Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen's consciousness sank into his Sea of Consciousness, arriving before Xu Zhi's divine soul.
Xu Zhi's divine soul gazed at the suddenly appearing Song Wen with eyes filled with awe and fear.
"What exactly is your true identity? And what is this Black Hole in the Sea of Consciousness?"
Song Wen shook his head slightly and began forming magic seals.
Gradually, a golden liquid coalesced before him, radiating an oppressive, scorching heat.
"This... this is the Golden Soup Curse!" Xu Zhi's expression twisted into terror.
"Fellow Daoist, you certainly possess vast knowledge!" Song Wen said with a smile. "However, I suspect you haven't yet tasted the true flavor of the Golden Soup Curse. Today, you'll have the opportunity to savor it thoroughly."
But to Xu Zhi, that smile resembled that of a malevolent ghost—hideous and terrifying.
"Fellow Daoist, let's talk this over! Ah..." Xu Zhi's voice rose in a shrill scream.
The golden liquid poured over his right arm, dyeing it entirely gold.
Unlike a physical body, a divine soul doesn't bleed or tear when wounded; instead, it begins to distort and dissolve.
By the time the Golden Soup's power dissipated and faded away, Xu Zhi's right arm hung from his shoulder like a twisted, noodle-like strand.
"Could it be... you're seeking revenge for the nuns of Brahma Sound Nunnery? You must be satisfied now, right? Please, just give me a quick end," Xu Zhi's divine soul collapsed to the ground, convulsing violently as he pleaded in a hoarse voice.
Song Wen replied, "If I were seeking revenge for those nuns, I wouldn't let you off with a simple soul scattering and spirit vanishing! But I have no connection to them. Answer my questions truthfully, and I'll grant you a swift death."
"Ask..." Xu Zhi gasped.
"Did the Divine Blood Gate send you to the Qicang Domain to investigate Chi Pei's death?" Song Wen pressed.
"Yes," Xu Zhi confirmed.
"How many members of sect came, and what were their cultivation stages?" Song Wen inquired.
"Eight members," Xu Zhi answered. "One Body Integration Stage cultivator, one Void Refinement Stage cultivator, and six Divine Transformation Stage cultivators."
"Did you uncover the cause of Chi Pei's death?" Song Wen asked.
"No. There were too few clues to trace," Xu Zhi admitted.
"Was the Body Integration Stage cultivator named Ji Hong?" Song Wen pressed.
Though Qi Luo had told Song Wen about Ji Hong, this wasn't the first time he'd heard the name.
Years ago, in the outer regions of Rotting Miasma Ridge, Jiang Yushan's plot against Ye Bing had backfired, cornering him and nearly costing him his life. This incident had exposed the shadow void egg parasitizing his Sea of Consciousness.
Later, Jiang Lanruo and Chi Qi arrived and were subdued by Ye Bing and Song Wen.
Both Jiang Lanruo and Chi Qi mentioned "Ji Hong" during their interrogations.
According to Chi Qi, Ji Hong was the one who provided Jiang Lanruo with the shadow void egg.
Xu Zhi confirmed, "That's correct. However, Ji Hong had urgent matters and has already returned to the Divine Blood Gate."
Song Wen asked, "Why didn't the remaining seven of you return together?"
Xu Zhi replied, "Firstly, to continue investigating the cause of Chi Pei's death. Secondly, we have another mission."
"What mission?" Song Wen pressed.
"I don't know the details," Xu Zhi admitted.
Song Wen's expression turned cold. "You still dare to conceal information? It seems you haven't tasted enough of the Golden Soup Curse."
With that, he activated the magic seal again.
Seeing this, Xu Zhi quickly protested.
"I'm not hiding anything! I truly don't know the details. All I know is that the mission seems related to the Qianchang Wilderness. The specifics are only known to Hong Zhe, who is at the Void Refinement Stage."
Song Wen scrutinized Xu Zhi for a moment. Seeing no signs of deception, he abandoned his line of questioning.
Song Wen had never been particularly interested in the mission Xu Zhi mentioned; it was merely a casual inquiry.
If he could gain something from this, all the better. But if not, it wouldn't matter.
Song Wen ceased his interrogation and activated the Black Hole in his Sea of Consciousness, devouring Xu Zhi's divine soul.
Then, his consciousness withdrew from his Sea of Consciousness.
His right hand, still resembling a withered claw, remained plunged into Xu Zhi's abdomen.
Suddenly, a crimson flame erupted from the withered claw, rising to incinerate the mummified corpse into ashes.
Song Wen waved his hand, retrieving the formation flags that had sustained the array.
Instantly, without the formation's support, the surging river above crashed down, completely erasing the remaining ashes and any traces of Song Wen's presence.
Song Wen transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the river's surface and fleeing toward the Withered Desolation Marsh.
After a swift journey, Song Wen returned to Wu Yuan Island, which he had long since abandoned.
Hovering above the island for a few breaths, Song Wen briefly considered landing but ultimately decided against it. Instead, he traveled westward for over a thousand miles, plunging into the murky, foul-smelling swamp waters.
Breaking through the pitch-black sludge, Song Wen descended several dozen miles into the swamp's depths. There, he established defensive and concealment formations, forcibly displacing the mud to carve out a makeshift cultivation cave.
Although the Spiritual Qi here was one or two levels weaker than on Wu Yuan Island, Song Wen's immediate priority was to refine his cultivation. As long as the Spiritual Qi wasn't excessively thin, it wouldn't significantly hinder his progress.
Song Wen retrieved his Alchemy Furnace and began brewing pills.
After producing a batch of King Gu Pills, he entrusted all three medicinal pills to the Shadow King Gu.
With the three pills in tow, the Shadow King Gu spread its wings and soared through the muck, heading toward Wu Yuan Island.
Song Wen then spent another two days brewing two batches of Earth Gu Pills for his three Shadow Gu. Simultaneously, he retrieved two demon beast corpses, feeding one to the Blood Earthworm Gu and the other to the Nether Fox. Only then did he settle into meditative cultivation, refining his surging spiritual power.
Time flowed slowly through his cultivation, and thirteen months passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, Song Wen, who had been in secluded meditation, suddenly opened his eyes.
Through their contractual connection, the Shadow King Gu had transmitted a message: someone had appeared above Wu Yuan Island.
Song Wen cautiously extended his divine sense toward Wu Yuan Island, only to discover that the visitor was none other than Ye Bing.
Ye Bing stood clad in white robes, the hems fluttering in the wind. Her face was cold and aloof, radiating an air of solitary pride, like a plum blossom blooming alone amidst snow and ice.
"Gou Jun, I've come to pay you a visit today. Would you be willing to see me?"
When no response came from Wu Yuan Island, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
"Could he be away? Or perhaps he gave me a false address?" Ye Bing murmured to herself.
The more she pondered, the more she suspected the latter was more likely. After all, Gou Jun had never been one to speak the truth.
Suddenly, she turned her gaze westward.
There, soaring through the air, was Gou Jun himself.
"Immortal Maiden, what brings you to my humble abode today? Your beauty shines like the radiant moon in the sky, making even this foul swamp feel fresh and pleasant," Song Wen flattered from hundreds of miles away.
(End of the Chapter)
Translator's Corner
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