372: Chapter 366: Soul Search Begins

"No rush."

"The item is already in my hands."

"I can refine it slowly once I return."

Chen Zhiwen carefully put away the Formation Plate.

His mood was excellent.

The bitter parasol heavenly lotus, the myriad Formations of the Ni Shang Formation Plate.

Plus that ice egg suspected to be from the Immortal Descendant race.

The gains from this trip.

Could truly be described as 'bountiful'.

"However..."

Chen Zhiwen's gaze shifted back to the center of the great hall.

It landed on the nine majestic, towering golden jade pillars.

His brow furrowed slightly.

"Are these pillars really just decorations?"

He didn't believe it.

Absolutely did not believe it.

A Soul Transformation Stage mighty figure went through all the trouble to build this great hall deep within the volcano.

Was it really just to erect a few nice-looking pillars?

Within this.

There must be a deeper secret hidden!

"Could it be..."

Chen Zhiwen stroked his chin.

A flash of sharp light gleamed in his eyes.

"That these nine pillars themselves are a special type of Magic Treasure?"

Or perhaps.

They are the Formation eyes for some larger Formation?

Thinking of this.

Chen Zhiwen grew somewhat restless.

He walked up to one of the jade pillars engraved with the pattern of the Big Dipper.

Took a deep breath.

Extended his right hand.

The storage ring on his hand shone brightly.

"Rise!"

He shouted lowly.

Attempting to use the spatial power of the storage ring to forcibly pull this jade pillar inside.

"Hum—!!!"

However.

Something unexpected happened.

As the storage ring's light enveloped it.

The jade pillar not only remained completely motionless.

Instead, it emitted a low, dull hum.

An extremely powerful rebounding force.

Instantly erupted from within the jade pillar.

"Bang!"

Chen Zhiwen only felt a shock in his wrist.

The entire force sent him stumbling back several steps.

Deep footprints were left on the cyan jade floor beneath his feet.

"So heavy!"

Chen Zhiwen steadied himself.

A look of shock appeared on his face.

This storage ring of his.

Was a top-grade Spiritual Artifact level spatial treasure.

Its internal space was enormous.

Capable of holding even a small mountain.

But now.

It couldn't even take away a single pillar?

What did this mean?

It meant the weight of this jade pillar.

Far exceeded the carrying limit of the storage ring!

Or perhaps...

This jade pillar itself had gained sentience.

Even possessed its own intelligence.

And was resisting being taken!

"Interesting."

Chen Zhiwen rubbed his slightly numb wrist.

The interest in his eyes grew even stronger.

The harder something was to take.

The more valuable it often was.

These nine jade pillars.

Were definitely not ordinary items!

"It seems simple, forceful retrieval won't work."

Chen Zhiwen circled the jade pillar a few times.

Like a starving wolf seeing food but not knowing where to bite.

"Either it has intelligence."

"Or it's connected as one with this entire great hall, even the entire volcanic ley line."

"Or even..."

He looked up at the star pattern at the top of the jade pillar.

Deep in thought.

"It might even resonate with the power of the stars in the sky."

"Pulling one hair moves the whole body."

Chen Zhiwen frowned.

This was somewhat troublesome.

If he forcefully damaged it.

What if he triggered some destructive Restriction?

Burying himself under this volcano would be a greater loss than gain.

But if he just gave up like this.

He really couldn't accept it.

It was like entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed.

That would be worse than killing him.

"Calm."

"Must stay calm."

Chen Zhiwen forced himself to settle his mind.

He walked up to that jade pillar again.

Reached out his hand.

This time.

He did not use brute force again.

Instead, he placed his palm against the surface of the jade pillar.

Slowly closed his eyes.

Fused his own Divine Sense and spiritual power together.

Transforming them into the finest tendrils.

Inching bit by bit, seeping into the interior of the jade pillar. The great hall was silent.

The nine golden jade pillars stood majestically, as if holding up this independent Realm of heaven and earth.

Chen Zhiwen stood before the jade pillar closest to him.

He took a deep breath, his arms slowly spreading open, wrapping around the pillar's base like two iron clamps.

There were no flashy movements.

Nor did he employ any spiritual power techniques.

Pure Physical Body power erupted within him.

He was a half-baked Body Cultivator.

Although he primarily cultivated the sword Dao, after the System's enhancements and countless life-and-death trials, his Physical Body had long been incredibly strong.

Plus, after refining those two drops of unknown ancient Yao Beast blood essence earlier.

If he exerted his full strength now, a single swing of his arms could unleash a terrifying force of two million jin!

"Rise!"

Chen Zhiwen roared lowly.

Veins bulged on his forehead like winding earthworms.

The cyan jade floor beneath his feet emitted a creaking sound of strain, as if it might shatter at any moment.

However.

That golden jade pillar remained completely motionless.

Not even a single tremor.

As if it wasn't standing on the ground, but growing within this space, fused as one with the entire earth, the entire volcano, even the entire world.

Chen Zhiwen did not give up.

He gritted his teeth, exerted force again.

His face flushed red from the blood rushing to it.

Sweat slid down his cheeks, dripping onto the jade pillar, instantly evaporating.

Still ineffective.

The two-million-jin force, in front of this jade pillar, was like an ant trying to shake a great tree.

An ant shaking a tree, overestimating its own strength.

"Hah..."

Chen Zhiwen released his grip.

He took two steps back, his chest heaving violently.

Even he felt a deep sense of powerlessness at this moment.

"The weight of this thing far exceeds my imagination."

"It's probably not just a matter of material."

"More likely, it's reinforced by some kind of rule-based power."

Since brute force wouldn't work, he'd try a weapon.

Chen Zhiwen flicked his wrist.

The hidden edge sword appeared in his palm out of thin air.

This sword had accompanied him for many years, had long gained sentience, and now seemed to sense its master's Battle Intent, emitting a faint sword hum.

"Slash!"

A sharp, peerless sword light, like a fleeting swan, instantly slashed onto the jade pillar.

This strike contained seventy percent of his Sword Intent.

Enough to cut metal and jade, split mountains and crack rocks.

However, something bizarre happened.

The moment the sword edge touched the jade pillar's surface.

There was no crisp sound of metal striking metal.

The incredibly hard jade surface, like a pool of stagnant water hit by a stone, rippled with gentle, concentric waves.

That was liquefied spiritual power fluctuation!

The unstoppable force of the hidden edge sword, under the undulation of these ripples, was completely dispersed.

Immediately after.

A massive rebounding force fiercely assailed him.

"Snap!"

Chen Zhiwen only felt a numbness in the base of his thumb.

The hidden edge sword nearly flew out of his hand.

He was forced back several steps before barely steadying himself.

Looking at the completely unharmed jade pillar, not even a white mark left, Chen Zhiwen finally sighed helplessly.

"It seems I cannot move this thing as I am now."

"This is definitely not a treasure a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator can covet."

"Perhaps only by reaching the Soul Transformation Stage, or an even higher Realm, would one be qualified to claim them."

Chen Zhiwen was a decisive person.

Since it couldn't be done, he wouldn't drag it out.

There were more important matters at hand.

The grudge between the Deng and Pu clans remained unsettled.

The Huang Family grandmother and granddaughter were still unconscious outside.

If he delayed too long, he feared changes might occur.

"Enough."

"I'll leave it stored here for now."

"When my cultivation reaches Major Achievement in the future, I'll come back for you."

Chen Zhiwen took a deep look at these nine mysterious jade pillars.

Imprinted their appearance deeply in his mind.

Then resolutely turned around.

Transformed into a streak of light, flying towards the great hall's exit.

...

The passageway was deep and dark.

Chen Zhiwen was not in a hurry to leave.

He stopped at the exit.

His hands danced swiftly, forming a series of complex hand seals.

He was setting up a Formation.

Although this place was extremely secluded, with magma as a natural barrier.

He dared not be the slightest bit careless.

On top of the original Restrictions, he superimposed several more that isolated Divine Sense and aura.

Ensuring that even if someone stumbled upon this place, they couldn't easily discover the great hall inside.

After finishing this.

He did not stop immediately.

Instead, with a thought.

A deep, dark purple flame leaped out from his fingertip.

Qian Lan Purple Flame.

This sentient, extraordinary flame, now like an obedient child, hovered quietly before him.

"Go."

"Guard this place."

"If my aura is not present, any intruder, kill without mercy!"

Chen Zhiwen issued the order.

The Qian Lan Purple Flame seemed to understand his words.

It jumped happily once.

Then transformed into a huge purple fire net, tightly sealing the entire passageway entrance.

This extraordinary flame was astonishingly powerful.

Even a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator, if they rashly touched it, would be instantly burned to ashes.

Even an Early Nascent Soul Stage expert would not dare to lightly confront its sharp edge.

With this layer of protection.

Chen Zhiwen finally felt truly at ease.

His figure flashed, passing through the magma layer, rushing towards the crater above.

...

The crater.

Billowed with black smoke.

The pungent smell of sulfur filled every inch of space.

The temperature here was extremely high.

An ordinary person would scorch their lungs just breathing the air here.

Chen Zhiwen hovered in mid-air.

By now, he had long regained his usual calm and composure.

He waved his sleeve.

Two black shadows flew out from his storage ring.

They were two massive Puppets.

Jet black all over, with eight sharp long legs, and bizarre patterns on their backs.

They were third-tier spider Yao Beast Puppets.

These two Puppets were refined from the corpses of high-level Yao Beasts he had slain earlier.

Although their attack power was not as strong as when alive.

They excelled in sturdiness, durability, and absolute loyalty.

"Bring them here."

Chen Zhiwen ordered calmly.

The two spider Yao Beast Puppets immediately crawled towards behind a nearby rock.

A moment later.

They walked over, each carrying a person on their back.

They were precisely the Huang Family grandmother and granddaughter whom Chen Zhiwen had knocked unconscious earlier — Huang Lichun and Huang Xia.

Both were still in a deep coma.

Their faces pale, their auras weak.

Clearly, the earlier battle and Divine Sense impact had caused them significant harm.

Chen Zhiwen paid no attention to the old woman.

His gaze first fell upon the young girl.

Huang Xia.

A very ordinary name.

But the talent contained within this body was anything but ordinary.

Chen Zhiwen extended his hand.

Gently placed it on the girl's flat abdomen.

A wisp of gentle spiritual power probed inside.

Directly reaching her Dantian.

A moment later.

A flash of satisfaction passed through Chen Zhiwen's eyes.

"Indeed an Earth-grade ice Spiritual Root."

"Extremely high purity."

"Even a faint tendency to evolve towards Heaven-grade."

"This level of Aptitude, even in those top-tier great Sects, would be a seedling cultivated as a Core Disciple."

"Left in this tiny Huang Family, it's simply a waste of a treasure."

Having confirmed her Aptitude.

Next, he needed to confirm her Heart-Nature.

Chen Zhiwen never accepted those with devious hearts, or ungrateful wolves that couldn't be tamed.

No matter how high the talent, if the Heart-Nature was malicious, they would only become a calamity in the future.

He withdrew his hand.

A strange blue light suddenly ignited in his palm.

The light was not dazzling.

But carried a chill that made one's Soul tremble.

Heavenly Xiao Soul Search Technique!

This was an extremely overbearing Divine Soul secret technique Chen Zhiwen had mastered.

It could directly probe the deepest memories of a Cultivator.

Although somewhat inhumane.

But in this cruel Immortal Realm, it was the most direct and effective way to understand a person.

Especially for a Disciple he was about to take under his wing.

He had to know their roots thoroughly.

"Endure it a bit."

Chen Zhiwen murmured.

Not really speaking to the unconscious girl, but reminding himself to control the intensity.

After all, the other party was only a Foundation Establishment Stage Junior.

If he used too much force, he could easily shatter her Sea of Consciousness, turning her into an idiot.

His finger gently tapped Huang Xia's glabella.

The blue light flashed and vanished.

Instantly disappearing into the girl's mind.

Huang Xia's body twitched slightly.

Her delicate brows furrowed tightly, as if feeling some pain in her sleep.

But she did not wake up.

Chen Zhiwen closed his eyes.

Countless chaotic images, like a revolving lantern, flashed rapidly through his mind.

Those were Huang Xia's memories.

This viewing lasted for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

When Chen Zhiwen opened his eyes again.

His originally stern face held a touch of softness.

"To be... so pure."

In Huang Xia's memories, what he saw was a blank slate.

This girl's life was simple to an extreme.

Ever since her ice Spiritual Root was detected at age five.

She had been treated as a precious gem by the Huang Family, strictly protected.

For a full twenty years.

She had almost never stepped outside the Huang Family gates.

Her daily life, aside from eating and sleeping, was Cultivating, Cultivating, and more Cultivating.

The people she had contact with.

Aside from her grandmother Huang Lichun, who doted on her but in reality had an extremely controlling nature.

Were only a few mute maidservants responsible for her daily care.

She didn't know how dangerous the outside world was.

Didn't know the greed and deceit of human hearts.

Her world consisted only of endless ice and snow and tedious incantations.

Her personality.

Was like a blank sheet of paper.

Simple.

Naive.

Even somewhat laughably innocent.

"Good."

"Very good."

The corner of Chen Zhiwen's mouth lifted slightly.

What he wanted was exactly such a blank slate.

"Compared to using a method like the Spiderweb Blood Seal to forcibly control someone with ulterior motives."

"This kind of pure, blank-slate Genius is the best subject for cultivation."

"With just a little guidance, she will become the sharpest sword in my hand."

"And, an absolutely loyal sword."

Since he was very satisfied with Huang Xia.

Then next.

It was time to look at that old woman.

Chen Zhiwen turned around.

Looked at Huang Lichun lying on the other spider Yao Beast's back.

His eyes instantly turned ice-cold.

Towards this old woman.

He felt no pity whatsoever.

The same method.

The same Heavenly Xiao Soul Search Technique.

Ruthlessly pierced into Huang Lichun's Sea of Consciousness.