Demonic Cultivator(Chapter 431-440) (Patreon)

Chapter 431: A Person Worth Befriending, But One Not to Offend

Chu Xuan smiled and nodded. "That is indeed excellent."

In the end, it all came down to strength. Had he been a Deity Transformation cultivator, he would have simply seized several stone houses without hesitation. Who knew, perhaps even Moon True Master would personally come to discuss matters with him. This was the power of true strength.

Moments later, the contract was signed.

Chu Xuan did not opt for a long-term lease, but a short one instead. After all, he could not be certain of the day he might decide to leave the Blue Star. Thus, a short-term lease suited him well.

Though he possessed numerous spirit stones, he knew better than to waste them. As a cultivator of the demonic path, he was accustomed to hardship and frugality.

Tie Jun eyed Chu Xuan curiously, then suddenly spoke, "Fellow Daoist, you seem somewhat familiar. Have we met before?"

Chu Xuan smiled. "I am merely a loose cultivator. I once sold a few Demon Soul Talismans here."

Tie Jun immediately recalled the previous encounter and was taken aback. "If I remember correctly, Fellow Daoist's name is Liu Zhenxiong? How is it possible that Daoist Liu is still alive?"

Chu Xuan only smiled without responding.

Tie Jun, embarrassed, realized his mistake. He quickly cupped his hands in apology and excused himself. "Please, Fellow Daoist, this stone house is yours now."

Chu Xuan nodded and placed over a hundred Demon Soul Talismans down. He then casually stepped outside the stone house to hang a sign for selling magical talismans and elixirs.

Just as he finished carving the wooden sign, a figure descended nearby, walking into a stone house that dealt in demonic beast materials.

The cultivator was a robust man with a lion-like nose and broad mouth, a mighty presence exuding from him. He was accompanied by a strong golden lion. Truly, he was an imposing figure.

From the aura he emanated, it was clear he was a Nascent Soul cultivator, seemingly at the seventh level, though he concealed at least one more level of cultivation.

As someone who had long mastered the art of hiding his own cultivation, Chu Xuan could easily estimate the hidden strength of others. It was a skill that had become second nature to him.

The cultivator strode into the stone house, and after a while, he emerged.

Just as he was about to leave, his gaze fell upon Chu Xuan. He paused, a curious look on his face. "Fellow Daoist seems familiar. Have we met?"

Upon noticing the sign Chu Xuan had hung, the cultivator's expression changed as realization dawned. "Ah, it's you! Liu Zhenxiong, is it? I bought some of your Demon Soul Talismans over a year ago."

With a cheerful laugh, he continued, "Those two talismans were a great help to me!"

Chu Xuan also smiled and nodded.

Although he had sold many Demon Soul Talismans in the past, he remembered the faces of the cultivators who had purchased them very clearly. After a brief moment of recollection, he recognized this man.

The burly cultivator grinned heartily. "My name is Zhao Kongming, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. I was originally a loose cultivator, but now I serve under the Moon Society. Since Fellow Daoist has returned, I assume you have more talismans for sale?"

Chu Xuan nodded. "Indeed."

Zhao Kongming laughed heartily. "I'll take two! Same price as before—six great spirit stones for a low-grade Nascent Soul Demon Soul Talisman, right?"

Typically, low-grade Nascent Soul talismans were priced at fifty thousand small spirit stones, equivalent to five great spirit stones. Demon talismans were more sought after than regular ones, which justified the higher price.

Chu Xuan had priced them at six great spirit stones per talisman during his last sale. He also accepted equivalent treasures in exchange.

Jade marrow, light spirit crystals, and other such treasures had been acquired this way.

Chu Xuan smiled and shook his head. "This time, I not only have low-grade Nascent Soul talismans, but also middle-grade ones. The middle-grade Nascent Soul talismans are priced at eleven great spirit stones."

Zhao Kongming's eyes brightened. "Good! I'll take two of the middle-grade ones! To think that after more than a year, Fellow Daoist can craft middle-grade Nascent Soul talismans now."

Once their transaction was complete, Zhao Kongming suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you happen to have any blood suitable for reviving the heritage of a Blaze Mane Lion for sale? If you do, I am willing to pay double the price for it!"

Chu Xuan took a moment to observe the golden lion by his side, a little surprised.

The Blaze Mane Lion, with its golden fur and imposing presence, certainly drew attention. However, this demonic beast had limited potential.

At birth, its strength was that of a Qi Refining stage demonic beast. Only after over a hundred years of growth could it reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

Only a select few Blaze Mane Lions could ascend to the Golden Core stage, and even then, that was the peak of their potential.

Such beasts did not possess strong bloodlines and could never reach the Nascent Soul stage in their lifetimes.

The golden lion beside Zhao Kongming was clearly at the Golden Core stage.

Zhao Kongming lovingly stroked the lion's head, his eyes filled with affection. "Back when I was just a Qi Refining cultivator, it saved my life. I swore to help it break through as far as it could. I came to the Desolate Island because I heard someone had found ancient demonic blood preserved in amber, but I have yet to find it. I wonder, Fellow Daoist…"

Chu Xuan shook his head. "I don't have it either. If I ever come across it, I will be sure to save it for you, Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Zhao Kongming intrigued him. To forcibly cultivate a demonic beast with such limited potential to the Nascent Soul stage was an act of defiance against nature. It must have consumed vast resources.

All these resources could have been used to elevate his own cultivation. Yet, Zhao Kongming, bound by his oath, showed no sign of giving up.

Zhao Kongming nodded with a smile. "In that case, I shall take my leave. If I run out of these talismans, I'll be sure to come find you again."

He cupped his hands toward Chu Xuan, then mounted the golden lion and swiftly left.

As he stroked his chin thoughtfully, Zhao Kongming muttered, "This Liu Zhenxiong is impressive. To survive the pursuit of the Black Wind Island and return to the Desolate Island unscathed is no small feat. His strength seems to have grown. Despite I am at the ninth level of Nascent Soul, he manages to make me feel a deep sense of threat. This person is worth befriending. If that's not possible, he must certainly not be provoked…"

A few days later, the news of the return of the talisman master Liu Zhenxiong spread within a small circle.

In the vast Southern Third Ring, there were many talisman masters. In fact, it could be said that nearly everyone could draw some common talismans. However, the output was not high.

Rather than buying talisman paper, brushes, and ink to draw talismans themselves, enduring repeated failures until their success rate improved, most cultivators found it easier to simply purchase ready-made talismans with spirit stones.

Yet, there were not many who knew how to craft Demon Soul Talismans. And those who could produce such a large quantity were even rarer.

Thus, as soon as the news of Chu Xuan's reappearance spread, it quickly attracted a large number of cultivators.

Chen Huozhao and Chen Xin even paid him a visit, bringing a small gift to show their appreciation. However, they stayed for only a short while before claiming urgent matters and leaving in a hurry. Whether it was a genuine emergency or an excuse, no one could say.

Chu Xuan's small business had earned a good reputation. Within less than two hours, all the Demon Soul Talismans he had put out were snapped up.

Of course, not everyone came with the intent to pay. Some tried to take advantage of the situation.

Chu Xuan's solution was simple. Their bodies were concealed within the Heavenly Corpse Tower, while their head were placed at the entrance of the stone house. A slight reminder to some, and the rest of the cultivators quickly understood what was expected of them.

Especially after witnessing how Chu Xuan had casually slain a Nascent Soul cultivator at the seventh level, who had caused trouble.

Those who came to buy talismans soon became well-behaved. Each of them practically rushed to hand over their spirit stones, eager to avoid giving Chu Xuan the impression that they were here to take advantage and end up casually disposed of.

Chapter 432: The Perfect Dungeon Environment for Demonic Cultivators

Chu Xuan not only acquired treasures but also gathered information.

After a few days, he had become increasingly well-versed in the current situation on Desolate Island. From his sources, he learned that the three Deity Transformation cultivators—Moon True Master, Yellow Spring True Master, and White Bone True Master—were all absent from the island.

These three Deity Transformation cultivators were instead meeting with other Deity Transformation cultivators in the vicinity of Desolate Island, discussing Dao over tea. Their primary purpose was to prevent the entry of Deity Transformation cultivators from the Eastern and Western Third Rings into Desolate Island.

The strongest beings on the island were limited to a few Nascent Soul cultivators at the ninth level. Notable among them were Moon True Master's eldest disciple, Feng Zhutie, Yellow Spring True Master's underling, Xia Shi, and White Bone True Master's disciple, Qu Xiao.

Beyond these few, the greatest danger on the island came from the fire spirits living beneath the surface.

These fire spirits were similar to the Nether Fire Spirits found in the Holy Flame Star. Their sentience developed over the course of countless years due to the overwhelming concentration of Fire Spiritual Qi, gradually taking on beastly forms. With volcanic eruptions, these fire spirits had risen to the surface.

However, they could not stray too far from the volcano, for doing so would cause them to dissolve. Despite this limitation, their existence made obtaining treasures on the island an arduous task, forcing cultivators to bring numerous hidden cards with them.

The strength of these fire spirits varied. The weakest were comparable to Golden Core demonic beasts, while the strongest were equivalent to late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. So far, no Deity Transformation Fire Spirit Kings had been discovered.

Upon learning this information, Chu Xuan felt a sense of security.

Desolate Island held no creatures capable of threatening him. This truly was the ideal dungeon environment for demonic cultivators—safe, reliable, and brimming with treasures!

Filled with confidence, Chu Xuan planned to choose an auspicious day to venture into the dungeon.

However, just as he was fully armed and about to leave the stone house, he suddenly felt an odd sensation, his gaze shifting toward a figure not far off.

The figure was cloaked in a hooded robe, just stepping out of a stone house that dealt in information.

The person didn't seem to notice Chu Xuan. But a strange feeling washed over Chu Xuan. This individual exuded a powerful sense of threat—far surpassing any Nascent Soul cultivator he had encountered on Desolate Island.

In that instant, Chu Xuan was certain: this person was undoubtedly a Deity Transformation cultivator who had concealed their cultivation!

Chu Xuan inwardly cursed.

What were Moon True Master, Yellow Spring True Master, and White Bone True Master doing?

A Deity Transformation cultivator had hidden their cultivation and infiltrated Desolate Island right under their noses.

And yet, they couldn't detect a thing.

What a disgrace to Deity Transformation cultivators!

Without a moment's hesitation, Chu Xuan turned and swiftly returned to his stone house, reopening his business.

The cultivator passing by stopped in his tracks, surprised. "Huh, Master Liu, weren't you closed earlier? Why have you reopened?"

Chu Xuan glanced at him indifferently. "Do you have a problem?"

The cultivator immediately shuddered. "No, no, how could I dare?!"

He quickly walked away, not daring to approach this formidable talisman master.

Chu Xuan suppressed his aura with all his might, using the escape technique to conceal his presence. He sighed deeply.

"I finally had a change of heart, thinking of diving into a dungeon. Why is it so difficult?"

He shook his head and decided to return to his usual business. "I'll continue selling my small talismans. A few more days of Nascent Soul mid-grade demonic talismans, then I'll start selling Nascent Soul high-grade ones. Prices will go up again. Let's drain these cultivators' pockets a little more."

...

Meanwhile, Master Tiancang frowned as he pondered. "Strange, I felt a strange sensation just now. Since coming to the Starshatter Sea, I've often had this feeling. Could it be that Desolate Island is the place where a rare treasure will emerge? It doesn't seem like it."

He thought for a moment, then decided to observe the situation for a few more days and gather more information before making any plans.

...

Several days later, Chu Xuan's shop was visited by a familiar customer.

Zhao Kongming walked into the stone house with a hearty laugh and cupped his hands toward Chu Xuan. "Master Liu, I'm here again. Same as last time, two Nascent Soul mid-grade demonic talismans."

As he was about to take out the spirit stones to pay, he noticed that the demonic talismans displayed on the counter had been divided into three categories. Just one glance told him that the quality of these talismans was far superior to those he had purchased before.

The sign beside them indicated that each talisman now cost seventeen great spirit stones.

Zhao Kongming was taken aback. "Master Liu, these talismans... could they be..."

Chu Xuan smiled and nodded. "Indeed, they are Nascent Soul high-grade demonic talismans."

Zhao Kongming burst into laughter. "Good, good, good! I never expected that Master Liu could even craft Nascent Soul high-grade talismans!"

He generously took out thirty-four great spirit stones and purchased two of the Nascent Soul high-grade talismans.

His straightforward payment without any haggling made Chu Xuan feel rather pleased.

Suddenly, Chu Xuan asked, "Master Zhao, since you frequently visit Desolate Island, are there any recent major events?"

Zhao Kongming nodded. "Actually, yes! You must have heard of Qu Xiao from White Bone Island. He's a Nascent Soul ninth level cultivator, incredibly strong."

Chu Xuan nodded.

Zhao Kongming lowered his voice. "I heard that Qu Xiao, along with two Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators from White Bone Island, went out on a treasure hunt and were suddenly ambushed by a large number of fire spirits. The two Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators were killed on the spot. Qu Xiao was heavily injured but managed to escape with luck. That day, I happened to be nearby and heard the deafening roars. The threat was undeniable… I suspect that a Deity Transformation fire spirit king might have appeared."

Zhao Kongming's face darkened. "Luckily, my golden-maned lion was quick-witted. It immediately carried me away, and we barely escaped that area."

Chu Xuan immediately raised an eyebrow.

A Deity Transformation fire spirit king?

He hadn't expected that to be the case. However, upon further thought, it made sense that a Deity Transformation demonic beast might exist. After all, Desolate Island had been around for an unknown length of time, and the underground lava had been boiling and roaring for countless years. It was only natural that a Deity Transformation demonic beast could be nurtured there.

Zhao Kongming added, "That day, many cultivators heard that roar. If you ask a few more people, Master Liu, you'll know I'm not lying."

Chu Xuan smiled and nodded. "I trust what Master Zhao says."

After Zhao Kongming left, a few more cultivators came to purchase demonic talismans. After questioning them, they all confirmed similar details to what Zhao Kongming had said. This further confirmed the existence of the Deity Transformation fire spirit.

Chu Xuan stroked his chin thoughtfully. It was fortunate he hadn't entered the dungeon yet, or he might have encountered that fire spirit king.

"Now there's a shameless Deity Transformation cultivator on the island. Perhaps I could use that fire spirit king... drive the tiger out to swallow the wolf..."

An idea suddenly arose in Chu Xuan's mind. If he let the others know that a Deity Transformation cultivator had infiltrated Desolate Island, they would certainly appear and help drive this shameless intruder away. In this way, there would be no one left on the island who could threaten him.

The only problem now was how to lure the Deity Transformation cultivator into a confrontation with the fire spirit king, thus revealing his Deity Transformation cultivation.

Chu Xuan thought quickly and soon came up with an idea.

Beast-luring incense.

Beast-luring powders and incense were quite common, but to target a specific type of demonic beast, one needed to concoct a unique beast-luring incense.

This required not only profound knowledge of alchemy but also a deep understanding of the habits of the demonic beasts. The bar was set high.

Luckily, Chu Xuan had been collecting vast amounts of information recently and was well aware of what the fire spirits most desired.

Fire Cloud Mushrooms!

By using Fire Cloud Mushrooms as the main ingredient, he could craft a specialized beast-luring incense to attract fire spirits.

Chapter 433: Fire Cloud Mushrooms

A day later, Chu Xuan received two Fire Cloud Mushrooms from several cultivators. These spirit plants were similar to ordinary mushrooms, but entirely crimson in color, especially the caps, which resembled a fiery cloud, hence the name Fire Cloud Mushroom.

Fire spirits had an intense craving for this plant, though they hadn't yet reached the level of obsession, where they would do anything to get it. First, this was because the mushrooms had not aged enough. Only a hundred-year-old Fire Cloud Mushroom could attract fire spirits. A five-hundred-year-old mushroom would draw a large number of fire spirits.

Chu Xuan estimated that a thousand-year-old Fire Cloud Mushroom would be the key to attracting the attention of the Fire Spirit King.

Additionally, the correct preparation of incense powder was needed to truly create a beast-luring scent that would stir the fire spirits into a frenzy. However, thousand-year-old Fire Cloud Mushrooms were extremely rare.

The two mushrooms Chu Xuan acquired were of one hundred and two hundred years of age. For an ordinary cultivator, there would be no way to hasten the growth of the mushrooms. But Chu Xuan was no ordinary cultivator.

He returned to Blue Star, planting the mushrooms in the soil of Merit and surrounding them with a number of Fire Spirit Crystals. These crystals, derived from fire spirits, were the condensed energy of their fiery essence. They were invaluable to cultivators with a fire spirit root, those practicing fire-based cultivation techniques, or those crafting fire-related magical treasures.

By using so many Fire Spirit Crystals, Chu Xuan had artificially created a fire-spiritual Qi-rich environment. With the influence of the Merit Soil, the growth rate of the Fire Cloud Mushrooms was greatly accelerated.

Ten days later, the two-hundred-year-old mushroom had grown significantly larger. Its color had changed from a bright red to a purple-red hue, resembling a fire that had burned for a thousand years and was now on the verge of extinction. This was the appearance of a thousand-year-old Fire Cloud Mushroom.

Chu Xuan was satisfied and quickly harvested the mushroom, preparing to concoct the beast-luring incense.

Though incense powder and pills were not the same, they shared a similar principle. As a cultivator skilled in both alchemy and poison arts, Chu Xuan quickly grasped the technique after only a few failures, successfully crafting a small bottle of Fire Spirit Beast-Luring Incense.

"Hmm? Why does the Merit Soil look withered?"

Chu Xuan, noticing the state of the Merit Soil in the glass jar, immediately felt that it seemed to have lost its vitality, much like a cucumber that lacked water.

"Could it be that hastening the growth of these two Fire Cloud Mushrooms drained too much of the soil's fertility?" he mused.

That seemed plausible. Even in cultivation, the principle of energy conservation applied. The Merit Soil was able to hasten the growth of the mushrooms because it contained an immense amount of fertility. Now, after hastening the growth of both the Fire Cloud Mushrooms and the Spiritual Shadow Root, the soil's energy had probably been depleted.

"Next time there's a Merit Rain, I'll bring you along," Chu Xuan chuckled lightly, striding forward to return to the Starshatter Sea.

One day, Chu Xuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, feeling a bit of a headache. "I've got the things I need... but how do I sprinkle the beast-luring incense on him without him noticing?"

Although the other person was shameless, he was still a Deity Transformation cultivator. Getting the incense on him without being discovered would definitely be a bit tricky.

Just then, a booming sound echoed from outside. It sounded like two cultivators were fighting in mid-air, and judging by the intensity, the battle was bound to be fierce.

Without a second thought, the cultivators inside Chu Xuan's shop dropped their demonic talismans and rushed out to watch the commotion.

Chu Xuan shook his head. "Young people, always so eager to watch the drama. What's so interesting about it? What if they get caught in the crossfire?"

"It's a battle between two Deity Transformation cultivators!" one of the onlookers exclaimed in surprise.

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow and quickly rushed out, moving with speed.

"A battle between Deity Transformation cultivators? Where? Where?" he wondered as he scanned the sky. Sure enough, two figures were engaged in a fierce duel, riding their spiritual weapons, clashing with an incessant sound of metal and energy.

"That person on the left, wearing a stark white robe, thin and bony—looks like White Bone True Master!" someone in the crowd said.

"And the one on the right, who is he? I've never seen this Deity Transformation cultivator before."

"Yeah, I've never seen this one either. Could he be from the East or West Third Ring?"

"But didn't they say most cultivators from the East and West Third Rings were blocked from entering the island? How could a Deity Transformation cultivator have sneaked in?"

The cultivators around were in shock, murmuring among themselves.

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up when he saw the figure draped in a cloak—this was the very same shameless Deity Transformation cultivator he had noticed earlier!

He had been wondering how to discreetly apply the beast-luring incense, and now, it seemed that this person had been spotted by White Bone True Master!

This was great. He could save the precious incense for another time. But how had White Bone True Master discovered him? Could it be…?

Chu Xuan smirked to himself. "Could White Bone True Master also be hiding his cultivation and sneaking into the island?"

Thinking about it, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

A grand Deity Transformation cultivator, always involved in some underhanded deeds. Chu Xuan watched the spectacle with amusement, not feeling the least bit guilty. After all, he was just a small Nascent Soul cultivator—what could he have done wrong?

"Who are you? Why have you trespassed on Desolate Island?" White Bone True Master bellowed, his voice dripping with an icy menace.

"This is the sacred land of the Southern Third Ring cultivators! No one else is allowed to set foot here!"

He struck out with a massive, eerie hand formed of dark spiritual energy, his voice thunderous.

True Master Tiancang coldly snorted, still keeping his face hidden beneath his hood. With a flick of his hand, he effortlessly shattered White Bone True Master's gigantic palm.

However, his expression turned grim. He hadn't expected that in his mere attempt to gather information, he would run into another Deity Transformation cultivator—especially one who was also hiding his cultivation. The moment two Deity Transformation cultivators met, they could immediately sense each other's power. That was why a battle had erupted.

Now, the commotion had escalated far beyond his expectations, and this was bad for him. If more Deity Transformation cultivators from the Southern Third Ring were drawn to the scene, even though he was more powerful than them, he could still fall here.

True Master Tiancang thought for a moment, then unleashed a spell that pushed back the White Bone True Master. Taking the opportunity, he prepared to use his escape technique and withdraw.

However, White Bone True Master had no intention of letting him leave so easily.

In dealing with external Deity Transformation cultivators, he had a similar mindset to Yellow Spring True Master and Moon True Master—they all had the same stance. Now, an outsider had wandered in like an easy target. He wasn't about to let him slip away without extracting something.

With a growl, White Bone True Master summoned a pair of eerie, bone-white dragon claws.

"White Dragon Seize!" he cried.

"Stay where you are!"

The dragon claws expanded at a visible speed, rapidly moving to encircle True Master Tiancang from both sides. As they approached, waves of verdant light rippled outward from the claws, sapping the speed of True Master Tiancang's movements.

His expression changed slightly. This white bone artifact—made from who knows what demonic beast materials—actually had the effect of restraining his movements.

White Bone True Master was trying to trap him!

"To try and keep me here with your mere Deity Transformation Stage One cultivation? You're not worthy!" True Master Tiancang's voice turned cold with fury.

With a swift motion, he summoned a jade vial into his hand. Slamming it down, a foul-smelling dark green liquid sprayed from the vial in a vast torrent.

The White Dragon Seize, unable to avoid the spray, was covered in the liquid. Instantly, White Bone True Master felt his control over the claws weaken.

His face changed drastically. He fought desperately to retract the claws, but they struggled, the once unyielding strength of the artifact now faltering.

Chapter 434: Revenge Never Waits; Death Comes Today!

True Master Tiancang, however, had no intention of letting Moon True Master simply take the spiritual artifact away.

He raised his hand and slapped it down, summoning the Myriad Souls Banner. The banner swirled as dark energy howled through the air, and in an instant, the sky turned chaotic with the presence of hundreds of ferocious spirits.

At the forefront was an ominous and sinister Ghost King, followed by countless Ghost Commanders and Generals. The endless sea of ghosts swarmed forward, quickly overwhelming White Bone True Master.

The White Dragon Seize, now drenched in the foul green liquid, began to lose its luster, its once brilliant aura fading rapidly.

True Master Tiancang waved his hand again, and an immense pulling force erupted from his sleeve, snatching the White Dragon Seize away from White Bone True Master's control.

The crowd of onlookers gasped in shock.

White Bone True Master, in a matter of moments, had fallen into a disadvantageous position! This unknown Deity Transformation cultivator seemed incredibly formidable!

Chu Xuan, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Ghost King at the forefront. The figure was menacing and ferocious, but for some reason, something about it seemed oddly familiar.

He sifted through his vast memories and finally recalled someone—someone he had nearly forgotten. He was none other than He Ze.

Back when Chu Xuan was posing as alchemist He Liang, he had stayed at the extraterritorial battlefield for a period. At that time, He Ze was just a Golden Core cultivator. Chu Xuan had needed someone to help run his shop, and He Ze had eagerly volunteered for the task.

Later, when the outer battlefield showed signs of collapse, Chu Xuan had sensed the danger and left early, losing contact with He Ze. But now, to his astonishment, He Ze had been pulled from his soul and transformed into a Ghost King?

Chu Xuan's mind flashed back to a conversation with Ximen Changqing back in the Heavenly Metal Battlefield.

"Zhao Tiancang has been searching for the whereabouts of alchemist He Liang. He Ze worked for me. Naturally, Zhao Tiancang would have found him. Could it be..."

Chu Xuan's gaze shifted toward the Deity Transformation cultivator cloaked in a dark robe, his face suddenly freezing into an expression of cold fury.

This man was none other than Zhao Tiancang, the infamous True Master Tiancang!

It was highly likely that Zhao Tiancang had found He Ze, used a soul-searching technique on him, and perhaps sensing something special about He Ze's soul, had turned him into a ghost. And now, this very soul had slowly evolved into a Ghost King.

Chu Xuan inhaled sharply, his mind roiling with rage.

"I did not kill He Ze... but He Ze has died because of me."

The weight of this revelation, combined with the malevolent actions of Zhao Tiancang, ignited an overwhelming surge of murderous intent deep within Chu Xuan's heart. But now, clearly, was not the right time to strike.

A lion with its claws bared under the bright sun is hardly capable of taking a life. It is the serpent, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, that is truly deadly.

At this moment, the battle between the two Deity Transformation cultivators, White Bone True Master and True Master Tiancang, had already stirred up a great commotion.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi of Desolate Island was in chaos, sending ripples throughout the island. Even Moon True Master and Yellow Spring True Master, sensing something was amiss, immediately made their way toward Desolate Island.

True Master Tiancang, still intent on furthering his dominance and taking White Bone True Master down, was suddenly interrupted. Two figures, like flashes of light, appeared at his sides, one to the left and one to the right.

"A mere ghost, unable to escape the moonlight's judgment!" Moon True Master sneered coldly as he waved his hand.

The cool, ethereal moonlight surged forth, sweeping across the battlefield.

A vast number of Ghost Generals and Ghost Soldiers screamed in agony as they were dissolved into wisps of green smoke. Even the Ghost Commanders howled and scattered, too terrified to approach the moonlight. Only the Ghost King, at the very front, continued to madly assault White Bone True Master.

Seeing his reinforcements arrive, White Bone True Master let out a triumphant cry and immediately summoned another white bone spiritual artifact, forcing the Ghost King back.

The three True Masters, now all wielding their spiritual treasures, advanced together, attacking True Master Tiancang.

True Master Tiancang, with some reluctance, withdrew his spirits and began retreating rapidly. Facing three opponents, he knew better than to engage directly.

Chu Xuan watched as they disappeared into the distance. Using the Gilded Lotus Seal to conceal his presence, he followed closely behind.

Revenge waits for no one. Today, death would come!

From behind, a voice called out, "Master Liu, don't go! I want to buy talismans!"

Chu Xuan tossed over his shoulder, "Don't rush, I'm just going to gather some materials."

The cultivators exchanged confused glances.

"Gather materials?" they thought, suddenly shivering.

They realized what kind of materials Master Liu might be referring to, and hurriedly distanced themselves from the shop, fearing they might end up as the materials themselves.

On the other side, on a nameless deserted island.

True Master Tiancang had concealed his presence, hiding on this island. His chest bore a deep, crushing imprint, a dent where White Bone True Master's Ten Thousand Bones Tower had struck. His entire right calf had vanished, severed by the Yellow Spring True Master's Yellow Spring Sword. Half of his neck had been severed, a wound left by Moon True Master's Black Moon Sword.

Of course, Moon True Master and the others were not unscathed either. Each of them bore varying degrees of injury.

The battle had raged from Desolate Island, and the fight had eventually brought them to the edge of this nameless island. A Black Magic Whale, roaming the sea, sensed the clash between the Deity Transformation cultivators, particularly Moon True Master's aura, and decided to get involved. The four cultivators, wary of each other, were forced to retreat.

Only then did True Master Tiancang find a moment to catch his breath. He let out a bitter laugh.

This time, he had gained only a low-grade spiritual artifact, the White Dragon's Claw, yet he had lost over ten thousand souls, and even his carefully cultivated Ghost King, He Ze, had been severely injured. The wounds on his body would take a long time to heal. For the foreseeable future, he would be unable to act. He needed to find a place rich in Spiritual Qi to recuperate.

Of course, the fastest way to recover was to consume a few Nascent Soul cultivators.

Though he had served as a Deity Transformation elder in the Reincarnation Sect, his knowledge of demonic arts and evil techniques was extensive, though rarely shown on the surface. He had long since become accustomed to using the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, soul, and flesh of cultivators for his own gain.

True Master Tiancang expanded his spiritual sense and quickly discovered that someone had stepped onto the island. A faint smile curled on his lips.

Most cultivators in the Starshatter Sea were greedy and brave. It was normal for Nascent Soul cultivators to covet Deity Transformation ones. But these Nascent Soul cultivators likely didn't realize that he wasn't a spent force. He still retained at least thirty percent of his strength. With such cultivation, it wasn't something a few late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators could pick up on.

Nevertheless, True Master Tiancang still acted as though he were on the brink of death, hiding motionless in the cave, intentionally releasing the scent of blood to attract the foolish cultivators.

The presence of a living being approached, growing nearer and nearer. Though this Nascent Soul cultivator was extremely cautious, even enveloping his feet with Spiritual Qi to muffle his footsteps, the suppression from a Deity Transformation cultivator over a Nascent Soul cultivator was immense.

When the person approached within a hundred zhang, then fifty, then twenty, and finally just ten zhang, True Master Tiancang suddenly struck. In an instant, he seized the cultivator and pulled him into the cave. Before the latter had a chance to react, his vitality was snuffed out in an instant.

Just as True Master Tiancang was about to begin refining the Nascent Soul with his demonic arts, he sensed the presence of several more individuals stepping onto the island.

"Four in total, one of them a body cultivator."

Body cultivators were particularly suited for healing. A mocking smile appeared on True Master Tiancang's lips. It seemed that what he needed had indeed arrived.

Chapter 435: Why Are You Chasing Me!?

Chu Xuan did not immediately set foot on the Desolate Island. He knew that True Master Tiancang was not a spent force. This person was ruthless and cunning—he would not deplete his strength in battle.

Many other cultivators were likely trying to take advantage of the situation, hoping to pick up whatever spoils they could. Chu Xuan mixed in with the crowd, deliberately falling a few steps behind.

Sure enough, after the group of cultivators reached the island's edge, one of them hesitated for a moment before charging onto the island. The others followed suit immediately. Chu Xuan kept himself mixed in with the group, never taking the lead.

He wasn't concerned that True Master Tiancang could quickly recover by refining Nascent Souls or similar methods. Even if he used demonic techniques to devour Nascent Souls or Golden Cores, it would still take time for him to fully refine them. The years of cultivation a Nascent Soul cultivator had invested could not be eradicated in just a few moments.

When Chu Xuan and the other three reached the island, a faint smell of blood immediately assaulted their senses. The four exchanged glances, quickly forming an unspoken understanding, and began to surround the cave from four different directions.

However, Chu Xuan instantly realized that the faint blood odor was most likely deliberately released by True Master Tiancang himself. It was a trap, intended to reveal his position and lure in the greedy. His suspicion proved correct. The reckless pursuit of quick gain would only lead to death.

With this thought, Chu Xuan quietly took a step back, falling further behind the others.

"Cough cough… Whatever you want, I can give it to you. Magic treasures, talismans, pills, formations… even spiritual artifacts. I have them all. Though I may be a spent force, I can still take down one or two of you before I fall. Who among you can bear the consequences of death?"

A weak voice echoed from the cave, sounding as fragile as a candle's flame about to be extinguished by a breeze.

The three cultivators looked at each other. One of them called out, "Senior, we saw you were injured and came here to protect you. We've long had a grudge with the Moon Sect and Yellow Spring Island. We wish to offer our allegiance to you!"

Another cultivator spoke, "Senior, we brought healing pills for your wounds. Would you like to use them?"

As they spoke, the four began to split into separate directions, slowly closing in. One of them had already begun to set up a formation.

True Master Tiancang let out a weak chuckle. "I see, I see. It seems I've misjudged you. I've used a small mind to test your noble hearts."

With a sudden thump, the cultivator who had not set up the formation suddenly fell silent, disappearing without a trace.

The other two cultivators' hearts sank. They immediately retreated in alarm.

"Think you can run at this distance? Too late."

A faint laugh rang out, followed by a sudden flash of light. A spiritual artifact shot through the air—True Master Tiancang's cloak.

The cloak billowed in the wind, expanding rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it descended like a dark cloud, engulfing the two cultivators.

Within the black cloak, the two struggled violently, but it was as though they had sunk into a mire. The more they struggled, the deeper they sank, unable to free themselves. Soon, their breathing ceased altogether.

Chu Xuan, panic-stricken, spun around and ran. "Senior, please spare me! Please spare me!"

True Master Tiancang furrowed his brow. This cultivator was still some distance from the cave, but he certainly didn't want to let go of such a juicy target—a body-refining cultivator. He immediately gathered his remaining Spiritual Qi, activating a teleportation technique to pursue.

As expected, the teleportation technique of a Deity Transformation cultivator far outpaced that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. In the blink of an eye, True Master Tiancang had caught up to Chu Xuan.

The distance between them was less than ten zhang.

True Master Tiancang waved his hand, preparing to unleash a spell.

However, Chu Xuan, in a fit of desperation, roared, "Why are you chasing me?! I'll fight you to the death!"

Instead of continuing to flee, he turned and charged directly at True Master Tiancang.

True Master Tiancang smiled faintly. A body-refining cultivator with thirty-something layers of body-refining dared to turn back and counterattack? He'd have better luck dreaming in his next life!

With a wave of his hand, a small cauldron radiating a soft green light appeared before him.

His spiritual artifacts were dwindling. Several had been damaged during the earlier battle with Moon True Master and the others, and he'd just used another one to devour those two Nascent Soul cultivators. Now, he was left with only his magic treasure.

Nevertheless, the small green cauldron was a top-tier defensive artifact. Against a body-refining cultivator of thirty-plus layers, it would be more than sufficient.

Chu Xuan clenched his fist. The strength from his entire body surged, gathering in his right arm. In an instant, his right arm swelled, expanding by more than twice its original size!

"Great Extinguishing Thunder Fist!"

With the fury of forty-two layers of body-refining, his immense power erupted without restraint! In a single strike, he shattered the green cauldron into two pieces! The force of his punch didn't waver, continuing its path straight for True Master Tiancang's throat.

True Master Tiancang's neck was already half-ruined, having been forcibly healed with pills earlier. Chu Xuan's overwhelming punch landed directly on the weakened area, aggravating his already grievous injuries.

With a sickening crack, True Master Tiancang's head shot up into the air! His face was frozen in disbelief and shock. A top-tier defensive magic treasure shattered by a body-refining cultivator?

This person wasn't a cultivator of thirty layers of body-refining. No—he was a cultivator with forty-one or more layers of body-refining!

True Master Tiancang instinctively separated his Nascent Soul, wrapping his primordial spirit within it, and turned to flee.

Although a Deity Transformation cultivator's soul was already on the verge of transforming into a primordial spirit, it had not yet fully completed the metamorphosis. It still required the protection of a Nascent Soul to leave the body and survive for long periods. Once a suitable vessel was found, the cultivator could seize it and be reborn.

However, two Ghost Kings had long since blocked his escape route.

"He Ze!" True Master Tiancang immediately summoned the Ghost King, He Ze.

He Ze had been injured in the earlier battle and was still healing within the Myriad Souls Banner. Yet, now, he had no choice but to fight to the death.

This Nascent Soul cultivator was no mere pretender—he had been hiding his true strength all along!

Now, True Master Tiancang could genuinely feel the chilling threat of death closing in.

As Chu Xuan rapidly approached, True Master Tiancang gritted his teeth and swiftly performed a spiritual sense secret technique. His remaining spiritual sense coalesced into two giant wolves, which surged toward Chu Xuan to rip him apart.

Though True Master Tiancang was a Deity Transformation cultivator, he did not have boundless resources across all fronts. His martial techniques, spells, spiritual artifacts, and ghost minions had all kept pace, but his soul and spiritual sense were lagging behind.

To cultivate effectively, one had to make choices—focusing on some aspects and letting others fall behind. If one sought to master everything, they would ultimately master nothing and waste precious time.

Furthermore, spiritual sense secret techniques were far rarer than Spiritual Qi-based spells and body-refining martial arts.

What True Master Tiancang used now was the Nascent Soul-level secret technique "Soul Painting Wolves." While it was somewhat lacking when facing a Deity Transformation cultivator, he believed it would be more than enough to deal with a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Given Chu Xuan's impressive body-refining abilities, True Master Tiancang assumed that his soul would not be too formidable. If he could seize the opportunity when Chu Xuan overextended himself, perhaps he could inflict heavy damage on his soul and even reverse the situation.

"Are you trying to challenge me with spiritual sense techniques?" Chu Xuan laughed coldly.

His spiritual sense coalesced into two giant hands, which reached out to grasp.

Sky-Tearing Cold Palm!

The giant hands clashed with the giant wolves. They fought for several rounds, each side evenly matched.

True Master Tiancang was stunned.

A Nascent Soul cultivator's spiritual sense was almost on par with that of a Deity Transformation cultivator?!

Chapter 436: Revenge For You

Chu Xuan took out an object at this moment.

It was a lantern, predominantly blue in color. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, with unremarkable patterns etched on its surface. Yet, atop the lantern burned a black-red flame! The flame emitted intense heat, yet it struck a chilling terror to the heart, as if the mere gaze could sear one's primordial spirit.

True Master Tiancang's expression flickered with suspicion.

Was that an top-grade magic treasure? Why did it make him feel such a strong sense of danger? Could it be...?

True Master Tiancang, being a seasoned veteran, immediately condensed his spiritual sense into a massive barrier to protect his primordial spirit.

At that moment, Chu Xuan gave a low shout, channeling a surge of Spiritual Qi into the lantern. The black-red flame on the Green Hell Lamp flared and rapidly expanded. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a towering inferno, engulfing True Master Tiancang!

It was the Netherfire Devouring Flame, a flame that not only burned the body but also tormented the soul.

As Chu Xuan unleashed the Netherfire Devouring Flame, he subtly waved his right hand. Fire bees, invisible to the eye and concealed by the surrounding aura, flew out, spreading throughout the entire area, covering every inch of space.

When dealing with any opponent, one must always prepare for contingencies. Especially when facing a Deity Transformation cultivator.

Under the inferno of the Netherfire Devouring Flame, the massive wall of spiritual sense in front of True Master Tiancang began to rapidly dissolve and melt, visibly weakening.

True Master Tiancang's face twisted with shock and fury. He immediately poured more spiritual sense into the wall, almost sacrificing his primordial spirit to keep the barrier intact.

Yet, despite his efforts, the pressure was overwhelming, and the wall could only hold on by a thread. His gaze toward Chu Xuan changed completely.

The man before him was no longer a fat, juicy lamb for the slaughter, but a formidable opponent he had seriously underestimated.

Gripping his teeth through the excruciating burning sensation, True Master Tiancang roared, gathering all his spiritual sense in a desperate effort to fight back.

"Soul Painting Wolves!"

His spiritual sense condensed into a massive, howling wolf, far larger than the two previous ones. This wolf stretched a full ten zhang in length.

Before it, Chu Xuan seemed no more significant than a tiny ant.

"Die!" True Master Tiancang bellowed, his primordial spirit flickering weakly like a shadow, nearly transparent. But he gritted his teeth and roared again, commanding the spiritual sense wolf to break through the Netherfire Devouring Flame and charge toward Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan shook his head slightly.

As expected of a Deity Transformation cultivator, they were indeed difficult to kill. But now, it was time to reveal his trump card.

At that moment, the spiritual sense wolf leaped into the air, its enormous jaws open and sharp claws poised to strike. It aimed directly at Chu Xuan.

True Master Tiancang's plan was simple: as long as he killed Chu Xuan, or even severely wounded him, it would force the man to retract the Netherfire Devouring Flame in self-defense. That would shatter the powerful offensive and bring an end to this battle.

"Fire!" Chu Xuan shouted.

At his command, a swarm of fire bees that had been hiding in the darkness suddenly appeared.

The black-red flames surged, sweeping across the battlefield like a tidal wave. In an instant, they formed an impenetrable net of fire!

True Master Tiancang's pupils contracted sharply, and he desperately tried to slow down the spiritual sense wolf. However, by the time he reacted, it was already too late. The spiritual sense wolf slammed into the fire net.

"Ah!" True Master Tiancang screamed in agony.

The excruciating pain from his spiritual sense being seared made it impossible for him to think clearly. The spiritual sense wolf, surrounded by the Netherfire Devouring Flame, was rapidly dissolving. It didn't take long before it completely dissipated.

True Master Tiancang fell into total despair. His primordial spirit was gravely weakened. His Ghost King, He Ze, was now entangled by the other two Ghost Kings and could not move. He had lost all ability to resist.

He looked at Chu Xuan, who was walking toward him unhurriedly, and said in despair, "Who are you? Who exactly are you?"

Chu Xuan's expression remained indifferent. "You've been searching for my whereabouts all this time, and now you ask me who I am?"

True Master Tiancang froze.

Searching for me?

Suddenly, distant memories surged into his mind.

He gasped, his face filled with anger and realization. "You are the alchemist He Liang!"

Chu Xuan gently clasped his hands together. "Correct. As a reward, you'll get to keep shining and burning... for a little while longer."

Before True Master Tiancang could say anything, Chu Xuan struck his primordial spirit with a palm, completely taking control of him and performing the Soul Search technique.

One by one, True Master Tiancang's past actions unfolded before Chu Xuan's eyes like the pages of a thick book, flipping over one after another.

"True Master Tianqing is dead... So it was indeed caused by this man," Chu Xuan sneered.

True Master Tianqing, the genius of the Reincarnation Sect who had researched the Body-Snatching technique, was also True Master Tiancang's senior brother.

"True Master Tianqing, I have killed this bastard. I suppose this is your revenge for you," Chu Xuan continued flipping through True Master Tiancang's memories.

Soon, he saw the scene where True Master Tiancang had gone to Celestial Sound Star and used the Soul Search technique on He Ze. Afterward, True Master Tiancang employed divination to learn that a great treasure would emerge in the Starshatter Sea within the next century.

As a result, he had joined the Black Dragon Merchant Guild's convoy and traveled to the Starshatter Sea.

"The Starshatter Sea has a great treasure? Could it be the ancient body-refining sect hidden beneath Desolate Island?" Chu Xuan thought to himself.

It didn't seem likely.

Although the treasures on Desolate Island were valuable, they could only attract Deity Transformation cultivators in the early stages. Higher-level cultivators had not yet arrived.

This suggested that the treasure here did not pique their interest. For them, it would be more worthwhile to search for opportunities in the second and even the first rings of the Starshatter Sea than to waste time here.

Chu Xuan didn't dwell on it any longer. He withdrew his spiritual sense. After the Soul Search, True Master Tiancang was now on the brink of death, completely devoid of consciousness.

Chu Xuan glanced at He Ze once more and sighed softly, "It's time for you to depart. Perhaps for you, this is true redemption."

A Ghost King was indeed important. It would take some effort to sever the master-servant bond between True Master Tiancang and He Ze, but given time, Chu Xuan would gain another formidable Ghost King. However, that was not something he would do.

He had the opportunity back then to turn Liu Zhenxiong, who retained the form of the Black Beast, into a corpse puppet, but he had not. Instead, he had personally buried Liu Zhenxiong.

After all, cultivation was not only about killing and fighting—it also involved human connections and etiquette.

With that thought, Chu Xuan casually slapped his palm down, shattering True Master Tiancang's primordial spirit.

Since True Master Tiancang and He Ze shared a master-servant relationship, once True Master Tiancang died, He Ze would naturally be destroyed along with him.

In the final moments before He Ze completely vanished, a look of immense relief spread across his terrifying face. He gazed deeply at Chu Xuan, and then he dissipated without a trace.

Chu Xuan reached out and took True Master Tiancang's universe bag, casually tossing the corpse into the Heavenly Corpse Tower.

He then unleashed a burst of Netherfire Devouring Flame to erase any traces of the battle, ensuring the area was entirely obliterated. Finally, he took another route and left.

He knew that the commotion here would undoubtedly attract the attention of rogue cultivators. Therefore, the quicker he left, the better, to avoid becoming their target.

Sure enough, not long after Chu Xuan's departure, groups of cultivators began arriving on the desolate island. However, all that awaited them was a vast expanse of scorched earth.

There was no treasure to be found, not even a single hair.

...

On the other side, Chu Xuan had already returned to the Blue Star.

True Master Tiancang's universe bag floated before him. The spiritual sense imprint on it had been thoroughly erased.

"Let me see what secrets a Deity Transformation elder from the Reincarnation Sect holds."

Chu Xuan rubbed his hands in anticipation, extending his spiritual sense to explore the bag's contents.

Chapter 437: Deity Transformation Volume of the Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll

Chu Xuan's spiritual sense entered the universe bag, and a foreign object immediately caught his eye. Piles of spiritual stones and healing pills were stacked up, but none of them caught his interest.

Spiritual stones were good, but he wasn't lacking them at the moment. After all, many things couldn't be bought with just spiritual stones. Take the Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll from the Reincarnation Sect, for example.

He picked up a jade slip, his spiritual sense scanning its surface. Upon recognizing the familiar characters, a smile crept onto his face. It was the Deity Transformation volume of the Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll.

This was the core technique of the Reincarnation Sect, a sect-defining cultivation method that could carry a cultivator all the way from the Nascent Soul stage to Deity Transformation, and even up to the Astral Projection stage. Most of the Reincarnation Sect's other Golden Core techniques were designed as stepping stones to the Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll.

After he killed the Reincarnation Sect's Holy Son, Leng Hanshuang, he had acquired the Nascent Soul volume of this technique. During his time in the Starshatter Sea, he had not forgotten to search for the Deity Transformation volume. However, the Reincarnation Sect, once a sixth-grade sect ruling multiple cultivation planets, had strictly controlled the dissemination of its techniques.

Now that the sect had fallen, although it hadn't collapsed entirely, the Deity Transformation volume was still nowhere to be found in the southern third ring of the Starshatter Sea.

Chu Xuan had put it aside for a while. He had even thought that if he couldn't find the Deity Transformation volume, he would have to settle for a slightly lesser method for Deity Transformation. As long as its attributes were similar to the Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll, there wouldn't be too much of a rejection reaction.

Now, by killing True Master Tiancang, he had indeed obtained the Deity Transformation volume of the Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll. With this, once he ascended to the Deity Transformation stage, he wouldn't need to worry about cultivation methods. He could cultivate according to plan.

Aside from the crucial Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll Deity Transformation volume, Chu Xuan also found several damaged low-grade spiritual tools. Some were severely damaged and could probably only be melted down to extract useful materials. Others could still be used, albeit imperfectly.

For instance, there was a white jade bottle, inside which a dark green liquid swirled.

Chu Xuan immediately recalled the battle between True Master Tiancang and White Bone True Master. White Bone True Master's spiritual tool had been covered by this dark green liquid, which caused the connection to the tool to be severed, allowing True Master Tiancang to seize it.

The dark green liquid was clearly unusual and had the ability to sever the bond between a cultivator and their spiritual tool. Chu Xuan wracked his brain trying to figure out what this liquid could be, but it was beyond his knowledge.

Clearly, this substance exceeded his current understanding. He would need to acquire more ancient books and texts to understand its true nature. But there was no doubt: it could weaken the connection between a cultivator and their spiritual tool.

Upon a closer inspection, Chu Xuan discovered that the object was not a jade bottle, but rather a vessel crafted from pure white, translucent bones. On its surface, three characters were engraved.

Dragon Bone Bottle.

In addition to the Dragon Bone Bottle, there was also a white object—the White Dragon Seize.

This item, a low-grade spiritual tool forged from the claws of a Jiaolong (flood dragon), was not only powerful but could unleash layers of jade-like radiance, slowing the speed of enemies. Once the White Dragon Seize was grasped by its wielder, it would bind its target as though they were tied with an unbreakable rope, impossible to escape. It could be considered a supreme control tool.

Additionally, there was a black cloak known as the Dark Ghost Robe. This artifact, when worn, provided an astonishing level of defense. If wielded offensively, it also had the power to trap enemies. Just earlier, True Master Tiancang had used it to ensnare two Nascent Soul cultivators at once.

With these three low-grade spiritual tools, Chu Xuan was quite pleased. By now, he had accumulated four spiritual tools: the Qingming Lamp, the Dragon Bone Bottle, the White Dragon Seize, and the Dark Ghost Robe. All of them were valuable.

Moreover, he still possessed a number of personal magic treasures. Once resources permitted, they could be upgraded to spiritual tools as well.

"Hmm? What's this?"

Chu Xuan's attention was drawn to a dusty, ancient token lying quietly in the corner of the universe bag. The surface of the token was engraved with an image of a black dragon. This dragon had twin horns, four claws, and a long tail resembling a whip.

For some reason, Chu Xuan didn't feel any overwhelming pressure or regal dominance from the token, as one might expect from a high-status item. Instead, he felt a ferocious, bloodthirsty aura emanating from it, like it was a beast eager to devour whoever came too close.

It lacked any divinity, only the raw, savage instincts of a beast.

Chu Xuan didn't know what the Black Dragon Token was for. He recalled True Master Tiancang's memories and realized that the Daoist had come across a Golden Core cultivator's stall by chance, where he found the black dragon token. Thinking it looked quite special, he purchased it.

After acquiring it, True Master Tiancang had used his lifespan to perform a divination, but all he had gleaned were mere fragments—just the dragon's scales and claws. Terrified by what he sensed, he abruptly stopped the divination. It seemed he had encountered something terrifying.

Moreover, even this little bit of information vanished completely from his mind within a hundred breaths, as though it had never existed. In the end, he had lost a hundred years of lifespan for nothing.

"Quite sinister…" Chu Xuan muttered, frowning as he carefully placed the Black Dragon Token into a jade box and stored it in his universe bag.

Whatever it was, it would certainly be of use someday.

Aside from these items, True Master Tiancang had also left behind a number of notes on alchemy. Of course, most of them concerned the creation of evil pills and demonic elixirs. The most notable were his two jade slips detailing the process for refining the Heavenly Longevity Pill.

However, Chu Xuan had no use for them. His lifespan was already extremely long, and with the Life Ghost by his side to steal lifespan, he didn't need to go to such lengths. Furthermore, he could always revisit the small Taotie Tree for a chat. Though it only offered a ten-year lifespan each time, it cost only a few jars of blood honey—a far less troublesome option than what True Master Tiancang had gone through.

"Such a pity, he never made use of the Taotie Tree method..." Chu Xuan sighed and shook his head regretfully.

The Taotie Tree certainly had more functions than just increasing lifespan. It was just that, at present, he couldn't find a way to fully exploit its potential. If he had to say, asking Wen Lingtian would certainly yield the answer.

But whether Wen Lingtian was alive or dead remained uncertain. Even if he was still alive, attempting to take something from an Astral Projection Realm cultivator would be a difficult task, to say the least.

...

A few days later, the news of the four Deity Transformation cultivators' chaotic battle spread like wildfire.

The Moon True Master, White Bone True Master, and Yellow Spring True Master had even joined forces to issue a bounty. Anyone who could provide information about the whereabouts of the mysterious Deity Transformation cultivator would be rewarded with one hundred high-grade spirit stones and a top-tier magic treasure, upon verification of the information.

If someone could capture the nameless Deity Transformation cultivator alive, they would be granted membership in the Moon Society, White Bone Island, or Yellow Spring Island, along with even greater rewards.

This sent shockwaves through the cultivators in the southern third ring. In addition to their treasure hunts on Desolate Island, they now had another task—to search for the whereabouts of True Master Tiancang.

Some cultivators, eager for the reward, resorted to forging false leads to claim the bounty. However, after a few of these fraudsters were killed, the rest of the cultivators quickly learned not to risk it. They began to search the old-fashioned way, looking for actual clues.

Of course, no matter how hard they searched, they would never find True Master Tiancang. After all, True Master Tiancang had already been sent to his grave by Chu Xuan.

...

In the days that followed, Chu Xuan spent his afternoons selling demon soul talismans on Desolate Island. By night, he returned to his Water Curtain Cave to refine his body.

His life had become quite comfortable. The honest and trustworthy Master Liu, along with his shop Demon Talisman Studio, was gradually gaining recognition and spreading its reputation.

Chapter 438: Mother of Thousands Insects Breeding Method

"Looking across the entire Starshatter Sea, there are countless shady shops that collect money and still engage in black-market dealings," Chu Xuan mused. "A store like mine, where goods are exchanged honestly and fairly, is truly rare."

He had earned the reputation of Master Liu, the Honest and Trustworthy Talismaker through his commitment to integrity. Of course, this was also closely tied to his own immense strength. After all, even Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators had fallen at his hands. Who would dare speak ill of him to his face?

...

One day, the volcanic range on Desolate Island once again rumbled with low, thunderous sounds. Occasional plumes of dark smoke, tinged with flashes of fire, shot into the sky.

Ever since the last large-scale eruption, the volcanoes had been eerily quiet, resembling wilted cucumbers in need of water. Many cultivators believed the volcanoes had exhausted their eruptions and would remain dormant for some time. As a result, they began exploring deeper into the island.

However, Chu Xuan, ever cautious, did not risk venturing further. He continued to run his small business. While delving into the heart of Desolate Island might yield more treasures, it also posed greater dangers. It was far more prudent to exchange low-cost demonic talismans for the treasures in the hands of other cultivators.

At the moment, Chu Xuan was comfortably lounging in a rattan chair inside his Studio, leisurely flipping through his demonic talisman Sutra. A few cultivators entered in small groups, selecting talismans from his store.

After spending much time studying the sutra, Chu Xuan had managed to create a variety of talismans. Not only did he craft battle-ready Soul-sealing Talismans, but he had also developed Soul-weaving Talismans, capable of turning soul energy into weapons like swords and shields. Additionally, there were Soul-repair Talismans to mend damaged souls, as well as Enhancement Talismans that amplified the power of spiritual sense techniques.

Besides his work with talismans, Chu Xuan was also skilled in alchemy, particularly in crafting healing pills, which were always in high demand. Cultivators were always keen on acquiring such life-saving items.

As the cultivators selected their talismans and pills, they exchanged stories about their recent discoveries.

"…I've heard there are a lot of ancient ruins popping up lately. Is it true? I found a broken pillar in the western part of Desolate Island yesterday. The carvings on it were quite exquisite. It could very well be the remains of an ancient sect's ruins."

"So, there's an ancient ruin underground on Desolate Island?"

"It's highly likely! My friend works for a Nascent Soul cultivator on Yellow Spring Island, and he mentioned that Yellow Spring True Master has started mobilizing most of the island's cultivators to investigate."

Chu Xuan listened intently, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. He smiled gently, saying, "Young friends, could you tell me more about these ancient ruins?"

"I'll offer you a discount of 20%," he added with a warm smile.

The cultivators' faces lit up with excitement. "Master Liu, we will speak of all we know, and with the utmost sincerity!"

After a few moments, the cultivators happily left the shop, eager to share what they knew.

Chu Xuan pondered over the information he had gathered today. It seemed exactly as he had suspected. There was indeed a great possibility that an ancient sect's ruins lay beneath Desolate Island.

Currently, the three major forces—Moon Society, Yellow Spring Island, and White Bone Island—had all mobilized. Except for the cultivators stationed at their main halls and various properties, the majority of their forces were now here. Whoever could find the entrance to the ruins first would gain the upper hand! Once that happened, the other two factions would have no choice but to make concessions in order to gain access.

It wasn't just the three major sects—scattered cultivators were also eagerly hoping to become the "chosen one," frequently banding together in groups to explore the depths of Desolate Island. Who knew? A strange rock or an ancient pillar could lead to the entrance of the ancient ruins. If someone could enter the ruins alone, they would have the chance to claim a vast fortune. It was the kind of opportunity that only came once in a lifetime!

To put it simply, it was the perfect time to rise with the tides, like a dragon soaring from the clouds.

Yet, Chu Xuan had no such thoughts. Searching for secrets meant putting oneself at risk, and it was a gamble where survival was never guaranteed.

"Still, small-scale business is more suited to me."

He smiled faintly, returning to his Demon Talisman Studio. When a gold rush happened, it wasn't just those who struck gold who became rich. Even those selling mining tools, operating inns and restaurants, could amass wealth.

...

Two months passed in the blink of an eye. The volcanic range on Desolate Island had fallen completely silent. The lava, which had once roiled brightly, emitting intense heat, now lay still and dark, as though dead. Only one of the largest volcanoes still emitted a daily stream of toxic black smoke.

Many cultivators, including the three Deity Transformation experts—Moon, White Bone, and Yellow Spring—believed that the volcanoes would not erupt again. After two major eruptions, the volcanic range had likely reached its end. It would remain silent forever.

Over the past two months, countless cultivators came and went on Desolate Island, seeking the entrance to the ancient ruins. Today, they might find a broken pillar; tomorrow, half a stone brick; the next day, a shattered stone slab with engraved patterns. But no one had found the entrance to the underground ruins.

Chu Xuan's shop also saw a steady flow of visitors. He could see their expressions evolve—from initial excitement and anticipation to the dull, numb looks of disappointment.

Clearly, many of them now believed the ancient ruins were nothing more than a fantastical tale. Perhaps the underground of Desolate Island was just a wasteland of broken bricks and shattered stones. The further they searched, the more likely they were to encounter only the same useless debris, with none of the ancient treasures they had imagined.

As time went on, Chu Xuan shifted his focus more toward cultivation, though he still kept an eye on any developments within the cave world.

That day, as Chu Xuan was going about his usual routine of observing the Cave World, he suddenly noticed that the Mirror was placed on the desk. Next to it lay a crystal stone that shimmered with seven distinct colors.

Chu Xuan swept it with his spiritual sense and immediately discovered a new method for breeding demon insects. And this method was of a Diamond-grade quality!

"Mother of Thousands Insects Breeding Method..." Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

He had been closely watching the changes in Xiao Renjie lately. After Xiao Renjie, the King of Myriad Insects, obtained the recipe for the Longevity Wine, he had ordered a nationwide search for the necessary medicinal ingredients.

It didn't take long before the wine was successfully brewed. However, after drinking three bottles of the Longevity Wine, which extended his life by about thirty years, Xiao Renjie realized that the effects of the wine began to diminish significantly.

By the time he consumed the fourth bottle, the subtle feeling of extending his lifespan vanished completely. In order to further prolong his life, Xiao Renjie was forced to look for other methods.

At first, he had refused to compromise with the "Magic Mirror" and attempted to modify the recipe of the Longevity Wine by changing some of the ingredients, hoping to discover a better formula using his own methods. But he failed. His frustration, anger, and unease only grew with time. Now, he could no longer bear it and had no choice but to submit to the mirror.

Chu Xuan focused his spiritual sense, causing the words to materialize on the mirror's surface, lingering for a long time.

Meanwhile, he calmed his mind and delved deeply into studying the Mother of Thousands Insects Breeding Method. After carefully examining it, Chu Xuan was greatly delighted. This method was the perfect way to breed blood queen bees!

Chapter 439: Myriad Insects Nest

The Mother of Thousands Breeding Method was a method of great versatility, capable of breeding a wide array of demon insects: bees, ants, spiders, centipedes, mantises... Every imaginable kind of insect could be nurtured under this method.

Nearly all of the demon insects of the Myriad Insect Kingdom had been bred from the Mother of Thousands, eventually expanding to the kingdom's vast domain. As long as the breeding method worked, following the procedure would allow the Blood Queen Bee to undergo a significant transformation. From then on, it would not only be able to produce Blood Bees, but also Blood Ants, Blood Scorpions, Blood Spiders, Blood Centipedes, and other kinds of demon insects.

This meant that if the Blood Bees couldn't adapt to, or were unable to survive in, certain environments, they could simply be replaced by other types of demon insects. With such a method, the function of the Blood Queen Bee would be greatly enhanced.

Of course, the various herbs mentioned in the Mother of Thousands Breeding Method were only found in the Cave World. Chu Xuan would have to find similar spiritual plants in the Starshatter Sea to substitute them, according to their medicinal properties.

This would certainly take a great deal of time and effort. But Chu Xuan didn't mind. If he succeeded, the Blood Queen Bee's rank would surely rise to a whole new level.

Fifth-transformation gu insects! They were comparable to Deity Transformation cultivators' gu insects! Just thinking about it made his heart race with excitement.

"The Earth Longevity Wine can only extend life for so long. Xiao Renjie will eventually resort to swallowing up the other two kingdoms. The other two diamond-level demon insect breeding methods will eventually come to me as well."

Chu Xuan smiled faintly as he watched Xiao Renjie, the Myriad Insect King, who had been ecstatic after obtaining the Longevity Wine formula. He knew that all he needed to do was stir the pot from behind the scenes. As for the specific operations, he could leave them to this King of Myriad Insects.

Returning to the house on Desolate Island, Chu Xuan immediately put up a sign to purchase various kinds of spiritual plants. These plants resembled the herbs mentioned in the Mother of Thousands Breeding Method, but they had to be inspected by him first to determine which ones were suitable for use.

The sign immediately piqued the interest of many cultivators. To them, it was clear that Master Liu was offering to buy these spiritual plants at a high price. Although they couldn't quite understand why a rune master who also dabbled in alchemy would need to purchase so many spiritual plants, they were willing to sell as long as there was profit. Soon enough, various types of spiritual plants were brought to Chu Xuan.

In just half a month, using only the resources available in the Starshatter Sea, Chu Xuan had tested and found the necessary spiritual plants. On this particular day, he successfully refined what was called the "Demon Insect Cultivation Elixir."

Among the various methods for breeding demon insects, this elixir was referred to as the Demon Insect Cultivation Elixir. However, after Chu Xuan's successful refinement, it didn't appear as a liquid but rather as a solid pill, likely due to the intense Spiritual Qi contained within the spiritual plants.

With a thought, Chu Xuan summoned the Blood Queen Bee.

The Blood Queen Bee still appeared as the same small and delicate creature as before, but now golden patterns adorned her body. This was a sign that she was on the path to transforming into the ancient and powerful Sunfire Queen Bee.

This change had been visible in the Blood Queen Bee for some time now. It was just that there had been no external influence to hasten the process until now.

"Good little one, here's a special treat I made just for you. Eat it quickly."

Chu Xuan held the cultivation pill near the Blood Queen Bee's mouth. The Blood Queen Bee, with her compound eyes, stared at her master for a few moments. Without hesitation, she took the pill into her mouth and swallowed it in one swift gulp.

Before long, a look of discomfort appeared on her small face. Soon, she instinctively began to spin a cocoon around herself.

Chu Xuan's face lit up in surprise. He hadn't expected the cultivation pill to actually facilitate the Blood Queen Bee's metamorphosis. The Blood Queen Bee was still only a mid-tier fourth-turn insect, far from reaching the fifth-turn transformation. The fact that she was now wrapping herself in a cocoon likely meant something extraordinary—a return to her ancestral form!

"Sunfire Queen Bee!" Chu Xuan muttered with amazement.

This was an ancient and powerful gu insect, one that had been lost to time. He hadn't anticipated that it would reappear in his hands.

Days passed, and still, there was no movement from within the cocoon. Chu Xuan didn't grow impatient but instead focused on maintaining his calm and waiting patiently.

Ten months later, faint rustling sounds finally came from within the cocoon. It was clear that the Blood Queen Bee had awakened.

Chu Xuan's spirit stirred, and he breathed out a long, controlled breath, fully concentrating on the cocoon's movements.

Crack. Crack.

The cocoon was suddenly torn from the inside. Moments later, a small head poked out, still maintaining its mischievous little appearance.

With black, glossy compound eyes, it carefully examined the world outside the cocoon. As soon as it saw Chu Xuan, a wave of joy and happiness radiated from it, which Chu Xuan could clearly feel.

Crack.

The cocoon was entirely consumed, and the little creature lay fully revealed before Chu Xuan. Its entire body was covered in golden patterns, gleaming like sunlight itself. On its back, there were two large, transparent wings with golden sun-like patterns etched into them.

However, it didn't resemble the Sunfire Queen Bee, whose body was entirely that of a typical bee. This little one appeared to be a mix—a fusion of bee, ant, spider, and scorpion, all at once.

It was like an amalgamation of several demon insect features, creating a creature that looked completely unrecognizable at first glance. Yet, upon closer inspection, there was a unique and almost absurd beauty to it.

Chu Xuan extended his hand, and the little creature obediently hopped into his palm, contentedly basking in the gentle caresses of its master.

"The Mother of Thousands Insects Breeding Method has indeed worked," Chu Xuan mused with satisfaction. "The Blood Queen Bee has successfully returned to its ancestral form, and yet... it seems to have gone even further."

Chu Xuan fell into deep thought.

It seemed that calling this little creature the "Sunfire Queen Bee" was not quite fitting. It resembled more of a "Sunfire Insect Mother," capable of breeding not just bees, but a variety of other demon insects as well.

He smiled contentedly. No matter what, it had worked.

"Your intelligence is steadily improving. It's time you had a name," he mused. "You are the Sunfire Insect Mother, but not fully grown yet. You're like the rising sun."

After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "How about 'Xiao Yang' (Little Sun)?"

The little creature took a half-step back, shaking its head vigorously.

Chu Xuan was taken aback.

Such a simple and pleasant name, and it didn't like it?

He thought again. "Well then, how about 'Xiao Lie' (Little Flame)?"

The little creature shook its head even more fiercely, its resistance more intense than before.

Chu Xuan sighed. It seemed he had encountered a smart one this time.

He pondered for a while and finally said, "What do you think of 'Chen Xi' (Morning Dawn)?"

The little creature tilted its head, thought for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, as though approving of the name.

Chu Xuan let out another long sigh. "So, it's really 'Chen Xi' then? I feel like Xiao Yang and Xiao Lie have more meaning, with a certain resonance like Long, Hu, and Bao."

The little creature nodded firmly and even made a few chirping sounds, as if confirming her decision.

Chu Xuan had no choice but to accept it. "Alright, then. From now on, you shall be Chen Xi."

A smart child wasn't always a blessing. It was hard to trick such a sharp one...

In the following days, Chu Xuan noticed that the Blood Beehive, once home to only the blood bees, had been gradually altered by the insects Chen Xi produced.

With the addition of various ores and spiritual wood, the nest had grown in both size and durability, now reaching the limits of a high-grade magic treasure. Not only did it have spaces for the bees to rest, but also for ants, spiders, centipedes, and other cursed insects to dwell in.

Clearly, calling it the "Blood Beehive" was no longer suitable.

Thus, he renamed it the "Myriad Insects Nest."

Chapter 440: The Mysterious Land

These days, Chu Xuan often communicated with Chen Xi, observing the gu insects it produced.

He discovered that the combat capabilities of all the gu insects now born from Chen Xi had surged to a new level. As soon as they hatched, they already possessed the combat strength of mid-stage third-tier creatures.

After experiencing a battle or two, they could even reach the late third-tier. Even if injured, as long as it wasn't life-threatening, they could return to the Myriad Insects Nest and heal quickly, ready to fight again.

As long as the blood honey was sufficient, these gu insects would continuously engage in battle. The longer the drawn-out and prolonged battles lasted, the more advantageous they became.

Chu Xuan was extremely pleased with this outcome. With the Blood Queen transforming into the Sunfire Insect Mother, and the Blood Bee Nest expanding into the Myriad Insects Nest, his strength had once again grown. How could he not be happy?

...

On Desolate Island, this day, Chu Xuan was leisurely flipping through the talisman classics in his shop as usual when he suddenly felt the ground faintly tremble.

Both he and the cultivators in the shop were unfazed. Such tremors had occurred numerous times over the past month. When it first happened, Chu Xuan immediately packed up the talismans and pills, boarded his flying boat, and fled. Many other cultivators had similar thoughts.

However, after traveling some distance from Desolate Island, they found nothing out of the ordinary. So, the cultivators eventually returned to the island.

After several instances of such occurrences, no one paid it much attention anymore. But in the last few days, Chu Xuan couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but his eyelids kept twitching.

With his current strength, even if he were to encounter Moon, Yellow Spring, or White Bone, it wouldn't matter. Even if he couldn't win, he could always escape.

He couldn't imagine what could possibly pose a threat to him on Desolate Island.

Boom!

The ground trembled again.

The cultivators in the shop reacted as usual, continuing to select talismans. But Chu Xuan furrowed his brows, standing up.

Two tremors in such a short time felt very odd. This had never happened so frequently before. Could it be that something major was happening? After a moment of thought, he decided it was better to be cautious.

"Close the shop for the day."

With a wave of his hand, Chu Xuan dismissed the cultivators, quickly packed up all the talismans and pills, locked up the shop, and turned to leave.

He arrived at the edge of Desolate Island, took out his flying boat, and prepared to depart. This time, only a few cultivators shared the same thought as him.

"Master Liu?" A voice came from not far away. "What a coincidence, you're leaving too?"

Chu Xuan smiled lightly. "A wise man doesn't stand beneath a dangerous wall. It's better to be cautious."

Zhao Kongming nodded in agreement. "I too have a strange sense of danger. The frequency of these tremors today is too high; we should indeed leave."

The two of them steered their flying boats away from Desolate Island. But at that moment, a violent tremor erupted from deep within Desolate Island. A terrifying roar shook the very heavens and earth!

Boom!

The volcanoes on Desolate Island erupted all at once—twenty-three of them!

In an instant, black smoke enveloped the sky. Lava was hurled into the air and rained down like a torrential downpour!

For a moment, the entire Desolate Island appeared as if it had turned into a hellish landscape!

The screams of cultivators echoed from all directions.

Zhao Kongming gaped in shock. "Good thing we left quickly!"

Chu Xuan nodded, about to speak, when suddenly, a muffled explosion came from beneath Desolate Island.

The next moment, the ground began to collapse on a massive scale!

Crack, crack!

Hills, rivers, forests, houses—everything began to fall into the earth.

Even more terrifying, a tremendous sucking force began to emerge from deep beneath the ground.

It was like a black hole, pulling everything around Desolate Island toward it.

The cultivators closest to the center of the island had no chance to resist; they were sucked in without a fight.

Those on flying magic treasures, attempting to escape, couldn't withstand the force either.

Chu Xuan saw White Bone True Master, who had already fled, desperately trying to resist the suction. But he too was gradually being drawn into the earth.

Chu Xuan and Zhao Kongming both felt the overwhelming force pulling them in.

Their faces changed drastically. Without hesitation, they both used escape techniques, speeding away.

Chu Xuan didn't waste a second and immediately expelled a mouthful of Nascent Soul essence. But even the seawater itself was being drawn in by the immense force.

Before such an enormous and formidable power, even Deity Transformation cultivators were helpless, let alone Nascent Soul or Golden Core cultivators.

Chu Xuan did everything he could, yet still could not resist the massive pull. Before long, he was engulfed by the ocean, sucked into the earth. His conscious mind slowly began to be swallowed by the wildly spinning vortex.

"Damn it, I should have turned and run earlier…"

Before losing consciousness, the only thing Chu Xuan could do was summon Long and Hu, urging them to hold tightly to him.

He needed them to protect him, in case he fell unconscious and was ambushed by others, meeting his end in his sleep.

...

The sound of water echoed around.

Chilly drops of water fell on Chu Xuan's cheek. He jolted awake, his eyes snapping open. His senses immediately went on high alert as he scanned his surroundings.

The environment here was damp and cold. All around, there were broken bricks and shattered tiles, the remnants of some long-forgotten structure. The ground was thick with lush, green moss, and further away, there were several half-decomposed corpses. Some looked like they had been dead for a long time, while others had only just perished.

Chu Xuan raised his head and was met with the sight of a towering, iron-like black shadow standing beside him. It gave off an overwhelming sense of safety.

"Master, you're awake?" a familiar deep voice rumbled.

Chu Xuan's heart relaxed slightly.

As expected, Hu had remained by his side.

With such a formidable Level Eight Corpse King guarding him, unless he encountered a Deity Transformation cultivator or a Deity Transformation-level demonic beast, it was highly unlikely that anything would go wrong. After all, there were so few such beings, and it was unlikely he would encounter one so easily.

However, he was puzzled. Before losing consciousness, he had summoned both Long and Hu from the Heavenly Corpse Tower. Why was only Hu here now? Where was Long?

Chu Xuan immediately inquired about the situation.

Hu scratched its head in its usual awkward manner. "Master, as we were being sucked into this place, Long got struck by a huge boulder and disappeared. I don't know where it went. You were unconscious, so I stayed here and didn't move. There were two cultivators who wanted to kill you and steal your treasures, but I crushed them. They're over there."

Hu scratched its head again, looking a bit embarrassed. "I was a little hungry, so I had a few bites. But don't worry, I didn't eat too much. I was afraid it would make me lazy and slack off in protecting you."

Chu Xuan couldn't help but laugh. "It's fine, I know you're hungry. It's no big deal that you ate them."

Hu's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Master!"

Without waiting for another word, it immediately bent down and began devouring the two Golden Core cultivators it had killed.

In no time at all, there was nothing left but the tattered remnants of their clothes. It was as if they'd never existed.

"Always with the 'clean plate' mentality, no wasting," Chu Xuan thought, shaking his head in amusement.

Looking up, he found nothing but darkness. The rocky ceiling loomed overhead, an oppressive void that swallowed any light.

It was clear that they had been swept into a deeper, darker section of the cave by the water.

What confused Chu Xuan even more, however, was when he attempted to extend his spiritual sense. To his shock, it was intensely suppressed.

His spiritual sense was crushed by an overwhelming force.

He instinctively turned his gaze toward the surrounding rock walls and marveled aloud, "Nether stone... everywhere. No wonder the spiritual sense is so heavily suppressed."

He tested further and found that not only was his spiritual sense hindered, but his Spiritual Qi was also being suppressed.

He quickly gathered his Ice God Pillar, only to find that it was only one-tenth of its usual size, yet the Spiritual Qi consumption was greater than ever.

"This place is a problem!" Chu Xuan's expression shifted to one of surprise.

But then, after a brief moment of astonishment, his mood changed to one of excitement.

The suppression of Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense here might actually be an advantage for him.

After all, his Qi cultivation was still only at the Nascent Soul Ninth Layer.

But his body cultivation was at the Forty-Second Layer!