Chapter 116 - The Plan

"How long will that ritual of yours take?" Fiora asked. "You should know there will be people who would notice a lot of deaths. Or maybe escape using some artifacts."

Cale replied with a smile, "Don’t worry. Once activated, it traps their souls. I doubt even someone in peak Emperor stage can escape from it." He paused, calculating. "As for the time... hmm, forty minutes, I guess. You’ll have to hold them for that time."

It was a simple ask, really. Hold an army for forty minutes while he performed a soul-trapping ritual that would effectively obliterate their ability to escape or resist. Child’s play for someone of Fiora’s caliber.

With Fiora’s identity and status, they’d managed to join one of the larger expeditionary groups with approximately fifty people in total. Most were from Vaeloria, some from the academy, some local nobles. Individually, they weren’t particularly strong, even if their cultivations suggested otherwise. But together, they formed a decent shield against the more dangerous elements lurking in the depths.

And who didn’t want free meatshields?

Fiora was made leader of the group almost immediately upon joining. And Cale? Well, he was already declared her fiancé across the entire continent, so naturally no one objected to his presence at her side. Males aside, with his godlike facial features and top tier charm, women would literally offer their lives to him if he asked. Charisma of this level was doing serious work.

After identifying a strategic point near several major tomb sites, Cale decided to initiate his plan. First priority was definitely to loot all the inheritances in the area.

’Heh, if you’re going to die anyway, why would you destroy these artifacts with your pathetic lives?’ he thought with dark amusement. ’Just let me keep them for you.’

He knew Wang Yunfeng would be here somewhere. And more importantly, Li Zhan—the next heir of the Li clan, someone in Emperor stage was here too. No siblings, sole heir to the entire lineage. With his death, the Li clan’s future prominence would crumble like sand. And the Li clan won’t even think of any expeditions to Vaeloria for next 2-3 years.

But Li Zhan would lead them to what Cale truly wanted, the Bone Fiend Emperor’s tomb.

The Bone Fiend Emperor had been something rare and terrible, a cultivator from a clan that specialized in bone arts, the manipulation of skeletal structure and calcified power. But when his entire clan was annihilated, he’d turned to the demonic path, spending centuries killing and slaughtering without purpose or restraint. A monster that had eventually died, leaving behind treasures of immense value.

What Cale wanted from that tomb was- First, the Dao Bones themselves. Bones that could actively cultivate, bones that could recover from any fracture or damage given enough essence. If he possessed those, even near-life threatening injuries would become temporary rather than fatal threats.

Second, his sword intent technique, one that when infused into a cultivator’s existing sword intent, would create atom-sized particles capable of entering an enemy’s body. Once inside, they would proliferate tenfold, essentially guaranteeing death through internal destruction. A perfect assassination tool to even kill high tier cultivators even as a weakling.

And third, most intriguingly, the technique to create split soul bodies. Having two versions of himself working simultaneously? That would be so fun!

There would be artifacts too, but those were unnecessary.

Niva Xercs was the only person capable of pulling this off.

Not because of her strength, she was merely at Grandmaster stage, surrounded by Emperor-stage cultivators. But because of her looks, her acting skills, and most importantly, her protagonist-level luck. She could walk into traps that would kill anyone else and emerge with treasures in hand.

Cale explained the plan carefully, then looked at her with a smirk.

"Remember, you have to use your seduction skills," he said casually. "Don’t act blank like a washed-up hag in front of him."

Niva’s eyes flashed with indignation.

"Hmph! What do you know?" she shot back, "If not for me, who else would do this kind of thing here? And you dare send a Grandmaster stage like me to an unknown enemy territory, with their leader and many others being at Emperor stage!"

Cale’s smirk widened.

"Oh, you aren’t confident? I see, I see." He sighed dramatically. "I expected too much from you."

"You!!" Niva’s face flushed with anger. "See me seduce that guy? And then you’ll know how looks can kill. And then I will kill you!"

"Oh my, aren’t you scary~" Cale replied with an infuriating wave of his hand. "Now go, shoo shoo."

With that settled, Cale separated from Fiora and the main group. They would handle the large-scale conflicts, the tomb raids with many participants, the low level treasures. These people were here for any treasures they could get their hands on, but he had different priorities.

For two weeks, he roamed alone, seeking out the tombs that others overlooked or considered already looted. What he collected wasn’t artifacts or cultivation resources; those were abundant for anyone with time and effort.

What he wanted were remnant souls.

Most tombs contained nothing but dust and old bones. But occasionally, rarely, the spirits of powerful cultivators who’d died creating those tombs remained, unable or unwilling to depart. They were universally Emperor stage or higher, trapped in spiritual limbo for centuries.

Free food for his soul cultivation.

He collected them. Each remnant soul was carefully extracted and preserved, added to his growing collection. Four full Emperor-stage souls. One Apex-stage soul. Each one a meal for his ravenous cultivation path.

And then, after two weeks of solitary collection:

[Congratulations host! For cultivating to Mid-Apex Stage of Soul Cultivation!]

[Reward: Netherworld Prince’s Ring, A Page of Book of Endless Refinement]

[DESCRIPTION—]

[NETHERWORLD PRINCE’S RING]

A mysterious ring forged with the power of the Netherworld, capable of storing and preserving souls and spirits within itself.

[SOUL STORAGE]: Allows the user to collect and store souls and spirits within the ring without them naturally dissipating. No degradation over time. No limit to quantity.

[FULL RECOVERY]: Once a certain number of souls have been accumulated, the user may consume them to instantly restore their body, energy, and spirit to peak condition. Every additional soul count equivalent to the required amount grants another use.

[SOUL PROTECTION]: Provides the user’s soul with a layer of protection, reducing the effects of soul attacks, spiritual damage, and techniques that directly target the soul itself.

[RESTRICTION]: The effectiveness of the ring depends on the quality and quantity of the stored souls.

Cale stared at the ring materialize on his finger, and genuine joy spread across his features.

’A storage ring for souls? Thank god!’ he thought with relief. ’Now I don’t have to go and collect it every time. I can just stock them up and absorb slowly according to my cultivation speed.’

It was definitely a life changer, no more time wasted on constant collection and absorption cycle. He could accumulate souls passively now.

He laughed quietly to himself, examining his reflection in a nearby pond.

"Heh, given all these soul abilities, will I become some soul refining lord or something?" he mused aloud. "That sure would be an interesting title."

The more he considered it, the more certain he became. He now possessed <<Law of Death (Lvl.4)>>, <<Path of Devour>>, <<Six Paths of Reincarnation (Quasi)>>, <<Path of Recreation and Regeneration>>, <<Path of Demon>>, and <<Path of Supreme Souls>>. Combined with his soul refining body and now the Netherworld Prince’s Ring, the trajectory was quite unmistakable, anyone would arrive at near same conclusion.