Chapter 372: Double Corpse Advancement, Ninth Layer of Nascent Soul Formation

Sixteen years had passed since leaving the Blood Abyss.

After being thoroughly nourished by the Blood Fiend Crystals, both of Wang Yu's zombies had undergone a fundamental transformation, with the concentration of fiendish energy in each increasing by a level.

Zombies also possess Corpse Cores within their bodies.

The Lunar Fiend Zombie was a variant of a Tier 3 Flying Corpse; if it could advance to Tier 4, it would become a Yaksha, with power comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The Lightning Corpse, however, was an anomaly, possessing characteristics of both a Gold-Armored Corpse and a Flying Corpse. If it advanced to Tier 4, it would acquire the traits of both an Undying Bone and a Yaksha.

From the perspective of resource allocation, the Lightning Corpse had superior direct combat capabilities and was more worth cultivating. However, the Lunar Fiend Zombie's methods for weakening enemies were also extremely useful. They had played a crucial role on more than one occasion.

His reasoning stemmed from having too many valuable items. While managing them at Tier 3 was fine, he likely wouldn't be able to sustain so many at Tier 4.

The Netherworld Earth Grievance Puppet had been heavily damaged by the Great Dark Heaven Talisman last time, reduced almost to its main skeletal structure. Though still usable for now, it required a significant amount of puppet-refining materials for repair. He had personally handled this matter by disguising his physique and visiting the market in Fengzhou Prefecture City. This trump card had only been exposed under the gaze of the Dark Heaven Talisman Lord. Wang Yu had always kept it hidden. Even when he pulled it out of the Great Dark Heaven Talisman's effective range, the Netherworld Earth Grievance Puppet hadn't revealed much of its true power. Repairing the puppet would take a considerable amount of time, so he had to proceed slowly.

Additionally, Xueyu was also a key cultivation target for Wang Yu. His provision of pills had never ceased, and she took advantage of every opportunity she could, including some that were no longer useful to Wang Yu. She benefited from all of them. While her cultivation speed couldn't match his, her master's, it was still exceptionally fast. Her low-grade Earth-tier bloodline surpassed Heavenly Spirit Roots but fell short of the Spirit Body level. It was anticipated that once she broke through to Tier 4, she would be able to fight alongside him.

Combined with the existence of the two zombies, Wang Yu himself was also a heavy consumer of resources. Body cultivation, divine sense, magical power... all these combined meant he was painstakingly sustaining everything through a combination of versatile resource acquisition, alchemy mastery, and various fortuitous realms. Tier 3 resources were already scarce enough; when he truly reached Tier 4, he definitely wouldn't be able to afford them all. Therefore, a certain degree of resource prioritization was necessary at this point. He himself would be prioritized, followed by Xueyu, the Lightning Corpse, the Puppet, and the Lunar Fiend Zombie. Fortunately, the puppet's needs were minimal; regular maintenance was sufficient. Its advancement was far beyond his current capabilities.

And so, more than ten days passed, and both zombies successfully completed their advancement.

In the Purple Vine Garden.

After reaching the late stage of Tier 3, the Lightning Corpse awakened another lightning-based divine ability: Lightning Evasion Technique! Combined with its previously mastered abilities, Thunder Summoning and Heavenly Thunder Aura, this created a perfect offensive, defensive, and speed combination. On its bald head, the lightning seal runes became more intricate. Fiendish energy surged around its body, shimmering with lightning, and its ferocious nature was even more pronounced than before. Furthermore, it possessed a zombie body comparable to that of a Gold-Armored Corpse. Among Core Formation cultivators, its combat power should have reached the level of the Nine Peaks' direct disciples. In a one-on-one battle, it might be difficult to slay an opponent of this caliber, as the Lightning Corpse still lacked external means.

The Corpse Refinement Art of Yin Fiend actually contained secret methods for refining Corpse Dao artifacts. These Corpse Dao artifacts had two meanings. One type was for Corpse Dao cultivators, and the other was for zombies. The latter often involved crafting simple yet brutal forms like armor, chains, and greatswords. Their sole purpose was to enhance a specific characteristic of a zombie and push it to its extreme, making them less complex than artifacts used by cultivators, and thus they were also known as Corpse Tools. The intricacies of crafting Corpse Tools were not extensive; most Corpse Dao cultivators mastered several types. While not comparable to orthodox artifact-refining legacies, they were by no means poor.

Wang Yu looked at the Lightning Corpse, stroking his chin with his small hand. A habit that was once unremarkable now appeared comical when paired with his current child-like body.

Turning his gaze to the Lunar Fiend Zombie beside him, it too had awakened an additional divine ability, progressing from the Fiend Curse of Yin Corpse and Soul-Shattering Roar to the newly awakened Lunar Fiend Yin Escape Technique! Weakening, control, and evasion. It truly excelled at slippery, purely vexing combat tactics. In terms of synergy, the Lunar Fiend Zombie actually complemented Wang Yu more. The two zombies and the child stood silently for a long time before Wang Yu finally retrieved them back into the Fiend-Nourishing Coffin. He reattached them to his hairpin, lost in thought.

“Senior, Wang Zhenghong is here.”

Tao Sixuan suddenly knocked on the door, and only then did Wang Yu emerge, gracefully slipping into the beautiful woman's embrace. Over the past dozen days, he had become intimately familiar with every inch of Tao Sixuan's body. Finding a comfortable position to lie down, he looked at Wang Zhenghong with a hint of weariness.

“What is it?”

“My lord, there's been a development regarding the matter you previously assigned. The area you inquired about, called Dragonfall Valley, is a perilous region. My people were unable to venture deep into it.”

“What specific dangers does it hold?”

“This contains the detailed information; you'll understand once you read it.”

He took the spiritual sense jade slip, and after absorbing all the information from it, Wang Yu immediately understood the situation, casually rewarding him with a Blood Essence Replenishing Pill.

“I understand this matter. You may withdraw for now.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Old Man Wang left cheerfully, and Tao Sixuan asked curiously, “Senior, does this Dragonfall Valley hide some secret?”

“It hides man-eating monsters.”

“Ah! Then why would you…”

“Opportunity often comes with danger. The greater the danger, the greater the opportunity. No matter what cultivation realm one reaches, one cannot avoid taking risks.”

Tao Sixuan looked thoughtful.

As for the dangers of Dragonfall Valley, the information provided by Wang Zhenghong clearly stated that no explorer who entered the area, including those at the peak of Core Formation, had ever returned safely. Even an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, after venturing inside, retreated in disarray. According to what this person revealed, the depths of Dragonfall Valley were teeming with hidden Dragonblood Vine Demons! This was a type of demon beast formed from spirit plants, and it was also the origin of Dragonfall Valley's name. Wang Zhenghong's intelligence-gathering abilities were quite good, and the information was remarkably complete. With the testimony of that early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, the dangers contained within Dragonfall Valley were indeed at the Nascent Soul level, perhaps even formidable enough to overwhelm an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

Since the Blood Axe had indicated this place was an opportunity for Wang Yu's body cultivation, did it mean it believed he had a chance to gain benefits from Dragonfall Valley?

“Dragonblood Vine Demons…” This name seemed to be a fabrication by modern people. Wang Yu had perused all the collections in the Scripture Hall, and in his memory, only a few ambiguous demonic creatures fit the description. Lurking underground, rooted in darkness. Ambushing all passing creatures—many vine-type spirit plant demon beasts shared this characteristic, such as Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines, Crouching Tiger-Striped Vines, and Ghost Vines. To truly identify them, he would have to go there himself. However, having this much preliminary information was already good. He could depart in another dozen days.

On this day, the magical power within Wang Yu's Qi Sea showed signs of a breakthrough. A continuous stream of blue-black magical power transformed into a thin mist, rising and circulating around him. After a few breaths, it instantly returned to calm. His breakthroughs had always been natural, his magical power steadily accumulated. Only a small portion of it came from spirit pills and precious medicines.

At this moment, his magical power limit had exceeded six thousand strands, and he had already advanced to the ninth layer of Core Formation. Accumulation at this level was exceptionally prolonged, requiring a total of nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine strands to trigger the third 'Core Strengthening'! Thus breaking the core to form a nascent soul.

However, by refining pills using the Great Human Pill Art, which uses flesh and blood magical power as fuel and a Golden Core as its nucleus, he still possessed over a hundred Tier 3 Human Pills for cultivation. At a rate of one pill per day, it would take a maximum of four months. He could reach the peak of Core Formation in less than half a year. This speed was too rapid. If nearly four thousand strands of magical power were accumulated this way and merged with the six thousand strands he perfectly controlled, it could lead to issues like unstable magical power and a decrease in its quality. Wang Yu had, through opportunities like cultivation technique mastery and the Frozen Soul Wind, only with great effort managed to increase the quality of his magical power severalfold. He didn't want to waste it just like that. The Human Pill Art wasn't omnipotent; though it lacked the limitations of pill bottlenecks and was quick to refine, unstable magical power and an unsteady foundation were only minor issues. Compared to the rapid improvement it brought, it remained a top-tier supplementary cultivation method highly sought after by demonic cultivators.

After truly assessing his own condition, Wang Yu felt that it would be beneficial to slow down his magical power cultivation for a while. To form a Nascent Soul, he would at least need to go to the Endless Ice Plains, as frozen demonic energy was an indispensable component. This period was perfect for stabilizing his magical power and slowly refining it. At his level, differences in magical power quantity were unlikely to be the decisive factor in victory or defeat. He looked at the placement slots, pondered for a moment, then removed the cultivation techniques in slots 1 and 2, replacing them with the Ten Directions Frozen Demon Fist and the Ice Soul Divine Light. One spirit pill was equivalent to a month of his cultivation. The cultivation techniques were also complete, so aside from delaying the time for advancement through deduction, there were no downsides. Besides, this would only take a year or two. He wouldn't delay too long. After all, in the current situation, he needed power for self-preservation. The Nine Evils Sword Lord was a major problem; if he didn't deal with this person, Wang Yu dared not operate using his true body.

“To resolve the issue of unstable magical power, the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Bed should be able to play its final role.” Wang Yu and Xueyu had been absorbing from this rare treasure for many years. Most of its essence had already been consumed. The remaining portion could be completely absorbed over the next two years, purifying his magical power and counteracting the side effects of the Human Pills. Plan complete! He just wondered if Xueyu, who had come to regard the Profound Ice Bed as her little nest, would cry when she learned the situation.

With these matters settled, all of Wang Yu's affairs in Fengzhou Prefecture City were concluded. After Wang Zhenghong delivered partial maps of the Endless Ice Plains, a complete map of Fengzhou, and partial maps of the Chaotic Ancient Sea, his final objective was also achieved.

It was time to leave!

On this day, after making some temporary arrangements, Wang Yu met with Tao Sixuan privately. Her position differed from that of Tantai Chan; the latter maintained a somewhat equal relationship and did not rely on Wang Yu for her livelihood. Tao Sixuan, however, was different. Her role was that of Wang Yu's subordinate; she had to rely on him to survive, and Wang Yu also needed her as an operative and confidante. She was to remain in Fengzhou Prefecture City, forming one leg of a three-way power balance. As a dependent, loyalty was paramount for her, and thus Wang Yu's attitude towards the two women was distinctly different. Towards Tao Sixuan, he had always been generous in allocating resources to enhance her strength. This cultivation also implied control.

“Actually, given your disposition, you would find better development near Taihu Lake. What are your thoughts?” Wang Yu said, weighing his words.

However, the beautiful woman shook her head decisively. “This humble one has never been to such distant places in her life. My knowledge of Taihu Lake is mostly based on hearsay. No matter how good it sounds, it's not comparable to seeing it with one's own eyes. How could I know if it would be better than my current situation?”

Wang Yu was slightly surprised. “It seems you've given this a lot of thought recently.”

“Yes…” Tao Sixuan's eyes burned with resolve. “This humble one desires power, not a stable, uninteresting life. My first half of life was already too pathetic; in the latter half, I wish to change.”

This ambition was most familiar to Wang Yu; he too had once possessed it, but his true transformation only came after witnessing Long Yiran's death.

“In that case, then remain in Fengzhou City.” Wang Yu pondered for a moment, then took out two inheritances.

One was named the *Five Poisons Scripture*, a Tier 4 inheritance, obtained years ago from Old Devil Five Poisons. It contained numerous secret arts from the paths of poison, gu, and curses. He hadn't learned it completely, but much of its content had greatly assisted him. It was suspected to originate from the ancient overlord, the "Myriad Insect Sect."

The second was named the *Heaven and Earth Soul Refining Art*, a Tier 4 divine sense cultivation technique. It was an inheritance from the "Heavenly Soul Sect," the second-generation overlord of the Demonic Bone Forest, which rose after the Myriad Insect Sect, and it came with a set of divine sense secret arts. Both of these were obtained through Wang Yu's own fortuitous encounters. Unrestricted by sect legacies, he could pass them on to suitable individuals as he wished.

After a brief introduction, Tao Sixuan's beautiful eyes immediately shimmered with excitement, and she cautiously asked, “You… are letting me choose one?”

“I'm giving them both to you. The *Heaven and Earth Soul Refining Art* focuses solely on cultivating the soul and is no longer suitable for the current environment. To form a Core or even a Nascent Soul, you must prioritize the *Five Poisons Scripture*.”

Following that were a bottle of nine cultivation-enhancing Human Pills, a bottle of Blood Essence Replenishing Pills, and various Tier 2 magic artifacts that Wang Yu had discarded but were still functional. These included the Glazed Soul Lamp, Vajra Shield, Demon-Binding Rope, Flying Cloud Skiff, and others. As if bundling trash, he handed them all to Tao Sixuan in one go, along with a magic treasure: the Five Poisons Silver Bell! This item was Old Devil Five Poisons' life-bound magic treasure. Although it was a top-grade Tier 3 artifact, it didn't use many rare natural treasures, being mostly refined from the bodies of Gu insects. It wouldn't fetch a high price. However, if Tao Sixuan were to switch to cultivating the *Five Poisons Scripture*, she would be able to unleash its full power. Receiving so many treasures at once, with every aspect considered, the beautiful woman's joy transformed into trepidation.

“This humble one… taking so much… it doesn't seem appropriate.”

There are no free lunches in this world. While these items were no longer useful to Wang Yu, for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, they were all top-tier treasures. Some couldn't even be obtained through desperate efforts.

“So, sign these two, and then swear a Heart Demon Oath. All these items will be yours. Why worry?” Wang Yu produced none other than the Styx Contract and the Yellow Springs Contract.

Since he considered Tao Sixuan his subordinate, binding measures were necessary. Combined with the Heart Demon Oath, these were largely sufficient. The demonic seed method was not suitable for her. If her mind were to break due to someone else's methods, it would also be triggered. The switch wasn't solely in his hands. It wasn't precise enough. Therefore, Wang Yu chose the method of contracts combined with an oath, and the duration was, naturally, eternal! The restrictive nature was maximized, but his demands on Tao Sixuan were minimal. It was merely a guarantee for a normal superior-subordinate relationship, with no clauses about exploitation. While it appeared he sought no return, she already belonged to Wang Yu. Some things didn't need to be explicitly stated; they were implicitly understood.

She lowered her head, contemplating for a moment. Tao Sixuan finally smiled. “I understand.”

“Very good. Take this ice talisman. If you encounter a life-or-death crisis, crush it, and I will sense it.” This type of sensing jade talisman was created using divine sense. As he possessed divine sense power at the peak of early Tier 4, he could naturally accomplish this. What he still lacked was that his life-bound magic treasure and magical power were insufficient to create a Tier 4 Nascent Soul talisman treasure. Otherwise, leaving such a means would have been more secure.

Having settled all matters in Fengzhou Prefecture City, Wang Yu departed without hesitation, leaving the beautiful woman standing rooted to the spot, staring blankly at his receding figure.

(End of this chapter)