Chapter 8: Mid-grade Spell [Ice Sword Technique]

"No—"

Wang Yu shook his head.

"To serve the Holy Sect, to work for Senior Disciple Su, Wang Yu feels only honor. I would gladly lay down my life and offer my all!"

"Very good. I see you have reached the second level of Qi Refining, enough to practice spells. I shall pass this [Ice Sword Technique] to you; it may prove useful when recruiting others."

Wang Yu hurriedly accepted the thick manual. It not only expounded on the mysteries of the technique but also provided a general introduction to the common knowledge and grading of spells.

He hadn't expected to actually receive a reward; it was quite a surprise. Seeing that Steward Duan had no intention of continuing the conversation, he tactfully took his leave.

He only began to study it once he returned to his stone hut.

Spells usable during the Qi Refining stage are all First-Grade, divided into Low, Middle, and High tiers, corresponding to the early, middle, and late stages of the realm.

Foundation Establishment corresponds to the Second-Grade, Golden Core to the Third-Grade, and so on.

Secret arts and techniques are not included in the standard grading; they are judged by their effects.

Beyond spells, there are also "Treasure Arts," "Divine Abilities," "Strange Arts," and other categories, but these were not basic knowledge and were not explained in detail.

The Ice Sword Technique given by Steward Duan was somewhat unexpected; it was actually a Middle-Grade spell. If cultivated to perfection, one could condense ten ice swords to face an enemy, with power comparable to a High-Grade spell.

Yet, Wang Yu felt no joy. Knowledge-based items could be replicated; they had value to those in high positions, but not that much.

To him, however, it was a ladder to change his fate—invaluable.

This also meant that if he failed to meet Steward Duan's requirements, he would surely die!

After considering for a moment.

Wang Yu removed the Blood Burning Technique from the second slot and placed the Ice Sword Technique there instead.

[Placement Slot 2: Ice Sword Technique]

"Ice Sword Technique (0/100): 144 practices per day, completion in 30 days."

Wang Yu: ".........144 practices? That's once every 10 minutes on average?"

The word "beast" stuck in his throat; he didn't dare to even think it.

When cultivators practice spells or techniques, those matching their spiritual root attributes yield twice the result with half the effort, while practicing those that don't match is far less efficient.

Spiritual roots are based on the Five Elements, which evolve into all things. Although "waste" spiritual roots are lackluster, they can practice techniques and spells of any attribute; at worst, it's at a normal speed, and they won't be held back.

While Heaven-grade spiritual roots have excellent aptitude, their paths are often fixed, and rarely change. Of course, it doesn't matter if they practice spells that don't match their spiritual root; they can still learn them.

It is merely a matter of speed.

"Ice Sword Technique, 30 days to completion—that's 4,320 repetitions. It seems my comprehension is far better than my spiritual root aptitude."

For a normal cultivator, comprehension is only one part of practicing a spell; one must also cast it repeatedly to gain a feel for it.

Qi Refining cultivators have limited spiritual power and restricted meridian strength. No one can practice without stopping like Wang Yu; this isn't even "hard cultivation"—it's pure, mechanical repetition!

Every ten minutes, a flash of insight and usage experience regarding the Ice Sword Technique would appear in his mind, even including the muscle memory for the hand seals. It was both mysterious and bizarre.

In any case, there was no hope of breaking through to the third level of Qi Refining in the short term. Wang Yu decided to focus on bringing the Ice Sword Technique to perfection first. It was his only means of attack, and he had to be sufficiently proficient in it.

The twentieth day of his life as a spirit slave.

Since Wang Yu stopped using the "Blood Burning Seal" of the Blood Burning Technique, only ten wisps of blood-burning spiritual power remained in his body. Over these eight days, the placement slot had generated four more wisps of pure spiritual power, slightly improving his cultivation.

Inside the stone hut at this moment.

Wang Yu’s hands shifted through the seals. The temperature within a meter of him dropped rapidly. After three breaths, a four-foot-long, hiltless ice sword condensed into existence.

*Whoosh—*

The ice sword plunged into the stone floor, leaving behind only wisps of white mist formed by the evaporating cold air.

This power was enough to cut through metal and stone, and its speed was no less than an arrow. It just took a bit too long to prepare, and the spiritual power consumption was high; he would be nearly drained after a single use.

"It's still a bit lacking for actual combat. In two more days, it should be usable as a trump card."

Having made his judgment, Wang Yu silently circulated the Blood Burning Technique to recover his spiritual power. To use it multiple times and sustain a full battle, he would at least need to break through to the third level of Qi Refining.

Another day, at the hour of the Rabbit (5-7 AM), during the lecture.

Wang Yu officially began his move. He sought out his fellow townsmen from Shihu City. These two had deliberately avoided learning the characters, choosing to hide in the corner as spectators.

Such behavior was no different from waiting for death. When the time came for them to hand over the required spirit sand, it would be the time of reckoning. Persuading them to join Steward Duan's faction would be difficult.

After all, they wouldn't even learn the characters because they didn't want to become like the other spirit slaves through cultivation.

Wang Yu's attempt to recruit them was actually paving a path for himself. His situation looked better, but it was only a temporary stability, bought with his lifespan.

If he wanted to escape his current plight, what did it matter if he played the villain for once? Better them than me!

"Two friends, do you recognize me?"

The two Shihu City commoners, both sixteen years old, looked wary. Seeing Wang Yu's appearance, they were stunned for a moment. They didn't recognize him from his face, but rather from the high-profile praise Steward Duan had given him last time.

The two had completely different meanings.

"You... are you Young Master Wang Yu of the Wang family in Shihu City?"

"It is I."

Wang Yu sighed softly, patted one of them on the shoulder, and whispered.

"I have been watching you both for a long time."

The two grew tense, unable to guess what he wanted.

"This is the Blood Spirit Sect, located in the Scarlet Kite Demon Domain. Don't even think about running away. Unless the Demon Sect is destroyed tomorrow, you had best accept your fate."

After saying this, Wang Yu paused to observe their reactions.

The fact that they dared to take risks proved their willpower was stubborn and they weren't easily resigned, but their lack of perspective made them the type that was easier to fool.

His Wang family had quite a reputation in Shihu City. Thanks to the few playboys in the main branch, his own reputation in Shihu City was also high, and tales of his kindness were often spread.

In truth, he hadn't done anything special; it was just the values of a modern person, maintained because his living environment had been sufficiently affluent.

Now that he was a spirit slave, Wang Yu changed day by day. He was already under the pressure of a severe survival crisis, and people are most prone to change under such circumstances.

Among the spirit slaves in the stone hut area of Cold Blood Peak, only this batch from Shihu City were newcomers. Their numbers met the requirements, fitting Wang Yu's needs.

Those "old" spirit slaves had basically already pledged their loyalty to the three stewards; he had no way to change that.

The number Steward Duan gave matched exactly with the number of people from Shihu City. This was no coincidence; it was done on purpose.

To see if he could hold this group in his hands.

In interpersonal relationships, the greatest taboo is to speak deeply when the acquaintance is shallow. Therefore, Wang Yu didn't say much more. After pointing out their hidden thoughts, he applied another layer of pressure.

"You have at most two months."

"This month, learn the meaning of the characters in the Blood Burning Technique and understand the principles of cultivation. If you cannot break through to the Qi Refining stage with this next month, your fate will be..."

(End of chapter)