Demonic Cultivator(318-329) (Patreon)

Chapter 318: She Will Support Me With All Her Strength

Fire Ant Tribe.

In the ancestral hall of the Fire Ant Tribe, Lie Xin and her companions arrived to find the hall eerily empty. The real activity, however, was taking place at the martial arena, where her three brothers were engaged in fierce duels to determine the next leader of the tribe.

Lie Qing glanced disdainfully at the modest ancestral hall, sneering, "What a simple and shabby hall."

Nearby, a respectful Insect Master from the Holy Ant Tribe nodded in agreement. "The Fire Ant Tribe is just a mid-sized tribe; how could it compare to the Holy Ant Tribe?"

Lie Qing smirked, unfazed, "Still, even the smallest insect has its vital organs. This Fire Ant Tribe, though humble, is still a mid-sized tribe. Taking on the role of leader here will be more than enough for me."

The Insect Master quickly showered him with flattery. "Indeed, Master, your talent is extraordinary, and your strength unmatched. Only someone like you is worthy of leading this tribe!"

Lie Qing beamed, thoroughly enjoying the praise. His tail practically seemed to be wagging with delight, his ego inflated to the highest point.

However, Lie Xin paid no attention to their exchange. She stood quietly, her gaze fixed on the new spirit tablet. She remained silent for a long time.

...

The spirit tablets in the ancestral hall were arranged in five layers. The top layer held only one tablet—this was the spirit tablet of her grandfather, Lie Yong, who had led the tribe into the ranks of mid-sized tribes.

At the very bottom of the hall were the tablets of previous leaders whose reigns had been disastrous. Some were noted for their reckless building projects that led to years of financial loss, while others had caused the tribe to suffer from endless warfare, leaving the tribe weak and vulnerable.

Her father, Lie Zhao, had served as a leader for just fifteen years. He had neither achieved anything significant nor caused any lasting harm. For this reason, his spirit tablet was placed on the second layer.

Lie Xin respectfully knelt on the cushion, performing three full bows. Afterward, she took three incense sticks and lit them, carefully placing them into the incense burner. She had already noticed that the incense inside had long since ceased to burn, and there was no heat left in the burner. It was clear that no one had come to offer incense for many days.

Lie Qing, who had been observing her actions, was about to speak when Lie Xin preemptively said, "Fifth Brother, if you are to take the position of the tribe leader, you must show respect to our ancestors."

She turned toward him, her voice firm yet composed. "You bear the Lie surname, and as such, you must offer incense and bow before our father, grandfather, and all the ancestors. No matter what you may think in your heart, the proper rituals must be observed."

Lie Qing was momentarily speechless. After a moment of reflection, he realized that, despite Lie Zhao being his nominal father, if he wanted to assume the position of leader, he would indeed need to put on a façade.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sister," he said, somewhat begrudgingly, as he followed her example, bowing three times and offering incense.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall, and someone entered.

"The three sons of the former chief have been fighting among themselves for the leadership, and it's been a long time since anyone has come to offer incense. Yet, here you two are, newcomers to the Fire Ant Tribe, and you immediately come to show respect..." The voice trailed off, laced with quiet disappointment.

Lie Xin and Lie Qing turned around to see an elderly man with snowy white hair standing behind them.

"Who are you?" Lie Xin asked.

"Chen Pei, my father was Chen He," the old man replied.

Lie Xin's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly bowed deeply. "Lie Xin pays her respects to the Grand Elder."

Chen Pei smiled warmly. "Ah, so you're Miss Lie Xin."

He then glanced at Lie Qing and asked, "And this must be…"

Lie Xin introduced him, "This is my Fifth Brother, Lie Qing."

She shot a quick look at Lie Qing.

Lie Qing understood immediately and adopted a respectful posture. "Lie Qing pays his respects to the Grand Elder."

Chen Pei observed Lie Qing's tall and handsome appearance and nodded slightly. Looks, after all, were an important factor when judging a person's potential.

"Chen Pei…" Lie Xin's mind quickly recalled information about him.

After her grandfather Lie Yong's passing, Chen Pei had assumed the position of Grand Elder. He had been personally trained by Lie Yong and was known for his impartiality. He never sided with anyone, which made his support highly coveted. Whoever gained his backing would be almost guaranteed to succeed as the next tribe leader.

Chen Pei smiled. "Miss Lie Xin, have you come to pay your respects, or...?"

Lie Xin glanced at her Fourth Brother, then said, "Fifth Brother, Lie Qing, is also a son of my father. I've returned to help him claim the position of tribe leader."

She paused, then added, "Mother knew of this and sent six Insect Masters from the Holy Ant Tribe to escort us."

She introduced, "This is Golden Insect Master Sheng Jie, also my mother's elder brother."

Chen Pei raised an eyebrow and looked at Sheng Jie. "A Golden Insect Master? A pleasure to meet you."

Sheng Jie merely nodded slightly but did not respond.

Chen Pei didn't mind. After all, there were only four Golden Insect Masters in the Fire Ant Tribe, and for someone to be sent to escort Lie Xin and Lie Qing, they had dispatched a Golden Insect Master. This showed that the Holy Ant Tribe had already considered the position of tribe leader to be as good as theirs.

Chen Pei spoke slowly, "According to the rules, Lie Qing is indeed eligible to inherit the position of tribe leader. But Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan are also competing for the leadership. Only those who can make a significant contribution to the tribe will be worthy of the position. This is a rule set by our ancestors."

Lie Qing frowned slightly, his expression clouded with confusion.

What does this mean? I am from the Holy Ant Tribe! My mother is the granddaughter of the Fifth Elder of the Holy Ant Tribe! My uncle is a Golden Insect Master! And yet, you're telling me I don't have the qualifications to be a tribe leader? What nonsense is this?!

"Kill…"

The murderous intent in Lie Qing's heart surged as he was about to speak.

But Lie Xin smiled and interrupted, "If my Fifth Brother can resolve the conflicts between the three older brothers, turn the tribe's fortunes around, and within five years, double the size of the Sulfur Pool… Would the Grand Elder be willing to support my Fifth Brother's succession to the position of tribe leader?"

Chen Pei's expression shifted in surprise.

This Lie Xin had only just returned, yet she saw through the Fire Ant Tribe's current situation with a single sentence. How could she, who had been absent, understand the tribe's affairs better than him, the Grand Elder?

Chen Pei spoke seriously, "If those three things can be achieved, I, Chen Pei, will definitely support Lie Qing as the next tribe leader! I swear by my word, I will not go back on it!"

Lie Xin nodded calmly, "Good. Please remember your words today, Grand Elder."

She then signaled for Lie Qing and the others to leave.

As they stepped out of the tribe's ancestral hall, Lie Qing, still stunned, spoke up, "Sister, these three tasks… The first one is easy enough. We can just use force to stop my three older brothers from fighting. The second one is also doable, as long as we get money from Mother. But the third one… I've heard that expanding the Sulfur Pool by half would require at least fifty thousand silver Insect Crystals. I'm afraid Mother doesn't have that much money."

Lie Xin smiled lightly. "I have a way. Fifth Brother, for now, you just need to wait. When the time comes, your sister will personally send you to the tribe leader's seat."

Lie Qing was deeply moved. "Sister! You're so good to me!"

Since he could remember, Lie Xin had always been kind to him, saving the best food and toys for him. She never competed with anyone, and her only hobby was reading. Now, she was taking care of everything, making all the arrangements for him.

How could he not be touched?

Lie Xin said calmly, "Remember this, don't resort to violence, or the tribe will definitely resist you. Those who use violence to rule will eventually be overthrown."

Lie Qing, still somewhat confused, nodded and watched Lie Xin walk away.

Sheng Jie, looking at Lie Xin's retreating figure, sighed with some admiration. "Qing'er, your sister is remarkable. If she were a man, she could easily take the position of tribe leader. No one would have any chance against her."

Lie Qing chuckled, "But she is my sister. She will fully support me!"

Sheng Jie nodded. "Yes, you have a good sister."

Chapter 319: The Ancestral Law Cannot Be Changed

In the Fire Ant Tribe's martial arts arena, the air was thick with tension.

Lie Xin arrived just as the place was ablaze with activity.

Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan stood on the sidelines, their subordinates engaged in a chaotic battle. The three factions were evenly matched, each trying to claim the position of tribe leader. None of them were willing to give an inch, which had led to a prolonged stalemate.

The moment Lie Xin stepped in, she immediately caught the attention of all three brothers.

Lie Tang, the eldest, stared in surprise. "Xin'er? Is that you?"

It had been five years since Lie Xin returned, and they had seen her back then. But now, after such a long absence, the once lively and youthful sister seemed much more mature. However, her petite frame had not changed—she was still slender and delicate.

According to the traditional mindset of the Cave World, the ideal woman's body was one that was strong and plump, with ample curves, much like their mother's robust figure, which was considered the ideal for childbearing. Lie Xin, with her slender form, was not what most people would favor.

All three brothers approached her.

"Fourth Sister, you've actually come back." Lie Song said with a hint of nostalgia.

"Xin'er, it's good that you're back. Don't stay in the Holy Ant Tribe anymore. It's better here in our Fire Ant Tribe, far better than any place else," Lie Yuan said with a deep voice, his tone earnest.

Lie Xin glanced at her three brothers, all of whom had fiery tempers, but their faces were now filled with surprise and perhaps a bit of confusion. She couldn't help but smile faintly.

"I brought Fifth Brother back with me."

The three brothers froze.

Fifth Brother?

They could not accept that child.

While outsiders might not know the details, they, as sons of the tribe leader, knew full well about the minor conflict between their father and his official wife. The two younger brothers, Fifth and Sixth, were not their father's biological sons. They were only considered his children in name, but their maternal family came from the Holy Ant Tribe.

It was an uncomfortable truth that they couldn't deny, but they kept silent about it because it was not a topic that could be openly discussed.

"Still not done fighting?" Lie Xin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"At this rate, how long are you planning to fight?" She shook her head slightly.

Lie Tang spoke calmly, "We will keep fighting until they submit. Only the one with the strongest fist can inherit the position of tribe leader."

Lie Song sneered, "You have more subordinates, so you're just playing the numbers game. But my subordinates are stronger than yours!"

Lie Yuan scoffed, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you're both wrong. Yes, the one with the strongest fist can become a tribe leader, but the number of heirs matters too. You two only have one heir each, but I have four!"

In the blink of an eye, the three brothers were at each other again.

Lie Xin knew that none of them were inherently bad. It was just that their vision had been clouded by personal interests. That was why they remained locked in a stalemate.

Dealing with these three brothers was simple: beat them. Beat them until they yielded.

With a determined look, Lie Xin rolled up her sleeves and raised her hand, summoning two giant ants to join the fray.

Each of these ants was as large as a small mountain.

The moment they charged in, it was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. Everything in their path was sent flying. All the magical insects were knocked back violently, and the unsuspecting insect masters were sent soaring through the air, their faces filled with horror and disbelief.

As the dust settled, the crowd took a moment to focus and realized that the small, delicate figure standing in the center of the battlefield was none other than a woman!

Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan quickly snapped out of their daze.

Lie Xin had actually charged in!

"Come on," she called out mockingly, her voice dripping with challenge. "Aren't you all skilled fighters? Isn't this Fire Ant Tribe full of brave warriors? Why can't you even beat a single woman?"

She surveyed the battlefield, her eyes flashing with disdain. Her raised brow was full of provocation.

The insect masters were immediately furious.

Damn it! How dare this delicate woman taunt us?!

"Brothers, attack! Beat her down!"

The insect masters unleashed their insects all at once. At least twenty fire ants charged toward Lie Xin in a coordinated assault.

"Stop!" Lie Yuan shouted in alarm.

Lie Xin sneered. "Stop? What for? They're just a bunch of useless pests."

With a firm stamp of her foot, the giant ant on her left sprayed a cloud of purple mist from its mouth. The mist spread quickly, enveloping the attacking fire ants in seconds.

The fire ant swarm's momentum immediately faltered. The insects staggered, their movements slow and erratic, as though they were drunken. Within moments, they collapsed to the ground, disoriented and dizzy.

Lie Xin gave a swift jump, landing on the back of the other giant ant.

"Speed up! Charge!" she commanded.

At her order, the giant ant barreled forward, crashing through the remaining fire ants. The few that were left had no power to stop the assault and were sent flying in all directions.

If the first wave had been a surprise attack, then this time, it was clear: it was a sheer difference in power.

The insect masters lay sprawled on the ground, their eyes no longer filled with contempt but full of awe.

Such strength!

The three brothers—Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan—were also stunned. How had their little sister gained such power in the years they had been apart?

They could tell that these two giant ants were likely close to reaching the golden level of strength.

"Would you three be willing to spar with me?" Lie Xin called out, her voice light but full of challenge.

"My two giant ants are formidable, but to make it fair, how about I fight you all hand-to-hand, without using any magical insects?"

Perched on the back of one of the giant ants, Lie Xin laughed aloud.

Lie Yuan rubbed his wrist and grinned wryly. "It seems our little sister is no slouch after all!"

"I'll go first!" he declared, rushing forward.

But in less than a dozen breaths, he was kicked several zhang away by Lie Xin. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.

Lie Song's eyes widened in shock. "I'm next!"

Before he could even blink, Lie Xin's punch hit him square in the chest. He was sent sprawling, unable to rise for a long time.

Lie Tang narrowed his eyes. "Xin'er, you're strong, but you can't defeat your elder brother."

"Then we'll have to see!" Lie Xin coldly retorted.

Lie Tang's frame was more massive than his brothers, even larger than Lie Song and Lie Yuan. His arms alone were thicker than Lie Xin's thighs. It seemed impossible that she could win.

Yet, within thirty breaths, Lie Tang was felled by a sweeping kick from Lie Xin.

From her slender arms and legs erupted a force that didn't belong to her body, sending the burly elder brother crashing to the ground.

The three brothers, clutching their wounds, slowly staggered to their feet. Their gazes toward Lie Xin had changed completely.

This was no longer the cute little sister they once knew. She was a true powerhouse.

Lie Xin called back her two giant ants and, with a sly smile, narrowed her eyes. "I've defeated you three and your subordinates. Can you now listen to me?"

"Yes." The three brothers replied in unison.

"All this fighting," Lie Xin began, her voice calm but resolute, "and not even a single incense offering in the ancestral hall. Is that right?"

"No," they answered in shame.

"You've fought and fought, disturbing the peace of the Fire Ant Tribe. The tribespeople cannot even go about their work properly. Is that right?"

"No..." they muttered, embarrassed.

"Now, can you listen to me?"

"Yes..." they replied, begrudgingly.

Lie Tang couldn't help himself. "Sister, you're not thinking of taking the position of tribe leader, are you?"

"Although your strength is undeniable, you could certainly do it..." he trailed off, the words faltering.

"But as you know," Lie Song cleared his throat, "no tribe allows a woman to take the position of leader. It's the rule of our ancestors."

Lie Yuan nodded. "In the end, it should be one of us three who is chosen to be the tribe leader."

Lie Xin smiled lightly. "Who said I want to be the leader?"

Her tone turned serious. "You three—fighting over the position of leader while the tribe has suffered years of losses—are not worthy of the position."

She paused, her gaze sharp and piercing.

"The position of leader should go to our fifth brother, Lie Qing."

Chapter 320: Conditions of the Elders

The three brothers were stunned, and they quickly pulled Lie Xin aside.

Lie Yuan lowered his voice. "Xin'er, do you know... about that Lie Qing..."

Lie Song also whispered, "He doesn't have the bloodline of our father. How can he become the tribe leader?"

Lie Tang was even more stern. "Absolutely not!"

Lie Xin remained calm, her tone indifferent. "My fists are bigger. I say it goes."

The three brothers shook their heads in disbelief. "And the elders? If they don't agree, Lie Qing can't take the position."

Lie Xin smiled, her expression unwavering. "That's why I'm going to see the elders now."

With that, she turned on her heel, moving swiftly and decisively, without a second thought.

Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan exchanged confused glances, scratching their heads in frustration.

Lie Qing wasn't even truly one of their own. Why was Lie Xin going to such lengths to push him to the top?

At the residence of the Second Elder.

Lie Xin stood before the elderly man, her gaze sharp. "I'll ask you one question: Has the tribe been in financial loss for years?"

The Second Elder hesitated for a moment but finally conceded. "Yes."

Lie Xin continued, her voice firm. "Then, if I can secure top-quality seedstock for the tribe—Iron Tortoises, Earth-Dragging Dragons, and Bull Mushroom Bugs—why are you still reluctant to listen to me?"

The Iron Tortoise, with a head the size of a human skull, could eat impure ore and excrete pure minerals. It was the perfect choice for many tribes that crafted iron.

The Earth-Dragging Dragon was enormous, at least a zhang long. It was highly valued for transporting goods in various tribes.

The Bull Mushroom Bug needed no further introduction. Fat, juicy, and fragrant, it was a delicacy loved by many cave-dwelling people, whether fried, braised, or steamed.

These three species of insects were common across tribes, but larger tribes often had higher-quality variants—those that consumed less, produced more, or had greater carrying capacities, tenderer flesh, or even tamer temperaments.

With such quality seeds, a medium-sized tribe could quickly grow and become prosperous.

The Second Elder pondered for a long while before finally gritting his teeth. "Fine, I'll follow your lead!"

Lie Xin nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait, Fourth Miss, where are you going?" The Second Elder hastily called out.

"To see the Third Elder!"

At the residence of the Third Elder.

Lie Xin stared at the Third and Fourth Elders, her tone deliberate and stern. "Don't give me any nonsense. The two of you answer me with one simple word: Do you want the Fire Ant Tribe to prosper?"

The Third and Fourth Elders nodded without hesitation. "Of course."

Lie Xin's voice was firm and resolute. "Then, I can secure 100,000 silver insect crystals for the tribe. Why are you still unwilling to listen to me?"

The Third Elder clicked his tongue, clearly skeptical. "But... this money can't possibly have appeared out of nowhere. It must have come from other tribes, right?"

"Borrowed money," the Fourth Elder added, "never feels as reliable. The Ancestor once said that borrowing money is a bad habit. It encourages extravagance. And if the debt can't be repaid, the tribe will lose its credibility. That's the most dangerous thing."

Lie Xin sneered. "Then let me make it clear: I'll be personally responsible for the 100,000 silver insect crystals. Even if it can't be paid back, it's my responsibility alone, not the tribe's."

The Third and Fourth Elders exchanged a glance, and after a moment, they nodded. "As long as Miss Lie Xin can bring the 100,000 silver insect crystals within two months, we'll follow your lead."

Even at the peak of the Fire Ant Tribe's prosperity, their annual surplus was only around 10,000 silver insect crystals. 100,000 silver insect crystals—that was the equivalent of ten years' worth of surplus!

Lie Xin nodded. "Good, remember what you've agreed to."

That very day, Lie Xin had people in the heart of the Fire Ant Tribe begin to shout out the announcement in the market.

"Rare treasures from heaven and earth! Insect Crystal Bags! Invest ten insect crystals today, and receive twelve insect crystals in ten days! If you don't come to collect in ten days, you can get fifteen insect crystals after twenty days!

If you wait twenty days, one month later, you can receive twenty insect crystals! The more you invest, the longer you wait, the greater the reward! Guaranteed by the Holy Ant Tribe, no deception!"

Such a novel concept immediately captured the attention of the Fire Ant Tribe's people.

A woman couldn't help but ask, "Miss Lie Xin, what exactly is this Insect Crystal Bag? Is it really as magical as you say?"

Lie Xin smiled and picked up one of the finely crafted insect leather bags.

"This is a treasure I found by chance in a wild cave. It can swallow insect crystals and also produce insect crystals. As I mentioned earlier, the more you invest and the longer you wait, the greater the return. I can personally vouch for it—this will definitely work for everyone!"

The woman, still somewhat skeptical, took out ten insect crystals. "I believe you, Miss Lie Xin. I'll come back in ten days."

One after another, people began to invest, though most amounts were small. The largest sum was only fifty insect crystals.

Many others dismissed it as nothing more than a joke. How could there be a treasure that could infinitely produce insect crystals?

However, ten days later, Lie Xin honored her promise.

The first batch of brave souls, who had invested in the Insect Crystal Bags, received more insect crystals than they had put in.

At that moment, those who had doubted the treasure began to regret it deeply. Seeing the first group earn money while they themselves had lost out, their resentment grew.

Within a short period, more and more people began to invest in the scheme. However, this time, the amount of insect crystals Lie Xin received wasn't very large. But ten days later, she once again fulfilled her promise.

The second batch of early investors also made a profit, and this time, the people of the Fire Ant Tribe were truly astonished.

Could the Insect Crystal Bags really be a treasure capable of infinitely producing insect crystals?

The news quickly spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. More and more tribe members flocked to invest. Some even took out their life savings, prepared to take a gamble.

Another ten days passed.

Lie Xin honored her promise once again.

By now, the tribe members were completely swept up in a frenzy. All they needed to do was invest their principal, do nothing, and wait for a while before earning a large sum of insect crystals.

Was there anything better than this in the world?

Invest! Invest heavily!

Even Lie Xin's brothers, who had been skeptical, couldn't help but throw their own insect crystals into the pot.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching nearby tribes—Flying Sky Ant Tribe, Marching Ant Tribe, and Corroding Ant Tribe, among others.

Though the Fire Ant Tribe had weakened over the years, it was still a colossal force. These smaller tribes couldn't easily overpower it. Furthermore, with Lie Xin's Holy Ant Tribe bloodline, they knew they could never simply kill her and take the Insect Crystal Bags.

So, they all chose to invest.

In just one month, Lie Xin accumulated 30,000 silver insect crystals. By the end of two months, the amount had skyrocketed to an astounding 200,000 silver insect crystals!

When Lie Xin threw those insect crystals in front of the Third and Fourth Elders, the two old men were completely stunned.

"Here are the silver insect crystals you asked for."

Lie Xin spoke calmly, her voice devoid of any pride or arrogance.

"Two elders, I've done what I promised. Now, can you listen to me?"

The Third and Fourth Elders exchanged a look and then nodded vigorously.

"Of course, of course! We'll follow your lead!"

Chapter 321: Mind-Bewitching Ant

Night had fallen. Lie Xin sat cross-legged on her bed, her two giant ants resting below. In her hands, she held a plain leather pouch.

"It's strange. Father always carried this pouch with him, and it contains nothing but a shard of mirror," she murmured.

After Lie Zhao's death, Lie Tang and the others were preoccupied with vying for the position of the clan leader, neglecting to care for Lie Zhaos' remains. It was Lie Xin who hastily arranged the burial before the body decomposed, and thus, the nondescript pouch ended up in her hands.

At that moment, Lie Song's voice came from outside the door.

"Sister, is it really not possible to continue collecting money?"

Regretfully shaking her head, Lie Xin replied, "Second Brother, I've already declared during the day that we will no longer accept external funds."

"But I am your second brother."

"Not even for Second Brother."

"Alright then..."

As Lie Song's footsteps faded away, Lie Xin massaged her temples and sighed. She knew she had woven a vast lie. To amass a hundred thousand silver ant crystals within two months was only achievable through deception—a scheme conceived suddenly one day after she had read numerous books. Yet, it had never been put into practice before; it was merely a fraud.

Initially, only a small capital was needed to start the fraud, which could then generate more money, robbing Peter to pay Paul. However, over time, the debt would grow larger, ultimately reaching a sum she could not repay. This was precisely why she had decided to stop in time.

"The insect crystals I need to repay have now reached six hundred thousand. If I continue in my greed, collecting more and more, even selling the entire Fire Ant Tribe wouldn't cover it. Stopping now is the best decision. Not all of the six hundred thousand insect crystals necessarily need to be repaid. For example, if the Flying Sky Ant Tribe were destroyed, there would be no need to repay their crystals," she pondered.

At that moment, another voice echoed outside, "Sister! Have you gone to sleep?"

It was her younger brother, Lie Qing.

"No, I haven't. Come in," Lie Xin replied with a smile, masking her thoughts.

Lie Qing burst through the door, his face flushed with extreme excitement and his whole demeanor animated.

He already knew. He was about to become the new clan leader. Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lieryuan had all withdrawn from the competition. From the Elder to the Fourth Elder, all had declared their support for him to succeed as the clan leader. His ascension to the leadership of the Fire Ant Tribe was now inevitable.

"Thank you, sister!" Lie Qing exclaimed.

"Ever since I came to the Fire Ant Tribe, I haven't done much; it has always been you working hard on my behalf." Lie Qing looked at Lie Xin, whose brow now bore a few lines of worry, and his heart swelled with gratitude.

Lie Xin smiled and motioned for Lie Qing to sit beside her. Her hand gently stroked his head and brushed past his ear. A tiny black shadow swiftly entered his ear and vanished.

"Silly child, you are my own brother; if I don't help you, who will I help?" Lie Xin said with a smile. "Helping you is only natural."

Lie Qing was even more moved by her words. Lie Xin's tone deepened as she whispered, "Of course, it's also natural that you should listen to me in the future, isn't it?"

Lie Qing paused, his expression changing slowly. "Yes... indeed it is."

"Go back now, get some early rest. Tomorrow, you will be the clan leader," Lie Xin smiled.

"Thank you, sister, you are truly wonderful!" Lie Qing, once again thrilled, turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Lie Xin's expression gradually sobered. "The Heart-Eating Ant is not very effective; it's easily detected by more advanced insect masters. The Mind-Bewitching Ant is more useful, able to change a person's beliefs without their awareness. From now on, I might not be the clan leader, but I am more than one."

Her face calm, Lie Xin recalled how she had discovered the Mind-Bewitching Ant. It was hidden in the cover of a book—a brilliant invention by a genius of the Holy Ant Tribe, who, knowing its terrifying potential, dared not continue his research.

Yet unwilling for his discovery to vanish, he hid it in the book cover, perhaps waiting for someone destined to find it. Who this genius was, Lie Xin did not know. But she did know that the Mind-Bewitching Ant was indeed terrifying, undetectable even to a platinum insect master.

However, changing the beliefs of such a master was still too difficult. Otherwise, she wouldn't have needed to go through so much trouble to secure the position of clan leader for Lie Qing. She could have just changed the beliefs of the clan leader of the Holy Ant Tribe.

Lie Xin looked out at the pitch-black rocky dome through the window, her gaze resolute. "Grandfather, Father, I will continue your legacy and elevate the Fire Ant Tribe to a major tribe!"

Just then, the pouch vibrated unexpectedly. Startled, Lie Xin pulled out the mirror shard inside. It was the only item in the pouch, and if it was vibrating, it had to be the shard. But how could it move?

As Lie Xin pondered, the shard suddenly displayed several lines of text. "'Orifice Opening Scripture' obtained. 'Fire Gu Refinement Method' obtained. 'Great Orifice Opening Scripture' not obtained. Requires the Holy Ant Cultivation Method."

Lie Xin was astonished. The 'Orifice Opening Scripture'? Wasn't that the secret scripture her father had given her? Could it be that her father's secret scripture actually came from this mirror shard?

She suddenly remembered that her grandfather, Lieryong, had only opened two Insect Orifices at the age of fifteen. Then, one day, he had suddenly opened a third Insect Orifice, stepping into the ranks of the gold insect masters.

"Could it be... that Grandfather had obtained this mirror shard back then?" Lie Xin's eyes widened in realization.

"The 'Orifice Opening Scripture' can open an additional Insect Orifice, so could the 'Great Orifice Opening Scripture' open yet another?" Lie Xin mused. "What does it mean that it requires the complete Holy Ant Cultivation Method?"

After pondering for a moment, Lie Xin wrote down everything she knew about the Holy Ant Cultivation Method on a piece of paper and placed it beside the mirror shard. The shard vibrated again, buzzing softly, and pushed the paper away. Words appeared on its surface: "A complete Holy Ant Cultivation Method is required."

Lie Xin frowned. To obtain the complete method, she would either need to compel a platinum insect master to write down what he knew, or she would have to shatter the Holy Ant bronze statue to seize the crystal within.

"There's plenty of time ahead; I have ample time," Lie Xin nodded to herself. She returned the mirror shard to the pouch and kept it close as she fell into a deep sleep.

Chu Xuan marveled quietly. His spiritual sense had grown significantly, enabling him to encompass the entirety of the Fire Ant Tribe. He had been observing Lie Xin's actions over these days, and her adeptness elicited his admiration.

"This woman is not simple. She possesses notable talent, excelling in resilience and wisdom. I hope you bring me surprises," Chu Xuan nodded slightly.

...

The following day, the Fire Ant Tribe held a grand ceremony for the inauguration of the new clan leader. Lie Zhaos' fourth son, Lie Qing, assumed the position, becoming the thirty-seventh clan leader of the Fire Ant Tribe.

Upon his inauguration, Lie Qing immediately announced a series of measures concerning the tribe's trade, military, and laws. Additionally, he introduced high-quality seedlings and resources acquired from the Holy Ant Tribe, including Iron Turtle, Earth-Carrying Dragon, and Bull Fungus Beetles, along with a hundred thousand silver ant crystals.

The previously chaotic Fire Ant Tribe quickly showed signs of thriving progress. However, unknown to all, the petite woman standing beside Lie Qing, her face always wreathed in smiles, was the true orchestrator behind all these changes.

Chapter 322: Too Many Corpse Puppets Can Be a Hassle

Blue Star.

Chu Xuan gazed at the cocooned Blood Queen Bee before him, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Success.

The Holy Ant Cultivation Method he had obtained from Lie Xin, although only covering the ranks from bronze to gold and not including platinum, was barely sufficient. After all, a gold-level demonic insect was roughly equivalent to a third-transformation Gu.

The Blood Queen Bee had now reached the level of a third-transformation Gu. It was the perfect candidate for enhancement using the Holy Ant Cultivation Method.

Over these days, Chu Xuan had his subordinates bring up numerous rare and precious natural resources, testing their medicinal properties one by one. Eventually, he selected a few materials and successfully evolved the bloodline of the Blood Queen Bee.

"What kind of ancient exotic insect is the Blood Queen Bee descended from?" he pondered. "It's unclear, but all signs point to some kind of bee. There aren't many bee species among the ancient exotic insects, only the Netherworld Bee and the Fiery Sun Bee Mother. Based on its traits, the Blood Queen Bee is more suited to follow the path of the Fiery Sun Bee Mother."

Chu Xuan's expression was one of eager anticipation.

One year later on Blue Star.

The Blood Queen Bee emerged from its cocoon. Its size had not changed significantly, but the patterns on its body had shifted from blood-red to dark golden stripes. The temperature it radiated had also increased significantly.

Seemingly influenced by the Blood Queen Bee, its offspring—the worker bees, warrior bees, fire bees, and poison bees—all began to undergo transformations.

The worker bees grew larger, converting flesh and blood into blood honey at a faster rate. The warrior bees doubled in size, their mandibles became sturdier, and their aggression increased. The fire bees flew faster, their flame sacs enlarged. The poison bees became more stealthy in flight, their venom sacs increased in capacity.

The same was true for the other bee types. Once the Blood Queen Bee was enhanced, they all followed suit.

Chu Xuan inspected them again and noted that the Blood Queen Bee's rank had skyrocketed to the late stages of the third transformation. It was just a step away from the fourth transformation.

"Excellent! Once it becomes a fourth-transformation Gu, it can even contend with Nascent Soul cultivators," Chu Xuan nodded repeatedly, his expression filled with contentment.

Now, the Fire Ant Tribe in the cave world, under Lie Xin's control, was thriving splendidly. To eventually annex the Holy Ant Tribe, they needed time to grow and strengthen. This period would definitely be one of laying low and avoiding major conflicts with the outside world.

He didn't need to pay them much attention for the time being.

With a single step, he returned to the Heavenly Infinite Sect.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

"Good afternoon, Sect Master!"

"Greetings, Great Sect Master!"

Wherever Chu Xuan went, disciples immediately bowed respectfully, their expressions filled with awe.

He was very pleased to see that the sect's training grounds and sparring platforms were bustling every day. The disciples were either busy cultivating or engaging in duels.

As for those specializing in logistics—alchemists, formation masters, talisman masters, and artifact refiners—they were also fervently dedicated to their crafts, tirelessly producing day and night.

Such a thriving scene pleased Chu Xuan immensely.

A healthy and proactive sect should be just like this! It would be a disservice to his hard work if they were lazy and slack.

"Sect Master! Have you come out of seclusion?" Wei Ji, accompanied by a few disciples, hurried past and, upon noticing Chu Xuan, quickly approached.

Chu Xuan smiled and nodded, "Just taking a leisurely look around. The disciples train so relentlessly, it gladdens my heart. As an elder, you must remind them to balance hard work with rest, for only then can they enjoy their cultivation."

Wei Ji felt embarrassed. Balance hard work with rest? Unless the rule that those who fail in their cultivation are turned into soul spirits or body puppets is abolished, who would dare to take it easy?

Though he thought this, Wei Ji dared not voice it out loud. He nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I will remind them."

"Where are you rushing off to, Elder Wei?" Chu Xuan asked with a smile.

Wei Ji pointed towards the sinister mountain range to the west, "I heard that Corpse Valley is overflowing with corpse puppets, and there has been another corpse transformation. I'm heading there to check on it. Also, a few disciples did not meet the cultivation standards again, so I'm taking them along to let them serve the sect in another form."

Wei Ji sighed, "When there are too many corpse puppets, some exceptionally violent ones tend to emerge. So having too many corpse puppets can indeed be a nuisance."

Chu Xuan nodded in agreement, "Go then."

Wei Ji and his disciples bowed and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

Corpse Valley, Ghost Hollow, Worm Den, and Poison Peak—these were the four precious sites of the Heavenly Infinite Sect, corresponding respectively to corpse puppets, ghosts, Gu insects, and poisons.

Chu Xuan wasn't particularly concerned about these places. Under the supervision of Shang Xingchen, these four sites were thoroughly developed. With these sites, the Heavenly Infinite Sect could maintain a virtuous cycle and continuous growth.

"Shang Xingchen, well done."

Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. After a stroll around the sect, he returned to his cave dwelling.

...

Heavenly Infinite Sect's plaza.

A blue streak of light cut across the sky, finally descending onto the plaza.

Liu Ruoshui landed gracefully, followed by numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators. These cultivators also landed and looked around in awe.

"Heavenly Infinite Sect truly has a magnificent atmosphere!"

"Look at that yin qi, how pure it is! My heavens, if I were to cultivate here, my progress would be incredibly fast!"

"Thank you, Elder Liu!"

Liu Ruoshui spoke calmly, "Zichu, these people are yours to allocate. Ensure they are placed in the fields where they excel the most."

"Yes," Yuan Zichu replied respectfully.

Liu Ruoshui continued expressionlessly, "Once you've completed this task, come to my cave. The path of talisman-making is profound and vast; we must discuss it continuously until exhaustion to truly grasp the essence of talismans."

"Understood," Yuan Zichu smiled and nodded.

"It's rare that Elder Liu would condescend to discuss the path of talismans with a Golden Core cultivator."

"You don't know this, but a scholar does not concern themselves with rank. What harm is there in discussing talismans with someone less advanced?"

"I've learned something today. Could I ask Fellow Daoist Song to teach me the way of the Gu insects?"

"One hundred small spiritual stones per session, non-negotiable."

"You... really..."

Yuan Zichu called several Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Heavenly Infinite Sect over and arranged for paper and pen. Then he waved his hand, "Come one by one, register your names."

Casually, Yuan Zichu instructed, "Name, age, cultivation level, spiritual root quality, spirit body, specialties."

A brash-looking Foundation Establishment cultivator stepped forward, "Zhang San, forty-nine years old, Foundation Establishment second level, mid-grade fire spiritual root, no spirit body, skilled in combat."

Yuan Zichu waved his hand, "Average aptitude, go manage the sect's properties."

"Next."

A humble and respectful Foundation Establishment cultivator approached, "Wang Er, thirty-nine years old, Foundation Establishment first level, high-grade water spiritual root, no spirit body, skilled in corpse refining."

Yuan Zichu nodded, "Good, go to Corpse Valley."

"Next."

The Foundation Establishment cultivators proceeded in an orderly fashion.

An older cultivator with graying temples stepped forward, "Song Junjie, sixty years old, Foundation Establishment ninth level, mid-grade ice spiritual root, Water Ghost spirit body, skilled in Gu insects, corpse refining, ghost nurturing, and adept in combat."

Chapter 323: Seventh Level of the Nascent Soul Stage

Yuan Zichu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He had some recollection of this man. It seemed he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Black Dragon Mountain of the former Hundred Refinement Sect, a capable assistant under He Liang back in the day.

It was surprising that he had managed to cultivate to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment with a mid-grade spiritual root. It seemed he had stumbled upon quite a few fortunate opportunities. Moreover, he was proficient in so many skills.

"Not bad, you'll stay by my side," Yuan Zichu nodded slightly.

Song Junjie nodded repeatedly, delighted. He thought to himself, "Old Qian, I've finally made it to the Heavenly Infinite Sect, too bad you died and couldn't see this. With my spiritual roots, it's unlikely I'll break through to the Golden Core in this lifetime. I might as well spend my days here in this great sect."

Soon, the batch of Foundation Establishment cultivators had all been registered.

Yuan Zichu slapped his forehead, "Oh right, there's one more very important thing. You newcomers need to remember quite a few rules. But the most important is the sect's new rule. Come with me."

Moments later, Yuan Zichu led them to a giant stele in the sect plaza. This stele was engraved with the new rules of the Heavenly Infinite Sect.

"Take a good look, these are the sect's new rules. We do not harbor the idle at Heavenly Infinite Sect!" Yuan Zichu stated calmly.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators stepped forward one by one. They had thought they were securing a respectable future, only to find rules that made them feel like they had walked into a prison.

Song Junjie shuddered at these rules, the old fears of being dominated by a ruthless master resurfacing.

"Did I come to the wrong place? Is this not Heavenly Infinite Sect but Black Dragon Mountain? Or is everywhere just Black Dragon Mountain?"

Unable to hold back, one cultivator raised his hand, "Elder, is it too late to leave now?"

Yuan Zichu replied with a benign smile, "If you want to leave now, you only have two options."

The cultivator quickly asked, "Where?"

Yuan Zichu's smile widened, "Turn left for Corpse Valley, turn right for Ghost Hollow."

The cultivator paused, "To be an overseer?"

Yuan Zichu's smile became even warmer, "To be material."

The cultivator recoiled, "I'm not going anywhere, the sect is my home, I love my home!"

Yuan Zichu nodded in satisfaction, "Anyone else wants to leave?"

The cultivators shook their heads vigorously, as if their heads were on springs.

Yuan Zichu was even more pleased, "I see, you all want to contribute to the sect, I'm very pleased. Disciples will soon take you to where you need to go. Always remember the sect's new rules! Song Junjie, come with me."

The group of Foundation Establishment cultivators called out in unison, "Farewell, Uncle Master Yuan!"

Following Yuan Zichu, Song Junjie couldn't help but ask in a low voice after walking for a while, "Uncle Master Yuan, do you remember Elder He Liang from Black Dragon Mountain?"

Yuan Zichu nodded, "I remember."

"It's because you were from Black Dragon Mountain of the Hundred Refinement Sect that I decided to give you a chance and keep you by my side," Yuan Zichu explained.

Song Junjie nodded appreciatively and then asked, "What happened to Elder He later?"

Yuan Zichu sighed lightly, "During the battle at Myriad Island Lake, Fellow Daoist He was impersonated by a demonic cultivator. The two fought, and ultimately He fell into the lake and disappeared. To this day, there has been no word of him, and it's presumed he perished in that battle."

Scratching his head, Song Junjie mused, "Seeing these new rules of the sect, they remind me of... the Black Dragon Mountain. Could it be that Elder He isn't dead and has come to Heavenly Infinite Sect?"

Yuan Zichu's expression remained calm, "It's best not to ask questions that shouldn't be asked, for both your sake and mine."

Song Junjie shivered, "Understood, thank you for the reminder, Uncle Master Yuan."

Yuan Zichu casually said, "I will arrange your accommodation. You'll need to settle in by yourself as I must dive into studying the path of talismans with Elder Liu, I can't keep her waiting."

"Yes, yes, thank you for your support, Uncle Master Yuan!" Song Junjie responded, nodding repeatedly.

...

Reincarnation Divine Sect.

Situ Kong received a divine sense jade slip from his subordinate and pressed it to his forehead. After absorbing the information, his brows furrowed deeply.

"This Chu Xuan, initially just a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator from Heavenly Seal Sect, disappeared along with the destruction of the gate. When he reappeared, he had become a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator capable of killing Zhao Kai? How is this possible? What about his Golden Core phase? Such a person can't be unknown!"

Situ Kong glared at his subordinate, who shrank back, "Holy Son, we couldn't find any more information..."

A thought flashed in his mind, "It's possible this person changed his identity and didn't act under the name Chu Xuan."

Situ Kong nodded, "Very likely. Have someone gather information on Golden Core cultivators from the same period. If we compare carefully, we will eventually find out what identity he used back then."

"Yes! I will take my leave," the subordinate hurried off to gather more information.

Situ Kong tapped on the stone wall thoughtfully, "Relying solely on this channel isn't enough; I need to find another way to gather information."

...

Mystic Azure Star, three years had swiftly passed.

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan had spent an equivalent of thirty years in cultivation on Blue Star. With the aid of a massive amount of Ice Soul, he finally advanced to the seventh level of the Nascent Soul stage.

Now a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, he was also nearing the thirty-seventh level in physical cultivation.

Chu Xuan reached out his hand, and a chillingly cold ice pillar burst from the ground. This was the Ice God Pillar spell he had mastered earlier. Now that he had reached the seventh layer of the Nascent Soul stage, the ice pillars he could summon were significantly larger and sturdier than before.

With just one pillar, he could annihilate a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Explode!"

Chu Xuan's tightly clenched fist suddenly opened, and the Ice God Pillar burst apart, transforming into hundreds of thousands of fist-sized ice shards, densely filling every inch of space.

"Condense!"

With another fierce grasp, Chu Xuan's hand pulled the ice shards from all directions, merging them into airtight ice walls surrounding him.

"Hu, Long, Bao, come and spar."

Chu Xuan released the three corpse puppets from the Heavenly Corpse Tower. Over time, Bao had also reached the realm of a Corpse King. Now all three of his corpse puppets had become Corpse Kings.

"Master, I'm coming in!" Hu roared with battle fervor.

The three corpses attacked from different directions. Thinking it over, Chu Xuan decided to also release the Dryland Earth Dragon.

He diverted a portion of his spiritual sense to control the Dryland Earth Dragon as it assaulted the fourth ice wall.

Boom, boom, boom!

The relentless attacks from the three corpses and the dragon kept the ice walls trembling. Ice shards clattered to the ground.

Spiritual Qi surged wildly from within Chu Xuan, continuously maintaining the ice walls from being shattered.

After a quarter of an hour, signs of breaking finally appeared on the ice walls.

Hu laughed loudly, "Master, the ice wall is about to break, I'm coming in!"

Chu Xuan chuckled softly and exhaled a breath of Nascent Soul essence.

Instantly, the ice walls returned to their original state, now even thicker and colder than before. When Hu and Bao threw their punches, not only did they fail to breach the defense, but the rebounding force also sent them flying back a great distance.

Looking down, they noticed that their arms were now coated in a thick layer of frost!

Chapter 324: Soul Transformation Secret Method

Long, lacking intelligence, continued to mindlessly smash away. However, he was a corpse puppet, and his expertise was not in such brute force tactics. If even Hu and Dalong could not breach the ice wall's defenses, how could he?

"This Extreme Cold Ice Barrier is truly remarkable. Its defensive capabilities are astounding."

Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. This was the new spell he had mastered upon reaching the seventh level of the "Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll." The Extreme Cold Ice Barrier.

This spell, derived from the Ice God Pillar, often catches one's enemies off guard. In fact, the Ice God Pillar alone equates to three different spells.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but admire. The "Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll" truly was a treasured technique of the Reincarnation Divine Sect, capable of being practiced from the Nascent Soul stage to the Deity Transformation stage. It was indeed very effective! No other technique came with spells that had such versatile abilities.

"By my calculations, the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect should be sending someone to collect pills and talismans soon," he pondered. "A perfect opportunity to update and iterate the formations I have at hand. Also a chance to find out just how the current conflict between the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect and the Reincarnation Divine Sect is unfolding."

Chu Xuan thought deeply. Stepping forward, he returned to the Heavenly Infinite Sect.

Indeed, a few days later, a group arrived at Mystic Azure Star. However, they were not from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect.

"Exquisite Treasures Alliance?" Chu Xuan frowned as he watched the enormous flying ship on the horizon. He was familiar with this power.

The Exquisite Treasures Alliance, originating from Treasure Star, was a sixth-level cultivation sect just like the Reincarnation Divine Sect and Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. However, the structure of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance was more relaxed, and its members seldom engaged in combat.

From top to bottom, the monks of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance enjoyed doing business—a trait seemingly ingrained in their very souls.

Moreover, they preferred to appear in the territories of warring factions to peddle treasures. Chaos, for them, was an opportunity to amass great wealth. Many conflicts between powers escalated further because of the presence of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance.

Some powers coveted the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, aiming to plunder their caravans. Yet, these attempts invariably failed. A force that dared to trade treasures between warring parties was not one to be underestimated. Indeed, due to the formidable strength of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, many sects could do nothing against them.

The massive flying ship, its surface carved with giant pavilions, was a symbolic emblem of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. They were especially adept at constructing these star-crossing ships—large cargo capacity, strong defenses, and swift speeds.

The Heavenly Infinite Sect had inherited the legacy of the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace and possessed such a flying ship, capable of navigating the stars. However, in terms of size and speed, it was far inferior to this ship.

Especially when it came to the range of travel, it could only manage a short journey from Mystic Azure Star to Blood River Star, incapable of venturing deeper into the vast expanse of the cosmos.

"Master, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's caravan wishes to conduct trade on Mystic Azure Star," Bai Jinkun reported as he quickly approached Chu Xuan. He presented a token with a gesture of respect.

Chu Xuan glanced down at it. The token was unmistakably that of a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. The other party had not lied.

Chu Xuan's brow furrowed. Originally, he had not intended to allow the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's flying ship to dock at Mystic Azure Star, but with such a claim in hand, he had no choice but to grant permission.

After all, he was nominally affiliated with the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. To stand by and do nothing while Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's cultivators were harmed would tarnish the reputation of the Heavenly Infinite Sect.

"Allow them to trade. Have them anchor their ship three thousand miles outside the Heavenly Infinite Sect," Chu Xuan instructed. "Tell the head of the caravan to wait for me in the main hall of the sect. As for the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's cultivators, see to their injuries. Oh, and also bring Elder Shang to the main hall. I want him there as well."

Chu Xuan spoke casually. Dealing with the sharp minds of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance required a similarly sharp mind in return.

"Understood, I'll go right away," Bai Jinkun replied with a nod.

Moments later, Chu Xuan, dressed in formal attire, arrived at the Heavenly Infinite Sect's main hall. As soon as he entered, he saw Shang Xingchen engaged in lively conversation with a portly middle-aged man.

Upon noticing Chu Xuan's arrival, Shang Xingchen immediately introduced, "Master Jin, this is Chu Xuan, the Sect Master of our Heavenly Infinite Sect."

Master Jin, giving Chu Xuan a thorough once-over, clasped his hands and bowed slightly. "I am Jin Dafu, the head of the Golden Dragon Caravan of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. It is an honor to meet Sect Master Chu."

Chu Xuan smiled and nodded. "Ah, Master Jin. Please, have a seat."

He took his place at the head of the hall before inquiring, "What exactly happened? Could you please explain everything, Master Jin?"

Jin Dafu nodded. "Not long ago, our Golden Dragon Caravan was conducting business near Blood River Star and Dawn Star. As we were heading toward Mystic Azure Star, we stumbled upon a severely damaged flying shuttle. Upon approaching to offer assistance, we discovered it belonged to a team of Heaven Shaking Divine Sect cultivators, who were en route to Mystic Azure Star."

"Seeing that we were already on our way here, I thought it best to bring them along." Jin Dafu chuckled. "Speaking of which, the last time I came to Mystic Azure, this place was still under the control of Feather Transformation Heaven Palace. Now, the flag has changed, and it has become the Heavenly Infinite Sect."

Chu Xuan smiled. "Sect forces will always decline, and dynasties are bound to change. Master Jin need not be so surprised."

Jin Dafu nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, you are right."

With a casual wave of his hand, Chu Xuan signaled for tea to be served. Jin Dafu took a sip of the steaming tea and nodded slightly. "A taste of bitterness with a hint of sweetness; this tea is rare indeed."

Chu Xuan smiled. "I wonder, Master Jin, what treasures have you brought to my Heavenly Infinite Sect this time?"

"I've heard that the Exquisite Treasures Alliance excels in selling shoes to the barefoot and combs to the bald," he remarked with a grin.

Jin Dafu laughed heartily. "That is but a stereotype of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance in the outside world. True business is always built on mutual consent."

With a grand wave of his hand, two lists appeared before both Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen.

"Please take a look, gentlemen," Jin Dafu continued. "This is our merchandise list. Should anything catch your interest, simply let me know. Furthermore, our Golden Dragon Caravan also offers a pre-order service. As long as the client can afford it, there is nothing our Golden Dragon Caravan cannot procure!"

Chu Xuan scanned the list and immediately noticed something that caught his attention. Shang Xingchen beside him also spotted the same item.

The two of them exclaimed in unison, "The Soul Transformation Secret Method?"

The Soul Transformation realm was a special stage that could only be cultivated after completing the Nascent Soul stage. However, it did not offer any direct increase in strength and required additional resources to practice.

The Soul Transformation Secret Method was also exceedingly rare and costly. The sole benefit of cultivating this unique realm was an increased success rate when attempting to break through to the Deity Transformation stage.

For this reason, only top-tier prodigies from major sects typically pursued this path.

Chapter 325: Effortful in Pretending, Acting Quite Convincingly

Chu Xuan had long been aware of the existence of the Soul Transformation realm. After he searched through Leng Hanshuang's soul, he had learned about it.

Originally, if Leng Hanshuang had perfected her Nascent Soul stage, the Reincarnation Divine Sect's out-of-body ancestor, Wen Lingtian, would have granted her the Soul Transformation Secret Method. However, Leng Hanshuang had delivered her head to him instead.

In Chu Xuan's view, the Nascent Soul stage had always been divided into two realms. The first was the Nascent Soul realm, the stage where the Nascent Soul gradually grew stronger.

The second was the Soul Transformation realm, the stage where the Nascent Soul began to transform. This served as a foundation for the eventual condensation of the soul into the primordial spirit.

However, with the passage of time and the drastic changes in the world, many cultivators found that, in order to reach the Nascent Soul stage, they were already running out of their lifespan.

How could they afford to expend more resources and lifespan to cultivate an additional realm, just for a slight increase in the success rate of breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage?

To many Nascent Soul cultivators in the present day, even advancing to the mid or late stages of Nascent Soul was a far greater concern than attempting to break through to the Deity Transformation stage.

Of course, others might reject the Soul Transformation Secret Method. But Chu Xuan wanted it.

For him, a success rate of ninety-nine percent felt like no success at all. Since cultivating the Soul Transformation realm would increase his chances of breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage, it was only logical that he should pursue it.

He could tell that Shang Xingchen likely shared the same thought.

Jin Dafu smiled slightly. "Indeed, the Soul Transformation Secret Method is quite rare. This particular method of mine comes from an ancient cultivation cave in the extraterritorial battlefield. Compared to those from the Reincarnation Divine Sect, the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, and our Exquisite Treasures Alliance, this ancient method consumes more resources and has some detrimental effects on the heavens, but it's cheap."

He raised three fingers. "It only costs three thousand Great Spirit Stones."

Chu Xuan cursed inwardly, thinking the price was a highway robbery, but his expression remained calm. "I'm not buying, just inquiring."

Shang Xingchen nodded in agreement. "Same here."

Jin Dafu chuckled and said no more.

Aside from the Soul Transformation Secret Method, none of the other items caught Chu Xuan's eye. However, at Shang Xingchen's suggestion, he did purchase some materials for refining corpses, ghosts, puppets, and poisons, spanning from the Qi Refining stage to the Golden Core stage. He nearly forgot that, after all, he was still the sect master of a sect.

"I've been so kind to my disciples, always thinking of them in times like this. They will surely cultivate diligently and repay the sect with their utmost loyalty," Chu Xuan thought, a sense of satisfaction in his heart.

Jin Dafu clasped his hands and bowed. "Esteemed sirs, would it be possible for my Golden Dragon Caravan to set up a temporary Myriad Treasures Pavilion on your sect's plaza?"

"Rest assured," he continued, "we will operate only during the day and will withdraw to the ship by night. We will never wander aimlessly around your sect."

"I, Jin Dafu, have been in business for many years and understand such basic etiquette," he added with a smile.

Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen exchanged a glance and both nodded in agreement.

Jin Dafu let out a sigh of relief. "That's wonderful. Thank you both, I will take my leave."

He quickly stood up, giving a slight bow before turning to leave, his face always bearing a warm and amiable smile.

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. Jin Dafu was a master at that.

Once Jin Dafu had departed, Chu Xuan turned to Shang Xingchen. "What's your take on this?"

Shang Xingchen replied calmly, "Seven parts are lies, three parts are truth. As for which is true and which is false, I can't tell yet."

Chu Xuan nodded slightly.

The sudden appearance of Jin Dafu's Golden Dragon Caravan on Mystic Azure Star raised suspicions. As a seasoned individual, it was only natural to speculate on the motives behind each of their movements.

Before Chu Xuan could speak, Shang Xingchen added, "Rest assured, Sect Master. I will keep an eye on Jin Dafu."

Chu Xuan nodded with satisfaction. "That's good. Let's go. It's time to meet that fellow daoist Zhong Hui."

Moments later, the two arrived at a side hall and met Zhong Hui from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. His wounds had been treated, and he was now sitting cross-legged to recuperate. Upon seeing Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen, he immediately rose to his feet.

Chu Xuan waved his hand. "Fellow Daoist Zhong, there's no need for such formalities. Tell us what happened."

Zhong Hui gritted his teeth in anger. "To be honest, I was ordered by my master to lead a group of cultivators and travel aboard a flying ship to Mystic Azure Star to collect pills and talismans. But just as we were about to reach Mystic Azure, we were ambushed by cultivators from the Reincarnation Divine Sect. Our ship was severely damaged, and nearly all of our cultivators were killed. We barely managed to survive by sacrificing the ship. We later encountered Fellow Daoist Jin and his Golden Dragon Caravan. They gave us a lift, and that's how we made it here to Mystic Azure Star."

As Zhong Hui spoke, his eyes flashed with intense, almost tangible rage.

"I swear, I will skin those Reincarnation Divine Sect scoundrels alive and scatter their bones to the winds!" he spat.

Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen comforted him for a while before taking their leave.

As they stepped out of the side hall, Chu Xuan looked at Shang Xingchen.

Shang Xingchen shook his head. "He's trying really hard to pretend."

Chu Xuan chuckled. "His acting is quite convincing."

The two exchanged a knowing smile before turning to leave.

Lying in front of them was no simple task; it required some real skill.

Jin Dafu was a born merchant, truly an expert in the art of deception. His eyes, his expressions—there wasn't a hint of a flaw to be seen.

Zhong Hui, on the other hand, was far less adept. He had a lot to learn about the craft of lying.

Aboard the Golden Dragon Caravan's flying ship, Jin Dafu watched the puppets below, lost in thought.

On the ship, it was only him and five female Foundation Establishment cultivators. All the other work was entirely handled by the puppets.

"This Chu Xuan is not as ordinary as he appears," Jin Dafu mused. "Money is not easily earned from Situ Kong."

He paced back and forth on the deck. "Despite my indirect probing in the main hall, I haven't been able to ascertain this person's true strength. He's not the type to show off either—this is truly troublesome… Looks like I'll have to take direct action. Only by taking action can I see his real capabilities."

Jin Dafu smiled faintly.

Chu Xuan was certainly on guard against him at first. There was no rush; waiting a few more days before acting would be fine.

…

The puppets completed the temporary Myriad Treasures Pavilion within a day.

The cultivators of Heavenly Infinite Sect immediately flocked to the pavilion, marveling at the vast array of treasures the Golden Dragon Caravan had brought. The variety was staggering, enough to dazzle anyone.

The items brought by the Golden Dragon Caravan were all treasures that Mystic Azure Star had never seen before. Many of Heavenly Infinite Sect's cultivators began trading without hesitation.

Day after day, the flow of people never ceased.

The Golden Dragon Caravan's cultivators were exceptionally disciplined. Jin Dafu, along with the five female cultivators, would appear at Myriad Treasures Pavilion every day at the early morning to oversee transactions. By the evening, they would return to the Golden Dragon's flying ship.

They never arrived early, nor did they leave late.

As the days passed, the cultivators' vigilance began to drop.

That night, a shadow glided through the darkness, silently making its way toward Infinite Island.

Carrying a token of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, the figure passed through the island's array without obstruction.

Moments later, two shadows met. The sparse moonlight briefly illuminated their faces.

It was Jin Dafu and Zhong Hui.

Jin Dafu inquired, "Have you secured the position?"

Zhong Hui chuckled strangely. "Don't worry. I've arranged to meet Chu Xuan by the Flying Fish Lake. He didn't see through my disguise and believed every word I'd said. This Chu Xuan, even if he is strong, is no more than the sixth layer of Nascent Soul. With both of us attacking together, he'll be no match for us."

Chapter 326: Showdown

Jin Dafu spoke calmly, "Don't underestimate him. This person is quite elusive. Not only did he hide his strength well, but he even managed to kill Zhao Kai from Feather Transformation Heaven Palace. He must have some hidden trump cards."

Zhong Hui sneered, "Zhao Kai was just a Nascent Soul Sixth Layer cultivator from a fifth-tier sect. How could he possibly compare to us? Both of us are Nascent Soul Sixth Layer cultivators from a sixth-tier sect of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. Even if he was in the same realm, how could a cultivator from a fifth-tier sect compare to one from a sixth-tier sect?"

Jin Dafu's brow furrowed slightly at Zhong Hui's dismissive tone.

The Exquisite Treasures Alliance was internally divided into several factions, but broadly speaking, it could be split into two major groups.

One faction was the merchant faction, like Jin Dafu's. They had made their fortune through trade, and wherever there were opportunities to seize vast amounts of wealth, they would dive in.

The other faction was the territorial faction. At first, the merchant faction had hired cultivators to guard them with large sums of money. Over time, the territorial faction integrated into the Exquisite Treasures Alliance and gained considerable influence. The main goal of the territorial faction was to expand the territory of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, occupying more cultivation planets.

Zhong Hui originally belonged to the territorial faction. However, after violating certain rules, he was forced to flee. Jin Dafu, having known Zhong Hui for a long time, had taken him in.

Jin Dafu had always known Zhong Hui's arrogant and haughty nature, so he didn't mind it much. Zhong Hui looked down on Chu Xuan, but Jin Dafu thought highly of him.

Anyone who could surprise Situ Kong and be worth the expense of having his strength investigated would not be a person with an empty reputation.

...

A moment later, by Flying Fish Lake.

It was deep into the night, and the lake was completely quiet. Most of the flying fish had settled to the bottom of the lake to sleep.

Only a lone figure stood quietly by the lake's edge.

Zhong Hui walked briskly toward him. "Sect Leader, you are punctual."

Chu Xuan turned around, his voice deep, "Is what you said true? The ones who attacked you were from the Heavenly Blood Alliance?"

Zhong Hui lowered his voice, "Indeed! Now that I think back, although those people donned the robes of the Reincarnation Sect and used other spells, they still couldn't hide the blood-stained scent that clung to their robes.

The Heavenly Blood Alliance was sent by the Divine Sect to the battlefield, suffering heavy casualties. They likely hold a deep grudge against the Divine Sect! With the Heavenly Blood Alliance stationed on Mystic Azure, I was afraid of alarming them, so I invited you here tonight in secret."

Chu Xuan furrowed his brows deeply. "I didn't expect it to be the Heavenly Blood Alliance's handiwork."

Zhong Hui whispered, "Please, Sect Leader Chu, contact the Divine Sect directly and ask them to send someone to rescue me. If not, the Heavenly Blood Alliance will surely kill me to silence me."

Chu Xuan nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, they will definitely try to kill you to silence you."

As the words fell from his lips, an invisible divine sense giant hand suddenly struck into Zhong Hui's sea of consciousness!

Zhong Hui let out a muffled groan, and blood immediately started flowing from his nostrils. He instinctively retreated rapidly.

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. Your spirit sense is quite strong to be able to withstand my Sky-Tearing Cold Palm."

Had it been anyone else, this attack would have been enough to severely damage their soul, freezing them in place for a long while. In that time, Chu Xuan could have easily killed them.

This Zhong Hui truly had some strength.

Zhong Hui staggered back a few steps before crashing into a thick wall with a loud bang.

He froze in place.

Where were the walls by Flying Fish Lake?

Instinctively, he activated his defensive magic treasure.

In an instant, his body was enveloped by radiant golden armor, fusing onto him with lightning speed.

The moment the armor completed its formation, two massive hands like iron pincers slammed down from either side. They gripped his arms tightly and wrenched them apart with tremendous force.

Zhong Hui was both shocked and enraged.

Such immense power!

He let out a furious roar, unleashing a burst of golden sword light that shot backward with overwhelming force.

A muffled grunt echoed from behind.

The two hands gripping his arms finally released their hold.

Zhong Hui quickly turned around, taking advantage of the light to look behind him.

There, he saw an imposing and mighty Corpse King standing tall!

"Ah, so you figured it out long ago."

Zhong Hui wiped away the blood from his nose and glared fiercely at Chu Xuan.

He growled, "Jin Dafu, come out! We'll kill this bastard together!"

Chu Xuan smiled faintly, "He won't be able to help you."

Zhong Hui spun around to look.

Not far away, a battle was indeed breaking out. The two figures were none other than Jin Dafu and Shang Xingchen.

Zhong Hui's face darkened further. The other side had been prepared. Was this battle even winnable?

But soon, his expression turned cold. Whether or not they could win would depend on whether they fought or not.

This was the Heavenly Infinite Sect's territory. To survive, he had to end this fight quickly and escape. It was a do-or-die situation now, a fight to the death!

Chu Xuan smiled slightly, "Don't worry, I've set up soundproof and light-blocking formations around Flying Fish Lake. Everything happening here is invisible to the outside world."

He raised his hand and squeezed it sharply.

Zhong Hui instantly felt an overwhelming threat, though he couldn't pinpoint its origin.

Boom!

In the next instant, a massive ice pillar shot up from the ground.

Even though Zhong Hui reacted quickly, the ice pillar struck him with tremendous force.

"Explode!"

Chu Xuan's voice dropped coldly.

The ice pillar shattered with a tremendous explosion, turning into countless shards of ice that surged toward Zhong Hui, threatening to envelop him entirely.

Zhong Hui's brow furrowed. He had traveled far and wide, encountering many techniques from the Wheel of Reincarnation and the Shocking Heaven Sect, so he instantly recognized the technique: Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll.

Where had Chu Xuan learned this technique?

However, in the critical moment of the fight, Zhong Hui had no time to think further. He immediately drew out a flaming fan, its flames roaring with intensity.

He swung the fan with great force.

The blazing flames shot out, swiftly melting the ice shards around him.

The steam billowed up.

But to Zhong Hui's surprise, the flames only melted a few yards' worth of ice shards around him. The farther ice shards remained frozen solid, showing no signs of melting at all.

"So cold…"

Zhong Hui looked around, his face turning grim as he saw that the entire area around Flying Fish Lake was shrouded in an unnatural chill.

The lake's surface had already started to freeze over!

When had this much coldness spread?

There was no doubt about it—his opponent had quietly activated another magic treasure!

Zhong Hui had guessed correctly.

Just out of his view, the Yin Frost Bottle was releasing a heavy, sinister cold mist, filling the area with a bitterly cold aura.

Within this range, all ice-based techniques and magic treasures would be enhanced.

"Damn it…"

Zhong Hui cursed inwardly and immediately threw out two Nascent Soul-level talismans—Sun Fire Talismans.

Sun Fire was the fire of the sun, symbolizing intensity, heat, and explosion. It was the perfect choice to clear away the ice shards surrounding him.

Zhong Hui knew that staying within the ice shards would only lead to his downfall. He had to break free if he wanted any chance of turning the tide.

Boom, boom, boom!

The Sun Fire Talismans exploded with violent flames, filling the air with a sea of fire.

The ice shards were rapidly melted, creating a narrow path.

Zhong Hui didn't hesitate. He stepped lightly into the air and immediately consumed his Nascent Soul essence, activating his teleportation technique to disappear in a flash.

Chapter 327: You Dare to Kill the Holy Son

Chu Xuan saw Zhong Hui's attempt to flee and immediately consumed more Nascent Soul essence to pursue.

At the same time, he made a subtle gesture with his mind. Two Icy Sun Crossbows immediately began to charge up with energy.

Zhong Hui, grinning inwardly, thought, Just as I expected. Now we're going to fight at close range.

With a fierce growl, his blood essence surged, and his muscles bulged as unimaginable strength roared within him, like a raging dragon.

His right hand, which had been concealed in his sleeve, coiled tightly, gathering force for the strike.

The moment Chu Xuan entered his range, Zhong Hui's fist shot forward with a violent burst.

"Spirit Slayer Hand!"

He slammed his palm forward. Even the air itself seemed to buckle under the tremendous pressure, creaking loudly.

Chu Xuan chuckled lightly, "Not running, but coming at me instead?"

He raised an eyebrow, his expression amused. "Seems like you have confidence in your physical strength."

"Funny," he continued. "So do I."

In an instant, his right fist shot up, muscles swelling with power as his veins bulged like dragons. His entire body seemed to crackle with energy as he unleashed a mighty blow.

Great Extinguishing Thunder Fist!

The two forces collided with a tremendous explosion. The sound of cracking echoed through the night.

Zhong Hui's right arm shattered like fragile tofu under the immense force. The spiritual power from the punch continued to surge, slamming into his shoulder with catastrophic impact.

Boom!

His shoulder exploded in a shower of blood, bones, and flesh. Before Zhong Hui could even register the pain, two beams of chilling light shot from the Icy Sun Crossbows, piercing into his chest.

He let out a blood-curdling scream, plummeting toward the lake's surface. But before he could crash into the water, a shadow appeared and caught him in midair.

The shadow quickly consumed the dismembered limbs and fragments of his body as it hovered above. The faint light of the moon illuminated a grotesque yet satisfied smile.

It was Bao. He held Zhong Hui by the neck, dragging him in front of Chu Xuan.

At that moment, Zhong Hui's gaze was filled with fear, as if looking upon a demon from hell.

This man was terrifying. Not only was his Qi cultivation realm above his own, but his body cultivation was also far superior. And the worst part?

He cultivated both Qi and body at the same time—and was equally strong in both fields!

Zhong Hui cursed inwardly, I've never encountered someone who's equally strong in both Qi and body cultivation! If I'd known this, I would never have accepted this mission!

Chu Xuan casually tossed Zhong Hui into Blue Star, instructing Bao to guard him.

Turning his attention to the ongoing battle between Shang Xingchen and Jin Dafu, he saw that Shang Xingchen had clearly hidden his true strength. He was suppressing Jin Dafu throughout the fight. It seemed that, even without Chu Xuan's intervention, it was only a matter of time before Jin Dafu would be captured.

Once Chu Xuan finished his battle, both Shang Xingchen and Jin Dafu took note. They were both visibly shocked.

Shang Xingchen was surprised at how many diverse methods Chu Xuan had at his disposal. Jin Dafu, on the other hand, was more observant. He immediately noticed the chilling aura that had pervaded the Flying Fish Lake.

Yin Frost Bottle!

"It's the Yin Frost Bottle!" Jin Dafu realized.

He had a deep memory of this item, because it was Leng Hanshuang who had asked him to purchase the precious magic treasure!

At that moment, everything clicked for him. No wonder Situ Kong had told him that Chu Xuan had never experienced the Golden Core stage. This person must have assumed a false identity when going to the extraterritorial battlefield, and it was there that he killed Leng Hanshuang!

The entire picture came together in Jin Dafu's mind.

"I need to... immediately report this to Situ Kong!"

With a furious shout, he threw out a puppet.

This puppet was far larger than the previous one—its height easily surpassed two zhang!

Shang Xingchen's eyes sharpened. He struck out, his massive ghostly hand wielding a giant sword to strike.

However, all he managed was a shallow dent on the puppet's surface. The blade didn't even break through its defense. To his surprise, within the blink of an eye, the dent had already healed!

Shang Xingchen's expression stiffened. This is the Giant Rock Puppet!

No wonder Jin Dafu dared to make a move; he had brought this treasure with him.

The Giant Rock Puppet was one of Exquisite Treasures Alliance's most renowned creations. It was a giant, with almost impenetrable defenses. Due to the special materials used in its construction, it was especially resistant to Spiritual Qi-based attacks.

Even Deity Transformation cultivators struggled against it. It wasn't that it couldn't be destroyed, but it was incredibly difficult to deal with. The only type of cultivator who could deal with the Giant Rock Puppet effectively was a Body Cultivator. If hundreds of these giant puppets appeared at once, they would easily be able to crush a fifth-tier cultivation sect.

Taking advantage of the moment when Shang Xingchen was occupied by the Giant Rock Puppet, Jin Dafu immediately consumed Nascent Soul essence to escape. He also pulled out a sound transmission jade, hoping to send a message while he still had the chance.

Seeing this action, Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. He figured that Jin Dafu must have realized something, which was why he was so eager to send the message without hesitation.

"Stop him!" Chu Xuan commanded decisively.

Without hesitation, Chu Xuan activated his Instantaneous Movement. Having absorbed the Heavenly Dao Golden Lotus, his Nascent Soul allowed him to cover distances far beyond that of cultivators of the same level.

In the blink of an eye, he closed the gap, appearing less than twenty zhang from Jin Dafu.

Jin Dafu's eyes nearly bulged out in frustration. So fast! He was unable to send the message in time!

"Chu Xuan, you dare to kill the Holy Son of the Reincarnation Divine Sect, this news will bring about great calamity for you!" Jin Dafu yelled in desperation. "Spare me, and I will swear a Heart Demon Oath to never reveal this to anyone!"

Shang Xingchen, hearing this, raised an eyebrow.

Chu Xuan sneered. This person is just stalling for time.

"Die!" Chu Xuan declared, his hand snapping into a fist.

Jin Dafu thought the Ice God Pillar would appear again and immediately summoned a massive shield to block underneath him. However, the Ice God Pillar did not materialize. Instead, a pitch-black chain shot out of the night, its speed almost impossible to track.

Jin Dafu felt a sudden, agonizing pain as both his body and soul were lashed by the chain. It was a sensation of intense agony, as though his very essence was being torn apart.

"Ah!" he screamed in pain as his body was flung toward the lake below.

Chu Xuan watched as Jin Dafu plummeted toward the lake but made no move to pursue. Instead, he shot forward into the dark night. He had noticed that although the Evil Soul Chain had struck Jin Dafu, it had not absorbed any blood.

Thump!

Jin Dafu crashed onto the lake's surface. But upon landing, he transformed into a puppet that vaguely resembled him. The puppet was already riddled with countless tiny wounds, clearly rendered unusable. The real Jin Dafu had escaped into the night.

However, Chu Xuan was relentless. In the blink of an eye, he was already on Jin Dafu's heels.

Seeing Chu Xuan close the distance, Jin Dafu's heart sank, and terror gripped him. His soul felt as though it had been frozen by fear.

"You found out!" he screamed in desperation.

There was no time to waste. Without hesitation, he began tossing out puppets from his storage ring—human puppets, wolf puppets, bird puppets. He even threw out self-destructive puppets, mining puppets, farming puppets, and others, hoping to stall Chu Xuan for even a moment.

Jin Dafu even considered throwing out the five female cultivators from the ship, hoping to use them as distractions.

But he had grossly underestimated Chu Xuan's strength.

Without even attempting to defend himself, Chu Xuan barreled through the incoming puppets. The moment they collided with him, they shattered into pieces—whether they were made of steel, wood, or stone.

"Got you!" Chu Xuan sneered.

His hand shot out, grabbing the Evil Soul Chain, which lashed forward like a black serpent, wrapping tightly around Jin Dafu's body. With a swift motion, Chu Xuan moved in and slammed a Soul Binding Seal onto Jin Dafu's forehead.

This seal was specifically designed to restrict a Nascent Soul's powers, preventing even the possibility of self-detonation. With this, Jin Dafu was rendered completely helpless.

Chapter 328: Three-Phase Soul Transformation Secret Technique

As Shang Xingchen flew closer to Chu Xuan, he smiled and said, "Sect Master, your strength is indeed unfathomable. You easily defeated Zhong Hui, and now you have captured Jin Dafu alive."

Chu Xuan chuckled, "Elder Shang, you too remain hidden beneath the surface. That massive puppet, didn't you easily subdue it?"

He had long noticed that Shang Xingchen had already tamed the Giant Rock Puppet. It now obediently followed him, though it was unclear what secret methods he had employed. However, once they returned, Shang Xingchen would undoubtedly need to refine it further before it could truly be his.

Before Shang Xingchen could respond, Chu Xuan continued, "Since Elder Shang has acquired this puppet, I shall take the Soul Transformation Secret Technique."

Shang Xingchen opened his mouth, but no words came out. Indeed it should be. Having already secured the Giant Rock Puppet, it would be improper for him to ask for the Soul Transformation Secret Technique.

Shang Xingchen smiled and said, "If the Sect Master is ever willing to sell the Soul Transformation Secret Technique, please do remember me."

Chu Xuan waved his hand, "Rest assured, I will remember to make a profit from you."

Shang Xingchen was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, "The Sect Master truly is straightforward."

Chu Xuan nodded, "Indeed, I've never lied in my life. I've always been too blunt."

Shang Xingchen chuckled and pointed to the sky. "Every airship of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance has a positioning array. They will use every method available to retrieve their airships. How should we deal with this Golden Dragon ship?"

Chu Xuan countered, "What do you think, Elder Shang?"

Shang Xingchen thought for a moment. "The Divine Sect will certainly be interested in the airships of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. However, if word of this gets out, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance will undoubtedly hold a grudge against our Heavenly Infinite Sect. I think we should treat it as though Jin Dafu has simply vanished. As long as he doesn't die on Mystic Azure Star, it will have nothing to do with us."

Chu Xuan nodded, "That works perfectly."

"Sect Master, do you have a plan?" Shang Xingchen asked in confusion.

Chu Xuan replied, "I do."

Shang Xingchen didn't ask further. He cupped his hands and said, "I take my leave, Sect Master."

After speaking, he turned and left, taking the Giant Rock Puppet with him.

Chu Xuan waved his hand, summoning the corpse puppets to clean up the battlefield. Then he made his way to the Golden Dragon airship.

On the airship, there were only five female cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage. These five women were of varying builds, some delicate, others plump, each with their own charm.

However, despite their Foundation Establishment cultivation, they were utterly powerless. The reason was simple—they were mere concubines kept by Jin Dafu.

Since leaving behind any evidence for the Exquisite Treasures Alliance was unacceptable, these women could not be spared.

Without hesitation, Chu Xuan cast them into the Heavenly Corpse Tower.

"The Golden Dragon ship is quite large. I wonder if it will fit through the Mirror."

Chu Xuan estimated the size of the airship, realizing it was at least ten zhang long and three zhang wide. Given the vast size of the ship and the smallness of the Mirror, would it fit?

He gave it a try, focusing his mind.

Aha. It worked—it truly fit.

Though the Mirror appeared small, it could adjust its size based on the objects placed within it.

Once the Golden Dragon ship was fully inside, Chu Xuan suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. He almost lost his balance and fell from the sky.

He hurriedly inspected himself.

To his astonishment, his spiritual sea had been drained.

Many of the great spirit stones and medium spiritual stones in his storage bag had also been absorbed. Even a third of his Nascent Soul essence had been depleted.

"So that's how it is," Chu Xuan muttered to himself. "The numerous formations engraved on the Golden Dragon ship, combined with the expensive and heavy materials used to craft the ship, must be the cause."

"It's precisely because of this that moving the Golden Dragon ship through the Mirror to throw it onto Blue Star consumed so much of my Spiritual Qi. It even depleted my spirit stones and Nascent Soul essence."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

The more energy contained within an object, the greater the consumption required to pass it through the Mirror of All Heavens. This made perfect sense. No wonder, whenever a cultivator was sent to Blue Star, their Spiritual Qi was drained so thoroughly.

It turned out, the Mirror was the one doing the draining. This mirror had quite a bit of intelligence.

Initially, he had thought that anything could be thrown into Blue Star. Now, it seemed that if one were too greedy, trying to force things beyond their own capability into it, a dreadful backlash might occur.

At first, it absorbed Spiritual Qi. When that wasn't enough, it began drawing on Nascent Soul essence.

What would it drain next? His soul? His vitality?

Chu Xuan didn't dwell on the thought further. This had served as a wake-up call for him. From now on, he would need to carefully assess before attempting to throw anything into Blue Star.

Otherwise, the backlash—perhaps even death—could prove disastrous. Such an outcome would be a disgrace to a traverser.

After cleaning up the battlefield and ensuring that no traces were left by the shores of Flying Fish Lake, Chu Xuan returned to Blue Star.

The Golden Dragon ship was casually placed on a flat piece of land. After sending a few corpse puppets to guard it, he temporarily left it alone.

He first approached Zhong Hui, performing a Soul Search Technique. Then, he moved to stand before Jin Dafu, where he conducted the same technique, his actions undisturbed by the despair in the latter's eyes.

After thoroughly searching through their minds, Chu Xuan finally opened his eyes.

"So it was Holy Son Situ Kong," he muttered. "Is this how far you would go to obtain my information?"

He sneered coldly. The last time, the Orthodox Alliance secretly formed by traitors, such as Lu Ren, was also instigated by Situ Kong. As long as this person remained, future trouble would be inevitable.

"The Soul Transformation Secret Technique!"

Chu Xuan rummaged through Jin Dafu's storage bag for quite some time, finally finding a jade slip inscribed with divine consciousness. Upon closer inspection, he saw the words "Three-Phase Soul Transformation Secret Technique" engraved boldly.

He placed the jade slip against his forehead, and countless pieces of written information flooded into his mind. After a while, he massaged his temples, deep in thought.

This Soul Transformation Secret Technique was indeed an ancient method. It originated from the golden age—a time rich in precious herbs and abundant Spiritual Qi. During that era, almost all ancient cultivators practiced the Soul Transformation stage. This particular Three-Phase Soul Transformation Secret Technique was no different.

However, the practitioner's Nascent Soul was unusually small, which would make it impossible for him to successfully undergo Deity Transformation. Thus, he took an unconventional path.

He spent two hundred years of his life on this technique, eventually creating the Three-Phase Soul Transformation Secret Technique.

This technique required a special parasite called the "Ghost Shadow Worm," which would voluntarily parasitize the Nascent Soul. The Ghost Shadow Worm fed on shadows. Once it consumed enough, it would enter a cocoon-like stage and undergo a metamorphosis, going through three stages of development.

It was precisely because of the Ghost Shadow Worm's unique nature that a parasitized Nascent Soul could undergo a transformation, significantly increasing the chances of successfully entering the Deity Transformation stage.

Once the cultivator reached Deity Transformation, this ancient practitioner claimed he could devour the Ghost Shadow Worm. By doing so, the hidden risk of being parasitized would disappear, and the Nascent Soul would be strengthened further.

However, to ensure the Ghost Shadow Worm kept feeding and evolving, this cultivator had no choice but to kill countless mortals. The accumulated karma from these actions had become so immense that the tribulation during Deity Transformation would be particularly terrifying.

From the last words left in the jade slip, it seemed that this ancient cultivator had never survived the Deity Transformation tribulation.

But for Chu Xuan, this was hardly an obstacle.

Shadows? Weren't there plenty of them with the zombies?

Chapter 329: We and the Exquisite Treasures Alliance Shall Be Irreconcilable!

The only real difficulty lay in finding the Ghost Shadow Worm.

In that golden age, it might have been easy to find such creatures. But now…

Chu Xuan was deeply concerned whether these bloodthirsty, parasitic creatures still existed. Even if they did, they were likely only the descendants of the original Ghost Shadow Worms, with only a trace of their bloodline remaining.

"However, it doesn't matter if they are the descendants of the Ghost Shadow Worm. Now that I possess the Holy Ant Cultivation Method, I may be able to find a way to return the Ghost Shadow Worms to their ancestral state," Chu Xuan mused with a smile.

As long as one's thoughts remained clear, solutions were always more abundant than difficulties!

He continued to check through the storage bags of Jin Dafu and Zhong Hui. Both had numerous magic treasures, but their quality was rather mundane and did not suit him. While he could not use them, they could be traded with Elder Shang Xingchen, Wei Ji, and others.

However, Jin Dafu did have over a hundred large spirit stones, and the number of medium spiritual stones was even greater—over ten thousand. Combined with the large inventory of goods in the hold of the Golden Dragon ship, Chu Xuan deduced that the Golden Dragon merchant fleet, under Jin Dafu's command, likely hadn't originally aimed for Mystic Azure Star. It was only due to the heavy monetary commission from Situ Kong that their course had been altered, leading them to Mystic Azure Star.

The Three-Phase Soul Transformation Secret Technique had clearly been intended for another client. Jin Dafu never imagined that he would fall here, and it was only by coincidence that the technique fell into his hands.

"Not bad, not bad. This time, it's quite a harvest!" Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

...

The next day, at dawn, Song Junjie woke up early. He had no choice but to rise early—he had to train relentlessly. The consequence of neglecting his training was a grim fate: a trip to the Corpses Valley to the left, or the Ghosts Cave to the right.

"Huh? Where did the ship in the sky go?" he suddenly noticed something was off.

For the past few days, the Golden Dragon ship, resplendent and grand, had been hovering in the sky. The disciples of the Heavenly Infinite Sect had grown used to its presence. However, today, it was completely gone without a trace.

Other disciples also noticed this strange occurrence.

"Even the Myriad Treasures Pavilion hasn't been moved, but the ship is gone. Could something have happened?"

"Hahaha, could it be that they are afraid of us, the Heavenly Infinite Sect?"

"Well, it's not entirely impossible..."

The disciples began to chatter, all curious as to why the ship had suddenly disappeared.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A fierce gust of wind swept by.

Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen appeared together.

Both of them gazed at the empty sky, equally stunned.

Shang Xingchen furrowed his brow. "Did Jin Dafu and the others flee overnight?"

Chu Xuan sighed deeply. "Damn merchants! Damn merchants! I invested over five hundred large spirit stones, and now it's all gone to waste! Truly, I overestimated the integrity of these merchants. From this day forth, my sect and the Exquisite Treasures Alliance will be irreconcilable!"

Shang Xingchen clenched his fists. "Heartless merchants! If I, Shang Xingchen, ever cross paths with him again, I will definitely take his head!"

Whoosh!

Once again, two gusts of wind swept through.

Shi Juntian and Wei Ji looked up at the empty sky, their mouths agape.

Shi JunTian exclaimed in shock, "I just paid for the spirit stones yesterday and pre-ordered a magic treasure. Why is there no sign of them?"

Wei Ji gritted his teeth. "I, too… I also paid for spirit stones to pre-order a puppet technique..."

The disciples instantly shrank back in fear. They all sensed the terrifying rage emanating from these Nascent Soul cultivators.

The matter ended there. Not only did the disciples have no clue about what had happened, but even the Nascent Soul Elders were equally confused.

The Golden Dragon ship had countless formations inscribed upon it, including sound-blocking formations. If they wanted to sneak away without anyone from the Heavenly Infinite Sect noticing, it would be an easy task.

...

Treasure Star

This star was bathed in gold, with luxurious and extravagant buildings sprawled everywhere. It seemed as though the very ocean's surface had been coated with gold leaf.

The tallest structure on the star was a massive golden tower that pierced the heavens. This tower was the core of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance.

In fact, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance did not have a fixed main gate. The many merchant fleets scattered across the stars could be considered small, mobile "gates" of their own.

The towering structure was the center for information exchange for these fleets.

Inside the tower, countless cultivators moved up and down, their feet never touching the ground. They were busy calculating the trade conditions across various cultivation stars.

Some cultivation stars were embroiled in war, urgently needing pills and talismans. Others were in dire need of rebuilding, requiring vast amounts of spiritual plants and spiritual wood.

Some cultivation stars boasted abundant metal mines. Others were rich in rare beasts and precious birds.

And still, others…

All these pieces of information were compiled within this grand tower, allowing the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's fleets to extract even greater profits.

At the heart of the tower, there stood dozens of glowing orbs. Each of these orbs was inscribed with text, representing the various merchant fleets engaged in trade.

The larger the fleet, the bigger the orb. And conversely, the smaller the fleet, the smaller the orb.

"Hey, the orb representing the Golden Dragon Fleet is dimming... It's dimming further... it's completely extinguished!"

Among the busy cultivators of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, some had noticed the anomaly. The orb that represented the Golden Dragon Fleet was fading visibly, its light waning until there was nothing left.

"Quickly report to the Lord of the Alliance!"

The cultivators immediately panicked.

Moments later, the Master of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, Fu Tenglong, received the news. His brows furrowed in confusion.

The Golden Dragon Fleet was led by a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The fleet's head merchant seemed to be... Jin Dafu.

He recalled a bit about this man. Jin Dafu was the second son of Elder Jin Yaozu. After reaching the sixth level of Nascent Soul, he had set out alone to lead his own merchant fleet. Over fifty years, he had avoided major mishaps and had instead brought back numerous rare treasures for the sect.

Because of Jin Yaozu's connections, the Golden Dragon Ship had been inscribed with numerous attack and defense formations. Even the merchant fleets led by some elders in the Deity Transformation stage couldn't match the Golden Dragon Ship.

So why had the Golden Dragon Fleet suddenly encountered trouble?

While Fu Tenglong was pleased to see this, any issue with a fleet meant the ship had to be retrieved.

Fu Tenglong casually waved his hand, and a circular disc appeared in his palm. The disc was filled with countless stars.

Every Exquisite Treasures Alliance ship had a small, inconspicuous formation etched onto it. This formation allowed the location of the ship to be tracked. Unless the plunderers took the ship far beyond reach.

"Golden Dragon Ship," Fu Tenglong calmly spoke.

The disc began to shift rapidly. Countless stars blinked and flickered within it.

But ten breaths passed, then a hundred, then fifteen minutes, and still, the stars continued to flash—unable to stop.

The disc grew increasingly hot in his hands. He was a mighty Deity Transformation cultivator, yet even he struggled to hold the disc.

"What's going on?"

He furrowed his brows deeply, sensing something was wrong. Could the Golden Dragon Ship have been taken to an extremely distant location? Perhaps it was even beyond the range of the disc's detection?

Alternatively, the enemy might have the ability to block the disc's detection. But such methods were rare.

Fu Tenglong thought for a moment and then remembered someone.

"Wen Lingtian's life-bound magic treasure, the Asking Heaven Mirror, a precious divination tool. I can only use the favor owed to him in the past to ask him for help in divining the whereabouts of the Golden Dragon Ship."