After a brief calculation, Wang Yu stopped dwelling on it.
He then turned his attention to the changes in the placement slots. After all, based on past patterns, there should be a new change after his breakthrough to the late Qi Refining stage.
**[Placement Slot 1: Coldblooded Art]**
`Coldblooded Art↑ (55/100): Seventy-two cycles per day. Estimated completion in ten years.`
**[Placement Slot 2: Coldblooded Art]**
`Coldblooded Art↑ (55/100): Seventy-two cycles per day. Estimated completion in ten years.`
**[Placement Slot 3: Corpse Demon Secret Art (Repairing)]**
`Corpse Demon Secret Art (10/100): One thousand four hundred and forty cycles per day. Estimated completion in eighteen years.`
**[Placement Slot 4: None]**
---
"It's here!"
Wang Yu looked激动 (excitedly) at the fourth slot. The pattern of the placement slots was now mostly clear. When he broke through to Foundation Establishment, he estimated another one would be added.
With this, why worry about failing to achieve the Great Dao?
Furthermore, the advancement of the Coldblooded Art was already halfway done. Two placement slots working simultaneously indeed doubled the efficiency. In a few more years, he would obtain a second-grade technique.
Moreover, due to the constant influx of insights from the placement slots, it felt as natural as instinct, no different from creating it himself. It was equivalent to the technique directly reaching Perfection.
This would be immensely beneficial for his future cultivation.
Currently, the efficiency of one placement slot was "2 wisps/day". If all four slots were dedicated to his cultivation technique, it would be "8 wisps/day". He could break through to the eighth level of Qi Refining in about seven years.
Twice as fast as before.
After some thought, Wang Yu felt he shouldn't use them that way.
Currently, he didn't have many things that needed placement. The Corpse Demon Secret Art was a long-term project best left undisturbed, as he would eventually need his 'second brother' again.
Suffering for a while didn't mean suffering for a lifetime. He wasn't the type to suffer unnecessarily when there was no need.
Prioritizing the list,
The second-grade high-grade spell [Mysterious Yin Hand] came first. This technique could significantly increase his combat ceiling and help him deal with Foundation Establishment level troubles.
It was quite important.
Next,
The third-grade incomplete alchemy method [Frost Python Alchemy Art] had been Perfected for some time. Based on past observations of the placement slots' effects, repairing a method was easier and took less time than deducing its upper limits.
His current configuration had reached its上限 (upper limit). To increase speed further, there were only two directions: first, develop a pill more suitable for boosting cultivation than the top-grade Coldblooded Pill.
Second, obtain a demonic path secret art that could improve his aptitude.
Additionally, the formula for the [Frost Python Pill] could also be considered for placement. After all, this alchemy technique required the配合 (cooperation) of "cold flame" to truly unleash its special characteristics.
If he wanted to make a breakthrough in pills, Wang Yu felt that successfully refining the [Frost Python Pill] would be the key to solving the problem.
What to place in the fourth slot was a difficult decision.
After long consideration.
**[Placement Slot 4: Mysterious Yin Hand]**
`Mysterious Yin Hand (20/100): Nine cycles per day. Estimated completion in eight years.`
Combat power first!
The materials for the Frost Python Pill weren't fully gathered yet. He still hadn't obtained the second-grade ice-attribute python/demon snake demon core. He estimated he would need to return to the sect to have a chance of acquiring it.
Moreover, while traveling outside, it was better to prioritize combat power.
His realm wouldn't increase for a while, but spells could continue to enhance his strength. He had used two of the three portions of 「Yin Marrow Liquid」 and had cultivated 20 points of progress himself, saving two years.
He would place it like this for now.
Thus, another three months passed, reaching mid-December of his fifth year. Wang Yu had fully achieved semi-liquefied spiritual power. The Profound Essence Flowers had no further effect on him.
The quality of his spiritual power had almost reached the limit possible for the Qi Refining stage. This was also a form of strength improvement, just not as obvious.
In this way, after nearly three years outside,
he had advanced directly from the fifth level of Qi Refining to the seventh level, undergoing a minor transformation.
As they say, *after prolonged stillness, one thinks of movement*. His restless heart began to stir, especially regarding the underground palace beneath Profound Bone Mountain. Si Tu Hong and the other two hadn't disclosed specific information to him.
Greed arose within him. After all, the [Lunar Nether Pupils] secret art was obtained from the underground palace. A Nascent Soul level legacy was priceless.
He still remembered the demonic script stele in the Scripture Depository.
Perhaps Liu Jinxian understood the Blood Script, an ancient demonic script. If he could请教 (seek advice), he could not only understand the stele's content but also find a use for the mysterious silk manuscript obtained from Xu Jiaojiao.
"The Blood Script shouldn't be too difficult to understand. If Xu Jiaojiao could figure it out, there's no reason I can't."
And so, Wang Yu, after a period of quiet seclusion in his temporary cave dwelling, went out again to test the waters with Liu Jinxian.
......
......
"Junior Brother Wang, please return. I am currently perfecting the wasp gu and have no time for a促膝长谈 (heart-to-heart talk)."
Hearing this through a stone door, Wang Yu uncomfortably scuffed his boot. A 'heart-to-heart talk' was indeed a bit too intimate.
From previous interactions, without the large number of Gu Poison Peak disciples as backup, this Senior Sister Liu's temper could actually be quite gentle.
Since the other party was unwilling to communicate, Wang Yu couldn't say much more. After a polite remark, he took his leave.
The second choice was Gu Zhengshun.
Unfortunately, this Senior Brother Gu was even more resistant. No matter how Wang Yu called outside the formation, there was no response. He was clearly worried about being captured and killed.
"Strange. I, Wang, am not some murderous person. Why is everyone so afraid of me?"
He grumbled inwardly.
Just as he was about to head to the third person, Si Tu Hong, Wang Yu's steps paused.
*Could it be that they guessed my actions during this period? That shouldn't be. The internal conflicts of the Five Yin Peak and Gu Poison Peak have nothing to do with me.*
*At most, I took advantage of the situation. I didn't participate or maliciously instigate anything.*
Soon.
Outside a temporary cave dwelling at the edge of Profound Bone Mountain, Wang Yu called out clearly, "Senior Brother Si Tu, I, Wang, have come to visit."
—Silence!
Not here? Wang Yu frowned.
Currently, one of the three Profound Bone Mountains was occupied by that second-grade Direbone Lion. They basically didn't live on the mountains anymore, let alone collect Profound Essence Flowers or Bonewood.
As for the Foundation Establishment Corpse Demon, it had never left the underground palace, so there was no need to worry too much.
Liu Jinxian lived far away, Gu Zhengshun had his formation for protection. Only Si Tu Hong had opened a temporary cave dwelling at the edge of the right Profound Bone Mountain, convenient for his ghost nurturing.
The ghost-subduing technique of the Five Yin Peak wasn't a unique skill, but they typically only nurtured a primary ghost for each major realm: one for Qi Refining, one for Foundation Establishment, one for Core Formation, and so on.
It was similar to beast-taming cultivators.
This ghost-nurturing method followed an elite route, offering great advantages in small-scale area attacks. Coupled with magical instruments like [Soul Summoning Banners], they could hold certain advantages in almost any type of combat.
Their ranking within the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect was steadily within the top four.
After repeated calls yielded no response, Wang Yu prepared to leave and visit another time when an opportunity arose. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, forming a pleasant curve.
"Lunar Nether Pupils, appear~"
Crescent moons appeared in his eyes. Piercing through the rock and the formation's concealment, he could glimpse the vital soul fire belonging to a living person.
It seemed everyone was avoiding him.
His voice suddenly increased several levels in volume.
"Brother Si Tu, why won't you see me!!"
**(End of Chapter)**