CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: DEMONIC ARTIFACTS

Crash.

After calming his mind, Xu Ping emptied a pile of things from his storage bag in front of him.

Eight storage bags.

One storage ring.

These were all spoils of war he had collected from the group of Black Snake.

Zhang Changqing didn’t want them; he gave them to him directly.

His gaze swept over the nine storage items, and he eventually picked up the storage ring and put it on his hand.

It fits perfectly.

It’s a pity that it can’t be worn outside.

Storage rings are generally used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Qi Cultivators generally use storage bags, though some wealthy or well-connected Qi Cultivators might use storage rings as well.

Wearing a storage ring outside is akin to blatantly displaying the words "I’m rich, come rob me" on your forehead.

Though with his strength, no one in the market would dare to rob him, it really wasn’t necessary.

Plus, these storage rings are mostly sealed with Divine Sense.

Xu Ping glanced at it, and it was indeed the case.

Fortunately, Zhang Changqing specifically gave him a "Breaking God Talisman."

This talisman is specifically designed for Qi Cultivators to break the seals on Foundation Establishment Cultivators’ storage bags.

It’s hard to say what the creator of this talisman was thinking.

Xu Ping was filled with curiosity about the storage ring and took out the "Breaking God Talisman," gently placing it on the ring.

Buzz—

A faint buzzing sound rang out, and the Divine Sense seal was instantly broken.

Xu Ping grabbed the storage ring.

The space inside the ring was ten zhang in size, much larger than a normal storage bag.

Just this storage ring alone was worth at least several hundred Spirit Stones.

Though the space was large, there weren’t many things inside.

Scrolls, over ten jade slips, a red broken knife, and two jade boxes.

"Pfft..."

When Xu Ping accidentally touched the red broken knife, his whole head went boom, and a surge of murderous intent flooded his mind.

His eyes turned instantly red.

Kill! Kill! Kill!

This was the only thought left in his mind.

He almost rushed out of his home, ready to slaughter all life in front of him.

Buzz!

The Taihang Nourishing God Skill began to operate autonomously, and a wave of cool energy instantly poured into his mind.

The rampant murderous intent in his mind vanished instantly, as if doused by a cold basin of water.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Xu Ping gasped for breath and tossed away the red broken knife like it was trash.

"A Demon Cultivator’s Magical Artifact... A magic artifact!"

His face showed horror; this red broken knife was truly terrifying!

If it weren’t for the Taihang Nourishing God Skill’s autonomous operation, he would have become a beast only capable of slaughter!

He took a few deep breaths, calming down his mood and sorting his thoughts.

Golden Core Cultivators use magic artifacts; Qi Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators use magical artifacts.

No wonder a single Black Snake had such impressive eyesight, possessing not only Divine Sense but also Spiritual Sense Attack.

It must be a Golden Core Demon Cultivator that seized and possessed the snake, though there’s also the possibility of a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator.

Seizing and possessing in the Cultivation Realm is widely known but comes with significant restrictions.

First, a cultivator cannot seize and possess a mortal, or the body being possessed will self-destruct as it cannot withstand the process.

Second, one must have at least Foundation Establishment cultivation because only Foundation Establishment Cultivators awaken Divine Sense and possess the conditions for rebirth through possession.

Third, one can only seize and possess downward in cultivation level; otherwise, they risk backlash. The larger the gap in mana, the safer it is.

Fourth, a person can only seize and possess once in their lifetime.

"It seems that Black Snake was at least a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator; no wonder he was so formidable," Xu Ping thought.

However, he was more inclined to believe it was a Golden Core Demon Cultivator since ordinary Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators aren’t this powerful after rebirth through possession.

He glanced again at the red broken knife with lingering fear in his heart.

This Demon Cultivator’s magical artifact was truly terrifying.

He definitely wouldn’t touch it again anytime soon.

Xu Ping carefully used his mana to store the red broken knife in the storage ring.

After successfully storing it, his gaze heatedly turned toward those scrolls and jade slips.

The belongings left behind by a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator or even a Golden Core Demon Cultivator were certainly extraordinary.

Twelve scrolls and jade slips in total were laid before him, covering cultivation techniques, magic, and methods for magic artifact refinement.

However, these were all demonic in nature, whether cultivation techniques or artifact refinement—all extremely cruel.

For example, a magical artifact called "Mother and Child Fan."

A magical artifact like the "Mother and Child Fan" required at least a thousand pregnant women—the more, the better and the higher the cultivation, the better—to have their bellies cut open and their fetuses extracted, refining the mother and child flesh and blood to refine the artifact.

Another example was a cultivation technique called "Five Viscera Refining True Demon Skill."

To practice this demonic skill, one needs to refine the five viscera and six bowels of cultivators to temper their own five viscera; only then can they advance to Foundation Establishment.

Once reaching Foundation Establishment Stage, the cultivator’s five viscera become auxiliary ingredients, still requiring the consumption of five types of Spiritual Objects to continue tempering the five viscera.

Though cruel, it’s a cultivation technique that leads straight to Nascent Soul.

"It seems that Black Snake was practicing this technique, but a snake can also cultivate demonic skills?" Xu Ping wondered.

But he was destined not to get an answer since Black Snake was dead, and it seemed unlikely he’d encounter another cultivator possessing a snake in this lifetime.

He picked up the jade slip recording "Five Viscera Refining True Demon Skill," sighing silently: "A Nascent Soul cultivation technique!"

Honestly, a technique that could take him straight to Nascent Soul had been placed in front of him, and it was impossible not to be tempted. Yet the cruel cultivation was too much for his conscience, so he inevitably had to give it up.

Of course, there were techniques that weren’t cruel and bloody, like one called "Demon Flame Skill."

This Demon Flame required the blood and flesh of living creatures as fuel; the more fuel, the stronger the Demon Flame.

The Demon Flame’s cultivation requirements weren’t too high; a Late-Stage Qi Cultivation level was enough to practice it.

"This Demon Flame is worth trying." Xu Ping put down the jade slip of "Five Viscera Refining True Demon Skill" and picked up the scroll of "Demon Flame Skill."

According to its introduction, when cultivated to later stages, this Demon Flame could threaten even Golden Core Cultivators.

It’s considered a very powerful magic.

Also, living creatures didn’t necessarily have to be humans; he could use the blood and flesh of Demon Beasts to refine it.

Xu Ping carefully collected all the jade slips and scrolls; of the recorded magic and cultivation techniques, none aside from "Demon Flame Skill" suited him well.

But he could find an opportunity to sell them.

Xu Ping turned his attention to the last two jade boxes.

Hopefully, they’ll hold something valuable.

Xu Ping opened one of the jade boxes to find a scroll inside. Upon closer inspection, it contained a secret technique for Divine Sense, the "Shocking God Needle."

"There’s truly something valuable here!" His eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but think of Black Snake’s Spiritual Sense Attack, which probably used this secret technique.

Divine Sense type secret techniques are extremely rare, difficult for even ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators to possess.

"Unfortunately, I don’t have Divine Sense right now, nor can I cultivate it; otherwise, it would have made for a great addition to my arsenal."

Xu Ping felt a bit regretful, and then he turned his gaze to the last jade box.