Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 367: Chapter 367: Deception and Counter-Deception

"It seems you’d prefer to be refined into lamp oil."

An illusion of a Melting Furnace, constructed from his Ten Extremes True Qi, materialized in his palm. His vigorous qi and blood surged, and using his body as a forge, he channeled blistering heat into the illusion, causing its temperature to skyrocket.

Such an extravagant use of True Qi Transformation was likely something only Xu Yunfan could afford to do.

Nether Spring’s Purple Gold Pill quivered violently. "Wait! I... I might have misremembered two of the key junctures..."

It rambled, rearranging the incantation and deliberately adding three segments of obscure terminology at the connection between the Foot Shaoyang Meridian and the Hand Jueyin Meridian.

Xu Yunfan watched impassively as a notification finally appeared on his Attribute Panel.

’You have obtained an incomplete Hundred Bone Profundity Technique. The most critical knack seems to be missing.’

Xu Yunfan’s Ten Extremes True Qi instantly formed the Buddhist Demon Suppression Seal and enveloped the Demon Qi Mass.

"That was your third mistake. If you recite it incorrectly or leave anything out again, I’ll make sure you remain in the Divine Martial Realm for all of eternity."

Xu Yunfan’s voice made Nether Spring feel as if it had been plunged into an icy cavern.

If Xu Yunfan truly killed it, and no Daoist Master from the outside world came to retrieve its soul, it could only sink into oblivion within this paltry Divine Martial Realm for ten thousand ages, never to rise again.

When the Pure Yang True Flame had seared the Purple Gold Pill down to the size of a walnut, Nether Spring finally broke and screamed out the complete incantation.

This time, the Attribute Panel flashed intensely, and a new message popped up.

’You are comprehending the Primordial Sect Secret Technique, Hundred Bone Profundity Technique, but some parts seem unclear.’

As this message appeared, a host of insights about the Hundred Bone Profundity Technique suddenly surfaced in Xu Yunfan’s mind, clarifying some of the previously elusive knacks and cryptic terms.

Xu Yunfan narrowed his eyes and continued his questions.

Nether Spring dared not hesitate and continued to answer.

He waited until another message appeared on the Attribute Panel in his field of view.

’You are comprehending the Hundred Bone Profundity Technique. You seem to have gained some insight and feel that a new door to Cultivation has been opened.’

Leaving aside the Heart Sutra of Nirvana Dust, the cultivation method for the Hundred Bone Profundity Technique alone was an eye-opening experience for Xu Yunfan.

This Secret Technique from the Primordial Demon Sect used qi and blood as its base. At the junctures where flesh and blood met, one had to use a Meridian Opening Pill as a catalyst to nurture a special "profound organ," something that existed between energy and flesh.

Once this organ formed, it would gradually grow a complex meridian network, spreading like vines throughout the limbs and skeleton, eventually constructing a unique system of channels through which True Essence could flow.

The entire process was lengthy, but upon completion, it could reshape a Cultivator’s Innate Meridian Pattern.

At that point, if he infused it with his Ten Extremes True Qi and cultivated correctly, he could naturally transform his True Qi into True Essence, thereby embarking on the true path of Cultivation.

Xu Yunfan took a deep breath. "How do I get out of this realm?"

Nether Spring said, "In three days, disciples from the Primordial Sect will descend into the Divine Martial Realm. You just need to kill one of them and use their body to hide your own form. It’s a classic cuckoo-in-the-nest trick to get out. Since you hold the Primordial Order, the Daoist Master on watch will not interfere in the slightest."

"You’re disciples of the same sect, yet you sound awfully cold about it."

Xu Yunfan asked casually, his tone nonchalant.

Nether Spring’s Demon Core trembled. After a moment of silence, it spoke in a bitter tone, "Until you achieve Foundation Establishment, in the eyes of the Primordial Sect, it doesn’t matter if you’re an Outer Disciple or a True Disciple. You’re all just disposable assets."

At this, Nether Spring couldn’t help but sigh. "Otherwise... why else would we take such a huge risk and come to the Divine Martial Realm to gamble on our futures? The path of the Immortal Dao is arduous; one misstep and you’re doomed for all eternity. We are just desperately trying to climb, hoping to one day achieve Foundation Establishment and escape the fate of being a Demon Sect ’consumable’..."

A golden light flashed in Xu Yunfan’s eyes. He had instantly seized upon the critical piece of information Nether Spring had let slip.

His fingers suddenly tightened, his Pure Yang True Qi forming a fine golden mesh that bit into the Purple Gold Pill. "Are you saying there’s an item for Foundation Establishment hidden in the Divine Martial Realm?"

Nether Spring let out a piercing shriek as its Demon Qi SIZZLED under the heat.

It now understood completely. This monster, who had just entered the Martial Arts Land Immortal Realm, was not only terrifyingly powerful but also possessed frightening insight.

Any attempt to hide the truth would bring about its own destruction. If it didn’t talk, its Vitality would likely be snuffed out in the next instant.

After all, other Primordial Demon Sect disciples would be arriving in three days. Xu Yunfan had no reason to keep it alive; with his power, he could easily capture another for questioning.

"I’ll talk!"

Nether Spring’s Demon Core flashed erratically. "The Martial Dao Profound Crystal nurtured by this World Heaven is an unparalleled treasure, the kind seen only once in ten thousand years!"

Nether Spring’s Demon Core vibrated intensely. Words tumbled out of it in a rush as countless tiny Runes materialized within its Demon Qi, as if desperately trying to prove it was telling the truth.

"This item requires a Martial Artist at the Martial Arts Extreme Realm—what you call the Land Immortal Realm—to use their Martial Arts Divine Techniques as a catalyst. They must draw the Profound Yellow Qi into their Self God and condense it for one hundred days to forge the Divine Martial Foundation Establishment Platform! The only one to ever succeed on this path was the Divine Martial Daoist Master who first established the foundations of the Martial Dao. A thousand years have passed since then, and no one else has managed it! With this path now vacant, we naturally wanted to take a gamble. If we succeed, we might even be able to pursue the Golden Core Dao."

Xu Yunfan’s Martial Arts Celestial Eye pulsed, judging that Nether Spring was telling the truth.

Seeing this, Nether Spring thought Xu Yunfan was about to torture it again and hastily added, a hint of awe seeping from its Demon Qi, "Throughout the Primordial Sect’s history, only three True Inheritors have ever found a similar marvel within the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm. But among them, the only one who achieved Foundation Establishment was that very same Divine Martial Daoist Master..."

It suddenly lowered its undulations. "But three thousand years ago, he vanished into the Profound Yellow Reincarnation Well, so his Dao Foundation has been vacant ever since! With this path now empty, we naturally wanted to take a gamble. If we succeed, who knows, we might even attain the Golden Core Dao."

After several more questions, Xu Yunfan began to understand. In Immortal Cultivation, there were many different paths. Once a predecessor used a particular method for their Foundation Establishment, subsequent cultivators could still use it, but the one who benefited most was the very first Daoist Master who pioneered that path.

It was like a pyramid scheme. Countless low-level Cultivators practicing the same method would form the base, endlessly propping up the person at the very apex.

Immortal Dao Foundation Establishment was just like building a tower.

Nether Spring continued, "My lord, Daoist Masters are currently unable to descend into the Divine Martial Realm. Those coming are, at most, True Disciples at the peak of Qi Cultivation Great Perfection. With your strength..."

Nether Spring’s Demon Qi suddenly faltered. It realized it had let a fatal piece of information slip.

Xu Yunfan, however, just sneered. ’What shoddy acting,’ he thought. ’This damn thing has been trying to manipulate me from the very start.’

His Ten Extremes True Qi morphed into chains that pierced the Purple Gold Pill, causing Nether Spring to howl in agony again.

"So that’s how it is. You aren’t afraid of someone achieving Foundation Establishment. You’re afraid of someone refining that Martial Dao Profound Crystal through the path of Martial Dao, using it to build their Dao Foundation and achieve the state of a Divine Martial!"

The Demon Qi around Nether Spring’s Purple Gold Pill shuddered violently. It had never expected Xu Yunfan to piece everything together from such scant clues.

Earlier, Nether Spring had laid a trap with the Hundred Bone Profundity Technique and the Meridian Opening Pill. The goal was to plant a seed in Xu Yunfan’s mind. If he attempted to cultivate the technique, it would taint his Martial Dao practice, reducing his natural affinity for the Martial Dao Profound Crystal and creating an opportunity for Nether Spring to exploit.

The moment he understood the ploy, Xu Yunfan didn’t hesitate. He crushed and obliterated Nether Spring.

(One more Chapter to come, I promise! I’m writing it as we speak!)