Translator: CinderTL
After reuniting with his eight clansmen, Cui Xuanjing thoroughly searched the valley again, but found no trace of the Demonic Fiend-Devouring Flower. Reluctantly, he led his eight severely injured clansmen back to Ye Hua and the others.
The moment they arrived, Cui Xuanjing's eyes immediately focused on Song Wen standing beside Ye Hua. His gaze sharpened, and with a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance to confront Song Wen.
"Gou Jun, what are you doing here? Where's Cui Gu?" Cui Xuanjing demanded, his voice sharp and accusatory.
Faced with Cui Xuanjing's relentless questioning, Song Wen appeared visibly intimidated.
"Senior Cui," he stammered, "shortly after you entered the cave, a thunderous roar echoed from within, attracting a late Third-Tier fish-type Demon Corpse. Fellow Daoist Cui Gu and I intended to quickly eliminate it together, but things didn't go as planned. Aided by the valley's Corpse Qi, the Demon Corpse proved exceptionally tenacious. After considerable effort, we finally managed to subdue it."
"The commotion from killing the fish demon was so loud that I feared it would attract more Demon Corpses. I left alone and returned here. I haven't seen Fellow Daoist Cui Gu since."
"You cowardly wretch!" Cui Xuanjing roared, then demanded, "How long have you been back here?"
"About half an hour," Song Wen replied.
Cui Xuanjing mentally calculated. Half an hour ago would have been roughly when he had re-entered the underground cavern for the second time and reunited with his clansmen.
Given Gou Jun's Golden Core cultivation speed and the numerous dangers lurking throughout the valley, it seemed unlikely he could have returned within the allotted time. As he claimed, he must have left shortly after Cui Xuanjing and his group entered the cave.
Cui Xuanjing turned to Cui Kun. "Is what he said true?"
"Ancestor, Gou Jun did return two quarters of an hour ago," Cui Kun replied, his gaze towards Cui Xuanjing a complex mix of worry, unease, and a flicker of hope. "Ancestor... my grandfather..."
"I don't know either," Cui Xuanjing said. "We'll have to wait until we return to the clan and check his soul lamp to determine his fate."
Upon hearing this, a wave of sorrow washed over Cui Kun's face, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
At that moment, Ye Hua suddenly spoke up. "Fellow Daoist Cui, what about the Corpse Fiend Essence? Did you obtain it?"
Cui Xuanjing retrieved a stone flask and tossed it to Ye Hua. "All the Corpse Fiend Essence I obtained is in here."
Ye Hua caught the flask and probed it with his Spirit Sense. His expression turned icy. "Why are there only five strands? We agreed on ten! Half of what was promised is missing!"
"There was an unexpected complication," Cui Xuanjing explained. "This is all I could retrieve."
"Another 'complication'!" Ye Hua's eyes widened in fury, his voice rising sharply. "These ten strands of Corpse Fiend Essence were the agreed-upon terms of our deal. Yet you repeatedly break your word. Cui Xuanjing, you owe me an explanation!"
Cui Xuanjing's expression turned icy.
"Ye Hua! There's no need to shout at me. There are only five strands of Corpse Fiend Essence left. Take them or leave them, it's your choice."
Seeing Cui Xuanjing's blatant attempt to cheat him, Ye Hua seethed with anger. Knowing his own limitations, however, he had no choice but to swallow his fury.
"Hmph!" Ye Hua snorted coldly, turning his back on Cui Xuanjing. "Let's go!"
Cui Xuanjing barked the order and led his nine clansmen away.
Cui Kun lingered at the rear of the group, gliding on the water's surface. As he departed, he couldn't help but glance back at Song Wen. Ever since Song Wen had appeared in Yaotai City, Cui Kun had felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward him. This feeling stirred a vague unease within him whenever he saw "Gou Jun." Cui Kun suspected that his grandfather, Cui Gu, who had mysteriously disappeared, might be connected to this "Gou Jun."
Once the Cui Clan had vanished into the distance, Ye Hua began forming hand seals, dissolving the chains binding the Octopus Demon. Freed from its restraints, the Octopus Demon retreated rapidly, its eight tentacles retracting into the depths of the Corpse Qi. After waiting a moment to ensure the creature's departure, Ye Hua entered the valley alone to collect the nine Formation Flags.
"Let's go!" Ye Hua announced to Song Wen and Meng Lengyu upon his return.
Meng Lengyu piloted the Star Chariot Divine Ship, returning to the skies above Shadow City when Ye Hua's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Head straight for Corpse King Peak!" Ye Hua declared with a smile.
"Demon Lord, is there cause for celebration?" Song Wen asked.
"I just received a transmission from Fellow Daoist Yin Shuo. He has successfully advanced to the Peak Nascent Soul realm and emerged from his breakthrough," Ye Hua replied. "You two will accompany me to Corpse King Peak to congratulate him."
"The Demon Lord has reached Peak Nascent Soul!" Song Wen exclaimed in astonishment, his eyes gleaming with reverence. "This is a great blessing for the Wu Ji Sect. As a disciple of the sect, I am deeply honored."
As they spoke, the Star Chariot Divine Ship arrived above Corpse King Peak, the Wu Ji Sect's main peak, crowned by the Sect Main Hall.
The trio disembarked and entered the Great Hall, where Yin Shuo sat imposingly on the central throne.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Yin Shuo, on your further advancement in strength," Ye Hua said first.
"Congratulations to the Demon Lord on reaching Peak Nascent Soul," Song Wen and Meng Lengyu said in unison, bowing respectfully.
Yin Shuo nodded slightly, a faint smile creasing his gaunt face.
"Ye Hua, I heard the trade with the Cui Clan ran into trouble. Did you personally handle it?"
Ye Hua's voice carried a hint of resentment. "That's correct. Cui Xuanjing went back on his word. He only delivered five strands of Corpse Fiend Essence instead of the agreed-upon ten."
Yin Shuo said, "Cui Xuanjing's actions were indeed inappropriate. However, with the Demon Race watching us like hawks, we'll set this matter aside for now. It's unwise to openly antagonize the Cui Clan at this time."
He then turned to Song Wen. "Young friend, you're new here. What is your name?"
Song Wen bowed respectfully, cupping his fists. "This humble servant is Gou Jun, formerly a rogue cultivator. I recently joined the sect and was appointed Vice Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall."
As he spoke, Song Wen's gaze swept over Yin Shuo. In the Great Hall, he was the only one who could clearly sense that Yin Shuo had indeed reached the Peak Nascent Soul stage.
I need to accelerate my cultivation and break through to the mid-Nascent Soul bottleneck as soon as possible, Song Wen thought to himself.
He had advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage thirty-three years prior. Over the years, with a plentiful supply of corpse demon essence, his cultivation had progressed rapidly. Song Wen estimated that within a few more years, he would reach the mid-Nascent Soul bottleneck.
The spirit herbs he had brought from the Asura Sect were sufficient for another two to three years of cultivation. After that, he would need to find new resources within the Wu Ji Sect.
Yin Shuo offered a few words of encouragement to Song Wen and Meng Lengyu and was about to dismiss them when Ye Hua spoke up.
"Gou Jun, I promised you a generous reward for your efforts in the underwater valley upon our return to the sect."
As he spoke, a black Corpse-Nourishing Coffin materialized before Ye Hua. "This coffin is a Mid-Grade Magic Treasure, containing a Third-Tier Peak Corpse Puppet. I hereby bestow it upon you."
(End of the Chapter)
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