With a wave of his hand, Yang Jing expelled Yang Changjin from the Grand Array and revoked his access.

Among the Cultivation Techniques the Blood Spirit Scripture was based on was an unorthodox method, the Black Death Seven Tribulations Scripture. It had completely inherited that technique’s characteristic: the more lives one took, the stronger their Magical Power became. Furthermore, if one wished to walk a more sinister path, they could even act like a Demon Cultivator, harvesting the Essence Blood of mortals to increase their Magical Power.

To prevent himself from accidentally creating another Demon Sect, Yang Jing naturally kept this Cultivation Technique under extremely strict control.

What those nine Outer Disciples received was only the method for Refining the Blood Spirit Technique Magical Power. With this information alone, not even a Nascent Soul True Monarch could reverse-engineer the full cultivation method for the Blood Spirit Scripture.

Not only were the Restrictions tattooed on the skin and the process of refining it with Spiritual Fire known only to Yang Jing himself, but even the formula for the Spirit Liquid required for the Restrictions was a secret known only to Yang Jing and Iron Head.

After being expelled from the Magic Array, Yang Changjin knelt outside, refusing to rise. He looked as if he wouldn’t leave unless Yang Jing gave him a chance to start his cultivation over.

For this behavior, Yang Jing simply summoned the Precepts Hall to have him locked up. He was imprisoned in the dungeons for seven days before being released.

However, it was a blessing in disguise. With Yang Changjin serving as a cautionary tale, the remaining twenty-eight Outer Disciples became far more vigilant.

Aside from the matter with Yang Changjin, the rest was all good news.

All five of Yang Jing’s disciples had advanced to the Inner Sect during the Sect’s grand competition. Even Huang Foot, who was only at Qi Cultivation Perfection, could hardly find a worthy opponent in the Outer Sect.

He hadn’t even used his Dharma Aspect, simply smashing his way through the Outer Sect with his peerless Giant Power.

The six of them, master and disciples, gathered to eat a meal of Spiritual Food cooked by Huang Foot.

In recent years, Huang Foot had displayed an extraordinary Talent as a Spirit Chef. The Spiritual Food he cooked not only contained an abundance of Spiritual Mechanism but was also impeccable in color, aroma, and flavor.

The Spiritual Food he prepared had even earned the favor of Bai Shui True Monarch, who would invite him to cook every month.

As the saying goes, a cook has his perks. By sneaking bites of the ingredients, Huang Foot’s Cultivation had progressed with astonishing speed. If Yang Jing hadn’t held him back and forced him to build a solid foundation, he would have tried for Foundation Establishment a year ago and become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Afterward, two more of the Outer Disciples attempted Foundation Establishment. Both failed, their efforts falling short at the last moment. Yang Jing stripped them of their Restrictions and their Blood Spirit Technique Magical Power.

Three consecutive failures sparked discord within the Sect. Rumors began to circulate, claiming that Yang Jing was overly ambitious and eager for glory, trying to establish his own lineage right after forming his Golden Core. Those who signed up to cultivate the Blood Spirit Scripture, the whispers said, were utter fools who had been led astray and would likely never reach Foundation Establishment in their lives.

Although Yang Jing’s established authority kept things in check, the minds of the remaining twenty-five, while they hadn’t abandoned their cultivation of the Blood Spirit Scripture, had grown restless and their resolve had begun to waver.

Yang Jing, however, remained perfectly calm. He knew someone was merely trying to slander him with these rumors.

These Outer Disciples who had signed up to cultivate the Blood Spirit Scripture were of mediocre aptitude to begin with. Even if they were cultivating the Five Talisman Scripture, their chances of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment were already less than thirty percent. Three consecutive failures was perfectly normal.

A key aspect of the Blood Spirit Scripture was that the heavier one’s Evil Qi and the more lives one took, the stronger their Magical Power would become. These Outer Disciples lived within the Sect and only trained in seclusion. The Blood Spirit Technique Magical Power they cultivated naturally lacked a certain fearless, indomitable edge.

Chi Yu volunteered to start cultivating the Blood Spirit Scripture and re-attempt Foundation Establishment to counter the escalating rumors, but she was immediately reprimanded by Yang Jing.

"When faced with adversity, you must remain composed. How can you allow a few rumors to alter your chosen path?"

The fourth person to enter seclusion for Foundation Establishment was the young Cultivator, Shao Zhongguang—the very one who had been the first to step forward to have his skin peeled that day.

Of the original nine Outer Disciples, he was the one Yang Jing thought most highly of. Shao Zhongguang possessed a steadfast Dao heart and exceptional comprehension. Only his background as an Independent Cultivator and his Middle Grade Spirit Root had held him back, leaving him stuck in the Outer Sect.

Before abandoning his cultivation to start anew, his Cultivation had only reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, which was considered slow even among Outer Sect Cultivators. But with a steady supply of Yang Jing’s Nine Revolutions Red Blood Pills, he was like an awl in a bag—his talent could not be contained and was soon revealed.

Shao Zhongguang succeeded in his Foundation Establishment. During the process, he even triggered a celestial phenomenon: blood-red clouds flew in from the west, and a torrential blood rain fell for well over an hour.

A phenomenon of this scale immediately attracted the attention of numerous Golden Core Masters from the Five Elements True Spirit Sect.

However, out of consideration for Yang Jing’s status and Bai Shui True Monarch’s backing, no one dared to step forward and voice any criticism.

"Greetings, Master Yang!"

As soon as he stabilized his Cultivation, Shao Zhongguang came to thank Yang Jing. After presenting a Jade Scroll that recorded the process of his Foundation Establishment and the insights he had gained, he immediately prostrated himself in a deep bow, refusing to rise.

Without Yang Jing’s patronage, a mediocre Cultivator like him, with his Independent Cultivator background, could never have dreamed of achieving what he had today.

Yang Jing accepted his bow.

"I wish to challenge Zha Wenxun to Magical Combat on the Magic Battle Platform," Shao Zhongguang said to Yang Jing.

When the previous three had failed their Foundation Establishment in succession, Zha Wenxun had been the one most gleefully spreading rumors detrimental to Yang Jing.

Given Yang Jing’s status, even if he hadn’t investigated the matter himself, someone would have done it for him and secretly reported their findings.

The person behind Zha Wenxun was not from the Noble Lineage, but rather a True Disciple from the master-disciple lineage.

Upon receiving this information, Yang Jing simply laughed it off. There were only two spots available to enter the Small Realm and contend for the Nine Marvelous Creation Qi.

He had taken one spot as a representative of the master-disciple lineage. To balance interests, the remaining spot had naturally fallen into the hands of the Noble Lineage.

The True Disciples of the master-disciple lineage who had schemed so hard for that spot were naturally unwilling to accept that all their efforts had been in vain. It was perfectly normal for them to cause a little trouble.

"Zha Wenxun’s Cultivation is at the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment, while you are only at the First. Aren’t you afraid of tarnishing my reputation if you lose?"

Yang Jing asked while perusing the Jade Scroll in his hand. He knew Shao Zhongguang wanted to challenge Zha Wenxun to Magical Combat for two reasons: first, to repay the debt of being taught the technique, and second, to convince Yang Jing to take him as a disciple.

Although he was from an Independent Cultivator background, he understood that with a master like Yang Jing, his path within the Five Elements True Spirit Sect would be smooth sailing.

"I am certain I will win!"

Shao Zhongguang declared, his voice firm as steel.

He knew this might be the only chance he would get in his entire life, and he had to seize it with everything he had.

It was only after completing his Foundation Establishment that he truly comprehended the power of the Blood Spirit Scripture and understood the unfathomable depth of a Golden Core Master like Yang Jing.

"Very well."

Yang Jing nodded, making no mention of any reward should Shao Zhongguang be victorious.

"Yes!"

Shao Zhongguang nodded with determination, received his orders, and departed.

He planned to schedule the day of the Magical Combat for a month from now, so he could use the opportunity to completely master an incredibly powerful Magic within the Blood Spirit Scripture.

Yang Jing put away the Jade Scroll.

’Shao Zhongguang’s comprehension truly is extraordinary,’ Yang Jing mused. ’His insights from Foundation Establishment have given me a new understanding of the Blood Spirit Scripture. It’s time to let Chi Yu cultivate this technique.’

Yang Jing had finally made his decision.

With his current accumulation of knowledge, the Qi Cultivation Chapter of the Blood Spirit Scripture could not be improved any further.

He summoned Chi Yu.

"Master, can I finally cultivate the Blood Spirit Scripture?"

Chi Yu asked, her face, still holding a trace of baby fat, full of eager anticipation as she looked at Yang Jing.

"Indeed. However, your cultivation of this scripture won’t be like it was for those Outer Disciples. They only had the outermost layer of their skin peeled off, a relatively painless affair. This time, I intend to peel off your *entire* skin."

The only reason Yang Jing had merely peeled the outermost layer of skin from those Outer Disciples was to make it more convenient to remove the Restrictions from their bodies should they fail Foundation Establishment.

A single surge of his Celestial True Gang was all it took to completely wipe away the Restrictions, leaving not a single trace behind.

When it came to his own disciple, Chi Yu, he naturally couldn’t allow such a major vulnerability to exist.

He was going to peel off her entire skin. Only then could the Restrictions fuse completely with her physical body, making them impossible to destroy by ordinary means.

Even the concentration of Profound Yin Blood Demon True Blood within the Spirit Liquid used for the tattooing would be vastly different.

Upon hearing that her entire skin would be peeled off, even someone with Chi Yu’s temperament flinched. But when she recalled the restlessness she had felt when she encountered the Profound Yin Blood Demon, she gritted her teeth and firmed her resolve.

"I am ready."