Demonic Cultivator(204-210) (Patreon)

Chapter 204: Huikong the Slayer of Yun Zhongyu

In Righteous Dao City, dawn had already broken. Yuan Zichu walked along the main north-south street, noting immediately that the number of cultivators who had returned to the city had greatly diminished. Many bore injuries, and presumably, a significant number had met their end near the Great Chasm.

Yuan Zichu sighed softly. He had anticipated the grave and terrifying stakes involved and had chosen not to vie for them. Thus, he had survived. Moreover, as a Golden Core period talisman master of notable accomplishment who consistently made good connections, few harbored ill intentions toward him.

Yuan Zichu settled himself at the Cloudy Tea House, only to discover some disorder within. After inquiring, he learned that the tea house's owner had participated in the battle at the Great Chasm and had died in a deserted corner.

Now, the tea house was temporarily maintained by a few of the original owner's disciples. Although it appeared normal on the surface, these disciples were also quarreling over the division of the property.

The Cloudy Tea House, established nearly four hundred years ago, was a reputable old establishment in Righteous Dao City. If the property were truly divided, it would likely lose many loyal customers. Yuan Zichu shook his head slightly and sat by the window to drink tea.

He had cultivated a unique spiritual sense secret technique that allowed him to overhear others' conversations. The cultivators in the tea house were gathered in small groups, discussing secrets, merely muffling their voices without being overly cautious like guarding against thieves.

Of course, truly secret matters would never be discussed in the tea house's main hall; a private room would be chosen for confidential talks.

Thus, Yuan Zichu could absorb the surrounding conversations without effort. Most cultivators talked about their personal and family experiences. However, a discussion between two cultivators caught Yuan Zichu's interest.

"...That night was incredible. To my knowledge, both the old patriarch of the Bai family and the old patriarch of the Qin family have gone missing. Only the old patriarch of the Duan family managed to escape back to Righteous Dao City, though it's said he was injured, severity unknown."

"I've heard more than that! The Nascent Soul high monk Miaoxin from Celestial Sound Zen Temple is also missing. However, Shangguan Hao from Majestic Sword Sect and Wei Ji from Feather Transformation Heaven Palace both survived."

"Ah? So many Nascent Soul cultivators died, who did it?"

Another cultivator joined the conversation.

"Of course, it was Yun Zhongyu from the Reincarnation Divine Sect! He fought with the old patriarch Lei Mingyang of the Lei family, forcing Lei Mingyang to abandon his physical body and flee with his Nascent Soul!"

"To think that a Nascent Soul cultivator would abandon his entire foundation just to save his life, tsk tsk, that Yun Zhongyu's terror is unspeakable!"

The cultivators all sighed in admiration.

"We cultivators should strive to be formidable beings like Yun Zhongyu! To act unbridled and do as we please!"

Yuan Zichu sipped his tea, his expression calm. Ever since the disciples of the Reincarnation Divine Sect arrived in Righteous Dao City, he knew that the battle for the Deity Transformation cave's treasures must have reached a decisive conclusion.

With Yun Zhongyu's astonishing strength, it was no surprise that he was the one who laughed last. Had Yuan Zichu risked joining the fray for the cave's spiritual treasures, he would have likely ended up just another soul under Yun Zhongyu's sword.

"There were no surprises… However, the power structure of Righteous Dao City is about to change," he mused. "The Duan family will surely absorb the Bai and Qin families. Fortunately, I had accepted an invitation from the Duan family earlier and became their venerated guest."

Yuan Zichu felt somewhat melancholic. He had nearly made the wrong choice back then due to the generous offers from the Bai and Qin families.

"Time to go back and draw talismans. I've heard enough," Yuan Zichu decided, standing to leave.

"Heh heh heh, Yun Zhongyu is strong, but there is someone even stronger than him!"

A one-eyed cultivator who had just drained his bowl of spirit tea suddenly let out a sinister laugh. The other cultivators looked at him in surprise. The man continued to drink his tea silently, clearly enjoying keeping others in suspense.

"Are you going to talk or not?" one of the cultivators suddenly stood up, his late-stage Golden Core aura unmistakable.

The one-eyed cultivator nearly choked on his tea. With an awkward laugh, he said, "Ha ha ha... please forgive me, I was just keeping you all in suspense a little..."

The cultivators all snorted in unison. They had thought he was some fierce one-eyed warrior. It turned out he was just a tease. Yuan Zichu chuckled softly and listened intently.

The one-eyed cultivator cleared his throat and continued, "Actually, it's nothing you wouldn't know if you asked those who participated in that night's battle. Yun Zhongyu of the Reincarnation Divine Sect is indeed strong, but he died at the hands of a Golden Core cultivator!"

As soon as he finished, the previously mentioned late-stage Golden Core cultivator slammed his hand down on the table, his tiger-like eyes glaring at the one-eyed cultivator.

"Nonsense!" he bellowed. "How could a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from a six-level cultivation sect possibly die at the hands of a mere Golden Core cultivator? You must be joking!"

The rest of the cultivators also began to clamor. "Exactly! A Nascent Soul cultivator against any Golden Core is an absolute domination because a Nascent Soul cultivator possesses the essence of the Nascent Soul, greatly enhancing the power of their spells. Fellow daoist, don't try to deceive me just because I'm young!"

"Besides a few prodigies, very few can kill a Nascent Soul cultivator with just a Golden Core cultivation. How could such prodigies appear in an extraterritorial battlefield? They are treasured like jewels and closely guarded within their sects!"

Many nodded in agreement. The extraterritorial battlefield was perilous, and true prodigies seldom ventured there. Of course, some might choose to come for the experience, but even then, they were usually accompanied by cultivators from their sects to ensure their safety.

Yun Zhongyu was considered talented but not yet a prodigy. Otherwise, he wouldn't need to seek opportunities in such a dangerous place.

Feeling the weight of many glaring eyes, the one-eyed cultivator became somewhat nervous. He managed a wry smile, "Fellow daoists, I swear by my Dao heart that what I have said is the absolute truth! If I lie, may the heavens strike me with thunder, and may I never reach Nascent Soul in my lifetime!"

The late-stage Golden Core cultivator scoffed. "What use is your oath of a heart demon? Most Golden Core cultivators never achieve Nascent Soul in their lifetimes!"

"Why don't you swear that you'll never become a Deity Transformation cultivator instead?"

Laughter erupted among the cultivators.

The one-eyed cultivator felt helpless. 'How come nobody believes me when I'm telling the truth?' he thought.

Suddenly, someone from a corner spoke up, "I can verify that what he's saying is true."

Everyone, including Yuan Zichu, turned to look.

The late-stage Golden Core cultivator sneered, "And who are you to verify anything—"

His words halted abruptly as he saw the face of the speaker. His sentence froze in his throat, unable to proceed.

After a moment, he stuttered, "Wei... Senior Wei, I spoke out of turn, please forgive me."

Wei Ji smiled, "No harm done, just be more careful in your next life."

With a flick of his finger, a beam of spiritual light shot forth, piercing through the Golden Core cultivator's brow. The man's pupils dilated rapidly as he collapsed to the ground, dead in an instant.

The cultivators around looked towards Wei Ji in utter shock.

Wei Ji then stood up and stated calmly, "The one who killed Yun Zhongyu is Huikong, a Golden Core monk from the Mystic Azure Star's Golden Dragon Temple. The upper sect has issued a bounty: anyone with information on Huikong will be rewarded with fifty thousand small spiritual stones and three Soul-Breaking Spikes. Whoever captures Huikong alive will receive one hundred fifty thousand small spiritual stones and a bottle of Deity Nurturing Elixir."

Chapter 205: How Could Chu Xuan, a Great Demon, Possibly Have Three Layers of Merit Wheels?

Clang!

In that instant, teacups clattered to the floor. Even after Wei Ji had left the tea house, the cultivators remained immersed in shock.

Yun Zhongyu was truly slain by a Golden Core cultivator? A mighty Nascent Soul expert had fallen to a mere Golden Core—such news, if spread, would surely be the butt of jokes!

Yuan Zichu's body swayed, his eyes wide in astonishment. Huikong? He remembered that name. Wasn't he the one who was initially considered for a position as a venerated guest of the Duan family but was ultimately rejected?

Yuan Zichu's pupils narrowed as he recalled an incident. He had been strolling through Zhengdao City with Xiao Fengxian when they happened to pass by Huikong's cave dwelling. Xiao Fengxian, with audacious demand, had insisted that Huikong vacate the dwelling.

Thinking back, Xiao Fengxian's audacity was astonishing—to think he had dared to demand that a cultivator capable of slaying a mid-stage Nascent Soul relinquish his cave dwelling. Yuan Zichu was thankful that he preferred not to make enemies or bully others; otherwise, he might have been long dead.

Yuan Zichu patted his chest, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped a walk through the gates of the underworld.

"Mystic Azure Star, Golden Dragon Temple, Huikong…" he murmured. "I know of the Golden Dragon Temple; it was one of the five sects of Yu Country and has long since been destroyed."

"This person must be using a false identity," he mused. "Someone with such power should not be an unknown nobody…"

Yuan Zichu pondered deeply, but no matter how much he thought, he couldn't determine who this person could be. The strongest cultivator he had ever met at his level was He Liang, a fellow elder of the Hundred Refinements Sect and a master of physical cultivation.

That day, He Liang shattered all of his defensive spells and magic treasures with a single punch, leaving him utterly defeated. However, even He Liang, despite his strength, had fallen to a demonic cultivator and clearly was not on par with Huikong, the high monk who had slain a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Mystic Azure Star truly is a cradle of extraordinary talents," Yuan Zichu sighed, settling his bill and leaving the Cloudy Tea House.

At the Duan family estate, Duan Xiu sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, his complexion deathly pale. His eyes swirled with uncontrollable hatred. He had set out to kill Shangguan Hao and seize the Deity Nurturing Elixir, only to be gravely wounded by Shangguan Hao instead. If not for some life-saving measures he had taken over the years, he might have perished in the Great Chasm.

"Fengxian! Where is my son Fengxian?" Duan Xiu roared.

"I am here, foster father!" Xiao Fengxian hurried into the cultivation chamber from his guard post at the door. The two shared a tender moment.

As Duan Xiu gently caressed Xiao Fengxian's handsome, fair face, the rage in his heart slowly dissipated.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the stone door of the cultivation chamber.

"Elder Ancestor! It's Duan Cang! The upper sect has issued an order!"

Duan Xiu, startled, quickly straightened his disheveled robes before responding, "Come in."

Duan Cang, the head of the Duan family, entered and knelt down respectfully, saying, "The upper sect commands that the one who kills Yun Zhongyu is Mystic Azure Star's Golden Dragon Temple's Huikong. The upper sect orders our Duan family to track down anyone associated with Huikong!"

Duan Xiu frowned, "Huikong? Who is Huikong?"

Although he had escaped early back to the Righteous Dao City, he was unaware of what ultimately transpired in the Great Chasm.

However, he had heard from other cultivators who returned alive that a monk had slain Yun Zhongyu. Initially, he thought it was Miaoxin from the Celestial Sound Zen Temple, but now an unfamiliar name had emerged.

Xiao Fengxian's eyes widened in shock, "What did you say? Hui… Huikong?" He looked at Duan Cang.

Duan Cang, who held little regard for Xiao Fengxian who served through his beauty, maintained his respectful demeanor, "Indeed, that man is Huikong."

"The very Huikong whom Duan Que wanted to invite to join our Duan family, but whom I refused," he added with a trace of bitterness. Huikong, capable of slaying even a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, was initially set to be invited as a family honorary elder, but Duan Cang refused him.

This was likely to become well-known throughout the Righteous Dao City. He, the head of the Duan family, might be seen by many as a man who could not recognize talent.

Duan Xiu exclaimed, "Foolish! How could you turn away such a powerful individual?"

Duan Cang sighed, "Elder Ancestor… Well, perhaps it was for the best. This person is audacious to the extreme, daring to kill a cultivator of the upper sect. If he had become an elder of our Duan family, we might have been implicated as well."

Duan Xiu found some sense in these words and nodded, "That might indeed be so."

Xiao Fengxian suddenly said, "To find out where Huikong is, we need to find Duan Que."

"Duan Que and Huikong are close friends; he must know!" Duan Xiu agreed, "Find Duan Que immediately!"

Duan Cang forced a smile, "Elder Ancestor, that's the second matter I needed to report. I've already sent people to find Duan Que, but he has disappeared."

Duan Xiu stood up abruptly, "What?!" His complexion changed rapidly, reflecting his turbulent emotions.

"Find Duan Que! At all costs!"

Duan Cang inwardly sighed, "Yes…"

After Duan Cang left, Xiao Fengxian sat in silence, his mind a tumult of shock and fear.

That Huikong... to think he had the power to slay a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator! He couldn't believe he had once dared to be so disrespectful to Huikong.

"Master... please don't come looking for me," Xiao Fengxian prayed silently, fearing that Huikong might bear a grudge and come specifically to kill him.

...

On the road from the Righteous Dao City to Lei Family City, a middle-aged cultivator with a lush head of hair slowly made his way. He looked back towards the Righteous Dao City with a resigned smile.

"Huikong, Huikong... you've really put me in a tough spot," he murmured. "How was I to know you were so capable, even able to kill an upper sect cultivator?"

"Thank goodness I fled quickly, or by now I'd probably have been captured by the Reincarnation Divine Sect and subjected to a soul search," he lamented. "As for the Duan family, I'm better off without them."

"What should I call myself now?" Duan Que pondered for a long while. "My mother's surname is Ning; I think I'll go by Ning Que. Ning Que—what a good name."

With a joyful smile, Duan Que headed towards Lei Family City.

...

Wan Wuying, Zhao Wuya, and Huang Yuanwu were also making their way to Lei Family City during the day. After walking a short distance, Huang Yuanwu couldn't help but speak up.

"Hey, do you guys think... who exactly is this Huikong? Is he really from the Mystic Azure Star's Golden Dragon Temple?" he wondered aloud.

Wan Wuying shook his head, "Stop talking about it. The Reincarnation Divine Sect is definitely looking for him. If we expose anything, we'll be captured and subjected to a soul search."

Zhao Wuya nodded in agreement, "Better not to speak."

The trio fell silent. After a while, Zhao Wuya couldn't help himself, "Honestly, I want to know who he is... Old Wan, do you have any guesses? You've been very pensive."

Wan Wuying gave a wry smile, "I really don't know... At first, I thought he might be my junior brother, Chu Xuan."

"But when he displayed the three layers merit wheel, I had to abandon that thought," he continued. "My junior brother's character... both of you know well. His negative karma definitely outweighs mine by far. How could he possibly possess the three-layer merit wheel?"

Zhao Wuya and Huang Yuanwu nodded vigorously in agreement. That point they never doubted.

Chu Xuan, a major demon like him, possessing the three layers merit wheel? That would be as unlikely as the sun rising from the west!

Chapter 206: Millennium Tortoise Technique

"Why can't the Corpse Refining Blood Fire ever give birth to the Blood Evil Yin Fire?" Chu Xuan pondered, resting his cheek on his hand as he watched the roaring Corpse Refining Blood Fire. He had been observing it for ten days now.

The fire had consumed at least a million zombies but still hadn't produced the stronger Blood Evil Yin Fire. What could be the problem? Chu Xuan shook his head repeatedly. The invincible power of merit seemed to fail him when he needed it most. Wasn't this supposed to be his forte?

Casually, Chu Xuan took a sip of tea. He had planted numerous spiritual teas on Blue Star. After enriching them with a Spirit Gathering Formation, they grew even faster than those on Mystic Azure Star. Since he had some spare time, why not enjoy them?

Chu Xuan thought back to the battlefield beyond the realms and shook his head again. Yun Zhongyu was, after all, a prodigy of the Reincarnation Divine Sect. His sudden death would surely incite the sect's fury. By now, the name Huikong must have spread across that perilous battlefield. The Reincarnation Divine Sect was undoubtedly searching for him intensively.

He wondered how Duan Que was faring. The Duan family might just sell him out. But given Duan Que's intelligence, he likely fled at the first hint of trouble.

"The extraterritorial battlefield is perilous. I'll lie low on Blue Star for a few decades, wait for them to nearly forget about this, and then return," Chu Xuan decided as he sipped his steaming tea. It was incredibly bitter, as bitter as life itself. Wasn't it supposed to be bitter before turning sweet? Yet, this cup was bitter through and through, with no hint of sweetness.

"This batch of Ku Mao Feng isn't good; I'll pour it out," Chu Xuan said, tossing the teacup away.

Just then, his divine sense detected a figure rushing towards the Haotai Hotel. The person was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a rugged appearance and a robust physique, his expression filled with joy.

"That man looks like Wang Gangjian's second son," Chu Xuan recalled. Wang Gangjian and his peers had long since stopped handling the affairs of the Black Blade. They now lived like retired elders—gaming, fishing, and tea-tasting, thoroughly enjoying their days.

Black Blade had become the dominant force ruling over the entirety of Blue Star. Naturally, a restructuring was necessary to govern such a vast planet efficiently. The original leadership was transformed into a nine-member council. Simply put, nine core members were chosen to decide on all matters concerning Black Blade.

Wang Gangjian, Wang Yong, Tang Jinchuan, and Song Dayi each designated one person. Other significant powers like the Free Alliance, the Arctic Forces, and the Holy Light Theocracy nominated five representatives each.

However, the true core of Black Blade's power still lay in the four individuals designated by Wang Gangjian. The other five were mostly there to observe and learn, getting a taste of the decision-making process but hardly expected to intervene directly in Black Blade's affairs.

The middle-aged man named Wang Zhenxu, Wang Gangjian's second son possessed considerable skills, which led to his appointment as the chairman of the nine-member council. Wang Zhenxu was well aware that immortals were the true puppet masters behind Black Blade. He was utterly loyal to Chu Xuan.

Each time he reported intelligence, he made the trip personally. As a level nine superhuman, running there was not difficult. The real challenge was doing it consistently, day after day. Such dedication over time was a true display of loyalty.

At this moment, Wang Zhenxu stood outside the array, recording his message into a transmission jade, then waited respectfully outside. This was a privilege granted by Chu Xuan to the nine-member council—they could transmit information directly through transmission jades instead of writing it down on paper. However, Wang Zhenxu still preferred making the journey in person.

Since he had seen the immortal once in his childhood, he had never again glimpsed that majestic presence. His personal visits were fueled by the hope of seeing the immortal just once more—even a fleeting glance would suffice.

The fog churned quietly around him, yet no figure appeared. Wang Zhenxu sighed lightly. Perhaps this piece of intelligence hadn't caught the immortal's attention after all. He turned to leave when out of the corner of his eye, he saw the fog roil intensely.

Suddenly, a figure materialized!

Wang Zhenxu was astounded. Dressed in black, with black hair and eyes, and an expression of extreme aloofness—it was the immortal! He looked just like the figure Wang had seen decades ago as a child.

Without hesitation, Wang Zhenxu knelt on both knees, bowing deeply, "Chairman of the Black Blade nine-member council, Wang Zhenxu, pays his respects to the immortal!"

Chu Xuan said casually, "Rise."

"Thank you, immortal!" Wang Zhenxu said, overwhelmed with emotion.

Chu Xuan smiled, "Wang Zhenxu, I do remember you. Wang Gangjian's second son, right? You were very young back then."

Wang Zhenxu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that's me. But immortal, truly, you haven't changed at all in all these years."

Chu Xuan remained composed, "Your report, is it true? Has someone really managed to merge two body refining techniques?"

Wang Zhenxu replied respectfully, "Indeed! The boy is an orphan from our Black Blad Central City branch. His name is Liu Mengde. As soon as I heard the news, I had him brought from the Central City branch to the East Lake headquarters."

Naturally, the headquarters of Black Blade was located in East Lake City. Branches had been established in various cities, with the most remote ones even reaching the Antarctic and Arctic Circles.

Chu Xuan nodded, "Bring him to me."

"Yes!" Wang Zhenxu nodded vigorously and immediately departed.

Chu Xuan felt a sense of joy. He had planted seeds without much thought, and surprisingly, they had borne fruit. Indeed, among the billions of people on Blue Star, there were those with exceptional talent.

The body refining techniques he had bestowed included the defensive "Turtle Shell Technique," the speed-focused "White Horse Chapter," the aggressive "Blood Fury Technique," and the health-preserving "Life Nourishing Scripture."

According to Wang Zhenxu's report, Liu Mengde had initially practiced the Turtle Shell Technique. With his extraordinary talent, he had progressed quickly, mastering three levels of the technique within just two months.

After hitting a major bottleneck moving from the third to the fourth level and having nothing else to do, he began practicing the Life Nourishing Scripture.

Incredibly, he managed to merge the Turtle Shell Technique with the Life Nourishing Scripture, creating a new body refining technique called the "Millennium Tortoise Technique." This breakthrough instantly resolved his bottleneck, and his cultivation progressed smoothly.

"This child is quite talented," Chu Xuan mused.

Soon after, Wang Zhenxu returned with a young teenager to the Haotai Hotel. Liu Mengde was awe-struck as he looked at the swirling black mist. He had never been to East Lake City before, nor had he ever seen an immortal, though he had heard of them. Just seeing the exterior of the formation was enough to astonish him.

Wang Zhenxu led Liu Mengde to kneel down, saying respectfully, "Immortal, I have brought him here."

Chapter 207: A Minor Issue with Cultivation

Chu Xuan flashed in front of the two individuals, suddenly appearing before them. Liu Mengde, seeing Chu Xuan's face and feeling the terrifying aura emanating from him, was almost overwhelmed by visions of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, nearly fainting from the shock.

Chu Xuan flicked a strand of spiritual qi into Liu Mengde, which gradually dissipated his fear.

"No spiritual root, no spirit body, at the fourth level of body refining..." Chu Xuan mused. The humans of Blue Star were indeed peculiar. He had expected Liu Mengde to possess some unique spiritual body, but there was nothing of the sort. Yet, he had the talent to merge two body-refining techniques into one.

Liu Mengde then managed to stammer, "Liu Mengde, greets the immortal!"

Chu Xuan casually asked, "Your surname is Liu—are you from the imperial family of the Han Empire?"

The royal family of the Han Empire bore the surname Liu. However, since the core members of the royal family had all perished, the empire had existed in name only for some time. Now, the military camps throughout the empire had almost all been incorporated into Black Blade, becoming a formidable force under its command.

Liu Mengde scratched his head, "Not from the royal family, just a collateral branch, too distant to have any claim to the palace."

Chu Xuan smiled faintly, "Would you like to become my disciple?"

Liu Mengde was overjoyed, his face flushing with excitement.

Wang Zhenxu was also surprised. The immortal had actually considered taking a disciple! Could it be that Liu Mengde might also become an immortal one day? He quickly said, "Why don't you kneel and call him Master?"

Only then did Liu Mengde, as if waking from a dream, hastily kneel and address Chu Xuan as his master.

Chu Xuan smiled slightly, "From now on, you don't need to practice your Millennium Tortoise Technique anymore. I will teach you a superior body refining technique. If you can integrate it as you did with your previous techniques, I will help you extend your life and achieve longevity."

Liu Mengde was ecstatic, bowing deeply, "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

Chu Xuan casually instructed, "Wang Zhenxu, continue searching for talents around the world. We need more individuals with exceptional gifts like Liu Mengde."

"Yes!" Wang Zhenxu responded respectfully.

...

Chu Xuan did not have Liu Mengde stay with him. Instead, he sent Liu Mengde back to the Black Blade residence. The meat necessary for Liu Mengde's cultivation practice was delivered every few days by one of Chu Xuan's corpse puppets.

By now, Chu Xuan no longer relied on zombie flesh as a source of meat. The flesh of the Nether Crocodile was much superior. Simply placing a Psionic Cube inside the flesh of the Nether Crocodile allowed it to grow into a robust and rosy piece of meat. It could be harvested daily and would regenerate immediately, proving to be entirely sufficient.

Soon, talents from all over the world were brought to the East Lake headquarters. Chu Xuan adopted a laissez-faire approach with these nominally his disciples. Naturally, if anyone created enough value, Chu Xuan did not mind bestowing some rewards. After all, as a Golden Core cultivator, even the slightest trinkets from him were infinitely valuable to mortals.

...

"I think I understand now..." Chu Xuan mused, "The reason the Corpse Refining Blood Fire has not yet birthed the Blood Evil Yin Fire is due to a lack of living souls! The Corpse Refining Blood Fire can damage the body, but the Blood Evil Yin Fire can harm both the flesh and the soul. Living souls! Living souls are the key!"

With this realization, Chu Xuan immediately activated the soul transmission matrix of the Psionic Cube and traveled to the Soul Star. Without hesitation, he drew a million living souls from the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array. Upon returning to Blue Star, he injected these souls into the Corpse Refining Blood Fire and continued his observations.

Sure enough, he noticed a change. The originally orange-yellow Corpse Refining Blood Fire suddenly started to darken!

"At this rate, the Blood Evil Yin Fire will form one day." Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction, inwardly cursing the author of the "Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture."

He suspected that the original author of the Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture merely assumed that continuing to devour corpses would lead to some change and thus named the stronger flame the Blood Evil Yin Fire.

In reality, they likely never managed to produce it themselves. Otherwise, why would they lead others astray?

Now, Chu Xuan understood that to advance the Corpse Refining Blood Fire to the Blood Evil Yin Fire, it was necessary to devour a sufficient number of living souls—and the souls needed to be of high quality.

Perhaps it was due to the unique environment of the Soul Star, where the souls of living beings were generally of higher quality, that the transformation of the Corpse Refining Blood Fire into the Blood Evil Yin Fire was accelerated. Regular souls likely wouldn't achieve the same effect.

...

Time passes as swiftly as a white horse flashes across a gap. In the blink of an eye, ten years had gone by.

Chu Xuan stepped out of the Soul Nourishing Evil Formation with a furrowed brow. His cultivation had naturally progressed to the ninth level of the Golden Core, but he now faced a minor complication: he had succumbed to cultivation deviation.

Simply put, he was practicing too many techniques simultaneously. Over these ten years, the geniuses gathered from across the Blue Star region had played their expected roles:

- Some chose to improve body refining techniques.
- Others invented new Qi cultivation methods.
- A few focused on integrating multiple techniques.

The brightest minds and most insightful talents of Blue Star had spent a decade devoted to these studies. They had achieved many breakthroughs, but many were impractical, and some were downright lethal, resulting in instant death from practicing them. Nonetheless, a few ideas proved valuable:

A girl from the Holy Light Theocracy modified the "Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree" after feeling it was inadequate. She ingeniously incorporated the church's cultivation methods into it, creating a powerful synergy. The defensive capabilities of the "Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree" were significantly enhanced.

Liu Mengde, dreaming of practicing the "Giant Elephant Body Refining Technique," had an epiphany. Upon waking and practicing it himself, he found it incredibly smooth and promptly presented it to Chu Xuan.

These two techniques were products of individual creativity, containing some flaws naturally, but they were more than sufficient for Chu Xuan. He could easily correct these errors during his own practice.

After modification, the "Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree" had become powerful enough to rival lower-tier Golden Core techniques. With Chu Xuan's accrued merit, its defensive capabilities could even match top-grade Golden Core techniques. Chu Xuan renamed it "Great Protective Golden Wheel Scripture," seeing potential for further advancement.

As for the follow-up to the "Giant Elephant Body Refining Technique," Chu Xuan personally named it "Thousand Refinement Dragon Elephant Technique."

During these ten years, he practiced multiple techniques concurrently. However, the "Great Protective Golden Wheel Scripture" and the "Yin Thunder Evil Technique" were clearly in conflict.

At first, the conflict was manageable since the "Yin Thunder Evil Technique" was at a higher level. Chu Xuan's entire spiritual qi, cultivated from this technique, carried its signature. The "Great Protective Golden Wheel Scripture," just beginning to be practiced, was still relatively weak.

But as the levels of the techniques increased, the spiritual qi formed by each began to clash and erode each other, causing mutual hindrance. This conflict now affected Chu Xuan's cultivation. If he had not ceased his practice in time, his cultivation level might have decreased instead of increasing.

Chapter 208: Another Meal Delivered?

Chu Xuan shook his head, wondering if anyone had managed to develop a technique for harmonizing breaths, which was essential for resolving the conflicts between different cultivation methods. Breath harmonization techniques are suited for smoothing over such conflicts.

Essentially, these techniques involve introducing a large and balanced quantity of spiritual qi, making the conflicting spiritual qi from various techniques a minority, thus significantly reducing the conflict.

Considering potential future conflicts between techniques? The solution was simple—cultivate another harmonization technique! As a demonic cultivator, solutions were always more abundant than difficulties.

Chu Xuan specifically summoned Wang Zhenxu to inquire about the progress of the breath harmonization technique. It had been ten years since their last meeting.

Wang Zhenxu, once vigorous, now sported a few strands of white hair at his temples, perhaps due to his continuous management of Black Blade's vast array of affairs. Nonetheless, he arrived promptly at Chu Xuan's summons.

"Immortal, I have kept an eye on everything at the Enlightenment Institute, but sadly, there has been no progress with the breath harmonization technique," Wang Zhenxu reported somewhat awkwardly.

Three thousand of Blue Star's most talented geniuses had been gathered at Black Blade's headquarters in East Lake. Their primary task was to research cultivation techniques, and their daily needs were managed by others.

Wang Zhenxu had even constructed a massive building complex specifically to accommodate them, which Chu Xuan had personally named "Enlightenment Institute."

Chu Xuan dismissed him with a wave of his hand, "I see, you may go."

"Yes."

Chu Xuan sighed lightly. The Enlightenment Institute could serve as one approach, but he couldn't rely solely on it. He also needed to make his own attempts.

After a brief period of cultivation... well, he found himself succumbing to cultivation deviation once again.

"Perhaps it's best not to cultivate for a while. I should take a trip to the Soul Star," Chu Xuan thought, smiling wryly. "Maybe someone will come along offering a high-level soul technique."

...

Soul Star.

A throng of Soul Star natives fled in desperation. Behind them swarmed soul clans, akin to locusts in their numbers, including formidable specters. Leading them were two mighty specter kings.

The Soul Star people, burdened by physical bodies, could not match the speed of the Soul Clan. Periodically, some fell behind and were easily captured by the pursuing Soul Clan. The two specter kings advancing closely behind them cast mocking glances.

"Stop running! You can't escape!"

"The caverns nearby have long been occupied by our Husbandry Faction! Not a living soul remains!"

"Why flee our city built by the Husbandry Faction? Every day is carefree, with no worries of food or clothing, and the chance to mate daily. Isn't that a good thing?"

These various voices invaded the minds of the Soul Star people, slowing them involuntarily. The leader of the Soul Star people, a man of striking perfection, growled, "They're using soul techniques! Protect your spirits immediately!"

The fleeing Soul Star people, their expressions grave, each employed defensive soul techniques.

The voices, akin to demons whispering through their brains, began to gradually fade from their minds. The handsome man looked at his fellow Soul Star people, his heart filled with bitterness.

They were the ones confined by the Husbandry Faction just as the specter king had said. No worries about food or clothing. Able to mate every day.

But the Husbandry Faction never treated them as humans, merely as livestock. The male Soul Star people were required to mate at least five times a day to spread their seed and produce new Soul Star people.

If one could mate with a beautiful female each day, it would not be so bad. But the attractiveness of their mating partners was not theirs to decide.

The Soul Clan's only standard for valuing female Soul Star people was their fertility.

The more fertile, the more valuable. If a male Soul Star person failed to achieve five matings a day, they faced the lash of the Husbandry Faction's Soul Clan.

However, if they exceeded the daily quota and reached ten times, then they could rest for a day. Many Soul Star people, after being reared for a long time, lost their reproductive ability, both male and female.

A few days ago, they seized an opportunity and escaped from the Husbandry Faction's city through the sewers.

But they had not gotten far before they were discovered by the Husbandry Faction's Soul Clan and relentlessly pursued.

Initially, there were over a hundred of them. Now, only twenty or thirty remained. They had reached a point of utter desperation. It seemed they would soon be overtaken.

"Damn it... those Soul Star nobles, truly deserving of death!"

The handsome man cursed inwardly. He was known as Yun Shen, one of the great nobles of Soul Star. He profoundly detested those nobles of the past.

Not out of newfound conscience, nor because he thought the nobles had gone too far. Using souls as fuel was no issue at all. They were just the lower classes, after all.

But why hadn't they completely erased the consciousness within those souls? In the end, it allowed the Soul Clan to overturn the tables.

Damn it! I am a descendant of nobility! I was meant to live a life of luxury and privilege! Now, I've been reduced to nothing more than a beast of burden! And it's foreseeable that soon, I'll be a dead beast of burden.

At that moment, Yun Shen suddenly noticed the sky ahead was unusually bright. The vengeful spirits and wraiths that usually haunted the sky had vanished.

He was astounded. He wasn't born within the Husbandry Faction's city. Instead, he was captured as an adult and turned into a breeding machine.

During his youth, he lived in an underground city, venturing to the surface several times a year. In his memory, the sky was always dark, swirling with endless vengeful spirits and wraiths.

Yet now, beams of light pierced through that sky. What was that? The legendary... sunlight?!

"Sunlight! It must be sunlight!"

Yun Shen pointed toward the distance and shouted, "If we can reach the sunlight, we'll be saved! The Soul Clan can't step into the sunlight!"

The other Soul Star people saw the light too, and their spirits lifted. The pursuing Husbandry Faction's Soul Clan looked particularly grim. The Soul Clan had an innate fear of sunlight.

Originally, the Soul Star nobility used sunlight to confine and punish them, forcing them to stay in cages.

"Increase speed! Capture them all before they reach the sunlight!"

The leading two specter kings roared. The chase intensified.

Yun Shen and the Soul Star people, with four more succumbing to exhaustion and captured by the Husbandry Faction's Soul Clan. But the sunlight was now within reach!

Yun Shen roared and dashed into the sunlight. Warm sunlight enveloped his entire body. This pleasantly warm sensation was something he had never experienced before.

Behind Yun Shen, eight others also charged into the sunlight. They were equally astounded.

Is this sunlight?

"Think you can escape my Husbandry Faction's grasp just by entering the sunlight?"

The specter king sneered. With a wave of his hand, the specters behind him immediately dispersed.

Clearly, they intended to completely encircle the area. He could encircle them for ten days, half a month, fearing not that these folks would refuse to emerge!

Seeing this, Yun Shen's expression immediately darkened. Temporarily safe. But what next?

"Eh? More food delivered to my door?"

A voice suddenly rang out.

Chapter 209: Caution and Carefulness Are the Foundations of Safety

Two Arms looked at the large group of Soul Star people and souls in bewilderment. It had been a long time since anyone had approached them. How could it be that suddenly, such a large crowd had appeared?

"Father... this isn't because I haven't been properly guarding the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array. It's been over twenty years since anyone came here. It just so happens that you arrived today, and they came too…" Two Arms said to Chu Xuan behind him, his voice carrying a tone of grievance.

Chu Xuan nodded. He had just transferred his spirit through the soul transmission matrix to Soul Star. Stepping out of the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array, he witnessed this strange scene.

"I know, you must have performed your duties well," Chu Xuan said casually. "Let's get to work then, it's about time for a meal. Four Arms, come out too."

Two Arms chuckled and swiftly dashed out. Four Arms barked twice and immediately followed.

Two Arms charged forward and, before the two Specter Kings could react, he effortlessly tore them into shreds. Then, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, he plunged into the rest of the Husbandry Faction's souls. In the blink of an eye, all members of the Husbandry Faction were annihilated. Not a single one was left.

Yun Shen and the other surviving Soul Star people watched this scene in shock. It was incredibly fierce. Those were two Specter Kings, soul entities only second to the Great Specter King in strength, and they had been killed in an instant.

What faction did they belong to? The Slaughter Faction? But wasn't the Slaughter Faction composed entirely of madmen, especially known for their hatred of Soul Star people?

Logically, if these three spirits were from the Slaughter Faction, then they should have attacked them first. Yet, their targets were the members of the Husbandry Faction.

Yun Shen swallowed hard. Bowing his head respectfully, he said, "Greetings, senior. I am Yun Shen, a Soul Star person who has been kept by the Husbandry Faction. I was fortunate to escape a few days ago. Thank you for extending your help!"

Chu Xuan glanced at Yun Shen, "Keep this one, kill the rest."

In an instant, the remaining Soul Star people were torn to pieces.

A smile had just begun to form on Yun Shen's face, but it froze instantly.

"Senior..." Before he could continue, Chu Xuan employed the Soul Search technique, swiftly scouring through all of Yun Shen's memories.

After a moment, Chu Xuan nodded slightly. There wasn't much of value in Yun Shen's mind. He harbored no remorse for the actions of his noble ancestors towards the lower classes. Instead, he resented them for not having acted thoroughly enough, leading to a spectral uprising that cost him his privileged life.

"Indeed, as I suspected, all Soul Star people bear the original sin," Chu Xuan muttered, shaking his head.

The only useful information he extracted was about the city controlled by the Husbandry Faction, governed by three Specter Kings and home to countless Great Specters and lesser specters.

Capturing them could significantly bolster his Sky-Shielding Umbrella, possibly leading to the emergence of new ghost commanders and even uncovering advanced soul techniques of the Husbandry Faction.

Chu Xuan left Two Arms to guard the formation while he, accompanied by Four Arms, headed towards the city. His knowledge of Soul Star's history was already extensive; now, it was time to ascertain the true strength of these factions.

The Slaughter King of the Slaughter Faction had been growing stronger since his inception. Chu Xuan guessed it was now comparable in soul strength to a ghost commander.

The Husbandry Faction surely had its own king. Chu Xuan planned to probe the memories of the three Specter Kings to gain a more detailed understanding of the Husbandry Faction's king's power.

The next day, Chu Xuan stood amidst the ruins of Yellow Stone City, one of the twelve largest cities of the Husbandry Faction. The city was now enveloped in his strategic formation, ensuring no spectral being could escape. Five Specter Kings had been captured and confined within the Sky-Shielding Umbrella. The more elusive Great Specters were left for Four Arms to pursue.

The Sky-Shielding Umbrella behind Chu Xuan rippled with layers of suction, absorbing every spectral being within the city. As for the Soul Star people kept here, their physical bodies and souls had also been dispatched to their destined places.

At that moment, Chu Xuan held two dark purple crystals, nodding in satisfaction. These crystals, spoils of his victory, contained two high-level spectral techniques bestowed by the king of the Husbandry Faction.

Rubbing his chin, Chu Xuan recalled the memories extracted from the three Specter Kings' minds. "The king of the Husbandry Faction, known as the Greedy King, resides perpetually within the opulent Greedy City," he mused. "Ever since surviving an assassination attempt by the Slaughter King, the Greedy King has never left his palace in Greedy City."

Chu Xuan frowned slightly. Since the Greedy King rarely ventured out, the three Specter Kings knew little more about him. But fifty years ago, the Greedy King could effortlessly tear apart any errant Specter King, a testament to his unmatched power.

"Feasting day in and day out, his soul power might now be equivalent to that of a Ghost King," Chu Xuan speculated. "This is no trivial matter."

His concern deepened. He had initially assumed that a Great Specter King might be slightly stronger than a regular Specter King, perhaps at most at the level of a Ghost Commander. He thought he just needed to locate the Greedy King and the Slaughter King and could simply overpower them.

However, if both the Greedy King and the Slaughter King truly possessed the strength of Ghost Kings, he would need to carefully strategize. There could be no room for errors or mishaps—every potential issue had to be preemptively addressed.

"Two Arms and Four Arms have reached the level of second-tier Ghost Kings. Advancing them further would not only be minimally beneficial but would also consume excessive resources," he pondered. "However, now I should start raising some lesser specters."

"These need not be meticulously cultivated; they can serve as cannon fodder if necessary." Two Arms and Four Arms were his key enforcers, and their well-being was crucial. Though his own soul form was merely a tenth of his true form, losing it would still be a significant loss.

Thus, he decided to cultivate more expendable forces to absorb the enemy's strength at the forefront. Moreover, gathering intelligence about the enemy was crucial—to truly know oneself and one's enemy ensured victory in every battle.

"Back on Blue Star, I was the strongest," Chu Xian reflected. "Subtly, I grew complacent and arrogant. I even brought this arrogance to Soul Star. Now, I realize I neglected the constant vigilance required in an alien battlefield. I must never let my guard down again."

"Being always cautious and careful is fundamental to securing one's existence," he reminded himself, recalling how complacency had led to others' downfall.

Chu Xian sighed deeply, engaging in a moment of self-reflection. Just then, Four Arms approached enthusiastically, his arms full of specters.

Chu Xian glanced over, "Any misses?"

Four Arms shook his head and barked, "Woof, woof, woof!"

Two Arms translated, "Four Arms says a few specters almost hid from him, but he found and devoured them."

Chu Xuan nodded in approval. Not a single one should be spared. The disappearance of all spectral and Soul Star beings in this city had nothing to do with him.

"Let's go," Chu Xian commanded, rising into the sky. He scattered a handful of blood beads, then released a stream of Corpse Refining Blood Fire.

With a roar, the fire exploded, engulfing the entire city. Soon, the Yellow Stone City was reduced to nothing but charred ruins. Even if the Husbandry Faction investigated later, they would find no trace of what had transpired.

Chapter 210: Spiritual Soul Essence

A month later, two Specter Kings of the Husbandry Faction stood atop the ruins of Yellow Stone City, their expressions grim. The taller one was named Hun Bao, and the shorter, Hun Shang.

They governed Echo City, another major city of the Husbandry Faction located close to Yellow Stone City. The two cities often exchanged populations of Soul Star people to ensure genetic diversity and reduce deformities among offspring. This practice made the consumption of Soul Star people more reassuring and breeding plans more sustainable.

However, several months after sending a batch of female Soul Star people to Yellow Stone City, there was no return shipment of male Soul Star people.

The Specter Kings of Echo City initially suspected the Specter Kings of Yellow Stone City of double-crossing them by withholding the Soul Star people. Enraged, they came to confront them, only to discover that the entire city of Yellow Stone had vanished. All its buildings had been reduced to ashes.

Hun Shang furrowed his brow. "Yellow Stone City ranked among the top four in strength among our twelve great cities. Who could possibly destroy it so easily?"

"Moreover," he continued, "they should have at least been able to send out a message. How could it just disappear without a trace?"

Hun Bao snorted coldly. "Do we even need to think about it? It must have been those madmen from the Slaughter Faction! It has always disapproved of our actions. Haven't they attacked us covertly numerous times? This time they've just brought their grievances out into the open!"

Hun Shang frowned. "But the Slaughter Faction typically hacks bodies and souls into pieces. They've never used fire before."

Hun Bao scoffed, "Who knows? There are plenty of lunatics in the Slaughter Faction. It wouldn't be strange for some of them to enjoy arson."

Hun Shang thought it over but still felt something was amiss. However, he couldn't think of any other faction with the power to obliterate all traces of the Yellow Stone City's spectral and Soul Star inhabitants, especially without allowing five Specter Kings the chance to call for help.

"We can't determine this on our own. We should report this to the Great King," Hun Shang suggested quietly.

"You report it," Hun Bao grumbled. "I'm going to find those Slaughter Faction bastards and settle the score!" With that, he gathered his Great Specters and immediately flew off into the distance.

Hun Shang sighed deeply. Hun Bao's temperament had always been volatile and uncontrollable. But given the longstanding enmity between the Slaughter and Husbandry Factions, Hun Bao seeking revenge, even without the destruction of Yellow Stone City as a pretext, wasn't unusual.

"Why do I have this ominous feeling?" Hun Shang mused, taking one last look at the remains of Yellow Stone City before leaving. A sense of foreboding lingered in his mind as he departed from the desolate scene.

Mists surged upwards, shrouding the sunlight once more. Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. He had set up a Mist Array and an Illusion Array outside the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array. With these in place, unless a Nascent Soul cultivator arrived, it would be impossible for anyone to see through the veils of his formations.

Reflecting on his arrival at Soul Star, Chu Xuan realized that initially setting up the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array without any concealment was exceedingly arrogant.

Had the Slaughter King or the Greedy King noticed the array and led their forces against it, he would have had no choice but to abandon the formation and flee. Such a scenario would not only result in the loss of the precious array but potentially provide the enemy with a means to increase their power—a truly disastrous outcome.

"These few are good," Chu Xuan remarked as he selected several strong ghost commanders from within the Sky-Shielding Umbrella. He personally named them.

"You, with your robust stature, shall be called 'Soul One.'"

"You, with your swift evasion, shall be called 'Soul Two.'"

"You, with your substantial soul power, shall be called 'Soul Three.'"

"You, clever and agile, shall be called 'Soul Four.'"

Chu Xuan nodded slightly, approving of his straightforward naming method.

Soul One and Soul Two were dispatched to infiltrate the Slaughter Faction, while Soul Three and Soul Four were sent to the Husbandry Faction. Under their aliases, they would gather intelligence for Chu Xuan, blending into their respective factions.

As for gathering intelligence on the Soul Star people and the Descent Faction, that too needed attention. However, compared to the Slaughter and Husbandry Factions, these other powers were significantly weaker and unlikely to cause much disturbance. There was no immediate rush to collect information on them. If an opportunity arose, Chu Xuan planned to simply control a Soul Star person to infiltrate them.

Seated outside the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array, Chu Xuan took up the two advanced soul techniques he had acquired for study. The techniques, named "Great Devouring Palm" and "Inner Furnace Soul Refining Method," complemented each other superbly.

"Great Devouring Palm" involved condensing the soul into a massive palm that could seize an enemy's soul during combat and refine it for one's own use. "Inner Furnace Soul Refining Method" condensed the soul into a furnace to rapidly melt down captured souls, assimilating them efficiently.

Together, these advanced soul techniques offered extraordinary utility, promising to significantly enhance Chu Xuan's prowess in both offense and defense.

"The soul of a cultivator is known as the spiritual soul," Chu Xuan mused. "The sea of spiritual sense holds the spiritual soul, while the spiritual sense protects it. Spiritual sense essentially functions as the limbs of the spiritual soul, allowing for its manipulation and application."

Chu Xuan chuckled lightly. "The soul clans' utilization of the soul still appears somewhat rudimentary."

The two advanced soul techniques, although based on the manipulation of the soul, could be modified slightly to be executed through the spiritual sense instead. As a Golden Core cultivator, such minor modifications were well within Chu Xuan's capabilities.

In less than a day, he had completely transformed the "Great Devouring Palm" and "Inner Furnace Soul Refining Method" into techniques that operated via spiritual sense.

Chu Xuan estimated that these new versions of the techniques would reach high-grade of the Golden Core stage. The "Inner Furnace Soul Refining Method" in particular would remain useful even after advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.

"Time to cultivate! I must master these two spiritual sense techniques as quickly as possible," Chu Xuan resolved. He focused intently, beginning his cultivation. From time to time, he randomly selected a 'lucky spectator' from the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array to serve as a sparring partner for his practice.

Of course, after serving their purpose, Chu Xuan kindly ensured that these spirits were sent to their final resting place—the Inner Furnace.

Under the earnest tutelage of these partners, Chu Xuan quickly mastered the Great Devouring Palm and the Inner Furnace Soul Refining Method. His spiritual soul grew rapidly in power. Already possessing a Nether Soul Core, his spiritual soul's capacity far exceeded that of his peers at the same cultivation level.

With the Inner Furnace Soul Refining Method, his spiritual soul's capacity increased yet again. Although still far from reaching the Nascent Soul stage, a remarkable transformation occurred. His spiritual soul became exceedingly condensed and began to manifest a unique essence.

When this essence was integrated into the spiritual sense techniques, it immediately enhanced their power. Chu Xuan was both amazed and delighted by this discovery. Considering its function, this essence bore a resemblance to the Nascent Soul essence typical of Nascent Soul cultivators. He decided to call it "Spiritual Soul Essence."

Chu Xuan surmised that the vastness of his spiritual soul was so extraordinary that it had led to the emergence of this Spiritual Soul Essence, a phenomenon unlikely to occur in most Golden Core cultivators.

This was undoubtedly a boon. Going forward in battle, he could harness the Spiritual Soul Essence to strengthen his spiritual sense techniques, often catching his enemies off guard with its unexpected power.