Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 202 - 167: Ten Years (Part 2)

Inside the Cangjiang Water Mansion:

"Chirp chirp..."

A demon fish with a swollen head and bulging eyes let out strange cries, struggling violently.

It hadn't struggled for long before its eyes suddenly burst open, its entire body convulsed, and it directly turned into a pool of pus, dead and gone.

"..."

Zhang Yao's expression was somber as he slowly withdrew his magical power, feeling extremely frustrated.

For a full ten years of experiments, he had harmed countless demon races in the Cangjiang Water Vein, yet he had never succeeded.

Thousands of attempts resulted in failure time after time. To this day, the process to enhance the demon race bloodline was still stuck at the final step—

No matter how smoothly the Primordial Energy fused, once the bloodline catalysis began, a mutation was inevitable.

"Alas..."

Zhang Yao sighed deeply, a hint of fatigue showing on his face.

"To this day, I haven't found a way to reverse the flesh and blood mutation."

"It's unexpected, in the end, all the effort was in vain, wasting more than ten years..."

During these years of experiments, he had tried all the methods he could think of, but all failed.

Ultimately, he had no choice but to admit:

With his current level of knowledge, insight, and methods, forcibly enhancing the bloodline level was impossible.

This meant that the bloodline experiments had to be temporarily halted, perhaps to be resumed in the future when his cultivation level was higher, his power stronger, and his accumulated knowledge more abundant.

"However, at least it wasn't all for nothing."

Zhang Yao barely comforted himself with a phrase:

"Lose the east corner, gain the mulberry elm."

The failure of the bloodline experiment meant his plan to create Foundation Establishment Demon Blood himself was no longer feasible.

However, the lengthy experimental process brought an unexpected benefit:

During the experiments, he gained a deep understanding and mastery of the nature of Primordial and Essence Qi, their operational principles, and the mysteries of bloodline inheritance, and incidentally developed a completely new Daoist Technique—the Blood Decay Skill.

The Blood Decay Skill, simply put, is a Daoist Technique that actively induces flesh and blood mutation through the transition and fusion of Primordial Energy.

This technique, much like the 'Unity and Destiny Curse,' is virtually indefensible, and when the two are used together, they can work wonders, enough to deceive the heavens.

"Association Leader!"

A respectful voice came from outside the cave dwelling's entrance:

"It's almost time, I'm here to remind you that it's time to set off for Qian Province."

"Alright."

Zhang Yao responded, conveying with his Divine Thought:

"Tell Old Peng and the others to wait a moment, I'll be there shortly."

Ten years later, the Haihe Association had added two new Foundation Establishment members.

One was a Loose Cultivator recruited externally, known for his diligence; the other was an internal backbone cultivated from within, who had earned the opportunity to ingest a Foundation Establishment Pill through internal competition, successfully advancing to become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Whoosh!"

Zhang Yao took a deep breath, slowly regulating his Magical Power Mechanism before turning and heading towards the entrance of the cave dwelling.

A decade of unceasing hard cultivation had greatly advanced his magical power cultivation, and now he was not far from the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, needing only another three years at most to break through.

"The bloodline experiment failed, and those Qi Refining Perfection demons in the Cang River show no signs of breaking through either."

In his heart, Zhang Yao continuously calculated:

"It seems the hope of gathering the last type of True Blood will have to rest on the grand auction..."

......

Several days later.

Zhang Yao led many Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Haihe Association back to the headquarters of the Celestial Treasure Tower.

The three hundred and twenty-fifth floor:

As Zhang Yao went to pay respects to Lord Haihe, he noticed his aura had become unfathomable, causing him a momentary surprise, and then he realized.

"Congratulations, Lord, on reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection."

Zhang Yao sincerely congratulated him:

"Now, Lord, you are but a step away from the Golden Core Realm!"

Lord Haihe smiled and waved his hand, saying:

"What one step away, it's still far off."

"I've just reached Foundation Establishment Perfection. To charge towards the Golden Core Realm, I still need at least twenty to thirty years of honing."

He paused for a moment before continuing:

"Actually, I haven't been long in this realm. I should be continuing to cultivate in seclusion at the mountain gate, consolidating my realm."

"This time I've come mainly to fulfill my master's command to urge Yu Wen Tai to fulfill his promise and personally refine the 'Qianyuan Solidification Pill' for me."

When he said this, his tone was very calm, but one could still faintly hear the hint of reluctance.

"I see..."

Zhang Yao understood upon hearing this, deeply comprehending Lord Haihe's feelings.

The Qianyuan Solidification Pill is a third-grade spirit pill, invaluable, and within the entire Da Li, only Yu Wen Tai can refine it, which is of tremendous help in achieving the Golden Core.

But Yu Wen Tai happens to be his enemy, in fairness, he really doesn't want this spirit pill, but unfortunately, he has no choice.

If he wants revenge, he must achieve the Golden Core Realm, and this 'Qianyuan Solidification Pill' is an indispensable treasure.

"Qingxu, just as you are here as well."

Lord Haihe looked at him with a touch of earnestness:

"Why don't you accompany me to meet Yu Wen Tai?"

"I hope you understand, I really do not want to face Yu Wen Tai alone..."

"This..."

Zhang Yao hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and said:

"Alright then, I'll accompany Lord to see him."

He also had some grudges with Yu Wen Tai, but not serious.

The sides haven't torn their relationship beyond repair yet; he wasn't worried Yu Wen Tai would suddenly lose his mind and attack him and Lord Haihe.

"Good, thank you."

Lord Haihe showed a slight expression of gratitude upon hearing this.

The two tidied themselves briefly, then got up and left the room, walking through the corridors.

As Zhang Yao and Lord Haihe walked and chatted, they quickly talked about the battle at Celestial Yin Mountain ten years ago.

"...Actually, I know a little about the insider story."

Lord Haihe said, switching to quiet voice transmission:

"Back then, those who made a move at Celestial Yin Mountain were my master Wanchuan Ancestor and 'True Yang Ancestor' of Lingyang Sect."

"The two were fighting deep within Celestial Yin Mountain over a treasure."

Zhang Yao heard this, a movement in his heart, and responded in kind with voice transmission:

"Then who won in the end?"

Lord Haihe's face showed a faint expression of pride:

"Of course, my master won."

"The two fought for half an hour, ultimately True Yang Ancestor couldn't resist my master's Divine Techniques and retreated."

Saying this, a hint of disgust appeared in his eyes:

"The matter itself was actually stirred up by a former Pingdu Remnant, who betrayed his sect for wealth and glory."

"This person is also attending this grand auction, when you meet him, just ignore him, for he is nothing but a petty villain."

Zhang Yao's expression subtly changed, and he nodded:

"I understand."

"But a Pingdu Remnant betraying fellow sect members, yet causing a battle between two Golden Core Ancestors, did he play both sides?"

Lord Haihe let out a cold hmph, his Divine Thought transmitted this:

"For a mere Pingdu Remnant, trying to toy with two Golden Cores, he would have long been crushed to ashes."

"In reality, there were people in his adversary's house who shared his thoughts, seizing the chance when the grand auction opened and many Southwest Foundation Establishments flooded the Da Li Territory, they crossed the border into Da Li."

"But different decisions were made; one chose my Fuhai Sect, and the other chose the Lingyang Sect."

"I see..."

Only upon hearing this did Zhang Yao realize the truth.

In the end, it wasn't a single traitor, but simultaneous traitors from both the Dongge Sect and Xige Sect that led to the outbreak of the Celestial Yin Mountain battle.

The two continued speaking and soon arrived at another area on the floor.

After Lord Haihe explained the situation, the Foundation Establishment Chief responsible for this floor promptly reported to their superiors, and soon received a response.

"Lord Haihe, Lord Qingxu."

The Foundation Establishment Chief's face now bore a respectful expression:

"The Tower Master is aware of your visit and is waiting for you on the top floor."