Translator: CinderTL
For the next six months, Song Wen settled on Ice Ling Island.
Most of his time was spent in Ye Bing's wooden pavilion, discussing the intricate details of refining the Void Union Primordial Breakthrough Pill.
Ye Bing had studied the pill formula for decades, and combined with Jiang Guyun's alchemical insights, she had already developed a clear understanding of the refining process. Song Wen primarily offered suggestions from a different perspective.
The two often engaged in all-night discussions within the pavilion, meticulously analyzing each step of the refining process, the precise control of the fire, and the timing of adding each Spirit Herb. Occasionally, their differing opinions led to heated debates.
As time passed, they finally finalized every detail of the refining process. Despite their thorough analysis of each step, it remained theoretical. Only by firing up the furnace and attempting the refinement could they truly validate their approach.
"Immortal Maiden Ye, when do you plan to begin refining the pill?" Song Wen asked, sipping Spirit Tea as they sat facing each other in a pavilion at the heart of Ice Ling Island.
Ye Bing replied, "I intend to enter a period of secluded cultivation to regulate my spiritual power and nourish my divine sense. I likely won't begin the refinement for another year or two. What do you think?"
"Naturally, the decision rests entirely with you, Immortal Maiden," Song Wen said. "When the time comes, please inform me, and I will be your dharma protector."
"Then I shall trouble you, fellow Daoist," Ye Bing replied.
Their interests were aligned, so Ye Bing had no reason to suspect Song Wen of treachery.
"I must also return to my cultivation cave for a period of secluded cultivation," Song Wen said. "I shall take my leave now."
"Where is your cultivation cave located? How can I find you?" Ye Bing asked.
After a moment's hesitation, Song Wen revealed the location of Wu Yuan Island.
Ye Bing's lips curved into a gentle smile, her eyes crescent-shaped like the moon, her beautiful gaze sparkling like stars in the night sky, radiating an intoxicating allure.
"You've finally revealed the location of your cultivation cave. It seems you've finally come to trust me."
"This humble one has always held unwavering faith in Immortal Maiden Ye and treated you with utmost sincerity," Song Wen said, his words smooth as silk. Yet inwardly, he pondered whether he should relocate his cultivation cave.
Without waiting for Ye Bing's response, Song Wen clasped his hands in a farewell gesture and turned to leave.
After departing Ice Ling Island, Song Wen didn't immediately return to Wu Yuan Island. Instead, he headed to Cloudveil City to purchase Spirit Herbs necessary for his cultivation.
Disguised as a fake monk in the Nascent Soul Stage, he entered Cloudveil City.
He weaved through the bustling streets and narrow alleys, purchasing Spirit Herbs in batches from various shops.
Suddenly, Song Wen noticed a familiar figure among the crowd:
Qi Luo!
Song Wen could hardly believe his eyes. Qi Luo was still alive and moving freely within Cloudveil City.
He hadn't seen her since they parted ways in the Phantom Illusion Mountains of the Rotting Miasma Ridge.
While Song Wen was somewhat surprised that Qi Luo had survived the perilous Rotting Miasma Ridge, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
What truly astonished him was that Qi Luo had returned to the Veiled Moon Hall, yet the hall hadn't held her accountable for Chi Pei's death!
Chi Pei was a core disciple of the Divine Blood Gate. Though his cultivation level wasn't particularly high, his status far surpassed even that of the Veiled Moon Hall's hall master, Feng Zhao, who was only at the Void Refinement Stage.
Chi Pei's death within the Qicang Domain was no trivial matter. Even Hall Master Feng Zhao would face repercussions, let alone Qi Luo, a mere "flower vase" who had gained entry to the Veiled Moon Hall through her physical charms.
Song Wen had assumed that even if the Divine Blood Gate spared Qi Luo's life, they would imprison her and subject her to endless torment.
Qi Luo's appearance had changed slightly. She had reverted to the way Song Wen first remembered her:
Her upper body was clad only in a silk bodice, tightly wrapping her ample chest.
She wore a long skirt with slits so high it resembled two strips of fabric tied around her waist.
When she first ingratiated herself with Chi Pei, she had been meticulously covered from head to toe, though her tight-fitting clothes still accentuated her voluptuous figure.
Qi Luo wasn't alone; a gaunt male cultivator accompanied her.
The man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a late-stage Divine Transformation cultivation base.
His frame was emaciated, his skin stretched taut over his bones, his eyes sunken, and his cheekbones prominent. A loose black robe draped loosely over his shoulders, and he emanated the distinctive stench of decaying flesh.
It was immediately clear that he was a Corpse Dao cultivator.
Song Wen possessed a roster of all cultivators affiliated with the Veiled Moon Hall, but after repeatedly cross-referencing it in his mind, he found no match for this man.
Could he be an envoy from the Divine Blood Gate? Song Wen wondered inwardly as he passed Qi Luo.
He strolled leisurely down the street, pondering the situation. After a few moments, he entered a teahouse and requested a private chamber.
Activating the formation restrictions sealing the chamber, Song Wen retrieved Qi Luo's Communication Jade Slip.
[ Qi Luo, when did you return to Cloudveil City? ]
He waited for nearly an hour before receiving her reply.
[ Ye Hua, you're still alive! How did you know I was in Cloudveil City? Did you see me there? ]
[ I did see you. But I was disguised, so you probably didn't notice me. What about Young Master Chi Pei and Senior Shi Man? I sent a message to Senior Shi Man, but she hasn't replied. ] Song Wen asked, feigning ignorance.
[ Chi Pei, Shi Man, Tang Gui, and Sang Bu are all dead, ] Qi Luo replied.
[ Dead! How did they die? ] Song Wen feigned shock.
[ I don't know. They probably perished in Rotting Miasma Ridge. You're lucky—a mere nascent soul cultivator like you managed to escape the core region of Rotting Miasma Ridge alive and alone. ]
Qi Luo's words carried a hint of disappointment at Song Wen's survival.
[ If Young Master Chi Pei died in Rotting Miasma Ridge, why hasn't the Divine Blood Gate investigated? ] Song Wen asked.
[ Of course they investigated. A Body Integration Stage cultivator named Ji Hong personally came, but he couldn't find any clues and eventually left. However, they still left a Late-Stage Void Refinement cultivator and several Divine Transformation Stage cultivators stationed in Qicang Domain to continue the investigation, ] Qi Luo replied.
"Didn't they investigate you?" Song Wen asked, his doubts surfacing. "Since Young Master Chi Pei died at Rotting Miasma Ridge, how dare you return to Veiled Moon Hall?"
Qi Luo replied, "I didn't witness Chi Pei and the others' deaths firsthand, so I was unaware of their fates. After our group of six split up, I left Rotting Miasma Ridge and waited in Phoenix Feather City for over a year. When none of them reappeared, I had no choice but to return alone. It was only after reaching Veiled Moon Hall that I learned of their deaths. By then, Senior Ji Hong, who had come to investigate Chi Pei's death, had already left the Qicang Domain."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"To prevent news of the Blood-Eyed Divine Ape from leaking, Chi Pei never revealed his trip to Rotting Miasma Ridge to outsiders. As a result, no one in Veiled Moon Hall knew that you, I, and Shi Man had accompanied him there, let alone where he died. Naturally, no one suspected my involvement in his death."
(End of the Chapter)
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