Plans always change due to various unexpected events and whims. Wang Yu decided to acquire a few more spells to equip himself more comprehensively.
Ice Sword for offense, Ice Shield for defense.
What he lacked were movement-type or utility-type spells. The harder to practice, the better. After all, with the Placement Rack, there were almost no techniques or supernatural abilities he couldn't master.
Even if the conditions weren't met, the Placement Rack would find a way.
The **[Corpse Demon Secret Method]** was the best proof of this.
That day,
after completing his daily cultivation and pill refinement, Wang Yu prepared to go to the Ice Snow Pavilion.
Even though it was night, he didn't think much of it. Times had changed; after perfecting his technique, both his combat power and cultivation speed had improved.
He considered himself among the upper tier in the mid-Qi Refining stage.
This led to a slight carelessness.
Leaving the Evil God Market and heading towards the Coldblood Market, he took a narrow shortcut. The alley was pitch black, devoid of any light or people.
Wang Yu quickly slipped into it. The moment he entered, trouble arose.
Dense threads were set up ahead in the alley.
Like a trap waiting for prey. Looking back, two dark figures appeared on the path he came from, blocking it completely.
Wang Yu narrowed his eyes, inwardly sighing at his carelessness.
Smooth sailing often led to situations like this. He should be more vigilant to avoid bigger setbacks in the future.
"Who are you?"
As he asked, two more people appeared behind the thread trap, making four in total: two at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, two at the sixth layer.
A bit troublesome, but still within acceptable limits.
"Don't move! Raise your hands, or don't blame us for being rough."
No killing intent.
So... just a robbery?
Wang Yu raised his single hand over his head. The four men paused uniformly and shouted sharply, "I said, raise your hands! What are you doing with the other one?!!"
Wang Yu's expression darkened. What a hellish joke.
"Look carefully, fellow Daoist. I only have one arm."
"Oh~
"Didn't notice that."
This mocking tone confirmed to Wang Yu that they knew him and were deliberately messing with him.
—Unbearable!
The perfected Ice Sword Art had long transcended the limitations of hand seals. A single thought could activate it without any delay. If anything, the time for spiritual power to circulate through his meridians was his preparation time.
"Go!"
In an instant, ten ice swords shot out, aimed straight ahead. The seemingly special threads shattered under the concentrated ice sword assault.
Among the two blocking the path ahead, the fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator was struck in both shoulders, pinned directly to the ground. The other, at the sixth layer, reacted in time.
Using agile footwork, he dodged the attack. He was about to mock with a sneer when he heard—
*Thud—*
*Thud—*
*Thud—*
Three consecutive swords actually looped back, piercing his head, left, and right chest. Without uttering a word, he died under the Ice Sword Art.
Perfected spells had endless subtle uses, catching the enemy off guard.
Seizing the initiative, without a perfected spell of the same level, they could only dodge, unable to counter.
Now the path ahead was clear. The two behind were greatly shocked and hurriedly stopped to cast spells.
"Evil Spirit Art, go!"
A ghost-summoning technique? Wang Yu's heart stirred. Seeing the roaring black smoke skull flying towards him, he raised his hand forward.
A prismatic ice shield blocked it. His right foot pushed off the ground like a gecko scaling a wall, and in a few steps, he scrambled onto the roof.
"Not good, he's escaping! Chase!"
As soon as the words were spoken, they were met with a dense volley of ice swords. The other fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator, who hadn't acted from start to finish, was riddled with holes—how miserable.
Four reduced to one. Wang Yu swooped down like a great eagle spreading its wings.
The remaining man gritted his teeth, spat out a mouthful of essence blood, and another skull shot out from within him, crashing towards Wang Yu with eerie blood threads.
Wang Yu retracted his right hand in front of him, forming the defensive seal to cast the Ice Shield Art again. This time was slightly different; the originally large prismatic ice shield split into ten pieces like flying daggers, surrounding the blood-threaded skull.
Thus, he closed in, flying forward, and delivered an upward kick!
With innate divine strength, he shattered half the man's teeth. The Coldblood Art had a slight body-tempering effect. Although far inferior to those专门 (zhuānmén -专门)专门 (zhuānmén -专门) cultivating physique, it was much stronger than this blood-and-ghost nourishing, emaciated fellow.
With a thought, in the gap before the first skull could return to defend,
Ice swords beheaded this man instantly!
Once the master died, the two life-linked ghosts perished with him. Wang Yu frowned, surveying the messy scene.
"Disciples of Five Yin Peak..."
He didn't remember offending them. They were likely hired thugs.
Zhao Shang? Impossible, they were still in the honeymoon phase of their cooperation.
His gaze fell on the one pinned to the ground by ice swords. The corners of Wang Yu's mouth lifted slightly.
One incense stick of time later,
the narrow alley returned to its usual state, with no traces left.
After some amateurish interrogation, Wang Yu got the information he wanted. These disciples were hired for dirty work; expecting them to keep their mouths shut was impossible.
Therefore, with just a little intimidation, without even resorting to violence, they confessed everything. The person didn't know the specific reason, only giving Wang Yu one name.
"—Xu Jiaojiao."
They had been staking out for over half a month and only managed to ambush Wang Yu today.
If he remembered correctly, Xu Jiaojiao was Steward Xu's daughter and the young lady of the Xu Family Pill Shop. The only possible grudge between them was related to that incident.
However, it shouldn't have escalated to this extent.
"Could it be that something major happened to Steward Xu?"
Wang Yu pondered thoughtfully and continued towards the Ice Snow Pavilion.
...
...
*Thud—*
Zhao Shang's嘴角 (zuǐjiǎo -嘴角)嘴角 (zuǐjiǎo -嘴角) twitched as he looked at the four fresh corpses on the table. After a moment of silence, he quoted a price.
"Corpses from Five Yin Peak are worth less. Only one hundred spirit stones."
Four corpses for only one hundred? So worthless!
Wang Yu tossed out four filtered storage pouches. He had taken most of the spirit stones and Spirit Sand. The remaining items weren't valuable either, all sold to Zhao Shang at a low price. Total income: five hundred spirit stones.
Not bad.
"You came here so late just for this?"
Wang Yu shook his head.
"True Disciple Su left quite a few spell legacies in the Ice Snow Pavilion, right? Bring them out for me to choose from."
Zhao Shang had no choice but to take out a jade slip.
"If you weren't part of the Ice Snow Pavilion, you wouldn't be allowed to see these."
"I am, of course." After scanning with his spiritual sense, Wang Yu quickly selected two targets: "Just these two."
Zhao Shang glanced and also extended his hand.
"One thousand three hundred."
Wang Yu's eyes widened.
"So expensive?"
"You think high-grade spells are cheap? Allowing you to exchange them for spirit stones is already a favor."
Wang Yu fell silent: "Give me the biggest discount."
"One thousand."
"Eight hundred."
"Wait, do you think this is a market where you can bargain?"
Seeing the look in Wang Yu's eyes and knowing he couldn't extort this deal, Zhao Shang turned and silently went to get the technique transmission jade slips.
"Goodbye, friend."
Wang Yu bid farewell as if nothing had happened.
(End of Chapter)