Translator: CinderTL
Elder Ren handed Xu Sanyan the command flag, his breathing slightly labored. After swallowing a medicinal pill, his breathing gradually calmed. "Holy Son, what is our purpose here?"
Xu Sanyan glanced at him, his expression serene. Though he remained silent, Elder Ren felt his heart race, and he hastily cupped his hands in a respectful bow.
"This subordinate has spoken out of turn."
"Let this be a lesson."
Xu Sanyan withdrew his gaze, flicked his sleeve, and a gust of wind swept through, scattering the mangled flesh and blood along the path to either side. Only then did he proceed forward.
This was another application of the Soaring Void Flight Technique, allowing for simple manipulation of wind spirits.
Elder Ren lowered his eyes, secretly wiping cold sweat from his forehead as he hurried to catch up.
Ever since witnessing Xu Sanyan's divine might, his reverence for the holy son had deepened, and he now acted with extreme caution, terrified of displeasing him.
Deeper within the passage, occasional roars echoed. At a three-way intersection, Xu Sanyan glanced at the map and turned left.
Just then, the old man's voice transmitted from the discipline ruler: "Take the middle path."
Xu Sanyan double-checked the map. "Why?"
"The Corpse Refining Hall lies in the center. I suspect the Nether Phoenix may have developed sentience. The previous corpse demons weren't my creations; only the Corpse Refining Hall can create new ones."
The old man's voice carried a solemn weight.
"Gained sentience? What's the Nether Phoenix's strength?" Xu Sanyan stopped in his tracks, ready to turn back immediately if the situation proved too dangerous.
"Originally, it was likely at the Peak Stage of Dao Seeking. As for now..." The old man sighed. "Even I'm uncertain..."
Xu Sanyan hesitated, weighing whether to proceed. After a long pause, he asked telepathically, "What exactly are the benefits of the Nether Phoenix's divine soul?"
If the benefits were significant, he might risk a fight. But if they were merely average, there was no need to risk such a perilous exploration.
The old man replied, "For you, it would be a great tonic, greatly aiding your advancement to the Soul Refining Realm. As a member of the Phoenix Clan, the Nether Phoenix's divine soul fire can purge impurities and refine your divine soul. When combined with divine soul techniques, the effects would be extraordinary."
Xu Sanyan was about to make his decision when the old man added,
"But! There are immense risks involved. The divine soul is far more delicate than the physical body. To absorb the Nether Phoenix's divine soul, you must endure the excruciating pain of its burning essence. Failure could result in..."
The old man shook his head slightly. "At best, irreparable damage to your divine soul. At worst..."
Xu Sanyan understood: failure meant death.
Xu Sanyan was reluctant to give up this rare opportunity. Enhancing one's divine soul was notoriously difficult, and such chances were few and far between. He had to seize it.
Moreover, his divine soul had been refined through countless enhancements, making it far more condensed than ordinary souls. This significantly increased his chances of success.
Besides, the path to immortality was never smooth. Even his position as holy son had been won through fierce battles. The current risks were mere trifles, insignificant compared to the trials he had already overcome.
"Let's go!"
A flicker of determination flashed in Xu Sanyan's eyes as he stepped into the central passage.
The old man nodded silently.
Having reached this point, the map in their hands was useless. From here on, they would have to rely on the old man's guidance.
The map only marked the path to the Nether Phoenix's nesting grounds, not the full layout of the underground complex.
"Left," the old man's voice echoed telepathically.
Xu Sanyan turned left.
"Right..."
After walking for a long time through the dimly lit passages, a sudden burst of light appeared ahead. Xu Sanyan stopped, revealing a vast underground hall.
The old man's voice echoed again, "That's the Corpse Refining Hall. If my theory is correct, the Nether Phoenix likely broke free of its restraints after gaining sentience and came here to create its corpse demon."
Xu Sanyan didn't reply, stepping forward and gazing silently at the empty hall before him, his thoughts unreadable.
A high platform stood at the center of the grand hall, its surface laden with the corpses of various corpse demons. Behind the platform lay a vast Blood Pool, its crimson depths undiminished by tens of thousands of years, its pungent stench still piercing the air.
The most striking sight was a slender figure on the platform, meticulously piecing together corpse demon parts. She occasionally tossed completed components into the Blood Pool behind her, and before long, a brand-new corpse demon leaped forth, obediently taking its place in the shadows.
Every detail matched the old man's description.
"A human?" Elder Ren's pupils constricted in disbelief. How could anyone survive in such a place?
The old man transmitted telepathically, "That girl is the Nether Phoenix. The Phoenix Clan can naturally alter their appearance. Do not underestimate her. Simply incapacitate her, then refine and absorb her essence."
Xu Sanyan stared intently at the figure, a faint smile curving his lips as he murmured, "So... you'll seize this opportunity to recover some of your strength?"
He spoke aloud, not through telepathy.
"Huh? What did the holy son say?" Elder Ren, confused but emboldened, ventured to ask.
"None of your concern."
Elder Ren obediently fell silent.
"What do you mean, young friend?" the old man persisted telepathically, his tone filled with puzzlement.
Xu Sanyan shook his head and chuckled, then countered, "Do you know what I've never believed in my entire life?"
"What's that?"
Xu Sanyan drew his discipline ruler, his voice hardening. "I've never believed that anyone willingly embraces death, especially Cultivators. Their very pursuit of the dao stems from a desire for..."
"Immortality!"
Whether seeking extended lifespans or wielding earth-shattering Spiritual Power, the essence of Cultivation lies in the refusal to die.
Cultivators reject both the natural decay of the body and the prospect of being killed by others. This is why they cultivate—to pursue both power and longevity.
Xu Sanyan asked himself: If he were in the old man's position, even with the slightest chance of survival, he would fight tooth and nail. He could never passively accept death.
Moreover, the old man had once aspired to the Great Dao. How could he willingly relinquish his life?
Throughout their journey, the old man had repeatedly, both overtly and subtly, urged him to come here. Had the discovery of the jade slip not delayed their progress, they would likely have arrived much sooner.
The old man fell silent, his mind racing frantically to devise an excuse.
Xu Sanyan smiled faintly. "Senior, you may not know me well. I'm naturally suspicious. Once the seed of doubt is planted, it gnaws at my peace of mind until I uproot it."
Even if the old man still had some use, Xu Sanyan had no intention of sparing him. The old fool was dishonest.
"Senior, there's no need for further explanations. If my guess is wrong, then consider it your bad luck."
The old man immediately grew agitated. What do you mean, if your guess is wrong, it's my bad luck?
Unwilling to die like this, he abandoned caution and shouted telepathically, "I'm still useful! I know this secret realm like the back of my hand. I can help you find treasures! I don't want to die!"
The elders were instantly startled, their gazes converging on the discipline ruler. They had never imagined a divine soul could be residing within it!
Xu Sanyan sighed softly. "But... I can't trust you anymore."
With that, a divine soul spike materialized in the void and pierced the discipline ruler.
Lu Clan's Spirit Refining Force!
The old man was merely a wisp of a remnant soul. The spike pierced through him, leaving only a final, agonizing scream before he completely dissipated into the void.
If the old man had stated his terms from the beginning, proposing a mutually beneficial arrangement, Xu Sanyan might well have agreed. But the old fool chose deception.
Xu Sanyan despised being emotionally manipulated above all else. If it was being swindled out of money...
Oh, being swindled out of money was unacceptable too.
(End of the Chapter)
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