[3] First Haul

[Assimilate {Cursed Seal of Earth}? Y/N]

Confirming my choice, I select [Yes].

A searing, hot sensation spreads across my chest, like I'm being branded. I strip off my shirt to find three dots on my chest, just below my collarbone, still glowing with an orange, burning hue. Gradually, the dots lengthen into four centis, forming a smooth, rip-like pattern, and the color fades into black.

[You have assimilated {Cursed Seal of Earth}]

To see its effect, I activate the cursed seal. The pattern expands to cover my chest then my whole body in a circuit-like patterns.

It's incredible. I clench my fist and feel my strength have nearly doubled. I can feel my inner Qi and stamina are getting drained but I don't feel fatigued.

Pushing further, I activate the second transformation. The inky, circuit-like patterns sink into my skin, darkening it to a tanned shade. Two rows of spikes emerge along my spine, ending in a long, prehensile tail that extends from my tailbone. My fingers gain claws, and my teeth sharpen, now capable of even tearing through beast hide.

I throw some punches and kicks to get better idea at my power. My strength in this state has roughly trippled, no quadrupled. I have become stronger, faster, more perceptive, more sensitive, and have an easier time controlling my soul power. It flows in a fluid manner and so effortlessly.

It's almost like gaining the power of a Soul Beast.

Well, I guess with the natural energies (Essence of Heaven and Earth) of the two worlds having different properties, this is the closest I'll get to the real Cursed Seal of Earth.

Not that I'm complaining though. My version has plenty of nice perks already.

I deactivate the cursed seal and wheeze in exhaustion. Just as I thought, while it grants a massive boost, it has a downside too, that is the complete lack of any sense of fatigue.

While transformed, I can't feel exhaustion. But it builds up, and the moment the cursed seal is deactivated, it crashes down on me. Luckily, I recover quickly thanks to my bloodline, but there's a buffer period in which I'm pretty much vulnerable, if I overuse the cursed seal's second transformation that is.

I suppose, I can use it as a trump card or if I want to end a fight early.

I sit crosslegged, meditating to recover my lost energy faster. As I do so, I extract Yang Kai's black book, the Mystic Demon Tome, from my inventory and flip open to the first page.

It's mostly blank, with only some lines of practically nonsensical golden text I don't even bother to read. I just know that you are supposed to drip some blood into the page so I do just that.

It takes only three drops for a black vortex to form and out from within it, a small golden skeleton. It has a sinister aura and even though its expression is practically non-existent, I can somehow feel its mockery toward me, as if it looks down other beings.

This is the Unyielding Golden Skeleton. The first cheat of Yang Kai that repairs his meridians and allows him to cultivate a lot faster than his peers as it greatly augmented his physical and mental qualities, turns his blood golden with amazing vitality.

The skeleton holds Demonic Qi, which, when fused successfully with Yang Qi from the True Yang Secret Art that can also found within the book, can form Demonic Flame—a flame capable of vanquishing both holy and evil.

[Assimilate {Unyielding Golden Skeleton}? Y/N]

I select [Yes] to assimilate it, and without warning, the skeleton expands to match my size, aligning itself perfectly with my body structures. The skeleton begins to merge into me.

A blistering heat spreads through every parts of my body. I grit my teeth as I feel my own bones melting, the skeleton replaces the melted bones gradually.

[You have assimilated {Unyielding Golden Skeleton}]

[Spiritual Power advanced to Spirit Connection Realm — Reward: 5 Stealing Attempts]

The entire assimilation lasts for almost fifteen minutes. It was a tough process, but I hold on, refusing to falter through sheer willpower. When it finally ends, I let out a shaky sigh, finally able to breathe normally again, and take a deep lungful of air.

Ah, I'm beat. I drop to the ground, weary and mentally exhausted. Closing my eyes, I decide to let sleep take over.

…

By the time I open my eyes, the sun is already high in the sky.

I get up and stretch lazily. I hadn't meant to sleep this long, but clearly, my body needed it.

Looking around, I spot the black book near my feet. I pick it up and flip to the second page, where I can find the instructions for the Tempered Body Record.

[Learn {Tempered Body Record}? Y/N]

I select [Yes] to learn the technique.

[You have learned {Tempered Body Record}]

It takes a few moments for me to break it down and understand its essence. Although it's presented as a fist technique, the real purpose is to stimulate specific parts of the body for tempering.

I realize I can actually replicate this stimulation using my inner Qi, making the movements themselves unnecessary. Moreover, as Mysterious Heaven Skill is an all-encompassing technique, it can harmoniously integrate and promote the tempering effects of Tempered Body Record into the technique.

Satisfied, I flip to the fourth page and, just as smoothly, learn the True Yang Secret Art.

There's an incense burner in the third page but it's useless for me due to lack of herbs. Even if there are similar ones, I don't know if they can be used as replacement. Herbs are expensive too, a village like Spirit Saint Village don't have an apothecary that sells those luxury items.

The other function it has, as cauldron for alchemy, is also of no use to me who uses concoctions to make medicine and poison, in other words, I just cook a lot of ingredients in a single pot.

Back to True Yang Secret Art, unlike other cultivation methods, True Yang Secret Art didn't require the practitioner to follow a set of path during cultivation. It's like an Earth's saying "Every road lead to Rome", this method is just like that.

There is only one condition to cultivate it—an environment with plenty of Yang energy like during daytime or near a volcano.

Integrating it into the Mysterious Heaven Skill is surprisingly easy. As I start cultivating with this new, enhanced version, I sense its expanded capabilities, not only does it strengthen all aspects of my body and soul, but it also serves as a storage for Yang Qi, providing an alternative fuel source. Practicing in the morning now also activates the Tempered Body Record, which further tempers my body with each session.

[You can fuse {Tempered Body Record} and {True Yang Secret Art} into {Mysterious Heaven Skill} for 10,000 SP]

[Compatibility rate: 98%]

[Success rate: 92%]

I have done that, though? Or is it possible for the technique to get even better than it already is? Well, I have plenty of points and I don't know how to use them anyway.

[Fuse {Tempered Body Record} and {True Yang Secret Art} into {Mysterious Heaven Skill}? Y/N]

I select [Yes].

[10,000 SP deducted — Fusion technique successfully created]

[Insert a name for the technique: ---]

A name… Let's just call it True Cultivation Art. It doesn't need to be grandiose, just enough to convey that it is what it is.

[Learn {True Cultivation Art}? Y/N]

Of course, [Yes].

[You have learned {True Cultivation Art}]

As I internalize the technique, I feel its structure in my mind.

This fusion technique goes far beyond my rudimentary mixing of the Tempered Body Record and True Yang Secret Art with the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Now, every part of my body, soul, and energy reserves are perfectly in harmony.

Sensing its potential, I take a deep breath and test out the True Cultivation Art.

Soul power flows through me, having reached the limit of Soul Scholar, it steadily goes through refinement and consolidation. Inner Qi pulses to stimulate growth through body tempering. My body turns red, heating up as Yang Qi gathers in my lower dantian, rapidly condensing into a liquid form under the heavy pressure of True Cultivation Art's endless cycles of refinement and consolidation.

One-tenth of the liquefied Yang Qi flows upward to the middle dantian, where it merges with the Demonic Qi from the Unyielding Golden Skeleton to form the Demonic Flame.

To summarize, the True Cultivation Art offers these effects:

1. Harmony of the body, soul, and essence.

2. Enhancing the meridian network, eliminating impurities, and improving physical condition, cultivation talent, and potential.

3. Strengthening one's resistance to pressure, toxins, and extreme environments.

4. Continuously refining and consolidating the inner Qi and soul power, tempering the body and soul, accumulating Yang Qi, and generating Demonic Flame.

Fifteen minutes later, I decide to stop.

Maintaining True Cultivation Art at my current strength is too taxing on both my body and mind. While it's true that Yang Qi aids in the recovery of body tempering and Demonic Qi helps with the growth of spiritual power, the recovery of both is still slower than the rate at which I'm getting beat up.

I guess that's all for today.

I'll have to think of a way to use Shadow Devil tomorrow. While thinking about it, I pick up my shirt and and slip into it. I feel it much tighter than it already is and grumble to myself as I walk down the hill leisurely.

My drastic transformation is bound to shock that bum, cheap, drunkard, deadbeat, and good-for-nothing of a father. At least, on my way back, I can savor the peaceful moments.

…

"A-Ah Yin? No, i-is that you, Xiao San?"

Uh, that's not what I expected.

In front of me is my father. His appearance is disheveled just as always but his eyes are unusually clear today, a yearning clearly reflects in those eyes, there's a regret in his voice, and guilt that weigh him down on his expression.

A single tear streaks down his cheek and many more do as he steps closer. For the first time, he hugs me, his arms shaking as he sobs, apologizing—to my mother, to me—releasing all of his pent-up feelings.

That night, he tells me everything—about himself, my mother, and even the incident six years ago. I confide to him about my Twin Martial Soul and ask him to train me.

For once, there are no secrets between us. For once, we truly feel like family.

—End of Chapter—

Someone give me a wisdom to do dialogue, please!!!