A Cultivator at the Early Stage of Corpse Transformation was actually able to summon an Evil Spirit that was at least at the Late Stage of Corpse Transformation.

The sight was truly unbelievable.

'Isn't he afraid of a backlash from the Evil Spirit?'

Yang An froze for a moment, growing even more puzzled.

'A Cultivation Level at the Early Stage of Corpse Transformation can't possibly suppress a more powerful Evil Spirit.'

And that wasn't the only thing that puzzled Yang An. He didn't just sense the aura of a Cultivation Level from the Evil Spirit; he also detected a dense aura of a Technique. It seemed far from ordinary.

It felt as if this Evil Spirit wasn't formed from a true physical body but was created by a Technique. It was just too realistic, not at all illusory.

When the disciple revealed this spectacle, the other disciples immediately applauded and praised him. Even Elder Zhuan Yu broke into a smile.

"Not bad! To have cultivated the Shell Nourishing Technique to such a degree... The shell's Cultivation Level has already surpassed your own by two Small Realms. Truly impressive."

Elder Zhuan Yu was not stingy with his praise.

Hearing Elder Zhuan Yu's praise, the disciple beamed with joy. He immediately withdrew the Technique and obediently stepped back.

However, a moment later, wisps of black energy began to emanate from the disciple's body, pouring madly from his every pore. A look of agony crossed his face, and he collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.

However, the others were already accustomed to this and paid him no mind. Instead, another person stepped forward, drawing everyone's attention.

He gave the same speech and performed the same actions as the one before him. The only difference was that this man used the sharp fingernail of his right hand to slice open the flesh of his left. As the skin split, he abruptly pulled a sharp dagger from within his own flesh and blood.

Yang An also sensed a Cultivation Level aura from the dagger, one on par with the disciple's own. His curiosity grew.

Soon, the next person stepped forward. The one who had just finished his demonstration returned to his spot and likewise began to suffer the backlash, uncontrollably starting to self-mutilate.

The third person was a woman. Her waterfall of black hair condensed, ultimately forming a monster with a body identical to her own. It stood opposite her, like a doppelgänger.

However, compared to the first two, the thing this female disciple summoned had a Cultivation Level that was actually a full Great Realm weaker than her own.

As the disciples stepped forward to demonstrate one by one, Yang An began to see the pattern.

Although the things the disciples demonstrated were all different, the underlying method was the same.

It reminded him of when he was back in Ten Directions City, where he had personally witnessed Elder Zhuan Yu pull a short sword from the bloody hole in his chest while facing the demonic calamity.

'If I'm not mistaken, the things these disciples are demonstrating must be similar to that short sword from Elder Zhuan Yu's chest. Perhaps it's the same Technique!'

'No way... Is he really teaching them his arts?'

Yang An was quite surprised. He suddenly felt a surge of curiosity about his new master.

As the disciples demonstrated one by one, it didn't take long for all forty-odd of them to finish.

It could be said that each person's creation was unique.

Some were bizarrely shaped creatures, some were weapons, some were body parts, and there were even some that Yang An couldn't identify.

After the last disciple finished his demonstration, Elder Zhuan Yu, in high spirits, actually drew more than ten bloody threads from the hole in his chest. He let them float in mid-air before awarding them to the most outstanding disciples.

"This Shell Nourishing Technique is the Ultimate Skill I used to make my name. You must all practice it diligently and not slack off."

After offering a word of encouragement, he dismissed them, leaving only Yang An behind.

"Do you understand what you saw?"

After everyone had left, only Elder Zhuan Yu and Yang An remained in the hall. Elder Zhuan Yu asked with a smile.

Yang An nodded. After a moment of thought, he blurted out:

"Using a technique to nourish another technique?"

"Heh, it's using a technique to nourish *all things*!"

Elder Zhuan Yu corrected.

"This is the Shell Nourishing Technique. It can nourish other techniques, people, objects—even an ordinary stone will do. Mastering this technique is equivalent to having double, or even greater, strength. Do you want to learn it?"

"...I do!"

Yang An nodded, unable to deny his truest desire.

'Something this good is right in front of me, and it offers a massive boost to my combat power. How could I possibly not learn it?'

However, since Elder Zhuan Yu had brought it up first, it probably wouldn't be so easy to obtain. There had to be a condition.

Sure enough, after Yang An nodded, Elder Zhuan Yu let out a hearty laugh.

"You can learn it, but first, you must promise your master one thing."

'It's never that simple.' A puzzled look appeared on Yang An's face. He wanted to know what Elder Zhuan Yu wanted from him, but he remained silent.

"This matter concerns the grand plan of our Golden Thread Pavilion. If you agree, I will teach you the Shell Nourishing Technique and also help you advance your Cultivation Level. If you reach the Zombie God realm in the future, I can even gift you a Middle Grade Forbidden Artifact Fragment. How about it?"

...

'This doesn't sound good.'

Yang An had originally thought Elder Zhuan Yu was just talking about the Shell Nourishing Technique. He never expected him to also promise a boost to his Cultivation Level and a Forbidden Artifact Fragment.

'The greater the reward, the more dangerous the task!'

"And if I don't accept, Master, what then?"

"Heh, you know... I'm a very reasonable person..."

"I agree!"

Yang An didn't even wait for Elder Zhuan Yu to finish before accepting without hesitation.

He had already experienced Elder Zhuan Yu's so-called "reasonableness" before. This was the second time he'd heard that phrase, and he didn't need to guess what the rest of the sentence would be.

"HAHAHA! As expected of the disciple I've chosen. You truly are quick-witted."

Elder Zhuan Yu roared with laughter.

"You can rest assured. Since you've become my disciple, I naturally won't let you face too much risk. If something were to happen to one of my disciples, I would be heartbroken."

"Please speak plainly, Master!"

Yang An said, his face expressionless.

This could be seen as a threat from Elder Zhuan Yu; after all, the difference in their strength was too vast for him to resist.

But it could also be seen as a transaction from which he stood to gain greatly. He still needed to hear the specifics, however—what was this task that only he could do, and did the rewards justify the risks?

So, upon hearing Yang An's words, Elder Zhuan Yu got straight to the point.

"Are you interested in taking a trip to the Great Virtue Temple?"

...

Yang An fell silent. The moment Elder Zhuan Yu spoke, he'd had a bad feeling, but the reality was still this unexpected.

At the same time, he finally understood why Elder Zhuan Yu had accepted him as a disciple.

'He must have seen it from my Buddha's Radiant Wheel and the Great Brightness Buddha Golden Zen Spell. Both of those techniques are related to the Great Virtue Temple.'

'So, he wants me to be a spy? And he decided this the very first time he saw me?'

"Well? If you don't want to go, that's fine too. After all, I am a very reasonable person."

Elder Zhuan Yu looked at Yang An, his smiling face eerily familiar.

Yang An even felt he could see a shadow of Elder Life Crane in this man.

"Is it just a trip?"

"In terms of time, I can't say for sure. Perhaps you can return when the Great Virtue Temple is no more. Or perhaps I'll have you come back sooner.

"However, if you are exposed, you might never come back at all."

...

"But if you agree to go, I can petition the Pavilion Master on your behalf for as much assistance as possible, which will certainly help mitigate your risk.

"If you can obtain valuable intelligence from within, it will all be to your credit in the future. The Golden Thread Pavilion can grant you anything you desire."

Elder Zhuan Yu seemed to be coaxing him patiently. It was only Yang An's first day as his disciple, yet he already couldn't hold back.

It was because he saw hope in Yang An—a perfect opportunity.

In truth, Yang An had no opportunity to refuse. Faced with the "reasonable" Elder Zhuan Yu, he seemed to have no choice but to agree.

Besides, he was currently inside the Golden Thread Pavilion, which was no ordinary place.

'It seems I can only agree for now. As for what happens next, I'll have to play it by ear.'

Helpless, Yang An could only nod.

"Excellent. However, I'm not sending you right now. I still need to discuss this with the Pavilion Master. You will be given some time to prepare.

"During this time, I will teach you the Shell Nourishing Technique and help you raise your Cultivation Level.

"Rest easy. I will certainly not harm you. This matter concerns the grand plan of our Golden Thread Pavilion. Someone has to do it, and you just happen to be the most suitable candidate."

While reassuring Yang An, Elder Zhuan Yu waved his hand. A cloud of black mist flew out, drifted quickly in front of Yang An, and finally condensed into a crystal-clear Jade Slab.

"This is the Shell Nourishing Technique, the main Technique I cultivate. Go and study it carefully. I can answer any questions you may have."

Then, he pointed a finger. Several streams of blood flew from the hole in his chest, continuously condensing and compressing in mid-air until they formed a pea-sized, blood-red bead. He gave this to Yang An as well.

"Swallow this Blood Qi Pill. It can help you condense Mana. As for how effective it is, that will depend on your own personal fortune."

Yang An put both items away. He didn't have time to examine them now and could only wait until later.

"One more thing. Until the Pavilion Master and I have reached a decision, you are not to leave the Golden Thread Pavilion. For now, just focus on your cultivation here. I will have someone look after your Sect, so you can rest easy."

Seeing Yang An put the items away, Elder Zhuan Yu nodded in satisfaction.