Chapter 662 - 267: Broken Soul

The next day, before dawn, Chen Qing arrived at the shore of Emerald Waves Pool with his fishing gear.

A veil of morning mist shrouded the deep, dark surface of the pool, and all around was perfectly still.

He chose his usual spot and cast his line, his Heart and Spirit growing calm as well.

Within an hour, his fish basket already contained two Moonlight Silver Shuttles, their scales gleaming like moonlight, and an ice-blue Ice Crystal Silver Cod.

Afterward, Chen Qing packed up his fishing gear. Carrying the heavy basket, he followed a familiar path to a secluded courtyard behind Ten Thousand Laws Peak.

This was the residence where Luo Zhixian typically pursued his quiet cultivation. It lacked the steep, solitary grandeur of Thunder Listening Cliff, possessing instead a more lived-in atmosphere.

A mountain spring had been channeled into the courtyard, where it gurgled over bluestone rocks. A few stalks of verdant bamboo grew nearby, creating a serene environment.

Luo Zhixian was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard. Before him on a stone table was a set of coarse pottery tea ware, but he wasn’t drinking. He was just gazing at the flowing spring water, as if lost in thought.

"Master," Chen Qing called out respectfully from the courtyard entrance.

Luo Zhixian said, "Come in."

Chen Qing walked into the courtyard and placed the fish basket on a nearby stone slab.

"My luck was decent today. I caught these few and thought Master might like them, so I brought them over."

Luo Zhixian’s gaze swept over the Treasure Fish in the basket, and he nodded slightly. "That was thoughtful of you. The waters of Emerald Waves Pool are unfathomably deep and contain a Spiritual Mechanism. Rumor has it there are a few Fish Kings in that pool that have lived for nearly fifty years. They are almost Spirit Seeds, possessing a sliver of innate wisdom and are exceptionally cunning. Have you ever sensed them?"

Hearing this, Chen Qing shook his head. "You must be joking, Master. A fifty-year-old Treasure Fish is surely no ordinary thing. Its spiritual intelligence would be awakening, and avoiding danger would be instinctual. For this disciple to catch them would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens."

’Forget catching them—I’ve never even clearly sensed their presence. I’ve only occasionally felt an obscure but immense life force lurking in the deepest parts of the pool.’

Luo Zhixian said no more, merely grunting in acknowledgment.

Chen Qing then reported the matter of his new assignment. "Master, this disciple has received an order from the Sect. I am to go to Dongji City soon to help with its defense against the harassment of the Infinite Demon Sect."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhixian’s expression showed little change, as if he had expected it all along.

"The Infinite Demon Sect has been a plague for a long time, and the matter is urgent. It’s common for martial artists to find themselves amidst blood and fire; it’s unavoidable. This trial will be a crisis for you, but also a whetstone to sharpen your blade. The true essence of the Spear Path cannot be understood in isolation. It must be forged and proven in the crucible of life-and-death battle. This will be good for your cultivation."

"This disciple understands," Chen Qing replied in a solemn voice.

Luo Zhixian fell into thought for a moment, his gray brows and beard fluttering faintly in the mountain breeze.

He beckoned to Chen Qing. "Come here."

Chen Qing did as bidden and stepped forward, stopping in front of Luo Zhixian.

Luo Zhixian brought two fingers together like a sword. A wisp of incredibly condensed light swirled at their tips. Before Chen Qing could react, he tapped the space between his student’s eyebrows with lightning speed.

The instant his finger touched skin, Chen Qing felt a light BUZZ reverberate through his sea of consciousness.

"Master, what is this?" Chen Qing asked.

Luo Zhixian retracted his finger, his tone still placid. "It is a sliver of my Spear Path will that I have separated. For the next three months, it can shield you from a single Divine Soul Will attack from a True Essence Realm master. After that, the will shall gradually dissipate into the world."

Chen Qing’s heart trembled. He instantly understood how precious this gift was.

’This was nothing less than a life-saving talisman.’

He hurriedly bowed in a solemn salute. "Thank you for this generous gift, Master!"

"Go on."

Luo Zhixian waved his hand and closed his eyes once more. "The factions in Dongji City are complex—a mix of dragons and snakes. Besides the Demon Sect operating in the open, you must also pay attention to the undercurrents."

"Yes. This disciple will take his leave." Chen Qing bowed once more, then turned to depart.

.....

「Qiu Long Path, Edge of the Soul-Breaking Forest.」

Within Bai Ku County stood an inconspicuous three-courtyard residence. Its exterior was indistinguishable from that of any wealthy family’s home, but its interior was heavily fortified.

In the main hall, flickering candlelight illuminated several figures whose auras were obscure and profound.

The man at the head of the group sat upon the main seat. He was an elder with a full head of white hair and a matching beard; even his eyebrows were as white as frost.

His face was withered and his eye sockets were sunken. Yet, when he blinked, his eyes flashed with a light so brilliant it seemed tangible, daring anyone to meet his gaze.

This was none other than the Grand Elder of the Infinite Demon Sect, Sikong Hui, also known by the moniker ’Profound Nether Blood Hand’.

His status in the Demon Sect was revered, second only to the Sect Leader and the Protectors. His mastery of Demon Skills had already reached the Transformation Realm.

Seated below him were several others, all of them infamous Elder-level figures within the Demon Sect.

"According to our informant, Nan Zhuoran has already returned to the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect." A Demon Sect Steward in charge of intelligence bowed as he reported, his voice echoing in the silent hall.

The death of the Bone-Eroding Elder was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Demon Sect.

The fall of their eighth-ranked Elder was not merely a loss of strength, but also a devastating blow to their morale.

"We must retaliate for this."

Sikong Hui’s voice was low and hoarse.

Retaliation was a certainty, but everyone present had their own ideas. The crucial question was how to strike back in a way that would both restore their honor and not interfere with the Sect Leader’s grand plan.

Sikong Hui’s murky yet sharp gaze swept over everyone present, taking in their expressions. He spoke slowly, "The Sect Leader is determined to acquire the item in Soul-Breaking Gorge. Once he succeeds and his cultivation reaches Great Success, the power of our Holy Sect will skyrocket. At that point, we may even possess the strength to confront the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect head-on. Therefore, until then, our main forces absolutely cannot be withdrawn from the Soul-Breaking Gorge region, lest all our work be for naught."

He paused before continuing, "According to reliable intelligence, even though Nan Zhuoran has returned to his sect, the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect is certain to dispatch new masters as reinforcements. We could set an ambush for them along the way, catch them completely by surprise, and significantly weaken their forces."