Demon City, Treasure Trading

Azure Profound Fiend, the third stage after Black Fiend advanced.

Though it had only advanced two levels, this was the critical point where the Black Fiend Technique transformed from a bottom-tier demon cultivation art and its power surged dramatically.

After all, the Black Fiend Qi cultivated through the ordinary Black Fiend Technique was rather lackluster. Even the Profound Yin Fiend obtained after refining nine Evil Ghost Vengeful Spirits or cultivators' Divine Souls could not close the gap with other demon arts.

But once Black Fiend Qi advanced into Azure Profound Fiend, one had to devour and refine ninety-nine Vengeful Spirits and Evil Ghosts, or an equal number of cultivators' Divine Souls.

If calculated according to the ten-to-one chance of exchanging Living Souls for Malevolent Ghosts, the required number became even more terrifying.

Thus, after cultivating this Azure Profound Fiend, Zheng Yi's strength had invisibly risen severalfold.

Do not underestimate this tiny cluster of Azure Profound Fiend Spirit Flame.

If the energy condensed by this technique struck an enemy, it could directly stiffen and freeze their body, scattering the spiritual power within them.

It could even corrode magical artifacts, making it difficult for the opponent to form spell spirit contracts and preventing them from unleashing powerful attacks.

Furthermore, Azure Profound Fiend was several times more powerful than Black Fiend or Profound Yin Fiend. It could be attached to magical artifacts or Flying Swords before being released, making it even more formidable.

It was no exaggeration to say that with this Azure Profound Fiend Spirit Flame alone, so long as he did not face a High-Stage Qi Refining cultivator, Zheng Yi could deal with a Qi Refining Stage Six cultivator without even using the Soul Devouring Banner. This already counted as fighting across a minor stage.

If he used the Soul Devouring Banner as well, relying on the many Malevolent Ghosts refined within it and the main soul's control, Zheng Yi had nothing to fear even from an enemy at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

"Looks like I came to the right place in the Soul Devouring Sect of the Demonic Sect."

Even Zheng Yi himself could not help but feel shaken. In just a few short months, his cultivation had risen from Qi Refining Stage Three to Qi Refining Stage Four.

With the Lifebound Artifact that was the Soul Devouring Banner, along with the Azure Profound Fiend advanced from the Black Fiend Technique, his true combat strength could even contend with High-Stage Qi Refining cultivators at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Compared to before, it was like heaven and earth.

After refining one of the century-old ghosts and advancing his technique further into Azure Profound Fiend, Zheng Yi's refining ability greatly increased.

Then he shook the Soul Devouring Banner, drawing out the second suppressed Hundred-Year Azure Ghost.

He continued refining Blue Essence Soul!

Having completed his exploration of the underground parking garage beneath Ghost Mansion, Zheng Yi did not linger. He returned directly to an inn in Blood Mist Abyss City within the Demon Domain. After briefly tidying up, he left the inn.

Blood Mist Abyss City was somewhat livelier than he had imagined. There were many cultivators setting up stalls, though it was still inferior to a rogue cultivator city like Profound Sky City. Many demonic cultivators were solitary by nature, hurrying along with grim expressions.

Moreover, compared with the bright colors of Profound Sky City in the Immortal Domain, all of Blood Mist Abyss City appeared much gloomier. Most demonic cultivators wore black and gray garments.

Many of them carried a fierce Sha Qi about them, far less peaceful than cultivators of the Righteous Path.

In particular, if one cultivated an eye technique, they could clearly see that some demonic cultivators were wreathed in black mist visible to the naked eye, mixed with traces of blood-red. Within it, one could vaguely make out phantom soul shadows roaring and surging.

A single glance was enough to make one feel that resentment rushing straight into the mind, as though it wanted to churn one's brain to pieces.

Whenever such demonic cultivators appeared, passersby immediately avoided them, looking deeply wary.

This was the consequence of being entangled in Blood Sin and Karmic Force!

It showed that these people had no small number of mortal lives on their hands.

Cultivators who disregarded the sinking of their Dao path and fell into the evil demonic path were considered lunatics even among demonic cultivators.

Of course, these were still relatively acceptable.

Some evil cultivators suffered severe backlash, unable even to maintain their basic human form and sanity, wholly degenerating into bloodthirsty monsters.

Naturally, even demonic cultivators could not tolerate such people. They had long been killed, their flesh and blood refined into Demonic Artifacts.

It could only be said that competition within demonic cultivator territory was exceptionally fierce, and the dangers of survival far surpassed those elsewhere.

Perhaps only sufficient strength could ensure one's safety and allow one to live well here.

Controlling the Soul Devouring Banner, Zheng Yi condensed a cluster of black mist to conceal his true face.

Without slowing his steps, Zheng Yi arrived at a shop selling cultivation resources. He directly took out a bottle containing a Blue Essence Soul refined from the ghost body of a Hundred-Year Azure Ghost and asked about its price.

The shopkeeper took the bottle with an indifferent expression. After opening it and taking a look, his face grew slightly serious.

Holding the bottle in one hand, he lightly fanned the mouth of the bottle with his other palm, then leaned in and gave it a faint sniff. He could not help but feel delighted inside.

Only then did he look up, glancing once more at Zheng Yi, who was shrouded in black mist. Yet his expression did not change. Instead, he sounded somewhat disdainful as he said,

"The Blue Essence Soul of a Hundred-Year Azure Ghost is of decent quality, but its cultivation is a little shallow, and it suffered heavy injuries, leaving some of its origin missing."

"Name a price. I'll offer fifteen hundred Spirit Stones."

Hearing this, Zheng Yi turned and left.

He had done his homework beforehand and was not some complete novice. The Soul Devouring Sect specialized in manipulating souls and ghosts, and its cultivation arts included descriptions of such soul-path spiritual objects.

Moreover, before coming here, Zheng Yi had given the inn servant half a Spirit Crystal and had him inquire about market prices.

Essence souls from Hundred-Year Ghosts like this were highly sought after among demonic cultivators, not to mention a special type of ghost like an Azure Ghost. They were scarce cultivation resources worth at least two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Had he not truly run out of Spirit Stones, with the thirteen hundred Spirit Stones earned from selling his residency rights in Profound Sky City of the Immortal Domain nearly exhausted after bribes, Zheng Yi might not have sold this Azure Ghost's Blue Essence Soul at all.

Would it not be better to keep it and exchange it for provisions or materials for magical artifacts in the future?

In terms of human nature, cultivators were no different from ordinary mortals. When it came to business, they were every bit as calculating.

As the saying went, without treachery, there was no business.

The shopkeeper seemed to have sensed that Zheng Yi's cultivation was not high and wanted to catch a wolf barehanded, hoping to buy the Blue Essence Soul of a Hundred-Year Azure Ghost for fifteen hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. He was dreaming too much.

Seeing that the other party had no sincerity whatsoever, Zheng Yi naturally had no intention of wasting words with him. He snatched back the bottle containing the Blue Essence Soul and turned to leave.

Even as the shopkeeper called after him repeatedly, he did not stop.

Blood Mist Abyss City had rules laid down by Blood Mist Venerable. The shopkeeper surely would not dare entertain any other crooked thoughts.

Rather than waste words on that insincere shopkeeper, he might as well visit a few more stores.

After visiting three or four shops in succession, the highest offer he received was only two thousand two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, still below Zheng Yi's desired price.

"Eh?"

"Blue Essence Soul?! This is good stuff..."

Upon seeing the Blue Essence Soul in the jade bottle, the owner of the sixth shop's eyes lit up. He immediately said,

"May I inspect it carefully?"

"Please."

Zheng Yi pushed the bottle forward and placed it before the shopkeeper.