Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 19: Skinning

“You really want to learn these divine abilities?”

Seeing Lü Yang’s eager expression, Wang Borong was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but say, “Junior Brother, in the Immortal Path, cultivation realm always comes first. You must distinguish between primary and secondary priorities.”

In his view, Lü Yang had already earned so many contribution points at such a young age.

In the future, even if he didn't reach Foundation Establishment, achieving the peak of Qi Refining was still very hopeful. So why practice those divine abilities with significant side effects? Even if one's combat power reached the heavens, what would it matter? In the end, when lifespan ends, one still turns to dust.

“Life is short; don't mislead yourself.”

Speaking of this, Wang Borong showed a sorrowful expression: “You're still young and don't understand this principle. Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns.”

“You're now in your prime, but what about ten years later? Twenty years later?”

“Making this choice today may seem gratifying, but the drawbacks might only become apparent decades later. By then, there's no medicine for regret.”

Before he finished speaking, Wang Borong seemed to fall into memories again. After a while, he sighed: “You don't know, when I was young, I was quite prominent in the Primordial Saint Sect. But just one misstep led to a lifetime of stagnation. Every time I think about it, I feel unbearable pain.”

As he spoke, Wang Borong's eyes turned red.

Under the influence of alcohol, he simply pulled Lü Yang and began recounting his glorious past.

Actually, it wasn't much—just that he didn't understand the importance of true Qi grades when he was young. He accidentally obtained a cultivation method below grade seven and started practicing it.

As a result, the true Qi grade was too low, making Foundation Establishment hopeless for life, and even achieving the peak of Qi Refining was difficult.

Over the decades, with half his body buried in the yellow earth, his former fellow disciples and admired women had all extended their lifespans and remained youthful to this day.

How regretful and heartbreaking that must be. But who can live life over again?

“What? I can live again? Then it's fine.”

Seeing Wang Borong pass out drunk, Lü Yang finally stood up and, following Wang Borong's description, found the book Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light.

Undeniably, this was indeed a demonic cultivation method.

Lü Yang exchanged for it, his expression solemn: “Quick to achieve, significant side effects, high risk—it possesses almost all the characteristics of the demonic path.”

To master this divine ability, one must first select a magical tool, then use it to skin oneself alive, and then refine it with secret methods.

After eighty-one days, one can create a blood-transforming treasure light attached to the magical tool. Ordinary cultivators would be injured upon contact and die upon touch.

“At the same time, I myself will become a blood shadow dependent on the magical tool.”

“If the magical tool remains intact, the blood shadow does not perish.”

“The side effect is halving of lifespan. Moreover, after becoming a blood shadow, one no longer has a human body, only a human form, so cultivation will no longer progress.”

“Good, it truly suits me!”

Lü Yang's eyes brightened, and he immediately decided to practice this divine ability.

During the practice, he discovered that this divine ability actually had another version, seemingly modified and optimized by a great cultivator.

“After all, this divine ability is indeed extraordinary.”

“The modified version doesn't require the practitioner to skin themselves and perform a blood sacrifice but instead has the practitioner perform a blood sacrifice on their own siblings or descendants.”

“In this way, one can still refine this divine ability. However, since the resulting blood shadow isn't the practitioner themselves, it's difficult to control freely, posing a risk of backlash. But I'm different. Whether in this life or the next, the blood shadow will only be myself!”

A few days later, Lü Yang left the Library Pavilion.

In addition, he purchased the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula in full, so he could use it openly in the future.

The next day, the “cultivation method” was delivered.

“Demonic cultivator!”

Looking at Yun Miaoqing, who was holding her magical sword tightly against her neck and staring at him defiantly, Lü Yang suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.

But he quickly put it out of his mind.

“Sorry, I need the method and experience for refining a sword pill.”

“What? How do you know... Wait, you...!”

Familiarity breeds ease.

Relying on his familiarity with Yun Miaoqing, Lü Yang went all out and quickly extracted the necessary knowledge and experience from her.

Pulling up his pants, Lü Yang turned and left.

This time, he went to “Myriad Treasures Peak,” the mountain corresponding to the Outer Sect's Treasure Refinement Hall and one of the Inner Sect's Four Peaks. Most of the sect's magical tools came from here.

“I want to rent a ground fire furnace.”

At the front desk, Lü Yang directly stated his request.

After providing sufficient contribution points, he was invited into the highest-grade furnace room within a quarter of an hour.

After thorough preparation, he took out the materials.

Three taels of refined gold, three taels of jade marrow, two taels of cinnabar, and two taels of sword Qi. Then he performed a hand seal to draw intense fire from the earth's core and placed everything into the furnace!

“Although most sword pills in the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion are refined by senior members, that's in the righteous path, where there's no need to worry about sabotage. This is the Primordial Saint Sect. Rather than relying on the morality of the refiner, I'd better do it myself, even if it means trying several times.”

Each set of materials cost 2,000 contribution points.

Lü Yang had earned a total of 10,000 contribution points.

After purchasing divine abilities and cultivation methods and repaying debts, he could only afford three sets of materials for refining sword pills.

“If all three attempts fail, then I'll try again in the next life!”

With this thought, Lü Yang began meticulously refining the materials, strictly following the methods and experiences extracted from Yun Miaoqing, controlling the ground fire carefully.

Refined gold merged with jade marrow, cinnabar combined with sword Qi.

Gradually, a pill appeared in Lü Yang's spiritual sense. However, before he could rejoice, the pill suddenly trembled in place.

“Boom!”

It exploded.

One set of materials was wasted. Lü Yang calmly waved his sleeve to sweep away the remnants and silently summarized the experience: “My steps should be correct.”

“The problem lies in the final step.”

Lü Yang reviewed Yun Miaoqing’s memories, and understanding gradually surfaced in his eyes:

“To refine a sword pill, the sword and the heart must be one. But I’ve only been cultivating the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula for a short time. Clearly, my sword cultivation realm is lacking.”

Logically speaking, this was a hard requirement that could only be slowly honed.

But that was from the perspective of the righteous path, which emphasizes gradual progress and rarely uses methods that seek quick success at the expense of morality.

However, the demonic path didn’t adhere to such principles.

“Sword and heart as one—ultimately, it’s about control over the sword pill. If that’s the case, cultivating Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light alongside should have the same effect!”

“Maybe even better!”

After all, the Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light was a technique that used one’s body to sacrifice for the tool.

Once mastered, one would practically merge with the magical tool, achieving a level of synchronization far beyond so-called sword and heart unity.

“But if I want to do this, I can’t use the anesthetic I had prepared.”

Refining a sword pill was a meticulous task. If he dulled his senses with medication, a split-second delay during refinement could easily lead to failure.

So he had to remain fully conscious throughout.

“This is the demonic path—we must be ruthless with ourselves. Otherwise, how can we be considered a talent?”

Thinking of this, a cold gleam flashed in Lü Yang’s eyes.

Moments later, he sat cross-legged before the ground fire furnace, stuffed a rag into his mouth, and once the sword pill formed again, directed sword Qi toward himself—