The old man's pitiful yell echoed throughout the chamber, slowly fading as Yang Kai regained his senses. His head throbbed with lingering pain, and his mind felt strangely disoriented, as though something foreign had been inserted into his consciousness. It was as if a piece of the Immortal Soul had latched onto his very thoughts, twisting his emotions and will. But, as quickly as it had come, the pain faded, leaving behind only the echo of the previous torment.
With the pain now gone, Yang Kai took a deep breath, feeling the air fill his lungs, grounding him back into reality. His body, once stiff and unresponsive, now seemed to return to its normal state, though a strange energy flowed through him. He could sense the subtle shift, as though something had been absorbed into his very being.
The Immortal Soul attack had lasted only ten seconds, but to Yang Kai, it had felt like an eternity. Every moment had been an excruciating battle against the soul's oppressive force, each second testing his mental fortitude.
It was in this moment of clarity that Yang Kai noticed the golden bones within his body. His gaze shifted downward, his expression turning strange. There was no immediate understanding of what had happened.
The last time he had been in the Nine Yin Mountain, the golden bones had absorbed half of the Nine Yin Congealing Yuan Nectar, a treasure of immense value. That had been an extraordinary feat, but today, the golden bones had absorbed the essence of an Immortal Soul—an energy far more potent and dangerous than the Yuan Nectar.
Yang Kai had known that the golden bones had the capacity to absorb energies beyond the Yang Attribute, but he had never imagined they would be capable of devouring something as intangible and ethereal as an Immortal Soul. These souls were considered to be some of the purest forms of energy, crafted from the very essence of a cultivator's spirit. If the bones could absorb this energy, it hinted at their immense, unfathomable power.
With a mixture of awe and trepidation, Yang Kai studied the golden bones. They pulsed with an eerie, internal rhythm, as though they were alive with an energy all their own. They had not only absorbed the Immortal Soul but had taken control of it, neutralizing the old man's influence over him. Yang Kai had deliberately chosen to kill the soul immediately, preventing it from gaining any foothold within him. The power of the golden bones was undeniable, but Yang Kai could not allow anyone to know the extent of his strength.
He had no desire for others to learn about the golden bones or His connection to immortality. If anyone found out, it could bring about an array of dangerous consequences, While he may be unkillable, those dear to him can still be harmed. Moreover, the old man had already shown his malevolent nature. The brief moments they had spent together were enough for Yang Kai to realize the true depth of the villain's depravity.
From the moment he sensed the old man's dark aura, Yang Kai knew he was dealing with someone vile, a soul steeped in malice. Though he no longer feared death—knowing full well that he was immortal—he still couldn't afford to be careless. Immortality didn't mean invincibility. If he had faltered for even a moment longer, he wouldn't have died… but he might have become something worse: a prisoner within his own body, dancing to the will of a lesser soul.
The thought of absorbing and essentially devouring such an abhorrent character repulsed Yang Kai. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, and his inner core burned with a sense of revulsion.
Suddenly, something within him stirred. A presence, a faint whisper in the back of his mind, beckoned him to explore further. His consciousness shifted, and in the next moment, a torrent of memories flooded his mind.
Martial Skills — the memories of the old demon's Immortal Soul were brimming with detailed knowledge of countless techniques, each more powerful than the last. Yang Kai's breathing grew heavy as he began sorting through the vast information now imprinted in his mind. His thoughts raced, absorbing the profound insights that had been unleashed. Martial Skills were ranked by both strength and rarity, from Earth Grade to Saint Grade, with the higher tiers not only incredibly rare but also exceptionally difficult to cultivate.
The very first skill that caught Yang Kai's attention was called "Devouring Hearts."
Raising an eyebrow in interest, Yang Kai focused on the details of the skill. It was horrifying in its simplicity. To cultivate it, one needed to kill three children every day for a hundred days, consuming their hearts and blood to fuel the cultivation process. By the time one reached the Small Accomplishment stage, the skill would grant the practitioner the ability to burst an enemy's blood vessels and kill them instantly.
Yang Kai's face twisted in disgust. He could feel the weight of the darkness that clung to this skill.
"This skill is unacceptable," Yang Kai muttered under his breath, the sourness creeping into his tone.
He could never bring himself to practice such a vile technique. But the memories did not end there.
The next Martial Skill was called "Fallen Red."
The name alone sounded poetic, almost elegant, but Yang Kai soon learned that its cultivation method was far from graceful.
To cultivate this skill, one needed to take the blood of a virgin maiden—her first drop of blood, to be precise. The more virgin blood one collected, the faster the skill could be cultivated. A hundred maiden's blood would ensure one reached the Big Accomplishment stage.
Yang Kai shook his head in disbelief, repulsed by the depravity of the skill. It was nothing more than a manipulation of Yin energy to supplement Yang energy, a twisted method to enhance one's power at the expense of others.
"No," Yang Kai muttered to himself, as if trying to banish the thought from his mind. "This is madness."
And yet, the memories continued to reveal more skills, each one darker than the last. The final technique that stood out to Yang Kai was called "Love Fist." As the name suggested, it was a Martial Skill designed to manipulate women, making them fall in love with the practitioner. The technique preyed upon the emotions of its victims, twisting their will to serve the desires of the user. If the women's willpower was not strong enough, they would fall under the practitioner's control.
Yang Kai felt his stomach churn with revulsion. It was yet another evil skill, designed to exploit others for power.
The more Yang Kai delved into the memories, the more he realized just how foul and depraved the skills were. To practice such dark arts was tantamount to inviting disaster, bringing down the wrath of the heavens upon oneself.
He could not help but wonder: How could anyone willingly pursue such evil? Yang Kai knew that if he followed the path of these Martial Skills, he would invite nothing but suffering and death.
He had no intention of ever using them. They were beneath him, nothing more than tools of the wicked and immoral.
As he sifted through the Martial Skills, a sudden thought pulled Yang Kai back—he had yet to deal with the Golden Stone Man. No matter how tempting these powerful techniques were, that unrefined creature still remained, quietly waiting… and possibly hiding more secrets than any Martial Skill ever could.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
📢 Update Schedule & Character Change Notice!
Hey guys! 👋
I wanted to share a quick update.First off, many of you have pointed out that there isn't much of a difference between the original protagonist and the new version I'm using in my fan fiction. I've heard you loud and clear — so I'm considering some changes to the protagonist's character to make him feel more unique and compelling moving forward. Stay tuned!
Also, up until now, I've been uploading 4–5 chapters daily, sometimes even more when I had free time — but starting today, I'll be switching to 1 chapter per day to maintain both quality and consistency.
No more bulk uploads — just steady daily updates you can rely on.
If you want to read ahead or get early access to the latest chapters, check out my Patreon — there are already multiple chapters waiting for you!
🔗 p@treon.com/Daoist_Kalyug
Thanks for all the love and support — let's keep this epic ride going strong! ⚡