**Chapter 110: Six Years of Change and Cultivation Progress (Part 2)**
The difference was, some people wouldn't listen, while others had no other choice.
And by waiting, Yan Ling had indeed succeeded. Judging by aptitude alone, she was undoubtedly more qualified to receive the Nascent Soul legacy of Cold Blood Peak. Her attribute was compatible, her age suitable.
When both Su Yulong and Wei Zhong fell from grace, triggering a reshuffle among the true heirs, she didn't rush to step forward. Presumably, the other true heirs were busy competing for the 'inheritance' left behind by the fallen giants. By waiting until they had mostly exhausted themselves before making her move, she could maximize her gains. She had truly embodied the maxim of **'Biding One's Time'**.
Therefore, when the disciple of the Vermilion Mist Adept on the Five Yin Peak side, unable to bear the environment here any longer, proactively requested to return to the main sect, it aligned perfectly with her own plans.
This was the moment to inherit her competitors' 'legacy'. Her initial retreat was to wait for the right opportunity. Now that the situation was changing so rapidly, it was no longer advisable to stay hidden.
The two parties hit it off immediately, making the decision to return four years early.
That Wang Yu could see everything so clearly from a third-party perspective was largely thanks to his habit of observing the details of daily life. Furthermore, his access to multiple sources of information, coupled with his identity as someone who had been deeply involved before extracting himself, granted him a higher-level viewpoint.
Even though he had never met this True Heir Yan, he dared to be certain of this!
And so, the sixth year of the Spider Mountain mission arrived on schedule. It was also the 10th month of Wang Yu's 15th year as an Outer Sect disciple!
This period had been exceedingly calm, with no incidents, allowing him to cultivate peacefully for over four years.
During this time:
* The **[Spirit Taming Seal]**, after six months in a placement slot, reached the Perfection stage. This secret art was primarily used to plant a **[Spirit Mark]** on demon beasts that had lost the ability to resist. The stronger one's spiritual sense, the higher the cultivation level of the demon beast one could control. It could not exceed one major realm; for example, a Foundation Establishment first level could control a Foundation Establishment ninth level beast, but attempting to control a Core Formation beast would result in spiritual sense backlash.
* Apart from keeping the early first-tier Snow Jade Fox, which he controlled with the **[Spirit Taming Seal]**, he had no use for the other two spirit beasts and sold them to a cultivator from Fierce Nether Peak who came for regular inspections, earning four thousand spirit stones.
* Simultaneously, the low-grade second-tier Invisibility Art, after three years in a placement slot, entered the Perfection stage—the so-called '**Virtual Concealment**' level. It seemed intricately related to spatial power, albeit only scratching the surface. This art consumed True Qi; even with his cultivation level, he could maintain it for half an hour at most. It was strikingly similar to his past experience of using the Night Concealment Charm beyond its intended stage! His configurations were getting higher-end, but his cultivation level, the energy source, was struggling to keep up.
* Over four years, the remaining six months of Slot 4 were dedicated to the **[Profound Yin Hand]**, resulting in significant progress.
Additionally:
* His long-perfected body refining technique, **"Flood Dragon Strength"**, had advanced rapidly. Since obtaining the first-tier dragon-lineage essence blood, Wang Yu used a pill furnace to refine secret medicines. Combined with his perfected understanding of the technique, his progress was swift. He had already reached the seventh layer, 'Nine Living Dragon Tendons', equivalent to the late Qi Refining stage in body refining. While body refining seemed unrelated to spiritual root aptitude, it still had basic requirements, as it also required absorbing spiritual energy—something a Crippled Spiritual Root couldn't manage effectively.
* The third-tier Flood Dragon inner core was beyond Wang Yu's current ability to refine directly. However, by simmering his secret body refining medicine with the inner core using his Cold Flame, the medicine's efficacy was vastly enhanced beyond the technique's description, influenced by the core's power. This was the fundamental reason for his rapid progress. He was likely extracting a minuscule amount of power from it; the loss was so negligible it didn't affect the core's inherent utility.
Regarding the placement slots:
* Slots 1 and 2 remained unchanged. The true ascension of **"Cold Blood Art"** was expected this very month. With two slots working simultaneously, the original twenty-year estimate had been reduced to ten years. Success was imminent!
* Slot 3 had progressed more than halfway.
* **[Placement Slot 4: Profound Origin Demon Embryo Secret Curse]**
* **Profound Origin Demon Embryo Secret Curse (60/100): Ninety-six practices per day. Completion in four years.**
This secret method aimed to cultivate the essence of a Demon Embryo. Its target was actually the spiritual roots. By daily absorbing **〈Heavenly Demon Malice〉** and chanting the secret curse, Wang Yu's mutated five spiritual roots were undergoing a further transformation.
Originally, his Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth spiritual roots were each less than an inch long. Among them, his Water root had mutated into dual Yin and Ice attributes, reaching a full four inches—comparable to a mixed Four Element spiritual root.
Now, patterns of a black-red secret curse crawled over his spiritual roots, shrouding them in a faint, eerie haze. Slender, jet-black rootlets extended from the base of his spiritual roots, exerting force towards each other, attempting to intertwine. This was the 'umbilical cord' for nurturing the Demon Embryo. The secret method was sixty percent complete, more than halfway done.
The final form should involve the spiritual roots entwining around each other to form the Demon Embryo!
Once the nature of his spiritual roots was altered, imbued with Heavenly Demon characteristics, Wang Yu could, based on the other mysteries of the secret curse, devour everything from others to enhance his own aptitude.
The closer the bloodline relation, the better the effect. With a full sibling, it could even achieve a perfect ten-out-of-ten replication. For complete strangers with no relation, only ten to twenty percent of the effect might be retained. If quality was lacking, quantity could compensate. This method could be repeated.
Once mastered, Wang Yu's circumstances would undergo a earth-shattering transformation.
Soon!
In terms of cultivation base, progress remained steady, one step at a time, exceptionally solid. Over four years, he barely managed to digest three improved, top-grade Cold Blood Pills.
* Placement Slots contributed: 58 units of spiritual power.
* Pill consumption contributed: 45 units of spiritual power.
* Personal cultivation勉强 (barely) contributed: 1 unit.
* Total increase: 104 units.
**Qi Refining Eighth Level: 404/700 units of spiritual power.**
At this rate, reaching the 700 units needed for the ninth level would take about twelve more years. Reaching Qi Refining Great Perfection would require another twelve years after that.
This speed was neither fast nor slow, roughly equivalent to a Three Spiritual Root cultivator with maxed-out resources. He did the math:
He was currently 32 years old. By age 56, he would likely be able to attempt Foundation Establishment. The boost from the Ghost Eye had accelerated his efficiency significantly.
With numerous opportunities and resources maxed out, reaching this point was an achievement he could take pride in.
Having mostly tallied the gains from his six years at Spider Mountain, the time to leave this place and return to the main sect was approaching.
If things went smoothly upon his return, he might be promoted to the Inner Sect.
After all, the requirements for promotion from Outer to Inner Sect, aside from connections, weren't actually that high. There were only two:
1. Late Qi Refining cultivation.
2. A consumption record of over ten thousand contribution points.
He hadn't met the latter requirement yet. But after True Heir Su's fall, he could use the channel of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's recommendation. All told, he had been in the sect for sixteen years; he could be considered a staunchly loyal member. Spending some spirit stones on a recommendation fee to secure an Inner Sect identity was necessary. At the very least, it would grant him more benefits after he eventually broke through to Foundation Establishment.
Yes, he had already decided to continue his cultivation within the Demonic Path.
Even if he successfully returned to the Taihu Spiritual Domain, he was resolved to deepen his roots within the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect. Only the Demonic Path was suitable for a cultivator with a Crippled Spiritual Root like his.
In the righteous path, a heaven-defying, harmful secret method like the Profound Origin Demon Embryo Secret Curse would undoubtedly be forbidden, unthinkable to practice.
Only here could he change his destiny!
**(End of Chapter)**