Cultivation through Skin Making

"Thud," the wooden boat docked on the shore.

The graceful lady put down the bamboo pole, looked up towards Song Yan on the cliff and asked loudly, "Is it convenient, fellow Daoist?"

Song Yan said, "Come up and talk."

Madam Ling stepped onto the black cloud, and the numerous "Night Candle Soul Worms" acted like Profound Artifacts, carrying her to the cliff and then buzzing away.

Madam Ling bowed and said, "Brother Song, do you have any plans regarding dual cultivation?"

Song Yan: ???

Madam Ling said, "Little sister doesn't know much about fellow Daoist, but according to my knowledge of the Puppet Sect, it usually involves abducting women to serve as furnaces, discarded as dregs if unsuccessful. Brother, do you still intend to act this way?"

Without waiting for a response, she continued, "If that's the case, brother need not worry about my presence. Just bring girls from outside here for dual cultivation."

Song Yan shook his head and said, "This is not my intention; since I've come here... naturally, it won't be so."

Madam Ling's lips slightly curved as she said, "Little sister has a copy of the Nanwu Sword Sect, a righteous Yin Yang cultivation method. Although not as domineering as the Puppet Sect's guiding art, it complements rather than plunders.

If a man and woman cultivate together, both can benefit.

Since brother doesn't intend to use the old Puppet Sect method, would you be willing to try this righteous dao dual cultivation method with little sister?

Although dual cultivation doesn't compare to the absorption of profound Qi and profound jade, it's still a method to increase one's profound Qi.

Having a cultivation partner is always a good thing.

Little sister, though focused on cultivation, holds no dislike for brother; it's just unknown what your intentions are?"

Song Yan nodded, this could help Madam Ling.

At the same time, for him, it's like revisiting the old path.

...

...

A moment later...

Madam Ling's quiet reading voice came from the small room.

She seemed to have taken out a booklet and read according to it.

"A person shouldn't lack the interaction of Yin and Yang, lest illness ensues sitting idle. If indulging in desires without moderation brings harm to one's lifespan. Those skilled in techniques can reverse energy to nourish the brain..."

After a long time, Madam Ling asked, "Brother, did you understand?"

Song Yan slightly perceived and felt that what was mentioned was indeed gentler than the Puppet Sect's techniques.

The Puppet Sect emphasized unilateral absorption, the faster and more aggressive the better, leaving the absorbed side extremely weakened afterward.

While this righteous sect one stresses slow and steady progress, moderation and cannot be rushed, thus... compared to the Demon Sect's "anytime, anywhere, full absorption" notion, the righteous dao's side limits to "once a day, succeed or not must end."

A moment...

There were movements in the dark.

"Brother, don't move, please activate the incantation of this righteous sect's guiding method."

"Brother, do you feel it? Ah... it counts as a failure today..."

...

...

The next day, evening...

"Brother, to prevent failure, we should agree on the count of three."

A moment later...

"Almost... just a little bit more."

...

...

The third day...

"Brother, today we should refrain from any unnecessary actions, since it's cultivation, then just focus on cultivation!

Misstep by a millimeter results in a thousand-mile error, if we fail again, then this day would be wasted."

Madam Ling's voice was somewhat cold.

The previous two days of failure had brought a slight irritation to her heart.

Song Yan nodded, straightening her up, though the latter's eyes were covered with black gauze, Song Yan could still feel a gaze, perceive seriousness in her demeanor.

"Let's begin then."

"Brother, please start first."

After a long time...

Madam Ling murmured, "Wonderful, finally... succeeded."

Then she swiftly rose, composed and dignified, saying, "Brother Song, little sister's control is complete.

Only now does she feel the great opportunity. If it weren't for brother's help, I wouldn't know what the Granny with Pearls planned to do to me."

Song Yan wasn't interested in this method of "absorbing others' thoughts, thereby controlling a portion of their inheritance," as such opportunities were fraught with endless troubles and unpredictability, thus he wasn't particularly envious of Madam Ling's control over Candle Land, at this moment he merely showed concern: "Do you feel any unusual thoughts arising in your mind that don't belong to you?"

Madam Ling shook her head, then said, "Brother Song, do you have any matters unfinished here?"

"None."

"Then tomorrow morning, let's set out for Snake Corpse Market Town.

It's a long journey, and both of us are wanted around the world...

Therefore, little sister plans to take a detour, skirting from the southernmost edge of Barbaric Land in Southern Wu to Western Shu.

This will take more than twice the usual travel time, brother ought to be patient."

Song Yan pondered for a moment, curiously asking, "Can I keep hiding in your secret realm throughout the journey and not show up?"

Madam Ling nodded.

Song Yan couldn't help but marvel to himself: the methods of Purple Mansion level cultivators are truly unimaginable. Compared to attacking with "profound Qi profound treasure," using "secret realm" as a magical treasure is like a "groundbreaking industrial revolution." Someone like Madam Ling, amongst Refining Profound cultivators, is definitely considered powerful.

The previous Granny with Pearls, able to establish Snake Corpse Market Town with a Refining Profound level body, overseeing an entire market town of cultivators, wasn't without reason...

...

...

The facts proved, even though the world was chaotic, its effect on the corners of Barbaric Land was actually rather insignificant.

But this desolate territory, unnoticed by cultivators and nobles, was countless times worse than Chao Li County. Here, not even Jianghu factions bothered to occupy the land, and the people might only have partial knowledge of which dynasty ruled them...

Yet despite this... this place was not a sanctuary of good men but a paradise for bandits.

The bandits hid in the mountains, exterminated without end, killed endlessly;

Similarly, the bandits wouldn't descend the mountains to attack the surrounding villages and counties.

Although there might be suspicions of the government raising bandits to boost itself and repeatedly going rural to meet quotas, isn't it rather the bandits 'farming' the villages and counties?

Half a month later, in a mountain wilderness under the moonlight...

Madam Ling was surrounded by thirty or more vile bandits.

The leading bandit shrewdly shouted, "Though you are wrapped tightly, that posterior of yours is quite protruding, surely a pretty young lady skin! Why not return to the mountain with the lord, enjoy the good life, the lord promises you comfort."

A bandit behind chimed in with a jest, "Little lady, after tasting the flavor of grandpas, you won't want to leave, why bother walking away?"

Madam Ling said no more and barely moved her fingers.

Another bandit, seemingly knowledgeable, warned, "Don't move! We're over thirty people, and you're alone, even if skilled in hidden weapons as a martial artist, today you still should resign to fate!"

However, his words had just fallen when the bandits heard a buzzing sound.

Around the Profound Robe young lady a black cloud instantly enveloped her, upon closer examination, it was rustling with tiny black dots, each a peculiar insect smaller than a wild bee.

The black cloud spread instantly, exploded into black mist, engulfing all over thirty vile bandits.

The next moment...

Every single one of the thirty-plus bandits fell to the ground without any injuries, yet they had...completely stopped breathing!

The Profound Robe young lady's mind shifted, the black mist contracted, forming a black cloud, and dissipated like flowing water around her.

She was about to continue forward but abruptly halted, as a man suddenly appeared beside her.

Madam Ling curiously asked, "Brother, why did you come out?"

"Wait a moment."

Song Yan said and then squatted next to a bandit, raised his finger, and began soul searching.

But upon searching, he found he couldn't proceed...

The souls of these mortals had been completely shattered by the soul worms Madam Ling released.

Madam Ling said, "These bandits deserved death, they wouldn't have any useful information either. Brother should refrain from excessive soul searching, as engaging too much leads to cluttered thoughts, unfavorable for cultivation."

Song Yan nodded, he was used to soul searching, and wanted to acquire information, but the most important thing... was to find two suitable identities for leaving behind the "Granny Fox" and another Fox Demon Shadow Puppet.

Although the "Granny Fox" shadow puppet couldn't perform any magic, its innate illusion techniques and body techniques were at the middle stage of the Crimson Palace, already top-notch on these lands.

When the "Granny Fox" casts illusions, unless the Puppet Sect or Nanwu Sword Sect high levels are watching her, she is completely undetectable.

This is excellent.

Even though he wanted to retreat to Snake Corpse Market Town, he also needed to leave a shadow puppet in Wu Kingdom for remote control, to search for suitable techniques and find blood suitable for placing in his "Central Right Palace."

"Next time, leave one alive," Song Yan said.

Madam Ling responded, "Since brother requests, little sister will comply."