Chapter Forty: The Second Requirement

After bidding farewell to Wu Jiao, Cao Yun returned to his cave dwelling to begin contemplating the "Blood Refining Great Method," the primary secret technique of the Sky Star Wolf Sect.

After two days of study, he finally grasped its essence. The "Blood Refining Great Method" is composed of three distinct secret arts. The first involves tempering one's meridians with the blood of spirit beasts to make them more resilient and powerful. Once the meridians are sufficiently reinforced, breaking through bottlenecks becomes much easier, even for those with impure spiritual roots. The second involves burning the body's essential blood to convert it into spiritual energy, which can temporarily boost a cultivator's cultivation level by several minor stages, depending on the strength of the meridians and the vitality of the blood. The third art is the refining of beast blood into spiritual energy, which is highly beneficial for overcoming cultivation bottlenecks.

Only then did Cao Yun understand why spirit beast blood was so precious in the Sky Star Wolf Sect; it was intrinsically linked to their strength and cultivation. However, for a practitioner with "waste" spiritual roots like Cao Yun, this technique was somewhat lackluster. Furthermore, he had already mastered the "Killing Intent Resolution," making peers of the same level no threat to him. As for the art of strengthening meridians, he had practiced several similar methods during his time in the secular world. And while the method of using beast blood to break through bottlenecks had its merits, he had no need for it at present.

He shook his head helplessly and tucked the secret manual—a treasure coveted by everyone in the Sky Star Wolf Sect—back into his storage bag without a second thought.

After days of slaughter, the killing intent within Cao Yun had grown increasingly dense. He resolved to refine all this intent into "killing intent threads" before Dai Wuya could issue his second request. He pondered to himself: if a single killing intent thread could slay an opponent of the same rank, could ten of them unleashed simultaneously defeat a high-level cultivator?

Time in cultivation passed in silence, and over a year slipped by in the blink of an eye. During this year, Dai Wuya seemed to have forgotten his so-called second request, allowing Cao Yun to enjoy a rare, pure period of freedom. Whether cultivating or hunting spirit beasts, his actions were entirely his own choice—no threats, no intimidation, only his own will. It was a wonderful time.

However, just as he was immersed in what felt like an eternal peace, his waist token trembled slightly, and his heart skipped a beat. He had a premonition that Dai Wuya’s second request had finally arrived. He retrieved the token, scanned it with his divine sense, and sure enough, Dai Wuya’s voice echoed from within: "Cao Yun, come to the Myriad Demon Pavilion to see me."

Cao Yun, who had been meditating in his cave, could not help but offer a wry smile, thinking to himself, "It has come after all."

Despite his reluctance, Cao Yun followed the order and arrived at the Myriad Demon Pavilion. The moment he saw Dai Wuya, he sensed that the man was vastly different from before. Previously, Dai Wuya had possessed an aggressive aura, cloaked in spiritual energy so powerful that one could feel his formidable strength without even using divine sense. Now, however, his spiritual energy was completely internalized; without a meticulous probe, one would not detect even the slightest fluctuation.

Cao Yun had encountered this phenomenon once before in Liu Ziru, the Golden Core powerhouse of the Demon Tu Sect. Could it be... had Dai Wuya also...? Cao Yun was shocked and dared not continue the thought.

"You didn't miss it, as expected. That's right, I have successfully formed my Golden Core." Watching Cao Yun’s stunned expression, Dai Wuya knew his breakthrough had been discovered.

"Congratulations to the Pavilion Master on achieving the Golden Core," Cao Yun said, bowing respectfully.

"Keep this bottle of Essence Pills. If not for my imminent breakthrough, I would have given them to you a year ago. Now that you have them late, Cao Yun, you wouldn't hold any resentment, would you?" Dai Wuya narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"The Pavilion Master jests. That you still remembered this matter is already a great fortune for me; how could I harbor any resentment?" Cao Yun replied cautiously.

"It is good that you have no resentment. I previously stated there were two matters for you to handle. You completed the first one well, and now, I want you to complete the second one immediately." Dai Wuya’s tone grew chilling.

"Whatever the Pavilion Master commands, I will do my utmost to fulfill," Cao Yun bowed again.

"Good. I appreciate your character; those who adapt to circumstances are heroes. This time, I want you to infiltrate the Green Mountain Sect of the Qin Kingdom."

"Infiltrate the Green Mountain Sect? Why, Pavilion Master?" Cao Yun asked, his face masked in confusion.

"The Green Mountain Sect and I have a deep blood feud. Now that my Golden Core is complete, it is time to settle this debt." Dai Wuya’s eyes narrowed sharply, and his wide robes snapped in the wind generated by his intense killing intent. Cao Yun was forced back several steps before he could steady himself.

"How does the Pavilion Master intend for me to infiltrate them?" Cao Yun asked, struggling against the overwhelming pressure.

"I will impart a breath-concealment technique to you. As long as you are not intentionally scrutinized by a cultivator above the late Foundation Establishment stage, your true cultivation will not be revealed. I want you to enter the Green Mountain Sect as a third-level Qi Refining servant disciple and seize the opportunity to destroy their grand protective array."

"Destroy the protective array? Pavilion Master, I know nothing of arrays; I fear I am not up to the task."

"You need not understand arrays. You only need to find a way to bury the formation plate I give you into the core of their protective array," Dai Wuya said coldly.

Knowing that burying a formation plate into the heart of a major sect's defense was an impossible task, Cao Yun had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

"Good. I trust you, Cao Yun. Although your aptitude is that of a 'waste' spiritual root, I have a premonition that one day, you too will become a being like me." Dai Wuya walked up to him and patted his shoulder in approval.

"Thank you for your trust, Pavilion Master."

"Take this Bitter Coagulation Pill. Complete the task within three years, and I will naturally purge the poison for you." Dai Wuya held a pill between two fingers and presented it.

Cao Yun swallowed it without hesitation. The pill melted instantly, turning into a cooling sensation that seeped into the depths of his dantian.

"Very well. Return and prepare. I will transmit the concealment technique through your identity token," Dai Wuya said, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.