Chapter 737: The Ghostly Bone Cultivator
Chapter 737: The Ghostly Bone Cultivator
After leaving the branch of the Hailou Chamber of Commerce, Lu Chen rode on his Wind and Thunder Sword, speeding towards the entrance of the Fengyuan Star Cave.
By the time he reached the entrance, he had unconsciously altered his appearance and transformed into a youth with a sinister aura.
At the entrance, there were constant comings and goings of demonic cultivators. With Lu Chen's perception of yin and demonic energy, cultivated through the Xuan Tian Qing Wei Mystical Art, he could sense the dense concentration of yin, demonic, and sanguine energies within each of them.
The spirit beast, Roushen, hidden within the Greedy Worm Pouch, also sensed these auras. It grew restless, no longer content to lie still, as if it wanted to burst out of the pouch and take a big gulp of the surrounding atmosphere.
"Looks like I've come to the right place," Lu Chen mused as he took a deep breath and infused a strand of spiritual energy into the Fengyuan Token in his hand.
Instantly, the sinister ghost depicted on the pitch-black token came to life, exuding a thick black mist that enveloped Lu Chen and transported him into a shadowy world.
After an indeterminate amount of time traversing this dusky realm, Lu Chen found himself stepping onto unfamiliar terrain.
He beheld a dim world filled with dense yin energy and scarce vitality. In the distance, there was a small town, within which he could discern the silhouettes of numerous cultivators.
Lu Chen swept the area with his spiritual sense, confirming that there was nothing amiss before following in the footsteps of the other cultivators and entering the eerie, yin-laden town.
The town was populated by cultivators exuding strong yin auras, some with even bizarre appearances that screamed "demonic cultivator." In addition, countless evil spirits and yin souls drifted aimlessly through the streets.
At the town's center were shops, and along the streets, stalls displayed a variety of demonic and odd materials, as well as magical artifacts.
In terms of creepiness and bloodiness, this place was no less intense than Lu Chen's own demonic spirit field back home.
While Lu Chen was generally amicable and avoided conflict, the years of exposure to his demonic spirit field had made him immune to such surroundings, and he felt no discomfort whatsoever.
"However, if there's only this town, it doesn't quite live up to the fame of the Fengyuan Star Cave," Lu Chen thought, surveying his surroundings with a puzzled expression.
"Is this Senior's first time entering the Fengyuan Star Cave? May I offer guidance if you require assistance?" Suddenly, a sinister voice echoed from beneath his feet.
Looking down, he saw segments of white bones slowly emerging from the pitch-black ground.
The bones assembled themselves into a human form. It was evident that the skull didn't quite fit with the rest of the skeleton, as it fell off a few times during the process.
Finally, out of desperation, the skeleton used its pale white fingers to retrieve a tendon from somewhere and tied the skull in place, securing it atop its neck.
"A ghost cultivator... interesting. Do you usually stay buried in the soil here?" Lu Chen watched the flustered skeleton with great interest and asked with a smile.
He had noticed the unusual movements of the bones the moment they started, but upon sensing that the spiritual power emanating from them was not even close to the peak of the Qi Refining stage, he had chosen to ignore them.
"Yes, Senior. This yin soil is rich in yin energy and is connected to the depths of the Fengyuan Star Cave. Staying here aids my cultivation," the skeleton replied.
"However, when I sensed that Senior seemed unfamiliar with the Fengyuan Star Cave, I gathered my courage to come out and offer my humble services as a guide." The skeleton's eye sockets glowed with a faint green light as it spoke in a soft voice.
As it spoke, the skull tilted again, and it had to use its finger bones to prop it back into place, eventually tying a knot to secure it.
"Indeed, this is my first time here. But before I make any decisions, why don't you introduce yourself first?" Lu Chen replied calmly.
"Of course, Senior!" The skeleton's eye sockets flickered with joy at Lu Chen's words.
"Ghost Seventeen? You, a mere Qi Refining ghost cultivator, dare to appear before me so recklessly. Aren't you afraid I'll be displeased and crush you with a mere flick of my finger?" Lu Chen said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Afraid? Of course, I'm afraid! I know of numerous peers who have been turned to powder or refined on a whim by temperamental Core Formation and Nascent Soul seniors," Ghost Seventeen said, its voice filled with trepidation.
"However, while my strength is meager, I am still affiliated with the White Bone Palace of the Fengyuan Star Cave. Most seniors who come here will give some face to the White Bone Palace."
The skeleton pointed to a pale mark on its scapula and added respectfully, "Of course, the main reason is my intuition, which has always been accurate. I believe you are not that kind of cultivator, Senior."
"For us lowly ghost cultivators, venturing out to find cultivators is akin to seizing an opportunity. If we guess right, we earn some spirit stones and continue our meager existence here in the first layer of the Fengyuan Star Cave. If we guess wrong, well, at most we lose our undead lives. But to survive, we have no choice but to take this gamble, as other means of earning spirit stones are even more perilous."
Ghost Seventeen spoke with a surprising degree of optimism, its head tilting enthusiastically, nearly detaching from its sinew moorings.
"Very well, you've guessed right. Now, tell me everything about the Fengyuan Star Cave, and if your information satisfies me, I won't skimp on the spirit stones." Lu Chen chuckled.
"Thank you, Senior!" Ghost Seventeen immediately bowed in gratitude, its head bending at a ninety-degree angle with an ear-grating creak, held in place by the sinews attached to its chest.
"What would you like to know, Senior?"
"First, tell me about this first layer of the Fengyuan Star Cave."
The ghost's eye sockets flickered with a greenish light as it organized its thoughts. "This senior obeys. The Fengyuan Star Cave is divided into seven layers, each with its unique characteristics. The cave is shaped like an inverted funnel, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. To access the next layer, one must be at a specific location and possess the requisite cultivation level or a token of passage."
"The first layer is the smallest in area, and its yin energy is relatively weak compared to the other layers. There are no secret realms or exotic treasures here; it merely serves as a transit point for countless low-level ghost cultivators and yin beings like myself."
"The population of demonic cultivators and ghostly beings decreases significantly in the second and third layers, and most possess the Core Formation stage of cultivation. These layers are home to numerous secret realms, and with deep fortune, one can obtain considerable opportunities and treasures."
"The fourth and fifth layers are occupied by Golden Core True Immortals or ghostly beings of equivalent strength, and they are considered the core areas of the Fengyuan Star Cave, housing numerous sects. My White Bone Palace is one of them. There are also many unexplored secret realms where one can obtain abundant treasures, but the risks are equally high."
"The sixth layer belongs to the Celestial Star Cave. It is said that the Star Master of Fengyuan and their Star Envoys cultivate within, and few wandering cultivators are able to enter."
"There is also a Ghost Market renowned throughout the cultivation world, where one can find all sorts of bizarre and rare treasures."
"As for the seventh layer, legend has it that there is a ghost city called Fengdu within, teeming with countless powerful ghostly beings. Even a Nascent Soul True Lord might not fare well there."
"However, the entrance to the seventh layer is sealed by the Celestial Star Cave, and one must use their refined treasures to gain access." Ghost Seventeen spoke at length without pause.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
