Chapter 556: Two Plans for the Myriad Ghosts Grotto

"My second idea is to collect every material inside the Myriad Ghosts Grotto that can be used to create Soul Nourishing Jade. After that, we would conceal our whereabouts, repair all the souls within the secret realm, and guide them into the Netherworld. Once that’s done, we would leave immediately. Of course, both plans would only be carried out after we have investigated the World Eaters and figured out what’s happening. What do you think?"

"Both plans depend on first uncovering the truth about the World Eaters, repairing the souls, and sending them into reincarnation? Ah Shou, no matter where you are or what situation you’re in, you never forget your original intentions."

Tushan Shanhe looked at Xiao Shou thoughtfully.

Such a pure disposition was even rarer than that of the Celestial Fox lineage. Could someone like him really possess the bloodline of the Terrestrial Fox, a lineage notorious for its tainted nature?

Or was it possible that the Terrestrial Fox’s nature was hidden beneath a perfect mask? Was this Xiao Shou’s true personality?

Because of this doubt, Tushan Shanhe suddenly asked, "Then what if these fragmented souls are actually the key to the growth of the materials?"

Xiao Shou had no idea that Tushan Shanhe was testing him. Without the slightest hesitation, he replied, "Then there’s nothing we can do. There are plenty of opportunities and treasures in this world, so we’ll just have to choose the second option. No matter what, my original reason for creating Soul Nourishing Jade was to help the souls here find release. We can consider everything else after that is done."

"Master, both plans have their advantages and disadvantages. Convincing the Murong Kingdom to hand over ownership of this place probably won’t be easy. After all, the Myriad Ghosts Grotto is a place that benefits their confucian cultivation. Why don’t we pursue both options at the same time? We can collect the materials for making Soul Nourishing Jade while investigating the World Eaters."

Fu Young gave Tushan Shanhe a meaningful glance, almost as if he were smiling.

How could he suspect that Master’s character was any less noble? Did he really think Master would make the same choice as those cultivators he knew?

Fu Young continued, "Then, before we leave, we can use the Soul Nourishing Jade to repair the souls in the secret realm and open a passage to the Netherworld for them. After that, we can negotiate with the Murong Kingdom to obtain the Myriad Ghosts Grotto. How does that sound?"

"That sounds good. However, once we start moving around, these souls will follow us. By the time we finish exploring, who knows how many fragmented souls will have disappeared on their own? We’d better come up with a way to keep them from approaching us without harming them before we begin."

Xiao Shou knew that his beloved disciple had always thought things through more carefully than he did, so he immediately agreed and added his own concerns.

Even toward these fragmented souls, which had no awareness or ability to think, Master was still so gentle. He truly was a dazzling person.

Fu Young smiled. "Leave this to me. I’ll create a gentle layer of light around our protective spiritual barriers. It won’t harm them, and its gentleness will be about the same as this barrier."

After speaking, he snapped his fingers without doing anything else.

Yet as the sound of the snap faded, three crystalline flashes of light appeared and vanished around the three of them.

Xiao Shou felt as though something had appeared around him. He carefully examined his surroundings with his spiritual sense and indeed detected a faintly glowing layer around his protective spiritual barrier.

So this was the light membrane his beloved disciple had mentioned!

Xiao Shou immediately removed the barrier. The fragmented souls floated around in confusion for a moment before scattering in every direction, seemingly unable to sense the three of them at all.

How impressive! He understood his beloved disciple’s abilities less and less with every passing day.

Although Xiao Shou thought this, he did not ask Fu Young about it. His silence was not merely the courtesy one would show an outsider.

It was simply that Xiao Shou had always been the type to examine himself and search for answers when it came to his own affairs. He rarely applied the same mindset to others, which was also why he tended to overthink things whenever something happened to him.

Looking at his beloved disciple with admiration, Xiao Shou praised him. "Young’er, you’re amazing! The effect is really good. When I make Soul Nourishing Jade later, you should also create this kind of barrier that conceals our aura. That way, the things around us won’t be able to detect our presence."

"Master, you’re flattering me. I’m still far behind you!" Fu Young wore an expression of delight at being praised by his master, even as he spoke modestly.

Watching them, Tushan Shanhe’s mouth twitched habitually. "Since it works so well, let’s get moving! The World Eaters are important, but gathering the materials is even more important."

"Mm!"

"Got it!"

And so, the three of them changed their original plan, which had been to investigate the World Eaters as quickly as possible. Instead, they slowed down and collected every material within the range of their spiritual senses that could be used to make Soul Nourishing Jade.

Every evening, when they rested, Xiao Shou used his ability to turn the collected materials into Seventh-Grade Soul Nourishing Jade. Since they had no idea how many fragmented souls existed in this realm or how many pieces of jade would be needed to repair them, they had to prepare as much as possible.

After Xiao Shou explained his concerns to Tushan Shanhe and Fu Young, the three discussed the matter and agreed on a distribution plan. Each of them would receive one piece of the Seventh-Grade Soul Nourishing Jade they produced each day, while the rest would be stored away and distributed after all the souls in the secret realm had been repaired.