Chapter 311: Skinless (Make-up Chapter 10)
Chapter 311: Skinless (Make-up Chapter 10)
The next day.
In the shantytown.
Yu Hua tremblingly opened his door.
No. . . it wasn't him, but a human skin!
Yu Hua's human skin!
The human skin's eye sockets were hollow, drifting and swaying like a paper effigy, covered in blood-red runes that seemed to be embroidered with crimson thread.
"It's done. . . Hehe. . . It's finally done!"
"I've finally 'entered the Dao'."
He was entirely cloaked in a black robe, with faint traces of blood seeping through.
At this moment, as he chanted a spell, he 'donned' the human skin once more.
Not long after, Yu Hua stepped out of the door, his face pale from blood loss, his steps firm as he headed towards the 'Skinless Temple' at the city's center.
What he didn't realize was that Fang Xi stood not far away, watching him with a faint smile.
"This world's Dao Arts and spell techniques are even more inclined towards demonic arts. . ."
Fang Xi murmured.
From the soul-search performed on Lan Gu last night, his understanding of this world's Dao Arts had deepened. They truly were demonic arts!
Not only were they demonic arts, but unaligned demonic arts, requiring no specific spiritual root attribute!
This meant that anyone with spiritual roots, regardless of their attribute, could at least begin their cultivation!
Yu Hua's success in cultivating and drawing Qi into his body indicated that he possessed at least the lowest spiritual root aptitude.
"It's just that the foundation of these demonic arts seems off. If this person enters the Skinless Temple, he might find misfortune instead of good fortune. . ."
Fang Xi's expression turned thoughtful. Then, with a flick of his hands, he concealed himself, vanishing from sight.
`I still need to explore this Skinless Temple. `
`After all. . . I'm just an External Avatar, what is there to fear? `
`Moreover. . . this body is very strong! `
...
Skinless Temple.
Though named a Daoist temple, this institution was located at the city's heart, occupying a vast area, much like a grand palace.
Yu Hua's steps faltered as he arrived at a small side entrance.
Here, a few people were faintly visible, mostly dressed in fine silks, their faces bearing expressions of fawning deference as they spoke to the Daoist seated behind a table.
This Daoist, around forty years old, had a ruddy complexion and two wispy rat-like whiskers. He looked less like a Daoist and more like a mundane merchant.
At this moment, he was waving his five radish-like fingers, spitting as he spoke:
"How many times have I told you? The pill chamber doesn't need any more hands. No Daoist child can be squeezed in. . . ""
"Go on. . . you dare to dirty this Daoist Lord's eyes with such a tiny night-luminescent pearl? Believe it or not, I'll assign your brat to the menial labor quarters! ""
...
Many high-ranking officials and nobles from the city brought their sons and daughters. . . waiting nervously for the Daoist to examine their bones, before offering gifts.
Yu Hua could only watch from afar. Only when the crowd thinned did he muster the courage to approach.
"Hmm? Who are you? Do you have an introduction?"
The plump Daoist scoffed upon seeing Yu Hua and asked.
"Heh heh. . . must be some little mouse from the city, heard the news about recruiting Daoist children and came to try his luck."
A noblewoman by the side couldn't help but let out a sneer.
"Yu Hua. . . has no introduction, but I have entered the Dao on my own. " Yu Hua replied hoarsely.
"What? Entered the Dao on your own?"
The plump Daoist was startled, and the noblewoman beside him covered her crimson lips, as if she had seen a monster.
"Let me see. . ."
The plump Daoist stepped forward, his expression no longer playful, but instead incredibly solemn: "If you dare to deceive me, you know the consequences, don't you?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Yu Hua formed a hand seal, and a vivid red pattern immediately appeared on the human skin on his arm.
"Good, good, good. . . you've indeed successfully entered the Dao, and you've even cultivated the 'Skinning Chant'. You truly are a ruthless one!"
The plump Daoist laughed heartily: "Your name is Yu Hua, isn't it? Come with this Daoist Lord. . . Today, you enter my Skinless Temple, and perhaps you'll even be able to take a Daoist Master as your teacher!"
With that, the plump Daoist took Yu Hua by the arm and led him into the Skinless Temple.
Yu Hua took a deep breath, glancing around.
He saw all the high-ranking officials and nobles lowering their heads, especially the noblewoman who had mocked him earlier, the rouge powder on her face fluttering down, as if she wished to prostrate herself on the ground.
`Is this. . . the might of a Daoist? `
The young boy thought this in his heart, already brimming with ambition: "Next. . . I will become the foremost among Daoists, then refine a life-bound grand art and become a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
"Once you enter my Skinless Temple, you can address me as 'Senior Brother' from now on. . . You can call me Senior Brother Li."
The plump Senior Brother Li led Yu Hua to a courtyard and chuckled, "Junior Brother Yu, rest for a few days first. Later, servants will bring you food. . . I also need to report to Master. My Master is very fond of young talents, so he might just take Junior Brother as his direct disciple. . ."
"Many thanks, Senior Brother Li."
Although he hadn't immediately been listed in the Daoist registry or become a Daoist child, Yu Hua still bowed respectfully.
After Senior Brother Li left, he gazed at the exquisite furnishings in the courtyard and suddenly sighed.
...
Senior Brother Li walked out of the small courtyard, his smiling expression gradually fading until he became expressionless.
He entered the depths of the Skinless Temple, where Daoists in robes moved about, but each had a cold, sinister expression, and the air seemed to be permeated with an unsettling aura.
"Junior Brother Li. . ."
Just then, a Daoist with a bloodless, pale face suddenly blocked Senior Brother Li's path and smiled, "I heard. . . a disciple who entered the Dao on his own was recruited today?"
Senior Brother Li's expression changed, and he replied with a smile, "He hasn't been listed in the Daoist registry yet, so he's not an official disciple. . . I was just about to report to Master."
"What a pity. . ."
The Daoist shook his head, seeming greatly wary of Senior Brother Li's Master, and then turned and left.
Senior Brother Li quickened his pace and walked a good distance before spitting, "This news spreads really fast. . . everyone's got their eyes on him. . ."
He walked a bit further, then turned into a section of the palace.
This palace was square, and on the plaque in the center were three large characters: 'Wuyuan Hall'.
Within the palace, there were faint, indistinct human figures.
But as Senior Brother Li drew closer, he could see that they weren't people, but sheets of. . . human skin!
These human skins, male and female, old and young, were all lifelike and exuded Qi Refinement level spiritual energy fluctuations.
"Greetings, Master!"
Senior Brother Li dared not delay, performing a deep bow towards the empty space.
"Ah, it's you. . . What's happened?"
A human skin was abruptly filled, transforming into a gaunt old Daoist, who sat upon a meditation cushion and asked casually.
"This disciple has just taken in someone, a Daoist who entered the Dao by cultivating the 'Skinning Chant'. . ."
Senior Brother Li dared not delay, recounting the entire affair in detail.
"Not bad. . . not bad. . . you're very good. . . To have taken in such fine jade-like talent and not thought to secretly devour him to boost your cultivation, but instead remembered this old fellow. . ."
The gaunt old Daoist suddenly sighed: "This old Daoist cultivated the 'Shadow Puppetry Art' and suffered a cultivation deviation. . . Now I've forgotten who I am. Perhaps. . . this person can help me find some of myself again. . ."
Senior Brother Li dared not answer, a layer of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
`Above the 'Skinning Chant' is the 'Shadow Puppetry Art'! `
`His master successfully established his Foundation with this life-bound grand art, thus gaining a lifespan of two hundred years, known as 'Shadow Transformation Daoist'! `
Once this art was mastered, one could freely command the human skins cultivated with the 'Skinning Chant', easily refining them as magical artifacts.
Many of the human skins throughout this grand hall were Senior Brother Li's fellow disciples, his martial brothers and sisters. . .
This old Daoist's cultivation was profound, having reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. Furthermore, having heard an important piece of news, he risked cultivating the 'Blood Skin Art', a higher-level technique, hoping to seize an opportunity.
Unfortunately, Shadow Transformation Daoist was a bit too eager for quick success. Recently, he suffered a cultivation deviation, completely 'transforming' himself away, and could only exist in a bizarre state, inhabiting the human skins he had refined.
Now, he desperately needed a 'great medicine' to restore him to his original state.
"Enough. . . you may leave."
Seeing the trembling Senior Brother Li, the gaunt old Daoist finally spoke.
Senior Brother Li felt as if he had received a great amnesty. He hastily kowtowed and retreated.
Meanwhile, the gaunt old Daoist seemed unable to hold on any longer; his entire human skin burst open, leaving nothing inside. . .
Within the vast hall, only countless human skins drifted about, feigning a lively appearance.
Faintly, the old Daoist's voice echoed: "No. . . I must find myself again. . . The old Temple Master is dying. If I can obtain his Golden Core. . . I can directly cultivate the 'Blood Skin Art' to perfection, become a True Person and Feathered Daoist, and enjoy a lifespan of five hundred years!"
...
The night deepened.
"Junior Brother Yu, good news!"
Senior Brother Li rushed in, his face beaming: "I've spoken to Master, and Master is willing to take you as a disciple. . . Why aren't you hurrying to follow me and pay your respects?"
"To acknowledge a master. . . at night? " Yu Hua looked at the sky outside, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
"We cultivators don't pay attention to such trifles, and neither does our Master. You'll serve closely by him in the future, so you must be careful. . ."
Senior Brother Li answered earnestly.
"Since that's the case. . . I'll go with Senior Brother. I just remembered, how can one be disrespectful when acknowledging a master? This gift I've painstakingly prepared, please, Senior Brother, take it and present it to our venerable Master. . ."
Yu Hua smiled as he took out a wooden box and handed it to Senior Brother Li.
Senior Brother Li didn't think much of how this disciple, who couldn't even produce a recommendation, suddenly had a gift prepared. He casually took it.
The next moment, his expression changed repeatedly as he stared at his blackened palm: "You poisoned me? !"
Yu Hua also became expressionless: "You want to harm me, and you don't allow me to retaliate?"
"Impossible. . . You little beast, how did you know? " Senior Brother Li quickly formed a hand seal, and the human skin automatically peeled off.
That layer of blackness remained on the human skin, leaving a bloodied figure that stared at Yu Hua, its eyes filled with venomous malice.
Yu Hua, however, was unhurried, sneering, "Of course, I didn't know at first, but I found your actions suspicious. . . Later, a pale-faced Daoist came to visit, subtly revealing this matter. Otherwise, where do you think my 'Marrow-Penetrating Poison' came from?"
"It was him?"
Senior Brother Li shuddered, recalling the pale-faced Daoist he had met today, and a surge of hatred welled up in his heart: `This person actually dared to violate the temple's rules and plot against me? This isn't good. . . this is actually a Marrow-Penetrating Poison. . . `
As this thought arose, he felt an itching numbness in his bones, followed by his vision going black, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
Deprived of his control, the plump human skin also stopped in place, no longer drifting.
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