Cultivation through Skin Making - Chapter 732 - 257. Hidden and Concealed, Seasoned and Strategizing for the Nation (5.8K Words - Subscription Requested)_3
Chapter 732: 257. Hidden and Concealed, Seasoned and Strategizing for the Nation (5.8K Words – Subscription Requested)_3
And apart from the original Ghost Cultivators, you recently gained fifteen cultivators of the Profound Yellow First Realm from the Crane Spirit Sect. The rest are originally from the Li Family and the cultivators who died in battle with them. These people were already considered dead by others.
Thus, even though we have complete control of the Crane Spirit Sect’s upper echelons, the total number we control isn’t actually very large.”
Hua Xianggu said, “Old Li, what do you mean?”
Song Yan said, “Don’t respond, and don’t act as if you understand their tricks.”
Hua Xianggu was stunned, “Then… what should we do?”
Song Yan said, “Do nothing.”
Hua Xianggu frowned, “Previously, He Wuya and Li Shanhai, along with the Ice Abyss Phoenix, could ambush the Changfeng Immortal Dynasty. Now it’s our turn, we’re still in the shadows, so there’s no need to be this cautious, right?
Old Li, I know you’re worried about us being careless, but… but… the Changfeng Immortal Dynasty has sent this Treasure Pearl here, their intent of pitting tiger against wolf is quite obvious. If they really knew we were Ghost Cultivators, they wouldn’t do such a thing. Isn’t this precisely our opportunity?”
Song Yan said, “If no third party is involved, this is indeed an opportunity.”
He continued, speaking calmly, “During this time, I’ve been secretly investigating where the Void Ship of the Celestial Wondrous Sword Palace went. Still, I haven’t found out yet.”
Hua Xianggu understood and sneered, “The Celestial Wondrous Sword Palace is a giant entity. Even if they send people to the Rusted Sword Blood Abyss, it’s unlikely they would be after us.
Besides, those they send here wouldn’t be any top experts, and if truly pressured, we could directly throw ourselves into the Demon Mountain Star Realm.
I’ve heard that deep within the Demon Mountain Star Realm hides many evil demons, and the Cyan Nether Merchant Association can come up with so many Yin Qi Crystals, which shows that we Ghost Cultivators are organized. By then, let’s see who fears whom.
Evil and righteousness can’t stand together; those Sword Cultivators are eager to eliminate us completely, and naturally, we won’t let them off easily.”
After saying this, she raised her eyebrows and said, “Old Li, are you scared?”
Little Bell looked at her raising eyebrows and staring straight at Song Yan, somewhat displeased, feeling this Female Cultivator was seducing her man.
Song Yan said, “Sister Xianggu, I am scared.”
Hua Xianggu was stunned.
Song Yan said, “Listen to me. Let’s make a decision after clearly sensing whether any third party has interfered in this Western Nether Realm.”
Hua Xianggu said helplessly, “All right, all right, since you’re my good friend. I’ll listen to you, but I will send people out to gather information as well, surely you can’t stop them?”
Song Yan said, “I intend to stop them.”
Little Bell looked at Song Yan in surprise, “Langjun, this is more than just being cautious…”
Song Yan said, “No one is allowed to act; stay hidden. If any accident occurs, preserve the important ones at the cost of the minor ones.
It doesn’t matter how many little Ghost Cultivators die, as long as Sister Xianggu, Brother Hanshan, me, Little Bell, and Little Wei’er, and Little Ice are unharmed.”
Hua Xianggu, although she considered him a good friend, found this… too absurd. Clearly, this was a rare opportunity to turn the situation in their favor, so why… She immediately started arguing.
Song Yan had no basis, but he was determined to suppress it.
The two talked for a long time, and Hua Xianggu put on a tired posture, “Okay, okay, Old Li, I’m convinced, I’ll listen to you…”
After that, she furiously flicked her powder gauze skirt sleeve.
Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!
The coffins on Skull Mountain all closed, locking each Ghost Cultivator inside.
Hua Xianggu shouted sternly, “Without Old Li’s nod, not a single ghost is allowed to leave here!!!”
After saying that, she gave a cold snort and slipped into a Yin Coffin. The coffin lid slowly closed, narrowing to the width of a finger. She looked out at Song Yan and said, “Old Li, I’ll wait for you to wake us up! Are you satisfied?
Xiao Hanshan also returned, and he will join the coffin!
Put this Secret Realm into a Qi Box and carry it with you. If you don’t call us, we won’t come out, are you satisfied? Satisfied?!”
Song Yan smiled, “Thank you, Sister Xianggu, for your trust. Once sister emerges from the coffin, I’ll treat you to something good.”
Pa!
The Yin Coffin closed.
A month later…
Xiao Hanshan also returned. He looked at Song Yan guarding the realm, patted his shoulder and said, “Old Li, Sister Xianggu and I trust you greatly, but this time, I also think you’re too cautious. Alas, better safe than sorry, it’s good to listen to you too. These days, I’ve been stationed every day, just as well to return to the coffin for a rest, tough for you out here.”
Pa!
Xiao Hanshan’s coffin closed too.
Song Yan left the Secret Realm, took out the Qi Box, and stored this Secret Realm inside.
In this way, he finally realized his dream from many years ago of “carrying a Secret Realm with him.”
In the future, if he kills enemies, he can completely throw them into this Secret Realm to convert into Ghost Cultivators, provided he obtains enough Yin Qi Crystals.
After completing all this, he placed the familiar Secret Realm into the Qi Box, and then except for leaving He Wuya in the sect, he put the rest three into the Secret Realm…
Following that, he went near the Sea Break Sect and placed three people, excluding the Sea Slaughter Demon Monarch, into the Secret Realm.
After doing these, he ventured toward a remote area, found an abandoned Secret Realm and entered, sealed the Qi Box underground within it, and immersed himself into the Secret Realm, refining and roaming with his two beauties amidst the bustling mundane world.
He did not know whether the Celestial Wondrous Sword Palace had come or not, but as soon as he sensed any sign of trouble, he would deeply hide underground and would not come out until the dust settled.
In the mundane world, he became a hunter, named himself Shi Huangzi, hunting wild beasts, and crafted lifelike shadow puppets, and within a few years, he was recognized as the “Fifth Extreme” by the folks in the mortal world, with the other “Four Extremes” being “Chess Master, Painting Master, Zither Master, and Poetry Master.”
Initially, those Four Extremes who wielded the pen dismissed the idea of associating with this hunter, but after they saw his shadow puppets, one by one astonished, they acknowledged him, even became friends with Song Yan during revelry.
Song Yan played and loitered around indulgingly in this mortal world.
…
…
Swoosh!
Boom!!
The cultivator of the Changfeng Immortal Dynasty, Wen Qing, launched a sneak attack, gravely injuring an elder of the Sea Break Sect, who then turned and fled in disgrace.
…
The two from Celestial Wondrous Sword Palace, Yun Ming, were searching back and forth within the Western Nether Realm. They found no sign of Song Yan in the Rusted Sword Blood Abyss, considering the earlier information that “the real Song Yan can change bodies,” so it wasn’t unexpected.
However, the Cultivating Profound Land near Rusted Sword Blood Abyss in this Western Nether Realm made it impossible for Song Yan, whose power was merely that of the Profound Yellow First Realm, to come here without leaving any trace.
They were searching.
…
…
Fifty years later…
In the mortal world, in a tavern.
“Brother Shi, come, drink.”
“Hahaha, Brother Li, drink!”
“Back when I was young, I embarked on a journey with sword seeking immortality but to no avail, otherwise, why would I be white-haired and old, hahahaha…” The white-bearded and haired literati laughed heartily, a tone indescribably desolate, but then swept away the desolation, raised his glass, “Drink!”
This was the “Poetry Extreme,” Li Zhaoye, once an ordinary person climbing the mountain seeking immortals while being watched by Song Yan.
In drunkenness, Li Zhaoye stood up, murmured, “White hair with green cup, meeting in a tavern spring. Once galloping together, today’s tear-stained cloth. Years aged in the cup, frost truly on temples. Drunk, still sing old songs, still youthful. Brother Shi, you and I… still youthful.”
Song Yan, his temples aging with time, as if reliving a life, said, “Brother Li, such heroic spirit, come, drink!”
The two clinked glasses and laughed.
Song Yan comfortably indulged himself in this mortal world.
…
…
On the other side.
“Impossible, after all this, why hasn’t the Crane Spirit Sect attacked the Sea Break Sect? Emperor, this is impossible… It doesn’t make sense,” Wen Qing muttered in astonishment.
The cultivator resembling a military general laughed heartily.
The Long Night Emperor said, “The old wounds of mine have nearly recovered, it’s time to make a move. Wen Qing, I appreciate your plan, but… next time, try not to make it so complicated.”
The military general taunted, “And even lost the Sea Avoidance Realm Pearl.”
Wen Qing said, “I will personally retrieve it!”
…
…
In another place…
After exploring the Western Nether Realm for fifty years, the two cultivators from Celestial Wondrous Sword Palace, Yun Ming, still found nothing unusual. One day, as they walked to a certain place, their spirits suddenly stirred, their brows furrowed.
“Such thick Yin Qi!”
“Not just Yin Qi, there are Ghost Cultivators!”
Their Divine Senses probed further, tracing and exploring, eventually settling on a location.
The pale sword-robed man’s name was Yun Linzi, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, above the plaque where they settled floated four large characters—Cyan Nether Merchant Association.
And a gigantic interstellar cargo ship was slowly descending into it.
