Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 387 Transplanting Flowers
Zhang Xingming finally died, and Qiu Ren flew back behind Song Yan and suddenly merged into the Endless Treasury.

At this moment, he was extremely weak, so he immediately sat cross-legged and began to recover.

Just then, a dark figure suddenly appeared from nowhere and arrived beside Zhang Xingming's corpse in a few flashes.

The empty eyes of the illusory Dharma body looked at the dantian of the corpse, where a point of golden light flickered.

"Hmph..."

Last time at the Nangong family, Zhang Cheng killed Qin Yang, and Xu Xiang also tried to take the golden core, wanting to devour it. However, the golden core of a human cultivator cannot be taken and preserved so easily.

Before you even get your hands on it, it will transform into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Xu Xiang is being cautious right now, still planning to make a move, but this time, he seems confident.

As the true form of the illusion, Song Yan naturally knew the reasons behind it.

The confidence that Xu Xiang could try again actually came from Qin Yang, who had been killed by Zhang Cheng in the Nangong family.

When the Qin family attacked, I heard from Granny Qin that this person was Qin Ying's biological younger brother and her nephew.

At the time, everyone, including Song Yan and Qin Xijun, found it strange.

Because no matter what, it doesn't make sense.

Now, Song Yan's cultivation level is at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and his cultivation speed is already a source of great admiration throughout the entire Chu Kingdom's cultivation world, making him a prodigy.

According to seniority, Qin Yang wouldn't be more than a few years older than Song Yan, yet he had already reached the Golden Core realm.

Even possession by a ghost is something that cannot be accomplished.

After all, possession doesn't bring cultivation, and divine sense and consciousness will be greatly reduced; everything still needs to start from scratch.

Qin Yang's situation, on the other hand, seemed more like that of a Golden Core cultivator who had taken away his identity.

At that time, the Nangong family was in great chaos. After the crisis in Nangong subsided, they learned that something had happened in the clan. They had no time to investigate these matters.

On the way back to the sect, Xu Xiang completely refined the demonic soul of "Qin Yang" that he had previously devoured, and obtained a part of his memories, which finally cleared up the doubts in his heart.

Indeed, Qin Yang's "body possession" is more accurately described as a secret technique of transplanting flowers and grafting trees.

That demonic cultivator was originally a Golden Core cultivator. He was severely injured and fled in his early years. He used a secret technique to change his body along with his original Golden Core.

However, this secret technique has certain requirements regarding the degree of physical compatibility, which has prevented him from making further breakthroughs in his cultivation level.

It just kept wandering around, constantly changing its body.

With an unsuitable body, not only is cultivation impossible, but even basic survival requires replacing it every few decades, and the original golden core's spiritual essence gradually weakens.

Until he arrived in the border region of Chu, where he met Qin Yang.

It's a perfect match, tailor-made for each other.

Without hesitation, he erased Qin Yang's soul and then took over his body.

He thought it was God helping him, giving him a chance to make a comeback, but he never expected to capsize in a ditch.

Previously, Xu Xiang used the Heart Demon Heavy Ruler to disperse and refine Qin Yang's demonic thoughts, and from this he obtained this secret technique, the Flower Shifting Skill.

But then the illusory figure began to perform a magic hand seal with great skill, and wisps of demonic flames probed into Zhang Xingming's corpse, flowing along his already weakened meridians and towards his dantian.

The demonic flames gathered around the golden core, slowly enveloping it until it was completely sealed off, and then with a wave of its hand, it was taken down.

It quickly merged into his body.

Of course, this is not the first step in refining the Golden Elixir.

However, Song Yan left the subsequent procedures to Xu Xiang to figure out himself.

At this time, the fighting on the Dongyuan Sect battlefield gradually subsided, and most of the Demon Ruins cultivators were somewhat at a loss.

Although the nine Nascent Soul cultivators were still alive, the Golden Core cultivator who was truly in charge had already perished.

If they continue to fight against the cultivators of Dongyuan Sect, the situation will actually be very unfavorable.

Because they knew that those Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn't care about their lives, let alone save them from the clutches of the Dongyuan Sect cultivators.

At most, he would wait until he finished dealing with the affairs and then casually raze the Dongyuan Sect to the ground.

That's it.

Then, in a very strange way, the situation began to reverse.

Song Yan, with his Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, reversed the situation and killed a Golden Core cultivator. Coupled with the Dongyuan Sect cultivators' original belief in certain death, the sect's morale was now incredibly high.

Instead, they began to gather in small groups and besiege the remaining demonic cultivators.

Even if I eventually die at the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator, I will kill as many enemies as possible to take my place.

After all, this is the only thing they can do right now.

Meanwhile, after a short period of rest and recuperation, he had recovered to about 20-30% of his previous condition.

The spiritual energy within his body began to weaken when the Xingtian Dao Sword Domain took shape, and after quickly replenishing his condition, it completely disappeared.

Song Yan began to slow down his breathing and looked around, pondering how to escape his predicament.

He was initially unsure whether he could escape from the sect while under the shadow of the demonic cloud.

However, seeing those demonic cultivators being chased around like chickens and dogs by several elders, yet only circling the edge of the sect, he knew the answer.

Even the cultivators of the Demon Ruins themselves cannot leave this place.

It seems that it was the work of those nine Nascent Soul cultivators.

Even if a cultivator at this level sets up an array at will, it is simply impossible for one to break it.

Am I... going to die here?
Song Yan frowned, feeling that something was not quite right.

Why did those Nascent Soul cultivators from the Demon Ruins remain silent after entering the forbidden area?

Judging by the time, it's almost been the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

With nine Nascent Soul cultivators attacking simultaneously, even the Sect Master, with his immense strength, would likely find it difficult to withstand them, and it certainly wouldn't take more than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

There were no unusual celestial phenomena, and the weather was calm and peaceful.

what are they doing?
This is a problem that not only Song Yan is concerned about, but many people are also paying attention to it.

Previously, attention had been drawn away by the unexpected battle between Song Yan and Lin Qing and Zhang Xingming, and only now have people realized what had happened.

"Junior Brother Song..."

Lin Qing regained some strength and, dragging her swaying body, managed to reach Song Yan's side.

"Are you okay?"

"I am fine."

Song Yan shook his head.

Upon seeing Lin Qing, he remembered the injuries Zhang Xingming had sustained earlier.

Initially, Song Yan only thought that Senior Brother Lin Qing could use that Golden Core Ink Treasure to delay as much as possible, giving him as much time as possible to prepare for the Sword Domain.

Unexpectedly, he not only delayed for a long time, but also caused Zhang Xingming to be injured first.

This was a complete surprise.

According to Song Yan's original prediction, the Xing Tian Dao Sword Domain could most likely suppress Zhang Xingming, but it would not be so easy to actually kill a Golden Core cultivator.

Perhaps I should take a few more Sword Nourishing Pills and, while the Purple Qi is in a state of equilibrium, use the Lesser Charge Sword to find an opportunity.

However, because Zhang Xingming was injured from the start, his slight initial advantage was amplified infinitely by the Sword Domain.

This is what made Song Yan change his mind, and he went all in, using every means at his disposal to stake everything on Xing Tiandao.

In the end, they did indeed kill him.

The cultivators of the world are truly not to be underestimated.

"I didn't expect Senior Brother Lin to be so shrewd."

Song Yan said, "He was actually able to injure a Golden Core cultivator in a one-on-one situation."

"How could a simpleton like me possibly accomplish this?" Lin Qing gave a wry smile, waved his hand, and was about to explain, "Well, to be honest..."

He stopped speaking halfway through his sentence.

He noticed that Song Yan suddenly looked up and gazed in the direction of the forbidden area, his expression one of extreme surprise.

"Junior Brother Song, what's wrong?"

"..."

Song Yan remained silent.

At that moment, he vaguely sensed something unusual in the direction of the forbidden area. It seemed that something, like the sun, was slowly rising.

Within the Endless Treasury, all the flying swords, including the Unmoored Boat, began to hum softly.

dong... dong... dong...

It was unclear whether it was the sound of a heartbeat or the humming of the Kendo Lotus that echoed in Song Yan's ears.

The sound grew louder and louder.

……

The forbidden valley was deathly silent.

The pale blue mist grew thicker and thicker, wisps of it encircling Chen Linyuan beneath the pear tree.

The nine Nascent Soul Realm demonic cultivators stared at Chen Linyuan, observing the changes that were taking place on him.

"What's all that commotion outside?" a Nascent Soul cultivator suddenly asked.

“Zhang Xingming is dead,” Chen Tianze replied.

"..."

The person who asked the question did not respond further, but simply nodded.

Of these nine people, two or three would occasionally pay attention to the situation on the battlefield of Dongyuan Sect.

The other six or seven people didn't even bother to release their divine senses.

Nobody cares what's going on outside.

However, Chen Tianze had obviously witnessed that battle, which is why he noticed Song Yan.

"He was killed by a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Heh, what a piece of trash."

Yu Yiming did not speak up for Zhang Xingming just because they both belonged to the Yellow Springs Path: "With his Golden Core cultivation and hundreds of years of arduous training, he could still die at the hands of a Foundation Establishment cultivator... The Yellow Springs Path might as well have raised a dog instead of nurturing him!"

Chen Tianze said, "For some reason, this person possesses the Desire Realm Asura Dharma Body of my Asura Path. Once this matter is resolved, I will bring him back to the Asura Path."

"He seems to be... a sword cultivator as well."

Among the Nascent Soul cultivators who had spared a sliver of their attention to observe the battlefield, one suddenly spoke up.

"Chen Linyuan's disciple?"

Chen Tianze shook his head: "It shouldn't be."

"Hehe, the fate of all sword cultivators in this world rests on Chen Linyuan alone. Under his subtle influence, some people will inevitably be affected."

That's nothing special; we can just kill them when the time comes.

Grasshoppers in autumn can't jump for long.

However, no one immediately went to kill anyone.

Even Chen Tianze, who was leading the team this time, said that he would bring him back to the Demon Ruins after this matter was over.

All the Nascent Soul cultivators focused their attention, their gazes burning with intensity as they fixed their eyes on Chen Linyuan.

No one moved.

No one would leave the valley even a step because of the death of Zhang Xingming, a Golden Core cultivator.

In their eyes, it was nothing more than a trivial matter.

Compared to the death of someone who possesses the great destiny of this world, it is naturally insignificant.

The nine Nascent Soul cultivators waited silently.

Through centuries of arduous practice, they have never lacked patience.

A wisp!
Even if it's just a wisp.

When Chen Linyuan died, if one could obtain a wisp of Qi Tian's dissipated fortune from his collapse and refine it to strengthen oneself, that would be a great opportunity!
Once you reach the Nascent Soul Realm, everyone knows perfectly well what is most important at this stage.

The materials for spiritual practice are the most basic things, so there's no need to elaborate.

With innate talents and spiritual roots, each and every one of you who have reached this point is a prodigy.

There are actually only three things that can truly help one's ambition to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

The techniques and secret arts that can help speed up cultivation, special rare and precious materials, and finally, luck.

However, while the first two might be something one could actively pursue, luck is something ethereal and elusive; there has never been any treasure that could enhance a cultivator's luck.

Now, however, an exceptionally special opportunity has presented itself before him.

No one wants to miss it.

The path of cultivation is a journey against the heavens. Countless exceptionally talented individuals have been stuck at bottlenecks for thousands of years, unable to make any progress, until their lifespans are exhausted and they turn into withered bones.

Sometimes, what's lacking isn't talent, ability, or hard work; it's just a tiny bit of luck that's mysterious and inexplicable.

Sometimes, it is just a slight change like this that determines the success or failure of a cultivator's millennia-long path of cultivation.

Who dares to say that luck isn't important?
The nine Nascent Soul cultivators in the valley were eyeing them covetously, their inner currents surging, but Chen Linyuan's divine sense was in another tranquil and distant space-time.

A babbling brook flows gently, surrounded by lush bamboo, and the warm sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

The young girl, dressed in a purple and white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), sat on a blue stone by the stream, her bare feet gently splashing the clear water.

Chen Linyuan sat on another rock not far from the girl, not too close, yet both intimate and distant.

"Why are not you talking?"

The girl tilted her head and looked at him: "Are you also a disciple of Junshan?"

"I……"

Chen Linyuan finally spoke: "Yes."

"Huh? Then how come I've never seen you before?"

Chen Linyuan turned his gaze to the girl.

With her gentle features and bright smile, just one glance at her seems to soothe any anger in one's heart.

"..."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Don't you remember me?"

Jiang Qingrou looked at him with some confusion: "Have we known each other before?"

"Hmm, now that you mention it."

The girl leaned closer, scrutinizing Chen Linyuan's face: "How come you look so much like one of my senior brothers?"

"What's his name?"

"His name is Chen Linyuan. Haven't you heard of him?"

When she mentioned her senior brother, Jiang Qingrou's smile became even more adorable, and there was a hint of pride in her eyes.

"He's a household name now!"

Chen Linyuan remained silent for a moment, his gaze somewhat unfocused as he looked at his blurry reflection in the stream.

Then he looked at Jiang Qingrou's profile reflected in the water.

Suddenly he said.

"Do I look... much different from your senior brother?"

Jiang Qingrou turned her gaze back to him, her clear eyes looking directly at him.

Her eyes held tenderness and girlish shyness.

"Actually, it's not that different."

She said, "It's just that you don't see that sparkle in his eyes."

"My senior brother is exceptionally handsome and his swordsmanship is unparalleled."

"As long as he remains in this world, the demonic cultivators will not dare to make a single move."

"He was sharp and unstoppable, charging forward without hesitation..."

"I just can't catch up with him no matter what I do."

(End of this chapter)