Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 7

He was undeniably growing stronger. Compared to someone born with divine strength, he was not the least bit inferior. It was a complete contrast from his mortal days.

Spirit Slaves had their own market value. At the second layer of Qi Refining, one already stood at the top tier. Looking around the entire stone hut zone, not a single Spirit Slave at the third level of Qi Refining could be found.

Perhaps they cherished their lives. Perhaps there were other reasons.

To break through again, he would need to raise his internal spiritual energy cap to one hundred strands. At this stage, Wang Yu could no longer afford to burn his lifespan. Relying solely on the idle slot, it would take ninety days—nearly three months.

As for cultivating with his main body, even gaining a single strand in three months would be considered miraculous. It was practically meaningless. He might as well spend that time elsewhere, where the value created would far exceed that of cultivation.

After the breakthrough, Wang Yu was slightly disappointed to find that the idle slot did not unlock a third machine. He speculated that one had been erased, leaving only two possible triggers for the next upgrade: either breaking into mid-stage Qi Refining, or reaching Foundation Establishment.

That day.

Wang Yu finally stepped out of his stone hut after a long while. While attending a lecture at the Bluestone Square, he also sought out Steward Duan. He had decided to step into the open and trade benefits directly with the steward.

Unlike twelve days ago, Wang Yuʼs once jet-black hair had turned snowy white. His originally handsome features had become somewhat ugly due to dried-up blood and energy.

His once strong and upright figure had grown thin and even slightly hunched.
He now looked like a shriveled old man. Even among the thousands of Spirit Slaves, he stood out in a particularly ”impressive” way. This was the price of burning a great amount of lifespan in a short time, accelerated aging of his appearance.

Wang Yu had only sacrificed ten years of life. The physical aging could be reversed through a breakthrough or by gradually nourishing himself over time.

He simply didn’t need to recover for now. He intended to keep this image until he successfully advanced to an Outer Sect Disciple.

As the lecture ended and the Q&A session began, Wang Yu forced his way to the front, drawing angry glares from many Spirit Slaves. But upon seeing his appearance, they all turned away and kept quiet.

For no other reason, this was a ruthless man.

“Esteemed Sir, I wish to see Steward Duan. Could you tell me where I might find him?”

The Outer Sect Disciple giving the lecture felt a wave of disgust upon seeing Wang Yu’s unnaturally aged appearance. With three spiritual roots, he had no need to practice such desperate demonic arts and still had hope of glimpsing the Foundation Establishment realm.

He quickly pointed to a two-story pavilion beside the Bluestone Square. “Steward Duan is usually stationed there. You can find him inside.”

Wang Yu cupped his fists in thanks and turned to leave.

Seeing this, the Outer Sect Disciple turned to his fellow sect member and remarked:

“This guy probably burned half his life. His aura is already at the second level of Qi Refining. Another one unwilling to be mediocre.”

His companion sneered.

“So what? The Blood-Burning Technique is the kind of demonic cultivation technique made specifically for Spirit Slaves, fast results with severe bodily damage. Once your blood and flesh are ruined, you can forget about Foundation Establishment in this life.”

“True enough...”

In the second-story pavilion.

Wang Yu knocked on the door. A familiar voice responded quickly from within.

“What is it?”

“I am Wang Yu. Twelve days ago, I became a Spirit Slave of the Holy Sect. Today, I’ve come to hand in this month’s Spirit Sand.”

“Hmm?”

In almost an instant, the door of the pavilion swung open. Steward Duan, stroking a few strands of his beard, looked at him in surprise.

“The newcomer from twelve days ago? You—”

Wang Yu grinned, looking all the more terrifying.

”To serve the Holy Sect is Wang Yu’s greatest honor. I’ve been cultivating the Blood-Burning Technique with all my effort, hoping to join the Holy Sect as an outer sect disciple as soon as possible and better contribute to the sect.”

”Wang Yu, is it? Not bad, not bad.”

Stepping around Wang Yu a few times, Steward Duan appeared quite satisfied and directly reached out his hand.

”The spirit sand?”

Wang Yu offered it up with both hands. Steward Duan weighed it in his palm and muttered instinctively, ”Only one tael… well, that makes sense. You’ve only joined less than a month ago.”

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

”Inside is three jin of spirit sand ground from Empty Spirit Stones. Infuse it slowly. Follow me.”

Without further explanation, he dragged Wang Yu straight to the plaza. With a light cough and a boost of spiritual power, the entire square fell into silence.

Pulling Wang Yu to his side, he pointed at him and shouted.

”This one is named Wang Yu. He has been a spirit slave for less than a month and has already completed the task of producing one tael of spirit sand. You all should learn from him. This is what a model disciple of the sect looks like.

”If anyone wants to be promoted to outer sect disciple, Wang Yu will absolutely be the first among this batch. I stake my reputation as steward on it.”

Buying a thousand taels of gold for the bones of a fine horse.

Whether it works out or not isn’t something a single sentence from him can decide. A steward of spirit slaves does not have that authority. But the Foundation Establishment true disciple behind him from Cold Blood Peak does.

While the spirit slaves fell into heated discussion and awe, Wang Yu felt a tingling scalp from the fervent stares. He was now thoroughly famous.

Satisfied with the response, Steward Duan pulled Wang Yu back into the elegant hall. This time, he was invited inside.

Sitting in a seat on the first floor of the main hall.

Steward Duan spoke plainly, skipping all the underhanded schemes. Perhaps he didn’t have the qualifications for such maneuvering.

”You’re willing to give, and I’m willing to receive. Ambition is a good thing. But the rules of the Blood Reversal Sect are different.

”The disciples of the Nine Peak Inheritances operate independently and do not interfere with one another. Each manages their own peak. In addition, there is the Sect Masterʼs Inheritance of the Blood Demon Hall, making ten factions in total, each free to recruit disciples according to their own judgment.”

In the Taihu Spirit Domain, the sect leader is usually a well-rounded, orthodox cultivator with proper heritage. High cultivation isn’t required to hold the title. The true decision-making power lies with the council of elders.

But in the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain, the sect master is often the one with the highest cultivation and strongest power. Their authority is immense, often absolute. Rule by one voice is common.

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

When a righteous sect loses its leader, it can still continue to function, its foundation remaining steady.

But if a demonic sect’s leader dies, the sect may not survive even a single cycle of sixty years. Enemies, civil strife, faction splits… all kinds of chaos will follow.

Hence, demonic sects evolve and cycle rapidly.

Of course, top-tier forces are exceptions. The demonic path also has ancient sects thousands of years old.

The Blood Reversal Sect possesses multiple Nascent Soul True Lords and is considered a top-tier power in the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain. Cold Blood Peak is the cultivation ground of one such demonic True Lord.

His personal disciples hold enormous authority. Not just outer sect but even inner sect disciples can appoint and train close followers.

Steward Duan explained a few things.

Then he posed the most essential question—benefits.

”This one tael of spirit sand belongs to Cold Blood Peak. The additional four taels go to True Disciple Su. Even if you work yourself to death alone, it won’t be enough for outer sect qualification.”

”You need to bring others into our faction. A hundred people. When that’s done, you will become the first outer sect disciple from this batch of spirit slaves.”

Wang Yu lowered his head in silence. As expected, it wasn’t that simple. This was already the benefit he had gained by deliberately standing out. Otherwise, Steward Duan would never have said so much to him.

”Having second thoughts?”