Chapter 359

Yunhe - Cloud Grain

Watching the Abyssal Clan retreat like a tide, Ji Li Yun and others who were solemnly prepared to defend the formation were all startled.

"Could it be that they were driven back by Fellow Daoist Yun?" Feng Qingdan said, curling her crimson lips into a smile, half-joking.

Feng Qingdan - Feng Qingdan

Yunhe, sitting cross-legged on the ground adjusting his breath, opened his eyes slightly and said calmly.

How could the Abyssal cultivators, who just a moment ago were filled with rage over their kin's death, possibly retreat so easily?

"Most likely, it's because the other side already knows that we have seen through their Heavenly Corpse Gu plan."

Yunhe guessed in his heart and felt this possibility was very high.

Precisely because the Heavenly Corpse Gu plot was seen through, the Abyssal Clan, unable in a short time to break this protective great formation of the Listening Fragrance Tower, no longer has reason to continue consuming resources here.

Moreover, according to the news transmitted by Ji Li Yun, the human cultivator army may be on its way; if we stay longer, it would be very disadvantageous for them.

"Should we pursue and kill them? If we can delay them further, reinforcements might arrive soon." Mu Ya Zi said somewhat unintentionally.

"Fellow Daoist Mu Ya Zi, don't be anxious; at this moment the Abyssal Clan still holds absolute advantage over us. If we abandon the formation to pursue, we would be playing into their hands." Ji Li Yun shook his head, opposing this suggestion.

Corpse Soul Worm - Corpse Soul Worm

If we could slaughter many Abyssal cultivators, we could certainly earn many contributions, but the Abyssal Clan are not fools; if we pursue, they likely won't hold back with the intention of attrition. Moreover, an early Fourth Level clansman died, so this counterattack will likely be as fierce as a violent storm.

Hearing that, Mu Ya Zi smiled sheepishly: "It's just my old habit."

Nascent Soul early stage - Nascent Soul early stage

"Fellow Daoists, I, Ji, will surely report your contributions truthfully; as the first batch to engage the Abyssal cultivators, plus the merit of garrisoning the Listening Fragrance Tower, it will certainly be a substantial amount of contribution points."

Ji Li Yun said with a solemn face, and couldn't help but glance at Yunhe, who sat nearby with eyes closed.

Among those who engaged the Abyssal cultivators, Yunhe was the only one who successfully defeated and even killed one, and he accomplished this under the heavy pressure of the Abyssal sacrificial rites.

Abyss Clan Priest - Abyss Clan Priest

Especially Mu Ya Zi, Lianhua Lao Zu, and Han Bai, who have directly clashed with the Abyssal cultivators, know well that the methods and abilities of those Fourth Level Abyssal cultivators are not weaker than early Nascent Soul cultivators, and are even more troublesome due to the existence of divine sense secret techniques.

Noticing Ji Li Yun's gaze, Yunhe opened his eyes again.

"Of course, Fellow Daoist Yun's feat of slaying an early Fourth Level Abyssal cultivator is a great achievement; I, Ji, will surely report it truthfully and hope to claim merit for Fellow Daoist Yun! Such a feat can be said to greatly boost the morale of our human cultivators."

Storage Pouch - Storage Pouch

The sudden attack by the Abyssal Clan left human cultivators with only defensive capability in a short time, and even defending was difficult; yet in this situation Yunhe could slay one in formation, which is undoubtedly a boost to morale.

The others also came to their senses, feeling pleased at gaining substantial contributions for themselves, and they all spoke up to congratulate Yunhe.

If one were to say, Yunhe earlier, as a Fourth Level formation master, had drawn everyone's attention, and then, by subduing Han Bo, had aroused wariness, so after this, everyone already felt a faint awe toward Yunhe.

Even subconsciously, someone already regarded Yunhe as the leader among these few early Nascent Soul cultivators.

Previously, the leader was implicitly the one with the highest seniority, Mu Ya Zi, and the one who had summoned everyone, Ji Liu Yun.

But now, the title of leader, due to Yunhe's ability, has fallen to him.

Yunhe gave a faint smile.

"Lucky, lucky."

In response, everyone exchanged knowing smiles; naturally, his modest words were just heard and not taken seriously.

And Yunhe had no intention of making others believe him; he merely glanced calmly at the composed Xiao Xuanxian, then said to Feng Qingdan:

"Fellow Daoist Feng, please arrange a secluded place for Yun; I still need to tend to my wounds."

"Of course." Feng Qingdan hastily replied.

At the same time, she smiled meaningfully and said: "Besides that, the Listening Fragrance Tower does have some expertise in healing wounds."

"Huh?"

Seeing her smile, and the knowing smiles of the others, Yunhe couldn't help but feel a strange sensation.

That night.

In the tranquil cultivation chamber provided by the Listening Fragrance Tower.

Yunhe sat cross-legged, recalling the various divine sense secret techniques displayed today by the Abyssal clan cultivator Dou Si, including the final "Soul Descent Technique" he used.

"No wonder the Abyssal clan believes in the 'Black Abyss'; this 'Soul Descent Technique' allows them to draw power from the 'Black Abyss' and even the 'Abyssal Beasts'."

"From the attitude of the Abyssal clan's sacrificers toward Dou Si, and the strict hierarchy of sacrificers, sacrificer elders, and grand sacrificers, it's likely that this 'Soul Descent Technique' is one of the Abyssal clan's important means, and what Dou Si displayed may have been merely superficial."

"In that case, there may be a great secret beneath the 'Black Abyss'."

In his contemplation, he flipped his palm, took out a jade bottle and crushed it; eight "Heavenly Corpse Gu" larvae writhed in his palm, struggling, yet they could not break free from his grip, nor burrow into his palm to invade his body.

"Who exactly is controlling the 'Corpse Soul Gu' behind the Abyssal clan, Senior Brother Hualin? Or could someone else have passed through the ruins of the Heavenly Insect Sect, or perhaps the 'Heavenly Corpse Gu' has escaped?"

He could not be certain.

"However, these larvae are now of little use to me."

As he muttered to himself, a grayish-white worm emerged from his palm—the mother of the "Corpse Soul Gu".

Upon seeing this worm, the "Heavenly Corpse Gu" larvae immediately struggled more violently, as if they feared the mother "Corpse Soul Gu", even to the point of being afraid.

However, these larvae are a rare nourishment for the "Corpse Soul Gu" mother; upon receiving Yunhe's signal, it unhesitatingly devoured them all.

"In that case, although my 'Corpse Soul Gu' may not match the 'Heavenly Corpse Gu', it is more than enough to deal with its larvae."

"I just don't know what changes would occur if the 'Corpse Soul Gu' were to devour the mother of the 'Heavenly Corpse Gu'."

After swallowing all eight larvae, the "Corpse Soul Gu" mother retreated, satisfied, back into Yunhe's palm.

These larvae seemed to benefit it somewhat, yet there appeared to be no significant change.

Temporarily setting aside the matter of the Gu worms, he took out a piece of black horn left behind after Dou Si's demise.

Its texture seemed merely like a keratin layer, somewhat like a part sliced from an Abyssal Beast.

This is the Abyssal clan's "storage pouch".

But before he could try to open it, a thought suddenly struck him; he slightly furrowed his brows, put the black horn away, and, forming a hand seal, opened a gap in the formation.

Not long after, a breeze carrying a faint fragrance blew in, and Feng Qingdan entered.

Fellow Daoist Yunhe

Oh, it's Fellow Daoist Feng. I don't know why you've come so late; what brings you here?

Yunhe raised his eyebrows.

This isn't what I said earlier today; as for the Fragrance Chamber, there is a secret method on healing injuries that can help fellow Daoist recover.

Feng Qingdan seemed to have dressed up even more carefully; one could see this lady with her hair piled high, skin like congealed fat, cherry lips rouge, a pair of jade wrists and almond eyes that seemed to speak, actually carrying a hint of pitiful charm.

Yunhe had seen not a few beautiful women, whether in the Cloud Upper Realm, or the Ice Immortal Pavilion, or Baihua Valley; in terms of appearance, there were indeed some who surpassed Feng Qingdan, but at this moment, in terms of allure, none could match her.

Yunhe stared at her expressionlessly; seeing this, Feng Qingdan's face stiffened slightly, and she spoke with a hint of timidity.

I have come to help fellow Daoist recover from injuries. Inside the Fragrance Chamber there is a secret art that can quickly restore a cultivator's resentment energy; if one wishes to aid a Yuan Ying cultivator, then I must personally act.

Upon hearing this, Yunhe's gaze gradually turned amused.

No wonder, when Feng Qingdan said during the day that she would help him recover from his injuries, everyone's reaction was so strange.

It seems that only he was unaware of this secret art of the Fragrance Chamber.

I see.

Yunhe couldn't help but let out a light cough.

To be honest, he had never actually tried a Yuan Ying cultivator.

If he truly had an injury, that would be acceptable, but the problem is that those so-called injuries of his are merely disguises; there is a chance that, when the other party performs the secret art, they might not notice.

Moreover, he also harbored some apprehension toward such dual-cultivation secret arts.

The Fragrance Chamber is the largest red pavilion in the Eastern Realm; being able to rely on the red pavilion to become a regional power shows that its internal secret arts are not trivial.

Perhaps the other party would not dare to secretly strike during cultivation, but some top-tier charm arts emphasize natural perfection, and their subtle, pervasive influence is also not impossible.

If Yunhe truly engages in that dual-cultivation secret art, he might unconsciously invite trouble, or at least be affected, resulting in a great increase in fondness for this woman.

This somewhat goes against Yunhe's original intention; he does not want to be restrained by anyone, and he acts according to his true heart, seeking only clarity of thought.

Apparently seeing Yunhe's faintly revealed concern, Feng Qingdan said with a sigh of regret:

If fellow Daoist has any concerns, I can swear a heart-demon oath, absolutely not to secretly move any hand or foot against fellow Daoist.

She continued: "What I seek is merely to secure a guarantee for the continued survival of my Fragrance Chamber."

This time, with the rise of the Abyss Clan, the Fragrance Chamber's special geographical location will certainly be the first to suffer; and if one wishes for the Fragrance Chamber's inheritance to continue, relocating the sect is inevitably necessary.

Then she needs to find a suitable place.

At the same time, to cope with possible future troubles, she also needs to find a reliance to assist her a bit.

After all, cultivators of the Charm Sect are least skilled in combat.

Listening to her words, Yunhe's expression remained unchanged; he merely asked with a hint of curiosity: "I, Yunhe, am merely an early-stage Yuan Ying cultivator; what virtue or ability do I have to provide the guarantee you seek?"

Fellow Daoist Yunhe is being overly modest. I have seen fellow Daoist's divine abilities; among early-stage Yuan Ying cultivators, those who surpass fellow Daoist can be counted on one hand. Moreover, fellow Daoist is so young.

Yes.

Young.

Yunhe is currently only around three hundred years old (under three hundred); he successfully formed a Nascent Soul in just over two hundred years, and as long as he does not fall, he will surely become a major figure in the Eastern Realm's cultivation world.

If the Fragrance Chamber could rely on him, its thousand-year inheritance would be absolutely secure.

Moreover, Feng Qingdan is also confident that if Yunhe could receive her secret art's full assistance, he could reach the mid-Yuan Ying stage in at most a little over a hundred years.

Most importantly, Feng Qingdan has seen that Yunhe is not someone who revels in power, but a diligent cultivator; such a person would not excessively interfere with the Fragrance Chamber's inheritance, thus guaranteeing that the Fragrance Chamber would still retain a certain degree of autonomy.

Feng Qingdan naturally has the opportunity to find a mid-Yuan Ying cultivator as a reliance, but when facing a mid-Yuan Ying cultivator, he does not know whether the Fragrance Chamber will still be the Fragrance Chamber by then.

Speaking of "investment," Feng Qingdan believes her judgment is still not bad.

As for Feng Qingdan's thoughts, Yunhe has already guessed roughly what they are.

To be honest, he doesn't mind having a Yuan Ying cultivator as an assistant.

But the premise is that they must be sufficiently loyal.

And as for whether Feng Qingdan is loyal or not, he naturally wants to put a big question mark on it.

Therefore, despite Feng Qingdan's words appearing sincere and heartfelt, he still reached out to stop her, smiling as he said:

Being young does not merely represent having a future; it also signifies insufficient foundation and a tendency to perish early.

My injuries are no longer a serious concern; still, thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist. I will keep this favor in my heart.

As for what you seek, we can discuss it after this matter is settled; it's not too late.

Feng Qingdan still wanted to say something, but seeing Yunhe's resolute attitude, she could only let out a faint sigh and perform a graceful salute.

It was my imprudence.

(End of chapter)