CHAPTER 914: RETURNING TO THE SECT

Translator: CinderTL

Following the Sea Chart provided by Xu Geng, Song Wen arrived at a deep-sea location in the Southern Region of the Inner Sea.

This remote area lay at the very edge of the Inner Sea; traveling tens of thousands of li southward from here would reach the Outer Sea.

Across the boundless ocean, not a single island was visible for thousands of li in any direction. It took Song Wen considerable time to locate the sea trench indicated on the Sea Chart.

The trench was relatively small, about a few dozen li long and a few li wide.

Within it, an extremely potent toxic gas permeated the area, transforming the entire trench into a lifeless wasteland devoid of all living beings.

Song Wen summoned three Corpse Puppets to surround him before cautiously entering the trench.

The toxic gas inside the trench was so concentrated that it severely disrupted Song Wen’s Spirit Sense. Even with the Shadow King Gu enhancing his perception range, he could only sense an area within a hundred zhang around him.

Activating the Ten Thousand Poisons Body, Song Wen instantly manifested a towering, green Phantom Shadow several zhang tall above him.

Seventy-three years ago, after returning from the Divine Blood Hall and obtaining the subsequent cultivation technique for the Corpse King’s Rebirth Art, Song Wen had begun cultivating using the Blood Demon Pill.

The Blood Demon Pill contained potent toxins, which further refined Song Wen’s Ten Thousand Poisons Body.

The Phantom Shadow conjured by the Ten Thousand Poisons Body had evolved significantly. No longer a blurry outline, it now possessed a distinct silhouette: a monstrous serpent with nine heads.

Enveloped by the serpent’s Phantom Shadow, the venomous seawater parted, unable to touch Song Wen’s flesh.

Wary of Xu Geng’s potential treachery, Song Wen advanced with extreme caution.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he discovered a cave at the bottom of the trench.

He sent two Corpse Puppets ahead to scout the path, while a third covered his rear, and Song Wen ventured deeper into the cave.

After traveling several miles, a transparent Formation Barrier blocked his path.

Instead of attempting a brute-force breach, Song Wen shifted his consciousness to his Sea of Consciousness.

Xu Geng’s eyes lit up with a flicker of hope as Song Wen suddenly appeared before him.

The Black Hole’s oppressive confinement had instilled a bone-deep fear of imminent death and the annihilation of his Dao, making each day feel like a year of torment.

"Ji Yin, you’ve come," Xu Geng said, his tone ingratiating. "Have you encountered any difficulties? Ask anything, and I will answer truthfully."

Song Wen asked, "What’s the deal with the Formation in the cave deep within the trench?"

The Divine Blood Gate had left this realm tens of thousands of years ago, and the Spiritual Qi within the trench was hardly abundant. This strongly suggested that the Formation wasn’t left by them, but rather placed there by Xu Geng a few decades prior. Otherwise, even if the Formation had Spiritual Qi-gathering properties, absorbing surrounding Spiritual Qi to sustain its operation, it couldn’t possibly have remained operational for so long—it would have long since failed.

Xu Geng replied, "That’s a defensive Formation left by the Divine Blood Gate. However, it had long ceased functioning. A few decades ago, I transferred it to this location, replaced some High-Grade Spirit Stones, and reactivated it."

"Hand over the control method for the Formation," Song Wen demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Xu Geng said, "In my Storage Ring, there’s a cyan Array Disk—that’s the control disk for the Formation. As for the control method, it’s recorded in a jade slip. Search carefully, and you’ll find it."

Xu Geng’s tone shifted as he continued, "Ji Yin, why not let me out? I’ll personally activate the Formation for you..."

Before he could finish, Song Wen’s Soul Body vanished without a trace.

Song Wen retrieved Xu Geng’s Storage Ring, devoured the Spirit Sense imprint Xu Geng had left on it, and probed its contents with his Spirit Sense.

After a thorough search, Song Wen located the Array Disk and jade slip Xu Geng had mentioned.

After roughly understanding the Formation’s control methods, Song Wen retreated a hundred zhang, positioned the Three-Headed Corpse Puppet before him as a shield, and unleashed several magic seals at the Array Disk.

Instantly, the Formation Barrier vanished without a trace.

Waiting for several dozen breaths to ensure no anomalies arose, Song Wen finally commanded the Corpse Puppet to clear the path ahead as he slowly advanced deeper.

As it turned out, Song Wen’s caution had been entirely unwarranted.

Inside the defensive Formation lay only a cave several hundred zhang in size.

Within the cave, aside from the omnipresent seawater, there was nothing but a Teleportation Array etched into the cave floor, defensive Formations carved into the cave walls, and nothing else. There were no other objects, nor any hidden dangers.

After a moment’s contemplation, Song Wen forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately activate the Teleportation Array and return to Tianyuan Continent. He turned and exited the cave, reactivated the defensive Formation, and then departed.

He journeyed westward, eventually returning to Wu Ji Sect.

Song Wen had just arrived at the entrance of his Cultivation Cave on Three Corpses Peak when Shu Niang appeared.

"Demon Lord, you’ve returned!" Shu Niang asked obsequiously. "When you left, you mentioned having personal matters to attend to. Have those been resolved?"

Song Wen ignored Shu Niang’s question and instead issued an order.

"Go to Zhenbao Hall and retrieve some souls. I need them for my cultivation. Also, inform Fang Xian to send someone to the Liangyi Sect to purchase two portions of Dark Orchid Wood."

Xu Geng had explained that the crucial step in Divine Transformation was the soul’s metamorphosis into a Primordial Spirit. Song Wen planned to experiment, hoping that by devouring a massive quantity of souls and refining them with the Forbidden Divine Art, he could force his soul to advance into a Primordial Spirit.

As for the Dark Orchid Wood, Yun Xu had directly gifted Song Wen a portion of it to curry favor, demonstrating its abundance within the Liangyi Sect.

Shu Niang ventured, "Your subordinate dares to ask, Demon Lord, what age of Dark Orchid Wood do you require? And how much constitutes ’two portions’?"

"That’s none of your concern," Song Wen replied. "Simply have our people inform the Liangyi Sect that we require ’two portions of Dark Orchid Wood.’ They will understand."

"Yes!"

Shu Niang bowed and withdrew.

Before long, she returned with dozens of Soul Bottles.

Most of the souls sealed within these bottles belonged to demon beasts.

During the recent Human-Demon War, the Human Race had achieved a resounding victory, allowing the major human powers to collect vast quantities of demon beast spiritual materials. These souls were among the spoils of war.

After dismissing Shu Niang with instructions not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary, Song Wen activated the Restriction sealing his Cultivation Cave. He retrieved a Soul Bottle and devoured the countless demon souls imprisoned within.

Within Song Wen’s Sea of Consciousness:

Xu Geng watched helplessly as the Black Hole consumed the diverse array of demon beast souls. He realized that Ji Yin wouldn’t be consuming these souls without a reason; it must be gaining some benefit from them.

As a Soul Body at the Divine Transformation Realm, Xu Geng knew he likely couldn’t escape being devoured in the end.

(End of the Chapter)

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