Translator: CinderTL
"Immortal Maiden, you should return to Tianchang City first. I need to venture deeper into the Primordial Qi Death Zone to investigate," Song Wen said.
Tianchang City was the nearest city they had passed on their way here.
Within its walls, the highest cultivation level was only mid-stage Divine Transformation, posing no threat to Ye Bing's safety.
"What are you going to do in the depths of the Primordial Qi Death Zone?" Ye Bing asked.
"Nothing much," Song Wen replied. "I just want to take a look."
"Then I'll come with you," Ye Bing said.
"You should stay here. I'll be back soon."
With these words, Song Wen's figure flickered, and he vanished into the swirling Primordial Qi that filled the sky.
Ye Bing watched the direction he had disappeared in, her eyes flickering with an indescribable sorrow.
She knew Song Wen must have a purpose for coming here, but he was unwilling to share it with her.
This left her with an inexplicable unease, yet she couldn't pinpoint the source of her anxiety.
After a moment's hesitation, she decided not to pursue him.
However, she didn't return to Tianchang City either. Instead, she found a nearby mountain peak and waited quietly.
Song Wen continued his descent, venturing a hundred thousand li deeper into the Primordial Qi Death Zone. The Primordial Qi had become so dense that it formed an inky black canopy overhead, shrouding the surroundings in a darkness reminiscent of primordial chaos, untouched by the light of the sun, moon, or stars.
At the same time, his divine sense was severely suppressed. Despite his Void Refinement Stage cultivation, he could only perceive movements within a few dozen zhang around him.
Moreover, Song Wen noticed another phenomenon.
Within the outermost ten thousand li, the concentration of Primordial Qi increased dramatically.
However, beyond that initial ten thousand li, while the concentration continued to rise, the rate of increase slowed considerably.
He landed atop a small mountain and tapped his waist, summoning the Nether Fox.
As soon as the Nether Fox materialized, a ghostly black light flared in its dark eyes.
"Master, this is wonderful! You've finally returned to the Primordial Qi Death Zone!" the Nether Fox exclaimed, its excitement palpable as it darted around the mountain peak.
"Settle down," Song Wen said. "First, scout the area. Are there any dangers nearby?"
The Nether Fox finally calmed down, surveyed the surroundings, and replied, "Master, rest assured. Within a two-thousand-li radius, there's nothing but a low-level Resentful Spirit to the west."
"Good," Song Wen replied, then added, "Keep a close watch on our surroundings."
With that, he turned his attention to his Sea of Consciousness.
Within the Sea of Consciousness, the shadow void remained suppressed by the Black Hole, unable to move.
Song Wen surveyed the scene, pondering how to communicate with the creature.
Although Hong Zhe had spoken extensively about the shadow void's immense power and even possessed Illusory Annihilation Powder to combat it, he knew nothing about how to subdue the demon and make it obey. The Divine Blood Gate might have secret arts for this purpose, but such knowledge was beyond the reach of a mere outer sect elder like Hong Zhe.
Should I try using methods for taming spirit beasts or Gu? Song Wen wondered inwardly.
"Human..."
A voice suddenly echoed without warning.
Song Wen's face registered shock. The voice had come from the shadow void's mouth.
"You can speak human languages?"
"No... kill... me," the shadow void's massive jaws opened and closed, its voice fragmented and halting.
Song Wen's eyes lit up momentarily, but he quickly masked his surprise, his expression returning to composure.
"You want to live? That's not impossible. It all depends on whether you have any value."
"I will obey you, if only you prevent the Black Hole above from consuming me," the shadow void said, still speaking one word at a time, but now with slightly improved fluency.
Song Wen asked, "What can you do for me?"
"I can assist you in combat," the shadow void replied. "Though my physical form is weak, my divine sense attacks are potent enough to threaten even Void Refinement Stage cultivators among your human race. Moreover, with this Black Hole suppressing me, you need not fear my betrayal."
A faint smile curved Song Wen's lips. He was quite pleased with the shadow void's cooperative attitude.
"I'm curious," Song Wen said. "How did you learn to speak human languages? I've encountered other Void Clan members before, but none of them could speak human languages."
"I lurked within the Sea of Consciousness of a human named Jiang Yushan for over two centuries," the shadow void explained. "Though I spent most of that time dormant, I occasionally awoke to secretly observe the outside world. Through repeated exposure, I gradually learned your languages."
After explaining, the shadow void pressed further, "You mentioned encountering other Void Clan members earlier. Have you truly seen others of my kind?"
Song Wen nodded.
"What... what did they look like?" the shadow void asked.
"They resembled you somewhat, but each carried the aura of Primordial Qi and possessed strength roughly equivalent to a fifth-tier cultivator," Song Wen replied.
"It seems you encountered a lower-tier Void Clan member," Shadow Void said.
"How much do you know about the Primordial Qi Death Zone?" Song Wen asked.
"The Primordial Qi Death Zone?" A flicker of confusion crossed Shadow Void's slender eyes. "I've never heard of such a place. Since gaining sentience, I've been parasitizing Jiang Yushan's Sea of Consciousness. As for the information about Primordial Qi and the Void Clan, it's been imprinted deep within my soul, innate to my being."
Song Wen found Shadow Void's explanation plausible. After all, Jiang Lanruo had mentioned that when she first obtained Shadow Void, it was still just an egg. It was only natural for an egg to lack sentience.
"If you could sense the outside world while parasitizing Jiang Yushan's Sea of Consciousness, can you perceive it now?" Song Wen asked.
"No," Shadow Void replied. "The Black Hole above suppresses my senses. Unless you actively open your Sea of Consciousness, even with my strongest divine sense, I can't perceive the outside world."
Upon hearing this, Song Wen immediately opened his Sea of Consciousness.
"Sense around. Are there any other living beings nearby?"
"Where is this place? Why is the Primordial Qi so dense?" Shadow Void asked, its voice tinged with curiosity.
"This is the Primordial Qi Death Zone," Song Wen replied.
Shadow Void fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking again.
"Three thousand miles to the southeast, there's a Void Clan member, roughly mid-fourth-tier in strength. Six thousand miles east, there's an early fifth-tier Void Clan member. Eight thousand miles west, there's a late fourth-tier Void Clan member. Within ten thousand miles, these are the only three living beings. Beyond that, I can't sense anything."
Song Wen's brow furrowed slightly.
He was genuinely surprised that the shadow void could sense Void Clan members within a ten-thousand-mile radius. However, the Nether Fox had mentioned a low-tier Resentful Spirit to the west, which the shadow void hadn't detected.
"Apart from the Void Clan, have you sensed any other living beings?" Song Wen asked.
"Beneath your feet, there's a black fox," the shadow void replied.
"That's the Nether Fox, my spirit beast. Besides it, are there any other living beings?" Song Wen pressed.
"None," the Nether Fox confirmed.
Song Wen immediately shifted his focus outward, addressing the Nether Fox.
"Where exactly is that Resentful Spirit you sensed earlier? What's its direction and distance?"
"About fifteen hundred miles to the west," the Nether Fox replied.
Song Wen nodded slightly and withdrew his consciousness back into his Sea of Consciousness.
"Have you sensed a Resentful Spirit within fifteen hundred miles to the west?"
"Resentful Spirit?" A fiery glint flashed in the shadow void's narrow eyes, like two ghostly flames igniting in the darkness. "According to the ancestral memories deep within my soul, Resentful Spirits are the most exquisite sustenance. Not only do they possess an indescribable flavor, but they also enhance cultivation. However, I haven't fully hatched yet and can't devour complete Soul Bodies for now."
(End of the Chapter)
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