Ren Qing focused his energy on the ghost shadow, hoping to thereby accelerate the cultivation of the Nether Sea Breathing Art, but the effect seemed minimal.
He had no choice but to cultivate in seclusion while multitasking, and he gradually lost sense of time.
However, judging by how often the Bottle Imp appeared, it could be estimated that the ghost shadow took nearly three months to fully complete the cultivation of the Nether Sea Breathing Technique.
Ren Qing sighed helplessly and then planned to have the ghost shadow begin cultivating the Nether Sea Breathing Art.
During this period, he had already thoroughly studied the Heavenly Dao Techniques and developed a sufficient understanding of this cultivation system, which was distinct from that of the Restraint Officers.
Although both paths led to the same destination, in truth, the differences were still quite significant.
Heavenly Dao Techniques were cultivated around the Heavenly Dao Worm, and the cultivation technique determined the direction of advancement.
Once a cultivator reached Foundation Establishment, corresponding to the Half-Corpse Realm for a Restraint Officer, there were no longer multiple mutation paths.
Instead, the Heavenly Dao Worm would form a fixed type of spirit root within the body.
Spirit roots were mostly of the five elements, metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, but there were exceptions.
The Nether Sea Method, for example, gave rise to a spirit root called the Nether Root, which helped the cultivator absorb the True Yuan of heaven and earth and convert it into a unique Nether Yuan.
Nether Yuan had a corrosive quality: it acted like poison whether facing magical tools or flesh and blood.
Upon reaching the Core Formation stage, the spirit root would transform into a unique immortal bone.
The immortal bone was the result of the Heavenly Dao Worm altering the cultivator's physique. By the time one reached the Nascent Soul stage and formed an immortal body, they had become a full-fledged fleshly magical artifact.
If Ren Qing used the information stream to master a Heavenly Dao Technique, he wouldn't actually need a Heavenly Dao Egg, but he would have to pay a price of fifty years of lifespan.
However, he suspected that in doing so, a so-called false spirit root would form inside his body to replace the function of the Heavenly Dao Worm.
Ren Qing composed his mind as the ghost shadow began cultivating the Nether Sea Breathing Art, the first step being to allow the body to acclimate to the so-called True Yuan.
According to the texts from Wuwei Daoist Altar, True Yuan was the essence emitted by all things in heaven and earth.
But Ren Qing believed instead that True Yuan was a substance secreted by the Heavenly Dao Worm, one of the methods used to make its hosts gradually dependent on it.
The ghost shadow was brought into the Prison Within the Abdomen.
Naturally, cultivating a Heavenly Dao Technique couldn't be done openly, as the Heavenly Dao Egg was far too sinister, it was best not to let it be seen.
Under Ren Qing's control, the ghost shadow picked up the Heavenly Dao Egg, its pitch-black body slowly enveloping it.
Normally, an outer disciple of Wuwei Daoist Altar would place the Heavenly Dao Egg on the tip of their tongue and allow their saliva to gradually become worm saliva.
Eventually, the worm saliva would be swallowed into the abdomen.
This cultivation stage was called the Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment, a necessary step in the transformation from mortal to immortal.
Then, with the guidance and protection of a senior member of the sect, the Heavenly Dao Egg would be placed into a specific acupoint within the body. Only then could one be said to have formally entered the path.
However, while the ghost shadow did possess a fleshly body, it was still far from human. It could only wrap around the Heavenly Dao Egg as a method of cultivation.
Ren Qing closed his eyes to rest. After about half a day, he examined the ghost shadow closely.
Due to its cultivation of the Entry Method, the Heavenly Dao Egg had indeed become slightly active, and the worm saliva it secreted was slowly integrating with the body.
Ren Qing nodded inwardly.
It seemed that Heavenly Dao Child's prediction had been correct, Shadow Ghost Technique could indeed be used to cultivate a Heavenly Dao Technique. In that case, Corpse Dog Technique might also be viable.
But before Ren Qing could respond, the Heavenly Dao Egg unexpectedly sprouted large quantities of translucent root-like structures, extending into the ghost shadow's body.
Naturally, the ghost shadow appeared to be in great discomfort, had Ren Qing not forcefully suppressed it, the Heavenly Dao Egg would have been rejected and expelled.
After a while, as the Heavenly Dao Egg took root, the ghost shadow ceased its writhing, and a trace of Nether Yuan appeared in its flesh.
Ren Qing's expression grew complicated.
He found that the ghost shadow could still abandon its body and directly remove the Heavenly Dao Egg, meaning that at the Qi Refining Stage, full parasitism was not yet achieved.
Corpse Dogs could probably do the same...
Heavenly Dao Child had really found a way to counteract the Heavenly Dao Worm, it was just a shame that the people of Jingzhou couldn't cultivate the Restraint Officer techniques, or else it might have succeeded.
The ghost shadow's Nether Yuan condensed, growing darker in hue. Though its outer form hadn't changed, its size had clearly increased.
Ren Qing summoned the information stream.
The display of Nether Sea Breathing Art now looked slightly different.
[Nether Sea Breathing Art (Nether Yuan)
Would you like to advance to Nether Root? Requires 55 years of lifespan.]
Upon seeing this, Ren Qing breathed a sigh of relief. The cost of bypassing the price hadn't risen too much, still affordable.
He looked at the ghost shadow and thought.
The ghost shadow immediately possessed his right arm. In addition to enhancing his physique, Ren Qing also sensed an unfamiliar energy filling his blood and flesh.
This energy was clearly Nether Yuan.
Ren Qing punched the iron door, leaving behind a clear fist imprint. The Nether Yuan even slightly delayed the door's self-repair process.
But since the Nether Sea Breathing Art was still only at the Qi Refining Stage, it would take until Foundation Establishment before it could deal real damage.
At that time, when the ghost shadow possessed him, the Spirit Root Immortal Body would temporarily descend.
Now that the Heavenly Dao Egg had begun hatching, even a dim-witted ghost shadow would gradually increase its Nether Yuan over time.
Ren Qing didn't concern himself further and closed his eyes to meditate on his cultivation techniques.
After another month had passed,
Having finally mastered the last of his techniques, Ren Qing suddenly felt as if if he didn't leave soon, the Bottle Imp would start urging him.
He stood up and stretched lazily, without any concern.
Even when he made noise, Non-Poison showed no sign of appearing, suggesting it too had grown weary over the past six months.
The iron door slowly opened.
Ren Qing stepped into the corridor with a relaxed expression. The ghost shadow, sensing his excitement, writhed like flowing water.
"Seniors, thank you all for taking care of me during this time. I shall be taking my leave first."
There was still no reaction. These Restraint Officers had long since been confined to the point of losing all will, how could they care about the outside world?
Only Li Fangtan stepped to the iron door as if wanting to speak, but after a long silence, he said nothing.
The Bottle Imp quietly appeared, mainly to ensure Ren Qing didn't cause trouble.
"Can I ask a favor?"
"Please say it, Senior Li."
Li Fangtan still didn't speak. Instead, he slammed his body forward.
Boom!!!
A crack appeared in the iron door. A withered left hand reached through, holding a jade pendant.
The skin on the hand had a scale-like texture, with bulging veins like earthworms, clearly not normal for a cultivator.
Ren Qing accepted the jade pendant. The character "Li" was carved on it.
"This jade pendant belongs to my younger brother, Li Er."
Li Fangtan said in a low voice, "If he's not dead, he'd be fifty-seven by now... sigh, probably dead."
"If you happen to pass through Lakeside Town, and you meet Li Er, just tell him to stop waiting. That rattle drum probably can't be bought anymore..."
Lakeside Town was south of Sanxiang City, known for its fishery trade.
Ren Qing agreed, it was something he could do in passing.
But in this world, mortals rarely lived beyond fifty. Since Li Er was over fifty, he was most likely long dead.
Ren Qing made his way toward the exit of Stomach within the Stomach.
As he drew closer to the outside world, the sound of heavy rain returned to his ears.
Avici Hell was still shrouded in bloody rain. Only at the intersection of the ribs and stomach wall could he barely see a few Restraint Officers.
Ren Qing didn't linger long and returned directly to the mortal realm.
"Don't forget the corner when patrolling the south side of the city..."
"Bring me some side dishes for drinking."
"These firecrackers are really disturbing my nap."
The long-missed clamor and chatter.
Stomach within the Stomach was indeed perfect for seclusion, but far too quiet.
Ren Qing stepped out of the portal and found himself back in his room at the Corpse Burners' Hall.
He couldn't help but smile, it seemed Song Zongwu had chosen Corpse Burners' Hall as the entry point into Avici Hell before sending him to Stomach within the Stomach.
This showed that Song Zongwu never believed Ren Qing would remain trapped there indefinitely.
Ren Qing opened the wooden door of his room and found that the courtyard had been decorated for the New Year.
Dried goods were hanging under the eaves.
The cold wind carried scattered snowflakes.
All the vegetation was yellow and wilted, covered with a thin layer of snow, probably the light snow that had fallen last night.
Xiao Wu was bundled in thick cotton clothes, bending over the stone table, sorting through spring couplets from who knew where.
When he saw Ren Qing, he was stunned for a long time before saying, "Brother Qing, your assignment from the yamen is over?"
"It's over..."
Ren Qing nodded. Although he'd left for Heshan Town in a hurry, he had mentioned it to those around him.
It looked like he'd spent eight or nine months in Stomach within the Stomach, and now it was nearly New Year's.
Xiao Wu couldn't stop smiling.
With no news for so long, he had thought something had gone wrong.
Fortunately, Clerk Zhao had still been sending money monthly, which meant Ren Qing was likely fine.
"Brother Qing, I've been sending the monthly silver to Bazi Village just as you said."
"Thanks. Nothing went wrong, I hope?"
"No, no..."
As Xiao Wu pasted couplets by the door, he told Ren Qing what had happened.
Though there had been the occasional incident, things had mostly been quiet. Bo Feng and the others were just out shopping for New Year's Eve dinner ingredients.
"It's New Year's Eve already?"
"The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We'll gather for Little New Year tomorrow, but on the Eve, Bo Feng and the others will be with their families."
"Say, Xiao Wu, aren't you going back home?"
Aside from Xiao Wu, the bailiffs at Corpse Burners' Hall were all locals of Sanxiang City.
Xiao Wu looked a little embarrassed. Blushing, he said, "I saved up some money from working as a bailiff and bought a small courtyard on the northern outskirts of Sanxiang City. I brought my family here."
"Not bad at all."
Ren Qing smiled as he patted Xiao Wu's head.
He had once thought of teaching Xiao Wu cultivation techniques, but now that idea was completely gone.
Cultivation was extremely difficult and full of risk, even becoming a cultivator might not be a good thing.
If Xiao Wu saved enough money, he could easily open a small business in the city.
Ren Qing helped Xiao Wu tidy up the courtyard, mostly sweeping away snow to prevent slipping.
He suddenly noticed a stone sitting on the windowsill of his room.
Ren Qing picked it up and brushed off the snow, revealing a frozen Nether Crow.
He twitched at the corner of his mouth.
The Nether Crow broke free from its frozen state and pecked at Ren Qing's head a few times.
A slip of paper came from its beak, and the crow immediately turned into a lump of meat.
Ren Qing picked up the note, the paper was yellowed, clearly written several months ago.