C100 Demon Core

When they were alone, Lee Yu assisted Yu Yuan in sitting down before inquiring, "You're practicing the dark arts, aren't you?"

His tone was easygoing and devoid of surprise. As he spoke, he sat erect across from Yu Yuan, his spine as straight as a sword ready to be drawn.

Yu Yuan slouched, his posture lax and his demeanor nonchalant. "Yes, that's correct."

In Aetherius, spells and dark arts were practiced by many, without prejudice from the various empires and families. Yu Yuan, therefore, had no reason to conceal his practices.

"The dark arts can be quite conspicuous," Lee Yu observed deeply before adding, "This pill I'm giving you isn't for nourishing the soul, but for tempering the body."

Yu Yuan's expression showed a flicker of surprise as he took a more serious look at the pill.

After a brief glance, his face subtly shifted, and he turned his gaze from the pill back to Lee Yu. "Where did you get this?"

The pill resembled a heart, pale purple and shimmering, radiating a potent and unstable vitality.

It was enveloped in delicate, hair-like strands of blood light.

With a crackle, the fine blood light met the chaotic spiritual energy, causing sparks and filaments of light to scatter.

A primal craving surged from within Yu Yuan, quickening his breath.

His Primal Body instinctively activated, its pores greedily drawing in the sparks and light emanating from the diminishing heart.

A wondrous sensation coursed through his meridians, bringing a comforting flow.

The damage from practicing Evil Body Refining—torn flesh and fractured bones—began to subside.

Lee Yu narrowed his eyes, a hint of intrigue in his gaze. "The dark arts you've mastered are truly formidable. I could sense the turbulent spiritual energy converging and then flowing into you, penetrating deep into your flesh and blood."

"Now, seeing the state of your body, my suspicions are confirmed."

"You're in the early period of Soul Awakening, yet you've been so daring, and you've survived. I must say, I'm impressed."

After finishing his statement, Lee Yu's hand, which was clutching the pill, burst into an emerald glow. This glow shrouded the purple, heart-shaped pill, sealing in the vitality and strange power within, preventing any from escaping. Consequently, Yu Yuan's Primal Body could no longer use the pill to purify his flesh and blood.

"What level of Fellbeast heart was used in its refinement?" Yu Yuan inquired once more. "For those who practice the dark arts, the most effective supporting pill is never the Seed of Life. It's only in Euwrea, with their gentle spells, that the Seed of Life is preferred."

"In the Land of Quiescence, practitioners of the dark arts always opt for the Demon Core."

"A Demon Core, primarily crafted from the heart of a Fellbeast, is the top choice. Only after that do we consider those made from the tendons, bones, and flesh of a Fellbeast."

While speaking, Yu Yuan extended his hand to take the Demon Core.

"You seem to know quite a bit," Lee Yu remarked, impressed. "Understanding the refinement of the Demon Core and its benefits to those in the Soul Awakening realm is one thing, but it's odd that someone like you isn't already a household name in the Empire. What's the story behind your seventeen years of obscurity?"

Lee Yu, typically a man of few words, found himself speaking freely, driven by the multitude of questions on his mind.

"It's not something I can discuss freely." Yu Yuan's hand paused just before touching the emerald glow and he met Lee Yu's gaze with a slight smile. "This Demon Core is crucial for me, so please..."

He was interrupted as the emerald glow enveloping the Demon Core swiftly merged into Lee Yu's palm.

"Thank you," Yu Yuan said, acknowledging the gesture without pretense. He firmly grasped the Demon Core, now resembling a miniature heart, and held it in his own palm.

"Nine Glories Wheel!" he silently invoked. A powerful suction force erupted from his palm, drawing out thousands of strands of vitality from the Demon Core, which surged towards Yu Yuan like an unstoppable army.

Yu Yuan's hand, clutching the Demon Core, quivered ever so slightly, as if he were holding not a pill but a living creature struggling for freedom.

"Incredible, truly incredible."

Lee Yu couldn't help but express his admiration, "To think that a place like Asvetaesi and a modest family like the Yus could conceal someone of your caliber. The Lin family and Lin Zhuyun have truly missed the mark in targeting you."

"Would you mind looking after me for a bit?" Yu Yuan requested.

"Do you trust me?" Lee Yu asked, clearly intrigued.

"I wouldn't be at ease if we were outside the forbidden area," Yu Yuan replied with a radiant smile. "But here, with the Moonfiend yet to be dealt with, I trust you completely. The more intelligent a person is, the more trustworthy they become."

Lee Yu nodded in agreement, stood up, and deliberately created some distance between them. He continued, "I can't say much about the Demon Core's origins or its level, as it's entangled with a lot of complicated issues. Moreover, this Demon Core was originally prepared for myself. Use it judiciously and be careful not to overexert yourself."

Both the Soul Awakening and Veil Breaking stages require significant refinement of the flesh and blood.

Yu Yuan was in the early period of Soul Awakening, while Lee Yu was at the early period of Veil Breaking. Having just entered Veil Breaking, his eight extra-channels were unblocked, and the Profound Gate in his middle elixir field had opened, allowing vital energy and spiritual energy to permeate his organs, muscles, and bones. He also needed to reforge his physique, and the Demon Core would provide a tremendous surge of vital energy.

It was quite generous of him to offer Yu Yuan the pill he had crafted for his own cultivation.

"I've been aware that it was intended for you," Yu Yuan said with a wide smile. "Rest assured, I'll make the most of it. Keep an eye on me for a while; I plan to absorb some of the Demon Core's power to speed up my recovery."

"Heh, by gradually absorbing this Demon Core, I might even advance to the middle period of the Soul Awakening Realm."

"In terms of replenishing vitality, the potency of this pill is far superior to that of the Seed of Life."

He left unsaid that the formidable Evil Body Refining technique, when combined with the equally potent Demon Core, might just maximize its benefits. Additionally, the spiritual energy here was wildly turbulent, providing an extra boost.

Yu Yuan felt that by practicing Evil Body Refining in such a rigorous environment and with the aid of the Demon Core, this experience would prove beneficial for a lifetime.

"I'll stand watch for a bit. Once you've healed, we can discuss other matters," he said.

From a distance, Lee Yu responded and settled down once more, calling forth the Gutrender. He channeled his own spiritual energy and the vital energy of the Profound Gate to nurture the sword, cleansing it of the lingering Moonfiend essence.

Silver filaments were occasionally stripped from the blade.

As time passed, the Gutrender's blade became increasingly clear and lustrous, its edge ever sharper.

Eventually, Lee Yu rose abruptly, looking at Yu Yuan with astonishment. "That was quick," he remarked.

"Done. Now I'm waiting for you to use the Soul Orb to deal with the Moonfiend," Yu Yuan replied.

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