Shu Laosan feeds himself to the Dao!

Di Province, the Yin Wind Valley Secret Realm.

This place is perpetually shrouded in darkness, where a tangible, grayish-black Yin Qi lingers and wanders through the valley floor. Ordinary cultivators, let alone those seeking treasure, would have their flesh and bones dissolved if they were even touched by a trace of this chilling energy.

Deep within the secret realm, on a throne built from the bones of Demon Beast.

The third of the Yin Spirit Rat was lying on top of it.

Since this secret realm was discovered, he has remained here, developing his Rat Race and establishing the Yin Spirit Rat Line.

Its size is much larger than that of the Lord Rat and Rat Second, and its fur is as black as ink, exuding a chilling aura.

Not long ago, news came from within the clan.

After reading the letter, the Shu Laosan burned it with ghostly fire. He remained silent for a long time, his heart churning with turmoil.

"The Lord Rat died of old age and passed away peacefully, and the second rat also refined himself."

"How come you two brothers, after living for over two hundred years, are you getting more and more backward? Can't you consider the well-being of the clan more?!"

He scolded fiercely, but there was not a trace of blame in his eyes.

The Shu Laosan understood that his own time was drawing near.

He has been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Perfection for forty years. Although Yin Wind Valley has the beginnings of Blessed Land, it has never produced a single wisp of Yin-attribute energy.

Without pure Yin-Attribute Heaven and Earth Qi, he would never be able to Core Formation in this lifetime.

"Jiuyin, come here."

The Shu Laosan called out, and a moment later a small, thin, shifty-eyed young black rat emerged from behind the pile of bones and scrambled to the foot of the throne.

"Grand Ancestor, what are your orders?"

Black Rat, also known as Shu Jiuyin, is the most talented among the third son's many grandchildren.

At just over thirty years old, he was already at the Qi Refining Peak Stage and could step into Foundation Establishment at any time.

The Shu Laosan looked down at him from his high vantage point.

That little rascal is incredibly cunning. He's always up to no good, but when danger comes, he runs faster than anyone else. He's True Disciple.

"Jiuyin, how long have you been stuck at the peak of Qi Refining?"

"Reporting to our ancestors, it has been three years."

"Over the years, his bloodline potential has been exhausted, and my grandson has been unable to find an opportunity to break through."

Shu Jiuyin's eyes darted around, wondering why his ancestor was so concerned about his cultivation level today...

It is said that the Shu Laosan climbed down from the throne and walked up to Jiuyin.

Three years is too slow.

The third brother stretched out his paw and patted Jiuyin's head, saying, "Today I'm bestowing upon you a great opportunity to help you Foundation Establishment."

How is it?

Upon seeing this, Shu Jiuyin was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you so much, Ancestor! What treasure does Ancestor intend to bestow upon you?"

The Shu Laosan didn't speak, but just stared at him intently.

The surrounding Yin Qi ceased to flow, and the valley floor was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Eat me up.

Shu Jiuyin's smile froze on his face.

He thought he had misheard, so he looked up and saw the resigned acceptance of death in his ancestor's eyes.

"Grand... Grand Ancestor, you must be joking."

"My grandson is timid and easily frightened." Shu Jiuyin shrank back.

"Who's joking with you!"

Shu Laosan slapped Shu Jiuyin Yin across the face, sending him flying three zhang away. Jiuyin crashed into a bone pillar and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The third brother walked over and stepped on Jiuyin's chest, pressing down on him so hard he couldn't breathe.

"The Demon Race doesn't listen to those old-fashioned Human Race principles!"

"Survival of the fittest, the strong prey on the weak."

"I won't live much longer. It would be a waste for my flesh and blood cultivation to be scattered throughout the world. You have the best talent. Eat me, use my primordial Yin Qi to open your meridians, and you will become the new Foundation Establishment Great Demon. You will be the new successor of my Yin Rat Line!"

Shu Jiuyin was so frightened that he trembled all over, his face covered in tears and snot.

He shook his head vehemently. "I won't eat you! You're my own grandfather, how could I eat you! I'd rather not Foundation Establishment than eat you!"

"You good-for-nothing!"

The Shu Laosan slapped Jiuyin again, knocking out two of his front teeth.

He released his foot, turned around, and looked at the dense Yin Qi filling the valley.

"The Lord Rat toiled his whole life, using his brain to plan for the clan; the second rat risked his life to fill the spirit mountain; and in the end, I, the third rat, waited in vain for over a hundred years in the secret realm of Di Province. Am I to be a useless piece of trash before I die?"

The Shu Laosan turned his head, his eyes fixed on Jiuyin.

"You think Foundation Establishment is so easy to achieve?"

"My Rat tribe is weak, naturally inferior to tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves, let alone the five branches of the Bear tribe. If you do not advance further..."

"How will my Rat Clan establish itself in the future?"

"And what will you use to protect the legacy of Yin Wind Valley?"

Shu Jiuyin lay on the ground, tears welling in his eyes. Although he was cunning, his three clans had protected him since childhood, and this kinship was genuine.

I'll count to three.

The Shu Laosan spoke calmly, yet with a resolute air. "If you don't eat today, I'll kill you myself and replace you with someone more obedient."

"One."

Shu Jiuyin kowtowed desperately.

"Two."

The third brother raised his claws, a deadly glint of light gathering at his fingertips!

"Three!"

I'll eat it!

Please stop pressuring me!

Shu Jiuyin roared, his voice cracking. He raised his head, his face covered in blood. The cowardice in his eyes had been forcibly suppressed, leaving only a desperate ferocity.

The Shu Laosan laughed.

This was one of the few times he had smiled in recent years.

"Good boy, remember what you said!"

"I entrust my clan to you; you need not lift a finger. I'm leaving now!"

Hahahaha~!

As he laughed, the Shu Laosan closed his eyes. His true energy reversed, severing his own heart meridian.

There was no struggle, and no pain.

The creator of the Yin Wind Valley died so decisively in front of his own skeletal remains, sacrificing himself before his juniors and offering his body to the Dao!

The wind at the bottom of the valley was even colder.

Shu Jiuyin crawled to the corpse of the third rat. The Shu Laosan's body was rapidly stiffening, and the Yin Qi within him began to dissipate outwards.

If it is not absorbed quickly, the primordial power will be completely lost.

Shu Jiuyin's face was full of complex emotions. He opened his mouth, revealing sharp fangs, closed his eyes, and bit down on the third brother's neck.

Flesh and blood enter the mouth.

There was no fishy stench as I had imagined, only extreme cold.

Before his death, the Shu Laosan had compressed all his cultivation into his flesh and blood. With this bite, Jiuyin felt as if he had swallowed a piece of ten-thousand-year-old Mysterious Ice.

The icy cold air slid down the throat into the abdomen and melted in the stomach.

Despite his nausea, Jiuyin tore at Lao San's corpse, eating and crying at the same time, his tears mingling with Lao San's blood and dripping onto the pile of bones.

"Ancestor... I'll eat it... I'll eat it all..."

"I won't keep a single hair..."

After an incense stick had burned, Shu Laosan, skin and bones alike, was stuffed into Jiuyin's belly.

The Shu Jiuyin, lay on the ground, its belly swollen like a ball, its internal meridians forcibly stretched open by the immense Yin Qi energy.

The originally delicate blood vessels bulged, and black lines appeared on the surface of the skin.

The Foundation Establishment stage is fleeting.

The original Yin Qi of the Shu Laosan was too domineering, and the Shu Jiuyin, with its Qi Refining Realm physical body, simply could not withstand this original energy.

If left unchecked, he will explode and die immediately...

"We can't die!"

"I cannot die! My people need me to defend them!"

Shu Jiuyin bit his tongue, forcing himself to stay awake. He activated the inherited method of the Yin Spirit Rat Line, guiding the chaotic Yin Qi to impact his Dantian.

Once, twice, three times.

Each impact was accompanied by the excruciating pain of tearing muscles.

Shu Jiuyin rolled on the ground, smashing the surrounding bones to pieces. His fur was soaked with sweat, which then froze into ice crystals in the Extreme Cold.

I don't know how much time passed.

Suddenly, a soft "click" sound came from inside the Shu Jiuyin's body.

The barrier that had troubled him for three years shattered, and a massive amount of Yin Qi, like water bursting its banks, surged wildly into his Dantian, condensing into a pitch-black vortex of true essence.

Jiuyin's size began to increase, its originally thin body continued to grow rapidly, its fur became shiny and smooth, and its claws and teeth became sharper.

A terrifying vortex of Spiritual Qi continuously drained the Spiritual Qi of this world.

Then, with renewed vigor, they broke through the Foundation Establishment!

When the spiritual energy surged back like a tide, Shu Jiuyin lay on the ground, panting heavily; clearly, he had succeeded.

He got up and walked to the throne of bones.

The Shu Laosan was gone, and the place was now empty. Shu Jiuyin jumped onto the throne, turned around, and looked down.

Hearing the commotion, the rats of Yin Wind Valley gathered together.

They looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure on the throne, feeling the real pressure of the Foundation Establishment, and all prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling.

Jiuyin wiped the blood from his mouth and glanced at the swarm of rats.

"From today onwards, I'm in charge of Yin Wind Valley."

When Shu Jiuyin spoke, his voice was no longer as sharp as before, but rather a deep, hoarse tone, gradually exuding an aura of authority!

"My name is Shu Jiuyin. Yin Spirit Rat Line, and from this day forward, you shall serve me as your master!"