Chapter 549: Causal Magic… Curse of Fate Replacement and Disaster Transformation

Thinking that this was once the residence of the Ancestor of Geomancers, the very source of the Feng Shui geomancer lineage, it was evident how profound its secrets were. As for how this art came into being, it remains a mystery to this day. However, later generations of cultivators generally believed it was a teaching imparted by immortals, originating from the Upper Realm.

Since it was the Ancestor of Geomancers, Wang Yu naturally had to use his Feng Shui experience to assess the situation. He activated his Golden Pupils of Qi Observation to observe the various qis of heaven and earth around him.

The flow of earth qi was normal. The convergence of spiritual energy was also normal. But what was eerie was that this Geomancer's mansion, part of a ghost city buried for countless years, had gathered an unimaginable amount of human vitality!

So-called human vitality refers to the aura naturally emitted from living people as they walk, sit, and lie down. It usually has almost no practical use, but from a Feng Shui perspective, although there was not a single person present, the sheer amount of human vitality here was equivalent to nearly a hundred million mortals gathered, stacked layer upon layer, like a towering pile reaching straight into the heavens.

From the perspective of Qi Observation, it looked like a green mountain piercing the clouds stood here. Those who came after were climbers; whether they could ascend to great heights by leveraging the power of countless living beings depended entirely on themselves!

Wang Yu lowered his gaze and murmured to himself: "No one supports my lofty ambition, I will step through snow to the mountaintop myself... Is this the spirited and passionate realm of youth?"

Was this the Ancestor of Geomancers' nature? Or was it a test for future generations?

Hesitating, Wang Yu still did not take a step. He remembered a forbidden wondrous technique mentioned in the chapter on wondrous techniques in "The Earth Mother Scripture," called — the Sacrifice the Populace to Attain the Dao technique! It allowed one to take away a person's qi fortune, also known as their destiny, through a transaction and with their consent.

Once a mortal lost their qi fortune, they would inevitably die suddenly, within a short while or at most three to five days. All the accumulated vitality from the first half of their lives would transform into human vitality, becoming sacrifices used by the Feng Shui geomancer to cultivate the Dao. Gathering ten thousand such essences would complete a minor sacrifice. One would then receive mysterious feedback, perhaps a certain opportunity or a gift of enlightenment. In short, the feedback obtained from the sacrifice would always be something the cultivator themselves lacked. It was like having all your wishes granted, as if aided by heaven!

However, any wondrous technique had side effects. The side effects of the Sacrifice the Populace to Attain the Dao technique were the most mysterious; "The Earth Mother Scripture" was deliberately vague about them, only stating that one would incur an ominous curse. Whether this curse originated from the living people themselves or from the "Dao" being sacrificed to, was unknown.

Even Wang Yu had not seriously considered using this wondrous technique. However, the scene before him, combined with the Ancestor of Geomancers' situation in his later years, waiting for the rare phenomenon of nine stars aligning, made one suspect whether he had sacrificed hundreds of millions of living beings to achieve his wish, finally obtaining the extraordinary heavenly and earthly phenomenon he had painstakingly sought, and successfully escaping the Ice Prison Realm, that cage.

To achieve one's Dao by using the qi fortune of living beings was simply horrific.

This was the reason for Wang Yu's hesitation. If the Ancestor of Geomancers had truly used the Sacrifice the Populace to Attain the Dao technique, then he would have been close to madness in his later years, and this mansion might not be a place of inheritance at all. Therefore, after some thought, Wang Yu decided to be pragmatic. He didn't desperately need this inheritance, so he let the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable proceed as he wished; if he truly obtained the inheritance, it would be his destiny. He simply sat in meditation outside the mansion, waiting for Yellow Springs to emerge.

Who would have thought? This wait lasted for half a month. He constantly maintained his Golden Pupils of Qi Observation, paying attention to the area above the mansion, always wary of any unexpected changes in that massive aura of living beings.

On this day, it had been a beautiful day with clear skies and a gentle breeze, but for some reason, dark clouds suddenly gathered, plunging the world into darkness. Muffled thunder rumbled within the clouds. In the blink of an eye, the strikingly visible aura of hundreds of millions of living beings, apparent in his golden pupils, transformed into an overwhelming surge of resentment. It was so fierce and malicious that it could even affect the celestial phenomena of the real world.

This change made Wang Yu's eyelids twitch wildly. At that moment, an even more striking presence emerged from the Geomancer's mansion—it was none other than the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable! With each step he took, the mountain of resentment piercing the clouds moved with him, as if it had latched onto the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable.

Wait... latched on?

Wang Yu's expression turned serious, and he immediately moved away from the source of the disturbance. He saw that the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable's aura was stable, not as if he had been in a fight, but his face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He clearly knew what had befallen him.

Before Wang Yu could speak, the other party said sinisterly, "Fellow Daoist Jifa, did you know what would happen inside and intentionally let this Venerable one clear the traps for you?"

"Venerable One, what are you saying? This is truly a misunderstanding!" Wang Yu had merely acted on a whim; he truly hadn't expected such a massive trap. To be entangled by such a vast amount of human vitality, especially the kind that generated overwhelming resentment, the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable's own destiny would be suppressed by this invisible entity. He would become incredibly unlucky, to the point where even drinking cold water would get stuck in his teeth. With each misfortune he encountered, a bit of the aura and resentment would dissipate, but the prerequisite was that he didn't die. The problem was that, given this magnitude, the probability of not dying was minuscule. It all depended on whether his Soul Transformation cultivation could withstand it.

The Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable took a deep breath. Knowing that his current state was not right and that it was best not to conflict with Wang Yu, he calmed his emotions. He said: "Fellow Daoist, let's be frank. Whose mansion is this, after all? Is there a way to break the Substitute Fate for Disaster Curse?"

"Substitute Fate for Disaster?" Wang Yu was momentarily surprised. The Ancestor of Geomancers' most formidable technique was his mastery of karmic numerology, but unfortunately, this particular skill had not been passed down to any of his disciples. The Substitute Fate for Disaster Curse was one of them. As the name suggests, it involved using others' lives to resolve one's own disasters. If there were still unresolved doubts about his previous conjecture, then when the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable asked this question, he had clearly become the unlucky one, bearing the cost of the Ancestor of Geomancers' populace sacrifice. If that were the case... then it wouldn't be as simple as just being unlucky. When Heaven intends to kill, how can human power contend against it?

Wang Yu's silence caused the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable's recently calmed emotions to stir again. "You know? You know about this curse, don't you?"

"I've heard of it."

Hearing this, he became even more anxious. An inexplicable sense of crisis constantly gnawed at his nerves, causing him to completely deviate from his usual rationality and cognitive abilities. This was the power of karmic wondrous techniques. "What about a solution? Is there any reliable information?"

Wang Yu shook his head, his eyes filled with pity. "This is a divine ability of the Ancestor of Geomancers. As far as I know, his karmic wondrous techniques were not passed down. Not to mention the current cultivation world, even in ancient times, no one could resolve it. Venerable One, you might as well enjoy some good food now."

"—What?!" The Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable's eyes turned bloodshot, and he was on the verge of exploding. Suddenly, a chillingly cold Yellow Springs power emanated from within him. This power was like a bucket of cold water, quickly restoring his composure. His gaze was vacant for a long time before he gradually came to his senses. He cupped his hands to Wang Yu and smiled wryly. "I've made a fool of myself before you, Fellow Daoist. That damned Ancestor of Geomancers doesn't even let people rest in peace after death."

Hearing this, Wang Yu had no intention of explaining the hidden secrets to him. Instead, he asked: "What exactly did you encounter inside, Fellow Daoist?"

The Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable took a deep breath. "A lingering spiritual imprint of an old man. He said that if this Venerable One took his inheritance, I would have to bear his karma."

"And you agreed?"

"Naturally. He's just a dead man. What karma could a dignified Soul Transformation cultivator like me not bear?"

"And now you've seen it?"

"Yes..."

Wang Yu understood instantly. It seemed that the Substitute Fate for Disaster Curse also had limitations; if Yellow Springs hadn't agreed himself, it probably wouldn't have formed so easily.

The two fell silent for a short while. Wang Yu pointed to the top of Yellow Springs' head: "Given your current situation, Fellow Daoist, you're likely to encounter accidents easily. As for the upcoming exploration of the Western Capital..."

"I'm pulling out." Having temporarily shaken off the influence on his own will, Yellow Springs' decision was very decisive: "There's no need for you to return the Inheritance Primordial Crystal, Fellow Daoist. I hope you'll keep an eye on the front line battlefield for the sake of this treasure. The Blood Demon Palace Master should be arriving soon."

"Alright." Wang Yu agreed after a brief consideration. In any case, he wouldn't intervene. According to the normal course of events, the Demonic Path would sooner or later reach the Sword Sect's mountain gate, so his intervention would make little difference. He might as well use this time to thoroughly explore Taihu Lake. He recalled there should be an ancient Qilin clan ruin nearby. Qilin was also a type of True Spirit bloodline, and the Ice Prison Realm had managed to produce so many True Spirit bloodlines. This showed that it was originally not weak. If immortals from the True Spirit Realm hadn't taken covert action, transforming this place into a prison to confine the bodies of ancient demons, the world's cultivation limit would likely be far beyond the Soul Transformation stage. He could go check it out when he had time.

On another note, he had previously learned in the Eastern Capital that an immortal's treasure had been taken by the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty, making a visit to the Crown Prince's tomb practically a must. Wang Yu had already made calculations regarding the location of the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty's tomb. It should be within the Taihu Spiritual Domain. The exact location, however, would require waiting for the right time to recalculate using the Feng Shui compass's celestial star positioning method. When it came to locating tombs, no one was more professional than a Feng Shui geomancer.

Not long after, watching the Yellow Springs Demonic Venerable, heavy with worries, depart, Wang Yu, for some reason, felt an urge to laugh, but fortunately, he held it back. In the end, it was all trouble caused by greed. But then again, the Ancestor of Geomancers' strategy of planning a hundred steps ahead with one move was truly worth learning. He had evidently already devised a solution when he employed the Sacrifice the Populace technique. Who wouldn't be tempted by the Ancestor of Geomancers' inheritance? Perhaps he had accurately predicted this, which was why he dared to set no trials and simply entrusted his inheritance to a single thought imprint. Such an existence had even escaped the cage of the Ice Prison Realm. Who knew what achievements he had attained in the True Spirit Realm now? Could he have already achieved Dao Integration?

Half an hour later, Wang Yu left the Geomancer's mansion and continued exploring the Western Capital. His next destination was the Longevity Medicine Vault, an obvious place of opportunity that Crane Return Valley would certainly not abandon. Fourth-tier spiritual pill-level restrictions might not deter them, but fifth-tier ones might be different. With Wang Yu's escape speed, he crossed the entire palace city in just a few breaths. He successfully arrived before the Longevity Medicine Vault.

Some demonic cultivators were also trying to break the restrictions here. After Crane Return Valley was swept clean, apart from the personal gains of those who defeated them, all the remaining spoils of war—territories, opportunity sites, secret realms, spirit veins, and various other resources—had not yet been fully accounted for. This interim period was a legitimate time for the myriad cultivators of the Demonic Dao Alliance to profit. Only after these places found their owners would cultivators be prohibited from entering. Therefore, during this time, not only cultivators from the Five Demonic Sects, but also a large number of rogue cultivators and affiliated forces were exploring the Western Capital, trying to find an opportunity for themselves. This was all normal, and Wang Yu wasn't domineering enough to drive them all away.

The front of the Longevity Medicine Vault, however, was different.

"—Get out!" Wang Yu had no interest in being watched while he collected treasures. A roar like rolling thunder swept forth, and the might of a Soul Transformation cultivator descended like overwhelming heavenly might. The moment it descended, many cultivators trembled all over in fright. In front of the most conspicuous blood-red restriction, a Grand Cultivator from an affiliated force, in the late Nascent Soul stage, retreated several steps, shoulders trembling. He reluctantly glanced at the beautiful pill treasures behind the restriction, but after another glance from Wang Yu, he dutifully flew away. The entire process unfolded in complete silence.

The corner of Wang Yu's mouth instantly curved upwards. What was all this effort in cultivation for? Wasn't it precisely for moments like this, to overwhelm everyone, regardless of their cultivation stage? This was the might of Soul Transformation!

Wang Yu recognized the pill treasures within the blood-red restriction. Its name was the Thousand Machine Soul Transformation Pill, a precious pill that could increase a cultivator's chances of breaking through from the perfected Nascent Soul stage to the Soul Transformation stage by thirty percent. Its sole drawback was that it could not be used simultaneously with other breakthrough aids. It was considered an item of limited utility. It was only suitable for those in desperate straits or individuals whose breakthrough probability was already minuscule. It had value, but not much...

However, it could at least be exchanged for a treasure of the same tier; it shouldn't be wasted. Donning the Coiling Dragon Ring on his right hand, Wang Yu reached into the restriction as if effortlessly retrieving something from his pocket. The restriction didn't prevent his entry at all. After he took out the precious pill, the restriction remained completely intact. He first took the most conspicuous treasure. There weren't many remaining glowing objects. In less than three breaths, Wang Yu retrieved all of them.

A fifth-tier healing precious pill, the Immortal Soul Revival Pill, specializing in treating injuries to the primordial spirit!

A fifth-tier burst precious pill that could temporarily elevate a cultivator from the early Soul Transformation stage to the late Soul Transformation stage. After a quarter of an hour, its medicinal power would be exhausted, and the user would enter a weakening period lasting three years. If combat occurred during this weakening period, there would be a risk of cultivation regression. It was worth noting that the "late Soul Transformation stage" mentioned here merely represented a magnitude of power, without any accompanying realm of intent. This pill was named the Ephemera Dao Pill. Wang Yu carefully stored it deep within his Sea Heart Ring. Properly preserved, this item could yield miraculous effects in his hands, though it was certainly best not to use it if possible. After all, being forced to use it implied a desperate situation.

The third and final precious pill increased a cultivator's physical strength, capable of boosting it by one to nine "dragon power." This pill was named the Nine Dragon Tyrant Blood Precious Pill! The "dragon power" unit here was merely a symbolic reference, not implying it could truly increase the mighty power of a true dragon's physical body. After scraping off a bit of pill powder and tasting it, Wang Yu made a judgment. So-called "one dragon power" was equivalent to the weight of nine mountains. It would be a considerable boost for a fourth-tier body cultivator, but for him, it was a bit small. However, if he could activate its maximum effect and gain nine dragon power, it could still help elevate his physique by about one-tenth, which was not a small gain. One must know that with his current physical strength, fully unleashing the range of his power control, sinking a continent with one punch was not an issue. However, this destructive power was too dispersed for those of the same cultivation tier. He could only expand his scope of influence through the effects of his power domain, which had certain limitations. Once he possessed the physical body of a sixth-tier body cultivator, he would gain the power to tear space apart with his bare hands. That would be truly terrifying!

Having finished organizing his gains, Wang Yu was just about to head to the Starfall Tower to collect treasures when an unexpected incident occurred.