Chapter 126: 拔舌

The karst cave, hidden deep within the chasm, spanned approximately one hundred *mu* and featured significant variations in elevation. Numerous stalactites hung from its high ceiling.

The cave grew progressively lower the further one went inside.

Within this cave, precisely in its lower section, lay a vast hot spring, covering an area of about thirty to forty *mu*.

If one were to step into the water, the cave ceiling would be only three feet above their head, yet they could submerge their entire body in the hot spring. The water reached no higher than the neck, with its deepest point being only five or six meters.

There were also warm-water fish and shrimp active in the hot spring, definitely an ideal place for seclusion.

Wang Yu thoroughly investigated the cave, confirmed there were no hidden dangers, and then set up the Eight Directions Divine Delusion Array at its entrance.

With a flick of his finger, an unknown high-grade magic sword flew from his waist storage bag. Empowered by spiritual energy, it pierced into the rock as easily as cutting tofu, swiftly carving out a vertical rectangular stone.

He inserted his five fingers directly into the rock with his left arm and gently pulled.

As effortlessly as pulling a scallion, he yanked out a massive stone weighing several tons. He continuously repeated this action, and in less than half an hour, a perfectly formed stone chamber was carved out.

He set Wang Wu down, his finger strength combined with spiritual power repeatedly tapping his body, not only severing the circulation of vital meridians but also dislocating all his joints.

Within a few breaths, the formidable late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator was reduced to a helpless cripple, weaker than any mortal.

With another wave of his hand, five more iron chains, as thick as wrists, plunged into the rock wall, emitting faint spiritual energy fluctuations—evidently, they were also magical artifacts.

The sharp, triangular tips of the iron chains suddenly pierced through Wang Wu's four limbs, and the fifth chain shackled his neck, like leashing a dog.

“Ah…!!!”

Wang Wu, who had been unconscious, finally awoke with a piercing scream of pain. His last memory was of being severely beaten by the black-armored man that night, and now, waking up, he was utterly bewildered.

He found his limbs wracked with agonizing pain and felt nothing else; even the spiritual energy within his Dantian Qi Sea was dormant, utterly impossible to mobilize.

Immediately, he was filled with shock and anger, which then turned into dread.

“This… what’s going on, who are you?!”

“How dare you treat me like this! I am Wang Wu, I am the future of Spirit Vulture Sect, you cannot harm me.”

“That’s right… demonic cultivators, Spirit Vulture Sect has cooperated with demonic cultivators. You are a cultivator from the Joyful Union Sect… you cannot harm me.”

Wang Yu observed the man’s distraught state and paused, a flicker of thought crossing his mind. He felt a sense of frustration, as if being mocked by a clown. He wished Wang Wu could be stronger, smarter.

Rather than like this, where he was so easily dispatched.

This made him feel that the deaths he had experienced before his current life in the Wang family were nothing but a meaningless joke.

It was too late for such thoughts now.

However, the information revealed in Wang Wu’s words was worth pondering. Wang Wu thought he was from the Joyful Union Demonic Sect, which meant that they, and not the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, were the primary instigators of this large-scale abduction incident.

Given the past relationship between the two sects, it must have been a collaboration where one played a supportive role, which explained why powerful cultivators were not dispatched.

“Besides, those abducted were all young women, both mortals and immortal seedlings. Were they being used to cultivate special talents? Or as human cauldrons?”

He wondered for a moment, but Wang Yu didn't dwell on it. This matter had little to do with him; managing his own small patch of land was enough for now.

“Beast, look up, look at me!”

A look of fear and dread gazed up from below, and Wang Yu couldn't help but smile; he liked those eyes.

Serves you right!

“You… who are you?”

“What, you don’t recognize me, Cousin?”

Wang Wu’s pupils suddenly constricted. Ignoring the white hair, he indeed saw the shadow of an old acquaintance.

“Wang… Yu… It’s you!”

“You damn spirit-slave, hurry and let me go.”

“You really knew.”

Humans are truly strange; they can bow their heads to powerful strangers, yet they cannot stand to see familiar individuals rise above them, completely disregarding their current predicament.

Wang Wu knew he had been captured and made into a spirit-slave by the demonic sect. He continued to speak to him in that infuriating tone.

“What insolence.”

Shaking his head, the Golden Edge Whip appeared in his hand. Wang Yu swung it down fiercely, and a bloody mark immediately appeared on Wang Wu's body. Blood flowed profusely, and he howled in pain.

Whip after whip, Wang Yu mercilessly flogged Wang Wu repeatedly. The more he beat him, the happier he felt.

After beating him until he passed out, he forced open his jaw, and with two fingers, pulled out a bright red tongue.

The unconscious Wang Wu awoke once more, coughing up blood without cease.

This time, only fear remained in his eyes.

“For your insolence, you won't be speaking again.”

He threw in a top-grade healing pill, and in a short while, all his wounds scabbed over, and his breathing stabilized.

Wang Yu waved his hand again, set up the Blood Mist Concealing Spirit Array, and slowly left the stone chamber. There would be much to "play with" in the coming days.

Placement Slot 1: Cold Blood Spirit Ascension Art (Cannot be further derived)“Cold Blood Spirit Ascension Art (9/100): Forty-eight practices a day, completion in nine years and three months.”Placement Slot 2: Cold Blood Spirit Ascension Art…

The next day.

After checking the status of placement slots 1 and 2, Wang Yu sighed softly. As an upgraded version of the Cold Blood Art and a second-tier Foundation Establishment cultivation technique, it was theoretically enough to support him breaking through to the Core Formation stage.

However, what he valued was this cultivation method's ability to enhance spiritual root aptitude. Once perfected, its efficacy would be fully activated, and it would then be best to replace it with another second-tier cultivation method in the slot.

Based on current experience, the deduction capabilities of the placement slots are based on the profundity of the cultivation technique. Generally speaking, forcing an advancement of one major cultivation realm usually hits its ceiling.

It's impossible to derive it indefinitely upwards.

Therefore, he needed stronger cultivation methods, spells, secret techniques, unique arts, and so on.

Using a second-tier cultivation method to cultivate the Qi Cultivation realm significantly increased his cultivation speed.

He could harvest 8 strands of spiritual power daily. This was his seventh month as an inner disciple, and his cultivation had progressed much faster than before.

At this rate, coupled with the improved Cold Blood Pills, he would be able to gain over 130 strands of spiritual power in three years and break through to the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation in at most six years.

He planned to cultivate in seclusion in this Black Mountain Demonic Land for ten years. After absorbing Wang Wu’s spiritual root, his cultivation speed would further accelerate.

As long as his spiritual aptitude was enhanced, he would make rapid progress, truly unleashing the excellent capabilities of the placement slots.

By then, it would be a true rebirth, and his life would be vastly different!

Several more days passed.

In the hot spring within the cave, Wang Yu floated on the water, his silver-white hair fanning out. A small fox with pink eyes was lying on his chest, licking its paws.

After this period of nurturing, aided by the top-grade Beast-Feeding Pills, the Snow Jade Fox's strength surged, having recently advanced to mid-first tier and further unlocking its bloodline secret techniques.

It could now provide some assistance to Wang Yu in combat, which was good news.

This Snow Jade Fox should be considered a mid-to-high level among demonic beasts, with Foundation Establishment potential, and could accompany Wang Yu for a long time, making it worth nurturing.