Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 1299: Chapter 853: Human Skin Magic Artifact

The peaceful days passed by for two more days. During this time, Sheng Yanlin visited once, bringing him some antidote powder and instructed Yang Xiao to sprinkle it on the Magic Artifacts inside the two chests.

Additionally, and most crucially, Sheng Yanlin brought along a few Elixirs.

These Elixirs hardly seemed reliable, blood-red in color, as if they could start bleeding at any moment.

Sheng Yanlin wasted no words, instructing Yang Xiao to feed these Elixirs to Bo Yetong, one pill per day, for seven days, after which Bo Yetong could be used for Alchemy.

"Feed him now?" Yang Xiao hesitated, not because he distrusted Sheng Yanlin, but because the Cannibal Buddha had not returned yet, which seemed a bit too hasty.

To this, Sheng Yanlin quietly explained that he had received confirmed information from the elder staying behind at the Esoteric Sect that the Cannibal Buddha would return in the next two days.

However, Yang Xiao didn’t wait for the Cannibal Buddha but instead, the next evening, he was met by an elder from the Esoteric Sect.

Yang Xiao had met this elder once before and was deeply impressed, but couldn’t recall his name. He was a cripple with one blind eye.

At this elder’s signal, Yang Xiao followed him out of the room, passing through several barriers, arriving at a heavily guarded courtyard.

Even before entering, Yang Xiao could smell a complex scent of metallic blood mixed with a burnt stench, which caused physiological discomfort.

Upon entering the courtyard, he saw piles of wood, charcoal, and other combustible materials covered with rainproof cloth, along with some items Yang Xiao couldn’t understand.

Further away were domed large houses made entirely of stone mixed with cement, without windows.

The large doors were stone, not wooden, blackened by smoke, with flashes of fire flickering along the seams.

Several chimneys stood beside them, spewing black smoke, from which the unpleasant mix of metallic and burnt smell emanated.

Yang Xiao roughly guessed this was the place where the Esoteric Sect reforged Magic Artifacts.

Yang Xiao deduced it was not for Alchemy because he had attacked a Dharma Sect Alchemy camp before, which smelled different, with a scent of herbs in the air.

Esoteric Sect followers continually bustled about in the courtyard, each performing their duties. Yang Xiao was led to the deepest part of the yard into a cement-built house, meeting Esoteric Sect disciples transporting goods along the way.

But the contents of the handcart made his scalp tingle: various human remains, scattered limbs, and half-complete upper bodies.

The bodies must have been stored in a cold room, still emitting cold vapor.

Despite now being considered an ally of the Esoteric Sect, Yang Xiao hadn’t changed his impression; these people were not kind souls.

No wonder Second Demon Uncle was so resistant to these people, whether Dharma Sect or Esoteric Sect, or even smaller Yin Temple influences like Poison Sect and Gu Sect. These people would be deemed Evil Cultivators and hunted down nationally, appearing on the Patrol Defense Office wanted list.

Having gotten used to the methods of these Yin Temple forces, Yang Xiao viewed most domestic Evil Cultivators much more favorably—compared, domestic ones were downright lawful citizens.

However, Professor Cui was right; they weren’t saviors, the essence of the world remains strong navigating it, whoever possesses the greater force wields speech power.

The Esoteric Sect accommodated them solely out of respect for Sutana; now relying on their hospitality, they had to be sensible.

Without such ties, to the extremely xenophobic Esoteric Sect, daring to intrude would have likely resulted in them being turned into Elixirs by now.

Yang Xiao’s mind inexplicably conjured many strange thoughts, even contemplating if he were transformed, what grade of Elixir he would become.

Also, having spent his life accumulating virtues, would he yield a Shariputra?

Soon after, Yang Xiao met an elderly man in the largest, most spacious house in the yard.

The man’s appearance alone obscured his age; ultimately very old, his sagging facial skin covering his eyes leaving only a slit visible.

Having spent long enough at the Esoteric Camp, Yang Xiao could roughly determine the elders’ status by their attire. The elder before him was held in extremely high esteem, surpassing even Nalin Commander and Elder Kunpa.

This man was likely an Artifact Refining Master, perhaps the best within the Esoteric Sect, as a completely black Refining Furnace stood behind him.

The furnace’s ancient design bore many small cracks on its surface, lending it an aged feel, even larger than the bronze furnace Yang Xiao had seen in Second Demon Uncle’s room.

The elder sat cross-legged in meditation on a stone bed, glancing at Yang Xiao, then murmured something.

The Myanmar-Tai language being incomprehensible to Yang Xiao, he didn’t understand until a middle-aged man serving beside the elder took out a dark wooden box, stepped forward, and handed it to Yang Xiao.

Upon opening the box, he found a pitch-black human skin wrapped in red cloth.

"Elder Min Tuo said this item has been reforged and poses no short-term risk of losing control, but recommends you don’t use it personally; it’s not auspicious."

The middle-aged man, though dressed as an Esoteric Sect follower, spoke fluent Chinese, with eloquence and skill.

"Please convey my sincere gratitude to Elder Min Tuo," Yang Xiao cradled the box, bowing to the elder seated on the stone bed.

The elder raised his heavy eyelids, glanced at Yang Xiao, then nodded before the middle-aged man issued a parting order.

Leaving the Esoteric Sect’s Artifact Refining site, Yang Xiao inhaled deeply, dispelling the scent of metallic blood from his nostrils, and upon returning to his room, immediately instructed the guards outside to summon Dean Sheng.

Before Sheng Yanlin arrived, Yang Xiao hadn’t even opened the box; the pitch-black human skin had left him psychologically scarred.

Without question, it was a valuable item, but whether to keep it or not was not for the Esoteric Sect’s Elder Min Tuo to decide, rather Dean Sheng.

Sheng Yanlin was the real ally, with no reason to harm him.

Considering the wicked artifacts he’s encountered, Yang Xiao mused now, there isn’t a single item on him that isn’t tainted; he simply couldn’t believe anything could surpass his dear sister’s corruption.

After arriving promptly, Sheng Yanlin meticulously inspected the piece of human skin, after which he inhaled deeply, nodding in admiration: "Remarkable, such masters exist within the Esoteric Sect..."

"What do you mean?" Yang Xiao asked curiously.

Sheng Yanlin didn’t handle it directly, instead wrapping the human skin in the red cloth to show Yang Xiao. "This item is different from before, how exactly it’s done I’m unsure, but it’s certainly more stable now."

"I detected a faint metallic scent; they surely added something while reforging this Magic Artifact, it was an Angel Envoy, and alive."

Then Sheng Yanlin deduced, based on Yang Xiao’s task world description and his own experience, the artifact’s abilities likely relate to healing or recuperation.

This intrigued Yang Xiao quite a bit, as while he owned many lethal Magic Artifacts, only the Ghost Lantern provided some healing function, albeit unstably.

Seeking wealth amidst risks, Yang Xiao gritted his teeth, deciding to accept this treasure.

Of course, he had a final insurance policy: his dear sister.

His dear sister’s treasure appraisal skills likely matched the prowess of Sheng Yanlin; Yang Xiao had no choice but to provide his dear sister with options, leaving the decision entirely to her.

Moreover, this time was different; he had Netherworld-level combat strength with Elder Sheng’s assistance, thinking it wouldn’t be a big problem.

Having made the resolution, Yang Xiao intended to carry the pitch-black human skin back to the Mirror World; yet turning around, Sheng Yanlin didn’t follow. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"Mr. Sheng, are you not joining me?" Yang Xiao paused to ask.

Only to see Sheng Yanlin clutch his Wisdom Stick tightly, shaking his head thoroughly like a pellet drum, firmly stating: "No way! I fear that female demon might reject the human skin and seize my treasures!"