I Have an Omen System-Chapter 41 - 40: Bone-Transforming Corpse Beetle

Upon hearing this, the Demon Disciples’ faces lit up with joy.

’To think we’d get Spirit Stones on our very first day in the Sect!’

However, a few of the Demon Cultivators, who seemed to have heard rumors, looked terrified at the mention of June Valley.

They wanted to resist.

But upon seeing the profundity of Qin Xuan’s Cultivation, they ultimately shrank back.

’The boy who slew the dragon has become the dragon. I can’t believe I’ve become the very thing I once feared.’

Qin Xuan sighed to himself.

That’s right. He was going to take these people to June Valley to drain their blood and raise his Cultivation!

He wasn’t some kind of saint.

’Besides, it’s not like I’m doing it for free. I’ll give them Corpse Centipede Pills. It’s a fair exchange, completely consensual.’

Amidst cheers of joy, Qin Xuan led the Demon Disciples into June Valley.

The moment they stepped into June Valley.

HUMMM!

A brilliant scarlet light erupted, and the Demon Disciples were instantly enveloped by the Bloodthirsty Array.

Some Demon Disciples looked confused, while others looked terrified.

Still others reacted immediately, pounding on the Array as they cried and begged Qin Xuan to spare them.

Qin Xuan smiled, baring his white teeth. "Relax. It won’t hurt. It’ll just be for a moment. Endure it, and it’ll be over soon."

Black Bloodthirst Runes lit up one after another.

An unparalleled suction force surged from within the Array. Thin threads of crimson blood were drawn out, GURGLE GURGLE, flowing along the channels of the blade and into the Lifebound Longsword.

"AH...!"

Accompanied by shrill screams, the Demon Disciples’ auras weakened one by one, their faces turning deathly pale from excessive blood loss.

Streams of pure power fed back into him through the Lifebound Longsword.

Amazing!

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but roar at the sky. He felt his spirit surge as his Cultivation advanced yet again.

’Now this is the proper way to be a Demon Cultivator!’

The ancient bronze color of his Lifebound Longsword shifted further toward a silvery white.

From this one time alone, Qin Xuan felt as if he was about to touch the threshold of the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.

’Such a fast cultivation speed. No wonder Steward Wang did this.’ Qin Xuan licked his lips, his eyes glowing scarlet.

’Draining dozens of people at once is completely different from draining just one.’

After the devouring was complete, Qin Xuan released the Demon Disciples from the Bloodthirsty Array. They stared at the seemingly harmless Qin Xuan, their eyes filled with terror as they trembled uncontrollably.

It was as if they weren’t looking at their smiling, amiable Steward, but a Demon from the Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs.

This was exactly the effect Qin Xuan wanted.

’Only by instilling fear can one cultivate the most loyal subordinates!’

’I have to admit, Steward Wang’s methods are really effective.’

Qin Xuan was extremely satisfied.

After all this, Qin Xuan finally had a complete understanding of everything he had been through before.

To put it simply, there were no real Sect rules. Aside from the ban on killing Demon Disciples in public, everything else was just a scheme cooked up between the Stewards and Incense Masters.

Understanding this, Qin Xuan took to his duties as a Steward like a fish to water.

...

「The next day.」

Qin Xuan once again swaggered into Demon Disciple Dormitory B-7.

This was the residence of the twenty-three new Demon Disciples under his command.

Zhao Youliang was inside the dormitory, shouting furiously and unable to contain his rage.

"As Saints of the Holy Sect, you all should understand Steward Qin’s good intentions!"

"You have only just completed Introducing Qi into the Body. The Demonic Essence in your meridians is unstable, and your qi and blood are impure. Yesterday, Steward Qin wasn’t draining your blood; he was purifying the filthy Demonic Qi inside you!"

"And you lot? How dare you slander Steward Qin behind his back! You’re courting death!"

THUD! THUD!

Two loud thuds were heard, followed by the crisp sound of breaking bones and the shrill wails of the Demon Disciples.

Zhao Youliang roared, "If anyone dares to run their mouth behind his back again, this will be your fate!"

Qin Xuan listened quietly from outside the courtyard, feeling utterly pleased.

’Old Zhao really gets it. I knew I wasn’t wrong about him!’

Just a few days prior, at Zhao Youliang’s own request, Qin Xuan had loaned him the *Blood Poison Plague Scripture* for a price of 100 Contribution Points.

Considering their bond as fellow disciples, and since he was the first to actively seek a loan, Qin Xuan was extremely generous. He waived the need for a Spiritual Object as collateral and only charged the minimum monthly interest of 3%.

Perhaps Zhao Youliang was just naturally suited for practicing Poison Skills.

Having been stuck at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer for a long time, he had barely come into contact with the *Blood Poison Plague Scripture* before he successfully lit up nine Mystic Gate Stars and entered the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.

After Qin Xuan became a Steward, Zhao Youliang’s previously miserable situation changed drastically. No one even came to press him for his Demon Disciple Dormitory rent anymore.

Now, all he had to do was wait peacefully for the next Blood Pool Trial to obtain the Blood Demon Rune.

’I owe everything I have today to Steward Qin.’

Having clearly realized this, Zhao Youliang had become arguably the most loyal henchman under Qin Xuan. He didn’t care in the slightest that the other Demon Disciples cursed him as Qin Xuan’s lapdog behind his back.

’Curse me, Zhao Youliang? Fine. But curse Steward Qin? Absolutely not!’

"Junior Brother Zhao, what’s going on here?" Qin Xuan asked with a smile as he walked into the Demon Disciple Dormitory.

Upon seeing Qin Xuan, the Demon Disciples looked as if they had seen King Yama himself. They trembled in fear, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

Inside the dormitory, three Demon Disciples were sprawled on the ground, their chests caved in. It was impossible to tell if they were dead or alive.

Qin Xuan was a kind-hearted person; he couldn’t bear to see such sights.

With a wave of his hand, the three Demon Disciples were immediately carried out.

Seeing Qin Xuan arrive, the furious expression on Zhao Youliang’s face transformed into a fawning one. "Steward Qin, what brings you here?"

"The Demon Disciples under my command were being unruly, so I was just teaching them some manners."

Qin Xuan nodded slightly. "Mm, it’s not easy for them. I’ve just refined a batch of Stabilizing Pills that can raise their Cultivation. Help me distribute them."

"This will help them break through to the Qi Cultivation Second Layer as soon as possible, so they can go to the Inner Sect and choose a Cultivation Technique from Master Wen Xiang."

With a grand wave of his hand, a flash of black light shot out. Several vials of Corpse Centipede Pills floated silently before the Demon Disciples, emitting a foul stench.

The Demon Disciples’ eyes widened. They were all scared silent, not daring to move an inch.

"How audacious! You little brats, hurry up and thank Steward Qin!" Zhao Youliang’s eyes widened in rage.

Seeing that no one moved, Zhao Youliang strode forward directly. The pressure of his Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer suddenly descended as he pinched a Demon Disciple’s jaw and forced a pill into his mouth.

"Mmph~~"

The force was so great that Huang Xu felt his jawbone was about to be crushed, but he was completely unable to resist. Tears streamed down his cheeks as a whimper escaped his throat.

’It’s over. I’m going to die.’

’This vile beast... he must be using me to test the pill!’

The Pill entered his mouth, carrying an unmistakably foul stench.

But in the next moment, it transformed into a warm current that spread through his entire body. Huang Xu felt a new power welling up from within his Dantian.

BOOM!

With a flash of light, a look of delighted surprise appeared on the Demon Disciple Huang Xu’s face.

"My Cultivation... I’ve broken through! I’ve reached the Qi Cultivation Second Layer!"

Huang Xu immediately understood.

’There’s nothing wrong with this Pill! Steward Qin was telling the truth!’

He immediately kowtowed. "Thank you for the Pill, Steward Qin! This humble one is eternally grateful."

The other Demon Disciples exchanged glances, and it slowly dawned on them as well. ’Perhaps we really did wrong Steward Qin?’

One by one, they joyfully swallowed the so-called Stabilizing Pills, which were in fact Corpse Centipede Pills.

"Steward Qin, this..." Seeing the Demon Disciples break through one after another, Zhao Youliang gave Qin Xuan a surprised look, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He seemed to be asking, ’Steward Qin, are you really just giving these Pills away for free? Are there no side effects at all?’

’You could at least make them take out a loan for it!’

A mysterious smile touched the corners of Qin Xuan’s lips.

’As if!’

’There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially not in the Demon Sect. Who would do something if there was no profit in it?’

’These Corpse Centipede Pills from the Plague Gu Daoist seem harmless, but they secretly contain a Spirit Insect: the Bone-Transforming Corpse Beetle.’

’Their Cultivation might be increasing now, but that’s just the Spiritual Qi provided by the Bone-Transforming Corpse Beetles. Later, when the Corpse Beetles mature, they will secretly devour their Spirit Bone Marrow.’

’The Holy Sect Techniques truly are profound. This way, I can collect Spiritual Marrow without lifting a finger. Once the Corpse Beetles mature, I can go to Master Wen Xiang and exchange it for Contribution Points!’

’This method is even more subtle and ingenious than what Zheng Qi and Wang Jian used to do. It just goes to show that Master Wen Xiang’s skills run deeper than Zheng Qi’s.’

Of course, on the surface, Qin Xuan maintained a generous facade.

"You are the Saints under my command. Your Cultivation is naturally my greatest concern."

"These Stabilizing Pills are not cheap to produce. This first time, I’m giving them to you for free."

"Next time, however, I will have to charge. Ten Contribution Points per pill. Are you prepared for that?"

Having just received a real benefit, how could any of the Demon Disciples possibly detect the hidden conspiracy at work?

Not to mention, these new Demon Disciples were still naive innocents who had just joined the Demon Sect. With just a few words, Qin Xuan had them bamboozled into shedding tears of gratitude.

"Thank you, Steward Qin! We will follow your lead from now on!"

Just then, Cao Da suddenly walked into the courtyard from outside, carrying an Ancient Bronze Long Sword.