43: Shadow Binding Yellow Springs Technique

Lin Chen's figure completely merged into the bustling shadows of Demon Flame City.

The Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art operated on its own, drawing his last trace of Qi into his body, like a stone dropped into a deep pool, causing no more ripples.

Beneath his skin, the faint, grayish lines caused by excessive life force depletion flickered in and out of view, bringing a cold, withered sensation.

The hollow in his chest and the weakness radiating from his limbs and bones clung to him like a persistent disease, constantly reminding him of the price he had paid.

But in his eyes, a cold flame burned.

The beast hide fragments turned to ash, but the Legacy of the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art was deeply imprinted on his Soul.

The countless dark runic chains forming its operational trajectory not only brought him power but also an extreme affinity for shadows and Death Qi.

He walked on the crowded, dirty streets, the noisy human voices and chaotic Dou Qi fluctuations seeming to be separated by an invisible barrier.

Corners untouched by sunlight, the shadows cast by buildings, the fleeting dark emotions in the eyes of passersby… all became extensions of his perception, his best camouflage.

His presence was suppressed to an unprecedented low.

He needed information, to quickly confirm whether the yellow springs stele jade had arrived at Demon Flame Valley, and the specific arrangements of Hall of Souls and Earth Demon Old Ghost.

The best places to go were naturally where information was most mixed and well-informed—the mercenary taverns, and… the unique Black-Corner Region black market intelligence points.

“Hiccup… Have you heard? Demon Flame Valley’s auction this time is terrifyingly grand, it’s said that even the Earth Demon Old Ghost, who has been in seclusion for many years, might personally show up!” a mercenary, reeking of alcohol and with a scar on his face, shouted, embracing his companion.

“Tsk, boast all you want! Old Ancestor Earth Demon is a Dou Zong expert; what treasure could alarm him? Unless a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique appears!”

“Hehe, whether there’s a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique or not, I don’t know, but I heard that the ‘ancient broken jade’ headlining the auction is extremely sinister!

Demon Flame Valley cleared out the surrounding area for it a while ago, killing many ignorant fellows; their blood dyed the mountain stream red…”

“Damn it, such good stuff definitely isn’t for us; let’s just watch the show…”

…

Fragmented information, like broken waves, surged into Lin Chen’s ears.

He was like the most patient fisherman, sifting through valuable pieces in the noisy clamor.

“Earth Demon Old Ghost might appear,” “ancient broken jade is sinister,” “clearing out and killing people”… these pieces of information, when put together, pointed to one conclusion: Demon Flame Valley attached extreme importance to that “stele jade” and was on extremely high alert.

He left the tavern silently, like a drop of water merging into a river, attracting no attention.

Following the clues in his memory, he turned into several dark, narrow, sewage-filled alleys, finally stopping before an inconspicuous wooden door covered in thick grease.

On the wall beside the door was a blurred claw mark, the symbol of a secret intelligence organization in the Black-Corner Region called “Ground Rat Gate.”

His knuckles rapped on the wooden door with a special frequency.

A moment later, a small window opened on the door, and a pair of wary eyes peered out.

“Buying goods.” Lin Chen’s voice was hoarse and low, with the Black-Corner Region’s characteristic indifferent tone.

“What price?” the person inside asked.

“Three Shadow Leopard spines.” Lin Chen stated the code and price.

The small window closed, and a moment later, the wooden door creaked open a crack.

Lin Chen slipped inside sideways.

Inside, the light was dim, filled with the smell of cheap tobacco and old parchment.

A thin, shriveled old man with exceptionally shrewd eyes sat behind a mountain of scrolls, not even raising his head: “Internal information on Demon Flame Valley’s auction? Guard distribution? Treasure list? Which kind do you want?”

“That ‘jade’ headlining the auction.” Lin Chen was concise: “When did it arrive? Who brought it? Where is it now? Guard situation.”

The old man finally looked up, his cloudy eyes scrutinizing Lin Chen, seemingly trying to discern his origin from his blurred figure, but failed.

He held up three fingers: “Three thousand gold coins, or equivalent medicinal Materials, or Cultivation Technique scrolls.”

Lin Chen silently threw out an inconspicuous storage ring.

The old man’s Soul Power probed it, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.

Then he lowered his voice, speaking very quickly: “The item arrived late last night.

It wasn’t brought by conventional means; it came directly from a spatial rift near Black Skull Tomb!

The escorts… couldn’t be seen clearly, completely wrapped in black mist, their aura frighteningly cold, at least Peak Dou Huang, possibly stronger!

They went directly into the depths of Demon Flame Valley and haven’t come out since.

The exact current location is unknown, but before the auction begins, it will definitely be moved to the ‘Flame Demon Hall’ within the Valley.

The guards there… hehe, no less than five Dou Kings, at least one Dou Emperor stationed, and it’s said there’s also a spatial Restriction personally set by Earth Demon Old Ghost; not even a fly can get in!”

The spatial rift of Black Skull Tomb!

Mysterious escorts above Peak Dou Huang!

Earth Demon Old Ghost’s spatial Restriction!

Every word was like a heavy hammer striking Lin Chen’s heart.

The situation was even more troublesome than expected.

Hall of Souls had used unconventional channels and sent real experts.

“Also…” The old man licked his cracked lips, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes, “Recently, Demon Flame Valley has been extensively acquiring ‘Living Soul Phosphor Powder’ and ‘Blood Essence Demonic Fruit’… these two things are used to strengthen and stabilize… Soul bodies, or for large-scale blood Soul sacrifices, which are sinister Materials…”

Lin Chen’s pupils contracted sharply.

Living Soul Phosphor Powder, Blood Essence Demonic Fruit!

Yao Chen had vaguely mentioned that some of Hall of Souls’s secret techniques required these!

They not only wanted to activate the stele but might also use it for other schemes!

The rumors of sacrificing the entire Black-Corner Region with blood were probably not groundless!

The value of the intelligence far exceeded expectations.

Lin Chen asked no more questions, retreating backward as if merging into the shadow of the wall, instantly disappearing from the dim room.

The old man’s eyes suddenly widened; he looked around in horror but could no longer find any trace of the visitor, as if it had just been an illusion, with only the storage ring on the table proving everything that had just happened.

He shivered, hastily put away the storage ring, not daring to think further.

With the intelligence, Lin Chen’s heart sank to the bottom.

Forcibly entering the Flame Demon Hall to seize the stele jade was tantamount to suicide.

He had to act before the stele jade was sent into that Dragon’s den!

The only chance was the short journey from its current hiding place to the Flame Demon Hall!

Demon Flame Valley covered an extremely vast area, with intricate internal passages.

But the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art brought him an extraordinary perception of shadows and Death Qi, giving him a unique “vision” of the dense fiery poison Death Qi in the outer reaches of Demon Flame Valley.

He silently stalked around the treacherous mountains on the periphery of Demon Flame Valley, like the most cunning predator, searching for that possible, most hidden transfer route.

Finally, at the edge of a remote canyon near Black Skull Tomb, filled with a dense aura of Death Qi, he detected an anomaly.

The spatial fluctuations here retained a trace of extremely subtle disturbance, originating from the same cold spatial fluctuations he had perceived in the sewers!

Moreover, the shadow density at the bottom of the canyon far exceeded other places, and it was interspersed with several extremely faint Soul warning imprints, clearly captured by the Soul Binding Art!

This was it!

This was the only way for that secret transfer route!

The people from Hall of Souls used the unstable spatial rift near Black Skull Tomb to deliver it directly, while Demon Flame Valley was responsible for secretly transporting the stele jade back to the core area from this reception point!

Lin Chen suppressed the tremor in his heart and quickly surveyed the terrain.

The canyon was deep, with only a narrow, winding gravel path running through it.

The cliffs on both sides were steep, covered with jagged rocks and fire-resistant poisonous thorns.

He chose a natural depression located in the middle of the cliff, obscured by a large protruding rock.

The view here was excellent, overlooking the entire path, and it was in a blind spot for most surveillance, with thick shadows and accumulated Death Qi.

Time was pressing; he had to set a trap!

He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and with difficulty formed a strange and unfamiliar hand seal—it was the only, and extremely dangerous, secret technique attached to the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art: “Shadow Devouring Soul Binding Array”!

As the hand seal changed, the newly generated shadow power within Lin Chen’s body was frantically drained, and at the same time, his already dwindling life force was also drawn out!

The grayish lines beneath his skin reappeared and became increasingly clear.

His heart felt as if it were being pierced by countless fine needles; the sharp pain and emptiness almost made him faint.

The blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth had not yet dripped before it was frozen into dark red ice crystals by the cold aura emanating from his body.

Strands of dark energy, thinner than hair and almost completely transparent