Chapter 19: Skinning

"You really intend to learn these supernatural powers."

Seeing the look of excitement on Lu Yang's face, Wang Bairong was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but say, "Junior Brother, the Immortal Path has always prioritized cultivation realms. You must distinguish between the primary and the secondary."

In his view, Lu Yang had earned so many contribution points at such a young age; even if he didn't reach Foundation Establishment, there was still great hope for him to at least achieve Great Perfection of Qi Refinement. Why bother practicing those supernatural powers with such massive side effects? Even if his combat power reached the heavens, what would it matter? In the end, when his lifespan ran out, wouldn't he just be a handful of ash?

"Life is short; do not mislead yourself."

At this point, Wang Bairong revealed a look of sorrow. "You are still young and do not yet understand this truth: flowers bloom again, but a man can never be young twice."

"You are in the prime of your strength now, but what about ten years from now? What about twenty years from now?"

"The choice you make today may seem gratifying, but in reality, the drawbacks might not manifest for decades. By then, there will be no medicine for regret."

Before his voice had even faded, Wang Bairong seemed to fall into a reminiscence. After a long while, he sighed with emotion, "You have no idea. When I was young, I was quite prominent in the Saint Sect. But I took one wrong step, and as a result, I wasted my entire life. To this day, every time I think of it, it is excruciatingly painful..."

As he spoke, Wang Bairong's eyes turned red.

Under the influence of alcohol, he simply grabbed Lu Yang and began recounting his glorious past.

In truth, it wasn't much—he simply hadn't understood the importance of the grade of True Qi when he was young, and had accidentally started practicing a technique below the Seventh Grade.

As a result, his True Qi grade was too low, leaving him with no hope of Foundation Establishment for the rest of his life, and even reaching the perfection of Qi Refinement was difficult.

For decades, half of his body had been buried in the yellow earth, while his former fellow disciples and the women he once admired had all extended their lifespans, remaining in the prime of their youth to this day...

How much regret and heartache could that cause? Yet, who can redo life?

"What? I can redo it? Then it's fine..."

Seeing Wang Bairong pass out from drunkenness, Lu Yang finally stood up and, following Wang Bairong's description, found that book, *The Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light*.

It was undeniable that this was indeed a demonic technique.

Lu Yang exchanged it for the manual, his expression solemn: "Fast-tracked, massive side effects, high danger—it possesses almost every characteristic a demonic path should have."

To master this supernatural power, one must first select a magic treasure, then use the treasure to flay off one's own human skin, and finally refine it using secret methods. After eighty-one days of refinement, a Blood-Transforming Treasure Light could be produced and attached to the magic treasure. An ordinary cultivator would be wounded by a graze and killed by a touch.

"At the same time, I would become a blood shadow that exists by relying on the magic treasure."

"As long as the treasure is not destroyed, the blood shadow does not perish."

"The side effect is that my lifespan will be halved. Furthermore, once transformed into a blood shadow, I will no longer possess a human body, but merely a human shape; therefore, my cultivation will no longer progress..."

"Good, it suits me perfectly!"

Lu Yang's eyes brightened, and he immediately decided to practice this supernatural power.

During the process of studying it, he discovered that this power actually had another version, which seemed to have been edited and optimized by some great cultivator.

"After all, this supernatural power is indeed extraordinary."

"The modified version does not require the practitioner to flay their own skin for a blood sacrifice; instead, it allows the practitioner to perform a blood sacrifice on their own brothers, children, or descendants."

"In this way, the same supernatural power can be refined. However, because the blood shadow created this way is not the practitioner themselves, it is difficult to manipulate freely, leading to the danger of backlash... But I am different. Whether in this life or the next, the blood shadow will only ever be myself."

A few days later, Lu Yang left the Library Pavilion.

In addition, he also purchased the *Divine Firmament Sword-Control True Manual* in full. After all, only then could he perform it openly in the future.

The next day, the "technique" was delivered.

"Demon!"

Looking at Yun Miaoqing, who was clutching the dharma sword at her throat and glaring at him with an unyielding expression, Lu Yang suddenly felt a sense of being in a different lifetime.

However, he quickly pushed the thought aside.

"Sorry, I need the methods and experience for refining sword pills."

"What? How do you know about that!"

With the familiarity that comes from repetition, Lu Yang went all out and quickly extracted the necessary knowledge and experience from her.

This time, he went to "Wanbao Peak," the peak corresponding to the Outer Sect's Treasure Refining Hall, one of the four peaks of the Inner Sect. Most of the Saint Sect's magic treasures originated here.

"I want to rent a ground-fire furnace."

Arriving at the front desk, Lu Yang stated his requirement directly. After providing sufficient contribution points, he was invited into the highest-grade furnace room within fifteen minutes.

After making all the preparations, he took out the materials.

Three taels of Gold Essence, three taels of Jade Marrow, two taels of Cinnabar, two taels of Sword Qi. Then, he performed hand seals to draw intense fire from the earth's core and cast them all into the furnace!

"Although most sword pills in the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion are refined by sect elders, that is in the righteous path, where one doesn't have to worry about people tampering with things behind their backs. But this is the Primordial Saint Sect. Rather than placing my hopes in the moral standards of the blacksmiths, it is better to do it myself. At worst, I'll just try a few more times..."

One set of materials cost 2,000 contribution points.

Lu Yang had earned a total of 10,000 contribution points. After purchasing the supernatural technique, paying off his debts, and other expenses, his entire net worth could only buy three sets of materials for refining sword pills.

"If I fail three times, then I'll just try again in the next life!"

With this thought, Lu Yang began to strictly follow the methods and experience he had copied from Yun Miaoqing, controlling the ground fire to slowly refine the materials.

Gold Essence melts the Jade Marrow, Cinnabar merges with the Sword Qi...

Gradually, a pill appeared within Lu Yang's spiritual sense. However, before he could rejoice, the pill suddenly trembled in place.

*Boom!*

It exploded.

A set of materials was wasted. Lu Yang calmly waved his sleeve to sweep away the debris, silently summarizing the lesson: "...My steps should have been correct."

"The problem lies in the final step."

As Lu Yang reviewed Yun Miaoqing's memories, realization gradually dawned in his eyes.

"Refining a sword pill requires the sword and the heart to be one. Since I haven't practiced the *Divine Firmament Sword-Control True Manual* for long, my realm in the Way of the Sword is clearly lacking..."

Normally, this would be a hard requirement that could only be achieved through slow, steady progress.

However, that was from the perspective of the righteous path. The righteous path emphasized gradual advancement and rarely used methods that were impatient or violated the natural order.

The demonic path, however, did not care for such things.

"The union of sword and heart is, ultimately, the control over the sword pill... In that case, if I practice the *Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light* simultaneously, the effect should be the same!"

"In fact, the effect might be even better!"

After all, the *Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light* involved sacrificing one's body to the treasure. Once mastered, one would be almost integrated with the magic treasure, and the level of compatibility would surely far exceed the so-called "union of sword and heart."

"But to achieve this, I cannot use the anesthetic I prepared beforehand..."

Refining a sword pill was a delicate task. If he took medicine to suppress the pain, causing his reactions to lag during the refinement, he would likely fail.

Therefore, he had to remain fully conscious throughout the entire process.

"The demonic path... one must be ruthless to oneself. Otherwise, how can one be called a talent?"

At this thought, a flash of ruthlessness appeared in Lu Yang's eyes.

A moment later, he sat upright before the ground-fire furnace, stuffed a piece of cloth into his mouth, and as the sword pill began to take shape once more, he manipulated his sword qi to descend upon himself.