Chapter 346: Follow-up Handling, Early Fourth-Stage Divine Awareness

As he left, everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Wang Yu, carrying the Rosé Blood Fruit, temporarily became a source of disaster in their eyes; no one wanted to get involved with him anymore.

In this battle, he proved his strength. He was absolutely qualified to secure the Rosé Blood Fruit. As for them... there was still a Blood Infant Fruit opportunity awaiting them in the Ninth Hall of Yinshi Hall, which appears once every two hundred years. Compared to the opportunity of forming a Nascent Soul, a single Rosé Blood Fruit was less significant. It was better to let him go...

After a long silence, Jiang Mingxin suddenly spoke. "So many people died in the Blood Kill Hall. An explanation must be given afterwards. Since this battle started because of Wang Yu, he should be held responsible. What do you all think?"

Those who sought revenge or took advantage of the chaos to kill and seize treasures had already planned to do so, and they readily voiced their agreement.

"Senior Disciple Jiang has a point."

"Exactly! That's what should be done!"

"It's all Wang Yu's fault, that fiend! If he hadn't made a move, so many people wouldn't have died."

Seeing this, Zhuo Shouyun sighed lightly, ready to accept the favor. Sometimes, the more one knows, the more disillusioned one becomes, eventually realizing that even an adversary can elicit more genuine emotion. Zhuo Shouyun, who was already evenly matched with Wang Yu, surprisingly felt a sense of mutual appreciation. Perhaps the other party thought so too? If not, why would he have saved him...

However, Yan Ling, the Cold Blood Senior Disciple, spoke up. "How ridiculous! I did not participate in the chaotic fight, but your actions were clearly seen! You! You snatched that fellow cultivator's jade gourd. Do you think stolen goods are so easy to get away with...? And you, how many Golden Cores did you take during the chaos? You took almost everything Wang Yu didn't touch. Do you really think no one saw?!"

The two individuals who were pointed out changed their expressions and retorted sharply, "Absurd! Senior Disciple Yan, you should know that careless words can lead to trouble. Don't accuse people of things they didn't do."

The atmosphere in the arena changed again, with a renewed tendency towards chaotic fighting, but this time the target was Yan Ling, who had gained nothing.

Zhuo Shouyun suddenly burst out laughing, raising a record stone high in his right hand. "Stop arguing, all of you. Everything that just happened has been recorded in this record stone. Once we leave, I will hand it over to the sect for judgment. Who killed whom will be clear then."

With that, he transformed into a streak of blood-light and fled. How could those people tolerate this? They immediately activated their escape techniques to the maximum and pursued Zhuo Shouyun, their objective clear: to destroy the record stone!

Wang Yu and his tacit understanding lay here: letting Zhuo Shouyun live would draw away these troubles. Within the Blood Abyss Sanctuary, the two would no longer interfere with each other. Once Zhuo Shouyun left, that record stone could clear Wang Yu of many false accusations. As for those he personally killed, they were insignificant compared to those who died in the chaos. Moreover, disputes among juniors inherently involve killing each other. If those who were outmatched still sought revenge, the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect would have been annihilated long ago. How else could it have maintained its ten-thousand-year heritage and remained strong? He also had people supporting him. Such minor offenses were entirely bearable; it was merely the art of compromise, something he was already accustomed to.

Outside Yinshi Hall, Wang Yu suddenly rushed out, heading north towards the Blood Demon Sea. Although this journey was less than half a month, what transpired was of immense significance. Regardless of Zhuo Shouyun's thoughts, Wang Yu's intentions were actually quite simple. His core demand was that he had signed a contract, and Zhuo Shouqing had forbidden him from killing this person. Any "mutual appreciation" was merely Zhuo Shouyun's fantasy. Enemies are always more endearing when dead. If Wang Yu had killed him, Zhuo Shouqing's century-long preparation would become a joke. Even if Wang Yu won, who would he find to mend the damaged Blood Spirit Root? It would be meaningless.

Therefore, since he couldn't kill him, Wang Yu considered letting him share the burden. Capturing him in the Glazed Ice Heart Pagoda held little meaning, as the opponent had become a bare commander, losing all his elites. Having repeatedly tricked so many people into their deaths, no one would trust him anymore. During the remaining cultivation time in the Blood Abyss Sanctuary, Wang Yu could focus on himself, seeking out more opportunities beneficial to his cultivation and further enhancing his own strength. Outside, Fu Xiao was still waiting for him.

However... what Wang Yu didn't know was that while he was bound by the Styx Contract, Zhuo Shouqing was not. Wang Yu had spared Zhuo Shouyun, but his companions were not prepared to spare Fu Xiao for him. This trust was destined to be betrayed.

Half a month later, after traversing most of the Blood Demon Sea, Wang Yu settled in the Arid Blood Plain region, found a cape cliff cave, and set up a concealment formation with pre-prepared array flags. He then proceeded to bleed himself once more, completely dissolving the incomplete blood talisman near his heart. The placement slots were also rearranged. There were six slots, two of which were fixed for cultivation techniques. The remaining four were occupied by Demonic Dragon Fist, Netherworld Great Handprint, Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Curse, and Earth Grudge Puppet Master Scripture! The last one was the most recently added.

The preliminary refining process for the Netherworld Demon Bone was almost complete. Wang Yu needed to possess a complete Third-tier Puppet Master skill for this stage, which would allow him to refine a true Fourth-tier Earth Puppet! In his vision, it would be best to complete it within the Blood Abyss Sanctuary, so that it could become his new trump card upon leaving. Even Zhuo Shouyun, who had fought him multiple times, was unaware that he possessed such a method, which could serve as a surprise weapon!

For this inheritance, Wang Yu specifically selected content related to the Earth Grudge Puppets, compiling it into a special secret refining technique for Earth Grudge Puppets to replace their lengthy placement time. It could reach major accomplishment in ten years at most, and completion in less than twenty years. Placing and refining simultaneously should allow for synchronization.

After handling these matters, Wang Yu released Xue Yu to guard the entrance and alleviate his loneliness. The large fox was not far from reaching the peak of the second tier. It might attempt to form a Golden Core within five or six years, but it currently lacked the necessary spirit materials, which could be sought in this Blood Abyss.

Then came the most crucial objective. "—The Rosé Blood Fruit!"

After moving away from Yinshi Hall, Wang Yu finally had time to examine this treasure. It was oval-shaped, resembling a mango, but its skin was composed of octagonal blood-glazed scales. It looked like a large blood-diamond, or a shattered mirror pieced together, with multiple smooth, delicate facets capable of reflecting any light. To call it a spirit medicine would be an understatement; it was more like a work of art. It was truly beautiful!

This item was not simply consumed like common elixirs. Wang Yu prepared a small white jade bowl and used his spiritual sense to peel off the diamond-like outer skin. What was exposed was flesh resembling a brain. He carefully dissected it along its patterns, filtering out the intestine-like pulp, which was pinkish and... simply looking at it gave one a feeling of revulsion. Wang Yu pinched his nose and drank it, discarding the remaining refuse to the side, paying it no mind. The peel and intestinal membrane of this item were both highly toxic, especially when mixed with the pulp, requiring extreme caution.

Once this spirit medicine entered his stomach, the Ancient Soul Art spontaneously began to circulate, and a continuous stream of bloody energy surged into his Niwan Palace in the center of his brows. He could faintly perceive his soul, which existed on another plane within his physical body. For cultivators, the spirit-soul is the vessel for memory, personality, and spiritual sense, perfectly aligned with the human body. After forming a Golden Core, a portion of this spiritual essence sinks into the Golden Core—forming the fertile ground for the future Nascent Soul. Strengthening the spiritual sense is equivalent to strengthening the soul. When forming a Nascent Soul in the future, this spiritual sense, which surpasses his current realm, will provide considerable assistance, at least increasing his chances by ten to twenty percent. The nurturing of the three treasures—essence, qi, and spirit—is the primary focus of a cultivator's lifelong practice. He was simply taking a longer, more structured path.

The current cultivation system integrates qi and spirit very well; they can be said to advance hand-in-hand. Only the physical body is somewhat weaker, but it is not completely neglected; with each realm breakthrough, a cultivator's essence, qi, and spirit significantly increase. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to bear the spiritual power that leads to the gate of longevity.

The Rosé Blood Fruit was simple and brutal. It directly helped Wang Yu achieve a qualitative transformation. The remaining gray mist in his Niwan Palace was completely cleared, and even the "space" was significantly expanded. Dense, blood-red patterns, like breathing, expanded and contracted, covering the edges of his Niwan Palace. Over a thousand black paper boats, formed by the Soul-Carving Evil Boat Curse, crowded together, all pushed to this marginal area. The Ancient Soul, identical to Wang Yu and appearing to be a spirit-soul but actually a condensed form of spiritual sense, rapidly grew in size. If it was previously only palm-sized, it now had the height of a five or six-year-old child. His entire Niwan Palace was also filled with the surging power of his spiritual sense.

The effects of the Rosé Blood Fruit continued to pour out. Wang Yu regarded the unique Ancient Soul, derived from his cultivation technique realm, as a kind of pseudo-soul. And indeed, it was. It could withstand all sorts of spirit-soul damage on behalf of Wang Yu's soul precisely because the enemy's secret arts mistakenly identified it as his true soul, making it extremely effective for taking damage and death in his stead. Furthermore, after breaking through to the Fourth Tier, it could even be refined into a second Nascent Soul. Wang Yu had always kept this secret art, occasionally studying it. However, he did not intend to develop it in that direction. Compared to a second Nascent Soul, he preferred to create a perfect, seamless false soul that could completely replace a target. The Ancient Heavenly Soul Sect must have more soul cultivation inheritances. When he went to the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest back then, he was limited by his own power and surely missed some things. Now that it belonged to the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect, they must have unearthed some ancient inheritances. Aside from what he took, there was still a considerable amount left. After he left, he could inquire with the sect. If he could acquire some, it would also be of great significance to his research into this secret art.

The matter of the Ancient Soul was difficult to deal with for now. However, the blood-red meridians clinging to the edges of his Niwan Palace began to contract, gradually binding his spiritual sense, which had become somewhat restless after its surge. They eventually formed an ice-blue sphere of light. The second round of cultivation began, following the same process. His spiritual sense continued to grow, filling his Niwan Palace, and was again gathered by the blood-red meridians into a spherical shape. This repeated again and again.

After an unknown period, the medicinal power of the Rosé Blood Fruit gradually diminished. Nine spheres of spiritual sense appeared in his Niwan Palace, meaning his spiritual sense power had increased by more than nine times! It truly was a rare treasure of the Blood Dao, apart from the slightly repulsive pulp. Its effects were undeniably superb.

"Now!" The invigorated Wang Yu accelerated the circulation of the Ancient Soul Art, which also contained methods for breaking through to Fourth-tier spiritual sense. Ultimately, it was simply a quantitative change leading to a qualitative one. His Niwan Palace could not contain such an enormous amount of spiritual sense power. Therefore, the breakthrough secret art became especially crucial. Under conscious guidance, the nine ice-blue spiritual sense spheres arranged themselves according to a profound trajectory, each extending spiritual sense tendrils, connecting with one another. This was the breakthrough secret art within the Ancient Soul Art—the Nine-Nine Reversion Divine Art! The connecting tendrils fused them into a single entity, transmitting power to each other, reducing from nine to eight, then to seven. The number decreased, but their size remained unchanged. This signified an improvement in the quality of his spiritual sense. The next step was a slow, meticulous process, until the moment they finally became one.

Inside the cape cliff cave, Wang Yu's body trembled, and a faint blue divine light emanated from him, especially bright around his head. After several breaths, a pair of exceptionally spirited eyes slowly opened. Upon close inspection, one could notice a crescent mark in the corner of his black pupils, appearing like a reflection and quite inconspicuous. This refreshed state lasted only a brief moment and quickly receded.

"Fourth-tier initial spiritual sense, achieved!"

The breakthrough in spiritual sense, besides making his perception sharper, also greatly enhanced his control over his body. His overall strength increased significantly, and he should now be able to easily suppress his former self. Of course, the most important thing was the placement slots. According to the pattern,

Placement Slot 7: Empty

"—Hahahahaha!" With no one around, Wang Yu unrestrainedly burst into hearty laughter. The unlocking of Slot No. 7 meant that his cultivation progress would accelerate even further. After a moment's consideration, Wang Yu placed the Earth Grudge Puppet refining secret art into it. With two placement slots working simultaneously, the emergence time of the Netherworld Demon Bone would be greatly reduced. Furthermore, after the breakthrough in his spiritual sense, the pressure of controlling the twin corpses drastically decreased. He could now cultivate them vigorously without worry; even if the refined corpses broke through to the Fourth Tier, he would still be able to control them. All his spiritual sense secret arts and soul-path divine abilities also saw a significant increase in power. Killing Golden Core cultivators would be like slaughtering chickens, a description that now applied to him.

In a corner of the temporary cave dwelling, the three-tailed snow fox trembled under the pressure of this spiritual sense power, unsure why its master suddenly burst into laughter. It ground its molars. Its fox face showed a fawning expression as it quickly rubbed against his pant leg, then rolled over, revealing its fluffy white belly.

"You're so clever!" Wang Yu playfully kicked it, then pulled out a supreme-grade spirit pill and tossed it into Xue Yu's mouth, sharing his current joy with it.

After estimating the time, he realized that it had taken him a year and a half to refine the Rosé Blood Fruit and break through his realm, which was quite long. The time had already reached the beginning of his 14th year as an elder. This meant that the Blood Abyss trial would end in another 24 years, leaving him with not much time. Collecting Myriad Spirit Blood Essence would be his next main objective.

"The only place where demon cultivators gather is the Blood Demon Sea. It's a good opportunity to leave seclusion and inquire about Yinshi Hall." Previously in the Blood Kill Hall, Wang Yu hadn't seen any members of the Wei clan. Wei Hao and his group hadn't participated in the struggle for Yinshi Hall at all. He didn't know if they had luckily avoided it or had foresight. In any case, contacting his old friends wouldn't hurt.

He glanced back at the three-tailed snow fox. While it was in the spirit beast bag, it couldn't cultivate, so it might as well be settled in this cape cliff cave. It could also look after the Netherworld Demon Bone. He would only be out for a few days at most and would return, and afterward, he would primarily hunt demon cultivators in the Blood Demon Sea, so there was no need to move. After making up his mind, he gave Xue Yu some instructions and left behind more protective measures before using a voice transmission jade talisman to contact Wei Hao.