Chapter 134: Trial Version of Soul Annihilation and Bone Pulverization Service

This Sea Clan member was quite clever, wanting to burrow into the spiritual veins to heal his injuries before dying.

However, his injuries were too severe, and upon dying within the spiritual vein, he was gradually melted into it.

The tainted blood on his body also polluted the pure spirituality within the spiritual vein.

That Deep-Shell Sea Worm King must have dug out a severed arm in advance, before the Sea Clan corpse had time to fully integrate.

Judging by the lifespan of a Tier 2 mid-grade fierce beast, which is roughly equivalent to that of a human Golden Core cultivator, the original owner of this Sea Clan corpse likely entered the spiritual vein some three to five hundred years ago.

"Hum!"

At that moment, a humming sound echoed from the excavated Sea Clan corpse, and a wisp of dark blue soul smoke drifted out from the withered skull.

In an instant, it slammed into Shen Lian's body.

"Sizzle..."

Yet, the moment the soul smoke touched Shen Lian's body, far from smoothly merging into the flesh,

"Ah..."

At that time, amidst the void above twisting mysteriously, the cyan smoke vanished within the distorted space.

Shen Lian had modified it to seal the aura of spiritual objects, and the effect was remarkably useful.

Taking a long breath, the Five Elements Spiritual Puppet quickly busied itself within this cavern dwelling.

He left behind a portion of fish, shrimp, crabs, and medicinal herbs as breeding stock, and swept everything else into his pockets.

The Hai family, having been ambushed by puppets controlled by the Black Cliff Old Demon, also vowed to fight the Black Cliff Old Demon to the bitter end.

However, the golden-white flames clung to it like maggots on a bone; the more they thrashed, the fiercer the fire burned, until finally, it completely engulfed the soul shadow in flames.

It seemed that cultivators below the Golden Core tier had souls too weak to manifest their soul intent after death; only upon reaching the Golden Core tier did it change, allowing a powerful soul to manifest after death.

"To be honest, I am also preparing to take this spirit ship back to the South Sea Region."

Yet Shen Lian considered this normal; Black Cliff was most likely not even human, so how could one measure him with human logic?

The five transcendental talisman figures began chanting once again.

According to rumors in the cultivation world, that cyan smoke was entering the cycle of reincarnation.

Shen Lian fell into contemplation. This matched his previous expectations; he had killed Foundation Establishment cultivators before, and had never seen any soul smoke appear.

This scene was quite bizarre. When the Sea Clan's soul was burned into black smoke, clearly underwater, that black smoke did not dissolve in water.

It was as if some mysterious force in the netherworld caused the black smoke to thoroughly dissipate between heaven and earth.

Catching snippets of communication among cultivators, Shen Lian gathered the recent sensational events of the Myriad Star Sea during his absence.

Then, with a flick of his finger, a spark of golden-white flame ignited, falling toward the remaining Sea Clan skeleton.

Embedded within the slotting were numerous jade flakes.

Having walked halfway down the pier, Shen Lian halted his steps, gazing into the distance at the massive, anchored long-voyage spirit ship.

Stuffing themselves to the limit.

With such a cultivation environment, a heavenly tribulation was bound to strike sooner or later.

From afar, cultivators could be seen soaring through the air around the spirit ship, busy working up and down to overhaul it.

A grand ritual of dancing and chanting, sending a fellow Daoist straight out of the census register of living beings.

Clearly a splendid situation, with the Heaven-Supporting Alliance on the verge of becoming the fifth largest Golden Core sect in the Myriad Star Inner Sea, yet in the blink of an eye, it was battered into nothingness.

This brings us to the long-voyage spirit ships traversing the Myriad Star Outer Sea; these were not the property of any single faction.

Emerging from the grotto heaven, he tidied up slightly, pondered whether any issues had been missed, and then headed toward his next target.

A long-voyage spirit ship represented the accumulated foundation of major sects; cutting off someone's financial path was a matter of life and death.

The Cloud Ascend Sect was not entirely uninvolved; they participated by collecting spirit stones from behind the scenes, leaving the specific operations to others.

"Next time I have the time, I should acquire a true scripture of transcendence, lest even after the soul is scattered, resentful intent still lingers."

After breaking the Heaven-Supporting Alliance, the Profound Sea Sect confirmed that the so-called True Person Heaven-Supporting was none other than the Black Cliff Old Demon.

"Spiritual Vein Daoist, I healed your injuries, and I even scattered the ashes and destroyed the soul of the culprit who harmed you. If you can resonate with heaven and earth, you needn't hold a grudge over such a minor matter."

Shen Lian was about to step forward into the city. Although they were both Fifth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivators, he remained confident that a Soul-Binding Seal could send him back to his ancestral home.

After completing the seal, the jade box was tossed into a storage pouch, which was then thrown into a storage ring.

This fellow was gripping quite tightly.

Celestial phenomena were manageable; if one couldn't push through, one could change course to evade them.

Returning all the way to Cape Immortal City, the piers surrounding the city remained bustling, with several Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there on guard.

"Daoist friend, then I shall speak plainly."

He was hooked.

I have traveled back and forth between the South Sea Region and the Myriad Star Inner Sea several times, yet every crossing leaves my heart lingering with fear."

As for smoke that appeared black and existed in a scattered state, it belonged to the category excluded from reincarnation.

The jade flakes flew out, the jade box opened, and the black shell was dropped inside before the lid was closed once more.

Shen Lian nodded.

Part (1/3)

Part (2/3)

Watching the soul smoke, burned into black smoke, dissipate, the five transcendental talisman figures did not stop. The leader of the talisman figures directly pressed against the skeleton, inspecting it thoroughly from top to bottom.

Lin Yixing had traveled back and forth multiple times on long-voyage spirit ships, encountering Sea Clan raids on two of those occasions.

Of the exact same temperament as that white shell from before.

Over the next half year or so, he successively located several places in the Myriad Star Outer Sea haunted by Tier 2 fierce beasts.

With a wave of his hand, a specially crafted jade box appeared.

This time, although it was a sudden development, it was entirely within expectations.

Under the scorching flames, the deep-blue soul shadow turned into black smoke and rose.

Wherever fierce beasts appeared, the frequency of cultivators visiting was practically akin to strolling through a brothel.

In the span of two short quarters of an hour, it was reduced to a heap of ash, dissolving into the water.

Of course, the black shell had been plucked out by him.

Sea Clan raids were of little consequence; the Sea Clan of today was vastly different from the past.

Beneath the deep blue soul smoke, a cluster of golden-white flames pulsed like a lotus flower, lifting the Sea Clan's soul shadow upon the fire to be scorched.

The spark fell, and the residual bone burst into a soaring blaze.

Thousand-Thread Qi-Concealing and Sealing Formation.

It looked like it couldn't be opened in the short term.

Piercing screams erupted from within the deep blue soul smoke, reflecting a ferocious, twisted Sea Clan soul shadow that struggled ceaselessly.

As Shen Lian watched the long-voyage spirit ship, a young Foundation Establishment cultivator nearby was also looking around, happening to catch the direction of Shen Lian's gaze.

He remembered back in the Desolate Domain market, when he accidentally killed Patriarch Lianzhen, the man's soul before death had been cyan smoke, drifting upward.

However, the Golden Core True Persons dispatched by the various Golden Core factions varied in strength, and their temperaments were eccentric and diverse.

The Black Cliff Old Demon was truly a ruthless character.

Lin Yixing's purpose was simple: seeing that he was also observing the long-voyage spirit ship, he wanted to travel together.

Digging up withered bones, how could he possibly use his true body?

He had long since been fully aware that old schemers were everywhere in the cultivation world.

Sending off a Golden Core tier cultivator this time was, overall, still far too lacking in solemnity, previously due to a lack of experience.

Clutching the black shell in his hand—this should be the storage treasure of the Sea Clan cultivator—the puppet talisman figures had found no scaled storage magical instruments on the remaining bones.

"It seems this Sea Clan member was a Golden Core True Person in life."

Back when the Sea Clan was at its most rampant, they directly sank spirit ships, paralyzing the entire route for a long time.

"Ah, ah..."

Every cultivator, regardless of potential or strength, seemed to him merely a chess piece to be discarded at will.

Simultaneously, the runes within the jade flakes lit up in unison, intertwining and outlining a complete runic seal.

Jade talismans flew out one by one from the spiritual puppet, transforming into five puppet talisman figures that tightly surrounded the burning Sea Clan soul.

Instead, much like water droplets falling into boiling oil, a series of explosive sizzles rang out.

Inspecting with divine sense, Shen Lian found that his divine sense was actually repelled by the shell.

As the five figures circled together, the Sea Clan soul scorched by the golden-white flames dissolved into wisps of black smoke that vanished into the water amidst piercing, soul-shaking screams.

Lin Yixing cupped his fists once more, "I just observed that the Daoist friend is also looking at the long-voyage spirit ship, so I presume you wish to cross the Myriad Star Outer Sea to head to the South Sea Region."

This harvest was quite good; various spiritual herbs and fierce beasts combined totaled roughly eighty to ninety thousand spirit stones.

He scooped out all the remaining bone fragments, threw them into the flames, and then produced spirit stones to crush into powder, repairing the damage to the spiritual vein.

As for why people still traveled together even when taking a spirit ship...

If the soul could enter reincarnation, there was still a chance of rebirth and reincarnation; if the soul was burned away entirely, all thoughts were completely extinguished.

Thinking of the shrill, wretched screams of the Sea Clan's soul intent when it was being scorched just now, its resentment was immense.

For the spiritual vein, these were all renewable resources; leaving behind the seeds was enough.

Shen Lian watched this scene from beneath a distant coral mountain, his gaze entirely unfluctuating.

"Daoist friend, the reason I wish to speak of is right inside. Some things truly cannot be stated explicitly, lest I too invite misfortune."

Saying this, Lin Yixing looked left and right. "Daoist friend, you see this is hardly a place for conversation. Shall we enter the city and find a restaurant to discuss it in detail?"

After all, this was the second time he had encountered a Golden Core tier spirit. The first time, his strength was too low, leaving him incapable of even scattering the soul smoke.

Receiving the jade slip, Shen Lian channeled a wisp of divine sense into it, scanning through its contents in an instant.

Here, Shen Lian withdrew his gaze, preparing to enter the city, when the young-looking Foundation Establishment cultivator in the distance had already approached him.

This spirit ship was not the same one as before.

With soul and spirit completely scattered, it was equivalent to being struck off the census of reincarnation, leaving him incapable of even becoming a beast.

Rather, it was a route opened by several Golden Core factions led by the Gold-Stone Sect under the jurisdiction of the Cloud Ascend Sect.

"Now Daoist friend can speak in detail."

It was said that after a fierce battle, the Sea Clan learned to exercise restraint when plundering spirit ships ever since.

Part (2/3)

Part (3/3)

On the other side, Shen Lian also tossed the Sea Clan's arm, which still grasped the black shell, into the golden-white fire.

Stab with a sword, pour a breath of spiritual Qi.

The Sea Clan soul shadow screamed, waving its arms in an attempt to extinguish the golden-white flames.

Re-inspecting and finding no other anomalies, Shen Lian utilized the Five Elements Spiritual Puppet to burrow out of the grotto heaven.

Shen Lian did not touch the food and wine on the table either, simply watching Lin Yixing quietly.

The two quickly arrived at a small restaurant within the city, taking their seats in a private room.

A chess piece is merely a chess piece; why bother discussing its size?

In the Old Demon's eyes, perhaps they were all merely consumables.

The Supreme Elder of the Profound Sea Sect, True Person Fuhai, had suffered injuries, and was rumored to have lost all hope of achieving Nascent Soul.

He also wore solemn, elaborate robes, his body twisting in strange postures as he performed seductive, abstruse movements, chanting constantly while occasionally flinging his hands toward the sky.

"Very well."

Regarding Shen Lian's peculiar gaze, Lin Yixing hurriedly explained, "Daoist friend may not realize the terrifying nature of the Myriad Star Outer Sea."

Before he had even walked halfway down the pier, Shen Lian had already gathered this much information.

People came wave after wave, entirely without restraint; even goddess-like immortals couldn't endure it, let alone fierce beasts. Truly, not a drop... not even a hair was left.

"Daoist friend, speak your mind directly."

"Phew..."

Unlike spirit ships in the Myriad Star Inner Sea, those traversing the Myriad Star Outer Sea had no expiration date for purchased tickets. As long as one had bought a ticket, one could freely choose when to board.

Having smashed their rice bowls, the cultivators of the Gold-Stone Sect were naturally displeased, rallying the allied Golden Core factions to slaughter the Sea Clan.

Lin Yixing revealed a bitter smile, "Daoist friend, wasn't what I said obvious enough? The Myriad Star Outer Sea is extremely dangerous; even with a Golden Core True Person presiding over the spirit ship, well... you understand?"

"Greetings, Daoist friend."

The Heaven-Supporting Alliance was broken, and the Hai family's spiritual land vanished.

In the end, Shen Lian gave up as well, unwilling to waste any more time, and prepared to set off for the South Sea Region.

Seeing Shen Lian acknowledging him, though guarded in expression, the young cultivator minded it not in the least, still cupping his fists and saying, "I am Lin Yixing, a disciple of the Misty Mountain Sect in the South Sea Region."

This jade box featured slotting one inch in size on the top and bottom covers, front and back, left and right, as well as on both the top and bottom faces.

Simultaneously, the 'Shen Lian' stabbing the spiritual vein with a magical sword flickered with spiritual light, transforming into the state of a spiritual puppet.

No wonder rogue cultivators loved seeking out secret realms; finding one was equivalent to taking a step straight up to the heavens.

This talisman formation could be used to isolate auras, preserve supreme spiritual herbs, or prolong the storage lifespan of high-grade pills refined by alchemists.

Yet reality was truly harsh, living up to the worldly adage: even when rushing for shit, one always misses the warm batch.

Unlike other talisman figures, these five talisman figures—three men and two women—had their entire bodies, faces, and arms covered in bizarrely styled tattoos.

Yet when encountering the Sea Clan and fierce beasts, they cared not a whit whether you were a Golden Core True Person or whether the Cloud Ascend Sect possessed a Nascent Soul.

At the instant the jade box closed, the previous jade flakes flew back into place, sliding shut like a lock to secure the jade box.

"Hum!"

Whomever you asked, everyone would agree that Black Cliff's brain was cracked.

Shen Lian feigned a moment of astonishment, then cupped his fists in return.

Stab with a sword, pour a breath of spiritual Qi.

"Daoist friend, what is your business?"

Standing a zhang away, the young cultivator halted his steps to indicate he harbored no malice, his voice quite amiable.

Bian Qingyun was still in flight, but was rumored to have been located near the territorial waters of the Sea Spirit Sect.

The various Golden Core factions took turns dispatching Golden Core cultivators to oversee the spirit ships.

At this moment, Lin Yixing produced a jade slip, channeled his own divine sense into it to make a duplicate copy, and handed it to Shen Lian.

What a pity; under the spiritual fire empowered by his Heaven-Deriving Fire Domain, although the Golden Core skeleton burned slowly, it burned thoroughly indeed.

Having finished all this, the spiritual puppet standing upon the spiritual vein flashed with spiritual light, reverting to look identical to Shen Lian, and seized its magical sword with both hands to stab into the spiritual vein once more.

With factors such as outer sea celestial phenomena, Sea Clan raids, and fierce beast attacks all combined, it meant taking a spirit ship was hardly foolproof.

"Next time I encounter a Golden Core cultivator, I really must transcend them properly."

They might board the spirit ship and plunder cultivators, but they would no longer destroy the spirit ship itself.

Everyone relied on this route to make a living, and understood the principles of sustainable development.

At most, it would force the presiding Golden Core True Person to flee狼狈 with the spirit ship; as for the passengers aboard, it came down to luck.

(End of Chapter)