Chapter 775 Xiao Chuhe

The skeleton leaned against the stone wall. It was impossible to tell how many years it had been submerged in the bone-chilling waters of Jueyin, yet the bones showed no signs of damage whatsoever.

Upon closer inspection, Ye Xuan was astonished. He discovered that the entire skeleton was actually golden—every single bone.

It was just that, perhaps from being soaked in the Jueyin Water for too long, a layer of black markings had formed on the surface, creating a slight mutation. That was why he hadn’t noticed it at first.

’A skeleton that’s entirely golden... That’s a state only a Martial Emperor at the Tier Nine Triple Peak, at the very least, could achieve.’

Ye Xuan sucked in a sharp breath.

When a Martial Artist advanced to the Martial Emperor realm, their condensed energy would shift from their flesh to their bones. Typically, the bones of a newly ascended Martial Emperor would carry a faint golden hue. But this skeleton’s gold was incredibly rich—a level only an expert at the Tier Nine Triple Peak, or even higher, could reach.

However, stained as it was with black markings, the skeleton exuded a cold and profound aura in Ye Xuan’s perception, making him feel somewhat suppressed.

"You should be able to see me now." The aged voice came from the black-marked skeleton.

Ye Xuan nodded. He hadn’t expected the one speaking to him to be a skeleton.

Logically, if a Martial Artist’s body was reduced to a skeleton, they should be dead beyond any doubt. But as a Soul Refiner, Ye Xuan knew that as long as one’s cultivation was high enough and their mastery of Soul Refining was profound, they could survive even if only bones remained.

’Could this person have been a master of Soul Refining?’

Ye Xuan guessed inwardly. ’To keep one’s soul from dissipating for thousands of years... their Soul Refining cultivation must have reached a monstrous level. It would have to be several times stronger than my own in my past life.’

Moreover, his Soul Sense should have only been able to perceive things within a few dozen meters, yet he could now clearly sense the skeleton over a hundred meters away. The skeleton must have used some method to make itself perceptible to him.

That alone was enough to leave Ye Xuan in awe.

"I never thought you would possess a Celestial Fire. No wonder you were able to make it this far."

The dark skeleton’s eye sockets stared at Ye Xuan, its aged, hoarse voice laced with a hint of shock. The pitch-black emptiness of its hollow eyes gave Ye Xuan a deeply unsettling feeling.

Furthermore, the skeleton exuded a frigid aura that seemed to have merged with the Jueyin Water, sending a chill through one’s entire body.

"Young man, come here. If you can get me out of this place, I will grant you a heaven-defying opportunity."

the black skeleton said, its tone arrogant.

"Opportunity? What kind of opportunity?"

Ye Xuan asked in a low voice, but he didn’t move forward. For one, the frigid energy here was already becoming too much for him to bear. For another, the skeleton’s appearance was too strange; Ye Xuan had to be on his guard.

"An opportunity to become one of the continent’s top experts, of course."

Seeing Ye Xuan’s disbelief, the black skeleton grew slightly irritated.

"A top expert of the continent? Not interested." Ye Xuan found the black skeleton more and more unreliable. Besides, it wasn’t as if he couldn’t reach the pinnacle of the continent on his own.

"Sigh... to think you don’t even care about the Chaos Holy Fruit..." The black skeleton’s sigh echoed in Ye Xuan’s ears.

Ye Xuan’s heart leaped in shock. As an Alchemy Master, he knew better than anyone what the Chaos Holy Fruit was.

Legend said it was a Tier Ten Holy Medicine, and a supreme one at that. Consuming it could allow a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor to be completely reborn and step into the legendary Saint Realm.

Lower-level Martial Artists could also consume it. It could unconditionally elevate any Martial Artist by an entire tier.

An entire tier, not just a single layer.

This meant that if Ye Xuan, who was currently at the Tier Eight First Layer, were to obtain the Chaos Holy Fruit and consume it, he could immediately ascend to the realm of a Tier Nine First Layer Martial Emperor. If he waited until he reached the Tier Nine Triple Peak, consuming it then would give him a chance to break into the legendary Saint Realm, shatter the void, and ascend to the fabled Celestial Realm.

However, Ye Xuan had only ever read about such a Holy Medicine in ancient texts, and even those records were incomplete. He had never seen one in the real world.

"Does the Chaos Holy Fruit really exist?" Ye Xuan asked, shocked.

"Of course." The black skeleton said nonchalantly, "The Chaos Holy Fruit grows on the legendary Chaos Sacred Tree. It matures once every ten thousand years—a truly heaven-defying creation. I was fortunate enough to obtain one. If you get me out of here, I will naturally give it to you. Your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds, and entering the Saint Realm will be effortless."

’Putting aside whether such a treasure even exists, why would this guy give it to me?’

’Besides,’ Ye Xuan thought, ’I can see that only a wisp of its soul remains attached to those bones. Even if I get it out, it would need to find a new body to be revived. What if it suddenly tries to possess me?’

Ye Xuan refused to believe that an old monster capable of surviving in this place wouldn’t have the ability to possess him.

As if guessing Ye Xuan’s thoughts, the black skeleton suddenly said nonchalantly, "Are you suspecting me of some conspiracy? Worried I’ll try to possess you? You don’t need to worry about that at all. Firstly, my soul is merely a fragment; possession and revival are impossible for me. Secondly, even if I wanted to possess you, you have a treasure like the Celestial Fire. Why would you need to fear possession? You should know that Celestial Fire is the bane of all things ethereal. With it here, I couldn’t possibly possess you."

Ye Xuan could sense that the black skeleton’s soul was indeed fragmented. For some reason, however, a faint sense of unease still lingered in his heart.

As for the claim that Celestial Fire could thwart possession, Ye Xuan didn’t buy it for a second.

’True, Celestial Fire can easily block possession attempts from ordinary experts, but it isn’t omnipotent. Back in Ancient Yang City, I almost failed to resist Zhan Shang’s possession attempt. It was only with the help of my Devouring Martial Soul and the Sword of Judgment’s Heavenly Punishment that I managed to drive him out.’

’If I actually believe this black skeleton’s claim that Celestial Fire can thwart any possession attempt, then I’d be the real fool.’

Ever since he had accidentally fallen in that forbidden land in his past life, Ye Xuan had become far more wary of so-called "fortuitous encounters."

"Sigh, you don’t even believe this? Fine. If you get me out of here, I will give you the inheritance I left behind on the continent. It’s my life’s work. With it, ascending to the peak of the continent will be a certainty."

Ye Xuan still didn’t move. If he wasn’t moved by the Chaos Holy Fruit, why would he care about some inheritance from a black skeleton?

"What will it take for you to believe me? I just want you to get me out of this cave! Being corroded by the Jueyin Water for so many years... it’s been agonizing. If you hadn’t come here today, I would have faded away completely within a few years. Before I die, I just want to go to Ancient Celestial City in the Profound Domain and see my descendants, to see if they are doing well."

"Ancient Celestial City? Senior, you are...?"

Ye Xuan frowned. He naturally knew of Ancient Celestial City. Located in the Profound Realm Ninth Heaven, it had once been an incredibly glorious power and the very center of the Profound Domain.

But three thousand years ago, a great upheaval shook the Profound Domain, and Ancient Celestial City fell into decline. Now, the Holy City was the center of the Profound Domain.

"My name is Xiao Chuhe..."

"What? You’re Xiao Chuhe? The peak expert of the continent who entered Jueyin Cave over six thousand years ago?" Ye Xuan exclaimed in shock.

He had indeed heard of Xiao Chuhe. This was the same peak expert of the continent who had entered Jueyin Cave thousands of years ago and ultimately perished.

According to legend, thousands of years ago, this man was already a Tier Nine Triple Peak Martial Emperor, an expert with one foot in the Saint Realm. He was one of the most fearsome figures of his era and one of the masters of Ancient Celestial City.

What puzzled Ye Xuan, however, was that in his past life, he had never heard of Xiao Chuhe being a Soul Refiner. ’So how did his soul survive?’

"I’m surprised you’ve still heard of me after all this time." Xiao Chuhe’s ancient voice was tinged with emotion.

"Senior, you’re actually still alive? And how did you end up like this?" Ye Xuan asked, his tone now tinged with respect.

Ye Xuan had read many ancient records about him. Xiao Chuhe had an excellent reputation in the Profound Domain in his time and had made numerous contributions to the continent. Ye Xuan couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for such a figure.

"It’s a long story. In my youth, I was arrogant and proud. I tried to explore this Jueyin Cave, but my physical body was corroded by the Jueyin Water. If I hadn’t once refined a Tier Ten Yin-Transforming Grass, allowing my soul to attach to my own bones, I would have died here long ago."

Ye Xuan was shocked once again. ’A Tier Ten Yin-Transforming Grass? That’s another legendary Spirit Medicine!’ Even at the peak of his past life, he had never seen a single Spirit Medicine of Tier Ten or higher.

In his past life, Ye Xuan could be considered a peak figure on the continent. Though his cultivation level wasn’t the highest, his status was certainly no less than that of a Tier Nine Third Layer Martial Emperor. But compared to Xiao Chuhe... wasn’t the gap too immense? This man had casually obtained two different Tier Ten Spirit Medicines. It was simply outrageous.

No wonder Xiao Chuhe’s skeleton carried such an incredibly cold aura. It was because he had consumed the Yin-Transforming Grass. It made sense; without a Tier Ten Yin-Transforming Grass, how could he have survived the constant scouring of the Jueyin Water for so long?

Xiao Chuhe continued with a sigh, "Unfortunately, while the Yin-Transforming Grass preserved my soul, my physical body is gone. I can only remain in this small cave, living out my days in solitude. Soon, I fear, even this last wisp of my soul will be extinguished. Thankfully, I have finally met you. If you could see fit to lead me out of this Jueyin Cave, I would be eternally grateful."