Chapter 592: Devouring Demonic Soul, Teacher’s Wife’s Rescue

“A mere lower-realm cultivator dares dream of killing me?”

The human-faced dragon head’s remnant soul sneered. He had been trapped in the Locking Demon Hall for over 10,000 years. Wei Tu, just a Nascent Soul cultivator from the lower realm, was not worth mentioning.

Besides, Wei Tu was from the lower realm. His skills and divine abilities couldn’t compare to those Spirit Realm cultivators he had faced back in the day.

His eyes gleamed as his left hand reached into the void. Thick demonic energy in the tower instantly twisted into several black pythons, each as thick as an arm. They lined up before him and lunged at the attacking Five-Element Infant and Two-Forms Infant.

These black pythons condensed from demonic qi seemed unimpressive, but each carried the strength of a Nascent Soul. Working together, they forced the two strange infants back step by step.

Wounds quickly appeared across the infants’ bodies.

But these two weren’t weak. Under Wei Tu’s “raising,” the Five-Element Infant and Two-Forms Infant, already mid-Nascent Soul, had grown much stronger over the decades. Together, they could rival a late Nascent Soul cultivator.

“This demon really is no ordinary opponent.”

Wei Tu’s expression grew grave. Without hesitation, he sent his Yang Corpse into the fight as well.

The battle in the stone tower now turned into the Five-Element Infant, Two-Forms Infant, Huangtian Sword Master puppet, and Yang Corpse—all four besieging the human-faced dragon’s remnant soul alone.

“Could this man be a demon cultivator?”

The remnant soul fended off the siege while pondering Wei Tu’s identity outside the tower, searching for a way out.

For now, he could defend himself. But his offense was lacking. Even if he destroyed Wei Tu’s puppets, infants, and corpse, it would mean nothing. They were just Wei Tu’s property, not his foundation.

“Lower-realm Nascent Soul, how about we negotiate?”

The remnant soul casually blasted back the puppet’s sword qi, then spoke directly to Wei Tu.

“Oh? What matter does senior wish to discuss?”

Wei Tu wasn’t surprised. Narrowing his eyes, he let the Huangtian Sword Master puppet voice his reply.

“You came here seeking treasure. I only wish to escape and regain my freedom. There’s no real conflict between us.”

“You and I could sign a spirit contract. You’ll take the Locking Demon Array’s spiritual treasure—the Five-Element Demon-Slaying Ring. With it, I can break free and find another vessel.”

“Of course, once I escape, I’ll reward you as well. For example, some profound techniques and divine powers from the Spirit Realm…”

The remnant soul smiled faintly.

“The Five-Element Demon-Slaying Ring?”

At this, Wei Tu instinctively glanced back toward the left-side rooms. He easily guessed that this treasure was the bracelet of five gemstones he had seen earlier in the underground formation.

“So? This agreement isn’t too difficult, is it?”

The remnant soul pressed.

Wei Tu didn’t answer right away. After a pause, he asked in a deep voice:

“Senior’s offer is indeed tempting. I’ve already used all my means, yet I can’t kill you. I also can’t just abandon the treasure and leave…”

“But how can I believe that once you’re free, you won’t turn on me?”

“Among cultivators, there is the Heaven’s Nether True Page. As long as we both swear upon it, there will be no betrayal.”

The remnant soul’s heart leapt with joy, though his tone remained calm and detached.

“Heaven’s Nether True Page?”

Wei Tu raised a brow, showing hesitation, as if unsure whether to trust him.

“What you say, I believe. But before that, I’d like you to show good faith. Pass down a few profound techniques first. Otherwise, if you regret it later, I’ll have no recourse.”

Wei Tu bargained.

Hooked!

The remnant soul was secretly delighted. He didn’t fear Wei Tu demanding too much—only Wei Tu ignoring him altogether.

“I can teach you techniques, but only part of them. You’ll list their names on the Heaven’s Nether True Page. Once I’m free, I’ll pass on the full contents.”

“With an oath binding us, and since these techniques aren’t irreplaceable, I won’t break the vow.”

The remnant soul laid out the terms, as though he truly meant to deal fairly.

Hearing this, Wei Tu’s expression flickered with feigned emotion. He waved his sleeve, halting the puppet’s attacks, then drew out four blank jade slips. A second puppet carried them into the fourth floor.

“Good! I’ll inscribe Spirit Realm’s profound techniques now.”

The remnant soul smiled and used his mana to take the jade slips from the puppet’s hand.

But the instant his energy touched them, the four jade slips flared with golden light. Obscure runes surfaced across their surfaces.

In the blink of an eye, the slips—or rather jade talismans—shot into the air, weaving a golden prison that closed around him.

“Demon-Suppressing Talismans?”

The remnant soul was stunned.

He hadn’t expected Wei Tu to deceive him with a trap. He hadn’t expected him to have not just puppets, infants, and the Soul-Refining Banner, but also four high-grade fourth-rank Demon-Suppressing Talismans.

He never realized Wei Tu had prepared for decades before entering Zunwang Palace’s secret realm. Not only his cultivation, but his talismans, pills, and artifacts had been honed to the very peak of his level.

“To think you could confine me so easily? Impossible!”

The remnant soul’s face twisted with fury. His hands moved in rapid seals, pouring his strength into resisting the golden cage.

Just then, the decayed dragon corpse inside the stone tower suddenly stirred. Its massive claw, covering nearly half an acre, swung down toward the remnant soul’s location, trying to smash apart the golden prison formed by the four Demon-Suppressing Talismans.

Crack! Crack!

At that critical moment, the puppet of the Huangtian Sword Master leapt forward, intercepting the claw. Its sword danced, slashing against the strike.

But this was a furious blow from the remnant soul, a desperate bid for survival. With power above Divine Transformation, the dragon claw crushed the puppet in an instant, leaving its body mangled and broken.

Yet the sacrifice was not in vain. In that brief delay, the Soul-Refining Banner behind it unfurled. In a flash, it sucked the remnant soul into its inner space, locking him inside.

Without his control, the giant claw lost all direction. After that one strike, the lingering spirit upon it began to collapse rapidly, fading away.

At this time, Wei Tu finally walked calmly into the tower. His right hand stretched out, catching the falling Soul-Refining Banner.

“With the banner’s inner space suppressing him, plus the siege of the Five-Element Infant and Two-Forms Infant, in just a few days this remnant soul will be dead.”

Wei Tu cast a glance inside. The remnant soul was raging, still battling furiously against the infants within the banner’s world.

But outside, Wei Tu saw the truth. The demon only seemed formidable. Without the tower’s demonic energy, and without its body as anchor, it was just a strong remnant soul—not truly hard to deal with.

After all, the Locking Demon Hall’s Demon-Refining Array had been running for at least 10,000 years.

And this long suppression didn’t mean the master of Zunwang Palace couldn’t kill him.

According to Bai Zhi’s knowledge of formations, the demon had been kept alive deliberately. The palace’s master likely used him as one of the power sources driving the secret realm.

He had been turned into a living “spirit vein.”

…

Several days later.

After brutal fighting inside the banner, the remnant soul’s aura dropped to less than one-third of its former strength. Finally, it collapsed into unconsciousness.

Of course, the battle had a price. The Two-Forms Infant had suffered devastating injuries, nearly to the point of destruction.

Still, obtaining the remnant soul was an unexpected gain for Wei Tu. Losing one strange infant meant little in comparison.

But even now, Wei Tu didn’t dare recklessly test his golden-purple destiny by feeding it this demon soul directly.

Instead, using the Koi Dragon Yin Blade, he carefully cut the soul into several parts. He then imprinted them with the Spirit-Servant Seal before sending them into his sea of consciousness.

The instant the demon soul entered—

A golden light burst forth from the depths of his mind, striking it.

In a blink, the soul melted away like frost beneath the sun, leaving behind only pure soul power and scattered fragments.

“It really works!”

Wei Tu’s heart leapt with joy.

He estimated that even if he had gone directly to the fourth floor himself, the remnant soul would have been helpless before him.

‘This soul is so full of power. Maybe I can seize this chance to condense the Soul-Nourishing Seal from the Nine Secrets of Vitality!’

His eyes glowed.

Both the Vitality-Nourishing Essence Seal and the Soul-Nourishing Seal required him to reach the late Nascent Soul stage, both in body and in soul.

Now, with the pure nourishment of the demon’s power, reaching that level in soul cultivation was within easy reach.

…

At the same time, elsewhere.

In a hall within the Armament Hall, Madam Jin stood among demon cultivators, facing Ding Lezheng who led the righteous path’s forces.

Behind Madam Jin stood not only her daughter Wang Sutai, but also Cao Mi, who had entered the secret realm alongside Wei Tu.

But now, Cao Mi no longer looked calm as she had by Wei Tu’s side. Instead, her face was full of confusion and doubt.

She couldn’t understand. Why had Ding Lezheng, a senior of the righteous path, suddenly attacked her without reason?

If Madam Jin hadn’t intervened in time, she would already be a prisoner.

“Thank you, Madam, for saving me.”

Once she recovered, Cao Mi glanced at the wound on Madam Jin’s shoulder. A trace of guilt crossed her face as she bowed in thanks.

“It’s nothing. You entered the secret realm with Fu’er. That makes you her friend. As her teacher’s wife and mother-in-law, it was only natural I lend a hand.”

Madam Jin waved it off, her tone indifferent.

But in Cao Mi’s heart, the words struck differently.

She faintly felt Madam Jin was declaring ownership in an unspoken way.

“Fu’er? That must be Fellow Daoist Wei’s alias?”

Cao Mi’s sharp mind quickly pieced it together. She had fought alongside Wei Tu many times and knew of his habit of disguises and false names.

But she hadn’t expected this. Wei Tu had hidden it from even his friends and allies. Without her knowing, he had secretly betrothed himself and taken Madam Jin’s daughter Wang Sutai as his bride.