Free Web NovelChapter 558: Chapter 4: The Black-Robed Soul Cultivator
Li Ji’an, bolstered by escape speed, ascended straight to the Nine Heavens, traveling from Biyun Sect to Odd Stone Forest in just a few days.
Meanwhile, within Odd Stone Forest.
At one hundred ninety years old, Liu Qiao sat cross-legged at the array hub of the Dao Field, her expression solemn.
Since the demise of Ten Thousand Laws Palace, she returned to her ancestral sect, reclaiming the surname Liu.
With Wu Weixiong’s covert protection, Odd Stone Forest Dao Field had been spared the reckoning by major sects like Corpse Puppet Sect, but the harassment from Demon Cultivators had never ceased since then.
With her sensing and control over earth veins as a Tier Three Earth Spirit Master, coupled with the protection of a Tier Three Ring Array, these years had passed smoothly.
However, this time, a mysterious Soul Cultivator inexplicably sensed an exceedingly strong attraction, believing there to be a soul treasure that greatly benefits soul cultivation hidden within Odd Stone Forest.
This Soul Cultivator’s power nearly reached the Middle Stage of Core Formation, the Spiritual Sense Realm, and due to having practiced some unknown Divine Soul Secret Technique, the power of his divine soul was extremely formidable, capable of solidifying it for attack, his primordial spirit akin to a blade.
Two fake pill tributors within Odd Stone Forest fought against him outside the array, but in less than ten breaths, he obliterated their divine souls, causing their seas of consciousness to collapse, and they perished.
However, his dharma body cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Realm, posing little threat to the array composed of the great forces of heaven and earth. Although his divine soul surpassed the array by one realm, allowing him to quickly discern the array’s weak points, repeated probing still failed to breach it.
Liu Qiao’s group took refuge within the array that had the divine soul restriction, and remained temporarily untroubled.
Yet, over the past month, those in Odd Stone Forest discovered another peculiar ability of this mysterious Soul Cultivator.
His Divine Soul Secret Technique could control other people’s minds.
In the past month, several hundred cultivators passing through were controlled by his Divine Soul Secret Technique, mindlessly attacking the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field array.
Although the highest among those controlled were only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and the maximum number controlled at one time was not more than ten, each controlled cultivator would attack the array with all their might until their magical power was exhausted, even resorting to using their bodies to ram the array’s weak points.
This kind of suicidal attack lasted for a month, making Xiaoqiao feel the crisis; if more powerful demon cultivators arrived at this time, it would be dangerous.
"Sect Leader Qiao, should we still seek help from the Qin Family?" The deputy sect leader was somewhat anxious.
"I’m afraid the Qin Family’s ancestor is no match for this villain. Given the power of his divine soul, it would at least require a True Pill Master to barely cope, and to kill him, only a true man at the Middle Stage of Core Formation would have hope!" Someone immediately shook their head in denial.
"Alas, unfortunately, Biyun Sect is struggling to survive now... it’s truly a time when heaven won’t answer, and earth offers no solution."
"This demon... the cultivation order in Boundless Domain is like raising moths, with no rules or restraint, allowing cultivators within the domain to mutually slaughter each other." Someone was filled with resentment.
Previously, one could rely on backgrounds and connections for protection, or at worst, seek justice from the Upper Sect. Now, one can only rely completely on one’s own means.
Within this order, to avoid being bullied, one must fight.
Moreover, under the leadership of Golden Puppet Holy Monarch, forces don’t avenge the deaths of their members, greatly reducing the significance of joining forces for backing and support.
Besides seeking inheritance and resources, the meaning of joining forces is diminishing.
To survive, more people have no choice but to venture into secret realms and death lands, risking their lives.
"Everyone, since the cultivation environment is as it is, and we are powerless to change it, we must adapt. Odd Stone Forest has no support anymore and must rely on ourselves." Liu Qiao spoke with determination, exhibiting the insight and decisiveness befitting a leader of a force.
"Yes, Sect Leader." Everyone immediately fell silent.
Liu Qiao looked again at the ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, still controlled and fiercely attacking the array hub, shaking her head in silence before finally fixing her eyes on the Soul Cultivator beside them.
The Soul Cultivator, draped in black robes, had only a ghastly pale, emaciated face visible, appearing lifeless yet possessing deeply shadowy eyes as profound as an abyss, exuding a chilling dread.
"Hey~ little one, this old man only seeks the soul-nourishing treasure, nothing else. Open the array voluntarily, and I assure I won’t harm a single person; but if you persist in resisting... heh, the day the array breaks will be the day all perish alongside." Sensing Liu Qiao’s gaze, the eerie Soul Cultivator’s hoarse voice reached them.
"Senior, you haven’t even identified the treasure, making it impossible for a junior like me to send it out. It’s truly difficult for me." Liu Qiao connected with the earth veins, her aura vigorous, staring directly at him.
"Cough, cough, cough~" The black-robed Soul Cultivator erupted into a violent cough.
Liu Qiao’s expression remained unchanged; over the years, every soul cultivator she encountered from the Demon Realm seemed physically unwell, clearly suffering backlash, consistent with what the rumors said.
Legends said Soul Cultivators from Boundless Domain and Yellow Heaven Domain didn’t follow ancient soul cultivation methods; rather than honing their divine souls while contemplating the Visualization Image of heavenly dao, they resorted to some quickening method, forcefully enlarging their divine souls, fraught with numerous hidden dangers.
"Open the array, and this old man will retrieve it himself."
Liu Qiao laughed lightly and shook her head, "Senior’s Divine Soul Secret Technique is too powerful and deceitful; us juniors dare not risk it."
"Cough, cough~ seems like this old man is still too lenient; so be it. People everywhere are the same, refusing to cry until they see the coffin." The black-robed Soul Cultivator shook his head, his form slowly ascending.
Simultaneously, a black mist emanated from his body.
"Ah~" The next moment, the black-robed Soul Cultivator let out a painful scream, his mouth involuntarily opened wide.
As his mouth opened, a black ink-like substance slowly emerged.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be countless struggling, contorted lost souls.
After squeezing out of his mouth, the souls instinctively shaped into a sharp cone.
As more souls emerged from his mouth, the ink-like cone grew longer and larger.
