Chapter 552 - 482: Chi Weixuan: Inducing a Heart Demon

Chapter 552: Chapter 482: Chi Weixuan: Inducing a Heart Demon

’Defeat the Star Casting Hall, use their fifth-rank Spirit Vein, and ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm?’

Chi Weixuan entertained no such thoughts. ’Such unrealistic fantasies might fool some inexperienced brat, but how could I be so optimistic?’

The art of war was brutal. In a sea-spanning war of this scale, even with his cultivation, he had no confidence he could escape unscathed. A few major battles might be all it took to leave him severely wounded, his very foundation damaged!

’Serve as a Dao General, earn merits, seize a Spirit Vein, and ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm?’

Heh... ’I’d be lucky just to keep my life!’

A long sigh escaped him.

Chi Weixuan’s spirit trembled as a trace of despair for the future surfaced.

’He could almost see it: himself, serving as a Dao General, acting as high-level cannon fodder, ordered into battle until he was killed!’

"No!"

"I absolutely refuse!"

Chi Weixuan’s face darkened. He gritted his teeth and forced out the words.

But a moment later, he gave a bitter laugh, a look of dejection crossing his face. ’In a war of this scale, the only surefire way to control my own destiny is to reach the Nascent Soul Realm!’

’But...’

’Without a fifth-rank Spirit Vein, even someone with peerless talent has no chance of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm!’

’The Nascent Soul Realm is an achievement that plunders the very fortune of heaven and earth. Even in the Ancient Era, one who reached it could be called a master of Great Techniques!’

He sighed deeply, his grand ambitions dissipating.

’I might as well drink.’

Chi Weixuan drank to drown his sorrows.

But, unexpectedly, as if the heavens themselves had taken pity on him, he received a piece of intelligence concerning a fifth-rank Spirit Vein just a few days later.

「Aboard the spirit ship.」

「Captain’s Quarters.」

"What?"

"Say that again?"

Chi Weixuan’s eyes went wide, his sword-like eyebrows shooting up as his gaze sharpened!

The one-eyed, disfigured Chu Jiangyuan, clad in a hooded black robe, paused for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Chi, I possess a sea chart that leads to an unknown continent..."

"No, not that part! The part before!"

Chi Weixuan waved his hand in irritation, cutting him off.

Chu Jiangyuan replied, "Uh... According to my late ancestor’s deductions, it is highly likely that this continent has given birth to a fifth-rank Spirit Vein!"

"A fifth-rank Spirit Vein?!"

"A real fifth-rank Spirit Vein?!"

Chi Weixuan’s heart pounded wildly; he could barely contain himself.

He barely managed to control his expression with his Qi Cultivation Skill, preventing himself from losing his composure.

"Ahem..."

"Why should I believe you based on your word alone? Since you claim this unknown continent might have a fifth-rank Spirit Vein..."

"Then... do you have any proof?"

Chi Weixuan coughed twice and asked in a low voice.

"Of course!"

Chu Jiangyuan said without hesitation, handing over a jade slip.

He wouldn’t have dared to come here seeking asylum if he wasn’t confident.

"Mm."

Chi Weixuan nodded slightly and took the jade slip.

With a flicker of his Divine Sense, he read through the contents of the jade slip.

Soon, his eyes revealed a look of ecstatic joy!

’It’s real...’

The jade slip contained the Chu Family’s intelligence on the Far South Continent from back in the day.

It also included an analysis of the Far South Continent by the Chu Family’s deceased Golden Core ancestor, Chu Wunian. Based on this intelligence, he had concluded that the continent very likely possessed a fifth-rank Spirit Vein!

The data points were interlinked and mutually corroborating. After running some calculations with his Divine Sense, Chi Weixuan found it to be highly credible.

’The only point of doubt is that some of the deductions required profound, specialized knowledge... How could Chu Wunian, a mere Outer Sea Golden Core ancestor, have been so erudite?’

Of course.

Chi Weixuan didn’t get too hung up on this.

To him, this question was a trivial matter.

The key issue now was the fifth-rank Spirit Vein. Chi Weixuan mulled it over. ’With the evidence Chu Jiangyuan brought, I can be almost certain this is true.’

After all, it would be very easy to verify.

He was currently south of the Day Flame Sea Region and on an exploration mission besides. He could easily go and investigate it himself.

Unless Chu Jiangyuan had lost his mind, he would never dare deceive him with something so easily disproven.

"By the way... who else have you told about the Far South Continent?"

"Besides you, sir, no one else. I don’t trust the Candle Python Cave. Demonic cultivators aren’t trustworthy; I was merely seeking temporary shelter with them before."

"I would never spread such precious intelligence carelessly. If too many people knew, it would lose all its value."

"Mm."

Hearing Chu Jiangyuan’s words, Chi Weixuan nodded to himself in satisfaction and made a promise.

"The sea chart and information you’ve provided are very useful to me. I will handle the pressure from the Star Casting Hall and the True Treasure Pavilion for you..."

"However, you’d best change your face and identity. While I am not afraid, it’s always good to avoid unnecessary trouble."

"Do you understand?"

Chi Weixuan said.

"I understand."

"I only ask for a safe place to stay."

"As for everything else, I will follow your orders, sir."

Hearing this, Chu Jiangyuan immediately bowed with the utmost respect.

Seeing his demeanor, a profound look flashed in Chi Weixuan’s eyes.

"Alright."

"You are dismissed."

"Yes."

Chu Jiangyuan took his leave.

Alone in the captain’s quarters, Chi Weixuan stroked the jade slip, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow.

He muttered to himself:

"Such a generous gift, yet he only asks for a safe place to stay?"

"Is his goal... revenge?"

He had, of course, investigated Chu Jiangyuan’s background.

A direct descendant of the Flame Alliance’s Chu Family. After the family was annihilated, he defected to the Candle Python Cave.

He followed the Candle Python Cave in pledging allegiance to the Star Casting Hall. Some time ago, after the Qinghua incident, all the Candle Python Cave cultivators were detained, and Chu Jiangyuan was implicated as well.

However, many people were aware of his identity, and he had only joined the Candle Python Cave a year or two ago.

So no one thought he had any connection to the remnants of the Demon Palace.

But...

’That Yehai... his momentum is unstoppable. He’s like a rising star!’

’To curry favor with Su Ye, there are probably quite a few people secretly preparing to use Chu Jiangyuan’s head as a gift to open doors!’

That’s why Chu Jiangyuan presented such a generous gift, hoping for his protection.

And the true purpose of this gift was likely... revenge! To use him, Chi Weixuan, to get revenge on Su Ye!

"After all, the one who controls the Far South Continent is none other than him..."

"If I want to scheme for the fifth-rank Spirit Vein, Yehai and the True Treasure Pavilion behind him are obstacles I absolutely cannot avoid!"

He drew in a sharp breath.

’Yehai...’

Chi Weixuan took a deep breath.

The man’s tyranny and power were beyond doubt. The Chu Family was a prime example—the entire family had been slaughtered, leaving only Chu Jiangyuan, the last wretched survivor.

And then there was the True Treasure Pavilion behind him.

Given Chi Weixuan’s cautious nature, he would, under normal circumstances, most likely choose to back down.

After all, when caught in the gears of such a power struggle, even a Late-stage Golden Core cultivator was far too insignificant.

But at this moment...

’Damn it... Yehai... a genius... Does that make him so great?’

Somehow, Chi Weixuan’s thoughts drifted to Qingli and the others in his sect who firmly suppressed him. This, in turn, caused a surge of intense resentment toward Su Ye to well up inside him!

Beyond that, his craving for the Nascent Soul Realm was so deep-seated it had nearly become an obsession!

"I’m going to give it a try! I’ll take you down and seize the fifth-rank Spirit Vein of the Far South Continent!"

"I, Chi Weixuan, will reach the Nascent Soul Realm!"

Chi Weixuan said through gritted teeth.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Soon, his thoughts began to race, and he remembered his mission.

Investigate the evil creatures in the southern sea.

’That’s it!’

’The Far South Continent... is in the southern sea...’

’Perhaps this is something I can use?’

As Chi Weixuan thought, ideas flashing through his mind, a bloody glint reappeared in his eyes.

A moment later, the bloody light melted away, becoming one with him completely.

...

’It is done.’

’My Divine Technique...’

’Not even a Nascent Soul cultivator could see through it if they were standing right here!’

High in the sky, a graceful figure veiled in black, standing atop the clouds, clapped her hands and laughed.

"Heh..."

’It would be rude not to return the favor. After you schemed against me, I can’t just pretend it never happened...’

As she spoke, her figure flickered and vanished among the clouds.