Chapter 705 509: Replacing Bones and Blood_2

Ju Wu saw that everyone was silent and quickly stepped forward awkwardly to explain,

"To perform witchcraft often requires some blood sacrifice, these are specifically cultivated... as... sacrifices."

Kongheng, having traveled far and wide in the south and north and seen much of the world, was used to such sights in the North. He closed his eyes tightly, a barely concealed anger visible on his face as he said in a deep voice,

"Livestock."

Li Xijun fell silent upon hearing this. The so-called livestock, akin to "rice meat" or "blood mince," were types of goods often made from cultivators, using a variety of spiritual objects and medicine stones to catalyze their transformation into this state.

"Judging by these appearances, all of Northern Shanyue's Qi Cultivation is gathered here."

Li Xijun added in a soft voice,

"So Northern Shanyue doesn't harvest Qi or resentment; instead, they use a human population to accumulate Qi Cultivation before following the path of Livestock…"

Xiao Yuansi took a look, said nothing, and gently lifted his sleeve, shaking out a medicine cauldron from it.

This cauldron was grey and white, looking quite sturdy. A grey wind rose from the cauldron, stirring up among the livestock, causing a wave of screams as flesh was flung about and white bones were laid bare. Chunks of flesh peeled off the pig-like faces, and eyeballs rolled to the ground.

In one breath, the wind stripped flesh from bone, in another, it turned everything into a puddle of blood, and in yet another, even the bones were blown to dust.

Xiao Yuansi then formed a spell, the blood water surged and flowed into the cauldron, swallowed clean, leaving the Jade Stone spotless and like new. There wasn't a single trace left, as if the field of livestock had never existed.

'Such a fine Magic Artifact...'

The brothers exchanged a glance. Kongheng sighed softly and said warmly,

"[Qi of the Upper Xun Wind]... superior skills, elder."

Xiao Yuansi shook his head as if he was preoccupied with heavy thoughts and continued to ascend the jade steps, only to discover a whole expanse of jade tablets along the cliff side.

The tablets were engraved with various sorcery, transformations, blood sacrifice, witchcraft, curses... Most required Qi, resentment, and sacrifices to cast and were on a Fetal Breathing and Qi Cultivation level, not of much use to those at the Foundation Establishment level.

Ju Wu quickly said,

"Duanmu Kui, on a whim over the past few centuries, has lectured on witchcraft six times in total, and all are engraved on these tablets."

Xiao Yuansi scrutinized each tablet carefully, committing everything to memory, while Li Xijun looked on casually, waiting for his family to come and document it. Looking around, he saw no sign of the spell Mu Mili had used earlier and asked a question about it.

Ju Wu replied,

"That green-faced ghost was a concoction of Mu Mili himself... a Foundation Establishment level official prayer spell, a transformation technique... He hid it very tightly, never deigning to teach it!"

It seemed that Ju Wu had also studied witchcraft in Witch Mountain and was full of resentment as he spoke,

"He obtained the Immortal Book, handling shamanistic techniques of Zifu Level with ease. Initially, he alone stood against Chi Wei, Zhang Tianyuan, and Qing Jifang, three people in battle. As for us, we didn't even have a basic witchcraft spell of the Foundation Establishment level!"

'The death of Duanmu Kui, leading to the Witch Mountain disciples turning to Green Pond overnight, is not without reason...'

Li Xijun listened intently, realizing that Duanmu Kui never truly saw the Witch Mountain disciples as his own, and the disciples had reached a consensus, harboring resentment in their hearts. If they hadn't been utterly incapable of opposing Duanmu Kui, it was quite possible that someone would have abandoned Witch Mountain for Green Pond even while Duanmu Kui was alive.

In the midst of this conversation, Xiao Yuansi had committed all the jade tablets to memory and stepped forward, speaking softly,

"'The Answer to the Beggar Under the Mulberry Tree' is likely a Dharma Tome of the Seventh Grade or higher, its equal found only in a few reclusive Cave Heavens or the Cultivation Techniques of Luoxia Mountain, not to mention its material quality is quite extraordinary."

Upon reaching the mountaintop, they saw a jade platform spanned before them, with many unevenly distributed jade pillars erected, each engraved with formation patterns that harnessed the spirit mechanism, appearing to be a place designed for cultivation.

These jade pillars were of varying heights, with the highest point featuring a jade throne, seemingly arranged according to the hierarchy of status. In the center lay a Jade Pool, its blood dried and turned into black stains, with a skeleton lying within, presenting a fierce and hideous sight.

Xiao Yuansi stopped in place, quickly approached the second tallest pillar and tapped on it sequentially a few times.

The jade pillar emitted beams of light, with each formation pattern lighting up one by one, and ejecting a slate. Xiao Yuansi gently caught it and lightly stroked it with his hand, wiping away the protective layer of Dharma Light.

Seeing the astonished looks of the others, Xiao Yuansi remained silent before soon opening his mouth to speak:

"Among the witches, there was one who was a good friend of my uncle Xiao Chuchou, known as Dili Tianshu, adept at the Talisman Path and also cultivating the Demonic Path, possessing great strength."

As he mentioned Xiao Chuchou, a complex expression of heartfelt pain flashed across his face. His fists involuntarily clenched, his breathing slightly intensified as he continued:

"A while ago, as his life was coming to an end, he planned to break through to the Zifu level and came searching for my family to entrust his affairs. Upon learning that my uncle had already passed away, he sought me out... His assault on the Zifu level likely would not have left him with his life, and having no children of his own, he left all his belongings to me. He also mentioned he had hidden something in Witch Mountain, and so I came to retrieve it."

Seeing Li Xijun nod, he handed the slate to Li Xijun's hands, whispering:

"You all look at this first, I will retrieve the rest of the items."

'This is the payment.'

Li Xijun accepted it with thanks, while Xiao Yuansi glided towards a secluded spot in the mountain. Li Ximing circled around for a look, and saw that the slate was engraved with an ancient secret technique.

"Bone Carving, Skin Exchange."

This secret technique primarily detailed the methods related to the six blood types, requiring a certain level of cultivation to perform. One could capture a demon alive, using the demon's cultivation to pierce through the top, and had to personally 'chisel the bone and remove the skin,' then infuse the demon's blood and flesh into one's own body, thereby achieving the goal of seizing the demon's cultivation for oneself.

This technique required seeking out a demon with a compatible Taoist foundation to perform it upon. Once the technique succeeded, one could incorporate it into one's body. For an Immortal Cultivator, it was like having two Taoist foundations in one body, greatly increasing one's power instantly—of course, forsaking any further breakthroughs to Zifu level.

"It appears to be a method of the Demonic Path for a different mansion under the same roof."

Neither of the two had a lack of insight, quickly noticing the clues. It was just an alternative method of consuming another's Taoist foundation, something collected by various sects, with several demons from the Demonic Disasters having cultivated it.

It was less common inland, with overseas cultivation techniques being more broadly disseminated and even more taboo-less. Many cultivators of the Zifu Golden Core Path practiced this technique, mostly using humans to refine, which had a higher success rate and more compatibility with the Immortal Foundation.

Li Ximing, having ambitions for Zifu, glanced at it without interest and silently backed away to study the jade pillars. However, Li Xijun took it to have a look and read a few lines:

"When the technique is performed... it brings forth pain that encompasses all worldly agony, almost obliterating consciousness, and once mastered, one may be influenced by the Demon Nature... causing changes in temperament."

Li Xijun was immediately taken aback.

It's known that every word in the cultivation techniques is precious, and authors will often omit their origins to be as concise as possible. The fact that pain is mentioned at all is noteworthy, to say nothing of 'pain that encompasses all worldly agony,' which likely exceeds that of the famous "Golden Melting Cave" for its pain.

"A shame, there are too many drawbacks... otherwise, it could be utilized..."

Li Xijun truly had some thoughts about it, after all, not everyone was like Li Xuanfeng. If one's family was waiting for a member to break through to the Zifu level, having someone of significant weight and invincible at the Foundation Establishment level to protect one's path was crucial, and this technique was one of the means to that end.

"Although this technique has many drawbacks, it's a good method. Our family should keep an eye out to collect one or two."

As he copied down the contents of the slate, he fell into silent contemplation. Li Xijun considered himself to have no hope for Zifu and lacked ambition; he felt his life was complete as long as he could protect his elder brother Li Ximing and his grandnephew Li Zhouwei.

"If my path to Zifu is cut off, so be it. If I could exchange it for a power like the unparalleled combat strength of Elder Xuanfeng at the Foundation Establishment level, even if Ximing fails his breakthrough, just relying on myself alone, I could still uphold the family."

Li Ximing didn't notice, but Kongheng, who was familiar with Li Xijun, watched from the side and could see clearly, guessing a bit of his thoughts, and thought to himself:

'It's said that Li Yuanyun's life was a failure in cultivation, dying miserably in a borderland, the least favored by his clan... Yet he produced such outstanding sons like the Xijun brothers... Quite interesting...'

As everyone had their own thoughts, Xiao Yuansi had already returned, looking excited, seemingly having had a fruitful harvest, and his face showed a hint of a smile.

"Senior!"

Li Xijun returned the slate, Xiao Yuansi glanced at it, casually tucking it away without any rush to leave, and then softly said:

"Xijun, does your family have any plans to unify Wangyue Lake?"

As soon as this was mentioned, Li Ximing became slightly embarrassed, Li Xijun silently reflected, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little colder. Kongheng sensed that something was wrong, silently stepped back, and began to recite scriptures with closed eyes.