21: Another method of body forging

After the conflict with Zhang Yuan, Fang Huai returned to his residence, temporarily unable to work due to his injuries.

As his roommate, Jin Xiaoxiao was arranged by Wu Liu to return with him to help treat his wounds.

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Lightly applying the herbs, Jin Xiaoxiao comforted him, "Senior Brother, although your wound looks terrifying, don't worry too much; it won't affect the movement of your arm."

"Mhm," Fang Huai replied absentmindedly.

Whether he would be injured and to what extent was all within his control.

Skinning was a delicate operation; he naturally wouldn't be so foolish as to ruin his own future just to set a trap for Zhang Yuan.

Claiming he had injured his muscles and bones was merely to make Zhang Yuan's death more justifiable.

"Senior Brother, you're really something. To buy Zhang Yuan's life, you actually promised to give the manager one thousand contribution points every year."

"Junior Sister Jin, these thousand contribution points don't just buy Zhang Yuan's life, but also my own safety."

"I understand..."

"You understand even before I've said anything?"

Jin Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Do you think my relationship with Wu Liu is decent? That's because I promised to give her three hundred contribution points every year..."

Fang Huai and Jin Xiaoxiao shared the same mindset: spending contribution points to buy peace of mind.

If he had a choice, Fang Huai wouldn't have wanted to be so generous.

But in a demonic Sect, it wasn't just about who was more ruthless or powerful; it was also about backing and supporters.

Even Jin Xiaoxiao could see that the wound on his shoulder was only severe on the surface, yet Wu Liu chose to go along with his lie.

This favoritism was all thanks to the thousand contribution points Fang Huai had promised annually.

As long as Fang Huai was alive, she would have a steady stream of benefits, so she was certain to favor him and provide him with enough security.

With some time left before sleep, Fang Huai had nothing else to do, so he sat cross-legged to breathe and Cultivate.

Before leaving the Skinning Room, he had exchanged for [Drawing Qi into the Body (Grey)].

Now, sitting with a calm mind, he attempted to attract the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Because the Spiritual Qi in the Corpse Fiend Sect was too mottled, breathing it in would draw in a large amount of resentment and poisonous fiendish energy. Thus, before reaching the Qi Refining stage, one could only choose to go to a Cultivation Room to absorb purer Spiritual Qi.

However, after entering the Qi Refining stage, the efficiency of Spiritual Qi purification increases. Coupled with the fact that the "Hundred Fiends Art" itself requires Evil Qi as an aid, one can increase their cultivation outside of the Cultivation Rooms as long as they practice in moderation.

After cultivating for a short while, he exited his meditative state.

Although he had attracted a small amount of Spiritual Qi, he had also brought in a significant amount of poisonous fiendish energy and resentment. Over time, this would inevitably leave behind hidden dangers.

He had previously thought that the [Malevolent Qi entering the body] tag on the Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples was a result of practicing the Hundred Fiends Art, but now it seemed it was caused by physical damage.

Thinking of this, in order to stabilize his cultivation Foundation for the future, Fang Huai gave up on further breathing exercises and decided to save up more contribution points and System points before going to a Cultivation Room to absorb pure Spiritual Qi.

————

One day, while Fang Huai was recovering in his room, Jin Xiaoxiao rushed back to tell him that a batch of live Yao Beasts had arrived at the Skinning Room.

"Live Yao Beasts?" Fang Huai was puzzled. How could they skin something that was alive?

Among their group of half-baked Cultivators, almost no one had practiced any offensive or defensive Cultivation Techniques.

Skinning a live Yao Beast—wasn't that just seeking death?

"Senior Brother, don't panic. 'Live Yao Beasts' means that the Divine Sense of these beasts has been extinguished, or their Physical Bodies are damaged to the point of being near death."

Jin Xiaoxiao explained, "These Yao Beasts are neither dead nor alive, and their bodies still contain ample vital energy and blood. Skinning Disciples can plunder this vital energy during the process. At the same time, skins taken from live specimens have better spirituality and are more marketable."

Of course, there's danger. Occasionally, a Yao Beast might be in a state of suspended animation and suddenly attack. Therefore, skinning live Yao Beasts grants more contribution points.

Normally, such a good opportunity wouldn't fall to us, but with frequent wars, the Sect has issued numerous Yao Beast hunting missions to ensure logistics.

The volume of skinning has increased greatly. Since the higher-level Skinning Rooms need to process high-tier Yao Beasts, the Sect distributed these low-tier live Yao Beasts to us."

Hearing Jin Xiaoxiao's explanation, Fang Huai understood and felt his heart skip a beat with excitement.

He had been resting for quite a while; it was time to get back to work.

Returning to the Skinning Room, Wu Liu merely gave him a slight nod before turning her attention back to the other Disciples.

The incident where a Foundation Establishment Yao Beast in suspended animation wiped out a room left her with lingering fears. She had to constantly monitor every skinning Disciple to prevent her cash cows from getting injured.

Fang Huai's gaze swept over the mountain of Yao Beast corpses, carefully checking their tags.

[Near Death], [Soul Completely Lost], [Divine Sense Shattered]... [Suspended Animation]

[Suspended Animation: It is faking death, waiting for a 'destined person' to drag down with it in a final struggle.]

Scanning the area, he found two Yao Beasts in a state of suspended animation—

A Sharp-toothed Porcupine and an Ink Eagle.

Fang Huai randomly borrowed [Experienced Skinner (Grey)] from some unlucky fellow, hoisted a [Soul Completely Lost] Spiny-skinned Wolf, and quickly began to cut.

"This kid doesn't even check if the Yao Beast is truly dead?"

"Heh, being so reckless, he'll die at the skinning table sooner or later."

"..."

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

To process a live Yao Beast, one must carefully check if the beast's Divine Soul or Physical Body still poses a threat before making a move.

It was the first time they had seen someone as brainless as Fang Huai.

Wu Liu was about to scold Fang Huai, but remembering he wasn't a reckless person, she ultimately swallowed her words.

Seizing vital energy... disemboweling... carefully peeling along the connection between bone-flesh and skin... a complete Spiny-skinned Wolf pelt was born.

The feeling of processing a living creature was vastly different from a dead one.

Processing dead things involved stiff flesh and required only mechanical operation.

Processing live ones, one could clearly feel the body gradually turn from warm to cold, feeling life slip away in one's hands.

From being timid and subservient, to his first kill, to now having steady hands while killing creatures, Fang Huai had changed a lot.

Wiping the fine sweat from his forehead, he looked at the panel data with satisfaction:

【Body Tempering Art (Entry): 74/100】

【Skinning Technique (Entry): 29/100】

Body Tempering Art increased by 7 points, and Skinning Technique increased by 12 points.

Only three hours had passed; if he hurried, he could process another Yao Beast.

While he was rejoicing, he suddenly heard a piercing scream.

Looking up, he saw a Disciple who, while checking the [Suspended Animation] Sharp-toothed Porcupine, was bitten on the face by the suddenly lunging beast.

Wu Liu acted immediately, piercing the Yao Beast's skull, but it was too late; the Disciple's face had already been mauled beyond recognition.

Wu Liu waved her hand, ordering people to carry the Disciple away.

If he was lucky enough to survive, the Corpse Fiend Sect might arrange for him to tend to Spiritual Fields or mine Spirit Stones.

If he was unlucky and died, he would be thrown into the Miasma Valley to nourish the Evil Qi.

Fang Huai sighed inwardly. He couldn't save that man, nor could he try to; all he could do was try his best to improve himself.

Another three hours passed, and Fang Huai finished processing another Yao Beast.

Seeing that not much time was left, he left the Skinning Room and returned to his residence.

Not long after he returned, Jin Xiaoxiao came back smiling, holding five or six poisonous herbs.

poison heart grass, Snake Bone Grass, Ten-Step Sway... this woman really understood his mind.

"Why so attentive today?" Fang Huai didn't believe she would be nice to him for no reason.

"Senior Brother Fang, your speed in processing the Spiny-skinned Wolf today was so fast~"

"You want to learn? I'll teach you..."