Panel upgrade!
Starting tomorrow, all experience gained will be doubled!
With daily settlements granting double experience, wouldn't this unorthodox method of his skyrocket his progress even further?
Currently, without using the Corpse-Nurturing Curse to cultivate the black ghoul and relying solely on the Corpse-Nurturing Pearl, the black ghoul gains 18 experience points per day. Over the past ten days, combined with capturing wandering souls, its experience has already reached 250/500.
Under normal circumstances, the remaining 250 experience points would take about thirteen more days to accumulate. But with experience doubled...
Not even seven days!
In less than seven days, the black ghoul would advance from its initial stage to the mid-stage.
At that point, with the black ghoul enhanced by the second layer of Blood-Refining Body, even encountering ghost cultivators at night would no longer be a concern.
Take today's spoils as an example—
Even when the night was at its peak, the black ghoul was able to subdue enemies with ease.
Moreover, with double experience, Blood-Refining Body could also advance rapidly. Currently, its experience was at 120/1000.
To reach the third layer without using a cultivator's refined blood, it would normally take around seventy-three more days.
But with double experience, only about thirty-six days!
Thirty-six days.
And the Blood-Refining Body would step into the third layer!
Just thinking about it sent chills down Wen Jiu's spine.
Based on its current effectiveness against wandering souls, the second layer of Blood-Refining Body was already enough to break through the defenses of typical Qi Refining Stage 2 ghosts. Once it reached the third layer, even ghost cultivators comparable to Qi Refining Stage 3 would likely be powerless against it.
Looking at it on a larger scale—
Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivators, like Li Ye and Wang Nian, might not even be able to inflict substantial damage on the black ghoul.
Of course—
That was assuming they didn't use specialized techniques or talismans designed to counter ghouls.
Though Wen Jiu wasn't yet certain whether such techniques or talismans could suppress the black ghoul's Blood-Refining Body, he chose to assume that they could.
That way—
He wouldn't get reckless.
He wouldn't underestimate his enemies.
Cultivating immortality—
Required caution.
Practicing unorthodox methods—
Demanded even greater caution!
…
Wen Jiu's gaze fell on his personal panel, where the black ghoul had unexpectedly acquired a new skill.
[Black Ghoul Skills: Blood-Refining Body (Second Layer) (120/1000) + Ghost Art: Three Rivers Ghost Veil (Beginner) (0/100) +]
A description followed:
[Three Rivers Ghost Veil - Ghost Art]
[A corpse and a ghost walk different paths; their techniques are incompatible. However, the black ghoul, having undergone mutation, is no ordinary ghoul. It can transform corpse energy and yin energy into ghost energy, allowing it to perform ghost arts. Three Rivers Ghost Veil has three layers. Upon reaching the third layer, the user can remain hidden for extended periods in darkness and daylight alike—concealing their aura, altering their energy signature, and silencing their presence. Ordinary cultivators cannot detect it, and only techniques or talismans designed to break stealth can reveal it.]
"Ghost arts!"
Wen Jiu stared at the panel in a daze.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
He hadn't expected that devouring a wandering soul and a ghost cultivator would grant him such an unexpected reward.
It seemed his strategy of seeking out wandering souls during the day while feigning weakness was absolutely correct—otherwise, the prey might have escaped.
Then, he noticed the "+" symbol next to the skill.
It could still be upgraded.
Wen Jiu tapped it immediately.
Corpse Energy -1
[Remaining Corpse Energy: 119]
"Good thing I have a habit of stockpiling."
Wen Jiu instantly allocated 100 experience points to the skill.
Three Rivers Ghost Veil advanced to the first layer.
[Black Ghoul Skills: Blood-Refining Body (Second Layer) (120/1000) + Ghost Art: Three Rivers Ghost Veil (First Layer) (0/500) +]
…
The next day.
Wen Jiu eagerly led the black ghoul deep into a land of corpses to test out Three Rivers Ghost Veil.
With just a thought, surging corpse energy instantly transformed into eerie black ghost energy, shrouding the black ghoul in invisibility.
Even at close range—
If not for his spiritual connection with it—
Wen Jiu wouldn't have been able to sense its presence. Even scanning the area with his divine sense revealed nothing.
Absolutely absurd.
The most terrifying part was that after using the ghost art, the black ghoul's entire corpse energy had converted into ghost energy—
Completely enveloping it.
Its form was obscured.
As if standing before him wasn't a ghoul at all, but a true ghost cultivator.
"Perhaps… this technique could prove invaluable at a critical moment."
Wen Jiu made up his mind—
This ability must never be exposed.
Then—
He began testing how long Three Rivers Ghost Veil could remain active.
As expected.
It didn't take long.
Just fifty short breaths.
But that was enough.
…
Evening.
The sky was painted with hues of red as the sun began to set.
From the distant mountains, the cries of celestial cranes and the roars of strange beasts echoed endlessly.
Above, in the sea of clouds, cultivators could be seen flying past—some riding swords, others aboard flying vessels.
If one were to look only at this scene, they might believe this was a land of immortals, a paradise that countless people dreamed of—a place to pursue the path of cultivation.
On the dusty yellow dirt road, Wen Ya carried a large porcelain bowl with both hands, carefully making her way toward where Wen Jiu lived. Her face was full of anticipation and warmth.
She passed wooden huts one after another.
She walked through narrow winding paths.
It was then that three figures—Fang Zheng and his two companions—happened to be on their way home and crossed paths with Wen Ya. After walking just a few steps past her, they stopped.
The three exchanged glances.
They had recognized her—Wen Jiu's elder sister.
"Our chance has come," Fang Zheng spoke.
The other two nodded.
Then, together, they approached Wen Ya.
"Wen Ya-jie?"
Fang Zheng called out to her.
Wen Ya froze for a moment. She turned to look at Fang Zheng and saw him walking toward her. Instinctively, she took a step back.
"So it really is you, Wen Ya-jie… Wen Dao-you often talks about you. He says he has a wonderful elder sister who brings him food every day. I never thought we'd actually run into you."
Fang Zheng smiled brightly, stopping at a respectful half-zhang distance from her.
Not too close.
But not too far either.
Just enough to lower Wen Ya's guard.
"It's nothing, really," Wen Ya responded with a smile.
But before she could say more, Fang Zheng's expression suddenly grew serious, and he spoke again.
"Since you're Wen Dao-you's older sister, there's something I'm not sure if I should say… It concerns him."
"Go on!" The moment she heard it was about her younger brother, Wen Ya immediately urged him to continue.
Fang Zheng exchanged glances with his companions before lowering his voice.
"Wen Dao-you refused to listen to our advice and insisted on choosing a path of unorthodox cultivation… I recently heard that Steward Xu absolutely detests those who follow unorthodox paths—because his father was killed by one!"
"What?!"
Wen Ya's face turned pale.
She suddenly recalled the look of utter loathing on Old Lady Xu's face whenever she mentioned unorthodox cultivation.
Fang Zheng sighed, shaking his head.
"That's not all. I also heard that the Juyi Hall has taken an interest in Wen Dao-you. But he refuses to join… I really don't understand what he's thinking. Juyi Hall was founded by an official from the Night Patrol Division, and it has a powerful steward backing it. If he joined, he'd have strong support."
Wen Ya's expression changed again.
"That brat…"
She wanted to say something but hesitated.
A hint of suspicion crept into her mind.
Why were they telling her this?
"I'll talk to him," Wen Ya replied vaguely, intending to leave.
But Fang Zheng quickly stepped in front of her.
"Wen Ya-jie, actually, I have a solution."
"What solution?"
Wen Ya stopped moving.
She instinctively took two steps back.
"It's simple. If you join Juyi Hall, I refuse to believe that Wen Dao-you would still refuse after that."
Fang Zheng finished speaking, a sly smile forming in his heart.
He was only waiting for Wen Ya to agree.
"I can't… I'm just a lowly servant…"
Wen Ya quickly shook her head.
But Fang Zheng insisted, "Wen Ya-jie, I have connections."
"This…"
Wen Ya hesitated.
She didn't dare to leave just yet.
After all, at the end of the day, she was just a servant.
And these three carried themselves with confidence. They were clearly from a powerful background.
Seeing this, Fang Zheng didn't press further. Instead, he smiled and said, "No worries, Wen Ya-jie. You can think about it… But you'd best not tell Wen Dao-you about this. If he finds out, he'll definitely try to stop you."
"…Alright."
Wen Ya nodded.
After exchanging a few more polite words, she quickly left.
Once she was gone, Fang Zheng and his companions exchanged glances.
One of them, looking uneasy, spoke up.
"Brother Fang, I feel like she didn't believe us. She'll probably turn around and tell him everything."
Fang Zheng smirked.
"Believe or not, tell or not—it doesn't matter. Juyi Hall has a grudge against Steward Xu. As long as I spread the word that Wen Ya has been in contact with Juyi Hall, the Xu family will almost certainly be enraged… Do you really think a mere servant girl could still secure her place as a concubine?
And once that happens… Wen Jiu will be left with nowhere to go.
He'll be completely at our mercy."
A cunning grin spread across Fang Zheng's face.
Recruit Wen Jiu?
No.
He wanted to force Wen Jiu into a dead end.
An unorthodox cultivator.
First-layer Qi Refinement?
You don't want to join?
Well, I wouldn't take you even if you begged.