Cultivation through Skin Making

Ningxin Ancestor's appetite suddenly improved. Though she was an ancestor, she was also a woman. When she mentioned "having a child for a man," she naturally felt a curiosity and even a desire to test this man. Only then could she determine whether he was outstanding and worthy enough to bear her children.

Yet, excellence isn't solely determined by power and realm; it also involves this person's style, heart, and planning...

Currently, no matter whom this young fellow plans to kill, they must still be within her control.

Clearly, her opportunity had arrived.

Therefore, her appetite improved.

Ningxin Ancestor gently moved her delicate hand, and the plate filled with delicacies arrived before her. She opened her mouth slightly, and ate slowly, simultaneously saying with interest, "What do you want to do?"

Song Yan replied, "I know too little, still not sure what I want to do."

Ningxin Ancestor said, "Go ahead."

Song Yan asked, "In the past fifty years, has there been turmoil within our race?"

Ningxin Ancestor glanced at his plate.

Song Yan also picked it up.

The two spoke as they ate, and after finishing, they paid no attention to the young ones in the garden.

Then, amidst the shocked gazes of young "adoptive fathers and mothers," Song Yan followed Ningxin Ancestor up Ancestral Divine Mountain, strolling through the autumn forest.

When the gathering would disperse, it no longer concerned him.

...

Undoubtedly, Song Yan asked the right person.

No one in the Formless Ancient Race understood the happenings within the race better than Ningxin Ancestor, the clan ancestor.

Event after event appeared openly before Song Yan.

He, too, flew far in thought with Ningxin Ancestor's descriptions.

He saw the various life and death separations and unions that erupted among the fifteen countries under the Formless Ancient Race, the repeated bloody battles at Ancient Jin Transmission Array, the turmoil brought by "edge politics" among ancient races, the confrontations between spies, and the outbreak of Soul Threshold at Ice Mirror Wilderness growing increasingly intense...

"What is Soul Threshold?"

Song Yan asked again.

He understood Tumor Realm but didn't know the cause of Soul Threshold's origin.

Ningxin Ancestor said, "It is the rule of heaven and earth."

"Rule?"

"If the Sea of Suffering sustains a wound due to external objects, heaven and earth will strive to assimilate these objects, and Soul Threshold will emerge at this time.

Tumor Realm is its structure, and repeated outbreaks are common, until the final digestion of the object, and what remains becomes the Evil Treasure.

To pick the Evil Treasure, one must trace causes from results and find the Treasure Hunter. Such matters typically can only be glimpsed by the protective race objects; for our race, it is the Yin Yang Profound Dragon.

Before coming to the gathering, I foresaw the location of Ice Mirror Wilderness's Evil Treasure's Treasure Hunter; today's gathering is just the right moment to assign tasks, allowing the young ones to train and swiftly invite the Treasure Hunter."

Song Yan: ...

In his heart, a peculiar feeling of "changing fields of longevity" emerged inexplicably.

He once was also a Treasure Hunter and a junior...

Back then, that old seven-tailed fox certainly strolled with some demon, speaking words like, "letting juniors bring back the Treasure Hunter."

Just that light statement led him to live subsequently as if in purgatory, cautiously dealing with the relentless pursuit of both the Fox and Wolf Races. To him, the outside world was a completely black fog, invisible and inescapable, forcing him to exhaust all efforts to manage what lay ahead.

Undoubtedly, with Ningxin Ancestor's statement, those Treasure Hunters would face the same danger he once did.

Before reaching the end of Soul Threshold, Treasure Hunters would be carefully watched, but once at the end, once starting the treasure-picking, who knows what dangers could arise?

Even nine deaths and one life can't describe those risks; it is entirely... a dead end!

This is the cruelty of the Cultivation Realm.

The saying "an innocent man holding a treasure becomes guilty" applies here.

...

Ancestral Divine Mountain also experiences seasons.

Faded yellow leaves like aging butterflies sway in the desolate autumn wind, occasionally falling.

The green-robed Divine Maiden moved her slender legs; her small feet seemed to tread on clouds while glancing at the unabashed deep contemplation in the boy's eyes, her heart filled with curiosity.

She had long understood the Formless Ancient Race clearly and used this world as a board, beings as chess pieces, arranging many situations benefiting the race's development.

Now, what changes would this little fellow propose to this chessboard, what suggestions would he offer?

Song Yan suddenly said, "I've had Princess Xi deliver the matter of Sacrifice Fire; how does the clan view it?"

The green-robed Divine Maiden glanced at him and said, "The Clan Leader has arrangements."

Song Yan pursued, "What arrangements?"

The green-robed Divine Maiden said, "If you want to know, quickly cultivate; once your realm rises, naturally you'll be informed. At the very least, practice our clan's Purple Mansion Secret Technique 'Hundred Forms Life and Death Stake,' right?

All these years you've been in the Mortal World, haven't you been practicing Protective Thought? I refuse to believe if you haven't cultivated it, you'd leave.

Since it's so, it's just one step away. Why not gather all your strength, concentrate, and break through the Purple Mansion Middle Stage?"

Song Yan slightly squinted, connecting one piece of information after another in his mind, striving to discard surface phenomena and pursue the most core essence.

It's been fifty years.

The Demon Monk couldn't possibly remain inactive.

But this turmoil feels inconsequential; this can only indicate one thing: the Demon Monk is brewing greater schemes.

Now, based on Ningxin Ancestor's descriptions, he roughly knows the most chaotic place within the "Formless Ancient Race" is actually the borders intersecting with "Night King Ancient Race."

This turmoil stems from the inner conflict within the "Night King Ancient Race."

Such self-conflict within a race sounds absurd but isn't without precedent, as seen with the Night King Ancient Race.

As its neighbor, the Formless Ancient Race's stance is "as long as the fires don't spread here, they can mess about within their nest. Anyway, our own resources are sufficient, needing not to invade others' land."