The cavern hidden within the Split Cliff was about a hundred *mu* in size, with an extreme difference in height. Many stalactites hung from the cavern's ceiling. The further in you went, the lower the ceiling became.
However, there was a hot spring located inside the cavern, precisely in the lower part. It was quite large, covering about thirty to forty *mu*. If a person entered the water, the cavern ceiling would be less than three feet above their head, yet they could submerge their entire body in the hot spring. The water depth reached the neck, with the deepest parts being only five or six meters. Some warm-water fish and shrimp lived in the spring. It was absolutely a great place for seclusion.
Wang Yu carefully inspected the area, confirming there were no hidden dangers, then set up the **[Eight Directions Spirit Confusion Array]** at the cave entrance.
With a flick of his finger, an unknown high-grade sword flew out from his storage pouch. Empowered by his spiritual power, it sliced into the rock as if it were tofu, quickly cutting out a vertical, rectangular block of stone. The fingers of his left arm dug directly into the rock, and with a gentle pull—like plucking a green onion—he tore out the ten-thousand-*jin* stone block. He repeated this process, and in less than half an hour, he had created a neat stone chamber.
He put Wang Wu down, then used his finger strength infused with spiritual power to strike several points on Wang Wu's body. This not only severed the flow through his crucial meridians but also dislocated all his joints. In a few breaths, a cultivator at the late Qi Refining stage was reduced to a废物 (waste) inferior to a mortal.
With another wave of his hand, five iron chains, each as thick as a wrist, embedded themselves into the rock wall. A faint spiritual power fluctuation could be sensed—they were clearly artifacts too. The sharp, triangular tips of the chains brutally pierced through Wang Wu's limbs. The fifth chain shackled his neck, as if he were a dog on a leash.
"AHHH...!!!"
Wang Wu, who had been sleeping like a log, was finally awakened by the intense pain. His memory was still stuck on the night he was beaten by the black-armored figure. Waking up now, he was utterly confused. Discovering the excruciating pain in his limbs and the complete lack of sensation, coupled with the dead stillness of the spiritual power in his dantian sea, which he couldn't调动 (mobilize) at all, he was initially shocked and furious, which quickly turned into fear.
"Wh-what's going on? Who are you?!"
"How dare you treat me like this! I am Wang Wu! I am the future of the Lingsong Sect! You can't touch me!"
"Wait... Demonic path... The Lingsong Sect cooperates with the demonic path... You're a cultivator from the Joyous Union Sect... You can't touch me!"
Seeing the man's distraught state, Wang Yu was momentarily dazed, feeling a sense of挫败感 (defeat) as if being played by a clown. He would have preferred Wang Wu to be stronger, smarter, not someone who could be dealt with by just moving a finger. It made the deaths that occurred during his absence from the Wang family seem like a joke, utterly meaningless.
But it was too late for such thoughts now.
However, the information revealed in Wang Wu's words was worth pondering. Wang Wu thought he was from the Joyous Union Demonic Sect, meaning the mastermind behind this large-scale abduction was them, not the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect. Given the past relationship between the two sects, it was probably a cooperative effort where his sect played a supporting role. No wonder no真正的强者 (true experts) were sent.
"Besides, they are abducting young women, both mortals and those with cultivation potential. Are they training specialized personnel? Or harvesting furnaces?"
He pondered for a moment but didn't dwell on it. This matter largely didn't concern him. Managing his own immediate affairs was enough.
"Beast, look up at me!"
A gaze filled with fear and terror looked up from below. Wang Yu couldn't help but smile. He liked those eyes.
Serves you right!
"Wh-who are you?"
"What, don't recognize me, Cousin?"
Wang Wu's pupils constricted sharply. Ignoring the white hair, he indeed saw the shadow of someone from the past.
"Wang... Yu... It's you!"
"You damned spirit slave! Release me at once!"
"So you did know."
People are strange. They can bow and scrape to unfamiliar强者 (powerful individuals), but can't stand seeing someone familiar stepping on their heads, even completely ignoring the current situation. Wang Wu knew he had been captured and became a spirit slave for a demonic sect, yet he was still speaking to him in that disgusting tone.
"Clueless fool."
Shaking his head, the Golden Blade Whip appeared in his hand. Wang Yu lashed down hard. A bloody mark immediately appeared on Wang Wu's body, blood streaming out as he howled in agony. Lash after lash, Wang Yu showed no mercy, repeatedly whipping Wang Wu. The more he whipped, the more愉悦 (pleasure) he felt.
After whipping him into unconsciousness, he pried open Wang Wu's jaw, used two fingers to clamp down, and tore out a鲜红 (bright red) tongue.
Wang Wu woke up again, coughing up blood incessantly. This time, only fear remained in his eyes.
"Disrespectful speech. Don't speak anymore."
He tossed a top-grade healing pill into Wang Wu's mouth. In no time, all the wounds scabbed over, and his breathing stabilized.
Wang Yu waved his hand again, setting up the Blood Mist Spirit Concealment Array, then slowly left the stone chamber. The days to come would be... entertaining.
......
......
**[Placement Slot 1: Cold Blood Spirit Ascension Art (Derivation Exhausted)]**
* **Cold Blood Spirit Ascension Art (9/100): Forty-eight practices per day. Completion in nine years and three months.**
**[Placement Slot 2: Cold Blood Spirit Ascension Art...]**
The next day, after checking the status of Placement Slots 1 and 2, Wang Yu sighed softly. As an upgraded version of the Cold Blood Art and a second-tier Foundation Establishment method, it theoretically could support him all the way to Core Formation. But what he valued was this method's effect of improving spiritual root aptitude. Once perfected and its effects activated, it would be best to switch to a different second-tier method for placement.
Based on current experience, the placement slots' derivation seemed determined by the method's foundation. Generally, forcibly elevating it by one major tier reached the upper limit. It couldn't be derived upwards indefinitely. Therefore, he needed stronger methods, spell arts, secret techniques, strange arts, etc.
Using a second-tier method to cultivate at the Qi Refining stage significantly increased his speed. He now gained 8 strands of spiritual power daily. It was the seventh month since his promotion to Inner Sect disciple, and his cultivation progress was much faster than before. At this rate,加上 (plus) the improved Cold Blood Pills, he could increase his spiritual power by over 130 strands in three years, and break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining in at most six years.
He planned to cultivate in seclusion here in the Black Mountain Demon Lands for ten years. After seizing Wang Wu's spiritual root aptitude, his cultivation speed would increase further. Once his aptitude was improved, he would advance by leaps and bounds, truly unleashing the placement slots' excellent effects. Then, it would be a true rebirth, a completely different life!
A few more days passed.
In the hot spring within the cavern, Wang Yu floated on the water's surface, his silver-white hair spread out in the water. A small fox with pink eyes was lying on his chest, licking its paws. After this period of nurturing and the aid of the top-grade Beast Nurturing Pills, the Snow Jade Fox's strength had advanced rapidly, having just broken through to the mid first-tier. Its bloodline secret arts were further unlocked. It could now勉强 (barely) assist Wang Yu in combat, which was good news.
This Snow Jade Fox probably ranked in the medium-to-high tier among demon beast bloodlines. It had the potential for Foundation Establishment and could accompany Wang Yu for a long time, making it worth cultivating.
**(End of Chapter)**