Chapter 190 - 169: The Path to Immortality, a Remnant Soul, and a Ring

Every Cultivator has their own secrets.

However, she added a word of caution, "This Evil Soul is extremely cunning and preys on people’s minds. It might promise you all sorts of benefits to convince you to let it go. You must not believe a word of it."

"Don’t worry, Elder Pei."

Li Chang’an caught the Nether Soul Crystal and tossed it into his Storage Pouch.

For the next hour or so, he remained in the cave residence, listening as Pei Yingyao shared many of her cultivation insights. He learned a great deal.

...

「Back at his residence.」

Li Chang’an took out the Nether Soul Crystal and pushed the House Protection Array to its limits.

Inside the Nether Soul Crystal, the blood-colored Evil Soul was still roaring madly.

"Kid, let me out, or you’ll definitely regret it!"

"Is that so?"

Li Chang’an’s expression turned cold, and a sinister Soul Banner immediately appeared in his hand.

Upon seeing the Soul Banner, the Evil Soul immediately shrieked.

"The Venerable Soul Banner! Get it away! Get it away from me, and stay back!"

His voice was filled with terror, as if he had encountered his natural predator. He shrank into a ball in a corner of the Nether Soul Crystal.

All his previous arrogance and madness were gone.

With a mere thought, Li Chang’an put the Venerable Soul Banner away.

Only then did the Evil Soul let out a sigh of relief.

It returned to a human form and fixed its gaze on Li Chang’an.

"Kid, you look so upstanding. I never thought you’d be an Evil Cultivator in secret!"

"Does owning an Evil Artifact make me an Evil Cultivator?"

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but laugh.

He didn’t dwell on the issue and instead asked another question.

"Last time, why did you give up on Ji Mengyun and try to possess me instead?"

"I’m not sure myself. I just had a feeling you were... tempting. Worth possessing."

"Tempting?"

Li Chang’an was baffled.

’I’m not some kind of rare treasure, so how can that word apply to me?’

"Then why did your possession fail?"

Li Chang’an asked again.

The Evil Soul answered, "I’m still not sure. You’ve got something terrifying on you, kid. The moment I touched your body, I felt like I was melting. I should be the one asking you that question!"

The creature’s answer was within Li Chang’an’s expectations.

’It’s just a monster formed from the fusion of countless remnant souls. How could it possibly discern what’s special about me?’

Just then, the Evil Soul let out a chuckle, the sound grating on the ears.

"Heh heh, kid, how about you let me go? I can see your cultivation talent is poor—you must have a Low Grade Spirit Root. I can teach you how to improve it."

"Improve my Spiritual Root?"

Li Chang’an was immediately interested.

He asked at once, "How can I improve my Spiritual Root?"

But the Evil Soul said, "Let me go, and I’ll tell you."

"No! Tell me the method first!"

"..."

The man and the soul stared at each other for a long time.

In the end, Li Chang’an neither released the Evil Soul nor obtained the method for improving his Spiritual Root.

He hadn’t believed a word the Evil Soul said anyway.

’Forget it. You can wait in the Storage Pouch for now!’

He didn’t plan to waste any more time and was just about to put the crystal into his Storage Pouch.

The Evil Soul grew anxious.

It shouted frantically, "Kid, I’m really not lying to you! I can teach you how to improve your Spiritual Root, and I can also show you a path to eternal life!"

"Eternal life?"

Li Chang’an froze.

Those two words represented the greatest goal of his life.

"What path to eternal life? You mean there’s more than one?"

"Of course there is!"

The Evil Soul transformed into the image of an old man in a white robe, making it look much more approachable.

It smiled faintly, like a benevolent teacher.

"Little friend, your soul is extraordinary. You can walk the path of the Immortal Soul. Forsake your physical body and exist in the world as a soul. You will never again have to worry about the ravages of time."

"Forsake my physical body?"

Li Chang’an frowned. ’That doesn’t sound like a good idea at all.’

’The physical body is the foundation of cultivation. How can it just be abandoned?’

The Evil Soul continued, "Little friend, you and I are truly fated to meet. There is no need for hostility. We can be a teacher and a student, a master and a friend. Together, we could create a legendary tale."

"Have you heard the story of the one who found a ring containing the remnant soul of a Great Cultivator?"

"Under the soul’s guidance, he grew and grew, eventually becoming a legend of his era..."

At this point, the Evil Soul smiled, suggesting that he and Li Chang’an could become a similar legendary pair.

All Li Chang’an had to do was let it out.

However, its attempt at bewitchment had no effect on Li Chang’an whatsoever.

’It all sounded nice, but in the end, there wasn’t a single tangible benefit offered.’

"Elder, if you truly wish to guide me, why not start by teaching me a Celestial Grade Technique?"

"You..."

The Evil Soul’s face twitched.

Before it could think of what to say, the Venerable Soul Banner appeared in Li Chang’an’s hand once again.

This time, the Artifact Spirit of the Venerable Soul Banner transmitted a fragmented message.

"Evil Soul... can... be suppressed... but must... advance to Tier Two Middle Grade..."

The Artifact Spirit listed over a dozen Treasures it needed to devour.

Hearing the list of Treasures, Li Chang’an felt a headache coming on. This would cost him another huge sum of Spirit Stones.

But if he could successfully suppress it, he would gain an enforcer at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. It was absolutely worth it.

He could always earn more Spirit Stones.

Besides, his reputation as Li Fan was excellent, and he frequently received job offers.

After that, Li Chang’an ignored the Evil Soul’s shrieks and tossed the crystal into his Storage Pouch.

’Next, I’ll keep my focus on Qi Refining and Body Refinement.’

With a thought, he took out a large quantity of Spirit Medicine and Demon Beast Essence Blood from his Storage Pouch and began preparing the medicinal fluid needed to break through to the Tier Two of Body Refining.

...

「For the next half-year or so.」

Li Chang’an frequently visited the Black Market and various treasure shops in the Immortal City.

He spent a considerable amount of Spirit Stones and gathered nearly everything required for the Venerable Soul Banner to advance.

He was only missing one item: a Tier Two Top Grade Treasure called a Soul Transformation Stone.

On this day, Li Chang’an went to the Black Market again.

Luo Baitong found him with some good news.

"Daoist Li, I have news about the Soul Transformation Stone you’re looking for. Yan Yu, the Young Master of Blood Beast Valley, happens to have one!"

"Oh? Is he willing to sell?"

"He is!"

Luo Baitong nodded. If Yan Yu weren’t willing, he wouldn’t have bothered notifying Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an immediately paid him for the information and said in a low voice, "Daoist Luo, please take me to see the Young Master of Blood Beast Valley."

"Of course. Daoist Li, please follow me."

One after the other, the two entered a private, dark room.

The room was leased long-term by the Three Tribulations Alliance and was often used to host small-scale trade fairs.

Today, there were very few people here.

The moment he entered the dark room, Li Chang’an frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

Because inside the room, in addition to the people from Blood Beast Valley, there was also a Female Cultivator whose face was covered by a black veil.

’Mo Wanwan!’

Li Chang’an had a bad feeling about her and immediately sent a Sound Transmission to Luo Baitong.

’Daoist Luo, why is she here? Don’t tell me she’s involved in this?’

’This...’

Luo Baitong was also taken aback.

When he had left a moment ago, Mo Wanwan hadn’t been there. The room had only contained people from Blood Beast Valley.

Just then, the Young Master of Blood Beast Valley, Yan Yu, looked at Li Chang’an with a broad smile and asked,

"You must be Daoist Li Fan, I presume? I hear you wish to trade for the Soul Transformation Stone I have?"

"That is correct."

Li Chang’an’s expression was calm as he sized up Yan Yu.

The man wore a Blood Robe and held a blood-red folding fan. His aura was around the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, though it felt unstable, as if he had only recently broken through.

"Daoist Yan, how do you intend to sell that Soul Transformation Stone?"

"Simple!"

Yan Yu snapped his fan shut and said with a smile,

"Daoist Li, you can have it in exchange for that Venerable Soul Banner of yours."