Chapter 84: Sacrificial Refinement of the Life-bound Shedding (Second Update)

Leaving the dwelling of Old Mouse Li, Zhou Bai carried the salted fish and made his way toward the Thousand Techniques Brotherhood. After walking for a while, he felt something was amiss and decided to wrap up the salted fish.

His appearance certainly attracted a great deal of attention along the way. A massive executioner’s blade on his back, a sheathed Tang knife at his waist, and the bundled salted fish in his hand—it even looked like a broad-bladed weapon. Among the onlookers, there were those with discerning eyes: whether it was the butcher’s knife, the Tang blade, or even the salted fish, each exuded an unusual aura.

Fortunately, Zhou Bai wore a mask, so no one could see his face clearly. After he suppressed his presence, his steps unconsciously quickened.

A short while later, Zhou Bai returned to the Thousand Techniques Brotherhood. Daoist Hou had already finished selecting his technique; as a new recruit to the Nether Canon Office, he wasn’t required to spend any contribution points.

The Brotherhood also provided the spiritual materials needed for foundational techniques at no cost, a rule set by the Nether Canon Office.

Yet, Daoist Hou seemed to be arguing with Manager Yan over the spiritual materials for his foundational technique, both their faces flushed with frustration.

When Zhou Bai approached, their quarrel subsided considerably.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

Daoist Hou shot Manager Yan a disdainful glance. “This foundational technique is called ‘A Thousand Miles of Red Earth,’ created by a predecessor with zombie-related ghostly arts. The materials are a bit more expensive, that’s all.”

Manager Yan, clearly agitated, retorted, “A bit more expensive? Don’t joke with me. It needs the spine of a zombie with the drought demon’s bloodline. Do you have any idea how rare and costly that is?”

Zhou Bai snatched the ‘A Thousand Miles of Red Earth’ manual from Daoist Hou and leafed through it carefully. He had to admit, it was exceptionally suited for his ghostly arts.

The technique required refining the spine of a zombie with the drought demon’s bloodline into a life-bound ghostly weapon, then exchanging it with one’s own.

Zombies were innately creatures of extreme yin, but the drought demon’s bloodline contained a trace of yang energy. The combination would help alleviate the corpse transformation plaguing Daoist Hou.

“In any case, according to the Nether Canon Office’s rules, you must provide the materials,” Zhou Bai insisted.

Manager Yan seemed on the verge of further argument when Zhou Bai invoked Wang Zhen’s name.

Clearly, Manager Yan recognized the name—and, like Old Mouse Li, held some fear of it. His face paled and darkened by turns, and he soon conceded.

“Fine, I’ll take the loss. I’ll arrange for the storeroom to prepare the materials.”

“Wait,” Zhou Bai stopped him again.

Manager Yan grew wary, fearing trouble. “What is it now?”

“Since you call yourselves the Thousand Techniques Brotherhood, do you have any martial arts manuals?” Zhou Bai asked.

Daoist Hou, thinking Zhou Bai was stirring up trouble, played along boisterously, “Exactly! What’s a Thousand Techniques Brotherhood without martial arts manuals?”

“You—just wait,” Manager Yan replied coldly, turning away. Moments later, a clerk from the shop delivered a brocade box to Daoist Hou.

Over twenty books were handed to Zhou Bai—without even asking for any contribution points.

Daoist Hou looked smug, ready to cause more commotion, but Zhou Bai pulled him away before he could utter another word.

Clearly, the Thousand Techniques Brotherhood had powerful backing, and Manager Yan was unlikely to be a true decision-maker. There was no need to offend them.

Because they were near the Brotherhood, several inns catered specifically to those preparing for seclusion, with signs boasting spiritual gathering arrays.

The two picked one at random and stepped inside, greeted warmly by the innkeeper.

The inn was modest, split into two floors. The upper rooms were for secluded cultivation, while the lower hall received guests.

Daoist Hou chose a chamber tailored for beginners in ghostly arts. Once he began practicing ‘A Thousand Miles of Red Earth,’ Zhou Bai proceeded to his own seclusion.

He had no intention of letting others know he had awakened a demon-path supernatural ability. Multiple awakenings were already remarkable enough; if word got out that he possessed both demon and ghostly arts, suspicion was inevitable.

Thus, Zhou Bai quietly booked a room for practicing demon-path techniques without telling Daoist Hou.

As soon as he entered, he sensed a faint demonic energy in the air, and the tumor beside his heart began to throb.

Though his “Binding Strength of a Chicken” was thoroughly suppressed by the Ghost Tree and the Grand Treasure Glazed Elixir, the subtle demonic aura was still active.

Zhou Bai immediately sat cross-legged, not rushing to refine his life-bound demon relic. Instead, he took out all the martial arts manuals.

Aside from the Reversion Technique, he planned to have the system record them all, and had even prepared a pouch to collect the ashes once the books transformed.

The scores of manuals Manager Yan had provided proved to be of real value—only three or four were not accepted by the system, while the rest were absorbed.

His system panel now featured twenty-one martial arts, including the Art of Brewing Wine. Zhou Bai didn’t delve into their details; he planned to wait until he advanced to supernatural status before exploring them. With twenty-one arts on his panel, not landing an SSR-level ability upon advancement would be a real shame.

He steadied his mind, then took out the salted fish. Setting aside its overly cured state, the fish-dragon was quite a sight—silver-white scales, fins sharp as blades, tail broad as an oar.

Having refined a life-bound ghost weapon before, Zhou Bai was no stranger to the process. The initial steps posed no difficulty; only the activation of demonic power proved a bit taxing, though he managed without incident.

After much effort, the salted fish had absorbed his blood, and Zhou Bai soon felt the life bond between them.

Leisurely, he activated the soundproofing array. Next door, Daoist Hou had been bellowing like a ghoul for half an hour—changing a spine, really, what was so painful about that?

Zhou Bai produced the fish-dragon’s essence blood he had prepared, dripping it onto the salted fish, which absorbed it quickly.

There was no obvious transformation—the dragon aura within the salted fish was far beyond what a few drops of essence blood could supply. But after the fusion, the dragon aura felt exceptionally lively to Zhou Bai.

Everything was ready. He brought up his system panel; the 546 points displayed gave him confidence.

“Initial Evolution.”

Seeing the Reversion Technique at ten percent progress, Zhou Bai knew he was prepared. He spent seven points, raising the progress to one hundred percent.

Still, there was no outward change. Without hesitation, Zhou Bai chose to break through to the second layer, investing eight points. The Reversion Technique advanced as desired.

With a thought, a motionless salted fish appeared in his dantian, exuding a faint demonic aura.

The tumor beside his heart, the source of his “Binding Strength of a Chicken,” split off a cluster of gray runes and sent them into the salted fish.

After a moment, a patch of fish scales grew on the fish’s back, patterned like a rooster’s comb.

The Ghost Tree, noticing the sudden arrival of the salted fish, curiously wound itself around it. At first, it was tentative, but seeing no response, it began to lash the fish vigorously with its roots.

“Stop that,” Zhou Bai hurriedly ordered the Ghost Tree. The salted fish might lack intelligence for now, but that didn’t mean it always would. He certainly didn’t want his two life-bound artifacts brawling in his dantian day after day.