Chapter 322: Dividing the Inheritance with Yun Yao
“Something isn’t right!”
After the Two-headed Tiger Sinister Spirit Beast King returned with a full haul, Lin Chang’an suddenly halted his steps. A chill even ran down his spine.
Perhaps he was simply being overly suspicious and cautious. Yet he did not hesitate in the slightest.
With a raise of his hand, formation flags instantly appeared all around, trapping the Two-headed Tiger Sinister Spirit Beast King within.
This scene made the Azure-Horned Ox and the Wind-Chirp Bird tense as well. Although they did not understand the situation, their years of tacit understanding made them immediately prepare for battle.
Whether he was being overly suspicious or not, he would rather make preparations.
Third-rank High-grade · Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation
This was the strongest formation he currently possessed. Through years of accumulation, and with the Main Formation Plate already in his possession, he had long gathered the advanced materials needed for the other Auxiliary Formation Plates.
Naturally, he restored this third-rank high-grade grand formation.
“Next… I hope I’m simply worrying too much.”
Lin Chang’an frowned secretly, yet still controlled the Two-headed Tiger Sinister Spirit Beast King to spit out a large number of jade slips from its mouth.
Along with them was a crystal-clear skeleton still wearing tattered magical robes.
After completing all this, the Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King, the Two-headed Tiger, slowly retreated until it moved to the killing formation of the array—the location of the most powerful formation core.
Several hours passed.
Inside the Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation, nothing changed at all.
As a gentle breeze passed, the Azure-Horned Ox outside the formation raised its guarded head in confusion, staring directly at Lin Chang’an.
“Moo!”
The questioning bellow seemed to ask where the danger was.
Lin Chang’an suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
“Could it be that I’m truly being overly suspicious?”
Lin Chang’an himself felt somewhat stunned.
Meanwhile, the Wind-Chirp Bird also tilted its head in confusion, continuously staring into the formation. It too felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
Divine Ability · Avatar Technique
Instantly, through his Life-bound Spirit Plant, a Mysterious Sky Immortal Leaf transformed into a streak of light, and a clone appeared.
“You go check.”
Although Lin Chang’an’s main body remained calm, he held a spell seal in his hand. If anything went wrong, he would immediately kill this Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King.
The clone took a deep breath. With a raise of his hand, he first cast a Mana Shield on himself. Then he took out two Third-rank Talismans before cautiously entering the formation.
The Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King, the Two-headed Tiger, tucked its tail in grievance. Surrounded by terrifying killing intent, it did not dare move even slightly.
“No problems?”
After inspecting everything, the clone showed a puzzled expression. Could it really be completely safe?
Just as the clone shook his head in confusion and turned to inspect the spoils of this expedition, Lin Chang’an outside the formation gradually lowered his guard.
Soon after, a smile spread across his face.
“Most of the inheritance of the Sinister Soul Sect… various ancient texts, spells, cultivation insights, and records of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation. There’s even the legendary Puppet Refinement Technique of the Sinister Soul Sect…”
Looking at bundles of jade slips, Lin Chang’an could not help but feel excited. He had planned for this for a long time, and now that he saw the harvest, it was completely worth it.
Although these were not the top secret techniques of the Sinister Soul Sect, anything considered top-level would require Nascent Soul Cultivators to cultivate.
For now, these were enough for him to digest for a hundred years.
Even after a hundred years, he might not finish absorbing them.
After all, although the items were many, his energy was limited.
Moreover, possessing most of the Sinister Soul Sect’s inheritance was enough to make up for the gap in foundation between him and disciples of major sects.
“And this skeleton—its flesh must have been completely devoured by the sinister spirits. Only the bones remain. I wonder what else is inside this storage pouch.”
Just as Lin Chang’an’s clone extended his spiritual sense to examine the jade slips and the skeleton’s storage pouch—
Suddenly, his heart jolted violently.
“Not good!”
At that very moment, within his spiritual sense, the bundles of jade slips and the skeleton suddenly opened pairs of black eyes.
These eyes had no trace of humanity.
They were filled only with cold indifference and cruelty.
“Spiritual Sense Attack!”
Countless terrifying eyeballs surrounded him, flashing with eerie light.
The sight made one’s scalp numb.
Lin Chang’an’s body stiffened completely, unable to move.
Shock filled his eyes.
Despite being so cautious… he had still fallen into the trap.
“Greedy insect. Now become this seat’s slave—what?! Impossible!”
The previously lofty and cold eyes suddenly revealed disbelief.
Within Lin Chang’an’s spiritual sense, the leaves of the Mysterious Sky Immortal Vine blossomed with vibrant green life energy.
Threads of spiritual sense that rushed into the clone’s consciousness instantly reacted as if they had encountered their natural nemesis.
“Impossible!!!”
Countless spiritual eyeballs twisted in fury.
Yet beneath the Immortal Leaf of the Mysterious Sky Immortal Vine, they were unable to move.
A shrill scream of terror echoed from the level of the soul—
Then abruptly stopped.
Immediately afterward, fragmented memories began flashing within the sea of consciousness.
…
Outside the formation, Lin Chang’an’s main body groaned. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Inside the formation, the clone collapsed and reverted into a leaf of the Mysterious Sky Immortal Vine.
“Moo!”
“Master!”
The Azure-Horned Ox and the Wind-Chirp Bird cried out anxiously, both already prepared for battle.
“The danger is gone.”
However, Lin Chang’an only breathed heavily in exhaustion. With a bitter smile, he waved his hand to signal them.
At the same time, the Mysterious Sky Immortal Leaf within the formation was recalled into his body.
“These Nascent Soul Cultivators… whether demon cultivators or ghost cultivators… each of them are old foxes who have lived for countless years. Their methods truly never cease.”
If it had been an ordinary Core Formation Cultivator today, even the slightest carelessness would have meant disaster.
At first glance, the jade slips seemed harmless.
Once your vigilance relaxed, the extremely hidden threads of spiritual sense hidden within them would launch a surprise attack.
Fortunately, he had left himself a precaution and sent his clone to investigate.
And fortunately, he possessed the Mysterious Sky Immortal Vine.
By reading the memories within those strands of spiritual sense, he realized how terrifying the method was.
“A Mid-stage Fourth-rank Shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King… to think it would be this cunning. It hid threads of spiritual sense within every jade slip and treasure.”
Such delicate manipulation of spiritual sense was practically unheard of.
Only sinister spirits—naturally gifted in soul techniques—could likely achieve such a feat.
“It originally possessed Late-stage Fourth-rank strength, but its origin was severely injured by a scheme. Its cultivation fell, and it was even trapped on this island.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an felt a chill in his heart.
This Fourth-rank Shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King was far too cunning, setting such an unprecedented trap.
Moreover, it used a ghost-path divine ability that could reside within a cultivator’s spiritual sense and secretly manipulate them.
This parasitic technique did not affect the host’s independence.
Their memories, wisdom, and personality remained intact.
Yet they were completely turned into puppets.
“Using this method, the Shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King wanted to search the cultivation world for a way to escape.”
Since it was trapped on the island, it believed that if someone could fuse it with the Yin Vein, then there must also be a method to undo it.
“But if that’s the case… just how powerful is Bihai Palace, which orchestrated all of this?”
Lin Chang’an did not believe the sinister spirit beast’s scheme could escape the eyes of Bihai Palace.
Just thinking about the schemes behind the scenes made his scalp tingle.
“These Nascent Soul Cultivators’ schemes… I must never become involved in them in the future.”
Cold sweat ran down his back.
He dared not even imagine how many cultivators who had supposedly gained opportunities over the years—
And how many who cultivated around the Ghost Domain—
Had already been parasitized.
“Not good. Yun Yao has been cultivating near the Ghost Domain for years. I must warn her!”
Lin Chang’an’s heart tightened. He immediately took out a Voice-transmission Talisman.
Logically speaking, there should be no issue.
Over the years, Yun Yao often visited him so they could cultivate together.
If Yun Yao had been parasitized, his Mysterious Sky Mana would have reacted.
Still, a warning would not hurt.
Better than letting her fall into a trap.
…
Deep within the spiritual island of the Sinister Soul Sect.
Inside a dark and sinister hall, atop a throne made of piled skulls, a shadowy figure with a sinister face slowly opened its eyes.
Eyes devoid of all human emotion.
“Discovered again! Damn it… Bihai Palace! Bihai Palace!”
The furious roar echoed through the empty hall.
Yet while cursing Bihai Palace, fear could not be hidden in the depths of the Shape-shifting Sinister Spirit Beast King’s eyes.
Its methods were secretive, but some cultivators were as cautious as Lin Chang’an.
Using puppets or other means to inspect treasures.
Although its threads of spiritual sense seemed powerful, they only had one chance.
If avoided, the spiritual sense would disperse on its own without the opponent even needing to act.
At worst, the cultivator would only lose the spiritual sense of a clone or puppet.
…
After this incident, Lin Chang’an immediately packed up and headed toward the Five Dragon Island Sea Region.
Even the spoils of war were once again swallowed by the Two-headed Tiger Sinister Spirit Beast King.
“Brother Lin!”
Under the blazing sun, Yun Yao arrived on an island to meet him, her expression solemn.
After hearing Lin Chang’an’s warning, Yun Yao also showed rare shock.
“To transform spiritual sense into countless threads and hide them in jade slips and corpses… that is said to be a divine ability only Nascent Soul Cultivators at the Late Stage can perform.
“And the cultivator must practice a top-tier spiritual sense cultivation method. Otherwise it is impossible.”
In terms of knowledge, Yun Yao—coming from a Nascent Soul sect—was indeed far more experienced than Lin Chang’an.
After hearing the entire story, she immediately identified the origin of the technique.
This was precisely the gap in foundation between him and sect disciples.
“If what you say is true, Brother Lin… then the scheme behind this is truly terrifying.”
Yun Yao’s face became serious.
“On the Ghost Domain Island of the Sinister Soul Sect… Bihai Palace may still be playing a massive game of chess.”
At this moment, Lin Chang’an was still holding Yun Yao’s fair wrist, repeatedly confirming that nothing had parasitized her body before finally relaxing.
“I only learned of this by coincidence.”
Lin Chang’an sighed.
After the initial shock, Yun Yao saw the concern in Lin Chang’an’s eyes and could not help smiling faintly.
“Brother Lin, don’t worry. Yun Yao does not lack cultivation resources. I’ve only been cultivating on islands at the outer edge of the Ghost Domain.”
With the backing of a Nascent Soul sect like the Sinister Soul Sect, as long as one proved their talent, life was far better than that of ordinary Drifting Cultivators.
The opportunities around the outer region of the Sinister Soul Sect held little attraction for disciples like Yun Yao.
Meanwhile, the internal opportunities—even Nascent Soul Cultivators coveted them, yet lacked the strength to obtain them.
Thus Yun Yao had simply been cultivating all these years.
“Although I don’t know what Bihai Palace is planning, I do know that the Mystic Yin Ancestor has always coveted the inheritance of the Sinister Soul Sect… and a certain treasure.”
At this thought, Yun Yao revealed a gloating smile.
As long as the Mystic Yin Ancestor suffered, she was happy.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an’s mouth twitched.
He wondered when Yun Yao had learned to be so petty.
“This matter cannot remain hidden from Nascent Soul Cultivators for long. Since Bihai Palace knows, other forces will eventually learn as well. Yun Yao, you might as well report this to the Mystic Yin Ancestor…”
Lin Chang’an showed a meaningful expression.
Yun Yao immediately smiled knowingly.
“Brother Lin, we’re thinking the same thing.”
Since the matter would be exposed sooner or later, she might as well gain some benefits first.
If the Mystic Yin Ancestor coveted this place so much, perhaps he might even suffer a major loss.
The two exchanged a glance and smiled.
“But Brother Lin, your harvest this time is truly impressive.”
After repeatedly checking with his Mysterious Sky Mana and confirming everything was safe, Lin Chang’an reviewed the spoils.
Even Yun Yao showed amazement.
But soon she sighed.
“Unfortunately, cultivators’ lifespans are limited. With so many inheritances, it’s impossible to learn them all.”
Even Lin Chang’an—gifted as he was and possessing three clones—did not dare be greedy.
“Brother Lin, judging from the quality of this skeleton, this person must have had Late Core Formation cultivation before death.”
After examining the blood-stained storage pouch, Lin Chang’an discovered it had already rotted with a large hole.
Only a few items remained within the robe.
Two bundles of cracked jade slips.
A jade token clutched in the skeleton’s hand.
A fragment of a map.
Two broken pill bottles.
However, after six hundred years, the pills had long lost their spiritual light and become useless.
“What are this jade token and fragment of a map? The materials seem unusual.”
Lin Chang’an frowned and handed them to Yun Yao.
She shook her head as well.
Soon the two focused on the jade slips.
One bundle contained what appeared to be a labyrinth map.
Curved lines wound across it, eventually pointing to a location marked as extremely important.
The two exchanged glances.
“Brother Lin, don’t look at me. I have no idea either.”
When they opened the other bundle of jade slips, Yun Yao immediately smiled.
“Brother Lin, this may be the greatest gain of this harvest.”
Lin Chang’an scanned it with his spiritual sense and instantly showed excitement.
It was actually a set of insights on breaking formations.
Yet seventy to eighty percent of it left him frowning.
“With my ability as a Third-rank Mid-grade Formation Master, I can only understand twenty to thirty percent… That means this must have been written by a Quasi–Fourth-rank—or even Fourth-rank—Formation Master!”
At that moment, Lin Chang’an felt as if he had obtained a priceless treasure.
As Yun Yao said, this jade slip was likely the greatest gain of this expedition.
Yun Yao smiled sincerely beside him, happy for Brother Lin.
He shared these items with Yun Yao partly because of their friendship.
But also because while they held great value for Lin Chang’an—
They were not nearly as valuable for Yun Yao.
The inheritances he lacked from major sects were things Yun Yao did not lack within the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
At most, certain techniques and insights from the Sinister Soul Sect might benefit her.
Over the years, Yun Yao knew Lin Chang’an liked studying ancient texts and cultivation insights.
She had often secretly copied such texts for him from the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
Some things—like talisman-related knowledge—were too sensitive to copy.
But she always copied whatever she read.
Even texts she disliked, she would pretend to like just to copy them.
“Brother Lin, I’ll copy this Puppet Refinement Technique.”
Yun Yao selected the Puppet Refinement Technique.
“The Mystic Yin Ancestor’s puppet techniques are said to have originally incorporated parts of the Sinister Soul Sect’s incomplete inheritance.”
Knowing one’s enemy leads to victory.
Yun Yao intended to defect from the Mystic Yin Divine Sect someday, so she needed to prepare early.
Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an also took out blank jade slips and copied everything.
Who knew if the original jade slips still contained hidden traps?
Even if the spiritual sense was gone, lingering aura or other hidden mechanisms might remain.
He did not want to leave hidden dangers for the future.
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