Chapter Twenty: The Beginning of Cultivation
Shang Jiuya had never longed for the real power to protect herself or even tear apart threats as much as she did at this moment!
However, reality was cold and harsh. The original owner, "Eleventh Daughter" Jiuya, was of mediocre talent, disliked by her father, and her cultivation techniques were crude and inadequate. After being crowned a puppet, she received no guidance and lacked resources, leaving the foundation of this body riddled with holes. Forcibly cultivating profound demonic arts would be tantamount to courting death.
"Bai Yu," Shang Jiuya's voice was slightly hoarse with anxiety and thought, "find all the scrolls and books in the Purple Light Palace related to cultivation, techniques, and the demonic physique, regardless of their level. Be sure to keep them hidden and do not alert the outside world."
She then looked at Li Yue, who was struggling to maintain his breathing: "Li Yue, your injuries have not yet healed, but your knowledge far surpasses mine. Given my current situation, what is the fastest way to improve my self-defense capabilities? I do not seek to kill generals or enemies, but only to gain a moment to react when a crisis strikes, and hold on for a while to await rescue."
Li Yue pondered, his pale face grave: "Your Majesty's foundation is still shallow; forcibly cultivating domineering demonic arts may backfire. In my humble opinion, we can pursue three paths simultaneously: First, seek out an auxiliary secret technique that focuses on spiritual perception and crisis warning, so as to strike first and have a chance to maneuver. Second, learn one or two low-level defensive or escape techniques that consume little mana but activate quickly, for instantaneous blocking or escape. Third... if we can find a demonic artifact with the ability to spontaneously protect its master, that would be the safest option, but such treasures are extremely rare."
Shang Jiuya memorized them. Spiritual awareness, rapid response, and protective magical artifacts—these three became her path forward as she groped her way in the darkness.
Meanwhile, the plot against Shiyi Niang was like an arrow on a bowstring, with no turning back. Since the "Flame-Splitting Dagger" was hard to come by, she would forge the rumors into an invisible blade, directly piercing Shiyi Niang's most vulnerable heart—her jealousy.
The room was dimly lit. Shang Jiuya, Bai Yu, and Li Yue, whose injuries had subsided somewhat, reunited.
"Your Majesty, Aran has obtained crucial details about the 'Flame-Splitting Dagger'." A glint flashed in Bai Yu's eyes as he quickly reported, "The dagger is about seven inches long, curved like a crescent moon, and made of Earth Core Flame Iron. The hilt is inlaid with three flowing crimson flame magic crystals. Near the hilt, there is a fine burn mark, said to be left by Prince Qi Mu when he tested the dagger in his early years. The demonic energy is violent and scorching, making it very easy to identify. General Shen Li cherishes it as his life and never shows it to anyone casually."
Shang Jiuya's mind raced, and combined with Rong Jiang's "inspiration" of being good at observing and exploiting people's weaknesses, a plan that focused more on psychological offensive quickly took shape.
“The details are enough. Next, let’s ‘accidentally’ deliver these details to Eleven’s ears and eyes. Carefully arrange ‘coincidences’ along her usual routes and in the places she frequents—outside the martial arts arena, on the covered bridges and pavilions leading to the Seven Mu Palace, and even near the Magic Weapon Pavilion she often visits.”
She meticulously sketched the scene:
In the secluded garden path, two maids who "admire" Qi Mu "whispered" in amazement at how dazzling Shen Li's dagger was during her practice, how the magic patterns were exactly the same as those used by His Highness in his early years, and how His Highness "personally instructed her behind closed doors for three days."
In a tavern, a "heroic" soldier, "drunk and flushed," loudly exclaimed how Qi Mu had tossed his dagger to Chen Li, praising him as "worthy of such fiery swordsmanship."
Near the Shiyi Niang Palace, a clueless little demon servant "accidentally" dropped a piece of scrap paper with a detailed drawing of a dagger and even the location of burn marks. Next to it were crooked words: "General Shen Li is mighty."
"Finally," Shang Jiuya said coldly, "the rumors will escalate! The content will focus on three points: 'unconventional appreciation,' 'personal instruction,' and 'gift of a precious treasure,' all intertwined with 'special affection.' Through various channels, using incredibly realistic details, the rumors will be continuously instilled, causing her to construct the most terrifying picture in her mind amidst suspicion, jealousy, and hatred! Let the poisonous fire burn from her very core!"
This plan is ruthless; winning hearts and minds is the best strategy.
Bai Yu and Li Yue accepted the order and left, knowing full well the brilliance of the plan and the need for meticulous execution.
After arranging everything, Shang Jiuya dragged her weary body to the small study in the Purple Light Palace. Bai Yu had already moved over all the scrolls and animal hides related to cultivation that she could find.
Under the oil lamp, she began to painstakingly peruse these ancient texts. Most contained the most basic methods for strengthening the body and absorbing demonic energy among demons, progressing slowly. There were also scattered records of low-level demonic techniques, their power limited, and most requiring a substantial foundation of demonic energy. She felt dizzy and overwhelmed; the modern mindset clashed with the obscure cultivation terminology of the demons. But she didn't give up; she knew this was the foundation for survival.
Just as she was about to despair of these inefficient techniques, her gaze was inadvertently drawn to an ancient wooden scroll in the corner. The scroll was tossed at the bottom, seemingly never having been valued. Curious, she pulled it out and blew away the thick layer of dust. The scroll was cold to the touch, and engraved with strange, twisted symbols. The scroll began with ancient demonic script—"The Secret Knowledge of Shadows."
Shang Jiuya's heart skipped a beat. She remembered Li Yue's words about prioritizing techniques to enhance spiritual perception. She eagerly began reading. It seemed to be a supplementary secret technique focused on honing mental strength and expanding perception. The opening emphasized "divine senses as fine as silk, perceiving the subtle and obvious," and "the body like a shadow, the mind discerning even the smallest detail." The cultivation threshold seemed low, emphasizing spiritual talent and persistent meditation. Its ultimate goal was to enable cultivators to perceive extremely subtle malice, energy fluctuations, and even hidden dangers in advance, making the most accurate predictions and avoidances within a limited space.
"Spiritual warning...this is it!" Shang Jiuya felt a surge of excitement. It was as if this was tailor-made for her current situation. Overjoyed, she immediately began to try to follow the method recorded on the scroll, focusing her mind and attempting to extend that faint wisp of spiritual energy like a thread...
The process was incredibly difficult; her mental energy was scattered, she struggled to concentrate, and each attempt brought on a splitting headache. But she gritted her teeth and persevered, once, twice, ten times…
"Too slow... This is far from enough!" Anxiety spread through her heart.
She got up irritably, accidentally knocking over a pile of scattered, old files in the corner. Amidst the rising dust, she seemed to hear a "click" sound, different from the rubbing of bamboo slips and animal hides. Shang Jiuya paused, her guard up. She held her breath and carefully examined the wall behind the pile of debris. She saw that a brick in the wall had been slightly dented inwards from the impact.
As if possessed, she pressed down hard on the wall brick.
"Click—"
A dull thud came from inside the wall, and then the heavy bookshelf next to it slid silently to the side, revealing a dark entrance behind it that was only wide enough for one person to pass through.
Shang Jiuya's heart pounded wildly. The former Demon Lord's secret chamber?!
She took the oil lamp and slipped inside without hesitation. The passage was narrow, and the stone steps descended steeply; after only a dozen or so steps, she reached the bottom. Before her was a small stone chamber, no more than ten feet square, with bare walls and only a stone platform in the center. On the platform lay a dark bone fragment, and beside it lay an inconspicuous, dark dagger.
Shang Jiuya first picked up the short blade. It felt slightly heavy in her hand, the blade was dull and lifeless, its design extremely ancient, and even the material was indistinguishable. She tried to infuse it with a trace of magic power from her body, but the short blade did not react at all, like a dead object. She frowned, put it down for the moment, and turned her gaze to the bone fragment.
The moment her fingertip touched the bone fragment, a strange sensation, both icy cold and scorching hot, surged into her body. There were no words on the bone fragment, but when she focused her mental energy on it, a vast and obscure torrent of information forcefully flooded into her mind.
The Secret of Burning Marrow and Eroding the Heart!
This is an extremely bizarre and domineering demonic art. It uses the burning of one's own life essence as fuel to rapidly refine and purify demonic energy, forcibly elevating one's cultivation level in a very short time. The opening statement of the technique clearly states: This art defies the heavens, advancing at lightning speed, but the deeper one cultivates, the greater the loss of lifespan. Demons who originally possessed thousands of years of lifespan may lose hundreds or even thousands of years of lifespan with each breakthrough in this method. For the eternal demon race, this art is tantamount to a poison that destroys their own Great Wall.
However, when Shang Jiuya sensed the immense power described in the information, a terrifying glint suddenly flashed in her eyes!
Lifespan?
Demons typically live for thousands of years, which is an astronomical figure for a mortal like her who originally had a lifespan of no more than a hundred years. To exchange a lifespan of thousands of years, which she never even hoped to possess, for a tangible cultivation that would allow her to live and give her the power to wield the blade of vengeance?
This isn't a side effect at all! This is clearly a deal tailor-made for her, the fairest deal imaginable!
"Hundreds or thousands of years? I'll trade!" she whispered almost without hesitation. "If I can gain the strength to stand firm, even if I only have ten years of life left, I can afford it!"
She didn't care about the long price; she only craved that fleeting moment of power!
She picked up the dull dagger again. Perhaps it wasn't a coincidence that it was hidden here along with the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique"? She tried to circulate the initiation of the newly acquired technique, forcing the pure and scorching magic power, which had been generated at the cost of her life force, toward the dagger.
A faint humming sound emanated from the blade, and a faint, eerie light seemed to flash across its dark surface, as if a sleeping beast had been briefly awakened before returning to silence.
Shang Jiuya gripped the short blade tightly, which seemed to require the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique" to activate, while her other hand clenched the bone fragment that recorded the "Self-Destruction" technique, her eyes burning with a resolute flame.
She knew that finding the cultivation technique was only the first step; the real challenge was how to survive and become stronger in this treacherous demon palace.
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