Roll, All Can Roll

In Li Muyang's understanding, the demonic cultivators of the old era were exactly as the stereotypes depicted: wicked, monstrous beings.

However, starting from a certain point in time, the cultivation system of the demonic path underwent a technological explosion.

Major sects like the Demon Refining Sect continuously rolled out new demonic cultivation techniques, replacing the old, unsustainable methods that relied on slaughter and consuming blood and flesh.

The "Two-Legged Sheep" that Li Muyang had previously been responsible for herding were a high-grade, mortal-substitute resource.

The soul of a single Two-Legged Sheep could be worth ten mortals in the demonic cultivation world.

Furthermore, the blood of a Two-Legged Sheep was demonic blood, which could likewise be used for demonic cultivation and artifact refining.

Even the skin, flesh, and bones of a Two-Legged Sheep could be used for refining, making them treasures from head to toe.

The Demon Refining Sect kept many such exotic beasts, just like the Two-Legged Sheep.

Demonic cultivators had abandoned the traditional, short-sighted practice of killing to refine their arts, opting instead to stake out territories, rule over mortals, and interact with them in a more secular manner.

This shift lowered the barrier to entry for demonic cultivation, leading to a significant increase in the overall number of demonic cultivators.

After all, the current cultivation system relied primarily on resources.

With sufficient resources, one might not necessarily produce a peerless expert, but one could certainly cultivate a great many small-fry.

As a major sect of the contemporary demonic path, the Demon Refining Sect naturally possessed abundant resources for demonic cultivation.

In the outer sect's marketplace, Li Muyang quickly found the demonic blood he needed among the dazzling array of stalls.

The classification of resources in the cultivation world was simple and crude: Mortal-grade, Low-grade, Mid-grade, High-grade, and the legendary Immortal-grade.

The jar of demonic blood Li Muyang found was of the lowest Mortal-grade, consisting of blood from low-level exotic beasts like the Two-Legged Sheep.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a stiff expression and a pungent, bloody odor, clearly someone who worked in herding and livestock for the outer sect.

Disciples assigned to such menial tasks often had easy access to cultivation resources like demonic blood, skins, bones, and even souls.

Li Muyang asked for the price, then bought the jar of demonic blood directly, without even haggling.

Paying so readily made the stall owner raise an eyebrow.

"Little brother, you aren't going to bargain?" The stall owner, who had eyes like a dead fish, finally showed a flicker of expression.

Li Muyang laughed cheerfully and said, "Your price is fair enough, it's not expensive, so there's no need to haggle."

Li Muyang emptied his coin purse, counted the money simply, and handed over the full amount in silver.

After paying for the jar of demonic blood, Li Muyang was left with only two coins of silver.

The stall owner looked at him deeply, then glanced at Li Muyang's nearly empty purse, and said, "You're a straightforward one, little brother!"

"If you need more demonic blood or other cultivation materials in the future, come find me. I like dealing with straightforward people, and I'll be sure to give you a discount."

The stall owner added, "My name is Tie Qifeng."

Li Muyang nodded with a grin, "Good, I'll be sure to find you, brother, when I have need again."

Without offering his own name, Li Muyang took the jar of demonic blood and walked away.

The marketplace was incredibly lively, with outer sect disciples of the Demon Refining Sect gathered in clusters, the noise deafening.

The most bustling spots were undoubtedly the brothels, decorated with red and green streamers.

Even passing by from a distance, one could see the girls on the upper floors, dressed in revealing attire, showing off their figures with bold and unrestrained movements to entice customers.

Li Muyang took a look from afar, then took another.

As a normal man, it would be a lie to say he wasn't interested.

But he had no intention of going.

Perhaps this was just like a roadside stall; it looked dirty and cheap, but it was tempting, and one couldn't help but glance at it when passing by.

Li Muyang carried the newly purchased demonic blood away from the marketplace and soon returned to his small hut.

The sunset glow spilled over the mountains as Li Muyang poured a full bucket of water in his room, then emptied one-third of the demonic blood from the jar into it.

As the demonic blood merged with the clear water, a pungent, thick smell of blood immediately permeated the room.

Li Muyang covered his nose and frowned; the scent was even stronger than he had imagined.

Still, he gritted his teeth, stripped off his clothes, and climbed in.

Practicing the Residual Cloud Movement Technique was not difficult; the challenge lay in the process itself. Refining the body with demonic blood was excruciatingly painful and caused significant damage to the physique. Most people needed a long recovery period between sessions to recuperate before attempting it again.

Yet, as Li Muyang lay in the diluted demonic blood and circulated the spiritual energy within his body, he found that the intense, full-body pain he had expected never arrived.

Guided by his spiritual energy, the demonic blood seeped into his skin and flesh in thin, wispy threads. Instead of the agonizing pain described in the manual, it felt cool and refreshing.

The blood energy seeping into his body did not damage him in the slightest.

It seemed the system's exemption didn't just cover the costs of usage, but also the costs incurred during the cultivation process itself.

Lying in the foul-smelling, pungent demonic blood, Li Muyang let out a long sigh of relief.

In his past life, he hadn't been particularly diligent; his ultimate goal had been to live a life of leisure, free from worries about food or clothing.

But now that he had transmigrated to another world and been given a chance to change his destiny, Li Muyang didn't mind becoming a workaholic and putting in a little effort.

With a cheat code practically handed to him on a silver platter, he could achieve in a short time what others took years or even decades to accomplish—what reason did he have not to work hard?

Soaking in the foul, pungent demonic blood, Li Muyang kept his eyes tightly shut, circulating his demonic arts with all his might.

The spiritual energy within his body continuously absorbed the essence of the demonic blood, and a faint layer of demonic patterns began to emerge across his skin.

The Residual Cloud Movement Technique required three sessions of cultivation to succeed; the higher the grade of demonic blood used, the greater the toll on the body, but also the greater the increase in movement speed.

Under normal circumstances, using common-grade demonic blood for body refinement was the absolute limit for someone at the Qi Refining stage.

But now that the system had exempted Li Muyang from the costs of cultivation, perhaps he could consider getting his hands on some higher-grade demonic blood to refine with?

However, before that, this vat of common-grade demonic blood could not go to waste.

Li Muyang sat motionless in the wooden barrel for a full three hours, as the sky outside shifted from the sunset glow to the depths of night.

It was only after three hours that Li Muyang let out a long breath and stood up from the barrel.

The water in the barrel was now clean and clear, the demonic blood having been completely absorbed.

Yet, Li Muyang had no intention of resting.

His eyes burned with intensity as he looked at the jar to the side, standing up to pour the remaining demonic blood into the barrel.

An ordinary person would need to rest for a long time after one session of demonic blood refinement before attempting a second.

But Li Muyang was different; now that his first session was over, he felt no discomfort in his body whatsoever.

Therefore, Li Muyang decided to proceed with the second session of demonic blood refinement, hoping to master the Residual Cloud Movement Technique by tonight if possible.

It was just a matter of pulling an all-nighter!

Li Muyang used to think Guan Xiaoshun was a workaholic, but now it seemed he was the same.

But that was fine—grind, everyone should grind!

Being a grind-master now was just so he could better lie flat and be a salted fish in the future!