19: Kill the Yin Toad and obtain the Yin Toad Method, which greatly increases digestion power.

Several days later, on the main road.

Gu Changsheng rode on a donkey, with a white fox nestled in his arms, as docile as a cat, allowing his large hands to roam back and forth.

“Ying ying~”

The white fox let out a comfortable cry, a human-like glint flashing in its eyes.

“Alas, it has been with me for several years, yet it still hasn't transformed, always just a step away.

Perhaps I need to find some Heaven And Earth Treasure to help it achieve a Breakthrough.”

Gu Changsheng murmured.

It is good to have a Spirit Beast companion, so he won't be lonely.

It doesn't matter if the white fox doesn't transform.

What's important is to keep its fur sleek and shiny, and pleasant to the touch.

With a thought, the attribute panel opened.

【Name: Gu Changsheng】

【Remaining Lifespan: 105】

【Realm: Foundation Building Realm Early Stage (499 / 10000)】

【Contemplation Arts: Python Fox Art Sixth Rank (Profound), Dragon Elephant Prajna Art Sixth Rank (Profound), Four-Armed Shura Art Sixth Rank (Profound)】

【Techniques: Spirit Eye Technique Fourth Rank, Fox Shadow Technique Fourth Rank, Sword Planting Technique Fifth Rank...】

【Skills: Qingfeng Swordplay Fifth Rank, Cooking...】

Taking advantage of these past few days, Gu Changsheng had already raised the Four-Armed Shura Art to the Sixth Rank.

It had given birth to two techniques: 【Dharma Image】 and 【Four-Armed Shura】.

Gu Changsheng raised a hand, and a golden light appeared on his palm.

Beyond the golden light, there was a vague, bloody phantom, with a ferocious, Ghost Face (ghostly face), and a terrifying aura.

“Unfortunately, my Realm is sufficient, but accumulating Physical Body Qi has become an issue.”

Both the Golden Body and the Dharma Image require a large amount of Physical Body Qi to condense.

Especially the Four-Armed Shura technique.

The two arms, thick enough for a horse to run on, require no less Physical Body Qi than condensing a Blood Dragon.

Currently, the panel shows them as gray and unselectable.

This means Gu Changsheng is not even qualified to use them yet.

Everything has its pros and cons.

Both cultivation methods originated from Buddhist secret arts, and both refine the Physical Body; although they haven't achieved Fusion, they mutually enhance each other.

The most obvious manifestation is within the heart space, where the Dragon Elephant Spirit and the Shura Spirit sit cross-legged.

They forcefully suppressed the original inhabitant—the Python Fox Spirit—forcing it to the edge of the heart space.

As for the weaker Blood Spirit, it could only tremble in the corner.

“Very good, once the two Buddhist Body Refining methods achieve Fusion, the Golden Body I condense will definitely surpass Old Monk Fayun's.

At that time, perhaps it can be called the Second Revolution Golden Body.”

Gu Changsheng fantasized about the appearance of the Four-Armed Golden Body.

Everything was ready, except for the Physical Body Qi.

“Once I finish settling the ashes, I will return to Chenping County and quietly accumulate Physical Body Qi.

At that time, the matter of using the Scorpion-tailed Bee to search for Heaven And Earth Treasure must also be put on the agenda.”

Gu Changsheng leaned on the back of the large green donkey, a foxtail grass stalk in his mouth.

As a long-lived being, he had plenty of time and was not in a hurry.

Just like that, leisurely, ten days passed before he vaguely saw the village at the foot of the mountain.

It was Yan Xiao Yi's hometown, Xiao Huai Village.

Looking from afar, there were only a dozen scattered, dilapidated thatched huts; the only red brick and tile house was also run-down and covered in weeds.

It's hard to leave one's homeland; the great drought had passed, but the people of Xiao Huai Village had not returned, probably all having died on the escape route.

Gu Changsheng kicked the large green donkey beneath him, increasing its speed.

Before long, he stopped beneath three Sophora japonica (Chinese Scholar Trees).

“Three Sophora japonica (Chinese Scholar Trees) embracing the house, this must be Yan Xiao Yi's home.”

Sophora japonica (Chinese Scholar Trees) nurture Yin Qi, perfectly suited for the peaceful rest of departed souls.

Soon, Gu Changsheng dug a deep pit and buried the blue porcelain urn of ashes.

After covering it with earth, Sword Qi surged, carving a tomb character onto a bluestone slab, which he then placed on top of the grave mound.

Scattering a handful of circular yellow paper, Gu Changsheng chanted, “May you be reborn without attachment, burning away worldly sins. May someone guide you on the Yellow Springs, and may you cultivate good karma in your next life...”

This was a rebirth mantra recorded in the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art.

Swish—

The yellow paper spontaneously combusted, turning into a wisp of green smoke that drifted away.

Just then, a sweet, cloying voice suddenly came from behind him.

“Young Master, you are so handsome; why don't you come inside with this servant and have a drink...”

Turning around, a sweet, cloying pink fragrance wafted towards him. Before Gu Changsheng's eyes appeared a young woman in red, her tender, pale fingers pointing, captivating his soul.

Gu Changsheng sighed, saying helplessly, “Alas, although demonic mist can bewitch people's hearts.

But in this desolate wilderness, where would a young woman come from?

If you want to trick people into absorbing Yang Qi, you should at least improve your technique.”

The woman in red froze, then her head swelled, growing countless fleshy lumps.

Her blood-red mouth opened wide, and a pink tongue shot out like a sharp sword.

Gu Changsheng transformed into a blood-red streak, easily dodging it.

“So it's a toad demon... No, it's a Yin Toad.”

Ancient texts say that Yin Toads are born in places rich in Yin Qi; their skin emits hallucinogenic poisonous mist, which can cause travelers to fall into illusions, after which their long tongues pierce the brain to suck out marrow.

Unfortunately, the effect of this little poisonous mist was not enough to contend with 【Elementary Poison Resistance】.

“Take this sword.”

Gu Changsheng dabbed a drop of fox blood onto the tip of a wolf-hair brush, then pointed a finger, and a wisp of white fox Sword Qi erupted, effortlessly severing the Yin Qi tongue.

The long tongue writhed on the ground like a living thing.

The Yin Toad's mouth churned with Yin Qi, and its tongue recovered as good as new.

Immediately after, its abdomen distended, and resentful human faces appeared on its belly.

These were the resentful souls of the travelers it had devoured.

At this moment, they continuously supplied Yin Qi.

“Devouring souls to nourish Yin Qi, this Yin Toad's vitality is truly vigorous.

Unfortunately, it met me.”

Under the enhancement of the Sharpness Technique, the wolf-hair brush glowed with a faint light.

Clang—

Sword light flashed, and the Yin Toad wailed mournfully. A huge cross-shaped incision appeared on its abdomen, and resentful Qi continuously gushed out from within, repairing the wound.

Ordinary demons, after being severely wounded for the first time, would be either dead or crippled.

But the Yin Toad seemed unaffected.

“If once isn't enough, I'll kill it twice.

If twice isn't enough, I'll kill it ten times, a hundred times!”

Streams of sharp Sword Qi erupted, quickly chopping the Yin Toad into a pile of minced meat. The meat pile churned with Yin Qi, writhing and attempting to re-coalesce.

Within this pile of meat, a gray sac appeared.

Toad Palace!

The core stomach of the Yin Toad.

Whoosh—

The Fox Shadow Sword Qi whistled past, and the wolf-hair brush pierced through the sac, passing clean through and embedding itself straight into the Sophora japonica (Chinese Scholar Tree) behind it.

Overwhelming resentful souls surged out, and Yin Qi dissipated.

Visibly, the activity of the meat pile sharply decreased.

Before long, the meat pile dissolved into dissipating Yin Qi, leaving only a palm-sized gray toad.

“The Yin Toad, which devours souls to nourish Yin Qi and has vigorous vitality, surprisingly has such a small true body.”

Gu Changsheng took out his sketchbook and swiftly drew.

This Yin Toad wasn't strong, but its stomach's digestive ability ranked among the best among demons.

Gu Changsheng felt a faint sense of anticipation.

Before long, a drawing of a Yin Toad appeared in the sketchbook.

A new cultivation method also appeared on the panel.

【Soul Devouring Yin Toad Art (Yellow)】

【Description: The innate cultivation method of the Yin Toad race. Practitioners must devour Yin Qi to make their abdomen swell like a drum. Only after ten months can they achieve initial mastery.】

‘Ten months of gestation, huh? It's really carrying a Yin fetus... Too bad I don't need it.’

Add points!

An endless stream of insights flooded his mind. When Gu Changsheng opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashed within them.

This Yin Toad Art could indeed enhance the digestive capacity of the stomach.