Chapter 65 - 65 62 Secret Technique

65: Chapter 62: Secret Technique 65: Chapter 62: Secret Technique Compared to ordinary secret manuals, scrolls are inscribed by specialized artifact refining masters, allowing them to be preserved for a much longer time. However, the cost of making scrolls is quite high, and typically only powerful Martial Arts or unique secret techniques would be stored in this way. Ye Xuan took the black scroll out of the box, carefully looked it over, and finally, his gaze rested on the blood-red small characters on the side of the scroll. Supreme Grade secret technique of the Black Demon Sect, Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill! “Indeed, it is a unique secret technique.” Ye Xuan’s pupils slightly constricted, considering that the Black Demon Sect was a Fourth Grade Sect, to think that this Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill, deemed a unique secret technique by them, its power must be formidable. Secret techniques are so called because their power far exceeds that of Martial Arts of the same grade, and as a closely guarded secret, they generally require one to pay a certain price in exchange for an increase in strength. An Earth-grade secret technique’s value and power could rival that of Heavenly Grade Martial Arts, and it was extremely precious. Slowly opening the blood-colored scroll, Ye Xuan’s gaze fell upon the first line of small text, which read thus: “To refine this technique, one must use blood as a guide, sacrificing the body to become demonic. Those who undergo Demon Transformation think only of slaughter, friend and foe indistinguishable, use with caution.” After reading the first line of the scroll, Ye Xuan was slightly moved, and he continued reading downward. In just a few minutes, he had roughly memorized the contents of the scroll. The Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill required the practitioner to burn their very blood essence, entering a state of “Demon Transformation” to greatly enhance their strength, but the side effects were quite apparent. Not only would one go berserk in battle, but the damage to the body afterward was severe—it would probably take months to return to normal. However, Ye Xuan wasn’t worried about losing his consciousness when the time came, for he still had a fragment of Martial Arts Primordial Spirit in his mind. Even if he were to undergo Demon Transformation, he would still be able to stay lucid. “This Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill might save my life at a critical moment; I should start cultivating it straight away.” In his previous life, Ye Xuan had cultivated two or three secret techniques, but the lowest grade among them was Supreme Grade. After all, secret techniques were rare and not easily found. Finding a secluded chamber, Ye Xuan sat down cross-legged, placed the scroll in front of him, and began reciting formulas under his breath. Following the method recorded on the scroll, he started to cultivate. As True Qi began to circulate within his body, his blood essence also surged throughout his body. The key to the Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill was to burn one’s blood essence, implying a readiness to sacrifice one’s body in a desperate struggle, hence the use of blood essence had to be in harmony with True Qi. About half a day into this practice, Ye Xuan’s skin turned a reddy hue, his veins protruding, and a bloody talisman faintly emerged on his forehead. At the same time, Blood Evil Qi gradually emanated from Ye Xuan’s body, and from the corners of his mouth and eyes, traces of blood spread out, giving him an exceptionally eerie appearance. In that instant, feelings of violence rose spontaneously in Ye Xuan’s mind, with the murderous and crazed aura from the bloody scroll trying to invade the depths of his soul, as if to turn Ye Xuan into a demon lord. “Hmph!” Ye Xuan let out a cold snort. Even if an Earth-grade secret technique could erode one’s mind, with his steadfast willpower and mental fortitude, these negative emotions naturally wouldn’t sway his true nature. After two or three hours, the bloody talisman on Ye Xuan’s forehead gradually faded away, and the redness on his skin also dissipated quickly, returning to normal. When that bestial rage retreated from his heart like a receding tide, Ye Xuan felt a deep weakness throughout his body, his complexion turned pale, looking extremely tired. This mental confrontation was far more exhausting than any physical one could be. Ordinary people who cultivated the Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill would undoubtedly have left a trace of a Heart Demon, which would grow stronger during cultivation, gradually warping their true nature, eventually turning them into a killing frenzy. Most strong practitioners of the Demon Path died not at the hands of others, but by their own. However, Ye Xuan had already erased all the negative auras, and there wouldn’t be any problems in his cultivation of the Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill. Nevertheless, the Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill was inherently very demonic, undoubtedly viewed as a perverse and heretical technique by the righteous Sects of the Tiannan Region. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, at the brink of life and death, Ye Xuan could not easily employ the technique, and the huge cost involved also meant he couldn’t use it recklessly. After gaining a preliminary grasp of the Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill, Ye Xuan couldn’t help but look at the desiccated corpse on the stone chair, he then bowed three times respectfully. Although the other was a martial practitioner of the Demon Path, this had nothing to do with him. What the person left behind was a great help, and as someone who is clear about gratitude and grudges, Ye Xuan always gave thanks where it was due. After paying respects to the corpse of Lord Bright King, Ye Xuan returned to the first chamber and collected all the gold and jade that was piled up like a small mountain into his Qiankun Ring. This wealth could still be very useful for now. “It’s time to leave.” After completing these tasks, Ye Xuan was ready to leave. Anything of use in this underground chamber had been adequately collected by him. There was no need to stay any longer. “That scaly giant serpent must still be guarding the entrance. It’s definitely impossible to go back the same way. There must be another exit in this chamber.” Ye Xuan looked around. It wasn’t feasible to build a chamber underground with only one passage. Should an accident happen and the passage collapse, one could be trapped to die here. The owner of the chamber must have left other exits as a precaution. At first glance, it seemed like all sides were sealed off, but judging from the traps encountered before entering, the owner of this stone chamber had clearly dedicated some time to studying the art of traps; it was very likely that there were hidden passages around. Taking a few steps forward, Ye Xuan gently tapped the wall and began searching. Thud, thud! Suddenly, a distinctly different sound came from before, and Ye Xuan’s eyes narrowed. Judging by the sound, there should be a hollow space behind this wall. A glint flashed in his eyes as Ye Xuan raised his palm and struck the stone wall. Instantly, dust scattered from the surface of the wall, and large clumps of earth fell sporadically to the ground. And at the same time, a stone door also appeared in front of him, with a circular mechanism located at its center. He reached out, pressed the mechanism, and with a gentle twist, a “rumble” sounded, and the stone door began to turn, revealing a deep, dark passage. “Indeed, there’s a secret passage.” Ye Xuan exhaled, then picked up a piece of bone from the ground and tossed it into the passage. After confirming that there were no traps, he felt relieved and proceeded cautiously into the passage. The passage was winding and intricate, but as he moved along, Ye Xuan could feel himself gradually getting closer to the ground. This reassured him completely. This secret passage must be leading to an exit to the surface. Just as Ye Xuan had been advancing for about several minutes, footsteps suddenly came from around a corner ahead, followed shortly by two sneaky voices, “Hehe, who would have thought that we could actually discover the final resting place of Lord Bright King. We really are lucky, this time we’re sure to make a huge haul.” S~eaʀᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “Of course, setting aside other treasures for the moment, Lord Bright King was wearing the Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill that our Black Demon Sacred Sect had lost. If we could acquire it and present it to Lord Ghost General, that would be a great achievement.” “Lord Ghost General has long coveted the Blood Demon Body Sacrifice Skill. If we can find it for him, he might be so pleased that he’ll pass on the remaining parts of the Absorption Star Demon Skill to us. By then, our status in the Sect will surely rise significantly.” “…” Hearing these words without missing a single one, Ye Xuan’s expression changed, Black Demon Sacred Sect? Vampire Duke? Could these people be remnants of the destroyed Black Demon Sect? This was troublesome. Even if he didn’t want to conflict with these remnants of the Black Demon Sect, would they let him go easily upon discovering him in this passage? His possession of the Qiankun Ring from Lord Bright King would surely seal his fate with death. After learning the identities of the newcomers, Ye Xuan’s first instinct was to retreat, but then he thought again, there was nowhere to hide behind, and no way out. Where could he possibly hide? It might be better to strike first. While they were unprepared, he could take them by surprise. With his mind set, a murderous intent flashed in Ye Xuan’s eyes. He swiftly drew his Star-cutting Saber and, like a wraith, leapt forward, using the stone walls on either side. Upon turning a corner, he slashed fiercely at one of the figures. “Who?” The sudden appearance of Ye Xuan took the two sneaky men in black by surprise, and the taller and skinnier one, seeing the saber’s light bearing down, had no time to use a weapon and could only try to block with his bare hand. With a “crack,” his arm was instantly severed and flew off, followed by a piercing scream of agony. “Die!” After severing the tall, skinny man in black’s right hand, Ye Xuan didn’t relax for a moment. He followed up with a ferocious palm strike to his chest, sending him flying back, coughing up blood. “You little shit, you’re courting death!” Ye Xuan had moved too quickly and his attack was too sudden. It wasn’t until he had grievously injured the tall man that the other, slightly plump man in black realized what was happening. He cursed furiously and swung his saber at Ye Xuan’s back. Not having enough time to turn around, Ye Xuan merely sidestepped slightly with his left foot and then, saber in the left hand and palm with the right, he unleashed the third form of the Heavenly Water Palm Skill, Cloud Sea Waves, launching it bravely. The surging True Qi was like a vast ocean of clouds, furious and unstoppable. It collided fiercely with the incoming saber aura, sending the attacker flying back, hitting the stone walls of the passage, and spewing out fresh blood. “How is this possible?” Disbelief spread across the plump man’s face, how could he, a mere Fourth Grade Martial Master, be repelled by a single palm strike? In fact, both men in black were quite strong; the skinny one was at the level of a Seventh Grade Martial Master, while the plump middle-aged man was also a Sixth Grade Martial Master. If it had been a straight fight, Ye Xuan would have had no chance, but by seizing the advantage of a surprise attack, he had disabled the tall man’s right hand and followed up with a serious injury, thus turning the tables.