Chapter 19: Flaying
Chapter 19: Skinning
"Are you truly determined to learn these divine abilities?"
Seeing Lü Yang's eager expression, Wang Bairong couldn't help but feel surprised and cautioned, "Junior Brother, immortal cultivation prioritizes realm advancement above all else. You must distinguish between primary and secondary matters."
In his view, Lü Yang had earned so many contribution points at such a young age. Even if Foundation Establishment wasn't guaranteed, reaching peak Qi Refining was highly probable. Why bother practicing those divine abilities with severe side effects? What use was supreme combat power if one turned to dust when lifespan ran out?
"Life is short—don't misguide yourself."
Wang Bairong's face darkened with sorrow: "You're still young and don't understand this truth... Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns."
"You're vigorous now, but what about ten years later? Twenty years?"
"The choice you make today might seem satisfying, but its drawbacks may only become apparent decades later when regret will be futile."
Before finishing, Wang Bairong seemed lost in memories. After a long pause, he sighed: "You wouldn't know—in my youth, I was quite illustrious in the Saint Sect. But one misstep led to a lifetime of stagnation. Even now, recalling it fills me with unbearable pain..."
As he spoke, Wang Bairong's eyes reddened.
Drunk and emotional, he pulled Lü Yang aside to recount his glorious past.
It wasn't much—just that in his youth, he hadn't understood the importance of qi quality. He'd stumbled upon a technique below seventh-grade and cultivated it without realizing the consequences.
The low-grade qi doomed him—no hope for Foundation Establishment, not even perfected Qi Refining.
Decades passed with half his body already in the grave, while former sect brothers and admired women extended their lifespans, remaining youthful...
How regretful, how heartbreaking! Yet who could restart life?
"What? I can restart? Then never mind..."
Seeing Wang Bairong pass out drunk, Lü Yang stood up and located the book Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light as described.
Undeniably, it was a demonic art.
After exchanging for it, Lü Yang's expression turned grave: "Quick results, severe side effects, high danger—it possesses nearly every characteristic of demonic techniques."
To master this divine ability, one must first select a magical treasure, then skin oneself alive using the treasure, refine the hide through secret methods for eighty-one days to forge a single Blood-Transforming Treasure Light that attaches to the treasure. Ordinary cultivators would be wounded upon grazing it, killed upon contact.
"Simultaneously, I would become a blood shadow dependent on the treasure."
"If the treasure remains intact, the blood shadow won't perish."
"The side effects include halved lifespan. After transforming into a blood shadow, one loses human form—retaining only human shape—making further cultivation progress impossible..."
"Excellent! Perfect for me!"
Lü Yang's eyes shone with determination as he resolved to practice this technique.
During his study, he discovered another version—apparently modified and optimized by some great cultivator.
"After all, this divine ability is truly extraordinary."
"The revised version doesn't require self-flaying blood sacrifice. Instead, one sacrifices siblings or descendants."
"Thus achieving the same result. However, since the blood shadow isn't the practitioner themselves, control becomes difficult, risking backlash... But I'm different. Whether this life or next, the blood shadow will always be me!"
Several days later, Lü Yang left the Library Pavilion.
Additionally, he purchased Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula outright, ensuring he could openly display it in the future.
The next day, the "technique" arrived.
"Demon!"
Holding the enchanted sword pressed against Yun Miaoqing's neck as she glared at him with unyielding defiance, Lü Yang suddenly felt as if lifetimes had passed.
But he quickly dismissed the sentiment.
"My apologies, but I need the method and experience for refining a Sword Pill."
"What? How could you know... Mmph... Wait... You...!"
Familiarity bred efficiency. Drawing on his knowledge of Yun Miaoqing, Lü Yang went all out, swiftly extracting the required knowledge and experience through dual cultivation.
Pulling up his pants, Lü Yang departed.
This time, his destination was Myriad Treasures Peak—one of the Four Inner Peaks corresponding to the outer sect's Treasure Refining Hall, where most of the Saint Sect's magical treasures originated.
"I wish to rent an earthfire furnace."
Approaching the counter, Lü Yang made his request directly. With sufficient contribution points paid, he was ushered into the highest-grade furnace chamber within fifteen minutes.
After thorough preparation, he produced the materials:
Three taels of gold essence,
Three taels of jade marrow,
Two taels of cinnabar,
Two taels of sword qi.
Then he formed hand seals to draw infernal flames from the earth's core before tossing everything into the furnace!
"While Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's Sword Pills are mostly refined by senior members, that's in righteous sects where sabotage isn't a concern. This is the Primordial Saint Sect—better rely on my own efforts than some refiner's moral standards. At worst, I'll try a few more times..."
One set of materials cost 2000 contribution points.
Having earned only ten thousand points total—after purchasing divine abilities, techniques, and repaying loans—Lü Yang could afford just three attempts.
"If all three fail, there's always next life!"
With this mindset, Lü Yang meticulously followed the methods gleaned from Yun Miaoqing, controlling the earthfire to slowly refine the materials.
Gold essence melted into jade marrow,
Cinnabar fused with sword qi...
Gradually, a pill-like form took shape within Lü Yang's spiritual sense. But before joy could surface, the pill suddenly trembled—
"Boom!"
It exploded.
One set wasted. Calmly sweeping away the remnants with his sleeve, Lü Yang reflected: "...My steps were correct."
"The issue lies in the final stage."
Reviewing Yun Miaoqing's memories, realization dawned:
"Refining a Sword Pill requires unity of sword and heart. But I haven't practiced Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula long enough—my sword Dao attainment is clearly lacking..."
Normally, this was a hard requirement requiring gradual tempering.
But that was from a righteous perspective—righteous paths emphasized step-by-step progress, rarely resorting to shortcuts that harmed natural harmony.
Demonic paths cared not for such notions.
"'Unity of sword and heart' ultimately refers to Sword Pill control... In that case, simultaneously practicing Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light should achieve the same effect!"
"Perhaps even better!"
After all, Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light involved sacrificing one's body to the treasure. Once mastered, practitioner and treasure would merge as one—far surpassing mere "unity of sword and heart."
"But to accomplish this, I can't use the prepared anesthetic..."
Refining a Sword Pill demanded precision. If numbing agents slowed his reactions, failure became likely.
Thus, he needed full awareness throughout.
"Demonic paths require ruthlessness toward oneself... How else could one be considered talent?"
With this thought, ruthlessness flashed in Lü Yang's eyes.
Moments later, seated before the earthfire furnace with a rag stuffed in his mouth, he waited until the Sword Pill reformed—then directed sword qi toward his own flesh...