Chapter 552: Soul Prohibition

Black Ash Cave Assessment —

Located deep within the "Vulture Wind Ridge" on the outer fringes of the Youming Mountains, it is a naturally formed perilous zone saturated with intense yin-sha energy and geomagnetic interference.

The assessment has three trials: the first, traversing the "Yin-Sha Mist Zone," resisting yin-sha erosion and illusions.

The second, passing through the "Geomagnetic Chaos Zone," reaching the designated location amid chaotic geomagnetic forces and yin-wind assaults.

The third, slaying or subduing a "Black Hell Beast," a beast equivalent to a Xiantian peak-level entity.

Those who pass all three trials with outstanding performance may enter the inner sect.

During the assessment, disciples are not forbidden from using pills or other external aids, but mutual harm among sect members is strictly prohibited—at least on the surface.

The Jiuyou Sect's inner sect is divided into seven branches, each with slightly different cultivation focuses, but all core practices are yin-cold attribute techniques.

Inner sect disciples face fierce competition; acquisition of resources and elevation in status rely largely on completing sect missions, secret realm trials, or rankings in grand competitions.

As for the Mingyuan Guard…

They are an elite force directly under the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders' Council, few in number, permanently stationed at the entrance and surrounding regions of the sect's core forbidden zone, the "Mingyuan Secret Realm."

Selection is extremely strict: one must be an inner sect disciple, possess at least the Ditan realm's "Three Flowers Converging on the Crown" cultivation level, and meet extremely high requirements for sect loyalty, technique compatibility, and mental fortitude.

Those selected enjoy generous benefits: regular access to designated outer zones of the "Mingyuan Secret Realm" for cultivation, exposure to deeper transmissions, and a chance to be noticed and taken as a personal disciple by the Sect Master or Elders.

And the Mingyuan Secret Realm.

Located at the Jiuyou Sect's most core forbidden zone, it is said to connect to the underworld's Youming, where yin-sha energy and ancient laws coalesce, offering supreme benefits for cultivating Jiuyou techniques.

The secret realm is divided into multiple inner and outer layers; the outer layers are relatively safe and available for core disciples and Mingyuan Guard to cultivate in.

The inner layers are perilous beyond measure; it is rumored they imprison ancient monstrous entities or conceal the sect's greatest secret—only Wanshang realm Ancestors or those bearing special tokens may enter.

Regarding the secret realm's internal details, Lu Zhangyao knew very little, only scattered rumors.

Such as a "Ming River" flowing deep within, a "Soul Well" spewing pure soul force, and ruins of an ancient "Youming Palace."

Recent movements of the Jiuyou Sect.

The sect appears to be reinforcing the "Mingyuan Secret Realm" defenses: the number of Mingyuan Guard patrols has increased, and inspections of those entering or exiting the secret realm have become far stricter.

The reason is unknown; rumors suggest some anomaly has emerged deep within the secret realm, or that they are guarding against external spies.

Vast amounts of information flooded in, and Chen Mu swiftly assimilated it.

He found fragments of the "Mingyuan Guard" selection process—though incomplete, he now understood the general stages: registration, preliminary screening, and practical trials.

He also confirmed the "Mingyuan Secret Realm" entrance lies at the deepest point of the Jiuyou Sect's mountain gate, guarded by layered prohibitions and grand arrays, jointly held by the Mingyuan Guard and several Ditan realm peak, even Tiangong realm Elders.

"It seems, under normal circumstances, infiltrating the Mingyuan Guard in the short term is nearly impossible. Cultivation level, identity, loyalty—all are insurmountable hurdles."

Chen Mu thought inwardly, "And the recent strengthening of the secret realm's defenses—could it be related to the 'Soul Sword'? Or merely coincidence?"

He continued delving deeper into Lu Zhangyao's memories, especially regarding his master Li Caireng and more details about their branch.

Perhaps, from Li Caireng, he could find a more hidden passage or loophole?

Yet, just as Chen Mu's "Soul Search Technique" reached the deepest recesses of Lu Zhangyao's memories—certain blurred fragments sealed by his own subconscious or tied to the sect's core taboos—

Sudden change!

Deep within Lu Zhangyao's soul, a faint yet chilling, ancient, ice-blue mark—capable of freezing the soul—suddenly flared to life!

This mark was linked to the core technique of the "Jiuyou Cold Jade Scripture"; normally hidden, it activated only when subjected to soul intrusion beyond its limits or when certain prohibitions were breached.

"Soul prohibition?!" Chen Mu's eyes sharpened.

The Jiuyou Sect's protection of its core techniques was indeed airtight.

Even an outer sect disciple carried a defensive prohibition within his soul.

The ice-blue mark flared once, and a cold, lifeless force—capable of directly striking the soul's origin—surged backward along the connection established by the "Soul Search Technique," assaulting Chen Mu's mind sea.

Simultaneously, the mark attempted to emit an alarm signal outward.

A normal Ditan realm "Soul Unbroken" martial cultivator, caught off guard, would likely suffer severe soul damage—or at the very least, trigger the alarm and summon Jiuyou Sect experts.

But Chen Mu was no ordinary Ditan realm "Soul Unbroken."

He was a Tiangong realm cultivator, and had condensed the "Four Seasons Martial Domain"!

Facing the retaliatory icy soul force, within Chen Mu's mind sea, the semi-illusory "Four Seasons Wu Jing" trembled slightly.

A profound force, embodying the cyclical transformation and ceaseless birth-death of the four seasons, spread outward, effortlessly dissolving and neutralizing the icy, lifeless energy.

Simultaneously, Chen Mu's mind moved faster than the ice-blue mark's reaction—he forcibly crushed and extinguished the nascent alarm signal with his soul awareness.

Then, he simulated a false feedback: "Lu Zhangyao, overstimulating his potential by forcibly consuming 'Corrupt Heart Pills,' suffered qi deviation, soul damage, and memory chaos," overwriting and replacing the true record of the moment the ice-blue mark activated.

Having completed all this, Chen Mu decisively terminated the "Soul Search Technique."

Thud~!

Lu Zhangyao's eyes remained tightly shut, his face as pale as paper; his body slumped to the ground, breath faint, soul fluctuations chaotic, sinking into deep unconsciousness.

On the surface, it clearly resembled a cultivation mishap—qi deviation.

Chen Mu swiftly checked himself, confirming the soul prohibition's retaliation and alarm had been perfectly neutralized, leaving no trace or soul injury.

He then rapidly cleared away any subtle traces or qi signatures he might have left in the room.

"The valuable information from Lu Zhangyao's memories has been fully obtained. His master, Li Caireng, is merely an ordinary clerk with limited knowledge—and even greater risk."

Chen Mu mused, "Pursuing this path through Lu Zhangyao or Li Caireng is infeasible and risks exposure."

He glanced at the unconscious Lu Zhangyao, paused briefly, then chose not to kill him.

Killing him might temporarily eliminate threats, but an outer sect disciple dying mysteriously just before the assessment would invite unwanted investigation.

Better to let him "suffer qi deviation"—this explains Lu Zhangyao's soul anomaly while avoiding immediate death inquiry.

Whether Lu Zhangyao wakes up, or remembers anything afterward, no longer matters; the hidden manipulations and false memories Chen Mu implanted in his soul are sufficient.

"Looks like I must find another way."

With a flicker of his form, Chen Mu vanished from the side chamber, as if he had never been there at all…