Demonic Cultivator (521-530) (Patreon)

Chapter 521: The Depths of the Black Light Must Hide Great Terror and Calamity

On Golden Phoenix Island, in the Lesser Yang Pavilion, True Master Sun reclined leisurely on a rattan chair while Zhu Cai'er respectfully massaged his shoulders and legs.

Unable to hold back, she said, "Master, by so brazenly seizing the families under Heartless True Master's command, aren't we risking his wrath?"

True Master Sun chuckled heartily. "Afraid of what? His strength compared to mine? Why should I fear him?" He continued, "I've observed him for a while now. He spends his days cultivating, oblivious to the outside world, and rarely takes the initiative to expand his territory. It's clear he's wary of offending me or Yun Feijian. Last time we met, he was still just a newly ascended Deity Transformation cultivator, with barely any progress. What does that prove? His talent is mediocre, and his strength is lacking!"

With a sinister laugh, True Master Sun added, "The Starshatter Sea is growing more turbulent by the day—a perfect time for a reshuffling. The strong should claim the treasures of the weak. Just watch, even if most of his families switch allegiance, he won't dare utter a single word."

Zhu Cai'er sighed in admiration. "Master's foresight is truly profound!" But then, pouting slightly, she said, "That may be true, but you still sent me to serve him back then, even considered offering me to him… It feels like you don't cherish your Cai'er."

True Master Sun roared with laughter, grasping her soft, delicate hand. "Wasn't that just a test? He didn't dare touch you, which proves he holds me in awe. That's a good thing. A simple test, and the difference in our standings was clear."

Zhu Cai'er giggled. "Master truly holds all the cards. Cai'er is in awe." Her tone shifted playfully. "But when will my status as your dao companion be made public?" Her hand began to wander downward.

True Master Sun laughed again, pulling her close. "Soon, soon. Rest assured, you're my most beloved dao companion." In that moment, the room was filled with springtime warmth.

...

Within the sphere of the Divine Sword Sect's influence, many immortal cultivation families switched allegiance overnight. One day, they were loyal to Heartless True Master; the next, they had become devoted servants of True Master Sun.

For most low-level cultivators, this made little difference. Whether it was Heartless True Master or True Master Sun, both were revered figures of the Divine Sword Sect. But for other cultivation families, the implications were clear: Heartless True Master couldn't even control his own families. He was clearly intimidated and had yielded.

Even Flying Sword True Master hadn't spoken a word on the matter. It was evident that within the Divine Sword Sect, True Master Sun was now the one to be revered. While many families, shops, and cultivators said nothing outwardly, their respect for True Master Sun grew inwardly. Such were the rules of the world: with chaos looming, only a powerful backer was truly desirable.

...

One day, Yun Feijian personally visited Chu Xuan's Cloud Pavilion. With a hearty voice, he called out, "Fellow Daoist Heartless, all is well? I've brought a jar of fine new tea. Care to share a cup?"

The gates of Cloud Pavilion swung open, and Chu Xuan appeared with a warm smile. "Fellow Daoist Yun, what a pleasant surprise. Please, come in."

The two sat down, sipping tea. With Chu Xuan's current spiritual sense, a quick scan confirmed the tea harbored no ill intent, allowing him to drink freely alongside Yun Feijian.

"Brother Yun, I assume this visit concerns something important?" Chu Xuan asked with a smile.

Yun Feijian let out a soft sigh. "I hope you don't take Fellow Daoist Sun's actions to heart. He's a bit greedy, you know. Even a few of my own enterprises were taken by him, but I didn't pay it much mind. However, your families were already few, and now you've lost nearly two-thirds of them. I felt the situation was serious enough to come and discuss it with you."

Chu Xuan smiled lightly. "So that's what this is about. Brother Yun, you're too kind, but I don't mind at all. Seeking stronger patrons is simply their way of survival. I understand completely."

Yun Feijian was taken aback. He had expected Chu Xuan—known to him as He Liang—to be resentful, and he'd come prepared to offer lengthy consolations. Yet, to his surprise, Chu Xuan showed not a trace of discontent. Such magnanimity left him quietly astonished.

"Is there anything else, Brother Yun?" Chu Xuan asked.

Yun Feijian nodded. "Indeed, there's another matter. Yesterday, a black light descended at the intersection of the East Second Ring and North Second Ring. From what I've heard, similar black lights have appeared across the East and North Second Rings' seas, all with the same phenomenon. For now, they've only landed on desolate islands and barren waters, places rarely visited."

"I approached one of the shrouded areas to probe it," he continued, his expression grave. "It felt like a separate realm, eerie and terrifying. I came to warn you, Brother Heartless—stay away from those places. They could spell disaster!"

Chu Xuan pondered for a moment before clasping his fists. "Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist Yun."

After Yun Feijian left, Chu Xuan's brow furrowed deeply. Strange events were piling up. Was it time to retreat to Blue Star and wait for clarity before deciding his next move? If the danger proved beyond his control, he could hide there. But if it was manageable and offered great opportunities, he might consider engaging.

"Such chaotic times and unknown dangers—what a headache," Chu Xuan muttered, shaking his head.

...

Over the next month, black lights continued to appear across various seas, especially concentrated at the junction of the East Second Ring, North Second Ring, and North First Ring. At first, they only touched uninhabited islands and desolate waters. Then they spread to islands teeming with demonic beasts. Eventually, even large islands bustling with cultivators were engulfed.

The areas cloaked in black light seemed like another world entirely—deep, dark, foreboding, and terrifying, as if stepping inside meant entering a hell from which there was no return. And indeed, most who ventured in—six or seven out of ten—never emerged.

Yet, some did return, and they brought with them extraordinary treasures: supreme-grade magic treasures, damaged spiritual artifacts, Deity Transformation spirit materials, essence-nurturing items, ancient techniques, body-refining martial skills, and even mysterious relics from antiquity so powerful that even late-stage Deity Transformation cultivators could barely wield them.

This sparked a frenzy. What others saw as a terrifying hell, many now viewed as a treasure-laden vault.

...

One day, Chu Xuan himself arrived near a newly formed black-light zone. Other cultivators rushed in eagerly, chasing the slim chance of ascending to a higher realm. But he kept his distance, sensing an overwhelming malice and eerie strangeness radiating from the area.

"These treasures are likely just a lure," Chu Xuan murmured. "Deep within that black light lies great terror and calamity. I need to leave."

But before he could act, he returned to Golden Phoenix Island, intending to slip back to his cave and head to Blue Star. To his shock, the island had transformed. The once-clear sky was now dim and gray, the sea lifeless, without a single ripple. It was as if he had stepped into another world.

A chill ran through him, his scalp prickling with dread. "I've already entered the black light!"

Chapter 522: Right or Wrong?

Chu Xuan's expression was one of shock. He had been exceedingly cautious. Having witnessed the terror of the black light zones firsthand, he had no intention of venturing inside to seek treasures. His only thought was to slip away to Blue Star and bide his time. Yet, somehow, he had still been ensnared—and in such an imperceptible way.

He clearly remembered keeping his distance from the black light, never even approaching it. How could this have happened? Could the black light have descended abruptly upon Golden Phoenix Island, pulling him in without any warning?

Chu Xuan's brow furrowed deeply. He extended his spiritual sense and noticed that the cultivators on the island had also sensed the anomaly. They spilled onto the streets, some gazing at the sky, others at the sea, most with fear etched across their faces. Anyone thrust suddenly into such an environment would be gripped by panic.

Yet, a few cultivators who had previously entered the black light and emerged alive now wore expressions of delight. To them, this was another chance to enter the black light—a potential opportunity to seek immortality and the Dao.

"My spiritual sense is suppressed again," Chu Xuan noted, his face darkening. "But it's not as severe as in the Eight Extremes Palace—only about seventy percent suppressed."

He immediately connected his spiritual sense to the Myriad Realm Mirror. To his relief, he could still traverse freely between the two realms, and the knot in his chest loosened. As long as he could still escape, there was no cause for alarm.

At that moment, Yun Feijian and True Master Sun appeared one after another. The sight of all three masters together calmed the crowd considerably.

Yun Feijian's face was lined with worry. "Gentlemen, it seems we've been caught within the black light."

True Master Sun's brow creased as well. "We didn't do anything. How could we end up trapped in the black light?"

Yun Feijian shook his head. "I don't know. But the scenes described by those who survived the black light—gray skies, lifeless seas—are much like what we see now."

True Master Sun's expression turned thoughtful before he suddenly grew spirited. "Being pulled into the black light might just be a heaven-sent chance for us to pursue immortality and the Dao! Normally, how many years would it take to gather one or two essence-nurturing spirit items? But here, in the black light, such treasures abound!"

He turned to Chu Xuan. "What do you think, Fellow Daoist He?"

Chu Xuan kept his response brief. "I defer to Brother Yun and Brother Sun's judgment."

True Master Sun smiled. "Very well. Then I'll take the lead."

Infusing his voice with spiritual qi, he spoke loudly enough for all of Golden Phoenix Island to hear. "The black light has descended, but there's no need for panic. For now, do not leave the island. The island is protected by a Deity Transformation-stage formation, ensuring its safety. My fellow masters and I will scout the surroundings before deciding our next steps."

The cultivators bowed toward the three figures in the sky. "Thank you, True Master Sun! Thank you, Flying Sword True Master! Thank you, Heartless True Master!"

Hearing his name called first, True Master Sun's smile widened. He laughed heartily. "Long ago, I vowed not to take a Daoist title until I reached mid-Deity Transformation, to strengthen my resolve in pursuing the Dao. Now, with this opportunity, I'll announce it to all: my Daoist title is Golden Light!"

Liu Yong, He Kong, and other cultivators who had switched allegiance were the first to call out, their voices resounding, "We pay our respects to Golden Light True Master!"

As their voices echoed, countless other cultivators joined in, shouting, "Greetings, Golden Light True Master!"

Chu Xuan and Yun Feijian exchanged a glance. Both clasped their hands toward True Master Sun, chuckling, "We, too, greet Fellow Daoist Golden Light."

Golden Light True Master nodded with a cheerful smile. "We're all fellow daoists here—no need for such formalities." His gaze settled on Chu Xuan. "Fellow Daoist He, your strength is a bit weaker. Now that we're suddenly caught in this black light, you must be extra cautious."

Chu Xuan smiled lightly. "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Golden Light."

Pointing north and east, Golden Light True Master continued, "Since my strength is greater, I'll scout the north and east. You two can check the west and south."

Chu Xuan nodded immediately. With someone volunteering to take on the dangerous task, he was more than happy to comply. "I'll head south," he said, flying off in that direction.

The three figures parted ways to investigate their surroundings. On the island, the cultivators began to murmur among themselves.

Liu Yong and He Kong were particularly animated. He Kong said, "Thank goodness we have a mid-Deity Transformation cultivator like Golden Light True Master. Otherwise, we'd be in grave danger, with little chance of survival."

Liu Yong agreed. "Switching to Golden Light True Master's side early was the right move. Sticking with He Liang would be like clinging to a tree that could collapse at any moment—not only would it fall, but it might crush us too! Look at Song Danqing, all gloomy now. He's probably regretting his choice already! And Zhang Chufeng, Wu Wei, and the others—not only did they offer He Liang seventy percent of their tribute, but they stubbornly stuck with him. It's laughable!"

Liu Yong and He Kong exchanged glances, bursting into hearty laughter, their expressions brimming with satisfaction.

Song Danqing turned to Ning Tai with a long sigh. "Fellow Daoist Ning, do you think my decision back then was right or wrong?"

Ning Tai replied calmly, "A loyal vassal doesn't serve two masters. Though we're not bound to the master as subjects to a lord, our relationship is akin to that of master and servant. If we switch sides for short-term gain, no master would truly treat us as trusted allies. If we've chosen a path, we walk it to the end, no matter how dark. That's better than being fickle like grass swaying in the wind. For now, our task is to gather information about the black light and report it to the master."

Song Danqing nodded. "My Song family has a few fortunate members who survived the black light. I'll bring them over."

Ning Tai agreed. "My Ning family has a few as well. Their knowledge of the black light will be invaluable to us."

...

Before long, Chu Xuan returned safely to Golden Phoenix Island. He had flown straight south, finding nothing but nameless, barren islands. Strangely, he ended up returning from the north. This puzzled him deeply. Had his sense of direction been warped, or did the rules within the black light differ from the outside world?

Soon after, Yun Feijian and Golden Light True Master also returned to the island, each emerging from the opposite direction they had set out toward. Yun Feijian bore minor wounds, while Golden Light True Master was unscathed.

The three gathered to share their findings. Yun Feijian's voice was grave. "I encountered powerful wild corpse puppets—at least at the level of a first-grade Great Corpse King, with incredibly resilient bodies. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I might have met my end."

Corpse Kings and Ghost Kings were equivalent to Nascent Soul cultivators, while Great Corpse Kings and Great Ghost Kings matched Deity Transformation cultivators. Golden Phoenix Island's surroundings were typically free of such formidable wild corpse puppets, as any would be swiftly eradicated. Their sudden appearance could only be attributed to the black light.

Golden Light True Master, meanwhile, produced a damaged spiritual artifact. "I found several broken spiritual artifacts. Most are useless, but they could be reforged to temper other artifacts. If either of you needs them, come to me, and I'll trade at market value." He paused, then turned to Chu Xuan with a smile. "By the way, Fellow Daoist He, as a newly ascended Deity Transformation cultivator, you probably don't yet have a suitable low-grade spiritual artifact, do you?"

Chapter 523: My Neighbor Hoards Grain, I Hoard Weapons—My Neighbor Becomes My Granary

Golden Light True Master smiled. "I happen to have one or two items I'm not using. Given our relationship, I can offer you a ten percent discount, Fellow Daoist He."

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up. "Really? That's wonderful!" But then he gave a wry smile. "Unfortunately, my pockets are a bit light. Even with the discount, I can't afford it right now."

Golden Light True Master coughed lightly. "No matter. There's no rush. This black light is bound to hold treasures, and with your fortune, Fellow Daoist He, I'm sure you'll find something valuable. We can trade then."

Chu Xuan nodded with a smile. "Then I'll thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist Golden Light."

Looking at the dim, murky sky surrounding them, Golden Light True Master remarked, "The way this place warps one's sense of direction is quite troubling. You've both noticed, haven't you?"

Chu Xuan and Yun Feijian nodded in agreement.

After a moment's thought, Yun Feijian said, "For now, we should stay centered around Golden Phoenix Island and not venture too far. Otherwise, we might face great danger."

Their discussion concluded quickly, and they shared the situation with the others. The cultivators on the island reacted in varied ways. Some, gripped by fear, barricaded themselves in their caves, too terrified to step outside. Others, unwilling to stay confined, formed small groups to explore the nameless islands nearby. Some even believed Golden Phoenix Island, with its dense population, might attract calamity and considered retreating to smaller surrounding islands.

Many, however, began scheming privately, their gazes turning predatory as they eyed those around them. As the saying goes: My neighbor hoards grain, I hoard weapons—my neighbor becomes my granary. Chaos was inevitable in the days to come, and strengthening oneself was now the top priority.

Perhaps due to the constant turmoil in the Starshatter Sea, the cultivators here carried an inherent restlessness. Turning from honest practitioners to bandits or demonic cultivators was often just a single thought away.

Chu Xuan harbored similar thoughts. Golden Phoenix Island and its surrounding seas seemed as if they had been carved out of the Starshatter Sea entirely. How long this situation would last was anyone's guess. Once cultivation resources dwindled, chaos would erupt.

He had long understood a harsh truth: a ten percent shortage in grain didn't just raise prices by ten percent—it drove them up until ten percent of the population starved. That was the ideal outcome. Reality was often far crueler. In the cultivation world, where individual power reigned supreme, such dynamics would only be amplified.

He recalled the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, where spiritual qi had plummeted so drastically that even Deity Transformation cultivators saw their realms slide back to Nascent Soul. If such a scenario unfolded on Golden Phoenix Island, even Nascent Soul cultivators might band together to hunt Deity Transformation cultivators, desperate for spirit stones to survive.

"There are plenty of islands around Golden Phoenix Island. I'll pick one to settle on," Chu Xuan thought, mentally reviewing a map of the surrounding area. He soon chose a small island called Jade Peak Island. Selecting a mountain, he took out his Evil Soul Chain and began carving out a crude cave dwelling. For him, aesthetics were irrelevant—safety was paramount. He meticulously set up various protective formations until everything was secure.

Only then did he return to Golden Phoenix Island, determined to observe and uncover the true nature of the black light.

A few days later, Ning Tai arrived with news and a captured "wild corpse general."

"…Master, that's the situation," Ning Tai said gravely. "Of the three corpse puppets that attacked the island, I managed to kill two using the formation and captured one for your inspection." He continued, "I've dealt with corpse puppets before. These creatures are far stronger, with faster recovery and an even fiercer drive to attack. They're not just corpse puppets—they surpass them."

Chu Xuan studied the familiar creature before him, his expression calm. It was identical to the corpse demons he had encountered in the Eight Extremes Palace, though slightly weaker, roughly at the strength of thirty-six layers of body refinement. No wonder Ning Tai had been able to subdue it with the formation.

With a flick of his finger, Chu Xuan unleashed a burst of spiritual qi, instantly slaying the corpse demon. Ning Tai produced a spiritual sense jade slip and presented it respectfully with both hands. "Master, this contains the intelligence on the black light that Song Danqing and I compiled from various sources. I can assure you, every detail comes from cultivators who survived the black light. It's all true."

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Well done."

Ning Tai bowed respectfully. "It's only what I should do."

Chu Xuan nodded slightly. "These monsters will only grow more numerous. Abandon any unimportant assets outside. If they can't be abandoned, bring back anything valuable. Rely on the formation and hold one island tightly—don't overreach."

Ning Tai nodded emphatically. "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

After a pause, Chu Xuan added, "If the Ning family faces trouble in the future, I will intervene."

Overjoyed, Ning Tai bowed even lower. "Thank you, Master!"

"Go," Chu Xuan said with a wave of his hand.

Watching Ning Tai's retreating figure, Chu Xuan smiled faintly. The old man's actions always pleased him. This time, he had gone to great lengths to gather intelligence on the black light. Loyal and capable individuals like him were rare and deserved to be kept alive for continued service.

Chu Xuan pressed the jade slip to his forehead, absorbing its contents in an instant. The black light's interior mirrored the Starshatter Sea but suppressed spiritual sense by seventy to eighty percent.

Wild corpse puppets appeared without warning, bloodthirsty and aggressive, requiring late Nascent Soul strength to counter. Some had encountered strange mists, short-lived and limited in range, where heavenly materials and treasures, including essence-nurturing spirit items, grew.

Escaping the black light was difficult due to distorted directions. Some survived by hiding for days and inexplicably emerging, while others stumbled upon areas starkly different from their surroundings and escaped that way.

Chu Xuan frowned, deep in thought. His greatest concern was finding a way out of the black light, but the methods seemed utterly chaotic. Those who escaped likely did so through sheer luck. The unlucky ones were probably lost deep within the black light's depths.

"For now, I'll wait," Chu Xuan decided, suppressing his impulses.

Unlike most cultivators, he didn't rush out to hunt for treasures. Instead, he stayed on Golden Phoenix Island, focusing on cultivation. He claimed it was to maintain the island's Deity Transformation-stage formation, which was true—someone needed to stay behind while Yun Feijian and Golden Light True Master ventured out to seek treasures. A stolen base would be the ultimate embarrassment.

Golden Light True Master's luck, however, was remarkable. He returned from each trip laden with spoils and unscathed. Yun Feijian, on the other hand, gained little and bore increasingly severe injuries. To the other cultivators, Golden Light True Master's reliability far surpassed that of Yun Feijian and Chu Xuan. He had become the strongest pillar for survival in the black light.

Chapter 524: Why Can't We Ever Kill Them All?

As time dragged on, unrest simmered on Golden Phoenix Island. Many cultivators, sooner or later, pledged themselves to Golden Light True Master. Even those who had initially stood firm with Song Danqing, vowing loyalty to Chu Xuan, were now wavering.

Compared to the beginning, only a handful of cultivation families remained under Chu Xuan's banner: Ning Tai's Ning family, Song Danqing's Song family, Zhang Chufeng's Zhang family, and Wu Wei's Wu family. Yet, even within these families, many younger members grumbled about their patriarchs' decisions, believing Heartless True Master couldn't protect them. To them, joining Golden Light True Master was the true path to survival.

If not for the long-standing loyalty of the families under Yun Feijian, many of them might have quietly defected to Golden Light True Master as well. Chu Xuan's order to abandon external assets and hunker down on the island only fueled their discontent, stirring rebellious sentiments.

Hearing Ning Tai's daily reports on these matters, Chu Xuan merely smiled faintly, offering no comment. Such trivialities paled in comparison to the lurking dangers he was far more concerned about.

"By the way, Flying Sword True Master sent word requesting your presence," Ning Tai said respectfully. "It seems more corpse puppets have appeared, and they're quite formidable."

"Understood," Chu Xuan replied with a nod.

Soon after, Chu Xuan met with Yun Feijian and Golden Light True Master, quickly learning the situation from them. Several unusually powerful corpse demons had emerged, wiping out multiple small islands. Only a handful of cultivators had escaped. Given how close these islands were to Golden Phoenix Island, the corpse demons had to be dealt with. The survivors also mentioned that wherever these corpse puppets appeared, spiritual herbs sprouted—likely high-grade essence-nurturing spirit items. However, those islands were guarded by powerful corpse puppets.

Before either Yun Feijian or Golden Light True Master could speak, Chu Xuan clasped his hands and said, "My cultivation is shallow, so I'll stay behind to guard Golden Phoenix Island as usual."

Both men were momentarily taken aback by his initiative. Golden Light True Master, delighted at the prospect of fewer people to split the spoils with, didn't object. Yun Feijian opened his mouth as if to persuade him but ultimately said nothing. After all, Chu Xuan's absence benefited them, and there was no reason to refuse.

"Those corpse puppets are strange. Be careful, both of you," Chu Xuan said, clasping his hands again before watching them depart.

Only he knew the truth: these weren't mere corpse puppets but corpse demons, possibly even great corpse demons. They could be temporarily killed but never truly eradicated.

After a time, they would revive, and the more that were slain, the stronger the reborn corpse demons would become. Some could even rival cultivators at the forty-first layer of body refinement.

To Chu Xuan, risking his life for a few essence-nurturing spirit items wasn't worth it. Whether Yun Feijian and Golden Light True Master returned with bountiful gains, empty-handed, or not at all, he didn't care.

"Spiritual treasures are as plentiful as hairs on an ox, but I only have one life," Chu Xuan muttered, striding back to his cave to cultivate. He still had plenty of those red fruits to consume, and he had a hunch that finishing them might propel him to the forty-sixth layer of body refinement.

A day later, across the boundless sea, Yun Feijian and Golden Light True Master fled desperately through the air. Both were covered in wounds, especially Yun Feijian, whose chest bore a deep, bone-revealing claw mark. The flesh around the wound had turned an eerie purple-black, clearly poisoned. Not far behind them, a swarm of corpse demons pursued, numbering in the thousands by rough count. These creatures rode waves of blood qi, their speed only slightly slower than the two cultivators.

Leading the pack were several massive corpse demons, each over three zhang tall, their blood qi surging to the heavens like colossal war spirits. Golden Light True Master, furious and alarmed, roared, "Damn it, why can't we ever kill them all?"

Yun Feijian shook his head. "It's not that they can't be killed—it's that they only stay dead temporarily before reviving."

Golden Light True Master glanced back, his heart sinking as he saw the towering corpse demons drawing closer. He unleashed a barrage of over a dozen flying swords, but they only slowed the creatures momentarily.

"Golden Phoenix Island is just ahead! With the formation, we can hold these corpse puppets at bay!" Yun Feijian said grimly.

Golden Light True Master gritted his teeth, expending a large amount of Nascent Soul essence to fuel his desperate flight. The two, one following the other, soon reached the skies above Golden Phoenix Island.

"He Liang! Activate the formation now! They're coming!" Golden Light True Master bellowed.

Chu Xuan frowned but appeared instantly, channeling a torrent of spiritual qi into the formation disk. A low hum filled the air as formation patterns materialized out of nowhere, rising from all sides of Golden Phoenix Island and converging overhead. This was the island's Deity Transformation-stage formation, the "Eight Directions Unmoving Array." Though Chu Xuan's mastery of formations wasn't perfect, he could activate it swiftly.

Soon, a massive, earthy-yellow dome descended like an inverted bowl, enveloping the island. Within a dozen breaths, Yun Feijian and Golden Light True Master darted through the dome, landing safely on the island and finally catching their breath.

Their battered appearance left the other cultivators shocked and uncertain. What could have happened to reduce two Deity Transformation masters to such a state?

Chu Xuan stepped forward, quietly asking, "What happened?"

Golden Light True Master, still shaken, didn't respond immediately. Yun Feijian, forcing himself to stay calm, said, "The corpse puppets—they're endless! And some are exceptionally powerful, at least on the level of Great Corpse Kings. If we'd been any slower, we'd have been surrounded."

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. "My subordinates reported that these corpse puppets typically linger in one place and don't pursue for long. Why are they chasing you all the way to Golden Phoenix Island?"

Yun Feijian glanced at Golden Light True Master, whose expression flickered uncertainly before he admitted, "I obtained a treasure, and it drove these corpse puppets into a frenzy, chasing us relentlessly."

Chu Xuan's mind raced, recalling his experience in the Eight Extremes Palace. There, many corpse demons had lingered around a heart formed from the condensed blood qi of the hall's master. Golden Light True Master must have acquired something similar, triggering this massive pursuit.

Yun Feijian knew Golden Light True Master wouldn't part with the treasure, nor did he have the power to force him. With a soft sigh, he said, "For now, we can only rely on the formation to hold them off. Fortunately, the island has plenty of spirit stones to sustain it."

But as he spoke, the Eight Directions Unmoving Array rippled under the relentless assault of the corpse demons. Yun Feijian's face paled—this was a sign of the formation's energy depleting rapidly.

Chu Xuan frowned as well. "The spirit stones are being consumed faster than we expected."

Golden Light True Master, now regaining his composure, saw the formation's ripples and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "First, have the cultivation families hand over their spirit stones! We're protecting their safety—they should pay to stay alive!"

Chapter 525: What Do I Care for This Mere Golden Phoenix Island?!

When the order to collect spirit stones was issued from above, every cultivator was stunned, especially those from families like Liu Yong and He Kong, who had pledged allegiance to Golden Light True Master. Many grumbled inwardly but dared not voice their complaints. After all, this was a command from Deity Transformation masters—what could they do? What could they dare to do?

In normal times, they might have slipped away to join other factions in different seas, like the Heaven Demon Palace or the Serpent Buddha Temple. But now, trapped in the black light, Golden Phoenix Island and its surrounding waters were their only refuge. The three Deity Transformation masters held absolute authority. Refusing to hand over spirit stones would surely lead to a grim fate.

Liu Yong gritted his teeth. "I get it now. It must be that He Liang, unwilling to part with his own spirit stones, who came up with this vile scheme to force us to contribute. Think about it—he's just a newly ascended Deity Transformation cultivator with few spirit stones, so of course he's stingy.

"Golden Light True Master and Flying Sword True Master, on the other hand, have been established for years and have plenty of spirit stones to spare. Plus, He Liang controls the Eight Directions Unmoving Array. He can demand as many spirit stones as he wants and pocket a good portion for himself!"

He Kong nodded vigorously, fully agreeing. Fueled by certain instigators, this narrative spread like wildfire.

Ning Tai and Song Danqing watched this unfold with heavy hearts. Song Danqing might have harbored some doubts, but Ning Tai firmly believed Heartless True Master would never stoop to such tactics.

Soon, batch after batch of spirit stones was collected from families and cultivators, handed over to Golden Light True Master, who then passed them to Chu Xuan to sustain the Eight Directions Unmoving Array.

But the corpse demons' assaults were relentless, and they could not be truly killed. No matter how Chu Xuan and the others attacked, they could only temporarily dispatch some of the creatures. Even if burned to ash or hacked to pieces, the demons would revive after a time. Their origins defied all known logic, bewildering even the most seasoned cultivators.

Worse still, the more corpse demons were slain, the stronger the revived ones became. They seemed to grow in power against stronger foes and weaken against lesser ones.

Initially, there were only three great corpse demons. Now, there were five, with the strongest radiating blood qi comparable to a forty-third-layer body refinement cultivator. In close combat, neither Golden Light True Master nor Yun Feijian could match it.

Under these conditions, spirit stones were consumed at a rate far exceeding expectations. If this continued, the formation would collapse, and all would perish.

Ten days later, the earthy-yellow dome shuddered constantly, its light dimming. The relentless booming kept the cultivators from focusing on cultivation, leaving them in constant dread. Some unencumbered cultivators quietly fled to nearby islands, but many couldn't leave—they had families, dao companions, and descendants. The cultivation families, in particular, were bound to the Deity Transformation masters, unable to escape without their consent.

On this day, Chu Xuan, Yun Feijian, and Golden Light True Master gathered once more. Yun Feijian fixed his gaze on Golden Light True Master, his voice low and serious. "Fellow Daoist Golden Light, at this point, don't you think it's time to give up that treasure? Those corpse puppets are clearly drawn to it. If you take it and leave, they won't attack so ferociously. Do you realize how many spirit stones we've burned through because of your treasure?"

Chu Xuan also looked at Golden Light True Master, his expression neutral.

Golden Light True Master's face flickered with conflicting emotions, as if wrestling with a momentous decision.

At that moment, the already faltering earthy-yellow dome began to tremble violently. In the next instant, it shattered like glass, cracking and splintering with a sharp snap! As the light of the formation dissipated, every cultivator's face was etched with terror.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Bloodcurdling roars filled the air. Led by the five great corpse demons, a horde of corpse demons stormed Golden Phoenix Island, unleashing a slaughter. Driven by their innate urge to devour flesh and absorb blood qi, the island—teeming with cultivators of considerable realms—was a feast for these creatures.

Roars, the clash of spells, and agonized screams echoed across Golden Phoenix Island. The bloodthirsty corpse demons overwhelmed the retreating low-level cultivators in a one-sided massacre. Only Nascent Soul cultivators could hold their own for a few moves, but if the demons closed the distance, death was certain.

In mere moments, the once-thriving Golden Phoenix Market was littered with broken bodies and pools of blood.

"Master, save me!" He Kong screamed, trapped by two corpse demons. He shouted toward the sky, hoping Golden Light True Master would intervene. But Golden Light True Master merely glanced at him, showing no intention of helping. In no time, He Kong was torn to shreds, his limbs scattered across the ground.

Yun Feijian's voice was urgent. "Fellow Daoist Sun, you can't hesitate any longer! Take that treasure and leave Golden Phoenix Island. Otherwise, tens of thousands of cultivators on this island will perish!"

Golden Light True Master sneered. "Leave with the treasure? And draw all the corpse puppets to myself, bearing the entire burden? Yun Feijian, I'm not that foolish! I want treasures—what do I care for this mere Golden Phoenix Island?!"

His body erupted with spiritual qi as he shot forward, reaching the edge of the Eight Directions Unmoving Array's range in the blink of an eye.

Yun Feijian was stunned, never imagining Golden Light True Master to be so callous. "Sun Yuan, you're truly despicable!" he roared, using Golden Light True Master's true name.

Liu Yong shouted, "Master, take me with you!" Other family heads who had pledged to Golden Light True Master echoed desperately, "Master, bring us along!"

Zhu Cai'er, tears welling in her eyes, cried, "Master, are you abandoning Cai'er too?"

Sun Yuan didn't even look back, accelerating his flight until he vanished from sight.

The moment he disappeared, the cultivators under his banner seemed to lose their spirit, as if their vitality had been drained. Zhu Cai'er nearly collapsed, her body trembling. She had served Golden Light True Master daily, acting as both disciple and dao companion, tirelessly handling the affairs of various cultivation families—only to be discarded like this.

Liu Yong and the others were equally crestfallen. Their powerful patron had fled without a word, abandoning them. It was clear that even Golden Light True Master couldn't face these unkillable monsters.

"Misplaced trust… utterly misplaced…" Liu Yong slumped to the ground.

The unspoken rule was that Nascent Soul families offered tribute, and Deity Transformation masters provided protection. Rarely did anyone break this custom, as doing so would tarnish a master's reputation if word spread.

Chapter 526: If I Go and Do Not Return, Then I Shall Not Return!

When a Deity Transformation master breaks the unspoken rule of protecting their Nascent Soul families, future families would think twice about pledging allegiance, wary of such a master's character. But Liu Yong never imagined Golden Light True Master would so brazenly discard his honor.

In hindsight, it made sense. Trapped within the black light, cut off from the outside world and surrounded by bloodthirsty monsters, it was likely that after today, Golden Phoenix Island would be left desolate. Golden Light True Master had no need to care about his reputation.

At this moment, Liu Yong and his Liu family disciples were huddled together, fending off the corpse demons. One disciple couldn't help but shout, "Patriarch! There are still two masters left—perhaps they'll come to our aid!"

Liu Yong gave a bitter smile. "Flying Sword True Master can barely protect his own families—why would he save us? As for Heartless True Master… how could I have the face to beg him now?"

Two screams pierced the air as two more Liu family disciples were dragged from their formation, torn apart by the corpse demons. Liu Yong's heart trembled as he recognized one of them—a young prodigy, his favorite junior, who had just formed a Golden Core this year. This was the Liu family's brightest hope, with the potential to reach late Nascent Soul in the future.

Driven by desperation, Liu Yong stood and dropped to his knees before Chu Xuan. "Liu Yong, patriarch of the Liu family, begs Heartless True Master to save my family!" he cried, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead was smeared with blood and dust.

Chu Xuan glanced down at him from midair, his voice cool. "I only save those who deserve it." With that, he flew toward the Ning family.

He had promised before that if the Ning family faced danger, he would intervene. Now, with the Ning family besieged by corpse demons, it was time to honor that pledge.

In the Ning family's newly built Little Insect Studio, Ning Tai, Ning Wangyuan, and other Ning family cultivators were holding off the corpse demons with a small-scale formation. Ning Wangyuan wiped blood from his face. "Thankfully, Grandfather, you were cautious and kept the studio's formation active. If we had to set it up now, we'd have been too late."

Another Ning disciple said, "Even so, this only buys us time. Without a master's help, we're doomed."

Yet another added, "Golden Light True Master fled. Heartless True Master might…"

Ning Tai roared, "Silence! How dare you compare Heartless True Master to Golden Light True Master?"

The disciple slapped himself, lowering his head in shame. "I spoke out of turn. Please punish me, Ancestor."

Ning Tai growled, "Right now, we must stand united to fend off these corpse demons. The master will surely come to our aid!"

As if on cue, a hearty laugh echoed from the sky. "The Ning family does not disappoint!"

In the next moment, a torrent of blood qi coalesced into a blazing furnace, crashing down from above. In an instant, the corpse demons besieging the Ning family were pulverized into paste. A gust of wind swept the remains away, hurling them far into the sea.

Ning Tai, Ning Wangyuan, and the others were overjoyed. "Thank you, Master!" they cried.

Chu Xuan nodded slightly and sped off. Soon, he appeared above the Song, Zhang, and Wu families. Each time, he unleashed the same blazing furnace, crushing dozens of corpse demons with a single strike and casting their remains into the sea.

"Thank you, Master!" Song Danqing, Zhang Chufeng, Wu Wei, and their families knelt in gratitude, kowtowing to Chu Xuan from afar. In this moment, they were profoundly thankful for their past decisions to remain loyal.

Moments later, Chu Xuan stood before Yun Feijian. "Fellow Daoist Yun, do you know how to break into Sun Yuan's cave?"

Yun Feijian hesitated briefly before replying, "There's a way." He tossed a token to Chu Xuan. "This can disable the outer formation, but as for the inner formations Sun Yuan set up himself, I'm powerless."

Chu Xuan nodded and sped toward Sun Yuan's cave. Using the token to dismantle the outer formation, he then unleashed a series of blood qi furnaces, brute-forcing his way through the inner defenses. After a thorough search, he quickly found the treasure brimming with blood qi—a shriveled heart.

Chu Xuan gave a faint smile. "As I suspected. Sun Yuan deliberately left this here on Golden Phoenix Island and fled alone, abandoning everything. This way, he could shake off the corpse demons' pursuit. And where better to hide it than his own cave? Truly, what place is safer?"

Shaking his head with a wry chuckle, Chu Xuan continued, "Yun Feijian has poured years into building up Golden Phoenix Island, with loyal Nascent Soul families under him. Sun Yuan knew Yun Feijian wouldn't abandon them easily. Once the island becomes a wasteland and the corpse demons fall dormant, Sun Yuan could return, retrieve the heart, and walk away effortlessly."

Chu Xuan's expression remained calm. He had seen through Sun Yuan's scheme with ease.

Yun Feijian, catching on to Chu Xuan's plan, clenched his jaw and steeled his resolve. "Fellow Daoist Heartless, give me the heart. My strength is greater, and I might have a chance to outrun their pursuit."

He knew Chu Xuan's cultivation was lower than his own, and the monsters would likely overtake him quickly. So, he volunteered to take on the task.

Chu Xuan blinked, surprised. Yun Feijian's selflessness was unexpected—not the typical behavior of a native Starshatter Sea cultivator. "Please look after my cultivation families, Fellow Daoist Yun," he said. "As for me, if I go and do not return, then I shall not return!"

With a hearty laugh, Chu Xuan took the shriveled heart and shot straight outward, streaking through the sky.

The black light held countless unknowns and dangers. His plan was to retreat to Blue Star for a while, using this moment to stage a perfect exit. The corpse demons, sensing the heart's presence, jolted alert and leaped after him, chasing with relentless fury. Even the five great corpse demons abandoned Yun Feijian to pursue Chu Xuan.

As the bloodthirsty monsters departed, the surviving cultivators breathed a collective sigh of relief. Their gazes, fixed on Chu Xuan's receding figure, grew complex.

Ning Tai's eyes reddened. Pulling Ning Wangyuan with him, he kowtowed heavily, his voice trembling with conviction. "This is true righteousness!"

Song Danqing, Zhang Chufeng, Wu Wei, and others wept uncontrollably, pounding their chests in grief. They knew Heartless True Master's departure likely meant he would not return.

Zhu Cai'er murmured dazedly, "Senior…"

Liu Yong, tears streaming down his face, was overwhelmed with regret. "Heartless True Master is the true pillar! I was wrong—so wrong!" He coughed up blood, collapsing to the ground, his body aging decades in an instant.

Yun Feijian stared at the figure leading the horde of corpse demons away, muttering to himself, "He Liang—no, Fellow Daoist Heartless—I underestimated you and overestimated Sun Yuan…"

Chapter 527: Honor Fellow Daoist He's Spirit in the Heavens!

Over the lifeless sea, Chu Xuan employed the Formless Snowstep Escape Technique, darting swiftly through the air. From time to time, he released a snow shadow to confuse the corpse demons' senses, allowing him to maintain a safe distance.

After all, four great corpse demons were in pursuit. Even back on Golden Phoenix Island, he and Yun Feijian together had only managed to slay one. Facing so many at once was a risk he had no intention of taking.

"This is the place," Chu Xuan muttered, spotting Jade Peak Island ahead. He surged forward, plunging into the island and swiftly entering his cave dwelling. With a single step, he crossed back to Blue Star.

This was his plan. Since the corpse demons were drawn to the shriveled heart, he would simply take it to Blue Star. Unable to sense their coveted prize, the demons would cease their frenzied pursuit. Over time, with no living beings nearby, they would slip into dormancy, rendering the area safe.

...

Blue Star, Water Curtain Cave.

Chu Xuan gazed at the shriveled heart before him, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. This was undoubtedly a relic left by an ancient body refinement cultivator. Even now, he could sense the surging blood qi within it, equivalent to a forty-first-layer body refinement cultivator. Considering the ages it had endured, he could only wonder at the original owner's realm—sixty layers? Seventy? Eighty?

Chu Xuan marveled. With such boundless physical might, they could likely shake the stars themselves.

"Before, it was just a hunch, but with this heart, I'm certain I can reach the forty-sixth layer of body refinement," he mused. "Perhaps even the forty-seventh isn't far off."

He sighed with gratitude. Thanks to Golden Light True Master, he had been handed such a splendid gift.

"Starting today, I dive into secluded cultivation!" Chu Xuan declared, unleashing his blood qi to refine the heart. With his Heaven-Melting Technique, the process was far quicker than it would have been in the past. Without it, refining such an artifact might have taken over a decade.

...

Half a year later, a figure landed on the shores of Golden Phoenix Island, brimming with confidence. It was Golden Light True Master, Sun Yuan. He had hidden on a nameless island for six months, only now daring to return.

"By now, those monstrous corpses on Golden Phoenix Island should be dormant," he thought. "I left the shriveled heart in my cave. If I move quickly, I can retrieve it without stirring them."

Sun Yuan smiled to himself. When he fled, he was certain no one could take the heart. Neither Yun Feijian nor He Liang could match the corpse demons, and even if they found the heart, they wouldn't dare take it. Hidden in his cave, the demons couldn't reach it either. The heart, brimming with immense blood qi, was destined to be his.

"If I'm right, that heart is the condensed lifeblood of an ancient body refinement cultivator," he mused. "With my twentieth-layer foundation, it'll push me to the thirty-first layer in no time. With further refinement, even the forty-first layer is within reach! Then, among mid-Deity Transformation cultivators, few could rival me!"

The thought thrilled him, and he felt no remorse for abandoning his followers.

But as he soared above Golden Phoenix Island, he was stunned. The island was still bustling and orderly, not the desolate ruin he'd expected, littered with corpses and devoid of life.

"What's going on!?" he exclaimed, bewildered.

At that moment, a streak of light shot from the island's center, arriving before him in an instant. It was Yun Feijian.

"You're not dead?" Sun Yuan blurted, even more shocked.

Yun Feijian gazed at Sun Yuan, his expression a mix of emotions. After a long pause, he said, "Sun Yuan, your despicable conduct means you are no longer a Deity Transformation elder of the Divine Sword Sect. Leave."

Sun Yuan's brow furrowed deeply. "What happened? Tell me!"

Yun Feijian sneered. "Why should I?"

Sun Yuan's face hardened, and the aura of a fourth-layer Deity Transformation cultivator burst forth. "Yun Feijian, you're no match for me in a one-on-one fight. Tell me what happened that day! Where is the shriveled heart now?"

Unfazed, Yun Feijian's spiritual qi surged, revealing his own fourth-layer Deity Transformation aura. "If you insist on making an enemy of me, then let's see who prevails!"

Sun Yuan's expression shifted in shock. He hadn't expected Yun Feijian to have reached the fourth layer in just half a year. Though surprising, it made sense. The black light, while dangerous, was rich with treasures. With diligent searching, one could find materials suited for Deity Transformation cultivators. Yun Feijian, already at the third layer, must have seized an opportunity to break through.

Sun Yuan snorted coldly, flicking his sleeve as he turned to leave. "Yun Feijian, remember this day. I'll personally slay you in the future!"

Yun Feijian replied icily, "I, too, await the day to behead you, to honor Fellow Daoist He's spirit in the heavens!"

...

In the Starshatter Sea, Shang Tianjue stood atop Golden Thunder Island, gazing at the distant black light. This was the third time he had seen it descend upon nearby waters. Every day, countless cultivators rushed into it, drawn by its allure.

Blood Wine Master stood beside him, lazily sipping from his flask. "The East Second Ring—several major islands have been swallowed by the black light, like Golden Phoenix Island, held by the Divine Sword Sect," he said, punctuating his words with a burp.

Shang Tianjue asked calmly, "Does the sect have any word on whether the black light is a boon or a bane?"

Blood Wine Master shook his head, grinning oddly. "The sect sent us to find out exactly that—whether it's good or bad. You're the one who insisted on coming to take the risk." He leaned in with a mysterious smile. "You know, there are secrets in this world even Void Refining Lords don't fully understand."

Shang Tianjue's brow furrowed.

As they spoke, the sky quietly took on a gray hue, and the sea grew lifeless. The change was so subtle it went unnoticed until it was too late.

Blood Wine Master stowed his flask, his expression turning serious. "We're already inside the black light."

Shang Tianjue's furrowed brow relaxed. "Oh? Isn't that a good thing?"

Blood Wine Master smacked his lips. "Your way of thinking is really something else. Let's scout the surroundings first. You've been itching to take down Tian Musen, haven't you? That's on you."

Shang Tianjue nodded. "And Yun Lan."

Blood Wine Master's mouth twitched. "That beautiful girl, and you can still bring yourself to strike her down…"

He trailed off, knowing Shang Tianjue was indifferent to feminine charms. To him, even the most stunning beauty was just a skeleton waiting to wither. He added casually, "Yun Lan and Tian Musen, those two Nascent Soul stewards, got greedy and ventured too deep into the black light. They've vanished without a trace."

Shang Tianjue nodded faintly and turned to leave.

"Can't you call me Master just once?" Blood Wine Master grumbled.

Shang Tianjue paused, then said after a moment, "If you help me find Shang Xingchen, I'll call you Master."

Blood Wine Master grinned. "Deal!"

Chapter 528: I Can't Tell

"Forty-sixth layer of body refinement—achieved!" Chu Xuan laughed heartily as he opened his eyes. The surging blood qi within him settled back into his body.

After eight years of secluded cultivation in the Water Curtain Cave, he had finally refined half of the shriveled heart. As he had predicted, the massive blood qi he'd accumulated from consuming vast amounts of turtle meat and the red fruits from Giant Star, combined with the heart's pure, condensed blood qi, acted like a powerful catalyst. Even refining just a portion of the heart had propelled him to the forty-sixth layer. The remaining half would be his key to reaching the forty-seventh.

Amid his joy, Chu Xuan felt a pang of regret. Unlike demonic beast meat, the shriveled heart couldn't be ripened by the Psionic Cube. Perhaps because it was merely a vessel, filled with blood qi condensed to its utmost limit, unlike the blood qi stored in the muscle fibers of demonic beast meat.

"Let's head back and see what's changed in the black light," Chu Xuan mused. With a single step, he reappeared on Jade Peak Island.

As expected, the island was crawling with corpse demons, but they were all dormant. When he had taken the heart to Blue Star, the demons lost their target and fell into this state. The four great corpse demons, in particular, had weakened significantly, their strength regressing to around the fortieth layer of body refinement. If no living beings appeared nearby for a prolonged period, they would weaken further.

Not wanting to disturb them, Chu Xuan masked his aura and slipped away from Jade Peak Island. "First, I'll scout the surrounding area," he decided, releasing his Light Spirit Caterpillars to explore the nearby regions. Having been gone so long, he had no idea what had transpired, and he wasn't about to risk himself. His trusty "employees" could handle the reconnaissance.

Soon, through his Dawn connection, he received reports about the surrounding seas. He froze, startled by what he saw. "Golden Phoenix Island and its neighboring islands are completely enveloped by the black light, cut off from the Starshatter Sea. Before, no matter how far I flew in one direction, I'd always end up back at Jade Peak Island. But now, new islands have appeared…"

His eyebrow twitched. "Could it be that the black light has descended on other seas, swallowing more islands into its grasp?"

A chill ran through him at the thought. If this continued, wouldn't the entire Starshatter Sea eventually be consumed by the black light? How could anyone tell whether they were inside or outside? Worse, would they be trapped forever?

His brow furrowed deeply. "It seems that without understanding the true nature of the black light, escaping will be nearly impossible."

Chu Xuan fell into thought. He had no desire to get entangled in too many affairs, preferring to steadily advance his cultivation. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

Suddenly, a realization struck him. "The scenery inside and outside the black light is identical, almost like a relationship between an inner and outer world. But the Starshatter Sea I've always known—is it the inner world or the outer one?"

He sighed softly, shaking his head. "I can't tell. I truly can't tell." With so little information, arriving at a clear answer was impossible.

At that moment, his vision, linked to the Light Spirit Caterpillars, swept over a small island. A glimmer of spiritual light caught his eye. He let out a curious hum and directed the moths closer. There, atop a mountain peak, swaying in the breeze, was a faint white blade of grass.

"Wind-Catching Grass!"

Chu Xuan's face lit up with joy. Long ago, Ji Vast Ocean had given him the Little Vast Ocean Bowl, but without Wind-Catching Grass, he couldn't cultivate it. The seeds of this spiritual plant were incredibly rare and difficult to obtain. Even when he served as a Deity Transformation elder in the Divine Sword Sect, he had tasked Ning Tai with secretly searching for it, to no avail. Now, unexpectedly, he had found it within the black light.

"Wind-Catching Grass can enhance the spiritual essence," Chu Xuan mused. "With this, I'll have a steady supply, and perhaps I can trade some for other essence-nurturing spirit items."

Nodding with satisfaction, he sent a few Light Spirit Caterpillars to scout the island, confirming no dangers lurked nearby. He then flew over, carefully uprooting the young Wind-Catching Grass seedling. With a step, he returned to the Water Curtain Cave.

The cave's underground level housed a spiritual plant chamber, which Chu Xuan had prepared long ago but hadn't had the chance to fill with rare plants. Only a few common spiritual herbs, used for daily pill refining, occupied the space.

"Here will do," Chu Xuan decided, selecting a spot rich in spiritual qi and planting the seedling. He took out the Little Vast Ocean Bowl, pouring out the long-condensed Vast Ocean Water. The wilted Wind-Catching Grass, upon contact with the water, instantly revived, as if rejuvenated by a long-awaited rain.

Chu Xuan nodded, pleased. With the grass settled, he continued monitoring the surrounding seas through the Light Spirit Caterpillars under Chen Xi's control.

"Sounds of fighting up ahead?" he murmured. Directing the moths closer, he spotted five cultivators clashing in the sky above a small island. Two wore the robes of the Heaven Demon Palace, one bore the garb of the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect, and the other two were from the Mountain Sword Sect.

The Mountain Sword Sect's Deity Transformation master, Jian Lingzi, was an old acquaintance of Yun Feijian. On the day the black light descended, their sect had been out treasure hunting, away from Golden Phoenix Island, and thus hadn't been pulled into the black light. Judging by the auras of these five, they were all Nascent Soul cultivators.

On the island below, a shimmering spiritual light caught Chu Xuan's eye. Sending the moths closer, he identified it as a Longevity Vine. "No wonder they're fighting so fiercely," he remarked. "A Longevity Vine is a top-tier essence-nurturing spirit item, far superior to Spirit Essence Sap."

If he were still a Nascent Soul cultivator, he might have risked his life for such a Deity Transformation spirit item. But now, he had no need for it and no desire to get involved in such petty conflicts—especially since he sensed a hidden Deity Transformation cultivator's aura nearby.

Amid his musings, he noted something else. Seeing cultivators from the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect and Heaven Demon Palace meant Golden Thunder Island, and perhaps even the Heaven Demon Palace's territory, had likely been engulfed by the black light. More cultivators, willingly or not, would surely be drawn into it.

In the Starshatter Sea, heavenly treasures weren't a daily occurrence, so major conflicts were rare. But within the black light, such treasures seemed to materialize from nowhere, often sparking bloody battles.

A single Deity Transformation spirit item could ignite a storm of violence. Even Deity Transformation cultivators might act—not for themselves, but for their juniors or to auction for a hefty sum of spirit stones.

Chapter 529: There's No One Else Around, Right?

Chu Xuan watched the skirmish for only a moment before it concluded. The cultivator from the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect gained the upper hand, slaying one of the Mountain Sword Sect cultivators. The other, with remarkable speed, fled and escaped with his life. The Longevity Vine fell into the hands of the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect cultivator—a familiar face, Tian Musen.

"There's a Deity Transformation cultivator hiding nearby, and their strength is unknown. Better not act rashly," Chu Xuan thought. He was tempted to confront Tian Musen and probe his connections to the Nine Yin Island cultivators, but with a Deity Transformation cultivator lurking, there was no need to take the risk. He could always "catch up" with Tian Musen another time.

Just as he directed his Light Spirit Caterpillars to leave, a figure swiftly approached the trio. Chu Xuan recognized the cold, handsome face and was surprised. "Shang Tianjue?"

Tian Musen, seeing Shang Tianjue, calmed his surging spiritual qi and smiled. "Senior Brother Shang, you're here? Those two from the Mountain Sword Sect were nothing…"

Before he could finish, Shang Tianjue hurled a spear. Infused with immense heaven-and-earth spiritual qi, the spear expanded dozens of times in a few breaths, moving so fast it seemed to tear through space itself.

Tian Musen and the two Heaven Demon Palace cultivators, fresh from their battle, had depleted their treasures and spiritual qi, with their magic treasures slightly damaged. Caught off guard, Tian Musen hadn't expected Shang Tianjue to attack without a word, launching such a devastating strike. In a panic, he summoned his natal magic treasure to defend.

With a sharp clang, the spear pierced through his natal treasure, its momentum unchecked as it blasted through Tian Musen's chest. Golden spiritual qi crackled around the wound, tearing it wider and worsening the injury.

Tian Musen's eyes widened. "Shang Tianjue… you…"

Shang Tianjue clenched his fist, and the golden light exploded, shattering Tian Musen into countless fragments. The spear veered, instantly obliterating the two stunned early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heaven Demon Palace.

With Shang Tianjue's unmatched strength below Deity Transformation, killing these three was effortless. Some things were simply inconvenient to do in normal circumstances.

A soft sigh echoed. "Killing Tian Musen is one thing, but why take out those two Heaven Demon Palace cultivators as well? How am I supposed to explain this to Tian Mozi?" Blood Wine Master appeared, shaking his head helplessly.

Shang Tianjue extended his hand, and the spear shrank back to his palm. He shook it lightly, flicking off the blood. "Kill to silence, eliminate future troubles. Besides, they were just quick-cultivated Nascent Souls groomed by Tian Mozi."

Blood Wine Master smacked his lips. "Your eyes are sharp. You saw through them long ago, didn't you?"

Shang Tianjue replied coolly, "I'm not blind."

Blood Wine Master sighed. "Fine, take the Longevity Vine and let's go. I'll smooth things over with that old ghost when we get back. He shouldn't give you too much trouble."

Shang Tianjue glanced around. "I keep feeling watched. There's no one else around, right?"

Blood Wine Master shook his head. "My spiritual sense is my strongest asset. Even suppressed by seventy percent in this black light, I can tell there's no one within a hundred miles."

Shang Tianjue nodded, and the two departed.

Watching the two figures depart, Chu Xuan chuckled softly. Shang Tianjue, who had once split his soul to escape the pursuit of Feather Transformation Heaven Palace, had clearly taken on a new body, but his ruthless and decisive nature remained unchanged. Both brothers were cut from the same cloth, though Shang Xingchen cloaked himself in a veneer of refined elegance, while Shang Tianjue was unapologetically himself.

"If they were Deity Transformation cultivators, they'd surely stir up a storm in the Starshatter Sea," Chu Xuan mused with a faint smile. He continued observing the surroundings through the vision of his Light Spirit Caterpillars.

Soon, he spotted several more clashes—some driven by robbery, others fueled by old grudges. None were particularly novel. After a thorough survey, he recalled all the moths, a mental map of the seas now clear in his mind.

"Half of the East Second Ring and part of the East Third Ring have been swallowed by the black light," he noted. "Plenty of heavenly treasures have appeared, but many islands are overrun with corpse demons. Most treasures are useless to me, but essence-nurturing spirit items are excellent."

He memorized the locations of these spirit items. Some were not yet mature and could be left for later, while others would ripen within days and couldn't be wasted. Moving swiftly, he collected four mature essence-nurturing spirit items in just a few days: a Soul-Drawing Flower to bolster heavenly essence, a Spirit-Tempering Fruit for earthly essence, and a Vermilion Blood Root and Crimson Sun Rock for human essence.

Chu Xuan nodded, pleased. This pattern continued for some time. With his Deity Transformation strength, he was unstoppable. Most cultivators, sensing his aura, fled without daring to compete.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. The black light expanded again, pulling in more swathes of the sea. On this day, Chu Xuan was soaring over the ocean, his destination clear: an island at the border of the East Second and East First Rings, home to an ironwood forest. Once a minor asset of the Frost Sword Sect, the forest had changed hands frequently among small factions after the sect's collapse.

Ironwood, valued for its durability as a building material, was of limited worth unless it reached the thousand-year mark, when it could serve as a core component for top-tier magic treasures. But Chu Xuan wasn't there for thousand-year ironwood—it was of little use to him now. Even ten-thousand-year ironwood might barely pique his interest.

His true goal was the Dark Concealment Iron Tree. Legend held that ironwood exposed to yin qi over long periods could give rise to this rare tree, which bore Dark Concealment Fruit—an exceptionally scarce essence-nurturing spirit item that strengthened the heavenly essence of Nascent Soul cultivators. Its potency far surpassed ordinary items like the Soul-Drawing Flower, with one fruit equaling at least five of the latter. The odds of such a tree forming were minuscule, typically requiring the resources of a seventh-tier sect to cultivate.

This underscored the black light's peculiar nature. Within it, spiritual plants grew and mutated at an accelerated rate. Otherwise, two Dark Concealment Iron Trees would never have appeared in that ironwood forest.

As Chu Xuan approached the island, he spotted two figures fiercely clashing nearby, locked in heated combat. One, unfamiliar but wielding bone-based techniques, was likely a Deity Transformation cultivator from Hidden Bone Hall, the dominant force in the East First Ring. The other was all too familiar: Golden Light True Master, Sun Yuan.

Chapter 530: No Chance to Escape

Sun Yuan summoned an ice ring, hurling it toward the Hidden Bone Hall cultivator. Pinching a hand seal, he barked, "Grow!"

The ice ring expanded rapidly in midair, swelling to ten zhang in size within moments, enveloping the Hidden Bone Hall cultivator entirely. The latter, both shocked and enraged, spat out a mouthful of Nascent Soul essence to teleport away. But the ice ring, as if alive, tracked him relentlessly. Despite multiple teleports, each costing more essence, he couldn't escape its grasp. Despair crept into his eyes.

This spiritual artifact was too powerful—far beyond a low-grade spiritual treasure.

Sun Yuan sneered. "Shrink!"

The ice ring contracted at an alarming speed. The Hidden Bone Hall cultivator, sensing imminent danger, gritted his teeth and summoned four massive bone shields, each the size of a door and adorned with various skeletal fragments. The shields formed a barrier around him, resisting the shrinking ice ring.

For a moment, it seemed a stalemate. Sun Yuan scoffed, "Not bad for a bone path cultivator—plenty of bone artifacts. Let's see how many more shields you have to block my Frost Heaven Ring!"

He was brimming with confidence. The Frost Heaven Ring was a mysterious treasure of unknown grade, one he could only barely wield at his current realm.

As expected, the four bone shields held for only a dozen breaths before cracking under the strain, shattering one by one. In the next instant, the Frost Heaven Ring shrank rapidly, binding the cultivator tightly in its grip. A surge of frigid qi erupted, freezing his spiritual qi solid.

Sun Yuan approached with a cold smile, casually retrieving the cultivator's Qiankun bag. "Quite the haul. Following you for so long was worth it," he said, laughing and nodding.

He had spotted this Hidden Bone Hall Deity Transformation cultivator early on, noting his injuries from a corpse demon attack. Seizing the opportunity, Sun Yuan had ambushed him on his predictable route, gaining the upper hand. Even so, the cultivator's endless bone artifacts made him a tough kill. Only by deploying the Frost Heaven Ring did Sun Yuan secure a decisive victory.

"Your physique is impressive. You must have trained in body refinement as well," Sun Yuan remarked coldly. "I've been studying the corpse path lately. You'll serve me well."

The cultivator pleaded in terror, "No… spare me! I'll give you anything—"

But Sun Yuan didn't waste words. With a clench of his hand, another burst of frigid qi snuffed out the cultivator's life, and he stored the body in a corpse-nurturing bag.

As he prepared to leave, he noticed a figure hastily fleeing in the distance. Sun Yuan froze, then recognized the familiar aura. "He Liang! You're still alive! I've been searching for you!"

Laughing maniacally, he activated his escape technique and gave chase. The sudden disappearance of the shriveled heart had left him seething with regret. Despite his efforts to track down He Liang, he'd found no trace—until now. This man must have had some extraordinary encounter to escape the corpse demons.

"The shriveled heart is mine! And so is He Liang's fortune!" Sun Yuan's face lit up with glee. What a day—two jackpots in one go!

In the pursuit, Sun Yuan rapidly closed the gap between himself and Chu Xuan.

“Fellow Daoist He, it’s been so long since we last met. Why not have a proper chat with me?”

Sun Yuan let out a strange laugh as he summoned a gourd-shaped spirit artifact. With a sharp shout, countless icicles burst forth from it, bombarding Chu Xuan from afar. He immediately saw Chu Xuan dodging and weaving with all his might, but could only avoid about half of them. Many of the icicles still struck him, drawing another eerie laugh from Sun Yuan.

He knew full well that the icicles fired from his Frostspike Gourd all carried a slowing effect. One step slower meant every step slower. Sooner or later, He Liang would be caught. Soon, the distance between them had closed to less than two hundred zhang.

“Fellow Daoist He, doesn’t it feel awful without any spirit artifacts at hand? You’ve only just stepped into Deity Transformation, I bet you’re still relying on mere spirit treasures!” Sun Yuan burst into wild laughter. “Allow me to show you my newest exotic treasure—the Cold Heaven Ring!”

With that, he once again unleashed the Cold Heaven Ring. He intended to capture He Liang alive in one fell swoop! The Cold Heaven Ring shot forth. At a single command, it swelled rapidly, enveloping Chu Xuan in an instant. At another command, it shrank with alarming speed, as though ready to bind Chu Xuan tightly.

At that moment, Chu Xuan turned around with a faint smile. “To ensure you have no chance of escape, I’ve gone to quite some trouble.”

In the next instant, a Dragonbone Flask appeared in his hand. A wash of dark green liquid poured forth, splashing directly over the Cold Heaven Ring.

Sun Yuan frowned. What was that? Some instinct told him something was wrong. Yet his control over the Cold Heaven Ring went no further than this. Its mysteries lay far beyond his grasp.

“Smaller! Smaller!” Sun Yuan roared. The only thing he could do was hasten the ring’s contraction, minimizing contact with that ominous liquid.

Plop.

Even so, the Cold Heaven Ring was spattered with quite a lot of the green fluid. Hm? No change? After a brief frown, Sun Yuan’s face suddenly contorted in horror. His once-tight bond with the Cold Heaven Ring had dwindled to almost nothing! As if some unknown force had cut their link clean apart.

“What is this!? What did you do!?”

Sun Yuan roared in fury, eyes bulging with rage. Chu Xuan only chuckled lightly. With a sweep of his hand, a pair of pale, ghostly dragon claws tore out, lunging straight for Sun Yuan.

During this time, he had managed to refine two Lifestealing Ghosts through the Five Ghosts Seize Longevity Art, fusing them into his White Dragon Seizer. Since his previous two ghosts had perished, he had to craft them anew, but this cost him only thirty years of lifespan. A few more visits to the Taotie Tree would easily restore that loss.

Now, the White Dragon Seizer bore a Lifestealing Ghost in each claw. They acted on their own, defending him without needing his focus. Though incapable of fine manipulation, they sufficed for brute force.

Seeing the sinister claws streaking toward him, Sun Yuan cursed under his breath and immediately brought out the Frostspike Gourd. With a thought, another barrage of icicles shot forth, hoping to hold the claws at bay. Yet the next instant, he saw his opponent summon yet another spirit artifact. This time it was a pitch-black robe. Once flung, it swelled at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, it was already crashing down over him!

“You still have more spirit artifacts!?” Sun Yuan bellowed in frustration.