Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen was extremely satisfied with the destruction wrought by the Great Azure Divine Thunder.
Although the divine thunder's power wasn't quite on par with the sun-chasing spear, the difference wasn't significant.
Moreover, as Song Wen's cultivation grew, the divine thunder's power would increase dramatically. In contrast, the sun-chasing spear's power would only improve marginally with his cultivation.
Song Wen estimated that once he reached the mid-stage of Divine Transformation, the Great Azure Divine Thunder and the sun-chasing spear would be nearly equal in power.
He didn't linger. Immediately activating his movement technique, he turned and left.
After several changes in direction, Song Wen confirmed he wasn't being followed and arrived at a desolate, gravel-strewn desert.
The area was barren, with thin Spiritual Qi and no rain. Cultivators rarely visited, and mortals never came, leaving it utterly deserted.
Song Wen waited in mid-air for a short while until a Third-Tier Shadow Gu drifted over.
The Shadow Gu appeared weak, as if it hadn't been nourished by Spiritual Qi or blood food for years.
After a brief communication with the Shadow Gu, Song Wen forced out two drops of his blood essence and fed them to the Gu. Then, he absorbed it into his body.
Next, Song Wen soared through the air, arriving at the foot of a stone mountain a thousand miles away.
The mountain was barren, devoid of any vegetation.
Song Wen waved his hand, releasing several streams of Spiritual Power to clear away a pile of scattered rubble at the mountain's base.
A cave was revealed.
After walking a hundred yards inside, a Formation Barrier blocked Song Wen's path.
This was a low-grade Spirit Isolation Formation, primarily designed to prevent the energy within from leaking out.
Song Wen retrieved an Array Disk, deactivated the Formation, and two corpse coffins appeared before him.
Inside the coffins lay the bodies of the dwarf and Jiang Chao, along with the Soul Bottles containing their divine souls.
Song Wen had placed their bodies and souls in this remote location because he feared the Jiang Family might possess secret arts capable of tracking them. Carrying them on his person would have invited disaster. Now, it seemed his concerns had been unnecessary.
To further prevent the Jiang Family from tracing their bodies and souls, Song Wen had taken several additional precautions.
First, he used corpse dao secret arts to refine the two corpses. All traces of their original auras were completely erased, leaving only a thick layer of Corpse Qi.
Second, the Soul Bottles containing their divine souls were purchased by Song Wen at a high price from a shop in Shangchu City's market.
According to the shopkeeper, these Soul Bottles could completely isolate the souls' auras. Song Wen had initially been skeptical, but based on the current situation, the shopkeeper's claim seemed to be true.
As for the Shadow Gu, Song Wen had placed it here to monitor the surrounding area.
He feared that someone might have found this place but, instead of disturbing the Corpse Coffins and Soul Bottles, would feign ignorance, set a trap, and wait for him to walk into it.
The Shadow Gu reported that no one had visited this place since he left thirteen years ago. Only then did Song Wen feel safe entering the cave.
Song Wen opened Jiang Chao's Corpse Coffin, removed his head, and stored it in his Storage Ring.
He left the Soul Bottle inside the coffin untouched.
Although the evidence showed that the Soul Bottle could indeed conceal the divine souls' auras, Song Wen felt uneasy about carrying it with him.
Song Wen returned to Shangchu City, his face concealed by an iron mask. He entered a cultivator teahouse.
This teahouse was located very close to the Jiang Family's residence.
The teahouse had seven floors. Song Wen reserved a room on the top floor, where he could directly see the city gates of the Jiang Family's residence through the window.
After closing the window and setting up a barrier using his Spiritual Power, Song Wen took out a Communication Jade Slip.
He had obtained this jade slip from the dwarf Jiang Wo's Storage Ring. It belonged to Ye Bing, and Song Wen had only found it after torturing the dwarf's divine soul and searching through the numerous jade slips in his Storage Ring.
Madam Wen had once mentioned that the white-haired elder Jiang Chao had killed Jiang Hu, a peerless genius from the Jiang Family, in his pursuit of Divine Transformation. As punishment, he had been imprisoned for two centuries. Jiang Hu's mother was Ye Bing, the daughter of the Ye Family who had married into the Jiang Family. She was now a peak Divine Transformation cultivator.
Fellow Daoist Ye, I apologize for this intrusion. I have a business proposition I'd like to discuss with you. Song Wen sent through the jade slip.
It took a full half hour for Ye Bing to respond.
"Who are you? Why do you have the Communication Jade Slip I sent to Jiang Wo? Did you kill him?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. Jiang Wo did indeed die at my hands. Fellow Daoist, do you seek revenge for him?" Song Wen replied.
Ye Bing said, "Jiang Wo was a rat-faced, squat, lecherous scoundrel. Whether he lives or dies is of no concern to me. Rumor has it that Jiang Wo and Jiang Chao were on a mission together when they died. Did you kill Jiang Chao as well?"
Song Wen replied, "Fellow Daoist Ye is correct."
After this message was sent, Ye Bing remained silent for a moment before replying with a question:
"Since you've avenged my son, tell me, what kind of trade do you want to make with me?"
Song Wen replied, "Revenge is best served personally, to truly satisfy one's heart's desire. Jiang Chao's divine soul is still in my possession. I wonder, Fellow Daoist Ye, if you'd like it?"
"Jiang Chao's divine soul still exists?" Ye Bing's tone became noticeably agitated. She quickly followed up with another message, sounding eager: "What kind of trade do you want?"
"Provide me with all the information you have on Jiang Yushan, as detailed as possible," Song Wen said, leaving no stone unturned. "Include his entire past, habits, preferences, frequent haunts, close relationships, and recent acquaintances. Also, tell me about the cultivation level of his personal guards, the Mystic Treasures they wield, and their past combat records. Finally, reveal Jiang Yushan's life-saving techniques and any special treasures he possesses..."
Ye Bing replied, "Why are you gathering such comprehensive information on Jiang Yushan? Do you have a personal grudge against him?"
"That's none of your concern, Fellow Daoist," Song Wen said. "Perhaps you should focus on whether you'll accept my offer."
"Your demands are not easily met," Ye Bing said.
"If you truly wish to avenge your son with your own hands, you should be able to gather this information," Song Wen countered.
"When will we make this exchange?" Ye Bing asked.
"I'll give you one month," Song Wen replied. "If you fail to provide me with satisfactory information by then, the deal is off. Also, don't try to deceive me with false information. I know Jiang Yushan well. If you lie, you'll never get the chance to avenge your son yourself."
Ye Bing said, "Very well, I accept your offer. But how can I be certain that Jiang Chao's divine soul is truly in your possession?"
Song Wen dispelled the barrier, opened the window, and vanished silently from the teahouse. He reappeared at a deserted street corner.
"Fellow Daoist, there's something of interest at the Heavenly Fate Teahouse, heavenly room three. If you go there now, you should be able to see it."
After sending this message, Song Wen put away the Communication Jade Slip, removed the mask from his face, and walked into the main street, blending into the bustling crowd.
Moments later, a middle-aged, beautiful woman arrived at the teahouse Song Wen had just left. On the wooden table lay a head with unblinking eyes—Jiang Chao's head.
The woman stared at the head, her eyes blazing with fury, her fists clenched tightly.
After a few breaths, the rage in her eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a deep, chilling calm.
(End of the Chapter)
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