Demon Corpse Sect, Soul Blood Secret Technique

So this Daoist Blood Origin was a discarded disciple of the overseas Demon Corpse Sect.

She was an immortal cultivator!

However, her Spiritual Root Aptitude was limited—she had only barely crossed the threshold into immortal cultivation.

So even after cultivating for many years, she had only reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

In the end, because her aptitude was too poor, an elder of the Demon Corpse Sect expelled her from the sect.

Gradually, she led several Iron Corpses across countless dangers and arrived in the Great Cloud Dynasty.

She wanted to cultivate subordinates here, refine Iron Corpses, and slowly increase her strength.

The cultivation art she practiced was called the Iron Corpse Evil Heart Art!

This cultivation art was rather sinister. It could refine living people into Iron Corpses and control them at will.

This was a unique cultivation art of the Demon Corpse Sect. Any outer disciple could practice it.

During this period, Daoist Blood Origin had set her sights on some Body Refining martial artists.

Especially those with powerful physiques—those Body Refining martial artists were the targets she focused on most.

Thus, Su Yun, who had made such a great name for himself these past few days, naturally became one of her targets as well.

She wanted to refine Su Yun into a powerful Iron Corpse!

Later, she secretly learned that the ultimate destination of the merchant caravan Su Yun led was Purple Jade City.

So, she planned to wait here for the hare by the tree stump.

In truth, she had refined those three weaker first-rank Iron Corpses using this very same method.

After all, she had three powerful second-rank Iron Corpses as her trump cards.

Therefore, even a Body Refining Ninth Layer martial artist was no match for her at all.

Unfortunately, she had misjudged Su Yun's strength!

"An immortal cultivator..." Su Yun's heart stirred.

When he was young, he had loved reading all kinds of ancient texts and illustrated books.

When Father Su learned of it, he immediately had people gather all manner of books for Su Yun to read.

Among that vast sea of books, the tales of strange spirits and extraordinary anecdotes fascinated him, setting his heart racing with longing.

Thus, he had long known that this world contained not only martial artists, but immortal cultivators as well!

Unfortunately, within the Great Cloud Dynasty, immortal cultivators were far too mysterious, like divine dragons that showed their heads but never their tails.

Nor were there any powerful sects openly recruiting disciples.

No one knew the reason.

Some speculated that it was related to the First Emperor Ancestor of the Great Cloud Dynasty.

As for whether that was true or false, ordinary people found it difficult to say.

"Right, do you know where that Iron Corpse Evil Heart Art is?"

Inside the Daoist temple, Su Yun spoke up and asked.

"It's inside that collapsed stone statue."

After saying that, the Little Daoist Child hurriedly got to her feet and trotted over to the statue.

Then, she reached into the shattered stone statue and pulled out a black bundle.

Afterward, she began feeling around inside it.

Su Yun watched her, his grip tightening around the Black Blade.

Before long, she really did pull out something that looked like jade, yet not jade.

Lines of blood-red writing were recorded on it, giving off hazy wisps of crimson mist.

It looked to be only two palms in size.

This was the Iron Corpse Evil Heart Art!

Su Yun stepped forward, glanced at the Iron Corpse Evil Heart Art, then asked, "How is this cultivation art practiced?"

"Daoist Blood Origin said that any immortal cultivation art requires Spiritual Root Aptitude before one can cultivate it and enter the path."

"And many people who possess Spiritual Roots are actually descendants of immortal cultivators."

"Mortals with Spiritual Roots are one in ten thousand, extremely rare."

"So, Big Brother, you might not be able to cultivate this art..."

The Little Daoist Child's palms were sweating.

She cautiously glanced at Su Yun and spoke timidly.

"Spiritual Root Aptitude?"

Su Yun frowned.

Indeed, his martial aptitude was not bad. His meridians were clear, his bones and physique were exceptional, and his comprehension was decent as well. He was very suited to martial cultivation.

But as for Spiritual Root Aptitude, he truly might not possess it.

After all, this thing was mysterious and unfathomable, utterly invisible to the naked eye.

It was difficult to test through ordinary methods.

When the Little Daoist Child saw Su Yun frown, she rummaged through the bundle for a while longer.

Then, she pulled out an exquisite, square piece of precious jade and carefully held it up in both hands.

"This Spirit Testing Stone is the Treasure Daoist Blood Origin used to test my Spiritual Root Aptitude when she captured me."

"Big Brother, as long as you place your palm on it, you'll know whether you possess Spiritual Root Aptitude."

"If you have a Spiritual Root, this Spirit Testing Jade will shine in various colors."

"Yellow is the lowest, and purple is the highest."

"As for even higher Spiritual Root Aptitude, this Spirit Testing Jade cannot test for it."

"If there is no reaction, then you do not possess Spiritual Root Aptitude."

Su Yun nodded, then placed his hand on the Spirit Testing Jade.

After waiting for a while, the Spirit Testing Jade showed not the slightest reaction.

It seemed that he had no Spiritual Root.

Just like the countless ordinary mortals of this world.

In truth, whether one cultivated martial arts or immortal arts,

the essence was the same: evolving one's level of life and obtaining immense power.

As long as one's strength was powerful enough,

using martial arts to strike down immortals was not impossible.

"You know alchemy, so you should possess Spiritual Root Aptitude, right?"

Su Yun looked at the Little Daoist Child and asked.

"Big Brother, I... I do have Spiritual Root Aptitude, but it is only the lowest Yellow-Grade Spiritual Root."

"This Iron Corpse Evil Heart Art is very difficult to cultivate. I have only just entered the path, and my cultivation is merely at the Qi Refining Second Layer."

"Daoist Blood Origin once said that with my aptitude, I would need at least another three months of cultivation to reach the Qi Refining Third Layer."

The Little Daoist Child looked dejected.

Su Yun glanced at her, then began pondering inwardly.

He had the Cultivation Technique System. Could he forcibly cultivate the Iron Corpse Evil Heart Art, as well as other immortal cultivation arts?

"I can give it a try."

Then, he began silently reciting the Iron Corpse Evil Heart Art.

"Ding! You do not possess a Spiritual Root and cannot cultivate."

A voice rang out in his mind the next moment.

"It seems the path of immortal cultivation is not fated for me."

Su Yun smiled and did not dwell on it.

"What do you think I should do with you?"

Coming back to himself, he turned his gaze toward the Little Daoist Child.

Remembering the scene of Su Yun killing Daoist Blood Origin just moments ago,

the Little Daoist Child's face turned deathly pale, and her body trembled.

Of course, she was clever too. She immediately understood the meaning behind Su Yun's words.

"Big Brother, although my Spiritual Root Aptitude is not high, my aptitude for alchemy is very good."

"Previously, Daoist Blood Origin had me refine first-rank Blood Evil Pills to raise Iron Corpses. In less than a month, I was already able to refine them perfectly."

"I am useful to you. I can refine all kinds of pills needed for martial cultivation."

"Moreover, I have a way to make Big Brother completely trust me. I can hand over a wisp of Soul Blood. If you refine it, you can control my life and death with a single thought."

"Also, martial cultivation and immortal cultivation are similar. During cultivation, both require the consumption of all kinds of pills."

The Little Daoist Child looked nervous.

Hearing this, Su Yun nodded and did not deny it.

Indeed, the Body Tempering Pills he had taken before had been refined by alchemists of the Mystic Blade Sect.

If calculated in contribution points, a single bottle of Body Tempering Pills cost two thousand contribution points.

If calculated in silver, a bottle cost three or four thousand taels.

Yet the material cost was actually less than one-fifth of the price!

It could be said that every alchemist was a prized morsel, easily earning vast amounts of wealth.

If this Little Daoist Child could refine all kinds of pills for him, then he could raise his cultivation even faster.

"This is the secret technique for refining Soul Blood."

Seeing Su Yun nod, the Little Daoist Child hurriedly took out a purple secret manual and handed it to him.

Su Yun examined it for a moment and completely understood this secret technique.

In truth, the technique was extremely simple. It did not count as an immortal cultivation art at all; it merely consumed some spiritual power.

"Hand over a wisp of Soul Blood."

After reading it, Su Yun spoke.

"Alright!"

The Little Daoist Child raised a finger and pressed it to her brow, then drew out a wisp of Soul Blood.

At that moment, Su Yun used the secret technique, guiding that wisp of Soul Blood with his own spiritual power before refining it.

A moment later, he had refined it successfully.

In the unseen depths, a trace of karmic connection formed between him and the Little Daoist Child.

Now, with a single thought, he could completely control the Little Daoist Child's life and death.

"This Soul Blood Secret Technique truly is wondrous."

After sensing it for a moment, Su Yun nodded inwardly.

"Alright, tidy up a little. Tomorrow, you will leave with me."

In the end, Su Yun made his decision.