Two months passed in unbroken, intense creation within the dark, quiet depths of the ancestral cavern.
During these sixty days, Ouyang Xian did not spend his time sitting aimlessly in meditation. Instead, leveraging the combination of his Double Pupils and his newly unlocked Eye of Wisdom, he threw his entire being into synthesizing brand-new, customized Cultivation Techniques specifically tailored for the Blood Demon Sect.
By the end of the second month, he sat atop his woven cushion, wiping a light sheen of sweat from his forehead as he gazed at five glowing, newly inked jade-bound leather scrolls resting on the stone table before him. A deeply satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Five techniques... all successfully reaching the Half-Earth Rank!" he murmured, his eyes glittering with pride.
In the vast, cruel world of cultivation, martial techniques, scriptures, and divine arts were strictly classified into clear, recognized tiers:
Magic Rank: The absolute bottom tier, utilized primarily by mortals or low-stage Qi Refinement cultivators to channel basic elemental energy.
Spiritual Rank: The standard tier used by Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, relying on the compression and release of refined True Qi.
Earth Rank: The lofty tier wielded by true Golden Core Realm Daoists. The reason it was designated as an "Earth Rank" technique was because its execution required the cultivator to directly blend their spiritual energy with the World Laws and the Grand Dao.
Spirit Rank, Star Rank, and beyond: Legendary tiers reserved for ancient, immortal entities or those beyond the barren Wasteland Domain.
However, the Half-Earth Rank occupied a unique, immensely dangerous sweet spot.
While a Half-Earth Rank technique was still fundamentally powered by a cultivator's internal True Qi rather than raw Dao essence, its underlying structure contained an intentional trace—a faint, woven strand—of genuine Dao Charm. This structural addition made a Half-Earth Rank art far more devastating than any high-grade Spiritual Technique, while remaining accessible to those who had not yet condensed a true Golden Core!
Every single one of these five scrolls had been personally named and conceptualized by Ouyang Xian to resolve the Blood Demon Sect's most critical weaknesses:
Earth Mending Escaping Art: A high-tier evasive technique that allowed the user to blend their body into the earth, sliding through soil and solid stone like a shadow. Ouyang Xian intentionally prioritized escape techniques above all else; he had zero desire to see his sect's disciples and elders die stupidly in unwinnable battles out of misplaced pride.
If they could win, they would crush their foes. If they were outmatched, they would submerge into the earth and live to fight another day.
Blood Escaping Art: A violent, high-speed movement technique. By forcefully stimulating and accelerating their internal Blood Qi, the cultivator could instantly boost their movement and flight speed by a staggering thirty times! It served as the ultimate emergency escape or pursuit art.
Blood Essence Devouring Art: An insidious, combat-sustaining technique. During battle, every strike or aura clash allowed the cultivator to continuously siphon traces of Blood Qi and vitality directly from their opponents. The longer a battle dragged on, the weaker the enemy became, while the Blood Demon Sect cultivator continuously replenished their own True Qi and healed their physical wounds in real-time.
It was, for all intents and purposes, the ultimate combat sustain—a living "spell-vamp" art.
Meridian-Destroying Blood Qi Fist: A lethal, offensive martial art. Upon making physical contact with an enemy's body, the punch injected a concentrated surge of volatile, destructive Blood Qi directly into the target's system. This unstable energy naturally sought out the opponent's internal meridians and dantian, violently detonating them from the inside out.
Blood Refinement Art: Unlike the crude, volatile blood-draining methods of the old Blood Demon Scripture—which ruined the user's foundation over time—this newly synthesized technique focused strictly on internal purification. It systematically refined, nourished, and strengthened the cultivator's own bloodline, ensuring that even low-tier disciples built a rock-solid, pristine foundation.
Satisfied with his work, Ouyang Xian reached into his robes, pulled out his dark red Communication Token, and channeled a sliver of his voice into the jade line:
"Xue Wuhen. Get over here immediately."
It took less than two minutes for heavy, hurried footsteps to ring out down the stone tunnel.
Sect Leader Xue Wuhen stood outside the sealed stone doors of the cavern, bowing his head in deep respect. "Greetings, Old Ancestor! What task do you have for this junior?"
Rumble...
The massive stone door of the cave opened by a small crack, and five radiant scrolls flew out through the gap like shooting stars, settling firmly into Xue Wuhen's trembling hands. The heavy door immediately slammed shut once more.
"I have created five Half-Earth Rank Techniques," Ouyang Xian's calm, echoing voice resonated from deep within the cave. "Take them straight to the Sect Library and make copies of them immediately."
Xue Wuhen froze in place, his eyes bulging as he stared at the heavy scrolls in his arms.
Five... five Half-Earth Rank Techniques?!
His head went entirely blank. Was it really that easy to create a Half-Earth Rank technique? He looked down at the ancient-looking runic seals on the leather scrolls, a wave of sheer disbelief and skepticism washing over him. He couldn't help but inwardly doubt his own eyes!
One had to understand: even those powerful top-tier Clans and giant Sects across the continent—factions that possessed genuine Half-Golden Core Realm Ancestors who had lived for hundreds of years—rarely possessed more than a single Half-Earth Rank Technique!
Even if an exceptionally wealthy lineage possessed two or three, those techniques were universally treated as non-negotiable Inheritance Secrets, guarded behind layers of lethal array traps and restricted strictly to core lineage heirs and high elders.
And yet, his Old Ancestor had just casually handed him five of them at once? And claims he just created them in two months?!
"Listen well," Ouyang Xian's voice sounded once more from inside the cave, quiet yet carrying an unbearable, suffocating pressure. "Do not keep these guarded. Distribute them. Allow every single disciple and elder—including yourself—to cultivate them without restriction. If I discover that you have hoarded these arts or restricted access to lower-ranking members..."
A faint pause hung in the air, followed by a light, chilling chuckle.
"...I will personally slap you to death. Do you understand?"
BOOM!
As Ouyang Xian spoke, a faint, visible ripple of invisible pressure seeped through the cracks of the stone door. Because Ouyang Xian was constantly suppressing his impending Golden Core breakthrough, his body naturally radiated an undeniable Dao Charm, and his spoken words carried a faint, rhythmic Dao Rhyme. His ordinary voice was backed by dense True Qi infused with real, worldly law power!
Sect Leader Xue felt as if a colossal mountain had suddenly dropped onto his shoulders. Blood drained from his face as he dropped to his knees, his heart pounding violently in his chest with a mixture of terror and overwhelming euphoria.
"Y-Yes, Old Ancestor! Junior understands!" Xue Wuhen yelled hastily, bowing his head to the stone floor. "I will personally oversee the copying process! Every single one of our three hundred disciples, our five Elders, and myself will cultivate all five of these arts!"
How could he not be thrilled?!
Up until this moment, the absolute strongest technique Xue Wuhen had ever practiced in his entire life was the core Blood Demon Scripture—a mere High-Grade Spiritual Technique. To think he would now have the opportunity to cultivate five legendary Half-Earth Rank techniques at once!
"Then what are you still standing there for?" Ouyang Xian scolded lightly from behind the door. "Scram!"
"Yes! Right away, Old Ancestor!"
Xue Wuhen scrambled up from the ground, hugging the five precious scrolls tightly to his chest as he sprinted down the corridor like a madman. He didn't feel offended by the Old Ancestor's scolding in the slightest. In fact, he felt proud! Being cursed at by a living, techniques-creating divine god of an Ancestor was a privilege that others could only dream of!
Inside the quiet cave, Ouyang Xian shook his head with a faint smirk.
He knew very well why traditional sects strictly hoarded high-level techniques: to maintain artificial hierarchies and keep lower-ranking disciples dependent on the elite. But Ouyang Xian viewed that mindset as utterly foolish.
If a single warrior armed with a divine power could slaughter a hundred foes, then what would happen when three hundred disciples, fully trained in Half-Earth Rank arts, marched into battle together? They would effortlessly massacre tens of thousands!
"Once I finish these arts, I'll move on to structural tactics," Ouyang Xian mused to himself, turning his gaze toward several blank talismans on his workbench. "If I can adapt a Tier 3 Array into a Half-Earth Rank Battle Formation, these disciples will be able to form squads and slaughter even true Golden Core Realm cultivators..."
Setting the thoughts aside, he closed his eyes and immediately re-entered a state of deep, meditative deduction.
Meanwhile, inside the main hall of the Blood Demon Sect...
The Sect's five core elders were currently seated in a simple circle on plain wooden chairs, quietly debating daily administrative matters. The main hall was far from grand; it was essentially a spacious stone room furnished modestly.
The five Elders present were:
First Elder Mo Tiansha: A stern, weather-beaten old man with sharp eyes.
Second Elder Xue Cangming: A cold, solemn warrior who oversaw internal discipline.
Third Elder Ye Honglian: A striking woman dressed in a flowing, loose green dress, exuding an ethereal, fairy-like grace despite her demonic sect affiliation.
Fourth Elder Su Xuemei: An intoxicatingly beautiful, seductive woman with an enchanting, voluptuous figure wrapped in a deep purple silk robe.
Fifth Elder Gu Luocha: A quiet, brooding man who managed outer affairs.
Suddenly, the heavy wooden doors of the hall were pushed open.
Sect Leader Xue Wuhen strode into the room, walking with wide, exaggerated strides. A massive, ear-to-ear grin was plastered across his face, and he was even whistling a cheerful tune under his breath.
The five elders stopped their discussion and stared at him in utter bewilderment.
Third Elder Ye Honglian adjusted her green sleeves, her clear, beautiful eyes twinkling with curiosity as she teased, "Sect Leader, what in the world happened to put you in such a splendid mood? You're practically glowing. Care to share the joy with the rest of us?"
The other elders nodded in agreement, staring at Xue Wuhen with raised eyebrows.
"Hehehe... see for yourselves!" Xue Wuhen chuckled gleefully.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed five leather scrolls through the air. Each scroll landed perfectly in the lap of one of the five seated elders.
Curious, Fourth Elder Su Xuemei smoothed down her purple robe and opened the scroll in her hands. She scanned the opening lines—and immediately stiffened.
Hiss!
Simultaneously, five sharp gasps echoed through the main hall! The atmosphere instantly grew deathly silent as all five elders stared at the ancient runic script with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"This... this is a Half-Earth Rank Technique?!" Fourth Elder Su gasped, her seductive, enchanting voice trembling slightly. "Sect Leader... where on earth did you get these?!"
"Hehe! These were personally created by our Old Ancestor!" Xue Wuhen declared proudly, standing tall with his hands behind his back. "And Old Ancestor's direct order is to immediately make enough copies for all three hundred disciples and five elders to cultivate together!"
"S-Self-created?!" First Elder Mo Tiansha blurted out, his hands shaking so violently the scroll nearly slipped from his grasp.
The elders exchanged bewildered looks, deep skepticism visibly painted across their faces.
In their minds, wasn't their Old Ancestor merely a Half-Golden Core Realm cultivator who had recently emerged from seclusion?
How could a Half-Golden Core cultivator possibly draft five distinct Half-Earth Rank arts i?!
According to all established martial logic in the domain, only a true, long-standing Golden Core Daoist possessed enough understanding of Dao logic to forge even one such technique!
"It doesn't matter how!" Xue Wuhen interrupted, seeing their doubts. "The Dao Charm embedded in these scrolls is as real as it gets! From today onward, our Blood Demon Sect will no longer cultivate garbage! We are upgrading our entire foundation!"
Hearing those words, the five elders shivered in uncontrollable excitement.
They were all merely early-mid stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. If they could master these Half-Earth Rank Arts, their combat strength would skyrocket overnight! Opponents in the same realm would be crushed as easily as stepping on bugs!
This was the terrifying advantage of high-tier arts. A cultivator wielding a technique superior to their realm would always effortlessly slaughter those forced to use lower-tier arts!
Looking at the five glowing scrolls resting in their hands, a single, undeniable thought burned into the minds of everyone present:
The Blood Demon Sect... is truly about to rise!