Chapter 320: Commanding a Sinister Spirit Beast King
Inside the cave abode.
After returning from the restaurant, Lin Chang’an recalled Old Hu’s reminder and could not help but feel speechless.
“Today’s me is no longer the same person I once was. This Formation Master Ning may be excellent, but he has already joined Bihai Palace. I do not wish to become entangled in it.”
Although joining a major power brought many benefits, for him it also came with numerous drawbacks.
The first was his freedom. Wherever a major faction arranged for you to guard, you had no choice but to go.
Moreover, a Formation Master was considered a strategic resource. Being watched under their eyes made it extremely inconvenient for him to do certain things.
For instance, among the four major skills he possessed — alchemy, formations, talisman crafting, and artifact refinement — whether he sold items or purchased materials, it would easily reveal suspicious clues.
If even the slightest flaw appeared and he was noticed by a Nascent Soul cultivator, he would inevitably be exposed sooner or later.
Not to mention that his Mysterious Sky Immortal Vine and Wind-Chirp Bird could easily bring disaster upon him.
“It’s still better in these remote sea regions. The occasional chaos brings a large flow of wandering cultivators, and there are no Nascent Soul cultivators above my head.”
Even the Sixth Elder of Bihai Palace had found the spiritual energy here too thin and had left after finishing his affairs.
Ordinarily, on Five Dragon Island or in nearby sea regions — or even within the Fog Sea of Tongtian — handling some of his own goods was extremely easy.
Because of this, even though Formation Master Ning was not recruiting a son-in-law, Lin Chang’an still felt no temptation.
“Right now, I should focus on raising my cultivation. The Secret Realm will likely open in only seventy or eighty years.”
After taking a deep breath, Lin Chang’an walked into the Earthfire Cavern.
……
“Master!”
As soon as Lin Chang’an appeared inside the cavern, the Wind-Chirp Bird perched atop the Fusang Divine Tree immediately called out with a clear cry.
However, its pair of golden wings tightly hugged the Spirit Stones in its nest, its greedy nature fully exposed.
“Enough. Cultivate properly. If you cannot break through to the late Third Rank within sixty years, I will confiscate all your Spirit Stones!”
Upon entering and seeing the bird’s miserly behavior, Lin Chang’an laughed helplessly.
When the Wind-Chirp Bird heard that its master intended to take its Spirit Stones, its eyes immediately widened.
“Master, you’re bullying a bird. I’m not like you human cultivators…”
Yet under Lin Chang’an’s threatening gaze, the bird’s voice gradually grew softer, until it muttered quietly in grievance.
“Bullying a bird…”
By then Lin Chang’an had already walked to the formation platform he had painstakingly refined in the past to refine the Fusang Divine Tree.
It was precisely this formation platform, capable of controlling earthfire, that had allowed his artifact refinement skills to improve rapidly over the years.
【Third-rank Low-grade Artifact Refiner (Skilled 157/500)】
“With my current Third-rank artifact refinement skill, refining the treasure from this secret technique will not be difficult.”
Lin Chang’an took a deep breath and slowly removed various materials from his Storage Pouch.
Since he had already purchased this secret technique in Sea Abyss City, he had naturally prepared all the required materials as well.
As for the refinement itself, there were quite a few Third-rank Artifact Refiners. As far as he knew, the Long Clan had one, and the Four Seas Merchant Guild had hired one at a high price.
Even the Fog Sea of Tongtian had some.
Therefore, he was not worried about anyone suspecting that he had secretly refined it himself.
After all, what he had already revealed publicly was formation talent and the identity of a Third-rank Talisman Master.
Unless he personally exposed himself further, no one would suspect him.
“Let’s begin the refinement.”
Without hesitation, Lin Chang’an took out a Third-rank Early-stage Sinister Spirit Demon Core.
Originally, the higher the quality of the demon core, the better the effect.
However, considering the potential dangers on the island of the Sinister Soul Sect — especially the mysterious matter surrounding the Sinister Spirit Fruit — he decided to be cautious.
Thus, he chose to control a Quasi–Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King instead.
……
Time flowed by.
While Lin Chang’an secluded himself to refine the treasure, the Sinister Soul Sect Secret Realm — after turning into a Ghost Domain — did not diminish cultivators’ greed.
Instead, it attracted even more cultivators.
Rumors even spread that several Ghost Cultivators who had been hiding deep within the Fog Sea of Tongtian had arrived and opened cave abodes nearby for cultivation.
Although the Ghost Domain was filled with danger, the collapse of the Secret Realm barrier caused the former Sinister Soul Sect spiritual islands to reappear.
Aside from the main island, there were dozens of surrounding spiritual islands.
With spiritual energy surging vigorously once more, many bold cultivators secretly infiltrated the area.
Some even managed to obtain treasures along the outer edges through various means.
Other treasures might have been forged, but when someone obtained a Sinister Soul Sect cultivation method, the greed in the hearts of cultivators was completely ignited.
Naturally, no one dared risk entering the main island — after all, a Shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King guarded it.
But the other islands were a different story.
Moreover, some people came not to seek opportunities, but to hunt Sinister Spirits themselves.
……
Earthfire Cavern.
Under the illumination of flames, Lin Chang’an sat cross-legged before the formation platform.
He spat out blazing Pill Fire from his mouth while the earthfire around the platform strengthened the flames through controlled channels.
“It’s finally about to succeed!”
Within the firelight, the object still appeared like a Sinister Spirit Demon Core.
But in reality, it had become completely different.
As Lin Chang’an continuously formed hand seals, mysterious incantations imprinted themselves onto the sphere.
Finally, he took a deep breath.
The next step was the most critical — splitting off a strand of his divine sense.
For cultivators, this was extremely dangerous.
If that strand of divine sense were damaged, the consequences ranged from mental exhaustion to outright madness.
“The Art of Spirit Refinement within my cultivation method seems plain, yet it has made my soul exceptionally solid. Especially in terms of control over divine sense — it is among the very best.”
He cultivated simultaneously in magic, body, and spirit.
Although the Art of Spirit Refinement seemed to produce no obvious effects, only he understood its true power.
For example, when controlling his life-bound magical artifact, he could simultaneously manipulate six swords with precision far beyond cultivators with equal divine sense.
“And it isn’t that the Art of Spirit Refinement is weak — the time simply has not yet come. Once my divine sense reaches the late Core Formation stage, I can cultivate the two divine-sense techniques recorded within it.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an smiled confidently.
For ordinary cultivators, splitting divine sense was extremely difficult.
But for him, it felt almost natural — his control was delicate enough to perfectly regulate the process.
“Hiss!”
Nevertheless, the pain of splitting divine sense remained just as intense.
Cold sweat poured down his face as his expression twisted in pain.
If not for plotting to seize the inheritance on the Sinister Soul Sect island, he would never willingly endure such suffering.
Once the strand of divine sense separated, Lin Chang’an immediately imprinted it into the refined artifact and rapidly formed hand seals.
“Condense!”
Half a month later, as the flames dissipated, this semi-finished magical artifact was finally completed.
A Yin-attribute Spirit Pearl spun lightly in his palm.
Under Lin Chang’an’s mental control, it behaved almost like a second body.
“This feeling… there’s no need to get used to it. It’s the same as controlling an external incarnation.”
Through the pearl’s perspective, Lin Chang’an clearly saw himself — dressed in a green robe, even the smile on his face visible.
“With this, half the task is complete. Next comes finding a suitable Sinister Spirit Beast King.”
Placing the treasure into his robes, Lin Chang’an revealed a satisfied smile.
His plan would not be completed in a short time; it required patience.
He first meditated to recover, especially the pain in his divine sense.
Thanks to his Regenerative Body, the pain quickly faded.
Half a month later, he finally left seclusion and departed toward the Ghost Domain together with the Azure-Horned Ox.
The Sword Attendant was left behind to guard Celestial Spring Peak.
Watching his departing back, the Sword Attendant slowly clenched her fists.
“Core Formation! I will definitely achieve it!”
Under the sunlight, determination shone in her eyes.
She no longer wanted to remain behind alone.
……
Ghost Domain.
In less than half a month, Lin Chang’an found a suitable target on a barren island.
A smile appeared on his face.
“If this were the Fog Sea of Tongtian, it would take months. No wonder this Ghost Domain attracts so many sinister cultivators.”
One reason was the reappearance of the Sinister Soul Sect’s spiritual islands. After six hundred years of sealing, the spiritual energy burst forth once again.
Another was that the sect itself had been built upon an Extreme Yin Spirit Vein.
Now merged with a Shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King, the already dense Yin-attribute spiritual energy had become mixed with ghostly aura.
It could be said that the Ghost Domain was a paradise for Sinister Spirits.
It naturally attracted wandering spirits across the sea and was the ideal environment for their birth.
Dead demon beasts, fallen cultivators, and the Sinister Spirits drawn from the Fog Sea of Tongtian—
All of it caused the Ghost Domain to contain nearly endless numbers of Sinister Spirits.
Compared to the Fog Sea of Tongtian, this was their true gathering ground.
“Just too many of them.”
“Then you it is.”
With a soft murmur, Lin Chang’an raised his hand.
A Third-rank Mid-grade Tranquil Spirit Talisman transformed into a streak of golden light and descended instantly.
“Roar!”
The moment the golden light fell, another Quasi–Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King in the island’s center roared angrily.
But before it could react—
Endless sword light descended like torrential rain.
Thousand Blades Technique.
Though merely a Foundation Establishment-level spell, in the hands of a Mid Core Formation cultivator like Lin Chang’an, its power was astonishing.
Countless sword lights rained down.
In an instant, countless low-rank Sinister Spirits were wiped out.
The entire island echoed with the terrifying sound of swords piercing rock.
……
Soon the battlefield fell silent.
At the center remained only a tiger-shaped Quasi–Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King.
A Tranquil Spirit Talisman was stuck to its forehead, freezing it in place.
Moments later, Lin Chang’an descended with the Azure-Horned Ox.
“This time, you’re not allowed to harm my prey.”
After confirming no ambushes nearby through divine sense and his Spiritual Eye, Lin Chang’an finally relaxed.
“There are two Quasi–Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast Kings on this island…”
His gaze locked onto the tiger-shaped one below.
“This one will do.”
……
Half a month later.
Inside a temporary cave abode on the island, the miserable screams of the Sinister Spirit Beast King echoed.
“This is also a kind of opportunity for you.”
Lin Chang’an continuously formed seals before spitting out a mouthful of blood essence.
The burning pearl instantly fused into the beast’s forehead.
Dark, eerie patterns spread across its body.
The fusion of magical artifact and Sinister Spirit was extremely painful.
If not for Lin Chang’an constantly injecting Xuantian Mana, the beast would have collapsed long ago.
Half a month later, the patterns slowly sank into the beast’s soul.
“Roar!”
The tiger-shaped beast roared in agony.
Then something strange happened.
Its head twisted violently—
And another head slowly emerged from the other side.
A two-headed tiger.
“It succeeded!”
At that moment, Lin Chang’an’s eyes suddenly opened.
Through the secret technique, his consciousness connected with the beast.
Before him stood his own body, smiling with satisfaction outside the formation.
The Quasi–Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King now roared with two heads.
Through the split divine sense, he could clearly feel the chaotic, violent thoughts of the Sinister Spirit.
Its intelligence was even lower than ordinary beasts.
“No wonder the secret technique warns about this. If a cultivator remains like this for too long, their own mind will inevitably be affected.”
However, as his Xuantian Mana circulated, a refreshing clarity washed through him.
“As long as this Xuantian Mana remains, I won’t be influenced.”
Just then—
The Sinister Spirit Beast King awkwardly stumbled over its own feet and crashed to the ground.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an’s eyelids twitched.
Clearly, he still needed time to adapt.
After all, it was equivalent to two consciousnesses controlling one body.
But with time, he would master it.
“Next, I’ll practice controlling this body first.”
At the cave entrance, the Azure-Horned Ox lay bored on the ground.
Suddenly, another miserable scream came from inside the cave.
The ox instantly raised its head.
That scream…
Too brutal.
……
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