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Translator: CinderTL
"Fan Kang and Tang Qing were also robbed by Xuan Gu," Song Wen said mockingly. "Xuan Gu promised them great rewards, but they received nothing. The millions of high-grade spirit stones they invested in corpse refinement were all lost. It's a classic case of losing both the wife and the army."
Wang Qiuyue's gaze sharpened, her expression turning grave.
"Ji Yin, this is no trivial matter. Don't speak recklessly. You've had past grievances with Fan Kang—don't let your desire for revenge lead you to slander him."
"Heh," Song Wen chuckled softly. "Fellow Daoist Wang, whether this is true or false, your sect's methods should easily uncover the truth."
Wang Qiuyue abruptly stood up.
"Very well. I will report this matter to the sect immediately. If the allegations prove true, you will be handsomely rewarded."
With that, Wang Qiuyue turned and strode out of the private room.
After settling the bill, Song Wen also left the tavern. He purchased a large quantity of demon beast souls in the city before returning to Cloudstream Valley.
For the next fourteen years, Song Wen spent most of his time in his cultivation cave, refining Substitute Puppets and devouring Demon Souls to generate Soul Source Essence, which he supplied to his shadow void.
The journey to the Western Rong Continent was fraught with peril, and Song Wen's own strength couldn't be improved quickly. His only option was to enhance the shadow void's power.
To this end, Song Wen spared no expense.
Fueled by a massive quantity of Demon Souls worth over three million high-grade spirit stones, the shadow void's cultivation realm smoothly advanced to the peak of the seventh-tier.
Of this vast sum, over two million spirit stones came from Song Wen's past acts of murder and plunder. The remaining million was a reward from the Spirit Jade Palace after Wang Qiuyue verified the intelligence he had provided.
During these fourteen years, Song Wen refined ninety-seven Substitute Puppets. Combined with his existing stock, he now possessed over one hundred and twenty puppets—more than enough for his needs.
Wang Qiuyue also delivered on her promises, providing him with the Minor Teleportation Talisman, the fifth-tier Earth Evasion Talisman, and insights into breaking through to the Great Ascension Stage.
Outside Great Tan City, Song Wen stood atop a mountain peak, gazing up at a Giant Flying Ship streaking across the sky.
"Ji Yin, board the ship," Wang Qiuyue's voice echoed from the vessel.
Song Wen leaped into the air, ascending to the ship's level. On the deck, he saw four figures: two Body Integration Stage cultivators and two Void Refinement Stage cultivators.
To his surprise, the other Body Integration Stage cultivator besides Wang Qiuyue was none other than Fan Kang!
The Spirit Jade Palace had already verified Fan Kang's collusion with the Six Fiends Hall and his creation of Corpse Puppets for them. Yet, instead of facing punishment, he had been allowed to travel to the Western Rong Continent. This truly astonished Song Wen.
However, Song Wen betrayed no hint of his surprise. He landed smoothly beside Wang Qiuyue, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wang."
Then, turning his gaze to Fan Kang, he continued, "I am Ji Yin. I have long admired Fellow Daoist Fan Kang's reputation. Meeting you today, I see you truly possess extraordinary bearing and a righteous spirit."
Fan Kang's face darkened, his icy gaze sweeping over Song Wen. With a cold snort, he turned and strode into the rear cabin of the ship.
Song Wen looked bewilderedly at Wang Qiuyue beside him.
Wang Qiuyue watched Fan Kang's retreating figure, a flicker of disdain in her eyes. She transmitted a silent message:
"He was punished by the sect's Ancestor for colluding with the Six Fiends Hall. The Ancestor planted the Divine Flame Curse in his sea of consciousness. If anyone triggers the curse, his soul will scatter and his spirit will vanish, resulting in his death."
"For this expedition to the Western Rong Continent, the sect's two Great Ascension Stage Ancestors were unwilling to risk their own lives, yet they coveted the heavenly material and earthly treasures of that secluded land. They needed someone to scout ahead. However, apart from me, no Body Integration Stage cultivator from the sect or its affiliated families was willing to go. Thus, the two Ancestors decided to send Fan Kang to redeem himself through meritorious service."
"Fan Kang has always been a coward, clinging to life and fearing death. He would never take risks unless absolutely necessary. Now that he's being forced to serve as a scout, he's naturally resentful. Moreover, he was recently punished by the sect for colluding with the demonic path. How could he possibly show you any respect after you dared to speak of his 'righteous aura'?"
Hearing this, Song Wen was taken aback.
Wang Qiuyue's assessment of Fan Kang felt like a veiled insult directed at him.
Furthermore, he hadn't intentionally mocked Fan Kang; he had merely struck a nerve.
Song Wen's approach to dealing with enemies was always the same:
Seize the opportunity, deliver a thunderous strike, and ensure not only their physical death but also the annihilation of their soul and spirit.
When the time wasn't right, Song Wen would never make any unnecessary moves, as that would only reveal his hostility and alert the enemy.
He had always disdained verbal provocations and sarcasm. Aside from the fleeting satisfaction of a sharp retort, they served no real purpose.
Song Wen turned his gaze to the other two figures on the deck.
These two Void Refinement Stage cultivators both appeared as elderly men, their bodies radiating an aura of twilight.
"What's the story with these two?" Song Wen asked Wang Qiuyue telepathically.
"They're from cultivation families under the sect's jurisdiction. Their lifespans are nearing their end, so they're hoping to find some luck on the Western Rong Continent. The Azure Flame Sect granted our sect five slots, but no one from the sect volunteered. Since we couldn't fill all five slots, we had to send them instead."
Wang Qiuyue paused, as if remembering something, and changed the subject.
"Oh, right. For this trip to the Western Rong Continent, the Spirit Jade Palace won't take any share of whatever precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures you acquire. However, you must meticulously record every detail of your journey, including your routes, the demon beasts you encounter, and the locations and types of any heavenly materials and earthly treasures you discover. This record must be submitted to the Spirit Jade Palace upon your return."
Song Wen nodded slightly.
For a rogue cultivator like him, the Spirit Jade Palace's offer was exceptionally generous. He had no reason to refuse.
Moreover, the Spirit Jade Palace's demands made it clear that they viewed the five of them as mere pathfinders, expendable pawns.
To the two Great Ascension Stage elders of the Spirit Jade Palace, the specific treasures the five might find were irrelevant. What truly mattered was gathering intelligence on the Western Rong Continent.
The Spirit Jade Palace's Giant Flying Ship traveled at remarkable speed. In just over half a month, they arrived at Thousand Blades City, the Myriad Swords Pavilion's stronghold.
Two other Giant Flying Ships were already waiting there, representing the Myriad Swords Pavilion and the Profound Sky Sect. They too would participate in the expedition to the Western Rong Continent.
While Wang Qiuyue exchanged pleasantries with representatives from the other two sects, Song Wen carefully observed the occupants of the two ships.
The Profound Sky Sect's ship carried five cultivators: two at the Body Integration Stage and three at the Void Refinement Stage.
The Myriad Swords Pavilion's ship, however, had only four: one Body Integration Stage cultivator and three Void Refinement Stage cultivators.
Song Wen glanced across the deck of the Myriad Swords Pavilion's ship, inwardly musing, "The three great sects of the Southern Nether Continent should each have five slots. Why is the Myriad Swords Pavilion missing one? Could the missing cultivator be hiding in the ship tower?"
(End of the Chapter)
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