Chapter 20: Blissful Joy Palace
By Gu Zhenren, June 18, 2014
The confidant wore a triumphant smile. He looked at Xiao Yan as if she were an ant.
Xiao Yan’s appearance at the engagement ceremony had already aroused Tang Wuxin’s suspicion. Although Tang Wuxin couldn’t leave, he had his confidant discreetly follow Xiao Yan.
Tang Wuxin was an Adept level cultivator, but this confidant was one level higher, a Phenomenon level Monster Tamer. Ever since he began following Tang Wuxin, he had been the third young master’s most capable assistant.
“You don’t need to glare at me. If you’re smart, just hand it over. Every move you make is within our grasp. Hehehe, treasures belong to the virtuous. Xiao Yan, what right do you have to fight my young master for treasures?” the confidant sneered, looking at Xiao Yan mockingly. His gaze brazenly surveyed the young girl’s slender figure, a lecherous glint flashing through his eyes.
From the moment he appeared, Xiao Yan stared blankly at him. Her lost expression filled the confidant with pride. Her delicate appearance further ignited a lustful fire within him.
“Good sister, if you cooperate with big brother obediently, and do everything as I say, I’ll even let you experience boundless pleasure,” the confidant licked his lips, his gaze becoming more sinister. Xiao Yan, with her bright eyes, pearly teeth, and skin like white snow, was sweet and lovely. The confidant’s lust grew, and he began to fantasize about Xiao Yan struggling and moaning beneath him soon.
“Poor lamb, you only have one White Bone Ape, and it’s just a mere Great Demon. Be good and surrender to me. Don’t scream. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come to save you, hehehehe…” the confidant walked towards Xiao Yan step by step, his eyes like a wolf’s, the green glow shimmering in the darkness.
However, the next moment, Xiao Yan finally spoke, uttering a word the confidant never expected: “Idiot.”
The confidant was stunned. According to his imagination, the girl should have been tearful and panicked, collapsing on the ground, backing away with every step. Then, under his assault, her clothes would be torn, and she would struggle desperately. Finally, she would let out a soft moan and surrender beneath him. He never imagined she would be so calm; her silence wasn’t fear, but rather a detached, almost theatrical demeanor.
The confidant stopped in his tracks. He was known for his caution, and Xiao Yan’s composure made him uneasy and suspicious. He narrowed his eyes, about to speak and probe, but it was too late.
The Star Ghost Spirit Ring flashed, and Chu Yun’s soul shot out like an arrow, fiercely slamming into the confidant’s body. The potent soul power almost made the confidant’s eyeballs pop out. He cried out in utter horror: “Soul power expert!” His voice was enveloped by Chu Yun’s soul power, so even Xiao Yan could only see the confidant’s wide-open mouth. He was so close, yet she couldn’t hear his dying screams.
Chu Yun’s soul might not be a match for an eons-old Tribulation Demon, but ambushing a mere Phenomenon level Monster Tamer was as easy as taking candy from a baby. As soon as he entered the confidant’s body, his soul power, not overwhelmingly strong but extremely pure Emperor level soul power, immediately scattered the confidant’s soul.
“Hahaha…” Chu Yun let out an eerie cry and, within the confidant’s body, stirred up a gust of chilling wind, opening his mouth wide and swallowing the confidant’s soul entirely. In Ghost Continent, due to unique laws, souls could devour each other to boost soul power, often leading to infighting within the ghost factions. This was Chu Yun’s first time devouring a soul. He immediately felt scenes rapidly playing out before his eyes – the confidant’s life memories. After all, souls are the vessels of memory, the body is the material foundation, and spirit is the symbol of intelligence.
“Hmm, devouring souls does indeed boost my soul power extremely quickly, and I can also gain control of others’ memories and absorb their combat experience. However, this will also impact my own soul. If I devour too much, I could lose my sanity and forget who I am. Fortunately, my soul is Emperor level and extremely pure. I also have the Drunken Immortal Spirit Wine.”
*Swish.* Chu Yun shot out again, retreating into the depths of the ring. He found the jar of wine and immersed his entire soul in the liquid. When he was inside the Eternal Universe Box Monster, he had analyzed the wine’s effects thoroughly with the help of his main body’s power. Immersed in the wine, Chu Yun felt a warm energy envelop him from all sides, permeating every part of his soul, cleansing his entire being. The memories from the confidant quickly dissipated under the wine’s power. In a moment, only Chu Yun’s own memories remained.
The Drunken Immortal Spirit Wine was indeed a pill that only souls could use, or more accurately, a crucial resource that every soul needed. No wonder Xiao Yan’s mother had instructed her in a letter to sell this jar of wine in the ghost market. Such wine had no effect on humans, but for spirits, it was a treasure beyond compare!
“This has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is maintaining the soul’s purity without the after-effects of devouring. The disadvantage is that all the valuable experiences from those memories will be lost. However, for a mere Phenomenon level Monster Tamer, after a quick glance, these memories are not particularly valuable. If it were a Great Emperor or an Emperor level cultivator, the choice would be difficult…”
Later, under Chu Yun’s guidance, Xiao Yan disposed of the confidant’s body back into the underground staircase. With the inheritance secured, the underground staircase was no longer of use. Xiao Yan used the jade pendant to seal the entrance and re-stacked the firewood. Chu Yun made the final move, using his soul power to clean up any remaining traces.
Secretly leaving the City Lord’s Mansion, Xiao Yan returned to her humble abode. Once the door was closed, the young girl let out a long sigh of relief. Although only a few hours had passed, the thrilling and perilous events made Xiao Yan feel as if time had stretched tenfold. She took out the Heart Ghost egg from her embrace but soon shifted her gaze to the Star Ghost Spirit Ring on her finger, a complex expression in her eyes.
The three inheritances her parents left her: a Heart Ghost egg, a top-grade Demonic Beast; a Pristine Wind Cleansing Pill, which could remove a person’s drug resistance; and a jar of Drunken Immortal Spirit Wine, which could fetch a substantial fortune in the ghost market. These were no small gifts. But the young girl knew in her heart that all these inheritances paled in comparison to the Star Ghost Spirit Ring on her finger. The being residing within was unfathomably deep and immensely powerful.
“Heh, little girl, as long as you work hard, you’ll reach my cultivation level one day.” Chu Yun saw through Xiao Yan’s mixed emotions. “I know you have many questions, but I won’t tell you. You are too weak now; knowing too much will do you no good.”
“Oh.” The young girl immediately pouted her cherry lips and replied with disappointment. She had indeed wanted to ask, but Chu Yun had preemptively silenced her.
“Now that you have this inheritance, you have capital. The confidant’s body will never be found, and Tang Wuxin would never dare to reveal any of this, only able to swallow this bitter fruit in secret. If he can’t even deal with a Phenomenon level Monster Tamer, he must be extremely shaken and won’t bother you for now. Don’t slack off; seize this opportunity to rise,” Chu Yun advised.
“I understand, senior.” The young girl’s eyes sparkled, and a warmth spread through her heart. “No matter what kind of being Senior Chu is, he is the only one in this world who cares about me,” the girl thought to herself, a surge of impulse brewing deep within her. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Senior Chu, may I become your disciple?”
Chu Yun was taken aback. Seeing no reaction from the ring, disappointment filled Xiao Yan’s face. She pursed her lips and said with a mixture of stubbornness and inferiority, “I apologize, senior. I was too presumptuous.”
“Not at all,” Chu Yun’s voice came. “Speaking of which, I benefited the most this time, and I owe you one. It seems meeting you was fate. Since we are fated, I will accept you. From now on, you will be my second disciple.”
“Really?” The sudden turn of events made Xiao Yan jump for joy, almost dropping the Heart Ghost egg she was holding. “Thank you, Senior Chu. No, thank you, Master, for taking me in!” the girl exclaimed, her bright eyes and pearly teeth shining, her face blooming like a flower.
“Alright. Now, get some good rest and build up your strength. When you wake up, focus on hatching this Heart Ghost egg. With my guidance, you’ll have a perfect hatching, and the Heart Ghost you obtain will surely be a powerful ally.”
“I’ll do as you say, Master!”
Meanwhile, in Xingzhou, within Chu Yun’s Immortal Pouch World. The Blissful Joy Ship floated in the air, enveloped by dense World Origin Force. The seventy-two Immortal Consorts had all reverted to their demonic soldier forms, resting quietly throughout the ship.
“I declare that all shall be made complete, any deficiencies shall be remedied, and regrets shall be no more!” Chu Yun’s main body boomed. Under his will, the World Origin Force boiled violently like boiling water, emitting a dazzling, colorful radiance.
In the brilliant sea of light, the Blissful Joy Ship silently decomposed into countless parts. The World Origin Force began to be consumed rapidly, transforming from虚 (void) to实 (reality), becoming solid components. These new components were precisely what the Blissful Joy Ship lacked – things that Bai Xiaosheng hadn’t had time to refine.
The entire process lasted a full three hours. Finally, the countless components reassembled. The radiance’s intensity continuously increased, eventually extinguishing from extreme brightness to nothingness. As the radiance dissipated, a palace floated in the air. It had red bricks and green tiles, exuding a faint golden glow, resplendent and magnificent. The eaves curved gracefully at the four corners, exquisitely crafted. The palace body was grand and majestic, with towering red pillars inside, illuminated by hexagonal palace lanterns. It was divided into rooms, with a clever and
orderly layout. Pink curtains spread out, filled with enchanting tenderness.
The seventy-two Immortal Consorts reappeared in their human forms, each with a joyful expression: “So this is the Soldier Saint’s true final plan. It is indeed extraordinary.” “I can feel the spirit energy flowing more smoothly.” “Not only that, but I can also clearly sense the presence of my sisters. Our connection has also strengthened considerably.” “If we activate the Yin-Yang Rotating Great Formation again, the Innate Original Essence we produce will be ten times what it was before!”
(To be continued)
