Translator: CinderTL
"You still haven't answered me," Song Wen pressed. "Can you sense the Resentful Spirits fifteen hundred miles to the west?"
Shadow Void replied, "Though you've opened your Sea of Consciousness, the Black Hole above still suppresses my senses, reducing my detection range to about twenty percent of its original capacity—roughly a thousand miles."
"Then how could you sense the Void Clan members ten thousand miles away?" Song Wen asked.
"That's because I'm a high-ranking void clan member," Shadow Void explained. "I have a special connection to low-ranking void clan members. As soon as they enter a certain range, I can sense them. It's not a result of my demonic sense scanning."
Song Wen now had a clearer understanding of Shadow Void's detection abilities.
Shadow Void's demonic sense was similar to a human's divine sense, allowing it to perceive its surroundings. Normally, its demonic sense could reach five thousand miles, but the Sea of Consciousness Black Hole had suppressed it to a thousand miles.
Additionally, Shadow Void possessed a unique connection to low-ranking void clan members, enabling it to sense any such beings within a ten-thousand-mile radius.
"I've heard you can command low-ranking void clan members. Is this true?" Song Wen asked.
"According to the inherited memories within me, it is indeed possible," the shadow void replied. "Any low-ranking void clan member whose cultivation is not a major realm above mine will obey my commands. However, I've never attempted this before, so I can't be entirely certain."
"There happen to be three void clan members within ten thousand miles," Song Wen said. "Why don't you give it a try?"
"Very well."
As soon as the shadow void finished speaking, a peculiar wave emanated from its body.
This wave passed through Song Wen's wide-open Sea of Consciousness and spread outward.
The Nether Fox was the first to detect the wave. It immediately tensed, its body arching as it fixed its gaze on Song Wen, emitting a low, guttural growl.
Seeing this, Song Wen said calmly, "There's no need to panic. This is a new secret art I've been practicing."
Song Wen's words did little to ease the Nether Fox's unease. The creature remained wary, its eyes locked on him.
Unconcerned with the Nether Fox's apprehension, Song Wen continued, "Three void clan demons should be approaching soon. They're yours to devour, which will help you advance to the fifth-tier."
The wariness in the Nether Fox's eyes vanished abruptly, replaced by barely concealed delight.
"Void Clan? Are those the demons that can turn their bodies intangible? Master, how did you know they were coming?"
Song Wen replied, "Enough questions! Stay vigilant and report any approaching void fiends immediately."
"Yes, Master," the Nether Fox responded.
A moment later, the Nether Fox's pupils narrowed to slits, its eyes glowing with an eerie light.
"Master, a void fiend is approaching from the southeast, about two thousand miles away, moving rapidly toward us."
Then, it suddenly turned its head eastward.
"Master, another void fiend has appeared to the east—a fifth-tier one."
Song Wen nodded slightly, and the Soul Cleaving Blade materialized before him.
Time passed slowly.
After a few breaths, the Nether Fox suddenly cried out.
"Master, it's here! To the east!"
Song Wen immediately noticed a surge in the black mist to the east.
A monstrous creature, several dozen feet long, burst forth from the pitch-black Primordial Qi.
The creature resembled a wolf but had no tail. Instead, eight tentacles writhed through the air.
Even from dozens of meters away, the monster's eight tentacles shot toward Song Wen and the Nether Fox like sharpened spears.
The Soul Cleaving Blade suddenly erupted from its sheath.
A flicker of terror flashed in the monster's eyes as its body began to rapidly dissolve, starting from its head.
However, the distance was too short, and the Soul Cleaving Blade moved with the speed of a shooting star. Before the monster's head could even half-dissolve, the blade was upon it.
The Soul Cleaving Blade flashed past, and the monster's body split cleanly in two.
At that moment, a piercing wail erupted, striking deep into the minds of Song Wen and the Nether Fox.
This wail was a divine sense attack.
However, its power was somewhat weak. Neither Song Wen nor the Nether Fox suffered significant harm.
The Nether Fox suddenly darted away, vanishing into the black mist to the southeast.
Moments later, it returned, a massive eagle-like void fiend dangling from its jaws.
The void fiend was already dead, its neck snapped by the Nether Fox's fangs.
The Nether Fox dropped the corpse at Song Wen's feet and spoke.
"There's another one to the west. I'll go fetch it."
With that, it departed again.
Before long, it returned, dragging another void fiend corpse.
"Should these three void fiends be enough for you to advance to the fifth-tier?" Song Wen asked.
"More than enough, Master," the Nether Fox replied, its face alight with excitement.
Song Wen waved his hand, storing the three void fiend corpses in his storage ring. Then he said, "I still need to explore the depths of the Primordial Qi Death Zone. After that, we'll leave. Once we find a secluded spot, I'll let you advance."
Now that the shadow void had proven its usefulness, Song Wen only needed to glance at the entrance to the underwater tunnel before returning to the outside world.
He planned to gather more life-saving measures and raise his divine sense realm to the late-stage or peak of Void Refinement before attempting the underwater tunnel again.
"Thank you, Master," the Nether Fox said gratefully.
"Lead the way, then. Head north," Song Wen instructed.
"Yes!"
The Nether Fox responded and darted forward.
Song Wen followed about thirty feet behind, keeping pace steadily.
Simultaneously, he diverted part of his attention into his Sea of Consciousness, addressing the shadow void.
"Stay vigilant. Alert me immediately if you sense anything unusual."
With those words, the form Song Wen had manifested using his divine sense slowly dissipated.
"Master... Master, please wait a moment," Shadow Void suddenly called out.
Song Wen's form solidified once more, his expression puzzled.
"You called me Master?"
Shadow Void replied, "I wish to make a deal with you. I can forge a Primordial Blood Contract with you, pledging absolute obedience. In exchange, you must help me fully hatch into my true form."
A cold smile flickered across Song Wen's face.
"Your life is already in my hands. You're bound to obey me anyway. Why would I need this so-called 'Primordial Blood Contract'? And why should I help you hatch?"
Shadow Void explained, "The Primordial Blood Contract is the highest covenant among us void fiends. It uses blood as the catalyst and the divine soul as the lock. Once forged, it can never be broken. This contract will only bind me, posing no restrictions on you, Master. Furthermore, if I complete my hatching, my strength will undoubtedly surge to new heights. Whether in combat or exploring the Primordial Qi Death Zone, I can assist you far more effectively."
"Why are you so desperate to complete your hatching?" Song Wen pressed, avoiding a direct answer.
Shadow Void replied, "Within your Sea of Consciousness, I can't absorb even a trace of divine sense energy. If this continues, my incomplete form will gradually deteriorate within a decade, eventually fading into nothingness."
(End of the Chapter)