47: Shadow healing soul marrow power, the scroll contains secrets that shock the heart

The clamor of Demon Flame Valley was left far behind. Lin Chen, enduring his injuries, relied on the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art's extreme affinity for shadows, moving like an invisible phantom through the mountain forests outside Canaan City. He eventually found an extremely secluded natural stone cave where even the aura of Demonic Beasts was scarce.

The cave entrance was concealed by dense vines, and its interior was dry and dim, making it an ideal hiding spot.

“Thump!”

As soon as he entered the cave, his tightly strung nerves relaxed slightly, and he could no longer support himself. He fell heavily to the ground, spitting out another mouthful of clotted blood, his vision momentarily darkening. The shattered shoulder blade, damaged Meridians, loss of vitality, and the backlash from forcibly suppressing Elder Zun Yao's investigation—all his injuries erupted at this moment.

He dared not faint, knowing that if he lost consciousness now, the backlash from the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art could very well claim his life.

Struggling to sit up cross-legged, the first thing he took out was the Medicinal Pills he had looted from the Hall of Souls Dou Huang's Storage Pouch. He couldn't identify their specific names, but the rich, cold Soul energy contained within them was undeniable. He gritted his teeth and swallowed two more.

Upon entering his abdomen, the icy, bone-chilling energy rapidly dissolved, like countless tiny ice needles piercing his Meridians and Soul. While bringing intense pain, it also forcefully stabilized his rapidly disintegrating Soul form and slightly nourished his parched Sea of Consciousness. Shadow Erosion Dou Qi seemed particularly fond of this cold energy, spontaneously circulating and greedily absorbing it. Even the loss of vitality caused by the backlash seemed to slow down a little.

“Fighting poison with poison, huh…” Lin Chen gave a bitter smile. The Hall of Souls's items were indeed strange, but they were also effective.

He dared not rely on them too much. Once his injuries were temporarily stable and no longer worsening, he eagerly took out the several black scrolls he had obtained from the Hall of Souls Dou Huang.

His Soul Power cautiously probed the first scroll.

Most of the scroll's content was written in an obscure Hall of Souls secret script, leaving Lin Chen bewildered. However, some common continental characters and map fragments interspersed within it made his heart skip a beat.

The map depicted the detailed topography of the Black-Corner Region and its surrounding areas, with several locations specially marked with crimson imprints, and Demon Flame Valley was among them! There were also some annotations: “Earth Vein Node,” “Death Qi Confluence,” “Suspected One of the Yellow Springs Entrances,” “Plan: 'Induction' failed, target awakened early, energy rampaged… needs reassessment…”

“Yellow Springs Entrance?” Lin Chen's pupils contracted. He immediately thought of the terrifying black hole beneath Demon Flame Valley and the indifferent gaze within it. “Are they searching for a place called 'Yellow Springs'? Is the area beneath Demon Flame Valley one of its entrances? Their plan is 'Induction'? Induce what? Do they want to bring something out of 'Yellow Springs'?”

He felt a chill run up his spine. The Hall of Souls's ambition was vast! This was definitely not as simple as just collecting Soul bodies!

Suppressing his alarm, he opened the second scroll. The records in this scroll were even more fragmented, seemingly some experimental logs.

“…Experiment subject seven hundred thirty-one, injected with 'Yellow Springs Death Qi', Soul strength increased by thirty percent, but intelligence extinguished, transformed into a 'Yellow Springs Demonic Puppet' that only knows how to kill… failed.”

“…Captured a wild 'Earth Core Fire Python' Soul body, attempted to use it as a vessel to carry the 'Yellow Springs Mark', failed to withstand, Soul shattered… requires a stronger vessel…”

“…Elder Zun transmitted an order, 'Other Shore Flower' plan accelerated, 'seeds' need to be scattered in all suspected entrances as soon as possible…”

“…Unexpected discovery of co-existing 'earth core soul marrow', this item might neutralize the ferocity of 'Yellow Springs Death Qi' and increase the success rate of the vessel… needs to be acquired…”

The fragmented information, however, outlined a chilling conspiracy. The Hall of Souls seemed to be using something called “Yellow Springs Death Qi” for some evil experiment, creating war machines called “Yellow Springs Demonic Puppets.” They also seemed to be looking for suitable “vessels” to carry the so-called “Yellow Springs Mark,” and the “earth core soul marrow” was actually a key item unexpectedly discovered in this plan!

“Other Shore Flower plan… seeds…” Lin Chen chewed on these words, the underlying meaning sending shivers down his spine. He vaguely felt that he might have stumbled upon a corner of a terrifying conspiracy capable of overturning the continent.

He took a deep breath and opened the third, and final, scroll. This scroll was not in secret script, but a list and several cultivation methods for sinister Dou Skills, seemingly the Dou Huang's private collection. The list enumerated some forces and individuals in the Black-Corner Region and nearby Empires, with annotations like “Controlled,” “To be contacted,” “Eliminate,” etc. Lin Chen even saw a few names briefly mentioned in the original work.

“The Hall of Souls's infiltration has reached such an extent…” He silently memorized this information, which might become important leverage in the future. As for those few Dou Skills, although powerful, they were too sinister and bore obvious Hall of Souls characteristics, so he temporarily did not plan to Cultivate them to avoid exposing his identity.

After digesting the scroll's information, Lin Chen's mood was incredibly heavy. The threat of the Hall of Souls was far greater and more bizarre than he had imagined.

He carefully put the scrolls back into the deepest part of his Storage Pouch, ensuring no aura leaked out. Then, his gaze turned to the cold jade bottle he had obtained by the magma lake.

earth core soul marrow!

This was his biggest gain from this adventure and the key to his rapid recovery and improvement.

He pulled out the stopper, and an exotic, refreshing fragrance instantly filled the entire stone cave. The pure energy fluctuations made the surrounding Heaven and Earth energy become active. Inside the bottle, a dark red, glazed, viscous liquid slowly flowed, as if alive, emitting fluctuations that made one's Soul tremble.

Without hesitation, Lin Chen carefully poured out a single drop, about the size of a Dragon's eye. As the Soul marrow left the jade bottle, its brilliance immediately became subdued, but the vast and gentle energy became even more palpable.

He held it in his mouth but did not swallow it.

earth core soul marrow was not meant to be directly consumed; instead, its energy needed to be slowly guided to nourish the Soul.

He once again circulated the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art, this time not for concealment, but to try and guide the energy of that single drop of earth core soul marrow.

The Soul marrow melted upon entering his mouth, transforming into a warm and vast torrent that did not rush into his Dantian but directly into his Sea of Consciousness in his glabella!

“Buzz—!”

Lin Chen felt his mind clear, as if cleansed by warm spring water. The stinging pain and weakness in his Soul, caused by his injuries and backlash, instantly lessened by more than half! That torrent gently and steadily nourished his damaged Soul Origin, repairing the cracks, and at a perceptible speed, his Soul Power began to grow!

Even more miraculously, the pure fire-attribute energy contained in the earth core soul marrow did not conflict with his Shadow Erosion Dou Qi. Instead, while nourishing his Soul, it indirectly warmed his Meridians, which had become somewhat cold due to devouring Death Qi and shadows. This significantly reduced the cold, stinging pain brought by the Hall of Souls Medicinal Pills he had taken earlier, and the circulation of Dou Qi within his body became much smoother.

“It really is good stuff!” Lin Chen was overjoyed and absorbed it with all his might.

Time quietly passed during his Cultivation.

After an unknown period, the energy of that single drop of earth core soul marrow was finally completely absorbed.

Lin Chen opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them. Although his complexion was still pale and his physical injuries were still severe, the wounds on his Soul had recovered by seventy to eighty percent. He even felt that his Soul Power was more than double what it was at its peak! His Sea of Consciousness was wider, his perception sharper, and his control over the Dou Qi within his body became even more precise and meticulous!

The most direct benefit was that his operation of the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art became more proficient. The feeling of constantly being backlashed and losing vitality, though still present, became easier to suppress and endure due to the strengthening of his Soul.

“A single drop has such miraculous effects…” Lin Chen looked at the at least ten-plus drops of Soul marrow still in the cold jade bottle, his heart filled with excitement. If he absorbed all of it, his Soul Power would likely reach an extremely high level. At that time, not only would his Cultivation speed greatly increase, but he would also have more confidence in facing backlash, and might even unlock deeper mysteries of the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art ahead of schedule!

But he was not greedy, knowing the importance of a solid Foundation. His current priority was to stabilize his injuries.

He re-stoppered the bottle and was about to continue healing when his ears suddenly twitched slightly.

With the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art circulating to its extreme, his perception extended through the stone cave and outward.

In the distance, faint sounds of rushing wind and conversation were rapidly approaching this area.

“Search carefully! Grand Elder has given the order; no suspicious trace is to be missed!”

“There's a stone cave over there, let's go check it out!”

Lin Chen's heart tightened.

It was Jia Nan Academy's law enforcement team! It seemed that after the incident at Demon Flame Valley, the Academy had strengthened its patrols of the surrounding area.

He immediately concealed all his aura, his body melting into the darkest corner of the stone cave. With the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art fully active, his presence instantly dropped to its lowest point.

Two law enforcement members cautiously entered the cave, their Dou Qi light illuminating the small space.

“Seems like no one?”

“There's a very faint scent… strange, it's gone again. Maybe it's residual from some medicinal herb.”

“Check if there are any traces.”

The two searched carefully, their gazes even sweeping over the shadows where Lin Chen was hiding several times, yet they noticed nothing, as if the spot was truly empty.

“Looks like it's empty. Let's go to the next spot.”

“Mm.”

The footsteps gradually faded.

In the shadows, Lin Chen slowly revealed himself, his brows tightly furrowed.

The Academy's search was even more thorough than he had expected. This place was not suitable for long stays.

He had to leave the Black-Corner Region as soon as possible.

He glanced in the direction of Canaan City, his eyes flickering.

Before leaving, perhaps… he should see Xiao Yan again. Some things needed to be probed, and also… set up.

Next chapter preview: Dark Shadow bids farewell and probes for information, Emperor Yan's doubts arise.