83: The Demon Cultivator Family, the patriarchal decree?

“Senior…”

Before the horse-faced Cultivator in front of the Yin Underworld Insect Cave could speak further, a black Fiend Vine afterimage drilled into his glabella.

He froze in place as if struck by lightning.

Shi Chuan retrieved the three black jade calabashes for collecting Evil Qi that had fallen nearby, drawing them towards him, and used his Divine Thought to inspect the Evil Qi within the calabashes.

This Magical Artifact for storing Evil Qi was indeed quite remarkable.

The Evil Qi inside was abundant, clearly having been nurtured for at least several decades.

The Evil Qi continuously fused within the calabash, its grade already reaching Medium Grade First-Stage Evil Qi, though it still couldn't reach High Grade Evil Qi.

However, the total amount of Evil Qi in this treasure calabash was equivalent to that from at least several hundred Corpse Puppets.

“I ask, you answer.”

“Are there other such Evil Qi collecting Magical Artifacts in your Family?”

Shi Chuan looked at the other two young female Cultivators kneeling on the ground and asked in a calm tone.

“Replying… replying to Senior, the Evil Qi collecting Magical Artifacts we use belong to our Zhu Clan…”

One of the female Cultivators stammered slightly.

This Senior showed no fear towards their Foundation Establishment Family, indicating he was undoubtedly a powerful Rogue Cultivator.

Falling into the hands of such a Rogue Cultivator, being left with a complete corpse would be considered fortunate.

A moment later.

From the mouth of the Zhu Clan female Cultivator, Shi Chuan learned about the Zhu Clan’s foundation and how this Evil Qi collecting Magical Artifact had been a Legacy in their Clan for hundreds of years.

The Zhu Clan’s Family-protecting Magical Artifact was a treasure evil calabash, which had been nurturing Evil Qi for over a hundred years. Normally, it could nurture and gather a wisp of High Grade First-Stage Evil Qi every ten years or so.

After more than a hundred years, combined with some secret techniques, there was a small chance for the First-Stage Evil Qi to transform into Low Grade Second-Stage Evil Qi.

However, Shi Chuan was not interested in its ability to nurture Evil Qi, but rather its ability to store Evil Qi!

Even a Low Grade First-Stage treasure evil calabash could store so much Evil Qi, and there was still space within the calabash for more.

The Artifact Refining technique for such a Evil Qi storage Magical Artifact couldn't even be found in Eternal Vine's incomplete memories. Clearly, this technique was destined for him!

“Soul Seizing!”

Shi Chuan’s Divine Thought stirred, and the Profound Yin Banner flew out. A black mist vortex several zhang wide formed on it, and the immense suction it generated enveloped the three Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators.

Three faint wandering souls flew out and were absorbed into the Profound Yin Banner.

As soon as they entered the banner, they were swallowed by the Horned Python Demon Soul residing within, treated as snacks.

Since he had finished his inquiry and they were no longer useful, he could act.

Immediately, two Demonic Fiend Vine threads flew from Shi Chuan’s hand, drilling into the glabella of the two female Cultivators. He controlled them with the Fiend Vine, turning them into Corpse Puppets that could be simply manipulated.

Cultivators in the Qi Refinement Stage controlled by the Demonic Fiend Vine would lose most of their memories. If he had controlled all of them at once, these people would have become imbeciles, and he wouldn't have been able to learn about the Zhu Clan.

Shi Chuan threw the Corpse Puppets of these three Cultivators into his corpse raising bag and flew onto the back of the massive Corpse Crow.

“To the Zhu Clan, to find my Evil Qi storage Magical Artifact.”

Shi Chuan was in high spirits.

Black Tooth River Valley was now at the edge of the Azure Cloud Mountain Range, quite far from Three Thousand Spirit Valley. Since the Purple Cloud Sect chose to extend its reach into Three Thousand Spirit Valley, its attention would certainly not leave the river valley.

For a remote place like Black Tooth River Valley, with only a few decent First-Stage Spiritual Veins, no Foundation Establishment Cultivators would pay it any mind.

The safety here was much higher than the stronghold where Niu Chengzhu was previously located.

To encounter the Magical Artifact he needed in this place was truly the wonder of 'destiny.'

Moreover, the three Cultivators he killed not only had the simple Yin Underworld Insect Evil Qi on them, but also dense blood Qi andresentment (resentment) entwined around them, as seen by his Purple Fiend Eyes.

The Zhu Clan likely Cultivated Demonic Path Cultivation Techniques, as their overlord, the Niu Clan, was already a Demonic Path Family.

It was reasonable for the Zhu Clan, as one of their many lackeys, to Cultivate Demonic Path Cultivation Techniques.

…

Two quarters of an hour later.

In the Zhu Clan's Clan Meeting Hall, the gaunt, bald old man stood in the center of the hall, covered in wounds, with strands of black Fiend Vine threads moving in his eyes.

Faint dark black tattoo-like features appeared subtly on his body.

Shi Chuan, wearing a Fiend Vine Mask, now held a twelve-inch tall black jade calabash in his right hand. Several ancient characters were engraved on the outside of the calabash.

“The Zhu Clan’s methods are truly vicious and cruel, using an entire town of Mortals to refine Evil Qi.”

Shi Chuan looked at the Zhu Clan Chief, controlled by the Demonic Fiend Vine, recalling the scenes he had witnessed along the way. He had clearly overestimated the bottom line of these Demonic Cultivator Families.

However, this treasure evil calabash was truly good. It contained so much High Grade First-Stage Evil Qi and was a High Grade First-Stage Magical Artifact.

Now that he had obtained this Artifact Refining method, after he advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, he could refine it again with some Materials, with a high probability of upgrading this treasure evil calabash to Second-Stage.

The environment within the Zhu Clan’s residence was comparable to two or three tenths of the environment in the Yellow Springs Demon Sect’s Corpse Refining Cave.

If the Zhu Clan also excelled in the path of Corpse Puppetry, it might not be impossible for them to gradually rise to become a Foundation Establishment Family in the future.

Shi Chuan put the treasure evil calabash into his storage pouch.

He placed the Zhu Clan Chief, a High Grade First-Stage Corpse Puppet in the hall before him, into his corpse raising bag.

In the future, whether for combat or exchanging for Spirit Stones, the Corpse Puppets accumulated in the corpse raising bag could be used as cannon fodder.

Shi Chuan, combining his knowledge with Eternal Vine’s incomplete memories, knew that if he accumulated enough cannon fodder Corpse Puppets, he could fight above his stage.

The hundreds of wandering souls in the Profound Yin Banner would not significantly affect a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

However, if this number of wandering souls multiplied by hundreds, reaching millions or tens of millions of wandering souls.

Of course, gathering so many wandering souls or Corpse Puppets would be a difficult task.

Over time, accumulating wandering souls and Corpse Puppets could also consume a considerable amount of a fellow Cultivator’s magical power in battle.

After Shi Chuan obtained what he needed from the Zhu Clan.

He swept through the Zhu Family residence several times to ensure there were no lingering issues before heading straight for the Yin Underworld Insect Cave.

…

Late at night.

Just outside the insect cave.

A faint purple light flashed in Shi Chuan’s eyes; it was time for the daily intelligence refresh.

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received one purple intelligence】

【Purple Intelligence: Gu Kun, the former Sect Master who escaped from the Yellow Springs Demon Sect several days ago, had his Physical Body destroyed, with only his Divine Soul narrowly escaping. He is suspected to have fled towards the Northwest Sand Sea. Now, as the Jiao Demon Sect and Purple Cloud Sect are fiercely battling to seize the Yellow Springs Demon Sect’s share, the Upper Sect, Dual Saint Gate, has issued a decree: the Yellow Springs Demon Sect’s original Sect residence will be occupied by the Sky Wolf Sect, an external force!】

【Note: A Qi Refining Perfection Inner Sect Disciple of the Yellow Springs Demon Sect will pass through Black Tooth River Valley tomorrow at si shi (9 am - 11 am) and one quarter. This Inner Sect Disciple carries a Second-Stage treasure medicine.】

“I didn’t expect the Dual Saint Gate to issue a decree.”

“In the end, the two Sects can only plunder a wave of the Yellow Springs Demon Sect’s resources, and the Third-Stage Spiritual Vein will benefit the external Sky Wolf Sect.”

“However, this period allows many Disciples who escaped from the Yellow Springs Demon Sect to catch their breath and gain a new lease on life.”

“Since there’s a Disciple carrying treasure passing through Black Tooth River Valley, how can I not take it?”

Shi Chuan’s eyes lit up upon seeing the information about the Second-Stage treasure medicine, and he made a decision in his heart.