The Path to Immortality: Starting with an Analysis of Basic Concepts

Chapter 442 Feeding on Deception and Humanity (Please Subscribe)

Unfortunately, he didn't dare.

Before entering the market, Zhu Yu was unaware that the entire town was shrouded in a powerful and eerie domain.

"At least third-tier—"

Zhu Yu looked up at the sky. In his divine sense, a colossal creature was faintly lurking deep within the churning clouds, with fine, rain-like threads hanging down, connecting it to the strange creatures in the market.

"Feeding on monsters—"

He took a deep look, then withdrew his gaze, sensed the rate at which the strange power within his body was dissipating, and nodded slightly.

This unknown and strange creature seems to know how to run a business.

For example, if he spends a day in the market, he loses about one percent of his cultivation.

It seems like a lot.

But compared to taking advantage of someone completely, this is already quite merciful.

Zhu Yu led the two dazed, big-headed children on a tour and discovered some interesting things, such as the "Golden Toad Ghost" that could hold anything in its belly, the "Azure Cicada Ghost" that could travel hundreds of miles in an instant, as well as strange creatures that sold their own flesh and blood and strange powers, and plants, jade, and bones containing strange powers, etc.

There are a wide variety of transaction methods.

However, only two types of currency circulated in the market.

One type is "mysterious crystals" produced by monsters, which can directly enhance strength after being refined. The other type is "blood money" produced by humans, which is round in the sky and square in the earth, with longevity patterns engraved on the back. It is also called "longevity money". Monsters can also enhance their strength after refining it.

Look at them one by one.

Many good things were coveted even by Zhu Yu himself, but due to his empty pockets, he dared not actually plunder the city, so he had no choice but to leave dejectedly.

He was thinking of earning a meager living by refining pills for the monsters.

Zhu Yu then planted the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" in the ground, on which appeared the words "Refining Elixir for Monsters." He sat down on the ground outside the porch, closed his eyes, and waited.

Although some monsters cannot read, as long as they look at the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner," information about "refining elixirs" for the monsters will automatically appear in their minds, helping them understand its meaning.

Before long, guests arrived.

Moreover, this guest was not an ordinary guest, but a person.

"An interesting human pretending to be strange—"

Zhu Yu opened his eyes and looked at the human with a human head and a wolf-like beast head walking towards him. His dark eyes flickered slightly.

Its body surface was filled with a strange power comparable to that of the Black Vengeance, but his divine sense could faintly sense that the boiling blood and qi deep within its body, which it suppressed and was as explosive as magma, was comparable to that of the Black Fiend Monster.

He parted his lips slightly, and a cold, emotionless voice rang out.

"Alchemy? —"

"You—you know how to refine the Sun-Rising Pill?"

Sensing the black-level aura emanating from it, Fang Cheng secretly swallowed and asked cautiously.

Having said that, a strange power surged around him, and if something seemed amiss, he would immediately flee.

"The Yang-Boosting Pill?"

"Does the Dao of Alchemy still exist in this world?"

Zhu Yu was surprised. Of course, he wouldn't do that, but his expression remained unchanged. He stared at him for a few moments until his eyes showed a slight panic before coldly saying, "Okay, ten Black Vengeance-grade Black Crystals or one hundred Blood Coins."

Fangcheng's head beamed with joy and reached into his robes, but then his expression became somewhat hesitant.

He is one of the village guardians of "Xiaoxi Village". He is now thirty-nine years old, only one year away from his natural lifespan. If he cannot break through from the Qi and Blood Realm to the Ascending Sun Realm within one year, he will die a violent death.

The "Rising Sun Pill" is one of the auxiliary pills for breaking through to the "Rising Sun" realm. He came to "Blackwater Market" to buy the main ingredient of the "Rising Sun Pill", the "Blood Flame Fruit".

We did manage to buy the main materials.

But he didn't know who to ask to refine the pill for him.

Go to town?

It's likely that the "Blood Flame Fruit" will be snatched away by the powerful families in the town as soon as it is revealed.

With this in mind, Fang Cheng fixed his gaze. Even if he was destroyed by this monster, it would be better than being taken away by the big family in the town.

At least this monster won't take his life as well.

Thinking it over, he first took out nearly two hundred blood coins and respectfully placed them in front of Zhu Yu. Then, he carefully took out a cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to Zhu Yu, gritting his teeth, and said, "I don't know the formula for the 'Rising Sun Pill,' but please—please—"

He was speaking when his expression suddenly froze, and his head turned from white to blue, then from blue to purple, and finally turned completely black.

It happened right while he was speaking.

Zhu Yu took out the "Blood Flame Fruit" that resembled a reddish-brown pineapple and, without thinking twice, used the trickery "Pao Dan".

In just a few breaths, the "Blood Flame Fruit" that carried Fang Cheng's hopes was processed into a pill.

Zhu Yu waved his hand and presented the pill, whose effects he himself did not know, to Fang Cheng. He then gathered nearly two hundred "blood coins" in his sleeves, feeling somewhat satisfied, and suppressed his intention to collect the money from him later.

Seeing him blankly accept the pill and turn to leave, he thought for a moment and said, "I am Qingyangzi, and I have a Daoist temple called Qingyang Temple on Black Wind Mountain. If you need any pills, you may go and find me there."

Having said that, he closed his eyes and concentrated, waiting for the next destined ghost.

Fang Cheng's face twitched. He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, glanced at the pill in his hand, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Qingyang Temple on Black Wind Mountain, I understand—"

Sensing the expiration date of the "devouring artifact," he dared not linger and quickly left.

Zhu Yu opened his eyes, gazed at her retreating figure, stroked his chin, and pondered, "It should be somewhat effective, right?"

The trickery "Pao Dan".

The effect is not merely the extraction of something into a pill; it contains a mysterious power that can produce certain effects according to one's will.

In other words.

Pills made from "Blood Flame Fruit" will definitely have the effects of "Rising Sun Pill," but this "Rising Sun Pill" is the one Zhu Yu imagined.

As for its effects, we'll only know after taking it.

"Never mind, at worst it'll just be eating dead people—"

Zhu Yu shook his head, closed his eyes, and waited intently.

Perhaps because he still had a number in "Blackwater Collection", he received quite a few requests for alchemy in the following days.

Some paid money, while others used their own collateral.

unconsciously.

Zhu Yu's purse bulged, the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" had more ink lines added to its surface, and the two big-headed boys also became much rounder and fatter.

I wonder if it's because he's doing too much business.

He vaguely sensed a gaze cast from the churning clouds above the market, as if carrying a warning.

Seeing this, Zhu Yu dared not continue to take advantage of others for free. He put away the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner," waved his sleeve, and released the sedan chair, which was carried by two boys and swayed away from "Blackwater Market."

"Heishuiji" is located on the outskirts of the Heishui Mountains.

Black Wind Mountain is an inconspicuous little hill. Because it is adjacent to the "official road", there are few big monsters and strange things, but there are many small monsters and strange things.

Grandma Huang's home was located north of Black Wind Mountain.

In a cluster of rubble with caves resembling honeycomb.

When Zhu Yu arrived at "Grandma Huang's" house, he thought he would be warmly received and have some "blood food," but all he was left with was a still-warm cave and not a single weasel.

"They're fast runners, though."

He wasn't surprised or angry, but rather a little puzzled.

The roads in the Black Wind Mountains are treacherous, and survival there even more difficult. Why abandon your perfectly good home? Aren't you afraid of being swallowed whole by some awakened great monster?

"His heart is not what it used to be; he's just too stingy to even spare his own grandchildren, he'll never amount to anything—"

Zhu Yu sighed with emotion, then left in a sedan chair.

He didn't care about "Grandma Huang's" place. In a few days, he'll definitely have a new neighbor. He'll come over again then and see if he likes it.

Return to the front of "Qingyang Temple".

Zhu Yu took a trip to the "village" outside the mountains.

He only glanced at it, but the incredibly powerful and terrifying force field startled him so much that he didn't linger for a moment and turned to leave.

Return to Qingyang Temple.

Zhu Yu came to the main room and sat down, briefly taking stock of the spoils.

350 Black Crystals of the Black-level, 191 Blood Money, 2 Leg Bones of the Black-level, and 10 Stones containing eerie power.

The "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" obtained a main soul, "The Ghostly Lady".

The Black Vengeance-level Water Ghost, the Violent Death Ghost, and the Spring Crying Ghost are three-headed creatures.

There were hundreds of scattered, black-level ghosts.

With so many "devils" infiltrating, the power of the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner" has more than doubled or tripled since its initial forging.

If he were to face the "Mysterious Lady" again, Zhu Yu was confident that he could subdue her without using the "Mysterious Water Thunder".

After taking inventory, Zhu Yu's eyes were filled with deep thought.

His first goal was to build a teleportation altar.

However, the power of "Deceptive Force" is too active and not suitable for building a teleportation "altar". On the contrary, the power contained in "Blood Money" is moderate and peaceful, and is more suitable for building an "altar".

Analyze using the "Eye of True Vision".

To build a teleportation "altar," at least 100,000 "blood money" is required.

"Blood money—"

Zhu Yu suddenly thought of the human who had asked him to refine pills, and a thought flickered in his mind: "If he could break through with the help of the pills, perhaps in the future—"

He shook his head slightly, suppressing his thoughts, and then thought of the "market".

Although the amount of "blood money" circulating within it was small, there were still 100,000 pieces.

It's just that the skill of refining pills with bare hands is no longer easy to replicate.

If he attracts the attention of the market owner, he will have no choice but to abandon his physical body and flee.

"Should I learn alchemy systematically?"

Zhu Yu thought about it and felt that it was somewhat necessary.

This body possesses unparalleled magical abilities; it would be a real shame not to study "alchemy."

Moreover, the "Strange" Spirit Ruins greatly benefited his "original" path.

Before obtaining the "Dao Beacon," it's not really suitable to take too many risks while focusing one's mind. "Dan Dao" (the Way of Alchemy) can undoubtedly help one quickly amass wealth and gain a foothold in this dangerous "Strange Realm."

There is definitely danger, but it won't be too great.

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Yu transmitted this information to his "original body," and then summoned the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner," which was planted in the ground. Rolling, eerie energy surged and gathered, pouring into the banner.

The illusory figures on it, which looked like children's scribbles, became solid with the naked eye. In particular, the small courtyard in the center was like a real object, and a woman in red could be vaguely seen standing in the courtyard looking up.

Zhu Yu sat cross-legged under the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner," picked up the "Black Crystal," and began to refine and absorb it. As each Black Crystal turned into dust, the aura he emitted steadily increased.

The outer room.

It seemed to sense a shift in the sinister aura.

Two large-headed ghosts approached the door, staring at the pitch-black interior. They dared not enter, so they knelt at the doorway and inhaled deeply. Wisps of black smoke poured into their nostrils, making their heads seem even larger.

Outside the Taoist temple.

The lush, green branches of the ancient locust tree swayed and rustled, its bark twisting and revealing a human face with blood-red pupils staring straight at the Taoist temple.

Time passed little by little.

I don't know how long it has been.

"call--"

Zhu Yu exhaled a long, turbid breath, opened his eyes, looked at the black crystal in his palm turning into powder, waved his hand to scatter it, and stared at himself.

A panel appeared.

[Target: Zhu Yu "Qingyangzi"]

[Race: Uncanny]

[Rank: Black - Fiend "18.5%"]

[Deceptive Technique: Elixir of Immortality]

Status: Healthy

More than three hundred Black Wanderer-level Black Crystals, plus two Black Vengeance-level Leg Bones, increased his cultivation by more than three points.

Not a lot, but not a little either.

After all, the quality of the Black Crystal and Leg Bone was too low. The reason why they could increase his cultivation by so much was because his divine sense guided them and they were not wasted.

"I can't afford to mess with the big ones, but killing some small ones shouldn't be a problem—"

As Zhu Yu thought about how the new neighbors didn't greet him, he raised his hand, pulled up the "Ten Thousand Souls Banner," and stepped out of the main room.

Not long after.

Dark clouds rolled in from the south and north of Black Wind Mountain for several dozen breaths before finally dissipating.

Taoist temple.

Zhu Yu looked at the pile of black crystals of the Bai Nei Black Rank on the ground, nodded in satisfaction, and closed his eyes to refine them.

Three days later.

A black sedan chair emerged from the Taoist temple and headed straight down the mountain.

They spent seven days wandering around the area of ​​"Black Wind Mountain" before returning to the Taoist temple.

"Sigh, this is like draining the pond to catch all the fish. I wonder how long it will take for things to get lively again—" Zhu Yu sighed, looking at the black crystals scattered on the ground. "Oh well, once I advance to a Blood-level monster, I'll just find another home—"

After he finished speaking, billowing black energy surged forth, engulfing his figure, and the surrounding eerie energy surged and gathered, submerging the entire Taoist temple.

On the other side...

Fang Cheng hid the "devouring artifact" and, after the guards verified his identity with a "demon-expelling talisman," he returned to his residence with a gloomy face, watched respectfully by the guards.

I just entered the room.

Before he could take out the "Rising Sun Pill" to examine it, a knock came at the door.

Fang Cheng frowned, got up, went to the door, opened it, and looked at the village guards standing outside. He frowned and asked, "What is it?"

"Lord Fang, Lord Liu, the village chief requests your presence," the guard replied respectfully.

Fang Cheng looked puzzled, thought for a moment, and then walked towards the center of the village.

Not long after.

Led by the guards, we arrived at the center of the village, in front of a beautiful, otherworldly wooden statue holding a golden flame.

Strangely, the flame seemed to have no temperature or source of fire, flickering slightly like a dancing sprite.

at this time.

Standing beneath the sculpture were a young man with a fair complexion and an elderly man, who greeted him upon his arrival, saying, "Guard Fang."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly, walked to the sculpture, glanced at the corpse lying on the ground, turned to the young man and the old man, and casually asked, "How did they die?"

The village chief shook his head. "I don't know."

The young man said solemnly, "This is the thirteenth person. According to the 'Exorcism Talisman' test, there is no residual evil energy on him. He was not killed by an evil spirit—"

He paused, glanced at Yang Huo, and hesitated before asking, "Do you think it's possible that a great—great monster has infiltrated the village?"

Fang Cheng had no time to care about that at the moment, and said without thinking, "What is there in Xiaoxi Village that would make the Great Demons covet it? It's either an accident or a vendetta."

As he spoke, he turned and went back, only his voice could be heard.

"Next, I will go into seclusion to break through to the 'Rising Sun' level. You can decide what to do next."

"Breaking through the 'Rising Sun' barrier? —"

The young man and the old man were startled by what they heard. Looking at Fang Cheng's back, they exchanged a glance and suddenly fell silent.

"Alas, my time is running out. I would be grateful if Governor Liu would include me in his letter to Huaiyu Town. Xiaoxi Village needs a new village chief."

>