Demonic Cultivator (491-500) (Patreon)

Chapter 491: So Overbearing?

Only after retreating more than three hundred zhang did the figure in black relax, swiftly taking Ji Yunjin with him and vanishing without a trace.

Chu Xuan's expression remained unchanged. He had no desire to provoke further conflict. The man in black was at least in the mid-stage of Deity Transformation. If they were to engage in a battle, even if he were to win, it would be a pyrrhic victory, leaving him too injured to compete for the Nine Yang Golden Flame.

However, that man in black was clearly no fool. After just one exchange, he sensed something was amiss and chose to yield.

At this level of cultivation, few who had fought their way up from the bottom—rather than being nurtured like flowers in a sect's greenhouse—could be considered fools.

Chu Xuan turned around and looked at Ji Canghai.

Ji Canghai bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Senior He, for saving my life."

In his eyes, the fact that He Liang had driven off a great Deity Transformation cultivator meant, regardless of his true cultivation level, he possessed the strength of a Deity Transformation master and deserved to be revered as a senior.

Chu Xuan did not say much, merely asking casually, "What are your plans now?"

Ji Canghai let out a wry smile. "Yunjin entrusted her daughter to me, so I naturally cannot place her in danger. I'll take Qianqian and find a safe place to hide. Once the Black Robber Bandits are gone, we will leave."

Chu Xuan nodded slightly. "That seems best."

Ji Canghai suddenly spoke up. "This is another set of Deity Transformation-level formations I obtained back in the day. Please accept it, Senior."

He tapped his storage bag, and a set of ice-blue formation plates and flags appeared in his palm.

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. "What is the name of this formation?"

Ji Canghai spoke in a low voice, "A low-tier Deity Transformation formation, the Extreme Cold Ice Seal Formation. However, it is incomplete. There is a gap in the Dui Gate. If the enemy notices, they may escape through it."

Ji Canghai then took out a spiritual sense jade slip. "This contains my understanding of the formation. Senior, with it, you should be able to use the formation proficiently."

Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad."

With a wave of his hand, he stored the formation plates and flags away.

Ji Canghai was indeed a sensible person. He had not misjudged him.

"Farewell, Senior." Ji Canghai cupped his hands in respect.

Chu Xuan nodded slightly and headed directly for the Heavenly Thunder.

Ji Canghai watched his departing figure, a trace of self-deprecation appearing in his heart.

Looking back, he almost found it laughable. He Liang, with such strength, had even forced a Deity Transformation expert to retreat. Yet, he had given him two top-tier defensive magic treasures to ensure his safety.

Previously, he had even instructed Ji Yunjin to tell Ji Yang not to deal a fatal blow to He Liang. Now, upon reflection, Ji Yang's silence was most likely due to meeting his end at the hands of He Liang.

"If it weren't for my habit of treating others with kindness, I might have offended He Liang and never become so familiar with him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stepped in to drive away the black-robed man and lend me a hand today."

Ji Canghai sighed inwardly.

Ji Qianqian lifted her tear-streaked face. "Uncle Hai, why didn't that senior help save Mother?"

Ji Canghai sighed softly. "In this world, no one is born to treat you kindly. That senior, to appear at such a crucial moment and lend me a hand, is already a miracle in itself."

"To ask him to save your mother would be too much to ask," Ji Canghai said helplessly, shaking his head. "Moreover... the pursuit of that senior is due to your mother's actions, so he would have no reason to help her."

Ji Qianqian, still innocent, nodded slowly. "Uncle Hai, then... how should we save Mother?"

Ji Canghai's voice grew solemn. "The Ji family... the Ji family will surely act to rescue her. But the origins of the man in black remain a mystery..."

He thought for a moment, suddenly remembering something. Why had the Black Robber Bandits attacked Ji Yunjin and the others? Perhaps this was where he should begin his investigation.

He also wanted to know what Ji Yunjin meant by saying her branch had distanced itself from the core of the family. Wasn't Ji Yunjin the daughter of the family head? How could she have distanced herself from the family core?

"Qianqian, would you be willing to follow me?" Ji Canghai asked softly.

"I'm willing, Uncle Hai. Mother says you're a good person," Ji Qianqian nodded.

"Good. I will get to the bottom of this," Ji Canghai said with a firm tone.

...

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan had arrived near the Heavenly Thunder Pavilion. The battlefield around Heavenly Thunder Pavilion was in utter chaos. Robbers attacked ordinary cultivators. Ordinary cultivators could also transform into robbers. They killed one another with abandon, fighting in every direction.

In the sky, the Deity Transformation cultivators engaging in battle were noticeably fewer. Those who had managed to fight this long were all powerful figures.

Chu Xuan glanced around and casually grabbed a Golden Core cultivator, asking about the current situation.

"The Mountain Sword Sect cultivator who had taken the Nine Yang Cauldron was surrounded and killed soon after. The Nine Yang Cauldron was then claimed by Li Qingfeng.

"Li Qingfeng didn't live long either, as he was surrounded and killed as well. The Nine Yang Cauldron was taken by the leader of the Black Robber Bandits, Wang Tiancheng.

"Song Tingfeng suddenly launched a sneak attack on Leng Jixin, severely wounding him, and the latter fled in panic. Song Tingfeng pursued him, and the two have already left this battlefield. Now, Deyuan and the others are attacking Wang Tiancheng."

Chu Xuan glanced at the surrounding cultivators, a faint, amused smile playing at his lips. These cultivators were likely waiting for the Deity Transformation experts to weaken each other before swooping in to pick up the spoils.

However, he didn't mock them. After all, that was exactly what he had in mind as well. Hiding in the grass to pick up scraps wasn't shameful in the least.

The real embarrassment came when you charged in first, only to be overwhelmed by a concentrated barrage of attacks, resulting in your own death. That was the true disgrace. A disgrace in the most literal sense.

But, as is often the case in this world, things do not always go as planned. He wished to lie in wait and take advantage of the situation, but someone, it seemed, had no intention of letting him do so.

...

In mid-air, the leader of the Black Robber Bandits, Wang Tiancheng, fought while retreating. As he flew through the chaos, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of Chu Xuan.

Before the Black Robber Bandits had even launched their attack, they had anticipated the potential for such a chaotic situation. Therefore, Wang Tiancheng and the core members of the Black Robber Bandits, including Kou Heng, had all been equipped with a shard of a stone tablet.

This stone shard bore the emblem of a five-pointed star. It was possible that, like the five-pointed star emblem itself, it had been crafted from the same piece of comet shard, and as a result, it naturally resonated with the five-pointed star in some way.

They could use this resonance to track down the one who had captured the five-pointed star amidst the confusion. Through this, they could easily find the location of the Eight Extremes Hall's ruins.

Earlier, the Black Robber Bandits had already captured a descendant of the Eight Extremes Hall. Now, another one had appeared—this was even better. It saved them the trouble of searching any further.

Wang Tiancheng sneered coldly and, without hesitation, hurled the Nine Yang Cauldron toward Chu Xuan. At the same time, he stretched out his hand, aiming to grab Chu Xuan. In his eyes, Chu Xuan was merely a Nascent Soul cultivator. To resist the Nine Yang Cauldron, Chu Xuan would have to exert all his strength. Naturally, this would make him an easy target for capture.

Moreover, the Nine Yang Cauldron was exceedingly heavy. Since it hadn't yet recognized its master, it was even more cumbersome. The cauldron contained the Nine Yang Golden Flames, which prevented it from being stored in a spatial ring. It had to be held continuously, which consumed a great deal of spiritual energy.

Previously, both the Deity Transformation cultivator from the Mountain Sword Sect and Li Qingfeng had died because they lacked the strength to carry it effectively under the pressure of being surrounded.

Wang Tiancheng was merely assisting Song Tingfeng with his task. He had no intention of throwing away his life.

As long as he captured this descendant of the Eight Extremes Hall, his mission would be complete.

...

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow.

He's delivering it to me? So overbearing? This feels a bit embarrassing, actually.

Chapter 492: Wasn't That You Who Gave This to Me?

As the Nine Yang Cauldron, resembling a small mountain, came crashing down toward him, Chu Xuan merely smiled faintly. With a single hand, he effortlessly lifted it, as though holding a delicate kite.

The Nine Yang Cauldron, which required the strength of four burly men to move, was nothing more than a light burden in the face of his overwhelming physical strength. He grasped it with ease.

Then...

Chu Xuan turned and walked away, soaring into the air with a swift escape! This sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded—especially Wang Tiancheng.

What? How are you holding the Nine Yang Cauldron and walking away with it? What are you, made of iron?!

Deyuan recognized the cultivator holding the Nine Yang Cauldron with a single hand at once.

"Isn't that He Liang, the guest elder of the Divine Sword Sect? He can actually hold the Nine Yang Cauldron with one hand? He must be an extraordinarily powerful body cultivator! Gold Thunder Island truly is a place where heroes gather."

Deyuan was startled and immediately lost interest in fighting for the Nine Yang Cauldron or the Nine Yang Golden Flames. With a heavy sigh, he took a few steps back and withdrew from the fray.

Wang Tiancheng, however, was beside himself with rage. The Nine Yang Cauldron, the Nine Yang Golden Flames, and nearly a fifth of the valuable auction items had been secretly taken by Song Tingfeng from the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's vault, meant to be the highlight of this Ten Thousand Treasure Conference.

Without these treasures, the event would lose its significance, and it wouldn't attract the Ji family's third young miss to participate.

Once the auction was concluded, the other treasures could be dealt with, but the Nine Yang Cauldron and Golden Flames absolutely had to be returned to the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's vault. If not, Song Tingfeng would undoubtedly be held accountable. And as one of Song Tingfeng's subordinates, Wang Tiancheng would be the one to bear the brunt of his fury.

Wang Tiancheng cursed inwardly. He immediately sent a voice transmission, ordering several top-tier Black Robber Bandits, rivals to Kou Heng, to converge from all corners of Gold Thunder Island and surround Chu Xuan.

...

Chu Xuan continued his flight, heading straight for the edge of Gold Thunder Island. Upon reaching the shore, he wasted no time. He took out a flying boat and turned to leave. He wasn't concerned about Wang Tiancheng, nor the remaining Nascent Soul robbers among the Black Robber Bandits.

It was Song Tingfeng, who had yet to appear, that truly posed a threat. And the man in black who had supposedly left—he might very well show up again unexpectedly, launching a sneak attack on him.

Therefore, with the most valuable treasures of the Ten Thousand Treasure Conference already in play, leaving as soon as possible was the wisest course.

Fighting and killing held no meaning. It would only give others the opportunity to exploit his vulnerabilities.

"Chase him! Don't let him escape!"

Wang Tiancheng rushed to the shore, seeing Chu Xuan already boarding a flying boat, cutting through the waves and speeding away. He immediately roared with fury. His three subordinates, all Nascent Soul cultivators, nodded solemnly and each took out a flying boat to pursue.

Wang Tiancheng also summoned his own flying boat and gave chase.

At that moment, a voice transmission arrived. He infused his Spiritual Qi, and immediately, the respectful voice of his subordinate came through.

"Reporting, Chief, we've found the body of Brother Nine. Here, we only found the bodies of the four Ji family cultivators, but there's no sign of the Ji family's third young miss. All of Brother Nine's subordinates are also missing."

Wang Tiancheng's face darkened to the point that it seemed as if water could drip from it. He had sent Old Nine and his eleven subordinates to track down the Ji family's third young miss long ago. By all rights, he should have received news by now.

Since there had been no word, he had sent others to check on the situation. Now it was clear—something had gone terribly wrong. He knew very well what Old Nine was capable of. The Ji family's third young miss had certainly been rescued by a powerful individual.

"Not only did we fail to capture the Ji family's third young miss, but the Nine Yang Cauldron is also lost..." Wang Tiancheng sighed heavily, looking up at the sky.

How was he going to explain this to Song Tingfeng?

As he hesitated, pondering how to bring up the matter with Song Tingfeng, his transmission jade suddenly vibrated again. He infused more Spiritual Qi, and Song Tingfeng's voice came through.

"Wang Tiancheng, you—"

Wang Tiancheng immediately cut him off. "Elder Song, how are things going? Has Leng Jixin been dealt with?"

Song Tingfeng paused for a moment before grumbling, "That old bastard sensed something was off long ago. He pretended to be heavily wounded and fled on purpose to avoid being caught between us! I'm currently tracking him down in the northern stone forest of Gold Thunder Island! How about you? Have you recovered the Nine Yang Cauldron?"

Wang Tiancheng replied in a low voice, "There's been a slight complication, but don't worry, Elder Song. I'll have the Nine Yang Cauldron back very soon."

Song Tingfeng continued, "By the way, what about the Ji family's third young miss? Did you capture her?"

Wang Tiancheng immediately nodded. "There was a little mishap, but we're still pursuing her. Don't worry, Elder Song. She's alone; she won't cause any big trouble."

Song Tingfeng gave a slight nod. "Good, I trust your abilities."

The transmission jade fell silent.

Wang Tiancheng let out a breath of relief. He growled, "Chase him! We must catch this brat! If we can't catch him now, the Black Robber Bandits will be finished for good!"

At least one of the two tasks must be completed. Otherwise, he was done for.

Hearing this, the three Nascent Soul Black Robber Bandits shuddered and quickened their pursuit.

At the port of Gold Thunder Island, the black-robed figure watched the several flying boats disappearing into the distance, his head shaking slightly.

"This man is quite cautious, taking the Nine Yang Cauldron and running." I really have no chance to act now."

He glanced at the unconscious Ji Yunjin.

"Better to return for now. Ji Yunjin is an extremely rare dual-spirit body, one of which is a hidden spirit. Once activated through a special method, her blood can help me strengthen my primordial spirit. Fortunately, I came personally this time. If I had fully trusted Song Tingfeng, things might have already gone south! As for this alchemist, He Liang... I'll deal with him another day!"

The black-robed man glared bitterly at Chu Xuan, then boarded his flying boat, setting off in the opposite direction.

...

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan glanced behind him.

Why were these Black Robber Bandits chasing him like madmen?

"Boy, don't run! Leave the Nine Yang Cauldron behind!"

Wang Tiancheng shouted.

Chu Xuan shook his head and called back, "Wasn't that you who sent me the Nine Yang Cauldron?"

Wang Tiancheng was furious, nearly spitting blood in frustration.

"Who sent it to you?! Who sent it?! Don't get ahead of yourself!"

Chu Xuan furrowed his brow. The flying boats of the Black Robber Bandits were faster. After all, they were professionals in the art of plundering. His own flying boat was slightly slower in comparison. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before they caught up.

Just then, the clouds in the sky suddenly began to shift, large patches of them torn apart. It seemed something was rapidly spreading toward them.

One of the Nascent Soul cultivators noticed the strange phenomenon. He froze for a moment before shouting, "Chief! It's the strange mist! The strange mist!"

Wang Tiancheng turned his gaze toward the disrupted clouds, his face changing drastically. This was indeed the sign of the strange mist!

The strange mist moved swiftly, and once enveloped by it, it was like entering a dark maze. Nothing could be seen, nothing could be heard. Spiritual sense would be blocked, and Spiritual Qi suppressed. Only one's physical strength remained effective.

Even more terrifying, the mist would form fog creatures. These creatures would attack all living beings within the mist's domain. Even Deity Transformation cultivators at the peak stage had been trapped within the strange mist, eventually dying and disappearing.

So far, among all the cultivators who had been enveloped by the strange mist in these seas, fewer than a handful had managed to walk out alive.

Chapter 493: Mist Beasts

"Chief, should we continue chasing?"

The three Black Robber Bandits revealed expressions of fear. Cultivators living in the Starshatter Sea knew all too well about the three great natural disasters. If they continued the chase, they might not survive. Bandits did live each day with their lives on the line, but now it felt as if they had already taken their heads off and kicked them like a ball.

Wang Tiancheng thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Return. Don't chase anymore. Let's see how far the strange mist will cover. After that, we'll make a decision."

The sudden appearance of the mist might not be all bad. Even if Song Tingfeng were angry, they could easily shift all blame onto the mist. Fortunately, they had noticed it early enough, allowing them to retreat back to Gold Thunder Island with ease.

"Huh? Why is he heading that way?"

One of the bandits suddenly froze, pointing toward the distance.

Wang Tiancheng also turned to look. To his shock, one of his subordinates was inexplicably steering his boat west, completely going against the direction of Gold Thunder Island.

He shouted, "Return!"

However, the bandit didn't hear him and continued heading west, speeding away as though fleeing from something.

Wang Tiancheng's eyes widened in shock as realization hit him.

"He's already been enveloped by the strange mist! His spiritual sense is suppressed, and his perception is reversed! He can't escape now! We need to leave, quickly!"

The remaining two bandits, filled with dread, immediately pushed their flying boats to their limits, turning and fleeing.

...

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan also felt something amiss. It was as though danger was closing in from all sides, an invisible force pressing in on him from every direction. No matter where he looked, it seemed like he was heading into a chilling abyss.

Chu Xuan frowned deeply. This was the first time he had felt something like this. At that moment, he saw the clouds in the sky seemingly shredded into fragments. His expression shifted slightly.

The strange mist! It was a sign that the mist had arrived. This was bad. How had he gotten himself right into the heart of it?

Looking behind him, he saw that Wang Tiancheng and the others had indeed retreated. Without hesitation, he poured a surge of Spiritual Qi into the control array of the flying boat, activating maximum speed and turning to flee.

At this point, whether his flying boat was damaged or not no longer mattered. He had to break free from the mist's encroachment as soon as possible.

However, just as his senses had warned, the strange mist did not emerge from just one direction. It came from several directions at once, and each direction advanced at a different speed.

Before Chu Xuan could even leave this sea area, his spiritual sense was suppressed to a mere ten zhang around the flying boat. The figures of Wang Tiancheng and the others completely disappeared. Even the massive Gold Thunder Island, which looked like a giant beast lying in the sea, vanished without a trace.

All that was left was the eerie darkness, as though the entire world had been swallowed by the mist. He felt as if he were the only living being in the entire realm.

Chu Xuan took a deep breath, quickly calming his emotions. In his mind, flashes of information about the strange mist raced through his thoughts. He and Ji Canghai had arrived at Gold Thunder Island some time in advance and had shared many discussions, especially regarding the three great natural disasters—strange winds, strange mists, and sea quakes. As expected of a member of the Ji family, Ji Canghai knew a great deal about these phenomena.

"The strange mist suppresses spiritual sense and distorts perception. Cultivators entering it feel as though they have entered a dark, unknown maze they can never escape," Chu Xuan muttered, recalling Ji Canghai's words.

"You might think you are heading south, but you are actually going north. You might think you are heading east, but it's west. Today everything changes, and tomorrow it returns to normal. It's a torment unlike any other. Sometimes, you might be only one step from the edge of the mist, yet unable to reach it."

"That's just the beginning. What's truly terrifying are the Mist Beasts born within it. Their strength is equivalent to a Nascent Soul late-stage demonic beast, but they cannot truly die. They just need time to accumulate and will resurrect from the mist. They will endlessly attack any living beings within the mist until they kill them."

Chu Xuan pondered for a long while before coming to a decision. The strange mist was a calamity for others, an unrelenting disaster likely to consume one's lifespan without a chance of escape. But for him, a cultivator who could traverse the two realms, it wasn't as dangerous.

As long as he immersed himself in Blue Star cultivation, the passage of time didn't matter. One hundred years, two hundred years, five hundred years, a thousand years…

The mist would eventually dissipate. The only uncertainty was how long it would take. He could explore the mist, and when he sensed danger, he could slip into the Blue Star realm to avoid the turmoil. Once the mist dissipated, he could return and continue his exploration.

"Ji Canghai told me that cultivators who survive the mist almost always experience a tremendous improvement in their cultivation," he mused. "Perhaps the mist itself gives birth to some rare treasures."

Chu Xuan's thoughts drifted. The Mist Beasts had not yet appeared, and this was the perfect opportunity to see what the strange mist held. He immediately steered the flying boat, setting it on a slow course through the mist.

The environment now felt as though a mortal were navigating a tiny boat on an endless, pitch-black ocean. Every direction seemed to threaten to swallow him whole.

At times, he couldn't even tell if he was above the surface or beneath it. The profound silence and darkness of the atmosphere were enough to make anyone feel suffocated. Those with a natural fear of deep seas would likely have collapsed from terror long ago.

Chu Xuan tried to return along the same route toward Jin Lei Island. As expected, after a full day and night of travel, there was still no sign of the coastline. Unknowingly, his perception had indeed been influenced by the strange mist around him.

"Hmm? What's this?"

Suddenly, Chu Xuan spotted a small, nameless island ahead. The vegetation on the island was mostly withered and dead, yet there were many tender spiritual herbs and saplings sprouting from the ground.

"Blood Gen? Spiritual Infant Tree?"

Chu Xuan couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder. With just a brief scan, he had already discovered several rare spiritual plants, especially the Blood Gen and Spiritual Infant Tree.

Like the Windcatcher Grass, both of these were essence-augmenting spiritual materials. Blood Gen could enhance the Earth Essence, while the Spiritual Infant Tree could enhance the Heavenly Essence.

The Windcatcher Grass, on the other hand, boosted the Human Essence. The Nascent Soul had three essences: the Heavenly Essence, the Earth Essence, and the Human Essence.

The Heavenly Essence represented the affinity between the Nascent Soul and the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. Enhancing it would improve all aspects related to this connection. The Earth Essence represented the size and speed of the Nascent Soul itself. Enhancing it would make the Nascent Soul both larger and faster. The Human Essence represented the Nascent Soul's amplification of spell power. Enhancing it would exponentially increase the potency of one's magic.

For cultivators of Deity Transformation, strengthening these three Essences of the Nascent Soul was also a crucial part of their practice. However, Chu Xuan had obtained the Heavenly Dao Golden Lotus long ago. This treasure was unparalleled in its ability to strengthen the Nascent Soul. It didn't enhance just one Essence, but rather all three simultaneously.

Even now, the Heavenly Dao Golden Lotus had not been fully absorbed by his Nascent Soul. It remained beneath the Nascent Soul, quietly spinning.

"These essence-augmenting spiritual materials—who knows where they came from? It's a pity that they're still mere saplings with little effect."

Chu Xuan shook his head repeatedly. The effects of his Merit Soil had worn off completely. Even if he dug up these young plants, they would be of little use.

On the contrary, he would have to spend vast amounts of spirit stones to nurture them properly, creating an environment suitable for their growth. Otherwise, they would likely wither away. It was better not to waste such precious resources. He decided to leave them for those with the right fortune.

As Chu Xuan ventured further through the strange mist, he had no idea how much time had passed. He began to notice that the surroundings were growing increasingly eerie and unnatural. It felt as if terrifying creatures were slowly taking shape.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but quicken his pace. He knew that this could only mean one thing: the mist demons were beginning to stir. At that moment, he suddenly felt the five-pointed star pendant grow warm.

"Hmm?"

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up. The five-pointed star pendant would guide him to the remnants of the Celestial Star Hall! If he reached that place, he would no longer need to worry about the mist demons.

Chapter 494: Trouble Is Coming!

Clutching the warm and burning five-pointed star pendant, Chu Xuan fell into deep thought. He immediately changed direction several times, first heading south, then east.

After a few moments of deliberation, he finally chose a southeastward course. The pendant grew even hotter in his hand as he moved in this direction. It seemed likely that this was the way to the Celestial Star Hall's ruins.

Time passed, though he couldn't tell how much. Gradually, from the surrounding darkness, came a series of muffled, unpleasant sounds. They resembled the low growls of lions, wolves, tigers, and leopards, mixed with the soft murmurs of women.

The sounds fluctuated, now distant, now near, evoking both annoyance and fear.

Chu Xuan raised his hand, and Hu, Long, and Bao materialized beside him, helping him keep a vigilant watch on all other directions.

After losing the previous Bao, Chu Xuan had chosen a body of a body cultivator and forged a new Bao from it.

For a time, the tigers and leopards had not been needed, so he had allowed them to rest and cultivate within the Heavenly Corpse Tower.

Now, Bao had attained the strength of a Level 3 Ghost King, and it was the perfect moment to make use of them. The three loyal corpses of Hu, Long, and Bao kept their eyes fixed on the surroundings, alert to any monsters that might leap out of the darkness.

The flying boat continued forward. The unknown blackness ahead loomed like the gaping maw of some giant beast, an ever-present pressure that made the air feel thick and suffocating.

"They're coming!"

Chu Xuan suddenly sensed danger and waved his hand, summoning the Dark Shadow Robe to shield him.

Clang!

As expected, a shadowy figure lunged at him with ferocious speed.

The sound of metal crashing rang out, and the figure was sent flying by the rebound force. However, its speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, it vanished from sight, clearly retreating into the darkness once more.

Chu Xuan pondered briefly. From the brief collision, he had already made a rough assessment of the creature's strength. It was roughly equivalent to a Nascent Soul early-stage demonic beast.

Such an opponent could be easily dealt with. He had summoned the Dark Shadow Robe as a precaution. If the mist demon had been strong, blocking the attack with his physical body could have resulted in injury, and that would have been a serious problem.

Ji Canghai had once warned him that mist demons had a deep fondness for blood. Once they caught the scent of blood, they would swarm like ravenous sharks, drawn irresistibly to their prey.

Before long, more mist demons emerged from the darkness, one after another, rushing at him with vicious intent.

Chu Xuan raised his hand again, and the pale, serpentine claws of the Jiao Dragon shot out, instantly tearing the nearest mist demon into shreds.

From behind, more mist demons continued their assault, attempting to launch a surprise attack on Chu Xuan's back.

However, the three corpses of Hu, Long, and Bao quickly repelled them, keeping the attackers at bay.

"Closer... ever closer."

Chu Xuan could feel the five-pointed star pendant in his palm growing unbearably hot. Even with his forty-fourth layer of body refinement, he could feel the searing heat, as though it were burning his skin.

Just then, the surrounding darkness grew thick with ghostly shadows. Clearly, the mist demons that had surrounded him from all sides were growing in number.

Crack!

The white dragon clawed out, instantly tearing apart three mist wolves in front of him. They dissipated into mist and fled, but it wouldn't be long before they reformed.

Behind him, the three corpses of Hu, Long, and Bao were also embroiled in a bitter struggle. The mist demons were relentless, showing no fear of death, and yet they had no obvious fatal weakness.

Only by reducing them to fragments, at least to the size of a palm, would they temporarily disperse. Even the corpse puppets were beginning to feel the strain.

Bao, the weakest among them, had already been torn by the mist demons in several places.

Roar!

A deafening roar echoed from the surrounding darkness. A massive black shape suddenly lunged at the flying boat.

Chu Xuan focused his eyes and saw a giant mist eagle with a wide wingspan, radiating a fierce and menacing aura. It had clearly reached the level of a Deity Transformation demonic beast!

Chu Xuan's gaze sharpened. The Dark Shadow Robe immediately levitated by his side. His hand quickly reached for the Green Hell Lamp, ready to ignite it and unleash the vast, Netherfire Devouring Flame as soon as the eagle got closer.

He instinctively felt that the Netherfire Devouring Flame might be especially effective against the mist demons. But to his surprise, the mist eagle feinted, spitting out several murky mist clouds, and swiftly circled to the side of the flying boat.

A loud, piercing cry rang out, and Bao was immediately snatched up by the mist eagle. Before it could even reach the ground, Bao was surrounded by a swarm of mist demons, torn into countless pieces mid-air.

Chu Xuan furrowed his brows deeply.

Ji Canghai had once warned him that creatures who perished in the strange mist could be transformed into mist demons.

However, the vast majority of mist demons were crazed and devoid of reason, mindlessly attacking any living being they came across.

Only a very small number of them retained their memories from their former lives. And those that did were invariably powerful, leader-class mist demons.

In this strange mist, these leader-class demons might not be stronger than Chu Xuan himself, but they had the ability to command ever-growing numbers of mist demons to launch suicidal attacks.

Even the mightiest of cultivators would find their scalp tingling under such relentless pressure. The mist eagle had clearly sensed Chu Xuan's strength. Its feint, followed by the swift snatching of Bao, confirmed his suspicions. It was indeed a leader-class mist demon.

"Faster!"

Chu Xuan had no intention of lingering with these indestructible monsters. He spared no regard for the flying boat's longevity, forcing it to accelerate at the cost of its damage. After all, he had plenty of similar flying boats.

In the Golden Dragon ship alone, there were eight. From the Nine Yin ship given to him by True Master Yin, there were even ten. He could easily replace them in the short term. As long as he could break free from the mist demons' encirclement, he had no qualms about treating the flying boat as expendable.

Indeed, pushing the flying boat to its limits proved highly effective. The mist eagle hadn't expected the boat to suddenly surge forward at such speed.

Chu Xuan managed to create some distance between himself and the creature.

"Just ahead!"

At that moment, Chu Xuan suddenly spotted a massive shadow looming ahead. It resembled a colossal beast lying dormant beneath the sea. The five-pointed star pendant in his hand had become so hot that it radiated a blinding light.

In that instant, he felt as though he were a lighthouse in the dark ocean, casting light across an enormous expanse. A chill ran down his spine.

Don't attract too much attention! This is going to be bad!

As expected, the sudden burst of light drew the attention of a large number of mist demons. No matter what they had been doing, they immediately turned toward Chu Xuan.

Some small islands, once home to cultivators who had been desperately resisting the mist demons, suddenly saw the creatures retreat as if swept away by a tide.

Demonic beasts that had been desperately fleeing from the mist demons found themselves spared, the pursuit vanishing as quickly as it had begun.

Chu Xuan, noticing the overwhelming swarm of mist demons approaching, pushed the flying boat toward the Celestial Star Hall ruins without hesitation.

Hu and Long roared fiercely, fending off all attacks. Both corpses were riddled with injuries. Hu, in particular, had a massive hole in its chest.

At that moment, the mist eagle that had been trailing them had caught up. Its eyes gleamed with an unspoken savagery and greed, as if it were intent on tearing Chu Xuan to pieces.

Just then, Chu Xuan arrived at the entrance of the Celestial Star Hall ruins. The massive gate was tilted and tightly shut, its surface marked with signs of previous attacks. It seemed that others had once discovered this place and attempted to force their way in.

Without hesitation, Chu Xuan pressed the five-pointed star pendant against the door.

Boom!

The gate burst open.

Chapter 495: This is How You Foster the Enemy's Pride

Seeing the gate of the ruins crack open, Chu Xuan immediately kicked the flying boat into overdrive, propelling it forward into the gap.

Long and Hu followed closely behind.

The flying boat, impacted by the recoil, smashed directly into the swarm of mist demons.

Boom!

With a sudden explosion, the boat shattered into countless fragments of wood and iron, scattering in all directions.

The mist demons let out a series of wails, clearly suffering significant injuries from the unexpected detonation.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The mist demons rushed forward, only to crash violently into the thick gate.

A few lucky ones managed to squeeze through the opening, but Chu Xuan had been waiting for them.

The White Dragon Claw tore into them with brutal force, instantly shredding them into pieces.

Rumble...

The gate slammed shut once more, sealing out the mist demons' roars and shrieks. Only then did Chu Xuan exhale in relief. He had finally shaken off the mist demons.

Looking around at the interior of the ruins, Chu Xuan noted that the space was pitch-black, much like the Eight Extremes Palace.

However, having spent time in the strange mist before, Chu Xuan had grown accustomed to such environments.

Now, entering the dimly lit Celestial Star Hall ruins, he quickly adapted, moving through the space with ease.

"It's just as I expected, this place is littered with corpses," he muttered, his gaze sweeping down the corridor.

He could see many white bones scattered along the way.

Clearly, these were the remains of the Celestial Star Hall's body refiners who had fought with the corpse demons.

Some of the bones belonged to body refiners who had been completely consumed by the surviving corpse demons, leaving only their skeletons behind. Others were the remnants of the corpse demons themselves.

Chu Xuan moved carefully through the wreckage, taking slow, deliberate steps. The suppression of spiritual sense in this area was as potent, if not more so, than in the strange mist. Thus, he immediately resorted to his earlier method: using the insect swarm.

Soon, a vast number of poisonous insects spread out from his position, covering a fifty-zhang radius in all directions. Any movement would alert him instantly. As he continued exploring through the ruins, it felt as though he were walking into the gaping maw of a giant beast.

...

Meanwhile, on Golden Thunder Island, the remaining cultivators witnessed the appearance of the strange mist and were struck with panic.

Fortunately, the mist only occupied a tenth of the island, and it did not continue to spread. The cultivators breathed a sigh of relief. There had been records of such strange mists over the years.

Once this type of natural disaster ceased spreading, it usually did not extend further. Even if there were just a wall separating them, they could still cultivate in peace.

At that moment, Song Tingfeng coldly regarded Wang Tiancheng.

Wang Tiancheng lowered his head, remaining silent.

After a long silence, Song Tingfeng coldly said, "You told me it was just two small accidents. Yet now, nothing has been accomplished?"

Wang Tiancheng lowered his head even further. "Elder Song, the strange mist appeared suddenly. I was unable to continue the pursuit. But please rest assured, that person will surely die within the mist. At most, within twenty years, the mist will eventually dissipate. The Nine Yang Cauldron will be recovered eventually, and the Five-Point Star token will not be lost."

"As for Miss Ji...," Wang Tiancheng gave a bitter smile, "I truly don't know what happened."

Song Tingfeng's voice turned icy, "The employer has already sent word. He personally took Ji Yunjin. The reward—nothing will be given."

Wang Tiancheng's face stiffened.

Song Tingfeng's anger flared. "Do you have any idea how much financial and material resources I've spent setting up this trap? Even if we can't recover everything else, the Nine Yang Cauldron and the Nine Yang Golden Flame must be retrieved!"

Wang Tiancheng buried his head even deeper. Song Tingfeng took a deep breath. The two fell into silence.

After a long time, Song Tingfeng coldly spoke again, "I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself."

Wang Tiancheng respectfully responded, "Elder Song, please speak."

Song Tingfeng's eyes flashed. "Leng Jixin, capture him! Do whatever it takes to capture him! If he's still alive, the events on Golden Thunder Island will likely spread. The Ji family will come looking for trouble with me sooner or later."

Wang Tiancheng was taken aback, his lowered gaze thoughtful, though he still kept his expression respectful. "Understood. I will spare no effort in capturing Leng Jixin."

Song Tingfeng took another deep breath. "I need to minimize the impact of the Nine Yang Cauldron's disappearance. For the time being, we must return to the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. I will continue providing you with the demonic beast meat you need for your cultivation. Don't worry about it."

"Yes," Wang Tiancheng nodded.

A moment later, Song Tingfeng boarded the building ship and departed.

Wang Tiancheng stood atop the highest peak of Golden Thunder Island, looking down at the vast island below. A cold smile slowly crept onto his face.

"So that's why he's still keeping me around. He himself couldn't kill Leng Jixin and even let him escape. At this rate, even if I find Leng Jixin, there's no need to capture him immediately. If I take him too soon, I'll lose the source of demonic beast meat needed for my body refinement cultivation. This is how you foster the enemy's pride. But then again, I'm the enemy myself, so it's rather amusing to call someone else an enemy."

Wang Tiancheng chuckled lightly and, with a turn, vanished from the peak.

On Golden Thunder Island, Ji Canghai gazed worriedly at the area shrouded in the strange mist.

Ji Qianqian tugged at his sleeve. "Uncle Hai, are you worried about that senior?"

Ji Canghai nodded. "He was being pursued by the Black Robber Bandits. It's very likely that he was swallowed by the strange mist. Throughout history, only a handful of people have managed to survive the mist. I hope the information I once shared about the mist proves useful to him."

He sighed softly.

Ji Qianqian tilted her head. "Uncle Hai, what should we do now?"

Ji Canghai smiled. "We need to find Leng Jixin. If I'm right, he most likely escaped the pursuit of Song Tingfeng by making his way to Golden Phoenix Island to the north of Golden Thunder Island. Finding him might help us discover who kidnapped your mother."

"Alright." Ji Qianqian nodded obediently.

...

One month later, deep within the ruins of the Celestial Star Hall.

A cold, imposing star sculpture stood in the center of the area, surrounded by the remains of corpse demons.

Some of the remains had been there for tens of thousands of years, while others had only recently been slain by Chu Xuan.

Over the past month, Chu Xuan had been exploring and advancing through the ruins. He couldn't exactly say the journey had been full of obstacles—at the very least, it had been smooth sailing.

The corpse demons here were quite ordinary, and not a single large corpse demon had appeared. With his strength, dealing with these demons was no challenge at all.

"This is the legacy statue of Celestial Star Hall," Chu Xuan muttered, staring in awe at the ancient sculpture. He had already set up various defensive formations around the area and had sent Long and Hu to scout the surroundings, preparing for any sudden attacks from the corpse demons. Now was the time to obtain the Celestial Star Palace!

Chu Xuan took a deep breath. One hand tightly grasped the Five-Point Star token, while the other placed itself upon the statue.

Boom!

A pillar of light shot up into the sky!

A cold, starry image was violently thrust into his mind, making everything and everyone feel incredibly insignificant in comparison, like ants beneath a vast sky.

The corpse demons, which had been dormant throughout the Celestial Star Hall, were immediately disturbed by the pillar of light and surged toward Chu Xuan.

But the defensive measures he had set in advance immediately came into play. No corpse demon could get within fifty zhang of him.

After a long while, the pillar of light slowly began to dissipate.

Chu Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance flashing in his gaze.

"It's done!"

Chapter 496: The Path of Deity Transformation, Come to Me!

"The Celestial Star Technique focuses on visualizing the Cold Star. The greatest strength of this technique lies in its ability to continuously absorb the power of the stars to strengthen the body."

Chu Xuan smiled. With this technique, even without consuming demonic beast meat, as long as he stood under the sky, his body would gradually grow stronger. If he were to obtain fragments of comets or other rare substances, his cultivation speed would skyrocket.

"Time to find a secluded spot and return to Blue Star."

Chu Xuan led Long and Hu quickly soared through the air. The formations in the area were still holding back the corpse demons. However, when they broke through, they found that the place was already empty.

The corpse demons, lacking any living energy, began wandering aimlessly. Eventually, they fell back into a deep slumber, just as they always had.

...

In a collapsed building, Chu Xuan set up a formation before stepping out and returning to Blue Star.

The familiar air enveloped him, a bit lacking in spiritual qi, but nonetheless comforting and reassuring. It may not nourish the body, but it carried an undeniable sense of security.

"This time at the Ten Thousand Treasure Conference, the harvest has been plentiful."

Chu Xuan sat down in his cultivation chamber and began to take out his spoils. The first was the heavy and fiery Nine Yang Cauldron. Next, the Deity Transformation spiritual item. There was also the Deity Transformation-level remnant formation that Ji Canghai had given him.

Chu Xuan extended his hand, and a black-red flame flickered into existence in his palm. The Netherfire Devouring Flame instinctively surged forward, eager to move, much like a starving man catching the scent of roasted pork.

Chu Xuan took a step forward and opened the scorching cauldron lid. If it had been any other cultivator, simply this action would have consumed a great deal of spiritual qi to shield their hands from the intense heat. But Chu Xuan, with his body forged through the forty-fourth layer of body refinement, found such temperatures trivial. He effortlessly removed the lid.

A thumb-sized fireball immediately leaped out, resembling a tiny sprite as it zipped around the cultivation room. Wherever it passed, even the hard stone slabs darkened with scorch marks. The terrifying heat of the Nine Yang Golden Flames was undeniable.

The fireball darted around for a while before flying straight toward Chu Xuan.

Curious, Chu Xuan extended a hand to catch it, immediately feeling the burning sensation in his palm. At that moment, the flames, sensing the heat, erupted violently, ensnaring the Nine Yang Golden Flames like a great net. In an instant, they enveloped it completely.

The Nine Yang Golden Flame instinctively sensed danger and attempted to retreat, but being no more than a tiny flicker of fire, it could never hope to match the Netherfire Devouring Flame.

Its struggles only deepened its entanglement, as it was swiftly engulfed by the swirling darkness.

A faint smile touched Chu Xuan's lips as he withdrew his hand. His body's cultivation technique activated on its own. In an instant, the charred skin of his palm rejuvenated, shedding the blackened layers as fresh skin grew back. Within moments, the devastation vanished as if it had never been.

After watching for a while, Chu Xuan realized that the Netherfire Devouring Flame would need considerable time to absorb and digest the Nine Yang Golden Flame. With that, his attention turned to other matters.

"This Nine Yang Cauldron appears to be a fine treasure," he mused. "It can be used for alchemy and artifact forging, and even to craft spiritual fire. But alas, only a Deity Transformation cultivator could hope to wield it. For now, it remains beyond my grasp."

With a casual motion, Chu Xuan tossed the Nine Yang Cauldron into the corner of the training room. No matter. He would soon be at the Deity Transformation realm, and then it would be simple to leave his spiritual sense imprint upon it.

"For now, I need only to adjust my mindset and prepare for the breakthrough to Deity Transformation."

He exhaled a long, steady breath and closed his eyes, reflecting on the events of the past centuries.

In truth, Chu Xuan had long since lost track of how many years he had lived. His constant travel between realms had distorted the flow of time, making it hard to measure. But he was certain he had not yet reached a thousand years.

"Starting as a Qi Refining disciple of the Infinite Sect... The fall of the Infinite Sect, surviving in this world, acquiring the Blood Mirror, traversing the two realms... Advancing to Foundation Establishment, taking Wan Wuying as my master, and joining the Heavenly Seal Sect's Extreme Yin Cave lineage... The Ghost Palace emerged, various sects scheming, carving up the Yu Kingdom..."

"Training at the Black Dragon Mountain of the Hundred Refining Sect, witnessing the clash between Feather Transformation Heaven Palace and Shang Tianjue... Obtaining a battlefield token, entering the extraterritorial battlefield. Slaying Leng Hanshuang and claiming the Earth Spirit Root and Earth Spirit Body. The extraterritorial battlefield collapsed..."

Chu Xuan sighed softly, his mind filled with a flood of memories.

"Returning to Mystic Azure, establishing myself at the Myriad Souls Sect, mastering Northern Cold. Ultimately, taking control of Mystic Azure and founding the Heavenly Infinite Sect... Shaking the heavens with the Reincarnation Sect war, which affected the Heavenly Infinite Sect. Entering the Heavenly Metal Battlefield... Returning again to Mystic Azure, witnessing the collapse of the Reincarnation Divine Sect, and occasionally venturing into the Starshatter Sea...

"The Southern Third Ring, Tianhuang Island, the Eight Extremes Hall ruins. The Eastern Third Ring, Neon Garment Island, alchemist He Liang. The Eastern Second Ring, the Ten Thousand Treasures Conference, and now, the Starry Sky Hall ruins. Of course, there's also Blue Star, Soul Star, and the Cave World."

Chu Xuan was filled with deep emotion.

Looking back at his past, he realized how long the journey had been, how remarkable his life had unfolded. He suspected that even the lifetime experiences of some Soul Outbound cultivators could not compare to the excitement and challenges of his own path.

As these thoughts passed through his mind, the turbulent lake of his heart gradually began to calm. Like a mirror, it reflected his image both inside and out.

Unmoved by external things, unaffected by personal sorrow, his heart was as still as water. This was the ideal state of mind for reaching higher realms.

"It is time."

Chu Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

With a wave of his hand, various Deity Transformation spiritual items lined up before him.

Five bottles of Soul Essence Elixir. One Spiritual Seed Branch. One Longevity Vine.

Altogether, they gave him a ninety percent chance. With the additional one percent from his own cultivation of the "Three-turn Soul Transformation Secret Technique," it guaranteed a perfect success rate of ten out of ten for his breakthrough to Deity Transformation!

"Deity Transformation path, come to me!"

With a simple gesture, the Longevity Vine and Spiritual Seed Branch floated into the air. Under the influence of Spiritual Qi, their outer skins were rapidly stripped away, turning into a pure elixir that entered his mouth.

The elixir did not enter his limbs or bones. Instead, under the guidance of the Spiritual Qi, it directly targeted his soul.

Deity Transformation was the process of turning one's soul into the Essence Soul. When this process was complete, one had reached the peak of Deity Transformation.

It was the threshold of Soul Outbound. The soul of an ordinary person was called the "spirit." The soul of a cultivator was called the "divine soul." Only upon reaching the Deity Transformation realm could one be said to possess an Essence Soul!

In the training room, Chu Xuan sat in silent meditation. The Deity Transformation spiritual items enveloped his divine soul, subtly altering its essence bit by bit. As long as the outer layer of the divine soul turned completely golden, it would signify the official step into the Deity Transformation stage.

From there, he only needed to push the golden color deeper, until the soul, both inside and out, became entirely golden. At that point, his Essence Soul would be fully formed!

Many Nascent Soul cultivators failed in their breakthrough because they lacked enough Deity Transformation spiritual items, causing the golden layer to fail to cover the entire divine soul.

Of course, those with extraordinary talent, born with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, might not need the Deity Transformation spiritual items at all. They could directly breakthrough to the Deity Transformation stage without aid.

Time passed rapidly.

One month, two months.

One year, two years.

Ten years, twenty years.

And then, after fifty-three years...

Chu Xuan had used up all the Deity Transformation spiritual items. His aura had reached its peak at this stage. Now, the moment for his rise had arrived!

Chapter 497: Deity Transformation Heavenly Tribulation

Buzz... buzz...

Suddenly, the sky above became enveloped in dark clouds, as though ink itself had poured into the heavens.

The once clear and bright sky darkened at a visible speed, soon becoming so murky that one could scarcely see their hand in front of them.

The body refiners on Blue Star exchanged uneasy glances, their shock palpable. Even the few standing at the highest pinnacle of Blue Star's body refining realm could not hide their fear.

What was happening? A solar eclipse? Why had such an event unfolded so suddenly and without reason?

Someone suddenly recalled an event from years ago and quickly spoke up, "I remember something similar happening many years ago, but it was in the northern snowfields."

As these words were spoken, others nodded in agreement. "I've seen mentions of it too. It's said that dense dark clouds and terrifying thunder were seen in the northern snowfields."

One person suddenly exclaimed, "Could it be that an immortal... is undergoing their tribulation?"

At these words, all the body refiners fell into thought.

It was a possibility!

The supernatural occurrences that frequently took place on Blue Star were often linked to immortals in some way.

At this moment, another person chuckled and said, "Why bother overthinking it? If it's a small matter, ignore it. If it's something big, we can't do anything about it anyway. If it's a natural disaster meant to destroy Blue Star, all we can do is watch helplessly. Let's disperse."

The body refiners exchanged glances, and upon further reflection, they realized there was little they could do. With a shrug, they scattered.

At the same time.

Chu Xuan suddenly soared out of his Water Curtain Cave, suspending himself in midair. The fierce wind whipped through his hair, billowing his robes, making him seem like a wild force of nature, unstoppable and full of vigor. He gazed at the increasingly thick dark clouds above, the thunder that churned and rumbled within them. A deep frown creased his brow.

Why were there so many tribulation clouds? Layer upon layer, building, growing ever more numerous?

Several other tribulation clouds nearby merged into his own, strengthening it further. After a brief moment of thought, Chu Xuan immediately deduced the cause.

Corpse puppets! Ghosts!

Cultivators faced their own Nascent Soul Tribulation and Deity Transformation Tribulation. Similarly, corpse puppets and ghosts had their own tribulations. And because of their inherently malevolent nature, the tribulations they attracted were often far more terrifying.

Wild corpse puppets, for instance, could face the Corpse King Tribulation, Great Corpse King Tribulation, and even higher levels of tribulation. The same applied to ghosts. But Long, Hu, and the other corpse puppets Chu Xuan had refined were different from wild ones, so their tribulations had been absorbed into his own.

The last time Chu Xuan underwent the Nascent Soul Tribulation, he had used the Fourfold Merit Gold Wheel to repulse the tribulation, causing it to dissipate immediately. The tribulations destined for his corpse puppets and ghosts had been dismissed in the same way. But now, they had returned. And as fate would have it, they had come at the very moment when Chu Xuan was facing his Deity Transformation Tribulation!

"Will my Fourfold Merit Gold Wheel be enough to repel this Deity Transformation Tribulation?"

Chu Xuan gazed at the surging, oppressive thunder with a faint smile. He estimated that it probably wouldn't work. The Fourfold Merit Gold Wheel was likely insufficient. Had he possessed the Fivefold Merit Gold Wheel, however, the tribulation might not have dared to appear at all.

But that mattered little. He was no weak cultivator with a hollow foundation. Moreover, his path had always been one of both Qi Refining and Body Refining. Even if he could not repel the tribulation, he would not fear it.

"If you want to come, then come. I, Chu Xuan, have spent my life doing good deeds and accumulating merit. This tribulation is nothing—I will surely overcome it!"

Chu Xuan's gaze remained fixed on the sky, his eyes unwavering and filled with determination, without the slightest hint of fear.

Crack! Crack!

The roiling lightning illuminated the night, the roar of the thunder shaking the very heavens and earth. In that instant, the first bolt of lightning crashed down!

At that moment, Chu Xuan stood bathed in the thunder, his arms hanging loosely by his sides, motionless. After a brief moment, the lightning dissipated.

Chu Xuan lightly brushed his body, his fingertips snapping with the crackling sound of lingering electricity.

"Six bolts of lightning make up the Deity Transformation Tribulation. The first bolt couldn't even harm me in the slightest."

A light laugh escaped Chu Xuan's lips. It seemed the tribulation wasn't as fearsome as he had imagined. Soon after, two bolts of lightning appeared out of thin air, striking directly toward Chu Xuan!

Chu Xuan remained unmoving, still standing in place. These two bolts of lightning barely grazed his body, failing to inflict any damage. His smile grew wider.

Tribulation, was that all you had?

"Come on, give me your best shot!"

As though sensing the disdain in Chu Xuan's heart, three bolts of lightning suddenly coalesced, like three thunderous spears, descending with a mighty roar!

"Now this is more like it!"

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, his eyes fixed on the three bolts of lightning. He then raised both fists, bringing them down forcefully with unyielding might! Compared to the thunderbolts, which were as thick as fifty meters across, Chu Xuan's fists seemed insignificant. But it was those tiny fists that firmly met the oncoming storm of lightning!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The terrifying silver lightning completely engulfed Chu Xuan, the blinding brilliance illuminating the night as if it were daylight. Within that terrifying glow, Chu Xuan's small figure seemed to vanish entirely.

In the distance, the members of Black Blade were also observing the situation through telescopes and other instruments, gazing at the scene from afar.

"The immortal truly is undergoing his tribulation."

"Do you think the immortal can make it through this tribulation? I can't seem to see his figure anymore."

"Whatever happens, I hope the immortal survives. He's done so much for us. Without him, we would still be trembling in fear, surrounded by zombies and extraordinary beasts."

Many of the members nodded in agreement, deeply moved. However, there were also those who secretly entertained ulterior motives. An immortal could be replaced!

While the immortal was alive, they dared not act out of turn. But if the immortal were to be injured during the tribulation, their thoughts would surely become more active. After all, not everyone was inclined to repay kindness.

...

As the thunder gradually faded, a figure stepped forward, completely naked, emerging from the dissipating storm. His hair, beard, fur, and even the tiniest of body hairs had vanished without a trace under the wrath of the thunder. His body appeared as delicate and tender as a newborn's, glowing with a perfect, reddish hue. Every muscle, every inch of skin, radiated a flawless, pristine aura.

"The Deity Transformation tribulation is nothing!"

Chu Xuan gazed at the dark clouds that were slowly receding, and a triumphant laugh escaped him, echoing through the air with an undeniable sense of release. From Nascent Soul to Deity Transformation, adding another thousand years of life to his existence! He reached out, and his robes flew to his body. In the blink of an eye, he had returned to his former appearance, though his hair still had yet to grow back.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Figures began to appear from all directions, rushing toward him. It was the Body Refiners of Black Blade. They stood at the edge of the mist, respectfully and loudly proclaiming, "Congratulations, Immortal, for advancing further!"

Chu Xuan smiled faintly, his voice booming like thunder.

"Let us all celebrate together! My cultivation has reached new heights, and for every Body Refiner who came to offer congratulations tonight, I shall grant each one a pound of demonic beast meat."

With a wave of his hand, demonic beast meat flew out of his bag, landing outside the mist. It was merely the meat of the Purple Star Rhinoceros.

To Chu Xuan, it held no further value. But to the Body Refiners of Blue Star, Purple Star Rhinoceros meat was a delicacy from the heavens! Only the most esteemed and powerful Body Refiners could enjoy such a treat! In that moment, praises erupted like a tidal wave, filling the air for a long time.

Chu Xuan smiled indifferently. A hand of kindness and a stick of discipline—these were essential skills for those in positions of power. He applied this same method to the Body Refiners of Blue Star, whom he had personally guided and nurtured.

Chapter 498: Mastery Over the Stars with a Single Thought

In the Water Curtain Cave, Chu Xuan closed his eyes tightly and spread out his spiritual sense.

Swish, swish, swish.

His spiritual sense surged outward like a tidal wave. One hundred meters, one thousand meters, ten thousand meters…

It continued to expand. Until it enveloped most of Blue Star, only then did it cease. He could see the Body Refiners of Black Blade scattered across every continent of Blue Star. He could see a sperm whale leaping out of the sea in the Western Ocean. He could see a violent hurricane ravaging an island in the Pacific. He could see a group of penguins on Antarctica surrounding a seal, tearing it apart to feed.

"A Deity Transformation cultivator truly can master the stars with a single thought. This is no exaggeration."

Chu Xuan withdrew his spiritual sense, his expression filled with awe. Having just entered the Deity Transformation realm, his spiritual sense could already cover most of Blue Star. Were his primordial spirit fully developed, he would be able to control the entirety of Blue Star. Every blade of grass, every tree, every person, every beast would be under his command.

However, maintaining such an expanded spiritual sense was extraordinarily draining and exhausting. No Deity Transformation cultivator would leave their spiritual sense spread out for long periods. It was only in critical moments that they would sweep across an entire star with their spiritual sense.

After a moment, Chu Xuan shifted his gaze to the cave world. Seeing that it remained as dim and unchanging as ever, he withdrew his attention. Though he had achieved Deity Transformation, there was still much to be done.

The remaining array of the Deity Transformation trial—Extreme Cold Ice Sealing Array—and the Nine Yang Cauldron still required refinement before they could be used with ease.

Additionally, he needed to begin the cultivation of the Deity Transformation section of the Mystic Heavenly Ice Spirit Divine Scroll immediately. However, to speed up the cultivation of this technique, he would still need external aid.

Nascent Soul cultivators could use Ice Spirits to accelerate their cultivation of the Mystic Heavenly Ice Spirit Divine Scroll. But for Deity Transformation cultivators, Ice Spirits were nearly ineffective. Even thousands of Ice Spirits might not advance him a single step. He would need to refine the array to create higher-quality, more potent Heavenly Ice Spirits.

Yet, at present, Chu Xuan did not have the right array on hand. He would need to find the right opportunity to venture into the Starshatter Sea to search for one.

It would be best to find a highly skilled array master and have them craft a custom array to condense the Heavenly Ice Spirits.

"Calm the mind and cultivate."

Chu Xuan sat cross-legged, immediately drawing on the Ice Spirits to enhance his realm.

There was no rush. Time was abundant. Having just entered the Deity Transformation realm, the first step was to master the corresponding offensive, defensive, and evasive techniques.

In addition, there were the low-grade spiritual tools he had prepared earlier. Only then could he truly be considered a Deity Transformation cultivator.

Some Deity Transformation cultivators, however, struggled with their finances. Even after many years in the Deity Transformation realm, they had yet to acquire a single low-grade spiritual tool, still relying on supreme-grade magic treasures.

There were even those who barely managed to reach the Deity Transformation stage but were still using Nascent Soul-level spells. Such cultivators were indeed a disgrace to the realm.

Chu Xuan sat in silent meditation, as serene as an old monk in deep concentration.

...

Years passed by in the blink of an eye. Twenty-five years swiftly went by.

Chu Xuan had successfully cultivated the second layer of the Mystic Heavenly Ice Spirit Divine Scroll's Deity Transformation section. His cultivation naturally progressed into the second layer of Deity Transformation.

With a light tap on the ground, his figure shot a thousand zhang away in an instant, far surpassing the speed of Nascent Soul-level escape techniques. With a single thought, he activated his evasion technique again.

To his surprise, a figure appeared instantly in the opposite direction, mirroring his every movement. It was so identical in both appearance and aura that it was indistinguishable from him.

"This Indistinct Snow Shadow Escape technique is quite impressive."

Chu Xuan smiled slightly, a satisfied look on his face. The Indistinct Snow Shadow Escape was a spell gained upon mastering the second layer of the Mystic Heavenly Ice Spirit Divine Scroll's Deity Transformation section. This escape technique was a medium-grade Deity Transformation spell.

While the speed of the escape was excellent, the true value of the spell lay in its ability to confuse the enemy with the illusion of multiple identical figures. Once the Snow Shadow appeared, it was near impossible for the opponent to discern which figure was real. Even a brief moment of confusion was enough for Chu Xuan to strike again.

From this perspective, the strategic value of this evasion technique was undoubtedly higher than that of his offensive and defensive techniques.

"With these methods, even if I cannot close the distance with a Deity Transformation cultivator, I can still defeat them."

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. In the past, with his body refinement at the forty-fourth level, he had been capable of killing Deity Transformation cultivators. But each time, he had to rely on deception to lure the enemy closer.

If his opponent were a clever one, or if they were aware of his formidable body refinement techniques, his strategies would not work. Now, with the true power of a Deity Transformation cultivator, he no longer needed such tricks.

With both his body refinement and Qi refinement techniques, he could easily overpower Deity Transformation cultivators in the mid-stage.

"My strength has greatly improved. It's time to venture outside and see what's happening in the world. It's been almost seven years since I entered the Starshatter Sea. I wonder if the strange mist has cleared."

Chu Xuan pondered for a moment before taking a step, returning to the remains of the Celestial Star Palace.

At a corner of the Celestial Star Palace ruins.

Song Ruzhen let out a deep breath. By his side were nine body refiners, all badly wounded. Surrounding them were dozens of corpse demons lying on the ground.

Song Ruzhen's gaze lingered on these corpse demons, and a chill ran down his spine. Even now, he couldn't fully shake the terror.

This time, upon the invitation of Song Tingfeng, he entered the Celestial Star Palace ruins with twenty body refiners—each one carefully selected and personally trained.

These twenty men had been arduously gathered by him, each possessing innate divine strength, perfect for cultivating body refinement techniques. None of them practiced Spiritual Qi; they focused solely on physical cultivation, which meant that even the weakest among them had reached the thirtieth level of body refinement. The strongest had even reached the thirty-ninth level.

Yet, within less than a month of exploration inside the Celestial Star Palace ruins, eleven of them had already died. Now, only the nine strongest remained.

"Master, there's a statue ahead! It's highly likely to be the inheritance statue of the Celestial Star Palace!"

At that moment, the body refiner who had been scouting ahead returned, bringing with him exhilarating news.

Song Ruzhen's eyes immediately lit up. He shot to his feet. "Go! Let's move quickly!"

"This credit must be ours!"

"Yes!"

The group sped off without hesitation.

Soon, they arrived beneath the cold, celestial star statue.

Song Ruzhen gazed at the statue, his heart filled with immense reverence. It felt as though everything around him faded into nothingness. There was only his small self standing before the towering, icy cold star.

For a brief moment, it felt as though the stars were rushing toward him. Suddenly, he snapped back to his senses.

"Master, the corpse demons around here are strange. It seems they died at a different time from those we encountered earlier. They seem to have died in recent years..."

One of the body refiners, sensing something was off, quickly approached and whispered.

Song Ruzhen glanced over, frowning. "Perhaps they were killed by other corpse demons. Don't worry about it."

His gaze returned to the statue, and he regained his former composure. "Now, send word to my second uncle and Elder Zhao. Tell them to come at once."

"Understood." The other body refiners nodded in unison.

Moments later, Song Tingfeng, Wang Tiancheng, and Zhao Haijian, each leading their own group, arrived.

From a distance, they saw the cold celestial star statue and were greatly delighted.

Especially Song Tingfeng, who was grinning ear to ear, his excitement nearly palpable.

Chapter 499: Is This the Reason You Gave Me Six Kinds of Poison Powder?

"The strange fog lasted for six years before finally dissipating. We searched tirelessly for so long, and at last, we found the Celestial Star Palace ruins. After using the token from Tie Jun to open the ruins, we spent almost another year before finally locating the inheritance statue!"

Song Tingfeng's hearty laughter echoed, his expression full of satisfaction.

"Truly, those who work hard are always rewarded!"

Elder Zhao Haijian, a Deity Transformation elder from the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, smiled and nodded. "Indeed, the heavens have shown mercy. I've long heard that the Eight Extremes Hall uses statues for inheritance. If we bring this statue back to our sect, it will surely lead to the creation of many body refiners in the future!"

He looked toward Song Tingfeng, his smile broadening. "And as for the matter of Elder Song losing the Nine Yang Cauldron, it will no longer be an issue."

Upon hearing this, Song Tingfeng's expression grew somewhat awkward.

The Nine Yang Cauldron and Nine Yang Golden Flame had been a thorn in his side for many years. Since the cauldron disappeared and the incident came to light, his position in the Exquisite Treasures Alliance had plummeted. Even matters concerning the eastern seas of the Starshatter Sea were no longer entrusted to him.

The Ji family of Purple Mist Island had even come looking for trouble once. But with no solid evidence, they had to leave, as he was a Deity Transformation elder of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance.

Song Tingfeng, unwilling to bow to fate, had spent these years in quiet cultivation on Jinlei Island, waiting for the strange fog to clear. At last, his patience had paid off.

To ensure he obtained this treasure smoothly, he had invited his friend, the powerful body refiner Zhao Haijian, who had reached the forty-first level of body refinement. He had also brought along his nephew, Song Ruzhen.

After all this effort, the great treasure of the Celestial Star Palace had been found! As long as he brought this treasure back, everything he had lost would be restored.

How could the Nine Yang Cauldron and Nine Yang Golden Flame compare to the inheritance of such an ancient great sect?

Just as Song Tingfeng prepared to use a specially prepared spiritual sense jade slip to record the statue's information, he suddenly detected a faint fragrance in the air.

At first, he was stunned, then immediately held his breath, shouting, "Poison! Hold your breath!"

However, his reaction was still too slow.

With just a small whiff of the fragrance, his body went limp, and he couldn't even steady the jade slip in his hand. His Spiritual Qi began to stagnate, and before long, he found himself unable to summon it at all.

It was as if he had been stripped of his control over Spiritual Qi. His expression changed drastically as he instinctively looked toward those around him. He saw that Wang Tiancheng and Song Ruzhen were in the same state.

As for their subordinates, they collapsed to the ground with a series of sickening thuds, blood pouring from their seven orifices, dead before their eyes could even close.

"Zhao Haijian! You poisoned us?! How could you betray my trust like this?!" Song Tingfeng roared in fury.

Zhao Haijian chuckled coldly. "Elder Song, since you invited me, you should have anticipated this outcome. This inheritance comes from an ancient sect—who wouldn't be tempted? I know you brought your nephew along to keep me in check. Unfortunately, his mind isn't sharp enough. He's already been poisoned by me. As for these body refiners, their physical strength is quite formidable. I had to put a lot of effort into concocting a poison strong enough to take them down."

Zhao Haijian grinned wickedly, clasping his hands behind his back, looking every bit the victor.

Song Tingfeng took a deep breath, his voice cold as ice. "Zhao Haijian, do you really think you've won? Do you think I don't have any backup plans?"

Zhao Haijian gave a faint smile. "If you have any trump cards left, feel free to reveal them now. Let me see if they're worth my time."

Suddenly, Song Tingfeng sprang to his feet. "Wang Tiancheng, attack!"

He flipped his palm, and a sharp spiritual weapon, a spear-like tool, appeared, thrusting straight for Zhao Haijian's chest.

Wang Tiancheng also erupted into action. The two of them moved with lightning speed, yet neither showed any signs of being affected by the poison.

Song Ruzhen stood there, dumbfounded.

"Ah... You two had already anticipated that Zhao Haijian might act, so why didn't you tell me?" he thought in disbelief.

But as the two charged at Zhao Haijian, he didn't even budge. He stood there, completely still, with his hands still clasped behind his back.

In the next instant, a sound like a bone cracking echoed. A powerful fist pierced through Song Tingfeng's chest, and his movements froze. He looked down in shock, only to find that it was Wang Tiancheng's fist that had pierced through his chest. With great difficulty, he turned around, only to see Wang Tiancheng's cold, emotionless face.

"Sorry, Elder Song. The demonic beast meat you gave me was no longer enough to cultivate. I've already made a deal with Elder Zhao."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Tiancheng threw another punch, this one shattering Song Tingfeng's skull. Just like that, Song Tingfeng, a Deity Transformation elder at the third level of Deity Transformation, was killed with ease.

Song Ruzhen stared in horror at the decapitated body, his eyes bloodshot with rage. He tried to rise, but Wang Tiancheng took a swift step forward and crushed his skull as well.

Having finished the job, Wang Tiancheng wiped his hands clean and stood to the side.

Zhao Haijian nodded in satisfaction. "Wang Tiancheng, you made the right choice. What Song Tingfeng could offer you, I can offer you as well. And what he couldn't offer you... I can give that to you too! Following someone who was already on his last leg, like Song Tingfeng, would only lead to a dead end. But follow me, and your future will be bright."

Wang Tiancheng kneeled on one knee, his tone full of sincerity. "I, Wang Tiancheng, swear my life to Elder Zhao. I will follow your commands, whether it be through fire or water, and will never shirk from death! If I ever betray you, may I be struck by the Five Thunders and face the wrath of heaven!"

Zhao Haijian smiled with greater satisfaction. He patted Wang Tiancheng on the shoulder, took the spiritual sense jade slip, and walked toward the Cold Heaven Star statue to begin engraving.

At that moment, a sudden, oppressive aura descended from the sky.

Zhao Haijian's expression changed drastically. He immediately summoned a defensive spiritual tool to shield himself.

Wang Tiancheng also sensed the anomaly and swiftly turned around. Both of them saw a figure slowly approaching.

The person was tall, draped in black robes, and exuded an aura that made it clear that no one should approach.

Zhao Haijian glanced at Wang Tiancheng. "Is this one of your people?"

Wang Tiancheng shook his head. However, as he stared at the approaching figure's face, a sense of familiarity slowly washed over him.

Who was it? Why did it feel like he had seen this person before?

"Leader Wang, long time no see."

When Chu Xuan saw Wang Tiancheng, a smile appeared on his face. Upon hearing that familiar voice, Wang Tiancheng nearly jumped up in shock.

He Liang! The Alchemist He Liang! The very same person who had stolen the Nine Yang Cauldron and the Nine Yang Golden Flame! This person had been engulfed by the strange mist all those years ago. How could he still be alive? Moreover… His aura was incredibly frightening! Far more powerful than it had been seven years ago!

Zhao Haijian noticed Wang Tiancheng's change in expression and furrowed his brow. "You know him?"

Wang Tiancheng's face darkened. "He's the one who took the Nine Yang Cauldron back then. Seven years ago, he was trapped in the strange mist, and I thought he had perished. I didn't expect…"

Zhao Haijian turned to look at Chu Xuan, his expression also shifting. Anyone who could survive the strange mist must have either extraordinarily good luck or immense strength. The aura emanating from this person was terrifying. Clearly, it was the latter.

Zhao Haijian's face changed several times, but in the end, he smiled. "I didn't expect Fellow Daoist He to be here in the Celestial Star Hall as well. In that case, since we've met, why not cooperate? There's no need for unnecessary conflict. I am Zhao Haijian, Deity Transformation Elder of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. This statue of the Celestial Star Hall is of great importance to me. Fellow Daoist, if there is anything you desire, just name it. I will give it to you. There's no need for fighting."

Chu Xuan gave Zhao Haijian a few appraising looks. "Is this your reason for poisoning me with six different kinds of poison?"

Chapter 500: Submit

Zhao Haijian's expression changed drastically upon hearing Chu Xuan's words. He had just silently released six types of colorless, tasteless poison powders—some that slowed down Spiritual Qi, some that damaged the soul, and some that affected the body.

Yet, how had the other person detected it so quickly? And not only that, but he even knew exactly that there were six different types. Could it be that this person was also a master of poison?

Instinctively, Zhao Haijian reached for another spiritual tool. However, he immediately realized that his movements had slowed down significantly. It was as if time itself had come to a halt.

After a brief moment of shock, he quickly understood what was happening. It wasn't that his movements had slowed, but rather that his body had failed to receive the commands from his brain. This was clearly the effect of the poison!

Zhao Haijian struggled to speak, but found that not even a single word could escape his lips.

"You should have escaped with your nascent soul the moment you sensed danger. Now, your fate is sealed," Chu Xuan said coldly, his tone as calm as a still pond.

In the face of Zhao Haijian's poison arts, it was evident that his skill was minor compared to his own.

Not only had Chu Xuan neutralized the six poison powders Zhao Haijian had released, but he had also used one of those very poisons to turn the tables and poison Zhao Haijian in return.

"Go on your way."

Chu Xuan lightly tapped the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared before Zhao Haijian, hundreds of zhang away. With a single, swift motion, he slapped out.

In an instant, Zhao Haijian's skull exploded like a ripe watermelon. Red, white, and gray matter splattered everywhere. Chu Xuan's hand was enveloped in Spiritual Qi, so not a single drop touched him.

However, Wang Tiancheng, standing nearby, was drenched from head to toe, his face and hair soaked in blood and bits of brain matter. He stood frozen, as if he had been struck dumb with fear.

"Leader Wang, long time no see," Chu Xuan said, a faint smile on his face as he looked at Wang Tiancheng.

Wang Tiancheng swallowed hard, his face filled with bitter realization. Before Chu Xuan could speak further, he suddenly dropped to both knees and respectfully bowed.

"I, Wang Tiancheng, pledge my loyalty to my master. I will follow you through fire and water, never hesitating, and I would rather die a thousand deaths than betray you! If I ever betray you, let the Five Thunders strike me down with the greatest calamity!"

As he spoke, he forced out a drop of blood and a strand of his primordial spirit, offering them to Chu Xuan with both hands. His actions were swift, precise, and the ritual so familiar that it left no room for hesitation. The speed and smoothness with which Wang Tiancheng performed this act made it impossible for anyone to doubt his sincerity.

Chu Xuan chuckled lightly. This Wang Tiancheng truly knew how to adapt to the situation. He smiled and said, "I think I just heard those exact words not long ago."

Wang Tiancheng bowed even lower, his voice respectful. "Words have different meanings depending on who they're spoken to. Master is far stronger than Zhao Haijian. I, Wang Tiancheng, will never betray you in this lifetime, not even once."

Chu Xuan's smile remained, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he sized up Wang Tiancheng. "But I see that your physical body is quite formidable, making you more suited to being refined into a corpse puppet."

Wang Tiancheng immediately shuddered. He hadn't expected that this master was the type to cultivate corpses! His mind raced, and he quickly responded, "I have a group of Black Robed Bandits under my command. With a single word from you, they will serve you! If you desire any information, treasures, or resources, the Black Robed Bandits can acquire them for you! Spare my life, master, I am far more useful alive than as a puppet!"

As he finished speaking, he prostrated himself repeatedly, banging his head on the ground with loud thuds. The sound of his forehead cracking echoed, and blood began to pour out from the wounds.

Chu Xuan appeared thoughtful. This was indeed a valid point. After all, it had been over seven years since he had left the Starshatter Sea. He was in urgent need of information, and there was still much to gather in terms of Deity Transformation techniques and formation arrays to condense the Ice Soul. This would require time and effort. If he had a vast organization at his disposal, it would save him considerable time and effort in his cultivation.

Chu Xuan's tone was calm. "I will spare your life, for now."

Wang Tiancheng let out a long breath, relief washing over him. As he came back to his senses, he realized that his entire body was drenched in cold sweat. His front and back were soaked through.

Chu Xuan then added, "I don't need your blood or your primordial spirit. Keep them."

Wang Tiancheng froze, a look of suspicion flashing across his face.

Really? Was his master really this kind?

Chu Xuan flicked his finger, sending out a hidden bee egg. "Eat this. I don't need blood or primordial spirit to control others—it's too primitive."

Wang Tiancheng hesitated, then nodded obediently. "Understood."

Without another word, he grabbed the insect egg and swallowed it whole. He had already realized that his life was entirely in the hands of this person. Any resistance was futile. Sliding to his knees at the first opportunity had been the only way to stay alive. Now, no matter what Chu Xuan gave him, he had no choice but to consume it.

Seeing Wang Tiancheng's swift compliance, Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. This was the kind of person who made things easy. Such a person was indeed a pleasure to use.

"Get up," Chu Xuan extended his hand, and a gentle breeze immediately swept over, lifting Wang Tiancheng with ease.

Wang Tiancheng rose, his voice respectful as he began to report. "It has been seven years since the Ten Thousand Treasure Conference, and the strange fog lasted for six years. Song Tingfeng has been fixated on the Nine Yang Cauldron, and for these six years, he has remained on Jinlei Island..."

He relayed everything he knew, not daring to leave out even the smallest detail.

Chu Xuan listened, his gaze thoughtful.

As for the second Eastern Ring, there had been no major changes—it was all within his expectations. After the disappearance of the Forst True Master, the Frost Sword Sect had collapsed. The disciples had begun fighting amongst themselves, splitting into several factions. Taking advantage of this power vacuum, various Deity Transformation cultivators from the third Eastern Ring and other places had flocked to the second Eastern Ring, establishing their own forces.

The strongest of these was the Heavenly Demon Palace. Its leader, known as the Blood Demon Son, was not originally from the Starshatter Sea but had appeared suddenly and established the palace. This was the nature of the cultivation world.

When large powers fell, smaller ones naturally rose in their place. If all the cultivators in a place were to perish, others would come to fill the gaps. Power never truly vacated; it would always be claimed by someone.

Chu Xuan tossed over a sound transmission jade slip and a bag of stones. "From now on, use these to communicate. Send me a message first. If there is no reply within a day or two, break the stone."

Wang Tiancheng quickly nodded. "Yes, I will follow the master's orders."

Chu Xuan appraised him briefly before asking, "You're currently in Deity Transformation first layer and have reached the fortieth level in body refinement, correct?"

Wang Tiancheng's eyes widened in surprise. "How did the master know?"

Chu Xuan threw over ten jin of Black Magic Whale meat. "This should be enough for your cultivation for a while."

Wang Tiancheng stared at the blood-scented demonic beast flesh, stunned. Without a doubt, this was the flesh of a Deity Transformation realm demonic beast!

This master was far more generous than Song Tingfeng or Zhao Haijian.

"Well done. There will be more rewards." Chu Xuan said indifferently.

"Yes!" Wang Tiancheng nodded vigorously, inwardly praising himself for having finally latched onto such a big, powerful leg.

As for the fact that seven years ago, he had been chasing after the very person who now stood before him as a master, that thought was quickly dismissed. Survival was the only truth. What did face matter? How much could face be worth compared to a pound of demonic beast flesh?

"From now on, the Black Robed Bandits will become a smaller, more capable organization. Get rid of those useless members." Chu Xuan instructed.

"Understood!" Wang Tiancheng replied with a firm nod.

Chu Xuan took out the "Celestial Star Technique" and recorded it onto a jade slip. He then gathered all the corpses into the Heavenly Corpse Tower and waved his hand.

"Let's go. It's time to leave this place."

"Yes!" Wang Tiancheng nodded obediently, ready to follow.