After his conflict with Zhang Yuan, Fang Huai was temporarily unable to work because of his injuries, so he returned to his quarters.
As his roommate, Jin Xiaoxiao had been assigned by Wu Liu to come back with him and help treat his wounds.
She gently applied the medicinal herbs and reassured him, "Senior Brother, your wound looks frightening, but there's no need to worry too much. It won't affect your arm's movement."
"Mm," Fang Huai replied distractedly.
Whether he got hurt, and how badly, had all been under his control.
Skinning required precision. He wasn't stupid enough to ruin his future just to kill Zhang Yuan.
He had deliberately claimed his tendons and bones were injured only so Zhang Yuan's death would seem more justified.
"Senior Brother, you really went all out. To buy Zhang Yuan's life, you even promised the steward a thousand Contribution Points every year."
"Junior Sister Jin, those thousand Contribution Points aren't just buying Zhang Yuan's life. They're buying my own peace of mind, too."
"I understand..."
"I haven't even explained, and you already understand?"
Jin Xiaoxiao smiled. "Do you think Wu Liu and I get along pretty well? That's because I promised to give her three hundred Contribution Points every year..."
Fang Huai and Jin Xiaoxiao were of one mind: they were both spending Contribution Points to buy peace.
If he had a choice, Fang Huai wouldn't have been so generous, either.
But in the demonic sect, it wasn't just about who was more ruthless or stronger. It was also about who had connections and backing.
Even Jin Xiaoxiao could tell the wound on his shoulder only looked serious on the surface, yet Wu Liu had chosen to play along with his lie.
That partiality was thanks to the thousand Contribution Points Fang Huai had promised to give her each year.
As long as Fang Huai stayed alive, she could keep receiving benefits from him. So she was sure to favor him and make sure he was safe.
There was still some time before bed, and Fang Huai had nothing else to do. He sat cross-legged and began cultivating through controlled breathing.
Before leaving the Skinning Room, he had exchanged for [Spirit Absorption (Gray)].
Now he sat in stillness, trying to draw in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
The spiritual energy in the Corpse Sha Sect was too impure. Breathing it in brought with it a large amount of resentment and Poison Sha, so before reaching the Qi Refining stage, disciples could only go to the Cultivation Room to absorb relatively pure spiritual energy.
But after entering the Qi Refining stage, their ability to purify spiritual energy improved. And since the Hundred Sha Technique itself required Killing Intent to aid its cultivation, they could increase their cultivation outside the Cultivation Room, as long as they practiced in moderation.
He had only cultivated for a little while before leaving his meditative state.
Though he had drawn in a small amount of spiritual energy, he had also absorbed a large amount of Poison Sha and resentment. If he kept this up, it would inevitably leave hidden problems.
He had thought the Corpse Sha Sect disciples carried the [Sha Qi Infusion] label because of cultivating the Hundred Sha Technique. Now it seemed that it was caused by damage to their bodies.
With that in mind, and for the sake of a solid foundation in his future cultivation, Fang Huai stopped breathing in spiritual energy. He decided to save up more Contribution Points and system points, then go to the Cultivation Room to absorb pure spiritual energy.
That day, Fang Huai was resting in his room when Jin Xiaoxiao hurried back and told him that a batch of live demonic beasts had arrived at the Skinning Room.
"Live demonic beasts?" Fang Huai asked in confusion. How could they skin something that was alive?
Their group of half-trained cultivators had hardly anyone who had practiced offensive or defensive techniques.
Skinning a live demonic beast was just asking to die.
"Senior Brother, don't worry. 'Live demonic beasts' means that their consciousness has been wiped out, or their bodies have been damaged to the point of near death."
Jin Xiaoxiao explained, "Though these beasts are neither fully dead nor alive, their bodies still retain plenty of blood and vitality. The skinning disciples can seize that vitality while skinning them. At the same time, skins taken from live beasts retain more spiritual essence and look more appealing.
"Of course, there's danger, too. Sometimes a beast only pretends to be dead, then suddenly attacks and injures someone. That's why they give more Contribution Points for skinning live demonic beasts.
"Normally, a good job like this wouldn't fall to us. But with battles breaking out so often, the sect has issued a large number of missions to hunt demonic beasts and ensure supplies.
"The amount of skinning work has increased, and the higher-ranked Skinning Rooms have to handle high-tier demonic beasts. That's why the sect has assigned the low-tier live beasts to us."
Hearing Jin Xiaoxiao's explanation, Fang Huai understood. His heart stirred.
He had been resting for quite some time. It was time to return to the fray.
Back at the Skinning Room, Wu Liu merely gave him a slight nod before turning her attention back to the other disciples.
The incident with the Foundation Establishment demonic beast pretending to be dead and destroying the room had left her shaken. She had to keep an eye on every skinning disciple at all times to stop her money trees from getting hurt.
Fang Huai's gaze swept across the mountain of demonic beast corpses as he carefully examined their labels.
[Nearing Death], [Soul Lost], [Consciousness Destroyed]... [Feigning Death]
[Feigning Death: It's pretending to be dead, waiting for a destined fool to risk everything in a fight to the death]
After scanning the beasts, he found two that were feigning death—
A Sharp-Toothed Porcupine and an Ink Eagle.
Fang Huai borrowed [Skinning Expert (Gray)] from some unlucky fellow at random, hoisted a [Soul Lost] Spine-skinned Wolf onto his shoulder, and quickly set to work.
"That kid didn't even check whether the beast was really dead?"
"Heh. So reckless. He'll die at the Skinning Table sooner or later."
"..."
Everyone murmured among themselves.
When dealing with live demonic beasts, they needed to carefully examine the beasts' souls and bodies for any remaining threat before they could use their knives.
They had never seen anyone as brainless as Fang Huai.
Wu Liu had been about to reprimand him, but then remembered that he wasn't a reckless person. In the end, she swallowed her words.
Seizing its vitality... opening its belly... carefully separating the skin from the place where it connected to the bones and flesh...
A complete Spine-skinned Wolf pelt was born.
Working on a living creature felt completely different from working on a dead one.
A dead body's flesh and blood were stiff, so all he had to do was work mechanically.
With a living creature, he could clearly feel its body grow cold, changing from warm to icy, and feel its life slipping away beneath his hands.
From being timid and submissive, to killing someone for the first time, to now keeping his hands steady as he killed living creatures—Fang Huai had changed a lot.
He wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and looked at the panel with satisfaction:
[Body Forging Technique: Beginner: 74/100]
[Skinning Technique: Beginner: 29/100]
The Body Forging Technique had increased by 7 points, and the Skinning Technique by 12.
Only three hours had passed. If he hurried, he could process another demonic beast.
Just as he was feeling pleased, a piercing scream rang out.
He looked up and saw a disciple checking the [Feigning Death] Sharp-Toothed Porcupine. It suddenly sprang up and bit into his face.
Wu Liu immediately struck, piercing the beast's skull, but it was too late. The disciple's face had already been mangled beyond recognition.
Wu Liu waved her hand and ordered someone to carry the disciple away.
If he was lucky enough to survive, the Corpse Sha Sect might assign him to cultivate Spirit Fields or mine Spirit Stones.
If he was unlucky and died, he would be thrown into the Miasma Valley to nourish the Killing Intent.
Fang Huai sighed to himself. He couldn't save that man, nor could he. All he could do was strive to improve himself.
Three more hours passed, and Fang Huai finished processing another demonic beast.
Seeing that little time remained, he left the Skinning Room and returned to his quarters.
Not long after he got back, Jin Xiaoxiao returned with five or six stalks of Poisonous Grass in her hand, smiling brightly.
Poison Heart Grass, Snake Bone Grass, Ten-Step Sway...
This woman really understood what he wanted.
"Why are you being so thoughtful today?" Fang Huai didn't believe she would be nice to him for no reason.
"Senior Brother Fang, you processed that Spine-skinned Wolf so quickly today~"
"Want to learn? I'll teach you..."
Before you continue