"To break through the blockade, I must disguise myself with a suitable identity."
"First, I need a complete transformation—changing my appearance, aura, physical form, and even the fluctuations of my magical energy."
Ye Bufan pondered his plan. Once decided, he sent Lü Luo to the Scripture Pavilion to search for such techniques and to exchange her contribution points for demonic cultivation methods suitable for the Foundation Establishment stage.
He specifically instructed her to prioritize techniques that allowed for rapid cultivation progress and immense magical power.
Lü Luo's face paled, her reluctance evident. But as a blade to the chopping block, she had no choice. With a heavy heart, she set off for the Scripture Pavilion.
"Keeping her as a servant has its uses. Before leaving, I might as well squeeze out a few more techniques."
Ye Bufan wasn't worried about Lü Luo betraying him. With her soul blood in his grasp, even a Golden Core cultivator would struggle to save her life.
Soon after, Ye Bufan began cultivating the Dragon Demon Art and the Blood Escape Technique.
For the former, which required the soul of a demonic dragon, he simply seized Lü Luo's demonic serpent soul.
The snake-headed spell Lü Luo had previously cast was derived from the Dragon Demon Art.
This technique was of a high grade and notoriously difficult to master.
For most Foundation Establishment cultivators, achieving mastery required years—even decades—of painstakingly offering their essence blood.
Lü Luo had been sacrificing her essence blood for two or three years, each time damaging her cultivation and needing days to recover before daring to offer another drop.
Yet, she had barely reached the minor mastery stage.
"But I don't have such limitations. Others weaken with each sacrifice, but my cultivation only grows stronger."
Ye Bufan dripped a drop of essence blood to feed the small purple serpent before him.
The serpent's soul, its eyes glowing green with greed, devoured the essence blood.
Perhaps due to his Heavenly Dao Foundation, the serpent's aura visibly intensified—far surpassing the power Lü Luo had demonstrated.
Instead of feeling the usual exhaustion and weakness from losing essence blood, Ye Bufan felt invigorated, sensing a slight advancement in his cultivation.
"This is absurd! Even this can boost my cultivation?"
Ye Bufan marveled at the sheer overpowered nature of his system.
The serpent, still unsatisfied, stared hungrily at the wound on Ye Bufan's thumb.
This was the nature of the Dragon Demon Art—the serpent soul instinctively craved its master's essence blood.
Most disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect who practiced this technique dreaded each drop of essence blood they sacrificed, suffering days of agony and fear of being drained dry.
"Plop!"
Another drop of essence blood was devoured. Ye Bufan's cultivation advanced further, and the serpent's aura swelled, its green eyes burning even brighter with greed.
"Plop!"
"Plop!"
Ye Bufan continued feeding the serpent with delight. His newly attained Foundation Establishment cultivation stabilized and steadily progressed.
With each drop of essence blood, the serpent's power grew, advancing from the beginner stage to the threshold of minor mastery.
Yet, the greed in its eyes gradually faded.
Eventually, it even resisted feeding.
It was stuffed to the brim!
"Keep eating."
Ye Bufan remained expressionless, forcing more essence blood upon it.
The serpent's body expanded, its gaze shifting from greed to terror.
If it could speak, it would likely be cursing by now.
Finally, on the verge of bursting, it could take no more.
"Perfect timing."
Ye Bufan nodded to himself, ceasing the feeding to let the serpent digest.
Once fully absorbed, the technique would reach minor mastery—a speed that surpassed even the most monstrous talents of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
After mastering the Dragon Demon Art, he turned to the Blood Escape Technique. This spell was simpler—it merely required the willingness to burn essence blood.
By midnight, Ye Bufan had fully mastered both techniques, significantly enhancing his combat prowess.
Lü Luo returned.
Clad in an emerald-green dress, her figure graceful, she no longer carried her former haughty demeanor. Instead, she resembled a submissive chambermaid, ready to serve at her master's whim.
"Master, these are the three techniques I exchanged with all my contribution points."
"For powerful Foundation Establishment techniques, my points were insufficient. The only high-tier combat art I could afford was this body-refining technique—the Great Ape Art."
"Additionally, there's the Papercraft Code, an unorthodox puppet technique."
Lü Luo spoke softly, not daring to deviate even slightly from Ye Bufan's orders.
This old man had achieved a supreme Dao Foundation right under her nose—his cunning surpassed even that of many senior demonic cultivators.
"Good."
Ye Bufan nodded, accepting the two ancient manuals.
Though disappointed by the lack of high-level disguise techniques or top-tier Foundation Establishment methods, he understood—such advanced techniques were far too valuable, often serving as clan treasures in the outside world.
"Great Ape Art—an advanced body-refining method. Upon mastery, the body becomes as hard as steel, with immense strength rivaling Foundation Establishment cultivators. Requires the essence blood and soul of an ape for cultivation."
"Side effects: May induce mental instability and pollute one's own magical energy."
At first glance, Ye Bufan was astonished.
Body-refining cultivators were rare in the cultivation world, primarily because refining the body was far more arduous than refining qi.
Moreover, body-refining techniques that could rival Foundation Establishment were nearly unheard of.
Yet the Great Ape Art was exceptionally powerful—far beyond what Lü Luo's contribution points should have been able to afford.
But upon seeing the side effects, he understood.
"How many in the Heavenly Demon Sect practice this body-refining method?"
"None."
Under Ye Bufan's gaze, Lü Luo grew uneasy. She explained with a hint of resentment, "Because of the severe side effects, it's cheap. The others… I simply couldn't afford."
Those who cultivated the Great Ape Art would inevitably lose their sanity, their cultivation forever tainted and stagnant.
No one in the Heavenly Demon Sect dared to practice it.
But this only made it perfect for Ye Bufan.
"Great Ape Art—reverse side effects: Upon cultivation, mental clarity increases, and one's magical energy is purified."
Ye Bufan smiled inwardly.
As for the Papercraft Code, it was an unconventional puppet technique that used special materials to craft combat-ready paper constructs—humanoid or bestial.
Its unorthodox nature stemmed from the fact that most puppets in the cultivation world were forged from steel or rare wood.
Paper constructs were virtually unheard of.
Lü Luo explained that this technique was rumored to have been developed centuries ago by a Heavenly Demon Sect ancestor who had once been a mortician.
Due to its many flaws, disciples of the sect had always favored conventional puppet techniques over papercraft.
Still, Ye Bufan found it intriguing—though he would study it later.
"For now, I'll cultivate the Great Ape Art to strengthen myself and escape the Heavenly Demon Sect."
He handed Lü Luo two hundred spirit stones and sent her to the sect's market to purchase ape essence blood.
The Heavenly Demon Sect's market operated around the clock.
When Lü Luo returned, Ye Bufan took the two vials of Green Demon Ape essence blood—a second-tier demonic beast equivalent to early Foundation Establishment—and retreated to his chamber.
Soon, a large wooden tub steamed with heat, its contents exuding a fierce, bloodthirsty aura as if a savage demonic ape lurked within.
"Master, allow Lü Luo to assist you in undressing~"
Her cheeks flushed as she forced herself to attend to the old man before her.
This was clearly an attempt to curry favor.
Yet, serving an aged and withered figure was far from her heart's desire.
"If I serve him well, I may yet escape his grasp one day."
"Very well."
Ye Bufan nodded without hesitation. Under Lü Luo's assistance, he stepped into the tub.
Instantly, the demonic aura surged, mist rising as the potent medicinal energy seeped into his body.
The Great Ape Art activated, rapidly strengthening his physique.
The Divine Concealment Technique could no longer mask his true appearance.
His hair darkened, his features refined, his skin smooth—revealing the visage of a handsome young nobleman, with no trace of his former decrepit state.