Translator: CinderTL
Crack!
A blinding bolt of lightning struck down.
It slammed into the Yin Energy swirling around Chang Yin.
Like morning mist meeting sunlight, the Yin Energy gradually dissipated.
Chang Yin relied on the Yin Energy to move, and its dissipation drastically slowed her escape.
She waved her Ghost Banner, unleashing a torrent of black Ghost Qi.
Within the swirling darkness, a Red-Haired Ghost with a crimson face flickered in and out of view.
The Red-Haired Ghost channeled the surrounding Ghost Qi to meet the descending lightning, buying Chang Yin a moment's respite.
"Senior You'e, save me!"
Chang Yin's plea went unanswered.
In truth, Song Wen's Thunder Magic had enveloped the Profound Yin Sect's Giant Flying Ship as well.
To avoid being caught in the blast, You'e had piloted the ship out of the Thunder Magic's range.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunder rumbled continuously.
Lightning bolts struck the Ghost Qi one after another.
The Ghost Qi was annihilated.
The lightning surged onward, striking the Red-Haired Ghost directly.
The Red-Haired Ghost froze in place, its spectral form trembling violently like a sieve.
Before it could dispel the lightning coursing through its body, another bolt struck.
Though its spectral form wasn't shattered outright, the Red-Haired Ghost was immobilized, becoming a sitting duck.
After the second bolt struck, its form visibly thinned, becoming more ethereal.
Despair filled Chang Yin's eyes.
Though she knew she was no match for Song Wen, she never imagined he could push her to the brink of death with a single spell, without even summoning a Mystic Treasure.
At that moment, regret consumed her.
She regretted her arrogance, her reckless decision to provoke a Nascent Soul cultivator for no reason.
She regretted her past cultivation path, which had been too smooth and unobstructed, leading her to underestimate the cultivators of the world.
She regretted her ignorance, believing that if she could escape from Tong Hua, an Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, she could escape from any Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivator!
Chang Yin channeled all her Spiritual Power into the Ghost Banner, summoning its Ghost Qi to help the Red-Haired Ghost withstand the relentless lightning strikes.
"Senior Yin Shuo, please don't kill me! Spare my life!"
"Senior You'e, please save me! If I die, my master will hold you accountable!"
You'e remained unresponsive.
Song Wen spoke slowly, "Considering you helped me retrieve the Seven Lives Mushroom, I'll give you a chance to leave a last word."
"No! I don't want to die!" Chang Yin cried out in despair.
Song Wen shook his head. "Since you have no last words, then die."
As his voice fell, an even thicker bolt of lightning descended.
In Chang Yin's eyes, filled with utter despair, the lightning struck the Red-Faced Ghost.
The Red-Faced Ghost's soul shattered instantly.
The lingering force of the thunderbolt struck Chang Yin, turning her to ash.
With Chang Yin dead, the dark clouds in the sky immediately dispersed, and the torrential lightning vanished without a trace.
You'e watched Song Wen collect Chang Yin's Storage Ring and sent a telepathic message.
"Fellow Daoist Yin Shuo, you actually killed Chang Yin! Aren't you afraid of Gui Ni's retribution?"
Song Wen replied telepathically, "Cultivators seeking immortality defy the heavens. How can one achieve anything by being timid?"
"Fellow Daoist, you have great courage! But this old woman lacks your boldness. With Chang Yin dead, I will certainly face Gui Ni's wrath when I return to the sect," You'e said.
Song Wen smiled faintly, ignoring You'e's words.
If she truly feared Gui Ni's retribution, she wouldn't have stood idly by while Song Wen killed Chang Yin.
"Fellow Daoist You'e, the mountains are high and the road is long. I must take my leave now. I spoke nothing but the truth about your Junior Brother's death. If one day you uncover the truth and seek revenge for him, I will lend you my strength. I, too, have an irreconcilable feud with Xue Mei."
You'e replied, "Then I thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist. I will definitely investigate my Junior Brother's death."
Song Wen said no more. She boarded her Giant Flying Ship and soared into the distance.
"Senior You'e, are we just letting Yin Shuo go like this? Aren't we going to avenge Elder Chang Yin?"
Watching the Giant Flying Ship disappear into the horizon, a male Golden Core cultivator behind You'e asked.
"If you want revenge, go yourself. This old woman is no match for Yin Shuo," You'e replied coldly.
The male cultivator stammered, "But... Elder Chang Yin died at Yin Shuo's hands. If we return like this, the sect will surely punish us."
A cold light flashed in You'e's eyes.
"Who said Yin Shuo only killed Chang Yin?"
The male cultivator's face was immediately filled with shock, unable to understand the meaning behind You'e's words.
"To seize the Seven Lives Mushroom, Yin Shuo ruthlessly slaughtered all the Golden Core disciples who emerged from the secret realm."
As You'e spoke, a two-inch-long dagger shot out from her sleeve.
The five Golden Core cultivators of the Profound Yin Sect, completely unprepared for You'e's sudden attack, were instantly killed by the dagger.
After killing the five disciples, the dagger abruptly turned and flew straight towards You'e, piercing through her left chest.
Blood gushed out, staining her clothes crimson.
"This old woman intended to save Chang Yin and the five disciples, but alas, my skills were inferior. Yin Shuo severely wounded me, forcing me to flee for my life."
After Song Wen returned to Tiancang Mountain with Xin Bai and Liu Qi, he praised them in front of the assembled disciples and rewarded them with Spirit Stones. Then, he retreated alone to Qingluo Mountain.
Back in his Cultivation Cave, Song Wen immediately began preparing to refine the Gu Resonance Pill.
The process went remarkably smoothly.
By the second batch, he had successfully condensed the pills.
However, his success rate wasn't high.
According to Nie Xing's notes, each batch of the Gu Resonance Pill could yield up to four pills. Song Wen only obtained two.
Since the Shadow Gu had been in a state of intermittent slumber since its last dose of the Gu Resonance Pill, the pills weren't immediately needed.
Song Wen decided to stop refining the Gu Resonance Pill and began working on the Blood Demon Pill instead.
Time passed slowly in the rhythm of cultivation. Six years flew by in the blink of an eye.
The Shadow Gu consumed its fourth Gu Resonance Pill and continued its cycle of feeding and slumber.
One day, Song Wen received a message from Yu Wen. A Nascent Soul cultivator, unwilling to reveal their identity, had arrived at Tiancang Mountain and wished to meet him.
When Song Wen arrived at Tiancang Mountain, he found the Nascent Soul cultivator Yu Wen had mentioned standing before the Asura Sect's mountain gate.
The cultivator was cloaked in a black robe that completely concealed their form, with not a trace of aura leaking out. No wonder Yu Wen had said they were unwilling to reveal their identity.
It was precisely because of this secretive behavior that Yu Wen hadn't dared to let them pass through the Sect Protection Array.
"May I ask which Fellow Daoist has come to see me? What business do you have?" Song Wen inquired, his voice calm but laced with a subtle wariness.
"Yin Shuo, it's me, You'e," the cultivator replied through telepathic transmission, clearly unwilling to expose their presence.
"Fellow Daoist You'e?" Song Wen asked, slightly puzzled. "Why do you conceal your face?"
"This is not the place to speak freely. Please find a quiet place where I can explain everything in detail," You'e replied.
"Please, follow me."
Using his Sect Leader's Token, Song Wen opened the mountain gate's restrictions and led You'e inside.
To Song Wen's surprise, You'e showed no hesitation or concern about being ambushed. She passed through the mountain gate's restrictions without a moment's hesitation.
(End of the Chapter)
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