52: The little white fox became a demon, and in three years he cultivated the Five Elements Divine Light.

In the secret chamber.

Xuan Xin sat cross-legged on a futon, her eyes tightly shut. A dense Nether Qi emanated from her body, and her face was deathly pale, tinged with the gray of a living corpse.

Suddenly, her beautiful eyes opened, revealing a look of pleasant surprise.

"Grandmaster, I succeeded!"

She formed a hand seal, and a grayish-yellow True Core emerged from the top of her head.

As soon as the True Core appeared, the dense Nether Qi in her body was continuously absorbed into it.

Visibly, Xuan Xin's complexion returned to a healthy red, her skin became fair and elastic, and a surge of vitality washed over her.

In her mind, the Restriction left by the White Lotus Saint Mother finally shattered like a bubble.

"Very good.

Xuan Xin, your Yellow Springs Art has finally reached the introductory stage.

You only need to swallow Yellow Springs Qi, and your True Core will slowly transform into a Yellow Springs True Core.

The cultivation potential of this core is even greater than your previous White Lotus True Core."

The old woman's phantom said.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Xin sighed inwardly.

She had Cultivated the White Lotus Sect's Saint Art for nearly a hundred years, only just managing to Breakthrough to True Core Realm.

Now, she had to find another path and switch to Cultivating the Yellow Springs Art.

The difficulties and hardships involved were imaginable.

However, thinking of her parents and elder brother who died in the plague, the flame of revenge ignited in her eyes once more.

'As long as I can kill that person and avenge my family... I am willing to pay any price...'

"Grandmaster, the Yellow Springs Secret Realm is now closed, and it cannot be entered for sixty years.

Without Yellow Springs Mountain, where can I find this Yellow Springs Qi?"

"Don't worry, your Grandmaster has already considered this point.

Legend has it that during the heyday of the Yellow Springs Dao Sect, there were three great Holy Lands that produced Yellow Springs Qi.

They were a mountain, a valley, and a river.

This mountain is called Yellow Springs Mountain.

It has an incredible enhancing effect on Cultivating Nether-type Divine Abilities.

It comes from the Yellow Springs Secret Realm.

You have already seen it.

The valley refers to Soulfall Valley.

You only need to throw living souls into the bottom of the valley, and those souls will be shattered and decomposed, forming Soul-Strengthening Fruits at the bottom of the valley.

These fruits contain incomparably pure Yellow Springs Qi, and after consuming them, they can also strengthen the soul.

The last river... is Wangchuan.

Besides containing pure Yellow Springs Qi, Wangchuan water can also purify the True Core and improve its grade.

Most importantly... it can completely wash away the remnants of the White Lotus Saint Art in your True Core and solidify your Dao foundation.

Next, I will take you to Wangchuan."

"Grandmaster, then where exactly is Wangchuan...?"

"Beyond the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains... in Great Jin!"

...Chenping County.

Courtyard.

"Troublesome, this ore vein is actually deep within the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains..."

Gu Changsheng held a silk map, his expression grim.

Ten Thousand Demon Mountains.

Tens of thousands of demons and monsters resided there.

It is rumored that in its core area, there were even demon kingdoms established by Demon Kings.

During the Great Shang Taizu's era, he once led many Sect Cultivators to conquer the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains.

As a result, he suffered a crushing defeat.

Taizu also sustained irreversible severe injuries and died young.

Since then, the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains became a Forbidden Ground for the Great Shang Dynasty and countless Sects.

According to geographical divisions, the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains are divided into the outer, inner, and core areas.

The map showed that the Yuanci ore vein was located in the inner area of the Demon Mountains.

"The inner area, while not as dangerous as the core area, is still not somewhere ordinary True Core Realm Cultivators can venture.

If one is not careful, even a Peak True Core Realm Cultivator can become blood food for demons.

For the sake of a mere Yuanci profound ore vein... it's too risky, not worth it.

Unless I Cultivate to True Core Realm, refine an Incarnation, and let the Incarnation go explore... Of course, my top priority now is to master the Five Elements Heaven Evasion Divine Light.

With this Divine Ability, when I Breakthrough to True Core Realm, few of my peers will be able to catch up to me."

Gu Changsheng took out a clean white porcelain bottle. As the bottle opened, a wisp of Five Elements Evil Qi floated out.

Immediately, his five internal organs responded, and his Qi flowed and converged, forming a vortex that continuously swallowed and absorbed the Five Elements Evil Qi.

Three years later.

Wild mountain cave.

Gu Changsheng opened his eyes, a hint of joy in them.

The five-colored light and shadow on his body wriggled, slowly retreating into the heart space within his body, transforming into a five-colored banner that floated above the spirit of his five internal organs.

"Tong Er, this time, how long has it been since I, your master, went into seclusion for Cultivation?"

Whoosh—

A verdant green light and shadow emerged from the dark tree, transforming into a Dragon-horned Tong Er holding a treasure sword.

"Replying to Master, it has been exactly thirty-seven days."

"Thirty-seven days... coupled with the thirteen previous failures, all in all, it's been roughly three years."

Gu Changsheng stood up and reached out to caress the dark tree.

This tree was none other than the five qi gathering tree he had personally planted three years ago.

Now, its canopy covered the mountaintop, and its roots intertwined throughout the entire cave.

"Three years... After thirteen failures, I barely managed to master the Five Elements Heaven Evasion Divine Light and condense a Divine Ability seed.

This speed is more than a thousand times slower than when I Cultivated the Nine Nether Soul-Seizing Underworld Light."

Back then, it took him less than a day to condense the Divine Ability seed of the Nine Nether Soul-Seizing Underworld Light.

"Before, I thought I was exceptionally talented, and Divine Ability Cultivation was as easy as flipping a hand.

Now it seems... it should be the effect of Yellow Springs Mountain.

However, as a long-lived being, I have plenty of time..."

After three years of Cultivation, Gu Changsheng had a clear understanding of the difficulty of condensing a Divine Ability seed.

During this period, besides Cultivating Divine Abilities, his Cultivation had also risen to the Peak Foundation Building Realm.

He was only one step away from True Core Realm.

"Ying ying~"

A white fox ran over, rubbing affectionately against Gu Changsheng's calf.

Its amber eyes narrowed into slits, and its tail wagged, as if saying, 'pet me'.

"Hmm, Little White, you've been freeloading off me for how many years now?

Why haven't you become a demon yet?"

Gu Changsheng opened his large hand and vigorously petted the little fox.

Hearing this, the little white fox puffed up and broke free, black Qi rolling off its body like smoke, its pressure not inferior to a Contemplation Realm Cultivator.

"Oh? So you've already become a demon... How come there's no sign of you becoming a spirit at all?

You haven't refined the horizontal bone in your mouth to speak, nor have you Cultivated a human form."

After a series of gestures from the little white fox, Gu Changsheng finally understood.

It turned out that the little white fox had a faint trace of the Azure Hill Fox Bloodline within it.

This was a naturally rare species, and its transformation was much more difficult than that of ordinary demons.

"So that's how it is..."

Gu Changsheng was quite astonished.

Who would have thought that a white fox he casually bought at the flower and bird market would actually possess a trace of the Azure Hill Fox Bloodline?

"Haha, today I, your master, have mastered a Divine Ability, and you have successfully transformed into a demon. Truly a double blessing!

Let's go have some fun."

Several hours later, Gu Changsheng emerged from Baihua Garden, tightening his waist.

His face showed a refreshed and satisfied expression.

"Comfortable... It's a pity those two fox spirits aren't here anymore.

I wonder if they were captured by monks and Daoists, or if they left on their own.

Otherwise, this 'fierce battle' would have been much more interesting."

After having his fun, Gu Changsheng walked into Cui Bao Lou.

This was Chenping County's best restaurant.

For some reason, it was a bit deserted today.

"Waiter, just bring out all the signature dishes, and two jars of twenty-year-old Daughter Red."

"Coming right up, honored guest."

Soon, Gu Changsheng began to eat, savoring each sip of wine and bite of food.

Just then, a middle-aged scholar in a tattered long gown entered, tottering to the counter and placing three copper coins with his withered fingers.

"Shopkeeper Liu, a bowl of old wine, and a plate of beans flavored with aniseed (fennel beans)."

"Scholar Kong, you haven't settled last month's wine bill yet."

Shopkeeper Liu said this, yet he still opened the lid of the wine jar and scooped out a bowl of yellow wine.

"Next time... next time..."

Scholar Kong's hands trembled. Seeing the wine, he snatched it as if a hungry ghost pouncing on food, and gulped it down.

Suddenly.

Clatter—

The porcelain bowl hit the floor, shattering into pieces.

The noise was considerable, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

Scholar Kong fell straight down.

His eyeballs, cheeks, and neck sprouted dense black fungal filaments.

They intertwined, forming a bizarre floral pattern.