Chapter 68: I Want It All

I do not know how much time passed, but the half-black groundwater was completely drained.

Only some stagnant water and wet, rotting silt remained at the bottom.

Ruan Xing let go, her strength exhausted, and her entire body slid to her knees on the ground; her lower legs sank entirely into the wet, soft silt, but at this moment, she could not spare a thought for the filth on the ground.

The thousands of Yin Ghosts being suppressed had been mostly devoured by the Triangle Flag and Sword Lai; others would fear them and avoid them at all costs, yet Wang Zhi, as a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator, still had to use mechanisms to extract the black water before daring to come down to retrieve the Ink Marrow, while she happened to have a great lethal weapon on her that could restrain Yin Ghosts.

And she had two of them, isn't that a coincidence?

This Ink Marrow was fated to be hers.

Sword Lai's body was so filled with Yin energy that it was practically overflowing; if not for the stitches locking the Yin in his mouth to prevent it from leaking, he would likely be eating and leaking at the same time. Ruan Xing had already made up her mind: she was not a Demon Cultivator and had no use for refining Demon Artifacts. Once she obtained the Ink Marrow, she would replace Sword Lai's components and use the Ink Marrow to refine his puppet essence, upgrading both his software and hardware. Then, she would have him learn a few more Magic Arts from the *Nether Ghost Record*. Puppets had no cultivation bottlenecks; once he finished refining all that Yin energy, he might just ascend straight to the Golden Core Stage.

As a mere Qi Refining cultivator, having a Golden Core Stage protector would allow her to walk sideways with pride, and she would be grinning from ear to ear.

The Triangle Flag was also shrouded in swirling black mist. This Ten Thousand Soul Banner was a growth-type Dharma Artifact; the more Yin Souls and Evil Ghosts it contained, the higher the grade of the artifact it would feed back, and the more powerful it would become. Ever since she developed Divine Sense, she had gained a better understanding of the Triangle Flag and how to use it.

Absorbing the souls of the living required her soul and cultivation to be stronger than the opponent's, but there was no such restriction for absorbing Yin Souls and Evil Ghosts; even if their cultivation was slightly higher than hers, she could still restrain them. Once those Yin Souls entered the banner, they could have their memories from life refined away in three days, becoming muddled and used by the banner master. Like raising Gu, they would devour each other, eventually becoming members of the army of Evil Ghosts within the banner.

Ruan Xing could already clearly feel that the Triangle Flag had become more solid, and the dark patterns of the Talismans on the banner were faintly emitting a golden light. After consuming this wave of Yin Ghosts, the Triangle Flag was nearly reaching the grade of a High-grade Magical Tool.

The water had been drained, and Wang Zhi would likely come down soon; Ruan Xing had to hurry to find the Hanshan Ink Marrow.

Without the black water, her Divine Sense spread out like a net, extending in all directions without obstruction. Although the Divine Sense of Qi Refining Layer Nine could only probe ten to twenty meters away from her body at most, if she walked faster through the silt, she should be able to finish searching within a quarter of an hour.

Ruan Xing's Divine Sense felt as if it had probed into a void, as if a piece were missing.

Her heart leaped with joy, and she hurriedly trekked toward that direction; this feeling was similar to what she had experienced when touching the Snow Marrow with her Divine Sense in the previous Simulation.

On a stone platform stood a slender pillar, and the Ink Marrow was embedded at the top of it. Ruan Xing reached out and used a little force to take the Ink Marrow down.

She had not yet figured out how to get out of this sunless bottom, but the pale, eerie light emitted by a Night-luminescent Pearl was already drawing closer.

"Your Excellency truly has a good scheme." Wang Zhi looked at her with an unkind expression.

Ruan Xing smiled modestly, "I wouldn't dare, not compared to you, fellow Daoist."

There were not many people as innocent, kind, and simple as her left; if not for the Simulator, she would have been tricked to death by this Demon Cultivator several times over.

"I just don't know how you managed to come down before me? Are you not afraid of the Yin Ghosts? Did you travel through the river channel? Are you an Evil Cultivator who specializes in the path of controlling ghosts?"

Strictly speaking, the *Nether Ghost Record*, the golden finger the author gave to the original heroine, really did record in detail various methods for Ghost Cultivators and ghost control; both the Puppetry and the Triangle Flag came from it.

However, Ruan Xing would not honestly tell him that. After all, she expected the *Nether Ghost Record* to be a Heaven-grade cultivation technique nine times out of ten; besides herself, who couldn't practice it because of the Simulator, anyone else would be tempted upon seeing it.

That was a Heaven-grade cultivation technique!

Dying once is no big deal, right? Wang Zhi did not expect Ruan Xing to answer. As soon as he finished speaking, a diamond-shaped spike appeared in his hand, his demonic energy surged, and he sped toward Ruan Xing.

Perhaps because he felt they were of the same kind and there was no need to pretend in front of Ruan Xing, Wang Zhi used his full strength from the start. No matter how hard Ruan Xing resisted, she could not overcome the chasm-like gap between Qi Refining Layer Nine and the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Therefore, very quickly, this Simulation ended again.

Ruan Xing frowned in thought. If she only took the Snow Marrow, she would have a chance to coexist peacefully with that Demon Cultivator, but why not be greedy? Of course, she wanted it all!

In the simulation before last, Wang Zhi only obtained the Ink Marrow and released the Yin Ghosts to flee in a panic on the morning of the second day. If there were no accidents, it should be the same this time, so she likely spent a night at the bottom of the river after going into the water.

She also spent about a night on the peak absorbing the pool water to transform her Spirit Bone.

You cannot have both the fish and the bear's paw; even a time management master could not manage to take both the Snow Marrow and the Ink Marrow in one night.

But fortunately, she had Sword Lai.

Ruan Xing opened the Text Simulation. In her plan, after Wang Zhi lured away the demon snake, she would climb up to the peak herself, while Sword Lai would take the Triangle Flag along the underground river to the bottom of the water.

With both approaches, and since Sword Lai was not affected by the Yin Ghost hallucinations, he might be even faster going to the bottom of the water himself.

After Sword Lai absorbed enough Yin energy and took the Ink Marrow, he would move upstream. Once Wang Zhi triggered the mechanism to start draining the water, he would use the Yin energy to protect his body and be drawn along with the water flow into the underground river. Then, Sword Lai would climb up to find her. Sword Lai's Ghost Escape Technique could only allow for short periods of hovering and not true flight, so she would take Sword Lai and leave Hanshan Peak on her Flying Sword.

Wang Zhi had no large-scale means to deal with Yin Ghosts, which was why he had to drain the water; he could not take the water route, so Sword Lai would be very safe and would not run into him halfway.

It was just that once both the Snow Marrow and the Ink Marrow left the vicinity of Hanshan Peak, the peak would collapse instantly; she had to rush to the Secret Realm exit and leave before Wang Zhi found her.

Less than an hour after leaving the Secret Realm, Ruan Xing was killed by a masked Demon Cultivator.

She tentatively chose a random item and obtained one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Well, as expected, her luck was not that good; she couldn't get a freebie.

Then Ruan Xing suddenly remembered that Wang Zhi had once said he could enter the interior of Hanshan Peak directly because a Dharma Artifact in his hand was connected to the Ink Marrow.

So, was this the reason he could find her so quickly?

It seemed she could not keep the Ink Marrow on her person, but it didn't matter; it was meant for Sword Lai anyway.

Ruan Xing simulated again. She put the Snow Marrow and the Ink Marrow on Sword Lai and let Sword Lai return to the Mortal Dynasty.

Sword Lai himself could turn invisible and had stealth effects; he had been with her for so long without being discovered by Wang Zhi. Plus, with the protection of the Boundary Tree in the Mortal Dynasty, Sword Lai, being an inanimate object, could enter and exit freely, but that Demon Cultivator could not. If the Demon Cultivator attacked the Boundary Tree, Ruan Xing wouldn't need to save him; the group of old men at the Six Suns Study would be enough to deal with him.

Ruan Xing was looking forward to seeing dogs bite dogs.

For now, the plan seemed successful. Ruan Xing successfully returned to Yunyang City, but half a month later, she was killed by the Demon Cultivator in the courtyard she had rented. The reason the Demon Cultivator found her this time might be because of her appearance and build...

Hiss... but she didn't know any transformation or disguise techniques; if only she could learn them from the Demon Cultivator...

But even with her toes, she knew that was impossible.

Ruan Xing decided not to return to Yunyang City. Anyway, she carried all her belongings in her Storage Bag, and that courtyard was only rented for a month; it didn't matter whether she went back or not. The most urgent task was to seek the protection of a Sect.

As a Demon Cultivator, he couldn't possibly break into someone else's Sect to kill her, right?

That would simply be disregarding the Mountain Protection Array and the face of the Sect Leader.

Ruan Xing made up her mind: after coming out of the Secret Realm, she would let Sword Lai take the Snow Marrow and Ink Marrow and leave directly, while she would stick with that group of Outer Sect Disciples from the Xuanbing Sect at the entrance of the Secret Realm and never leave them!

As long as the Demon Cultivator didn't have the certainty of silencing everyone without any risk, he wouldn't dare to make a move! She would just hide in the Xuanbing Sect until she reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, or until Sword Lai finished refining the Yin energy and returned.

Hmph, by then, would she be afraid of a mere Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator? She'd beat the sh*t out of him.

The only drawback was that she didn't know if there was a way to make money in the Xuanbing Sect without leaving the premises... She only had 800 points left, which was only enough for 80 Text Simulations; it was too little, so little that it gave her a sense of crisis.

Be frugal and manage the household, save it until the Foundation Establishment Stage, and then make good money! After everything was settled, Ruan Xing leisurely flew her Flying Sword toward the entrance of the Secret Realm.

Finally seeing Wang Zhi's plain face in reality, although Ruan Xing really wanted to punch him, she still smiled and said, "I wonder how I should address you, fellow Daoist?"

She wanted to see how many names this kid could make up.

"I am Liu Bi, fellow Daoist may address me as you please."

Ruan Xing choked, nearly gagged by her own saliva, and after coughing twice, she smiled and said, "What a coincidence, fellow Daoist shares the same surname as me; I am Liu Bo."

Although Wang Zhi felt it was a bit strange for a little girl to have such a name... but that was not important; he revealed an even more cordial expression and began to strike up a friendship with Ruan Xing.

Under Ruan Xing's intentional pushing, the two soon began calling each other brother and sister, and immediately afterward, she brought him to Black Water Lake. Once Wang Zhi lured the demon snake away, Ruan Xing seized the time to take out the Triangle Flag, handed it to Sword Lai, and instructed him on what he needed to do.

Although Sword Lai's speech was unclear, when there was something to be done, he truly stepped up, and he would absolutely handle it beautifully, leaving one worry-free.

After Sword Lai went into the water and left, Ruan Xing also applied a Water Avoidance Talisman and swam and climbed toward the upper reaches. Because she had the experience once, the time it took for Ruan Xing to reach the peak this time was shortened by a lot. When she saw the ice water pool, the sky had not yet reached dusk.

Ruan Xing took a deep breath and climbed into the pool. As soon as she entered, her whole body went numb from the cold, and she trembled with a shiver. She endured the stinging pain brought by the pool water and began to use the Spirit Qi inside to cultivate.

Ruan Xing now understood what Wang Zhi meant when he said the Snow Marrow could not be touched. A normal person would surely pull their hand back immediately after touching the water because it was freezing to the bone. After pulling it back, not only would it not thaw, but they would start turning into an ice sculpture. Who wouldn't be horrified seeing that? Those with a harder heart would directly choose to sever their arm to save their life. How could there be anyone like her, with a brain that wasn't normal, still drilling into the pool?

As time passed, this legend was passed down and became that the Snow Marrow could not be touched.

It was also because she had the Simulator and was bold enough that she was able to pick up this leak.

When Ruan Xing opened her eyes again, the edge of the sky was already glowing with a silvery white. Sword Lai was sitting on the ice surface waiting for her. He did not have a Water Avoidance Talisman on him, and his clothes were completely soaked. At the temperature on the peak, they had already frozen into ice in just a few seconds. Although a Puppet does not fear wind or snow, the stiff, frozen clothing affected his movements; he tried to stand up several times but did not succeed.

Ruan Xing exhaled a puff of white air and came out of the pool, "The sky is about to brighten; when did the water level rise below?"

Sword Lai gave her a vague answer through the spiritual connection.

Probably half an hour ago.

Presumably, at this time, Wang Zhi was already at the bottom of the water, unable to find the Ink Marrow and flying into a rage out of shame.

She had to hurry.

Ruan Xing directly pried out the white jade beads in Sword Lai's eye sockets, crushed them with Spiritual Power, and directly pressed his soul onto the Ink Marrow, mixing it with her own essence blood, and refined it according to the method in the "Nether Ghost Record".

Snow Marrow and Ink Marrow are materials that can be used to refine Spirit Tools; without Ruan Xing needing to guess, she knew the grade must be very high. With her Spiritual Power, she was completely unable to break its shape to refine it into the appearance of a weapon. Fortunately, she didn't need to change the shape; it was fine as it was. Although it was a little big, the spherical shape was passable when stuffed into the eye socket.

After the refining was completed, Ruan Xing stuffed the freshly baked eyeballs in. Sword Lai's body finally had a touch of different color, although it was black.

The other side being empty didn't look very good either, so Ruan Xing stuffed the Snow Marrow in as well. There was no soul of Sword Lai inside, so she just treated it as a decoration. Anyway, treasures hide their own brilliance, and there was basically no fluctuation of Spiritual Power, so nothing could be seen.

When she reaches the Nascent Soul Stage in the future and has the ability to refine Spirit Tools, she would take the Snow Marrow out then.

After finishing all this, Ruan Xing took out Yellow Paper and a talisman brush and began to write a letter. While writing, she nagged at Sword Lai, "After you go back, just find a mass grave or Righteousness Manor or something in Jiangning City to properly refine the Yin Qi in your body.

After getting used to this new Puppet nature, go to Hongtou Daoren's cave and study the other Magic Arts in the "Nether Ghost Record" well. I don't ask for much; it would be good if you could master one or two more offensive Magic Arts.

Protect yourself when cultivating, and don't let the Yin Qi leak out. Now is not like before; with so much Yin Qi on you, be careful not to be discovered by the new National Preceptor of Huaining City. The National Preceptor is at the Golden Core Stage; you can't beat them...

Then, this letter is written to my sister and your brother. You show it to them and they will understand. Inside, there is also a Qi Refining Formula; let the two of them cultivate and see if they can feel the Qi Sensation. I don't have the conditions to find them a Spirit Testing Stone right now, so just practice and see. If there is Qi Sensation, then there is Spirit Bone... I've said so much, did you remember it?"

Sword Lai nodded lightly.

Ruan Xing was stunned.

"You can nod now!? Good, good, good, there is progress. This Hanshan Ink Marrow is truly extraordinary. In the future, you being able to speak clearly is just around the corner; I will never have to guess what you are saying again..."

Ruan Xing happily folded the letter paper and put it into Sword Lai's chest, then summoned her Flying Sword, preparing to leave.

The sky was neither bright nor dark; there was not much time left. Ruan Xing grabbed Sword Lai's hand and jumped onto the Flying Sword, took out the Wooden Tablet to input Spiritual Power, and pinched a seal to speed away in the direction guided by the Wooden Tablet.

Thanks to Tourist3 for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to 0437 for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Qing Yu Yue for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Huzi Lazha De Hapi Dashu for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Book Friend 20230311095357949 for the monthly ticket~(End of chapter)