Shen Xuan first finished refining the remaining Bloodthirsty Mosquito King Essence Blood.

He put all the newly acquired thousand or so Dao Rhyme Points into "Devouring All Things."

Only then could he barely advance this talent skill to the mastery stage.

The subsequent hundred or so Dao Rhyme Points had almost no effect when added.

Shen Xuan sighed.

He had seen this situation many times before.

Mainly limited by his realm cultivation, high-tier talent skill proficiency would stagnate at a certain stage.

Spending nearly ten thousand Dao Rhyme Points, "Devouring All Things" barely improved to mastery stage.

The cost was huge.

However, the gain was equally immense.

Shen Xuan tried it out.

Now, using the "Devouring All Things" skill, he could devour over ten pounds of Tier Two Middle Grade demon beast meat a day, refine three or four strands of origin spiritual power, and merge them into his own Spiritual Sea Dao Foundation.

"This way, my cultivation speed has significantly increased compared to before."

"Moreover, the Dao Foundation's origin spiritual power is also continuously increasing."

Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators need a large amount of spirit rice and demon beast meat to refine spiritual power and nourish themselves.

But upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, most cultivators abandon the method of refining spiritual power with spiritual food and can abstain from it for a long time.

The main method of cultivation is the method of refining spiritual Qi, with a small part supplemented by refining spirit pills, and spiritual food only as a complement.

The richness of the spiritual Qi in the dojo directly determines the cultivator's cultivation success.

However, among demon beasts, the most primitive method of refining spiritual food is still followed, hunting and devouring other demon beasts, cultivators, and mortals to absorb their essence.

"Devouring All Things" is one of the two most famous divine powers of the Black-winged Blood Mosquito, devouring any object with spiritual Qi, refining its spiritual power, and integrating it for personal use to enhance one's own strength.

Shen Xuan was extremely satisfied with "Devouring All Things."

However, this significantly increased his need for spiritual food, requiring many additional spirit stones daily.

"A pound of Tier Two Middle Grade demon beast meat costs twenty spirit stones. That's for farmed ones; if it's wild demon beasts, the price is even higher!"

One day would consume two hundred spirit stones.

Something that was unthinkable before.

Fortunately, Shen Xuan's wealth has grown substantially now.

Just in spirit stones alone, he had over seven hundred thousand.

He also had seven magical treasures and four demon treasures that could be sold.

From his third senior sister Gu Jinqin, there were also two hundred thousand spirit stones.

That was his betting capital and winnings.

When leaving the sect in haste, he did not have time to ask Gu Jinqin to return it.

"Third senior sister wouldn't blacken my spirit stones, right!"

Shen Xuan had a bit of doubt in his mind.

He vaguely felt that the economic situation of Little Gu Feng was not good.

Gu Jinqin needed to use gambling to make up for the deficit.

"A direct disciple of a True Master and a direct senior sister wouldn't go so far!"

Shen Xuan comforted himself.

In the short term, he did not lack spirit stones.

He could speed up his cultivation speed and increase the Dao Foundation's origin spiritual power.

Shen Xuan was still willing to spend a little more spirit stones.

...

One month later.

In the practice room.

Shen Xuan looked at the demon beast essence blood before him, feeling excited.

This was gifted by Master Wuchen.

The essence blood contained extremely pure demon power, filling Shen Xuan with anticipation.

He even sensed a power of thunder from it.

"Could it be, like the Thunder Beast, also a water and thunder dual attribute demon beast?"

No matter, whether good or bad, he'd find out by testing it.

The Mysterious Jade Talisman flashed with golden light.

A line of small golden text appeared in his vision.

"Stealable Talents: Sun and Moon Divine Light, Vigorous Shock, Wind and Rain Follow, Roar Like Thunder."

Shen Xuan's mind was racing.

Such astonishing bloodline talents must undoubtedly be the descendants of the ancient divine beast Kuiniu.

"Is it the Thunder-controlling Divine Bull?"

The "Barbaric Wilderness Demon Beast Atlas" contains descriptions of the Thunder-controlling Divine Bull.

The descendants of the ancient divine beast Kuiniu, with a body resembling a common old bull, slightly larger in size, no horns on the forehead, with only one leg, the body is cyan, cloaked with brilliant sun and moon light, capable of controlling thunder power.

Shen Xuan ruled out "Sun and Moon Divine Light" and "Wind and Rain Follow."

These two talent skills were quite good.

One is of defense shield armor type.

One type increases one's spiritual power.

However, compared to the other two talent skills, they pale in comparison.

"Roar Like Thunder" is a talent skill for controlling thunder power.

However, Shen Xuan has "Thunder God's Fury."

The effects of the two somewhat overlap.

The key is, Shen Xuan has too many talents.

He can't afford to spend time cultivating a similar talent skill anew.

On the other hand, "Vigorous Shock" is quite tempting.

According to legend, the divine drum made from the ancient divine beast Kuiniu, its sound resonates for miles, intimidating all around.

In a certain ancient war of the gods, there was even a human emperor who used the Kuiniu divine drum to issue a thunderous might, shaking the earth and mountains, darkening the sky, restraining the opponent's abilities of flight and stealth.

"So, this 'Vigorous Shock' is an extremely powerful divine soul attack skill?"

After much deliberation, Shen Xuan still seized the "Vigorous Shock" talent skill.

"Talent: Vigorous Shock (12/100)"

"Dao Rhyme: 488"

Shen Xuan was overjoyed.

He made the right choice!

One essence blood plunder gave close to five hundred Dao Rhyme Points.

Shen Xuan looked at the remaining Thunder-controlling Divine Bull essence blood.

Sufficient for the ten attempts required by the Mysterious Jade Talisman plunder.

He felt assured.

This trip to the Cyan Spirit Secret Realm, he truly made a fortune!

Indeed, wealth is sought in danger.

At the same time, he gained even more anticipation for condensing the Inner Core.

Master Wuchen is just an ordinary Inner Core True Master.

The demon beast essence blood casually given is so precious.

"If the gap between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Qi Cultivation Stage is one to ten, then the gap between the Core Formation Realm and the Foundation Establishment should multiply several times, at least one to thirty!"

Shen Xuan pondered in his heart.

In the late stage of Qi Cultivation, there is still a slim chance of competing against Foundation Establishment.

But in the Foundation Establishment Realm, trying to contend against Core Formation is almost a fantasy.

"Unless there is a heaven-defying magical treasure! Its effect exceeding the spiritual artifacts of a Core Formation True Master!"

Foundation Establishment cultivators use magical treasures.

At the Core Formation Realm, they use higher-tier spiritual artifacts.

Going further up, Nascent Soul True Monarchs use various spiritual treasures.

Only a few magical treasures have the potential to surpass spiritual artifacts under special circumstances.

"The status gap between the Core Formation Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm is vast!"

Just like in the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Thirty thousand Qi Cultivation disciples.

Three hundred Foundation Establishment Realm elders.

And only a dozen or so Core Formation True Masters.

Among them, those who have achieved the Golden Core are even fewer, less than five.

Advancing from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment is one in a hundred.

And progressing from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation has less than a one percent chance.

Even for those directly taught by True Masters.

With guaranteed cultivation resources, the Core Formation chance is only about ten percent.

For common Foundation Establishment cultivators, they almost never entertain the idea of achieving Core Formation.

Not to mention their own conditions not meeting the requirements.

The sheer volume of required cultivation resources, without family backing, cannot be sustained.

Just like Lv Zhengying, he hesitated for a long time even before attempting to proceed to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Shen Xuan stopped delving further into thoughts.

He focused on diligent cultivation.

Three months later.

[Talent: Vigorous Shock Entry Level (2/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 5218]

[Spirit Root: Water 81/100]

It's not easy, the Water Spirit Root talent finally increased a little.

This also confirmed Shen Xuan's suspicion.

This Thunder-controlling Divine Bull is a Tier Two Top Grade Demon Beast.

Shen Xuan left the Rain Listening Pavilion, heading to a remote location on Feiyun Mountain.

He tested the [Vigorous Shock].

He opened his mouth, producing a strange sound.

It was like thunder, with a force like a rushing sea.

All sorts of birds and beasts within a thousand feet trembled with fear.

The demon birds flying in the sky plummeted down, their demon power disrupted.

These demon birds flapped their wings, trying to escape.

However, no matter how they tried, they could not fly up, only flailing around on the mountainous ground.

Those hunting demon beasts.

Attempted to run in fear, but were powerless, tumbling in their haste.

"Indeed, a large-scale divine soul group attack skill."

Shen Xuan was quite satisfied in his heart.

This skill, [Vigorous Shock], is invaluable in chaotic battles.

Shen Xuan thought for a bit and didn't use the Dao Rhyme Points.

Unlike [Devouring All Things].

This kind of divine soul attack skill, [Vigorous Shock], can gradually increase in proficiency with regular practice.

Because its tier is too high, the effect of Dao Rhyme Points is not significant.

"Taking a walk and shouting a few times every day will be like vocal training, it's quite beneficial!"

Being in seclusion for over a year.

Shen Xuan finally refined all the stored demon beast essence blood.

The new talent skills he acquired were increasingly powerful.

"Twelve more years and I can return to the sect!"

After acquiring the talent skill [Devouring All Things], the quality and speed of cultivation improved.

Shen Xuan is now one hundred and three years old.

He estimates that in about five more years, he can attempt the breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

At that time, with the enhancement in realm cultivation, many talent skills can reach new heights, greatly increasing his strength.

Some basic talent skills, like [Concealing Breath], [Invisibility], and others, might even perfect further to evolve into divine powers.

Usually, Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot comprehend or exhibit divine powers.

The evolution into divine powers requires power in spiritual energy, divine soul, flesh body, and divine sense.

Only after a cultivator condenses the Inner Core can they meet the standards.

However, nothing is absolute.

The Dao has fifty paths, the heavens evolve forty-nine, and one escapes.

There's always an exception to everything.

Some special demon beasts can exhibit divine powers even at Tier Two.

Human cultivators are no different.

Currently, Shen Xuan consumes ten pounds of Tier Two Middle Grade Demon Beast Meat daily using [Devouring All Things].

Two hundred spirit stones a day, six thousand a month, and over seventy thousand a year.

Even though he is wealthy, he cannot help but feel a bit of heartache.

"Let's first sell off the four Demon Treasures in exchange for spirit stones."

Shen Xuan has already decided on the trading partners.

The patriarch of the Wu Family in the Red Rock Forest, the Saintess of the Blood Spirit Sect, Wu Yulan.

Also the visible leaders among the many demon cultivators in the Cyan Yang Prefecture.

This past year.

He Zhengming gathered the elites of the Cyan Cloud Sect, the cultivation clans, and the loose cultivators, deploying them in three directions to besiege the Wu Family in the Red Rock Forest.

Initially, it went quite smoothly.

Slaying demons and eliminating demon cultivators, gradually expanding controlled areas and populations.

In the Cyan Yang Prefecture, some major cities gradually regained some vitality.

Then, things didn't go well for long.

When the encirclement reduced to a quarter of Cyan Yang Prefecture.

He Zhengming's crusade army fell into a predicament.

Besides his main division, the other two armies were ambushed by demon cultivator squads, suffering heavy defeat and retreat.

The root cause was the lack of high-end combat strength.

On the Daoist Sect's side, only He Zhengming was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator capable of handling a situation independently.

While the demon sect had three late-stage Demon Foundation cultivators: Old Hou, Wu Yulan, and Nangong Guang.

Old Hou personally withstood He Zhengming's offensive.

Wu Yulan and Nangong Guang led teams to guerrilla attack the other two crusade armies constantly.

The other two crusade armies were commanded by the Zhao family patriarch and the Zhou family patriarch.

The two cherished the lives of their clan members and were unwilling to fight the demon cultivators head-on.

Though it seemed like a major retreat, it was actually a strategic preservation of strength with minimal losses.

He Zhengming ostensibly smiled to comfort them.

But behind their backs, in front of the sect's junior brothers, he cursed the Zhao and Zhou families.

Blaming these families for being useless like mud unable to stick on walls.

The initially demoralized demon cultivators experienced a surge in morale.

They divided their forces, avoiding cities to focus on developing in remote villages and towns.

Plundering populations, performing blood sacrifices to the Demon God, and breaking through realms.

In no time, the Cyan Yang Prefecture returned to a standoff.

It's hard to say who will win or lose.

At this moment, Shen Xuan discreetly came near the Wu Family in the Red Rock Forest.

He captured a demon cultivator to deliver a message to Wu Yulan, inviting her for a private meeting.

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