Chapter 389 ·The Secret of the Profound Heaven, Red Robe Remnant Soul

Fog ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Sea of Tongtian.

Lin ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chang'an sped through the sky in a streak of Escape Light before finally landing on an unnamed desolate island.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment he landed, he immediately raised his hand and deployed a formation.

Only ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍after releasing both the Green-horned Bull and the Phoenix Cry Bird did Lin Chang'an reveal a solemn expression as he lowered his head to look at the scroll in his hand.

"Stop ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍trying to activate your Soul Devouring Curse."

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Spirit Stabilizing Talismans slowly fell away, a weak voice came from inside the scroll.

The scroll slowly unfolded.

The figure of the crimson-robed woman had become noticeably dimmer, clearly having suffered from the backlash caused when Huang Tianxiao activated the Soul Devouring Curse.

"Fellow Daoist... or perhaps Senior."

With a cold gaze, Lin Chang'an quietly left his own Soul Devouring Curse on the scroll.

Whether she discovered it or not made little difference.

The Soul Devouring Curse was indeed the best method for controlling a remnant soul sealed within a magical artifact.

"You should call me Fellow Daoist.

"After all, this is merely a remnant soul sealed inside a scroll. That so-called Nascent Soul cultivator was merely my former self."

Lin Chang'an's indifferent voice echoed through the surroundings.

The remnant soul within the scroll was indeed extremely weak.

"You cunning little brat.

"Don't you want to know the secrets of the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine?

"Don't you want to know the origin of that cultivation method?

"Don't you want to find the other half of the Fusang Divine Tree?"

Faced with her tempting words, Lin Chang'an did not conceal his curiosity.

"I have already brought Senior away.

"This place is perfectly safe."

After all, it was because of her voice transmission earlier that he had abruptly changed his plans and escaped with the scroll.

Now...

It was naturally her turn to fulfill her promise.

The remnant soul inside the scroll felt utterly speechless.

Safe?

A Phoenix Cry Bird—

No!

If her eyes had not deceived her...

That was clearly a late third-rank Golden Flame Divine Bird, currently staring at her like a tiger watching its prey.

There was also a late third-rank Green-horned Bull with a mutated bloodline, equally prepared to strike.

Meanwhile...

This young brat was already forming hand seals.

The Soul Devouring Curse behind the scroll was practically ready to activate at any moment.

And he called this a safe place?

Unfortunately...

The situation was beyond her control.

The remnant soul sighed softly before slowly revealing the information she knew as payment.

Just as Lin Chang'an had long suspected...

The Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine truly was not a spiritual object from this world.

"The Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine is a heavenly spiritual treasure from the Upper Realm.

"I've lost many of my memories, so I can't recall all the details.

"But I do remember bringing these treasures with me when I fled into the Lower Realm.

"This cultivation method is deeply connected to the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine.

"Now that you've refined it into your Natal Spiritual Plant...

"You absolutely must never reveal this cultivation method..."

With another helpless sigh befitting her remnant soul, she explained that many of her memories had genuinely disappeared.

"And don't even think about using the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine to search my soul.

"You already tried before, didn't you?

"I'm sure you discovered the result yourself.

"Although I've forgotten many things...

"I know one fact for certain.

"After you refined the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine into your Natal Spiritual Plant...

"Our fortunes became intertwined.

"If one prospers, both prosper.

"If one falls, both fall."

Listening to her explanation, Lin Chang'an's eyes flickered.

He truly had attempted to use the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine to search her soul.

After all...

He trusted truths obtained through Soul Search far more than another person's words.

What shocked him, however, was that...

His normally unstoppable Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine unexpectedly displayed an intimate affinity upon touching her remnant soul.

It had actually attempted to nourish and heal her soul.

Had the vine not already become his Natal Spiritual Plant under his complete control...

He might have suspected the treasure itself was hiding some sort of trap.

Furthermore...

The spiritual power she wielded also seemed to be Profound Heavenly Power.

After a moment of silence, Lin Chang'an looked toward the scroll and said coldly,

"So after talking for so long...

"Everything you've said amounts to nothing more than empty promises?"

The Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine came from the Upper Realm.

It contained tremendous secrets.

But...

What did any of that have to do with his current situation?

"What do you mean empty promises?

"Once you've refined the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine into your Natal Spiritual Plant...

"There's no turning back.

"Or perhaps...

"Would you really be willing to abandon such a heaven-defying opportunity?

"My memories may be incomplete...

"But nourished by the Profound Heavenly Power that possesses boundless vitality...

"My soul will one day recover..."

As she continued speaking, Lin Chang'an silently weighed the gains and losses.

This remnant soul actually belonged to an Upper Realm cultivator.

According to her...

Both the cultivation method and the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine were connected to an enormous danger.

"There's also the Fusang Divine Tree.

"I vaguely remember bringing that treasure down with me as well.

"As for everything afterward...

"My remaining memories begin only after I arrived in this world..."

As her emotions grew subdued, she slowly explained that she had descended from the Upper Realm.

Something had happened in this world.

A great battle had forced her to seal her remnant soul inside this magical artifact.

Time passed.

She remained asleep for countless years.

Eventually...

A Nascent Soul cultivator from this world discovered her, and they reached an agreement.

Unfortunately...

That cultivator had become contaminated by Demonic Energy.

While attempting to expel it within his temporary cave abode...

He suffered a fatal backlash.

After listening quietly for quite some time...

Lin Chang'an frowned thoughtfully.

No wonder...

Inside the secret realm where he first discovered the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine in Yue Kingdom...

There had been the skeletal remains of a fallen Nascent Soul cultivator.

"You were with him.

"Yet he still died from Demonic Energy backlash?"

Lin Chang'an asked gravely.

The Nascent Soul cultivator's death had always seemed strangely abrupt.

The moment this subject was raised...

The remnant soul became even more frustrated.

"Who are you blaming?

"I repeatedly told him to cultivate this cultivation method immediately.

"But he was far too cautious.

"He refused to switch cultivation techniques.

"By the time he realized the Demonic Energy had already invaded his soul...

"It was too late.

"I finally found someone after waiting for who knows how long.

"And then he died.

"Afterward I remained asleep inside that cave abode for over a thousand years."

She sounded genuinely aggrieved.

Everything she had said was true.

She had believed she would finally escape.

Instead...

The very first person she found died almost immediately.

Leaving her no choice but to fall asleep once again.

"Young brat.

"My memories may be incomplete...

"But I still possess countless secret techniques and inheritances.

"Guiding a mere Core Formation cultivator like you is more than enough.

"Don't you wish to form a Nascent Soul?

"Don't you wish to ascend after reaching the Divine Transformation Realm?

"And that Profound Heavenly Spirit Physique isn't nearly as easy to cultivate as you think.

"With me around...

"You'll avoid countless detours."

She sounded extremely sincere.

Yet Lin Chang'an frowned inwardly.

The rewards were certainly tempting.

But he still disliked having a hidden danger constantly beside him.

Just as killing intent quietly arose within his heart...

The remnant soul seemed to sense something.

Her expression immediately turned serious.

"I'm willing to completely open my soul and allow you to place restrictions upon it.

"My life and death will rest entirely within your thoughts.

"However...

"You must also swear a Heart Demon Oath.

"If one day I no longer pose any threat to you...

"Then after you've become sufficiently powerful...

"You must restore my freedom."

After hearing such sincere concessions...

Lin Chang'an's eyes flickered.

He admitted...

He was tempted.

More than anyone...

He understood the value of having a powerful foundation.

A cultivator who had lived for thousands of years...

Perhaps even one from the Upper Realm...

If all her inheritances truly became his...

He would save himself an unimaginable amount of effort.

Half an hour later...

The two finally reached an agreement.

She would wholeheartedly assist Lin Chang'an in his cultivation and strengthening himself, harboring no ulterior motives.

In return...

Without harming his own interests...

Lin Chang'an would use Profound Heavenly Power to nourish her soul.

Both parties swore Heart Demon Oaths.

"Now then...

"What's the story with Huang Tianxiao?

"Why didn't you cooperate with him?

"And what is that Shape-shifted Sinister Spirit Beast King's scheme?"

Bound by the Heart Demon Oaths...

Lin Chang'an finally relaxed slightly.

The reason he chose to cooperate with her went beyond merely obtaining guidance.

The greatest reason...

Was the affinity his Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine displayed toward her.

Even during his earlier transaction with Huang Tianxiao...

He had already sensed that strangely familiar aura.

It truly felt...

Just as she had said...

Although she had lost her memories...

The Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine and she shared intertwined destinies.

"You mean that gloomy, scheming little brat?"

Mentioning Huang Tianxiao caused the remnant soul to sneer.

"Even if he cultivated this cultivation method...

"He doesn't possess the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine.

"Naturally, he has no value.

"As for him...

"He merely regarded me as an ordinary remnant Nascent Soul sealed within a magical artifact.

"Naturally...

"My value couldn't compare with that emotionless sinister ghost king."

As she continued explaining...

Lin Chang'an could not help but feel astonished.

Huang Tianxiao's experiences truly resembled those of a heaven's chosen protagonist.

Serving beneath the Profound Yin Old Devil...

Yet secretly plotting his escape.

Obtaining this scroll...

Then secretly making a deal with the Shape-shifted Sinister Spirit Beast King.

One man...

Carrying two ancient masters within himself.

"So...

"Huang Tianxiao secretly colluded with the Shape-shifted Sinister Spirit Beast King...

"And also intends to betray the Profound Yin Demonic Sect?"

Hearing this information...

Lin Chang'an's eyes lit up.

If properly utilized...

This could prove extremely useful when he and Yun Yao eventually fled.

At the same time...

Looking toward the remnant soul inside the scroll...

He also understood something.

She claimed to be cooperating with him...

But in reality...

She was cooperating with the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine.

That also explained why...

After remaining in the hands of the Li Huo Palace for so many years...

She had never revealed any of these truths.

However...

Upon hearing Huang Tianxiao's secrets...

Lin Chang'an's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"He also cultivates this cultivation method?"

"Yes.

"However...

"He cultivates it only as a supplementary method.

"He refined the Soul Nourishing Wood into his Natal Spiritual Plant..."

After hearing the complete story...

Lin Chang'an silently nodded.

Huang Tianxiao truly had experienced an extraordinary life.

On Yin Soul Island...

He traded with the Shape-shifted Sinister Spirit Beast King...

Obtained the Yin Soul Sect's Soul Nourishing Wood...

And refined it into his Natal Spiritual Plant.

"Although many of her memories are gone...

"When all the clues are pieced together...

"They all point toward one conclusion.

"The Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine and this cultivation method involve an enormous secret.

"They even fled from the Upper Realm.

"A heavenly treasure like the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine...

"Was most likely being hunted."

Thinking this through...

Lin Chang'an felt inwardly alarmed.

Although he still lacked many details...

Fortunately...

Throughout all these years...

He had unconsciously concealed his true cultivation system...

Presenting himself publicly only as a sword cultivator.

It now appeared...

That decision had been absolutely correct.

The Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine absolutely could not be exposed.

Moreover...

With this remnant soul guiding him...

His future cultivation path might truly become much smoother.

Nascent Soul.

Divine Transformation.

Ascension.

To say he felt no temptation would be a lie.

Especially now that every clue suggested...

Their destinies were indeed linked.

"May I ask how I should address Fellow Daoist?"

Finally...

Lin Chang'an lowered his hand seals.

However...

The Soul Devouring Curse on the back of the scroll remained.

"My... name..."

The crimson-robed woman furrowed her brows in pain.

She desperately tried recalling it...

But nothing came.

"Red...

"Let's go with Red Robe."

After struggling for a long time...

Only the word "Red" remained in her memory.

Looking down at her own crimson robes...

She simply chose that as her name.

Watching the remnant soul inside the scroll...

Lin Chang'an could not determine whether she had genuinely forgotten her name...

Or whether another reason existed.

At the very least...

Her life truly remained within a single thought of his.

"Just as you said...

"I'm merely a remnant soul.

"The past belongs only to my former self.

"You and I may simply address one another as Fellow Daoist.

"Besides...

"I'll also require your Profound Heavenly Power to nourish my soul."

Lin Chang'an nodded lightly.

Looking at her weakened soul...

He finally rolled up the scroll.

However...

Just to be safe...

He attached more than twenty Spirit Stabilizing Talismans to it.

"What cultivation level did she possess before her death?

"She descended from the Upper Realm...

"Could she have been a Divine Transformation cultivator?

"Or perhaps something even higher?"

After pondering for some time...

Lin Chang'an could only bury those questions deep within his heart.

Right now...

He was merely a Core Formation cultivator.

Meanwhile...

She was only a weakened remnant soul.

Combined with the severe injuries caused by the Soul Devouring Curse...

She could hardly stir up much trouble.

"Still...

"This treasure is truly extraordinary."

Once activated...

The scroll functioned just as before.

The remnant soul could transform into a Nascent Soul-level Dharma Manifestation...

Unleashing a single strike from a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The greatest advantage...

Was that she was not some lifeless remnant.

She retained a cultivator's battle instincts.

Even with identical power...

The threat she posed far exceeded ordinary one-time attacks.

Unfortunately...

The Soul Devouring Curse had severely damaged her soul.

The power she could now display had diminished greatly.

She urgently required his Profound Heavenly Power to restore herself.

"And then there are these two puppets."

Lin Chang'an next took out the two third-rank puppets he had seized earlier.

A smile appeared on his face.

Both puppets were humanoid archers.

"These two mid third-rank puppets...

"Judging by the materials and craftsmanship...

"They should originally belong to the Yin Soul Sect.

"Huang Tianxiao didn't create them himself."

【Third-rank Low-grade Puppet Master (Proficient 286/500)】

His puppet craftsmanship had improved steadily over the years.

He had barely entered the third-rank.

Combined with the Yin Soul Sect inheritance...

He immediately recognized them.

These puppets had certainly not been crafted within the last hundred years.

They were at least five to six hundred years old.

"But more important matters still await."

Taking a deep breath...

Lin Chang'an stored the Phoenix Cry Bird away.

After dismantling the formation...

He mounted the Green-horned Bull and headed toward the direction indicated by the Seven Kingdoms Alliance's Transmission Talisman.

...

Within the Fog Sea of Tongtian...

After Lin Chang'an escaped with the treasure...

The furious Huang Tianxiao finally released the old ghost residing within his body.

Sinister Qi filled the skies.

The Four Seas Merchant Guild's Core Formation cultivators suffered catastrophic losses.

The three Seven Kingdoms Alliance Core Formation cultivators proved much luckier.

Or perhaps...

Since they had been marginalized from the beginning...

They had unintentionally struck fortune.

The instant they realized something was wrong...

They fled immediately.

By the time Lin Chang'an leisurely arrived riding the Green-horned Bull...

He encountered only the battered survivors.

"Fellow Daoist Lin!

"Quickly leave!

"Huang Tianxiao activated a secret treasure of the Demonic Sect!

"Sinister souls are devouring people..."

This campaign to surround Huang Tianxiao had ended in complete disaster.

Of the eight Core Formation cultivators from the Four Seas Merchant Guild...

Only four survived.

Two among them had suffered severe injuries.

The guild had truly suffered devastating losses.

As for the three surviving Seven Kingdoms Alliance cultivators...

They remained deeply shaken.

This time...

They had survived purely through luck.

Or rather...

Thanks to Meng Xinghai pushing them aside.

Meanwhile...

The news inevitably spread.

As the incident fermented...

Cultivators throughout the Outer Sea were utterly shocked.

The Number One Beneath the Nascent Soul...

Huang Tianxiao...

Had single-handedly repelled more than ten Core Formation cultivators.

His reputation spread throughout the Outer Sea.

After learning this while hiding within the Fog Sea of Tongtian...

Huang Tianxiao felt utterly miserable.

Sometimes...

A reputation that grew too great...

Was hardly a blessing.

...

The failed encirclement of Huang Tianxiao shook the entire region.

His title as the Number One Beneath the Nascent Soul became even more famous.

This battle record finally silenced countless doubters.

His position as the strongest beneath the Nascent Soul seemed almost firmly established.

It was said that after learning of the disastrous defeat suffered by his subordinates...

True Lord Lu of the Bihai Palace had become extremely furious.

Meanwhile...

The Profound Yin Demonic Sect's reputation throughout the Outer Sea soared.

However...

Over the following period...

The figure of the so-called Number One Beneath the Nascent Soul appeared everywhere across the Outer Sea.

Murder.

Robbery.

The extermination of entire sects and clans.

Anyone with a discerning eye could easily notice something strange.

Some incidents occurred tens of thousands of li apart.

Others even involved three massacres happening on the exact same day.

Yet...

Someone behind the scenes seemed to be deliberately fueling these rumors.

Instead...

The title of Number One Beneath the Nascent Soul became even more resounding.

...

After finishing several personal matters...

Lin Chang'an returned to the Five Dragon Islands.

Celestial Spring Peak.

"I've finally refined this treasure completely."

Inside his cave abode...

Lin Chang'an slowly opened his eyes.

The floating scroll before him had changed completely.

The once blurry crimson-robed figure was now entirely visible.

The woman inside the painting stood barefoot in flowing crimson robes...

Amidst an elegant ink landscape.

Upon seeing her true appearance...

Even Lin Chang'an could not help but think of four words.

Peerless beauty.

Whether that beauty belonged to her true appearance...

Or merely to the original painting within the magical artifact...

He could not tell.

"Fellow Daoist...

"Can you finally rest assured now?"

Her cool voice echoed softly...

Like icy spring water flowing across stone.

The crimson-robed woman slowly stepped out of the painting.

A trace of sickly weakness remained upon her face...

Only making her even more captivating.

"Fellow Daoist is too courteous."

Seeing Lin Chang'an's calm smile...

Red Robe naturally understood exactly what he was thinking.

Previously...

Although Huang Tianxiao possessed exceptional talent...

Without the Profound Heavenly Immortal Vine capable of saving her...

She naturally had no intention of revealing her true circumstances.

Thus...

She had pretended to be nothing more than an ordinary remnant soul of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

She had even concealed the scroll's final layer of restrictions.

Only after returning...

Under her guidance...

Did Lin Chang'an finally complete the artifact's full refinement.

This also served as the first true foundation of trust between them.

"It seems Fellow Daoist has recovered rather well recently."

Now that he completely controlled the treasure...

Lin Chang'an's mood greatly improved.

Smiling warmly, he looked toward Red Robe.

She merely fell silent.

This man was truly shameless.

He guarded against her at every turn.

At first...

He had even planned to search her soul and seize every inheritance she possessed.

Had that been possible...

She would already have ceased to exist.

Now...

His concern for her recovery clearly carried only one purpose.

"Thank you for your assistance, Fellow Daoist."

Smiling brightly...

Lin Chang'an immediately began asking her every cultivation question and difficulty that had puzzled him.

After all...

Only a fool would waste such an outstanding teacher.

As the opening of the secret realm drew ever closer...

Lin Chang'an refused to waste even a single opportunity to strengthen himself.

...

Time passed swiftly.

Another year went by.

【Lifespan: 280/872】

【Cultivation: Late Core Formation (44/100)】

Bathed in warm sunlight...

Lin Chang'an stepped out of his cave abode.

Looking upon the residence where he had lived for more than a hundred years...

A rare trace of reluctance appeared in his eyes.

"It's finally time to leave."

During the final year before the secret realm opened...

The entire Demon Beast Sea Abyss instead fell into an eerie calm.

Throughout this year...

Under Fellow Daoist Red Robe's guidance...

Although Lin Chang'an's cultivation advanced only moderately...

His understanding of various techniques improved at astonishing speed.

Despite having forgotten many memories...

Her instincts regarding cultivation alone amounted to overwhelming superiority when instructing him.

At the same time...

To prepare for the dangers awaiting inside the secret realm...

Lin Chang'an constantly used Profound Heavenly Power to nourish her soul throughout the year.

Unfortunately...

Whether due to the Soul Devouring Curse's backlash...

Or because her remnant soul remained bound to the magical artifact...

Every time the treasure was activated...

Red Robe needed to enter deep slumber afterward in order to preserve her continued existence.

"Master."

The Sword Attendant respectfully bowed.

Long ago...

Every valuable spiritual plant and spiritual fruit throughout Celestial Spring Peak had already been sold and converted into cultivation resources.

"Moo."

The Green-horned Bull also seemed to sense their impending departure.

Its low moo carried unmistakable reluctance.

"Let's brew one final pot of Spirit Tea.

"After this farewell...

"Who knows how long it'll be before we return."

Walking into the familiar pavilion...

Lin Chang'an smiled faintly.

Perhaps...

After living long enough...

Every farewell inevitably carried traces of reluctance.

Yet...

He still had an even longer road ahead.

One day...

When he looked back upon his journey...

These memories would undoubtedly become some of the most precious moments of his life.

The octagonal pavilion had already begun showing signs of age.

As fragrant tea drifted through the air...

Lin Chang'an experienced emotions unlike before.

Reluctance toward leaving the cave abode where he had cultivated for over a century...

Alongside anticipation for the future path toward the Nascent Soul Realm.

"I only hope...

"We'll meet again someday."

Setting down his teacup...

Lin Chang'an looked toward several letters that had recently arrived.

After Li Yifan departed...

Shen Fan and Wei Yingying were now nearly two hundred and forty years old.

For Foundation Establishment cultivators...

They had unquestionably entered old age.

After all...

Very few Foundation Establishment cultivators ever reached three hundred years of age.

"Shen Zhuang has also returned home.

"His letter was quite sincere.

"He has assumed responsibility for the Shen Clan and now works together with Li Tianmo to stabilize the marketplace."

Reading the letter...

Lin Chang'an smiled.

"Old friends gradually fade away.

"Even those younger generations I watched grow up are approaching the twilight of their lives."

Yet...

Under the brilliant sunlight...

The vegetation covering Celestial Spring Peak flourished vigorously within the spring breeze...

Overflowing with vibrant life.

This time...

Lin Chang'an felt little sorrow.

After all...

Those younger generations had lived good lives.

His homeland had also remained free from disaster throughout the past century.

At that moment...

His heart became perfectly tranquil.

He smiled faintly.

He was merely one among countless living beings pursuing liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.

"Fairy of Rainbow Skirt was seriously injured?"

Reading Fairy of Rainbow Skirt's letter...

Lin Chang'an chuckled.

Everyone continued moving forward.

He himself could not stop.

This so-called serious injury...

Was clearly just a smokescreen.

Just as she had hinted before...

Fairy of Rainbow Skirt was also preparing to risk entering the secret realm.

"Judging by her age...

"Fairy of Rainbow Skirt should be nearly three hundred years old.

"Having reached her current cultivation with Heavenly Spiritual Root talent...

"How could she willingly give up without making one final attempt?"

Thinking about the Profound Sound Pavilion's preparations over recent years...

Lin Chang'an nodded approvingly.

Unlike the Dragon Clan of old...

The Profound Sound Pavilion had never acted overbearingly.

Instead...

They first sent the Zhao sisters back to Yue Kingdom to stabilize their rear.

Meanwhile...

The Five Dragon Islands were now protected by Xu Lingfeng and Liu Ruyu, both mid Core Formation cultivators...

Along with two early Core Formation cultivators.

One of those two had only broken through last year.

While perhaps lacking ambition...

As long as no major disaster occurred...

Self-preservation would not be a problem.

"With such an approach...

"At the very least...

"The various sects and clans of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance can rest much easier."

After all...

The first people who feared an overly powerful Profound Sound Pavilion...

Would naturally be their own allies.

"Yun Yao."

Finally...

Upon seeing the familiar letter...

Lin Chang'an's expression grew serious.

The agreed time was approaching.

However...

Yun Yao would first travel to Sea Abyss City.

That was precisely why...

He intended to depart early and head there himself.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Master."

The Sword Attendant respectfully bowed.

Within her cool eyes...

Only Lin Chang'an existed.

For her...

Celestial Spring Peak was merely a memory.

Following her master...

Was everything.

"Moo."

The Green-horned Bull's slow, honest moo echoed softly.

Celestial Spring Peak once again returned to complete tranquility.

Only a teacup within the pavilion...

Still retaining a trace of warmth...

Seemed to quietly testify that someone had only recently been there.

Beautiful mountains.

Clear waters.

The cultivators cultivating beneath the mountain remained completely unaware of what had just happened.

The distance between the mountaintop and the foothills...

Seemed almost symbolic of the gulf separating high-level cultivators from low-level ones.

...

Half an hour later.

Two streaks of light descended once again upon Celestial Spring Peak.

The arrivals were Liu Ruyu and Xu Lingfeng.

"Elder Lin has left."

Looking at the empty peak...

Only the now-cooled teacup remained inside the pavilion.

Liu Ruyu could not help revealing a melancholy expression.

Xu Lingfeng silently gazed upon everything before him.

When they first met...

He had been full of youthful vigor.

Yet...

In barely a century...

Lin Chang'an had already caught up to the Sect Master's cultivation...

Leaving him far behind.

Throughout all these years...

Lin Chang'an's contributions to the Profound Sound Pavilion had been immeasurable.

"Junior Sister Liu...

"From now on, you'll remain behind to guard the sect.

"I'll open a cave abode halfway up the mountain and devote myself to cultivation.

"I may never catch up to Senior Sister Sect Master...

"But I still cannot give up.

"And...

"I believe both Senior Sister Sect Master and Elder Lin will return."

Now that Elder Lin—the late Core Formation elder—had departed...

And the Sect Master had secretly left as well...

The tremendous burden resting upon their shoulders finally allowed them to understand...

Just how much pressure Fairy of Rainbow Skirt had borne all those years.

At this moment...

Xu Lingfeng seemed to gain a new understanding.

His expression turned resolute.

Only by breaking through into the late Core Formation Realm as quickly as possible...

Could he truly protect the sect.

Liu Ruyu naturally understood everything.

Her aptitude had always been inferior to Xu Lingfeng's.

When the Sect Master helped her break through...

It had been to stabilize the sect's internal affairs.

Xu Lingfeng's decision certainly stemmed from his desire to cultivate...

But equally...

He wished to preserve the development path the Sect Master had established...

Avoiding internal struggles for power.

"In that case...

"I'll entrust the sect to Junior Sister."

Taking a deep breath...

Liu Ruyu understood clearly.

The Profound Sound Pavilion would soon face the coming upheaval within the Demon Beast Sea Abyss.

Every major upheaval carried the possibility of Nascent Soul cultivators falling...

Let alone Core Formation sects like theirs.

The Profound Sound Pavilion's changes attracted little surprise.

After all...

Lin Chang'an had deliberately faded into the background over many years.

Fairy of Rainbow Skirt had done the same.

Combined with the Seven Kingdoms Alliance's attention being focused on mining spiritual ore abroad...

Neither the Profound Sound Pavilion nor the Seven Kingdoms Alliance had projected an overbearing image.

Unlike the Dragon Clan...

Which had barely fallen before others rushed in to kick them while they were down.

More importantly...

A storm was approaching.

Everyone quietly awaited its arrival.

The Four Seas Merchant Guild, having suffered grievous losses, withdrew its influence and quietly licked its wounds.

Meanwhile...

Meng Xinghai also secretly departed Bibo Island...

Heading toward Sea Abyss City.

His cheap master naturally knew he would also be entering the secret realm.

As the opening of the secret realm approached...

Every faction began making its final moves.

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