Chapter 34: Possibility of Spiritual Root Mutation

By all accounts, Wang Yu had been cultivating for less than two years, yet his progress was already faster than someone with a three-spirit root, cultivating with a speed comparable to a two-spirit root on the path to immortality.

However, Wang Yu planned to re-evaluate how to best utilize the three placement slots.

The immense benefits from mastering the cultivation method were enough for him to change his original plans.

After a brief deliberation, a new plan emerged.

Placement Slot 1: Cold Blood ArtPlacement Slot 2: Cold Blood ArtPlacement Slot 3: Cold Flood Dragon Alchemy (Incomplete Art)

His original reason for placing the "Cold Blood Pill Recipe" was a lack of funds, as he planned to refine the cultivation-aiding pills himself, given their exorbitant cost.

Moreover, the diminishing returns from the placement slots suggested he should replace what was there, perhaps opting for pills directly instead.

Now, however, with the cultivation method perfected and his aptitude increased by half, the boost was significant. Consequently, re-activating the placement slots with this new strategy became more cost-effective for him than simply relying on pills.

"At this efficiency, I'll be able to break through to Qi Condensation Layer Five in three and a half years."

Not bad.

As for placing the Alchemy art, it not only represented a skill but also implied the training of Wang Yu's spiritual sense and the future effects of refining top-grade Cold Blood Pills.

He had already personally experienced the effects of high-grade pills, so naturally, he hoped for more and wanted to see how extraordinary the top-grade pills would be.

On the other hand, most of the value of this alchemy art lay in the unique "Cold Flood Dragon Pill," which could condense a special 'Cold Flame Seed' that would grow with the cultivator.

Its core material, a spirit core from a second-tier cold-attributed python-like demonic beast, was currently nowhere in sight, so there was no rush to place it.

The Cold Flood Dragon Alchemy would be perfected in three and a half months at the latest.

Once a slot became available, Wang Yu had two potential directions.

One was to continue enhancing his aptitude by following the path of spirit root mutation, and the only potentially effective method he possessed for this was the Corpse Demon Secret Art!

This secret art had been in his possession for some time, but he had always been hesitant due to its numerous side effects.

However, according to the art's description, both 'Heavenly Yin Blood' and 'Corpse Demon Bone' were special physical secret methods that could potentially enhance his aptitude.

The second option was to continue placing pills, perfecting all three types—Cold Blood Pill, Myriad Marvel Pill, and Cold Flood Dragon Pill—and using spirit stones to boost his cultivation. The risk of this path came from external factors, posing a danger of death.

The risk of the first path, however, came from the secret art itself, and it could very likely induce a complete mutation of his spirit root!

One could say it was a mixed bag of good and bad.

Wang Yu decided to wait another three and a half months until the alchemy art was perfected, to confirm that the placement slots had the effect of completing secret arts.

By then, he wouldn't have to worry about being affected by terrifying side effects like "body like an ancient corpse," "impotence of yang energy," or "lack of emotion and desire" when placing the Corpse Demon Secret Art.

He was absolutely certain and firmly believed that the complete secret art would not have these side effects!

The next day.

Eight Treasures Pavilion.

Nearly four months had passed since his cooperation with Zhao Shang began. So far, they had completed three transactions, and this was the fourth.

"A pleasant cooperation,"

After a satisfying meal, they exchanged storage bags. Zhao Shang nodded, having counted the pills inside.

"There's still some profit to be made. When do you plan to scale up?"

"Just a little?"

Wang Yu looked at Zhao with a half-smile. He only collected market price from them, giving Zhou Tao and the other two a bulk purchase price. Yet, the pills sold to the Ice Snow Pavilion, as far as he knew, commanded nearly 30% above market price.

The few individuals from the Alchemist Guild were recorded in the Ice Snow Pavilion's archives as master alchemists, geniuses destined to become second-tier alchemists in the future—promising prospects. The current high price was for their future recruitment.

He wondered what True Heir Su would think if she saw these records herself.

"I'm serious. You've earned this much by now, haven't you?"

Zhao Shang held up two fingers.

Wang Yu remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying, but the calculation was incredibly accurate. Two thousand spirit stones in four months was a significant sum, even considering it was profit squeezed from both ends.

The Alchemist Guild members received more overall, but when averaged per person, it was only around 1,300.

This was pure profit after deducting costs, an absolute windfall. Wang Yu had obtained this income simply by leveraging his enforcement token, almost effortlessly.

Wang Yu was naturally satisfied, while Zhao Shang, having a specific goal, felt less content.

Wang Yu couldn't help but warn him.

"While it's satisfying to extract spirit stones from the Ice Snow Pavilion, you're essentially backstabbing them. Your actions must be discreet for this to last."

"Could it be that once you acquire Foundation Establishment Pills, you'll no longer associate with the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect?"

Zhao Shang remained silent, which momentarily stunned Wang Yu. He hadn't expected to hit the mark, and gave it some thought.

Indeed, this wasn't Zhao Shang's first time betraying his sect. He had likely left many traces, and even if he broke through to Foundation Establishment, there was still the danger of True Heir Su settling accounts with him.

"Have you found your next connection? If there's a good opportunity, how about you include me?"

Zhao Shang stayed silent for a moment before letting out an awkward laugh.

"How could that be? The Spirit Reversal Blood Sect treats me like their own son, and True Heir Su is like my elder brother. How could I possibly have such thoughts? Brother Wang must have misunderstood."

"Heh..."

"Suit yourself."

Wang Yu spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness, but more thoughts arose in his mind. Rome wasn't built in a day; Zhao Shang must have harbored such intentions for a while, and he could keep an eye on him in the future.

Having such a fallback option might prove useful someday.

After the two parted ways, Wang Yu met with the three guild members again and distributed this batch of spirit stones.

Luo Pinghu had already repaid his loan. Currently, Wang Yu had accumulated over 2,400 spirit stones, while his contribution points remained unchanged at just over one hundred.

According to his original plan, having money meant he should buy a high-grade magical artifact to enhance his combat power, which would be sufficient until he reached Foundation Establishment. It was a worthwhile investment.

However, the quality of magical artifacts released by the Ten Blood Reversal Workshops was concerning; they were almost all second-hand, and some were even less powerful than his Ice Sword Art.

Therefore, the best option was to commission a custom magical artifact from the Artifact Forging Hall.

On another note,

After mastering the Cold Blood Art, Ice Sword Art, and Ice Shield Art, Wang Yu subtly felt his comprehension had improved.

This improvement wasn't due to consuming any miraculous elixirs but rather a reaction from his broadened horizons. It was like a primary school student and a senior high school student learning a foreign language simultaneously; the latter would inevitably progress faster.

His cultivation mindset had matured. Whether it was the ability to draw inferences from one instance to others or to see the bigger picture, the practical feedback was that he felt his comprehension had indeed improved.

Moreover, he had a subtle intuition that mastering more perfected spells before reaching Foundation Establishment would be beneficial for his cultivation and his future.

This sudden, intuitive realization was mysterious and profound.

This made Wang Yu lean more towards investing his spirit stones in magical arts rather than high-grade magical artifacts, which would eventually become obsolete.

Spirit stones could not be exchanged for magical arts at the Scripture Pavilion, as it only recognized contribution points. However, they could be acquired from True Heir factions like the Ice Snow Pavilion.