Chapter 3: Spirit Slave

Atop the nine colossal, twisted, and colliding peaks lay a pool of blood. A blood-red waterfall, nine thousand feet high, flowed from it, cascading onto a ritual array below and completely filling its intricate carvings. At the center of this array stood a purplish-red palace.

The palace was exceptionally grand and magnificent. At the base of the nine peaks, vast open spaces were dotted with ancient, quaint buildings. There were hardly any houses or pavilions constructed from ordinary bluestone and wood. Golden bricks paved the ground, white walls gleamed like snow, and intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes adorned every surface, making the entire area appear exceptionally refined and elegant. This was completely different from the grim and terrifying place Wang Yu had imagined.

Even Stone Lake City's Lord's Manor would be considered an ordinary building here. Only the streaks of light in the sky matched Wang Yu's preconceived notions: some were churning black mist, others blazing with blood-red light. The flying magical artifacts were diverse: skull-shaped objects, bone-spine swords, Yin Corpse Clouds, paper figures carrying sedan chairs, coffin-like caskets, and more. Numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators traversed the sky. Qi Condensation cultivators, however, used much simpler artifacts, mostly black cloths, which were likely standard issue artifacts provided by the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect.

Wang Yu's heart burned with anticipation. He thought, "So what if they are demonic cultivators? As long as I can access cultivation techniques, I have no prejudice or preference for power. If it's effective, there's no difference." Since the demonic cultivators had bribed the stationed cultivators at Black Mountain Pass, he believed they wouldn't be immediately killed. At the very least, they would be made to create their due value.

They did not stop. The black-robed demonic cultivator led them to the foot of the third peak from the left. The environment here was distinctly different from the base of the nine peaks; it was cordoned off and heavily guarded by cultivators.

"Brother Xu, you're finally back! Only a hundred people this time?"

Hearing this, the leading black-robed figure finally removed his hood, revealing an old face deeply lined with wrinkles. "There's nothing for it," he replied. "The spiritual veins in Stone Lake City are too poor, so naturally, they produce far fewer cultivation talents. If we went to Qianqiu City, we'd get at least five hundred spirit slaves."

"Count them and take them all away."

"Spirit slaves?"

Before he could hear more of the conversation, Wang Yu's group, still in their vehicle, was pulled to a cluster of stone houses. Their shackles were removed, and they were released.

A plump, round middle-aged man spoke in a sinister tone. "My name is Duan, and you may call me Steward Duan. From today onwards, you are spirit slaves of the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect. You are forbidden to leave this place until you have fully repaid your 'purchase price.' If you perform well, it's not impossible to shed your spirit slave status and become an outer disciple of the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect. Work hard."

Steward Duan spoke, offered no further explanation, and then left. Wang Yu and the other mortals, who had yet to even step onto the path of cultivation, were naturally powerless to resist. Following the order, Wang Yu moved into stone house number eighty-three. The room was fully furnished with a bed, table, chairs, and stools. There was also a small partitioned area for a latrine. The bedding and square pillows were made of excellent brocade, indicating a living standard no worse than that of the Wang family. Although the windows and doors could be opened, they were fitted with iron bars, allowing only a hand to pass through—just like a prison cell.

Not long after, a disciple of the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect walked along the path, dropping a basketball-sized cloth bag into each stone house he passed. He soon reached stone house eighty-three, gave Wang Yu an identical bag, and left without a word.

Wang Yu opened the cloth bag. The first things he saw were food and a water pouch. Twenty steamed buns were still warm. Having not eaten all day, Wang Yu was very hungry and ate five in one sitting. The fillings included both meat and vegetables, savory and palatable, with rich flavors. Each bun had a thin skin and generous filling, surpassing even those made by the pastry chefs in Stone Lake City.

This kind of treatment gave Wang Yu more hope regarding his status as a spirit slave. After all, these were cultivators; even demonic cultivators weren't the bloodthirsty monsters depicted in novels and legends. Stereotypes were clearly misleading! Humans have desires, and demonic cultivators, to put it more directly, are essentially a group of cultivators who pursue extremes and shortcuts. Their desires are more intense, their material enjoyment more pronounced than orthodox cultivators, and they are not ashamed to express them. Even the treatment of spirit slaves here was better than what most common folk experienced in their own homes.

Besides the day's rations, the bag also contained two books, one thin and one thick. The thin one contained a wealth of common knowledge about the cultivation world, explaining the rules of this place and the duties required of spirit slaves. It also specified each person's "purchase price" quota, which, once met, would allow them to become an outer disciple of the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect. Wang Yu meticulously pondered each point, committing them deeply to memory.

First, it outlined the rules of the stone house area.1. Daily, from Mao Shi (5 AM) to Si Shi (9 AM), for two hours, twenty Qi Condensation cultivators would be available to answer questions. Whether it was doubts about cultivation or problems like illiteracy, all questions would be answered. This was also the only time slot each day when spirit slaves were permitted to leave their stone houses.2. After breaking through to the first level of Qi Condensation, spirit slaves must expend their own cultivation base to condense one tael of spirit sand each month and hand it over to any steward in the stone house area. This particular rule revealed the true value of Wang Yu and the others. Spirit stones are the essence of heaven and earth, formed by the natural accumulation and precipitation of spiritual energy. Higher-grade spiritual veins are more likely to produce associated spirit stone lodes. They are divided into four grades: low, medium, high, and supreme, and serve as the most widely circulated currency in the cultivation world. However, due to high consumption, the output from mining veins alone is far from sufficient. Hence, the role of spirit slaves came into existence. Cultivators, if willing to harm their own cultivation, can also "manufacture" spirit stones, effectively printing their own currency. Early Qi Condensation cultivators can only condense "spirit sand." One tael of spirit sand is equivalent in value to one low-grade spirit stone. While the spiritual energy is incredibly pure for Qi Condensation cultivators, it appears impure and jumbled to Foundation Establishment cultivators. This is why the value of spirit stones increases with their grade.3. After a spirit slave repays the "purchase price" of one hundred spirit stones, they may apply to become an outer disciple of the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect at the Steward's office. The spirit stones referred to here are, of course, low-grade spirit stones. Based on the exchange rate of one tael of spirit sand per spirit stone, it would take a minimum of 100 months to repay the debt under ideal conditions—over eight years. If one also accounts for the time spent learning and breaking through to cultivation, it would take at least ten years.

"I'll be 26 by the time I repay it..."

Closing the booklet filled with common cultivation knowledge, Wang Yu took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Although the living conditions were good, Wang Yu doubted the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect would be so benevolent when it came to spirit stones and wealth. While theoretically ten years, actually achieving it could take twenty.

As for the other thick booklet, it was the Qi Condensation cultivation method provided by the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect. Generously, it contained all nine levels, allowing one to cultivate up to the Grand Perfection stage of Qi Condensation. This provided all spirit slaves with a psychological comfort, a hint that they were valued.

With what he desired most right before his eyes, Wang Yu abandoned all unrealistic fantasies. This was the headquarters of the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect, its main gate. Even though the stone house area was remote, it was heavily guarded by cultivators. The probability of escape was negligible. The only path to survival was to obey the Blood Sect's rules and become an outer disciple; only then might freedom be possible. Even if it was just a promise, he had to work for it and move forward. There was no other way!