Chapter 100: with translation of chapter title

Third stage?

Translation: "Third Stage?" (Keep question mark.)

No.

Translation: "No."

Second stage late phase perfected?

Translation: "Second Stage Late Perfection?" (Maybe "Second Stage Late Perfection?")

Not like that either.

Translation: "Not that either."

This is

Translation: "This is"

A condensation of a wisp of remnant soul from a third‑stage or higher demon beast?!

We need to keep the quotes and punctuation. The Chinese line includes curly quotes 【】 and a question and exclamation mark inside. We'll translate: 【A condensation of a wisp of remnant soul of a demon beast of third stage or higher?!】

But we need to keep the same punctuation: 【】 and?! inside. So: 【A condensation of a wisp of remnant soul of a demon beast of third stage or higher?!】

A condensation of a wisp of remnant soul from a third‑stage or higher demon beast?!

We'll keep the same quotes and?!.

Yunhe's eyes suddenly widened.

Translation: "Yunhe's eyes suddenly widened."

If he hadn't seen Wang Pei's divided soul and remnant soul, he might not necessarily be able to recognize this thing.

Translation: "If he hadn't seen Wang Pei's divided soul and remnant soul, he might not have been able to recognize this thing."

If he hadn't seen Wang Pei's divided soul and remnant soul, he might not necessarily be able to recognize this thing.

Merely a wisp of remnant soul gave birth to self‑awareness and, after cultivating the yin‑yang ghostly qi, reached this level?

Translation: "Merely a wisp of remnant soul gave birth to self-consciousness and, by gathering and cultivating the lurid ghostly qi, reached this degree?"

We need to be concise but faithful. Let's try: "Just a wisp of remnant soul gave rise to self-awareness and, after gathering and cultivating the lurid ghostly qi, reached this level?"

How powerful must its true form be?

Translation: "How formidable must its true form be?"

Could it be a fourth‑stage demon beast comparable to an old Nascent Soul monster?

Translation: "Could it be a fourth-stage demon beast comparable to a Nascent Soul old monster?"

Numerous thoughts flashed through Yunhe's mind like lightning, yet his actions were not slow at all.

Translation: "Countless thoughts flashed through Yunhe's mind like lightning, yet his movements were not slow at all."

As soon as one of the three heads of the strange bird noticed him, it immediately acted.

Translation: "Because as soon as one of the three-headed monster bird's heads noticed him, it immediately acted."

Its three heads opened their mouths at once, spewing out dense waves of black energy balls that surged toward him.

Translation: "He saw the three heads' mouths open simultaneously, black light balls flying out one after another in dense waves, surging toward him with great force."

Yunhe dared not delay; he cast a spell and placed it on the beast soul banner.

Translation: "Yunhe dared not delay, casting a spell seal onto the Beast Soul Banner."

As the banner fluttered, hundreds of beast souls surged forth; the leading dull‑eyed two‑headed tiger ghost took the lead, crunching the black energy balls one by one.

Translation: "As the banner fluttered, hundreds of beast souls surged forth; the leading dull-eyed double-headed tiger ghost took the lead, biting and shattering each black light ball in one gulp."

But the other beast souls were not so simple; upon touching the black energy balls, their bodies turned into black mist and dissipated.

Translation: "But other beast souls were not so simple; upon merely touching the black light ball, their souls turned into black mist and dissipated."

Nevertheless, it at least managed to block a wave of the attack.

Translation: "At least this managed to block one wave of impact."

At the same time, Yunhe repeatedly slapped his storage bag, summoning the Xuanwu bracelet, which quickly enlarged under the spell.

Translation: "At the same time, Yunhe repeatedly slapped his storage pouch, summoning the Black Tortoise Bracelet, which quickly enlarged under the spell seal."

Yunhe gazed at the finely engraved Xuanwu bracelet, his eyes flashing strangely; then, without hesitation, he opened his mouth and poured a stream of warm water into the bracelet, instantly causing it to rise with a faint yellow glow.

Translation: "Yunhe gazed at the exquisitely engraved Black Tortoise Bracelet, his eyes flashing strangely, then without hesitation opened his mouth and poured a stream of warm water into it; instantly the bracelet rose with a faint yellow glow."

The Xuanwu bracelet flew out, shattering large numbers of the black energy balls.

Translation: "The Black Tortoise Bracelet flew out, shattering large numbers of black light balls."

The sound of collisions was incessant.

Translation: "The sound of collisions rang incessantly."

Bang!!

Translation: "Bang!!"

A second‑stage beast soul that flew out of the banner was accidentally struck by a black energy ball; its body exploded and scattered, but instead of vanishing outright like ordinary beast souls, it was drawn back by the banner's motion and turned into black mist.

Translation: "A Second Stage beast soul flying from the Beast Soul Banner was accidentally struck by a black light ball; its form exploded and scattered, but unlike ordinary beast souls it did not vanish outright—instead, under the banner's sway, it turned into black mist and was drawn back."

As the beast soul banner again stirred the yin energy, the previously shattered second‑stage beast soul leapt out once more.

Translation: "As the Beast Soul Banner again stirred the yin qi, that previously shattered Second Stage beast soul leapt forth once more."

Apart from its aura being slightly weakened, it was virtually unchanged from before.

Translation: "Aside from its aura being slightly weakened, it was nearly identical to before."

Both the beast soul banner and the Xuanwu bracelet displayed considerable might, causing surprise to flash in all six eyes of the three‑headed strange bird.

Translation: "The Beast Soul Banner and Black Tortoise Bracelet both displayed formidable might, causing surprise to flash in all six eyes of the opposing three-headed monster bird."

But the next moment, they wore a serious expression, and the black energy balls surged forth in ever‑greater numbers, pouring out nonstop from the three heads like a relentless torrent, showing no sign of stopping, as if endless.

Translation: "But the next moment, after they adopted a serious expression, the surging black light balls grew ever more numerous, pouring forth relentlessly from the three heads without pause, seeming endless!"

This situation caused Yunhe's expression to darken.

Translation: "This situation caused Yunhe's expression to darken."

He immediately hesitated no longer, took a deep breath, a solemn profound light rose over his body, his form swiftly expanded, and in an instant he turned into a small mountain.

Translation: "He immediately ceased hesitating, drew a deep breath, a solemn profound light rose over his body, his form swiftly expanded, and in an instant he became like a small hill."

Divine ability: Ruyi!

Translation: "Divine Ability: As Desired!"

The earth beneath his feet writhed.

Translation: "The earth beneath his feet writhed."

He charged at the three‑headed strange bird with extreme speed.

Translation: "At extreme speed he charged toward the three-headed monster bird."

The black serpent energy balls that struck him merely sparked rippling profound light.

Translation: "The black serpent light balls striking his body merely stirred ripples of profound light."

Although these black energy balls were dense, each one's power was actually low, so Yunhe dared to rely on his strong defense to withstand them.

Translation: "Although these black light balls were dense, each was actually low in power, so Yunhe dared to rely on his strong defense to withstand them head-on."

He still had confidence in his body; though not claiming to match late‑stage second‑step blood‑awakened demon beasts, he was certainly stronger than most mid‑stage second‑step demon beasts.

Translation: "He was still confident in his body; though not claiming to match those bloodline-awakened Late Second Stage demon beasts, he was certainly stronger than most Mid Second Stage demon beasts."

And what he was most confident about was undoubtedly his defense.

Translation: "And what he was most confident about was undoubtedly his defense."

His turtle shell is absolutely stronger than a medium‑grade defensive spiritual artifact.

Translation: "His turtle shell was absolutely stronger than a medium-grade defensive spiritual artifact."

Even just the parts covered by his scales can match a low‑grade defensive spiritual artifact.

Translation: "Even just the parts covered by his scales could match a low-grade defensive spiritual artifact."

Furthermore, the divine ability Ruyi enhanced him, allowing Yunhe to outright ignore these dense black energy balls.

Translation: "Furthermore, the Divine Ability As Desired enhanced him, allowing Yunhe to outright ignore these dense black light balls."

Adding the protection of the beast soul banner and the Xuanwu bracelet, he lowered his head and charged straight at the three‑headed strange bird.

Translation: "Adding the protection of the Beast Soul Banner and Black Tortoise Bracelet, he lowered his head and charged straight at the three-headed monster bird."

Seeing this.

Translation: "Seeing this,"

The three‑headed strange bird let out a long, shrill cry, emitting a sound utterly unlike that of a bird.

Translation: "The three-headed monster bird let out a long cry and howl, actually emitting a sound utterly unlike that of a bird."

Immediately afterward, the three heads worked together, condensing a large mass of black energy.

Translation: "Immediately afterward, using all three heads together, it condensed a large mass of black light balls."

The terror of that gathered energy made Yunhe feel a chill down his spine.

Translation: "The terror of that gathered energy made Yunhe feel a creepy sensation."

That pure energy, if it landed on me, with my current defense I probably couldn't withstand a single hit.

Translation: '"If that pure energy were to strike me, with my current defense I probably couldn't withstand a single hit."'

A thought flashed through his mind and was gone.

Translation: "A thought flashed through his mind and vanished."

Yunhe's movements beneath his feet did not stop.

Translation: "Yet Yunhe's movements beneath his feet did not cease."

He simply opened his mouth wide.

Translation: "He merely opened his mouth wide."

Strands of jumping blue‑purple arc light flickered up; in his throat it seemed to be brewing thunder slurry, storing power for a sudden release.

We need to keep punctuation: The Chinese line ends with a period. We'll translate: "Strands of jumping blue-purple arc light flickered up; in his throat it seemed to brew thunder slurry, storing power for a sudden release."

Strands of jumping blue‑purple arc light flickered up; in his throat it seemed to be brewing thunder slurry, storing power for a sudden release.

Since obtaining that piece of 'Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence' and attempting to absorb lightning power, Yunhe's speed of accumulating lightning has increased greatly, and the lightning he cultivates has also gained a hint of mysterious might.

Translation: "Since obtaining that piece of 'Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence' and attempting to absorb thunderous power, Yunhe's speed of accumulating lightning has increased greatly, and the lightning he nurtures has also gained a hint of mysterious might."

What surprised Yunhe was:

Translation: "What surprised Yunhe somewhat was that"

When the three‑headed strange bird saw the surging thunder slurry and flashing arcs, it simultaneously froze, then immediately showed expressions of terror, fear, and dread.

Translation: "When the three-headed monster bird saw the surging thunder slurry and flashing arcs, its expressions all simultaneously froze, then it showed looks of terror, fear, and dread."

They seemed extremely afraid of this lightning, almost an instinctive awe.

Translation: "They seemed extremely fearful of this lightning, almost an instinctive awe."

Although he didn't understand why, he did not waste this opportunity.

Translation: "Although he did not understand, he did not waste this opportunity."

Boom!!

Translation: "Boom—!!"

Thunder erupted from his mouth.

Translation: "Mouth burst thunder."

Thunder erupted from his mouth.

A bolt of blue‑purple lightning several zhang wide suddenly appeared, shooting out at a speed too fast for the eye to follow, striking precisely the huge black energy ball condensed by the three‑headed strange bird.

Translation: "A bolt of blue-purple lightning several zhang wide suddenly appeared, shooting out at a speed hard to catch with the eye, precisely striking the huge black light ball condensed by the three-headed monster bird."

Boom!!

Translation: "Boom!!"

In an instant, lightning flashed, the black sphere shattered, a surging terrifying energy swept across, stirring up layers of flying earth.

The energy bursting from the black light sphere intertwined with lightning power, freezing the three-headed monster birds in place; Yunhe seized the chance to rush forward, waving the Beast Soul Banner's standard and sweeping toward the three-headed monster birds.

At the same time, a large number of beast souls surged from the Beast Soul Banner, biting the three-headed monster birds and dragging them all toward the banner.

Just that.

When the lightning power dissipated, the three-headed monster birds recovered and became even more ferocious, actually withstanding the pull of the Beast Soul Banner and hundreds of beast souls by their own strength.

Seeing this, Yunhe's expression darkened slightly.

He then seemed to think of something, snatching up the nearby bone that glowed with a jade hue.

Upon taking the bone in hand, he felt an intensely cold, bone-piercing chill; the killing aura it carried even caused Yunhe's consciousness to momentarily blur.

"What kind of bone is this?"

Regaining his senses, Yunhe was greatly astonished.

Meanwhile, the three-headed monster birds, amidst their angry roars, gradually showed signs of escaping the Beast Soul Banner's confinement.

You must know that.

At this moment, the Beast Soul Banner is a top-grade Spiritual Artifact and the very best counter to beast souls; yet the three-headed monster birds managed to break free, showing their extraordinary nature.

But Yunhe had already devised a countermeasure.

He hurriedly took a golden stone chunk from his storage bag and approached the bone.

A golden electric current suddenly shot out, striking the bone and blocking its yin chill.

At the same time, the three-headed monster bird on the other side also stiffened, and despite its desperate howls, it was finally pulled into the Beast Soul Banner.

Whoosh—

A misty gray light shimmered on the Beast Soul Banner, and its standard fluttered without wind.

Yunhe hurriedly kept casting hand seals, and it continued to tremble for a while before gradually calming down.

"Hah—"

Yunhe exhaled lightly.

Despite being a top-grade Spiritual Artifact, the Beast Soul Banner almost couldn't contain these three-headed monster birds.

But having successfully absorbed them, the Beast Soul Banner's power surged once again.

Although it didn't reach the level of a magic treasure, it still surpassed the vast majority of Spiritual Artifacts.

Even among top-grade Spiritual Artifacts, it belongs to the highest tier.

"Indeed."

Yunhe lowered his head to look at his palm.

The halo on the jade-white bone had faded considerably, but with the infusion of surrounding yin energy, it was slowly recovering.

"The lightning of the Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence is extremely effective against yin evil, and it is precisely because I absorbed a thread of its lightning into my body that the divine ability Nurturing Thunder, when released, can astonish this foe."

"No." Yunhe shook his head again, "Merely unrefined Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence, even if it counters yin evil, cannot unleash such power; this foe seems to have an almost instinctive fear of the Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence."

"Could it be that this foe's true body died because of the Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence?"

Otherwise, if he had merely taken a small piece of the Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence at first, it wouldn't have resulted in such a sinister place.

He raised his paw, gesturing to retrieve the Beast Soul Banner and the Black Tortoise Bracelet.

His gaze lingered on the Beast Soul Banner.

He couldn't help but laugh.

"However, this way the Tiger Ghost only got to be the main soul for half a day before being replaced—tsk, what a pity."

Putting away the Beast Soul Banner, his gaze fell upon the bone.

He clenched his paw tightly.

"Creak creak" sounds rang out continuously, but that was merely the sound of friction; the bone remained utterly unmoving, not to mention being crushed—there wasn't even a hint of a crack.

"This segment of bone might just be a small part; beneath that abyssal ravine, even stronger bones are buried."

"If we used this bone as a flagpole to reforge the Beast Soul Banner, could it possibly elevate the banner's grade by another level?"

"It should be possible."

"But..."

"Any further upgrade would make it a magic treasure, and I currently cannot drive a magic treasure."

"Moreover, most importantly."

"With my current artifact-refining methods, I'm afraid I would waste such precious materials for nothing."

Yunhe shook his head regretfully, and as his body returned to normal size, he escaped into the earth.

He now has at least these two superior materials—the Heavenly Thunder Gold Essence and the jade-white bone—but limited by his own artifact-refining ability, he can only look on.

Such materials also couldn't be entrusted to other artifact refiners for crafting.

First, the materials are too high-grade; he doesn't trust others' artifact-refining skills, and wasting the materials he can't guarantee he won't develop murderous intent.

Second, there isn't a single artifact refiner he can fully trust to whom he could entrust such important materials; embezzling leftovers is minor, but if he embezzled the whole material and then teamed up with others, it would be a major trouble.

Yunhe believes that even a Golden Core cultivator would be tempted by such materials.

"Could it be that I can only learn artifact refining myself?"

But the cultivation world is currently unsettled, and his main focus is on raising his cultivation base; artifact refining would require too much distraction.

One year later.

The cultivation world.

The former site of the He River Ravine Market; now, atop the ruins, the Huai Shan Market has risen.

"Fellow Daoist Hua, Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Yun, seeing the three of you arrive puts my mind at ease."

An elder wearing splendid robes, with early Foundation Establishment cultivation, greeted the over thirty members of the Qingzong Sect with a clasped-hand salute, his face full of eager smiles.

Hua Lin possesses mid Foundation Establishment cultivation and is also the person in charge of this 'Garrison Huai Shan Market' mission.

My fellow Daoist, this is a matter belonging to Hua and the other two; we have been ordered to guard for three years, and we hope you will give us much instruction.

Hua Lin bowed and said so.

No, no, Hua has already prepared an excellent cave residence for the three Daoist friends, please proceed.

Saying that, he led Yunhe and the two others, along with a group of Qi‑refining disciples, into the market.

They walked toward the prearranged cultivation cave.

The arrival of Yunhe and the others, dressed in Qingzong Sect robes, greatly uplifted and reassured the many shops and cultivators in the market.

This scene made Yu Chengle of the Yu family, who is at the Foundation Establishment stage, quite pleased.

It was clearly arranged by him intentionally.

To this, Hua Lin, Yunhe and the others were not surprised.

After all, this was one of the reasons they came here.

As for why they came here,

it is because, within this short one‑year span, the situation in the Ten Domains has undergone a complete upheaval.

Beyond the Ten Domains, the Seven Demonic Sects led by the Blood Sect used the Combined Domain as a foothold and brazenly launched an attack on the Nine Sects of the Ten Domains!

The Heaven‑and‑Demon War suddenly erupted!

The Combined Domain became the largest battlefield.

As the master of the Qingyu Domain adjacent to the Combined Domain, and also as Qingzong Sect—one of the Nine Sects of the Ten Domains—he naturally could not stay uninvolved.

Within Qingzong Sect, any cultivator who tried to break through by closing the deadly gate was ordered to stop and exit the gate; Yunhe was no exception.

A large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators were dispatched.

Those not rushing to the Combined Domain to join the front lines,

were sent to various cities, markets, and Spirit Stone mines to carry out garrison duties.

Even the Golden Core cultivators within the sect could not avoid going to the Combined Domain to oversee the war.

Compared with the Combined Domain, which is like a meat‑grinder, the "garrison Huai Shan Market" task he took is undoubtedly much safer.

There is still danger, but as long as one takes proper precautions, the chance of retreating unscathed is relatively high.

Returning to the old site, Yunhe had little time for sentiment.

After arriving at the cave residence arranged by Yu Chengle, which barely reached the first‑grade superior spiritual vein Qi concentration, he resumed his cultivation.

Aside from necessary patrol and duty tasks, cultivators not on duty could attend to their own matters.

Yunhe was relatively satisfied with this arrangement.

Although the ambient Qi was a bit lacking, by laying a Spirit‑gathering array and spending Spirit Stones, it can barely meet the daily cultivation needs of early Foundation Establishment cultivators.

It's still better than going straight to the front line.

It is said that in the few months since the war broke out, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators among the Nine Sects who have died or been wounded has already reached at least thirty, and this figure continues to climb at a terrifying rate.

Of course, with the war's onset, Qingzong Sect's treasury gates opened wide, and various benefits rose considerably.

"But right now, the most important thing for me is to capture that Rotten Wood Jiao."

Sitting cross‑legged in the cave, Yunhe had his own plan.

Capture the Rotten Wood Jiao and forge a Wood‑type Spiritual Beast Illusion.

Then, by refining Southern Bright Bird essence blood to condense a Fire‑type Spiritual Beast Illusion, his cultivation speed can surge another level.

In these chaotic times, one's own cultivation remains the most important.

"When I break through the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment and employ various methods, I should be able to face a late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator head‑on. If that fails, the Beast‑Soul Banner serves as a safety net; even a fully‑established Foundation Establishment cultivator need not fear."

Thus, breaking through the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment and condensing a Five‑Elements Spiritual Beast Illusion is his primary goal right now!

He immediately closed his eyes and entered meditation.

Now, he can barely manage to keep cultivating in one body while his consciousness freely operates atop another body.

Of course, if it is combat, it is best to unify into a single body.

(End of chapter)