Demonic Cultivator(181-188) (Patreon)

Chapter 181: Delicious Souls

On Blue Star, Chu Xuan took out the Psionic Cube and immersed his spiritual sense into it. As expected, Ma Nanshan hadn't been mentioned for a long time.

After a brief moment of mourning for the unfortunate soul, Chu Xuan was about to reactivate the soul transmission matrix when something caught his eye.

"Hey, what's this little light point? I've never noticed it before," he mused, surprised.

As he extended his spiritual sense towards it, he quickly came across a message.

"Do not believe! Do not believe! Do not believe! Rectitude Hall has long been destroyed! Only Eternal Hall remains on Soul Star! Anyone claiming to be from Rectitude Hall of Soul Star is a liar! A liar! If you are fortunate enough to see this message, it means your soul is strong enough—escape! Never touch the Psionic block again!"

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow in intrigue. It appeared that someone had already seen through the tricks of the people from Soul Star. Unfortunately, unless one's soul was of a certain strength, this hidden message would remain undetected.

"Newcomer, welcome," a weary voice suddenly resonated.

"My name is Yun Ming, Soul King of Rectitude Hall on Soul Star. Our planet has suffered..."

Yun Ming appeared again, his tone as tired as before, recounting the disasters of Soul Star. His speech and tone were exactly the same as before; even the emotional inflection remained unchanged.

Yun Ming did not care who Chu Xuan was; he simply relayed his message and then disclosed a method to activate the soul transmission matrix before disappearing.

At this point, Chu Xuan roughly understood the situation. Yun Ming was likely indeed from Rectitude Hall of Soul Star. However, his stored message had been intercepted by those from Eternal Hall and turned into a trap to deceive the ignorant.

Chu Xuan shook his head and immediately employed the "Soul Division Technique," separating about ten percent of his soul. Then, much like before, he activated the soul transmission matrix.

But this time, his soul was not the insignificant wisp it had been previously. It was akin to a colossal entity, and within this vast expanse of his soul, he carried his life-bound magic treasure, the Sky-Shielding Umbrella.

As Chu Xuan had transformed the Sky-Shielding Umbrella into his life-bound magic treasure, he could envelop it within his soul, allowing both to travel through the soul transmission matrix together to Soul Star.

The world spun dizzyingly around him, and in the blink of an eye, he was once again confronted with the dim, dark expanse of Soul Star.

"Uh? Another fool has arrived, just in time for my meal," a sinister laugh echoed from behind him.

A massive hand swooped down towards him. However, the laughter abruptly stopped as the owner of the hand realized that his powerful slap was merely tickling Chu Xuan. The aggressor was stunned to find that Chu Xuan's soul form was more than ten times larger than his own!

"You... you!" he stammered, utterly shocked.

Chu Xuan turned around, looking down from his towering stance at the corpulent and bloated soul before him. The remnants of numerous soul fragments scattered around the grotesque figure indicated the unfortunate souls he had devoured over the years.

"Great Soul King! Please, have mercy! Spare my life!"

The creature did not hesitate to kneel and beg for mercy, sending a pleading thought directly to Chu Xuan.

Conversations between souls required no spoken language but were communicated through thoughts, eliminating any language barriers. This also explained why Chu Xuan had previously understood the words of Ma Nanshan and Yun Ming without issue.

Chu Xuan reached out and grasped the pleading soul in his hand, instantly employing a soul-searching technique.

In a moment, he sifted through the soul's memories, turning them upside down. After reviewing these memories, he quickly grasped the language used by the people of Soul Star.

"This fellow's mind is deeply imprinted with memories of devouring souls, while his other memories are pitifully scarce," Chu Xuan remarked, shaking his head in disbelief.

It seemed that even the infallible soul-searching technique could meet its match in a mind with nothing but thoughts of consumption.

However, he managed to extract some useful information from the creature's memories. These beings, having abandoned their physical forms and calling themselves the Soul Race, distinguished themselves from those on Soul Star who still possessed bodies.

Unfettered by physical shells, members of the Soul Race grew stronger, but their rationality diminished over time.

The stronger the soul, the lesser the sanity, ultimately degenerating into soul beasts driven only by the instincts to kill and feed.

Not only did their personalities devolve to that of wild beasts, but their soul forms also began to morph from human to bestial.

Within the Soul Clan, some exceptionally powerful individuals retained a semblance of clear spiritual sense. As a result, the Soul Clan was divided into three factions:

The Slaughter Faction: Their goal was to exterminate the surviving people of Soul Star, completely transforming it into a world dominated by the Soul Clan.

The Husbandry Faction: They aimed to farm the surviving inhabitants of Soul Star, slaughtering them periodically so they could continually feast upon them.

The Ascendant Faction: They believed that Soul Star was beyond redemption, viewing both the people of Soul Star and the Soul Clan as unreasonable vermin. Only outsiders, they posited, might have a chance to save this fallen planet.

Furthermore, a hierarchy existed among the Soul Clan and the people of Soul Star:

The Soul Clan was categorized into three levels: Spectre Masters, Great Spectre Masters, and Spectre Kings, which corresponded to the Soul Star people's ranks of Soul Masters, Great Soul Masters, and Soul Kings.

The entity Chu Xuan encountered was merely a Great Spectre Master from the Slaughter Faction.

Chu Xuan turned to look behind him, where the remains of once-flourishing structures lay in ruins. Amid these ruins, a matrix still emitted a faint blue glow—it was the soul transmission matrix. The souls of those who possessed Psionic Cubes had emerged from here.

"The closest Slaughter Faction stronghold from here houses three Great Spectre Masters and ten thousand Spectre Masters. This matrix is but a minor one; the major one lies elsewhere," Chu Xuan mused.

"You may eat now," he casually remarked, throwing aside the befuddled creature.

Two Armed and Four Armed, emerging from the Sky-Shielding Umbrella, moved quickly. Four Armed, with arms flailing, tore the soul into pieces and devoured it greedily, even passing the tastiest bits to Two Armed, who, while feasting, pulled out a divination board to begin divining.

Chu Xuan chuckled, "What does the divination say?"

Two Armed, glancing at the board pointing to the sky, swallowed hard, "Dad, the board says this place is heaven!"

Chu Xuan gave a thumbs up, "Indeed, it is heaven. Eat your fill and don't hold back."

Two Armed bit into the soul, tears of joy in his eyes.

It's been so long since they have had such delicious souls! They're rich in nutrients! Succulent and juicy! They burst with flavor!

"Stay close, I'm about to set up a formation," Chu Xuan said with a smile. "Once the formation is complete, you can feast every day."

"Roar, roar, roar!" Four Armed bellowed excitedly as four ferocious ghostly artifacts appeared, brimming with malevolent energy.

Two Armed, wielding his divination board, declared solemnly, "Anyone who wants to harm my dad will have to step over my body!"

Four Armed growled a few times, his four arms gesticulating wildly as if drawing something in the air.

Two Armed, annoyed, retorted, "I know I don't have a body; no need to point it out."

Four Armed chuckled mischievously a few times, reveling in the situation.

Chapter 182: These Two Ghosts Seem Not Here to Fight, But to... Dine?

Chu Xuan gestured with his hand, and a set of formation patterns fell into his palm.

This formation, known as the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array, was notoriously infamous within the Nether Dao Sect.

Such a formation should not have been accessible to Chu Xuan, but Wan Wuying, having spent much time hiding in the Ghost Palace, had not come away empty-handed. The Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array was one of his significant finds.

Wan Wuying's skills in formation were so flawed that even the spiritual qi would refuse to enter. After some negotiations, he simply sold the formation to Chu Xuan.

Once deployed, this formation would attract nearby ghosts. Under normal circumstances, it could transform any place into a land rampant with malicious spirits within a century.

However, given the density of ghosts on Soul Star, it would hardly take a century—probably just one year for the land to become fully malignant.

In due time, the ghosts within the affected area would fight ceaselessly under the influence of the array, devouring each other much like nurturing venomous insects. Eventually, ghosts of all ranks—Ghost Soldiers, Ghost Generals, Ghost Commanders, and Ghost Kings—would emerge in abundance.

While the skies of Soul Star were indeed teeming with wandering souls, the quality varied greatly. Chu Xuan intended to use the formation to "purify" them. The weaker ghosts were merely fodder, destined to become nutrients for the stronger.

Soon, the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array was set up, covering an area of about 200 square kilometers. The formation naturally possessed the ability to attract ghosts. Before long, a myriad of ghosts, like moths to a flame, couldn't help but fly towards the formation.

Two Armed and Four Armed watched with eyes glowing green. "Wow, so much food!" they thought.

Chu Xuan was quite satisfied with this setup. Now, all that was left was to clear out the sentient Soul Clan members in the vicinity.

Otherwise, his Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array would surely be targeted and possibly destroyed by the Soul Clan.

After all, in the eyes of the Soul Clan, these ghosts were a feast, just as demonic beasts were to cultivators.

...

Torrential Flow City, once one of the largest cities on the eastern banks of the vast and turbulent Hun River, had been reduced to ruins after a protracted war.

The river itself had transformed into a sinister, chilling stream, its bed filled with dry bones, bearing no resemblance to the nurturing mother river it once was.

Now, Torrential Flow City served as a minor stronghold for the Slaughter Faction. Three Great Spectre Masters led a horde of Spectre Masters, guarding this location.

Their primary mission was to monitor all the caverns around Torrential Flow City, executing any Soul Star inhabitants on sight. Their secondary task was to kill every foreigner who emerged from the soul transmission matrix.

Exceptionally powerful foreign souls were to be presented as tributes to the Hun Tu, the supreme Great Spectre King of their faction who commanded over ten Spectre Kings, several hundred thousand Great Spectre Masters, and nearly a hundred billion Spectre Masters.

At that moment, a fierce battle was unfolding within Torrential Flow City. Captain Yun Qi of the Ascendant Faction's Dark Cloud Squad took cover behind a segment of rubble.

After a brief deep breath, he abruptly leaned out from his hiding spot. Soul power burst from the palm of his hand, condensing into a beam of light that he fired at a Spectre Master in mid-air. The soul split apart like a pierced sheet of paper, its remnants drifting skyward, eagerly devoured by other ghosts hovering above.

"Cackle, cackle, cackle, stop your futile struggles!" a corpulent Great Spectre Master taunted as it lunged forward. "Your squad is already surrounded; resign yourselves to becoming my feast!"

Yun Qi immediately activated his soul power, significantly boosting his speed to escape the attack range of the massive ghost. Then, with a grasp, he condensed his soul power into a long spear and hurled it ferociously.

The Great Spectre Master couldn't dodge in time and was impaled, letting out a wail of agony. Rationality faded from its eyes, replaced by a frenzied desire to destroy everything.

"Captain, Old Jin is dead!" a middle-aged man shouted as he released a soul beam, obliterating two attacking Spectre Masters. "My soul power is nearly depleted!"

Yun Qi's heart sank. Old Jin was the vice-captain of the Dark Cloud Squad, a sixth-level Great Soul Master, only slightly weaker than him, a seventh-level Great Soul Master. With Old Jin's death, it seemed their squad was truly on the brink of annihilation.

Yun Qi managed a bitter smile. Just days before, he had received intelligence about an extraordinarily powerful foreign soul captured by the Slaughter Faction in Torrential Flow City, intended as an offering to the Hun Tu.

He had led his capable squad, the Dark Cloud Squad, on a mission to rescue this foreign soul. Saving foreign souls and aiding them in their mission to save Soul Star was precisely the Ascendant Faction's goal.

Yun Qi had timed their assault on Torrential Flow City to coincide with the Slaughter Faction's sortie to exterminate the remnants of Rectitude Hall. They had managed to secure the foreign soul and were about to retreat when the Slaughter Faction unexpectedly returned!

The Dark Cloud Squad was immediately caught in a pincer attack. Such immense pressure was far too much for a small team of only eight members, even though each was a Great Soul Master.

The overwhelming numbers of Spectre Masters were too much for them, as the power disparity between Great Soul Masters and Spectre Masters was not so vast that one could take on hundreds alone.

Furthermore, being encased in physical bodies, the Great Soul Masters were at a disadvantage in mobilizing their soul power compared to the equally ranked Great Spectre Masters.

This was why the Dark Cloud Squad found themselves trapped, unable to break through the encircling Slaughter Faction.

Boom!

A section of the ruins was obliterated. A body was severed at the waist. What fell at Yun Qi and the middle-aged man's feet was half a skull and a box.

The man's soul had already been torn to shreds and devoured amidst the cackling laughter of two Great Spectre Masters. Inside the box was the "feast" intended for the Hun Tu—the foreign soul captured by Torrential Flow City's Slaughter Faction.

"The one carrying the soul who broke through, Xiao Lan, is also dead," the middle-aged man said with a grim laugh. "Captain, now it's just the two of us left."

Yun Qi reached out, intending to pick up Xiao Lan's half skull, but he ended up grabbing the box instead—this was their mission, after all. Two menacing Great Spectre Masters charged towards them, laughing malevolently.

Yun Qi let out a rueful laugh and closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. Was he about to die?

Perhaps it was time. He no longer wished to walk this hopeless, dark path. He regretted ever coming to Soul Star. How much better would it have been to remain on Pegasus Star, living carefree as a playful prince...

In the next moment, the screams of the two Great Spectre Masters suddenly pierced the air. They didn't even have time to beg for mercy before being smashed into nothingness by four oddly shaped weapons.

"Well done," came a voice from above.

Yun Qi and the middle-aged man opened their eyes in shock. They suddenly saw two fierce-looking ghosts tearing through the Spectre Masters.

The two powerful Great Spectre Masters were effortlessly ripped apart and swallowed by the ghosts, who seemed to regard the surrounding Spectre Masters as no challenge at all.

These two ghosts seemed not to have come for battle. Rather, they appeared to have come... to dine?

Chapter 183: This Trip to Soul Star Was Not in Vain

Yun Qi and the middle-aged man gazed up into the sky, spotting an extraordinarily massive soul hovering above them, looming grandly.

Both men's eyes widened in shock at the sight of such a colossal soul form, which appeared to be at the pinnacle of a Great Spectre Master, possibly comparable to a Spectre King.

This figure had commenced a bloody purge of the Slaughter Faction in Torrential Flow City, suggesting a hostile relationship with them.

Yet, it was unclear exactly which faction he belonged to. After all, the Slaughter Faction was notorious for its internal madness, and not all from the Husbandry Faction got along with them. Sometimes, even within the Slaughter Faction, further divisions could arise.

For example, some within the Slaughter Faction took pleasure in tearing their prey into pieces, relishing the scattered remnants to satiate their brutal and bloodthirsty desires.

Others in the faction preferred a swift, efficient kill, considering it a waste of time and resources to indulge in such gratuitous slaughter, which they deemed contrary to the interests of the Soul Clan.

The two men exchanged a glance and promptly knelt down, bowing respectfully to Chu Xuan. Regardless of this imposing figure's identity, they knew they stood no chance against him. Since he had not killed them immediately, they opted to show respect and goodwill.

Yun Qi spoke respectfully, "Greetings, senior. We are members of the Ascendant Faction's Dark Cloud Squad."

The language of Soul Star was not a barrier for Chu Xuan, who had already assimilated most of it from the memories of the Great Spectre Master he had searched earlier. He understood them perfectly.

Chu Xuan looked them over thoughtfully. No wonder these two souls were still housed within physical bodies.

The Ascendant Faction? Interesting.

He was merely here to cleanse the nearby Slaughter Faction strongholds and had unexpectedly stumbled upon a battle between the Ascendant and Slaughter factions. The Ascendant Faction seemed to be one of the few reasonable groups on Soul Star.

Seeing that Chu Xuan remained silent, Yun Qi pondered for a moment before adding, "Senior, my name is Yun Qi, and this is Zhao Sheng beside me. We were originally from Pegasus Star, but now we have come to Soul Star and acquired new bodies to fight for the Ascendant Faction. May I ask who the senior is?"

The two men waited anxiously for Chu Xuan's response, their hearts filled with trepidation.

Chu Xuan simply uttered one word, "Leave."

He had no interest in meddling with the intricacies of the Slaughter, Husbandry, or Ascendant factions, or even Rectitude Hall.

Yun Qi's respectful demeanor was clearly an attempt to garner his support, but Chu Xuan had not come to Soul Star to play the hero or savior.

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng were taken aback by the blunt dismissal. Chu Xuan's chilling directive echoed, "Didn't you hear? Leave."

A wave of Golden Core cultivator's terrifying soul force swept across them, making them feel as if a fearsome beast had targeted them. Both broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to speak further and turned to flee.

Only when they reached a dark cave entrance did they finally catch their breath. Torrential Flow City was riddled with numerous passages, but only a few led to the underground city of the Ascendant Faction.

Zhao Sheng, still shaken, remarked, "I felt like if we had spoken another word just then, we would have been killed on the spot."

Yun Qi nodded vigorously, "That senior is not someone to provoke; let's not associate too much with him. Let's hurry back underground while the other members of the Slaughter Faction are still unaware of the destruction of Torrential Flow City. Fortunately, we've got the soul of the foreign guest, our mission is complete."

"We must report today's events to the queen as soon as possible," agreed Zhao Sheng.

The two quickly vanished into the dark entrance as Chu Xuan watched their retreating figures with an indifferent expression. He mused on the folly of Soul Star's denizens and the Soul Clan's brutal nature, concluding that probably killing them might even add to his merits.

After all, the foreign guests were just unlucky souls drafted to fight in a lost cause on Soul Star.

"As long as they don't bother me," Chu Xuan thought, "I have no interest in dealing with them. My primary goal here on Soul Star is to cultivate a Ghost King. Even searching for the shards of the Blood Mirror can wait."

Chu Xuan had his plans and was not easily swayed by unexpected developments, having decided already who among Two Armed and Four Armed to cultivate first.

With that, he waved his hand dismissively. "Clean up the battlefield; it's time to return to the array."

As Torrential Flow City's Great Spectre Masters and Spectre Masters had been devoured by Two Armed and Four Armed, not a single one had escaped. With Chu Xuan's formidable soul presence overseeing, no ghost had a chance of fleeing.

Chu Xuan looked on with mild amusement as Four Armed approached, triumphantly presenting a crystalline stone with all four of his hands. The scene was almost comical, and Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "What have you found?"

Two Armed, ever the more cerebral of the two, chimed in earnestly, "Dad, I just used the divination dish to divine this, and it should be..."

"What should it be?" Chu Xuan prompted, already predicting the likely mundane insight.

"It's a crystal stone," Two Armed concluded with utmost seriousness, "A purple-black crystal stone."

Chu Xuan's lips twitched slightly. Some things were apparent without the need for divination.

Nonetheless, intrigued by the potential of the crystal, he extended his spiritual sense into it, and immediately, a stream of information flowed into his mind.

"Mid-tier soul technique, Spiraling Devour."

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up with interest. A quick assessment revealed that this so-called intermediate soul technique bore many similarities to secret techniques of spiritual sense.

With some modifications, it might be transformed into a technique of spiritual sense. However, the level of the technique in the cultivation world was not clear.

This discovery deepened Chu Xuan's fascination with the soul system of Soul Star. The collective wisdom of a civilization always surpassed that of an individual, and the soul civilization on Soul Star had evolved over three thousand years. It was likely that this planet harbored a multitude of soul techniques, categorized and refined over millennia.

At that moment, Chu Xuan thought to himself, "This trip to Soul Star has indeed been worthwhile!"

With a grin, he watched as Four Armed and Two Armed impatiently awaited further instructions. The battlefield around Torrential Flow City had been thoroughly cleaned, and Chu Xuan, along with his two spectral companions, returned to the location of the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array.

A quick sweep of his spiritual sense revealed that in just the short time they had been away, the array had attracted tens of thousands of ghostly souls.

Among these, numerous spectral soldiers had already emerged, with the strongest among them reaching the ninth level. A few more devouring sessions would likely elevate them to spectral generals.

Chu Xuan chuckled at the eager expressions on Four Armed and Two Armed's faces. "Hold off on devouring them just yet. Let them reach the level of spectral generals first."

The two ghostly figures reluctantly curbed their appetites, their gazes fixed hungrily on the swirling mass of souls within the array.

Settling down cross-legged, Chu Xuan turned his attention to thoroughly understanding the Spiraling Devour technique.

Chapter 184: Queen of the Ascendant Faction

Beneath the surface of Soul Star, complex and interlacing tunnels led deeper to cities buried underground. These subterranean cities were built by the aristocrats of Soul Star over a thousand years ago. Even the nobles themselves did not know exactly how many such bases existed beneath the surface of Soul Star.

Originally intended for emergency use, these cities became refuges when the Soul Tribe, once used as fuel by the aristocrats, rebelled. Now, those with physical bodies on Soul Star were primarily descendants of those nobles, including members of the Ascendant Faction, who all bore the original sin of enslaving their kin.

Among these underground cities was the City of Light, one of the few strongholds of the Ascendant Faction. Due to the faction's unique position, they were opposed by the Slaughter Faction, the Husbandry Faction, and other inhabitants of Soul Star. Maintaining a few deeply hidden cities was no small feat.

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng, experienced in navigating these pathways, made their way down to the gates of the City of Light.

"Captain Yun Qi of the Dark Cloud Squad."

"Member Zhao Sheng of the Dark Cloud Squad."

"Requesting reentry to the City of Light."

Kneeling before the grand gates, Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng bowed respectfully. From small openings on either side of the gate, two pale blue creatures emerged. These creatures, formed from souls and not tangible bodies, looked round and endearing enough to invite affection from anyone.

However, Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng remained still, their gaze filled with pity rather than warmth. These weren't mere creatures but "Inspectors," tasked with ensuring that those returning did not carry traces of the Slaughter Faction, the Husbandry Faction, or the Rectitude Hall.

These inspectors, likely once human, had volunteered or been made to serve in various capacities, including as inspectors, to keep the city running. Tentacles from the inspectors' mouths gently probed Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng.

After a moment, both inspectors bowed their front limbs respectfully.

"No issues detected. You may enter, Ascenders."

In the Ascendant Faction, the status of Ascenders like Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng was second only to that of the Queen. Almost all logistical roles within the faction existed to support the Queen and the Ascenders, meaning these roles were low in the survival hierarchy.

In the event of an attack by the Slaughter Faction, the Husbandry Faction, or others, the Queen and Ascenders would be the first to evacuate, while the logistical staff would cover their retreat, facing almost certain demise.

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng entered the City of Light. Along the way, all the logistical staff promptly greeted them with deep respect.

"Greetings to the Ascenders."

"Your meals have been prepared."

"Welcome back, Dark Cloud Squad."

"Captain Yun Qi, your friends from the Blackstone Squad returned this morning. Would you like to visit them now?"

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng were long accustomed to such treatment. Initially, they felt as though they were stars held aloft by the moon, thinking highly of the Ascendant Faction as a benevolent place.

But now, all they saw were mechanical, programmed expressions and false smiles. It seemed the residents of the City of Light had forgotten what emotions were.

In the center of the City of Light stood a grand palace. To call it lavish was only relative to the modest, low-rise dwellings around it.

Compared to the highly developed cities of old on Soul Star, this was no palace; it was barely a den.

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng proceeded unimpeded. The Queen's guards also gave them standard smiles as they passed.

Soon, they were in the palace, standing before the Queen. She was a petite woman, barely reaching 1.4 meters—a small figure even by Blue Star's standards. Her appearance was plain, but a mysterious aura about her attracted all males.

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng respectfully announced, "Your Majesty, we have brought back the soul of the extraterrestrial guest."

The Queen frowned, quickly rose from her throne, and approached to personally help them to their feet. "Only you two Ascenders remain? Have the others..."

Yun Qi sighed, "They died, in the Torrential Flow City. I will recount everything that occurred there."

He detailed the events at the Torrential Flow City, emphasizing the encounter with the extraordinarily powerful soul entity. The Queen looked intrigued yet visibly pained.

"Each Ascender is invaluable, crucial to the Ascendant Faction. I shall erect monuments in their honor; they sacrificed their lives for the salvation of Soul Star. The people of Soul Star will remember them forever and ever!"

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng bowed deeply, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Queen suddenly inquired, "Captain Yun Qi, what is your opinion on the individual with the powerful soul?"

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng exchanged a glance and then shared their analysis thoroughly.

Concluding, Yun Qi respectfully added, "That senior could not possibly belong to the Slaughter Faction, otherwise he would have killed us as well. He likely isn't from our Ascendant Faction either, as he would have communicated with us normally. I suspect he might belong to the Husbandry Faction. And possibly a more moderate member of that faction."

The Queen nodded in agreement, "Captain Yun Qi makes a sound argument." She then looked towards the box in Yun Qi's hand, "Is the soul of the extraterrestrial guest inside there?"

Yun Qi nodded, "Indeed, it is."

The Queen smiled, "Let him out then. Our Ascendant Faction is about to welcome another Ascender."

Yun Qi unlocked the box, and immediately, a figure burst forth.

"Ah, I was nearly suffocated in there! What in the world is going on? How did I get captured by a bunch of ghosts the moment I arrived? Eh? And where is this? Who are you all?"

Ma Nanshan looked around, bewildered and confused. His distinct Pegasus Star accent almost brought tears to Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng's eyes—it was all too familiar.

"Buddy, I didn't expect to find another from Pegasus Star here!"

The Queen explained the situation of the Ascendant Faction with a smile, "Honored Ascender, you are Ma Nanshan from Pegasus Star, correct? What a coincidence, these two Ascenders beside you are also from Pegasus Star. You must have a lot in common."

Ma Nanshan, visibly delighted, exclaimed, "Oh my! Fellow countrymen!"

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng also showed rare expressions of joy.

The three compatriots from Pegasus Star joined forces in the same squad—a truly fortunate event.

The Queen smiled, "Gentlemen, I'll leave it to you to help our new Ascender familiarize himself with the City of Light."

Yun Qi and Zhao Sheng nodded earnestly, "Absolutely, we are honored to undertake this task."

As the trio departed, the Queen pondered, "Such a powerful soul, comparable to a Soul King, doesn't just advance suddenly unless... an extraterrestrial guest…"

Chapter 185: The Ghost King

"Spiraling Devour is truly remarkable!" Chu Xuan praised as he focused his spiritual sense into a continuously swirling vortex. He was astounded to discover that the destructive power of "Spiraling Devour" far surpassed his previously practiced spiritual sense secret technique "Soul Piercing Needle".

Moreover, "Spiraling Devour" also possessed the ability to devour an opponent's spiritual sense! This was the most surprising aspect for Chu Xuan. In a battle of spiritual sense secret techniques, one party's spiritual sense could gradually be devoured by the other, swiftly determining the victor.

"Just this unique ability to devour spiritual sense alone is enough to classify it among the mid-tier Golden Core spiritual sense secret techniques," Chu Xuan reasoned. "And it seems that the transformations of 'Spiraling Devour' have not yet reached their limit; there might even be higher-level soul techniques to discover."

Chu Xuan's interest in the more advanced soul techniques grew. If a mid-tier soul technique could devour spiritual sense, what capabilities would a high-tier technique possess?

Presumably, such advanced soul techniques were likely kept by the Slaughter Faction's Spectre King, as the most destructive and lethal techniques usually gathered under their domain.

"However, I hadn't anticipated the true history of Soul Star to be so... profound."

After searching the memories of several Slaughter Faction's spirits, Chu Xuan had pieced together a clearer picture of Soul Star's situation.

The supposed rivalry between the Rectitude Hall and the Eternal Halls was merely a fabrication by the soul tribes. There had never been an Eternal Hall.

A thousand years ago, in dire need of energy for interstellar travel, the high-ranking nobles of Soul Star devised a method. They extracted the souls from death-row inmates' bodies and, after a series of complex procedures, turned these souls into energy sources.

These souls were imprisoned in "cages," unable to think, resist, or do anything but produce energy, much like the fuel in a power plant.

This situation bore a slight resemblance to the humans corralled in The Matrix, who were kept alive by nutrient fluids and immersed in fabricated dreams. However, the souls in cages were merely treated as fuel. Their bodies would gradually shrivel and ultimately vanish.

Over time, the imprisoned souls expanded from death-row inmates to the lower strata of Soul Star's populace, growing in number exponentially.

As a result, Soul Star's soul system developed rapidly. The soul transmission matrices were invented during this period, revolutionizing how souls were handled and manipulated.

Over eight hundred years ago, a soul that had not been completely cleansed awakened. Following its awakening, more souls stirred, and after a period of accumulation, they united and shattered the cages arranged by the nobility.

This initiated a terrible chain reaction. Within just one year, all the souls on the planet had burst from their cages and frenziedly attacked the Soul Star nobles, who were forced to retreat underground, abandoning the surface entirely.

The liberated souls desired eternal life in their spiritual forms and began to see themselves not as Soul Star people but as the Soul Tribe.

Meanwhile, the nobles identified themselves as "the real people," or the Rectitude Hall, insisting there had never been an Eternal Hall.

The purported ideological divide between the Rectitude Hall and the Eternal Hall was merely fabricated by the Soul Tribe as a lure to attract outsiders to Soul Star.

The first Great Spectre Master Chu Xuan encountered had only fragmented memories of Soul Star's history, but as he delved deeper into the stronghold of Torrential Flow City and accessed the memories of more Great Spectre Masters, he managed to piece together the shattered history of Soul Star.

For Chu Xuan, this was merely a curiosity—after all, it was an alien planet. Such historical depths were indeed sufficient to pique his interest.

"Time to continue refining the spritual sense secret technique," Chu Xuan decided, casting aside these thoughts and focusing intently on mastering "Spiraling Devour."

Perfecting "Spiraling Devour" required a solid foundation. Without regular practice, even the most talented could feel rusty when it truly mattered. In battles among Golden Core cultivators, even a moment's rustiness could determine life or death.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye as Chu Xuan sat in meditation. During this period, sporadic Great Spectre Masters from the Slaughter Faction were drawn to the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array, seeking a feast. Yet, they were all torn apart by the incensed Two Armed and Four Armed.

We haven't even started eating yet, and you want to dine? Not a chance!

"Spiraling Devour, perfected!"

Chu Xuan stood up, his face breaking into a slight smile. With a mere thought, his spiritual sense formed a fiercely spinning vortex, as powerful as a fully revved drill, ready to pulverize all of creation and devour it completely.

He casually dissolved the vortex and looked towards the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array.

Inside the array, thousands of ghost generals had already emerged, and it seemed that ghost commanders would soon appear.

After five years of growth, Two Armed and Four Armed had reached the rank of ninth-level ghost generals. Still, grappling with a ghost commander was a bit of a stretch for them.

So, it was time to feast.

"About time to eat heartily," Chu Xuan nodded with a smile.

Upon hearing the command, Two Armed and Four Armed charged into the array with immense excitement.

For the past five years, they had only been allowed to consume a ghost general every three days. Today, they could finally feast to their heart's content.

Like terrifying meat grinders, Two Armed and Four Armed tore through the ranks of ghost generals. None stood a chance against them.

After all, both were ghosts equipped with their own ghost artifacts, while the spirits of Soul Star lacked such powerful tools and were mere pushovers by comparison.

After five years of accumulation, it only took them a day to clear the field completely.

"I can't eat anymore, I'm too full," Two Armed shook its head and left the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array first.

Chu Xuan observed it thoughtfully. This action wasn't simply due to being sated; rather, Two Armed was consciously stepping back to leave the remaining spirits for Four Armed. It seemed to understand that Chu Xuan was focusing on cultivating Four Armed first.

By now, Two Armed had reached the level of a seventh-rank ghost commander, equivalent to a seventh-level Golden Core cultivator, which was quite an achievement.

"ROAR!"

Four Armed bellowed triumphantly within the array, voraciously devouring spirit after spirit. Its level surged dramatically: from a seventh-rank ghost commander to an eighth, then a ninth, and finally, ghost king!

The array hummed vibrantly as a tremendous surge of sinister ghost energy burst forth. Every spirit, regardless of rank, instinctively bowed down in terror and reverence at the emergence of a new king.

In mere moments, Four Armed's form expanded wildly, reaching over six zhang tall—about twenty meters by the measurements of Blue Star. A dense, fearsome armor of ghostly energy condensed along its form, the hallmark of a ghost king.

With a mighty leap, Four Armed burst from the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array, its massive form towering over Chu Xuan. Then, somewhat comically, it crouched down like a giant dog.

"Ghost kings should be able to speak now. Try saying something," Chu Xuan chuckled.

Four Armed pondered seriously for a moment before opening its mouth to speak.

"Woof! Woof woof!"

Chu Xuan was momentarily speechless.

Two Armed coughed dryly, "Dad, that's just how it is."

Chapter 186: Eighth level of the Golden Core

Chu Xuan let out a long sigh. A ghost king comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator, and it could only bark! It was utterly absurd.

"From now on, you are not allowed to speak when we're out," Chu Xuan warned. Four Armed whined pitifully and shrank to one side.

"Two Armed, I leave this place to you. If anyone dares to approach the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array, no need for talk, just cut them down," Chu Xuan casually ordered.

"Dad, rest assured!" Two Armed nodded emphatically.

Chu Xuan nodded slightly, retracted the Heaven-Blocking Umbrella, and took Four Armed back inside.

Back on Blue Star, he threw a few more small spiritual stones into the Psionic Cube to reactivate the Psionic Transmission Matrix.

Soon, the detached soul merged back into his body. After a brief period of adjustment, they were unified once more.

"Any changes on Blue Star?"

Chu Xuan strode out of the array and returned to Haotai Hotel. Information gathered from various parts of Blue Star by Black Blade was typically delivered here by a dedicated team, usually consisting of Wang Gangjian, Wang Yong, Tang Jinchuan, and Song Dayi, the core four.

Chu Xuan had not checked in a while, and the accumulated reports had formed a small mountain.

With a sweep of his spiritual sense, the pages flew up, hovering in mid-air. Chu Xuan read through several years' worth of updates in quick succession.

"Wang Ganjian, Wang Yong, Tang Jinchuan, and Song Dayi are all quite old now. If not for the Psionic enhancements extending their lives, they probably would have passed away long ago," he thought. "The main operations of Black Blade must have already been handed over to a new generation of Superhumans by now."

Chu Xuan felt a wave of sentiment. A year on Mystic Azure Star meant ten years had passed here.

The lifespan of ordinary humans could not compare to that of cultivators. Birth, aging, sickness, and death were just the natural order.

With these thoughts in mind, Chu Xuan flashed toward Black Blade's headquarters.

After employing his Turtle Breathing Technique, he moved among the crowds, invisible to all. People instinctively made way for him, unaware of his presence.

Chu Xuan, having returned to Black Blade's headquarters unimpeded after many years, found it transformed into a tightly secured complex of buildings including training rooms, offices, practice fields, cafeterias, and dormitories.

Black cannons stood guard outside the gates, ready to tear apart any approaching enemies. To many, Black Blade was a formidable force backed by an immortal, exuding majesty and power that fit their expectations of a celestial's subordinates.

"Is that three-story building still around?" Chu Xuan wondered with interest.

Chu Xuan's expression turned peculiar. His spiritual sense had already detected that Wang Gangjian was engrossed in a video game, joystick in hand.

As for Wang Yong, Tang Jinchuan, and Song Dayi, they had become bona fide fishermen, clearly disdainful of joining in Wang Gangjian's frivolities.

Song Dayi earnestly advised, "Fishing is hard, Old Tang, Xiao Yong, you two are beginners, it's normal not to catch anything. Don't be discouraged. Even if you can't catch fish, you might catch something else."

"Look, I've caught a zombie." With a kick, he sent the zombie that had bitten onto his hook back into the water.

Wang Yong, puzzled, remarked, "Is fishing really that difficult?"

No sooner had he spoken than his float began to tremble violently. With a strong pull, he landed a fish over a meter long onto the shore.

Wang Yong scratched his head, "...Is it really that hard?"

Song Dayi, with a flushed face, protested, "You're just lucky as a beginner! It can't always be like this!"

But in a blink of an eye, Wang Yong caught an even bigger fish. He grinned, "Fishing is really easy! Dayi, haven't you been fishing for years? How come you only catch little fish and fry? Worse than me!"

Song Dayi, red-faced and speechless, was at least somewhat consoled seeing Tang Jinchuan had also failed to catch any fish.

Still, Song Dayi chuckled, "Old Tang, that's not how you fish, let me teach you..."

Tang Jinchuan shook his head, "No need, I've already caught one."

His rod, formed from fat, suddenly morphed into a chain harpoon that plunged into the riverbed. When he retracted the chain, a two-meter-long fish was impaled on the harpoon.

Song Dayi's eyes bulged in disbelief. "You call that fishing?"

Tang Jinchuan retorted, dissatisfied, "A fish bit the hook, so it's considered caught. My hook just didn't have bait, and it's a bit straighter, longer, and thicker, that's all. Any problems with that? No, there aren't!"

The three elderly men, their temples graying, suddenly burst into a heated argument.

"That's not fishing; this is real fishing."

"Fishing is really that hard, Dayi brother? Look, I've caught another one, at least eighty pounds heavy."

"I don't believe it! You must have stocked the river with fish beforehand!"

Chu Xuan watched from a distance, his face alight with amusement. After observing the old men's quarrel for a bit, he moved toward the Soul-Capturing Evil-Nurturing Array.

The supply of yin thunder seeds was running low. With nothing pressing in the extraterritorial battlefield, it was a good time to gather more and perhaps break through the realm he had been stuck in for so long.

"The path of cultivation is long and arduous," Chu Xuan murmured as he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

...

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed on Blue Star. Chu Xuan suddenly opened his eyes after a long period of meditation.

The quantity of liquid Spiritual Qi stored in his spirit sea had surged. At that moment, his aura exploded with intensity.

Eighth level of the Golden Core!

Chu Xuan inspected his spirit sea, counting meticulously. He found that he had produced fifteen thousand Yin Thunder Seeds. With such a foundation, he could stand his ground in the extraterritorial battlefield.

"It's time to visit the extraterritorial battlefield," he decided. "If Duan Que is aware of the potential emergence of a strange treasure, others might know as well. This period is likely the peak of trading. It's the perfect opportunity to upgrade the treasures I possess."

Chu Xuan's life-bound magic tool, the Evil Soul Chain, was still merely at top-grade. Lacking crucial materials, it had been unable to advance to the magic treasure rank. His Blood Beehive, his other life-bound magic treasure, faced the same issue.

With the blood mirror shining brightly, Chu Xuan's form flickered, and he soon appeared in a third-tier cave dwelling located in the Righteous Dao Mountain of the Righteous Dao City.

He had spent five years on Soul Star and ten on Blue Star, totaling fifteen years. Converted to the time scale of the extraterritorial battlefield, only about a year and a half had passed.

Chapter 187: Kindness of These Three Couriers

"Ah? It seems much livelier indeed."

Chu Xuan stepped out of his cave abode and strolled along the east-west main road of Righteous Dao City. He immediately noticed a visible increase in the number of cultivators on the streets.

Most were undoubtedly attracted by the news of a rare treasure emerging. Among them were many elderly cultivators, their hair white as frost, hoping to make a final attempt at glory before their ultimate limits approached.

Chu Xuan also saw numerous cultivators returning from outside the city, extracting the carcasses of ancient beasts from their storage bags to exchange for contribution points with the three great families.

Many cultivators had to venture out daily to clear remains like those of the Nether Crocodile. This was indeed the primary task for the majority entering the extraterritorial battlefield.

If not regularly cleared, the accumulating carcasses of ancient beasts on the battlefield could increase continuously, ultimately risking collapse.

Why these remains could cause the collapse of the battlefield was beyond Chu Xuan's knowledge, though he knew that many such battlefields had indeed collapsed because of this issue.

The Reincarnation Divine Church had expended great efforts to transport so many people to the battlefield, not out of goodwill to offer them a chance to reach higher realms but rather to have them perform labor.

If one's contribution points did not increase over time, or even worse, started to decrease, they could be denied entry into the cities of the battlefield—an ominous prospect.

The horrors of the battlefield's nights were something Chu Xuan had witnessed on his first night in Righteous Dao City. Although he had enough Yin Thunder Seeds to not fear the Nether Crocodile, it did not mean other cultivators possessed the means to deal with it.

Of course, as a cultivator at the lowest tier of the Golden Core realm in the extraterritorial battlefield, Chu Xuan naturally also had to go out and clear the carcasses of ancient beasts to accumulate contribution points in his battle token. However, there was still time.

Before coming, Wan Wuying had told him that if contribution points remained stagnant for five years, one might be expelled from the city. Having arrived in Righteous Dao City not long ago, he had no immediate concerns about this.

Chu Xuan continued his leisurely stroll. Many of the cultivators on the street had only recently arrived in Righteous Dao City, and few recognized him.

However, some had been residents of Righteous Dao City for many years. Upon seeing Chu Xuan, they immediately recalled events from over a year ago.

Huikong of Golden Dragon Temple, who had been on good terms with Duan Que of the Duan family, had ultimately not become an honorary elder for the Duan family.

Instead, Yuanming from Celestial Sound Zen Temple and Xiao Fengxian, a Golden Core period talisman master, both became honorary elders of the Duan family.

After this news spread, the other two families of Righteous Dao City, the Bai and Qin families, dared not invite Huikong to become an honorary elder, fearing Yuanming's dissatisfaction.

However, more than a year had passed since then. Yuanming of Celestial Sound Zen Temple had not troubled Huikong, seeming indifferent to the situation.

Yet, the Bai and Qin families still had no intention of recruiting Huikong, especially since, a few months ago, three individuals of significant merit had arrived in Righteous Dao City. One of them possessed a Merit Golden Wheel that was no less impressive than Yuanming's.

The resources of the Bai and Qin families were now devoted to courting these three individuals. There were simply no extra resources left to recruit Huikong of Golden Dragon Temple.

As Chu Xuan meandered, he found himself at a section of the street where cultivators had set up makeshift stalls.

Typically, those seated directly on the ground were early-stage Golden Core cultivators. Those with a bit more strength and status usually conducted their transactions within the trading halls operated by the three great families, where a negligible tax was extracted from each transaction.

Some Golden Core cultivators, short on funds, opted not to enter these trading halls, choosing instead to set up their stalls right on the street.

Chu Xuan browsed these outdoor stalls, shaking his head inwardly. Finding hidden treasures seemed to be an adventure reserved only for fated protagonists. Despite his thorough search, he discerned nothing of value.

"Merit, oh merit, why don't you show some usefulness!" he muttered to himself, disappointed.

Resigned, Chu Xuan strode into the trading hall, deciding to follow the more conventional route. When he emerged again, his storage bag was considerably heavier, now filled with Star Spirit Ore and Amber Crystals.

The former was urgently needed for upgrading his Evil Soul Chain, while the latter was essential for advancing his Blood Beehive. Both materials were exceedingly costly.

Amber Crystals were somewhat affordable, costing ten thousand small spiritual stones per jin. Star Spirit Ore, on the other hand, was priced similarly to Heavenly Thunder Crystals, with a fist-sized piece costing over twenty thousand small spiritual stones.

As for other materials needed to upgrade his magic treasures, such as Yin Evil Steel, Chu Xuan's storage bag was nearly overflowing, almost forming a small mountain.

Nevertheless, the quantities of Star Spirit Ore and Amber Crystals he had purchased were still insufficient.

Chu Xuan didn't plan to buy everything in one go under the identity of Huikong. It was common knowledge among demonic cultivators to make purchases in small, repeated transactions—a crucial point worth noting.

Chu Xuan found a secluded corner and changed his appearance with a wave of his hand. After transforming into a middle-aged man and then a composed elder, he completed the acquisition of the necessary Star Spirit Ore and Amber Crystals.

"Really, they're tracking me?"

Chu Xuan noticed someone following him and couldn't help but scoff internally. He had made three separate purchases, with the identity of Huikong accounting for more than two-thirds of the total. The remaining one-third was split between the last two transactions. Yet, he was still being targeted.

"Well, if you insist on delivering a gift to my doorstep," he mused, accepting the inevitable confrontation.

Assuming the guise of the composed elder, Chu Xuan glanced around several times before quickly exiting Righteous Dao City and heading towards a distant location. The person shadowing him promptly followed.

To Chu Xuan's surprise, two more cultivators emerged from outside the city, seemingly having received a signal, and joined the chase towards him.

"Delivering right to my doorstep, fearful that their customer might refuse—three servings at once. Such enthusiasm, truly moving."

Chu Xuan couldn't ignore the goodwill of these three "couriers." The three bandit cultivators followed him out of the city.

Chu Xuan continued onward, with his pursuers sprinting relentlessly behind him.

Eventually, a vast and profound chasm appeared before them—the "Great Chasm" that had emerged over four hundred years ago. It was due to this chasm that Chu Xuan, originally intending to go to Lei Family City, had ended up in Righteous Dao City by mistake.

"Why aren't you running now?" the lead bandit cultivator snorted coldly.

"Old man, you sure can move fast! Quite spry for your age!" mocked another from the left.

"Damn, nearly made me run out of breath, old man. I'm going to have a good time processing you!" the third added menacingly from the right. "You probably don't want to know what it's like to have your soul extracted and turned into a fierce ghost!"

The trio burst into laughter.

Chu Xuan turned to face them, his expression bizarre as he fixed his gaze on the third man.

"What it's like to have one's soul extracted and refined into a fierce ghost—I truly don't know," he said coolly. "But I've done it many times."

The expressions of the three bandit cultivators shifted slightly, and after exchanging a look, they each pulled out their respective weapons—a ghost commander, a corpse commander, and a swarm of gu insects. These were classic demonic cultivator tactics.

"This old man is fishy, he might have baited us instead," one murmured.

"Impossible, we three brothers are so strong, how could he possibly fish for us?" another dismissed the concern.

"Together, then! Even if he has hidden tricks, could he possibly stand against the three of us?!" they resolved, readying for an all-out attack.

Chapter 188: The Power of Ghost King

The three attackers converged on him—ghosts, corpse puppets, and swarms of gu insects charged toward Chu Xuan.

With a gesture, Chu Xuan summoned his Sky-Shielding Umbrella, and suddenly, a ghastly two-headed, four-armed Ghost King appeared, towering six zhang tall, his body clad in jagged, protruding armor.

The air around him was thick with a chilling ghostly aura and a menacing murderous vibe. His massive mouth seemed poised to devour all souls.

Each of his powerful arms wielded a different ghostly weapon: a loop-headed saber, a vajra staff, a steel hammer, and a trident.

The corpse commander, terrified by the sight, screamed and fled.

The four arms bellowed triumphantly to the sky as the vajra staff was hurled, smashing the ghost commander into two. The ghost commander, sensing danger, promptly fled.

The four arms then threw the trident, pinning it to the ground. A sweep of the ring pommel saber unleashed a blade aura, exploding the swarm of gu insects into oblivion.

"A Ghost King?!"

The leader of the bandit cultivators' eyes bulged, his instincts screaming at him to flee. But how could their speed compare to the mighty Ghost King?

The massive steel hammer descended swiftly from above, smashing the two remaining assailants into a pulp with a thunderous crash!

The four-armed Ghost King roared in excitement, howling up at the sky.

Chu Xuan frowned, "The bodies still have their uses, next time don't smash them so badly. How are your brothers supposed to eat?"

The excited howl of the four-armed figure suddenly stalled, and it hung its head low like a chastised dog, whining softly to show understanding.

Chu Xuan nodded approvingly, "Good, recognizing your mistake is what makes a good dog—no, a good ghost!"

Of the three bandit cultivators, two were now mere pulp. The third, already petrified with fear, was left with a vacant stare.

Chu Xuan promptly used a soul-searching technique on this survivor. "Interesting, at first glance they seem like ordinary bandit cultivators, but they are actually stooges for the Duan family. Anyone purchasing from the Bai and Qin family trading halls could be targeted by them."

"Since the Duan family has such stooges, the Bai and Qin families must have them too, right?" Chu Xuan scoffed, casually breaking the man's neck and tossing him into the Corpse Nurturing Tower.

As for their storage bags, after a quick search that yielded a substantial amount of spiritual stones but nothing else of interest, Chu Xuan hummed a tune and, still under the guise of Huikong, returned to Righteous Dao City. He had just reached the entrance of his cave abode when he noticed two figures approaching from a distance, seemingly headed straight for him.

Chu Xuan's eyes brightened with amusement upon recognizing the duo approaching him. They were Xiao Fengxian and Yuan Zichu, both of whom he had encountered before. Xiao Fengxian still sported his characteristic elegant and handsome demeanor.

As they halted before him, Yuan Zichu subtly sized Chu Xuan up, while Xiao Fengxian clasped his hands in a formal greeting. "Fellow daoist Huikong, I am Xiao Fengxian. We met over a year ago; I trust you still remember me?"

Chu Xuan smiled in response, "I remember. What brings you, fellow daoist Xiao, to my doorstep?"

Xiao Fengxian's poise remained flawless as he explained, "You might not be aware, but a year ago, fellow daoist Yuan also became an honorary elder for the Duan family. His expertise in talismans far surpasses mine; he is now a distinguished guest of the Duan family." He then shifted the topic, "As you might know, the number of third-tier cave abodes in Righteous Dao City is limited. Once someone occupies one, there are none left for others."

Xiao Fengxian continued with an earnest tone, "Thus, without mincing words, I am here to kindly request that you vacate this third-tier cave abode and allow fellow daoist Yuan to reside here. After all, you are not an honorary elder for the Duan family, and it doesn't seem right for you to monopolize this abode."

Yuan Zichu's expression shifted slightly, interjecting, "Fellow daoist Xiao, I can temporarily reside in a second-tier cave abode; there's no need to ask this fellow daoist to move out."

He had only recently become an honorary elder for the Duan family and had gotten to know Xiao Fengxian because they were both talisman masters.

Xiao Fengxian was charismatic and personable, making it easy for the two to get along as they strolled and exchanged insights on talisman arts within Righteous Dao City.

Yuan Zichu hadn't taken Xiao's previous mention of this matter seriously, thinking it was just a casual remark and not expecting him to actually act on it. Offending a cultivator for no reason was not something Yuan considered wise.

Yuan Zichu had always believed in leaving room for reconciliation in his actions.

Previously, at the Hundred Refinements Sect, after Chu Xuan had destroyed his defensive measures with a single punch, Yuan had given him a flying magic treasure and three talismans, seeking to mend their relationship. Now, he was even less inclined to make an enemy over a mere third-tier cave abode.

Xiao Fengxian shook his head repeatedly, "Spiritual Qi is fundamental for a cultivator's practice, and Fellow Daoist Yuan needs a proper place to rest in Righteous Dao City."

His tone was sincere, seemingly genuinely concerned for Yuan Zichu. Chu Xuan simply listened to their exchange with a faint smile, not immediately revealing his thoughts.

Fellow Daoist Xiao Fengxian gave a formal bow, prompting, "Fellow daoist Huikong, what do you think?"

Chu Xuan responded coolly, "When I first arrived in Righteous Dao City, Duan Que informed me that I could reside in this third-tier cave abode for five years, without the need to provide the Duan family any spiritual stones. Is the Duan family planning to go back on their word now?"

His cultivation indeed did not depend on the quality of Spiritual Qi. However, this didn't mean he was willing to give up his dwelling so readily. He might not need to live there, but that didn't mean he couldn't have it!

Xiao Fengxian seemed ready to say more, but Yuan Zichu interrupted him, "Fellow daoist Xiao, let's not discuss this further." He turned to Chu Xuan, "Fellow daoist Huikong, I had no intention of this, the cave abode remains yours."

With that, Yuan Zichu swept away, his sleeves fluttering, adding over his shoulder, "If fellow daoist Xiao continues in this manner, I fear we can no longer be friends!"

Xiao Fengxian sighed deeply and hurried after him, calling out, "Fellow daoist Yuan…"

Chu Xuan watched them depart, his expression unchanged. Yuan Zichu still seemed to be the same character as before, not easily making enemies. Even though he, as Huikong, had not yet shown his strength, Yuan Zichu was not willing to offend him lightly.

It was Xiao Fengxian who intrigued him; his schemes ran deep. It seemed he wasn't sincerely friends with Yuan Zichu, but rather, was trying to curry favor to learn the secrets of talisman crafting from him. Today's maneuver wasn't genuinely intended to aid Yuan Zichu but to stir enmity for him.

"Others' business is not my concern," Chu Xuan thought to himself. "Yuan Zichu is smart enough to see through this. As for Xiao Fengxian, now is not the time to act against him. Once the rare treasure emerges and the extraterritorial battlefield descends into chaos, I'll find an opportunity to deal with him."

In his mind, Chu Xuan had already sentenced Xiao Fengxian.

...

Back in his own cave abode, Xiao Fengxian sat cross-legged, deep in thought.

"This Yuan Zichu is not easy to manipulate," he mused. "I wanted to stir up trouble between him and Huikong to benefit from their discord, but he genuinely doesn't want to offend anyone. Tsk, tsk. He's quite the opposite of Yuanming from Celestial Sound Zen Temple, who is more straightforward and easier to provoke. Next time, I'll stir up trouble between him and Huikong."

Xiao Fengxian chuckled coldly to himself and settled down to draw talismans. His exchange with Yuan Zichu today had sparked many insights into talisman crafting that he was eager to document.

Of course, what he truly desired were Yuan Zichu's memories, which would provide the quickest way to master talisman crafting.