Demonic Cultivator 541-550 (Patreon)

Chapter 541: Died Inside?

Chu Xuan immediately took out his token. The token had been glowing continuously, and fearing it might attract unwanted attention, he had tossed it into his storage bag.

Now, as he examined it again, he noticed the light on its surface wasn't constant. It shone particularly brightly when he faced a certain direction, but dimmed to nothing when he turned the wrong way. What struck Chu Xuan as odd was that the directions indicated by his two tokens were different.

"Since I've got nothing better to do and can't escape to the sea, I might as well follow the Black Dragon Token's guidance and see where it leads," Chu Xuan muttered to himself, gently tracing the blood-red runes on his arm as he moved forward.

Earlier, when he stood beside Luo Zu, those runes had glowed brightly. Now, they were dull and lifeless. Clearly, Luo Zu was still entangled in the encirclement of those three Astral Projection cultivators, unable to enter Falling Dragon Valley. This was Chu Xuan's chance. He needed to seize it—either find a way out of Falling Dragon Valley or rid himself of these blood-red runes.

As Chu Xuan cautiously followed the token's guidance, the battle outside Falling Dragon Valley raged on. The shockwaves from the clash rippled in all directions, shattering several small islands into fragments that sank into the sea. Both sides were battered and bloodied. Seven Kills had lost an arm, and Luo Zu's chest was pierced by several long spears. Purple Star and Xue Ziyi bore injuries of varying severity, yet the fight remained unresolved.

At that moment, Seven Kills narrowly dodged a massive claw of yin energy, his heart still pounding with fear. The spiritual qi in their bodies was nearly depleted, down to a tenth of its original strength. But Luo Zu's spiritual qi seemed inexhaustible, showing no sign of running dry.

Xue Ziyi's expression shifted as he watched Luo Zu. Why was this clone of Luo Zu so formidable? His techniques were bold and unrestrained, his spiritual qi flowed endlessly, and his vicious, cunning methods were relentless. Several times, even Xue Ziyi had narrowly escaped being cleaved in two.

Though Luo Zu's clone only possessed the strength of an Astral Projection cultivator, he couldn't be judged by the standards of one. A single strike from him could slice through both body and soul, leaving no chance of survival. By now, Purple Star had grown deadly serious, her battle state a stark contrast to her usual demeanor—she was like a different person entirely.

Suddenly, Luo Zu spoke. "Your time is running out, isn't it?"

Seven Kills froze, startled. How did he know?

Luo Zu let out a strange laugh. "The Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light was my own creation. Neither of you has the aptitude to cultivate it properly. If I'm not mistaken, you used an entire Solar Essence Stone to comprehend it, didn't you? It's a quick method, but you can't stray too far from the stone."

Xue Ziyi frowned, glancing at Seven Kills. His master hadn't mentioned this critical detail. But on second thought, it was likely even his master didn't know. After all, who could have guessed that a demonic titan like Luo Zu would create something as pure and radiant as the Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light?

As expected, Seven Kills grabbed Purple Star, who was still eager to charge into battle. "You created the Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light, Senior?"

Luo Zu nodded. "I came to Starshatter Sea for one thing only. If you two agree to leave, I'll teach you how to properly cultivate the Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light. I, Luo Zu, keep my word."

Xue Ziyi and Seven Kills exchanged a meaningful glance. Seven Kills spoke up immediately. "Very well, we'll leave."

Luo Zu tossed out a spiritual sense jade slip. "This contains some of my insights on the Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light. More insights are hidden at a certain location, also noted in the slip."

Seven Kills retrieved the jade slip from the air and bowed respectfully to Luo Zu. "Many thanks, Senior Luo Zu." With that, he pulled the still-eager Purple Star and turned to leave.

Xue Ziyi let out a long sigh. He didn't dare face Luo Zu alone and could only retreat slowly. Meanwhile, Luo Zu casually pulled out a jade bottle, swallowing the blood pill inside like a date. With a wave of his hand, a corpse appeared in his grasp.

The body was clad in the lavish purple robes of the Ji family from Purple Flame Island—the Ji family patriarch himself. The patriarch had been half-dead when captured, and during Luo Zu's battle with Xue Ziyi and the others, there had been no time to tend to him. Caught in the aftershocks of the Astral Projection cultivators' fight, he was now undeniably dead.

"Utterly useless," Luo Zu muttered, shaking his head. With a casual slap, he reduced the corpse to dust. Then, with a fierce grip, he condensed the blood essence into a single blood pill in the blink of an eye and swallowed it.

"The commotion's gotten too big. I need to get my hands on the Fallen Dragon's remains quickly, or if that Void Refinement cultivator from Creation Cave Heaven shows up in person, I won't be able to escape," Luo Zu said to himself. "That kid with the spiritual flame—could he have died in there?" He pinched his fingers, checking the blood-red runes, and relaxed when he saw they were still intact. "Good, he's not dead. Finding another with a spiritual flame now would take too much time."

Luo Zu immediately surged his spiritual qi, channeling it for some time until it coalesced into the form of a pitch-black token—identical to the Black Dragon Token held by Chu Xuan and the others. Gazing at the familiar yet strangely foreign token, a nostalgic, almost melancholic expression crossed Luo Zu's face. "Odd. Where does this sense of longing come from? Perhaps I've been to Falling Dragon Valley before," he murmured.

Holding the Black Dragon Token, Luo Zu took a bold step forward, passing through the black light gate without the slightest resistance.

Only after the area fell completely silent did Zheng Kejing, Sima Yi, and the others dare to approach. Sima Yi sighed in awe. "Terrifying. Three Astral Projection True Monarchs against one man, and he still forced them to retreat."

Jiang Yuan was about to speak when he suddenly said, "We've got the final token. But there's a problem."

Zheng Kejing frowned. "What kind of problem?"

Jiang Yuan lowered his voice. "The opponent's a Nascent Soul cultivator, but they've got a powerful corpse king with them. Our people from Hidden Bone Hall lost several men."

Zheng Kejing sneered. "As expected of someone from Three Corpses Hall. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator can control a great corpse king. Jiang Yuan, I'll trouble you to handle this personally."

Jiang Yuan nodded. "I'm on it."

After Jiang Yuan left, Zheng Kejing turned to Chen Jin and Sima Yi with a faint smile. "Once we have that final token, we should be able to enter as well. A place that even Astral Projection cultivators are risking their lives to reach must be brimming with treasures."

Chen Jin and Sima Yi nodded in agreement. On the path of cultivation, those who didn't press forward with courage would always remain beneath others. They weren't like those Deity Transformation cultivators nearing the end of their lifespans, their potential exhausted, who avoided such perilous ventures and instead guarded their families or sects, ensuring the growth of their descendants or disciples. These three were the opposite. Their potential was far from spent, and they were determined to seize this opportunity and take a gamble. Who knows? They might just become the third Astral Projection cultivator in Starshatter Sea.

Chapter 542: Have You Ever Heard of Chu Xuan?

Elsewhere, Shang Xingchen glanced at the Hidden Bone Hall cultivators surrounding him, his expression darkening. He had only recently arrived in the Eastern First Ring when the Black Dragon Token in his possession inexplicably began to glow and heat up, emitting a towering black light pillar. Even when he stored it in his storage bag, the light couldn't be concealed. Every few days, the black pillar would reappear.

Being sharp-witted, Shang Xingchen quickly pieced together the situation by observing similar black light pillars elsewhere. He had anticipated being hunted, but the appearance of a Deity Transformation cultivator now made his brow furrow deeply.

Jiang Yuan studied Shang Xingchen, his gaze lingering on the great corpse king for a few moments before his own brow creased. After a long pause, he spoke, "I recognize that corpse king. It belongs to Cui Jingyang."

Cui Jingyang was none other than the true name of Leisurely Cloud True Master, the grand hall master of Three Corpses Hall.

Jiang Yuan asked, "What's your relationship with Fellow Daoist Cui?"

Shang Xingchen's voice was low and steady. "I am Shang Xingchen, a cultivator of Three Corpses Hall, disciple of Ancestor Ye Hantian, and of the same generation as Senior Brother Leisurely Cloud. Why have you all suddenly surrounded me? What's your intent?"

Jiang Yuan's expression grew even grimmer. Disciple of Ye Hantian? Junior brother to Cui Jingyang? This was a tricky situation. Killing this man could spark a war between Hidden Bone Hall and Three Corpses Hall. Great Hall Master, you've handed me a burning hot potato, Jiang Yuan thought bitterly.

After some deliberation, he forced a smile. "So, you're Fellow Daoist Leisurely Cloud's junior brother. Truly, it's like a flood washing away the Dragon King's temple—a misunderstanding between allies. My brothers from Hidden Bone Hall only want a Black Dragon Token. Hand it over, and we'll leave immediately. How about it?"

Shang Xingchen's heart sank. As expected, they were after the Black Dragon Token. But that token might be his key to breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage. Giving it up so easily would be a bitter loss.

At that moment, a cold voice cut through the air. "Touch him, and you'll have to answer to me first."

Jiang Yuan's eyebrow twitched as he turned to the source. On a flying vessel stood two figures. One was a rotund man with a wine gourd tied to his waist. The other was tall and imposing, his gaze sharp as lightning. Though only at the Nascent Soul stage, he exuded a faint threat that even Jiang Yuan, a Deity Transformation cultivator, could sense.

Shang Xingchen's eyes widened as he recognized the young man's face. "Brother?"

Shang Tianjue didn't look at him, instead fixing his gaze on Jiang Yuan. "Shang Xingchen is still a cultivator of Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect. If you touch him, you're making an enemy of the sect."

Blood Wine True Master nodded in agreement. "My disciple speaks the truth."

Jiang Yuan's face darkened further. He hadn't expected this man to have such a background. Fortunately, he hadn't acted rashly, or he'd have no place left in Starshatter Sea. Though Starshatter Sea was its own domain, it was heavily influenced by the major sects of Storm Star Region—Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect, Exquisite Treasures Alliance, Mountain Sword Sect, and even the former Reincarnation Divine Sect, all of which had planted their own agents here. While Starshatter Sea cultivators were bold in their covert dealings, none dared openly kill a sect cultivator.

Jiang Yuan's expression shifted several times as he weighed the strengths of both sides. Finally, he forced another smile. "As I said, it's a misunderstanding—a flood washing away the Dragon King's temple. I had no intention of making a move. My subordinates acted wrongly, and I'll discipline them. However, I'll need this young friend to do one thing."

Shang Tianjue frowned. "No."

Shang Xingchen waved a hand. "Brother, let's hear him out."

Jiang Yuan gave an awkward smile. "The Black Dragon Token is the key to entering the black light gate. My intention was merely to invite this young friend to use his token to open the gate."

Shang Xingchen pondered for a moment. "I see… How many tokens are you still missing?"

Jiang Yuan held up a single finger. "Just this last one."

After a brief pause, Shang Xingchen nodded. "Very well, let's head over now."

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded. "Excellent."

The two groups set off toward the Fallen Dragon Gate, one following the other. Shang Xingchen joined Shang Tianjue, and a wave of emotion washed over him, though Shang Tianjue remained silent.

Just as the younger brother was about to speak, Blood Wine True Master chuckled. "I found your brother for you. Isn't it about time you formally took me as your master?"

Shang Tianjue was quiet for a long moment before stepping forward to face Blood Wine True Master. He dropped to his knees, lowered his head, and performed a formal kowtow. Shang Xingchen watched in surprise. His elder brother was usually proud, never showing such deference to anyone. Yet here he was, humbling himself before Blood Wine True Master.

Blood Wine, caught off guard, hurried to lift Shang Tianjue to his feet, but the younger man shook his head firmly, completing the ritual. "The ceremony of taking a master must be done with respect," he said solemnly. "Disciple Shang Tianjue greets his master."

Blood Wine scratched his head, chuckling. "Honestly, just calling me master would've been enough. No need for all this formality. Otherwise, when you reach the Deity Transformation stage, I'll feel a bit awkward."

Shang Tianjue replied calmly, "Now is now, the future is the future."

Blood Wine grinned. "Alright, alright, I'm happy either way. You two brothers catch up—it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Shang Xingchen and Shang Tianjue exchanged a glance, but the latter quickly looked away. In a cold tone, he said, "Why did you give me the spot to join Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect? I could've earned it myself."

Shang Xingchen smiled. "You rebuilt your body from scratch. Without the sect's resources, your cultivation would've been too slow. For the greater good, I gave you the spot."

Then, he countered, "With your strength and talent, there was no need to come to Starshatter Sea. Why are you here?"

Shang Tianjue fell silent. Blood Wine chuckled again. "He came to Starshatter Sea to find you. Oh, and by the way, he personally killed and soul-searched Zhang Jinzhou and Tian Musen."

Shang Xingchen nodded with a smile. So that's how it is.

The three chatted for a bit longer before Shang Xingchen suddenly asked, "Brother, on your travels, have you ever heard the name Chu Xuan?"

Shang Tianjue shook his head. "No."

"What about He Liang?"

"Also no."

Shang Xingchen let out a soft hum of surprise. "With his abilities, that shouldn't be the case…"

Shang Tianjue frowned. "Are these two important to you?"

Shang Xingchen smiled lightly. "They're the same person. Chu Xuan is shrouded in mysteries and secrets. If we ever meet him, we'll have to pry some of those secrets out."

Before long, the group arrived near the Fallen Dragon Gate. Zheng Kejing, Chen Jin, and Sima Yi looked at the newcomers, their brows furrowing at the sight of another Deity Transformation cultivator.

Jiang Yuan quickly sent a transmission to Zheng Kejing, explaining the situation. Zheng Kejing's expression shifted as he weighed the circumstances. Finally, he laughed heartily. "No matter, no matter. We don't need that Black Dragon Token. Entering the light gate is a great opportunity in itself! That old demon fought three Astral Projection True Monarchs single-handedly just to get inside—there must be treasures within. Gentlemen, why don't we cooperate and enter the gate together?"

Chapter 543: With Me Here, No One Can Harm You

Shang Xingchen fell into deep thought at Zheng Kejing's words. A place that even Astral Projection cultivators were desperate to enter was likely a treasure trove of rare wonders. Even the smallest trinket that slipped through the fingers of such a cultivator could be immensely valuable to Deity Transformation or Nascent Soul cultivators like themselves. Moreover, he held the Black Dragon Token, and he had a strong premonition that something he needed lay beyond the light gate.

He glanced at Blood Wine True Master, who nodded knowingly. "Alright, we agree," Blood Wine said.

Zheng Kejing smiled. "That's the spirit. Cooperation benefits us all. We don't need the Black Dragon Token—as long as we can get inside, that's enough."

Shang Xingchen stepped up to the light gate and presented his Black Dragon Token. As expected, he passed through without any resistance. The moment he entered, the final rune on the gate dimmed. A loud rumble echoed, and all restrictions were lifted.

Zheng Kejing, ever cautious, picked up a stone and tossed it through the gate. This time, it passed through without being silently reduced to dust. Reassured, he waved his hand. "Let's go."

Zheng Kejing was the first to cross the threshold, followed closely by Jiang Yuan, Chen Jin, Sima Yi, and others. Shang Tianjue and Blood Wine True Master joined them, along with Nascent Soul cultivators from Hidden Bone Hall, Heavenly Martial Pavilion, and Soul-Locking Manor. As for the Golden Core cultivators, most knew their limits and didn't rush in to court death.

Shortly after they entered, three figures reappeared—Xue Ziyi, Purple Star, and Seven Kills.

Purple Star looked confused. "Didn't we say we were leaving? Why are we back?"

Xue Ziyi spoke calmly. "Three thousand years ago, a clone of Luo Zu rampaged through Storm Star Region, slaughtering countless prodigies and destroying numerous sects. How can we, as cultivators, stand by and let such a demonic force grow unchecked?"

Purple Star tilted her head, her large eyes filled with bewilderment.

Seven Kills shook his head. "She doesn't get that kind of talk."

Xue Ziyi sighed. "…"

Seven Kills lowered his voice. "That old demon's a bad one. If he gets what he wants so easily, Storm Star Region will never know peace again, and we won't be able to cultivate in tranquility."

Purple Star nodded. "Got it, got it. Xue Ziyi's words were so confusing."

Xue Ziyi was speechless. "…"

He suddenly asked, "Do you two still have enough time?"

Seven Kills flipped his hand, revealing a small, radiant stone in his palm. "It took me a hundred years, but I managed to chip off a piece of Solar Essence Stone."

Xue Ziyi clapped his hands. "Good! Let's go."

Seven Kills and Purple Star stepped through the Fallen Dragon Gate. Xue Ziyi watched their backs, then whispered, "Senior, are you sure about this? Doesn't this go against the upper sect's orders?"

A cold voice echoed in his mind. "If they truly cared about this Luo Zu clone, they'd have sent someone themselves. Deep down, they believe this clone can't succeed."

Xue Ziyi nodded. "I understand."

The cold voice continued, "This Luo Zu clone is after the Fallen Dragon's remains—something I want as well. Help me secure it, and I'll ensure you can delay your entry to Ethereal Mountain for five hundred years. With your talent, three hundred more years might be enough to break through to the Void Refinement stage. According to the Immortal Alliance's Immortal Canon, those who advance to a major realm are temporarily exempt from guarding Ethereal Mountain. That could buy you another thousand years to cultivate."

Xue Ziyi nodded firmly. "Thank you, Senior."

Ethereal Mountain was a terrifying place. He had seen countless Astral Projection seniors go there, never to return. If there was a chance to delay, he would seize it without hesitation. Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the Fallen Dragon Gate into Falling Dragon Valley.

…

"I never would've guessed that this Black Dragon Token would lead to a treasure."

Chu Xuan marveled at the dragon claw altar before him. Atop it hovered a glowing orb, within which a black pill bobbed up and down. He approached with the Black Dragon Token, and the orb dissipated. With a flick of his hand, the pill landed in his palm.

"What kind of pill is this?" Chu Xuan studied it closely, wrinkling his nose at its foul, fishy stench and the heavy yin energy it exuded. "Wait—this isn't a pill… it's more like a corpse core."

At that moment, he sensed a stir within the Heavenly Corpse Tower. Peering inside, he saw both Hu and Long, dormant until now, growing restless, like starving men catching the scent of a feast. Chu Xuan's eyebrow arched. "As expected, a corpse core! But to know what level it is, it'll have to be consumed…"

He promptly handed the core to Hu, who trembled with excitement and swallowed it whole. In moments, Hu's body began to emit blood-red mist, forming a cocoon around him. He was on the verge of breaking through to a higher realm.

Chu Xuan was pleasantly surprised. Hu had been stuck at the ninth-grade corpse king level, unable to advance further. The reason was simple: the Diamond Corpse Refining Method used to create him was somewhat rudimentary. On top of that, Chu Xuan had infused a True Steel Centipede into Hu's body, turning him into a gu-corpse hybrid. While this made Hu formidable, it also hindered his progression. Chu Xuan had planned to hunt for pills to aid his corpse puppet's advancement, but now, this corpse core had fallen into his lap. Judging by its potent blood energy, it was at least from a great corpse king.

"This saves me the trouble of searching for pills," Chu Xuan said, nodding in satisfaction. "In a bit, Hu should be able to ascend to great corpse king."

His own strength had grown rapidly, but his corpse puppets, ghosts, and gu insects were lagging behind. It was high time to boost their levels too. Chu Xuan pulled out his second Black Dragon Token and headed toward its indicated destination. He had a hunch that each token pointed to a unique treasure. Sure, they might be bait, but as long as he avoided the trap, what was the harm?

As he made his way to the next location, the blood-red runes on his arm began to glow faintly. His heart sank. "Damn it, Luo Zu's here."

The runes were brightening at an alarming rate, so Chu Xuan decided to stop moving and stood his ground. Sure enough, Luo Zu arrived in a flash. He looked at Chu Xuan with a cold smirk. "Hmph, why aren't you running?"

Chu Xuan shrugged. "No point."

Luo Zu scanned the surroundings. "Where were you headed?"

Chu Xuan held up the Black Dragon Token. "Each token seems to point to a treasure. I was just going to grab something."

"Then let's go," Luo Zu said casually.

Chu Xuan blinked, puzzled. "Senior, aren't you after the Fallen Dragon's remains? Why the sudden lack of urgency?"

Luo Zu gazed at the familiar landscape around them. "This place feels like somewhere I've been before. Before I claim the Fallen Dragon's remains, I want to walk around a bit. It might jog more of my memories."

Chu Xuan nodded. "Fair enough. In that case, please protect me, Senior. This place is crawling with corpse demons."

Luo Zu waved a hand dismissively. "With me here, no one can harm you. Just keep moving forward and recall those little gu insects of yours."

Chapter 544: You've Got to Understand an Old Man Who Just Woke Up

Chu Xuan nodded and recalled his Light Spirit Moths. He'd long known these little tricks were nothing in the eyes of this old demon.

"Hm? That's curious." Luo Zu casually caught one of the moths, examining it closely before releasing it. "This gu insect has a tough shell, excels at stealth, and lacks much offensive power. I've never seen its kind before. Did you breed a new strain?"

Chu Xuan nodded. The Light Spirit Moths hadn't always been this way, but he'd refined their shells and wings using the demon insect breeding methods from the Cavern World, while reducing their aggression. This made them ideal scouts.

Luo Zu patted Chu Xuan's shoulder with a strange chuckle. "Not bad, kid. Back in the day, I'd have taken you as a disciple… then, once you mastered the gu arts, I'd have refined you whole." He drawled, "That's the fastest way to learn the gu path. Got it?"

Chu Xuan was speechless. "…"

Under Luo Zu's protection, Chu Xuan pressed forward unimpeded. Any corpse demons stirred along the way were instantly slain by Luo Zu, casually reduced to dust and refined into blood pills. Soon, they reached their destination.

As expected, another dragon claw altar stood there, a glowing orb hovering above it. Chu Xuan repeated the process and claimed the treasure within—a pill brimming with dense yin energy.

Luo Zu glanced at it. "A ghost core from a great ghost king? I thought it'd be something special. This thing's only good for creating another great ghost king—hardly useful. Keep it."

"Let's head to the center of Falling Dragon Valley." Without warning, Luo Zu tucked Chu Xuan under his arm and sped toward the valley's heart. His speed was astonishing, and in no time, he came to a stop.

Chu Xuan steadied himself and looked ahead, his eyes widening. Before them lay a black dragon, its body covered in scars, exuding a ferocious aura and rippling with draconic might. It was massive, easily a thousand zhang long, sprawled across the earth as if in slumber.

Now Chu Xuan understood why this place was called Falling Dragon Valley. What looked like a towering mountain range had been carved into a deep valley by the sheer impact of this dragon's fall.

He tried to approach, but an overwhelming pressure stopped him. After just three steps, he was forced back.

"This kid… he actually took three steps?" Luo Zu caught Chu Xuan's attempt out of the corner of his eye, quietly impressed. Most Deity Transformation cultivators would've been paralyzed by such pressure, yet Chu Xuan had managed three steps—a testament to his solid foundation. Still, Luo Zu kept his thoughts hidden and scoffed, "Scared already? That's no true dragon—just its shed skin!"

Chu Xuan's eyes widened slightly. Dragon skin? No wonder it was called a "remains." Yet even as mere skin, it radiated such terrifying pressure. If the dragon itself were here, wouldn't a single glance be enough to annihilate countless cultivators like him?

Chu Xuan lowered his voice. "Senior, do you know where this Fallen Dragon came from?"

Luo Zu scratched his head. "Can't recall. All I remember is coming here with a few others. That Cold Heaven Ring of yours belonged to one of them. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have remembered even that much."

Chu Xuan nodded thoughtfully.

With a wave of his hand, Luo Zu enveloped Chu Xuan in a shroud of black light. "Start burning it. I'll protect you."

The black light dispelled the oppressive pressure of the Fallen Dragon's remains entirely. Chu Xuan swiftly approached the dragon skin, flipped his palm, and summoned the black-red Netherfire Devouring Flame, which flared to life. The dragon skin was as tough as metal, unyielding even to the searing heat of the Netherfire Devouring Flame, which could melt the hide of a Deity Transformation demonic beast. It took a full hundred breaths before the dragon skin showed the slightest sign of softening.

Luo Zu stared at the remains, growing increasingly uneasy. He tossed something toward Chu Xuan. "Kid, take this. Something's off about this dragon skin."

Chu Xuan caught it and examined it—a string of white bone prayer beads, thirty-six in total, each carved with a lifelike Buddha head. The combination of bone beads and Buddha heads was eerily unsettling.

Luo Zu chuckled. "Wear it on your wrist. It'll keep you safe. Even an Astral Projection cultivator's attack won't touch you. I made it from the bodies of several Astral Projection brats I killed."

Chu Xuan nodded and resumed burning the dragon skin. The karmic debt wasn't his to bear, so he wore the beads without hesitation. Besides, he too sensed that the dragon skin didn't seem entirely lifeless.

He suddenly asked, "Senior, where do corpse demons come from?"

Luo Zu glanced at the dragon skin casually. "They're born from this dragon skin. As for the details, I've forgotten. You'd have to go to Ethereal Mountain to find out."

Chu Xuan's expression turned puzzled. "Ethereal Mountain?"

It was the first time he'd heard the term.

Luo Zu's face creased as he strained to recall. After a long pause, he said, "It's a place where Astral Projection cultivators and above are required to serve as guardians. That's why you rarely see Astral Projection cultivators strutting around. Only newly ascended ones get a three-hundred-year exemption from guarding Ethereal Mountain. That's the gist of it, but I can't remember the finer details. Cut an old man who just woke up some slack."

Chu Xuan mulled over the information, committing it to memory. If Astral Projection cultivators were destined for Ethereal Mountain, he might one day face the same fate. He'd have to learn more about it when the chance arose.

Luo Zu was about to say more when his expression shifted. "Someone's coming."

Chu Xuan turned to look. Sure enough, three figures approached—the three Astral Projection cultivators.

Purple Star gaped at the massive Fallen Dragon remains. "What kind of monster is that? It's terrifying!"

Seven Kills frowned. "I once heard a rumor that a true dragon fell in the Storm Star Region, but its remains vanished without a trace. This might be it."

Luo Zu sneered. "You know nothing. That's just the Fallen Dragon's skin, not a true dragon. If a real dragon had fallen here, even Unity Heavenly Lords would come scrambling for it. You lot wouldn't even get a glimpse."

Xue Ziyi's voice was grim. "Luo Zu's after this dragon skin. That cultivator must be under his control, forced to soften it for him. We need to act now and stop him from succeeding!"

Luo Zu let out a strange laugh. "Good, good, good! My strength's been growing too slowly. You three will make fine fuel for me!" With a wave of his hand, a torrent of yin energy surged forth, morphing into countless grotesque skeletal ghosts.

Xue Ziyi, Seven Kills, and Purple Star struck back instantly, unleashing their full arsenal. The four Astral Projection cultivators clashed once more, and in an instant, the skies darkened, and the air thundered with their power.

Chapter 545: What's Wrong with Having a Few Extra Identities When You're Out and About?

The clash of four Astral Projection cultivators was nothing short of earth-shaking. Shockwaves from their battle rippled in all directions, rousing the dormant corpse demons throughout Falling Dragon Valley, which now surged toward the commotion. Yet, curiously, Chu Xuan remained untouched by the fallout. Both Luo Zu and Xue Ziyi deliberately steered their fight away from him, and when stray shockwaves veered his way, Xue Ziyi even intervened to dispel them.

After a moment's thought, a strange expression crossed Chu Xuan's face. Luo Zu spared him because he was useful, but Xue Ziyi? Could it be… "Does Xue Ziyi want the Fallen Dragon's remains too?" Chu Xuan's eyebrow arched, a grin spreading across his face. This was good—great, even. If others were after the prize, then he, the one preparing the feast, was in no danger.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, as if unseen eyes were scrutinizing everything in the valley. Who could it be? Chu Xuan continued burning the dragon skin, staying vigilant and ensuring his spiritual qi never dipped below half.

The battle's uproar didn't just draw corpse demons—it also attracted the other cultivators who had entered the valley. Sure enough, moments later, several figures arrived. Chu Xuan glanced back and spotted Zheng Kejing, Chen Jin, Sima Yi, and, to his surprise, Shang Xingchen, Shang Tianjue, and Blood Wine True Master.

Shang Xingchen's eyes locked onto Chu Xuan, standing beneath the Fallen Dragon's remains with the Netherfire Devouring Flame blazing in his hand. Shock flickered across his face. He hadn't expected to reunite with Chu Xuan under these circumstances.

Zheng Kejing and his group noticed Seven Kills and Purple Star, quickly bowing in respect. "Seven Kills True Monarch! Purple Star True Monarch!" They had seen the three leave earlier, yet here they were again.

Seven Kills barked, "Zheng Kejing, you and the others—go disrupt that cultivator! Luo Zu's after the Fallen Dragon's remains. We can't let him have it!"

Zheng Kejing and Jiang Yuan exchanged a glance, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, sir!" Seven Kills, an Astral Projection True Monarch of Starshatter Sea, had long patrolled the region before mastering the Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light, becoming a symbol of order. Over the years, he'd amassed immense authority. Hidden Bone Hall, founded by his former subordinates, had deep ties with Falling Star Palace and knew the might of Seven Kills and Purple Star. When Seven Kills gave an order, Zheng Kejing and Jiang Yuan dared not hesitate.

Chen Jin and Sima Yi, however, tactfully stepped back, choosing to observe. The words "Fallen Dragon's remains" sent a thrill through them. It was said that dragon scales, skin, or bones were among the best spiritual materials for advancing from Deity Transformation to Astral Projection. The Fallen Dragon's remains were clearly dragon skin.

"Kid, what's your name? I, Zheng Kejing, don't kill nameless nobodies!" Zheng Kejing sneered.

Without turning, Chu Xuan replied, "Alchemist, He Liang."

Jiang Yuan froze. "You?!" He'd thought Chu Xuan's silhouette looked familiar, and now the name clicked. At the Ten Thousand Treasures Assembly on Golden Thunder Island, Jiang Yuan had gone for Ji Yunjin, only for a man named He Liang to interfere, nearly thwarting his plans. Other matters had distracted him since, but the name now brought it all back.

"He Liang… what a coincidence! Old grudges and new ones settle today—you'll die here!" Jiang Yuan sneered, unleashing his spiritual weapon.

Zheng Kejing, though puzzled, knew it wasn't the time for questions and summoned his own weapon. Seeing the two attack, Chu Xuan tossed out three spiritual treasures. The Cold Heaven Ring expanded and contracted, radiating chilling frost. The White Dragon Capture split into two piercing beams of white light, both targeting Zheng Kejing. Meanwhile, the Dark Nether Robe swelled, blocking Jiang Yuan's assault.

Clang, clang, clang! The sound of clashing metal rang out. Alone, Chu Xuan held his own against two opponents, showing no sign of faltering in the short term.

Shang Xingchen, Shang Tianjue, and Blood Wine True Master stood back, watching from a distance. As outsiders to Starshatter Sea, they had no desire to get involved—or rather, with the situation unclear, it wasn't the right time to act.

Shang Tianjue spoke softly. "Is that the Chu Xuan you mentioned?"

Shang Xingchen nodded hesitantly. The face was indeed Chu Xuan's, but in his memory, Chu Xuan was only at the late Nascent Soul stage. How had he become capable of fighting two Deity Transformation cultivators in such a short time? Those were the grand and second hall masters of Hidden Bone Hall—both Deity Transformation True Master!

Had Chu Xuan broken through to Deity Transformation since their parting at Eight Extremes Hall? Or had he acquired some rare treasure that let him briefly unleash Deity Transformation-level power? After weighing the possibilities, Shang Xingchen leaned toward the latter.

A deafening explosion tore through the air.

Seven Kills grunted as Luo Zu sent him flying. A gaping, bloody hole marred his chest, dripping steadily. Purple Star grabbed him, narrowly dodging another of Luo Zu's attacks. Seizing the moment, Xue Ziyi struck, his yin-yang fish crashing down from above, shattering Luo Zu's right arm.

Luo Zu let out a muffled groan but used the recoil to propel himself closer to the Fallen Dragon's remains. With a sinister laugh, he swatted his hand, instantly reducing the nearest Zheng Kejing to a mist of blood. A quick grab turned the mist into a blood pill, which he swallowed.

"Kid, this place is yours now! Your ancestor's off to feast on an Astral Projection cultivator!" Luo Zu cackled, ignoring Xue Ziyi's attacks and charging straight for Seven Kills.

Purple Star hurriedly pulled Seven Kills away, fleeing into the distance. Luo Zu pursued, with Xue Ziyi hot on his heels, chasing after Luo Zu. The area around the Fallen Dragon's remains was left to Chu Xuan and the others.

Zheng Kejing's sudden demise left Jiang Yuan dazed, but with the four Astral Projection cultivators gone, his mind began to race. The strongest cultivators had left—didn't that make them the top dogs here? If they could kill the cultivator wielding the spiritual flame, the Fallen Dragon's remains would be theirs.

Jiang Yuan spoke up. "Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Sima, why don't we join forces, kill this He Liang, and seize the dragon skin? Even a small piece would be invaluable—one of the best spiritual materials for reaching the Astral Projection stage!"

Chen Jin and Sima Yi were visibly tempted.

Chu Xuan's voice rang out clear and loud. "I am Chu Xuan, sect leader of Heavenly Infinite Sect and a cultivator of Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect. Is Blood Wine True Master just going to stand by and watch?"

Jiang Yuan blinked, stunned. "Didn't you just say your name was He Liang?!"

Chu Xuan grinned. "What's wrong with having a few extra identities when you're out and about?"

Blood Wine True Master raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shang Xingchen.

Shang Xingchen whispered, "He's indeed Chu Xuan. He Liang is an alias."

Blood Wine considered for a moment, then nodded. "I'll help you—but I want a piece of the Fallen Dragon's remains."

Chapter 546: The Fallen Dragon's Remains

The Fallen Dragon's remains—who wouldn't want a piece? As a Deity Transformation cultivator, Blood Wine True Master knew his potential was exhausted, with no need to aim for the Astral Projection stage. Yet, securing the dragon skin could be traded for something he desperately needed. With the four Astral Projection cultivators now battling far off and out of sight, this was the perfect chance to seize the prize.

Chu Xuan nodded. "Take it if you can!" The dragon skin was vast, and with Luo Zu gone, he could afford to be generous with someone else's treasure to gain allies.

Shang Tianjue suddenly spoke. "Can spiritual flames speed up the burning of the dragon skin?"

Chu Xuan nodded in confirmation.

Shang Tianjue flipped his palm, revealing a white bone tower. From it surged a white flame—not a pure, holy white, but a chilling, bone-like pallor that exuded an icy menace.

Chu Xuan glanced at it and recognized its essence was no less potent than his Netherfire Devouring Flame. Shang Tianjue was indeed blessed with great fortune; this spiritual flame was likely a major opportunity he'd claimed.

Sure enough, when Shang Tianjue's white flame joined in, the dragon skin burned faster. Though the black dragon spanned a thousand zhang, the true "Fallen Dragon's remains" were only a ten-zhang section at its heart. Chu Xuan had softened half of it after prolonged effort, but with Shang Tianjue's help, the process accelerated.

While burning the dragon skin, Chu Xuan multitasked, wielding his spiritual treasures against Jiang Yuan, Chen Jin, and Sima Yi. The addition of Blood Wine True Master and Shang Xingchen eased the pressure significantly. Though Shang Xingchen was only a Nascent Soul cultivator, his great corpse king was formidable, withstanding several heavy blood-energy strikes from Chen Jin, a powerful body cultivator, without being knocked back.

The battle reached a stalemate, neither side yielding.

Jiang Yuan growled, "If you two have any trump cards, don't hold back! If those Astral Projection cultivators return, the dragon skin's as good as gone!"

Sima Yi gritted his teeth and shouted, "Cover me for a moment! I have a treasure to break the enemy, but it needs time to activate." He stepped back behind Jiang Yuan and Chen Jin, his hands rapidly forming seals as he summoned a blood-stained, broken spear. Its severed edge looked as if sliced by a sword, radiating a violent, terrifying aura. A closer look sent a stinging pain through the eyes.

As a Deity Transformation cultivator, Chu Xuan felt its power even more acutely. In an instant, he deduced the spear could harm both body and soul—otherwise, it wouldn't exude such a razor-sharp aura.

Jiang Yuan and Chen Jin, elated, positioned themselves in front of Sima Yi, unleashing talismans and spiritual treasures to buy him time. Blood Wine True Master and Shang Xingchen sensed the danger. Blood Wine downed a large gulp of wine, his skin turning crimson as his spiritual qi surged explosively.

Shang Xingchen, straining to control the great corpse king as a Nascent Soul cultivator, launched another wave of attacks. Forcing the corpse king to act beyond his level rapidly drained his mental energy, threatening exhaustion, but he had no other choice.

In that moment, Chu Xuan caught a flaw in Jiang Yuan's defenses with a glance. He sent the Cold Heaven Ring soaring, enveloping Jiang Yuan from above. Jiang Yuan, startled, raised a white bone shield to block it. But the ring was a feint—seizing the opening, the White Dragon Capture shot forward, cunningly targeting Jiang Yuan's lower body.

Jiang Yuan's face paled as he hurriedly lowered his shield. But the White Dragon Capture was lightning-fast, and its two longevity ghosts needed no direct control from Chu Xuan. In a flash, it struck. One dragon claw was blocked by the bone shield with a clang, but the other sank deep into Jiang Yuan's groin. His eyes bulged like a goldfish, frozen in shock.

"Perfect chance!" Blood Wine True Master let out a strange laugh, hurling his wine gourd into the air. The liquid splashed out, ignited by surging spiritual qi, and transformed into roaring flames. With a whoosh, the fire expanded rapidly, fueled by the wine, and enveloped Sima Yi.

In that moment, Sima Yi's tightly shut eyes snapped open. "Blood Spear, go!" he shouted, pointing forward. The blood-stained broken spear shot forth with terrifying speed.

Blood Wine True Master sensed the imminent danger and instinctively dove to the side. But the spear was too fast. In an instant, it pierced his right shoulder, then continued unabated, tearing through the great corpse king's chest and hurtling toward Chu Xuan.

Blood Wine hit the ground, blood gushing from his wound. Shang Xingchen grunted, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. That single spear had grievously wounded both Blood Wine and the corpse king.

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up at the sight of the blood-stained spear. What a treasure! He slapped his storage bag, summoning the Dragon Bone Bottle. "Go!" With a command, a torrent of inky-green liquid splashed out, dousing the spear completely.

Sima Yi's face twisted in shock. In that fleeting moment, he felt his connection to the spear weaken to a mere thread.

"Seize!" Chu Xuan pointed, and the Cold Heaven Ring expanded, then swiftly contracted, clamping the spear tightly. Seeing this, Chen Jin roared, channeling his blood energy into a massive blade that slashed toward Chu Xuan. But with a resounding clang, the blade was blocked. A shimmering layer of blood-energy gauze cloaked Chu Xuan.

Chen Jin's eyes widened. This guy's a body cultivator too? And from the looks of it, his blood energy surpassed Chen Jin's own.

In Chen Jin's moment of shock, the Dark Nether Robe surged forward, wrapping him tightly like a mummy. "Furnace Descends!" Chu Xuan roared. A blood-energy furnace crashed down from above, smashing Chen Jin's head to pieces.

Sima Yi grunted and turned to flee, but Chu Xuan pointed again. A swarm of fire bees appeared, blocking his path and spewing Netherfire Devouring Flame. Black-red fire engulfed Sima Yi, his screams echoing as he collapsed, reduced to a charred corpse.

Jiang Yuan tried to escape but was intercepted by the fire bees. He gave Chu Xuan a deep look, then pulled out a small white bone figurine. Black-red flames enveloped him, yet no screams came. When the flames dissipated, only a blackened skeleton remained.

Blood Wine True Master struggled to his feet. "That's likely a Hidden Bone Hall technique—using a bone figurine as a substitute to escape death. Their second hall master probably got away." He coughed up another mouthful of blood, instinctively clutching a Deity Transformation-grade talisman, wary of Chu Xuan making a move. Sima Yi's spear had left him reeling, and it only underscored how terrifyingly powerful Chu Xuan was—far beyond his own strength.

Chapter 547: Please, Senior, Consider My Family and Spare Me from Possession

Shang Xingchen swiftly pulled out a Deity Transformation-grade talisman from the secret vault of Three Corpses Hall, his expression complex as he looked at Chu Xuan. It hadn't been long, yet Chu Xuan had grown terrifyingly powerful.

While burning the Fallen Dragon's remains with his spiritual flame, he simultaneously wielded three spiritual treasures to fend off enemies—taking on three opponents and killing two! Those fire bees spewing flames were a technique Shang Xingchen had never seen or sensed before. If Chu Xuan had wanted to kill them, they'd likely have been gravely injured or dead.

Chu Xuan smiled. "No need for such tension. I, Chu Xuan, am always amicable. If those men hadn't forced my hand, I wouldn't have fought them."

His priority was clear: soften the remaining dragon skin, not deal with Shang Xingchen's group. He knew what mattered most.

At his words, Shang Xingchen, Shang Tianjue, and Blood Wine True Master relaxed slightly but remained on guard. In the demonic path, true safety was a myth. If Chu Xuan suddenly turned on them, staying vigilant gave them a chance to react rather than being caught counting coins for their own funeral.

Just then, an ancient, weathered voice echoed from within the Fallen Dragon's remains. "Young man, do you crave power?"

Chu Xuan's eyebrow twitched, but he didn't respond immediately, continuing to burn the dragon skin. His suspicions were confirmed—the entity lurking in the depths of Falling Dragon Valley, watching everything, had finally revealed itself. And its timing was impeccable, with Luo Zu and Xue Ziyi's group locked in heated battle, too distracted to notice.

When Chu Xuan didn't react, the voice, assuming he hadn't heard, repeated, "Young man, do you crave power?" This time, its tone carried a potent, seductive pull.

Now certain the voice was sounding in his mind, Chu Xuan still feigned ignorance, maintaining his silence. He put on a startled, uncertain expression. "Who are you?"

The voice spoke again. "I am a dragon soul! Young man, I've been trapped here for ages. Help me break free, and I'll protect you for a hundred years. In that time, you'll surely reach the Astral Projection stage!"

Chu Xuan chuckled inwardly but let his face show awe. "Really? The Astral Projection stage in a hundred years?"

The voice affirmed confidently, "Of course! The Astral Projection stage may seem daunting to you, but for me, it's simple."

Seeing Chu Xuan's apparent interest, the voice pressed, "Don't hesitate!"

Chu Xuan's tone grew serious. "Senior Dragon Soul, what must I do?"

"It's simple," the voice replied. "Stop burning the dragon skin with your spiritual flame and offer a spiritual treasure for me to enter. I can act through it. Once I break the seal here, I'll return it immediately. Rest assured, I'm no malevolent soul—I won't possess your body."

Chu Xuan nodded eagerly. "I see! If it's just a spiritual treasure, I can spare one. I'll stop burning now!" He recalled the Netherfire Devouring Flame and glanced at the others.

Blood Wine True Master was still half-sitting, tending to his wounds. Shang Xingchen remained wary, but Shang Tianjue's face flickered with a strange expression as he, too, withdrew his spiritual flame. Catching Chu Xuan's gaze, Shang Tianjue turned to meet it. Though no words passed between them, they understood each other in an instant.

Shang Tianjue's lips moved silently as he glanced at Shang Xingchen and Blood Wine. Both raised their eyebrows, catching his meaning. Blood Wine stepped forward, feigning concern. "You're injured? I've got some pills—let me get them." Instead of pills, he pulled a full array set from his storage bag and began setting it up with urgency.

Chu Xuan, meanwhile, retrieved his Extreme Cold Sealing Array from his storage bag and handed it to Blood Wine to deploy. He continued his conversation with the voice. "Senior, are you still there? I was too injured earlier and had to take some pills."

The voice replied calmly, "I'm right here in the dragon skin. Have you decided?"

Chu Xuan's tone grew solemn. "Senior, you're truly not trying to possess me?" He glanced at Blood Wine's array setup and lowered his voice. "My family's struggling to survive. I'm its backbone. If I die, the clan will collapse. Please, Senior, consider my elderly parents and young children—don't possess me." His words dripped with such earnest sincerity, it could bring tears to one's eyes.

The voice snapped, "Why would I deceive a junior like you?"

Chu Xuan's voice broke with a sob. "I've encountered an old demon trying to possess me before. If not for my master's protection and my senior brother's help, I'd have perished, becoming a vessel for that fiend. Please forgive my caution, Senior—I've learned the hard way."

The voice grew more irritated. "I'm a dragon soul. Why would I possess you?" It calmed and added, "Rest assured, I just need a spiritual treasure. Once I'm done, I'll repay you a thousandfold!"

Chu Xuan sighed deeply. "Alright, I'll trust you this once, Senior. Please don't betray me." He continued, "I have a few spiritual treasures here. Pick one." He laid out his treasures in a row.

The voice sounded pleased. "That ice ring of yours is good. It'll do for my temporary residence. Just touch it to the dragon skin, and I can enter."

Blood Wine signaled Chu Xuan with a gesture. Chu Xuan nodded slightly and said, "Very well, Senior, come out then." He pressed the Cold Heaven Ring against the dragon skin.

As expected, a beam of spiritual light surged out, entering the ring. Chu Xuan swiftly hurled it into the nearby array. Blood Wine slammed his hand on the array disc, shouting, "Three Yang Soul-Extinguishing Array! Extreme Cold Sealing Array!"

The arrays sprang to life. Three blazing beams of yang light shot up, bathing the Cold Heaven Ring, causing wisps of white vapor to rise. A surge of icy energy froze the ring in place, trapping it completely.

Under the strain, a grotesque humanoid soul emerged from the ring. This was no dragon soul—it was clearly a primordial spirit!

Blood Wine, Shang Xingchen, and Shang Tianjue stared gravely at the spirit within the array. Chu Xuan swallowed a bottle of pills, his complexion regaining some color. In that fleeting moment, he'd severed his spiritual sense connection to the Cold Heaven Ring. Even if this unknown entity tried to possess him through their link, it was impossible now.

The primordial spirit glared at Chu Xuan, roaring in fury. "Damn you! Damn you! I treated you with sincerity, and you repay me with betrayal!"

Chu Xuan sneered. "Sincerity? Your voice is laced with such potent beguiling power, and you call that sincerity?"

Chapter 548: Ancestor, Go in Peace

"Ye Hantian?!" Shang Xingchen stared at the primordial spirit, shock written across his face. Having landed on Heavenly Corpse Island and inherited Ye Hantian's legacy from Three Corpses Hall, he'd seen the ancestor's likeness in the hall's statues. This spirit was unmistakably Ye Hantian. No wonder he'd felt a sense of destiny when he claimed the Black Dragon Token from the secret vault. But why was Ye Hantian here?

Chu Xuan's eyebrow arched at the name. "So, it's Ancestor Ye Hantian of Three Corpses Hall. A pleasure to meet you." He was even more relieved about his earlier caution—otherwise, he might already be possessed by Ye Hantian.

Shang Tianjue spoke up. "Ye Hantian was a Deity Transformation cultivator, but this primordial spirit's size doesn't match one."

Chu Xuan glanced at the spirit again, his expression shifting. Indeed, the spirit was only about a fifth the size of a normal primordial spirit. Where was the rest?

Instinctively, Chu Xuan activated a spiritual sense secret technique, forming a shield. Sure enough, a powerful spiritual sense shockwave erupted from the Fallen Dragon's remains, rippling outward.

Blood Wine True Master grunted and collapsed. Shang Xingchen and Shang Tianjue, with their lower cultivation, bled from their orifices, only their strong wills keeping them conscious.

Chu Xuan, too, was struck by the sudden spiritual sense assault. His triple true shield shattered instantly. The technique, suited for the Nascent Soul stage, was inadequate for his Deity Transformation level, and he hadn't yet acquired a stronger spiritual sense secret method. The Mysterious Heaven Ice Soul Scripture's Deity Transformation chapter included one, but it required reaching the fourth layer to learn.

In that critical moment, the white bone prayer beads on Chu Xuan's wrist flew out. The thirty-six Buddha heads spun rapidly, forming a protective barrier over his head. The relentless spiritual sense shockwaves were completely blocked, not a trace slipping through.

Chu Xuan was astonished. He'd thought the beads could only deflect spiritual treasures and spells, not spiritual sense attacks.

"What is that?!" a low shout echoed from the dragon skin.

Ye Hantian's primordial spirit fully materialized, his face grim. Chu Xuan glanced at the spirit trapped in the array and compared it to this new fragment. Together, they roughly matched the size of a perfected Deity Transformation cultivator's primordial spirit. Clearly, Ye Hantian had played a cunning game, deliberately sending only part of his spirit into the Cold Heaven Ring to guard against Chu Xuan.

What a sly old fox, Chu Xuan thought, sneering as he faced off against Ye Hantian. Neither could overpower the other. For now, Chu Xuan wasn't worried—once Luo Zu returned, Ye Hantian was as good as dead. The spirit seemed to realize this, his expression growing anxious.

"Kid, we have no grudge. Why stand in my way?" Ye Hantian said, his voice tinged with urgency.

Chu Xuan chuckled. "Just moments ago, you claimed to be a dragon soul and lied about possessing me through a spiritual treasure. Now you say we have no grudge?"

Ye Hantian's voice was grave. "Those two young men could serve as vessels for my possession. Help me, and once I'm free, I swear to keep my promise and aid you in reaching the Astral Projection stage. My word is my bond!"

Chu Xuan glanced at Shang Xingchen, clearing his throat but saying nothing. Shang Xingchen, struggling to stand, spoke up. "Sect Leader, I have two spiritual sense jade slips. The first contains Supreme Bliss Pill King's insights on Deity Transformation-stage pills, along with numerous pill recipes. The second holds Ye Hantian's corpse path inheritance from an ancient sect, including several powerful corpse-refining techniques that guarantee at least a corpse king. I also know the location of Three Corpses Hall's secret vault, filled with Ye Hantian's treasures from his lifetime." He looked at Chu Xuan. "Sect Leader, is this enough to spare my brother and me?"

Chu Xuan's grin widened. More than enough. Supreme Bliss Pill King's insights were something he'd long coveted, suspecting Shang Xingchen had hidden them. His guess was spot-on. As for Ye Hantian's corpse path inheritance, it was an unexpected delight.

Chu Xuan's current corpse-refining methods, like the Diamond Corpse Refining Method, were subpar, weakening the corpse puppet's strength significantly. The Heavenly Yin Gu Corpse Method required matching gu insects to corpses, a tedious process. He desperately needed a superior technique that preserved more of the corpse's original power. Shang Xingchen's offerings were exactly what he wanted.

In contrast, Ye Hantian's promise of the Astral Projection path felt too vague. Bluntly put, if such a path existed, why hadn't Ye Hantian used it himself instead of offering it to Chu Xuan? And compared to the unknown Ye Hantian, the familiar Shang Xingchen was far more trustworthy.

Ye Hantian's eyes bulged at Shang Xingchen's words. "You… you're my disciple!"

Shang Xingchen smiled. "This disciple was fortunate to enter Heavenly Corpse Island and receive Ancestor Ye's inheritance. But now, seeing Ancestor possessed by an evil demon, my heart aches. I have no choice but to slay you! Ancestor, go in peace—your disciple will forever remember your kindness!" He cupped his hands toward Ye Hantian.

Ye Hantian nearly choked with rage.

Blood Wine True Master managed a strained smile. "We must act together to eliminate this demon." He pushed two talismans toward Shang Xingchen and Shang Tianjue. One was a Yin-Dissolving Soul Talisman to resist spiritual sense attacks, the other a Soul-Suppressing Talisman for launching them.

Shang Xingchen and Shang Tianjue followed Chu Xuan, activating spiritual sense techniques to assault Ye Hantian. Whenever Ye Hantian counterattacked, they sheltered under the white bone prayer beads' protection. Though Nascent Soul spiritual sense attacks couldn't heavily damage a Deity Transformation primordial spirit, their cumulative effect was significant—especially since Ye Hantian's spirit was already weakened, with a fifth of it split off.

Under the trio's relentless assault, Ye Hantian could only rage helplessly. Seizing an opening, Chu Xuan struck, heavily wounding Ye Hantian's primordial spirit. With a fierce grab from his Sky-Tearing Cold Palm, he yanked Ye Hantian out, erased his consciousness, and stuffed him into the Sky-Shielding Umbrella.

Shang Xingchen and Shang Tianjue instinctively stepped back, keeping a safe distance. Shang Xingchen smiled and cupped his hands. "Sect Leader's might is awe-inspiring! Without you, we'd have fallen to this demon."

Chu Xuan smiled without responding. Suddenly, countless black lights erupted from the dragon's remains—palm-sized black dragon souls. Among them, three particularly deep, dark beams shot straight toward Chu Xuan, Shang Xingchen, and Shang Tianjue.

Before Chu Xuan could react, one beam struck his mind. Seven swirling, dark characters materialized in his consciousness: Lunar Fallen Dragon Qi-Devouring Method.

Chapter 549: A Fallen Dragon Might Not Truly Be a Dragon

Chu Xuan was slightly startled. What kind of technique is this? The name alone sounded incredibly profound. In the next moment, a stream of obscure, cryptic black scriptures flooded into his mind.

"Thus and so… like this and that…" As Chu Xuan absorbed the technique, his face lit up with awe. "This method allows one to condense a Fallen Dragon Law Seed. At its peak, a single thought can transform the body into a Fallen Dragon, soaring through the cosmos, invincible! However, it erodes the mind over time, blurring the line between dragon and cultivator until one fully becomes a Fallen Dragon. To practice it safely, one must use treasures that calm the mind and spirit to suppress the Law Seed, preventing madness. The first step of the Lunar Fallen Dragon Qi-Devouring Method is to condense the Law Seed, requiring items like Taotie Tree bark, Lesser Yin Immortal Fruit, and Heaven-Severing Black Bamboo…"

Chu Xuan's eyebrow twitched. Taotie Tree bark? It actually required something so rare? He stopped reading further. Even if the Lunar Fallen Dragon Qi-Devouring Method was a top-tier divine technique, it demanded a safe environment to cultivate. Now wasn't the time for close study.

He glanced around, noticing the small black dragon souls in the air had vanished, scattered to unknown destinations. "Perhaps they weren't dragon souls at all… After all, a Fallen Dragon might not truly be a dragon," he mused thoughtfully.

His gaze settled on Shang Xingchen and Shang Tianjue. Blood Wine True Master stood protectively beside them, one hand clutching his wound, the other tucked in his sleeve, likely gripping a hidden weapon. Shang Xingchen's great corpse king had risen again, guarding its master. Catching Chu Xuan's look, Blood Wine smiled faintly. "I've got some healing wine, Fellow Daoist Chu. Care for a sip?"

Chu Xuan shook his head and sat cross-legged, resuming the burning of the Fallen Dragon's remains with his Netherfire Devouring Flame. Blood Wine was clearly shielding the brothers. His earlier flourish with the wine gourd was a subtle warning—he had more where that came from.

Though Blood Wine's potential was spent, his combat prowess was formidable, with an array of versatile wine gourds for any situation. Add Shang Xingchen's corpse king to the mix, and Chu Xuan, though suspecting the brothers had also gained treasures like he had, chose caution over action. The world was full of treasures; he couldn't claim them all.

Soon, Shang Xingchen and Shang Tianjue recovered from their dazed state. The moment they did, they instinctively summoned magical treasures for protection, clutching Deity Transformation-grade talismans ready to activate. Seeing Chu Xuan calmly burning the dragon skin, they breathed a sigh of relief. The brothers exchanged a glance but said nothing.

"Since you're awake, help me burn the dragon skin," Chu Xuan said evenly. "We take as much as we can before those four return."

Shang Tianjue stepped forward, resuming his spiritual flame. With their combined efforts, the remaining dragon skin softened rapidly, wilting like a dehydrated cucumber, far from its former majesty. Before it could reharden, Chu Xuan drew a spiritual treasure to cut it.

To his surprise, even his treasure's sharpness couldn't slice the softened dragon skin. "No wonder Luo Zu wasn't worried about others stealing it," he murmured. "Cutting this dragon skin must require a special treasure." He sighed lightly, realizing he hadn't anticipated this obstacle.

Shang Xingchen, Shang Tianjue, and Blood Wine True Master froze, their gazes sharpening. It seemed the Fallen Dragon's remains were truly beyond their grasp.

Suddenly, Shang Xingchen spoke up. "Look, the dragon skin is disappearing!"

Chu Xuan, Shang Tianjue, and Blood Wine turned to see the thousand-zhang black dragon sprawled across the ground dissolving into black mist at an alarming rate. Only the section Chu Xuan and Shang Tianjue had been burning remained unchanged, floating in midair.

Chu Xuan frowned. This sudden turn of events—whether good or bad—was unclear.

At that moment, a few small stones rolled to his feet. He furrowed his brow, scanning the surroundings. The nearby mountains began to tremble faintly, followed by more rocks tumbling down. Then, with a deafening rumble, the mountains themselves split apart.

Chu Xuan's expression changed. Falling Dragon Valley was collapsing!

"Run!" Blood Wine True Master grabbed Shang Tianjue and bolted. Better to live and fight another day than be buried with the valley. The dragon skin wasn't worth their lives.

Chu Xuan didn't hesitate, turning to flee. He'd already gained plenty from this venture: the blood-stained broken spear taken from Sima Yi, the Lunar Fallen Dragon Qi-Devouring Method, and the white bone prayer beads—all top-tier treasures. Greed for the dragon skin now could cost him everything.

As the valley crumbled, the corpse demons grew frenzied. Many, killed by the shockwaves of Luo Zu and the others' battle, had revived even stronger. Chu Xuan glanced around, spotting several great corpse demons. If they surrounded him, even survival would come at a steep cost.

He surged his blood energy, summoning the blood-energy furnace to crash down repeatedly, knocking back approaching corpse demons. Shang Xingchen and the others employed their own techniques, fending off the creatures as the four raced toward the valley's entrance.

Curiously, Chu Xuan noticed something odd: some corpse demons approached Shang Xingchen but didn't attack, as if they couldn't see him. He alone among the four received this strange treatment.

Soon, they reached the entrance and rushed out without a word. The environment shifted dramatically. Though the outside was still shrouded in gray mist, it was a marked improvement over the valley's oppressive gloom.

"The black light outside is trembling violently," Shang Xingchen observed. "Could the Fallen Dragon be the source of the light? Now that it's vanishing, is the light fading too?"

Blood Wine laughed heartily. "Good news! I'm sick of this unchanging scenery. Let's get out of here."

Shang Xingchen pointed. "There's light that way—likely a projection from the outside. Let's head there." He turned to Shang Tianjue. "Brother, why aren't you moving?"

Shang Tianjue stood motionless, head bowed. As Shang Xingchen moved to approach, Blood Wine grabbed him. "Something's wrong with him. Don't get close."

Chu Xuan sensed it too and stepped back. Faintly, he detected a trace of the Fallen Dragon's aura emanating from Shang Tianjue. Was it an illusion?

A guttural roar erupted from Shang Tianjue, unlike any human sound—it was eerily akin to a dragon's cry. He fixed Shang Xingchen with a deep stare, struggling to force out a few words. "Don't… come… find me…"

Then, he turned and shot off, covering a thousand zhang in a blink. His movements were not those of a cultivator but resembled a demonic beast's.

Chapter 550: Name, Realm, Destination?

The sudden transformation left Shang Xingchen and Blood Wine True Master stunned. How had a perfectly normal person turned beast-like so abruptly?

Blood Wine stomped his foot in frustration. "Damn it! I just took on a fine disciple, and now he's like this!"

Chu Xuan lowered his voice. "Something hit your minds earlier. That might be what changed Shang Tianjue."

Shang Xingchen let out a long sigh, falling silent. After a while, he looked up. "Let's go. Now's the best time to escape the black light."

The three hurried forward. The black light was fracturing, letting in vibrant sunlight, green grass, and red flowers—a bright tear in the gray, oppressive world. As they pressed on, the scenery gradually shifted. The gloomy sky and lifeless sea vanished.

Chu Xuan exhaled deeply. Finally out. His time in Starshatter Sea, especially in Falling Dragon Valley, had been anything but pleasant. Though Luo Zu had promised not to kill him, Chu Xuan wasn't naive enough to entrust his life to another's whim. With Luo Zu and the three Astral Projection cultivators gone, the weight on his heart lifted.

Shang Xingchen spoke up. "Sect Leader, don't return to Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect just yet. Find a place to lay low."

Chu Xuan chuckled. "Thanks for the advice."

Shang Xingchen cupped his hands. "If you'd help find my brother in the future, I hope you'll lend a hand, considering I was once an elder of Heavenly Infinite Sect. Of course, I'll prepare proper compensation."

Chu Xuan nodded with a smile. "With compensation, anything's negotiable." He summoned a flying vessel and headed into the distance. Even without Shang Xingchen's warning, he'd planned to do just that.

The blood-red runes Luo Zu left on him were still a concern. While fleeing to Blue Star might keep Luo Zu from finding him, the demonic cultivator's prowess meant he could likely track Chu Xuan's last known location. The last thing Chu Xuan wanted was to return from Blue Star only to find Luo Zu waiting. That would spell disaster—his greatest asset, the Myriad Realm Mirror, would surely be exposed.

"Whether Luo Zu survived and left Falling Dragon Valley or not, he probably won't come for me right away," Chu Xuan mused. "Still, I should conceal my cultivation and find a place to hide until things settle. Ideally, I'll find a way to remove these blood-red runes."

He decided against returning to Golden Phoenix Island or lingering in Starshatter Sea. The region was surrounded by numerous cultivation stars—he could slip into one unnoticed if he kept a low profile. Piloting his flying vessel, Chu Xuan sped off without pause.

Elsewhere, Luo Zu dodged a devastating strike from Xue Ziyi, seized the Fallen Dragon's remains, and fled. His body was riddled with wounds: his right eye was gone, leaving a bloody socket; his left arm was missing; and a gash stretched from his right shoulder to his abdomen, exposing a broken rib. Yet his speed remained astonishing.

As he passed an island, he grabbed a few Nascent Soul cultivators, refining them into blood pills in an instant and swallowing them. But such pills were weak, barely alleviating his injuries. Xue Ziyi pursued relentlessly, hurling spells that clashed wildly, sinking islands and churning the sea a thousand zhang high. Many cultivators, spared by Luo Zu, perished under Xue Ziyi's attacks instead.

"Still chasing?" Luo Zu growled. "I don't even know you!"

Xue Ziyi's pupils had shifted from black to a vivid purple, and his voice was icy. "Leave the Fallen Dragon's remains behind!"

Luo Zu suddenly sneered, shouting back, "I don't know who you are, but this Astral Projection cultivator's caused such a ruckus, he'll definitely be sent to Ethereal Mountain early."

At those words, a flicker of anxiety crossed Xue Ziyi's previously impassive face. Ethereal Mountain… His expression wavered between cold detachment and unease. Finally, the cold voice spoke again. "Leave half the dragon skin, and we part ways."

Luo Zu replied gravely, "Deal!" He drew a blood-red dagger and sliced with precision. The dragon skin, which Chu Xuan and the others couldn't dent, parted like tofu under the blade. Luo Zu hurled half the remains far away and fled in the opposite direction, vanishing in a blink.

Xue Ziyi coldly eyed Luo Zu's retreating figure, teleported to the discarded dragon skin, and seized it. "Senior, not only did we fail to capture Luo Zu's clone, but we've caused a huge commotion. I'm afraid this will alert my master," he said softly.

The cold voice cackled. "What's there to fear? With me here, I'll protect you even if you're sent to Ethereal Mountain!"

Xue Ziyi relaxed slightly. The voice continued, "Getting the Fallen Dragon's remains is the greatest gain. And I suspect, for a long time to come, not only will your master not punish you, but he'll value you even more."

Xue Ziyi frowned. "Why?"

The voice laughed eerily. "Though Falling Dragon Valley held only the dragon's skin, it concealed many things. Now that the valley's gone, those things have escaped. They'll spread from Starshatter Sea to the entire Storm Star Region. It's a time when people will be needed, and your master won't touch you—he'll shield you from the higher-ups' pressure."

Xue Ziyi pondered. "Those things?"

The voice chuckled again. "Don't worry, you'll see them soon enough."

…

Days later, on Yan Jing Island in the Northern Third Ring, a fleet laden with cultivators and goods prepared to set sail. The ship bore the carving of an unsheathed sword, marking it as under the protection of Mountain Sword Sect. The cultivators boarding the deck were orderly, none dared cause trouble.

Among them, a black-robed cultivator blended into the crowd, stepping swiftly onto the deck. Two female cultivators, both at the Foundation Establishment stage, were casually chatting while handling registrations. Despite their low cultivation, even Golden Core cultivators in line didn't dare complain, obediently complying with the process. After all, the fleet was backed by Mountain Sword Sect.

When the black-robed cultivator's turn came, the taller female cultivator asked casually, "Name, realm, destination?"