Translator: CinderTL
A tentacle pierced Chi Qi's chest, his life force draining away like receding tide. His body hung limply, like a tattered rag.
Refusing to surrender, Chi Qi immediately sank his divine soul into his dantian, attempting to control his nascent soul for a final desperate strike.
But an irresistible, terrifying suction suddenly seized his divine soul, dragging it toward the tentacle. Against this overwhelming force, Chi Qi felt utterly powerless, forced to submit.
When the suction vanished, Chi Qi found himself in a Sea of Consciousness. Without a doubt, this must be the Sea of Consciousness of the person who had killed him.
Above the Sea of Consciousness loomed an endless Black Hole, like the gaping maw of an abyss, capable of devouring heaven and earth. The Black Hole radiated a boundless pressure, as vast as the night sky, deep and icy cold. It seemed to freeze time and space itself, rendering Chi Qi utterly immobile.
Just as despair washed over Chi Qi, Song Wen's figure slowly materialized.
"Fellow... fellow daoist, spare me! I'll do anything you ask. Just let me seize another body and be reborn!" Chi Qi pleaded frantically.
The fact that his divine soul hadn't been immediately annihilated meant he still had some use.
"Chi Qi, stop indulging in wishful thinking," Song Wen said. "I have no intention of sparing you. Answer my questions truthfully, and I'll grant you a swift end."
Chi Qi, still unwilling to accept death, continued to plead.
"The true culprit behind the events of that year was that vile woman, Jiang Lanruo. I was merely bewitched by her. Fellow daoist, I beg you for mercy. As the guardian of the Chi Clan Treasury, I can offer all its treasures in exchange for my life."
Song Wen shook his head slightly.
He would never trust Chi Qi's words so easily. Letting Chi Qi return would only invite immense trouble.
"Chi Qi, further words are futile. If you wish to avoid suffering, answer my questions truthfully," Song Wen said.
The last glimmer of hope in Chi Qi's heart vanished instantly, his expression turning numb.
"Since you refuse to spare me, why should I answer your questions?"
A faint smile appeared on Song Wen's face. "Chi Qi, as the Ancestor of the Chi Family, you must have witnessed many methods of torture, haven't you? I happen to possess a technique for tormenting the divine soul. You might find it quite... enlightening."
As he spoke, a pool of molten gold gradually materialized before Song Wen, radiating scorching heat.
Chi Qi stared at the churning golden liquid, his eyes widening with terror.
"I... I'll answer your questions. Please... ah..."
The golden liquid splashed onto Chi Qi's chest.
Amidst agonizing screams, Chi Qi's chest began to melt, his entire body contorting grotesquely.
When the golden liquid dissipated, Chi Qi lay collapsed on the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
"Now, can you answer my questions?" Song Wen crouched down, his smile radiant.
"I... I'll talk," Chi Qi replied weakly.
"Is Jiang Yushan still alive?"
"Yes, he's still alive."
"Where is he now?"
"Jiang Lanruo arranged for him to enter an ancient ruin, where he's currently attempting to break through to the Divine Transformation Realm."
"Where is this ancient ruin located?"
"Eight thousand miles northeast of Demon Subduing City, there's a deep pool. The entrance to the ruin lies at the bottom of that pool."
"How can one enter the ruin?"
"The ruin's inherent restrictions aren't particularly strong; a cultivator at the Divine Transformation Stage could force their way in. However, Jiang Lanruo has set up a sixth-tier defensive array at the entrance."
After hearing this, Song Wen ceased his questioning and frowned in thought.
For the moment, Chi Qi's account seemed to hold no obvious contradictions.
Still, Song Wen decided to give him a final warning.
Song Wen began forming hand seals, and another glob of golden liquid materialized.
"I've answered all your questions truthfully," Chi Qi said, his voice tinged with resentment. "Why are you still tormenting me?"
Song Wen scoffed. "Still trying to deceive me. Why would Jiang Lanruo have Jiang Yushan break through in a relic site for no reason?"
"That relic site was rich in Spiritual Qi and devoid of powerful demon beasts," Chi Qi explained. "It was an ideal place for a nascent soul cultivator to advance. Moreover, once Jiang Yushan reached the Divine Transformation Stage, the shadow void in his Sea of Consciousness would fully hatch. At that point, the shadow void would inevitably devour his divine soul. Jiang Lanruo wanted to keep this secret from outsiders, so she naturally sought a secluded location."
Song Wen neither dispersed the golden liquid before him nor poured it onto Chi Qi.
"Rumor has it that someone has been frequently using your Chi Family's Teleportation Array to travel between the Qicang Domain and the Qianchang Wilderness in recent years. Who is this person?" Song Wen asked, feigning ignorance to verify Chi Qi's claims.
"His name is Hong Zhe," Chi Qi replied. "He's affiliated with the Divine Blood Gate."
Song Wen pressed further. "Is he here for the shadow void?"
"Yes," Chi Qi replied. "Once the shadow void hatches, he will take it away."
"In recent years, has anyone else from the Divine Blood Gate visited besides Hong Zhe?" Song Wen asked.
"Eighty years ago, a Body Integration Stage cultivator named Ji Hong came," Chi Qi said. "However, he only appeared once and never returned."
A knowing glint flashed in Song Wen's eyes.
Chi Qi's answers aligned with the information he had gathered.
"Jiang Lanruo claimed she would help you hatch the shadow void. Was there any follow-up to this?"
"I was deceived by Jiang Lanruo," Chi Qi said. "How could I, a mere cultivator, ever hope to possess something as precious as a shadow void egg? The one in Jiang Yushan's Sea of Consciousness had been repeatedly entrusted to others by the Divine Blood Gate for hatching, all without success. By chance, Ji Hong encountered Jiang Lanruo in Cloudveil City and, desperate, decided to let her try."
"And you simply accepted being deceived by Jiang Lanruo?" Song Wen asked.
"What choice did I have?" Chi Qi replied. "By the time I realized her deception, Ji Hong had already appeared. With the Divine Blood Gate backing her, how could I dare offend her?"
Song Wen gazed at Chi Qi, pondering for a moment. Realizing he had no further questions, he had Chi Qi mark the location of Jiang Yushan's ruins on a map. Then, he activated the Sea of Consciousness Black Hole, devouring Chi Qi's divine soul.
After collecting Chi Qi's treasures, Song Wen absorbed the blood essence and Demon Soul of the Yellow Earth Giant Rhinoceros, as well as the blood essence from Chi Qi's corpse. He then recalled the Blood Sea Seal.
At that moment, he noticed Ye Bing, Ye Gaozhuo, and Ye Yangshu flying toward him.
Ye Bing glanced around before asking, "Where's Chi Qi?"
"He's dead," Song Wen replied.
"Did you get any clues?" Ye Bing pressed, clearly referring to Jiang Yushan's whereabouts. With two Void Refinement Stage cultivators from the Ye Family present, she had to be cautious.
Song Wen didn't answer verbally, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
Ye Bing immediately understood, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"You really killed Chi Qi?" Ye Yangshu suddenly interjected.
"Naturally," Song Wen replied calmly.
"Then why didn't you act sooner? My spirit beast wouldn't have died otherwise! And where's the Jade Marrow Stone? Hand it over!" Ye Yangshu demanded angrily.
(End of the Chapter)
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