Translator: CinderTL
"Senior, it would be an honor for this junior to guide you through the Corpse Soul Ravine," Wu Yue said, his voice dripping with obsequiousness. "However, your overwhelming corpse qi has rendered me as stiff as a corpse, making it impossible for me to move. Senior, would you please release me?"
"Ah, my oversight," Song Wen replied with a smile, seemingly pleased with Wu Yue's demeanor.
Yet what he did next sent a chill down Wu Yue's spine.
Song Wen's fingertip glowed with spiritual light as he gently pointed it at Wu Yue.
Instantly, the corpse qi binding Wu Yue began to writhe and condense, transforming into a thumb-thick, solid black serpent.
The serpent raised its head, its eyes gleaming with malevolence. Before Wu Yue's horrified gaze, it plunged into his mouth, slithering through his meridians until it reached his dantian, where it coiled around his nascent soul.
Wu Yue discovered that his sealed spiritual power had returned, and his paralyzed body regained its freedom. However, his life now hung by a thread, subject to Song Wen's every whim.
"Lead the way," Song Wen said casually.
"Yes, Senior," Wu Yue replied, his voice trembling.
Without daring to resist, Wu Yue immediately plummeted into the depths of the ravine.
The two quickly descended over ten li, landing on a platform jutting out from the cliff face.
The platform was only a hundred zhang above the valley floor.
The ravine was deep and dimly lit. To illuminate the valley floor, red lanterns hung from the cliff walls on both sides, casting a sinister glow across the valley.
Wu Yue wasn't the only resident of Corpse Soul Ravine; he commanded a group of low-tier cultivators who served him.
These cultivators were each assigned specific tasks and were currently busy in various parts of the valley.
Some were melting corpses in a cave to extract corpse qi.
Others tended Spirit Herbs in the Spirit Fields.
Most strikingly, there was a pavilion at the valley floor housing dozens of beautiful female cultivators. Some were cultivating, others were applying makeup, and still others gathered in small groups, laughing and teasing each other.
Wu Yue pointed out each location to Song Wen, explaining their purpose.
Finally, he gestured toward a cave entrance behind the platform. "Senior, this is my cultivation cave. This place is where the earth veins converge, making it the area with the densest Spiritual Qi in the entire ravine."
The cave's restriction formation wasn't activated, allowing Song Wen's divine sense to easily penetrate it, revealing its interior in full detail.
The cave extended inward for a hundred zhang, opening into a cavern roughly five li in diameter.
Inside the cavernous hall, several Corpse Coffins emitted a thick, pungent corpse qi.
Apart from these, the hall contained only simple furnishings: meditation cushions, stone tables and chairs, and a stone bed.
"Senior, would you care to inspect this junior's cultivation cave?" Wu Yue asked.
By now, Wu Yue had realized that Song Wen had come for the Corpse Soul Ravine.
Since he was powerless to resist, he decided to offer the ravine willingly, hoping to secure a slim chance of survival.
Song Wen gazed intently at the cave entrance, not immediately accepting Wu Yue's offer.
"First, deactivate all the formation arrays in the cave."
Wu Yue understood Song Wen's concern instantly—he feared hidden mechanisms within the formations that Wu Yue might use against him.
In his heart, Wu Yue found Song Wen's caution excessive.
He was already a fish on the chopping block; how could he possibly harbor any ulterior motives?
Moreover, as a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, even with the aid of formations, he could hardly pose a threat to a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator.
"Senior, please wait a moment," Wu Yue replied respectfully.
He then executed a series of magic seals, retracting all the formation flags scattered throughout the cave.
Leaning forward, Wu Yue gestured toward the cave with an inviting motion.
"Senior, please enter!"
Song Wen's divine sense swept the cave repeatedly, confirming that no formation flags remained. He spoke.
"You go ahead."
A flicker of surprise crossed Wu Yue's eyes, almost disbelieving that Song Wen still didn't trust him.
"Yes," Wu Yue replied respectfully, suppressing any further questions, and stepped toward the cultivation cave.
Song Wen followed closely behind.
Upon entering the cave, Song Wen's divine sense and eyes worked in tandem, meticulously scanning every inch of the interior. Only after confirming there were no hidden dangers did he finally relax.
"Senior has traveled far and must be weary. Would you care for a rest? This junior has gathered some beautiful women, all well-trained. Would Senior like to try them? If these withered flowers don't suit your taste, I can have my men find some fresh blossoms," Wu Yue said with a fawning smile.
"No need," Song Wen replied. "Activate the formation to seal off the entire Corpse Soul Ravine. From this day forward, no one is to enter or leave the ravine. Furthermore, hand over all communication devices belonging to you and your subordinates. No one is to contact the outside world. Remember, all of them! If anyone conceals a communication device and I discover it, you will die along with them."
Wu Yue trembled slightly. "This junior... will see to it immediately."
With that, he turned and hurried out of the cave.
At that moment, Song Wen's voice echoed once more.
"Little friend Wu Yue, I merely intend to borrow your Corpse Soul Ravine for a temporary stay. As long as you serve me diligently, I have no intention of harming you. When I depart, you will regain your freedom. Moreover, I will reward you with treasures to aid your advancement to the Divine Transformation Stage."
Upon hearing this, the fear in Wu Yue's expression visibly eased, and he hastily replied, "Junior understands!"
"Excellent. Remember this: your life is in my hands, but so is your future. If you obey me, I might even assist you in reaching the Divine Transformation Stage." Song Wen's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.
Wu Yue bowed deeply, his tone filled with gratitude and reverence. "Senior's great kindness will be forever etched in my heart! Junior will spare no effort in serving you and would never dare to neglect your commands!"
Song Wen waved his hand dismissively, urging Wu Yue to attend to his duties.
After exiting the cultivation cave, Wu Yue retrieved an array disk. He channeled several magic seals into it, causing a dense surge of corpse qi to erupt from the barrier at the ravine's entrance.
The corpse qi, as black as ink, swiftly darkened the sky above the ravine, rendering the interior completely invisible from the outside world.
Next, he ordered all his subordinates to surrender their Communication Jade Slips and other communication devices.
Before long, Wu Yue entered the cultivation cave, carrying a stack of Communication Jade Slips, and approached Song Wen.
"Senior, all the Communication Jade Slips are here."
"Are you sure nothing is missing?" Song Wen asked.
Wu Yue replied, "I'm certain. None of my subordinates would dare disobey my orders."
Song Wen nodded slightly, then waved his hand. The jade slips flew up and landed in a corner of the cave.
"You may leave now. This cultivation cave will serve as my temporary residence."
"Yes, Senior!" Wu Yue responded, slowly backing out of the cave.
Song Wen retrieved several formation flags and began setting up a formation.
First, within the Corpse Soul Ravine's existing grand formation, he deployed the defensive Nine Heavens Return to Origin Formation and the trapping and killing Nether Corpse Purgatory Formation.
These two formations were designed to prevent unauthorized entry into the ravine.
The former served as a primary defense.
The latter was a contingency plan. If the primary defense failed and intruders breached the ravine, it would trap them, allowing Song Wen to either kill them or escape while they were immobilized, depending on the situation.
Next, he established the Heavenly Mechanism Concealment Formation within the cave itself.
With these preparations complete, Song Wen summoned the Shadow King Gu and three Shadow Gu. After feeding them King Gu Pills and Earth Gu Pills respectively, he ordered them to secretly slip out of the cave and monitor Wu Yue and his subordinates' every move.
(End of the Chapter)
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🔓 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 — 13 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily| 7,200+ FREE