Chapter 499: Return to the Sect and Gu Poison Peak

Holding the longbow, Wang Yu sensed its spiritual essence with his mind. He quickly received an intimate response, similar to his connection with Xueyu, sensing pure emotions of both dependence and awe. From its creation, the Sun-Piercing Demonic Bow had an owner, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would also be its only one.

With all their objectives in the Myriad Treasures Secret Realm achieved, the two left the realm and immediately proceeded to Miaoshan Hall to bid farewell. According to his original plan, he had several other destinations similar to the Myriad Treasures Secret Realm, but after sensing an opportunity for ice flame fusion, he decided not to visit them anymore.

Inside Miaoshan Hall, Yan Ling waited on the steps outside. Inside, Jin Miaoshan gave Wang Yu a light hug. Instead of any parting words, she simply instructed, "If you find a way to deal with that matter, be sure to inform me. As long as Jinman Tower is under my control, it will certainly serve its purpose." She was, of course, referring to the Ice Prison Realm's cage.

Wang Yu nodded. "So, Jin Xuanxuan has made her move?"

"That's right. In half a year at most, I will become the sole inheritor of Jinman Tower. Whether in Chiyuan or Taihu, simply mentioning my name will certainly help you avoid a lot of trouble."

"Perhaps," Wang Yu replied, not denying anything. In truth, Jinman Tower's help to him was limited. They wouldn't dare offend a Soul Transformation Venerable, so at best, it would make collecting spiritual items much easier in the future. If he had such a confidante helping him during his Core Formation stage, the significance would have been entirely different. However, that time had passed. Still, it was good to know she had the intention.

"We're leaving."

"Leaving now? Aren't you staying a few more days?"

"No, Junior Sister Yan Ling is waiting for me."

Immediately, Jin Miaoshan's eyes deepened. "A *proper* Junior Sister?"

"Of course!" As the saying goes, "An upright person fears no crooked shadow." Wang Yu spoke with full confidence, certain that she was a proper Junior Sister. As for the future... he couldn't guarantee that.

She didn't press him further, only asking briefly and with a meaningful tone, "Are you truly not staying even for one night?"

Wang Yu's index finger twitched slightly, and with immense resolve, he averted his gaze. "No, I have important matters to attend to."

"Alright then."

That afternoon, Wang Yu and Yan Ling left Jinchun City and headed north, teleporting towards the mountain gate of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect.

On the way, Yan Ling suddenly asked, "When is your next secret realm trip?"

"The Saint Lord's Celestial Palace."

After answering, Wang Yu pondered for a moment and added, "When I return to the sect, I need to visit Gu Poison Peak. If all goes well, I should spend the next thirty-odd years within the sect. If not, I'll be busy with this matter for a while. Junior Sister, if you have your own plans, you may go ahead."

His words were clear, but Yan Ling couldn't help but overthink. After all, this time she had only served as a mere accessory. Although she had gained considerable benefits, she couldn't help but feel Wang Yu might disdain her, as her merits seemed insignificant compared to the Jinman Tower inheritor. Such feelings of anxiety about gains and losses were normal.

However, as soon as she removed Wang Yu from consideration as a cultivation partner, her emotions quickly calmed, and she reverted to her usual ice-cold beauty demeanor. Seeing this, Wang Yu inexplicably thought of Immortal Ice Soul. Both were beauties of a similar type; if not for their different appearances, they could easily be mistaken for sisters.

After a moment of silence, Yan Ling spoke again. "I plan to try my luck at the Yin Gorge Burial Valley of the Underworld Mountain Sect. After passing through Qian Sha Province of the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect, I'll head east."

"You can, but it's better to go east and circle back once you enter Blood Abyss Province," Wang Yu advised. "I offended the Yin-Yang Demonic Monarch before. He might not dare attack me, but for you, Junior Sister... it might be different."

"Okay," she replied.

A reasonable level of caution was still necessary. The Yin-Yang Demonic Monarch could use illusionary techniques to hide his facial flaws, indicating how much he cared about his appearance. Having been humiliated by Wang Yu, it was perfectly normal for him to harbor resentment and attempt ambushes or sneak attacks.

After their discussion, both fell silent. In fact, by the time they entered Blood Abyss Province of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, they still hadn't encountered any ambush from the Yin-Yang Demonic Monarch. Although it seemed like an unnecessary precaution, it was a necessary display of caution.

Half a day after they parted ways, Wang Yu saw the familiar nine twisted mountain peaks. After years away, a sense of familiarity unexpectedly washed over him. He cast a distant glance at Cold Blood Peak, covered in thick frost, then turned directly towards the sect's core territory: the Blood Demon Hall!

Since the Sect Master's successful Soul Transformation, the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect had clearly risen in status. This was evident in the increased annual tributes of spiritual items from the forces subordinate to the sect, and in the greater ease of communication with other dominant powers. Internal conflicts within Chiyuan had noticeably decreased in intensity and frequency, bringing a rare period of peace, though the front-line battlefield remained fiercely contested. Wang Yu had no intention of offering support.

On the day he arrived at the sect, he went to visit the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon's cave. Wang Yu had previously given him a crimson jade longevity peach, so there was no immediate danger of his demise. However, his condition might not be well maintained. Regardless of the creature, the period nearing the end of its lifespan was the weakest, with depleted vital energy and blood. Even with the demonic race's superior physical strength, it was difficult to exert peak power.

"Senior Yu, Wang Yu has come to pay his respects."

The demonic flood dragon's cave, whose entrance used to be wide open, was closed this time. Wang Yu felt a slight unease. After knocking for a while, there was no response. Just as he was about to give up and inquire through other channels, the cave entrance quietly opened a crack. A turtle demon, manipulating air currents, delivered a letter and simultaneously spoke, "Lord Demonic Monarch, this is a handwritten letter left by my master. He said this old turtle must deliver it to you personally."

Wang Yu silently took the letter. He quickly scanned it with his divine sense, capturing all the information, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

It turned out that while he was in seclusion among the demon race, the Alchemy Hall of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, in conjunction with Evil Sword Peak and some powerful cultivators from the Zhuo, Zuoqiu, and Yu clans, had implemented a "making use of the old" strategy. They sent a group of elderly cultivators nearing the end of their lives from within the sect to the battlefield. The actual purpose was to prevent too many young and strong cultivators from dying, which would lead to a shortage of talent in the future. This was a plan for the future. After all, they had previously been in a vanguard state, losing countless elites daily. This strategy couldn't be said to be wrong; it was quite in line with Chiyuan's "national conditions."

Humanity? Contribution? Those were things valued by the righteous path. The demonic path only cared about one's current utility. It was under these circumstances that the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon also went to the righteous-demonic battlefield, though he did not go to a meat grinder like the Thunderfire Monastery. Instead, he followed Xie Xie'an, intending to take a safe route Xie Xie'an had discovered through the Ancient Wilderness Plain, making a wide detour to directly enter the heartland of Taihu. This strategy was likely decided by the Blood Demon Hall Master. The elderly surprise force should be able to play a good role; he just didn't know when they would act, as he hadn't received any news on that front yet.

In this handwritten letter, the presence of Xie Xie'an was particularly striking. Since obtaining the top-tier Soul Nascent spiritual item from the Blood Abyss Trial years ago, he had entered the Ancient Wilderness Plain and disappeared without a trace, only to return now without any warning. In terms of cultivation realm, he had reached at least the Nascent Soul stage; otherwise, he would have surely died in the Ancient Wilderness Plain. Unfortunately, Old Yu's letter provided little detail about Xie Xie'an, making it impossible to learn more.

As for Yu Tangtang, she was originally supposed to be sent to the Black Water Mysterious Serpent tribe of the Northern Demonic Race, which was the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon's parent tribe, maintaining a bloodline connection. However, since the Northern Demonic Race had joined the war and further solidified their position, Old Yu felt that the Northern Demonic Race was no longer safe. He had already dispatched someone to send Yu Tangtang to a small spiritual island called Moon Bay, located near the coast of the Northern Sea of Chaos. Yan Ling didn't even know these pieces of information. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have asked her to deliver the Saint Decree.

After a brief thought, Wang Yu recorded the information on a sound transmission talisman. He sent it to Yan Ling's cave. He needed to visit Gu Poison Peak now and didn't have time to deal with these matters; it would be fine to make another trip when Yan Ling returned.

After handling all miscellaneous affairs, Wang Yu ascended Gu Poison Peak. He had only ever gazed upon it from a distance, never truly setting foot on it before. This was his first time, so it felt rather unfamiliar. As one of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect's Nine Peaks and One Hall, holding the fifth rank, Gu Poison Peak officially boasted three Nascent Soul cultivators: the Five Poisons Evil Lord, the Myriad Gu Worm Demon, and the Gu Poison Mountain Master. Only the Myriad Gu Worm Demon had reached the late Nascent Soul stage and was considered the foremost expert in Gu cultivation within the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, specializing in controlling "swarm Gu" like the Ice Flame Butterflies. The Five Poisons Evil Lord, on the other hand, excelled at controlling individual Gu worms with exceptional abilities, essentially dividing the Gu cultivation styles of Gu Poison Peak into two branches.

Before merging the ice flames, the Ice Flame Butterflies needed to reach peak Tier 4 overall strength for their inherent Gu fire to meet the required intensity for fusion. The person Wang Yu needed to consult was precisely the Myriad Gu Worm Demon. This individual possessed an evil and unruly character, often shirking even the Sect Master's arrangements. For instance, in the conflict with Huangquan Monastery, if he had intervened, he would surely have gained an advantage in specific battles. This was an acknowledgment of the power of the insect swarms he controlled!

Inside the Gu Poison Grand Hall, an elderly man in a black robe, gaunt as a skeleton with only a thin layer of skin covering his body, listened with surprise to the attendant's report.

"The Extreme Dharma Profound Pill Demonic Monarch? Wang Yu? What is he doing at Gu Poison Peak... wasn't he... Never mind, invite him in."

He was instinctively about to refuse but suddenly thought of something. Because the Myriad Gu Worm Demon had used the excuse of being in seclusion to break through his realm, he hadn't gone to the righteous-demonic battlefield. This left the Gu Poison Peak Master to fill the void of a powerful cultivator, making him a truly unlucky fellow. Thus, the Myriad Gu Worm Demon remained safely within the sect. If he continued to procrastinate, he would eventually be forced onto the battlefield, especially since the Sect Master had broken through to Soul Transformation, making his own strength seem somewhat inadequate. Therefore, he decided to hear Wang Yu's purpose. There might be room for maneuver. The Myriad Gu Worm Demon's deliberate stay within the sect wasn't necessarily to avoid battle, but rather because he genuinely had matters that needed to be completed in a safe location. Otherwise, he would have insisted on going to the battlefield to let his "little darlings" feast to their heart's content, as maintaining such a large swarm of insects was a burden even for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Moments later, Wang Yu entered from outside the hall and immediately saw the Worm Demon waiting in the main seat. He bowed and said, "This Wang greets Daoist Brother Myriad Gu."

"Daoist Friend, there's no need for such formality. We are all fellow disciples; there's no need to be so distant," Myriad Gu replied.

"Daoist Brother Myriad Gu jests. You are an elder, so this bow is certainly due," Wang Yu responded.

After this exchange of pleasantries, Wang Yu took his seat. Once the attendants had served spiritual tea and withdrawn, Wang Yu got straight to the point: "I've come today to ask Daoist Brother for a few secret methods for cultivating Gu worms."

Myriad Gu's eyes darted. "That request is simple enough, but... there are countless secret techniques in the world, and Gu cultivation techniques are arguably the most numerous, ranging from the bizarre to the all-encompassing. Does Daoist Friend Wang have any specific requirements?"

"Rapid cultivation," Wang Yu stated. "Without regard for the Gu worm's potential for continued growth. Even if they die soon after use, that's fine."

"Swarm Gu?"

"Yes."

After this swift exchange, the Myriad Gu Worm Demon burst into laughter. "Rapid cultivation, and methods without regard for consequences—we demonic cultivators almost have them all. I do indeed possess quite a few of these deviant Gu techniques."

After dangling the bait, Myriad Gu changed his tone. "However... the sect has its own rules. What isn't in the Scripture Depository is my personal collection, and the price won't be cheap."

Since he had come seeking help, Wang Yu had long been prepared to be fleeced. "Daoist Brother, just name your price. This Wang is, after all, a top-tier Tier 4 alchemist. I have enough resources to acquire a secret method. How many supreme-grade spirit stones?"

There was a subtle intention behind his words; by revealing his alchemy level, he hoped to turn the transaction into a favor exchange. Since the other party hadn't reached the Grand Completion of the Nascent Soul stage, they would certainly need Tier 4 spiritual pills.

However, Wang Yu had miscalculated this time. Myriad Gu didn't want an alchemist's favor, nor did he have a need for supreme-grade spirit stones. "Forget about supreme-grade spirit stones," he said. "Though rare, they are still abundant treasures. My secret method, however, is a unique inheritance."

"I can guarantee that I will never transmit the method to outsiders once I obtain it," Wang Yu offered.

Myriad Gu shook his head again. "Daoist Friend Wang, don't be so anxious. A trade... is possible! But you must provide the compensation I desire."

"Elaborate," Wang Yu urged.

After the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Wang Yu left the Gu Poison Grand Hall with a gloomy expression. Things had not gone smoothly; the demands made by the other party were too outrageous for him to possibly agree to.

Myriad Gu had three conditions. First, enough food for his insect swarm for a hundred years, a classic trap demand. Second, five free alchemy sessions, which was an exorbitant demand, too time-consuming and utterly not worth it. Third, three drops of his own vital blood. This last condition was the most outrageous and utterly impossible to agree to. A cultivator's vital blood was deeply intertwined with every aspect of their being, and considering the numerous insidious secret methods in the demonic path, along with demonic monarchs skilled in malediction arts, they could use vital blood, regular blood, personal items, and so on as mediums to cast curses. Vital blood, in particular, was something that absolutely could not be allowed to fall into external hands. The fact that the other party brought it up like this clearly showed no sincerity in making a deal.

He was clearly being toyed with, so why should he bother giving this person face? If it came down to it, killing him and soul-searching was also a way to obtain the secret method. Since the other party disregarded their fellow sect member relationship, why should he care? He would simply treat him as a righteous path cultivator.

As he prepared to leave using the Aurora Escape Art, he suddenly thought of something and casually stopped a cultivator from Gu Poison Peak.

"Is Elder Liu within the peak?" he asked.

The disciple looked momentarily stunned. "Which Elder Liu?" he asked, then quickly realized and prostrated himself, head to the ground, fearing he had offended the senior.

"Liu Jinxian, or her father, are they here?"

"Yes, yes... I will lead the way for you now."

(End of Chapter)