Demonic Cultivator(441-450) (Patreon)

Chapter 441: Retrieve the Corpses

Chu Xuan rose to his feet, only to be met with intense pain coursing through his body. Looking down, he saw his skin covered with bruises and wounds of all sizes. Some had already scabbed over, while others were still oozing blood.

If not for the extraordinary healing power of a body cultivator's physical resilience, he would have undoubtedly lost a considerable amount of blood during his unconscious state, leaving him even weaker than before.

Surveying the surroundings, Chu Xuan casually collected the nearby corpses. It was truly pitiful that they had perished here. If he didn't at least take the time to recover their bodies, wouldn't that make them even more tragic?

Chu Xuan expanded his spiritual sense as much as he could, barely able to sense the changes within a ten-zhang radius. He waved his hand. "Let's go, find somewhere safer."

Hu scratched his head and said, "Master, you're injured and moving slowly. Let me carry you."

Chu Xuan nodded in approval, feeling reassured.

Without another word, Hu effortlessly lifted Chu Xuan in his strong arms. Moving with great speed, he darted through the cave with ease, carrying the weight of Chu Xuan's body as though it were nothing.

Chu Xuan quickly retrieved various healing pills from his storage ring, taking the opportunity to tend to his injuries while being carried. Soon, he discovered a concealed cavern and hid them both inside. He ordered Hu to drag over a massive stone to block the entrance and set up several arrays for added security, allowing him a brief moment of peace.

Since he was injured, there was no need to risk further danger. It would be better to wait until he fully recovered before venturing out again. Survival depended on caution.

With Hu by his side, Chu Xuan took a step forward, returning to Blue Star. After a month of recovery on Blue Star, he had fully healed his wounds.

This was, of course, with the help of ample healing pills. If any other cultivators were in his position, lacking such resources, it would take at least three or four months to regain their peak condition.

One day, a flash of light appeared, and Chu Xuan, accompanied by Hu, returned to the underground caverns of Desolate Island.

With a flick of his hand, several tiny creatures, no larger than grains of rice, shot out from his palm, scurrying along the rock walls to explore in all directions.

These were the offspring of Chenxi, the creature he had raised. Though his spiritual sense was formidable, it was currently restricted to a mere ten-zhang radius. Since the spiritual sense was severely suppressed here, he had no choice but to rely on the insects to clear the path for him.

These almost imperceptible creatures could serve as his eyes and ears, alerting him to any movements within a fifty-zhang radius, allowing him to anticipate his enemies' actions and strike first.

After retracting the protective arrays around the area, Chu Xuan truly began his exploration. First and foremost, he needed to locate Long. He could still sense the connection between him and Long.

The fact that this connection persisted meant Long had not perished, but was likely trapped or severely injured, unable to return to his side. Once he found Long, it would add another arm to his strength.

In a dark, damp cavern, a field of beautiful, deep blue flowers bloomed. Each blossom was adorned with faint red markings, giving it an eerie yet captivating beauty. At the center of this strange flower bed, however, a figure writhed and struggled in agony.

Apart from this struggling figure, numerous other motionless corpses lay scattered across the ground, their bodies tangled with the flowers that had grown over them. The petals, now even more vibrant and dripping with color, added a sinister allure to the scene.

Outside this flower field stood two cultivators, both garbed in the distinctive robes of the Moon Society. The two exchanged a glance before breaking into cruel laughter.

The taller cultivator chuckled, "I never imagined we would accidentally stumble upon a Corpse King!"

The shorter, stockier cultivator laughed even more heartily, his face gleaming with delight. "These Man-Eating Flowers not only consume flesh, but their fragrance also has the power to confuse the mind. It's a perfect combination!"

He smirked. "If we wait just a little longer, the connection between this corpse puppet and its master will sever. When that happens, it will be a mindless, controllable creature!"

The taller cultivator grinned maliciously, "This cursed place suppresses both Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense, making it a perfect domain for body cultivators like us. With a Corpse King under our control, we could roam unchallenged! Even Moon True Master would be no match for us!"

The shorter cultivator laughed again, "Indeed! Moon True Master deceives us into working for him, poisoning us in the process. When he shows his weakness, we will strike without hesitation!"

The two burst into more maniacal laughter, but as they looked at each other's backs, a fleeting flash of coldness passed through their eyes.

Suddenly, the short cultivator remarked, "Look! The corpse puppet—it's moving!"

The tall cultivator quickly clenched his fist within his sleeve, though he feigned surprise. "Is that so? Let me see what's going on."

He turned, pretending to inspect the situation.

At that moment, the short cultivator made his move. But before he could strike, the tall cultivator's fist shot out like lightning. It landed squarely on the short cultivator's face with a thunderous crash!

The shorter cultivator cried out in agony, his nose caving in as blood poured from his face. The tall cultivator sneered, "Did you really think I wouldn't notice your intentions?"

He moved forward, preparing to deliver another crushing blow. However, beneath his feet, a sudden, sharp cracking sound rang out. He looked down in shock. To his horror, his right foot was entangled in thick, dark-green tendrils, which coiled tightly around his ankle. The edges of the leaves were serrated like a saw, and the sharp pain that surged through him left him momentarily stunned.

He tried to move forward quickly, but his movements grew sluggish with each passing second.

"Poison?!"

Shock and fury filled his voice. Even his speech had slowed to a crawl.

The short, stocky cultivator pressed his hand to his nose as he stood up, sneering.

"Poisonous Body Grass. I prepared this specifically for you. It can corrode a body cultivator's flesh and dissolve muscle tissue. You think I didn't notice your intentions? I've already made arrangements for you!"

The tall cultivator did his best to swallow a few pills, hoping to delay the poison's effects.

The two clashed fiercely.

At times, the tall cultivator had the upper hand, while at other moments, the short cultivator seemed to gain the advantage.

In the end, the short cultivator seized an opening, his fingers, like iron pincers, sinking deep into the tall cultivator's eye sockets. The tall cultivator cried out in pain, his grip loosening.

Seizing the opportunity, the short cultivator landed a series of punches, snapping the tall cultivator's throat with a brutal strike!

"Ha... in the end, it's me who wins, hahaha!"

The short cultivator leaned against the rock wall, gasping for breath, a victorious grin spreading across his face. Before he could even savor the moment, a massive, iron-like shadow charged into his line of sight.

Crack!

His head exploded in an instant, brain matter splattering and blood spraying out in all directions. His Nascent Soul attempted to flee, but was immediately grabbed by two powerful arms, respectfully delivered to Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan pressed his palm into the soul of the short cultivator and cast the Soul Search technique. Moments later, he had learned everything he needed to know.

The cultivator's name was Tang Bing, a body cultivator, controlled by Moon True Master through poison, forced to serve the Moon Society. After being dragged into the depths of Desolate Island, he had teamed up with the tall cultivator, using the Man-Eating Flowers to trap and kill several other cultivators. Even Long had been lured into the Man-Eating Flower field, where he had been ensnared.

What surprised Chu Xuan most was that this cultivator knew of Moon True Master's plans!

Chu Xuan's eyes gleamed. "No wonder Moon True Master started gathering body cultivators so early. He must know that beneath Desolate Island lies a sect's ruins, and only body cultivators can truly make use of it!"

Chapter 442: Commotion on Desolate Island

Tang Bing, along with Zhong Tianshuo, Bai Li, and a few others, were among the highest-ranking body cultivators.

Zhong Tianshuo held the highest rank, at the thirty-seventh level. Bai Li was second, at the thirty-sixth, while Tang Bing stood at the thirty-fifth level. Because the three of them were the strongest, Moon True Master had shared some of his plans with them.

Even without the sudden and mysterious burst of powerful suction from the underground ruins today, the Moon Society would have proceeded methodically in its search for ancient relics and ultimately emerged as the victor.

Tang Bing, however, had been cautious. He secretly investigated the Eight Extremes Palace, and by chance, he discovered a spiritual sense jade slip containing the final words of the last disciple of the Eight Extremes Palace.

Chu Xuan immediately searched Tang Bing's storage bag and found the jade slip.

After reading the contents, Chu Xuan fell silent, murmuring thoughtfully, "This ancient sect was called the Eight Extremes Palace, a sect devoted entirely to body cultivation. Thus, all the buildings within the sect were constructed using Nether Stones to block spiritual sense and Spirit-binding Stones to suppress Spiritual Qi.

"The Eight Extremes Palace was once a great sect of the ancient world. One day, it was suddenly besieged by a large number of corpse demons, outnumbered and eventually destroyed.

"The Sect Master, unwilling to let the sect's legacy die, set up a grand array before his death. This array would activate once a certain number of living beings gathered nearby, drawing in the surrounding cultivators, including those on Desolate Island.

"Anyone who could pass the trials would gain the Eight Extremes legacy. The trial was to kill the wandering corpse demons within the Eight Extremes Palace. Slaying one thousand corpse demons would grant one portion of the legacy."

"The more demons killed, the greater the legacy one would receive. The cultivator who kills the most corpse demons will inherit the complete Eight Extremes legacy."

Chu Xuan's expression grew strange. No wonder—this was indeed a body cultivator's domain. The trial requirements were as simple and brutal as they could be!

"This disciple who fled the sect must have felt immense guilt. He provided detailed accounts of the corpse demons' attacks and fatal weaknesses. Not bad, not bad."

Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. With the background of the dungeon and its strategy in hand, it was time to clear the dungeon! With a wave of his hand, the Evil Soul Chain shot out and bound Long's body, yanking it with a violent pull!

Aha. Not even a twitch. These Man-Eating Flowers had clearly taken Long for a feast and refused to let go no matter what.

Chu Xuan sneered, raising his hand to signal Hu, who immediately rushed forward and yanked at the Evil Soul Chain.

Snap, snap.

Petals shattered, and stems oozed with juice. In the blink of an eye, Long was forcibly pulled free. The remaining petals turned into jagged, fang-like jaws and rushed toward Chu Xuan, eager to gnaw at him.

With a casual wave, Chu Xuan sent the petals flying far away.

"Just like being drained by a succubus."

Chu Xuan glanced at Long's condition and shook his head repeatedly. Saving someone in this state wasn't like gaining a new limb. It felt more like gaining an additional burden. With a wave of his hand, he stored Long in the Heavenly Corpse Tower, instructing it to eat plenty of meat and recover.

"These spiritual plants must be the Man-Eating Flowers, right? Too bad their roots are too deep to uproot."

Chu Xuan sighed with slight regret. After cleaning up the battle remnants, he turned and left. He needed to find the true entrance to the Eight Extremes Palace as quickly as possible—he couldn't afford to waste any more time here.

At the same time, before a massive stone door, Moon True Master gently stroked the ancient and heavy stone surface.

Carved upon it was a pattern that formed an image: A body cultivator, with a single punch, shattered a mountain, sending colossal rocks flying in all directions. The pattern was not refined, yet it possessed a raw, powerful beauty—sharp angles, crude yet magnificent.

"Eight Extremes Palace… Eight Extremes Palace…"

Moon True Master's eyes unexpectedly welled up with a single tear. He took a deep breath, pressed his palm firmly against a recessed part of the stone door, and exerted all his strength. With a burst of power from his forty-fold body cultivation, the door creaked open.

Squeak.

The stone door gradually parted, and a wave of air, thick with the scent of sealed time, rushed out to meet him. His gaze was resolute, "I have finally returned to the Eight Extremes Palace. Rest assured, Ancestor. I will carry the complete Eight Extremes inheritance out of here! The Eight Extremes Palace will rise again to its former glory!"

...

Within the vast, square passage, droplets of water occasionally fell to the ground, only to be absorbed by the tender green moss.

Shang Xingchen walked cautiously along the passage. As a member of Yellow Spring Island, he had naturally been brought here by Yellow Spring True Master, tasked with searching for the entrance to the ancient ruins on Desolate Island. He had no intention of putting himself in danger, but now, as a guest under another's roof, he had no choice but to comply.

Not long ago, the volcanic range on Desolate Island erupted simultaneously. The ground collapsed, and a tremendous suction force pulled him underground. However, his luck was good. During the rush of water that swept him into the depths of the cave, he had suffered only minor injuries, most of them superficial. Now, his wounds had almost fully healed.

What troubled him the most, however, was the suppression of both Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense in this place. Had it not been for his partial knowledge of poison and Gu arts, he would likely have perished here not long after his arrival.

Now, he always kept ten bags of poison powder hidden in his sleeve, ready to use them at the first sign of an enemy. Around him, over a dozen tiny Yin Nether Insects flitted silently through the air, acting as his scouts to monitor the movements in the surroundings.

Yin Nether Insects were low-tier Gu insects, typically only capable of reaching the late stage of the second transformation. However, the ones Shang Xingchen had raised were exceptional, having reached the third transformation under his careful nurturing. These insects, tiny and silent in flight, were naturally suited for reconnaissance.

"Another person detected, not weak… best to avoid them," Shang Xingchen thought to himself. He immediately altered his path, evading a needless confrontation. Preserving his strength was key to ultimate victory. Yet, he could not be sure of the other person's intentions. Similarly, the other party, unable to guess his, would likely strike first. It was an endless chain of suspicion. Thus, avoidance remained the wisest course.

As he continued down the passage, Shang Xingchen detected several others and had already bypassed them. He suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"Who would've thought that the one who often tested Chu Xuan's strength would end up improving my skills in the Gu arts as well."

If it weren't for these Yin Nether Insects, he was sure that he would have clashed with others many times by now.

"Chu Xuan, Chu Xuan, with such commotion on Desolate Island, will you come for a share of the spoils?"

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he quickly shook his head.

"No, with his cautious nature, he would never take risks on his own. He'll likely remain on the outskirts of Desolate Island, waiting for the other cultivators to emerge from underground, and only then make his move."

Shang Xingchen couldn't help but chuckle softly. At that moment, a strange sense of urgency from the Yin Nether Insects reached him.

Shang Xingchen froze, quickly making his way toward the source. Soon, a massive stone door appeared at the end of the passage.

Upon the door, a myriad of primitive and simple engravings had come together to form a breathtaking image: A body cultivator, with a single step, broke the vast, roaring river beneath his feet!

Chapter 443: One Force Subdues Ten Foes

"What lies behind this stone door?"

Shang Xingchen stared at the massive stone door, suddenly sensing a faint thread of danger within him. It felt as though something terrifying lay hidden behind it, waiting for an unsuspecting soul to step into its trap. He furrowed his brows.

In ancient ruins, there were not only treasures but also dangers. Those who sought secrets and hidden wonders often found that for every ten who ventured in, only one would return.

After contemplating for a while, Shang Xingchen decided... to wait!

Wait for a lucky passerby to open the door first. This way, he could learn what was behind it without risking himself. Let others bear the danger. As for the opportunity, he would take it for himself.

Shang Xingchen retreated into a nearby concealed cave and waited in silence. His Yin Nether Insects scattered, resting on the rock walls, acting as his eyes and ears. It wasn't long before a lucky individual unknowingly approached the door.

"Damn it, what kind of cursed place is this? Shouldn't have come… Huh? What's that door?"

Song Tianlong stared at the ancient, heavy stone door, initially shocked, then filled with excitement.

He was the top disciple of Black Wind True Master, the leader of Black Wind Island. Though Black Wind Island had withdrawn, he couldn't resist the temptation and had brought a few trusted subordinates to Desolate Island, hoping to claim some share of the fortune.

However, just a few days into their arrival, they had encountered strange occurrences. His subordinates had scattered, and he had been wandering alone in the maze-like caves, growing numb to the situation. To his surprise, he had now discovered a door.

"This must be the true entrance to the ruins!" he thought, overjoyed.

Song Tianlong hurried to the stone door and pressed both of his arms against it, exerting all his strength.

Boom—rumble.

The stone door groaned, and a deep, resonating sound echoed from within. Under his immense power, the stone door, sealed for countless years, began to slowly open. The air was thick with the scent of ancient dust and decay.

Song Tianlong strained to peer inside, but all he saw was a pitch-black void.

"What exactly is inside here…" he murmured to himself.

Before he could finish speaking, a bolt of black light suddenly shot out from the gap in the stone door.

Song Tianlong's scalp tingled. He quickly stepped back, instinctively ducking his head. But his movement was still too slow.

Pffft!

A sharp bone spear pierced deep into his left shoulder.

Song Tianlong let out a scream of pain, stumbling backward. Only then did he catch a glimpse of his attacker in the faint light outside.

It was a humanoid creature.

Tall and gaunt, it stood nearly eight feet high. Its joints were covered in dense bone armor, and its hands and feet were transformed into bone spears and bone hammers. It looked similar to a corpse puppet, but it was far more formidable and terrifying.

The creature licked the blood off its bone spear, its eyes flashing with a naked, insatiable greed. Without hesitation, it charged toward Song Tianlong, relentlessly pursuing him.

Song Tianlong was horrified and fled in panic, not caring about anything else. The human and the monster gradually moved farther away, their sounds fading into the distance. Once all was silent, Shang Xingchen finally emerged from his hiding spot. His face was pale, reflecting his own shock.

Fortunately, he had been cautious, never once attempting to open the stone door himself. Otherwise, it would have been him badly injured, if not dead.

That creature, which resembled a corpse puppet, must have been at least at the late Nascent Soul stage in power. With the suppression of both spiritual sense and Spiritual Qi in this area, ordinary cultivators would be no match for such a creature.

Song Tianlong had clearly met with a life-threatening situation.

"I feel like I've seen something similar in the sect's records…" Shang Xingchen suddenly recalled some old memories from his past.

Many years ago, he used to spend his time in the Nether Dao Sect's library, reading rather than cultivating. It was during that period that he accumulated a vast amount of knowledge, which helped him form his gentle, humble personality, quite different from Shang Tianjue's arrogant nature.

The founder of the Nether Dao Sect had also inherited their knowledge from even older sects and ancient ruins, and he had written about these strange, specialized evil beings in his memoirs.

"Corpse demons, I think that's what they were called. These ancient sects were often attacked by such creatures."

Shang Xingchen looked toward the dark stone door, his heart rising with excitement. This meant that behind the door could very well be another ancient sect!

However, he chose to remain cautious. He would first send his Yin Nether Insects inside to scout the area. Once he confirmed that there were no more corpse demons, he would venture in himself. Soon, the Yin Nether Insects that entered the stone door returned safely, transmitting a calm and secure feeling.

Shang Xingchen nodded, his concerns alleviated. With great care, he entered the stone door. Meanwhile, other stone doors were being discovered by the cultivators.

Some who tried to open the doors were immediately attacked by corpse demons. They were caught off guard and torn apart on the spot, their bodies devoured by the monsters. Others who opened the doors were greeted by treasures, marveling at their good fortune.

…

Several days later, Chu Xuan also stumbled upon an ancient stone door. This one was adorned with a powerful image: A muscular body of a body-refining cultivator sat cross-legged on the ground, with a furnace on his belly, rapidly refining the rare treasures he ingested.

"Melting Heaven Hall."

The moment Chu Xuan laid eyes on the image, he immediately recalled the information he had gathered from the spiritual sense jade slip.

The Eight Extremes Palace, as the name suggested, consisted of eight large halls, each one corresponding to a different style of body-refining techniques, all of which led to the same goal. Melting Heaven Hall was one of those halls.

This hall cultivated the Forging Heaven Art, where cultivators envisioned themselves as a furnace, constantly refining the rare materials and treasures they consumed to transform them into surging vitality, enhancing their physical bodies.

The body-refining cultivators of Melting Heaven Hall generally had high cultivation levels, but they were not particularly skilled in combat. They lacked body-refining martial techniques. After all, the Forging Heaven Art focused on refining treasures to enhance one's realm, not combat prowess.

However, for Chu Xuan, this was hardly a concern. As long as the cultivation base was high, martial techniques could always be found later.

When the gap in cultivation is not vast, skill becomes the deciding factor. But when the disparity in realms is immense, raw power—the might to crush everything—becomes the true way!

Chu Xuan glanced at Hu, who understood immediately. With a nod, Hu stepped forward, his arms straining with effort as he slowly pushed open the heavy stone door.

Chu Xuan, however, held his hand behind his back, ready to defend against any potential surprise attack that might come with opening the door.

The spiritual sense jade slip had already mentioned that the Eight Extremes Palace had long been overrun by corpse demons. There were no living beings inside, only the ever-wandering monsters. It was unknown how many years had passed since the fall of the hall, and the corpse demons could very well still be in a dormant state.

The sound of the stone door opening would surely disturb some of the closer demons. So, caution was key. Rumbling sounds echoed through the space as the stone door slowly creaked open. But there was no sudden rush of shadows or attacks.

After a long pause, Chu Xuan finally relaxed, motioning for Hu to proceed cautiously into the depths of the hall. Behind the stone door, the darkness grew even thicker. The suppression of Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense was even more intense here.

Had Chu Xuan not undergone intense body refinement, enhancing his senses beyond the ordinary, this place would have left him almost blind. It was as if he had been struck blind—nothing visible to the eye.

And as his gaze swept across the space, a chilling sight came into view.

Chapter 444: Not as Good as Cheating

Before him lay the ruins of an ancient sect.

The sight was bleak, filled with nothing but wreckage and devastation, the ruthless passage of endless years leaving its mark.

Dried bloodstains clung to broken bricks and shattered tiles. The remains of mummified corpses sprawled in disarray across the ground.

The air was thick with the unsettling stench of antiquity, and the atmosphere seemed to hold the remnants of a brutal battle that had occurred long ago. Even though countless years had eroded everything, the scene left behind still sent a chill down one's spine.

Chu Xuan turned his gaze to the stone door behind him. There were numerous dried blood handprints smeared across it. Clearly, many body-refining cultivators of the Eight Extremes Palace had tried to escape but were slaughtered here. He sighed lightly and continued forward, cautiously exploring. Before long, the gathered Gu insects sent back reports, indicating that they had detected the sound of chewing ahead.

Chu Xuan silently approached and soon saw a corpse demon crouched on the ground, greedily devouring the body of a dead cultivator. The cultivator's eyes were wide open in death, evidently having been ambushed by the corpse demon and not even realizing his fate until it was too late.

The presence of a living being nearby made the corpse demon stop its feeding and turn its attention to the surroundings. However, it didn't have time to rise before Hu's massive body, like a storm, swiftly closed the distance.

With a powerful punch, Hu struck the back of the corpse demon's head, obliterating it instantly.

Following Chu Xuan's signal, Hu quickly extracted a black crystal ball from the corpse demon's chest. This object was called a Corpse Demon Pearl. It was the token obtained for slaying a corpse demon. In the end, the number of Corpse Demon Pearls a person collected would determine their eligibility to obtain the Eight Extremes inheritance.

Furthermore, the pearls contained intense yin energy, which could also be used to forge powerful spirit tools, though one would need the crafting formulas to do so.

After dispatching the corpse demon, Chu Xuan and Hu continued forward. Thanks to the vast network of Gu insects he had scattered ahead, Chu Xuan was always able to detect the presence of corpse demons and eliminate them swiftly. Along the way, he came across the gruesome remains of several cultivators, most of whom had been torn apart and devoured.

With Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense suppressed, ordinary cultivators were no match for the corpse demons in one-on-one combat. The Eight Extremes Palace's purpose was simple. Only body-refining cultivators could obtain the Eight Extremes inheritance. They were unwilling to allow the inheritance to fall into the hands of the fragile Qi cultivators. Perhaps, this was the last stand of the Eight Extremes Palace.

"It seems many people have already entered the Eight Extremes Palace through the stone doors before me. I need to speed up and kill more corpse demons. If the number of Corpse Demon Pearls isn't enough, others will definitely get the inheritance before I do."

As this thought crossed his mind, Chu Xuan couldn't help but recall the figure of Moon True Master. This person had long since begun trying to attract and control body-refining cultivators, clearly already aware of the existence of the Eight Extremes Palace.

Moon True Master would undoubtedly be the greatest obstacle in Chu Xuan's quest for the Eight Extremes inheritance.

Three days later.

Chu Xuan had obtained two Corpse Demon Pearls and shook his head slightly. In these three days, he had only managed to kill a little over twenty corpse demons. What struck him as odd was that these demons were all of similar strength, roughly equal to a body-refining cultivator at the thirty-seventh level of body refinement. There were no particularly powerful or weak ones among them.

Moreover, their attack patterns were remarkably consistent. None seemed to specialize in ambushes or overwhelming assaults; they all appeared to be cut from the same mold.

"If they are all this level of strength, sweeping through the Eight Extremes Palace doesn't seem like it would be difficult," Chu Xuan mused.

Just as he was about to continue forward, his Gu insects alerted him to movement ahead. It seemed a large group of people was approaching from a distance.

Chu Xuan's expression shifted slightly. Instinctively, he moved closer to the ruins of a nearby collapsed wall. This could only mean one thing: a horde of corpse demons.

No matter how strong he was, facing an unexpectedly large number of corpse demons would lead to his demise.

Just then, he spotted several figures advancing toward him. The leader was none other than Bai Tianhe, the Yellow Spring True Master.

Behind him were Shang Xingchen, Xia Shi, and other cultivators from Yellow Springs Island. Trailing behind them were over a hundred corpse demons. It was unclear how they had angered so many of these creatures.

Bai Tianhe spotted Chu Xuan, who had yet to hide behind the rubble. His eyes lit up, and he immediately pointed in Chu Xuan's direction, "Head that way!"

With a gust of wind beneath his feet, Bai Tianhe closed in on Chu Xuan at an incredible speed. From a distance, he tossed something the size of a fist toward him—a shriveled, desiccated heart.

"Fellow daoist, keep this for now. I'll come for it later!" Bai Tianhe said with a meaningful glance toward Chu Xuan.

Then, without waiting, he turned and sped off in another direction. It was strange. The corpse demons, who had clearly been chasing Bai Tianhe and the others, immediately shifted their focus toward Chu Xuan the moment the heart landed near him. They changed direction and charged straight at him.

Chu Xuan caught the heart and couldn't help but smile. Without hesitation, he turned and fled. If he hadn't known what this was, he would have thrown it away without a second thought. But since he had received information from Tang Bing's spiritual sense jade slip, he recognized it immediately.

This was the heart of the Grand Hall Master of the Eight Extremes Palace. Inside it contained the essence of blood and Qi from an ancient body-refining cultivator.

Such a heart could draw the attention of the corpse demons, causing them to be irresistibly drawn to it and preventing them from leaving the ruins of the Eight Extremes Palace. They would forever wander within the desolate remnants of the hall, trapped in a cycle of hunger and instinct.

For Chu Xuan, this heart was also an invaluable treasure. Once refined, it would significantly enhance his body-refining cultivation. That was precisely why he was willing to risk everything to take it.

As the horde of corpse demons bore down on him, Chu Xuan's expression grew resolute. This heart would not only serve as a powerful asset but also as a crucial turning point in his quest for the Eight Extremes inheritance.

As Chu Xuan sprinted forward, a thought crossed his mind. He could simply toss the heart into the Myriad Realm Mirror, thereby isolating its aura and causing the corpse demons to disperse. However, if used properly, this heart could also attract the demons and accelerate the collection of Corpse Demon Pearls.

With this in mind, Chu Xuan immediately stowed the heart inside the Myriad Realm Mirror. As expected, the corpse demons, like headless flies, immediately lost their target and began to wander aimlessly.

Once Chu Xuan had moved a fair distance from the horde, he took the heart out again. Sure enough, a small group of demons was drawn to it and quickly sped toward him. This cycle repeated itself. The number of corpse demons chasing him had been reduced from over a hundred to just a handful.

"That should be enough," Chu Xuan said with a slight smile. He summoned Hu and turned to face his pursuers. The weak spot of the corpse demons was located at the back of their skulls.

Chu Xuan and Hu acted together. Though these dozen or so corpse demons were equivalent to body-refining cultivators at the thirty-seventh level, they quickly fell, their heads exploding in an instant. The Corpse Demon Pearls from their chests were carefully extracted and added to Chu Xuan's pouch.

After a brief rest, Chu Xuan approached the remaining wandering demons once again and used the heart to lure them. Once more, over ten demons were attracted and rushed toward him.

The cycle continued. Not long after, all one hundred or so demons were slain, their skulls shattered and scattered across the ground. All the Corpse Demon Pearls were now safely in Chu Xuan's possession. He grinned broadly.

"Good, good, good."

The number of pearls he had gathered today far surpassed the few days' worth of effort he'd put in earlier. It was clear: patiently collecting Corpse Demon Pearls the regular way could never compare to having the right tool to speed things up.

Chapter 445: Stop Pretending

On the other side, Bai Tianhe, Shang Xingchen, Xia Shi, and the others had reached a relatively safe area. After dealing with a few reckless corpse demons that foolishly charged at them, the group finally let out a sigh of relief. They hastily consumed healing elixirs to quickly recover from their wounds. The atmosphere became tense and silent.

Each person seemed to be calculating something in their mind. Occasionally, some glances lingered on Bai Tianhe, leaving one to wonder what they were thinking.

Shang Xingchen and Xia Shi exchanged a meaningful look, and suddenly, without a word, they both stood up in unison.

Shang Xingchen spoke respectfully, "Master, I still have two bottles of healing elixirs. I offer them to you."

He paused, then added, "There are likely more corpse demons wandering around. For safety, I am willing to patrol the surroundings to ensure the safety of the disciples of Yellow Spring Island."

Xia Shi quickly followed suit, "As the eldest disciple of Yellow Spring Island, it is my duty to protect the safety of my fellow disciples."

Bai Tianhe nodded with satisfaction, "Go ahead, but don't stray too far. If you wander too far, I won't be able to protect you."

"Understood."

Both Shang Xingchen and Xia Shi respectfully bowed before leaving.

Moments later, the faint sound of hurried footsteps echoed from a distance. The two remaining disciples of Yellow Spring Island exchanged anxious glances, quickly summoning their magic treasures and focusing on the direction of the sound.

As expected, a large group of corpse demons appeared suddenly.

Sensing the presence of living beings, the demons charged forward without hesitation. They had been in a deep slumber within the Eight Extremes Palace for far too long. Their instinct was to pounce on humans and devour their flesh—an instinct ingrained deep within their bodies.

Bai Tianhe let out a low growl, "Stay calm! Form a formation!"

The two Yellow Spring Island disciples gritted their teeth and stood at Bai Tianhe's sides—one on the left, one on the right. Even so, it was still difficult to hold back such a large number of corpse demons. Though Bai Tianhe was a Deity Transformation cultivator, his strength was severely suppressed in this place, and he was no more powerful than an average Nascent Soul cultivator.

Before long, the two Yellow Spring disciples were overwhelmed. They screamed in agony as they were torn apart, their bodies quickly devoured by the corpse demons.

Bai Tianhe also gained more wounds, his condition growing increasingly grim.

Grinding his teeth, Bai Tianhe muttered under his breath, "It seems I have no choice but to use my trump card."

He slapped his storage bag, and a golden alms bowl appeared in his palm.

A dense mist poured out of the bowl.

He roared fiercely, "How dare these vile creatures act so arrogantly?!"

Wherever the mist passed, the movement of the corpse demons slowed drastically. Even more shocking was the fact that their flesh began to dissolve at a visible rate!

The demons didn't even get a chance to reach Bai Tianhe before they collapsed, their bodies turning into nothing but pools of blood and slime. Within moments, all the corpse demons were dead.

Bai Tianhe stretched out his hand, and dozens of Corpse Demon Pearls rapidly flew into his grasp. He stowed the alms bowl and immediately sat down cross-legged, beginning to replenish his Spiritual Qi. His breathing, which had been rushed and labored, gradually calmed down as he recovered.

After a long while, Shang Xingchen and Xia Shi hastily arrived. Both of them were covered in numerous wounds. Upon seeing the tragic scene, Xia Shi was taken aback and exclaimed, "Master, did the corpse demons attack just now?"

Shang Xingchen, looking especially remorseful, added, "I was ambushed by the corpse demons and had no choice but to retreat. I didn't expect them to attack the camp. It's all my fault!"

Bai Tianhe sighed deeply. "It's not your fault. I didn't expect such a large group of corpse puppets to suddenly appear."

He turned to look at them both. "Now, it's just the three of us left. We must unite and work together if we are to survive this crisis."

He then asked, "Do either of you still have any healing elixirs?"

As he finished speaking, he coughed violently, and to his dismay, a chunk of blood-stained phlegm, mixed with internal organs, spat from his mouth.

Xia Shi and Shang Xingchen exchanged a glance, both seeing the unspoken thoughts in each other's eyes.

The two of them stepped forward in sync, one on the left, one on the right. However, Shang Xingchen deliberately slowed his pace, staying a half-step behind.

Xia Shi smiled, "Master, your injuries are grave. You need to rest well."

Bai Tianhe, frowning as he watched Xia Shi approach, said with a harsh tone, "What are you doing? Step back!"

Xia Shi's smile only grew more unsettling. "Master, I'm here to heal your wounds. Why should I step back?"

Bai Tianhe's face darkened further. "Xia Shi, do you not understand what I'm saying?"

Xia Shi shook his head. "Master, do you not trust me?"

Bai Tianhe was about to respond when Xia Shi suddenly summoned a long staff magic treasure and swung it toward him. With Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense being suppressed, Qi Refining cultivators had limited means at their disposal. Magic treasures were one of the few tools they could still use effectively.

"Unworthy disciple!" Bai Tianhe sighed softly, then swiftly took out a beast pouch.

From within, a massive shadow sprang out. With a loud crash, the long staff magic treasure was sent flying far into the air, screaming with a dimming glow.

Xia Shi's eyes widened as he saw the creature that had intervened. It was a demonic beast in the shape of a monkey—no fur covered its muscular, twisted form. It looked utterly horrifying.

"Skinless Ape!" Xia Shi's eyes nearly popped out.

This demonic beast was notoriously ferocious and incredibly hard to tame. He had never seen Bai Tianhe bring such a creature out before. When exactly had Bai Tianhe tamed such a beast?

The questions swirled in Xia Shi's mind, his confusion growing. Why had Bai Tianhe never shown this demonic beast to them before? What had really been going on?

Bai Tianhe took out a large, juicy piece of meat and tossed it toward the Skinless Ape. The ape caught it with a wide mouth, chomping greedily until it was satisfied.

"He's your meal now." Bai Tianhe gestured toward Xia Shi.

The Skinless Ape let out a thrilled screech and immediately charged toward Xia Shi.

Though demonic beasts also cultivated using Spiritual Qi, their internal vitality was far stronger. In the suppressed environment of the Eight Extremes Palace, where both Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense were hindered, the demonic beast had a clear advantage.

Xia Shi's pupils shrank. Without hesitation, he spat out a mouthful of Nascent Soul essence and swiftly activated his escape technique, retreating as quickly as he could. He knew that since Bai Tianhe had kept the Skinless Ape hidden for so long, it was clearly a weapon meant to kill him. His only chance now was to escape.

However, Xia Shi had underestimated both the suppression he faced and the inherent hunting instincts of the Skinless Ape. Even though he had immediately used the Nascent Soul essence, he could not escape the fate of death.

Pffft!

The Skinless Ape's sharp claws tore through Xia Shi's throat with brutal precision. Blood gushed out, and life swiftly drained from him.

Xia Shi's Nascent Soul, along with his soul consciousness, tried to flee. But Bai Tianhe had been waiting for this moment. His spiritual sense coalesced into a large hand that reached out and easily grasped Xia Shi's Nascent Soul and soul consciousness, trapping them in his palm before tossing them into a pouch.

Only then did Bai Tianhe finally turn his gaze toward Shang Xingchen, who had remained completely still throughout the entire ordeal.

With a faint smile, Bai Tianhe asked, "Why didn't you make a move?"

Shang Xingchen quickly bowed and answered in a panic, "Master, what do you mean by that? Xingchen has always been a member of Yellow Spring Island. I would never have any second thoughts."

Bai Tianhe's smile remained unchanged as he replied, "Xia Shi was my most prized disciple, yet he's now coveting my Universe Bag."

He continued, "You are the former second young master of Nether Dao Sect, your experience even surpassing mine. Why would you, someone of your stature, willingly remain beneath others?"

His tone grew colder. "Shang Xingchen, stop pretending. You and I are both clever men. There's no need to play games."

Shang Xingchen, unperturbed, smiled. "I'm not pretending. I've simply been stalling for time."

Bai Tianhe froze for a moment, before his eyes widened. The next moment, he heard the Skinless Ape let out a wretched scream and collapse to the ground, foam pouring from its mouth. Its limbs twitched, clearly paralyzed by an intense poison that had rendered it temporarily powerless.

Shang Xingchen's calm, controlled expression never wavered, even as Bai Tianhe's confusion deepened.

Chapter 446: Melting Heaven Hall

Shang Xingchen spoke calmly, "I already poisoned Xia Shi a long time ago. I deliberately let him go first, just to lure out your Skinless Ape. You've been raising a Skinless Ape. While others may not know, I am fully aware of it."

The Yin Nether Insects he controlled were his eyes and ears extended far and wide. Few things on Yellow Spring Island, be they large or small, could escape his notice.

Even though Bai Tianhe was a Deity Transformation expert, it was impossible for him to oversee every detail, every corner of his cave and its surroundings. This gap had allowed Shang Xingchen to learn Bai Tianhe's secret weapon.

Bai Tianhe was initially stunned, but then, a hearty laugh burst forth.

"Good! Good! You really live up to your reputation as the second young master of Nether Dao Sect! This cleverness! This courage! This temperament! Truly impressive! Xia Shi can't even carry your shoes."

He sighed dramatically, "It's a shame, such a pity that you're not my disciple."

His laughter faded, and his gaze toward Shang Xingchen became entirely cold.

"Shang Xingchen, I'll give you two choices. One, you hand over all the Nether Dao Sect legacies. You and I part ways, never to interfere with each other again. Two, you die here, and I'll personally search your soul, digging out the Nether Dao Sect legacies hidden in your memories!"

Shang Xingchen grinned widely. "I choose option three: kill you."

In the next moment, both of them attacked with lightning speed!

...

Elsewhere.

"Where did Bai Tianhe and the others go? Why haven't they come back to find me? This Body Refining Heart is a great tonic. Just throwing it away like that? Don't want it anymore?"

Chu Xuan's expression was strange as he followed the direction where Bai Tianhe and the others had fled. He had no particular thoughts in mind. If Bai Tianhe was dead, he'd simply take the corpse. If Bai Tianhe wasn't dead, well, he'd kill him and take the corpse. He was always so kind-hearted and gentle. Even though Bai Tianhe had manipulated things, drawing him into great danger, at least he would still help by taking care of his remains.

However, when Chu Xuan arrived at the location, he found only Shang Xingchen alone. Bai Tianhe, Xia Shi, and the other Yellow Spring Island disciples had disappeared without a trace.

A deep sigh escaped him as he shook his head in regret. It seemed Shang Xingchen had gotten to them first. He noticed that Shang Xingchen was gently petting the head of a hairless monkey. The monkey had its head down, eating something.

Chu Xuan felt an unusually violent and fierce aura coming from it. This was most likely a Deity Transformation stage demonic beast.

Shang Xingchen raised his head and smiled, "Sect Master, I've been waiting for you for quite some time."

Chu Xuan smiled back, "You knew it was me already?"

Shang Xingchen's smile widened. "Liu Zhenxiong was once the Sect Master's senior brother. I had learned all this information when I was in the Heavenly Infinite Sect. If I couldn't have guessed that Master Liu was the Sect Master from that name, I might as well never cultivate again and become a farmer."

Chu Xuan nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "It seems that Yellow Spring True Master really has fallen into your hands?"

Shang Xingchen smiled lightly, "It was a fortunate coincidence. I had the upper hand. And I also managed to pick up a Deity Transformation early-stage demonic beast along the way."

Chu Xuan nodded, "Not bad, not bad."

Deep inside, however, he felt some regret.

What a pity.

If it were just Shang Xingchen alone, with his poison techniques, he would be no match for Chu Xuan. But now, with a Deity Transformation stage demonic beast assisting him, it could be dangerous to try and subdue him. Since the risks didn't seem worth the reward, Chu Xuan decided not to act.

Shang Xingchen continued, "I have some intelligence about this place. Sect Master, would you be interested in exchanging it? Intelligence, pills, talismans, magic treasures... I want it all."

Chu Xuan smiled and nodded, "Of course."

Before long, the two exchanged information, making a few deals, and then they parted ways—one heading south, the other north.

Shang Xingchen quickly fled and found a cave to hide in. It was only then that he spat out a few mouthfuls of blood mixed with bits of internal organs.

"That was close. If I hadn't controlled this Skinless Ape, Chu Xuan would have definitely tried to kill me. However, this time I've gained quite a lot. Healing pills, crucial intelligence, and Yellow Spring's Universe Bag—I've made a huge profit."

Shang Xingchen grinned, tossing a chunk of meat to the Skinless Ape and commanding it to guard the area. Then, he sat down and began to cultivate.

The Skinless Ape bared its teeth, but it was clearly terrified of Shang Xingchen's poison techniques. After all, it had been poisoned by him earlier, only to be saved afterward. After some thought, it grudgingly guarded the area, unwilling to take any chances.

...

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan shook his head lightly. He had, of course, noticed that something was off with Shang Xingchen, possibly hiding some injuries. But in the end, he chose not to act. As he had said before, the risks did not outweigh the rewards. This was a losing deal, and he wouldn't make such a trade.

Besides, Shang Xingchen was still quite a useful ally. Within the Eight Extremes Palace, he and Shang Xingchen would undoubtedly exchange information many times over.

"This information is extremely important. First, it provides the exact location of the Melting Heaven Hall's inheritance, along with the method to open it. Secondly, it points to a gathering place for a large number of corpse demons, allowing me to speed up the process of slaying them. Additionally, Shang Xingchen stumbled upon a crucial piece of information: Moon True Master has headed north, gathering Zhong Tianshuo, Bai Li, and other body refinement cultivators around her. Their objective seems clear."

Chu Xuan pondered the details. After some consideration, he decided to prioritize the slaying of corpse demons to collect 1,000 corpse demon pearls and obtain the inheritance of the Melting Heaven Hall. Then, he would head north immediately.

Moon True Master was incredibly familiar with the Eight Extremes Palace. To prevent the inheritance from being seized, Chu Xuan had to act quickly. With a light tap on the ground, he shot forward like a whirlwind. Wherever he passed, scattered corpse demons were easily slain. Along the way, he encountered a few cultivators.

However, these people were wise enough to recognize the danger. Upon hearing the sounds, they immediately retreated without a second word. By now, it was no longer the early days of chaos. Anyone who had managed to survive thus far had at least basic judgment. Only two enthusiastic cultivators charged forward to engage in fierce exchanges.

Unfortunately, they were only in the early stages of Nascent Soul, which left Chu Xuan feeling somewhat disappointed. Before long, Chu Xuan arrived at the end of a tunnel. From his position, he could see a massive pit ahead.

Inside the pit, there was a brilliant white light. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a large number of corpse demons in a dormant state! A rough count revealed there were approximately 800 of them. It was unclear what had drawn such a large number of corpse demons to this spot.

Chu Xuan immediately took out the heart. As soon as the immense vitality surged out, it was as though the aroma of grilled meat wafted through the air. The dormant corpse demons jerked awake in an instant, springing to their feet and charging toward Chu Xuan. They drove their hands and feet into the rock with alarming speed, swiftly climbing the rock wall.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but click his tongue.

"Dinner time, huh?"

He immediately retreated at high speed, putting the heart away. After retreating a considerable distance, he took out the heart again. He continued this back-and-forth tactic, luring the corpse demons until their numbers were reduced to a manageable amount.

Repeatedly, he thinned out their ranks, and before long, all the corpse demons at the bottom of the pit had been slain.

"One thousand one hundred and five corpse demon pearls, that's enough!"

Chu Xuan smiled with satisfaction and immediately made his way to the Melting Heaven Hall's inheritance site.

Chapter 447: Melting Heaven Technique

The Melting Heaven Hall had once been a grand complex of palaces. However, after the attack by the corpse demons and a massive earthquake, it had been reduced to rubble and ruins. Finding the inheritance site in such a chaotic environment was no easy feat.

Fortunately, the intelligence provided by Shang Xingchen had been incredibly precise. Chu Xuan quickly found the location of the inheritance within a set of underground buildings.

The so-called inheritance site was actually nothing more than a massive furnace statue, about three people tall.

The material of the statue was extremely hard. Even though the surrounding palaces had cracked and collapsed due to the earthquake, the statue remained unscathed, not a single crack in its surface. It was merely covered with a thin layer of dust.

When Chu Xuan summoned a gust of wind to shake off the dust, he immediately noticed that the statue seemed as though it had been freshly carved by a master craftsman, flawless and perfect in every detail. He took out the 1,000 corpse demon pearls.

As soon as he did, the statue began to tremble slightly, and an invisible wave of energy spread outward.

The corpse demon pearls rose into the air, swirling around the statue. The overwhelming aura of yin energy from the pearls slowly integrated into the statue. The surrounding ruins trembled as if reacting to the disturbance. The sound of the vibrations quickly spread throughout the area.

The movement attracted the attention of the hidden corpse demons in the corners, as well as the cultivators who were secretly searching for treasure.

Chu Xuan's expression remained calm. He had known that the inheritance would cause such disturbances, so he had already scattered gu worms throughout the area. Within a radius of 100 zhang, everything was under his control.

Hu, Long, Two Arms, and Four Arms were all hiding in various corners, prepared for any developments. Additionally, he had set up attack and defense formations in several concealed locations. If anyone dared to act against him, their fate would not be pleasant.

The buzzing sound intensified.

Suddenly, a beam of light shot up from the statue, reaching toward the sky, remaining steady and unyielding.

A large number of corpse demons were indeed stirred. It was as if the sound of a meal being served had summoned a group of hungry students rushing in from all directions.

The cultivators, meanwhile, remained hidden within the ruins, not immediately revealing themselves. They were curious to see just what kind of power the person who had caused such a commotion possessed.

If this person was weak and was soon torn to pieces by the corpse demons, they would naturally reveal themselves to fight for the inheritance. If both the person and the corpse demons weakened each other, they would also emerge to claim the spoils. But if this person effortlessly slaughtered large numbers of corpse demons, they would leave quietly, not daring to make a move.

Chu Xuan's gaze swept over the eyes peering from the shadows, and with a faint smile, he effortlessly deduced their thoughts.

"Move."

He spoke lightly, a command to the beings around him.

Hu and Long charged out like iron towers, their savage movements devastating everything in their path.

As they barreled through the horde of corpse demons, the demons were effortlessly shattered into pieces. Despite the demons' strong physiques and their tough bone armor, they were nothing before Hu and Long.

Hu was no ordinary corpse puppet. Having been fused with a True Steel Centipede, it possessed terrifying strength.

Da Long, originally a earth dragon who had been turned into a corpse puppet by Chu Xuan, was even more powerful. Together, they acted like two relentless killing machines, easily sweeping through the battlefield in a storm of blood and carnage.

In a matter of moments, within a radius of twenty zhang, not a single corpse demon remained standing. None could even get close to Chu Xuan.

He remained calm and unhurried under the statue, patiently awaiting the inheritance to appear.

The effortless ease with which he decimated the demons left the waiting cultivators in stunned silence, and they quickly retreated, disheartened by the sheer disparity in power.

Before long, the corpse demons were no more. The radiant beam of light that had erupted from the statue coalesced into a sphere, which then entered Chu Xuan's mind.

The Melting Heaven Technique was not complicated, with no elaborate scriptures. Instead, it was a visual diagram.

Melting Heaven Furnace!

The statue itself represented only about one percent of the incredible intricacies of the Melting Heaven Furnace. However, the Melting Heaven Technique that Chu Xuan had just absPearled vividly depicted the true essence of the furnace.

Chu Xuan's heart swelled with excitement. Without the corresponding body refining techniques, his cultivation speed would have been agonizingly slow. It would have been better to focus solely on Qi refining and abandon the idea of body cultivation altogether.

Previously, he had only resumed body cultivation after obtaining the Thousand Refining Ancient Elephant Technique, but now, with the Melting Heaven Technique in hand, he could merge the two.

The Thousand Refining Ancient Elephant Technique would serve as the primary cultivation method, while the Melting Heaven Technique would serve as a supplement.

With this, his progress would skyrocket at an unimaginable pace. After obtaining the inheritance from the Melting Heaven Hall, Chu Xuan immediately retracted his various preparations and left the area in haste.

At the same time, cultivators across the Eight Extremes Palace witnessed the rising beam of light.

Shang Xingchen, having just extracted a corpse demon pearl from one of the demons, looked up at the light pillar, a smile spreading across his face.

"The Melting Heaven Hall inheritance has indeed fallen into his hands. He's taken the information I provided, and now that he's secured the Melting Heaven Hall inheritance, he'll likely head north to pursue Moon True Master. This means he'll most likely have no time to contest me for the Sky Piercing Hall inheritance."

Shang Xingchen grinned cunningly and quickly changed direction. He had already learned the specifics of all the Eight Extremes Inheritances and had chosen the one most suited to him—the Sky Piercing Hall inheritance.

By giving Chu Xuan valuable intelligence, he had cleverly led him to pursue Moon True Master. As long as Chu Xuan didn't interfere with his plans for the Sky Piercing Hall inheritance, he saw no other threats on the horizon.

On an open ground, Moon True Master led Zhong Tianshuo, Tie Jun, Bai Li, and the others as they swiftly slaughtered the corpse demons and collected the corpse demon pearls.

Suddenly, the towering light pillar shot up into the sky. Everyone paused, their movements slowing, as a wave of astonishment and doubt washed over them. No one could tell whether this light was a blessing or a curse.

Among them, the one who reacted most strongly was Moon True Master. In that instant, he almost lost his composure.

Zhong Tianshuo and the others, unsure of the situation, exchanged puzzled glances. But Moon True Master knew exactly what it meant.

Someone had already obtained the inheritance! He had thought he would be the first to secure the inheritance, but he hadn't expected someone to accumulate a thousand corpse demon pearls and gain the inheritance so quickly.

"I need to accelerate my pace!" Moon True Master muttered to himself. "With each inheritance claimed, there's one less left for us."

His resolve to speed up grew stronger. Even if more of his followers were killed or injured in the process, he would not slow down. He could not afford to fall behind.

"Increase the pace! If you fail to kill them efficiently, feed yourself to the corpse demons!" Moon True Master shouted with a roar.

Zhong Tianshuo and the others immediately shrank back, hastening to slaughter the corpse demons as quickly as possible.

They had considered rebelling, but when Moon True Master revealed his immense power, surpassing the strength of forty body refining stages, no one dared to defy him.

Tie Jun, who stood watching Moon True Master at the forefront, quietly narrowed his eyes with a cold glint in them. When no one was paying attention, he slashed a corpse demon under a pillar, leaving behind a tiny mark. As they continued their journey northward, he had already left many such marks along the way.

Blue Star, Water Curtain Cave.

"This Melting Heaven Technique is truly formidable!"

Chu Xuan exhaled a deep breath, his expression filled with delight as he felt the overwhelming surge of his vital essence. He had spent the day exploring the Eight Extremes Palace, and each night he returned to the Water Curtain Cave to cultivate.

With the Melting Heaven Technique and the visualization of the Melting Heaven Furnace, his cultivation speed had soared, advancing day by day. The technique's profound and potent methods had already begun to show remarkable results, greatly enhancing his vital essence and body refining.

Chapter 448: We Should Keep Our Distance

Chu Xuan estimated that with just three years of cultivation in the Water Curtain Cave, he could break through to the forty-third level of body refinement. This was a vast improvement compared to his previous progress, where it would take him ten years, or even longer, to break through by one level.

In addition to this, he had also learned one of the few body refining martial techniques from the Melting Heaven Technique.

"Furnace descends from the heavens!" Chu Xuan shouted in a low voice, his vital essence swirling as it quickly condensed into the shape of a massive furnace, which then descended from the sky and slammed down fiercely!

Boom!

The ground of the training room shook violently, and fine spiderweb-like cracks spread across the floor.

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, sweeping his hand to order the corpse puppets to replace the floor. Only in this training room could he freely test out his new moves without worrying about causing earthquakes or other natural disasters that might harm the people of Blue Star.

"This Furnace Descends from the Heavens move is truly formidable. It relies entirely on momentum, with immense power!" Chu Xuan grinned. "But, it's just this one move. How regretful."

Although he was a little disappointed, his anticipation for other inheritance techniques grew even more. The Melting Heaven Technique was primarily a body refining cultivation method, with only a few martial techniques. This one move was already so powerful. How much stronger would techniques that focused on offense or defense be?

Chu Xuan took a step forward and returned to the Eight Extremes Palace, continuing his journey northward. The more he explored this ancient sect, the more amazed he became.

He had noticed signs of degeneration in the corpse demons. These creatures were clearly not as strong as they once had been. Perhaps, over endless years of not feeding on blood or flesh and being in prolonged dormancy, their strength had diminished. Alternatively, many of the powerful corpse demons might have been slain during their earlier battles with the Eight Extremes Palace's body refiners.

The corpse demons that remained now only had the strength of around the thirty-seventh level of body refinement. However, recently, some of these corpse demons, after consuming cultivators, had started to gain strength rapidly.

Chu Xuan had encountered a corpse demon equivalent to the thirty-eighth level of body refinement. Once, he even encountered one at the fortieth level! If things continued this way, the corpse demons would regain even greater power, which would be extremely detrimental to him.

At that moment, Chu Xuan noticed a strange mark beneath a broken pillar. It was a small skull, not very noticeable.

"Hmm? Could this be a mark left by someone?" Chu Xuan was immediately intrigued.

A sudden flash of insight crossed his mind, and he quickly stepped back. To his surprise, he found a similar mark at the place he had passed earlier.

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. Although he didn't know who had left the mark, it was certainly worth following. He quickly moved through the ruins, tracking the marks ahead.

Before long, a faint noise ahead caught his attention, as if there was someone nearby. The moment both sides spotted each other, neither hesitated. They immediately attacked.

Chu Xuan's vital essence surged wildly as he unleashed the Great Extinguishing Thunder Fist. The opponent responded by throwing a white bone spirit weapon at him. The collision of fist and weapon created an explosion of bone fragments in the air.

Chu Xuan staggered back several steps, while the spirit weapon was sent flying far away. He frowned. Anyone who could use a spirit weapon was likely to be at the Deity Transformation stage. In an instant, he deduced the identity of his opponent.

White Bone True Master!

The White Bone True Master winced in pain and hurriedly pulled his white bone spirit weapon back to his side.

"This friend… you have great strength. It would be best if we don't fight," he said. "Wait a moment… you're that Liu… Liu Zhenxiong, the one selling demon talismans?"

He recognized Chu Xuan's face and was suddenly struck with surprise.

Chu Xuan had been selling demon talismans under the alias Liu Zhenxiong, which had attracted quite a bit of attention, including from figures like this Deity Transformation cultivator.

However, the Nascent Soul demon talismans didn't interest him much, so when his subordinates reported the matter, he simply nodded and didn't think much of it.

Chu Xuan smiled faintly, "White Bone True Master, pleasure to meet you."

The White Bone True Master smiled awkwardly, "Fellow Daoist, you possess such formidable strength, your body refinement must be quite impressive. However, I also have a few trump cards. Though they may not defeat you, they should at least allow me to escape. We should keep our distance and avoid conflict. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

His white bone spirit weapon had been damaged by Chu Xuan's punch. It was obvious that Chu Xuan's body refinement must be at level forty-one or higher.

Facing a body refiner this powerful would leave him at a disadvantage. It was better to yield than to fight. The White Bone True Master's willingness to back down so readily surprised Chu Xuan.

You are a Deity Transformation master, and yet you're giving up so easily?

Chu Xuan suddenly pointed to the small skull mark. "Did you come here following this mark?"

The White Bone True Master sighed, "Indeed, I did. But most of the White Bone Island cultivators I brought have perished, and the few remaining are scattered. Even if I continue pursuing, it would be of little use."

Chu Xuan pondered for a moment. "Is the other party from the Moon Society?"

The Black Wind Island had withdrawn, and Yellow Spring Island had been completely destroyed. If something had even caused the White Bone True Master to feel this much pressure, it could only be the Moon Society.

The White Bone True Master was taken aback by Chu Xuan's accurate deduction.

"Exactly. Moon True Master has known about the existence of the Eight Extremes Palace for a long time and has been controlling the body refiners for years. He has gathered at least eight body refiners at the thirty-five level and above. They are far beyond what I can handle."

Chu Xuan pondered for a moment. "Are there any of your people within the Moon Society?"

The White Bone True Master nodded. "Tie Jun is one of mine. He has a grudge against Moon True Master, so he was willing to leave these marks along the way."

Chu Xuan was somewhat surprised.

So, it was Tie Jun.

Back when he first arrived at Moon Square under the alias He Liang, it had been Tie Jun who had deceived him.

Tie Jun had claimed that his efforts were all in pursuit of joining the Moon Society and becoming a disciple of Moon True Master.

Now, it seemed all of that had been a disguise.

The White Bone True Master turned his gaze to Chu Xuan. "If Fellow Daoist is interested, please take it."

He tossed a white bone magic treasure towards him.

"This treasure doesn't have many other uses, but it can track the skull marks. Please, take it as a gift."

With that, the White Bone True Master immediately cast his escape technique and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle. He sure knew how to run fast. Since he was so considerate, Chu Xuan decided not to waste any more time with him. He reached out and took the magic treasure.

It was a palm-sized white bone hand, its five fingers spread wide open. After infusing some Spiritual Qi into it, the white bone hand immediately stood upright, pointing toward the north.

Chu Xuan followed its direction and soon discovered the next skull mark. Without hesitation, he quickened his pace and continued onward. A few days later, his senses stirred, and he looked toward the southeast.

Indeed, a pillar of light shot into the sky. It was clear that someone else had obtained a legacy.

"That direction… it should be the Sky Piercing Hall. That fellow, Shang Xingchen, must have obtained the Sky Piercing Hall's legacy."

Chu Xuan chuckled lightly. He could easily see through Shang Xingchen's thoughts. Yet both of them had tacitly agreed to keep silent about it. It was all for their own interests, after all.

Chapter 449: The Truth

Six days later, Chu Xuan continued his journey, collecting Corpse Demon Pearls along the way.

He had already gathered two thousand more Corpse Demon Pearls and had, by chance, discovered the locations of the Dragon Rock Hall and Shattered Mountain Hall legacies. Unfortunately, both of their legacies had already been claimed by someone else. It was highly likely that Moon True Master was the one who had gotten to them first.

Chu Xuan wasn't disheartened, though. The eight legacies of the Eight Extremes Palace were vast and profound, each worthy of being cultivated. Even obtaining just one was a great gain. If he were to acquire all eight legacies, whether he'd have time to train in them would be another matter entirely.

On this day, as usual, Chu Xuan continued to explore and advance. However, the gu insects he had sent out detected something strange. The strength of the surrounding Corpse Demons seemed to have increased by a significant degree, and their desire to attack had surged dramatically.

Before, Hu could easily handle two to three Corpse Demons at once, but now even handling two was beginning to prove somewhat taxing.

This was not a good sign. If this continued, Chu Xuan would have to step in personally.

"The Moon Society is probably facing an even harder time than me," Chu Xuan mused.

With a larger group, their noise would undoubtedly attract even more Corpse Demons. Perhaps he could use this as an opportunity to slip past them, bypassing them entirely and getting ahead.

With this thought in mind, Chu Xuan quickened his pace. Along the way, he deliberately avoided making noise. He only dealt with the Corpse Demons that blocked his path, and for the most part, he refrained from unnecessary combat. Sure enough, two days later, he heard the sound of fighting ahead.

From a high vantage point, he could see a team struggling to advance, surrounded by a massive swarm of Corpse Demons, some of which were incredibly powerful individuals.

The Moon Society members appeared like a piece of rotting meat, attracting the attention of more and more Corpse Demons.

At the forefront of their group was Moon True Master, whose fists continuously struck out, each blow sending Corpse Demons flying far away. He was like the tip of a spear for the group. As long as he stood strong, the team could continue forward, even though it was clearly a struggle.

Chu Xuan only glanced at them briefly before assessing that Moon True Master was a Forty-Fourth Stage Body Refinement cultivator.

This person had always kept his strength hidden, even when teaming up with White Bone True Master and Yellow Spring True Master to attack True Master Tiancang. He had never revealed his body refinement level.

With a neutral expression, Chu Xuan looked at them one last time before veering off to the side, quickly surpassing their group.

During his explorations, he had discovered a pattern in the distribution of the Eight Extremes Palace's buildings. Since the legacies of Melting Heaven Hall, Dragon Rock Hall, and Shattered Mountain Hall were all located beneath their respective main halls, it was safe to assume that the other halls followed a similar pattern.

"This area should be the Boiling Sea Hall," Chu Xuan muttered as he surveyed the architecture around him, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

The Boiling Sea Hall focused on the explosive release of Qi and Blood, enabling its cultivators to temporarily elevate their Body Refinement level by one or two small realms during an outburst. This method was an unmatchable way of fighting above one's level.

The jade slip of Tang Bing had mentioned that the Body Refiners from Boiling Sea Hall were infamous for their "rabid dog" fighting style.

Chu Xuan was curious about just how "rabid" this style really was. After clearing out the Corpse Demons blocking his path, he quickly located the legacy site of Boiling Sea Hall.

The statue of Boiling Sea Hall was a blazing inferno, constantly burning with an intense flame. The statue could not fully capture the essence of its power, but with just a few glances, Chu Xuan could feel the terrifying heat emanating from it. When he looked away, however, the sensation of heat vanished as if it had never existed.

As Chu Xuan continued to examine the surroundings, he suddenly spotted a dry corpse. The area around the corpse was littered with fragments of Corpse Demons of all sizes, indicating that a fierce battle had taken place here long ago, where one had fought against many.

What caught Chu Xuan's attention even more was that the dry corpse was clutching a Spiritual Sense Jade Slip tightly in its hand. It seemed that before dying, this person had made an effort to record something.

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. The Body Refiners of Eight Extremes Palace despised Qi Cultivators, and as a result, they never used magic treasures, talismans, or even Spiritual Sense Jade Slips. But here was a Body Refiner with a Spiritual Sense Jade Slip in hand.

Could this be a Body Refiner from the Eight Extremes Palace who was more flexible in their thinking? Or perhaps a cultivator who was pulled into this place during the last absorption explosion?

Chu Xuan respectfully saluted the dry corpse and took the Spiritual Sense Jade Slip. He pressed it to his forehead, and soon, he received all the information it contained.

The person's name was Zhao Xuan, a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion, a top-tier faction in the Southern One Ring. Her Qi Refining was at the Deity Transformation Second Stage, while her Body Refining had reached the Forty-First Stage.

Five hundred years ago, she had come to the Desolate Island area to hunt down a traitor from her sect. Unfortunately, she had been mysteriously pulled into Eight Extremes Palace by its absorption force and ended up deep underground in Eight Extremes Palace.

At first, when she discovered Eight Extremes Palace, she was overjoyed. After all, the Heavenly Martial Pavilion was founded by descendants of the Boiling Sea Hall of Eight Extremes Palace. However, due to the diminishing supply of precious materials, they had to adjust their approach and train both Qi Refining and Body Refining simultaneously.

But to rise to the upper echelons of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion, one's Body Refining had to be sufficiently strong. This was a rule passed down by the ancestors of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion.

If Zhao Xuan had successfully obtained the legacy of the Boiling Sea Hall, it would have been a monumental achievement, especially for the Heavenly Martial Pavilion. Her success would have filled the gap in the Heavenly Martial Pavilion's lost Body Refining legacy, potentially earning her a place in the Heavenly Martial Pavilion's ancestral hall, where her contributions would be honored for generations to come. However, finding the legacy was not the final step—getting out of this place alive was the true challenge.

Zhao Xuan had spent a long time in Eight Extremes Palace, hunting for the Corpse Demon Beads while simultaneously searching for a way to escape. She had successfully acquired the legacies of the Shattered Mountain Hall, the Moving Mountain Hall, and the Boiling Sea Hall, but when she attempted to leave via the teleportation array, she was betrayed by her sectmates. This betrayal led to her being surrounded and overwhelmed by a swarm of powerful Corpse Demons, and she ultimately perished.

Before her death, Zhao Xuan had made every effort to record her findings onto this Spiritual Sense Jade Slip, hoping it would be found by someone who could carry on her mission.

Zhao Xuan's only wish in life had been to ensure that the Boiling Sea Hall legacy would eventually be passed on to the Heavenly Martial Pavilion. She promised that the Zhao Family would honor whoever succeeded her in this task, treating them as an esteemed guest and even offering a high-grade spiritual weapon or an equivalent treasure in return.

After reading through the Spiritual Sense Jade Slip, Chu Xuan fell into deep thought. Zhao Xuan's promise could be set aside for now, but what really drew his attention were the other two critical pieces of information she had left behind.

First, Zhao Xuan mentioned that the number of Corpse Demons would not change over time; their numbers remained constant, but it took an extended period for them to fully recover. The more Corpse Demons died, the stronger the remaining Corpse Demons would become. She observed that they grew stronger when facing powerful foes and weaker against the weak.

When a large number of Corpse Demons died, more formidable Great Corpse Demons would appear. These Great Corpse Demons were at least at the Forty-First Stage of Body Refining, and Zhao Xuan speculated that, with even more time, their strength could continue to grow, possibly reaching the Forty-Second, Forty-Third, or even higher stages—potentially an infinite progression. She herself had once been surrounded by dozens of Great Corpse Demons, ultimately leading to her death.

The second revelation was even more unsettling to Chu Xuan. The Eight Extremes Palace legacy was incomplete!

Eight Extremes Palace only had six halls here. The Celestial Star Hall, which absorbed the power of the stars to enhance Body Refining, and the Hundred Rivers Hall, known for its all-encompassing and inclusive nature, were both missing.

Upon deeper reflection, Chu Xuan realized that the Starshatter Sea had been formed by the remnants of shattered cultivation stars. When the Corpse Demons attacked Eight Extremes Palace, it caused the star where the hall was located to fragment and scatter through the void. Some pieces of the star were drawn into the Shattered Star Sea, while others continued to drift in the cosmos.

Without obtaining the full legacy of the Eight Extremes Palace, leaving this place was impossible. If Chu Xuan could not gather all eight legacies, he would be trapped here forever, forced to fight against the Corpse Demons until his strength was exhausted, and ultimately die in this forsaken place.

Chapter 450: The Way Out

Upon reflecting on the situation, Chu Xuan couldn't help but feel a sense of resolve. This was a problem that many cultivators had faced before when they were sucked into Eight Extremes Palace—and the outcome had always been grim.

Some cultivators, overwhelmed by despair, would rush into the swarm of Corpse Demons, fighting until their strength was depleted and they fell to their deaths. Others tried to hide, gathering their strength and searching for a way out.

In the end, one cultivator, a skilled Array Master, had found a way: he attempted to build a teleportation array to leave the place. However, constructing such an array required an immense amount of rare materials, and even more so, a large quantity of spiritual stones to activate it.

The Array Master and his companions had exhausted all the materials they had, managing to build only half of the array. Later cultivators who discovered it tried their best to restore it but ultimately gave up.

That is, until Zhao Xuan and her sectmates from the Heavenly Martial Pavilion found the array. Among them was a Deity Transformation-stage Array Master, and with their combined efforts, the array was finally activated.

Unfortunately, the teleportation was highly random, with no guarantee of returning to the Southern Third Ring. There was a chance it could lead to one of the other three-ring regions. If they were unlucky, they might end up in a dangerous area, one so perilous that even Deity Transformation-stage cultivators would avoid it.

It would be like stepping out of a tiger's den only to fall into a wolf's lair. Nevertheless, it was still far better than remaining in Eight Extremes Palace, trapped in an endless battle against the Corpse Demons.

Of course, Zhao Xuan and the others never had the chance to use the array. They were betrayed by one of their own—Han Zhao—who wanted to claim the credit for himself. The teleportation array was destroyed by Han Zhao, and the hopes of escape were dashed.

Chu Xuan sighed deeply as he tucked away the Spiritual Sense Jade Slip. This revelation made it clear that his strategy needed to change. The primary objective was no longer to obtain the legacy, but to locate the teleportation array and restore it so that he could escape Eight Extremes Palace. Ancient ruins were scattered across the world, and there would be plenty of opportunities for cultivation elsewhere. He couldn't afford to remain trapped in this cursed place.

As for the materials needed to repair the teleportation array, Zhao Xuan had already mentioned them in the Spiritual Sense Jade Slip. To his surprise, Chu Xuan realized that he actually had all the necessary materials—and in abundance.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "My tendency to hoard things is getting worse," he muttered to himself. "Seeing something useful, I just want to stockpile it. But I suppose this isn't such a bad thing."

He chuckled to himself, "Aside from me, I doubt anyone else has the resources to rebuild the teleportation array in one go."

Before proceeding with anything else, Chu Xuan knew he had to secure the legacy of the Boiling Sea Hall—it was right in front of him, after all.

Once he set up all the necessary defensive measures, he retrieved one thousand Corpse Demon Pearls, following the same method he had used before. The moment the Pearls were placed, the statue of the Boiling Sea Hall erupted, sending a towering beam of light into the sky. The commotion was so intense that it quickly drew the attention of countless Corpse Demons.

As expected, it also attracted the attention of Moon True Master and his group.

The expression on Moon True Master's face immediately darkened. "Someone beat me to it again?" His voice was a low growl, his frustration palpable. He had thousands of Corpse Demon Pearls, but so far, he had only managed to obtain the Dragon Rock Hall's legacy. One by one, the legacies were being snatched away by others.

"Who do I complain to?" Moon True Master muttered under his breath. His eyes fixed on the towering light pillar ahead.

"Speed up! We can't waste any more time!" he shouted. "That person still needs time to claim the legacy, we won't wait any longer!"

With a roar, he charged forward like a ferocious Mammoth Beast, his massive body plowing through the Corpse Demons, smashing them into pieces wherever he went.

His brutality was undeniable.

Zhong Tianshuo's voice rang out in protest, "But Bai Li and the others are surrounded by the Corpse Demons!"

Without so much as a glance, Moon True Master barked, "Forget them."

Zhong Tianshuo, Tie Jun, and the others sighed deeply, reluctant but having no choice but to follow.

Meanwhile, Bai Li and the other three Refining Body Cultivators were screaming for help. "Master, save us! Save us!" But within the blink of an eye, they were swallowed by the swarm of violent Corpse Demons, their voices fading into silence.

...

"Hmm? Someone's coming?" Chu Xuan, who had been quietly waiting for the light pillar to subside, suddenly sensed cultivators approaching from behind.

Frowning, he turned to look, only to find several figures rushing toward him. At the front was none other than Moon True Master, followed by Zhong Tianshuo, Tie Jun, and the others.

As soon as Moon True Master saw Chu Xuan, his brow furrowed. "It's you, Liu Zhenxiong."

Chu Xuan gave a faint smile, "I'm honored that you remember my name,."

Moon True Master narrowed his eyes. "The fact that you're still alive means your strength must be formidable. I presume you are a Refining Body Cultivator as well, and your cultivation level is quite impressive."

His gaze shifted toward the towering beam of light. Calmly, he spoke, "I'm taking the legacy of the Boiling Sea Hall. If you step aside, I can guarantee that the Moon Society will offer you a position in the future."

The Moon Society was the most powerful faction in the Southern Third Ring, far surpassing Yellow Spring Island, Black Wind Island, and White Bone Island. To hold a position in the Moon Society, at the very least, one would be a Vice-President, a role many cultivators in the Southern Third Ring coveted but could never attain.

The conditions Moon True Master had just promised were enough to leave Zhong Tianshuo and Tie Jun dumbfounded. As for the cultivators who had been lurking in the shadows, observing from afar, their shock was equally profound.

The very idea that even a Deity Transformation cultivator would offer such terms only confirmed their growing reverence for Liu Zhenxiong. It was clear now: his cultivation level was undoubtedly formidable.

However, Chu Xuan only smiled in response. A position within the Moon Society? Such a title held no appeal for him.

Seeing the sudden smile on Chu Xuan's face, Moon True Master immediately understood that his offer had been rejected. With a dismissive flick of his hand, he ordered coldly, "Take him down."

"Understood!"

At his command, Zhong Tianshuo, Tie Jun, and two other cultivators charged forward without hesitation. But before they could close the distance, Hu, Long, Two Arms, and Four Arms emerged from concealed positions, instantly engaging the attackers in fierce combat.

Moon True Master's calm demeanor evaporated in an instant. He had never anticipated that Liu Zhenxiong would have not only Corpse Puppets but also Ghosts at his command!

It was one thing to practice the Corpse Puppet Path—after all, any cultivator with some ability in Starshatter Sea would have at least one or two Corpse Puppets under their control. Similarly, cultivating the Ghost Path was nothing unusual; ghosts didn't require the same sustenance as Corpse Puppets, making them more covert and deadly in their attacks.

But this Liu Zhenxiong had not only reached a high level of body-refining cultivation, he had also mastered both Corpse Puppets and Ghosts. How could he possibly have the time and resources to train so thoroughly in so many different paths? He had never encountered such a terrifying individual in his life.

Chu Xuan smiled faintly and spoke, "Let's see how we match up."

Moon True Master's face remained impassive, but his steps grew more deliberate as he advanced. In the next moment, his body exploded forward, surging with blood and vitality, his giant beast-like foot coming down in a crushing stomp!

He still underestimated Chu Xuan. To him, anyone who focused so much on the Corpse Puppet Path and Ghost Path couldn't possibly have reached a high cultivation level. Most likely, Chu Xuan had not surpassed body refining cultivation at the 40th level. And in Moon True Master's mind, anyone below the 40th level was like a chicken or dog—easily crushed.

After all, the body refining cultivation technique he had mastered was the true orthodox technique of the Eight Extremes Palace. How could the mere average techniques of other cultivators compare? With the same cultivation level, his physical body would be far more powerful, and his vitality would be far more robust!

This was the confidence that the Eight Extremes Palace's body refining techniques had given him.