Chapter 182: Shadow Yin Corpse Refining Technique

Several more days passed.

Wang Yu arranged the various pre-prepared Yin-attributed spiritual materials into a spirit-gathering formation, incorporating himself as part of the array. His two eyes served as the focal points of the formation. The spirit-gathering array transformed into a Yin-gathering one, filling the small space with wisps of Lunar Essence. Wang Yu did not absorb them directly but used the formation's power to confine them within the secret chamber. Accumulating over time, each night the dark chamber would faintly glow with moonlight. Even during the day, it managed to attract faint Lunar energy. As time passed, the secret chamber became shrouded in moon mist.

Meanwhile, the general outline of the Yin Fiend Corpse Refinement Art began to form in his mind. He murmured, "'Lunar energy is crucial, but it's not the only component. Mastery of corpse-controlling talismans is essential, and one's divine sense must be strong enough to suppress a third-tier fiend corpse. Otherwise, losing control would be a devastating setback. Then comes the key step... fiend refinement.'"

The type of fiend corpse created ultimately depends on the type of fiendish energy chosen. For instance, if refined with metal fiendish energy, the resulting zombie would possess metal-element abilities, naturally countering various metal magical artifacts. If refined with fire fiendish energy, it would possess fire-element abilities; ordinary flames would not harm it and might even be used by it.

Of course, this refers to third-tier fiend corpses, also known as Flying Zombies. Besides their inherent zombie abilities, different fiendish energies can grant them magical powers comparable to those of Core Formation cultivators. How else could they contend with other third-tier beings?

The most powerful type in the Yin Fiend Corpse Refinement Art is the Yin Fiend Flying Zombie, but it also includes methods for refining ordinary Five-Element Fiend Corpses. The content is quite comprehensive, even detailing how to refine corpse treasures for zombies. As for whether two or three types of fiendish energy can be refined simultaneously, theoretically, it's possible, but it demands extremely high skill from the corpse refiner and stringent requirements for the raw corpse material. For example, matching spiritual roots, powerful physique, innate divine strength, and so on. The more unique the living being, the more formidable the refined corpse will be, sometimes even resulting in an 'aberrant' variant. Such variants combine the characteristics of both fiend and armored corpses, possessing unique magical abilities and making them formidable opponents within the same realm. Jiang Zhenchuan's Corpse King from Heavenly Corpse Peak is one such aberrantly evolved variant. If he can advance to the Nascent Soul stage, he will possess remarkable combat power from the outset.

Wang Yu was a newcomer to this path. Apart from purchasing them, he had no other means to collect various fiendish energies. However, if he didn't want Jin Miaoshan to know, his only option was to try with his Yin-Moon Nether Eyes.

Yin Fiend... The aptitude of the old man surnamed Liu barely reached the dual-spiritual root level, being Earth and Metal attributes, which didn't quite align with Yin Fiend. But, this thing was a living corpse. Did they not understand the immense value of top-grade materials?!

Pouring his divine sense into his eyes, amidst the shimmering true essence, Wang Yu entered a moon-gazing state. He stared directly at the Lunar Star through the star-gazing holes left in the secret chamber's ceiling. This was the very symbol of Lunar Yin, representing all Yin-attributed powers. Therefore, theoretically speaking, while the Lunar Star scattered countless streams of moonlight, its reverse side also generated endless high-quality Yin Fiends, which mixed with the moonlight and merged into the world. They accumulated in some unknown, mysterious region. But they genuinely existed, and their quality was exceptionally high.

When Wang Yu attempted to draw them in, not only did his eyes ache unbearably, but his entire body also ignited with strange, transparent, light-gray flames, scorching his flesh and soul. This was far more terrifying than a fierce spirit devouring one's body. Fortunately, his Yin-Moon Nether Eyes were in their perfected state, allowing him to control their power at will. Once he sealed that wisp of top-grade Yin Fiend into a jade pendant, all anomalies subsided, leaving only Wang Yu's muted grunts of pain. It was excruciating! The pain was more severe than any he had ever experienced, leaving him with minor injuries and his vision blurred. He could draw it in a maximum of three times a day before needing to rest and recover. To formally refine a corpse, at least a hundred wisps of this top-grade Yin Fiend were required, meaning he would need to prepare for a month before even beginning. However, Wang Yu had to persevere. He desperately needed a Core Formation-level combatant that he could fully control, so a little pain was negligible.

In the days that followed, the torment he endured was comparable to his time as a spirit slave, though this time it was physical rather than mental. However, he gradually realized that actively drawing in this Lunar Moon Fiend power seemed subtly different from the Yin Fiend described in the Corpse Refinement Art. This wasn't simply top-grade Yin Fiend.

Just a few months later, his eyes, tempered by the burning, had subtly undergone a deeper transformation. Lacking a trigger, this change remained latent, awaiting the day it would erupt. The vast amount of Dragon Blood secret medicine hidden within his body was once again repeatedly refined and assimilated, merging deep into his flesh and blood, transforming into a more formidable foundation. The lack of a body-refining cultivation technique prevented him from breaking through to the mid-second tier, yet his physique and vitality continued to rise. Within his Yin-Nether Demonic Dragon Spine, substantial essence blood began to condense!

Body cultivation involves integrating large amounts of spiritual energy from heaven and earth into one's flesh and blood. Combined with cultivation techniques and secret medicines, it breaks through the limits of the human body, allowing for continuous growth. Its tangible manifestation is vigorous vital energy! Upon reaching the second tier, essence blood begins to condense, serving as the source of vital energy. The surging blood provided him with greater strength and vitality. As its core, the Yin-Nether Demonic Dragon Spine was the fruit of his body cultivation. Due to a positive mutation with the Corpse Demon secret art, the vital energy, which should have developed towards a robust, masculine form, transformed into a unique, eerie, and icy state. He couldn't say whether this was good or bad. In any case, the suddenly condensed essence blood appeared blue-black. The Yin-Nether Demonic Dragon summoned by his fists and kicks, initially about a *zhang* (3.3 meters) long, doubled in size, reaching nearly seven meters. This vital energy phenomenon had already surpassed his basic understanding of body cultivation. This was precisely the change brought about by drawing in Lunar Moon Fiend using his eye technique secret art. This power remained far too mysterious.

"I was truly foolish... truly..."

Inside the secret chamber. Wang Yu lowered his head in thought. He should have realized earlier that Yin Fiend and Moon Fiend were not the same thing. However, in the past, when absorbing Yin energy, the areas illuminated by moonlight had the densest Yin energy. This misconception had led to his superficial understanding of Yin Fiend. After all, he had never cultivated on Heavenly Corpse Peak nor studied the relevant knowledge of the Corpse Dao or Fiend Dao. Directly collecting such high-grade material was indeed rash of him. However, it would also be difficult for ordinary people to draw in such dense moonlight and moon fiend.

"Since I've already collected it, it would be a waste not to use it." He looked at the living corpse, which had been immersed in the Lunar Moon Fiend for nearly sixty days, its appearance significantly altered. Its skin was taut and grayish-white, and its fingernails had grown three inches long. Zombie fangs had emerged, unique dark moon patterns had formed on its face, and a black moon mark, similar to Bao Gong's, appeared between its brows. At this point, Wang Yu no longer needed to serve as the formation to attract Lunar Essence. This evil creature had already developed an instinct to absorb Lunar Essence, though not as efficiently as his Yin-Moon Nether Eyes. A zombie bowing to the moon was a symbol of high intelligence. As expected of a top-grade living corpse material, its future growth potential would not be low.

Now, only one step remained before the corpse could be animated: Corpse Qi!

According to the normal process, a wisp of external Corpse Qi would suffice. However, the reason why a living corpse was considered top-grade was precisely because its physical body was still alive. And Corpse Qi naturally condensed and emanated from a corpse. Therefore, the best method was to extinguish the body's vitality, allowing it to generate Corpse Qi from its very essence of life. A zombie possessing this innate Corpse Qi would be terrifyingly ferocious, with copper heads and iron bones, immense strength, and fear almost no worldly powers except for lightning, fire, and Yang-attributed spells. Of course, this referred only to a countering relationship, not immunity. Through a series of coincidences, the embryo Wang Yu was creating absolutely had the potential to evolve into a Yaksha, and not just an ordinary one. Silver-winged, Blood-winged, Golden-winged... all were possible! Yakshas were fourth-tier beings, comparable to Nascent Soul ancestors.

After careful consideration, Wang Yu did not proceed directly to the final step. Since he could use the Lunar Moon Fiend to temper his own body, he decided to wait longer and refine his physique until it could improve no further. He had only used a tiny bit of the third-tier Blood Dragon Essence he previously acquired. His body couldn't accommodate the medicinal power of the new Dragon Blood secret medicine anymore. Now that he had a new method of tempering, although it was painful, it was absolutely worth it. Wang Yu had once suffered greatly due to his aptitude. With this opportunity to enhance his physical potential, there was no need to rush, especially since no Soul Transformation Venerable was chasing him. Moreover, the Yin Fiend Corpse Refinement Art also needed to be set aside for a while longer to avoid further mishaps.

With this in mind, Wang Yu lightly ran a fingernail across his finger, squeezing out a considerable amount of thick blood. His plan had changed. Ordinary corpse-controlling talismans might not be enough to restrain such a ferocious and evil creature. He needed to apply several layers of methods. After thoroughly preparing the corpse embryo, he used his finger as a brush. He inscribed corpse-controlling spiritual talismans, using a blood-sacrifice method to embed them deep within the corpse. Then, he continuously cast spiritual seals to refine it, his blood merging into it ceaselessly as if it were worthless. This refinement process would last for many days. He also had to cultivate the Ancient Soul Art at specific times, maintain his daily cultivation, and diligently refine the Ice Spirit Elixir within his body. Furthermore, he needed to dedicate mental energy to receive and assimilate various feedback from the 'Placement Bar' in his mind.

Wang Yu's presence virtually vanished from Guiling City.

Until, in March of his 17th year as a deacon, a piece of information regarding the completion of a secret art flooded his mind, and the Yin Blood Elixir hidden within his bone marrow suddenly split into two. Then... came various cascading changes.

The Corpse Demon Bone Trait advanced! His physically immense strength trait underwent a qualitative leap. His Copper Armor Corpse Robe advanced to an Iron Armor Corpse Robe, making it difficult for even low-grade second-tier magical artifacts, without the application of true essence or spells, to cut his body. The Heavenly Yin Blood Trait advanced! His blood grew colder, his Yin and Ice attribute aptitudes significantly increased, and the Yin characteristics within his soul became increasingly prominent, giving him a sensation of wanting to detach from his physical body. However, theoretically, he shouldn't be able to sense his own soul; he could only control the divine sense power originating from his Niwan Palace! The modifications brought by the Nascent Soul secret art were indeed unique.

Moreover, due to the partial completion of the secret art, his body's abnormal state receded significantly. While some unusual features remained, they were no longer as sinister as before. At the very least, his fingernails returned to a flesh color, his upper fangs receded, and his skin tone looked more like that of a living person... and so on. Everything was improving. Most importantly, his true essence accumulation had reached five hundred drops—the time for his breakthrough had arrived!

Just as he was about to push forward with a surge of momentum, Wang Yu's expression changed. His spine was twisting. The Yin-Nether Demonic Dragon Spine... its second mutation had begun!