Indeed—
Back when [Flood Dragon Force] broke through to tier two and granted him the physical traits of "Dragon Strength" and "Dragon Spine," it had already begun fusing and mutating alongside the [Corpse Demon Secret Art].
After all, Wang Yu had only one body. Both the Corpse Demon technique and the [Lunar Nether Eyes] were transformative arts—once learned, they granted tangible power.
When layered atop his body-tempering traits, they found a core to anchor themselves to and began mutating in tandem.
The eye traits were subtle and didn't interfere with other powers.
But [Corpse Demon Bone], [Heavenly Yin Blood], and [Dragon Spine] all mutated—giving birth to the [Dark Serpent Spine], a positive evolution.
Now, with the Corpse Demon technique fully completed, another round of advancement was triggered.
What the result would be… was anyone's guess.
This was why Wang Yu insisted on extrapolating the [Flood Dragon Force] technique. It was the only path he could follow—no other clues had emerged.
Inside the sealed chamber—
Wang Yu felt his muscles twisting. His limbs collapsed to the ground. Bones cracked and groaned.
"Ahhh—!"
Letting them merge on their own was too slow. Worse, they lacked hierarchy. Previously, the tier-two Dragon Spine could easily integrate the tier-one Corpse Demon powers.
Now both were tier-two, and they began to clash.
As he roared upward, Wang Yu saw starlight pouring through the chamber's aperture. He made a snap decision.
Draw in [Lunar Moonfiend] energy. Use it to temper his body and suppress the conflicting forces.
He'd been doing this for months.
"Nether Eyes… converge!"
Brilliant moonlight burst from his eyes like twin beams, three feet long. Lunar essence and moonfiend surged in. His body ignited once more with translucent gray flames.
His blood energy condensed into substance. The [Dark Serpent Phantom] roared, twisted, and transformed—its size ballooning to 9.9 meters.
Like a coiled dragon, it spiraled upward around Wang Yu.
The blood-formed phantom grew increasingly real. Its scales were armored like corpse plating. Its four claws thickened, like the limbs of a muscular warrior.
The traits of immense strength and iron skin—both zombie attributes—had fused into his body-tempering powers.
The [Dark Serpent Spine] sprouted bone spikes, turning pitch black. Black yin patterns spread across his body, accompanied by ghostly wails.
Two icy-blue lines ran down his torso, growing deeper.
The serpent's eyes transformed into twin crescent moons.
"This transformation…"
Wang Yu clenched his fists. Though still at early tier-two peak, his strength had multiplied. He could kill his past self with a single punch.
If he faced the spiritual cultivator who chased him through Withered Leaf Swamp again—with this body and his corpse armor—three punches would end it.
His power had soared by more than a full tier.
After enduring all this, and absorbing feedback from the placement panel's extrapolation of [Flood Dragon Force], he sensed a new path.
Moonfiend body-tempering + Corpse Demon technique's core insights—
Infused into [Flood Dragon Force], this might be the future of his body-tempering journey.
It was like the epiphany he had at the Three-Thousand-Reed Marsh. Quiet and sudden.
Before he realized it, a new technique—born from [Flood Dragon Force] but entirely different—appeared in his mind.
Forget the fifteen or sixteen years of placement time. This breakthrough skipped all that.
This was the feeling of creating a technique.
Wang Yu could sense it: success came from the alignment of timing, location, and personal growth. His perfected techniques had quietly built his foundation.
Now, with the right timing and the moonfiend terrain—
A near-miraculous moment had arrived.
[Dark Serpent Technique]!
A tier-two top-grade body-tempering art. Not only could it support his breakthrough to tier-three, but the placement panel recognized it as a brand-new technique.
Forget [Flood Dragon Force].
[Placement Slot 4: Dark Serpent Technique]
「Dark Serpent Technique (0/100): 24 refinements per day, 30 years to perfection」
"Excellent. What a stroke of fortune!"
Currently, his five placement slots were:
Slot 1 & 2: foundational techniques Slot 3: [Yinfiend Corpse Refinement Art] Slot 4: newly forged [Dark Serpent Technique] Slot 5: [Corpse Demon Secret Art]
[Placement Slot 5: Corpse Demon Secret Art (Tier Two ↑)]
「Corpse Demon Secret Art (0/100): 1,440 refinements per day, 50 years to perfection」
Fifty years to reach tier-three. He noticed that most tier-three techniques required fifty years—reasonable, given a Core Formation cultivator's lifespan.
After a long rest, he finally escaped the torment.
Wang Yu looked at his empty left arm, ready to test the [Yin Blood Pill] and see if it could regenerate the limb. Just then, the soundproofing formation outside the chamber rippled.
Guan Yingdong's voice came through.
"Master, a distinguished guest has arrived."
Wang Yu frowned.
"Not seeing anyone."
Guan Yingdong: "But… he called you 'Fourth Brother.'"
Rumble—
The sealed stone door swung open. Wang Yu brushed past Guan Yingdong and strode toward the main hall.
A true guest had arrived.
Of course—
With Nether Spring Temple, Underworld Mountain Sect, and Hehuan Sect all sending Nascent Soul-level forces, the Blood Reversal Sect couldn't stay silent. Spiritridge's location was too ideal. It wasn't surprising if the Three Young Masters came together.
At this stage, the Eastern Polaris ruins were in full frenzy. Nascent Soul elders were surely lurking. Wang Yu was far from safe.
The arrival of the Blood Reversal Three Young Masters was perfectly timed. Finally—he had a thigh to cling to.
Moments later, in the City Lord's main hall—
"Fourth Brother!"
"Hahaha! I knew the magpies chirping today meant good fortune. Sit!"
After the pleasantries, Wang Yu glanced around in confusion.
Only Zhuo Shouqing had come. Zuo Qiuming and Yu Xing were absent. Seeing his look, Zhuo Shouqing smiled bitterly.
"A lot has happened while you were away."
"Take your time."
Wang Yu summoned attendants to order a feast from the city's finest spiritual cuisine restaurant. Cultivators who reached Foundation Establishment could technically live without food.
They could subsist on spiritual energy. But cultivators were still human—desires lingered. Appetite was one of the strongest. Wang Yu had invested heavily in culinary indulgence.
"Seems you've been living well."
"Not really. The pressure from Goldfull Pavilion still needs my brothers' help."
At times like this, Wang Yu didn't hold back on flattery. Sweet-talking like a pro, he showered Zhuo Shouqing with praise.
Zhuo Shouqing sighed and sipped his tea.
"This matter was handled by Zuo Qiuming's father. Otherwise, a Nascent Soul elder from Goldfull Pavilion would've come to arrest you. If they'd razed the branch… even the sect couldn't protect you."
Wang Yu was puzzled.
He knew Blood Reversal Sect had at least a dozen Nascent Soul elders. Rumor said the Blood Demon Hall Master—the sect leader—was half-step Soul Formation. It was plausible they had a hidden Soul Formation ancestor.
He hadn't heard of Goldfull Pavilion having one. Would they really risk war?
Zhuo Shouqing saw his expression and shook his head.
"Yes, Zuo Qiuming, Yu Xing, and I will protect you. But we don't represent the three clans—let alone the Holy Sect.
"Goldfull Pavilion may be a merchant guild, but they have more powerhouses than any single clan. And they're a guild! Their business ties with the Holy Sect and the clans run deep.
"What you did shook their foundation. It's worse than desecrating an ancestor's grave. Even if you were right, it was too much. Luckily, you reversed course—and Jin Miaoshan helped you."
"Oh—
"She spoke on my behalf?"
"Of course." Zhuo Shouqing gave him a sideways glance. This fourth brother was a magnet for trouble. Drop him in the Zhuo Clan's territory and he'd probably ascend to the heavens.
"I heard Jin Miaoshan accused Jinlin—blaming him for sabotaging her, even planting spies among her protectors.
"The conflict shifted to a succession struggle. You were seen as an unlucky bystander. With Zuo Qiuming's father mediating…"
"I see."
Wang Yu reflected. The world's heroes were not to be underestimated. Schemes alone weren't enough. Thankfully, he'd clung to the right thighs—three of them, thick and sturdy.
No wonder Jin Miaoshan had seemed resentful during their last meeting. She couldn't say it outright, but he owed her.
The same event, told by different mouths, carried different meanings. Hearing it from Zhuo Shouqing, Wang Yu felt gratitude—not suspicion.
"You came for the Eastern Polaris ruins?"
"In part. But it's not my main concern. The Holy Sect sent several true disciples—I'm just tagging along. I came mostly to deliver bad news."
Wang Yu's brow furrowed.
"What bad news?"
Zhuo Shouqing leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"Do you still remember the [Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Curse]?"
"Mm—"
"This curse is indeed profound, but its cultivation difficulty is extreme. Failure means death. Back when you sought it, we didn't know much. But recently, at Nine Fiends True Lord's concubine banquet, we learned a hidden truth."
Wang Yu's heart stirred with unease. Zhuo Shouqing continued:
"Those who successfully cultivate this secret art… can devour each other. They absorb all of the other's spiritual root potential—everything."
Wang Yu's pupils contracted.
"So anyone who succeeds will inevitably hunt others who've cultivated it."
"Exactly."
Zhuo Shouqing clapped softly, his voice hushed.
"Once I learned this, I mobilized my clan's intelligence network. Eventually, we confirmed that a cultivator with mixed spiritual roots had succeeded. And now…"
"He's late-stage Core Formation?"
"Peak Core Formation."
The two exchanged glances. Wang Yu had read about this in ancient records—meaning there was a time gap. Zhuo Shouqing's intel was fresh, and clearly more accurate.
"So you knew."
"I only saw it in a text. I don't know his name, origin, or current location. I'll need your help with that, Brother Zhuo."
"This one's a monster. Rumor has it he's elevated his aptitude to rival heavenly spiritual roots. He's not far from Nascent Soul."
Wang Yu: "…"
(End of Chapter)