Chapter 500

Gripping the longbow in his hand, Wang Yu sent his mind inward to sense its spirituality.

He quickly received a wave of intimate feedback, the same pure emotion he felt with Snowjade, dependence and awe existing side by side.

From the moment the Sun Piercing Demonic Bow was born, it had gained a master. Barring any unforeseen events, he would also be its only master.

With that, the goals of his trip to the Myriad Treasures Secret Realm were fully accomplished. The two of them left the secret realm first and headed straight to Miaoshan Hall to bid farewell.

According to the original plan, he still had several other trips similar to the Myriad Treasures Secret Realm. However, after sensing the opportunity to fuse the iceflames, he decided against going.

Inside Miaoshan Hall.

Yan Ling stood waiting on the steps outside.

Within the hall, Jin Miaoshan gently embraced Wang Yu. She did not speak any words of reluctance or sorrow, only instructing him earnestly.

“If you find a way for that matter, you must inform me. As long as Golden Abundance Tower remains in my hands, it will definitely play its proper role…”

She was naturally referring to the matter of the Ice Prison Realm’s cage.

Wang Yu nodded.

“Since you put it that way, has Jin Xuanxuan already made a move on her side?”

“Correct. Within half a year at most, I will become the sole heir of Golden Abundance Tower. Whether in the Crimson Kite or Taihu, simply mentioning my name will help you ward off a great deal of trouble.”

“Perhaps.”

Wang Yu did not deny anything.

In truth, Golden Abundance Tower’s help to him was limited. They would not dare offend a Spirit Transformation Venerable. At best, gathering spiritual materials in the future would become much easier.

If he had possessed such a red confidante back when he was at Core Formation, the significance would have been completely different.

Unfortunately, the timing had already passed…

Still, having this heart was already good enough.

“I’m leaving.”

“You’re going right now? Won’t you stay a few more days?”

“No need. Junior Sister Yan Ling is still waiting for me.”

Instantly.

Jin Miaoshan’s gaze turned deep and meaningful.

“A proper junior sister?”

“Of course!”

As the saying went, one with a clear conscience fears no crooked shadow. She was definitely a proper junior sister. When he spoke those words, Wang Yu’s tone was full of confidence.

As for… the future, that he could not guarantee.

She did not press the matter further, simply asking once before adding meaningfully, “Are you really not staying even for one night?”

Wang Yu’s index finger twitched slightly. With great willpower, he shifted his gaze away.

“No. I still have proper business to attend to.”

“Very well then.”

That same afternoon, Wang Yu and Yan Ling left Golden Toad City. They flew north, heading toward the mountain gate of the Blood Reversal Sect.

On the way.

Yan Ling suddenly asked, “When is the next secret realm trip?”

“The Heavenly Palace of the Holy Lord.”

After answering, Wang Yu thought for a moment and added,

“I need to make a trip to Gu Poison Peak after returning to the sect. If everything goes smoothly, I should spend the next thirty-plus years inside the sect. If not, I will be busy with this matter for some time.

“If Junior Sister has other arrangements, you may go on your own.”

He had made his meaning quite clear, yet Yan Ling could not help overthinking.

After all, during this trip she had only played the role of a supporting piece.

Although she had gained quite a few benefits, she inevitably worried that Wang Yu might look down on her. Compared to that heir of Golden Abundance Tower, her own strengths seemed rather unremarkable.

Feeling uneasy about gains and losses was normal.

But as soon as she ruled Wang Yu out as a potential Dao companion, her emotions quickly calmed. She regained the cold, ice-mountain beauty aura she once had.

Seeing this, Wang Yu inexplicably thought of Ice Soul Fairy.

The two were the same type of beauty. If not for their different appearances, they could easily be mistaken for sisters.

After a moment of silence, Yan Ling spoke again.

“I plan to try my luck at the Nether Ravine Burial Valley of the Nether Mountain Sect. After passing through the Hidden Sand Prefecture of the Heaven-Refining Demonic Sect, I will head east.”

“You may, but wait until we enter Blood Abyss Prefecture before turning east to circle back. I offended the Yin-Yang Demon Lord earlier. He may not dare act against me, but as for you, Junior Sister… it may not be the same.”

“Understood.”

A proper level of caution was still necessary.

The Yin-Yang Demon Lord had used illusion arts to conceal his appearance flaw, showing how much he cared about the matter. Having been humiliated by Wang Yu like that, it would be normal for him to hold a grudge and set up ambushes or sneak attacks.

Once everything that needed to be said was said, both fell silent once more.

In fact, even after the two entered the Blood Abyss Prefecture of the Blood Reversal Sect, they still encountered no ambush from the Yin-Yang Demon Lord. Although it seemed unnecessary, such caution was still required.

After they parted ways, another half day passed.

Having been away for many years, the familiar sight of the nine twisted mountain peaks came into view. Wang Yu actually felt a sense of familiarity. He glanced from afar at Cold Blood Peak, which was covered in thick layers of frost.

Wang Yu turned and headed straight for the most central area of the sect.

—The Blood Demon Hall!

Ever since the Sect Master successfully reached Spirit Transformation, the Blood Reversal Sect had clearly risen a level. The concrete manifestation was that the forces attached to the sect now offered far more spiritual materials each year.

Exchanges with other overlord factions had also become much easier.

Internal conflicts within the Crimson Kite had clearly dropped several levels in both scale and intensity. A rare period of peace had arrived, with only the front-line battlefields still locked in bitter, unending combat.

Wang Yu had no intention of providing support.

On the same day he arrived at the sect, he went to visit the cave abode of the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon. Wang Yu had once given him a Crimson Jade Longevity Peach, so there was temporarily no danger of him passing away.

However, his condition might not remain good for long.

No matter what kind of living being, the period right before the end of one’s lifespan was the weakest time in life. Qi and blood would both be deficient, and the demon race’s advantage of powerful physical bodies would find it difficult to display peak strength.

“Senior Yu, Wang Yu has come to pay his respects.”

The demonic flood dragon’s cave abode, which had always stood with its gates wide open, was now closed. Wang Yu’s heart sank slightly. After knocking for some time, there was still no response.

Just as he was about to give up and inquire through other channels.

The cave abode doors quietly opened a crack. A turtle demon controlled a stream of air to deliver a letter, speaking at the same time, “Lord Demon Lord, this is a handwritten letter left by Master. The old turtle was instructed to deliver it to you personally.”

Wang Yu accepted it in silence.

His divine sense swept over it rapidly, capturing all the information. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

It turned out that while he had been in seclusion among the demon race, the Alchemy Hall of the Blood Reversal Sect, together with Evil Sword Peak and some experts from the Zhuo, Zuoqiu, and Yu clans, had launched the “Old Age Utilization” scheme.

They had sent a batch of old fellows inside the sect who were nearing death onto the battlefield. The true purpose was to prevent too many young and strong experts from dying, which would create a gap in the sect’s future generations.

It was a plan for the long term.

After all, they had previously been in a vanguard role, losing countless elites every day. This strategy could not be called wrong; it was quite in line with the “national conditions” of the Crimson Kite.

Humanity? Contribution? Those were things the righteous path valued.

The demonic path only cared about the role one could play right now. It was under these circumstances that the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon had also gone to the righteous-demonic battlefield. However, he had not been sent to a meat grinder like the Thunderfire Temple.

Instead, he followed Xie Xie’an and planned to take a safe route the latter had discovered through the Desolate Ancient Plains, circling a large detour straight into the heart of Taihu.

This strategy had most likely been decided by the Blood Demon Hall Master.

The old-age surprise attack team should be able to play a useful role, though he did not know when they would act. He had not received any news on this matter yet.

In the handwritten letter, Xie Xie’an’s presence stood out rather conspicuously.

Ever since obtaining the top-tier Nascent Soul spiritual material from the Blood Abyss trial back then, this person had entered the Desolate Ancient Plains and vanished without a trace. His return this time had also come without any warning.

His cultivation realm was at the very least Nascent Soul.

Otherwise he would have died inside the Desolate Ancient Plains. Unfortunately, Old dog Yu’s letter did not say much about Xie Xie’an, so there was no way to learn more.

As for Yu Tangtang, she had originally been arranged to be sent to the Black Water Dark Snake Tribe of the Northern Demon Race. That tribe was the maternal clan of the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon, so a bloodline connection still existed.

However, the Northern Demon Race had joined the war and further stabilized their footing. Old Yu felt the Northern Demon Race was no longer safe.

He had already sent people to deliver Yu Tangtang to a small spiritual island called Moon Bay near the shore of the Chaotic Ancient North Sea.

Even Yan Ling did not know any of these pieces of news. Had he known earlier, he would not have asked her to deliver the Holy Token.

After a brief moment of thought, Wang Yu recorded the information using a transmission talisman.

He sent it to Yan Ling’s cave abode. He needed to make a trip to Gu Poison Peak right now and had no time to handle these matters for the moment. He could run over once Yan Ling returned.

After dealing with these miscellaneous affairs.

Wang Yu headed up to Gu Poison Peak. He had only ever viewed this place from afar and had never truly set foot inside. This was his first time, so everything felt unfamiliar.

As one of the Nine Peaks and One Hall of the Blood Reversal Sect, ranked fifth, it publicly possessed three Nascent Soul cultivators: the Five Poisons Evil Lord, the Ten Thousand Gu Insect Demon, and the Gu Poison Mountain Lord.

Only the Ten Thousand Gu Insect Demon had reached late-stage Nascent Soul. He was also the number one expert in the Gu Dao of the Blood Reversal Sect and specialized in controlling group Gu similar to Iceflame Butterflies.

The Five Poisons Evil Lord, on the other hand, specialized in controlling single Gu insects with outstanding individual abilities. This had effectively split the Gu Poison Peak’s Gu Dao into two distinct schools.

Before fusing the ice flames, the Iceflame Butterflies needed to be raised to peak fourth-rank overall strength so that their attached Gu fire could reach the intensity required for fusion.

The person Wang Yu needed to consult was precisely the Ten Thousand Gu Insect Demon.

This person had an evil and arrogant personality and frequently shirked even the Sect Master’s orders. For example, during the conflict with Yellow Springs Monastery, if he had been willing to act, they could have seized the advantage in local battlefields.

This was recognition of the power of the insect swarm he controlled!

Gu Poison Grand Hall.

An old man wearing black robes, emaciated like a skeleton with only a thin layer of skin stretched over his bones, was listening in surprise to the servant’s report.

“Supreme Law Profound Pill Demonic Lord? Wang Yu? What is he doing at Gu Poison Peak… Isn’t he… Never mind. Invite him in.”

He had instinctively been about to refuse, but suddenly thought of something.

Because the Ten Thousand Gu Demon had used breaking through realms as an excuse to avoid the righteous-demonic battlefield, only the Gu Poison Mountain Lord had gone to fill the gap left by this powerhouse. The old man had been the unlucky one.

Thus he had stayed comfortably inside the sect.

If he continued dragging things out, he would eventually be forcibly dragged onto the battlefield, especially now that the Sect Master had reached Spirit Transformation. His own strength was starting to look insufficient.

Therefore he decided to hear Wang Yu’s intentions.

There might be room to maneuver. The reason Ten Thousand Gu had deliberately stayed in the sect was not to avoid battle, but because he truly had something that had to be completed in a safe place.

Otherwise.

He would have gone to the battlefield long ago to let his “little babies” have a feast. Raising too many insect swarms was a heavy burden even for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

A moment later.

Wang Yu stepped into the hall from outside. At a glance he saw the Insect Demon waiting for him on the main seat. He immediately cupped his hands and said,

“Wang Yu greets Brother Ten Thousand Gu.”

“No need for such formality between fellow Daoists. We are fellow sect brothers; there’s no need to be so distant.”

“Brother Ten Thousand Gu is joking. You are my senior, so this courtesy is only proper.”

After exchanging polite words, Wang Yu sat down.

Once the servant had served spiritual tea and withdrawn, Wang Yu got straight to the point: “I came this time to ask Brother for several secret arts on nurturing Gu insects.”

Ten Thousand Gu’s eyes rolled.

“That request is simple, but…

“There are thousands upon thousands of secret arts in the world. Gu Dao secret arts are perhaps the most numerous, strange and varied, encompassing everything. Does Fellow Daoist Wang have any specific requirements?”

“Fast results. No need to worry about the Gu insects’ future growth potential. Even if they die quickly after use, that is acceptable.”

“Group Gu?”

“Correct.”

After the quick exchange, the Ten Thousand Gu Insect Demon burst into loud laughter.

“Fast results and consequences-be-damned secret arts are something we demonic path cultivators almost all have. This lord does indeed possess quite a few such evil Gu Dao techniques.”

After dangling the bait, Ten Thousand Gu changed his tone.

“However…

“The sect has its own rules. Anything not in the Scripture Depository Hall belongs to this lord’s private collection. The price will not be cheap.”

Since he had come asking for help.

Wang Yu had long prepared to be fleeced.

“Brother, name your price. I am after all a fourth-rank supreme-grade alchemist. I still have the family assets to purchase a secret art. How many supreme-grade spirit stones?”

There was also a small calculation behind these words. Revealing his alchemy level could turn the transaction into a favor exchange. The other party had not reached Great Perfection Nascent Soul and would definitely need fourth-rank spirit pills.

However.

This time Wang Yu had miscalculated. Ten Thousand Gu did not want the favor of an alchemist, nor did he need supreme-grade spirit stones.

He said, “Supreme-grade spirit stones are unnecessary. Although rare, they are still widely available treasures. My secret arts are unique inheritances.”

“I can guarantee that after obtaining the method, I will never transmit it outward.”

Ten Thousand Gu shook his head again.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, do not be hasty. A transaction… is possible! But you must offer the compensation I want.”

“Please elaborate.”

Half a cup of tea later.

Wang Yu left the Gu Poison Grand Hall with a gloomy expression. Things had not gone smoothly. The other party’s demands were too outrageous; he could not possibly agree.

Ten Thousand Gu had put forward three conditions.

First: Provide a hundred years’ worth of food for the insect swarm he raised.

A classic trap demand.

Second: Free pill refining five times. Also a lion’s mouth; it would take far too much time and was not worth it.

Third: Three drops of his own essence blood!

This last one was the most excessive and absolutely impossible to agree to. A cultivator’s essence blood involved too many aspects, and with the treacherous nature of demonic path secret arts.

There were also Demon Lords proficient in evil curse techniques.

They could use essence blood, blood, personal items, and so on as mediums to cast curses. Essence blood was something that absolutely could not be leaked.

The way the other party had brought it up clearly showed no sincerity in trading.

He was purely toying with him. Why give this person any more face? If necessary, killing him and soul-searching was also a way to obtain the secret art.

Since the other party did not value fellow sect brotherhood, why should he care?

He would treat him directly as a righteous path cultivator.

Just as he was about to leave using the Aurora Escape Technique, he suddenly thought of something. He casually pulled over a Gu Poison Peak disciple and asked, “Is Elder Liu in the peak?”

That disciple was stunned.

“Which Elder Liu?”

Then he reacted, hurriedly prostrating and kowtowing to the ground, worried about offending this senior.

“Liu Jinxian, or is her father here?”

“Yes, yes… This disciple will lead the way for you.”