Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen turned to look at the shadow void, surprised by the creature's formidable origins.
Yet, upon reflection, it made sense. Even before fully hatching, the shadow void's divine sense attack had severely injured Hong Zhe, a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator.
Once fully hatched, its divine sense attack would likely pose a threat even to Body Integration Stage cultivators.
Song Wen turned back to Hong Zhe and continued his questioning.
"Hong Zhe, what was the dark green powder you used to subdue the shadow void?"
"Illusory Annihilation Powder!" Hong Zhe replied. "A poison specifically targeting the Void Clan. It's harmless to humans and even beneficial to certain demon beasts."
Song Wen's expression brightened. "Do you still have any Illusory Annihilation Powder in your storage ring?"
Securing a large quantity of this powder would significantly increase their chances of crossing the strait.
Hong Zhe shook his head. "No. I only had that one vial, which the sect granted me because the shadow void was nearing hatching, to prevent any mishaps."
"Do you know the method for crafting it?" Song Wen asked, settling for the next best option.
Hong Zhe shook his head. "The Pill Formula for Illusory Annihilation Powder is one of the Divine Blood Gate's most closely guarded secrets. I don't know it. However, the main ingredient is the Bodhi Spirit Core, which is highly toxic to the Void Clan. The vial I used contained seventh-tier Illusory Annihilation Powder, refined from a Bodhi Spirit Core that was ten thousand years old."
"Ten thousand years old!" A flicker of surprise flashed in Song Wen's eyes.
He had never encountered a Spirit Herb older than ten thousand years.
If a ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Herb was only used to refine seventh-tier Illusory Annihilation Powder, what age of Bodhi Spirit Core would be required for eighth-tier or ninth-tier versions?
This deepened a lingering doubt in Song Wen's mind.
"If the Bodhi Spirit Core is so crucial, why did the Divine Blood Gate eradicate all Bodhi Spirit Cores on Qicang Island? And why is cultivation strictly forbidden, except at the Dry Zen Temple?"
Hong Zhe replied, "Illusory Annihilation Powder is our most potent weapon against void fiends. We can't risk its secrets being leaked, especially to the Void Clan. If they learned of it, they would devise countermeasures, greatly diminishing the poison's effectiveness."
"But if more people cultivate it, wouldn't we produce more high-grade Bodhi Spirit Cores?" Song Wen asked.
"There's no need," Hong Zhe replied. "The Divine Blood Gate has a method to rapidly increase the medicinal age of Bodhi Spirit Cores."
Song Wen couldn't help but feel astonished. The more he learned about the Divine Blood Gate, the more he realized its unfathomable power.
If they could rapidly increase the medicinal age of Bodhi Spirit Cores, could they also accelerate the aging of other Spirit Herbs?
If so, wouldn't the Divine Blood Gate be able to easily obtain various rare spiritual objects with high medicinal ages?
"How do they do it?" Song Wen asked.
"I don't know the specific method," Hong Zhe replied.
A hint of regret flashed in Song Wen's eyes, but he didn't doubt Hong Zhe's words.
Hong Zhe was merely an outer sect elder, and his access to the sect's secrets would naturally be limited.
Song Wen stared at Hong Zhe, unable to think of any further questions.
If he devoured Hong Zhe's divine soul now, he felt he wouldn't be making the most of it.
But if he kept the soul, he risked the Divine Blood Gate tracking him down, putting himself in danger.
Hong Zhe seemed to sense Song Wen's dilemma and spoke up.
"Fellow Daoist, I have answered so many of your questions. Would you be willing to resolve a lingering doubt for me?" Hong Zhe asked.
Song Wen, in a good mood, replied, "Speak."
"Where did you obtain the Corpse King's Rebirth Art and the Jade Morning Divine Thunder?" Hong Zhe inquired.
Song Wen smiled faintly. "You're about to have your soul scattered and spirit vanish, yet you're still concerned about this? Telling you won't matter anyway. I ascended from a Lower Realm called the Tianyuan Realm. I acquired both the Corpse King's Rebirth Art and the Jade Morning Divine Thunder there. Moreover, I've mastered the other nine Great Heavenly Thunder Secret Arts."
As he spoke, Song Wen suddenly remembered something, a sinister cold smile spreading across his face.
"Let me reveal another secret. The Corpse King Blood Refinement Art you cultivate, as well as the Longevity Technique widely practiced in the world, both originated from the Corpse King's Rebirth Art. Those who cultivate the Corpse King's Rebirth Art can devour the cultivation of those who practice the Corpse King Blood Refinement Art. Furthermore, there's a formation called the Devouring Soul Array that can drain the life force of Longevity Technique cultivators to extend one's own lifespan."
"This..." Hong Zhe was incredulous. "How could this be possible?!"
Song Wen sneered, "Nothing is impossible. Most of you in the Divine Blood Gate are merely medicinal pills and Longevity Spirit Herbs used by the core disciples to enhance their cultivation and extend their lifespans. Even if I don't kill you, you'll eventually have your cultivation drained by someone else."
Hong Zhe's demeanor instantly turned despondent upon hearing this. Song Wen's words seemed more unbearable than the imminent soul scattering and spirit vanishing he faced.
"Hong Zhe, tell me the location of the underwater tunnel, and I'll grant you a swift end," Song Wen said.
Hong Zhe replied mechanically, "There's a blood-colored jade slip in my storage ring that contains the detailed location of the tunnel."
Song Wen divided his focus, sending a portion of his consciousness into Hong Zhe's storage ring. After a brief search, he found the jade slip Hong Zhe had mentioned.
Confirming the jade slip was genuine, he shifted his attention back to the Sea of Consciousness.
"Hong Zhe, you've satisfied me. I'll grant you your wish now."
With that, Song Wen activated the Black Hole, devouring Hong Zhe's divine soul.
As Hong Zhe's divine soul was sucked into the Black Hole high above, Jiang Lanruo and Jiang Yushan felt as if they had been plunged into an icy abyss, their faces ashen with despair.
When they noticed Song Wen's gaze shifting toward them, Jiang Yushan immediately began begging for mercy.
"Senior, please don't kill me. I don't want to die," Jiang Yushan pleaded.
Song Wen sneered. "My resentment won't be satisfied until both of you are dead. Back then, I nearly died at your hands."
Jiang Lanruo interjected, "Fellow Daoist, I don't recall ever meeting you before. What are you talking about?"
Song Wen replied, "It seems Senior Jiang Lanruo has forgotten the Tianyuan Realm. One hundred and forty years ago, a cultivator from the Lower Realm ascended to your Demon Subduing City and nearly perished by your hand."
As he spoke, Song Wen's appearance gradually transformed, shifting into a face Jiang Lanruo recognized.
"You're... Ai Kun!" Jiang Lanruo's eyes widened in shock. "How is this possible? You've only ascended for a little over a century. How could you have advanced to the Void Refinement Stage?"
"I already told youโmy cultivation technique allows me to devour others' cultivation, are you stupid?" Song Wen's face twisted into a sinister grin. "Now, die."
Song Wen once again activated the Sea of Consciousness Black Hole, devouring the souls of both men.
His consciousness withdrew from the Sea of Consciousness. After tidying up the cave, he emerged into the open air.
Hovering above the cave, he hesitated for a moment. Where should he go?
The Divine Blood Gate might not care about the death of Hong Zhe, an outer sect elder, but they would undoubtedly investigate the whereabouts of the "shadow void." This place was no longer safe.
He wanted to head to the Qicang Domain. In his view, the entire Qianchang Wilderness was unsafe. The Divine Blood Gate might very well round up every Void Refinement Stage cultivator in the region for interrogation.
However, Ye Bing had said she would wait for him in Crimson Rainbow City.
Ye Bing lingering near Crimson Rainbow City was dangerous. She could easily encounter members of the Divine Blood Gate.
After a moment's thought, Song Wen's figure flickered, and he sped deep into the Rotting Miasma Ridge.
(End of the Chapter)
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