Chapter 69: The Soul Binding Seal Takes Shape—Two and a Half Years Pass

Inside the room, Pei Huoyu carefully placed the multicolored orb into a jade box, then sealed the exterior with a talisman. He patted his storage pouch lightly, and a jade box exuding a faint bloody scent appeared in his hand.

Opening the box, he revealed a collection of blood-red pills, each one emanating a fierce demonic aura. He took one out and shoved it into his mouth, chewing it forcefully. His gaze fell upon the newly sealed jade box—whether or not he could recover the Five Element Mountain depended on it.

Even if it was like searching for a needle in the sea, he was determined to find the cultivator who had taken the Five Element Mountain. Ever since journeying north from the Desolate Domain, he had expended both energy and spiritual power at every stop to refine the “Five Element Dao Seeds.”

Yet this method took a great toll on his fundamental Dao source; each refinement, even with a full array of elixirs and medicines prepared, required at least half a year of recuperation to restore. Over time, even as a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could not bear the strain.

But there was no other way. The Five Element Dao Seed was a divine ability attached to his cultivation method, the Five Element Nurturing Dao Sutra.

Everything had its origin in the Five-Colored Stone.

Years ago, discovered by Ancestor Ziyang in the mortal realm, he was granted a Golden Core cultivation method and forged ahead to reach Foundation Establishment, becoming one of the nurturers of the Five-Colored Stone. After decades of nurturing the stone within his dantian, a faint connection had formed between them. As long as he activated the “Five Element Dao Seed,” he had a chance of sensing the whereabouts of the Five Element Mountain within a thousand-mile radius.

However, the Dao Seed could only be preserved for a limited time, at most half a year, forcing Pei Huoyu to refine a new seed periodically and then recuperate for another lengthy period. He had tracked his quarry along the sea routes from the Desolate Domain, pausing at every prosperous island or city to investigate. The method was somewhat clumsy, but it was the only way.

…

Black Rock Island.

“Blub-blub-blub…”

Little Three Thousand blew bubbles on the water’s surface, its agile tail slapping the sea. Soon, a swarm of fish, shrimp, and crabs surfaced below. Perched on Shen Lian’s shoulder, Big Black’s eyes lit up at the sight—fresh seafood, a buffet at hand.

In a flash, Big Black leapt into the water, brandishing its large pincers. Yet Little Three Thousand was not only quicker-witted but also faster; as soon as Big Black entered the water, it was struck on the head by Three Thousand’s tail.

Shen Lian paid no mind to the antics of his two spirit beasts. He took out his nautical chart for inspection. In his half-year at Black Whale City, he had identified thirteen locations in the surrounding area suitable for hiding or for breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

He also learned that Black Whale City had high-grade cultivation caves available for cultivators to establish their Foundation. Thus, it was no longer necessary to select an external site for this purpose.

After extensive inquiries, he found that over the centuries of the Sea Spirit Sect’s presence in Black Whale City, several hundred cultivators had chosen to establish their Foundation in the city. Shen Lian was unsure of their success rate—likely not high, though not due to the Sea Spirit Sect, but to the cultivators themselves.

All of this proved that establishing Foundation within Black Whale City was highly secure. As long as one could afford the spirit stones, abundant-qi caves awaited, with beautiful cultivator maidens personally inviting one to move in.

The Black Rock Island beneath his feet was quite suitable. The island was covered with black sea pine trees, its undulating mountains stretching for three hundred miles. Although the spiritual energy was insufficient for Foundation Establishment, it was a decent place for a hiding cave.

“Glug-glug…”

Little Three Thousand surfaced from the water. Now at the third layer of Qi Refinement, it was intelligent enough, but still unable to communicate via divine sense.

Locking eyes with Three Thousand as he focused his mind, Shen Lian then dove into the water.

Beneath the surface, Three Thousand darted downward, plunging into a jumble of black rocks.

…

Deep within the rocks was a shadowy water cave. Following the winding path, they emerged into a spacious underwater chamber, where Three Thousand led Shen Lian upward.

With a splash, Shen Lian’s divine sense, already extended, detected an underground cave above the water, with a faintly glowing, damaged array on the surface. Within the cave lay the skeleton of a cultivator.

He tossed Big Black inside; the array did not respond with any defense. Sensing Big Black crawling around and detecting no fluctuations in spiritual sense, Shen Lian finally emerged from the water.

The cave was a hundred feet across, with only a few feet of water at the entrance. After a thorough inspection, Shen Lian determined that this cave was beneath Black Rock Island, over five hundred feet below ground, and thus below sea level. The reason the river hadn’t flooded the cave was due to the array on the water’s surface.

Examining the skeleton, Shen Lian was somewhat disappointed—it was not a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but merely a fellow Qi Refiner. A deep sword wound marred its back, piercing through to the chest. Scattered medicine bottles lay nearby. The cultivator must have fled here to heal but succumbed to his injuries.

A flick of Shen Lian’s finger sent a fireball to incinerate the remains to ash. This place was suitable for modification as a backup hideout.

He inspected the surface array, discovering it was only depleted of spirit stones; otherwise, all was well. After replenishing the stones, a white mist arose from the water—the array was one of concealment and qi suppression, a high-grade first-rank formation.

Once he finished setting up a second-rank Hunyuan Array, Shen Lian took out his talismans. During his time at Black Whale City, aside from training and alchemy, he had occupied himself with drawing talismans. The city, as expected of a major hub, made acquiring second-rank materials far easier.

As a result, he now had over fifty second-rank talismans in reserve, covering offense, escape, invisibility, divine sense, traps, qi suppression, and poison. He had also improved his Hundred-Spirit Poison, blending it anew with spiritual ink to create his own unique second-grade Hundred-Spirit Poison Talisman. He had further enhanced the poison itself with additional toxins purchased in Black Whale City.

Given the distance from the surface, Shen Lian released Big Black, letting it lead its kin to nest and breed ordinary, non-demonic Blackhorn Ants on the island. Demonic ants would draw the attention of cultivators, but ordinary ants would go unnoticed.

Using their nests as nodes, Shen Lian constructed an escape route straight from the cave to the island’s surface, bypassing the water; with an Earth-Escape Talisman, he could traverse directly to the island above.

Having completed these preparations, he took out the second-rank demon fish acquired from the barter meeting.

Catching the hopeful gazes of Big Black and Three Thousand at the water’s edge, Shen Lian decided that the master’s improvement of divine sense was more important than feeding his spirit beasts at the moment. He stuffed their mouths with beast-nourishing pills, sent them off to play, and focused on the Golden Swordscale Fish.

Sensing the shift in Shen Lian’s aura, Big Black, in the water, shuddered, clacked its pincers nervously, and sidled up to Three Thousand, letting out a series of anxious hisses.

“The master… is going to eat you…”

“Blub-blub-blub…” Three Thousand blew bubbles, its eyes wide and innocent.

…

The second-rank Golden Swordscale Fish was about five feet long, its demonic aura not particularly strong. But as soon as Shen Lian’s hand touched the fish, a surge of potent demonic energy made his own spiritual power roil.

After regaining control of his qi, Shen Lian activated the secret Blood Refinement and Soul Transformation technique, beginning to draw power from the fish’s flesh and blood.

A thick, bloody aura enveloped his hand, swiftly spreading over his body. Before long, his eyes were dyed a deep crimson.

…

Spiritual light flickered around him, and five different Heart-Cleansing Jades shone, enveloping him in their glow. During his days in Black Whale City, Shen Lian had completed his set, gathering all five elements: gold, wood, water, fire, and earth.

As the intense blood energy entered his body, a bead of true essence blood began to form at his heart. Though the demon beast had only recently advanced to the second rank, the transformation in its blood energy from the first rank was dramatic.

Shen Lian, keenly aware of this, paused after refining for half an hour, his eyes blood-red. Big Black, lurking nearby, was so startled it vanished with a swish.

After a full day of rest, suppressing his bloodthirsty urges, Shen Lian resumed his refinement. It was precisely because of this bloody aura that he had not dared to perform the ritual in Black Whale City, lest it attract unwanted attention.

Thus, a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Sitting cross-legged in the cave, Shen Lian sensed a fearsome demon apparition manifest within his divine sense. The apparition had a green face, fangs, and iron trident—its form insubstantial as mist, as if a breeze could disperse it.

“The Soul Binding Seal—capable of devouring a cultivator’s spirit and memories.”

A sharp light flashed in Shen Lian’s eyes. According to the Soul Transformation cultivation art, a stronger divine sense could manifest a Purple-Robed Demon Apparition. He had not expected that, with his divine sense just over a hundred and ninety feet, he would already give rise to such a form, though he had not yet found a fellow cultivator on whom to test its soul-searching powers.

With a flick of his hand, a streak of green light shot from the water, depositing Three Thousand before him.

Big Black happened to return then, lifting its head, eyes gleaming black.

“Hiss, hiss—”

Casually tossing Three Thousand back into the water, Shen Lian reconsidered—Three Thousand’s soul was too weak, and Big Black would not withstand the ordeal either. Spirit stones weren’t blown in by the wind, after all, and Big Black had earned its share.

He chopped the remainder of the demon fish into pieces, giving some to both spirit beasts, who devoured it with eager whimpers.

Rubbing his temples, Shen Lian decided he needed time to settle his foundation before refining more demon flesh. He hadn’t expected a single second-rank demon beast to yield such results; after refining so many first-rank beasts, none had produced this effect—his divine sense had grown by over forty feet in one leap.

After three days of rest, Shen Lian left Big Black and Three Thousand behind and returned to Black Whale Island.

After being away for over a month, he had been a rather negligent shopkeeper.

…

Black Whale City.

The days as a shopkeeper were dull and monotonous.

In the blink of an eye, Shen Lian had been a reliably steady shopkeeper for two and a half years.

Black Whale City was simply too peaceful.

[Mind wanders beyond the world—Comprehension point +1]

[Mind wanders beyond the world—Comprehension point +1]

…

[Calm and tranquil—Insight point +2]

…