Dao of The Demonic Cultivator

This damaged artifact, jet-black and icy cold, had sharp and distinct edges. If it were intact, it would have been a perfect cubic shape. The surface of the artifact was densely covered with mysterious patterns. Looking at it for too long would make one feel dizzy and overwhelmed.

Chu Xuan could easily sense that this object was still continuously releasing powerful primordial psionic energy. After these primordial psionics merged with the air, they gradually diluted into ordinary psionics.

Primordial psionics subtly transformed everything they touched. When Chu Xuan controlled it with his spiritual sense and floated it in front of him, the primordial psionics even seemed to want to transform him.

However, once primordial psionics and Spiritual Qi encountered each other, they immediately regarded each other as mortal enemies.

In the blink of an eye, primordial psionics and Spiritual Qi formed into two great dragons, fiercely clashing and killing each other. They even treated Chu Xuan's body as the battlefield.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but frown, but he still patiently watched. Soon, these two vastly different energies determined the winner.

Spiritual Qi still surpassed primordial psionics by a large margin. The latter had no choice but to withdraw from Chu Xuan's body.

"It seems that even primordial psionics are weaker than Spiritual Qi. However, judging from the energy it contains, it's not far behind."

Chu Xuan recalled the corpulent entity he had just faced.

Compared to Spiritual Qi, primordial psionics might not match in terms of strength, power, or endurance. But in terms of vitality alone, it was exceptionally robust. It might even surpass Spiritual Qi in certain aspects.

"The energy imbued with powerful vitality... it's so incredibly useful!"

Chu Xuan stroked his chin, revealing a satisfied smile. Corpse puppets, gu insects, spirit plants... Under his command, they all eagerly awaited their daily sustenance.

"Moreover, there are rumors about a group of demonic cultivators who worship ancient body-refining techniques. They don't cultivate Qi, build foundations, or form pills; they specialize in tempering their physical bodies. They require massive amounts of meat daily. This meat must contain immense vitality to support their daily consumption for body refinement. Perhaps these primordial psionics could assist me in body refinement as well."

Chu Xuan smiled faintly.

Cultivators have always been divided into two types: those who refine qi and those who refine their bodies. The latter are also known as body cultivators.

However, body cultivators require vast amounts of demonic beast flesh and rare natural treasures. It is no longer the ancient golden age where spiritual herbs were ubiquitous. There are not enough resources to sustain a body cultivator.

The resources to sustain one body cultivator could perhaps sustain seven or eight qi cultivators. As for slaying demonic beasts to harvest their flesh, that is even more out of the question.

Combat brings the risk of injury. Injuries require the consumption of medicinal pills for healing. If one does not use medicinal pills, natural healing requires even more time. Once the cost of combat exceeds the gains, it becomes a loss not worth the effort!

Moreover, the pain involved in body refining far exceeds that of qi refining. Over time, body cultivators gradually faded from the annals of history. The mainstream became those who refine qi.

Chu Xuan only learned of the existence of body cultivators from casual conversations among cultivators. Initially, he was just listening for the sake of it. Now, it seems he really has the capability to make it a reality.

"However, I lack a body cultivation technique, so I'll set this aside for now and revisit it if the opportunity arises."

Chu Xuan noted this in his mind.

...

Elsewhere, the back door of the Science City building.

A young boy helped his elder sister to walk out quickly.

At this time, He Shengliang had even more injuries. Being a brain enhancer, he was not very adept at combat.

Yet, he had stormed the underground base, found Ji Shengyu among hundreds of cryogenic chambers, and managed to escape with him from the Science City building an hour ago.

Ji Shengyu had just recovered from her cryogenic Province. Her face was still a bit stiff and her speech was somewhat halting.

She managed a weak smile, "Little Liang... thank you... you."

He Shengliang smiled.

The two hobbled along, passing by a flagpole.

"Eh, this is..." Ji Shengyu looked puzzled.

He Shengliang smiled and said, "Let's sit here and rest a while."

Ji Shengyu nodded, "Okay."

He Shengliang pulled out a bottle of baijiu and handed it over.

Ji Shengyu took a big swig of the liquor, and her body gradually warmed up.

She laughed, "You really get me."

He Shengliang pointed at the Science City building and said calmly, "Sister Yu, you are a senior researcher at Science City, why didn't you stay there and instead chose to rescue me?"

Ji Shengyu took another large gulp, then sighed deeply, "Because I, too, came into contact with primordial psionic and awakened my talents. The City Lord used me as one of his subjects for human experimentation. To survive, I had to protect myself. At that time, you were another individual who had awakened talents; only by taking you with me could I have hoped to escape alive. Our previous memories..."

He Shengliang spoke calmly, "I've already figured out that the memories from the psychiatric hospital were fabricated."

Ji Shengyu nodded and continued drinking.

"Sister Yu, if I were to die, you'd have to keep living well on your own," He Shengliang paused, then suddenly said.

Ji Shengyu was startled, "What? Are you joking? With your calculating skills, you should be able to predict your own death, right? We've both escaped, so I don't think it's going to be today. Besides, I still need you to help me find booze."

He Shengliang chuckled and recounted the events that had happened. Finally, he said, "I made a deal with the immortal; I led him to Science City, and he gave me an hour to rescue you from the underground base. Now, you've made it out alive, and I've repaid the favor you did me by saving me back then; it's time for me to end my life."

Ji Shengyu's hand, holding the liquor bottle, began to tremble.

"You..."

He Shengliang smiled. Though he was physically just a young boy, his smile carried an immense weight of world-weariness.

"If I don't end my life, the immortal will kill both of us, and I know he truly has the means to do it. Sister Yu, I'm just a passerby in your life. Please live well."

Tears streamed down Ji Shengyu's eyes.

He Shengliang whispered, "Sister Yu, may I lie on your lap?"

"Of course," Ji Shengyu sniffled and nodded.

The young boy lay on the soft lap of his elder sister, his breathing gradually becoming lighter, and he fell asleep. A cold tear fell onto his cheek. He never woke up again.

Above on the Green Shadow Shuttle, Chu Xuan saw everything unfold. He could tell at a glance that He Shengliang had ingested poison and no longer had any signs of life.

He Shengliang had used him to block the pursuers and also leveraged his power to eliminate the nemesis, Science City. He had effectively used him twice.

A deal is a deal.

This man had to die; there was no question about it. It was just a pity to lose such a clever individual. No matter how intelligent, it is ultimately hard to contend with supreme power.

"Hmm? A tide of zombies?"

Chu Xuan looked toward the horizon, suddenly noticing a black line appearing. And it wasn't coming from one direction. It was converging from all around! Those flying in the sky and those running on the ground, all were coming. If those swimming in the water could come ashore, they probably would have joined in the excitement!