Chapter 74: Restoring Honor

Chen Mu intensified the soul-suppressing tower’s radiant beam. This kind of attack was excruciating for Xue Tian, but Chen Mu couldn’t rely on the tower’s power forever—he had to devise a solution. Without delay, he summoned Rou’er and asked, “Rou’er, do you have a way to destroy this fiend? I just entered a trial ground; someone accidentally released a remnant demon soul sealed within, and it possessed him. All of us attacking together had no effect—only my soul-suppressing tower can temporarily restrain his actions.”

Rou’er’s expression grew grave at his words. “You lot certainly know how to stir up trouble. Though this demon remnant is extremely weak, judging from the fluctuations of his demonic aura, his original strength was definitely beyond the Great Ascension Realm. He is likely a split soul of a second-stage demon. If he manages to contact his true body, it would bring catastrophic disaster upon your continent. Let me try to destroy his mortal vessel first.”

Chen Mu didn’t bother explaining that it was someone from the Grand Xia Empire who set the demon loose; he simply nodded, signaling Rou’er to attack the demon who had broken free.

The Dragon Fox Netherflame shot forth, attempting to engulf Xue Tian and refine his fleshly body. However, the demonic energy surged and instantly neutralized the flames. Indeed, with Rou’er’s power sealed, the true strength of her flames could not be unleashed, but she nevertheless continued to spout fire, harassing Xue Tian and leaving him powerless to resist the soul-suppressing tower’s assault.

Xue Tian shrieked in agony—the tower’s radiant beam seared his demon soul unbearably. Had he been at his peak, it would have been nothing, but now he was only a barely surviving remnant soul. He could not afford to dismiss such even a feeble soul-based attack.

“Stop! Stop! Wait… a descendant of a True Spirit? An heir from the Immortal Domain! Why would a True Spirit be in such a trivial, forsaken place?” Xue Tian stared at Rou’er in terror.

“Not bad, for a mere split soul of the Great Ascension Realm. Indeed, I am a True Spirit’s descendant,” Rou’er replied with pride.

“Hmph, you’re right—I am just a split soul. But my true body is your equal in cultivation! Don’t get too arrogant!” Xue Tian retorted, unwilling to concede.

“Oh? Still daring to talk back?” Rou’er immediately conjured several claw-shaped phantasms of spiritual energy, swatting away much of Xue Tian’s overwhelming demonic aura.

“Enough! I surrender! I admit defeat!” Xue Tian shrieked, desperately defending himself from Rou’er’s attacks, but unable to cope with the soul-suppressing tower as well, leaving him in utter misery.

Xue Tian, weakened, pleaded, “You must have been seriously wounded to end up here, or your strength would never be so feeble. Why don’t we mind our own business? If you let me go, I’ll relinquish control of this boy and leave him be. Besides, you cannot kill me; the radiant beam may cause me pain, but it will never erase my demon soul.”

Rou’er considered this—what Xue Tian said was not untrue. Continuing like this would be a waste of time, and Chen Mu wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. Thus, Rou’er said, “Very well. So long as you promise not to possess Chen Mu, I’ll let you leave.”

Chen Mu sighed. Even Rou’er couldn’t subdue this fiend; surely, he would become a scourge upon the Yuanyao Continent in the future.

Xue Tian let out a chilling laugh. “A wise decision. Boy—Chen Mu, is it? I’ll remember you. You’re quite fortunate to have the help of a True Spirit’s descendant. Don’t worry, I keep my word. Though this body is weak, it’s a vessel nonetheless—I’ll have to destroy its cultivation and rebuild it from scratch. Withdraw your attacks, and I’ll leave at once.”

Though Rou’er wished she could keep Xue Tian here, she didn’t have the power—so she withdrew her magic and let him go.

Reluctantly, Chen Mu retracted the soul-suppressing tower. As soon as Xue Tian was freed from restraint, he darted away in a certain direction. A few of the Grand Xia Empire scions who lingered nearby were caught by Xue Tian’s sweeping hand—he drained their blood essence, leaving behind shriveled corpses.

Once Xue Tian was gone, Chen Mu finally relaxed, collapsing to the ground. The fiend’s overwhelming demonic aura had been suffocating, constantly provoking his negative emotions and unsettling his mind.

Xue Tian’s departure was a reprieve for everyone present. After the others left, Chen Mu summoned his Swift Eagle Beast and hurried after Xu Changye and the others toward the Mingyue Empire.

By this time, Xue Tian had already refined Xiahou Shang’s soul and learned the current state of the Yuanyao Continent. Now that he was free, he was determined to plunge the continent into chaos—his first stop: the Grand Xia Empire. With that, Xue Tian sped in that direction.

After the incident at the trial ruins, the handful of surviving disciples from various sects returned home and reported everything to their elders, who promptly cursed the Grand Xia Empire to the heavens.

The royal family of Grand Xia, in particular, became the focus of resentment; now that a member of their house had become a demon, once he brought calamity to the world, Grand Xia would bear inescapable blame.

Chen Mu rejoined the battered party led by Xu Changye and Yan Chong, returning to the Jiuyou Sacred Land within the Mingyue Empire. The various factions of Mingyue had suffered grievous losses—what began as a joyous exploration of the ruins had ended with so many elites lost. Fortunately, those who survived the trial gained considerable rewards; otherwise, it would have been a total loss.

By the rules, any treasures, weapons, or artifacts obtained could be kept or exchanged for desired items with Jiuyou Sacred Land, but any secret arts, techniques, or tomes had to be copied and submitted to the sacred land’s archive.

Chen Mu thus made copies of the “Soul Refining Art” and “Blood Ignition Transformation” secret techniques and handed them over to the Law and Magic Hall, earning the sacred land’s praise. However, the reward—a black-gold treasure armor—was of little use to him, as it could only withstand late-stage Core Formation attacks. Chen Mu’s own bloodline power, the “Flood Dragon Scale Feather Robe” acquired from the dragon pearl, already provided equivalent defense, so the armor mattered little.

Upon returning, Chen Mu chose to seclude himself and cultivate his newfound secret arts. He soon mastered the “Soul Refining Art,” refining his soul day and night until it became stronger and more pure. As for the “Blood Ignition Transformation,” he dared not use it lightly, as each activation consumed an enormous amount of blood essence.

Whenever his blood essence neared a critical depletion, Chen Mu would immediately cease the technique. At his current level, he could sustain the “Blood Ignition Transformation” for only about the time it took to burn one stick of incense, but in that brief period, his strength would soar three minor realms—reaching the early Nascent Soul stage.

Even though it lasted only an incense stick’s time, it was still the power of the Nascent Soul Realm—equivalent to the strength of a mid-tier sect leader in Grand Xia.

Half a month after entering seclusion, Chen Mu emerged, only to find Jiuyou Sacred Land had issued an order: it was time to settle accounts with the Underworld Ghost Sect and Crow Fortress.

Previously, these two had acted as Mingyue Empire’s vanguard, attempting to destroy Jiuyou Sacred Land—a grudge Gongsun Qingyang had not forgotten. Now the sect had three healthy Nascent Soul experts: Song Miao, another elder, and Su Ang, priest of the War Demon Hall. Counting secret weapons, Rou’er and Chen Mu could also unleash Nascent Soul-level power for a short time, though the latter was known only to himself.

Thus, Gongsun Qingyang dispatched Song Miao and Su Ang to lead the disciples of Jiuyou Sacred Land in an expedition against the Underworld Ghost Sect and Crow Fortress, with Chen Mu among their number.

Currently, the Underworld Ghost Sect was managed by the mid-Nascent Soul deputy sect master Chishan, who had been promoted to sect master after the death of Wang Baigui. At Crow Fortress, Master Black Crow’s younger brother, Daoist White Crow, himself an early Nascent Soul cultivator, had assumed leadership following his brother’s death.

Since the deaths of their former leaders, both sects had been greatly weakened, cowering behind their defensive formations, never daring to emerge.

Now, Song Miao and Su Ang led the Jiuyou Sacred Land contingent to the gates of the Underworld Ghost Sect. Su Ang called out, “Brats of the Underworld Ghost Sect, listen well! I advise you to open your defensive formation, disband your sect, and surrender at once—spare yourselves for a chance to live! If we break through your turtle shell, we’ll slaughter you all to the last—no negotiations!”

The new sect master, Chishan, replied furiously, “Jiuyou Sacred Land, you go too far! You’ve already slain our former master, Wang Baigui—is that not enough for you?”

Su Ang laughed, retorting, “We go too far? It was you who played lapdogs to the Mingyue Empire and attacked us—when you failed and died, now you call us bullies? I say you’re the ones who go too far! Since you show no remorse, your sect has no right to exist!”

With that, Su Ang ordered the War Demon Hall to attack. Song Miao and Su Ang advanced together, unleashing spells and secret arts, battering the Underworld Ghost Sect’s protective shield until it trembled on the brink of collapse.

The sect’s disciples were terrified—there was only Chishan among them at the Nascent Soul level. How could he stand against two such powerhouses?

As the barrier flickered and was about to shatter, Chishan finally cried out in panic, “Stop! Stop! I surrender! Please don’t attack—I’ll do anything if you spare my life!”

Song Miao replied coldly, “Cowards who cling to life at any cost have no use to us. If ever Jiuyou Sacred Land faces trouble, you’d betray us in an instant. For us to trust you, you’d have to become a corpse.”

Despairing, Chishan tried to escape the barrier, but Song Miao had anticipated this and blocked his path.

Song Miao struck—twin hammers in hand—forcing Chishan to defend himself in haste. Chishan gritted his teeth and summoned several ghosts to hinder Song Miao’s assault, but to little effect—one blow of the hammer dispersed them.