Chapter 333: Soul Capturing and Harvest

Inside the main hall, Gu Lichuan was still sitting cross-legged on the floor, recovering his Qi Blood and vitality, his face as pale as a sheet.

Seeing Chen Yuan return, hauling Zhang Xuanzhong with him, Yue Ling’Er breathed a sigh of relief.

“How’s Brother Gu?”

Yue Ling’Er shook her head. “He doesn’t seem to have recovered yet. It scared me to death a moment ago. There was barely a thread of Vitality left in Senior Brother Gu. He seems to have stabilized a little now.”

Chen Yuan took Gu Lichuan’s wrist. His pulse was faint and thready; he was indeed incredibly weak.

Although Yue Ling’Er had fed Gu Lichuan many Elixirs—and high-quality ones at that—he was in no condition to absorb them.

Chen Yuan channeled the power of his Inner Vision God Observation Method into Gu Lichuan’s body, helping him absorb the elixirs’ power.

About fifteen minutes later, the power of the elixirs slowly permeated his body. Some color returned to Gu Lichuan’s face, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“Tch! I didn’t expect this Sword Intent to take such a massive toll. I almost took myself out with it.”

Gu Lichuan looked visibly shaken.

“So you’re telling me you weren’t even sure you could withstand a Divine Artifact Incarnation, and you still went for it?”

Chen Yuan gave Gu Lichuan a speechless look.

A moment ago, he’d thought Gu Lichuan was acting with complete confidence. Turns out, it was just a case of the ignorant knowing no fear.

Gu Lichuan chuckled. “I did have some confidence before I made my move. The old man who left me this Sword Intent told me that Divine Artifacts and Demon Soldiers are merely external objects; only one’s own Sword Intent is eternal. He said as long as I channeled this Sword Intent, I could go head-to-head with a Divine Soldier.

And as it turns out, the Sword Intent really can take on a Divine Artifact Incarnation. It’s just that my physical body is a little too frail to handle the toll. Brother Chen, what do you think? Should I cultivate a Buddhist Body Refining Technique or something?

But if I were to cultivate a technique like the Buddhist Golden Body, would I have to give up women?”

“Someone taught you this Sword Intent?”

Chen Yuan was surprised. ‘Did Gu Lichuan stumble upon some incredible hidden master?’

Gu Lichuan nodded. “Strictly speaking, yes. But he’s long gone now.

After we parted ways in Qin Province, I traveled through a few provinces in the Central Plains. During my travels, I stumbled into an Ancient Sword Tomb and discovered a True Spirit Mark left by a Sword Dao master from ancient times.

The old fellow was incredibly arrogant. He claimed his Sword Dao Cultivation was unparalleled in the world and that he eventually entombed himself in that tomb because he could no longer find a worthy opponent. He saw that I had some talent for the Sword Dao, so he embedded a sword mark in me. He told me that when I could fully comprehend it, my own Sword Dao would have reached Minor Achievement.

After that, the True Spirit he left behind completely dissipated. He never told me his name, nor did he leave behind any Cultivation Techniques or Weapons—just this one little thing.

Honestly, this was my first time actually using it. I didn’t expect it to be so powerful, but the toll it takes is just as massive.”

Gu Lichuan sounded a bit resentful.

‘If he thought so highly of me, he could have left a bit more behind! No Cultivation Technique, no Weapon—just a single Sword Intent for me to comprehend.’

‘What’s the difference between that and giving me a child’s primer and telling me to become the top scholar in the imperial examinations? Does this mean I have to figure everything out by myself?’

“Brother Gu, don’t be ungrateful. This is a tremendous stroke of luck. There are very few powers in this world that can go head-to-head with Divine Artifacts and Demon Soldiers.”

Chen Yuan shook his head. ‘Gu Lichuan’s luck is truly astonishing.’

It was a long-held belief in the Jianghu that while Divine Artifacts and Demon Soldiers were formidable, the experts who truly reached the pinnacle never relied on them. Instead, they relied on their own immense Martial Power.

Take the Sword God, Xie Kunwu, for example. It wasn’t the Kunwu Sword that made him the Sword God; he would still be the Sword God even if all he held was a fire poker.

That being said, the number of Martial Artists in the Jianghu who could ignore the power of Divine Artifacts and Demon Soldiers could be counted on one hand. The expert Gu Lichuan met was clearly an existence of that level.

“By the way, Brother Chen, why did you bring him back? You couldn’t kill him?”

Gu Lichuan then noticed Zhang Xuanzhong, unconscious and with both arms severed, and found the situation strange.

In his eyes, Chen Yuan was audacious enough to defy heaven, completely without scruples. Was there anyone he wouldn’t dare to kill?

Brother Chen had killed Zhang Zhilan of the Shenxiao Sect without a second thought, so there was no need to show mercy to Zhang Xuanzhong.

“This guy is still useful. I’m going to extract the Purple Sky Demon Slaying Sword from his mind.”

Gu Lichuan was stunned. ‘Extract a Cultivation Technique from his brain? How? By cracking his skull open?’

Chen Yuan didn’t explain further, merely asking Gu Lichuan and Yue Ling’Er to act as his Guardians.

Chen Yuan then searched through the pile of Secret Treasures and found the Soul-Catching Drum.

It was a seemingly ordinary, palm-sized hand drum.

But the drumhead seemed to be made of human skin, and it felt unnervingly smooth and delicate.

Chen Yuan struck the Soul-Catching Drum with his Spiritual Power. Instantly, a mystical energy radiated outward and, guided by his Spiritual Power, probed into Zhang Xuanzhong’s mind.

In an instant, the power of the Soul-Catching Drum shattered Zhang Xuanzhong’s Divine Soul, causing his body to twitch and tremble uncontrollably.

In his mind, Chen Yuan performed a Visualization of the power of the Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword. The next moment, scattered Divine Soul Fragments began to gravitate toward his Spiritual Power.

As he fused these Divine Soul Fragments with his own Spiritual Power, a series of images flooded his mind.

Among them was the Cultivation Technique for the Purple Sky Demon Slaying Sword, but what appeared in even greater detail was the process of Zhang Xuanzhong cultivating it.

When Chen Yuan withdrew his Spiritual Power, Zhang Xuanzhong’s Divine Soul had been completely scrambled, and all signs of life were gone.

Chen Yuan opened his eyes, only to discover that tiny cracks had appeared on the Soul-Catching Drum, as if the drumhead was about to shatter at any moment.

“What happened here?”

Chen Yuan asked, taking out the Human Skin Evil Book.

“The head of the Soul-Catching Drum is made from refined human skin. Normally, it needs to be maintained with a special corpse oil.

But ten thousand years have passed, and this Soul-Catching Drum has never been maintained. The human skin has gradually lost its vitality. By the looks of it, it can only be used one more time before it shatters completely.”

The Human Skin Evil Book immediately answered obediently.

Chen Yuan frowned, feeling it was a shame.

The Soul-Catching Drum was very effective, but now it had become a single-use item.

Chen Yuan stood up, brought over the Secret Treasures, and said, “All outside enemies have been dealt with. It’s time to collect our rewards. As for what’s left, let’s divide it up. Everyone can take what they need.”

Gu Lichuan’s and Yue Ling’Er’s eyes both lit up.

They weren’t greedy, but they couldn’t have entered the Heaven-Reaching Tower for nothing.

Besides, Gu Lichuan trusted Chen Yuan and knew he wouldn’t let him get a raw deal.

Although Yue Ling’Er hadn’t known Chen Yuan for long, she also knew he could be trusted.

Furthermore, their elders had a connection. Based on the fact that Song Yanluo had intervened to protect him, Chen Yuan would never let Yue Ling’Er get the short end of the stick.

Besides the Soul-Catching Drum, there were seven other items.

Chen Yuan also brought out the Human Skin Evil Book to identify the value of each item.

The seven items were: a Spiritual Jade, a string of Buddhist Beads densely inscribed with Sanskrit, an Ancient Bronze Mirror, a Thangka depicting the Unmoving Bright King, a Golden Mandala Flower, and two Array Plates.

Chen Yuan first looked at the Spiritual Jade. It contained Militan Temple’s true Core Technique, the *Sumeru Free Observation of the Hidden Treasure Realm*, which had been cultivated by the temple’s Abbot.

“This is an Inner Power technique from the Buddhist Esoteric Sect. Are either of you interested?”

Yue Ling’Er and Gu Lichuan both shook their heads.

Gu Lichuan was devoted solely to the Sword Dao. His earlier talk about cultivating a Buddhist Golden Body had been a joke; he would never cultivate any technique outside his chosen path.

Yue Ling’Er’s approach to the Martial Dao was even simpler: she learned whatever Song Yanluo taught her. Her techniques had nothing to do with the Buddhist Sect, so she certainly wasn’t going to start specializing in a Buddhist Cultivation Technique, not even for a Supreme Divine Skill.

“In that case, I’ll keep this Cultivation Technique for myself.”

Chen Yuan cultivated Daoist, Buddhist, and Demon arts, so he was open to anything.

“As for the other items… these Buddhist Beads contain Esoteric Sect Spells. Wearing them can calm the mind and spirit, enhancing the effects of one’s cultivation.

Junior Sister Yue, you have an Innate Spiritual Body, so your cultivation path is smooth and you don’t need this. It goes to Brother Gu.

This Ancient Bronze Mirror is similar to the Murong Family’s Star Shifting; it can reflect an opponent’s attacks. I’ll leave this for Junior Sister Yue for protection.

This Thangka of the Unmoving Bright King contains the Power of Unmoving Bright King. By making an offering of Qi Blood, one can summon an Unmoving Bright King Incarnation. This is also a fitting trump card for Junior Sister Yue.

This Golden Mandala Flower is also a Secret Treasure for cultivation. If you extend your Spiritual Power into it, any Visualization of a Cultivation Technique will be twice as effective. Brother Gu, since you cultivate many forms of Swordsmanship, this Golden Mandala Flower is for you.

As for the last two items, they are Array Plates for both offense and defense. You two can each take one.”

Chen Yuan’s distribution was based entirely on their respective situations and needs.

Gu Lichuan had numerous abilities, as well as the Sword Intent left by the Sword Dao master, so the items he received were meant to accelerate his cultivation.

Yue Ling’Er possessed an Innate Spiritual Body and, as Song Yanluo’s Direct Disciple, she was not lacking in cultivation resources. Thus, Chen Yuan gave her Secret Treasures that could save her life within the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

“Senior Brother Chen, you’re only taking one item but giving each of us three. That’s a bit too generous, don’t you think?”

Yue Ling’Er knew Chen Yuan wouldn’t treat her unfairly, but she hadn’t expected him to be this generous.

Gu Lichuan nodded as well. He felt he hadn’t contributed very much and was honestly a bit embarrassed to take so many things.

Chen Yuan shook his head. “Besides the Cultivation Technique, I’m also counting the Soul-Catching Drum as mine.

Besides, I also obtained Shen Wugui’s Nine Nether Demon Sword and Zhang Xuanzhong’s Shenxiao Decree. Having two Divine Artifact Incarnations as trump cards hardly means I’m getting a bad deal.

Don’t refuse. If it weren’t for you two, I would have had to face the siege from Zhang Xuanzhong and the others all by myself, and I wouldn’t have been able to obtain these two Divine Artifact Incarnations.”

Since entering Militan Temple, Chen Yuan had obtained a great many treasures. He truly didn’t feel like he was at a disadvantage.

Besides, for Chen Yuan, these items were merely icing on the cake. They would clearly be far more useful to Gu Lichuan and Yue Ling’Er than to him.