Chapter 315: Yun Yao! Decision!
Celestial Spring Peak.
“Master, recently quite a few methods for ghost-control and puppet-refinement have begun circulating in the marketplace. There are even some magical artifacts and spirit artifacts specifically meant to control sinister spirits…”
Under the respectful report of the Sword Attendant.
Inside the pavilion, True Master Tan had come by earlier, leaving Lin Chang’an unable to calm his thoughts for a while. Thus he decided to first begin investigating these matters.
Unexpectedly, before this information could even be confirmed, new changes had already appeared in the marketplace.
“Ghost-control and puppet-refinement!”
Lin Chang’an was also momentarily stunned after hearing this. As a Core Formation cultivator, the level of things he encountered was naturally different, and his insight and knowledge were also broader.
Moreover, he usually enjoyed collecting and reading ancient texts, so he was somewhat aware of these rather obscure techniques.
“These are quite obscure techniques. Before this, the ones proficient in this path were the Sinister Soul Sect six hundred years ago. After that, there were also the six demonic sects of the neighboring Great Jin Dynasty.”
Corpse puppets, zombies, demon corpses, and even ghost control were actually rather rare even within the demonic path.
“Ghost control refers to using spells or magical artifacts to control sinister spirits for one’s own use, either as puppets or as materials for refining magical artifacts.”
“As for puppet refinement, the types are numerous. The most common are corpse puppets. There are also demon corpses formed by refining sinister spirits into cultivator corpses, or those refined into puppet constructs…”
In the cultivation world, cultivation methods, secret techniques, and arts changed endlessly. Even the legendary Deity Transformation cultivators could not possibly learn them all within their lifetime.
Lin Chang’an silently pondered. Such obscure methods seemed to have been prepared long in advance. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to spread so quickly.
Thinking back to the ghost domain eruption within the secret realm earlier—where only Bihai Palace had almost no losses—
This gave him a vague suspicion.
Now, combined with the appearance of these methods in the marketplace, only Bihai Palace possessed the foundation and strength to accomplish such a thing.
“I fear it won’t only be the Five Dragon Island Sea Region. These methods will probably appear in the surrounding seas as well.”
At this thought, Lin Chang’an once again felt his own weakness.
In front of such great powers, a Core Formation cultivator truly was somewhat insignificant.
“Nascent Soul! Only when I form the Nascent Soul one day will I no longer be so passive.”
In the current situation, even ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators could not stir the tides. At most they would only have the ability to protect themselves.
But even that was far better than being a Core Formation cultivator.
“Ling’er, cultivate diligently. Strive to form your Golden Core as soon as possible!”
Lin Chang’an took a deep breath, determination appearing in his eyes. Turning his head, he instructed the Sword Attendant beside him.
The Sword Attendant, who was already a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, saw her master’s expectations and firmly nodded.
“Master, please rest assured. This servant will absolutely not disappoint you!”
At this moment, determination filled her heart. Only after forming her Golden Core would she have the ability to truly assist her master.
…
Afterward, Lin Chang’an began gathering intelligence about The First Secret Realm of the Beast Sea Abyss.
If it were a Foundation Establishment cultivator, obtaining such information would be quite difficult. But for a Core Formation cultivator, it was not particularly hard—the only difference lay in the depth of understanding.
Through Hu Jin, Xuanyin Pavilion, the Long Clan, the Four Seas Merchant Guild, and the intelligence he had gathered himself—combined with the fragmented memories he had once sorted from the Blood Fiend True Lord—
Two months later, Yun Yao finally appeared with news.
Five Dragon Island Marketplace, inside a restaurant.
“Brother Lin.”
“Yun Yao, are you alright?”
Inside the private room, Lin Chang’an first set up a formation before examining Yun Yao with a somewhat solemn expression.
Although her expression seemed normal, there was a trace of fatigue in her beautiful eyes. Clearly, her spiritual sense had suffered damage.
When Lin Chang’an extended his palm and placed it on her fair wrist, Yun Yao’s brows softened and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.
“Your spiritual sense is injured.”
Lin Chang’an frowned. Yun Yao’s injury was far from as light as it appeared.
Yun Yao, whose eyes usually shone brightly with stubborn resolve, rarely smiled like this.
“Brother Lin, that fourth-rank shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King was truly terrifying. Even from far away, its divine sense still wounded my soul.”
Listening to Yun Yao calmly recount the events of that day, Lin Chang’an could still imagine the danger.
Not only was there the terrifying divine-sense attack of the fourth-rank shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King, but also the overwhelming ghost calamity that swept through the area.
At the same time, through her wrist, Lin Chang’an slowly injected his Xuantian mana into Yun Yao’s body.
Because of the trust built over many years, Yun Yao held no secrets from him. She allowed his mana to nourish her entire body without resistance—even the Golden Core within her dantian was left completely undefended.
At this moment, if Lin Chang’an harbored even the slightest malicious intent, he could instantly shatter Yun Yao’s Golden Core, turning nearly two hundred years of cultivation into nothing.
Yun Yao slightly closed her eyes, enjoying the familiar aura spreading through her body—warm, gentle, and filled with life.
The spiritual-sense pain that had occasionally stabbed at her moments before finally eased.
Meanwhile, within her dantian, that trace of Mystic Yin Spiritual Flame was also being purified, allowing her to control it more freely.
“Brother Lin, I heard that the Sixth Elder sent someone to recruit you?”
Lin Chang’an was not surprised that Yun Yao knew of this matter. After all, he had been gathering information everywhere, and such a thing could not be concealed.
Nor was there any need to hide it.
“It is said that The First Secret Realm of the Beast Sea Abyss contains all kinds of opportunities. Even Nascent Soul spirit items are not rare. Each time the secret realm opens, some cultivators obtain enormous opportunities—there have even been cases of people forming the Nascent Soul.”
Lin Chang’an spoke slowly. It was clear that he was indeed tempted by this secret realm.
After all, Nascent Soul spirit items had no clues if he searched for them himself. Even if they appeared, they would be extremely dangerous.
But entering the secret realm would at least provide the protection of a Nascent Soul cultivator. As long as he did not recklessly participate in the final inner hall treasure struggle, he could avoid the greatest danger.
“Brother Lin, this secret realm indeed contains Nascent Soul opportunities. If we went alone, we would first need to search for and compete over the fragmented secret-realm maps. That would inevitably lead to another bloody struggle.”
“But if we enter under the guidance of a Nascent Soul cultivator, such trouble can naturally be avoided.”
Hearing Yun Yao’s words, Lin Chang’an nodded inwardly. This was the advantage of following a great power—at the very least, the entrance ticket would not require killing to obtain.
“And if Brother Lin goes… perhaps Yun Yao will meet Brother Lin again inside the secret realm.”
Yun Yao suddenly teased lightly as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
However, Lin Chang’an fell silent after hearing this.
From the information Yun Yao had previously revealed, he could deduce something.
That Mystic Yin Ancestor had painstakingly cultivated the Mystic Yin Divine Fire divine ability, while also searching for the Wind-Chirp Bird of extreme yin-cold or extreme yang-strength.
Clearly, he was plotting for some treasure within the secret realm.
These Nascent Soul cultivators—each had been scheming for hundreds of years.
Just what exactly was inside The First Secret Realm of the Beast Sea Abyss that made these old monsters plan so meticulously?
“Yun Yao… you are planning to betray him after this secret-realm expedition, aren’t you?”
Lin Chang’an looked directly at her.
The last time Yun Yao planned to escape was because the flame seed of the Mystic Yin Divine Fire inside her body was beyond her control.
She did not want to be devoured by it.
“Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from Brother Lin.”
Under Lin Chang’an’s gaze, Yun Yao smiled charmingly and nodded.
“Since that Mystic Yin old demon wishes to cultivate the Mystic Yin Divine Fire, I refuse to let him succeed.”
Yun Yao clearly did not want to elaborate further. She only mentioned it vaguely before changing the subject back to the secret realm.
“Brother Lin, relatively speaking, Bihai Palace still has a decent reputation. Otherwise it would not have dominated the Beast Sea Abyss for over ten thousand years.”
“Two hundred years ago, during the last secret-realm expedition, Bihai Palace indeed recruited several drifting cultivators. Three of them survived, and one even became a Quasi–Fourth-rank Formation Master of Bihai Palace…”
Listening to Yun Yao speak, and combining it with the intelligence he had gathered, Lin Chang’an finally relaxed slightly.
At least on the surface, Bihai Palace’s reputation was acceptable.
However, he would not relax his vigilance.
Even with Nascent Soul protection, Yun Yao had said that people still died.
“Furthermore, the High-grade Third-rank Formation inheritance that Brother Lin has been seeking—such things might appear at Nascent Soul cultivator trading gatherings, but they are rarely found in marketplace auctions.”
Lin Chang’an naturally understood her meaning.
Simply put, when one’s strength rose, the circles one interacted with also changed.
Just as after reaching the Core Formation Realm, his mana, insight, and knowledge were vastly different from when he was in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
At the very least, Core Formation spirit items—once nearly impossible for Foundation Establishment cultivators—were no longer completely unattainable.
The channels existed.
“Moreover, there are still nearly a hundred years before the secret realm opens. With Brother Lin’s current talent, by then you should also begin seeking Nascent Soul spirit items.”
“And every Nascent Soul breakthrough treasure is extremely dangerous to obtain. Entering this secret realm with the protection of a Nascent Soul cultivator—so long as you do not enter the inner hall and simply retreat after completing your task…”
Hearing Yun Yao’s analysis, Lin Chang’an nodded inwardly.
He understood the logic.
The real issue had been the gap in information.
“In that case, it seems this First Secret Realm of the Beast Sea Abyss must indeed be visited.”
Nascent Soul spirit items!
Yun Yao could see Lin Chang’an’s temptation, but she immediately poured cold water over it.
“Brother Lin, although Bihai Palace offers protection, and Nascent Soul cultivators generally will not casually attack juniors before entering the inner hall, the dangers inside the secret realm are numerous.”
“Ghost winds, astral winds, poisonous mist, extreme cold, blazing flames… even late Core Formation cultivators will fall if they are not prepared.”
Listening to Yun Yao list these dangers so casually, Lin Chang’an could not help but feel alarmed.
This truly was a perilous place.
The reason Yun Yao knew so much was because once she formed her Golden Core and had that trace of Mystic Yin Divine Fire planted within her body, it had already been destined that she would enter the secret realm.
Naturally, the Mystic Yin old demon would not conceal the information about it.
“The First Secret Realm of the Beast Sea Abyss…”
Lin Chang’an fell into deep thought.
This matter was unlike before.
It was not simply a decision to be made a hundred years later.
If he agreed now, he would receive half of the promised benefits from the Sixth Elder of Bihai Palace.
A High-grade Third-rank Formation inheritance, Core Formation cultivation insights recorded by a Nascent Soul cultivator, and even the partial access to the Treasure Pavilion that True Master Tan had mentioned.
Once these benefits were taken, there would be no turning back.
If he withdrew later, he would face the pursuit of a Nascent Soul cultivator and the Beast Sea Abyss’s strongest power—Bihai Palace.
“It seems tomorrow I must visit True Master Tan and that Sixth Elder.”
Lin Chang’an was cautious by nature, but when it came to making decisions, he never hesitated.
Seeing this, Yun Yao smiled rather than persuading him.
After all, when Lin Chang’an had once chosen Core Reforging and Cultivate Anew, he had already shown that he would never be satisfied with merely forming the Golden Core.
He would definitely take the risk.
In her opinion, rather than aimlessly searching for Nascent Soul spirit items and wasting precious time while facing similar dangers, it was better to gamble on the secret realm.
As long as one was not greedy, entering this secret realm might not be more dangerous than searching alone.
…
“However, Yun Yao, your spiritual-sense injury will likely require more than a month to recover.”
Inside the private room, Lin Chang’an spoke with a serious expression.
Injuries to spiritual sense were far harder to recover from than physical wounds.
“And the Mystic Yin Spiritual Flame inside your body—even though it is only a tiny flame seed—it continuously devours your mana to grow stronger. If you have time in the future, come to me.”
Yun Yao’s injuries would eventually recover.
But this flame seed inside her body—even Lin Chang’an had no solution.
For now, the only way was as Yun Yao had said: since the Mystic Yin old demon could cultivate this divine ability, then the Mystic Yin Spiritual Flame she nurtured with her Golden Core should also be possible to master.
The premise was relying on Lin Chang’an’s mana to help purify and control it.
“Don’t worry, Brother Lin. Although the Sinister Soul Sect secret realm has now become a ghost domain, it can also be considered a blessing in disguise.”
“This Mystic Yin Spiritual Flame is extremely yin and cold. With the secret method passed down by that old demon, I can refine these sinister spirits while nurturing the spirit flame.”
The Fog Sea of Tongtian did not lack sinister spirits, but high-rank ones were still difficult to find.
Now a ghost domain had appeared right before them.
Lin Chang’an immediately understood.
Yun Yao smiled.
In other words, if nothing major happened, she would remain in the nearby seas surrounding the ghost domain.
The two of them could rely on dual cultivation to accelerate their strength.
Inside the private room, after Lin Chang’an helped Yun Yao treat her injuries, the two rarely had the chance to reunite.
While drinking and conversing, they exchanged much knowledge—especially regarding ghost cultivators and sinister spirits, which Yun Yao clearly understood far better.
…
The next day.
Lin Chang’an prepared a gift and went to visit True Master Tan.
True Master Tan was all smiles and personally brought him to visit the Nascent Soul cultivator.
“Elder, this is the drifting cultivator Lin Chang’an.”
Inside a majestic hall, the Sixth Elder looked at Lin Chang’an brought in by True Master Tan and calmly nodded.
“A drifting cultivator who chose Core Reforging and Cultivate Anew. Your Dao heart is indeed firm.”
“Everything Bihai Palace promised you will be delivered. Even intelligence about the secret realm, and certain advanced materials from the Treasure Pavilion, will be open to you.”
“But the premise is that before the secret realm opens, you must comprehend the Path of Formations to the level of High-grade Third-rank Formation Master!”
Facing the pressure emanating from the Nascent Soul Sixth Elder, Lin Chang’an respectfully cupped his fists.
“Many thanks, Sixth Elder.”
For ordinary Core Formation cultivators, such a condition might bring great pressure.
If one failed to break through, then entering the secret realm would be impossible.
What awaited them might very well be selling themselves to Bihai Palace.
But Lin Chang’an was not worried.
With his talent, as long as he had the inheritance and enough time, he would certainly succeed.
It was precisely this unwavering confidence in his own talent that made the Sixth Elder reveal a rare trace of satisfaction.
“Good. If you can truly break through to High-grade Third-rank Formation Master, this old man will also grant you one or two protective magical artifacts.”
The Sixth Elder certainly would not watch the person he selected die before completing the task.