Cultivation through Skin Making

Crack...

Plop.

Another corpse was flung aside, immediately torn apart and devoured by the Fox Demons.

The Fox Matriarch hid beneath the violently swaying dense tree cover, her eyes revealing extreme irritation and frenzy.

Another Soul Search...

Another worthless one...

Even though the Divine Soul in the Crimson Palace Realm had strengthened considerably, "repeatedly performing Soul Search" was still very damaging.

Think about it, "If you continually integrate others' memories into your Divine Soul, how can you discern what is truly yours and what belongs to another?"

The Fox Matriarch had long laid out her strategy.

First, she seized the opportunity when the Cold Pool Valley Market opened to launch a surprise attack on the Evil Land.

Following the Soul Search of the Stone Seat Elder, she quietly slipped away but left the fox cubs to continue wreaking havoc, pretending she hadn't left—a classic diversionary tactic. She knew Song Yan had ventured to the Cold Pool Valley Market, so she hoped to lure back the strong ones from Cold Pool Valley.

Then, she actually arrived near the Cold Pool Valley Market long ago but did not attack immediately, aware that nearly all the Profound Cultivators of the Three Kingdoms were assembled in the market. If she were in full strength, a confrontation would not be out of the question.

But having previously engaged with the Fox Stabbing Alliance and then clashing head-on in the Evil Land, followed by a rushed journey, she had expended much energy and her injuries remained unhealed.

Her plan was: once Gu Huangzi and his men returned to the Puppet Sect and understood her intentions, and learned of her purposely released misinformation about "finding Song Yan," they would probably have someone take Song Yan away. She only needed to wait patiently in ambush.

Today, several cultivators had left the market, all of whom she slaughtered, then performed Soul Search on their memories...

Yet, up to this point, she hadn't found a trace of memory related to Song Yan, except for one insignificant recollection that the "Song Master of the Puppet Sect seemed to reside in a cultivator tavern in the market."

After tossing aside yet another body, the Fox Matriarch took several deep breaths, looking anxiously and angrily at the distant market.

Even if everything else in the treasure trove were lost, she wouldn't be this impatient...

But why was it specifically the last remaining tiger cub of the Changwang Tiger Race?

She wanted to privately hoard the Changwang Tiger Essence Blood, so she took the chance to leave the Multi-tailed Fox Race under the pretext of "the Wei King seeking aid."

Over the years, she had feigned establishing a clan branch outside and spreading her lineage, but it was merely preparation for absorbing the "Changwang Tiger Essence Blood."

She cares not about the chaos in the Wei Kingdom.

She also doesn't care how recklessly the fox cubs prance or perish.

Her goals were only twofold:

Firstly, to nurture and devour the strongest among the fox cubs, raising her own racial blood purity via Secret Technique, solidifying the "Central Palace Blood" within her;

Secondly, to mislead, deliberately creating the appearance that she intended to root herself in the Three Kingdoms, engaging local cultivators in life-and-death struggles.

Seeing the time nearing, as she was about ready, the "Changwang Tiger" carelessly got snatched by that cunning little thief!

She was anxious indeed.

Not only was she concerned for her critical resources, but she feared the Fox and Wolf Races would discover it was she who stole the last bloodline of the "Changwang Tiger Race."

If she lost her resources, at most her progression would stall.

But if the Fox and Wolf Races knew about it, she would be utterly finished.

A pair of fox eyes glimmered faintly, scanning the distant Cold Pool Valley Market.

The Fox Matriarch finally gritted her fangs, and with a wave, the following Fox Demons surged forward.

Today, even if she exhausts everything, she must find the "Changwang Tiger Essence Blood"!

...

...

In the corner of a tavern run by Jianghu folk in the Cold Pool Valley Market...

Song Yan slowly opened his eyes, glancing out the window.

After a moment of thought, he took a Human Skin Mask and put it on, then applied several "Sealing Talismans" and "Qi Concealment Talismans" on his body. Next, he changed into a blue gown of a Jianghu knight, swapped his Flying Sword for a sabre, tidied up the room, and headed downstairs.

Downstairs was bustling, the Jianghu people gathered table by table, discussing matters of the Immortals, boasting about Immortal Techniques, or bragging about connections with someone from the Immortal family...

Most often, a pretty female knight would be among the table where boasting was most intense.

Song Yan had now already broken through and had completely severed ties with the Puppet Sect, and Gu Huangzi must have learned through the "Cold Prison Floating Life Bracelet" that he broke through to the Crimson Palace Realm.

If the Puppet Sect coordinated with the Nanwu Sword Sect, his identity as a spy would become even more suspicious...

In other words, now outside... the Fox Matriarch, Puppet Sect, and Nanwu Sword Sect all wanted to find him!

"Waiter, wine and meat."

Song Yan contemplated while sitting in the corner of the main hall, tossing out a gold nugget.

Soon, wine and dishes were served.

Feigning solitude with his drink and food, Song Yan swiftly pondered his next steps.

"Mingling with Jianghu sects and heading to regions without Profound Qi" seemed indeed a viable option, but any place he'd once been, even if as "Hua Rong" in Celestial Cloud City, was no longer a possibility.

If he escaped outside and lay low for a while, he could start a small business, perhaps a "butchery business."

Collecting beast hides arouses suspicion.

But if he butchered them himself and kept the hides, nobody would notice.

Anyway, his "Remaining Life Dao Fruit" had granted him extended lifespan, and now with the heat so intense, he plans to hide in a Profound Qi-free zone for twenty or thirty years, calmly amassing lifespan before venturing out again.

Now, he differs from the past in Celestial Cloud City.

Back then, he was powerless, tracked by Gu Huangzi, and constantly hunted by the Nanwu Sword Sect; now... he has broken through to the Crimson Palace Realm and is unburdened.