Chapter 549: Unbecoming of a Righteous Cultivator
Chapter 549: Unbecoming of a Righteous Cultivator
In the depths of a shadowy forest, ancient trees reached for the sky, their gnarled branches swaying with the soft rustle of leaves. Strange sounds echoed from all directions.
Lu Chen stood quietly beside a colossal spirit tree, its trunk spanning nearly half a zhang in diameter. Floating before him was a hollow sphere crafted from intricate interlacing bones.
Suddenly, the bone sphere transformed with a swiftness that belied its fragile appearance, morphing into a bone shield that blocked a thick, black snake from striking him from behind. The shield emitted a dull thud as it forcefully repelled the ambush.
As the third-rank demonic snake attempted to slither away, the bone shield shifted once more, this time becoming a bone net that entangled the snake, tightening around it until the creature grew weak and lethargic.
"Enjoy this fresh self-serve meal," Lu Chen said with a smile, glancing at the pale pink meatball at his feet. As the Flesh Spirit devoured the demonic snake, converting its blood and flesh into a misty blood fog, a bizarre lantern appeared in Lu Chen's hand.
Within the lantern, a pale candle seemed to sense its presence, causing the countless slender tendrils hanging below it to quiver like curious tentacles.
Lu Chen infused a strand of spiritual energy into the lantern, causing the pale flame to burn brighter. The soul of the recently deceased demonic snake gradually materialized, its form flickering as if it might dissipate at any moment.
"I'll give you a place to dwell, a sanctuary for your lonely soul. In return, when I need you, it won't be unreasonable to ask you to nourish my underworld spirit plants, will it?" Lu Chen said calmly, watching as the fourth-rank Soul-Luring Lantern sucked in the demonic snake's soul, adding it to the countless other resentful souls that crowded beneath the candle.
"It's advantageous to be alone," he mused. "I can absorb the souls of the fallen demonic beasts without letting their essence go to waste."
"While the process may not be befitting of a righteous cultivator," he continued, a hint of justification in his tone, "as a spirit herbologist, I'm simply making full use of available resources to nurture my spirit plants. Surely, there's no harm in that?"
"At the very least, I'm not using them to forge sinister artifacts or cultivate nefarious techniques that would bring harm to other cultivators," Lu Chen reasoned, his face betraying his guilt.
He had been in this area for half a month, during which he had hunted and slain numerous mutated demonic beasts and evil creatures, providing ample sustenance for the Flesh Spirit, which now resembled a perfectly round sphere.
With the aid of the Void Nightmare Eyes, which floated high in the sky, constantly scanning the surroundings, Lu Chen was alerted whenever other cultivators drew near. He would then rein in his behavior and deliberately avoid them, ensuring he didn't cross paths with anyone.
Not concerned about someone discovering the Flesh Spirit, the Soul-Luring Lantern, or the Bone Devil Puppet—all of which were considered unorthodox and sinister entities—Lu Chen saw no need to conceal his aura or alter his appearance.
After the pale pink meatball had its fill, Lu Chen continued his patrol of the area.
"Hmm? That person looks like a fellow sect member," he murmured, his attention drawn to the protruding grayish-white eye in his hand.
Through the shared vision of the Void Nightmare Eyes drifting in the sky, he spotted two cultivators. One of them was vaguely familiar, a senior fellow disciple whom he had met once before.
Not long ago, when the Many Demons Cave blessed land was infested by a peculiar insect known as the Mind-Beguiling Serpent, Cangwu Zhenren had invited Lu Chen to inspect the issue. There, he had met a senior disciple named Chen Luo, who specialized in beast taming and had already formed a solid foundation.
The person beside Chen Luo, however, was a stranger.
The two cultivators scanned their surroundings, seemingly searching for something.
"Should I go over and greet them?" Lu Chen hesitated.
It wasn't often that he encountered a fellow sect member, especially a senior disciple. It would be impolite to deliberately avoid them.
However, Lu Chen and this Chen Luo didn't exactly see eye to eye. After they had resolved the issue with the Mind-Beguiling Serpents, Chen Luo had asked Lu Chen for an ancient tome on insects that Lu Chen had fabricated. Lu Chen had politely refused.
"Lu Chen, what a coincidence to meet you here," a voice called out, interrupting Lu Chen's musings.
In the blink of an eye, Chen Luo appeared before him, a smile of delight on his face.
The other cultivator who had been with Chen Luo was nowhere to be seen!
"I had some matters to attend to in Black Star City and was just on my way back to the Black Devil Abyss. I never expected to run into you here, Junior Brother Lu," Chen Luo explained with a smile.
"My abilities are average, so I dare not venture into the Black Devil Abyss. I can only hunt some ordinary demonic beasts and evil creatures here," Lu Chen replied.
"Are you heading to the Black Devil Abyss alone, Senior Brother Chen? I wish I had your strength," Lu Chen probed casually.
"Yes, I'm going alone," Chen Luo answered briefly.
His gaze fixed on Lu Chen, the smile on his gloomy face grew wider as he changed the subject. "Junior Brother Lu, last time you mentioned an ancient tome that records information about various strange insects and beasts. May I have a look at it?"
He began to walk towards Lu Chen slowly.
"I recall telling you that I borrowed that ancient tome from a fellow cultivator, and I returned it to him many years ago," Lu Chen replied calmly.
"Please don't force me, Senior Brother Chen," Lu Chen said, his expression unchanged.
"With your soul strength, Junior Brother Lu, even if it has been many years, memorizing it shouldn't be a problem, right?" Chen Luo's expression turned sinister as he stared coldly at Lu Chen. "Otherwise, soul-searching is no trivial matter."
As he spoke, he slowly drew out a pitch-black longsword.
"What do you mean by that, Senior Brother Chen? Do you not know that harming a fellow disciple is a grave sin?" Lu Chen said sternly.
"As long as no one from the sect sees it, who would suspect me?" Chen Luo replied.
"It seems you came prepared, Senior Brother," Lu Chen thought to himself, recalling that during their last gathering, a junior disciple had informed him that someone was inquiring about his whereabouts. He suspected that person was none other than Chen Luo.
"Don't try to stall for time, Junior Brother. I've already set up informants all around. With your mid-foundation stage cultivation, you are no match for me," Chen Luo said confidently.
"Tell me honestly what's in that ancient tome, and I can give you a dignified ending. Otherwise, you'll suffer the agony of soul-searching," he threatened.
Chen Luo's confidence stemmed from the last incident with the spirit beast, where Lu Chen had effortlessly discovered the Mind-Beguiling Serpent and proposed a solution, arousing Chen Luo's strong desire to possess the ancient tome Lu Chen mentioned.
After being politely refused by Lu Chen, Chen Luo had hatched a plan to kill and steal the treasure. Upon investigating Lu Chen's cultivation strength, this intention only grew stronger.
According to his understanding, Lu Chen was merely at the mid-foundation stage, having spent most of his time within the sect and rarely venturing into secret realms to seek opportunities. His cultivation was primarily reliant on pills, and the only remarkable skill he possessed was his mastery of spirit plants.
But how powerful could a spirit plant cultivator be?
With this mindset, when Lu Chen left the sect, Chen Luo specifically inquired about his whereabouts and learned that he was heading to Black Star City. So, he followed suit.
In his mind, obtaining the ancient tome was a sure thing; the only question was how he would acquire it.
"Ah..." Lu Chen sighed.
"To harm a fellow disciple for a treasure and even resort to using a sinister soul-searching technique... Senior Brother Chen, your actions are unbecoming of a righteous cultivator," he shook his head, his eyes reflecting a hint of disdain as he looked at the gloomy-faced cultivator.
(End of Chapter)
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