"Ah? Demon Cultivation Technique?"
Du Guyan was a bit confused, but still didn't dare to slack off, quickly stood up:
"Alright, Ancestor, please wait a moment."
After he hurriedly left, the group did not pay much attention and continued feasting and merrymaking. Zhang Yao also left the window and returned to the main seat.
Only after half an hour had passed, and the group had passed three rounds of drinks, did Gudu Yan return.
"In this marketplace, I have collected a total of 126 demon cultivation techniques. Please, Ancestor, take a look."
Du Guyan respectfully handed over a storage bracelet.
In these short ten years, the Dugu Family reaped rewards from the Mo Yuan output, greatly benefiting the entire clan, strengthening their power significantly.
Thus, his attitude towards Zhang Yao became increasingly respectful, even for such trivial tasks he carried out diligently, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
"Hmm."
Zhang Yao nodded slightly, revealing a hint of satisfaction, and gestured for him to be seated again.
After Du Guyan took his seat again, Zhang Yao took out jade scroll after jade scroll, starting to browse through the demon cultivation techniques, pondering the mysteries and summarizing their secrets.
The others did not dare disturb him, thus refrained from speaking, communicating with divine thoughts, speculating on Zhang Yao's intentions.
"So that's how it is…"
Zhang Yao continuously flipping through, soon gained profound insights into the paths of demon cultivation techniques.
The mainstream paths of demon cultivation techniques are known as "Purification" and "Evolution".
As the name suggests, purification is tracing the bloodline to its roots, and purifying it upwards, enhancing one's bloodline level.
Evolution, on the other hand, is when the bloodline is strong and pure enough, continuously evolving the bloodline quantity, replacing inferior bloodlines with pure bloodline—this includes the skill of replacing human blood with demon blood.
"These are rather distinct paths compared to the demon cultivation techniques known outside…"
Zhang Yao's thoughts kept pondering.
The demon cultivation techniques outside are meant for those without demon race bloodlines, thus requiring demon blood as a primer, which is the most crucial step, with subsequent cultivation centered around external demon blood.
But in Jing Kingdom, most demons are born with demon race bloodlines, hence they do not need this step, focusing on unleashing their own potential.
Within Jing Kingdom, regular cultivators are still the majority, unless they envy the longevity advantage of demon cultivators, otherwise, no one would switch to demon cultivation.
"These two paths, at first glance, seem to have no apparent advantages or disadvantages."
"But the demon cultivation path in Jing Kingdom seems smoother, closer to the natural order, potentially with a higher ceiling."
Thoughts floated and sank in Zhang Yao's mind, seemingly revealing some roots of the Jing Kingdom's situation.
The demon cultivators he had seen all faced difficulties in cultivation, progressing slower than regular human race cultivators, breaking through to Golden Core is considered a bliss from heaven—with minimal progress beyond.
A typical example is the Wanchuan Ancestor, who wasted away a thousand years, still at early stage Golden Core.
Yet, the demon cultivation path in Jing Kingdom, if the bloodline is sufficiently strong and the lineage sufficiently noble, seems to be capable of reaching the Nascent Soul stage—even though extremely challenging, still better than having no hope.
"The three major forces of Jing Kingdom, Tang Mountain, Yingyuan Valley, and Cool Moon River, should all have Nascent Soul cultivators in command."
Zhang Yao's eyes flickered, suddenly picked out a jade scroll, indicating:
"The contents attached at the end of this cultivation technique offer a perspective analysis of the Jing Kingdom's situation, everyone might want to take a good look."
The group, hearing this, instantly gained some interest, each probing with divine thought.
After various Golden Core cultivators read it, some furrowed their brows slightly, some were thoughtful, while others started exchanging thoughts.
The appendix of this cultivation technique actually narrates some circulated knowledge within the Jing Kingdom's demon cultivation realm, emphasizing the "Eight Great Imperial Bloods."
The so-called Eight Great Imperial Bloods are recognized as the most noble among numerous bloodlines, said to trace back to the direct descendants of ancient fallen great demons.
As for reaching the heavens in one step, tracing the bloodline back to ancient great demons, that is impossible.
Just like in the mainstream demon cultivation paths, purification and evolution progress hand in hand, typically in tandem with strength advancement.
This means, unless another divinity transformation level demon cultivator arises, there is no one who can trace their bloodline back to its source.
Within Jing Kingdom, the reason why the Eight Great Imperial Bloods are revered is due to their high bloodline levels, allowing them to temporarily bypass the purification step, focusing only on bloodline evolution, surpassing other demon cultivators significantly in cultivation speed.
The three top forces today, are among the Eight Great Imperial Bloods.
Among them, Tang Mountain inherits the Flying Heavens Divine Leopard bloodline, known as the king among tigers, the monarch of blue skies;
Yingyuan Valley, inherits the Baihua Immortal Ape bloodline, recognized as the first of primates, near deity in wisdom;
Cool Moon River, inherits the Waning Moon Celestial Fox bloodline, recognized as the master over moons and Taiyin leader;
"Why is Elder Qingxu showing us these things?"
The many Golden Core Cultivators felt somewhat puzzled.
They came to participate in the Taiyin Tide Festival, hoping to gain benefits from it, to understand the situation in Jing Kingdom and the inside workings of the three major forces, which seemed unnecessary at the time?
Noticing the puzzled looks of the crowd, Zhang Yao spoke:
"My goal for this Taiyin Tide Festival is to seize enough Taiyin Dew."
"Therefore, sooner or later we'll run into the three major forces like Tang Mountain, it's better to be prepared in advance."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the many Golden Core Cultivators changed immediately.
The benefits in the Taiyin Tide Festival are divided into multiple tiers, with the highest tier being Taiyin Dew!
But Taiyin Dew also has another name among the Demon Race and Demon Cultivators, "Emperor's Liquid," being a Supreme Treasure that holds great transformative power for them, how could it be easily handed over?
In past Taiyin Tide Festivals, Taiyin Dew was basically monopolized by the three native forces, outsiders hardly had any chance to compete for it.
"What, are you all scared?"
Zhang Yao smiled slightly and said:
"The essence of the Taiyin Tide Festival is due to a single force in Liangyue River, or even the entirety of Jing Kingdom, being unable to handle the celestial phenomena of the 'Taiyin Tide' and having no power to monopolize all benefits, hence inviting all four corners to jointly celebrate it."
"In such a festival, there are countless Golden Core Cultivators and old ancestors from all over, Liangyue River wouldn't dare to openly violate the great taboo of the world, breaking the rules."
"Since it falls within the rules, everyone must rely on their own abilities, there won't be any life-threatening danger."
Upon hearing this, the many Golden Core Cultivators felt reassured momentarily, but after discussing a bit among themselves, they still couldn't hide their worried expressions.
As Zhang Yao mentioned, the contest in the Taiyin Tide Festival falls within the rules, even if Liangyue River, Tang Mountain, and Yingyuan Valley suffer losses, they wouldn't easily get angry.
Yet, this does not mean everything will be resolved smoothly.
After all, if they successfully capture Taiyin Dew, it not only significantly reduces the reputation of the three major forces but also directly causes substantial losses in benefits; how would the three major forces stomach such a loss?
Even considering reputation and influence, they might not overtly cause trouble, but secretly employing sinister methods would be numerous.
Zhang Yao's strength is robust enough to disregard ordinary retaliation, but not for them. With their capabilities, if they incur the anger of the three major forces, it's quite possible they'll suffer gravely.
"This is quite a dilemma..."
The many Golden Core Cultivators exchanged glances, each harboring different thoughts.
Persuading this Elder Qingxu is clearly impossible, as he wasn't consulting but notifying, with a very firm attitude that's unshakeable.
Defying the Lord of the Southwest, Zhang Yao, they hardly have the courage, so they can only follow his directive.
"Daoist Brother."
True Yang Ancestor seemed to harbor a bit of hope and couldn't help asking:
"Since Daoist Brother aims to seize Taiyin Dew, this item must be of great use to you."
"Could I ask, how many drops would Daoist Brother need to make it sufficient?"
Zhang Yao pondered briefly and then said:
"At least six drops."
He needs nine drops of Taiyin Dew to engrave the 'Taiyin Celestial Pivot Array' within himself, not a drop less.
The Five Elements Wanderer Liu Cang, back then, captured twelve drops of Taiyin Dew at the last moment of the Taiyin Tide Festival, used nine himself, leaving three for Zhang Yao.
Thus, six drops is his minimum requirement.
Yet, he would never be satisfied with the minimum, given his current strength is similar to Liu Cang's when he attended the festival back then. If Liu Cang could successfully seize twelve drops, why couldn't he?
As for offending the three major forces, he cares even less; after Liu Cang pulled off such a daring act, he still thrived afterwards.
"Six drops, huh..."
True Yang Ancestor and the many Golden Core Cultivators exchanged looks, quietly feeling relieved.
A drop or two would be symbolic, and the three major forces wouldn't pursue it excessively; if it's merely five or six drops, relying on Zhang Yao's status as the Lord of the Southwest and his powerful influence across the Central Plains for over ten countries, Liangyue River and the other three likely wouldn't wage great battles either.
Yet before they could secretly rejoice, they heard Zhang Yao speak again:
"Of course, six drops are just the basic goal."
"When it truly comes to the competition, surely the more the better, accepting all, as such opportunities are rare."
True Yang Ancestor and the others: "..."