On the stone tablet, characters flashed with a brilliant light.
Some were as radiant as starlight, others only held a faint crystal shimmer like gold dust, while most remained dim and obscure, hidden across the tablet's surface like countless grains of sand.
Wei Xiaobao's mind was stretched to its absolute limit.
Just a fraction tighter, and it would likely snap and collapse.
In Li Guozhong's eyes, Wei Xiaobao looked deathly pale, his forehead beaded with sweat. Large drops, the size of soybeans, rolled down his cheeks and struck the ground.
It seemed he could hold on no longer.
There would be no miracle!
Yet, Li Guozhong's expression held no trace of pity.
Since he had never harbored any expectations in the first place, there was naturally no room for regret or sympathy.
Seeing Wei Xiaobao on the verge of collapse, Li Guozhong prepared to intervene. Although severely weakened by backfiring cultivation, he had after all once been a powerful expert in the Aperture Realm. Protecting Wei Xiaobao at this stage would not be a problem.
Just as he was about to make his move, another change occurred.
Between Wei Xiaobao's eyebrows, an illusory figure flickered, with the faint image of a stone tablet spinning within it. On that tablet, the characters flashed like points of starlight.
What was this?
Had he succeeded?
The beads of sweat rolling down Wei Xiaobao's face evaporated and vanished. His complexion was no longer pale, returning instead to a healthy rudeness. The illusory stone tablet flickered between his eyebrows for a moment, then disappeared into his Niwan Palace.
Wei Xiaobao opened his eyes.
"Xiaobao!"
"How is it?"
Li Guozhong stared at him, asking urgently.
A trace of confusion crossed Wei Xiaobao's face, his gaze mixed with a hint of shock, utterly bewildered...
He stammered, "Uncle... Oh, Master, I think I succeeded?"
"Succeeded?"
"How did you succeed?"
Li Guozhong stepped forward, his expression still anxious.
"I..."
Wei Xiaobao shook his head, hesitating as if he had more to say.
After a moment of thought, he said, "At first, it was just like before. Although I triggered the operation of the stone tablet, it was extremely difficult to integrate the technique into my spirit and soul."
"Right when my mental energy was about to give out and I wanted to give up..."
"Suddenly, all the characters on the stone tablet began to shine brightly, forming a sea of stars that rushed toward me like moths to a flame. It felt as if the cultivation technique was forcibly and ruthlessly branded into my memory. Right now..."
Wei Xiaobao raised a hand and tapped his own head.
"It's all in here, every single word."
"What's more, it's not just memorized; I've gained a profound comprehension of the technique. Not only the fourth tablet, but even the first three tablets I practiced before—now, I have many new insights into them as well. If I were to do it again, I would definitely do much better than before..."
"Huh?"
Wei Xiaobao blinked, his face full of astonishment.
"It seems I can do it all over again and make up for my flaws."
"What?!"
Li Guozhong was even more shocked!
"You can actually recultivate the first three stone tablets?"
Generally speaking, this was impossible. Once someone reached a later stage of cultivation, even if they realized there were flaws in their earlier practice, it was impossible to turn back and do it all over again—just as life could not be lived twice.
"Yes."
After a moment of hesitation, Wei Xiaobao nodded.
Then, the two of them looked at each other in blank dismay, unable to speak for a moment.
The fact that Wei Xiaobao had succeeded on his first attempt and could break convention to redo his earlier techniques and correct his flaws was naturally all thanks to the Demon Seed.
With the Demon Seed, even someone of ordinary aptitude like Xiao Guizi could become a genius.
Naturally, a true genius like Wei Xiaobao became even more formidable with it.
"Wait!"
"Don't rush!"
Li Guozhong's expression turned stern.
He took a deep breath, reached into his tunic, and pulled out a jade pendant hanging from his neck. The pendant looked crude, carved with runes that resembled a child's graffiti.
With a look of reluctance, as if it pained him greatly, he handed the jade pendant to Wei Xiaobao.
"This is a magical artifact from the Qinghe Temple on Mount Taihua in the northern lands. It was blessed by a great master of the temple and possesses the ability to discern, repel, and suppress evil. Back then, if not for this thing, I probably wouldn't be alive..."
Li Guozhong's gaze grew distant, as if tracing back memories of the past.
After a moment, he sighed and waved his hand.
"Xiaobao, drip a drop of your blood onto it."
Wei Xiaobao did not ask why.
He bit his finger, and a drop of crimson blood fell onto the jade pendant, rapidly merging with it as a clear, hazy halo of light rose into the air.
Seeing that green light, Li Guozhong, who had been looking tense, finally let out a breath of relief.
"Good!"
He looked at Wei Xiaobao and said, "Across the entire world and among all living creatures, there are indeed some very special individuals who undergo a sudden mutation at a certain stage, becoming extremely clever and powerful..."
"However, the vast majority of these mutations are caused by evil entities invading, borrowing corpses to resurrect, or being tainted by outer demons..."
"It is by no means a good thing!"
"Before long, all of them meet violent deaths."
Hearing Li Guozhong say this, Wei Xiaobao's expression changed drastically.
"Then..." He pointed at himself.
"Rest assured!"
"You didn't!"
Li Guozhong comforted him, saying: "The Seven Kill Monument is a demonic cultivation technique, but it is also a supreme technique leading directly to the Xiantian realm. At the introductory stage, one must use visualization to nourish the spirit..."
"Any body-tempering technique taught through ordinary manuals, like the Seventy-Two Breaking Jade Fists, is just low-grade trash. When you reach the Qi Refining Realm, you have to change techniques; later, when entering the Aperture Realm, and right up to achieving the Xiantian realm, you must change techniques again."
"It's extremely troublesome and difficult to cultivate."
Sighing, Li Guozhong continued: "The Seven Kill Monument is different. It possesses a complete inheritance that leads straight to the Xiantian realm. It just requires visualization to get started, and a single visualization chart can only be used by one person. It is simple, direct, and progresses at a blistering speed. The only problem..."
"It is extremely dangerous!"
"The residual souls of some mighty figures may hide within the visualization chart to seize a body. Although this chance is exceedingly slim, anyone who doesn't want to die won't care about these things and will always go out and take a gamble."
"Rest assured, your body hasn't been seized. You are still you!"
Li Guozhong glanced at Wei Xiaobao and said, "This magical artifact from Qinghe Temple is extraordinarily powerful. Back then, when I found the Seven Kill Monument in the secret domain, the only reason I was able to return alive without being consumed by the evil entities inside was entirely thanks to this fellow. It saved my life at least three times..."
"Unlike those Daoist practitioners who can drive magical artifacts with spiritual power, we can only rely on blood recognition and stimulate them with our inner qi."
"Now, it belongs to you!"
"As long as it glows with green light, it means everything is normal."
Li Guozhong glanced at the jade pendant, a look of heartache flashing across his face.
"Uncle..."
Wei Xiaobao looked at Li Guozhong, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"I am already old and not far from death; this thing is of no more use to me. You are cultivating such a sinister demonic technique as the Seven Kill Monument, so this thing will be useful to you. With it here, all evils will be repelled and outer demons will find it hard to enter..."
"Just take it!" Li Guozhong said with a frown.
"Yes!"
Wei Xiaobao nodded heavily.
On the other side, Gu Xinchao almost laughed out of his mind.
All evils repelled, outer demons unable to enter—Li Guozhong described this magical artifact from Qinghe Temple as so overwhelmingly powerful that Gu Xinchao had been slightly worried at first, fearing that the Demon Seed he had planted in Wei Xiaobao's spirit and soul would be detected by it.
Yet, nothing happened!
Was Li Guozhong just boasting?
Or was the Formless Heavenly Demon Wondrous Transformation too formidable?
In any case, the Demon Seed still quietly remained within Wei Xiaobao's spirit and soul.
Completely unnoticed.
Wei Xiaobao put on the jade pendant, hanging it around his neck like a necklace. He glanced at Li Guozhong and said softly, "Master, then... shall I begin?"
"Go ahead!" Li Guozhong nodded.
Wei Xiaobao then calmed his mind and focused, visualizing the first Seven Kill Monument, adopting his stance, and starting from the refinement of his vital energy and blood.