Chu Xuan's spiritual sense swept over the three Platinum-tier Demon Insect Cultivation Methods, quickly absorbing them into his mind. These cultivation methods were a treasure trove for him—no matter whether they had an immediate direct effect or not, their value lay in the potential for indirect insights. The more such methods he collected, the better.
However, his mood soured somewhat at Xiao Renjie's attitude. Who's the real boss here?! Could this be the way to talk to someone who had been as kind as a grandfather? The nerve of it!
Chu Xuan made up his mind. Leave it a few days. He set aside his frustration and turned his attention back to the Insect Cultivation Methods. These, after all, were still valuable. So he began to delve into them seriously, seeking out points of crossover with other techniques.
The Platinum-tier Insect Cultivation Methods were equivalent to Nascent Soul-level insect-controlling techniques, so he knew there was bound to be something useful in them. After several days of contemplation, Chu Xuan had an epiphany. He immediately took out a spiritual sense jade slip and recorded his insights in it. It wasn't long before a smile of excitement spread across his face.
"This Giant Centipede Cultivation Method is naturally suited to be combined with corpse puppet techniques. It could be transformed into a Gu Corpse Technique! All I need to do is find a centipede-type Gu insect, implant it into the corpse puppet, and create a symbiotic environment for them. This will cause the Gu insect to gradually influence the corpse puppet, strengthening its physical body, enhancing its healing abilities, and allowing it to regenerate limbs, even survive decapitation. The corpse puppet can also feed on blood and flesh, speeding up the growth of the Gu insect. It's a win-win!"
Chu Xuan rubbed his chin, images of centipede-type Gu insects flashing through his mind, before his focus finally locked onto one massive, jet-black figure.
"If I'm not mistaken, the most suitable Gu insect for this corpse technique would be the True Steel Centipede, with a body harder than steel and a regeneration ability far superior to most others. I'll call this technique the True Steel Gu Corpse Technique."
His expression was one of satisfaction. Previously, he had successfully used the Heavenly Yin Gu Corpse Technique to refine Long, a powerful corpse puppet. It had been a huge success. The puppet had immediately been able to go toe-to-toe with Hu, another corpse puppet forged using the Diamond Refining Corpse Technique. The parasitic Blue Tuft Silk within Long had also provided unexpected benefits during combat.
Now, Chu Xuan planned to apply this True Steel Gu Corpse Technique to Hu. Hu was his most valued corpse puppet, having always held the highest rank among them. However, due to the relatively low-tier corpse refining technique used previously, Hu had begun to lag behind the other puppets in terms of power.
Now, the time had come to revitalize and strengthen Hu with a new method.
"Xiao Renjie should be fully obedient by now," Chu Xuan mused, once again using his spiritual sense to connect to the Myriad Realm Mirror. The scene before him shifted to the Worm King's Palace.
As expected, Xiao Renjie had completely lost his temper.
"Magic Mirror, Magic Mirror... Please... no, I beg you. Please, grant me the recipe for the Longevity Elixir!"
Xiao Renjie was now disheveled, his clothes in tatters, and his eye sockets deeply sunken. It was clear that his situation had taken a sharp downturn. Gone was the once lofty and commanding figure; now, he resembled a withered old man, clinging desperately to his last shred of hope, waiting for the "Magic Mirror" to grant its favor.
Chu Xuan smiled faintly. This was exactly how it should be. He wasn't some obedient old grandfather who would grant every wish. Nor was he a system that coddled its host as if it were a parent. He was Chu Xuan, the mighty Nascent Soul cultivator. If the host refused to listen, then a little discipline was in order. If that didn't work, well, next time, perhaps he'd choose a new host for the next life.
With that thought, Chu Xuan focused his spiritual sense and imprinted the recipe for the Longevity Elixir onto the surface of the mirror.
Upon seeing the words, Xiao Renjie's demeanor shifted dramatically. His eyes, once dim and defeated, now sparkled with a gleam of ecstatic joy. He quickly fetched a pen and paper to jot it all down.
"Good, good, good!" he exclaimed. "With this Longevity Elixir, I'll be able to extend my life by another five years. That's five more years to reach a higher level of power!"
Xiao Renjie was beside himself with glee. He placed the mirror fragment down and immediately began to prepare for alchemy. However, as soon as the mirror fragment was placed down, more lines of text began to appear.
"Orifice Opening Scripture, not acquired. Requires one Diamond-tier Demon Insect Cultivation Method."
"Great Orifice Opening Scripture, not acquired. Requires two Diamond-tier Demon Insect Cultivation Methods."
Xiao Renjie raised an eyebrow, noticing the new words appearing.
"Orifice Opening Scripture, Great Orifice Opening Scripture... What are these?" he wondered aloud.
It was as though the mirror responded to his voice. In the blink of an eye, the mirror displayed the functions of the Orifice Opening Scripture and Great Orifice Opening Scripture.
"Orifice Opening Scripture can open the first Insect Orifice."
"Great Orifice Opening Scripture can open the second Insect Orifice?!"
Xiao Renjie was utterly stunned.
The Insect Orifice was a natural gift, predetermined and unchangeable. One Insect Orifice meant being a Bronze Insect Master for life, and two meant being a Silver Insect Master—there was no way to break this limitation unless one was born with an additional half Insect Orifice, which could then be developed into a complete one through effort.
Xiao Renjie was naturally born with five Insect Orifices and thus had the potential to become a Diamond-tier Insect Master. But that was where it ended. Without a sixth Insect Orifice, there was no further path for him to progress.
In the entire Cave World—across the three great countries and countless tribes—there had never been an Insect Master with six Insect Orifices. This was the very reason Xiao Renjie had been desperately trying to extend his life. He had hoped that if his lifespan could be prolonged, he might find a way to break through to a higher level.
But now, a path to the heavens had opened before him! This mysterious Magic Mirror could allow him to open two additional Insect Orifices!
"Good, good, good! This is no mere magic mirror; it is a treasure mirror! A divine mirror! Truly a heaven-sent opportunity!" Xiao Renjie beamed with joy, as though he were holding the greatest of treasures.
"With two additional Insect Orifices and the extended lifespan, I will surely be able to break through to a higher realm!"
He murmured to himself, his eyes now filled with determination. "At that point, perhaps I can finally escape its influence..."
His voice grew softer as he spoke, a clear reverence and fear in his tone. The mention of "its" influence was not casual—it was a deep, unmistakable awe directed at a higher power.
Chu Xuan furrowed his brows in thought. Its influence? He was certain that Xiao Renjie was not referring to any of the usual pronouns like "he," "she," or "it," but a specific and ominous entity. The way he spoke had been laden with both awe and fear—a fear towards someone far above him, someone far more powerful.
Who was "it"?
A Diamond-tier Insect Master, along with a Diamond-tier Demon Insect, had already reached the limits of what this world could offer. As for the title of Enshrined Insect Master, only those exceptional Diamond-tier Insect Masters could ever hope to obtain it, for they had already reached the pinnacle of the hierarchy.
Xiao Renjie had already attained the rank of Diamond-tier Insect Master, and now he was aiming for even greater heights? That was something no one in this world had ever achieved.
And, from the way Xiao Renjie spoke, his desire to surpass the Diamond-tier seemed to be in the hope of escaping the grasp of "it."
Just how terrifying was the entity Xiao Renjie referred to as "it"?
Chu Xuan's curiosity was piqued. There were certainly more secrets hidden in this cave world than he had anticipated—secrets that were waiting for him to unravel.
"Let's give him some time. Hopefully, he can surprise me," Chu Xuan mused.
As for Lie Xiao and Lie Chen, he felt no pity for them—only a mild sense of regret. After all, the ancient adage was true: the victors are kings, and the vanquished are criminals.
The intellect of Lie Xiao and Lie Chen had simply been no match for Xiao Renjie. Not only had they lost their lives, but the most precious thing—their golden opportunities—had been snatched away as well. Who could they blame for that? Certainly not him, the kind and compassionate "old grandfather."
With that thought, Chu Xuan withdrew his spiritual sense, turning his focus inward once more.
Far beyond the shattered stars, a large fleet of ships sped through the sea. Each of these majestic vessels bore the symbol of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance emblazoned on their hulls, with the Alliance's great flag proudly flying from their masts. Beneath the flag, a smaller emblem of a four-clawed black dragon revealed the fleet's identity: the Black Dragon Merchant Fleet.
On the deck, a figure cloaked in black stood silently, gazing out at the starry sea. The light of the stars revealed a weathered, aged face beneath the hood—the face of True Master Tiancang.
True Master Tiancang had once been a Deity Transformation Elder in the Reincarnation Divine Sect. However, upon the news of the Reincarnation Divine Sect's demotion, he immediately severed his ties with them. After some deliberation, he boarded the fleet heading to the Starshatter Sea.
The Exquisite Treasures Alliance happened to have a merchant fleet making a trade run to the region, and he joined the Black Dragon Merchant Fleet without hesitation.
True Master Tiancang suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "The Exquisite Treasures Alliance is so ostentatious. Aren't they afraid the bandit cultivators in the Starshatter Sea will covet their wealth?"
Beside him, the fleet's chief steward, Huo Rui, smiled faintly. "The Exquisite Treasures Alliance has a vast business network. Our stores are scattered all over the Starshatter Sea. Even the bandit cultivators rely on our stores to offload their stolen goods."
True Master Tiancang gave a faint smile. "If I'm not mistaken, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance must have quite a few 'gloved hands' in their employ, don't they?"
Huo Rui laughed heartily. "Senior's words are indeed accurate. Of course, in order to do business in the Starshatter Sea, one needs 'gloved hands.' They can both intimidate the bandit cultivators and, at times, be used for... less honorable tasks. Many things are already understood without the need for words. It's not just us—other sects do the same."
True Master Tiancang chuckled softly but chose not to respond.
After a moment, Huo Rui suddenly asked, "Senior, what made you decide to come to the Starshatter Sea? With your level of cultivation and strength, either the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect or the Exquisite Treasures Alliance would gladly welcome you."
True Master Tiancang casually replied, "The Starshatter Sea has long been rumored to be home to rare and precious treasures. I came here because of those rumors."
Huo Rui chuckled wryly. "Senior believes in such rumors? The rumors of precious treasures in the Starshatter Sea have persisted for nearly a thousand years, yet no one has ever found anything. I suspect some bandit cultivators are just spreading false information, luring cultivators to come to the Starshatter Sea."
True Master Tiancang merely smiled and did not respond further.
Huo Rui cupped his hands in a polite gesture. "Forgive me, Senior, I must check the cargo before we reach the Starshatter Sea."
"Go ahead," True Master Tiancang waved dismissively.
After Huo Rui departed, True Master Tiancang turned his gaze toward the Starshatter Sea, his expression thoughtful.
"There must be a great treasure about to emerge from the Starshatter Sea. This time, it's likely to be real. My divination never fails."
A faint smile curled on his lips.
Suddenly, as though recalling something, his expression shifted to one of mild frustration. "...Although sometimes, it does mysteriously go wrong."
At the Starshatter Sea, Moon Island, Chu Xuan once again found himself at the Moon Market. This time, he had a specific purpose in mind—he intended to see if he could procure the True Steel Centipede.
Additionally, he needed to buy some Purple Star Rhinoceros meat. After all, as a 33rd layer Body Refining Cultivator, he needed to maintain a proper appearance for the role.
The one welcoming him this time was, once again, Jin Yan. She greeted him with a wide, beaming smile. "Senior He, it's been so long since you last visited! I thought you might never return."
Chu Xuan sighed deeply. "My luck wasn't good. I nearly got targeted by some bandit cultivators. But now that I'm healed, I came straight here." He paused, adding, "I need fifty more pounds of Purple Star Rhinoceros meat. The batch I bought before is almost finished."
Jin Yan nodded eagerly. "Of course, Senior He. Please wait a moment while I prepare it for you."
A short while later, she returned, holding a storage pouch.
"Senior He, here is the 100 pounds of Purple Star Rhinoceros meat you requested." She then added, "Also, there's some good news. This time, we have Deity Transformation-level demonic beast flesh available in the market."
Chu Xuan's eyebrows lifted. "Let me see."
Jin Yan quickly retrieved a large wooden box, opening the lid to reveal a thick, snake-like piece of flesh.
"This is Black Ghost Python meat," she explained. "A while ago, a Black Ghost Python ambushed Yellow Spring Island, killing several bandit cultivators. Yellow Spring True Master intervened, driving the snake away and severing a part of it. Now, the flesh is available here in Moon Market."
Chu Xuan's expression was one of surprise, but suspicion quickly crept into his mind.
"How coincidental. I just arrived on the island, and now there's Deity Transformation-level demonic beast flesh for sale? Could it be a trap?"
Just as Chu Xuan was about to speak, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Turning, he saw two figures walking towards him. One of them was Tie Jun, whom he had met briefly before. The other was a towering figure, easily nine feet tall—a true giant. His muscles bulged and veins stood out like coiled dragons. With such a physique, it could only be the result of an extraordinary bloodline or a rigorous body refinement technique.
When Tie Jun saw Chu Xuan, he was visibly surprised. "Fellow Daoist He! You're here too!"
The towering figure laughed. "You two know each other?"
Tie Jun laughed heartily and immediately made introductions. After a few moments, Chu Xuan learned that the giant's name was Zhong Tianshuo, a fellow body refinement cultivator who Tie Jun had met during his last trip to Desolate Island.
As expected, Zhong was an extremely strong body refiner, having reached the 36th layer of body refinement, and was even on the verge of stepping into the 37th layer.
The realms of body refinement were akin to the qi cultivation realm, with every third and sixth layer representing a significant bottleneck. If one could break through, their strength would increase substantially.
As all three were body refiners, the conversation flowed smoothly, and they soon became engaged in a lively exchange.
It wasn't until some time later that Tie Jun suddenly slapped his forehead. "I almost forgot the main reason we came here today! Fellow Daoist Zhong is only a step away from reaching the 37th layer of body refinement. I heard Moon Market has Deity Transformation-level demonic beast flesh, so I brought him here to check it out."
He then turned to Chu Xuan and scratched his head. "I hope we're not too late. You haven't bought it all up already, have you?"
Chu Xuan smiled faintly and stepped aside, revealing the large wooden box in Jin Yan's hands. Inside the box was, indeed, the Black Ghost Python meat.
Zhong Tianshuo's eyes remained fixated on the piece of demonic beast flesh, unable to look away.
Chu Xuan smiled and said, "I still have some Black Magic Whale meat left from my last purchase, so I'll leave this Black Ghost Python meat to Fellow Daoist Zhong."
Zhong Tianshuo was immediately moved. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist He! You truly are a kindred spirit!"
Tie Jun couldn't help but sigh, "Fellow Daoist He is indeed a man of virtue. People like you are rare in the Starshatter Sea."
Soon, Zhong Tianshuo made the purchase and quickly left, his steps hurried.
Chu Xuan and Tie Jun sat down to exchange recent experiences.
"Fellow Daoist Tie, was your trip to Desolate Island successful?" Chu Xuan inquired.
Tie Jun gave a bitter smile. "Don't even mention it. I misjudged someone, and ended up taking a wolf for a companion."
He sighed deeply. "We did find treasures on Desolate Island, but one of our group members wanted to take it all for himself and secretly plotted against us. Out of the four of us, only I survived. The other two fellow daoist fell victim to his schemes. If I hadn't been lucky enough to stumble upon a volcanic eruption, I would have surely met my end at his hands."
Chu Xuan's face flushed with righteous indignation. "How greedy! To think such people exist in the world!"
Tie Jun sighed deeply. "The Starshatter Sea is filled with wicked sects, bloodthirsty and evil. The number of such scoundrels who kill for treasure is countless. I was blind to think of that person as an ally."
He looked at Chu Xuan. "People like Fellow Daoist He, who are truly virtuous, are rare. You must be extra cautious from now on."
Chu Xuan nodded in agreement. "Fellow Daoist Tie is right."
Tie Jun suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist He, is there anything else you need to purchase while in Moon Market, besides the demonic beast meat? I've spent many years in this market and made connections with several alchemists, blacksmiths, and talisman masters. I could introduce you to them, and perhaps get you a discount."
His smile was warm and inviting, making it hard to find fault.
Chu Xuan was about to make an excuse, but then paused, realizing that Tie Jun was not someone to be underestimated. Lying would be useless, so he decided to be half-truthful.
He sighed lightly. "To be honest, I came to Moon Market to buy some Gu insects. My strength is still weak, and I must rely on the Gu insect path to enhance it."
Tie Jun was surprised but nodded. "There's no need to feel embarrassed. Though Gu insects are a dangerous and dark path, sometimes there's no other choice. As for Gu Masters... I don't know any personally, but you could try the East District on the fifth floor. I remember there are several Gu Masters there. They're all a bit eccentric and cold, though."
Chu Xuan nodded. "That's no trouble. I'll go on my own."
The two of them stood up. Tie Jun left first, while Chu Xuan bought another fifty pounds of Purple Star Rhinoceros meat before heading toward the other stalls.
Last time, he had noticed that Moon Market was a place where anything could be bought, as long as the price was right. Whether it was rare True Steel Centipedes or demons forged from the souls of a hundred thousand beings, there were always cultivators willing to trade.
Soon, Chu Xuan arrived at the fifth floor of Moon Market. As expected, he found a few Gu Masters selling Gu insects and their food.
The transaction was smooth. Although the Gu Masters had strange and cold personalities, they did not refuse trade. After some haggling, Chu Xuan purchased five True Steel Centipede eggs for twenty great spirit stones.
The reason there were five eggs was that the True Steel Centipede, a Gu insect with ancient and rare bloodlines, had a low hatch rate. Only by having several eggs could one hope to successfully hatch even a single one.
The Gu Master also mentioned that if none of the five eggs hatched successfully, Chu Xuan could come back and find him. Furthermore, he gave Chu Xuan a gift: one hundred pounds of Gu insect food.
This food was the most basic type, made by crushing spirit stones and mixing them with blood from demonic beasts of similar rank. While Chu Xuan could prepare it himself, the food was primarily for keeping the insects fed, rather than aiding their growth. It wasn't capable of accelerating their development.
Regardless, the purpose of Chu Xuan's trip had been fulfilled. Now, it was time to return to Nameless Island, head back to Blue Star, and continue to strengthen his own power.
Not long after, Chu Xuan boarded the Nine Yin Ship and set sail from Moon Island's harbor.
In a secluded corner, Tie Jun watched Chu Xuan leave, then took out a transmission jade slip.
"Senior Brother Sun, He Liang has already left the island. We can make our move. He still hasn't finished the Black Magic Whale meat he bought last time, and this time, he only bought fifty pounds of Purple Star Rhinoceros meat. I suspect he is hiding his cultivation level. I guess that he's at Body Refinement Level 34, but he won't be any higher than Level 35."
A deep, resonant voice came through the transmission jade slip. "Good. Master will remember the contribution you've made."
Tie Jun respectfully replied, "It is my greatest honor to serve Moon True Master. I hope Senior Brother Sun will speak well of me in front of Master."
Senior Brother Sun hesitated. "Master has set a rule: it must be a Nascent Soul cultivator in the mid-stage…"
Tie Jun quickly replied, "I recently found a top-grade magic treasure on Desolate Island. It is both offensive and defensive, though I haven't refined it yet. But what I truly need is a True Barrier Breaking Pill to break through the bottleneck. Would Senior Brother Sun be willing to trade? Just one bottle of True Barrier Breaking Pill would be enough."
The True Barrier Breaking Pill was a high-quality pill for the Nascent Soul stage, and its value was, of course, far inferior to that of the top-grade magic treasure.
On the other end of the jade slip, Senior Brother Sun's voice suddenly brightened. "Why do we need to trade with such a relationship? Next time we meet, I'll give you a bottle of the True Barrier Breaking Pill!"
Tie Jun humbly responded, "No, no. No merit, no reward. That magic treasure is my gift to Senior Brother Sun."
Senior Brother Sun laughed heartily. "Good, good! Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Tie! I'll definitely speak well of you in front of Master. The Master has set the rule about the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, but rules don't always have to be followed. As long as the treasures you prepare are enough to please Master, he will naturally open his mouth again."
Tie Jun became even more respectful. "Thank you, Senior Brother Sun! I will never forget your great kindness and favor."
The voice from the transmission jade slip suddenly stopped.
Tie Jun calmly put the jade slip away, as if nothing had happened, and walked out of the shadowy corner. In the blink of an eye, he had transformed back into the cheerful, simple Tie Jun.
On the other side, Chu Xuan was steering the Nine Yin Ship, cruising through the Starshatter Sea. He instinctively made a few extra circles around the desolate Nameless Islands, even when no enemies were following him. This was a habit of caution—prudence, a principle in how he conducted himself.
At that moment, Chu Xuan's senses stirred, and he glanced back. To his surprise, he saw two flying boats trailing far behind him.
Flying boats were distinct from tower ships. They were about a zhang in length, smaller, but much faster and more agile. They were the preferred choice of robbers.
When flying boats came in swarms, like locusts, even the mightiest of tower ships had to lie low. Many tower ships also kept flying boats onboard, in case the tower ship was destroyed, allowing the crew to escape.
"Eh? Someone really is following me?"
Chu Xuan chuckled softly, an ironic smile spreading across his face. Still unwilling to give up?
He turned around and shouted back, his expression feigning anger, "Why are you two fellow daoists chasing me?"
A cold sneer came from the flying boat on the left, "Why are we chasing you? Do we really need a reason?"
The sneer from the flying boat on the right was even harsher, "If I want to rob someone, I will! Do I need a reason?"
Chu Xuan piloted the Nine Yin Ship, sending out beams of Spiritual Qi in quick succession, yet the agile flying boats nimbly dodged each one.
Before long, the two flying boats had caught up with the Nine Yin Ship. The robbers on the boats threw out steel ropes, binding the flying boats to the tower ship.
Then, they charged straight onto the deck of the Nine Yin Ship, one coming from the left, the other from the right. The two robbers exchanged a glance, immediately summoning their magic treasures.
A long, spiked whip lashed toward Chu Xuan with brutal force, and at the same time, a massive, heavy war hammer came crashing down from above. If the whip wrapped around Chu Xuan, the warhammer would easily smash him apart.
Chu Xuan merely glanced at the weapons and recognized them as top-tier magic treasures. These two robbers were clearly experienced and highly coordinated. Their initial attacks were all lethal and decisive. Not even a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator could escape unscathed from this.
Chu Xuan shook his head, a faint smile on his lips, "I, He Liang, have never been one for conflict, but why must you two insist on fighting?"
Chu Xuan's left hand sliced through the whip with the precision of a blade, while his right hand shot out in a blur, catching the massive war hammer with a single grip!
With a sudden surge of power in his arms, there was a sharp crack as the whip split into two, and another crack as the warhammer shattered into fragments, scattering across the deck.
The two robbers were immediately stunned! They exchanged a glance, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
"What kind of monster is this?"
Two top-tier magic treasures... and you shattered them with a single hand? We knew you were a Body Refining cultivator, but how is your strength this terrifying?!
Without hesitation, the robbers threw several talismans and attempted to flee toward their respective flying boats.
Chu Xuan smiled faintly, standing with his arms crossed. As the two robbers turned to flee, they suddenly froze in horror. Two corpse puppets had appeared silently behind them, standing like towering, lifeless guardians.
The aura radiating from these puppets was chilling to the core. They were clearly corpse puppets of the corpse king level!
"Shit!" One of the robbers cursed aloud.
This wasn't a defenseless lamb waiting to be slaughtered—this was a ravenous wolf ready to tear them apart!
"Fellow daoist, please don't make a move!" one of them hastily called out, his voice filled with desperation. "We were only following the orders of the Moon Association to bring you to Moon Island. Our methods were a bit rough, but please, show some understanding."
The other robber, awkwardly trying to smooth things over, also smiled nervously.
Chu Xuan returned the smile, though his expression was colder than friendly. "This is how you invite people?" he asked, his tone calm but cutting.
He slowly stroked his hands in the air.
Whoosh!
Hu darted out like a whirlwind, moving too fast for the robber to react. In an instant, it twisted the first robber's neck with a swift snap. The second robber's face turned pale, his hands trembling as he hurriedly summoned a set of flags.
Thick, dense mist immediately filled the air, suffocating all sense of space and casting a veil over the deck. This mist carried an oppressive effect on spiritual senses—he had used it countless times before with great success.
The robber hoped that, amid the fog, he would be able to make his escape. However, he never expected that Chu Xuan's spiritual sense had already surpassed the limits of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
This fog, which could suppress the spiritual senses of even Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators, had no effect on Chu Xuan, who had bathed in the Soul Cleansing Golden Rain and refined the Heavenly Dao Golden Lotus with boundless merits!
In the blink of an eye, the Evil Soul Chain shot out like lightning, binding the remaining robber in place with ease.
The robber struggled, but it was futile. He was now completely at Chu Xuan's mercy.
Chu Xuan approached the fallen robber, standing behind him. With a single hand raised, he gently stroked the air, invoking the soul-searching technique.
Moments later, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"So this is how it is," he murmured softly. "I've been targeted by the Moon Association. Is it because I'm a Body Refining cultivator?"
As Chu Xuan combed through the robber's memories, he learned that the two had been sent after him based on information from Sun Fan, the second-in-command of the Moon Association, and the third disciple of Moon True Master.
Further probing revealed disturbing details. The two robbers had also targeted other Body Refining cultivators in the past, all based on information provided by Sun Fan.
Every Body Refining cultivator who arrived on Moon Island was closely monitored by the association, and these cultivators were often "invited" to the island by the association's white-glove operatives.
Of course, as one of the robbers had admitted, the methods used were often brutal. Eventually, these cultivators would fall under the control of Moon True Master, losing their autonomy and being forced to serve him.
Chu Xuan found that the Moon Association had already used these tactics to control over twenty Body Refining cultivators, all at least at the thirty-first level of Body Refining. The whereabouts of these cultivators were now unknown, their fates sealed somewhere on the island.
It became clear that the reason two Nascent Soul mid-stage robbers had been sent to kill him was because Sun Fan had underestimated Chu Xuan's true strength.
This, however, was a result of Chu Xuan's usual caution paying off. He had acted like a low-level Body Refining cultivator, carefully hiding his true power. Naturally, his enemies had misjudged him, assuming he was at the thirty-third level.
"Speak only half the truth to others; never reveal all your heart," Chu Xuan mused, shaking his head.
While probing the soul of the robber, he had also discovered that Zhong Tianshuo was being pursued. However, Sun Fan seemed to value Zhong highly. Not only had he dispatched two Nascent Soul mid-stage robbers, but also one Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator to ensure Zhong's capture. If things went as expected, Zhong Tianshuo would most likely be caught.
With a sigh, Chu Xuan retrieved the two robbers' flying boats and quickly accelerated the Nine Yin Ship, putting distance between himself and the scene.
Upon reaching Nameless Island, he stored the ship and prepared to return to Blue Star.
"Time to slip away," he muttered to himself with a smirk. "No matter what kind of grand conspiracy Moon True Master is plotting, it has nothing to do with me. After all, I'm just a humble cultivator who enjoys farming and focusing on my virtues."
And with that, he turned his gaze towards the horizon, the journey ahead filled with uncertainty—but for now, far from the shadow of the Moon Association's plots.
Two days later, the two flying boats finally arrived in this sea region.
On one of the boats stood Sun Fan and Tie Jun, looking at the empty expanse of the ocean. Sun Fan's face was a deep shade of iron, his expression grim.
Taking a deep breath, Sun Fan spoke, "Didn't you say this He Liang was at most a Body Refining cultivator at the thirty-fifth level? I sent two Nascent Soul fourth-layer robbers to deal with him, but now they've completely disappeared without a trace."
Tie Jun's expression was equally unsightly. "This person seems kind-hearted, but in reality, he is incredibly calculating. He fooled me as well."
As he recalled, the things He Liang had said — about being a Body Refining cultivator at the thirty-third level, about not having finished eating the Black Magic Whale meat. It was all likely a trick, a deliberate deception.
"I've fooled so many people, and now, it seems, I've been deceived myself."
Taking a deep breath, Tie Jun added, "Senior Brother Sun, don't worry. At the end of the day, he is a Body Refining cultivator and must regularly supplement with demonic beast meat. Most smaller markets don't sell it, but as long as we keep an eye on Moon Market, he'll eventually come to us."
Sun Fan's expression eased slightly. "That makes sense. Then I'll leave this matter to you."
He sneered, his voice growing colder. "The deaths of two Nascent Soul mid-stage robbers have already enraged Master. Before, I spoke on your behalf, but now Master's opinion of you has only worsened."
Tie Jun immediately took out an exquisite magic treasure, handing it to Sun Fan. "This treasure is not meant for me. I wish to offer it to you, Senior Brother."
Sun Fan casually took the treasure, his face softening a little. "Your thoughts are appreciated. Let me tell you, this is your only chance to redeem yourself. Make sure you grasp it. I'll speak on your behalf to Master."
"Thank you, Senior Brother, for speaking on my behalf," Tie Jun said, repeatedly nodding. "I am deeply grateful!"
Without saying anything more, Sun Fan controlled the flying boat and turned it around, leaving without another word.
Tie Jun watched his retreating figure, his gaze deep and cold.
"Such a greedy man," he muttered under his breath.
...
Blue Star, one year later.
Chu Xuan looked at the three successfully hatched True Steel Centipedes, nodding in satisfaction.
Normally, five eggs would yield only one successful hatch, which was considered fortunate. To his surprise, this time, he had hatched all three.
It seemed that his innate luck was truly exceptional, with only a small contribution from his virtue.
Five years later, the three True Steel Centipedes had grown from the size of an adult arm at hatching to more than three meters long.
They had faced very few obstacles along the way and had effortlessly reached the third transformation of their kind.
Their bodies were now covered in a pitch-black, hard metal-like exoskeleton. Their terrifying jaws could crush even low-grade magic treasures with ease.
In comparison, wild gu worms and those bred by most gu masters had far slower growth rates. But under Chu Xuan's care, the centipedes had been fed an unlimited supply of their favorite blood meat and spiritual plants.
With an abundant supply of food, the True Steel Centipedes grew rapidly, unfettered by any limitations. They ate to their hearts' content and continued to thrive.
"Hu, come here."
Chu Xuan waved his hand.
Hu swiftly trotted over to his side. Dropping to one knee, he respectfully said, "Master, what commands do you have?"
His physique was immense, nearly five meters tall when standing fully upright. Even kneeling, his shoulders were higher than Chu Xuan's head.
Chu Xuan patted Hu's shoulder with satisfaction.
"How's your progress with magic cultivation lately?"
Hu scratched his head and answered in a humble tone, "I have poor talent, only managing to learn some basic spells."
He continued, "It seems I learn defensive magic faster than other types of spells."
Letting out a low growl, Hu released a surge of Lightning Spiritual Qi, quickly enveloping his body in a crackling armor of thunder.
Another growl, and Hu summoned four giant shields made of lightning to surround him.
Within moments, Hu had cast six different defensive spells. In contrast, his attempts at offensive magic were painfully slow. Not only were they off-target, but they were also so weak they barely made an impact.
Chu Xuan couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Good boy," he muttered. "You've maxed out your defense!"
He chuckled, "Don't you envy Long?"
Hu nodded vigorously. "I do. Its level is lower than mine, but its strength can rival mine. If it had the same level, it would definitely be stronger than me."
Chu Xuan grew serious, his voice becoming more thoughtful. "I plan to integrate the True Steel Centipede into your body. Once you form a symbiotic relationship with it, you'll be stronger than Long."
Hu's eyes widened in pure excitement. "Thank you, Master!"
He had no reservations or doubts. As long as it could make him stronger, enabling him to serve his master better, he would be thrilled.
Chu Xuan smiled and explained further, "These three True Steel Centipedes are all third-transformation gu worms. If you want to fight, you could crush them effortlessly. You need to learn to accept them, don't resist."
Chu Xuan cut open Hu's chest, carefully placing one of the True Steel Centipedes inside, while speaking in a deep, commanding tone.
Hu nodded, understanding completely. "Master, I understand."
With wide, copper-like eyes, he stood perfectly still, allowing the True Steel Centipede to burrow into his body without flinching.
Chu Xuan extended his spiritual sense, constantly monitoring Hu's changes.
When he noticed the True Steel Centipede was feeding relentlessly, he immediately poured in a pre-prepared medicinal liquid through the wound. This liquid was designed to reduce the activity of the True Steel Centipede, a concept he had derived from the Giant Centipede Cultivation Method given to him by Xiao Renjie.
Time passed steadily. Hu's body began to heal, with the True Steel Centipede slowly being enveloped by flesh and blood. Gradually, the two forms merged seamlessly together.
Chu Xuan smiled and clapped his hands.
It worked! To his surprise, it succeeded on the first try.
Crack, crack!
Hu slowly stood up.
Its body expanded at a visible rate, growing taller and broader with each second. In the blink of an eye, it had grown from just under five meters to over six and a half meters in height. Its muscular arms were so thick they could rival the trunks of large trees.
It truly resembled a giant!
Chu Xuan scanned it briefly and noticed that Hu's cultivation level had soared alongside its physical transformation, reaching the rank of Level 8 Corpse King before finally stopping.
"Thank you, Master!"
Hu half-knelt, speaking with deep respect.
Chu Xuan casually summoned Long as well. "Go ahead, spar with each other."
He was eager to see just how much stronger Hu had become.
Bang, bang, bang!
The two corpse puppets collided, their punches landing with a series of dull, thunderous sounds.
When Hu landed a punch, it left a deep dent in Long's chest. However, Long was far from passive. Blue Tuft Silk, resembling thick vines, erupted from Long and wrapped around Hu's limbs. The Blue Tuft Silk condensed into sharp blades, seizing an opening and slicing off one of Hu's arms.
Despite this, Hu casually picked up the severed arm and reattached it, as if the injury had not even affected its combat ability.
Chu Xuan used his spiritual sense to scan the battlefield and quickly deduced that the True Steel Centipede had entered the severed arm, continuing the fight through its influence.
The battle between the two corpse puppets raged on for nearly half an hour. In the end, Hu emerged victorious. After all, even though Long's head had been knocked off, Hu was able to keep fighting, exchanging injuries for power and continuing its relentless onslaught.
The Blue Tuft Silk within Long began to weaken over time, and the disparity in strength became increasingly evident.
"Combining gu worms with corpse puppets truly makes for an overwhelming force," Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction.
It was another fine, sunny day. A tall, unremarkable cultivator, with a plain appearance and modest attire, boarded a seemingly ordinary flying boat and made his way to Moon Island. He followed the designated path for Nascent Soul cultivators, entered the bustling market, and soon found himself in the area where spiritual plants were traded.
This cultivator, whose entire presence screamed of ordinariness and poverty, was none other than Chu Xuan.
On this trip to the Moon Market, he intended to purchase some spiritual plant seeds. After all, creating pills such as the Great Soul Spirit Pill, Boiling Blood True Pill, and Focus Spirit Pill required a substantial amount of spiritual plants. Some of these plants were quite delicate, disliking being cultivated on people who consumed flesh and blood, preferring to grow in the rich spiritual earth instead. They constantly needed spiritual liquids to nourish them.
The world of spiritual plants was vast, with many different varieties and habits. This was simply the law of nature, and Chu Xuan couldn't complain. All he could do was go out and buy the seeds.
"If only I were a Deity Transformation cultivator," he mused softly. "I've heard that once a Deity Transformation cultivator's primordial spirit reaches full maturity, they can split off a portion of their primordial spirit. With that ability, I could send a clone to buy the things I need, without having to risk myself. If the clone encounters danger, I could simply sever the connection and not have to worry about the main body at all."
He sighed lightly. The more you ventured out, the more likely you were to encounter trouble. Staying at home every day, after all, was the true path to avoiding disaster.
But this time, his luck seemed to be on his side—no one had taken notice of him. After all, he was merely purchasing some spiritual plant seeds.
Few would notice a poor, wandering cultivator haggling with the stall owner for an hour just to save half a piece of great spirit stone.
To avoid drawing attention, Chu Xuan didn't even bring out the Nine Yin Ship. He used a much smaller, patched-up flying boat instead. He might as well have had the words "pauper" written on his face.
Just as Chu Xuan was boarding his flying boat, preparing to leave, a pillar of light shot up from the distance, piercing the sky. Almost immediately, thick black smoke erupted, reaching toward the heavens.
After a while, the distant roar of successive explosions echoed through the air.
Perhaps due to the force of the blasts, the sea began to churn violently. Enormous waves began to form, the tallest one reaching a height of tens of zhang. Farther out, the waves were even higher, towering to more than a hundred zhang.
Not only was Chu Xuan stunned, but the other cultivators on Moon Island were also bewildered, having no idea what was happening.
After a long moment, someone cried out, "Isn't that the direction of Desolate Island?! The volcanic cluster on Desolate Island erupted!"
Another voice quickly followed, "And it was a series of explosions! My heavens, there must have been at least eight explosions in a row!"
At this point, many cultivators' expressions grew increasingly complex. Some were joyful, while others looked anxious.
The joy was understandable—whenever the Desolate Island volcanoes erupted, they often brought forth numerous treasures.
As for the anxious ones, Chu Xuan surmised that they likely had friends or family on Desolate Island.