Dao of The Demonic Cultivator

The Heavenly Seal Sect, as one of the five orthodox sects, largely eschewed demonic practices prior to the outbreak of war against the native sects of Wu Province. Regardless of their clandestine use, they never openly revealed any affinity for such methods. However, as the war intensified, they were compelled to openly acknowledge these practices. Despite this shift, very few cultivators actually practiced demonic techniques.

Faced with the possibility of losing Chu Xuan as a buyer, with no other potential buyers in sight, Lu Yin felt he had no choice but to reluctantly agree. "Alright, then..."

Chu Xuan casually pointed to another thin booklet, "I have some interest in the techniques of the Golden Dragon Temple; include this method as a bonus, and I'll take it too."

He was referring to a Golden Dragon Temple's Foundation Establishment stage defensive technique, "Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree."

Lu Yin was irked.

How could he demand even more?

The Han-surnamed cultivator, who had been sitting aside enjoying tea and pastries, chuckled and said, "Fellow Daoist Spirit Insect, why not just throw it in as a bonus and sell it? After all, that technique isn't selling anyway. The Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree requires significant virtue to activate, aside from the balds of the Golden Dragon Temple, who would want it?"

After much consideration, Lu Yin nodded reluctantly, "Alright, it's yours then."

The transaction was completed.

Lu Yin, taking the Ice Toad Bell, left with a look of impatience.

Chu Xuan successfully acquired both the Boiling Blood True Decree and the Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree.

In fact, as soon as Lu Yin laid out all the booklets, Chu Xuan had set his sights on these two items.

The Boiling Blood True Decree would allow him to accelerate the regeneration of his blood, including the crucial vital essence. This would enable him to sustain more life-bound magic tools without overtaxing himself.

As for the Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree, it required a foundation of virtue to activate and held little value for most cultivators.

Lu Yin had certainly intended to sell it off as soon as possible. As expected, it also ended up in Chu Xuan's possession. Both techniques could serve as supplementary practices.

As for the risk of cultivating too many methods leading to disordered inner breath and potentially succumbing to demonic possession...

What a joke. The demonic way cares little for such concerns. Even if the day of falling into demonic possession came, there were plenty more demonic means to suppress conflicting inner energies. Otherwise, how would those senior demons have survived?

After Lu Yin departed, only Chu Xuan and the Han-surnamed cultivator remained on the third floor of the teahouse.

The Han-surnamed cultivator smiled, "Fellow Daoist, it seems you have obtained what you wanted. Are you interested in doing more business with me?"

Chu Xuan asked casually, "What else do you have?"

The Han-surnamed cultivator smiled slightly, "I not only have demonic techniques but also deal in intelligence."

Chu Xuan's eyes flashed, "Intelligence is also valuable, but how can I know the worth of your information?"

The Han-surnamed cultivator sipped his tea before speaking, "The leader of this war is about to change. I know the exact time of the change and who will take over next. Is that valuable enough?"

Chu Xuan was intrigued inwardly, but his expression remained unreadable, "That's passable."

The Han-surnamed cultivator chuckled, "I also know who's been fanning the flames behind this war. And who they plan to target next."

Chu Xuan nodded slightly, "Now that is interesting."

He took out ten large blood beads and laid them out in a line, "Let's hear the first piece."

The Han-surnamed cultivator casually pocketed them and then spoke, "Within half a month, the offensive will pause. Zhao Wuya and Huang Yuanwu, two Golden Core elders, will be recalled to the headquarters, to be replaced by Zhu Taiji, Guo Zhen, and Chu Qiong, three other Golden Core elders."

Chu Xuan's expression remained unchanged. He had heard these names mentioned by Zhao Wuya and Wan Wuying during his first visit to Flying Mountain Hall. Among them was Zhu Taiji.

Zhu was against the incorporation of the Extreme Yin Cave into the Heavenly Seal Sect, believing that demonic cultivators would always be demonic and should be eradicated without exception.

Now, with the Thousand Insects Sect on the verge of destruction, this crucial juncture saw the withdrawal of Zhao Wuya and Huang Yuanwu, to be replaced by Zhu Taiji and others.

It seemed that the number of Golden Core cultivators had increased. But the implications and the intricacies were likely far more complicated.

Chu Xuan pondered thoughtfully. Such a sudden change by the Heavenly Seal Sect would undoubtedly affect the cultivators of the Extreme Yin lineage.

The Han-surnamed cultivator smiled warmly, "Fellow Daoist, do you wish to hear more of the intelligence?"

Chu Xuan shook his head, "No need, the transaction is concluded."

With those words, he rose without hesitation and left.

The Han-surnamed cultivator stood there, somewhat baffled.

"Not interested? He just walked away?"

The subsequent intelligence was indeed more intriguing. Yet, this person decisively chose not to listen.

"He could sell a high-grade offensive magic tool from Ironwire Mountain, I thought he might be one of the Extreme Yin Cave cultivators who had slain those seven Ironwire Mountain Gu cultivators. But his disinterest in further information doesn't seem to align with that of an Extreme Yin Cave cultivator… this fellow is truly inscrutable."

The Han-surnamed cultivator muttered a few words to himself and then left the place.

On his way back to the Water Curtain Cave, Chu Xuan contemplated the conflicting interests deeply.

The war between the Heavenly Seal Sect and the native sects of Wu Province inevitably involved a third-party force, that was beyond doubt.

Divine Star Sect, Golden Dragon Temple, Miaoyin Palace, and Imperial Spirit Mountain were all possible players.

Who exactly it was, however, was irrelevant.

Chu Xuan surmised that if the Han-surnamed cultivator was aware, then the upper-level Golden Core cultivators surely knew as well.

The purpose of this third-party force's involvement was likely not as simple as merely exhausting the Heavenly Seal Sect's strength.

"Right... At the beginning of the war, Wan Wuying, Zhao Wuya, and Huang Yuanwu, the three Golden Core cultivators, snatched a precious treasure from Wu Province. Could it be related to that item? Is the third-party force also coveting that treasure?"

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up. This hypothesis was quite plausible. Given that, the next moves of this third-party force were easy to predict. They would target the Extreme Yin Cave. More specifically, they were likely to target Wan Wuying!

"Ah, it seems more waves are about to be stirred. I wonder how my nominal master will handle this. If all else fails, returning to Blue Star is always an option."

Chu Xuan wasn't particularly troubled. If he couldn't handle the situation, he'd simply pick up his bucket and run. He had little interest in getting involved in the petty disputes and skirmishes of Yu Country.

However, if after the battle he was asked to clean up the aftermath and scour the battlefield, he was quite willing to do so. It was mainly about fulfilling brotherly duties; after all, someone had to collect the bodies, right?

It definitely wasn't because he coveted their corpses and storage bags.

No, certainly not.

...

Over the next few days, Chu Xuan frequently changed his appearance and visited the nameless market to sell the items he didn't need.

He was not foolish enough to sell a large number of treasures at once. That would surely attract unwanted attention. And it could very likely expose his identity.

The high-grade offensive magic tool from Ironwire Mountain, Gu insect eggs, Thousand Insects Sect technique manuscripts...

These items could all point to one thing. That was the sudden disappearance of those seven Thousand Insects Sect Gu cultivators a while ago.

Chu Xuan didn't want to be constantly on someone's mind. His disguise techniques were exceptionally sophisticated, and he had never been seen through.

On this day, just as Chu Xuan was about to sell the last of his items, a voice transmission reached his cave dwelling.

"Chu Xuan, come to the cave-dwelling to see me immediately."

The voice belonged to his nominal master, Wan Wuying.