Beneath a sky crackling with lightning and thunder.
The massive skeleton of a Golden Lion lay sprawled on the ground. A vast cloud of Blood Qi enveloped its body, having long since corroded all its flesh away.
It was on the verge of collapse, yet it could never manage to break through.
First, it had slammed its body against a colossal waterfall. Then, it had used the Mountain God’s Essence Blood to dispel a wind calamity. Finally, it had tempered its muscles and bones with Blood Qi.
Eight thousand Sin Coins had been spent. No matter how much denser the Blood Qi grew, its Physique showed no signs of strengthening.
On the contrary, the excruciating pain had nearly caused Lin Shu to pass out on several occasions.
’From the inside out.’
Lin Shu’s gaze fell upon the skeleton, which glowed as red as Blood Jade.
All of the Blood Pool Spiritual Milk had been absorbed into those bones.
’Could it be that the fourth trial of tempering my Physique doesn’t come from an external source, but is hidden within?’
As more Sin Coins were poured in, the skeletal Golden Lion staggered to its feet. It lowered its head, scraps of flesh still clinging to the bone, and observed its own skeleton with turbid, lifeless eyes.
The Blood Pool Spiritual Milk had been formed from the gathered essence of Spirit Stones, which were contaminated by the flesh and blood of countless Cultivators who had perished among the mountains.
The very instant the lion lowered its head to inspect itself.
From deep within its bones, something seemed to sense its discovery and suddenly let out a series of shrill, mournful wails.
"Hm?!"
Lin Shu’s heart suddenly began to race.
’I have to remember, this scroll is just an illusory thing, a product of my own visualization.’
’There is no Golden Lion. I’m the one who actually absorbed the Blood Pool Spiritual Milk.’
’In other words, these ghoulish things are hidden inside my own bones!’
In an instant, the ghastly, visible outlines of faces shot out from the Golden Lion’s skeleton, screaming as they tried to scatter in all directions.
’Is this why the Blood Qi is so savage?’
’That pool of Spiritual Milk also contained the gathered resentment of the cultivators who died tragic deaths.’
As a thousand thoughts raced through Lin Shu’s mind, the skeletal Golden Lion suddenly threw open its jaw and let out a silent roar.
It gathered its Blood Qi once more and battled the ghastly outlines.
With savage ferocity, it suppressed them one by one, forcing them back into its blood-red bones.
The once clear and translucent surface of the bones gradually became etched with the patterns of ghostly faces.
With this hidden danger resolved, the Golden Lion’s flesh and skin finally began to regenerate, triggering a transformation.
The Blood Qi that had formed from the eight thousand Sin Coins was no longer merely tormenting it, but was instead rapidly absorbed into its body.
[Golden Core Ninth Grade. Demon Lion Suppressing Treasure Body: entry-level]
RUMBLE!
A thunderous rumble exploded in Lin Shu’s ears—it was the sound of blood surging through his limbs and torso like a boiling river.
His entire skeleton had taken on the appearance of Blood Jade, its surface now covered in terrifying, face-like patterns.
They formed a great prison of blood and bone, firmly suppressing the Wandering Souls!
’That was a close call.’
Lin Shu felt an incredible new power welling up inside him, vast and unceasing like a boundless ocean. He had clearly stepped into a whole new Realm.
And yet, he felt a profound sense of lingering fear.
He had been completely unaware that such a terrifying hidden danger was lurking inside his body.
No wonder he had been unable to break through.
’If I had rashly poured in all eight thousand eight hundred Sin Coins at once... even if my Body Tempering had reached the Golden Core Realm, would this body be under my control, or driven by those resentful remnant souls?’
’Can’t you be more like the Merit Coins?’
Lin Shu ground his teeth in frustration. The Sin Coins were only focused on one thing: speed.
It was as if they were both taking the same test. The Merit Coins were meticulous, striving for a perfect answer to every question, while the Sin Coins just scribbled randomly, content as long as all the blanks were filled.
As long as it boosted his Realm, it didn’t care about anything else.
Hah!
After a long silence, Lin Shu finally calmed himself and exhaled a stream of hot air.
At least he had made it through.
He rubbed his wrists and looked inward, carefully examining the crimson prison inside his body.
Each ghostly face was disturbingly lifelike, its features contorted in terror.
After absorbing the eight thousand eight hundred Sin Coins, his body felt as if it were carved from a single, flawless piece.
The Transcendent Intent born from his physical form even possessed a hint of a spiritual nature.
Even though it was only the entry-level of a Ninth Grade Body Tempering Technique, having just barely crossed the threshold, it was still the true Golden Core Realm.
’I’m at the entry-level for my Body Tempering Golden Core, and I can still borrow the Magical Power of an Early-stage Golden Core cultivator from the Calamity-Crossing Cyan Simurgh. A pity I can only do it once, and I can’t repay the debt for now.’
’Even against true Early-stage Golden Core Cultivators, while I can’t say for sure that I’d win, I should at least be able to put up a fight.’
This level of strength was more than enough for self-preservation.
Besides, he still had a trump card hidden in his Storage Bag: the Mountain God Mirror. If used correctly, by pouring all the Cyan Simurgh Magical Power into it, any Practitioner of the Same Realm who was struck by it would almost certainly be killed instantly.
However, using this item would leave behind a potent and extremely distinct aura, which could easily attract the attention of the Yu Family.
It was best not to use it unless it was a matter of life and death.
’I need to figure out a way to earn some money.’
Lin Shu shook his head and looked inward once more.
This time, however, his focus was on the Mountain and Sea Immortal Mansion.
The Mud Pill had just undergone its first transformation. Now that he had the Golden Core Body Tempering Technique to protect him, he needed to earn some Merit Coins as soon as possible and refine it to the Third Transformation. Only then would he have the ability to achieve the Golden Core Realm whenever he chose.
As for reaching the Nine Transformations, he wouldn’t even think about that for now.
Having been in Anren Prefecture for a dozen or so days, Lin Shu suddenly realized something.
It would be nearly impossible for him to find another place like Yongzhou Pass where earning Merit Coins was so easy.
There was no one here who needed saving.
There were plenty of Immortal Descendants, but with experts like the Demon-slaying General and the Academy Headmaster watching over the Prefecture City, it wasn’t a good idea to make a move against them.

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