The advancement of cultivation techniques resembles bodily mutation, the higher the realm, the more pronounced it becomes.
Ren Qing had just suppressed his appetite when a piercing pain erupted in his abdomen, as if his Abnormal Stomach were churning violently.
His blood surged uncontrollably into the Abnormal Stomach, a transformation similar to what he'd experienced when advancing to the Half-Corpse Realm.
His flesh withered, while his belly swelled like a ten-month pregnancy.
He completely lost connection with the Abnormal Stomach and could only endure while visualizing the Taotie Method.
The eerie hum caused furniture in the room to tremble violently. A teacup fell to the ground, shattering instantly.
The others in the Corpse Burners' Hall dared not disturb Ren Qing.
Fortunately, the tremors passed quickly.
The Information Stream not only erased the costs but also compressed the advancement time, otherwise, it would have taken days.
As blood began flowing back, Ren Qing's body returned to normal, and the Abnormal Stomach shrank to fist-size.
He collapsed, gasping for breath, and unknowingly fell asleep.
By the time he awoke, it was already afternoon the next day. His strength had multiplied, his bones and flesh now sturdier.
However, since the Taotie Method didn't primarily affect the body, the physical improvements were minor. Still, the technique itself had undergone a monumental transformation.
The Information Stream flickered:
[Ren Qing]
[Age: 17]
[Lifespan: 39 years]
[Techniques: The Taotie Method (Prison Within the Abdomen), The Blindless Method (Double-Pupiled), Divine Leg Sutra (Wolf-Footed), Human Skin Book (Leather Refiner), Bone Armor Technique]
Advancing to the Ghost Envoy Realm had indeed increased his lifespan.
Though thirty-nine years provided slight breathing room, true immortality remained distant.
At least he no longer needed to fear imminent lifespan depletion. With surplus years, he could even consider advancing another technique to the Ghost Envoy Realm.
Ren Qing opened his palm.
The Abnormal Mouth gaped, now lined with two rows of teeth, giving it a ferocious appearance.
Focusing inward, he found the once-cramped Abnormal Stomach space had expanded to roughly ten square meters.
The six walls of this space resembled those of Avici Hell, though without the signs of decay.
This was the "Prison Within the Abdomen."
His stored pig eyes sat in one corner.
With a thought, the fleshy walls devoured the eyes, replenishing his vitality, though the effect was negligible.
Now, his Abnormal Stomach could effortlessly digest ordinary beasts.
Against cultivators, however, its efficacy remained untested.
Still, he suspected that aside from Ghost Envoy Realm experts, Half-Corpse cultivators trapped inside would stand no chance.
Ren Qing experimented with controlling the Abnormal Stomach.
It split into two independent cells, separated by a fleshy wall.
He could divide it into seven or eight cells, though the space would become unbearably cramped.
Turning to his bed several meters away, he effortlessly stored it in the Prison Within the Abdomen.
The size limit for stored objects matched the cell's dimensions, while the repulsive force depended on his own strength.
For living beings, catching them off-guard was crucial.
Currently, the Prison Within the Abdomen had indeed reached Ghost Envoy Realm standards, but fell short of his expectations.
His hopes now lay with the Three Eerie Transformations.
Focusing inward, he observed the mutation tree for The Taotie Method, now towering with budding branches.
Each bud represented a possible Ghost Envoy Realm mutation path.
Touching one, he received a flood of information:
[Soul Devourer]
[Proceed with mutation path "Soul Devourer"? Cost: 50 years of lifespan.]
He learned the specifics right after, choosing this path would grant the Prison Within the Abdomen the ability to consume souls, strengthening with each realm like a Divine Ability.
Ren Qing instantly smiled.
Normally, Ghost Envoy Realm cultivators couldn't control their three mutations, their eerie Transformations would result in wildly unpredictable abilities, some were even detrimental.
For example, the [Living Will] mutation would grant the Abnormal Mouth sentience, introducing plenty of risks.
Or [Razor Teeth], which simply sharpened the mouth's fangs.
Ren Qing combed through the buds, examining each mutation.
Hours later, he found [Jailer].
It allowed imprisoning Supernatural Remnants within the cells, though at the Ghost Envoy Realm, only those from his own techniques.
This was the mutation path for Ksitigarbha, the Taotie Method.
While [Jailer] seemed niche, for Ren Qing, it was definitely foundational.
With it, he could cultivate techniques like Mountain Spirit without fearing any bodily mutation.
He could imprison a technique's Supernatural Remnant in the Prison Within the Abdomen, fusing with it only when needed to temporarily become a Mountain Spirit.
And at higher realms, the prison could hold even more Supernatural Remnants.
Ren Qing pondered.
For the Divine Leg Sutra, a beast-mutation technique, the Ghost Envoy Realm paths likely involved extensive bodily changes.
In that case, he'd select the three most combat-effective mutations.
One truth became more and more clear: in this world, the less human, the stronger.
With [Jailer], Spine Bearer's weakness also vanished.
Normally, a Spine Bearer's lifebound weapon, connected to the spine, could backfire, injuring the user but he could simply store it in the prison to heal.
The only downside was that each mutation cost him fifty years of lifespan.
Between three mutations and advancing to the Yin Runner Realm, the Ghost Envoy Realm alone might consume two hundred years.
Ren Qing's lips twitched. He needed to locate where the Restraint Officers' Hall stored technique manuals and Supernatural Remnants.
Swallowing pig eyes was too inefficient, new lifespan-extending methods were urgently needed.
The Rotten Mud Gang mission offered an opportunity. Proving his worth would surely yield some rewards.
Eyeing his thirty-nine years, Ren Qing silently dismissed the Information Stream.
Until he secured [Jailer], he'd conserve his lifespan.
Other techniques he'd cultivate naturally, especially The Blindless Method, where he neared the Ghost Envoy Realm bottleneck.
As for Bone Armor Technique, he wouldn't skimp on Spine Bearer's costs.
But Spine Bearer required top-tier materials. The Great Miao Blade sufficed for daily use but fell short as a lifebound artifact.
He'd scout for some materials first, then commission Liu Hu to forge one.
For now, Ren Qing resumed his seclusion to stabilize his cultivation.