31: Chapter 31: The Ancient Path of the Netherworld

Xiao Ran put away the fragments and opened the System shop.

His pockets were flush now, so he could exchange for some good things.

After browsing for a moment, Xiao Ran's gaze fixed on a few items.

【Myriad Dao Guixu Body Phase 2 Development Technique】: Exchange requires 15,000 points.

Effect: Activates the second phase abilities of the Guixu Body, allowing swallowed energy to be partially converted into specific attribute demonic essence.

【demonic core Pill】: Exchange requires 2,000 points/pill.

Effect: Slightly increases the cultivation of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Each pill requires one month to digest, maximum of three pills.

【Blood Fiend Formation Flag (a set of nine)】: Exchange requires 3,000 points.

Effect: Profound Rank High Grade Formation Flag, can set up the Nine Palaces Blood Fiend Formation, trapping and killing Cultivators below the last stage of Golden Core.

Xiao Ran did the math.

The technique definitely needed to be exchanged; it was the Foundation.

He could exchange for one demonic core Pill. Combined with the earth core demon marrow milk, it would be enough for him to push for the Middle Stage or even the Late Stage of Golden Core before the ranking battle.

The Formation Flags... he didn't need them for now, so he wouldn't exchange them yet.

"Exchange for the Myriad Dao Guixu Body Phase 2 Development Technique, and one demonic core Pill."

【Exchange successful, 17,000 points deducted.】

【Current point balance: 1,000 points】

Xiao Ran: "..."

These points didn't last long at all!

How did he go bankrupt just after buying two things?

Did he overspend all of a sudden?

Xiao Ran's mouth twitched.

Why was his System different from others?

He had worked hard for ages doing tasks to get these points, only to go bankrupt after exchanging for one or two items.

Was this jerk taking a cut?

Xiao Ran speculated with the worst malice about the System.

But it was useless.

Because the System wouldn't respond.

Xiao Ran cursed a couple of times, then picked up the technique Jade Slip and the dark red demonic core Pill, which was the size of a dragon's eye.

Xiao Ran first put away the demonic core Pill, then crushed the Jade Slip.

A massive amount of information flooded into his mind.

After a while.

He opened his eyes, a flash of realization in them.

"So that's how it is... converting energy isn't a simple energy conversion, but rather, according to one's own needs, converting the swallowed energy into the most suitable pure demonic essence."

"Moreover, during the conversion process, one can also strip out the characteristics within the energy."

"For example, swallowing fire-attribute Spells can extract the power of fire fiends; swallowing lightning-attribute Spells can extract the might of thunder... although it's only a small amount, it accumulates over time."

This ability was extremely practical.

Xiao Ran immediately closed his eyes and operated the newly acquired technique.

Inside his Dantian, the twelve golden patterns on the surface of the pitch-black demonic core lit up slightly.

The Guixu Body, which originally just swallowed and refined energy, now had an additional conversion mechanism.

He tried to mobilize a wisp of demonic essence, simulating fire-attribute fluctuations.

It succeeded.

Although it was still very weak, it indeed carried the scorching sensation of fire fiends.

"Good stuff."

Xiao Ran nodded with satisfaction.

For the next half month, he stayed behind closed doors, focusing on digesting his gains.

He refined one drop of earth core demon marrow milk daily, and combined with the medicinal power of the demonic core Pill, his cultivation improved steadily.

The several secret techniques in the Blood Scripture (Fragment) also became increasingly proficient.

Especially the Blood Soul Thorn; he could now condense three of them.

Although the power wasn't as strong as when he burned his blood essence that day, it had the advantage of being covert, making it suitable for sneak attacks.

During his seclusion, White Bone Scholar sent someone to deliver an invitation.

It invited Xiao Ran to a banquet in three days, saying it was a small private gathering of several demon children.

Xiao Ran declined, using seclusion to consolidate his cultivation as an excuse.

It wasn't the time to get deeply involved with those veteran demon children yet.

His Foundation wasn't stable enough.

Another ten days passed.

When Xiao Ran stepped out of the cultivation chamber, his aura had firmly entered the Middle Stage of Golden Core.

The demonic core was more solid, and a trace of blood color had faintly appeared within the golden patterns on its surface.

That was the change brought by practicing the Blood Scripture secret techniques.

Xiao Ran had digested most of his recent gains.

So he was calculating his next step.

Just at this moment, the System notification sounded suddenly.

【New task released: Explore the Netherworld Ancient Path】

【Task description: There are abnormal Yin Qi fluctuations in the Netherworld Ancient Path in the Northern Territory, suspected to be the emergence of ancient ruin fragments. Go to investigate and obtain at least one item of value.】

【Task reward: Depending on exploration results, base reward 5,000 points, special item yinming pearl × 1】

【Task time limit: One month】

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up.

What was up with the System today?

It actually started actively issuing tasks to him?

In the past, System tasks were passively triggered; today it was unprecedentedly proactive.

Of course, Xiao Ran would accept.

He had heard of the Netherworld Ancient Path.

It was rumored to be an ancient battlefield, filled with Yin Qi all year round and infested with ghosts.

But it was also rich in Soul crystals and Yin-attribute spiritual materials, and Cultivators often teamed up to explore it.

It was perfect; he had just broken through to the Middle Stage of Golden Core and needed actual combat to consolidate it.

Moreover, the Soul Suppressing Tower, this Soul-path Spell, should be able to exert miraculous effects in such a place.

"Accept task."

【Task accepted.】

Xiao Ran immediately ordered Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing to prepare the supplies needed for going out, and sent a Soul link message to Li Changsheng, saying he was going out for training for a while.

Li Changsheng replied quickly.

"What a coincidence, I also accepted a task to purify a Yin vein here. The location seems not far from the Netherworld Ancient Path, but I can only set off in half a month. If you haven't returned by then, maybe we can bump into each other."

"We'll contact each other then."

Xiao Ran replied and cut the link.

The next morning.

Xiao Ran left the Eternal Night Demon Sect alone and headed towards the Netherworld Ancient Path in the northwest of the Northern Territory.

He didn't take anyone with him this time.

In some places, having too many people was actually troublesome.

...

Seven days later.

Xiao Ran stood at the entrance of a desolate, grey-white valley.

Ahead, the earth seemed to have been torn open by a huge wound, and eerie Yin Qi poured out from the bottomless canyon, where the sound of ghostly wailing could faintly be heard in the wind.

A broken stone tablet stood at the valley entrance, with four blood-colored characters carved on it.

Netherworld Ancient Path.

The handwriting was ferocious, exuding an ominous air.

At this time, quite a few Cultivators had gathered at the valley entrance, in groups of two or three, each on their own.

There were Demonic Cultivators, Loose Cultivators, and even a few Righteous Path Disciples wearing Daoist robes.

In such a dangerous place, the distinction between Righteous and Demonic was often temporarily shelved; after all, surviving was the priority.

Xiao Ran restrained his aura, suppressing his cultivation to the Early Stage of Golden Core, and found a quiet corner to observe.

Soon, he noticed a group of people.

They were five Cultivators, four men and one woman.

Leading them was a Scar-faced Man at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, and the rest were at the Late Stage or Peak of Foundation Establishment.

They were whispering about something, their eyes glancing towards the depths of the canyon from time to time, their expressions solemn.

Xiao Ran secretly used Blood Soul Truth-Seeking to perceive the blood and Qi state of those people.

The Scar-faced Man had vigorous blood and Qi, but there were hidden injuries.

The others were in a normal state, but the only female Cultivator among them had a strange, chilling Yin coldness in her blood and Qi, as if she had been eroded by some evil Yin entity.

"This Fellow Daoist, are you planning to enter the Netherworld Ancient Path?"

A gentle voice sounded beside him.

Xiao Ran turned his head and saw a middle-aged Cultivator wearing a grey robe with a refined face.

His cultivation was at the Early Stage of Golden Core, and his smile was kind.

"Something the matter?"

Xiao Ran's tone was flat.

"My surname is Wu, given name Yuan, and I am a Loose Cultivator from the Northern Territory."

"The Netherworld Ancient Path is extremely dangerous; it's easy to suffer losses if you are alone."

"I see that you are also at the Golden Core cultivation level, Fellow Daoist. Why not join us? We already have three people here, and adding you would make four, so we can look after each other."

The middle-aged Cultivator cupped his hands and said.

Xiao Ran glanced behind him.

There stood two people, one fat and one thin, both at the Early Stage of Golden Core.

"No need, I like to travel alone."

Xiao Ran refused flatly.

Wu Yuan was not annoyed, still smiling.

"Then I won't disturb you, Fellow Daoist."

"However, a word of warning: it hasn't been peaceful in the depths of the Ancient Path recently. I heard that a Corpse King of the last stage of Golden Core has appeared, and several teams of Cultivators have already perished inside."

"Fellow Daoist, be careful if you go in."

Xiao Ran nodded upon hearing this.

"Many thanks for the warning."

Wu Yuan left with his people.

Xiao Ran watched his retreating back, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

This person's blood and Qi... there was a problem.

He looked peaceful, but in reality, there was an extremely subtle corpse aura hidden inside, and he was trying hard to suppress it.

"A corpse refiner? Or possessed by something?"

Xiao Ran was vigilant, but didn't pay too much attention.

As long as they didn't provoke him, he didn't care what they were.

After waiting for about half an hour, the time when the Yin Qi at the valley entrance was weakest arrived.

Xiao Ran didn't delay any longer, his figure flickered, and he turned into a blood shadow and swept into the canyon.

Behind him, several gazes followed quietly.

Some curious, some greedy, and some malicious.

The Netherworld Ancient Path was officially opened.