultivation Methods in his mind, as well as a more refined control over his body. He attempted to circulate the Thousand Forms Transformation Art, and his arm's skin rippled subtly, taking on a rough texture and faint demonic aura similar to the Pig Demon he encountered earlier, before quickly returning to normal.

In the distance, the auras of the Demonic Creatures that had narrowly escaped had long since dispersed into the depths of the forest, becoming indistinguishable. Chasing them would be futile. Wang Quan stood up and headed back in the direction of Anping County.

When Wang Quan pushed open that door again, Madman Xu was staring blankly at a pot of bubbling purple slime. Hearing the movement, he slowly turned his head, his cloudy eyes scrutinizing Wang Quan from head to toe, especially the strong, lingering scent of blood on him that, despite his cleaning efforts, was still thick and unyielding, and the untamed ferocity and coldness in his eyes that belonged to someone who had truly fought.

"Tsk tsk, kid, you haven't been here for a few days, and your flesh and bones have been tempered... barely passable," Madman Xu clicked his tongue, a strange glint flashing in his eyes, like admiration, or perhaps an appraisal of a tool. "However, relying solely on the tendons, bones, skin, and flesh of a human body ultimately has its limits. If you could graft on a useful Demonic Creature part or two, like the arm of a Void-Rending Demon Ape, or a pair of 'Nether Bat' wing membranes... Heh heh, now that would be entering the higher echelons!"

Wang Quan didn't engage with his banter and directly stated his purpose: "Old Xu, I need a drop of your Essence Blood."

Madman Xu's movements paused. He slowly straightened his hunched back and meticulously circled Wang Quan from head to toe, his gaze sharp enough to dissect him. "My Essence Blood?" he chuckled hoarsely. "My old bones are withered, and my Essence Blood is impure and useless to you. But..."

He ambled over to an old, locked iron cabinet, took out a strangely shaped key to open it, and from the innermost part, retrieved a palm-sized, black box made of neither jade nor wood. He opened the box, revealing a lining of dark red velvet. On the velvet lay a pigeon-egg-sized, crystal-clear, ruby-like... blood drop?! The blood drop seemed to possess life, slowly undulating within the box, emitting an indescribable aura, a mixture of boundless vitality and a profound pressure, completely different from Madman Xu's own decaying and chaotic aura.

"This drop of blood comes from a true expert. Of course, that was many years ago," Madman Xu squinted, his fingertip hovering a short distance from the drop of Essence Blood, his tone unusually solemn. "It might be useful to you. But, kid, what will you give me in return?"

Without a word, Wang Quan took out a beast-skin pouch from his chest, untied the drawstring, and with a rustle, poured its contents onto the dilapidated wooden table beside him. Ten Monster Cores of various sizes and appearances rolled out. Most were from the Spirit Awakening Realm, with two emanating particularly potent auras, clearly from leader-level beings. They emitted pure demonic energy fluctuations and a faint scent of blood, representing a portion of Wang Quan's spoils from eliminating the surrounding Demonic Creatures.

Madman Xu's gaze was immediately drawn to them, especially the two leader Monster Cores. He extended his withered fingers and carefully picked one up, examining it closely in the light from the window, emitting a satisfied grunt from his throat. "Not bad, the quality is excellent, and the resentment has been purified cleanly... Kid, how many have you slaughtered recently?" He raised his eyes and looked deeply at Wang Quan, his expression complex and unreadable, containing surprise, inquiry, and a hint of understanding. "The smell of blood on you is so strong it's practically dripping."

He didn't ask any further questions, sweeping the leader Monster Core and the other Monster Cores into his embrace. Then, he carefully pushed the black box containing the mysterious Essence Blood towards Wang Quan.

"Take it. Remember, this drop of blood... is not simple. Be careful when you use it. Don't let yourself melt into it." He waved his hand, returning to squat in front of his pot of purple slime, as if the transaction had never happened.

Wang Quan accepted the cold black box, clearly feeling the faint pulse and hidden power emanating from the drop of Essence Blood within. He said nothing more, tucked the box close to his body, gave Madman Xu a slight nod, and turned to leave.