Chapter 173: Chapter 156: Moonlight Heart Seal and Evil Absorption Seal!

Gu Yuan looked at the Dao Image in front of him with a solemn expression.

"Boom!"

The mana inside the Dao Image kept growing, and finally, with a loud crash, it directly broke through the bottleneck of the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment and reached the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.

The mana surged endlessly, but at the same time, the overwhelming Demon Qi also spread out. The Dao Image’s hair turned silver-white, its back showed menacing bone spikes, its skin became covered in jade-like armor, and its fingers elongated, nails sharp, transforming completely into the form of a half-demon.

"Swish!"

The Inference Technique on the Dao Image continued, the Dharma Pill kept absorbing Taiyin Moonlight, and the mana continued to grow, while the Demon Qi kept pouring out. Eventually, the body of the Dao Image grew larger, its face grew fierce, its muscles coiled, almost becoming a Demon Body, with its human form nearly obliterated.

"Bang!"

As time passed, the Spiritual Light within the Dao Image kept extinguishing until it finally shattered with a loud noise, vanishing into ashes, and all anomalies disappeared.

"It truly is a bizarre Dharma Gate. Although the cultivation speed is extremely fast, the hidden dangers are indeed quite significant..."

Watching the scene that had just unfolded, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

"However, it’s not without its merits."

After the shock, Gu Yuan regained his calm, constantly recalling and pondering over the anomalies during the Inference Technique.

"Although this technique is strange and changes the form, it does not erode the mind or Divine Sense at all. It is not an Evil Technique or Demon Technique. It is just that the cultivation speed of the Dharma Pill is too swift, far exceeding that of self-cultivation, causing the Demon Qi to become uncontrollable and break the balance, leading to the abnormal transformation of the physical form..."

Gu Yuan examined the test on the Six Ren Golden Book of Alchemy very carefully, and his Divine Sense speculated deeply. On first glance, the Dharma Pill transforming a human into a Demon Body appeared quite enigmatic, but its essence was not a demon work. Truly considering it, it should count as a side effect.

"The key is that the cultivation speed of the Dharma Pill is astonishingly swift. Even with just the One Ren Pill, it can amplify the cultivation speed by more than double..."

This is what most attracts Gu Yuan.

With the Dharma Pill, one could save countless labor and pills, conserving decades of time.

This is crucial for cultivation.

"Perhaps because the cultivation is too swift and not like the Profound Sect True Technique, it causes this side effect, transforming into a Demon Body..."

Gu Yuan kept pondering in his heart, silently pondering.

The side effects of the Dharma Pill are obvious, but not entirely unacceptable.

"If somehow, the Demon Qi within the Dharma Pill can be removed, or if the cultivation speed can be slowed down, I wonder if it can prevent the mutation?"

With just the One Ren Pill having this cultivation speed, what progress would there be if all Six Ren were activated?

No wonder the Golden Register described, ’Achieving Great Success with Six Ren could achieve True Pill, and Golden Core could be obtained!’

With such speed, one could indeed glimpse into the Golden Core Realm.

And the price is merely losing one’s human form, transforming into a half-demon, half-human body.

Setting aside this side effect, this technique could truly be considered a unique cultivation Secret Technique, venturing a different path.

But Gu Yuan is unwilling to have his physical form mutated.

"In this case, there must be a way to improve this cultivation technique or to find other methods to remove the Demon Qi..."

However, given Gu Yuan’s current realm, improving the cultivation technique is almost impossible, only a way to expel the Demon Qi could offer a slender chance to cultivate this technique.

"Not only would a Dharma Gate be necessary to expel Demon Qi, but more Inference Daoist Statues must be obtained to thoroughly deduce, verify, and confirm its safety before cultivation..."

Gu Yuan pondered hard for a long time, yet still felt the matter was extremely difficult.

"Changing cultivation qualifications is truly not easy..."

Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh, shook his head slightly, and then started cultivating again without further pondering.

Empty contemplation is useless, better to visit the Market tomorrow and take a stroll.

...

...

A silent night passed.

After a day of cultivation, Gu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, sensing the mana within him had almost no change, he couldn’t help but sigh.

After simple grooming, Gu Yuan, led by Xiang Di, continued to stroll around the Market.

Although he attended the Myriad Phenomena Assembly yesterday, it was nothing more than an auction of premium items. The real Market was all-encompassing, with many places w+to explore.

"Senior, this is the ’Thousand Laws Hall,’ the largest place for Technique sales in the Market. In the Ten Thousand Islands Sea, there are countless desperadoes, and many Tribulation Cultivators, rebel disciples from the Western Sea Realm, and sole survivors from various Sects gather here. The Techniques here are said to be more comprehensive than those in the Western Sea Realm, with many Secret Techniques hard to find outside available for sale here."

"Across is the ’Profound Realm Pavilion,’ which also holds many Secret Techniques. Besides these two places, there are many Loose Cultivators’ stalls. Sometimes one might find some peculiar Dharma Gates. If the senior wishes to search for Techniques, this place is worth exploring."

Xiang Di introduced enthusiastically to Gu Yuan, as if he knew every detail.

Looking at the bustling and extravagant Market, Gu Yuan nodded gently, then handed Xiang Di ten Spirit Stones before sending him away.

Although he did not fear the methods of Tribulation Cultivators and knew it was hard to hide one’s purchases in such a Market, he still took cautious measures, intending to wander on his own.

...

Thousand Laws Hall was a grand hall, towering dozens of meters high, magnificent and impressive, filled with Qi Refining young maidens coming and going, charming and attractive.

As soon as Gu Yuan stepped into the hall, he was sensed by the Foundation Establishment Cultivator inside, a portly elder dressed in silk came up with a pleasant smile.

"Please take a seat, Fellow Daoist!"

In the Ten Thousand Islands Sea, Golden Cores are not visible, Foundation Establishment Cultivators are already prominent figures. Even with constant battles and Foundation Establishment Cultivators frequently falling, one can still enjoy a good treatment wherever they go.

Following the elder’s lead, Gu Yuan arrived at an elegant chamber on the third floor, where the two sat down, and maids served Spirit Tea for each.

"Please, Fellow Daoist!"

The elder said warmly.

"No need to be courteous!"

Gu Yuan did not drink the tea, only replied lightly.

Seeing this, the elder did not mind, just smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoist came today, what Technique are you seeking?"

Gu Yuan wasn’t secretive and directly asked, "Is there a Dharma Gate available to expel Demon Qi and prevent body erosion?"

"Expel Demon Qi to prevent body erosion?"

"Is it Earth Demons or regular Demon Beasts?"

The elder muttered twice in detail, then asked.

"Earth Demons."

Upon hearing this, the elder’s brows slightly furrowed but quickly took out three Jade Scrolls, floating in the air for Gu Yuan to see.

"The Ten Thousand Islands Sea often has Demon Beasts assaulting the Human Race. Some Demon Beasts are gifted, with Demon Qi alone capable of decay and mutating human bodies. Over the years, we at Thousand Laws Hall have collected many Dharma Gates to expel Demon Qi, but there are only three Gates applicable to the Earth Demon Realm."

"The first Gate is an Alchemy Technique, with a Spirit Pill named ’Demon-slaying Pill.’ Pill Power is like a sword, very fierce, capable of slashing and extinguishing all invading Demon Qi, highly effective, but the duration is brief, suitable for explosive symptoms caused by demonic invasion."

"The second Gate is called ’Moonlight Heart Seal,’ capable of invoking moonlight to extinguish all demonic energies, very harmonious and pure."

"The third Gate is named ’Evil Absorption Seal,’ which can refine a seal to devour Demon Qi and evil energies. Not only can it absorb all invading Demon Qi but also becomes a means to combat enemies, very mysterious."

"These three Gates are meticulously selected by our Thousand Laws Hall. Which Dharma Gate does Fellow Daoist wish for?"

"I want the methods for refining both of these seals!"

Demon Qi invading the body is not a one-day task; as long as one cultivates the Six Ren Golden Book of Alchemy, it inevitably generates an ongoing flow of Demon Qi, so the pill method certainly won’t suffice. Only the latter two seals might expel the Demon Qi.

However, merely possessing two methods remains insufficient, and without testing the Dharma Gates, Gu Yuan dares not cultivate them.

Methods must be found to obtain more Inference Daoist Statues.

The most crucial issue is, after purchasing those two Seal refining methods, Gu Yuan’s purse is nearly empty...

No money, and one cannot take a step.

Sometime later, Gu Yuan left the Thousand Laws Hall with the refining methods for the two seals.

Looking at the bustling Market and his own deflated Storage Bag, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh, feeling rather helpless.

"It seems I can only return to my old profession..."