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

Huang Tong died without any doubt.

To be fair, his actions before his death seemed unbecoming of his status.

But if Yan Cheng were in her situation, she might very well do something similar.

If members of immortal sects value the dignity of being a high-ranking cultivator, it's only when that dignity can be exchanged for something.

When a person dies, how much is dignity worth?

The Immortal Sect is known for producing talented individuals who are willing to do anything to pursue the Dao, and this is precisely the point that Yan Cheng, no matter how much he dislikes the Immortal Sect's style, has to admit he deeply agrees with.

It's a rare privilege to live in this world; what could be more important than simply being alive?

If there's anything worth risking your life for, it's only the path of cultivation!

After Huang Tong died, Yan Cheng plucked out the Three Pills Town with his sword.

As a true disciple of the palace, all the protective artifacts she possesses are naturally the most top-tier spiritual objects in the [Netherworld] realm.

The lower alchemy item is [Sulfur Fire Spirit Ruins], and the middle alchemy item is [Autumn Cicada Soothing].

All of them are of superior quality, excellent materials that can help Netherworld cultivators steadily break through to the later stages.

Yan Cheng's attention, however, naturally focused mainly on her Shangdan Zhenwu (a type of magical artifact).

【Foggy Crow Feathers】.

After nearly half a year of waiting, his efforts finally paid off, and joy shone in his eyes as he carefully placed the raven feather in his palm.

Ignoring Mi Niang's gaze, he sat cross-legged and began to absorb the raven feathers into his lower dantian.

Refined in an instant!

The Hidden Mist Technique already contains a method for refining crow feathers and mist together.

Yan Cheng combined the two objects into one and placed them in one mansion. The main body of the object was transformed from the misty fog into the crow feather itself.

Due to the transformation of the talisman, the wondrous talisman obtained from the lower dantian qi palace also underwent a transformation based on the [Hidden Radiance]!

Yan Cheng slightly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright:

This new, wondrous entity is named [Shadow Inheritance], and it inherits the ability of [Hidden Radiance] to elevate one's rank.

"It also adds the ability to control light and shadow, enhancing the power of light and shadow spells, and accelerating the casting speed of all spells."

"It's somewhat helpful!"

The phrase "controlling light and shadow" sounds mysterious, but it is actually similar to the profound ability of "township guardians" to control water and fire.

Yan Cheng didn't have any techniques related to light and shadow, at least not any suitable for Qi Refining stage practitioners.

The only hope is that when a suitable technique is obtained in the future, this wondrous blessing can be added to the technique.

When it comes to techniques related to light and shadow, the ones that left the deepest impression on Yan Cheng were, of course, the Holy Maiden's "Fleeting Light and Shadow Secret Technique" and "Morning Dew and Golden Rose Light"!

The former is a prerequisite technique for cultivating the Sun Immortal Foundation [Looking Light Prism], which is highly related to the Immortal Foundation. Yan Cheng doubted whether he could cultivate it successfully.

The latter is different. As long as he can find a suitable spiritual object as material, he can try it out by using the connection between the Yin and the Sun!

"Unfortunately, the Taiyin Sect's techniques of light and shadow are definitely under close surveillance by the Immortal Sect Supervisors..."

As for the authentic methods of the [Upper Yin] path?

Yan Cheng didn't have high hopes for this, since there was a high chance he would be disappointed in the end anyway.

The fact that he was able to comprehend the "Eight-Leaf Floating Duckweed Sword Manual" from the broken sword "Qingping" was an unexpected joy for him.

We can't ask for more.

Compared to controlling light and shadow, what truly made Yan Cheng feel that the trip was worthwhile was the boost that [Cheng Ying] provided to casting speed.

It should be understood that, in principle, the casting speed of each spell has an upper limit.

While a cultivator's magical skills, spiritual power level, and meridian quality can certainly increase this speed as much as possible, they cannot make it exceed their own speed limit.

Even though Yan Cheng possesses the [Hidden Radiance] and has reached the pinnacle of understanding and mastery of Qi Refining stage techniques, he is still limited by this invisible ceiling.

Generally speaking, the casting speed of Qi Refining cultivators is only so-so, and they are also hampered by the lineage to which certain spells belong.

For example, among the Five Elements magic techniques, fire and metal magic techniques are the fastest to cast, followed by water and wood, while earth magic techniques are the slowest.

However, [Cheng Ying] forcibly raised this invisible ceiling by a significant margin, which means that in almost any battle between cultivators of the same realm, Yan Cheng can steadily seize the initiative!

Huang Tong has already demonstrated the importance of the phrase "striking first" to Yan Cheng with his own life.

"After the miraculous upgrade, the condensed immortal foundation will also be stronger."

This is an advancement that could influence the path of cultivation for decades, even centuries, to come.

"Given the schemes of the Lord of the Hall of Longevity and his disciples, Huang Tong should have been the one to embark on this incredibly smooth path of cultivation."

Yan Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly:

"I never imagined I'd survive."

"Since I survived, the immortal resources left behind by Fellow Daoist Huang Tong naturally belong to me."

"If I fail to establish my foundation, wouldn't it be like I caused Fellow Daoist Huang to die in vain?"

You should know that the cultivation resources left behind by Huang Tong are far more than just these few items!

He turned to Mi Niang, who stood silently to the side, and said:

"Fellow Daoist, could you please help me remove her robe?"

Even though Mi Niang's face was as calm as a still well, her lips twitched slightly upon hearing these words.

Just as Yan Cheng began to reflect on whether he should act too much like Jinxiu in front of Mi Niang.

Mi Niang's response, however, was even more shocking:

"Young master... do you perhaps not intend to preserve this person's physical body?"

"As long as it is refined into a corpse puppet and stored in the Moon-Covering Palace."

"Because of this fog, even if the True Immortals of the Heavenly Calculation and Dream Performance paths personally used their supernatural powers, they would not be able to calculate the cause and effect before and after this person's death."

"If that's the case, there's no need to rush to strip her of her robes."

Good guy.

Yan Cheng glanced at Mi Niang and then remembered that as a pure ancient cultivator, her thinking would be even simpler and more direct than that of the modern cultivators of the immortal sects who had evolved over thousands of years!

In those days, let alone employing people based on their talents, the kings and nobles of the Great Zhou could dismiss even the most worthless people with a single word.

Now that they've been expelled from the human race, their use will only be more direct and ruthless than when the current cultivators use commoners!

People today say that Gu Xiu was simple, honest, generous, and chivalrous, far surpassing people of today.

But the excellent qualities of the ancient cultivators were meant for treating others.

Are modern Qi cultivators, or even Foundation Establishment children, considered human in the eyes of ancient cultivators?

He felt that the Taiyin Immortal Sect was inhumane, but if it were the old folks who had lived through the ancient and recent times, they might actually see the Immortal Sect as a pioneer of civilization!

Yan Cheng sighed softly:

"Fellow Daoist's suggestion is indeed excellent."

"It's a pity I've never learned the method of crafting corpse puppets."

"Otherwise, not only will I be able to use the resources left behind by Fellow Daoist Huang, but this physical body will also have its uses!"

Mi Niang turned her face to him, seemingly considering whether she should say what she was about to say.

After thinking for a long time, he finally said:

"Young master...didn't you get that golden bell from her?"