Chapter 88: Secret Spell in Hand

Slot 4: Twelve Flame Spirit Seals."Twelve Flame Spirit Seals (0/100): Seventy-two practices per day, achievable in four months."

This is a relatively common secret art with no special effects. However, its flame control aspects, particularly the spirit seals, complement the hand seals used in alchemy.

Once the art is fully mastered, Wang Yu will be able to control it completely, allowing him to make practical modifications then.

After all, the cold flame itself is a power derived from alchemy. Combining two types of flame-controlling spirit seals might yield even more profound mysteries.

As for the Flame Spitting Art, it requires even less time to master, only three months.

The Flood Dragon Strength, however, is a cultivation technique. Even if fully mastered, it doesn't imply complete cultivation; its nature is identical to that of the Cold Blood Art.

Body tempering is also divided into nine layers. The technique describes them as "Nine Living Dragon Tendons," with each "dragon tendon" cultivated signifying a breakthrough, corresponding to the nine layers of Qi refinement.

Once the nine dragon tendons are fully formed, a single swing of an arm will unleash tens of thousands of jin of strength. Lifting nine cauldrons, pulling nine horses, or tearing apart tigers and oxen will all be effortless!

Vitality will be abundant, and essence and spirit will be fully replenished.

To cultivate this technique, one needs to refine secret elixirs using the essence blood of dragon-species demonic beasts. This must be supplemented by the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, circulated according to the technique's specific routes, in order to cultivate the "dragon tendons." Currently, the necessary conditions are not met.

However, Wang Yu was unconcerned; the placement slots could resolve any obstacle.

Naturally, he should also begin collecting the essence blood of dragon-species demonic beasts himself, ensuring he was prepared on all fronts.

Foundation Establishment was still a distant goal, so there was no rush to place the body tempering cultivation technique.

First, the spirit seals, then the Flame Spitting Art, and finally, the Flood Dragon Strength!

Three hours later, night descended.

Zuo Qiuming finally returned to the Enforcement Hall. Seeing Wang Yu diligently studying a magical art, he couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"If not for Old Yu's reminder, I would have thought you had already gone to rest."

Wang Yu shook his head. "Without definitive news, I found it hard to sleep."

"Catch."

Zuo Qiuming tossed over a pitch-black jade slip. He explained,

"Inside is the translated version of the Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Incantation. The original was written in ancient demonic script and kept by True Monarch Nine Evils. You can rest assured about its content; it has been interpreted by multiple sect experts, guaranteeing no errors."

Wang Yu felt a sense of unease, but he didn't let it show. He quickly expressed his gratitude: "Words cannot convey my thanks for such immense kindness. If I am to have a future, it will be entirely thanks to your actions today, Sir."

"There's no need for formalities. This is your reward. Go back now, it's getting late."

"This disciple bids farewell."

After bowing respectfully, Wang Yu left with light steps. He mused that meticulous planning was no match for a fortuitous coincidence!

He truly hadn't expected to acquire it so easily.

Upon swiftly returning to his residence in Evil God Plaza, Wang Yu didn't hesitate. He immediately removed the Corpse Demon Secret Art and replaced it with the Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Incantation. There was no ulterior motive; it was simply more critical.

Slot 3: Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Incantation (Incomplete Art)"Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Incantation (0/100): Ninety-six practices per day, achievable in ten years."

Wang Yu frowned deeply.

An incomplete art!

No wonder... He knew Zuo Qiuming hadn't done it intentionally. If he were True Monarch Nine Evils, he wouldn't have handed over the original either. Moreover, ancient demonic texts were inherently obscure and contained mysterious power.

Therefore, 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 self-deprecating laugh.

"What was I thinking..."

Even if it was an incomplete art, the placement slot could complete it once mastered. Acquiring his desired secret art was already a stroke of luck; there was no need to strive for perfection.

It was merely an unexpected pleasant surprise. "What is gained is my fortune; what is lost is my fate."

A few minor flaws were not fatal. There was no need to dwell on every detail and insist on perfection. Sometimes, taking a step back allows one to see the true blue sky.

"I was getting bogged down in minor details."

Ten years was neither a long nor a short time, yet it was the longest duration among all the arts and secret arts he had placed. He also didn't know how much longer it would take to fully complete it.

Wang Yu estimated that by then he would likely be nearing Foundation Establishment, making it a perfect transition.

As for the Corpse Demon Secret Art... this secret art required twenty years to complete. He had cultivated it for approximately five years and five months, meaning over fourteen years remained.

There was no rush; he could place it in a slot later once one became available.

The cultivation of the Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Incantation yielded stranger feedback than any previous cultivation. This was because the placement produced a peculiar power called "Heavenly Demon Malice."

According to the secret art's description, this power was sustenance for extraterrestrial beings like Heavenly Demons, much like spiritual energy is vital to cultivators.

Periodically, in addition to the insights and experiences accumulating in his mind,

Wang Yu could feel waves of black ripples spreading throughout his entire body, originating from his glabella.

His physical body vibrated like water, as a subtle transformation, reaching deep into his very particles, began. This was the foundational stage for the demonic embryo's formation.

"A semi-transformative type..."

"Come to think of it, why do all the secret arts I cultivate involve this kind of modification, leading me further and further from what's considered normal?"

He let out a soft sigh, and the cultivation within the room settled into a calm rhythm.

As time passed.

Wang Yu spent four months fully mastering the Twelve Flame Spirit Seals, followed by another three months to successfully master the Flame Spitting Art.

He encountered no trouble along the way, and True Disciple Su did not summon him. Wang Yu speculated that perhaps True Disciple Su had abandoned his proposed delay plan and had other intentions.

As a result,

He would completely lose his means of understanding the deeper struggles within Cold Blood Peak. This was not a good development, especially since Wei Zhong held a grudge against him.

But aside from mentally cursing True Disciple Su as an incompetent ally, he had no other recourse. He could only focus on his cultivation to further enhance his strength.

Thus, the vacant Slot 4 was filled with the body tempering technique, Flood Dragon Strength!

Slot 4: Flood Dragon Strength."Flood Dragon Strength (0/100): Twenty-four practices per day, achievable in one year."

Its level was consistent with the Cold Blood Art, and the time required to master it was also the same. However, the Cold Blood Art originally required forty-eight practices per day, whereas the Flood Dragon Strength only needed twenty-four.

The number of practices was halved, yet the completion time remained the same. The implication was self-evident.

His comprehension had improved.

Strictly speaking, it was acquired comprehension, which refers to how cultivators with profound cultivation naturally enhance their thought processes and comprehension through extensive experience and learning.

This improvement, gained through acquired experience, learning, and understanding, was considered acquired comprehension; it merely lacked a touch of innate spiritual insight.

Of course, it was also possible that he was mistaken.

This would become clear in due time.

Over these past seven months, he hadn't achieved the desired outcome, and the matter of the Alchemist Guild had gradually settled down. Wang Yu formed a new plan: he wanted to leave the sect again.

This trip would be different from his previous journey to Xuan Bone Mountain.

Last time was to avert disaster, and by a twist of fate, so many events unfolded, including the death of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Nevertheless, the overall outcome was favorable.

This time, it was because his "incompetent ally" didn't trust him, or rather, possessed too strong a will and relied excessively on his own judgment.

Considering his interactions with True Disciple Su, Wang Yu could discern that he was an aggressive individual.

The first time, he lost an arm due to impulsive risk-taking, was defeated by Duan Fatty's withdrawal, and suffered from a lack of high-level information. Yet, ironically, this brought him into True Disciple Su's direct attention.