Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 805 - 335: Bearing the Myriad Demon Art

Yu Yuan's surprise was evident upon hearing Ji Yuan's words, swiftly followed by a profound sigh.

Before Ji Yuan could inquire further, Yu Yuan proactively stated, "Even if Brother Ye hadn't brought it up, this Secret Technique was destined to be shared with you, Brother Ji. Furthermore..."

"Considering your methods and strength, Brother Ji, the fact that you waited until now to ask for it, rather than sooner, truly speaks volumes about your character."

Ji Yuan, remaining seated, couldn't help but agree with the assessment of his own commendable character.

He had actually intended to request it from the Merfolk Race only upon his departure. Asking while still present would have undoubtedly led to some awkwardness in their future interactions.

"A true gentleman understands the appropriateness of actions and words."

Ji Yuan declared with conviction, "I simply adhere to my own principles."

"Brother Ji is indeed a good person."

Yu Yuan rose, bestowing a metaphorical 'good person' award upon Ji Yuan before gesturing, "Brother Ji, please accompany me."

With that, he leaned on his cane, his fish tail swaying gently as he moved towards the right side of the Cave Mansion.

This area housed a darkroom, an area Ji Yuan had meticulously scanned countless times with his Divine Sense. However, all the items within were merely perceived as 'junk' by the Merfolk Race.

Of course, to Ji Yuan's perception, they were indeed junk.

Yet, to the Merfolk, this darkroom was a veritable treasure trove. Magical Artifacts and Elixirs gifted by Ji Yuan himself were meticulously stored there, occupying the most revered spots.

Could it be that the Secret Technique was concealed within this very darkroom?

Ji Yuan's thoughts turned to the bottle Yu Yuan held, the one capable of blocking Divine Sense probes. Without any attempt at concealment, Yu Yuan activated a mechanism right before Ji Yuan's eyes, opening the stone door.

He realized that if Ji Yuan harbored any ill intentions, this stone door would prove utterly ineffective, thus negating the need for secrecy.

Following closely behind Yu Yuan, Ji Yuan stepped into the darkroom.

"The Secret Technique is located within this very chamber."

Yu Yuan proceeded to a section of the wall, tapped a specific spot, and the stone before them receded into the seabed. Revealed was a stone wall intricately engraved with characters, unfolding before Ji Yuan's astonished gaze.

And the script adorning this wall... was unmistakably that of the Human Race!

His eyes immediately sparkled with newfound understanding.

Yu Yuan offered a wry smile, explaining, "Now, Brother Ji can comprehend why the chieftains of the Merfolk Race are required to study the Human language."

Ji Yuan offered no comment, instead shifting his focus to the Merfolk chief and posing a curious question:

"Why did you choose Red Wolf as your successor instead of Lin Hu?"

Yu Yuan did not evade the question. After a brief period of reflection, he answered candidly, "In the human tongue, it is said that Lin Hu is fit to be a general but not a leader. Given his disposition, if the Merfolk Race were entrusted to him... I fear I would be deemed a sinner by my own people."

"As for Red Wolf, his nature closely mirrors that of a lone wolf, and indeed, our Merfolk Race within the Fallen Immortal Gully operates much like a lone wolf."

"However, Red Wolf's strength is insufficient to overpower Lin Hu."

Ji Yuan remarked with evident interest, "Lin Hu's innate talent undeniably surpasses Red Wolf's; that much is certain."

Yu Yuan replied, a hint of embarrassment in his tone, "This is precisely why we hoped Brother Ji might assist us in reclaiming our ancestral lands. And... if Brother Ji could offer some guidance to Red Wolf, that would be even more beneficial."

Ji Yuan offered a non-committal smile, his attention now fixed on the Secret Technique displayed on the stone wall.

The tome was titled, "The Art of Bearing Ten Thousand Demons."

Initially, Ji Yuan had assumed the Merfolk Race's distinctive tattoos were merely the result of hiring artists. However, a thorough perusal of the Secret Technique revealed a startling truth.

This was not the case!

The cultivation of this Secret Technique dictated that the resulting tattoo was entirely a matter of personal choice.

More accurately, it was a reflection of one's character, inherent talent, and sheer perseverance.

For instance, Lin Hu's impatient and fiery temperament, tinged with a hint of violence, manifested as the formidable tiger tattoo.

Red Wolf, conversely, embodied the lone wolf spirit Yu Yuan described.

Even when accompanying him, Ji Yuan had observed on numerous occasions that Red Wolf harbored a desire to abandon his companions and hunt Sea Beasts independently, despite being in the company of others.

This represented a core personality inclination, with talent and perseverance playing the remaining crucial roles.

Two individuals with the same reckless disposition might manifest different tattoos; Lin Hu could condense a fierce tiger, while another might materialize a raven.

In more sinister manifestations, some Merfolk had condensed venomous snake tattoos, while others bore the markings of centipedes.

The final, indispensable element was perseverance.

Individuals possessing unwavering determination have the freedom to select their favored form from a diverse array of beasts... Ultimately, each distinct demonic form bestows unique augmentations to one's power.

For instance, Merfolk who adopt a turtle-like demonic form find their defenses significantly bolstered once the transformation is activated.

Conversely, Merfolk favoring a dog-like demonic form experience heightened senses of smell and perception upon activating it.

As for Lin Hu, activating his demonic form results in a comprehensive enhancement of his combat prowess across all facets.

‘In that case, I wonder what kind of demonic form my own disposition, coupled with this Secret Technique, might cultivate…’ Ji Yuan meticulously perused the text, eventually discovering that this Secret Technique is not without its drawbacks.

The reason being that once a demonic form is solidified, an individual's personality, and even their physical appearance, will subtly begin to mirror that of the chosen demon.

To articulate this more plainly, if someone were to manifest a turtle upon their back, their entire persona and looks would progressively take on the characteristics of a turtle.

‘Could it be that this Secret Technique was originally devised with the intent of transforming individuals into Demon Beasts…’

A rather audacious notion suddenly struck Ji Yuan.

If such were indeed the truth, then perhaps the Merfolk encountered earlier were originally human, and their transformation into Merfolk was a consequence of cultivating this very "The Art of Bearing Ten Thousand Demons?"