Chapter 314: Chapter 131: Strategizing, Cultivating the Demon-locking Technique, and Recruiting Lu Tao
He then turned to the two boxes in Cao Feng’s hands. "Master Cao, these two items you’re holding are truly extraordinary."
"These are the Dragon Blood Bodhi and the nine-leaf golden ginseng."
Inside one box was a bodhi seed, as crimson as blood, with natural dragon-like patterns on its surface. It faintly exuded a draconic might that made one’s heart tremble.
The other box held a ginseng plant with nine golden leaves. Its roots resembled coiling flood dragons, and it emanated an impossibly dense essence of flora, along with Geng Metal Qi.
"The energy these two items contain is nothing short of terrifying. If you can fully complete their Refinement, I’m confident they can help you shatter your shackles in the shortest possible time and step into the Divine Power Realm!"
Chu Fan continued, "Even if time is too short to achieve a breakthrough in one go, consuming these two Treasure Plants will be enough to make your Primordial Energy skyrocket and your strength surge!"
Cao Feng and the other two gazed at the Jade Boxes in their hands, all silent.
Of course they knew how precious these treasures were.
In the past, they had only ever heard of such items, never laid eyes on them!
If any one of these were to appear in the city, it would be enough to cause a tremendous uproar!
Chu Fan had only just acquired them, and before they could even warm his grasp, he had brought them all here...
Just then, Chu Fan produced three small jade vials and handed one to each of them.
"These three vials of Elixirs are meant to be used in conjunction with the Treasure Plants," he said. "The ones Senior Sister Qingxue and Senior Brother Cao Yan are holding are four-pattern Barrier-Breaking Pills, perfect for stabilizing one’s Realm and unlocking potential during a Spirit Awakening Realm breakthrough."
"Master Cao, this vial of yours is a Divine Power Pill. It’s specifically for aiding a peak Spirit Awakening Realm cultivator’s attempt to reach the Divine Power Realm, and it can increase the chances of successfully condensing Divine Techniques."
The three of them were once again stunned.
If word of any one of these resources got out, it would be enough to incite a storm of blood, yet Chu Fan had given them all away without the slightest hesitation.
Cao Feng looked up, his fierce eyes slightly bloodshot and his voice a bit hoarse. "Fan, all this..."
Chu Fan waved a hand dismissively, his tone calm. "My knowledge of these Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and the properties of elixirs, is limited. Sister Bai and the Paperman told me most of it. I just hope they can help you all achieve a breakthrough."
This unreserved trust and generosity sent a warm current surging through the hearts of Cao Feng and the others, moving them beyond words.
...
A sliver of a crescent moon hung in the sky. Its cold, bleak light struggled to pierce the thin clouds, scattering over Cyan Yang Ancient City.
The night wind swept through, carrying the lingering stench of blood and scorched earth, its wail like the whispers of the dead.
Having rushed back from outside the city walls, Chu Fan sat down in a chair.
He didn’t light a lamp, allowing the eerie, blood-tinged moonlight to filter through the window and cast mottled patches of light across the room.
The days of continuous slaughter and travel had not left much fatigue on his face, but a deep, unshakeable gravity had settled in his eyes.
He took a Jade Box from within his robes and opened it.
Inside the Jade Box lay a fruit the size of a longan. It was fiery red all over, its surface faintly shimmering as it gave off an alluringly sweet fragrance and a vast Spiritual Mechanism.
This was the Moon Soul Ice Crystal Fruit, a Spirit Fruit coveted by every Martial Artist in the Spirit Awakening Realm. It could help open up one’s meridians and improve one’s Cultivation.
Chu Fan placed the Moon Soul Ice Crystal Fruit in his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed.
An ordinary Martial Artist, no matter how many Treasure Plants they possessed, would never dare to consume them consecutively in such a short time.
The surging Spiritual Mechanism and medicinal potency were an immense trial for one’s meridians and physical body. The slightest misstep could lead to ruptured meridians and a damaged foundation.
Chu Fan, however, had no such concerns.
The Vajra Undying Body had gifted him not only with extremely powerful defense, but also with meridians and a physical fortitude that far surpassed others of his Realm.
No matter how violent the impact of the medicinal power, it could hardly harm him in the slightest.
His only regret was that even with the Vajra Undying Body, he couldn’t fully convert and absorb the Spiritual Mechanism from multiple Treasure Plants in a short period.
He had already consumed one Treasure Plant during the day. Now, after swallowing the Moon Soul Ice Crystal Fruit, he could feel a massive amount of pure Spiritual Mechanism surging through him. Since he couldn’t complete the Refinement in time, it slowly began to dissipate from his body.
’What a waste.’
A warm current spread from his abdomen, like a torrent of fire being ignited, instantly sweeping through his entire body.
Chu Fan sat down cross-legged, using the Primordial Energy already in his body to guide this immense power and slowly begin the Refinement of the Spiritual Mechanism.
However, after refining the medicinal power, he didn’t immediately try to break through his Cultivation bottleneck. Instead, he calmed his mind and began to comprehend the profound Demon-locking Technique.
Last night, he had already reached the Entry-Level in the Demon-locking Technique.
Tonight, he might be able to reach the Small Success stage.
The Demon-locking Technique wasn’t a form of Martial Arts with clear, defined moves like the Twelve Forms Fist or the Ninefold Thunder Shock Saber. It was actually a Divine Secret Skill, one that achieved a similar effect to the Cyan Snake’s Ten Thousand Serpent Curse Binding, though through different means.
The fierce battle beneath the city wall that night surfaced in Chu Fan’s mind.
The black-robed man had thought he’d killed him with a single palm strike. In that moment of relaxed vigilance, he was briefly bound by wisps of serpent-like black energy, condensed by the hidden Cyan Snake using her Ten Thousand Serpent Curse Binding.
It was precisely that fleeting opportunity that had allowed him to launch a sudden, fatal counterattack.
The Ten Thousand Serpent Curse Binding condensed energy into serpents to bind and trap enemies, making it extremely practical.
The Demon-locking Technique, however, was even more unique. It required one to circulate their Primordial Energy to condense chains of energy that were simultaneously real and illusory, specializing in restraint and suppression.
Its unique Trait was its extraordinarily suppressive effect on the Demon Race.
When paired with the Spirit Soldier, the Demon-locking Chain... Back in the Mist Marsh, the Cyan Snake, whose power far surpassed the two white-robed members of the Moon Worship Sect, had been heavily wounded and bound in a single move. They had used the Demon-locking Technique in tandem to activate the Demon-locking Chain, leaving her completely powerless to resist!
Its power was evident.
This was also why he wanted Master Cao to cultivate the Demon-locking Technique.
In terms of combat strength, he had long surpassed Master Cao. But in terms of Primordial Energy, he, at the First Heaven of the Spirit Awakening Realm, was far from a match for Master Cao, who already had one foot in the Divine Power Realm.
This was the most troublesome aspect of the Demon-locking Technique—the amount of Primordial Energy it consumed was simply enormous.
Otherwise, it would be enough for him to control the three Demon-locking Chains himself; there would be no need to have Master Cao also cultivate the Demon-locking Technique.
Chu Fan settled his mind and began to cultivate.
His method of cultivation was completely different from that of an ordinary person.
Because he had gone through the Refinement of the Demon-locking Chain, he had already inherited the original owner’s experience and insights into this Divine Technique. It was as if he were standing on the shoulders of giants, giving him a much higher starting point.
But the most crucial factor was his current, otherworldly Comprehension:
[Generalize, Stunning Comprehension: Your mind is lucid, and insight arises spontaneously. You can deduce the principles of the universe by observing the mundane, and complete supreme Profound Skills from mere fragments...]
[All Laws are Clear, Unique Wisdom: Your roots of wisdom are deep, your spiritual mind is stainless... When you cultivate any technique, your progress is not merely swift; you can also innovate, synthesize your knowledge, and even glimpse a sliver of the Great Dao’s true meaning.]
