Evaluation for this round: Grade B+.
Reward: Minor Fortune x1.
Huh, what's going on... Wu Xian registered a stream of information flowing through his mind, then saw a speck of golden light fall upon his body and merge into him, disappearing.
He quickly understood. Minor Fortune would slightly improve his luck for seven days—seven days because that was how long he had until his next entry into that eerie place.
He opened his eyes. Two worms crawled out from his dark eye sockets. At the tip of each worm was a grotesque, sharp-toothed mouth, and in the center of each mouth, an eye had appeared.
These were the Eye Bugs, which had replaced his own eyes.
"Hahahaha~ A blessing in disguise! This is a blessing in disguise!"
The Eye Bugs hadn't hatched inside that strange place. Only in the first instant he returned to the real world after leaving did they immediately hatch and occupy his eye sockets.
As for his original eyeballs, they had already been traded as currency to the old woman selling sugar-roasted chestnuts.
He hadn't expected to master three Divine Skills while only at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
If anyone made eye contact with him, he could activate his Divine Skills. His left eye could plunge people into an illusion, while his right eye could create mental barriers, confusing them. Combined, they would trap a person, lost in an illusory world.
The Evil Light, when both eyes were used in unison, was even more potent. From the eyes of the two Eye Bugs, he could unleash a sinister light that specifically damaged the soul.
It seems that White Bone House did have some benefits; I just failed to find them, Wu Xian mused. At that moment, he understood that this wasn't just danger; it was also a fortuitous encounter.
However, another thought quickly surfaced: How many others entered that strange place like I did? When he emerged from the White Bone House, he had entered a colossal city. The city was filled with all sorts of bizarre things and was incredibly vast. It was very likely he wasn't the only one pulled in. This thought made him nervous. If others obtain such a great opportunity, wouldn't that put me at a disadvantage?
"You're not dead? I thought the Elephant Casting Sect skinned you alive," a voice interrupted his thoughts. A middle-aged Cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment Stage was looking at Wu Xian with a strange expression, his gaze particularly drawn to Wu Xian's pair of Eye Bugs, which were far too conspicuous.
"Could you tell me what the White Bone House is?"
Naturally, the man had heard Wu Xian's earlier wild laughter and his murmuring of "blessing in disguise," so he easily guessed Wu Xian must have obtained something.
Wu Xian glanced at him. The Eye Bugs in his sockets writhed, protruding halfway. The middle-aged man couldn't help but shiver. That's too disgusting, he thought.
"So, it's Fellow Daoist Xun," Wu Xian recognized the man as Xun Ya, another survivor like himself.
This time, however, was different. Now possessing three Divine Skills, even if his combat experience was less than that of Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators from the orthodox or demonic paths, he could easily kill them. The tables had turned.
"You want to know?" Wu Xian barely suppressed the urge to laugh maniacally. He hadn't expected anyone would actually want to go to that bizarre place.
He didn't know why he suddenly lost control, but he manically raised his left hand, revealing the ferocious White Bone Skull Tattoo.
"Do you see it? This is it."
However, in Xun Ya's eyes, apart from a missing finger, there was nothing wrong with Wu Xian's left hand.
"There's nothing there," Xun Ya said, puzzled. He noticed Wu Xian's expression was somewhat off, which made him take a step back.
He must be mad, Xun Ya suspected. And driven mad by whatever happened. In the ruins of the Xuannan Cave Mansion, there was no White Bone House, nor any 'blessing in disguise.' The only thing that interests me are those peculiar Eye Bugs of his, but I wouldn't take them even if they were a gift.
"Nothing? That's impossible! Look carefully, really carefully!"
As he spoke, Wu Xian had already drawn close to Xun Ya.
Xun Ya's pupils contracted, and he was inwardly surprised. Such speed! I couldn't even see him clearly. Is this a movement technique a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator can achieve?
As Wu Xian's left hand pressed down directly in front of him, Xun Ya tried to force it away but felt an unprecedented strength that immobilized him.
Impossible! I'm actually being suppressed by him! Xun Ya's expression changed.
"Still don't see it? Then I'll just have to gouge out your eyes and bring them a little closer for you to see clearly," Wu Xian muttered, completely oblivious to how eerie his words sounded.
Xun Ya realized the danger and, without hesitation, launched an attack.
Wu Xian must have suffered from Walk Fire into Demon! he believed.
But before he could make his move, the two worms in Wu Xian's eye sockets suddenly shot out, biting down on both his cheeks. In one go, they tore off a large portion of his face. The excruciating pain instantly halted his attack.
"Madman! You madman!" Xun Ya roared, unable to break free from Wu Xian's grip. However, seeing Wu Xian prepare his next move, he lost his nerve and quickly cried out, "Wait, I see it! I see it!"
Whether I really see it or not, I need to pacify him first, he thought.
But as he uttered those words, he truly saw a grinning Skull gradually appearing on Wu Xian's left hand.
For a moment, he was utterly taken aback. Glancing at his own left hand, a faint, tattoo-like mark was appearing there as well.
A seven-day countdown also flashed in his mind.
"Heh heh, you have it too, you have it too..." Wu Xian laughed grotesquely, the worms in his eye sockets chewing on flesh. Then, he simply released Xun Ya and walked away, still laughing strangely.
"This... damn it! What on earth is going on?" Xun Ya stared intently at Wu Xian's retreating figure.
The further Wu Xian walked, the more normal he seemed to become. But to Xun Ya, this was anything but normal, because Wu Xian was completely oblivious to how bizarre and absurd his recent behavior had been.
If it were me, and things had progressed this far, I would have killed him immediately, not just left after he admitted seeing it. This behavior, ironically, makes me shudder. In the Green Nether Fairyland, there's no such thing as mercy. Clearly, his condition is uncontrollable.
"After seven days?" Xun Ya muttered, looking at the emerging tattoo on his hand. I have no idea what this means.
Meanwhile, Wu Xian had returned to normal. He touched his cheek, and a streak of blood trickled down—a trace left by his Eye Bugs gnawing on flesh.
So hungry they actually want to eat meat... he thought, somewhat surprised.
Naturally, I didn't feel anything was wrong with my behavior just now. Instead, I'm surprised I even have to feed my Eye Bugs. After all, the Eye Bugs have already fused with me; theoretically, they shouldn't need to find their own food. But I don't care about this small matter. It's just flesh, after all, and it's everywhere.
Minor Fortune, I wonder how much of a boost you can give me.
He realized, I don't even need a Cultivation Technique inheritance. Every time I escape that eerie place, I gain some power. I'm now at the Foundation Building Peak Great Perfection Realm. I just need a little push to successfully break through to the Golden Core Stage. The first time I escaped, the power I gained was negligible, but the second time, it pushed me straight to the Peak Perfection Realm.
He knew what this meant. As long as I risk my life and take chances, I can achieve sufficient improvement. Anyway, my life is worthless, unlike those precious Sect Disciples. Without the constraints of a Cultivation Technique inheritance, this is actually a good thing for me. Cultivation requires resources, and Growth requires aptitude. Now I don't need any of those. All I need to do is fight desperately.
What I need to do next is simple: kill those Sect Disciples and feed their flesh and blood to my Eye Bugs, making them even stronger. The Eye Bugs aren't immutable, of course. As long as they're fed enough, they can continue to grow. And the best food, naturally, is my own kind. By 'my kind,' I don't mean humans or Cultivators, but those who entered the eerie place with me. They've been tainted by the power of that place, which is a great tonic for the Eye Bugs. Otherwise, why would I have only taken one bite of Xun Ya just now instead of swallowing him whole? It's because he didn't taste good after the first bite, so I didn't proceed further.
