"Leave this drop of Skeleton Heavenly Demon essence blood with me, and I'll help you trade it for another kind of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood you need."
"Furthermore, let's set a time limit—within one month, I will definitely procure a drop of another spiritual heavenly demon essence blood for you."
"Of course, you won't need to pay anything else. You just have to do me a small favor."
Zhao Yuanshan spoke with a beaming smile.
"A small favor?"
"Speak. What do you need me to do?"
Lu Changsheng did not agree right away, choosing to inquire carefully instead.
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to my cave dwelling."
With a wave of his hand, Zhao Yuanshan had someone beside him tend to the stall.
And so, Lu Changsheng followed Zhao Yuanshan to his cave dwelling.
Zhao Yuanshan's cave dwelling was far from luxurious. On the contrary, it appeared quite spartan.
As if noticing Lu Changsheng's surprise, Zhao Yuanshan sighed with emotion. "My talent is actually quite mediocre. Forging a Dao Foundation was already pushing my limits. As for comprehending a law? That was simply too difficult."
"Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn't have been able to comprehend a single law in my entire life. But by doing business and trading heavenly demon essence blood, relying on drop after drop of it, I forced myself to comprehend a law."
"Now, I have another extravagant hope—to condense a divine ability. Even though the chances are minuscule, as long as I have enough essence blood, it isn't impossible. If others only need a few drops, then I'll use dozens!"
"As long as the quantity stacks high enough, a qualitative leap will come one day."
Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Zhao Yuanshan, who seemed so easygoing on the surface, to be someone with an 'ideal'—and such a determined one at that.
Zhao Yuanshan intended to brute-force his chances of comprehending laws purely through sheer volume of heavenly demon essence blood. Where others used one drop, he would use ten.
This was indeed a viable approach, though it would consume an enormous amount of heavenly demon essence blood. Whether he could succeed depended on Zhao Yuanshan's luck, but it was a ray of hope nonetheless.
"Zhao Yuanshan, what way do you have to secure a drop of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood for me?" Lu Changsheng asked.
Zhao Yuanshan pondered for a moment before speaking. "I naturally have my methods. In any case, as long as you hand over that drop of Skeleton Heavenly Demon essence blood, I guarantee I can trade it for another type of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood for you."
"However, the premise is that you must do something for me."
"What is it?"
Lu Changsheng had known there would be conditions; otherwise, Zhao Yuanshan would not have gone out of his way to help him.
"Very simple: kill someone!"
"Twenty years ago, a martial artist borrowed a drop of heavenly demon essence blood from me."
"Yet twenty years have passed, and he hasn't returned a single drop. Within ten years, he only needed to return two drops; within twenty years, he needed to return three."
"Once twenty years have passed, it means he intends to welsh on the debt. Toward welchers, I show no mercy—I simply hire someone to execute them, taking a total loss on that initial drop."
"That man is named Mo Lei, a veteran Dao Foundation expert who has mastered an Ice Law. He has cultivated a pinnacle divine technique, though it hasn't reached perfection. Furthermore, he hails from the Huangtian Sect..."
Zhao Yuanshan laid out detailed intelligence on Mo Lei.
"Wait. If he's from the Huangtian Sect, why would he borrow essence blood from you?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"Who said I only do business within the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect?"
"It's true that I'm a Dao Foundation martial artist of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, but my business spans the entire Ancient Region. Leave alone the Huangtian Sect, I do business with all the other major martial sects as well," Zhao Yuanshan replied with a faint smile.
Lu Changsheng understood. No wonder Zhao Yuanshan possessed such far-reaching connections and could trade for a drop of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood on short notice. His business was by no means limited to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect; other sects and factions traded with him as well.
"Mo Lei, is it?"
Lu Changsheng thought it over, then said in a deep voice, "I can slay Mo Lei, but I must receive a drop of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood first."
Lu Changsheng had weighed the matter carefully. Mo Lei wielded an Ice Law, which theoretically countered Lu Changsheng's Flame Law to some extent. Moreover, Mo Lei had cultivated the Ice Law for a long time, so his progress was definitely higher than Lu Changsheng's 4% in the Flame Law.
However, Mo Lei's divine technique was likely inferior to Lu Changsheng's, as not just anyone could easily bring a pinnacle divine technique to perfection. His brain domain was probably weaker as well. If they truly clashed in battle, Lu Changsheng might hold some advantages, but slaying Mo Lei was not guaranteed, and unexpected variables could arise.
Yet if Lu Changsheng mastered the Spiritual Law beforehand, dealing with Mo Lei would become an absolute certainty.
Zhao Yuanshan deliberated for a moment before slapping his thigh in decision. "Giving you a drop of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood first is fine."
"However, starting from today, you must make your move within three months!"
"No problem," Lu Changsheng nodded.
Once the spiritual heavenly demon essence blood was in hand, he could contemplate the Spiritual Law right away and master it completely. By then, he would wield two laws. Dealing with a mere Mo Lei would certainly pose no challenge.
"Three days from now, you will receive a drop of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood." Zhao Yuanshan finalized the timeframe.
Lu Changsheng then returned to his cave dwelling to wait quietly.
In the blink of an eye, three days slipped by.
Lu Changsheng was inside his cave dwelling when he suddenly rose and stepped outside.
Waiting outside was Zhao Yuanshan.
"One drop of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood." Zhao Yuanshan handed Lu Changsheng a porcelain vial directly.
Lu Changsheng opened it and sensed its aura briefly, feeling immense delight inside. This Zhao Yuanshan was remarkably efficient. When he said three days, it was three days, without the slightest delay.
Lu Changsheng immediately returned inside his cave dwelling and began contemplating this drop of spiritual heavenly demon essence blood.
Compared to the Skeleton Heavenly Demon essence blood, this drop seemed slightly weaker. But that did not matter; the progress of Lu Changsheng's Spiritual Law Seed had already reached 60%. With only 40% remaining before he fully comprehended the Spiritual Law, even if this drop was slightly less potent, raising his progress by 40% would not be an issue.
With that, Lu Changsheng began his contemplation.
One hour, two hours, three hours...
Lu Changsheng slowly absorbed its insights. Having already comprehended a law before, he was thoroughly familiar with the process. During his contemplation, the progress of his Spiritual Law Seed soared rapidly.
70%, 80%, 90%, 99%...
*Boom.*
A day later, a violent tremor shook Lu Changsheng's brain domain.
Within his brain domain, Lu Changsheng had successfully condensed a brand-new law: the Spiritual Law!
Spiritual laws were exceptionally rare; very few people could master them. Yet once mastered, one's combat power was bound to be extraordinarily formidable. After all, many martial artists, Dao Lords, and demons were relatively weak on the spiritual plane, as few specialized in cultivating the spirit. With the Spiritual Law formed, Lu Changsheng's combat power undeniably skyrocketed!
"Wait, did my Golden Mind Sword change?"
Lu Changsheng keenly sensed that the Golden Mind Sword, which had remained stagnant for so long, had finally shown movement. Though minuscule, its progress had advanced from 1% to 2%.
"Does the Golden Mind Sword require the Spiritual Law to nourish it before it can advance?"
Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised. It seemed the Golden Mind Sword was truly extraordinary. He wondered how it compared to genuine spiritual divine techniques.
Lu Changsheng was already eager to select a spiritual divine technique.
"Now that the Spiritual Law is formed, the next step is to choose a spiritual divine technique."
Lu Changsheng rose and went straight to the Divine Technique Hall.
In truth, wielding the Spiritual Law on its own was already terrifyingly potent, but channeling it through a divine technique would undoubtedly make it far more powerful.
Lu Changsheng entered the Divine Technique Hall, strolling through the shelves to search for all kinds of spiritual divine techniques. In reality, there were very few—no more than ten in total. Compared to other types, the number was pitifully small, which indirectly proved just how scarce Dao Foundation martial artists who cultivated spiritual laws were across the entire Ancient Region.
"Actually, what I should practice most is a compound divine technique—one that combines several laws, with power several times or even tenfold greater than a single divine technique!"
Lu Changsheng scanned the entire hall, yet failed to find a single compound divine technique involving the Spiritual Law.
Spiritual laws were already exceedingly rare; wanting one combined with other laws into a compound divine technique was far too difficult.
"The more common a law is, the more compound divine techniques are created for it. The rarer the law, the fewer compound divine techniques exist. After all, divine techniques are created by martial artists. Only when many people cultivate a particular law do they actively innovate and create techniques for it."
Many thoughts flashed through Lu Changsheng's mind. It was only natural that he could not find a compound divine technique involving the Spiritual Law. Still, a standalone spiritual divine technique was already quite good.
With few options available, Lu Changsheng directly chose one of the pinnacle spiritual divine techniques: Spiritual Millstone.
Once unleashed, this divine technique was like a colossal millstone, ruthlessly grinding the spirit to pieces. It was an extremely terrifying offensive divine technique—and likewise a pinnacle technique!
Cultivating this pinnacle spiritual divine technique was extraordinarily difficult; even achieving initial mastery presented layer upon layer of obstacles. Yet Lu Changsheng did not care in the slightest. He exchanged for the technique, returned straight to his cave dwelling, and began cultivating.
One day, two days, three days...
It had to be said that achieving initial mastery of the Spiritual Millstone was indeed brutally hard. First, one had to rearrange and recombine the Spiritual Law in an intricate fashion to construct a massive spiritual millstone capable of crushing the spirit. It was fiercely offensive. This step alone was far more difficult than cultivating the Void Burning Divine Technique had been.
However, Lu Changsheng's comprehension was horrifying. Over ten thousand points of comprehension exerted immense power at this moment.
Three days later, a massive millstone abruptly materialized above Lu Changsheng's head. It appeared completely solid, hovering above him and radiating a frightening pressure.
"Go."
The millstone above Lu Changsheng flashed and vanished, shifting instantaneously to the wall as if teleporting, before sinking into the stone. Yet the wall showed no change whatsoever.
Lu Changsheng was pensive. "The Spiritual Millstone is, after all, a spiritual divine technique. Unleashed through the Spiritual Law, it targets the spiritual realm."
He had no way to test the Spiritual Millstone right now, but he believed its effect would be formidable. Still, this was merely initial mastery. Lu Changsheng continued his contemplation; he had to bring the Spiritual Millstone to complete perfection.
Ten days, one month, two months...
This time, Lu Changsheng contemplated for two full months.
*Spiritual Millstone Divine Technique perfected. Comprehension increased by 1,000 points.*
A line of small characters appeared before Lu Changsheng's eyes.
"The Spiritual Millstone is perfected?"
Lu Changsheng was slightly dazed. Two months was actually quite long. The cultivation difficulty of the Spiritual Millstone was indeed much higher than that of the Void Burning Divine Technique. With the Void Burning Divine Technique, Lu Changsheng had achieved initial mastery in a single day and perfected it in a month. But with the Spiritual Millstone? It had taken him three days for initial mastery and two months to reach perfection, which showed just how difficult it was.
Nevertheless, it was finally perfected.
With that, Lu Changsheng pulled up his attribute panel.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 16,501 (Dragon and Phoenix Among Men)
Spiritual Law: 7% (Progress)
Flame Law: 10% (Progress)
Spiritual Millstone: Perfection
Mind Sword Mantra Formula: 7% Progress (Golden Mind Sword)
Lu Changsheng saw that the progress of the Spiritual Law and Flame Law advanced by about 3% per month, even without heavenly demon essence blood. Furthermore, there was another change in the Mind Sword Mantra Formula: it seemed to match the progress of the Spiritual Law.
"What use does the Mind Sword Mantra Formula have now? Even if the Golden Mind Sword transforms again, what can it become? No matter how it transforms, it probably won't match a spiritual law, let alone a spiritual divine technique."
Lu Changsheng had looked forward to the Golden Mind Sword before. But ever since he comprehended the Spiritual Law, he had seen through its mysteries. He thoroughly understood that the Golden Mind Sword was ultimately just a secret method. Even if it transformed again and its power changed drastically, it would still fall short of a spiritual law and a spiritual divine technique. Laws were the foundation of everything!
In truth, the Mind Sword Mantra Formula was a secret method designed to help martial artists comprehend the Spiritual Law. It was just that its requirements for comprehension were too high, making it practically useless. Given Lu Changsheng's comprehension, he hadn't even been able to advance the Golden Mind Sword back then—how could any other martial artist hope to grasp the Spiritual Law through the Mind Sword Mantra Formula? Impossible!
"Forget it. The Mind Sword Mantra Formula is of no use to me now..."
With a thought from Lu Changsheng—
*Crack.*
The Golden Mind Sword dispersed on its own. It had always been nourished within his brain domain, but now Lu Changsheng actively dissolved it. Naturally, he could still manifest it at any time, but he allowed it to merge into his brain domain as "nourishment" for the Spiritual Law.
As the Golden Mind Sword dispersed, the progress of Lu Changsheng's Spiritual Law instantly jumped from 7% by 5%, reaching 12% and surpassing the Flame Law. This was the foundation the Golden Mind Sword had provided: a 5% increase in Spiritual Law progress. It was not bad at all.
Although he would no longer advance the Golden Mind Sword, he now possessed the perfected Spiritual Millstone Divine Technique. Far from decreasing, his strength had surged dramatically! Lu Changsheng now possessed both the Void Burning Divine Technique and the Spiritual Millstone Divine Technique, both at the perfection realm. Moreover, he wielded two laws: Spiritual and Flame. His current strength was deservedly comparable to the pinnacle Dao Foundations.
"Counting the time, two months have passed. It's about time to deal with Mo Lei. But for intelligence on him, I still need to see Zhao Yuanshan."
Lu Changsheng left his cave dwelling and walked toward the Trading Hall.
Soon, he found Zhao Yuanshan. He still remembered their agreement: he had to act against Mo Lei within three months.
"I am ready to act. Where is the detailed intelligence on Mo Lei?" Lu Changsheng asked straight to the point.
"Mo Lei... In recent years, he has likely been guarding against me and rarely left the Huangtian Sect's outpost. However, he hasn't been able to sit still lately. Aside from the Ice Law, he possesses a Wind Law Seed and wants to comprehend the Wind Law. Thus, Mo Lei has gone to Hidden Mist Mountain. From time to time, wind-attributed heavenly demons appear there, and it is the place with the highest concentration of wind-attributed demons. But once Mo Lei entered Hidden Mist Mountain, his whereabouts became unknown. I don't know his exact location either, so you'll have to search for him there yourself," Zhao Yuanshan said.
Lu Changsheng nodded. He naturally knew of Hidden Mist Mountain. It was a gathering ground for demons, predominantly wind-attributed ones. Wind-attributed demons were extremely troublesome due to their high speed, and capturing a wind-attributed heavenly demon was even harder. Combined with Hidden Mist Mountain's unique environment, venturing into it was actually quite dangerous.
Of course, that only applied to Dao Foundation martial artists who had not comprehended a law. If one possessed a law, one could venture throughout almost the entire third layer of the Ancient Region. A Dao Foundation expert backed by a law would not perish so easily.
"All right." Lu Changsheng said no more, turning and leaving directly.
Soon afterward, he left the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect's outpost and rushed toward Hidden Mist Mountain.
Hidden Mist Mountain was shrouded year-round in a layer of white mist. Inside the mountain, everything was a hazy expanse of white. As a gathering ground for wind-attributed demons, violent gales raged frequently. Strangely, however, the howling winds could never fully disperse the mist; rather, they kept the fog churning constantly, lending Hidden Mist Mountain an aura of profound mystery.
At this moment, three figures were traversing the mist-shrouded mountain.
"Mo Lei, we've been in Hidden Mist Mountain for a full month now. Where is the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon you spoke of?"
"That's right, Mo Lei. You said there were three Wind-Winged Heavenly Demons in Hidden Mist Mountain and that if we joined forces, each of us could get a drop of essence blood. That's why we came with you. Yet a month has passed, and we haven't even seen a glimpse of one."
"If we can't find them..."
The two men looked grim. They were only casual acquaintances with Mo Lei; their willingness to join forces was entirely due to the grand promises he had painted. Who would have thought that after a month in Hidden Mist Mountain, they would have nothing to show for it?
"Don't be impatient, soon," Mo Lei said calmly. "Keep searching. There are definitely three Wind-Winged Heavenly Demons!"
In truth, he had watched Hidden Mist Mountain for a long time. Originally, he had wanted to take on the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demons alone and claim all three for himself. Unfortunately, their speed was too great; if one was attacked, the other two would arrive in time to reinforce it. Mo Lei could never handle all three on his own.
"Fine, then let's keep searching!"
The three continued their search, prepared to stay for three to five months if necessary. Above all, they had to find the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demons.
*Boom.*
Suddenly, a violent roar resonated from the distance.
"Someone is fighting?"
"Let's go look..."
The three immediately flew toward the sound.
Before long, they spotted the commotion ahead.
"It's a Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon!"
"It really is!"
"Someone beat us to it. But he's alone, and he only commands a single law."
Mo Lei and the other two exchanged glances, thoughts stirring in their minds. They did not act rashly, slowly drawing closer and watching from the sidelines. After all, who knew if that martial artist was hiding his true strength?
However, after watching for an hour and seeing that the fighter could not overcome the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon, they confirmed that he indeed possessed only a single law and limited strength, entirely incapable of subduing the beast.
Having confirmed his power, what reservations did they have left? They would simply snatch it!
"Sir, we have tracked this Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon for months and have finally found it."
"Indeed. We already fought this beast before, and it only barely escaped. We must ask you to leave at once."
The three surrounded the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon, their eyes fixed on the solitary Dao Foundation expert who wielded only one law. Their intention could not be clearer.
"You..."
The martial artist's expression was ugly. He actually still had methods to handle the beast, but it would take a long time. Now three powerful Dao Foundation experts had arrived, glaring at him hungrily, clearly bent on seizing the kill. But what could he do? All three radiated the aura of laws, meaning each commanded at least one. Facing three united experts, if he dared contest the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon any further, his own life would be in peril.
"Withdraw!"
The Dao Foundation martial artist made a split-second decision, showing remarkable decisiveness. In a situation like this, retreat was the only choice. Pulling back immediately, he retreated several li.
Mo Lei and his companions grinned, quickly closing in to besiege the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon. This was likely a straggler. They had to slay it as fast as possible and leave; otherwise, if a second or third appeared, they would be in serious trouble.
With formidable strength, the three unleashed their laws upon the demon. In just moments, the creature began to buckle under the assault, roaring and wailing in agony.
Watching from several li away, the retreating martial artist clenched his fists, resentment written all over his face. He was the one who had found the beast, only to be driven away.
"These three... must be Dao Foundation martial artists of the Huangtian Sect!"
Yet even knowing their sect, he could do nothing. Not one of them was weaker than him.
Just as the three were on the verge of finishing the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon, the mist churned. A figure emerged through the roiling fog, striding toward the demon—or rather, toward the three of them.
"Mo Lei of the Huangtian Sect!"
"Do you still remember your debt from twenty years ago?"
The voice boomed, echoing in everyone's ears.
"A debt from twenty years ago?"
"You are... Zhao Yuanshan's man!"
Mo Lei's face shifted abruptly. But seeing that Lu Changsheng was alone while he had three on his side, a vicious glint flashed in Mo Lei's eyes.
"Zhao Yuanshan actually sent someone. But you shouldn't have chased me all the way to Hidden Mist Mountain—and you certainly shouldn't have come alone."
"Because you're going to die!"
Baleful aura roiled around Mo Lei, murder radiating from him. He intended to turn the tables and kill Lu Changsheng!
"Brothers, lend me a hand and help me slay this man!"
Mo Lei's companions hesitated slightly, but ultimately took a step forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
Lu Changsheng glanced at the three.
"I have come only for Mo Lei. If you stand in my way, I will kill you along with him."
"Are you certain you wish to die with Mo Lei?"
Standing with hands clasped behind his back, Lu Changsheng spoke with calm arrogance.
At the same time, without the slightest hesitation, Lu Changsheng unleashed his brain domain.
*Boom.*
As his brain domain descended, a horrifying pressure clamped down upon all three men. In an instant, their expressions changed drastically.
"Don't misunderstand! We have little to do with Mo Lei—we only formed a team to hunt the Wind-Winged Heavenly Demon!"
"Since this is a personal grudge, we won't interfere!"
With that, the other two made an immediate decision, disengaging swiftly and retreating several li away to make their stance clear.
In an instant, Mo Lei's heart sank, his face turning thoroughly grim.
Chapter 190