Chapter 7: Laying One's Cards on the Table

In any case, it is getting stronger! It is no worse than innate divine strength, and compared to the mortal period, it is like heaven and earth.

There is a market rate for spirit slaves; reaching the second level of Qi Refining is already considered top-tier. Looking across the entire stone house district, there are no spirit slaves at the third level of Qi Refining.

One could say they value their lives, or perhaps there are other reasons.

To break through again, he must raise his internal spiritual power limit to one hundred wisps. At this stage, Wang Yu absolutely cannot burn any more lifespan, so relying on the placement slot will take ninety days—nearly three months.

As for cultivation with his own body, he would be lucky to cultivate even a single wisp in three months; it is almost meaningless. It is better to put his time elsewhere, as the value created would far exceed that of cultivation.

After the breakthrough in realm, what made Wang Yu somewhat regretful was that a third slot did not appear in the placement interface. He guessed that one had been erased, and two possibilities remained.

They were that changes might only occur after he breaks through to the middle stage of Qi Refining or after he breaks through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

This day.

Wang Yu left his stone house for the first time in a long while. While heading to the bluestone square to attend a lecture, he sought out Steward Duan’s location. He decided to put himself in the spotlight and trade benefits from Steward Duan.

Unlike twelve days ago, Wang Yu’s black hair had now turned into snowy threads, and his originally handsome features had become somewhat ugly due to the exhaustion of his blood and qi.

His sturdy, upright frame had withered away, becoming somewhat hunched.

He looked exactly like a little old man, appearing exceptionally "prominent" even among the thousands of spirit slaves. This was the physical aging caused by the massive loss of lifespan in a short period.

Wang Yu had only sacrificed ten years of his lifespan; the physical aging could be recovered as his realm broke through or through time spent recuperating.

He just didn't need to for now; he intended to maintain this image until he successfully promoted to an outer sect disciple.

As the hour-long lecture ended and the Q&A session began, Wang Yu forced his way to the front, drawing angry glares from many spirit slaves. However, upon seeing his face, they all turned away and shut their mouths.

For no other reason—this guy was ruthless!

"This lord, I wish to see Steward Duan. I wonder where I might find him."

The outer sect disciple in charge of the lecture felt a chill in his heart upon seeing Wang Yu’s unnaturally aged appearance. He possessed triple-spirit-root aptitude and did not need to practice such desperate demonic arts; he had hope of catching a glimpse of the Foundation Establishment realm.

He hurriedly pointed to a two-story elegant pavilion beside the bluestone square: "Steward Duan is usually stationed there; you can find him if you go in."

Wang Yu bowed in thanks before leaving.

Seeing this, the outer sect disciple couldn't help but say to his peer.

"This guy probably burned half his lifespan. His aura has already reached the second level of Qi Refining. Another ambitious person unwilling to be ordinary."

His companion dismissed it with disdain.

"So what? Demonic arts like the Blood Burning Technique are meant for spirit slaves to achieve quick success. It damages the body and depletes blood and qi; there is no hope for Foundation Establishment in this life."

"That’s true..."

Two-story elegant pavilion.

Wang Yu knocked on the door, and a familiar voice soon sounded from within.

"What is it?"

"I am Wang Yu, who became a spirit slave of the Holy Sect twelve days ago. I have come today to submit this month’s spirit sand."

"Hmm?"

Almost in the blink of an eye, the pavilion doors swung open. Steward Duan tugged at the few whiskers on his chin, looking at him in surprise.

"A newcomer from twelve days ago? You—"

Wang Yu grinned, which only made him look more terrifying.

"Serving the Holy Sect is Wang Yu’s greatest honor. I have been practicing the Blood Burning Technique with all my might, hoping to join the Holy Sect as soon as possible, become an outer sect disciple, and better contribute to the Holy Sect."

"Wang Yu, is it? Not bad, not bad!"

Steward Duan circled Wang Yu a few times, looking very satisfied, and reached out to demand the payment.

"Where is the spirit sand?"

Wang Yu offered it with both hands. Steward Duan weighed it and subconsciously said, "Only one tael... well, that makes sense, you’ve been here for less than a month."

Clapping his hands, Steward Duan took a large cloth bag from the storage pouch at his waist and handed it to Wang Yu.

"Inside is spirit sand ground from three catties of empty spirit stone. Fill it slowly. Follow me."

Immediately after, without room for argument, he was dragged to the square. Steward Duan coughed a few times, and with the aid of spiritual power, the entire square fell silent.

He pulled Wang Yu to his side, pointed at him, and said loudly.

"This man is named Wang Yu. He has been a spirit slave for less than a month, yet he has already completed the task of one tael of spirit sand. You all must learn from him. This is a fine example of a disciple for the sect!

"If anyone wants to be promoted to an outer sect disciple, Wang Yu will definitely be the first of this batch. I guarantee it with my reputation as a steward!"

Buying a horse's bones with a thousand gold.

Whether it could be done was not something he could decide with a single word; a spirit slave steward did not have that authority, but the Foundation Establishment true disciple of Cold Blood Peak behind him did.

Just as the spirit slaves fell into a heated discussion, feeling those fanatical gazes, Wang Yu felt his scalp tingle for a moment. He was officially famous.

Very satisfied with the spirit slaves' reaction, Steward Duan pulled Wang Yu back to the elegant pavilion. This time, he was invited inside.

Sitting on a chair in the first-floor hall.

Steward Duan laid his cards on the table directly, without any messy power struggles—perhaps he didn't have the qualifications for that?

"You are willing to pay the price, and I am willing to accept it. Ambition is a good thing, but the rules of the Spirit-Reversing Blood Sect are a bit different.

"The disciples of the nine peaks' lineages do not interfere with each other and operate their respective mountain peaks relatively independently. Beyond that, there is the Sect Master’s lineage of the Blood Demon Hall. There are ten branches in total, and each recruits disciples according to their own will."

In the Taihu Spirit Domain, a sect master is generally a cultivator with a clean background who is proficient in administrative affairs; they don't need high cultivation to hold the position. The true decision-making body is the Council of Elders.

But in the Chiyuan Demon Domain, the sect master is often the one with the highest cultivation and the greatest strength. Their power is immense, they can mobilize all resources, and it is common for them to be the sole authority.

The differences between the righteous and demonic paths are reflected in every aspect.

If a righteous sect master dies, the sect can continue to function; the foundation of the sect remains unshaken.

If a demonic sect master dies, there is no need to think about it—within sixty years, that force will be destroyed. Enemies, internal strife, splitting up... the situations are endless.

Therefore, the turnover rate of demonic forces is very fast.

Of course, top-tier forces are exceptions; the demonic path also has ancient sects that have lasted for ten thousand years.

The Spirit-Reversing Blood Sect possesses multiple Nascent Soul True Lords and is a top-tier force in the Chiyuan Demon Domain. Cold Blood Peak is the dojo of one such demonic True Lord.

The true disciples under their command have immense power. Never mind outer sect disciples, they even have the authority to promote inner sect disciples and cultivate their own confidants.

Steward Duan explained a few things.

Then he raised the most essential question—profit!

"That one tael of spirit sand belongs to Cold Blood Peak. The extra four taels belong to True Disciple Su. Even if you work yourself to death, you won't have enough for an outer sect disciple quota."

"You must recruit people to join my faction. Let’s set a pact of one hundred people. The day you achieve that, you will be the first outer sect disciple of Cold Blood Peak among this batch of spirit slaves."

Wang Yu lowered his head and remained silent. As expected, this matter was not that simple. This was the benefit brought by his deliberate attempt to stand out; otherwise, Steward Duan would never have told him so much.

"Doubts?"