The previous traces have long been submerged by the Yin Qi and frost.
After nightfall, the Yin Qi was also quite thick, making it difficult to see any ground traces.
Fortunately, Wen Jiu had left a special mark, so after a moment's search, he found the burial ground.
After digging a deep pit, Wen Jiu once again saw the male corpse and began to search its body, even lifting the clothes to see the skin that had not yet decayed, but found nothing.
Meanwhile.
Wen Jiu also used Divine Sense to probe within the corpse.
Similarly, nothing unusual.
"Then only this Talisman and the Soul-devouring Blood Pearl remain." Wen Jiu did not study the Talisman, as his insight would not lead to any understanding, he only probed it with Divine Sense.
Finding nothing unusual, Wen Jiu then cautiously directed his Divine Sense into the Soul-devouring Blood Pearl, and this exploration was alarming.
Upon probing, a sudden influx of information swarmed into his mind like leeches.
However, having experienced a prior influx of original memories, Wen Jiu felt no discomfort.
But as the contents gradually unfolded in his mind, Wen Jiu's expression became cold and grave.
"Ancient Yin Sha Blood Curse Body!"
"Created by Yin Sha Zhenren in the thirty-seven thousand two hundred twenty-third year of the Yuan Yang Calendar, it is a heterodox Body Refining Technique, consisting of thirteen layers, requiring Cultivator Essence Blood and substantial Earthly Evil Yin Qi for cultivation. Once the cultivation reaches Great Perfection, there is a seventy percent chance of Foundation Establishment success, a probability akin to that of a Top-Grade Spirit Root!"
Wen Jiu was secretly startled.
Although he had no concept of a seventy percent chance of Foundation Establishment success, he had a concept of a Top-Grade Spirit Root.
Middle-Grade Spirit Root.
Could directly become a disciple at Deadman Peak.
Top-Grade Spirit Root.
Could even be accepted as a disciple by the Deadman Peak Elder.
But Top-Grade Spirit Root.
He had never heard of it.
Existed only in legends and rumors.
"Seems they are after it!" With that realization, Wen Jiu quickly set about re-burying the corpse, resolved never to return to the burial ground.
A quarter of an hour later.
Wen Jiu had reburied the corpse.
Threw some remains onto it, waiting for the Yin Qi and frost to gather, thoroughly covering the traces of movement.
After the burial, Wen Jiu swiftly departed.
Returned directly to his dwelling.
Feeling quite anxious.
Also extremely delighted.
...
Though unaware of the situation in the Cultivation Realm.
Just observing Deadman Peak, Wen Jiu knew well the difficulty of acquiring cultivation techniques.
Now, he couldn't even obtain the third level of the Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique, let alone the Yin Sha Blood Curse Body, which could be cultivated to the thirteenth layer of Body Refining.
Comparing the Soul-devouring Blood Pearl, no matter how precious a Tier One High-grade Spiritual Artifact might be, Wen Jiu deemed it insignificant.
"Seems it is certainly the target."
Wen Jiu reviewed the Yin Sha Blood Curse Body several more times, gaining a comprehensive understanding of it.
The more he read, the more delighted he became.
Because the cultivation of the Yin Sha Blood Curse Body requires a large amount of Cultivator Essence Blood, but actually, Earthly Evil Yin Qi is most crucial.
However, due to the entry of Earthly Evil Yin Qi into the body reducing lifespan, its creator substituted it with a large amount of Cultivator Essence Blood.
Yet Wen Jiu wasn't afraid.
He could primarily use Earthly Evil Yin Qi for cultivation.
Supplemented by Cultivator Essence Blood.
He happened to have some left.
"It's practically tailor-made for me, a Corpse Nurturer." Wen Jiu was momentarily ecstatic.
Quickly, he calmed down.
Suppressing the urge to cultivate as if extinguishing it in the cradle.
Can't cultivate.
At least not now!
Once cultivation succeeds, it will likely invite disaster.
After all, someone is seeking it now!
"Although I can't cultivate the Yin Sha Blood Curse Body, I can first use Earthly Evil Yin Qi for Body Refining, thus achieving the purpose of Body Refining." Just as he daily recites the Corpse Nourishing Spell to attract Earthly Evil Yin Qi to nourish the corpse.
At that time, he'll absorb some for Body Refining himself.
First, lay the groundwork.
Then, when he wants to cultivate in the future, he can do so anytime.
...
Next day.
Filled with anxiety, Wen Jiu revisited the Corpse Remains Death Land.
But everything was normal.
No Night Patrol Department personnel appeared.
Wen Jiu then put his heart at ease.
After nightfall.
Wen Jiu prepared to give it a try.
Reciting the Corpse Nourishing Spell to lure Earthly Evil Yin Qi to nourish the corpse, Wen Jiu sat cross-legged above the burial ground, competing with the Black Corpse for Earthly Evil Yin Qi, then guided it into his flesh as per the operational methods recorded in the Yin Sha Blood Curse Body.
The process was somewhat painful.
But Wen Jiu could endure it.
After 9:00 PM.
Wen Jiu was drenched in sweat.
His body had become incredibly sore and numb.
Dragging his fatigued and aching body, Wen Jiu gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water upon returning home, which was immediately followed by an overwhelming hunger.
But now, even with money, there was nowhere to buy food.
Helpless, Wen Jiu could only endure hunger while waiting for the daily settlement, planning to see the effect before forcing himself to sleep.
[Daily Settlement Panel Lv1 (81/100)]
[Today's Settlement!]
[Chanted Corpse Nourishing Spell for an hour, practiced Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique for an hour, panel experience +1, Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Spell experience +10, Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique experience +1]
[Buried corpses for three hours, sought Yin Soul for three hours, continuously inhaling corpse Qi, death Qi, panel experience +1, corpse Qi +6, death Qi +6]
[Attracted Earthly Evil Yin Qi, supplemented it with a large amount of cultivator's fresh blood in the Corpse Nourishing Land for twelve hours, panel experience +1, dead corpse transformation experience +3, +18, Corpse Nurturer experience +1.]
[Used two bowls of inferior Spirit Rice, one piece of non-tiered Demon Beast Flesh, refined the body for an hour with Earthly Evil Yin Qi, Body Refining experience +10.1]
"The dead corpse transformation surprisingly decreased by 3 points, but the Body Refining experience increased by 10 points!" An hour's effect was astonishingly efficient!
After the surprise.
Wen Jiu gulped down several more mouthfuls of cold water.
"This hunger surpasses days without eating."
Wen Jiu gritted his teeth and forced himself to sleep.
Early the next morning, his sister Wen Ya brought food, and Wen Jiu devoured a bowl of rice in three mouthfuls, and swallowed the Demon Beast Flesh in one gulp.
But he was still hungry.
Helpless.
After his sister left, Wen Jiu ate three bowls of coarse noodles.
Only then did he barely feel full.
But it was merely fullness.
The sense of soreness and weakness did not disappear.
"Without refining the body, I still need to eat a large amount of Spirit Rice and Demon Beast Flesh."
Wen Jiu's expression changed.
How could he afford that?
His monthly salary was only three taels.
...
When returning to the Corpse Remains Death Land.
Wen Jiu originally intended to ask Wang Nian if there were other ways to earn money, and if not, he would postpone body refining.
But instead of Wang Nian, he encountered Fang Zheng and the other two.
This time, Fang Zheng and his companions spoke more politely, and their attitude had changed considerably.
"Friend, have you considered… if you find it unsuitable, we can decide to double the previous promised monthly salary."
Double.
That would be two hundred taels.
To be honest.
The temptation was significant.
But Wen Jiu did not want to engage with them for a little money.
If he was broke, he'd just postpone body refining.
Whatever.
"Not interested." Wen Jiu shook his head.
Fang Zheng smirked and continued, "Friend, we have inquired. Your sister hasn't yet married, and she isn't considered Steward Xu's concubine. If Steward Xu returns and decides not to marry your sister, frankly speaking… you won't have any support here on Deadman Peak!"
Wen Jiu coldly glanced at Fang Zheng, not even bothering to feign civility. Seeing this, Fang Zheng was about to get angry, but recalling that his brother-in-law mentioned Wen Jiu had already entered Qi Cultivation First Layer, he wisely unclenched his fist.
Though the three said nothing more, their gazes gradually turned utterly indifferent.
The other Corpse Buriers looked at Wen Jiu with the same expression.
In response.
Wen Jiu was unconcerned.
Even if he was isolated, so what?
Whatever.
Wen Jiu had no interest in wasting time on pointless socializing or cultivating useless relationships.
It was at this moment that Wang Nian arrived.
The other Corpse Buriers immediately began their work.
"Wen, wait a minute."
Wen Jiu halted, then heard Wang Nian speaking softly once the others were gone, "Don't come to the Corpse Remains Death Land to nourish corpses in the evenings for a while."
"Why?"
Wen Jiu was taken aback.
A bit puzzled.
Has something happened again?
Wang Nian continued, whispering, "That Fang Zheng's brother-in-law is actually the Night Patrol Department Steward who gave you trouble. He knows you've stepped into Qi Cultivation First Layer, and today you rejected Fang Zheng's invitation. I fear that Ju Yitang's people will target you in the future… Although that's not a big deal, with me here, they won't dare act rashly, but that Night Patrol Department Steward Li Ye is narrow-minded, unscrupulous, and might secretly set someone on you to take deadly action."
Then he said.
Wang Nian stomped on the ground.
"If they secretly deal with you here… they could entirely blame it on that spy who killed over a dozen Deadman Peak disciples."
"Thank you, Brother Wang, for the warning."
After speaking.
Wen Jiu silently noted the name Li Ye.
No wonder he was singled out for harassment that day.
It wasn't due to his cultivation in the heterodox Dao after all.
But then, not coming to chant the Corpse Nourishing Spell in the evening would significantly reduce daily settlement experience.
Really infuriating.