Chapter 444: Extreme Yin Dragon Infant, Facing the Nascent Soul Grandmaster

With his spiritual sense reaching the late Nascent Soul stage, Wang Yu's soul simultaneously strengthened. His mind became exceptionally clear, and his thoughts felt much more agile.

Most importantly, the perfected Ancient Soul Art allowed his "Ancient Soul" to reach its absolute peak, quickly adapting to the surging spiritual sense power. A figure, seemingly corporeal, emerged from between Wang Yu's eyebrows. It looked exactly like him. While this was originally the ideal material for cultivating the secret art of the Second Nascent Soul, Wang Yu now had a more unusual application for it.

He swept his hand across the Sea Heart Ring, and the Heavenly Yin Dragon Pearl, a ball of flesh and blood formed from the Extreme Yin Dragon King, appeared in his hand. This was a cultivation resource for the Soul Transformation stage. It would be a long time before he could utilize it. Furthermore, Wang Yu believed it would be difficult for him to travel across all four capitals to gather four Heavenly Yin Dragon Pearls. By the time he truly reached the Soul Transformation stage, there would likely be more suitable cultivation resources available.

Therefore, utilizing the Heavenly Yin Dragon Pearl now would be one of its best uses. He planned to use the myriad transformations characteristic of the Innate Demonic Embryo Body to absorb the bloodline essence from the Heavenly Yin Dragon Pearl, combined with the secret art of the Second Nascent Soul. With the "Ancient Soul" as its foundation, he would refine it into a — Myriad Transformation Extreme Yin Dragon Body!

This was the quickest way to enhance his strength. Since it wasn't a separate clone, it could be absorbed by his physical body to some extent, significantly boosting his physical toughness. The characteristic of Heavenly Demon's Myriad Transformations actually granted him shapeshifting abilities. Different forms would naturally be suited for different types of combat, greatly enhancing his adaptability. Moreover, because it acted upon his physical body, it could also improve his body cultivation, adding another layer of foundation to his physique. If he were to refine it into an external incarnation, he wouldn't gain the benefit of having its immense power integrated into his own body.

He mentally reviewed the process. Wang Yu conjured the Ice Chi Pill Flame, using the unique incantations of the Demon Refining Art, combined with the profound techniques of the Blood Pill Art specifically for flesh and blood materials. The Heavenly Yin Dragon Pearl melted at a visible rate. It quickly transformed into a pool of black, viscous liquid, covering the Ancient Soul. Wang Yu took a deep breath, using the Second Nascent Soul secret art as a medium. The moment it touched the Ancient Soul body, the liquid began to shrink visibly. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, it resembled a Nascent Soul, though it looked quite different from Wang Yu himself. More precisely, it was an... Extreme Yin Dragon Nascent Soul!

Nine inches tall, it lay curled like an infant, with short spiral horns on its forehead and dragon scales covering its eye corners and limbs.

Next came the most crucial moment. This was the Heavenly Demon's Myriad Transformations ability of the "Innate Demonic Embryo Body," a Spirit Body level aptitude rumored to grant the potential for Soul Transformation. In a sense, this was also a talent Wang Yu had cultivated himself! He had accumulated it step by step during his weaker days, gradually achieving leaps in cultivation, and ultimately, at the reaping stage, transforming it into various abilities beneficial to himself. Now was the initial realization of the Innate Demonic Embryo's potential.

Within his dantian's Qi Sea, his eleven-inch tall Demonic Nascent Soul actively emerged. The moment the two Nascent Souls touched, mysterious and strange demonic patterns spread from Wang Yu's Nascent Soul to the Dragon Nascent Soul. It then entered a "lengthy" refining period.

At the palace city gate.

With the appearance of East Pole Capital, the battle between righteous and demonic forces naturally came to a halt. However, for the powerful cultivators of the Taihu Spirit Domain, this location was too distant. The cost of exploration was too high, so they preferred to reclaim control of Lingxi State. If they could retake Black Mountain Pass, the advantages previously gained by the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect would vanish completely. This meant that Patriarch Evil Soul, Demon Lord You Dao, and others were forced to guard Black Mountain Pass, unable to focus on the opportunities in East Pole Capital.

The Heaven Refining Demonic Sect also formally dispatched Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators to assist in defending the pass. The territorial changes in Lingxi State were irrelevant; what mattered was that Black Mountain Pass must not fall. To this end, they invested a large number of powerful cultivators and war materials. Consequently, among the Grand Cultivators who broke through the palace city's restrictions, Wang Yu knew few who he could truly rely on or leverage. Due to reinforcing the Yunling State battlefield, the Ghost Fiend Maiden of the Zhuo clan and the former commander-in-chief of the Yunling State battlefield, Daoist Three Corpses, arrived here immediately.

In addition, the Yellow Springs Temple had the most cultivators: Di Mingzi, Daoist Filth, and Demon Lord Azure Water, along with the allied Crow-Serpent Priest of the Nether Mountain Sect, forming the largest group. From the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect were Blood Pill Master and his friend, the Yin-Yang Sect Master. There was also Chen Tianshui, a rogue cultivator from the East Sea. This individual, originally from the Ancient Sky Sea Sect, an extra-territorial force in the Chaotic Ancient Sea, had defected for unknown reasons and had recently been active in Scarlet Kite.

These were the ten Grand Cultivators who broke through the palace city's formation restrictions, and they were also the strongest individuals in East Pole Capital at this stage. As for when the Soul Transformation Venerables would arrive, that was beyond their knowledge, but they were sure to come!

At this moment, with the formation broken, the Ghost Fiend Maiden and Daoist Three Corpses plunged into the palace city without looking back. They clearly had pre-determined targets, and their direction of travel was not towards the Immortal Official Medicine Vault. Blood Pill Master and the Yin-Yang Sect Master, on the other hand, targeted a princess's residence. The Yellow Springs Temple group headed towards the Immortal Official Medicine Vault, but their actual target was not the vault itself, but rather the Artifact Nurturing Hall. Rogue cultivator Chen Tianshui, meanwhile, wandered aimlessly within the palace city, seemingly without a particular goal.

Through the spiritual sense nodes he had set up outside, Wang Yu keenly detected the movements of these groups and inwardly cursed his bad luck. Given the unusual appearance of the medicine vault's architecture, it was sure to attract the attention of the Yellow Springs Temple members. He didn't know much about the Crow-Serpent Priest, Daoist Filth, or Demon Lord Azure Water. However, Di Mingzi was a formidable expert capable of battling and defeating the Nine Great Demon Kings of the Northern Lands. Among Grand Cultivators, he was a true powerhouse, and Wang Yu was still slightly inferior. Immediately, his demonic essence circulated even more fiercely.

Gradually, the Extreme Yin Dragon Nascent Soul showed signs of melting, slowly covering Wang Yu's Nascent Soul like a liquid, undergoing demonic transformation through the Heavenly Demon's Myriad Transformations. It eventually assimilated into a part of himself, granting him new powers. To fully digest it, this short amount of time certainly wouldn't be enough. The core of the Extreme Yin Dragon Nascent Soul was formed by the Ancient Soul using the Second Nascent Soul secret art. Its inherent compatibility was already extremely high with him.

What he needed to do was quickly absorb the power of the Extreme Yin Dragon King. As soon as the integration began, the Yin Nether Demonic Dragon Art rapidly circulated. The silver-blood divine marrow in Wang Yu's dragon spine was almost instantly filled, and the Immortal Spirit Bones began to spread throughout his limbs and bones. His body cultivation greatly surged. In a short period, he reached the peak of the fourth-tier early stage, compensating for all the cultivation he had missed during this time. Unfortunately, breaking through to the mid-stage, much like increasing demonic essence, offered very few shortcuts. He could only grit his teeth and accumulate it slowly. The shaping of Immortal Spirit Bones followed the same principle, even more so emphasizing natural progression in cultivation rather than an overnight leap. Given a few years, he might be able to break through to the mid-stage of fourth-tier body cultivation, as Wang Yu had, after all, consumed an entire Extreme Yin Dragon King, which was a tremendous supplement. However, what he currently lacked most was time.

Meanwhile, Di Mingzi and his group of four, as expected, stopped when they passed the Immortal Official Medicine Vault, curiously examining the pill furnace-shaped building.

"Filth, does our temple have any records of this place?" The middle-aged Daoist, clad in a black and yellow robe and wearing a lotus crown, whose facial features seemed crooked and mismatched as if haphazardly assembled from different individuals, replied.

"It should be the Immortal Official Medicine Vault, a repository for medicinal rewards provided to immortal court officials. Although it might not withstand the ravages of time as well as artifacts, it should still contain many valuable items."

Demon Lord Azure Water's eyes lit up, eager to act. Among the four, the Crow-Serpent Priest was dispatched by the Nether Mountain Sect to combat the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect. Their joint exploration of East Pole Capital this time was also considered a stroke of luck. For others to arrive, it would take at least a month. The Nether Mountain Sect was even further away, located south of Scarlet Kite, bordering the Vermilion Bird Divine Mountain, making the journey quite long. They wouldn't be able to make it in a short while.

However, the Crow-Serpent Priest was ultimately an outsider. While the four working together to explore East Pole Capital offered a significant advantage, the three from Yellow Springs Temple clearly held more sway, implying they could do as they pleased when dividing treasures. Of course, that was only under extreme greed. With their collaboration as a foundation, both parties were currently in a "honeymoon period." In any case, they wouldn't easily fall out.

"Since we've encountered it, let's go inside and take a look. The palace city's formation restrictions are the most complete, so there should be many spiritual pills and miraculous medicines preserved."

"Indeed, indeed." The Crow-Serpent Priest echoed, his expression slightly fawning, and dressed in a flamboyant tribal attire of animal hides and feathers. He showed no dignity of a Grand Cultivator, appearing rather comical instead. This "primitive" attire did not mean the Nether Mountain Sect was uncivilized. Rather, it was for cultivation!

Yin Beast Dao cultivators communicate with the netherworld, seeking suitable Yin Beast contracts from the Yin-Yang Path. Most Yin Beasts are formed from the remains of demon beasts after death and bear no relation to their living forms. They are not reunited beast souls; at most, their external appearance is similar. In essence, they are merely a semblance, appearing alike but utterly different in their underlying nature and composition. Yin Beasts possess spiritual awareness, but their intelligence is not high. These animal hides and feathers assist Yin Beast Dao cultivators in performing secret arts, primarily to attract desired Yin Beasts and prompt them to emerge from the netherworld voluntarily. They are essential "casting materials" and also help cultivate a closer relationship with Yin Beasts in daily life, as practitioners essentially treat themselves as beasts. The path of the Nether Mountain Sect was somewhat extreme; it was rumored that the closer one was to beasts, the stronger their power became after performing fusion techniques. If the emotional bond and connection between them were deep enough, they could even permanently merge. In this regard, the Ferocious Meditation Peak of the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect was much simpler. This was also why Demon Lord Nether Tiger had no fondness for acting like a "primitive."

After making their decision, the four began to examine the Immortal Official Medicine Vault, primarily observing the state of its formation restrictions.

Inside.

Yin Gui was drenched in cold sweat. He had noticed the four Grand Cultivators the moment they arrived. He deeply regretted not escaping immediately. He should have left right after exploring the medicine vault; refining spirit pills elsewhere wouldn't have been impossible. However... doing so would mean surrendering the palace city, and Wang Yu had no intention of leaving just like that.

Opportunities were rare, and one should fight with all their might when necessary. This was a principle he had always respected: opportunities were for the prepared. If he hadn't been daring and willing to fight, he wouldn't have achieved his current strength, even with the help of the 'placement bar'. The 'placement bar' was merely an aid; cultivation resources, divine abilities, secret arts to reverse aptitude... all these were obtained through his desperate efforts. Resources in the Ice Hell Realm were limited; there was little point in simply playing it safe. While he could still reach the peak, it would be many years later, and how could he achieve the same glory as today? The resources of East Pole Capital could definitely help him advance to the next level.

Besides, Wang Yu only ever risked things he was confident about. If he encountered a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator elsewhere in the palace city, he genuinely couldn't outcompete or defeat them. However, in the Immortal Official Medicine Vault, the Ancestral Water Token could help him remain invincible. If he could use the terrain to his advantage and seize the opportunity to kill a Grand Cultivator, the gains... tsk tsk. Just thinking about it was enough to excite him greatly.

"Brother Wang, Brother Wang! Things are looking bad!!"

Just as he had recalled his Nascent Soul into his body and was still adapting to his surging physical strength, Wang Yu heard Yin Gui's panicked shouts. Only then did he slowly step out from behind the protective light barrier of the restriction.

"Since things have come to this, Daoist Yin Gui, you should have guessed your role by now."

Yin Gui gritted his teeth and said, "There are four Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators outside. How am I supposed to escape them?"

"This Wang has shared so many benefits with you precisely because I anticipated a situation like this, though the number of people is just a little more than expected." The greater the benefits received, the more dangerous the task undertaken. — Perfectly reasonable!

Wang Yu continued, "They won't all chase you. Luring away just one person will be enough."

"What about you?"

"I'll stay here and confront them head-on."

Yin Gui immediately fell silent, his regret intensifying. He had stayed primarily to gain Wang Yu's favor. Perhaps there was also a hint of greed for the fifth-tier treasure pill in his heart, but as long as he hadn't acted on it, merely thinking about it wasn't a fault, right? Suddenly being burdened with such a task, how could his mood possibly be good?

After a long silence, just as activity began outside, Yin Gui gritted his teeth and said, "If I have to lure, I'll lure. This esteemed one owes you nothing."

"Naturally." Wang Yu's expression was quite solemn. He had gained a new understanding of Yin Gui's character; this old demon was truly unique, not at all like a Scarlet Kite native.

While contemplating, he spoke again. "If you die, this esteemed one will help your disciple."

"Pah, bad luck."

With his decision made, Yin Gui, not one to be indecisive, used virtually every method available to him to increase his speed once he was ready. Even if there were side effects, he used them without hesitation! Just as he was about to launch himself, Wang Yu suddenly tossed out an emerald green spherical bead, which was precisely the Deer Antler Pearl acquired from the Demon King's Treasure Exchange. It originated from a fourth-tier perfected demon king — the Five-Colored Medicinal Horn Deer. Possessing the ability to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bones, it was practically a second life for Nascent Soul cultivators. This was Wang Yu's final test of Yin Gui's character principle. Since Yin Gui had passed, Wang Yu would naturally be more generous. He wouldn't let him go purely to his death. Furthermore, Yin Gui was only one step away from the late Nascent Soul stage. As long as Di Mingzi didn't personally pursue him, his chances of survival were not low.

"If you survive, come find me at the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect later and return this treasure to me."

"— Heh heh. Once something is in this esteemed one's hands, how could it possibly be taken out again?!"

Yin Gui placed the Deer Antler Pearl under his tongue right in front of Wang Yu, as if retaliating for Wang Yu's earlier teasing. A peculiar friendship formed between the two. It was strange, but it felt rather good. Without further wasted words, Yin Gui transformed into a streak of black lightning and instantly vanished within the Immortal Official Medicine Vault, moving so fast it was hard to discern with the naked eye!

Outside, the four individuals were still contemplating the safest way to enter. Suddenly, they saw the streak of lightning shoot out. They were first surprised, then immediately reacted.

"Someone got a head start! I'll go after them!" The Crow-Serpent Priest, being an old fox, knew that it would be difficult to gain satisfactory rewards if they stuck together. He decided to separate for now and regroup when a situation requiring cooperation arose. He unhesitatingly gave chase, his escape technique also being impressive. The two, one pursuing and one fleeing, vanished instantly.

Demon Lord Azure Water couldn't help but curse, "That old geezer is too cunning."

(End of chapter)