Sima Zhen smiled, "That fellow daoist Chu probably thinks True Master Yin still has some hidden cards up his sleeve. Following True Master Yin seems like a more secure choice."
Shang Xingchen initially nodded in agreement, but after a moment of thought, he shook his head.
"No, he's trying to kill True Master Yin."
Upon hearing this, Sima Zhen was taken aback. After all, True Master Yin was a Deity Transformation-level True Master. How could Chu Xuan possibly kill him?
His mind raced, and it didn't take long for him to react. He looked at Shang Xingchen, muttering, "Use the situation to kill him?!"
Shang Xingchen nodded calmly. "We shall see."
At that moment, a Yellow Spring Island cultivator hurriedly approached them.
"Fellow Daoists Shang and Sima, please follow me. The Island Master wishes to see you."
The two quickly made their way to the ship's cabin, where they met the Island Master of Yellow Spring Island. He was a tall middle-aged cultivator, his demeanor elegant and gentle, exuding an air of humility and politeness. This was Yellow Spring Island's leader, Bai Tianhe.
Bai Tianhe smiled warmly at Shang Xingchen. He raised his hands in a grand gesture.
"Nether Dao Sect Deity Transformation cultivator Bai Tianhe, meets the Second Young Master!"
Shang Xingchen quickly helped Bai Tianhe to his feet. "True Master, you're too kind. The Nether Dao Sect has long since fallen. Had it not been for the assistance of the esteemed cultivators of Yellow Spring Island, how could I have escaped True Master Yin's clutches? From now on, Master need not call me 'Young Master,' for I should be the one addressing you as 'True Master.'"
He bowed respectfully. "Shang Xingchen, meets Yellow Spring True Master!"
A look of satisfaction flashed in Bai Tianhe's eyes. After Shang Xingchen completed his bow, Bai Tianhe hurriedly helped him back up.
"Good, good, good! With a talented cultivator like Xingchen, Yellow Spring Island's strength grows once again!"
Shang Xingchen quickly added, "This is my companion, Sima Zhen. His grandfather, Senior Sima Yi, was once a Deity Transformation Elder in the Nether Dao Sect. Master should remember him."
Bai Tianhe then turned to Sima Zhen, nodding repeatedly. "When Nether Dao Sect fell, I was still only a Nascent Soul cultivator. I had the honor of witnessing Senior Sima's imposing presence."
Sima Zhen cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Thank you, True Master, for helping me out of my predicament."
Bai Tianhe smiled and nodded. "You should still have some of the poison from that old demon Yin in your system. I have a method to neutralize it. Let me take care of it for you."
At that moment, the cultivator who had previously approached hurried back.
"True Master, the remaining remnants of Nine Yin Island are attempting to escape. Should we pursue them?"
Bai Tianhe nodded. "Pursue them. That old demon Yin must have some hidden trump cards. Let's force him to reveal them. By forcing out one of his hidden cards today, dealing with him in the future will be much simpler."
"Understood!" The cultivator bowed respectfully before hurrying off.
The two fleets from Nine Yin Island and Yellow Spring Island, one in front and the other trailing behind, steadily approached the Starshatter Sea.
The Yellow Spring ships, including the Yellow Spring flagship, constantly fired Spiritual Qi beams, pounding at their targets. In contrast, the Nine Yin fleet, struggling to defend itself, began to slow down more and more. Forced to activate the Black Mirror Formation once again, they barely managed to hold their ground. But when the Black Mirror formation was shattered by another barrage, they had no further means of defense left.
"Has this old demon Yin really run out of tricks?" Bai Tianhe muttered to himself.
With a sharp voice, he issued an order, "Send my command—initiate the boarding attack!"
"Yes!" The Yellow Spring cultivators were full of enthusiasm, their spirits lifted as they prepared for battle.
When the two fleets collided once more, a large number of Yellow Spring cultivators leapt onto the Flowing Wind ship and the other two large ships. Led by Nascent Soul cultivators, their assault was almost unopposed. After all, the remaining cultivators on those ships were either Golden Core or Foundation Establishment experts.
The massacre went smoothly, and the Yellow Spring cultivators were a little astonished at how easily they overwhelmed their opponents. But what about the three leaders?
The Yellow Spring cultivators immediately sent a message through their communication jade to Bai Tianhe. Bai Tianhe's brows twitched violently. A terrifying thought suddenly took root in his mind.
"Could it be... is True Master Yin really willing to self-destruct his ships? Those are the foundation he's built up over centuries!"
After a moment of consideration, Bai Tianhe realized that True Master Yin was indeed the type of ruthless person who would do such a thing.
He immediately shouted, "Withdraw the ships from Nine Yin Island, NOW!"
A sense of unease rose among the Yellow Spring cultivators as they hastily retreated.
On the deck of the Nine Yin flagship, True Master Yin, holding the formation disk, looked coldly at the Yellow Spring cultivators, sneering to himself. With a sudden press of his hand, the formation disk emitted a silent, invisible wave.
Boom!
A series of deep explosions erupted from within the three Yellow Spring ships. The blasts grew louder and louder, echoing in the ears of every Yellow Spring cultivator. Panic surged through them as they scrambled to return to their ships, but it was too late.
The three ships, including Flowing Wind, suddenly detonated in a horrifying explosion of fireballs that engulfed all of their passengers.
Pei Yuankui and Ge Rong's faces were grim with shock. Even Chu Xuan's expression faltered, his brow furrowing as the true nature of the situation sank in. True Master Yin had already planted self-detonation formations on these ships! It turned out they had been sitting on a ticking time bomb this whole time.
However, such a drastic measure was clearly a last resort. A ship of this caliber, a Falcon-class vessel, was a considerable asset to any of the four great factions—Nine Yin Island, Yellow Spring Island, White Bone Island, and Black Wind Island. Only when cornered would True Master Yin be forced to destroy such a valuable treasure.
Aboard the Yellow Spring flagship, Bai Tianhe clenched his fists, his face pale with fury. The majority of their forces were in shock. At least one-third of the Yellow Spring Island cultivators had perished in the explosion. This was after Bai Tianhe had instinctively held back, not ordering a full assault. Had he acted recklessly, their losses might have been far greater.
Everyone had known that True Master Yin had a backup plan, but no one had expected him to act so decisively and ruthlessly.
"Retreat. Return to Yellow Spring Island," Bai Tianhe finally ordered after a long silence.
Standing quietly to one side, Shang Xingchen had observed the entire sequence of events, his expression unreadable. He had anticipated what True Master Yin's backup plan was, but he said nothing. It was evident that Bai Tianhe no longer saw him as a member of Nether Dao Sect.
The once-revered Second Young Master of the sect was treated with a distant, almost dismissive attitude. Bai Tianhe had intentionally waited for Shang Xingchen to perform the ceremonial bow before helping him up.
"Ultimately, not one of us is truly on the same side," Shang Xingchen mused to himself with a faint sigh. He began to ponder his next steps, his brow furrowed in thought.
True Master Yin stood on the deck, his cold eyes scanning the distant horizon. With a sneer, he muttered, "To dare pursue me—there will be a heavy price to pay." He was calm, confident, as though this was merely another victory for him in a long string of them.
"We are heading back! The explosion of three ships is nothing to worry about. As long as we still have the 'mountain,' we need not fear running out of firewood." He smiled coldly. "As long as we are alive, we will gain more ships."
The three men, including Chu Xuan, nodded respectfully, acknowledging his wisdom.
"Indeed, True Master is correct."
Several days later, the Nine Yin flagship, Nine Yin, finally emerged unscathed from the tumultuous battles. They had navigated their way past the dangers, entering a new, unfamiliar region of space.
Unlike the clear boundary between the Starry Sky and the Three Thousand Weak Waters, the boundary of the Starshatter Sea was far more ambiguous. However, these large ships, especially those from Nine Yin Island, were capable of seamlessly transitioning between the Starry Sky and the Weak Waters.
Throughout the journey, Chu Xuan had not felt anything out of the ordinary. The Nine Yin ship moved with a fluid grace, as though effortlessly gliding into the Starshatter Sea, its destination now clear before them.
The Starshatter Sea, where Spiritual Qi was densest in the interior and thinnest on the outside, was naturally divided into three rings: the First Ring, Second Ring, and Third Ring. Nine Yin Island was located within the southernmost part of the Third Ring.
It wasn't long before Nine Yin anchored at Nine Yin Island. Chu Xuan and his companions finally set foot on solid ground after their long journey.
Nine Yin Island, though small, spanned about fifty thousand square meters. Upon it stood a dark, ominous pavilion, surrounded by clusters of caves where cultivators resided.
True Master Yin, visibly weaker, coughed several times, his complexion growing more ashen. He suddenly reached into his storage bag and retrieved three dark green pills.
"These are detox pills. Take them," True Master Yin said hoarsely, his voice strained.
Chu Xuan took the so-called detox pills from him, glancing at True Master Yin with a steady gaze. Without a word, he threw the pills into his mouth. Regardless of whether these were truly detoxifying or not, not taking them would arouse suspicion from True Master Yin.
Furthermore, his physical body, as a body refiner, was naturally resistant to poisons. Body refiners were born as poison's natural nemeses. Additionally, he had a considerable understanding of poison and could quickly identify its antidote by smelling the few herbs that had just wafted from the pills.
Seeing how decisive and confident Chu Xuan was, True Master Yin's expression softened into one of satisfaction.
Seeing this, both Pei Yuankui and Ge Rong followed suit, swallowing the pills without protest.
Once all three had taken the pills, True Master Yin's expression became pleased, and he gestured for them to wait outside the cave.
"Wait here for now. I'll summon you one by one," True Master Yin instructed. "There are nine branches to the Nine Yin Profound Pulse Art. I need to examine your spiritual roots and cultivation methods before tailoring a specific technique for each of you."
Chu Xuan and the others nodded in agreement.
True Master Yin strode into his cave dwelling, and the heavy stone door shut behind him with a resounding thud. The three of them were left waiting outside in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Each had their own plans in mind, particularly Ge Rong, whose eyes darted about as if he had already deduced True Master Yin's intentions.
Pei Yuankui, on the other hand, appeared unruffled, as though he had seen such things countless times before.
After a long while, the stone door of the cave finally creaked open again. From within, True Master Yin's hoarse voice called out, "Ge Rong, come in."
Ge Rong's expression darkened, and with a respectful tone, he said, "Master, I believe this matter should be handled according to seniority. My eldest senior brother holds a higher rank than I do, and his strength surpasses mine. He is your eldest disciple, so he should go first."
Pei Yuankui silently cursed, but his face remained impassive. He too spoke respectfully, "Master, as the eldest disciple, it is only right that I yield to the younger generation. There is no reason for the eldest disciple to take such advantage."
The two of them exchanged polite words, each trying to convince the other to go first.
Chu Xuan couldn't bear to watch any longer. With a swift step, he moved in front of both Pei Yuankui and Ge Rong.
"Master, both senior brothers are too polite, and it's wasting time." He spoke with a casual air, "I think it's best if I go first. After all, I'm the third disciple, and I'm the youngest."
Pei Yuankui and Ge Rong exchanged a glance, and immediately, they bowed in unison, "Third junior brother is absolutely right."
True Master Yin fell into silence for a long while before finally speaking calmly, "Very well, Chen Jin, you may enter."
Chu Xuan stepped into the dark cave. As soon as he entered, the heavy stone door slammed shut behind him.
The interior of the cave was completely dark, devoid of any light. It appeared that a special formation was at work, absorbing all light and suppressing spiritual senses. Even Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle to see the environment within.
Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators could not see it—Chu Xuan, however, was a different case. Even with the formation suppressing his senses, his spiritual perception was unmatched below Deity Transformation, allowing him to clearly make out the cave's structure.
Inside, there was a stone bed. But instead of True Master Yin, sitting cross-legged on the bed was an ordinary-looking corpse general. True Master Yin stood three zhang behind the corpse general, his expression dark and sinister.
Beside True Master Yin stood a ghost king, its claws silently scraping the air, exuding an ominous presence.
The atmosphere in the cave felt thick and oppressive, as if the air was laden with poison. Chu Xuan quickly deduced that the air must be toxic. This was typical of True Master Yin—he was meticulous, even when plotting to consume his subordinates. Truly, a Deity Transformation cultivator who could dominate the Southern Third Ring of the Starshatter Sea was no simple figure.
Chu Xuan's expression didn't change. He bowed respectfully to the corpse general lying on the stone bed. "Chen Jin greets Master!"
True Master Yin's voice echoed eerily around the cave, as if it came from all directions.
"You should not have come in first. Your loyalty to me… it truly touches me. I don't want to kill you. But I am gravely injured. If I don't consume a few cultivators soon, I will certainly be hunted down by my enemies. After you die, I will erect a monument to you on the island."
Chu Xuan's face changed drastically. "You… you…"
His body went limp, and he began to collapse toward the ground. He pointed weakly at the corpse general on the stone bed, his voice filled with fury, "You poisoned me… after all my loyalty to you!"
True Master Yin smiled faintly, his voice cold and detached. "Loyalty is a virtue, but it must be placed in the right direction. Let me teach you one thing in this life, something you must remember in your next life. Blind loyalty is to be avoided."
Chu Xuan seemed to muster every last ounce of strength he had, forcing himself to stand. With a roar, he charged toward the corpse general on the stone bed, shouting, "I'll fight you to the death!"
True Master Yin stood behind him, arms crossed, watching with a cold, amused smile. It was as if he were savoring a play he had scripted himself. The sense of superiority, of being in complete control, was intoxicating.
Buzz!
Just as he reveled in his own power, a heavy, cold chain suddenly coiled around him. It constricted with the force of a life-draining serpent, squeezing tighter with every second!
At the same time, a massive White Bone Stele surged with a terrifying force, rapidly expanding before hurtling toward him like a falling mountain!
A sudden chill swept across his neck, and his skin broke out in goosebumps. It felt as though a razor-sharp blade was aimed directly at his throat, slashing through the air with deadly precision.
The temperature plummeted, the air turning icy cold. He took a deep breath, but before he could exhale, blood clouds surged into his mouth. Countless blood-colored little demons rushed from all directions, clawing and biting at his flesh, trying to tear him apart.
Meanwhile, the very Chen Jin—who had been lying helplessly a moment ago, heading toward the corpse general on the stone bed—was now unleashing a terrifying barrage of spells!
True Master Yin's expression changed drastically.
"You're not poisoned!" he exclaimed in shock. His eyes widened as he immediately ordered the ghost king to charge at Chu Xuan. At the same time, he spat out a mouthful of Nascent Soul essence, forcibly channeling Spiritual Qi to break through the magical treasures attacking him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The resounding explosions echoed through the cave as the Evil Soul Chain was sent flying far away. The shockwave didn't manage to sever True Master Yin's neck, but it did sever his right arm completely.
The White Bone Stele, which was supposed to crush his head, missed its target and instead smashed his left arm to pieces. But just as True Master Yin thought he had narrowly escaped the worst of the assault, he suddenly felt the ground tremble beneath him. The next moment, a massive ice column shot up from the ground, hurling him through the air!
Pfft!
True Master Yin spat out a mouthful of blood. The minor improvement in his condition had been abruptly reversed. The new injuries aggravated his old wounds, causing them to flare up again.
"Black Yin Pearl!" True Master Yin growled, his face twisted in pain.
Despite the pain, True Master Yin was a seasoned Deity Transformation cultivator. He couldn't afford to waste time thinking about his next move—he immediately summoned a defensive magic treasure.
True Master Yin's spiritual artifacts were few in number. Having fought fiercely with the Netherfire King and later with the White Bone and Black Wind True Master, his artifacts had been severely damaged. Then, before he could catch his breath, he had been struck by a barrage from the ships of the Yellow Spring Island.
One of his lower-grade spiritual artifacts had been destroyed and the other severely damaged. He hadn't had the time to nurture them with nascent soul essence. Now, he was forced to use his finest magic treasures in a hurry. He was confident that just a brief moment of defense would allow him to take the time needed to slay this unworthy disciple!
Chu Xuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shook his head. True Master Yin had reached Deity Transformation after all, he was incredibly hard to kill. Even though Chu Xuan had seized the advantage of surprise, all he had done was add a few more injuries to True Master Yin. He hadn't been able to land a fatal blow.
The depth of True Master Yin's Spiritual Qi was too great. With a sudden burst of power, he had sent the Evil Soul Chain and other magic treasures flying. Since the Evil Soul Chain was his life-bound treasure, any injury to it caused him to feel pain, and blood seeped from his mouth.
Had True Master Yin's artifacts not been so severely damaged, the tides of battle would likely have reversed by now. But besides his magic treasures and spells, Chu Xuan still had other means at his disposal.
With a wave of his hand, the Ice God Pillar exploded. Countless shards of ice filled the entire cave, swirling toward True Master Yin.
The Black Yin Pearl, floating near True Master Yin, spun rapidly.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The ice shards collided with the spinning Black Yin Pearl, each one being blocked by its powerful defenses.
"This brat... when did he learn all these tricks?" True Master Yin muttered to himself, his tension easing a little, though doubt still gnawed at him. Just as he began to gather his Spiritual Qi for a retaliatory strike that he believed would end Chu Xuan's life, an overwhelming sense of danger surged through him. He wasn't one to doubt his instincts. Without hesitation, he manipulated the Black Yin Pearl, sending it spinning even faster to block any incoming attacks.
However, before he could react further, a massive invisible hand of spiritual sense suddenly slammed into his sea of consciousness. The Nascent Soul-grade spiritual sense secret technique—Sky-Tearing Cold Palm!
At that moment, excruciating pain tore through True Master Yin's mind. He felt as though his primordial spirit was being pulled apart, with two massive hands tugging it in opposite directions.
If not for his being a Deity Transformation cultivator, with his soul having already transformed into primordial spirit and his spiritual sense greatly enhanced, that blow would have likely shattered him entirely. As it stood, he was on the verge of a serious spiritual injury!
True Master Yin gritted his teeth, fighting to hold his ground against the mental onslaught.
True Master Yin let out a low grunt and immediately retreated, his mind whirling with alarm. He quickly invoked a spiritual sense technique, surrounding his primordial spirit with a thick, protective wall to resist any further spiritual attacks.
"Chen Jin could never have such a powerful spiritual sense... Who are you?!" True Master Yin growled, his voice a mix of rage and disbelief.
At that moment, everything fell into place for him. No matter how strong Chen Jin was, he couldn't have displayed such power. The Spiritual Qi, magic treasures, and especially the spiritual sense that had just assaulted him—it all far exceeded the power of most Nascent Soul cultivators, even those at the ninth level!
True Master Yin had never encountered such a formidable Nascent Soul cultivator in his life. Not even the Holy Sons cultivated by major sixth-tier sects like the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect possessed such strength!
Chu Xuan, however, remained silent. He focused his spiritual sense into a massive palm that shot forward, a technique known as the Great Devouring Palm.
Each time the palm struck, a part of True Master Yin's spiritual sense was consumed, gradually turning it into Chu Xuan's own power. With every encounter, True Master Yin could feel his spiritual sense slipping away, a sensation he had never experienced before. A technique that could steal another's spiritual sense in the midst of combat—it was utterly foreign to him.
"Damn... damn...!" True Master Yin's anger and fear grew.
He tried to regain control of the fight, but every time he attempted to use his Spiritual Qi to cast a spell, his old injuries flared up, draining his energy and distracting him. After just a few exchanges, True Master Yin noticed that his thoughts were becoming sluggish, his Spiritual Qi flow was stalling.
"Did you poison me?!" he suddenly blurted out in disbelief. He was a master of poison, a cultivator renowned for his expertise in toxins. He controlled his subordinates with poison, using it as a tool to maintain his dominance. Yet now, he was the one who had fallen victim to poison.
"I'm impressed by the expertise of a Deity Transformation cultivator in poison. I've used twenty-seven different poisons, but only three have taken effect," Chu Xuan said with a tsk, his voice filled with admiration.
True Master Yin's face turned pale.
Twenty-seven poisons? When did he do that?
"Damn..." True Master Yin gritted his teeth, feeling the mounting pressure. With no other choice, he summoned another top-tier magic treasure.
This time, it was a headband encrusted with red jade. The moment it appeared, it automatically placed itself atop his head.
In that instant, Chu Xuan could sense a heavy, solid red wall emerging within True Master Yin's sea of consciousness. The man's spiritual sense retreated behind this new fortress, its defenses impenetrable. No matter how Chu Xuan attacked, the wall held firm, rendering his Great Devouring Palm useless. He could no longer drain True Master Yin's spiritual sense.
Chu Xuan glanced at the red jade headband and immediately guessed that it was a magic treasure specifically designed to defend against spiritual sense attacks. He unleashed over a dozen Sky-Tearing Cold Palm, each strike crashing into the barrier.
True Master Yin, on the other hand, was increasingly alarmed. To his shock, he noticed cracks beginning to form on the headband. Not just one, but several!
The red jade headband had only been able to block a handful of spiritual sense attacks, and already it was showing signs of damage. This Nascent Soul cultivator—his spiritual sense was rapidly approaching the level of a Deity Transformation cultivator!
Creeeak!
The cracks deepened, and before long, the headband shattered entirely.
True Master Yin's face drained of color as he staggered back in retreat, trying to regain his footing.
Chu Xuan, seizing the moment, advanced, continuing his relentless barrage. But just as he moved forward, True Master Yin suddenly flashed a strange, almost triumphant smile. He raised his palm, and an array plate appeared in his hand.
Chu Xuan's expression shifted slightly. He immediately summoned the White Bone Stele to protect himself. As expected, the next moment, a chilling, bone-piercing wind exploded from the array, sweeping through the room.
The wind was especially deadly in this confined environment, amplified by the claustrophobic nature of the cave. This was a defensive formation True Master Yin had set up—an internal array, something far more unusual than the typical arrays meant for external defense!
Fortunately, Chu Xuan reacted quickly. With the White Bone Stele shielding him, he was unaffected by the poisonous winds.
True Master Yin, however, couldn't help but marvel at Chu Xuan's constantly evolving tactics.
Without missing a beat, True Master Yin summoned the Black Yin Pearl, unleashing a torrent of poisonous Yin energy to envelop Chu Xuan. This was the true power of the Black Yin Pearl: it could both defend and attack by releasing toxin-laden Yin energy to poison its enemies.
Just as True Master Yin gritted his teeth, preparing to use his damaged magic treasures for a final, deadly strike, a strange sound caught his attention—the unmistakable flapping of wings.
Not just one pair, but many.
It suddenly hit him. The first attack on his neck, the one involving a steel-like wire—it had been the work of some kind of insect. That meant... Chu Xuan had likely been breeding more of them!
True Master Yin's face turned ashen, and he quickly activated the Black Yin Pearl, spinning it rapidly in front of him to block the incoming swarm. But he was still a step too slow.
The swarm of blood bees, which Chu Xuan had secretly scattered throughout the cave, suddenly surged into action. He had deliberately allowed them to remain motionless in the corners, biding their time.
Now that True Master Yin's Black Yin Pearl was distracted, it was the perfect moment for the blood bees to strike.
"Spit fire!" Chu Xuan's voice rang out, unyielding and commanding.
In an instant, over a thousand fire bees emerged, each one unleashing a jet of black-red flames.
In the blink of an eye, True Master Yin was consumed by the Netherfire Devouring Flame.
Within the fiery storm, the shrill cries of agony echoed, filling the air as True Master Yin struggled against the flames, his body slowly being engulfed.
Ever since the Blood Evil Yin Fire had refined enough Nether Fire Crystals to evolve into the Netherfire Devouring Flame, Chu Xuan had already devised a strategy to have the fire bees store the Netherfire Devouring Flame within their bodies.
However, these fire bees were bred by the Blood Bee Queen, who was a fourth-transformation Gu, yet it didn't mean the fire bees themselves were of the same caliber. Even though Chu Xuan had used the insect cultivation method from the cave world to enhance these fire bees, they could only store the Blood Evil Yin Fire for extended periods. The more powerful Netherfire Devouring Flame, however, was beyond their capacity.
At most, the fire bees could hold the Netherfire Devouring Flame for only ten days before they would burn up from the heat and die. These fire bees had been cultivated during the voyage to the Nine Yin Island, and now was the time to use them.
"This flame… it's the Nether Fire from the Nether Fire Valley!" True Master Yin's voice trembled, and his eyes widened in shock. "How do you have it?"
His soul was being ruthlessly burned, consumed by the Netherfire Devouring Flame. At that moment, he remembered the terrifying battle he had fought against the Netherfire King in the Netherfire Valley. His soul had been gravely injured in that battle.
Chu Xuan remained silent, his eyes cold. Under his command, the fire bees continued to spew Netherfire Devouring Flame relentlessly. Every time True Master Yin tried to break free, the fire forced him back.
Desperately, he tried to retract the Black Yin Pearl to protect himself. But with a swift wave of Chu Xuan's hand, Hu and Long surged forward, one on each side, directly blocking the Black Yin Pearl. Especially after Hu landed a mighty punch, the surface of the Black Yin Pearl cracked.
True Master Yin's face turned ashen with despair.
Who was this Nascent Soul cultivator?
His magic treasures were endless, his Spiritual Qi vast, his spiritual sense terrifying, his mastery over poisons and Gu arts uncanny, and his ability to cultivate corpses astonishing!
Was this something a normal person could achieve?
What he didn't know was that Chu Xuan still had several trump cards yet to be played.
"Spare me... spare my life," True Master Yin gasped, struggling to maintain his composure. "I can give you anything you want... There's no need for this to end in death... We can cooperate... and both benefit..."
Chu Xuan's voice remained icy and emotionless. "From the day you started chasing me, you were doomed to die."
True Master Yin froze, his eyes wide in disbelief. After a long pause, he roared, "You… You are Chu Xuan?! You're still alive?!"
Chu Xuan smiled faintly. "Now you know? Too late. Make your journey. You shall become the food of the Netherfire Devouring Flame."
With a swift motion, he unleashed more black-red flames.
Boom!
The vast cave was almost entirely engulfed by the Netherfire Devouring Flame.
True Master Yin screamed in agony, but he could no longer resist. His flesh and soul were being refined by the flames.
Chu Xuan couldn't help but shake his head.
Under the burning heat of the Netherfire Devouring Flame, the Black Yin Pearl quickly lost its luster, cracking from end to end. True Master Yin's other magic treasures were likely destroyed as well.
Such a pity.
Only after True Master Yin's life force had completely dissipated did Chu Xuan retract the flames.
"Huh, the storage bag is still here?"
Chu Xuan's expression shifted with surprise as he noticed the storage bag amidst the pile of black ash. He picked it up and quickly realized why it hadn't been burned.
This wasn't a magic treasure but rather a spiritual artifact!
It wasn't just any storage bag, but a Universe Bag. While a high-grade storage bag could hold a thousand cubic feet, the Universe Bag could hold up to ten thousand!
Moreover, while a storage bag couldn't store living creatures, even a top-tier one, the Universe Bag could.
It could hold spiritual beasts, Gu insects, and the like. However, due to the lack of Spiritual Qi inside the Universe Bag, any creatures stored within would fall into a dormant state, and their growth would slow considerably.
To raise them properly, one would need a specialized Universe Bag, such as a spiritual beast Universe Bag or a Gu insect Universe Bag.
"This might just be my first spiritual artifact," Chu Xuan mused with a smile as he stowed the Universe Bag away.
True Master Yin might have left something behind in this bag, so he would wait for a safer time to open it. After all, there were still two people waiting outside. He couldn't afford to delay them.
...
Outside the cave, Pei Yuankui and Ge Rong exchanged glances.
Ge Rong lowered his voice. "The eighth brother has been inside for so long. Why hasn't he come out yet?"
Pei Yuankui shook his head. "Indeed. Why hasn't Master summoned us?"
Neither of them knew what had happened inside the cave.
It was common practice to set up soundproofing and light-absorbing formations in caves. Given that True Master Yin was a Deity Transformation cultivator, he would have arranged formations of the same caliber.
Chu Xuan and True Master Yin's battle had not disrupted the formations, so naturally, no noise or disturbance reached the outside.
At this moment, the heavy stone door crashed open. True Master Yin's hoarse voice echoed once more.
"Ge Rong, come in."
Ge Rong's face turned pale. "Master, can Senior Brother go in first?"
True Master Yin's voice came again, tinged with mockery. "What's wrong? Are you worried I'll eat you? Chen Jin is still alive and well. Why should you worry?"
Then, a voice from inside the cave rang out: "Second Senior Brother, don't worry."
Ge Rong froze for a moment.
Huh? Not eaten? Had he misjudged the situation? Had he underestimated the Master?
Pei Yuankui also felt a pang of doubt.
Chen Jin was still alive. Was True Master Yin really planning to take them on as disciples?
Ge Rong swallowed nervously, hesitating but then stepping into the cave, still unsure.
The stone door shut behind him with a resounding thud.
Outside, Pei Yuankui was left standing alone, growing increasingly anxious.
After some time, the heavy stone door opened again.
True Master Yin's voice sounded once more.
"Yuankui, you may enter as well."
Pei Yuankui gritted his teeth, unwilling to move forward.
True Master Yin's voice darkened. "What's this? Are you planning to defy my orders?"
Pei Yuankui gave a bitter smile. "Master, didn't you say you wouldn't eat me? Previously, when the other Nascent Soul cultivators went in, I waited outside. If they tried to escape, I'd help you catch them and throw them in. You promised me, Master. Why are you including me this time?"
True Master Yin snorted coldly. "I truly see you as a disciple! Yet you think so little of me! Your two junior brothers are still alive, aren't they?"
Immediately, Chen Jin and Ge Rong's voices rang out from within the cave.
"Yes, Senior Brother, we're both still alive."
Hearing those voices, Pei Yuankui felt a chill run down his spine. He sighed deeply. "Master, with your abilities, it would be easy to disguise their voices. Master, are you really going to eat me? Even now, I'm still here to serve you, gather information, and collect treasures for you. Why would you want to eat me?"
Clack, clack.
Footsteps approached. A figure walked out from the cave.
Pei Yuankui raised his head, shocked to see the figure of Chen Jin, the eighth leader.
His expression was a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "How... how is it you? Where's Master?"
Chu Xuan patted his stomach and smiled faintly. "Guess."
Pei Yuankui was left dumbfounded. He seemed unable to accept the reality before him. After a long silence, he suddenly half-kneeled, his tone sincere. "Pei Yuankui is willing to serve you, Senior! Whether it's up the mountain of blades or through a sea of fire, as long as you command, I, Pei Yuankui, won't even flinch! Wherever you want me to go, I will go!"
Chu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
Pei Yuankui was a clever person. In an instant, he had deduced that True Master Yin had likely met a terrible fate. He must have mistaken him for a Deity Transformation cultivator on the same level as True Master Yin.
Chu Xuan smiled faintly. "So, you'll go wherever I send you?"
Pei Yuankui nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, yes! Please, Senior, command me."
Chu Xuan casually replied, "Then please, go into the Five Organs Temple."
Pei Yuankui froze. Before he could react, a gust of foul wind slammed into him. A massive, muscular figure filled his vision.
With a snap, Hu twisted Pei Yuankui's neck. His Nascent Soul was ripped from his body and respectfully presented to Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan gave a slight nod, casually tossing the body and soul into the Heavenly Corpse Tower and the Sky-Shielding Umbrella. He looked at the empty Nine Yin Island and let out a long breath.
"Finally, it's over. But I can't stay here for long. White Bone True Master and Black Wind True Master must know about True Master Yin's injury. Sooner or later, they'll come to probe. I was able to kill True Master Yin only because he was gravely injured. If I were to face a Deity Transformation cultivator in full health, I'd have no choice but to flee."
With that thought in mind, Chu Xuan immediately returned to True Master Yin's cave. He was going to withdraw and escape!
Chu Xuan surveyed the surroundings and quickly began dismantling the various formations in the cave. All the soundproofing, light-absorbing, mist-shrouding, and yin wind formations—he took them all! These were Deity Transformation-level formations, far superior to the Nascent Soul-level ones in his possession.
In addition to this, Chu Xuan employed his spiritual sense to scan the cave. He discovered a secret compartment under the stone bed. Inside the compartment was a top-tier storage pouch.
After wiping off the lingering soul imprint, Chu Xuan was shocked to find that it was filled with an enormous number of various talismans. There were over a thousand Nascent Soul-level talismans alone. As for Deity Transformation-level talismans, there were at least twenty.
Clearly, these were preparations True Master Yin had made for emergencies. And now, they had become Chu Xuan's spoils.
Chu Xuan made his way to the alchemy room, the corpse refining room, and the weapon crafting room in the cave.
In the alchemy room, there was nothing of value, just piles of wasted pill remnants. It seemed that True Master Yin's skills in alchemy weren't particularly high, but he had a strong passion for it and continuously tried to refine pills.
In the corpse refining room, there were twenty corpse puppets, soaked for a long time in corpse refining liquid.
Chu Xuan sniffed the air and immediately recognized the top-grade corpse refining liquid. Even though the corpse puppets hadn't started their refining process yet, their strength would at least be on the level of a corpse general with top-tier potential. With a stroke of luck, some might even achieve the peak of quality.
"Not bad, there's even an Introduction to Corpse Refining here."
Chu Xuan's eyes lit up, and he swiftly pocketed the book. It was clear that this was the result of True Master Yin's research into corpse refining and the creation of corpse puppets. He had never expected that one day, a Nascent Soul cultivator would turn the tables and kill him. These treasures were now left behind, unclaimed.
After leaving the corpse refining room, Chu Xuan entered the weapon crafting room. In the center of the weapon crafting room, the large furnace still had flames burning inside.
Chu Xuan extended his spiritual sense and was immediately delighted. Inside the furnace was a weapon that was already beginning to take shape.
The moment he saw it, Chu Xuan knew it wasn't a magic treasure but a spiritual artifact! Even though it was only a semi-finished product, its power was far beyond that of any top-tier magic treasure.
"Good, good, good! True Master Yin, you've truly given me a great gift!"
Chu Xuan's smile widened. Killing a powerful cultivator had reaped incredible rewards.
A few days later, the flames in the furnace gradually weakened. Only then did Chu Xuan retrieve the spiritual artifact.
The weapon resembled a small lamp, but as it was still a semi-finished product, many details were incomplete. Overall, it looked like a hastily made toy. Still, this did little to hide the surging Spiritual Qi contained within it.
"Time to go."
Chu Xuan smiled in satisfaction, gathered all the treasures, and quickly left. He boarded the Nine Yin Ship and set sail southward, heading toward the outer rings of the Three Southern Circles.
It didn't take long before he arrived at a desolate island, one with scarce Spiritual Qi. The Starshatter Sea was vast, with islands scattered across it like stars in the sky, more numerous than grains of sand.
Almost every day, fragments of stars were drawn in by the immense gravitational pull of the Shattered Star Sea, becoming part of it. This constant process led to the birth of new islands. As a result, countless nameless, unclaimed islands appeared in the sea.
Chu Xuan wasn't concerned that someone would show up here out of nowhere to fight him for the island. Unless that person was simply bored and looking for trouble.
After arriving at the desolate island, Chu Xuan found a mountain and immediately pulled out the Evil Soul Chain, swinging it fiercely. Not long after, he had carved out a cave dwelling.
The Nine Yin Ship was also tucked into the Myriad Realm Mirror, just like the Golden Dragon Ship, and placed on Blue Star. After all, such a large target was too conspicuous. If True Master Yin's enemies discovered it, it could lead to unnecessary trouble.
Although placing such a massive object on Blue Star would consume a fair amount of Spiritual Qi, Chu Xuan wasn't worried about it. He had accumulated an enormous amount of high-grade spirit stones on the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, so the consumption of spirit stones didn't matter.
Once the temporary cave dwelling was established and equipped with various Deity Transformation level formations, Chu Xuan took a single step and returned to Blue Star.
Blue Star, the Water Curtain Cave.
Chu Xuan took a deep breath, feeling the familiar atmosphere of Blue Star. His body relaxed involuntarily as he sighed with relief.
"Blue Star... now, this is home."
He couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia. His escape from Holy Flame Star, infiltrating Nine Yin Island to steal cultivation, followed by the bloody battle with White Bone Island, Black Wind Island, and the entire Nine Yin Island, and finally sending off True Master Yin—he hadn't had a moment of peace. At last, he could rest.
Without hesitation, Chu Xuan took out True Master Yin's Universe Bag and began to purify the spiritual imprint left by True Master Yin's soul. It took time to erase the remnants of a Deity Transformation cultivator's spiritual imprint.
Ten days later, he had finally removed all traces of it. Staring at the open Universe Bag before him, looking as though it were a jade body exposed without cover, Chu Xuan cracked his knuckles.
"Let's open the blind box!"
He immediately sent his spiritual sense into the bag.
"Well... this is... so poor!"
Chu Xuan couldn't help but grind his teeth.
Inside True Master Yin's Universe Bag, there were only a bit over eight hundred great spirit stones, around three hundred thousand medium-grade spirit stones, five pieces of top-tier magic treasures, two broken lower-grade spiritual artifacts, and about ten bottles of Nascent Soul-level medicinal pills.
Additionally, there were several early-stage Deity Transformation formation sets. And that was it. There was nothing more... nothing at all. But after some thought, Chu Xuan realized that this was probably normal.
True Master Yin had fought fiercely with the Netherfire King, then battled White Bone and Black Wind True Master. He'd even been ambushed by the fleet of Yellow Spring Island.
All the precious Deity Transformation healing pills and Deity Transformation talismans were probably long used up.
In order to suppress the Nascent Soul cultivators under his command, True Master Yin would have had to expend spirit stones to recover his Spiritual Qi.
"Is this all you left for me?" He sighed deeply. "Couldn't you have tried a bit harder to earn more?"