### **Chapter 75: The Return Journey**
But just letting it sit there could actually continue to increase the art's power. After all, the essence of the [Soul-Devouring Evil Armor Art] was derived from Yin spirit energy.
He couldn't just absorb it from the environment, but by placing it in the slot, a continuous stream of Yin spirit energy could constantly strengthen the art's upper limit, and for now, he couldn't see a ceiling.
For Wang Yu, the second-grade low-tier defensive power and the special resistance to spiritual sense attacks were completely sufficient.
After all, he was only at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, having just entered the late stage not long ago. He didn't have the vast spiritual power cultivation required to support these arts that surpassed his realm.
He couldn't use them frequently, so there was no rush to advance them further.
Instead, he switched to a pill formula.
**[Placement Slot 4: Frost Python Pill]**
`Frost Python Pill (33/100): Twenty-four cycles per day. Estimated completion in four months.`
The progress inside was from Wang Yu's own research. After all, he had obtained this pill formula a long time ago and often took it out to study.
The journey back from Profound Bone Mountain would take three months. By the time the transaction was completed and the materials were ready, it would dovetail with starting the pill refinement.
As for arrangements further ahead, he leaned more towards placing the "Coldblood Art". Cultivation base was the foundation. With his combat power being sufficient and the threat from Steward Xu eliminated,
the four placement slots, except for the immovable Corpse Demon Secret Art, all needed to be switched to cultivation techniques, to accelerate his progress fiercely!
He finished his cultivation and stood up, putting away his personal belongings and the formation flags. Familiar sounds came from outside.
"Junior Brother Wang, time to set off back to the sect. Are you packed?"
Wang Yu immediately walked out of the stone house. Seeing the three of them riding their unique flying artifacts, he hesitated for a moment before stepping onto Gu Zhengshun's bone skiff artifact.
No particular reason, he just didn't want to get too close to Liu Jinxian.
This woman's temperament was a bit extreme; being too close or too distant both felt wrong. He had to maintain a moderate distance.
However, his choice made Gu Zhengshun awkward, Si Tu Hong surprised, and Liu Jinxian displeased. No matter what, the life-saving grace should have led to some closeness.
Those upturned, flared nostrils were the first to snort coldly.
"Does Junior Brother Wang Yu dislike me?"
Only then did Wang Yu realize he had probably pricked her sensitive and fragile heart again. People always liked to be chosen, not to be the one left behind.
*So hard to please.*
He cursed inwardly, but quickly explained aloud.
"I came with Brother Gu, so naturally, I'll return with him. Those minor conflicts are long in the past, right, Brother Gu?"
"Yes, yes, yes~"
"Senior Sister Liu, you overthink things."
Liu Jinxian suddenly moved closer. Her fleshless nostrils were like two black holes, unnervingly tight. Her voice was faint and haunting.
"You don't dare look at me. Do you dislike my appearance?"
*Oh no.*
She actually laid it bare. Her emotional intelligence was truly low. Isn't it terrifying? Don't you know it yourself? Can't bear to look!
Si Tu Hong, standing in the eye socket of his skull artifact, quickly maneuvered it backward, afraid a fight would break out and blood would splatter on him. This was a difficult question to answer.
Wang Yu quickly bowed with cupped hands.
"Wang Yu originated from a spirit slave background. My status is worlds apart from all of yours. How would I dare to have any inappropriate thoughts about Senior Sister Liu?"
"Senior Brother Si Tu is dignified, handsome, dashing, and of extraordinary status. Someone of his caliber is worthy of looking directly at Senior Sister. I, Wang, am lowly and unworthy."
*Oh no, it's aimed at me now.*
Si Tu Hong glared at Wang Yu from a distance. *Is this how you thank me?*
After this speech, Liu Jinxian's expression calmed considerably. She didn't press the issue further but noticed another detail.
"You said you originated from a spirit slave background?"
"Yes."
"Strange. Among spirit slaves, they are all old men who started young. It's the first time I've seen one as handsome as you."
Indeed, what were spirit slaves? Living spirit sand manufacturing machines.
And each had inferior aptitude, finding it difficult to build a foundation in their lifetime. Yet, Wang Yu had already broken through to the late Qi Refining stage, a quite outstanding performance even among the younger generation. In smaller places, he might even be called a genius.
The other two also immediately realized the issue, looking at Wang Yu in surprise.
He explained again.
"The three of you, look at my white hair. It was caused by a massive loss of lifespan. Only after gaining True Disciple Su's recognition and leaving my spirit slave status did I slowly recover."
"Actually, I don't have many good years left. At most ten years, I will face the problem of declining vitality and blood, just like an old person over a hundred years old..."
He spoke off the cuff. His white hair was indeed caused by a large loss of lifespan in a short period, but subsequently, as his realm broke through, there was actually a tendency for it to reverse and blacken.
It's just that after cultivating the Corpse Demon Secret Art, the mix of Yin energy and corpse energy made it permanent instead.
The decision he made back then was absolutely correct.
Now he could even use it as an excuse, reaping great benefits. After all, he had only burned ten years of lifespan, while a Qi Refining cultivator had a full one hundred and fifty years.
He still had plenty.
Now, saying he would face the difficulty of declining vitality and blood in ten years was actually a problem normal cultivators faced at a hundred years old. He was only 24 and a half this year.
Burned to this state, supplemented by other means, his fast cultivation speed also seemed quite normal.
Gu Zhengshun subconsciously chimed in.
"You're still cultivating the Bloodburn Art? Aren't you practicing an ice-attribute technique?"
Wang Yu looked sideways at him and smiled.
"Brother Gu, you haven't cultivated the Bloodburn Art, have you? Its method of accelerating cultivation lies in the 〈Lifespan Burning Seal〉. This is a secret technique paired with the art. Practicing it with the same art yields better results."
"But you can also practice a different main technique and use the Lifespan Burning Seal to accelerate. The effect is actually the same, only about thirty percent less effective."
"No wonder—"
As he spoke, both Gu Zhengshun and Si Tu Hong stopped looking at him.
Instead, Liu Jinxian tutted a few times, her face full of pity.
"What a shame..."
A potential storm was finally by Wang Yu's constant self-deprecation.
After a delay, the four set off on their return journey, leaving Profound Bone Mountain without a backward glance, flying heartily towards the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect.
On the way.
With no one else around, Gu Zhengshun looked at Wang Yu with a smile. He had long known about Wang Yu's spirit slave origins and hadn't exposed him earlier.
After all, he didn't like Liu Jinxian either, and they had a transaction between them. It was impossible to undermine him at this time.
In his eyes, Wang Yu was definitely a core subordinate trained by True Disciple Su. He had also heard a little about the situation on Coldblood Peak, though not the details.
The matter involved a Nascent Soul inheritance, and the associated plots and schemes were countless. He didn't want to get involved, so he wouldn't initiate conversations about this with Wang Yu.
As for Wang Yu, although the Profound Bone Mountain mission was over,
the underground palace below was still occupied by the Foundation Establishment Corpse Demon. The journey back would take three months, so it was inevitable to talk about related topics.
For example, whether the next round of cultivators coming to Profound Bone Mountain would develop the underground palace ruins, or whether multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators would be dispatched to deal with the Corpse Demon.
He had really wanted to go down again before, but the other three had refused, and their wary, evasive manner made him a bit apprehensive, so he索性 didn't go down to avoid further complications.
Now that they were leaving, they could have a good chat about it on the way.
A few brief sentences left him quite shocked.
"You mean... the underground palace is actually a trap???"
**(End of Chapter)**