The corpse puppet and the ghosts followed Chu Xuan as he traversed between two realms, learning many hidden secrets. Even a great being of a higher realm, upon discovering such secrets, would undoubtedly go mad. It was very possible that someone of high status would personally come to capture him. As for what would become of Chu Xuan in the end, his fate would surely be tragic.
It was well-known that the corpse puppet had no soul. However, cultivators at higher realms would certainly possess methods to search for the memories of a corpse puppet. Although very few would dare to do so, Chu Xuan could not afford to gamble on such a small possibility.
That was why, long ago, he had placed spiritual sense restrictions on all the corpse puppets and ghosts. Through his spiritual sense connection with them, all he needed was a thought to activate the restrictions and directly destroy the consciousness of the corpse puppets and ghosts. This ensured that his ability to travel between realms would remain undiscovered by anyone.
Chu Xuan severed the soul connection swiftly, but the invasion came even faster. Before he could completely sever the link, a faint trace of spiritual sense entered his soul. The pain, like being pricked by needles, immediately flooded his senses.
Chu Xuan gritted his teeth, quickly wrapping his spiritual sense around the invader's spiritual sense. However, his spiritual sense was clearly far inferior to the opponent's. It was as if a moth was flying into a flame—no matter how much spiritual sense he poured in, it was burned away by the other's power.
But Chu Xuan's advantage lay in the sheer strength of his spiritual sense, which far surpassed others of his realm. The consumption of energy was great, but as long as he invested enough spiritual sense, he could certainly block the other's advance.
This contest lasted for a full two hours. Finally, the other's spiritual sense began to falter, and it was completely consumed by Chu Xuan's spiritual sense.
Hum!
At that moment, Chu Xuan felt a profound sense of relief, as though he had been parched for years and suddenly found a life-saving spring of water. It was as if he had just devoured a large, juicy piece of meat!
He turned inward, examining his soul, and was astonished to find that it had expanded considerably! His soul had grown by at least fifty percent. This meant that the upper limit of his spiritual sense had increased by over fifty percent as well.
With this expansion, he found that his perception of the world had deepened. Things that once seemed obscure and hard to understand now felt simple and clear. This was the effect of a stronger soul.
"Though I've lost many treasures, by a twist of fate, my soul has grown much stronger. There aren't many ways to strengthen the soul."
Chu Xuan exhaled a deep sigh of relief. Perhaps this was the dual nature of fortune and misfortune. Though he had lost his best magic treasures, they could be replaced. Now, in the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, spiritual stones were far more valuable than magic treasures. As long as he was alive, he would eventually acquire even more and better treasures
"Such a pity about Bao. He could have been a great asset to me. It's obvious that old monster set its sights on him," Chu Xuan muttered to himself. By cutting off his spiritual sense connection with Bao, it meant that Bao would die and become nothing more than a shell.
"However, it's no big deal. The Heavenly Corpse Tower holds plenty of corpses from body-refining cultivators. I can just pick one and refine it. It won't be long before I have another lively corpse king."
After waiting a while for Hu and Long to return, Chu Xuan immediately set off toward Blue Star. There was no time to waste in the Sky Gold Battlefield!
Meanwhile, at Heaven-Three City, Bao stood up again. His eyes were no longer the clear, naive ones of before. Now, they were heavy and aged, filled with a deep, ancient wisdom. The corpse puppet he had originally occupied had been discarded carelessly.
"This corpse puppet is quite impressive. It actually has a spiritual root within," Bao's voice echoed with a faint smile. "That little cultivator is interesting. He actually sensed that I was trying to take over his body through the corpse puppet and his master's spiritual connection. This corpse king must be quite valuable to him. He gave it up so decisively. Quite a character."
While Bao spoke those words, he clearly wasn't overly concerned about Chu Xuan. Instead, he began to move in his newly acquired body, cracking and popping as his bones shifted and realigned. After a long while, a look of confusion appeared on his face.
"But... who am I? What should I do? Why have I woken up?"
He frowned, deep in thought. His previous urge to possess Chu Xuan had been a mere instinct. Now, as he settled into this new body, all kinds of questions began to flood his mind, causing his thoughts to become scattered. He tried to remember, but only fragmented memories surfaced, while the rest remained locked away in ancient recollections that were difficult to access.
"Luo Zu… that's right, many people used to call me Luo Zu. So, I must be Luo Zu. It seems I didn't awaken at the right time."
He wandered around Heaven-Three City, and upon seeing the Greedy Fang Tree's roots, he suddenly stopped.
"What an odd tree root. It carries a familiar aura."
He reached out a hand and easily pierced the roots of the tree, as if slicing through tofu. The Taotie Tree immediately trembled violently but did not dare resist.
"So, your name is Taotie Tree, now I know. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do, but I know I must go somewhere. Where… where is it? The Eternal Battlefield! Yes, that's it, The Eternal Battlefield! Given my current strength, going to the Eternal Battlefield is too dangerous. How can I quickly increase my strength…?"
Luo Zu's heart stirred as his gaze shifted toward the underground beneath Heaven-Three City. Suddenly, he stamped his foot on the ground, and something seemed to respond to his summons from below, rising toward the surface.
In the blink of an eye, the earth cracked open violently. The sturdy city walls of Heaven-Three City shattered like fragile glass, breaking apart into countless fragments of stone and rubble.
From the ground emerged a dark, sinister palace. The palace's surface was scarred and worn, and even one of the massive stone pillars at its entrance had been severed. The plaque that once hung above the entrance had vanished without a trace.
Despite the damage, the palace exuded an aura of ancient, vast power, as though it were the very source of all evil in the world, the sacred ground where all demonic sects should gather.
"This palace... seems to be mine," Luo Zu mused aloud. "It craves nourishment, and I too am hungry. This works out perfectly."
After thinking for a moment, Luo Zu flew into the depths of the palace.
Immediately, a vast and oppressive aura erupted, radiating from the heart of the palace and sweeping out in all directions. The air itself seemed to ripple with the force of this presence. Anyone within the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, no matter what they were doing, suddenly paused and looked up, their gazes instinctively drawn toward Heaven-Three City.
For those closer to the city, the sound of violent tremors echoed through the air. The land itself groaned, signaling either the emergence of a monster or the appearance of a powerful treasure. Whatever it was, anyone bold enough to take a risk was sure to gain something extraordinary. Those too timid to act would be forever stuck at their current level, living out their lives in mediocrity until they were nothing but dust.
As the shockwave continued to spread, cultivators immediately made their way toward Heaven-Three City. Those who had seen the palace with their own eyes were stunned by its ancient and malevolent nature. It was unlike anything they had ever encountered. The news of this event quickly spread across the Sky Gold Battlefield, igniting fear and excitement in the hearts of many.
Even Heavenly River True Master and Tian Mozi, two Deity Transformation cultivators, were shaken. They immediately departed from Heaven-Nine City and Heaven-One City, rushing to the scene to investigate.
That day, Chu Xuan met with Shang Xingchen and Wei Ji. Shang Xingchen brought several unsettling pieces of news. The first was that the tree roots had become even more numerous.
At first, they had only appeared around the city, but now they were visible everywhere. Although the newly sprouted roots were still weak, they grew at an astonishing rate. In just a day or two of neglect, they would become incredibly tough. Even the spells of Nascent Soul cultivators could not harm them in the slightest. The second piece of news was even more disturbing: these roots had begun to control corpses.
"I specifically brought one with me," Shang Xingchen said gravely, tossing something onto the ground.
Chu Xuan focused on it.
It was pitch black, small in size, and covered in scales—Nether Crocodile. However, this Nether Crocodile had a massive sword wound across its waist, splitting its body clean in two. Yet now, a thin root had begun to wriggle through the cut, sewing the two halves back together like a fine thread.
The dead Nether Crocodile stood again, revived by the roots. Its aggression was even fiercer than before. No sooner had it landed than it lunged viciously at Wei Ji.
Shang Xingchen was prepared. With a sharp pull of his chain, he tightly bound the strange creature.
"This is what other cultivators have seen too," Shang Xingchen said in a low voice. "They call these creatures 'Wood Corpses.' These Wood Corpses are highly aggressive, far surpassing ancient beasts in their bloodlust. They attack without hesitation, showing no fear of anyone."
Chu Xuan nodded slightly.
This must be the work of the Taotie Tree controlling the corpses. Its purpose… perhaps to use these Wood Corpses to absorb more nutrients.
The Nether Crocodile, now under the control of the Taotie Tree, had only the strength of a Golden Core cultivator in its resurrected form. But as time passed, its power might grow stronger.
Shang Xingchen raised three fingers and spoke somberly. "The third piece of news: Heaven-Three City has vanished, and a pitch-black palace now stands in its place."
Wei Ji added, "We went to observe from a distance. The palace exudes a sinister aura—its presence is unmistakably linked to the demonic path."
Chu Xuan's mind wandered as he considered their words. Recalling the events in Heaven-Three City, a sense of lingering dread filled him. He had no doubt that this sudden appearance of the Dark Palace was connected to the old monster.
Wei Ji couldn't help but mutter, "That Dark Palace—it's clearly the work of a demonic giant. If we could find something inside…"
He displayed a look of longing.
The treasures left behind by demonic giants—be it techniques, secret arts, pills, talismans, or magic treasures—were all invaluable. Even the inheritance of the demonic path itself was a rare and precious find. How could he not be excited?
However, Shang Xingchen did not lose his composure. Even if there were treasures, one still needed the life to claim them. When the Nether Dao Sect's Ghost Palace emerged, his elder brother, Shang Tianjue, had used this very tactic to absorb the souls and flesh of countless cultivators. As someone who had been through it, he would not rashly venture into an unknown place. Who knew whether they were walking into a treasure trove brimming with riches, or a blood-soaked mouth waiting to devour the unwary?
"So, what about it, Sect Master? Will you go?" Wei Ji asked eagerly.
Chu Xuan shook his head. "I'm not skilled in combat spells. I won't be going."
Wei Ji was taken aback.
It's fine to lie to your buddies, but don't lie to yourself!
He couldn't help but ask again, "Really not going?"
Chu Xuan replied firmly, "Not going. I truly am not good at fighting."
Wei Ji's expression tightened in disbelief.
If you're not good at combat spells, what does that make me? Should I just find a rock and bash my head into it?
Shang Xingchen couldn't help but study Chu Xuan for a moment, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He suddenly spoke. "Both Heavenly River True Master and Tian Mozi Daoist plan to enter that Dark Palace. We shouldn't get involved. Better not end up as stepping stones for them. Fellow Daoist Wei, you shouldn't go either."
Wei Ji was taken aback. "But I want to go! I'm not like the two of you—my talent isn't as good. If I want to break through to Deity Transformation, I need to seize every opportunity."
Shang Xingchen shook his head. "You cannot go. I fear you will die inside."
Wei Ji stared, stunned.
Why won't you go, but still won't let me go? Afraid I'll die inside? Since when did you suddenly care so much about me? How oddly heartwarming.
Shang Xingchen said calmly, "If you die in there, who will repair the damaged puppets?"
Wei Ji sighed. "…I knew it."
In the end, after Shang Xingchen persuaded him with both reasoning and emotion, Wei Ji reluctantly chose to stay behind at the base, avoiding this perilous venture.
The Medium Spiritual Stone Mine.
"Senior Brother, so many people are going—shouldn't we join them?" Kang Jia asked, puzzled.
Shangguan He shook his head firmly. "We absolutely cannot go."
Kang Jia couldn't help but speak up. "That Dark Palace is clearly the work of a demonic giant. If a demonic cultivator gets their hands on the inheritance, won't we be in danger? Heavenly River True Master entered that palace for the very reason—he couldn't let the demonic cultivators take the legacy, even if he couldn't claim it himself."
Shangguan He shook his head again. "Remember this: only those who know how to conceal their brilliance and bide their time can survive until the very end. We don't go now, but that doesn't mean we won't go in the future."
Kang Jia blinked, seemingly understanding his words.
Shangguan He continued, "However, others may have the same thoughts, so we must act. We must pretend that we're really not going."
...
The Cold Iron Wood Forest.
"I plan to venture into it. Who knows, there may be some gains. If I can obtain a Deity Transformation spiritual item, this life will have a real chance at the Deity Transformation path! Fellow Daoist Ximen, would you be willing to join me?"
Xiao Xian's eyes gleamed.
Ximen Changqing shifted uneasily, finally offering a wry smile. "I have always loved the Way of Tea, not combat. I will not go. If Fellow Daoist Xiao survives, I will lend you a helping hand."
Xiao Xian nodded solemnly. "Alright, I will go!"
...
The same scene unfolded across the Heavenly Metal Battlefield. Some were eager to go; others were reluctant. Some truly did not wish to go. Others pretended reluctance, secretly hoping to reap the rewards from the back.
However, both the Deity Transformation cultivators—Heavenly River True Master and Tian Mozi Daoist—had coincidentally entered the Dark Palace. For them, maintaining their Deity Transformation cultivation was becoming increasingly difficult. If they fell back to the Nascent Soul stage, they would be no different from other cultivators.
At that point, there would be no trace left of their Deity Transformation aura. They held vast amounts of pills, spiritual stones, and treasures—things that would surely attract the covetous eyes of other cultivators, resulting in coordinated attacks.
The sudden appearance of the Dark Palace provided them with an opportunity. An opportunity to continue suppressing other Nascent Soul cultivators. Moreover, they dared not gamble on whether the Dark Palace harbored an opportunity or a risk.
What if it was an opportunity, and other cultivators seized it? That would be a huge loss for them. What if it was a risk? As Deity Transformation cultivators, they were less likely to be caught in danger compared to Nascent Soul cultivators. All these factors combined, forcing them to go.
Blue Star.
Chu Xuan raised the Heavenly Corpse Tower. A flash of black light. A new corpse puppet stood before him.
The Heavenly Corpse Tower contained its own corpse-refining pool, which only required the addition of corpse refining liquid. From there, the tower would automatically refine the corpse without any further intervention from him.
Moreover, with the cultivators who had delivered themselves to him, all of them were now settled inside the Heavenly Corpse Tower.
So, Chu Xuan was never lacking in corpses. Especially the corpses of body-refining cultivators.
Aside from a portion that had been consumed by the Three Corpses, the rest were kept. Now, they were perfectly suited for further refinement.
The corpse puppet standing before him had been crafted from the corpse of Beitang Han, a cultivator from the Reincarnation Divine Sect, who had reached the Nascent Soul late stage.
"You were a body-refining cultivator at the thirty-second layer of the Body Refining Realm, with Nascent Soul late-stage Qi Refining cultivation. Now, with a fresh start, your strength shouldn't decrease too much," Chu Xuan muttered as he cast an identification spell. His eyes lit up immediately.
First-tier Corpse King! Top-tier aptitude!
"My luck's not bad. It's been a while since I last refined a corpse, and the first one I produce is top-tier."
Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. A first-tier Corpse King, with a bit more blood and flesh, would quickly reach its peak. For other demonic cultivators, obtaining high-quality blood and flesh was a difficult issue. This was also the reason why their corpse puppets often backfired.
But for Chu Xuan, it was not a problem. What he lacked the least was blood and flesh.
"From now on, you'll be called Bao. Eat well, sleep well, and feel free to eat. The Heavenly Corpse Tower is your home!"
Chu Xuan casually inserted a spiritual sense seal into its mind, issuing a simple command.
"Roar! Roar!"
The corpse puppet let out a few excited growls, accepting its new identity. With Bao now fully formed, Chu Xuan began to think about the current situation. That Dark Palace was certainly no place for casual exploration. The cultivators entering the palace this time were highly likely to suffer massive casualties. Perhaps even those two Deity Transformation cultivators would be heavily wounded—or even face death. By all rights, this should have been a prime opportunity to collect corpses. But…
"That old monster is far too powerful. Venturing too close to the palace may trigger unwanted consequences. It's better to avoid getting too close. He must have his own matters to attend to after waking from such a long slumber. After he leaves, I can sneak in and pick up the spoils. For now, it's better to focus on raising my own cultivation to the ninth level of Nascent Soul. Only then can I start cultivating the Secret Method of Soul Transformation."
With his plans decided, Chu Xuan immediately retrieved a large quantity of Ice Spirit Crystals from Soul Star and sat cross-legged to meditate and refine. At the same time, he simultaneously submerged his spiritual sense into the Myriad Realm Mirror, arriving in the Cave World.
It had been a long time since he had paid attention to the Cave World. The last time, it seemed that Lie Xin had carefully selected a batch of young men and women to be sent to the royal palace of the Myriad Insects Kingdom. He wondered how things were progressing now?
...
Cave World.
Lie Xin buried her head in her work, dealing with the mountain of paperwork that seemed to grow larger by the minute. Suddenly, she was seized by a violent coughing fit. She opened her hand and was greeted by a large, dark pool of bloodstained phlegm.
Lie Xin shook her head with a sigh. "Such a pity. The Longevity Wine can extend my life, but it cannot cure the lingering pain left by the spider venom."
Her mind drifted back to the war five years ago.
The Wild Spider Tribe, a large faction under the Myriad Insects Kingdom, had revolted against the exorbitant taxes imposed on them. With the instigation of the Heavenly Cave Kingdom, they rebelled.
The ruler of the Myriad Insects Kingdom ordered surrounding tribes to form an army to suppress the rebellion and bring the Wild Spider Tribe to heel. The Fire Ant Tribe, long in conflict with the Wild Spider Tribe and geographically the closest, became the backbone of the counter-rebellious force without hesitation.
Lie Xin, as a key figure in the tribe, had no choice but to join the fray. The Wild Spider Tribe had been planning their revolt for a long time. In the beginning, the counter-rebellious army was forced into retreat, suffering heavy casualties.
The Fire Ant Tribe had to step forward and turn the tide of battle. After much struggle, they finally delivered a crushing blow to the Wild Spider Tribe, and the counter-rebellious army shifted from defense to offense.
However, things took a turn for the worse when the Fire Ant Tribe's insect masters attacked a mid-sized tribe under the Wild Spider Tribe's control. They were surrounded, resulting in disastrous losses.
Lie Xin was ambushed by the Wild Spider Tribe's chieftain and was struck by a lethal spider venom. Although the counter-rebellious army arrived in time to slay the chieftain, the venom had already seeped into her bones. Even though the ruler of the Myriad Insects Kingdom granted her precious elixirs, it was impossible to rid her of the poison.
As she recalled the battle, a furrow appeared between Lie Xin's brows. "We were trapped in that encirclement. It's very likely the ruler intended it that way. That ruler may seem indifferent to the affairs of the court, obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy, but he's far from the fool he appears to be…"
Lie Xin murmured softly. "It's time to decide on a successor. I can't allow the tribe to fall into endless disputes over the position of chieftain, as my father did when he suddenly passed."
She paced back and forth in her room, and after a moment, wrote two letters.
She then spoke in a low voice, "Come in."
At once, a figure entered the room, kneeling before her. "What orders do you have, Elder?"
After the merger of the Fire Ant Tribe and the Holy Ant Tribe, both tribes were jointly managed by the chieftains of the Fire Ant Tribe, Lie Qing, and the Holy Ant Tribe, Sheng Ying.
Lie Xin had been promoted to the position of Grand Elder of the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe.
Lie Xin spoke calmly, "Deliver these two letters to the royal palace and personally hand them over to Lie Xiao and Lie Chen. If the royal guard wishes to inspect them, let them do so."
"Understood, I will deliver them immediately."
...
Ten days later.
Lie Xin met with Lie Xiao and Lie Chen.
Lie Xiao, with his exceptional looks, physique, talent, and intellect, had been favored by many royal princesses. In the end, the ruler of the Myriad Insects Kingdom had betrothed him to the most beloved of the three royal princesses. Lie Chen, on the other hand, had been very close to the Ninth Princess, and they were soon to marry.
Lie Xin scrutinized the two men before her.
Lie Xiao was still tall and handsome, his demeanor as carefree as ever, unchanged from his younger days. Lie Chen, on the other hand, retained his delicate, scholar-like appearance. No one could ever tell what thoughts were hidden behind his lowered gaze.
Lie Xin studied them both for a long while before finally speaking. "Xiao'er, Chen'er, I'm getting old. The position of chieftain of the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe… which of you is willing to take it?"
Both Lie Xiao and Lie Chen were astute individuals. They had long known that Lie Qing and Sheng Ying were mere puppets. The true ruler of the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe was none other than the Grand Elder, Lie Xin. Whoever became chieftain was a matter of Lie Xin's will.
Lie Xiao and Lie Chen exchanged a glance.
Lie Xiao thumped his chest and declared loudly, "Though I have entered the royal palace, if you need me, I will return at once!"
Lie Chen, however, did not respond immediately. Instead, he asked, "If we take over the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe, what is it that you need from us?"
Lie Xin regarded him with approval, pausing for a long while before answering deliberately, "Do you believe, in this world, there is a way to enhance yao insects?"
Lie Xiao and Lie Chen both froze for a moment.
Enhance yao insects?
Lie Xiao shook his head firmly.
Lie Chen, however, nodded thoughtfully. "The world is vast, and there are many wonders. I believe it is possible."
Lie Xin smiled faintly. "Do you believe, then, that there is a method to prolong life?"
This time, both men shook their heads.
Lie Xin took out a shattered mirror, speaking calmly, "This contains everything. Methods to enhance yao insects, methods to prolong life, and even... the method to open additional Insect Orifices!"
Lie Xiao and Lie Chen's breath caught in their throats. A method to open additional Insect Orifices?! Was this some kind of ancient scripture? In all three of the great tribal nations, such a technique could not possibly exist.
Lie Xin saw the disbelief in their eyes. She spoke calmly, "When I first began, I only had two Insect Orifices. Now, I have four, becoming a Platinum Insect Master. It was all due to the techniques provided by the Magic Mirror—the Orifice Opening Scripture and the Great Orifice Opening Scripture.
The Magic Mirror can even offer me a better Earth Orifice Sutra, allowing me to open the fifth Insect Orifice and approach the realm of Diamond Insect Master. However, the Magic Mirror is not always so generous.
It requires a method of cultivating yao insects, and its appetite grows ever larger. Now, I must acquire a cultivation technique that can nurture yao insects to the Diamond level to satisfy its hunger. My life is short, and I will never see that day."
Lie Xin turned her gaze toward the two men. "You two are the ones I have chosen. Are you willing to take on my legacy?"
Lie Xiao bowed his head seriously. "I am willing!"
Lie Chen nodded. "I am also willing, but I do not need to take the position of chieftain. I do not need this mirror either. I will remain in the royal palace, and Xiao'er can return to take the position of chieftain. This will be better for the tribe's development."
Lie Xin looked at him with a look of approval. In this moment, it was just as it had been in the past. When her father, Lie Zhao, had wished for her to return, she too had chosen to stay within the Holy Ant Tribe. Because she knew, only by staying there could she make the greatest impact.
Lie Xiao looked at his brother in surprise. "You don't want such a valuable thing as the mirror?"
Lie Chen smiled. "I fear I may not be able to control it, and it would lead me instead."
Lie Xiao scratched his nose. "Then I'll take it!"
He extended his hand and accepted the leather pouch that Lie Xin passed to him. Inside the pouch was what they referred to as the Magic Mirror.
Lie Xin regarded the two of them with admiration for a long while, before speaking.
"Lie Xiao, stay by my side for a time and learn how to handle the affairs of the tribe. Lie Chen, return to the royal palace and report this matter to the country's ruler. Tell him that my life is nearing its end, and I have reluctantly chosen Lie Xiao as my successor. I hope the ruler will grant his approval."
Lie Xiao and Lie Chen both nodded respectfully. "Yes."
Chu Xuan quietly observed everything, nodding slightly to himself. Once again, he had witnessed the succession of hosts from one generation to the next. It all started with Xiao Huo, then Lie Yong, followed by Lie Zhao, Lie Xin, and now, Lie Xiao. As he thought back, a small smile tugged at his lips.
Xiao Huo had truly been underwhelming. Despite having such a hardworking and selfless "old grandfather" by his side, he had barely made any progress.
Now, with Lie Xin having already chosen her successor, Chu Xuan did not involve himself further. He withdrew his spiritual sense and turned his focus inward.
The Black Palace would likely yield no results in the short term, so he could use this time to focus entirely on breaking through to Nascent Soul, Level Nine.
The seasons passed, and in the blink of an eye, twenty years had passed since his arrival on Blue Star.
For all that time, Chu Xuan had remained in seclusion within the cave's training room. The floor of the room was covered in large spirit stones, so many that it seemed the entire floor had been embedded with them. Even the Deity Transformation cultivators like Heavenly River True Master and Tian Mozi Daoist would gasp at such extravagance. It was undeniably lavish!
Yet, despite sitting motionless for two decades, Chu Xuan's body had not accumulated a speck of dust. With his cultivation level, he had long since transcended such trivial concerns. A small bit of dust would never touch him.
At a certain moment, the aura within Chu Xuan's body suddenly surged, rising at an alarming rate. It was like a volcano, built up over millennia, suddenly finding an outlet to release its pent-up energy.
In an instant, the aura exploded forth, surging uncontrollably.
Boom!
In this very moment, his energy soared through the roof, breaking through the final barrier without any surprise.
Nascent Soul, Level Nine!
His eyes snapped open, revealing a look of deep satisfaction. Finally, he had reached Nascent Soul, Level Nine. At last, he could begin training the secret technique of the Soul Transformation Method!
Chu Xuan immediately took out a jade slip embedded with spiritual sense. This jade slip contained the Three Turns Soul Transformation Secret Method.
This method required a symbiosis between the Ghost Shadow Worm and Nascent Soul. Through the worm's three stages of transformation, Nascent Soul would be condensed, thus increasing the chances of breaking through to Deity Transformation.
However, the Ghost Shadow Worm was an ancient, rare insect that fed on shadows. It was likely extinct by now, lost to the annals of history.
Chu Xuan had, however, acquired a cocoon of the Ghost Shadow Worm during a trading session at the Cold Iron Wood Forest market from Kang Jia. It had yet to hatch, and he had been waiting for the right moment. He took out the purple-black cocoon and began to channel his spiritual Qi into it to hasten its maturation.
Before long, a plump, purple worm no larger than a thumb wriggled out of the cocoon. Its small eyes warily observed Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan pressed a drop of his essence blood into the air, and the Ghost Shadow Worm immediately scurried over to devour it. In a short time, the worm lay contentedly in the palm of Chu Xuan's hand, no longer on guard at all.
Chu Xuan casually summoned a zombie, bringing it before him. As the sunlight fell upon the zombie, its shadow stretched across the ground.
At that moment, the Ghost Shadow Worm sprang into action, leaping with remarkable speed and began voraciously devouring the zombie's shadow.
Such a tiny creature, yet it consumed most of the zombie's shadow in one go. It was quite strange, really.
The zombie, once lively and moving, now appeared wilted and drained, much like a cucumber deprived of water, sagging lifelessly.
"Your bloodline might not be as pure as the Ghost Shadow Worm's, but it still carries its essence," Chu Xuan murmured, watching the worm devour the shadow. "Even if it can't increase the success rate by the threefold stated in the Soul Transformation Method, even a one or two percent increase would still be a significant gain."
He gently petted the Ghost Shadow Worm, feeling a sense of profound hope within his palm. It was not just a worm—this was the key to his breakthrough into Deity Transformation!
"Eat as much as you like, feast to your heart's content. There are more shadows here than you can consume, and no righteous cultivator will come to stop you," Chu Xuan said with a faint smile.
The worm seemed to understand his words and devoured the shadow with even more enthusiasm. Not long after, the zombie's shadow was completely consumed. With a dull thud, the zombie collapsed to the ground, its body intact but devoid of any breath or life.
Chu Xuan waved his hand, and one of his corpse puppets swiftly approached, lifting the lifeless zombie and tossing it into the zombie farm. He immediately brought in another lively zombie to replace the last one.
The Ghost Shadow Worm eagerly continued to feast on the fresh shadow, clearly reveling in its meal. It felt like it had stumbled upon a paradise of worms!
Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. This method provided a new, practical use for zombies—truly a case of making the most out of everything. The Ghost Shadow Worm continued to consume the shadows of three hundred zombies before finally showing signs of weariness and pausing.
A day passed, and the worm began to excrete a violet-colored, viscous substance from its mouth, preparing to form its cocoon.
Chu Xuan was elated. He immediately surrounded the worm with his Spiritual Qi and placed it in his Dantian, fusing it directly into his Nascent Soul.
The worm was confused.
"I want to cocoon," it thought, "Why have you stuffed me here?"
But it couldn't make sense of it, so it simply decided to continue with its task. As it continued excreting the substance to form its cocoon, the fact that it had merged with Chu Xuan's Nascent Soul meant that the entire Nascent Soul was also encased within the cocoon.
Thus, the first step of the Three Turns Soul Transformation Secret Method had been successfully achieved. Now, it was only a matter of waiting for the worm to break free from its cocoon.
Once it did, Chu Xuan's Nascent Soul would undergo its first refinement. Not only would the form of the Nascent Soul grow larger and more solid, but the potency of the Nascent Soul essence it released would also slightly increase!
In the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, Chu Xuan took a single step and returned to the Great Spirit Stone mine. He inhaled deeply and immediately felt the concentration of Spiritual Qi drop again. It had fallen to about one percent of its original level, nearly matching the Spiritual Qi concentration of Blue Star.
In such an environment, a cultivator's Spiritual Qi would drain away quickly. The higher the cultivation, the faster the depletion. It was like a diffusion effect—Spiritual Qi naturally flowed from areas of higher concentration to lower, seeking balance between the internal and external environments. It was likely that most Nascent Soul cultivators had already fallen back to the Golden Core stage, or even lower!
Chu Xuan couldn't help but imagine the sight of Nascent Soul cultivators whose powers had regressed to the Foundation Establishment stage. It was hard to fathom how they would fare. After a moment's contemplation, he activated the Lotus Escape Technique, suppressing his cultivation to the mid-Golden Core stage.
That was about right. If he were too high, he would draw attention. If he were too low, he would be underestimated. The mid-Golden Core stage was perfect.
Chu Xuan flipped his palm, revealing the Heart-Linking Stone. It was the appearance of cracks on the stone's surface that had prompted him to return to the Heavenly Metal Battlefield. He immediately made his way toward the prearranged meeting point, where he was to meet with Shang Xingchen and Wei Ji.
Before he could reach his destination, he felt the ground shaking violently beneath his feet.
"As expected, something big is happening."
Could it be the Dark Palace?
Chu Xuan frowned. Shang Xingchen had told him previously that the Dark Palace had emerged from underground, causing a powerful seismic disturbance. It was this continual shaking of the earth that had drawn the attention of cultivators.
Before long, he arrived at the meeting spot, where Shang Xingchen and Wei Ji were already waiting. Both seemed to have abandoned any thoughts of testing one another. Their expressions were serious as they looked toward Chu Xuan.
Shang Xingchen spoke first. "It's been two years, and the Dark Palace has finally shown some movement."
Wei Ji quickly added, "I noticed that the Dark Palace seems to have risen about three feet compared to two years ago."
Chu Xuan's brow arched slightly. "Three feet? Let's go take a look."
If the palace had risen by three feet, it must have expanded significantly from its underground position. Did this mean the palace had a subterranean portion as well?
Was this a good sign or a bad one? Time to find out.
The three of them ran at full speed, their footsteps echoing through the barren terrain. At this moment, they paid no heed to the consumption of Spiritual Qi. Reaching a vantage point near the palace to assess the situation was their immediate priority. From there, they could decide whether to strike opportunistically or make a quick retreat.
After a short while, the trio arrived at a small hill on the eastern side of the Dark Palace. The hill was barren, devoid of cover, offering a clear view of the surroundings. It was positioned a little over a hundred zhang from the palace, close enough for them to see the palace clearly with their naked eyes, even without relying on Spiritual Qi.
Chu Xuan scanned the area, noting that several others, including Shangguan He, Kang Jia, and Ximen Changqing, had also arrived. They had all kept their distance, observing the scene from afar, their hearts filled with a mix of nervousness and excitement. It was akin to a groom waiting to enter the bridal chamber, yet unsure what his bride would look like—would she be gentle and delicate, or would she have a broad frame and sharp features?
Chu Xuan focused on the Dark Palace for a long moment, then murmured, "This palace is indeed rising from the ground at a visible rate."
Shang Xingchen and Wei Ji exchanged a glance, their expressions full of doubt. They couldn't make sense of what was happening either.
Moments later, the heavy stone doors of the Dark Palace suddenly creaked open. Figures seemed to have been waiting for this moment, as they shot out from the palace as if propelled by some unseen force.
At the forefront were Heavenly River True Master and Tian Mozi, followed by several Nascent Soul cultivators—Xiao Xian, Su Jue, Dong Qi, and others. However, these figures appeared somewhat disheveled, and their usual majestic bearing was nowhere to be seen.
Especially Heavenly River True Master and Tian Mozi—both were covered in rags, their robes torn and bloodied. Their appearances gave no hint that they were once mighty Deity Transformation cultivators. Their auras had clearly plummeted, now closer to the early Nascent Soul stage.
Chu Xuan observed their expressions carefully. There was fear in their eyes—something was pursuing them, forcing them to flee. Then, a monstrous ghostly hand suddenly shot out from the darkness.
This hand was enormous, stretching over twenty zhang in length. It was thin and skeletal, covered in a deep, unsettling black. Its fingers were adorned with needle-like hairs, like steel needles jutting out. The nails were longer than an entire finger joint, and the spaces between its fingers were filthy, indicating it hadn't been cleaned in ages.
The palm of the hand seemed to possess an immense pulling force. No matter how Su Jue and Dong Qi struggled to escape, they couldn't evade its reach.
With a single motion, the ghostly hand clenched around them.
Crack!
Both were immediately crushed, their bodies shattered into nothing. The hand casually tossed their remains into the Dark Palace.
A chilling, spine-tingling sound followed—an awful crunching noise, as if the body parts were being chewed. Every cultivator present could hear it clearly, the sickening sound reverberating in their minds.
Heavenly River True Master and Tian Mozi, their faces pale, finally seemed to relax slightly. As long as the ghostly hand didn't attack them, they were safe—for now.
Neither Tian Mozi nor Heavenly River True Master dared to hesitate for even a moment. They expelled Nascent Soul essence in quick succession, hoping to speed up their escape. However, as they did, their faces visibly paled, wrinkles deepened, and the toll of overexerting themselves became painfully apparent.
Just as they thought they might have a chance to break free, a thick, oppressive stench of death suddenly swept from the depths of the Dark Palace. In the blink of an eye, it expanded to cover a hundred-zhang radius, leaving the air heavy and suffocating.
Tian Mozi and Heavenly River True Master's expressions shifted immediately. They hadn't managed to escape yet! Then, a chilling, mocking laughter echoed from within the palace.
"Deity Transformation cultivators are far more appetizing than Nascent Soul cultivators," the voice sneered. "How could I let you escape?"
The deathly energy coalesced into a monstrous net that stretched across the sky, descending upon them with crushing force.
Tian Mozi's face paled even further. Without hesitation, he threw several spirit tools to block the incoming attack. But realizing the futility, he abandoned his physical body, wrapping his Nascent Soul around his divine consciousness and fled at full speed.
Heavenly River True Master, however, hesitated for a moment. His physical body, cultivated over a thousand years, was something no one would willingly abandon. Unlike Tian Mozi, who could possess a corpse puppet and return to life in another form, Heavenly River True Master didn't have such an option.
With gritted teeth, Heavenly River True Master tossed out his prized spiritual artifact. A massive, azure-blue urn unfolded in midair, and a torrent of seawater surged forth from it, aiming to push back the deadly death net.
Heavenly River True Master had encountered this deathly energy before in the Dark Palace and understood its power. He didn't expect to break through the net, only to slow its encroachment and buy himself some time to escape. But he gravely underestimated the power of the death net.
The seawater, once pure and azure, was rapidly tainted by the suffocating death energy. It turned a sickly, gray-black color as it churned in the urn, the life force of the water being swallowed up by the poisonous air.
The corrupted seawater surged back into the urn, and in a moment of agonizing silence, the urn itself began to groan under the strain. The faint consciousness it had once possessed began to fade away, swiftly snuffed out.
Crack!
Cracks formed across the urn's surface, splintering it under the overwhelming pressure. In Heavenly River True Master's horrified gaze, the urn shattered completely!
Pfft!
His life force drained as the destruction of his artifact tore into him. Blood gushed from his mouth as his flight speed dramatically dropped.
Instinctively, he tried to withdraw his Nascent Soul and divine consciousness to escape, but it was too late.
The deathly net had already descended upon him like a predator ensnaring its prey. It tightened around him with a deadly precision and dragged him into the dark recesses of the palace.
Crunch… Crunch…
The horrifying sound of chewing echoed again—this time, it didn't come from the front, but it seemed to vibrate deep within their souls.