Chapter 343: Heavenly Talisman Descends, Second Realm of the Mind

“Indeed, you’re quite late. The first seven stages of the stone stele have already been cleared, and the rewards claimed by others. Only the eighth and ninth stages remain.”

“What about the Rosy Blood Fruit? Has anyone obtained it?”

“Not yet. You probably need to clear the ninth stage of the stone stele to get it. Are you here for that treasure?”

“That’s right.”

Hearing this, Yan Ling’s eyes showed concern.

“Under the eyes of so many people, even if you obtain it, it would be difficult to keep. A fourth-tier rare treasure would likely draw collective attacks.”

“It’s fine.”

Wang Yu wasn’t too worried about this. The Bloodkill Stele’s appearance in the Sixth Hall meant there were still three inner halls left to explore.

He was fast.

If he could get the Rosy Blood Fruit, he’d have a way to escape.

“Oh, right. I wanted to ask, do you know anything about the Blood God Mind Control technique? Why does this secret art lock onto one person?”

Yan Ling frowned, guessing something.

Wang Yu’s involvement in the rivalry between the two Zhuo families was no secret. In fact, his rapid rise couldn’t have happened without the Zhuo family’s support.

However, she was also an orphan. If it weren’t for an ancestor-level figure speaking on her behalf, she wouldn’t even have secured her position as a true disciple, let alone become the direct disciple of the Cold Blood Mountain Lord.

Therefore, her knowledge of the Blood Demon Hall’s secret arts was not extensive.

Just as Yan Ling was considering how to reply to Wang Yu, a blood talisman suddenly floated down from the sky, appearing remarkably fresh and vibrant.

Wang Yu: "..."

Yan Ling: "..."

The talisman was written in ancient demonic script, using “Blood Talisman Characters.” Wang Yu could understand its meaning: “Blood God Mind Control Dispel Talisman.” It looked hastily made, as if it had just been conjured.

At the same time.

Deep within the Bloody Abyss Holy Land’s blood clouds, Xue Yuan and Xue Quan simultaneously looked at Third Brother Xue Fu. The dispel talisman, temporarily formed by Nascent Soul power, was precisely Xue Fu’s creation.

He grinned good-naturedly.

“Didn’t you two brothers praise this boy’s intelligence? I want to see if he can grasp our intentions.”

Both were speechless, then Demon Lord Xue Quan said resignedly.

“Fine, let’s go with Third Brother’s idea.”

In front of the Bloodkill Hall, Yan Ling looked around carefully before asking, “Fellow Daoist Wang Yu, this is…”

“No need to overthink it. What we are meant to know, we will know. Overthinking is useless.”

While that made sense, Yan Ling couldn't help but be curious. This was far too strange! If her suspicions were correct, it would mean the Bloody Abyss Holy Land had been under constant surveillance...

The pressure was immense.

Wang Yu, however, didn’t share her concerns. The descending dispel talisman proved his earlier guesses and premonitions were accurate.

The old monsters of the sect were indeed planning an experiment.

This talisman appeared to be an act of assistance, but it was actually an affirmation of his previous actions. Otherwise, where would the goodwill come from?

Just as he was about to use the dispel talisman, Wang Yu paused.

It was always wise to be wary of others. Although the old monsters had no reason to harm him, what if they habitually left a hidden contingency? Just like he did in Guilong City.

He had planted a demonic seed in his subordinate Xu Ruozhou, with the aim of devouring her directly if she ever rebelled.

The probability of that happening was small, but he had done it anyway.

Wang Yu had always been willing to assume the worst about others, especially an old demon. Poison hidden in honey was standard practice.

With this thought, he wasn't in a hurry to use it.

His divine sense meticulously scanned the dispel talisman, finding nothing amiss. However, the principle by which the talisman worked revealed a few clues.

The power characteristic of the ancient demonic script, “Blood Talisman Characters,” was to activate blood, imbuing it with abundant vitality. It could grant powerful life force and immortality.

But it also made the “blood” come alive.

This dispel talisman removed that vitality. By analogy, while the Blood God Mind Control technique seemed to be planted in the heart, it was very likely rooted in the blood.

That's why his repeated attempts to remove his heart hadn't solved the problem.

As for a higher level, planting it in the concept of “heart” itself – it wasn't that Wang Yu looked down on Zhuo Shouyun, but even if Zhuo Shouyun's cultivation realm was significantly elevated, he couldn't achieve such a feat.

Considering the power of blood cultivators, it was more likely that the root was in the blood. He could try it.

His method was also very simple and brutal.

And so.

Under Yan Ling’s astonished gaze, Wang Yu sliced his nails across several major blood vessels around his body, creating multiple incisions, then reached out and pulled.

All his blood was instantly drained, and his body became a dried corpse.

Not a single drop of moisture remained, revealing an undeniably hideous appearance. His Dragon Spine Divine Marrow then activated, generating a large amount of qi and blood, which coordinated with the remaining Yin Blood Secret Power.

Within a few breaths, Wang Yu's entire body regenerated its blood.

This time, more than half of the runes in his heart had indeed vanished, with only fragmented edges remaining. One more attempt should be enough.

He needed to recuperate and wait until he had condensed three Yin Blood Pills again. With six slots working simultaneously, it would take only a few days at most.

The drained blood wasn't wasted either. Wang Yu collected it in bottles, planning to use it later for blood sacrifices for the twin corpses, and to add another layer of blood sacrifice spells to deepen control.

These bloods could also be used to refine magic treasures.

Looking at it this way, the effects of the Corpse Demon Secret Art manifested in all aspects. If it weren't for the damage multiple rapid recoveries would cause to his origin, using himself as material would be an excellent application.

At this moment.

Yan Ling’s slightly agape jaw closed. She licked her parched lips and spoke thoughtfully.

“Fellow Daoist Wang Yu, that was truly... astonishing!”

“It’s alright, just a minor stroke of fortune.”

As the two chatted casually, the palace deep within the blood clouds could no longer stay still. Xue Fu was furious, slamming his palm onto the wine jar in front of him, crushing it into powder.

“This boy! He actually worried that I’d play a dirty trick! How outrageous!”

Xue Yuan and Xue Quan, however, burst out laughing.

“This youngster is quite interesting, so ruthless to himself. No wonder he could crawl out of a pile of dead bodies.”

The “pile of dead bodies” he referred to meant the low-level spirit servants from various peaks.

“Indeed, the Demonic Fetus Secret Incantation also requires such a mindset to achieve mastery. Excellent! Truly excellent!”

Bloodkill Hall.

Wang Yu and Yan Ling returned. Jiang Mingxin’s gaze immediately fell upon them, and he only relaxed after seeing that Yan Ling appeared normal.

He cautiously approached Wang Yu, smiling and saying.

“Brother Wang, since you’re already here, why not try the Bloodkill Stele?”

“This stele has nine stages. Even though the first seven have been cleared and their rewards distributed, it can still bring cultivators significant benefits.”

“I was just thinking that.” Wang Yu raised an eyebrow, understanding Jiang Mingxin’s intent. He was putting on a show, like a peacock displaying its feathers.

The other party had contacted Yan Ling long ago; in fact, he had delivered the letter.

Their relationship was quite close, but certainly not that of cultivation partners. It was more like they were collaborating on some endeavor.

Yan Ling was beautiful, tall with long legs.

Unfortunately, she wasn't voluptuous enough, not Wang Yu's type. Mature women held more appeal for him—mature in physique and in character.

His cleanliness obsession also depended on the person; as long as they were beautiful enough.

It could even add a bit of excitement.

Back to the main topic. The Bloodkill Stele was a typical mental illusion trial, and in this area, Wang Yu could be said to be quite experienced.

He had entered the Path of Mind and reached its first stage.

And he had forged the Asura Killing Heart!

Ordinary mental illusions posed no difficulty for him at all.

He was determined to obtain the Rosy Blood Fruit, the reward for the ninth stage.

Among the more than three hundred people present, not everyone could reach the end. Most were using the initial stages to temper their Dao hearts.

Those undergoing the trial were protected by the Bloodkill Stele, and outsiders could not interfere. Otherwise, there wouldn't be over three hundred people gathered here without any disturbances.

Wang Yu walked to the front of the stone stele.

A large character for “kill” was carved on its surface, which gave Wang Yu a strange expression, a feeling of being "ripped off" from back then. The legacy of the Killing Dao essentially originated from the ancient demon "Kill" of the Desolate Ancient Plains!

Yet, this place was built by a seeker of the ancient demon’s blood.

Revered Yin Shi's background was complex, and it was unclear who had been "ripped off." Based on the outcome, the process was unknown, but ultimately, blood must have won.

Otherwise, the Bloody Abyss would not have come into being.

He found an empty spot, sat down cross-legged, and immersed his divine sense into the Bloodkill Stele. A layer of blood-red light enveloped Wang Yu, then disappeared.

Seeing this.

Jiang Mingxin then turned to Yan Ling and asked.

“Yan Ling, did Brother Wang tell you anything?”

Yan Ling glanced at him, her lips curving upward.

“What you’re meant to know, you will know. It’s better not to speak of what you’re not. You’ll understand later.”

Jiang Mingxin: "..."

He had something to say but didn't know if he should.

After Wang Yu's mind immersed itself into the stone stele, he officially entered the first stage's mental illusion. The surrounding environment felt somewhat familiar to him.

It was the scene of the Wang Manor in Stone Lake City.

His father, mother, and the detestable Wang Wu all appeared there. In the illusion, Wang Wu's personality seemed to have changed, waving at him amicably.

A false memory flooded in. Wang Yu's eyes widened, and a crimson killing intent surged forth, instantly crushing them into a pile of minced meat.

Only then did he smile at his parents.

A moment later.

After savoring the warmth of his childhood for a bit, Wang Yu, with unwavering resolve, slaughtered all the living beings in the illusion. The difficulty of this trial was not great.

Given the nature of demonic cultivators, passing it wasn't difficult.

However, after he passed, fragments of the illusion flooded into his Heart Lake, causing the central stone island to grow considerably larger, with numerous faint human figures appearing.

Whispering voices, too indistinct to hear clearly and impossible to block, made Wang Yu irritable.

He gradually calmed down after silently reciting the Prajna Heart Sutra once.

The second stage was a friendship illusion.

Wang Yu unleashed a spree of slaughter and quickly passed. Even Yu Tangtang, who wouldn't let go of his neck at the end, couldn't sway his heart of stone, unshaken by any disturbance.

The third stage, the fourth stage, the fifth stage...

He experienced almost all the seven emotions and six desires of the mortal world. As he was about to reach the eighth stage, Wang Yu's heart stirred.

Substantialized killing intent surged from within his body. His physical body, sitting calmly before the stone stele in the outside world, merely had a faint blood mist swirling around it, but in the mental illusion, it was entirely blood-red.

Wang Yu usually employed substantialized killing intent through his Minor Asura Killing Fist. Now, having gone through seven stages of trials.

He gained many new insights.

Killing intent itself was merely an illusory aura, substantialized through divine abilities and magical power, thereby affecting the real world and becoming a tangible force.

Wang Yu suddenly comprehended numerous minor magical techniques and divine abilities, formed by manipulating killing intent with his mind, then combining it with magical power.

The core of these was the Asura Killing Heart he had forged!

In the mental illusion.

As some killing intent flowed out, it manifested as a dense crimson mist spreading around him, forming an Asura Domain filled with terrifying killing intent.

Anyone within its range would experience extreme spiritual pressure. Once the string of fear in their heart snapped, they would turn into a killing slave controlled by the killing intent, a type of demonized human.

Similar to what happened to Jin Miaoshan when she was affected by killing intent.

As Wang Yu grew more familiar, his control over the killing intent and blood mist became increasingly proficient, sometimes transforming into beast shapes, other times into blood hands.

With a glare, he could transform killing intent into a mental killing sword.

And suddenly pierce his target!

These minor techniques had little effect against powerful enemies of the same cultivation level, but they were excellent against weaker opponents, practically a god-tier skill for bullying weaker opponents.

Of course.

Most importantly, it allowed him to control killing intent with greater ease. In other words, the power of his Minor Asura Killing Fist surged dramatically, both on the mental and physical planes.

He made significant progress, and the growth in the volume of his mental power was also considerable.

Having reaped all the benefits.

“It seems that those who have embarked on the Path of Mind can gain more benefits from the Bloodkill Stele...”

From this perspective, the compatibility with the ancient demon “Kill” was closer.

Truly strange.

After fully experiencing his gains, Wang Yu officially entered the eighth stage, a difficult barrier that no one had yet broken through. As soon as he entered this mental illusion.

Wang Yu felt as if his mind was clouded, making him uncomfortable all over.

Presently.

He had actually reverted to his spirit slave period, with all his power gone, leaving only a few pathetic wisps of spiritual energy faintly flickering within him, making him incredibly weak.

This illusion clearly couldn't be broken through with brute force, which explained why so many people were stuck.

As soon as Wang Yu walked out of the stone house, a guard at the gate immediately shouted, “You spiritual beast! Who told you to come out? Get back inside!”

Well, now, a spiritual beast?

He couldn't even recall ever being called that; it was utterly outrageous. Mental illusions were like this: they made the good better and the bad worse.

As a past he couldn't bear to recall, buried deep in his heart.

Sometimes he often wondered, what if he had done this or that, how he should have spoken, what kind of words to use... and so on, perhaps the outcome would have been better.

This was a common human regret.

But when push came to shove, what he thought in his mind and what he actually did were completely different.

Seeing the cultivator lunge with a spear, Wang Yu shifted sideways.

With a wave of his hand, an ice sword decapitated the person. It was a remarkably familiar feeling: when he was weak, every step was fraught with killing intent, and a slight misstep in a fight could mean death.

Far from how it was now, where he could still be alive even after being dismembered.

His tolerance for error was extremely high.

Perhaps it was this mentality that made him lax, his personality arrogant, and even led him to disdain Zhuo Shouyun, thinking that whatever he thought, the other party would do.

Was this not a manifestation of a clouded mind and forgotten true nature?

What he was most proficient at... was concealment!

At this thought, his clouded mind suddenly burst into light. Wang Yu felt a surge of pleasure throughout his body and mind, as if a blocked river channel had been cleared, making him suddenly much more relaxed.

The scene before him vanished.

The second scene to appear was that of Guilong City, specifically when he confronted Jin Miaoshan and brazenly slaughtered the Jinman Restaurant.

This had once been a knot in his heart, causing him worry day and night.

That emotion was called fear and hysterical madness!

“So that’s how it is.”

By now, Wang Yu completely understood how to pass the eighth stage.

(End of chapter)