Celestial Demon Starting from Attribute Points-Chapter 34: Worshipping the Demon Seed in the Temple of Five Viscera
Qing River Transport Gang, Library Pavilion.
Two Grandmaster cultivation techniques, with quite thick paper pages.
Li Xuan suddenly realized why Gang Leader Lin so easily agreed to let him read the books.
The reason was simple: these Grandmaster cultivation techniques were filled with numerous illustrations and texts. To comprehend them, one must read them dozens of times; simply reviewing the diagrams without serious practice wouldn’t allow entry into their secrets. How could a single read be enough?
Besides, Grandmaster cultivation techniques have extremely stringent requirements for innate talent, and without a teacher’s guidance, who knows if one could even succeed in cultivating them? At least, not many in the Transport Gang could cultivate these techniques.
Once Li Xuan truly wants to learn, he would inevitably return to the Transport Gang frequently.
In this way... the Transport Gang essentially exchanged the right to access a "Grandmaster cultivation technique" for a promising friend.
This deal, completely worthwhile.
Li Xuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: It’s truly all about mindfulness and human relationships.
Now, speaking of these two Grandmaster cultivation techniques.
One is called "Love-Soul Departing Hooks," which happens to be the technique Lin Jieniu cultivates.
The other is called "Evergreen Unwithering Skill," which seems like a method for advancing one’s physique.
"Which one does Sister Zuo recommend?" Li Xuan asked with a smile.
Zuo Hong softly replied, "The ’Evergreen Unwithering Skill.’"
Looking around to see no one was present, she added in a low voice, "Everyone is watching what technique you train in, young master.
Moreover, without a mindset akin to madness, how could one achieve the ’Love-Soul Departing Hooks’?
Conversely, ’Evergreen Unwithering Skill’ is balanced and harmonious, that’s the treasured technique of our Transport Gang."
Li Xuan nodded and said, "I will practice this ’Evergreen Unwithering Skill,’ but I am also curious about the ’Love-Soul Departing Hooks.’ Could I have a look at it?"
Zuo Hong said, "Please go ahead and read it, young master. If anyone asks, I’ll just say you never touched this book."
She was just offering a small favor.
After all, what’s the harm in a quick glance, even if it lasts a whole day?
Li Xuan expressed his thanks and then quickly flipped through the ’Love-Soul Departing Hooks,’ inspecting even the foundational diagrams carefully, directly "copying and pasting" them into his mind, forcing himself to remember.
Afterward, he put it aside, saying with slight disdain, "This kind of cultivation technique, indeed obsessed and not following the gentleman’s path of moderation."
Zuo Hong laughed, "I knew you wouldn’t fancy such a technique, young master."
Later, Li Xuan also copied the ’Evergreen Unwithering Skill’ into his mind, then stayed for a while longer in the Transport Gang’s Library Pavilion, before leaving with a hint of bitterness, asking Zuo Hong, "Sister Zuo, after reviewing, I found the gains hardly one-tenth; can I come back next time?"
Zuo Hong laughed and said, "You are such a smart person, don’t you realize the Transport Gang is looking to befriend you? Just come directly."
This statement directly confirmed Li Xuan’s suspicions.
He smiled, gave a courtesy, and then parted ways with Zuo Hong in the forest outside the fort gate, boarding Wei Yao’s carriage.
...
In spring, in the woods, insects murmured quietly.
In the distance, the Qing River’s waters beat against the great embankment.
Thus, the inside of the carriage seemed all the quieter.
Wei Yao wordlessly whipped the reins, the wheels turning, traveled several miles to a secluded spot, and suddenly stopped.
She sighed softly and began, "Actually..."
Li Xuan said, "Are you finally willing to speak?"
Wei Yao gritted her teeth and said, "Yes.
That day, I was invaded by demon blood. I thought death was near, hopeless, lying sick on my bed awaiting death.
But unexpectedly, I underwent an unusual change.
Upon later reflection, the change was probably...
She paused briefly and then continued slowly, "The invasion of demon blood, murderous aura cleansing the soul, shedding the skin anew, and being reborn anew. The extreme nature returns to the foundation of the cultivation technique, manifesting... Secret Martial Arts."
In the carriage, Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then asked, "So your extremity means not approaching me?"
Wei Yao took a deep breath and said, "Yes."
Li Xuan asked incredulously, "Why?"
Wei Yao replied, "Because I am extreme.
The greed in my heart is too intense.
If I became your wife, it would be like adding fuel to the fire, and the flames of desire would burn even more fiercely.
By that time... my possessiveness would become terrifyingly intense, and I wouldn’t be able to resist wanting to kill your other women; I might even be unable to stop myself from killing any woman who speaks to you.
I would desperately try to please you in twisted ways, be concerned about even your smallest displeasure, kill any woman who looks at you with interest.
Just like Lin Jieniu.
In fact, Lin Jieniu is more skillful than I am. In a real fight, I am no match for him.
This is because he deliberately nurtures his extreme nature.
The more twisted the mind, the more potent the Secret Martial Arts manifested, and the stronger it is.
This... is the price of Secret Martial Arts."
Li Xuan froze for a moment. He finally understood why Wei Yao, who clearly cared for him, always kept a distance from him; he also understood why Wei Yao refused to marry him, only willing to be his maid. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
This was indeed for his own good.
His voice softened significantly, "You mentioned returning to the foundation of the cultivation technique to manifest Secret Martial Arts, what does that mean?"
Wei Yao explained, "A butcher slaughters pigs, a killer slaughters people. The more they kill, the more intense their murderous aura becomes. Even when they confront others, they can usually suppress them with their murderous aura, causing fear.
Has the butcher’s, the killer’s power grown stronger?
No, it hasn’t.
It’s because they are filled with a killing aura and can skillfully harness it.
But what is the killing aura?
"Isn’t this a kind of spiritual power that manifests from within, subsequently influencing one’s actions?"
"The magic blood invades my body, changing my body and mind. I can feel a latent spiritual power leaping within me.
It’s like a dark idol without a face placed in the temple of my organs.
The more offerings I present, the stronger the spiritual power becomes.
Under the distortion of this overwhelming spiritual power, the cultivation technique I practice becomes ’unrecognizable’, particularly reflected in the fundamental chart."
"The chart is still the same, but... what I see far surpasses its original meaning."
Li Xuan asked, "Is the dark idol worshipped in the temple yourself?"
Wei Yao turned her head and said softly, "Yes, I can’t see its face, but I know... it is myself.
People have reason, emotion, and desire.
The dark idol represents only desire after stripping away reason and emotion."
Li Xuan said, "Reason and emotion are acquired later. Only desire is innate.
Desire... is the most terrifying power within the human heart."
Wei Yao said, "And my desire is you.
I didn’t want to tell you because I’m afraid that once you know the truth, you’ll dislike me and distance yourself from me.
Thus, silently guarding by your side, for both you and me, is the best choice."
Li Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Wouldn’t you not be able to advance your secret martial arts if you don’t obtain me?"
Wei Yao shook her head and said, "While yielding to desire might grant powerful spiritual power, resisting desire might not be without merit. In this lifetime, all I need is to stay by your side, quietly watching you."
She didn’t know why it turned out like this, perhaps it was the desperate rescue, perhaps it was their skin touching, or perhaps it was the scattered memories turning Li Xuan into her sole kin in her heart.
Li Xuan propped his elbow and rubbed his forehead gently.
’Is this what secret martial arts are?’
’The magic power embedded within the magic blood stimulates the martial artist, causing them to generate a certain intense spiritual power. I might as well call it a magic seed.’
’Once the magic seed is born, the way the person views the world changes dramatically, and the cultivation techniques they have mastered will naturally become different. And that is secret martial arts.’
’Yield to desire, nourish the magic seed, then... this spiritual power becomes stronger, and the secret technique becomes more complete and powerful.’
He squinted his eyes, lowered his head, and continued to ponder.
’Since Mr. Su has long known about the existence of secret martial arts, why did he only nurture Lin Jieniu as a secret martial arts practitioner? Couldn’t he nurture more of them?’
’Hmm... There must be certain limitations within this.’
’It’s highly possible that Wei Yao stumbled upon it by accident, thus smoothly becoming a secret martial arts practitioner.’
’But in fact, wanting to become a secret martial arts practitioner is not that easy.’
’What exactly is Mr. Su doing by nurturing Lin Jieniu? Is it to uphold righteous intentions to fight against demons, or is there some other purpose?’
’Wait...’
Li Xuan suddenly thought of something and asked, "Xiaoyao, I’ve never asked, what level is the spear technique you practice?"
Wei Yao replied, "The ’Six Harmonies Phoenix Spear’, I am... a disciple of the Gun King lineage, only that I am the last of my lineage."
Li Xuan didn’t know what Gun King Wei meant, but since it was attached with the word ’King’, then...
"So you’re actually practicing a grandmaster cultivation technique."
Wei Yao replied, "Yes."
Li Xuan suddenly understood.
Firstly...
One of the entrance criteria for becoming a secret martial arts practitioner might be reaching a certain level of mastery in grandmaster cultivation techniques and proficiently grasping its fundamental chart.
But trying to change innate talent is extremely difficult.
Take the ’Melted Copper Treasure Manual’, without an average innate talent of "agility 10", practicing it is impossible, and if the innate talent ceiling isn’t "agility 16", achieving great perfection is out of reach.
Yet, how many people in this world meet these conditions?
Besides, proficiently mastering the essential chart of grandmaster technique requires no small amount of fortune.
Secondly...
Magic blood contains Demon Points.
Demon Points must be acquired by absorbing a certain power.
And this kind of power is surely limited.
Therefore, the number of secret martial arts practitioners that a demon beast can produce is also limited.
Thirdly...
Everyone’s bearing capacity is different.
During the transformation into a secret martial arts practitioner, there should be a mortality rate.
For instance, Wei Yao, if she couldn’t endure, she might have died.
If a person dies, naturally there is no secret martial arts.
"This is interesting."
Li Xuan murmured to himself.
Upon careful thought, he now possesses three grandmaster cultivation techniques.
Among them, the ’Melted Copper Treasure Manual’ is already perfected.
The ’Love-Soul Departing Hooks’ is also a grandmaster technique requiring agility, and can thus be practiced.
The ’Evergreen Unwithering Skill’, although inclined towards physique, his physique talent ceiling is 30, so it can also be perfected now.
As for the magic blood...
Li Xuan plans to bleed himself, to see if it can aid in glimpsing secret martial arts.
Thinking about cultivation techniques in this world, it seems that grandmaster techniques are the pinnacle, and wanting to go further can only rely on secret martial arts.
