I Have An Infinite Cultivation Resource
Chapter 95: This Is What You Call "Not a Match"?
Inside the secret chamber.
Lu You trembled as he slowly climbed up from the ground.
"I can't do this anymore. This is the last time I temper my bones. If I can't find a pain-relieving talisman or spiritual medicine, there's no way I can continue cultivating."
Healing Talismans, Purifying Heart Talisman, Detoxification Talismans—basically every talisman beneficial to the human body—Lu You activated them all before finally recovering somewhat from the agony he had just endured.
This was only his third round of bone tempering, yet Lu You felt as though his soul itself had fallen into hell.
Especially during the moment his bones were transforming, it felt as though every single pore on his body had a blade stabbed into it.
He wiped his face with one hand and only then realized he had cried involuntarily from the pain.
Evil Eye: Boss, hurry and check your current strength! You really don't know how lucky you are. Just by dying and coming back once, your physical body advances by such a huge realm leap. In the entire cultivation world, you're the only one capable of this.
Once the Bone of Hell was damaged, its spiritual energy structure became chaotic. Ordinary cultivators would be fortunate to absorb even one ten-thousandth of its power.
Only because Lu You possessed the Cauldron of Cornucopia could he repeatedly absorb the Bone of Hell as nourishment.
Lu You restored his spiritual energy to full once more and took out the sword Lu Xiao'e had given him.
This time, he pinched the sword blade with force.
Crack
The sturdy treasured artifact shattered into pieces within Lu You's fingers.
Evil Eye: Wow, Boss! With a mere turn of your hand, you wield the might of Mount Tai!
Previously, in order to kill a Golden Core elder, Lu You had attached Mount Tai Talismans to his sword. After slaying that Golden Core elder, even the treasured artifact sword itself had been crushed apart by the talisman's force.
Following that logic, Lu You's physical strength had already reached the level of a Mount Tai Talisman.
And since Mount Tai Talismans could suppress Golden Core cultivators, Lu You's body had effectively reached a level above Golden Core but below Nascent Soul.
Hiss—
Evil Eye sucked in a cold breath and immediately spoke in a flattering tone: Boss, hurry and replace the cultivation origin blood! Hurry and let me taste what Golden Core blood feels like!
Even though Lu You's cultivation remained at Foundation Establishment, his body had already transformed. As a result, the level of his origin blood had also advanced to Golden Core.
The mere thought of being able to endlessly feast upon Golden Core-level cultivation origin blood made Evil Eye so excited it practically danced around wildly.
This was Golden Core cultivation origin blood!
In the entire cultivation world, what demonic cultivator could slaughter Golden Core experts every single day?
"So that's why you kept encouraging me to improve! You were waiting for this all along!"
Lu You nearly exploded in frustration.
He had suffered pain worse than death, while Evil Eye had merely been waiting for a feast.
"Hmph. Golden Core power isn't obtained that easily. Being able to consume Golden Core blood every day—there's probably only one person in the cultivation world capable of that."
"So then… Blood Shadow Technique!"
After completely forming a contract with Evil Eye, Lu You could now use the Blood Shadow Technique himself.
He transformed his own pain into an illusionary shadow and directly threw Evil Eye's consciousness into the blood mist to experience it personally.
"Boss! Boss! No! AHHHHHHHH—!"
Inside the blood mist space, Evil Eye immediately released heart-rending screams.
Meanwhile, Lu You calmly replaced the cultivation origin blood inside the little cauldron while quietly watching Evil Eye howl in agony.
Even a being that had lived for thousands of years continuously begged for mercy beneath the torment of bone tempering.
"Not bad. This will be my new illusion technique from now on."
"In future battles, I can drag anyone whose spiritual sense is weaker than mine into the Blood Shadow Technique and let them experience bone tempering for themselves."
"I estimate that anyone with weak willpower would mentally collapse after just one round."
Lu You was extremely satisfied with the effectiveness of his new illusion technique.
Only after Evil Eye experienced enough suffering did Lu You smilingly pull him back out.
"Congratulations, congratulations. After hardship comes sweetness. Now you can finally taste Golden Core cultivation origin blood."
Slurp
A moment ago, Evil Eye had been screaming in unbearable agony.
Now, however, it humanly drooled with excitement before frantically devouring the blood.
With the little cauldron present, Evil Eye had no need to conserve anything at all. It immediately indulged in reckless gluttony.
Massive amounts of blood energy spread outward.
Even without activating the Hell Avatar, a layer of crimson light automatically emerged around Lu You's body.
Stretching out his hand to inspect it, Lu You discovered that this crimson glow was actually protective spiritual energy.
Not only could it defend him from attacks, but after being transformed by Evil Eye, it also contained an enormous reserve of spiritual energy.
If Lu You ever lacked spiritual energy, he could directly absorb this layer of crimson light to replenish himself.
Evil Eye, who had been feasting joyfully, suddenly stopped.
Evil Eye: Boss, now that the cultivation origin blood I ate has evolved, my perception has strengthened too. Outside the cave… that old Golden Core guy is flying over.
The moment Evil Eye finished speaking, an explosion sounded from the entrance of the secret chamber.
Controlling his flying sword, Huo Chuan shattered the black mountain reinforced with Hard Metal Talismans in a single strike.
"Dongfang Bubai, come out and face your death!"
Hiss!
On the black mountain, an inconspicuous boulder suddenly transformed into the serpent's true form.
The serpent glanced at Huo Chuan, swallowed an entire storage ring into its mouth, then blasted into the air with a boom, charging directly toward him.
"Hmph. Beast, you are already nearing the end of your strength, yet you still dare act ferocious? Once I capture you and bring you back to Verdant Cloud Sect, I'll skin you alive and tear out your tendons."
Huo Chuan merely glanced indifferently at the serpent before pointing one finger toward it.
Instantly, the flying sword pierced through the serpent's body, pinning it directly against the black mountain.
"Impossible! How can your power be this strong?!"
The serpent frantically swallowed the remaining storage rings, causing its spiritual energy to surge explosively as it struggled to free itself from the sword.
Yet even at full strength, it could not escape.
"No— it's because the secret realm is no longer suppressing you! Exalted One, danger! This secret realm no longer suppresses him!"
Huo Chuan's gaze sharpened.
"Exalted One? Dongfang Bubai is worthy of such a title?
"Today, I'll let you witness the true power of an Exalted One!"
Huo Chuan raised his hand once more.
The flying sword exploded inside the serpent's body, instantly slicing it cleanly in half.
Suddenly, Huo Chuan extended two fingers and casually caught a soft sword between them.
Then he laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! Dongfang Bubai, was that supposed to be a sneak attack on this old man?
"The power… is far too weak."
Hearing the commotion and seeing Huo Chuan effortlessly overpower the serpent, Lu Xiao'e had immediately launched a sneak attack while Huo Chuan's flying sword was unable to defend him.
But she never could have imagined that Huo Chuan would catch her treasured artifact soft sword using only two fingers.
Inside the secret realm, Lu Xiao'e had not fully recovered yet. Combined with the secret realm's erosion of her spiritual energy, the balance between them had completely reversed.
Huo Chuan now crushed her by an entire major realm.
During Lu Xiao'e's sneak attack, the serpent's skin suddenly cracked apart.
From within the severed half of its body, another complete giant serpent crawled out.
Molting Rebirth Technique.
With the storage rings Lu You had given it, the serpent possessed nearly limitless spiritual energy. So long as even a single breath remained, it could molt and regenerate endlessly.
Even so, the serpent still retreated beside Lu Xiao'e, staring warily at Huo Chuan and no longer daring to attack recklessly.
"There is no longer any Golden Core cultivator who can stand against me."
"Dongfang Bubai, today I shall borrow your head to assist this old man in stepping into the Nascent Soul realm."
Huo Chuan casually waved his hand.
His two fingers suddenly tightened.
Crack
Lu Xiao'e's treasured artifact soft sword was crushed apart directly in his grasp.
"Pseudo-Nascent Soul…"
A drop of cold sweat slid down Lu Xiao'e's forehead.
She had recognized Huo Chuan's current state.
He had already entered the Pseudo-Nascent Soul realm. All he lacked was either a fierce battle or sufficient spiritual energy, and he would immediately break through into true Nascent Soul.
Unlike peak Golden Core, the Pseudo-Nascent Soul realm meant one had already crossed the threshold. The Golden Core was slowly cracking apart, and the nascent spirit was on the verge of hatching at any moment.
"So long as the nascent spirit is unborn, all are ants."
"Only by entering the Nascent Soul realm and cultivating a nascent spirit does one truly shed mortality and step onto the immortal path."
Huo Chuan's eyes were filled with pity as he slowly walked through the sky toward Lu Xiao'e one step at a time.
"Hand over your ancient map."
"Otherwise, I shall make you beg for life and be denied death."
Although surprised, Lu Xiao'e showed no panic whatsoever.
"What a pity. You came too late."
As she spoke, she took out the spinal bone.
"The formation core has already been broken. Go ahead and break through to Nascent Soul yourself. We won't be accompanying you."
Seeing Lu You emerge from the cave as well, Lu Xiao'e gripped the spinal bone tightly.
Three mysterious forces wrapped around the two humans and the serpent.
But in the next instant, Lu Xiao'e's expression changed drastically.
She was completely unable to control the spinal bone and teleport herself and Lu You away.
"Excellent. You even found the formation core. That saves me some trouble."
Huo Chuan grinned viciously.
"You truly underestimate the Nascent Soul realm too much."
"Right now… this secret realm is my domain."
He casually glanced at Lu You.
"So it's you."
"You're that disciple who lost during the outer sect recruitment trials?"
"I never expected you to be one of Dongfang Bubai's people as well."
Recalling how he had previously concluded that Lu You could not possibly be associated with Dongfang Bubai, a trace of anger appeared on Huo Chuan's face.
"Dongfang Bubai really accepts anyone without standards. Even trash like you can become an insider."
Huo Chuan suddenly beckoned with his hand.
The flying sword embedded in the black mountain wall instantly tore free and, in the blink of an eye, appeared directly before Lu You.
"Exalted One!"
"Lu You!"
Both the giant serpent and Lu Xiao'e cried out in shock, but Huo Chuan's strike had been far too fast.
"Dongfang Bubai, watch carefully how I deal with him. If you refuse to hand over the ancient map, this will be your fate as well."
The reason Huo Chuan had launched a lightning-fast attack against Lu You was to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.
Compared to Dongfang Bubai's life, Huo Chuan cared far more about the ancient map Dongfang Bubai possessed.
Clang
Huo Chuan's flying sword stopped directly in front of Lu You.
Just like when Huo Chuan had caught Lu Xiao'e's sword moments earlier, Lu You casually extended two fingers and pinched the flying sword between them.
Gulp!
The serpent swallowed hard.
It had always assumed Lu You was merely some immortal second-generation heir with countless treasures on him. It never imagined Lu You's own strength would also be so terrifying—he had casually stopped an attack from a Nascent Soul realm opponent.
"Lu You?"
Lu Xiao'e had originally been preparing to self-detonate her Golden Core, but after witnessing this scene, she froze in shock.
Then, suddenly, realization dawned upon her.
"So that's it!
"Lu You… you're actually Dongfang Bubai!"
During this entire time, Lu Xiao'e had been so focused on healing herself that she had nearly forgotten one crucial detail:
She herself was not Dongfang Bubai at all.
So where was the real Dongfang Bubai?
Then she recalled Lu You's monstrous talent in both the Talisman Dao and the Sword Dao.
How could someone like that possibly be an ordinary outer sect disciple?
Heavens…
How embarrassing.
All this time, she had carefully hidden her Golden Core cultivation while swaggering around in front of Lu You.
Yet Lu You himself was Dongfang Bubai—a being capable of matching Nascent Soul cultivators.
Didn't that make her look like a complete fool in Lu You's eyes?
"You stupid Lu You! You tricked me again!"
Lu Xiao'e became so angry she nearly wanted to leap onto him and bite him fiercely.
But with a great enemy before them, she forcibly restrained herself.
Crack
Lu You suddenly exerted force and crushed Huo Chuan's flying sword apart.
"Lu Xiao'e, serpent, the two of you should leave immediately."
"Huo Chuan is already at the Pseudo-Nascent Soul realm. I'm not his opponent."
Although he had crushed the flying sword, Lu You's brows remained tightly furrowed.
He was still only at the Foundation Establishment realm. While his body had been greatly strengthened, it had not reached the terrifying level of true Nascent Soul yet.
He had never expected that the very first time he revealed his identity, his opponent would already be this powerful.
Lu You had already decided that if he could not win against Huo Chuan, he would immediately activate a teleportation talisman and flee.
"No, Lu You! I'll fight together with you!"
Before Lu Xiao'e could finish speaking, the serpent beside her suddenly swallowed her whole in one gulp and immediately turned to flee.
It had received Lu You's orders.
Compared to Lu Xiao'e, the serpent trusted Lu You far more.
"What?! You're Dongfang Bubai?!"
Huo Chuan became so furious that flames practically shot from his nostrils.
Back then, he had confidently instructed Wu Tong and thoroughly analyzed why Lu You absolutely could not be associated with Dongfang Bubai.
And now—good heavens.
Lu You really wasn't one of Dongfang Bubai's people.
Because he is Dongfang Bubai.
"Hell Avatar—rise!"
Without answering Huo Chuan's words, Lu You's eyes turned blood-red.
Scarlet mist instantly enveloped his body, and a gigantic crimson giant towering into the heavens suddenly appeared within the secret realm.
Evil Eye: Boss, even if we've become stronger, there's still no need to fight a Nascent Soul cultivator! Waaaah!
Evil Eye's pupils were filled with terror.
Subconsciously, it poured all its power into Lu You.
As Lu You's cultivation origin blood advanced, the power of Evil Eye's Hell Avatar advanced as well.
At this moment, the colossal giant slowly grew three heads and six arms. Even its back sprouted three pairs of blood-red wings.
Boom!
The crimson giant shot into the sky.
Its massive wings beat furiously, and its speed was not inferior to a Golden Core cultivator at all.
"Then let's fight!"
Lu You pulled six treasured artifact swords out from the little cauldron in succession.
Each sword was covered with Mount Tai Talismans.
Every arm of the gigantic Hell Avatar wielded one sword as it roared toward Huo Chuan.
But that was not all.
Hidden inside the Hell Avatar, Lu You swallowed Qi-Nourishing Pills to restore his spiritual energy while simultaneously releasing every talisman he possessed.
Golden Light Talismans—five hundred thousand of them—to protect himself first.
Hard Metal Talismans—five hundred thousand more—to reinforce the Hell Avatar.
Wind Talismans—another five hundred thousand—attached to the Hell Avatar's wings to increase its speed.
Light Talismans—five hundred thousand—to blind the hell out of Huo Chuan.
Thunder Technique Talismans—five hundred thousand more—whether they worked on a Pseudo-Nascent Soul or not, he would electrocute him first and ask questions later.
Frost Talismans and Rain-Calling Talismans—released together in combination.
And finally, Lu You secretly prepared a teleportation talisman. The instant things turned bad, he would flee immediately.
The secret realm, originally dominated by darkness, was instantly illuminated by the Light Talismans until it resembled heaven itself.
Yet the truly terrifying part was what hid beneath that blinding radiance:
The sound of violent storms, roaring thunder, and crackling lightning that sent chills through anyone who heard it.
"Fellow Daoist, wait!"
Seeing the world-ending catastrophe crashing toward him, Huo Chuan suddenly felt that the path of cultivation did not necessarily need to involve fighting to the death.
He wanted to renegotiate his relationship with Lu You.
Unfortunately, in the next instant, he was swallowed by overwhelming destruction.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao'e struggled fiercely until she finally stopped the serpent from fleeing.
"No, go back!"
"How could Lu You possibly be Huo Chuan's opponent?!
"Serpent, your children are still with Lu You! Are you really going to watch them die?!"
The serpent turned to glance toward the battlefield where Lu You was fighting.
"You really want to go back?"
"I'd rather die together with Lu You!"
"Fine then. You direct where we fly. I'm closing my eyes first, okay?"
The serpent had already witnessed Lu You fight once before.
Without hesitation, it shut its eyes tightly and turned back with Lu Xiao'e riding atop it.
"So this is the power of a Pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator… it's actually this blinding?!"
Even from an enormous distance away, the intense light made Lu Xiao'e's eyes stream with tears.
She could only grit her teeth, protect her eyes with spiritual energy, and slowly force herself to adapt to the overwhelming brightness as they flew back toward the battlefield.