Of course. Here is the English translation of Chapter 88, following the requested style and conventions.
### **Chapter 88: The Secret Curse is Obtained**
**[Placement Slot 4: Twelve Flame Spirit Seal Formula]**
`Twelve Flame Spirit Seal Formula (0/100): Seventy-two cycles per day. Estimated completion in four months.`
This was just a relatively ordinary secret method without any special effects. However, the content on flame control, especially regarding the spirit seals, complemented the hand seals used in alchemy.
Once placed to perfection and fully mastered by Wang Yu, he could then make modifications based on the actual situation.
After all, the Frigid Flame was originally a power derived from the alchemy technique. Combining the two flame-control spirit seals might yield even more profound mysteries.
As for the [Flame Exhalation Technique], its placement time was even shorter, requiring only three months to reach perfection.
The [Flood Dragon Strength] belonged to the category of cultivation techniques. Even if placed to perfection, it didn't mean his cultivation in it would be complete. Its nature was the same as the [Coldblood Art].
Body refinement was also divided into nine layers. The technique described it as "Awakening the Nine Dragon Sinews". Cultivating each "Dragon Sinew" signified a breakthrough, corresponding to the nine layers of Qi Refining.
Once the Nine Dragon Sinews took form, a single arm could wield immense force. Resisting heavy weights, pulling powerful beasts, tearing apart fierce animals bare-handed—all would become easy!
Vitality and blood would be abundant, essence full, spirit satisfied.
Cultivating this technique required the essence blood of dragon-lineage demonic beasts to brew a secret medicine, supplemented by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, circulated according to the technique's pathways, to cultivate the "Dragon Sinews". The conditions weren't met yet.
But Wang Yu didn't care. The placement slot could solve everything.
Of course, it was best if he also started collecting the essence blood of dragon-lineage demonic beasts himself. He needed to work on both fronts.
Foundation Establishment was still far off, so there was no rush to place the body refinement technique yet.
First the Spirit Seals, then Flame Exhalation, finally Flood Dragon Strength!
Three hours later, night fell.
Zuoqiu Ming finally returned to the Enforcement Hall. Seeing Wang Yu studying techniques, he couldn't help but sigh.
"If Yu the Second hadn't reminded me, I'd have thought you went back to rest."
Wang Yu shook his head. "Without confirmation, it's hard to sleep."
"Catch."
Zuoqiu Ming tossed over a pitch-black jade slip. He said,
"This inside is the translated version of the Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Curse. The original was written in ancient demonic script and is kept by the Nine Evils True Monarch. Rest assured about the content; it has been interpreted by multiple sect experts, absolutely no errors."
Wang Yu felt uneasy inwardly but didn't show it, quickly thanking him. "Such great kindness cannot be repaid with mere thanks. If I, Wang, have a future, it will all rely on your action today."
"No need for courtesy. It was your reward to begin with. Go back now, it's getting late."
"This disciple takes his leave."
After bowing, Wang Yu left with light steps. *Meticulous plotting is no match for a fortunate coincidence!*
He truly hadn't expected it to be so easy to obtain.
After quickly returning to his residence in the Evil God Market, Wang Yu didn't hesitate. He directly removed the Corpse Demon Secret Art and replaced it with the Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Curse. No particular reason, it was just more important.
**[Placement Slot 3: Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Curse (Incomplete Method)]**
`Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Curse (0/100): Ninety-six cycles per day. Estimated completion in ten years.`
Wang Yu frowned deeply.
Incomplete Method!
No wonder... He knew Zuoqiu Ming hadn't done it on purpose. If *he* were the Nine Evils True Monarch, he wouldn't hand over the original either. It's just that ancient demonic script was inherently obscure and difficult to understand, and also contained mysterious power.
Translation errors were perfectly normal.
After pondering for a long time, Wang Yu's tense expression suddenly relaxed, and he couldn't help but let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh.
"What was I thinking..."
Even if it was an incomplete method, the placement slot could repair and complete it upon reaching perfection. Obtaining his desired secret method this time was already a coincidence; there was no need to pursue perfection.
It was an unexpected windfall. Gaining it was my fortune; losing it was fate.
A few defects weren't fatal. There was no need to nitpick and insist on perfection. Sometimes, taking a step back allows one to see the true blue sky.
"I was being stubborn."
Ten years wasn't long nor short, but it was the longest among all the spells and secret arts he had placed so far. He didn't know how long the subsequent completion would take.
Wang Yu estimated that by then, he should be approaching Foundation Establishment, which would正好 dovetail with it.
As for the [Corpse Demon Secret Art]... the time required to complete this secret art was twenty years. Counting carefully, it had been placed for about five years and five months, still over fourteen years short.
No rush. He could place it again later when a slot freed up.
The cultivation feedback from the Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Curse was more peculiar than any before, because what was gained through placement was a strange power called 〈Heavenly Demon Malignant Thought〉.
According to the secret method's introduction, this should be a power that extra-worldly beings like Heavenly Demons fed on, similar to how spiritual energy was vital to cultivators.
At regular intervals, aside from the experiential insights flooding his mind,
Wang Yu could feel waves of black ripples starting from the spot between his eyebrows, spreading throughout his body.
This caused his fleshly body to vibrate like water. A meticulous transformation, reaching down to the particles of his body, began. This was the foundation of the Demonic Embryo's formation.
"A semi-transformation type..."
"Now that I think about it, why are all the secret arts I cultivate like this? The more I modify, the further I deviate from the norm."
He let out a soft sigh, and the room settled into a calm cultivation state.
...
...
As time passed.
Wang Yu spent four months placing the *Twelve Flame Spirit Seal Formula* to perfection. Another three months later, the *Flame Exhalation Technique* also smoothly reached perfection.
He encountered no troubles during this period. True Disciple Su also never summoned him. Wang Yu speculated that the other party might have abandoned the delay strategy he proposed and had other plans.
If so,
he would completely lose his channel for understanding the deeper conflicts on Coldblood Peak. This wasn't good, especially since he had a grudge with Wei Zhong.
But besides cursing True Disciple Su for being a terrible teammate, there wasn't much he could do. He could only focus on his cultivation and further strengthen his own power.
And so, the vacant Slot 4 was replaced with the body refinement technique *Flood Dragon Strength*!
**[Placement Slot 4: Flood Dragon Strength]**
`Flood Dragon Strength (0/100): Twenty-four cycles per day. Estimated completion in one year.`
It was on the same level as the Coldblood Art, and the time required for placement perfection was the same. However, back then, the Coldblood Art cycled forty-eight times a day, while Flood Dragon Strength only cycled twenty-four times.
The frequency was halved, yet the time required was the same. The implication was clear.
His comprehension had improved.
Strictly speaking, it was his acquired comprehension—referring to the natural enhancement in thinking and understanding that cultivators experience as their cultivation becomes higher, they undergo more experiences, and learn more.
This improvement gained through life experience and learning is acquired comprehension, lacking only a spark of innate brilliance.
Of course, it was also possible he was mistaken.
This would become clear in the future.
Over these seven months, failing to get the desired outcome and with the Alchemist Association matter gradually calming down, Wang Yu conceived a new plan. He wanted to leave the sect again.
This time was different from the trip to Profound Bone Mountain.
Last time was to avoid trouble. A series of unforeseen events occurred, and a Foundation Establishment cultivator even died, but the final outcome was good.
This time, it was because his terrible teammate didn't trust him, or perhaps had too strong a sense of self-reliance and trusted his own wisdom too much.
Considering his interactions with True Disciple Su, Wang Yu could actually judge him to be an impulsive person.
The first time, he took a risk due to impulse and lost an arm. He was defeated by Fatty Duan's retreat and by a lack of high-level information, but he truly entered True Disciple Su's sight.
**(End of Chapter)**