Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 398: Chapter 398: True Martial Demon Devouring True Scripture: Initiation

As these ripples swept through his meridians, the True Martial Demon Devouring True Essence hummed in unison, like Armored Warriors standing for inspection. The sound was like the lingering resonance of an Ancient Bell, echoing through his bones like the clap of thunder.

’You have reached the entry level of the True Martial Demon Devouring True Scripture.’

’You have successfully converted True Qi into True Essence.’

’Your meridians are being reforged.’

’...’

Glancing at the series of notifications on the Attribute Panel in his vision, Xu Yunfan let out a breath. He then took a closer look at the Skill Bar. Below the entry-level True Martial Demon Devouring True Scripture, over a hundred traits were listed, with more than thirty of them being gold-tier legendary entries alone.

’So this is what "Devouring Demon" means... I thought it was about absorbing another’s True Essence... It must be that after subduing a demon, I can devour, absorb, and refine it to seize its Daoist Cultivation.’

As he processed the cultivation memories of the True Martial Demon Devouring True Scripture that had appeared in his mind upon reaching the entry level, Xu Yunfan had a sudden realization.

Ordinary Cultivation Techniques absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but this Scripture used one’s Martial Dao Will as a Melting Furnace, tempering True Qi a thousand times over to forge it into True Essence.

The newly born True Essence contained a majestic heavenly might. Every move held the power of a Thunderbolt Demon Subduing technique. By continuously devouring demons and throwing them into the great True Martial millstone to be refined, he could supplement his own power.

It was the same principle as Zhong Kui devouring ghosts.

If any evil spirit were to invade his meridians now, it would likely be crushed by the dormant Martial Dao True Intent within his True Essence in a single encounter.

Xu Yunfan flicked his finger, and a wisp of True Essence solidified three inches from his body.

Looking closely, one could see countless dark-gold, hair-thin patterns weaving and flowing within the True Essence. As they intertwined, they faintly formed the True Martial Demon Subduing form.

This was precisely the "True Martial Demon Devouring True Essence" recorded in the *True Martial Demon Devouring True Scripture*.

He had achieved in just three days a quality of True Essence that would take an ordinary Cultivator ten years of hard work to condense, all thanks to his Martial Dao foundation and the profundity of his Cultivation Technique.

’Yep, this is all thanks to my own hard work and effort. The Attribute Panel is just a little helper...’

The True Martial Demon Devouring True Scripture was vastly different from other Cultivation Techniques. Its essence lay not in complex Magic Technique Spells, but in the perfect fusion of Martial Dao combat with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

What the Scripture recorded wasn’t Magic in the traditional sense, but a path of attack that used the Martial Dao to enter the Dao.

Taking the sword as an example, with a mere wave of the hand, the True Essence within his body could spontaneously condense into a three-foot Sword Gang.

Without forming hand seals or chanting spells, merely by shaping his fists and palms into a Sword Momentum, he could channel the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into a majestic Sword Qi, its edge sharp enough to cleave through gold and shatter jade.

Cultivating it to a profound level could even allow one to manifest a Sword Intent imbued with heavenly might, like the "Nine Heavens Thunder Strike Sword."

Even the most basic straight punch, when channeled through the True Scripture, would generate a triple-layered force.

The first layer would strike the body’s surface like a hammer, the second would surge into the internal organs like a wave, and the third would directly rattle the opponent’s meridians. This was the profound principle described in the Scripture as "one punch, three forces; striking a cow from across a mountain."

An exhaled breath could become a sword; an inhaled one could form a shield.

A single breath cycle formed a complete offensive and defensive system. At the Great Success stage, one could even create a sonic attack known as the "Dragon’s Roar and Tiger’s Howl," capable of shattering the structure of an enemy’s magic.

Although these offensive methods lacked the flair of traditional Magic, their strength lay in their instantaneous and un-telegraphed execution.

What was even more terrifying was that all attacks came with the "Devouring Demon" trait. Whenever an enemy’s defense was broken, it would automatically devour a portion of the dissipated Spiritual Qi to replenish oneself, creating a terrifying cycle of growing stronger with every battle.

It was just as the General Outline of the Scripture stated: "Carry the Dao with the martial; every move holds heavenly might. Devour demons and refine the true; the space of a square inch becomes a battlefield."

’Interesting...’

Xu Yunfan’s eyes flickered as he pondered this.

’It’s somewhat similar to the Profound Daoist Sect’s Dragon and Tiger Pill Qi. If I later condense a True Martial Dharma Aspect, I’ll naturally tread upon dragons and snakes, with a White Tiger at my side, manifesting the procession of a True Martial deity...’

’Most importantly, the potential of this True Martial Demon Devouring True Scripture is immense; it definitely doesn’t stop at Foundation Establishment. I have no idea how that Divine Martial Daoist Master cultivated, to have languished in the Foundation Establishment Realm for so many years that he even had to go through five reincarnations to attempt Foundation Establishment again.’

A night of comprehension passed in a flash.

While the morning mist had yet to disperse, a cloyingly sweet fragrance suddenly drifted in from outside the courtyard.

The thorny vines entwined on the bamboo fence moved without a breeze, sprouting uncanny, purplish-red flowers.

Xu Yunfan’s expression shifted slightly. He quickly retracted the True Essence around him, using the True Martial Demon Suppression Seal to suppress his aura. He made himself appear as if he had just entered the Qi Cultivation Stage. The Martial Arts Celestial Eye at the center of his brow opened and closed in an instant.

’A Cultivator at the Mid-Stage of Qi Cultivation is nothing to worry about.’

"Junior Brother Xu, you’re so cruel..."

A voice with a hook in it pierced through the door panel. "To make your Senior Sister wait in the cold dew for a full Hour."

With a CREAK, a woman in crimson robes leaned against the door, smiling.

Her silken skirt was semi-transparent, revealing datura patterns drawn in Cinnabar on her snow-white skin. A single point of crimson at the center of her brow was like a drop of blood-red coral.

The most captivating part was her amorous eyes; the pupil of her left eye was actually heart-shaped, and a pink mist seemed to swirl within it as her gaze shifted.

Xu Yunfan’s muscles tensed slightly. This woman’s feet didn’t touch the dust as she walked, a sign of her meticulous control over her True Essence. With time, she was sure to become a talent who could reach the Late-Stage of Qi Cultivation.

He rose and asked politely, "And you are, Senior Sister...?"

The crimson-robed woman’s gaze flowed over him, sticking to Xu Yunfan like sticky honey.

As he stood up, the silhouette of his broad shoulders and narrow waist cast an imposing shadow in the morning light.

His bulging trapezius muscles stretched the fabric into mountainous curves. The rise and fall of his chest with each breath carved distinct valleys under the thin cloth, while the taut lines of his waist and abs were like a drawn bow, filled with latent power.

Her tongue unconsciously licked her vermilion lips. A rippling pink mist spread through her heart-shaped pupil, and even the Silver Chain wrapped around her ankle trembled slightly with her quickened breath.

"Hua Xiangrong."

The woman’s gaze was so intense it was almost tangible. She stumbled toward Xu Yunfan, her jade-like finger tracing a line across his chest before lightly tapping the spot over his heart. "I heard Junior Brother just received a Meridian Opening Pill, so Senior Sister came specially to... offer some guidance."

Before her words had fully faded, Xu Yunfan felt something foreign trying to drill into his meridians. Looking down, he saw three nearly transparent threads extending from her fingertip.

’This damn woman!’

Xu Yunfan cursed inwardly. She looked as if she were captivated by him, but in reality, she was secretly trying every means to probe him.

Xu Yunfan feigned a flustered retreat, deliberately making his True Essence flow sluggishly.

Hua Xiangrong fell for it as expected. A flash of contempt crossed her heart-shaped pupil, and the assault from the threads intensified abruptly.

Just as they were about to pierce his Qi Sea, the fleshy growth on his Chong Meridian suddenly squirmed, completely devouring the invading True Qi.

This was a Demon Suppression technique. The next step would be Devouring Demon.

"Eh?"

Hua Xiangrong snatched her hand back as if electrocuted, the Cinnabar patterns on her skin glowing faintly. "Junior Brother’s meridians... are rather special."

"Not as exquisite as Senior Sister’s Thousand Emotions Threads."

Xu Yunfan wiped the cold sweat from his brow... an act, of course.

These Thousand Emotions Threads didn’t seem to cause much physical damage, but they were in fact soft hooks. When the Emotion Threads latched onto a vital point in the meridians, the victim would first feel an itching numbness, as if ants were crawling on them, followed by a sensation of their five organs being steeped in warm soup.

In just three breaths, illusions would bloom before their eyes—perhaps the puppy love of their youth, or an unrequited obsession—all transformed into a vivid, tantalizing mirage.

Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if their Dao Heart had the slightest crack, would gradually lose their clarity under the entanglement of the Emotion Threads and eventually become the caster’s desire slave.

(Got back late from working overtime today, my apologies everyone)