Chapter 151: Chapter 151 Black Tortoise Carapace
Zhou Yi continued to use the tortoise shell divination, letting it devour his lifespan.
The other two secret techniques that consume lifespan, the Jade Dew Art required the infusion of a large amount of mana, while the Blood Burning Escape Technique consumed an enormous amount of Qi-Blood.
Only the Minor Cutting Heaven Art allowed a glimpse into the heavenly secrets by sacrificing lifespan, with a minor consumption of mana.
"It's only because poor Daoist formed the Golden Core that I've gotten a bit bolder. Back in the days in the heavenly prison, I would divine before even going to the latrine!"
After casting the Minor Cutting Heaven Art continuously, Zhou Yi only felt numbers floating above his head.
-500.
-500.
-500…
The eight trigram patterns on the tortoise shell became more and more distinct; however, there were no other changes besides this.
For a time, Zhou Yi doubted whether the tortoise shell was just a pitfall, perhaps a Dragon Lord had lost a great deal of lifespan without gaining anything, and that was why it ended up in the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
"Fortunately, my lifespan isn't as valuable as spirit stones, idle as it is…"
A year later.
The Turtle Prime Minister sent a message that the Demon King's banquet was ready.
Zhou Yi stopped pondering the Lightning Method and examined the Ancient Tortoise Shell carefully; it was originally as dull as fossilized bones, but after being nourished by countless lifespan, it had become emerald green.
"Could it be bringing some ancient exotic beast back to life?"
Having confirmed over and over again that the tortoise shell had no signs of life, Zhou Yi still felt uneasy and decided to use the Blood Sacrifice Method while casting the Minor Cutting Heaven Art in the future, repeatedly refining and acknowledging the shell as his own.
"Cultivation Technique for the Core Formation stage must be put on the schedule now. Relying solely on the Foundation Establishment volume of the Five Spirits True Scripture, there has been basically no change in mana over the course of a year."
There weren't many options for Zhou Yi to choose from; he immediately ruled out demonic sects and put aside Buddhist sects for the time being, leaving only three choices: the Pill Cauldron Sect of Cloud Continent, the Spirit Sword Sect of Green State, and the One Qi Sect of Yu Continent.
The Pill Cauldron Sect was still the first choice; better the devil you know, hundreds of years had passed and everyone he once knew was long gone.
The One Qi Sect was the second choice; it was rumored that this sect valued the law over instruments, rumored to be a branch of the ancient Great Profound Sect, with extremely profound and thick mana, claiming that one qi could break ten thousand laws.
The Spirit Sword Sect was the last choice; it guided Sword Cultivators with techniques of offense and was famous for advocating the unity of person and sword, charging forward without looking back, and preferring to break rather than to bend, which did not fit Zhou Yi's nature of temporarily avoiding the limelight.
"I wonder who would break who if the Spirit Sword Sect encounters the One Qi Sect."
Zhou Yi transformed into a streak of fleeing light and landed in Mo Cloud Cave, which was already bedecked with lights and full of exquisite foods.
"Big brother, sixteen Demon Kings have come, among them..." the buffalo hurried over to inform Zhou Yi of the important guests one by one.
Among the Dragon Lord's subordinates were ten Demon Kings, the Dragon Lord's Great Crown Prince Ao Jing, General Wu, as well as four Loose Cultivator Demon Kings; indeed, it was an assembly of esteemed guests. The last time the buffalo held a Demon King banquet, only five had come, which was enough to show the difference.
Zhou Yi's performance at the Dragon Palace banquet had already been heard by the various Demon Kings; he had to give face to the Dragon Lord.
"Which Demon King did not come?"
Under the jurisdiction of Green Wave Lake, there were eleven large and small Spirit Veins, each guarded by a Demon King. Today, only ten had arrived. Zhou Yi was not looking to hold grudges but rather pondered if there was a gap.
The buffalo transmitted a message, "It is said that the Flying Bear Demon King loves to eat humans, harbors extreme hatred towards the human race, and had advised the Dragon Lord several times in past years to dismantle Moyun City…"
"So that's how it is."
Zhou Yi nodded slightly, making a mental note of the Flying Bear Demon King.
Continue reading at m|v-l'e m,p| y- r
Shortly after.
The guests took their seats one after another, greeting Zhou Yi with platitudes and congratulatory words.
The banquet began, music from strings and woodwinds played in waves, and a procession of fox demons took the stage to dance.
Fox demons are inherently charming, with light gauze half-shrouding their delicate bodies, swaying hypnotically and captivating the mind.
The Demon Kings, used to drinking and feasting, had seen plenty of beautiful demons, but none as entrancing as tonight. The demon soldiers responsible for pouring wine stared blankly, not even noticing as the wine spilled.
After the dance concluded, the Demon Kings and little demons shouted together, escalating the fervent and boiling atmosphere.
"Not bad at all."
Zhou Yi praised again and again; the dance was very familiar to him and reminded him of many past events.
Ghost-become-immortal said obsequiously, "I often hear Your Majesty mentioning that a dance at the Spring Breeze Building is always a delight to watch, so I made a special request to Master Lu. He spent more than twenty years lurking around the Spring Breeze Building while researching Dual Cultivation Technique, claiming that he could rank second!"
"Indeed, a fascinating person."
Zhou Yi spoke as if it were an offhand comment, "I heard he's in Moyun City, teaching many female demons Dual Cultivation Technique, earning quite a few spirit stones?"
The Turtle Prime Minister nodded and said, "Indeed, that is the case."
The Demon Kings listened with pricked ears, inwardly cursing the cultivator for his lack of shame, employing such despicable means to earn Spirit Stones. They resolved to fiercely criticize him when they had the chance.
Zhou Yi smiled and said, "You go and tell True Person Lu to pick out those with the highest aptitude, who must be proficient in all manner of Dual Cultivation techniques, and send them to our fellow Daoists to take back to their caves."
"As you wish."
The Turtle Prime Minister immediately understood; the hardest to guard against is the one beside you. There was no need for explicit reminders, the amount of information that could be unintentionally overheard was already plenty.
"Golden Core fellow Daoist is indeed generous."
"This is the first time I have heard that the Demon race can also practice human cultivation methods."
"Perhaps the Dual Cultivation arts are different, or maybe that Daoist has thoroughly researched them!"
"Hehe, there are important matters in my cave, I must return early."
"You are too impatient!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, the Demon Kings made the scene lively.
Zhou Yi noticed that the Great Crown Prince Ao Jing maintained a calm expression, slowly savoring his drink, and did not discuss the mysteries of Dual Cultivation with the other Demon Kings. Zhou Yi secretly sent a message.
"I have specifically instructed to leave the most beautiful ones for Your Highness, ready to be taken at any time."
The Great Crown Prince coughed lightly, remaining unhurried, but quickly replied through a voice transmission.
"It is not suitable for this prince to show his face, send them directly to the Golden Scale Palace; I'm in need of a couple of maidens to sprinkle water and sweep."
"..."
Zhou Yi remembered the three sons of the Dragon Lord; their cultivation was not vastly different, but their temperaments were indeed unique.
With the Demon Emperor absent, the Dragon Lord rules the Demon race, possessing high status and power; surely, there would be much excitement to watch in the future.
The struggle for power is not limited to the mundane; even immortals, demons, gods, and Buddhas vie for face, and Nascent Soul ancestors are not free from desires and passions. All the more for Demon races that do not cultivate virtue and admire strength.
The feast continued for several days, and the Demon Kings took their leave one after another, each inviting Zhou Yi to visit their caves as a guest.
Zhou Yi agreed to each invitation, vowing to visit them in the future.
Years later.
Under the nourishment of endless longevity, the Ancient Tortoise Shell became ever more verdant, feeling moist to the touch as if it had been recently peeled from the Turtle Demon.
In his spare time, Zhou Yi visited the caves of the various Demon Kings, drinking and enjoying merry banquets.
Before long, he became familiar with the group of Demons.
On this day.
Zhou Yi pondered over the Lightning Method and studied the Emerald Peak Seal for several hours before continuing to perform the Minor Heaven Technique.
-500.
-500...
After over twenty attempts and just as he was about to stop, the tortoise shell suddenly ceased consuming longevity, and the trigram patterns on its back shone with a dazzling light.
"Is this... finally sated?"
Zhou Yi's face lit up with joy. As he waited for the tortoise shell to transform, he took out a divining cylinder to prognosticate good or ill fortune.
The divination sticks landed steadily.
A neutral result.
"Either the tortoise shell is useless, or its rank is too high, beyond the scope of the technique..."
Zhou Yi waited quietly. The palm-sized tortoise shell rapidly inflated, swelling to the size of a grindstone.
The trigram patterns twisted and changed, eventually forming a map.
The map was an inverted triangle, with an upper gateway as the entrance, a path winding its way into the center, while the other two sides were blurred and seemingly incomplete.
A stream of information entered his mind, and Zhou Yi immediately knew the origin of the tortoise shell.
"Black Tortoise Divine Beast's molt!"
"The key to the Four Spirits' Sacred Halls, one must perform a Blood Sacrifice of a million living creatures to unlock it..."