Starting with the consumables of the Demonic Sect, one can barely achieve immortality.

Yan Cheng lowered his eyes, placed his palms in front of his lower abdomen, and hooked his little fingers together to form a moon-shaped seal.

This is a method of cultivating the Dao mind within the Moon Wheel Refining Flower Seal Method. It can calm the mind and perceive all the differences within and without the body, which is also what is now called the Inner Observation Method.

The Hall of Longevity did not teach the corpse cultivators the methods of cultivating their Dao heart.

Indeed, corpse cultivators are merely tools for producing corpse demons; what use is such a steadfast Dao heart to them?

Moreover, to be honest, at least in the early stages of Qi cultivation, physical constitution is still much more important than Dao heart and comprehension.

The Moon Illumination Seal is a wonderful method for cultivating the mind and character of ancient Taiyin cultivators. However, in Yan Cheng's hands, it has produced unprecedented effects.

As he focused his mind, a silver mirror shone brightly deep within his consciousness.

Everything within a hundred paces of him was instantly presented in a world of black and white.

The Hidden Immortal Mirror is an artifact of the Upper Yin lineage, which resonates with the Taiyin lineage's seal techniques to generate wondrous effects; this is known as the "Dongzhao" (Insightful Mirror).

Through this miraculous ability, Yan Cheng was able to see what was happening within a hundred paces in a short time, an effect equivalent to the cultivation of a cultivator's pupil technique over several decades.

The second floor of the Hall of Longevity is the residence of the various corpse cultivators. The black coffins beneath each corpse cultivator are filled with yin energy, which corrodes bones and damages the soul.

Normally, this yin energy is not so dense that it can be seen by the naked eye of a beginner cultivator.

Under the reflection of the silver mirror, wisps of thick, ink-like black energy could be seen rising from the snow-white coffin, appearing as if they were solid before Yan Cheng's eyes.

Even stronger than this aura was the malevolent energy emanating from the corpse cultivators, varying in strength and seemingly about to merge into the dark background at any moment.

Yan Cheng's mind is clear:

"Having mastered this wondrous technique, I can instantly detect any fluctuations in spiritual energy or the approach of a cultivator within a hundred paces."

"It's said that Tiantong has mastered a technique called 'Aura Observation,' and when he focuses his gaze, he can achieve a similar effect."

"However, it can only affect a single target at a time, far less comprehensively than [Insight]."

"The only drawback is that this miraculous power requires conscious effort; I can't maintain this state all day long."

"If a crisis is foreseeable, it's good to use this method to take precautions."

"It's better than blindly rushing around like a fly, not even knowing how you died."

He used this method to catch a glimpse of what was going on with the ghoul puppet that Tian Tong had ordered to be sent to the second floor.

However, the method of penetrating insight is ultimately limited in scope, and the second level is indeed too broad.

"Corpse-eating, corpse-eating... Judging from the literal meaning, is it some kind of creation specifically designed to suppress corpse cultivators?"

"It was precisely when Huang Tong went into seclusion that this thing had the opportunity to appear."

"Otherwise, why make it so complicated? She could have just jingled the golden bell in her hand and it would have been over."

"The fact that they sent out the Corpse-Eating Yin Puppet suggests that Tian Tong seems to believe the head-hanging man is a member of the Corpse Cultivator group."

"Is this a senior cultivator trying to cause a big scene while Huang Tong is in seclusion?"

"But what can be accomplished by simply killing a few corpse cultivators..."

Just then, Yan Cheng's attention was drawn to two rapidly approaching auras at the edge of his vision, and his eyes, blazing with bright purple flames, slowly opened:

"It's those two guys? How could this be..."

"No, rather, if that's the case, everything makes sense!"

……

A short, stocky corpse cultivator stealthily approached the gate of Yancheng, his movements as nimble as a cat that was used to stealing fish.

His ten fingers were equally nimble, and after a few quick maneuvers, Yan Cheng's door lock was silently severed by the silver thread in his hand.

The corpse cultivator beside him, who was the one among the three loan sharks who hadn't spoken up to persuade Yan Cheng, held his breath and gripped the long sword at his waist.

Although the operation was quite dangerous, the two had made thorough preparations beforehand and were confident that they would succeed.

The fact that Tiantong released the Corpse-Eating Yin Puppet did make the situation more troublesome, but it was also within the adults' calculations.

The Corpse-Eating Yin Puppet has no sight; it relies solely on its ability to sense the Yin Corpse Fiend to locate the corpse cultivator.

The two of them practiced the "Concealing Breath Technique," which allowed them to conceal their Yin energy, enough to deceive the Corpse-Eating Yin Puppet's senses and arrive safely at Yan Cheng's gate.

As for Yan Cheng himself, the two corpse cultivators didn't take him seriously at all.

It's already past midnight, and most of the early-stage corpse cultivators have long since succumbed to their weariness and fallen into a deep sleep. This kid is probably no exception.

Even if he were awake, without having mastered a perception technique like the Qi Observation Technique, he probably wouldn't even be able to see the two figures clearly in the darkness, let alone put up a fight.

How could a newbie who has just arrived possibly not have even studied magic before, possibly be able to defeat two experienced early-stage perfect cultivators?

After much deliberation, the two made a decision without any further hesitation and slipped lightly into Yan Cheng's room.

What awaited them was a pair of purple eyes that shimmered with bright flames.

The next moment, a silver-white thread carrying purple flames lashed out at the two of them!

The short, wielding corpse cultivator entered the room earlier than the sword-wielding corpse cultivator, and the distance between him and the flying silk was shorter. He felt the chilling aura rushing towards him almost instantly.

This kid was prepared!

He had never seen such a strange flame as the Upper Yin Star Flame, and dared not be struck by this whip. He immediately swung out the puppet-pulling frame in his hand to block it.

With a soft "plop," the Yin Corpse Black Fiend and the Upper Yin Purple Flame intersected on the silk thread, the former being almost instantly melted away by the latter.

But the cold white purple flames, after dissolving the black evil, still felt it wasn't enough, and instantly followed the silk threads to burn the ten fingers of the short corpse cultivator!

The short, corpse-cultivator was terrified. He quickly withdrew his hand and discarded the silk, then did a forward somersault to dodge the attack of the flaming whip.

Compared to his disheveled state, the sword-wielding corpse cultivator appeared to possess the demeanor of a master.

He drew his sword, and the white blade was suddenly shrouded in black magic, clashing fiercely with the puppet threads empowered by starlight.

The initial cultivators' baleful aura was not of sufficient quality, and they could not wield the silk threads like a sharp blade, as the celestial child could.

The longsword in the corpse cultivator's hand was a truly sharp weapon, which, with its sharpness and hardness, temporarily made up for the difference in spiritual power between the two sides.

In this brief exchange, he realized that a direct confrontation would inevitably lead to his death.

With a light step, he swiftly evaded the silk threads, advancing several feet in an instant, his sword flashing like a long snake spitting its tongue, aiming straight for Yan Cheng's throat!

The Changsheng Palace's movement techniques include "Flying Fox Step," its swordsmanship includes "White Snake Spits Venom," and the secret technique "Concealing Breath" was used to sneak up to this point.

The sword-wielding corpse cultivator's equipment cost as much as fifteen strands of Yin Corpse Fiend, which can be said to have reached the upper limit of an early-stage cultivator.

Coupled with his initial perfect cultivation level, very few corpse cultivators on the second level could escape unscathed from this attack.

But what was even more deadly than the sword's edge came from the short, corpse-cultivator who had seemingly narrowly escaped death a moment earlier.

Suddenly, another puppet-binding thread appeared in his hand. The soft thread, infused with baleful energy, instantly formed a circle, moving faster than the sword light to encircle Yan Cheng's neck!

Tian Tong would definitely conduct an autopsy afterward, and the two corpse cultivators did not want Yan Cheng to have any injuries other than the strangulation mark on his neck.

The seemingly fierce sword strike was nothing more than a feint.

The deadly strangulation thread, which strikes last but arrives first, is the most lethal killing move!