Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation Chapter 19

This level of exploitation was ruthless. A full sixty percent of the profits had to be handed over, which meant that in the end, only 200 contribution points would fall into his hands.

Even so, it was still profitable. After all, this was merely a short-term task lasting half a year. Tasks at the Mission Hall usually had a minimum duration of one year, with a standard reward of 300 spirit stones.

The longer the duration, the higher the reward. It also had some correlation with the difficulty of the task.

What Wang Yu valued more was the chance to enjoy a peaceful six months. In recent days, the outer sect disciples from Cold Blood Peak whom he encountered had been extremely hostile. As time passed, his identity as a "lucky spirit slave" would likely make him a target for all.

The outer disciples of Cold Blood Peak who served under True Disciple Su would not let this go. Their goal was simple: to replace Wang Yu and gain the right to reside in the Ice and Snow Pavilion.

Forcing him to withdraw voluntarily was one method. Killing him was another.

At the base of the Nine Peaks lay the Blood Reversal Ten Districts, home to the inner and outer disciples of the entire Blood Reversal Sect. It also housed many businesses operated by Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators for disciple consumption.

Just the inner sect disciples of each peak numbered over ten thousand. All nine peaks combined approached a hundred thousand. Including the vast number of outer sect disciples, the Blood Reversal Sect had at least several hundred thousand members.

On the surface, sect rules forbade disciples from killing one another. But if no one discovered it, no one cared whether a disciple disappeared.

During this period, Wang Yu tried his best to avoid secluded and quiet places to prevent any accidents. After bidding farewell to Zhao Shang, he went straight out, heading to the Alchemy Hall to purchase manuals on spirit herb maintenance.

These kinds of manuals were relatively inexpensive, and many were resold by demonic cultivators. Each of the marketplaces under the Nine Peaks had dedicated trading streets for internal disciple use.

Every few years, there was a joint event hosted by the Nine Peaks: the True Disciple Auction.

Many valuable items were available, including high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills.

But those were still far from Wang Yu’s reach. He needed time to accumulate both wealth and cultivation.

After spending all of his spirit sand, he managed to purchase only a manual describing first-grade spirit herbs and their maintenance methods, titled Compendium of Herbs: Qi Refining Volume.

This would greatly expand Wang Yu’s knowledge, teaching him how to identify, care for, and recognize herbs. It would be of great use for his future livelihood.

Cultivation encompassed the Four Arts: Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Talisman, and Formation.

There was no particular ranking among them, but in terms of being money-burning, Alchemy stood at the top. Once a certain level of skill was achieved, it also became the fastest way to earn.

He had taken a liking to this craft. The Idle Slot was particularly suitable for skills requiring hand technique.

He could grind it out steadily. It would not even consume too many materials for practice. The Idle Slot would develop muscle memory on its own, just like another version of himself refining the skill in some unknown space.

[Idle Slot 2: Compendium of Herbs: Qi Refining Volume]

[Compendium of Herbs (0/100): 12 hours session per day. Master in four days.]

As expected, purely knowledge-based skills could be memorized directly, and the progress was swift.

Almost every moment, new knowledge poured into his mind. It felt as though his mind was being strengthened by learning. It was both satisfying and pleasant.

After accepting the “Herb Garden Maintenance” task, the scroll containing the detailed information was handed to him. Just as he was about to examine the exact location...

A cold wind blew past.

Wang Yu suddenly raised his head and was shocked to discover that he had unknowingly wandered into a dark alley.

Was he confused by some illusion?

From both the front and the back, a figure appeared. They did not hide their faces and stood just ten meters away. A colorful butterfly landed on the shoulder of the cultivator in front.

“Wang Yu, how’s the effect of my Bewildering Butterfly?”

There was no answer. Spiritual power within his body was already circulating. Judging from their aura, the cultivator behind was at the third layer of Qi Refining, while the one controlling the butterfly in front was at the fourth layer. This would be a tough fight.

“What do you intend to do?”

“Heh...”

The attacker suddenly moved, stepping forward with Ghost Shadow Steps. In an instant, he appeared beside Wang Yu. Two fingers like a sword slashed forward.

The technique was almost identical to the hand blade move that Steward Liu had used back then.

Originally planning to stall and strike back at the right moment, Wang Yu had not expected the opponent to act so decisively—and to aim to kill. Fortunately, he had prepared in advance.

With a light tap of his toes on the ground, he bent low and slid backward like an iron board, dodging swiftly. Forming a hand seal, he conjured a hiltless ice sword over eight feet long in an instant.

"Shhk—"

The ice sword collided with the blade of Qi and both dissipated simultaneously.

The mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator was astonished by Wang Yu’s mastery of spell techniques. One seal formed a complete spell, a sign of spell mastery. As far as he knew, this Spirit Slave had only been cultivating for half a year, yet already possessed such insight.

No wonder he caught the attention of True Disciple Su. A pity he had encountered him.

He shouted,

"Chen Sanshi, attack!"

The one who responded was none other than the outer sect disciple at the third layer of Qi Refining standing behind Wang Yu. Wang Yu’s dodge had seemed as if he was deliberately throwing himself into this person’s arms.

"Perfect timing."

This person drew a longsword and brought it down with force enhanced by spiritual power. Wang Yu kicked off the ground again and flipped his body midair. At that moment, dozens of densely packed ice swords, each about the length of a finger, shot out simultaneously.

There were at least twenty or thirty of them. Chen Sanshi’s eyes widened as danger closed in. His strike lost much of its strength and the sword blade merely left a bloody gash on Wang Yu’s back.

He himself, however, was completely pierced through by the barrage of ice swords and died with eyes wide open.

His tactics had succeeded. Wang Yu hooked his hand, pulling Chen Sanshi’s storage pouch into his arms. With nothing blocking his path now, he could charge out of the dark alley and onto the street at any time.

That clash with the mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator had merely been a feint.

His real target had always been the fellow cultivator of the same level behind him. Only by swiftly eliminating one opponent could he gain a position where he could either advance or retreat freely.

"You’re a mere Spirit Slave, and you dare to murder a fellow sect member?"

"Ridiculous."

Wang Yu sneered with disdain.

"Must I stretch my neck and let you cattle butcher me?"

After his mockery, Wang Yu narrowed his eyes and studied the man's face coldly.

"I was personally selected into the Ice and Snow Pavilion by True Disciple Su. Even if you kill me, how confident are you that you’ll earn an chamber in the pavilion?"

The man stepped back several paces, glaring fiercely as he replied,

"Su Qingshan made it in, so can I. What does it have to do with you?"

Nothing to do with me? Wang Yu nearly laughed in fury.

As for Su Qingshan, he was another outer sect disciple who had managed to enter the Ice and Snow Pavilion.

The reason he was allowed in was because, during the previous Nine Peaks Outer Sect Competition, he had slain a Qi Refining eighth-layer disciple while only at the sixth layer himself.

Afterward, he caught the attention of True Disciple Su and was recruited into the Ice and Snow Pavilion.

The core reason was his combat power that surpassed those of the same stage.

Wang Yu frowned and said,

"You’re at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. I’m at the third. What does killing me prove? You don’t even know why I was valued by True Disciple Su, and yet you charge in recklessly. How do you know you’re not being used by someone?"

Thinking it over, Wang Yu believed there weren’t many people with motive to target him. Duan Ping, that fat bastard, was one. The missing Steward Liu counted as another. Zhao Shang also had a slight suspicion but less likely.

After being bombarded with Wang Yu’s questions, the attacker’s expression shifted back and forth, clearly caught in contemplation.