Chapter 106: Please Show This Friend In

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Please Show This Friend In

At the thought of his cultivation, Nangong Mu’s expression darkened.

He’d had a run of bad luck lately. First, the Furnace Cauldron he had his eyes on became a Purple Cloud Valley disciple. Then, not long after, the Ye Family Patriarch, who had once knelt and begged him, actually had the audacity to come and break off the engagement.

Most importantly, after the matter came to light, the Nangong Family actually agreed to it. His plan to forcefully abduct her while she was away was now completely ruined.

For the Nangong Family to swallow their pride and agree, it proved that the Furnace Cauldron likely had a backer they couldn’t afford to offend. He had no choice but to give up.

But according to the senses from his Cultivation Technique, that person from the Ye Family was a superior Furnace Cauldron. If he could Refine her into a Puppet to keep by his side for day and night harvesting, he might even have a chance to walk the Peak Path.

Unfortunately, according to the information he’d gathered later, the woman was the junior sister of a Second Grade Spirit Chef from Purple Cloud Valley. Even setting aside whether he could get that Spirit Chef to hand her over, the Furnace Cauldron would have likely already lost her Innate Qi by the time he did.

Thinking of this, Nangong Mu shook his head. ’I am the Young Master of the Nangong Family. How could I possibly accept such a thing?’

"Any news?"

Nangong Mu looked toward the other Nangong Family members waiting nearby. Everyone from the great Noble Families knew this trial had little to do with them. Most of them headed toward the center of Fire Dragon Valley, planning to skip the trial and proceed directly to the final phase of networking, forging alliances, and pledging fealty.

In any trial, the center was always the most fiercely contested area. The Loose Cultivators gathered there for two reasons: to band together for protection, and to find a path to survival.

Encountering others out in the trial grounds wouldn’t lead to making friends; more likely, you’d just get killed with no one around to witness it. But it was different here. The Three Immortal Sects had their reputations to consider.

"Reporting to the Young Master, we have news from the Black Market. The Eldest Young Master has killed the Third Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty. The Dynasty has already put out the word: whoever kills the Eldest Young Master will be ennobled as a marquis."

One person in the group stepped forward and reported with his head lowered.

"What an idiot. The Black Feather Dynasty is not to be trifled with. Even Qingxu Hall doesn’t want to get involved in the deaths of their Princes. My dear big brother really has a death wish."

Nangong Mu laughed out loud. His older brother had once given him a harsh beating. Now, he could perhaps use his authority as Young Master to clean house. Of course, it would have to be done in secret; after all, they had to be mindful of how Qingxu Hall would perceive it.

"An idiot, indeed. But that idiot is you."

The person who had been reporting to Nangong Mu slowly raised his head. A sharp blade materialized in his hand, and in the blink of an eye, he beheaded Nangong Mu.

"After preparing for so long, I thought he was some chosen one, but he’s just an idiot. It’s a shame about this Loose Cultivator’s body, though. It’s hard to find goods of this quality in Fire Dragon Valley."

The body of the man who had reported the news began to twist unnaturally. A ghostly shadow struggled free, and the original corpse slowly collapsed.

The bodies of the surrounding Nangong Family members began to twitch uncontrollably. Wandering Souls emerged from them one by one and merged into the central ghostly shadow, after which the bodies of the Nangong Family members slowly collapsed.

"Not a bad taste. Barely enough to make up for the energy I expended."

The sound of chewing echoed. When it was all over, the ghostly shadow revealed the face of an old man.

Nangong Mu’s Wandering Soul floated blankly out of his corpse. Wisps of resentment clung to it, adding to its ferocity.

"Not bad, not bad. A Fierce Soul like this can be refined into a Soul Slave. It seems this fellow has killed quite a few people over the years."

The old man nodded in satisfaction. A chain shot out and locked onto Nangong Mu’s Split Soul. The courtyard gate opened, and the Ghost Soul of the Female Loose Cultivator, who was supposed to be dead, slowly floated in, licking her lips contentedly.

"Master, you might not know this, but that Nangong Mu is a Celestial Eunuch. His so-called Dual Cultivation was just him circulating his Cultivation Technique. When I called him out on it, he destroyed the body I had so carefully maintained."

The female ghost floated behind the old man, pressing her entire form against him.

"All right, deal with the Nangong Family Cultivators. Once we leave Fire Dragon Valley, I’ll be sure to reward you properly."

The old man, still in his ghostly shadow state, seemed entranced for a moment before he finally gave the order.

The female ghost decapitated all the Nangong Family members and placed their heads into a Storage Ring. Only then did she float back behind the old man, the two ghostly shadows practically merging into one.

A Black Robe materialized around the old man, disguising him as a normal Cultivator as he slowly departed.

The old man left the Loose Cultivator settlement, crossed the highest volcano, and arrived at the outskirts of Fire Dragon Valley. This was the trial ground for the chosen, a battlefield for the strong.

It was also a place where Loose Cultivators sought revenge and Evil Cultivators ran rampant.

After traveling for several hours, the old man finally found a cave and slowly floated inside.

The small cave opened up into a much larger space. Two tents were pitched there, a Cyan Eagle Banner hanging above them. Two squads of Guards stood watch, securing the area.

"Fourth Prince, I have Nangong Mu’s Wandering Soul. Please come out and speak with me."

The old man could have slipped into the tent unnoticed, but he stopped. He was here to negotiate, not to force his way in. The limitations of being a Ghost Cultivator were already severe enough; he didn’t want to offend the Black Feather Dynasty and make things needlessly difficult for himself.

Inside the tent, a young man lounging on a chair slowly opened his eyes. The two Guards present exchanged a look. One remained by the Fourth Prince’s side while the other walked out of the tent.

"Hundred Ghosts Elder? What are you doing here?"

The Guard sized up the ghostly shadow in the distance and immediately knew who it was: the Hundred Ghosts Elder, one of the seven great Meridian Passage Realm Evil Cultivators of Fire Dragon Valley. He was surprised the man hadn’t been eliminated beforehand by the Cultivators of the Great Xia Dynasty. Judging by his current state, however, he had likely suffered severe damage.

"Ah Da, please let our friend in."

The Fourth Prince’s voice drifted out from the tent. The Guard stepped aside, and the Hundred Ghosts Elder slowly floated inside.

"Remain on alert."

The Guard ordered the eight nearby Body Tempering Realm Guards, then returned to the tent.

"Senior, what is the meaning of this?"

The Fourth Prince, Yu Haolin, sized up the bound Wandering Soul of Nangong Mu in the center of the tent. He understood what the Hundred Ghosts Elder was after, but he still felt compelled to ask.

"Does the Fourth Prince have no desire to avenge his brother?"

The Hundred Ghosts Elder spoke with a smile. "The Black Feather Dynasty has more than five Princes, but only five were able to secretly enter Fire Dragon Valley. This is a war of succession. No one can remain calm."

"Revenge? Nangong Ye isn’t skilled enough to kill my third brother. There’s definitely more to this."

Yu Haolin shook his head. In terms of pure strength, his third brother was second only to their eldest brother, who had already entered the Meridian Passage Realm. Nangong Ye might have a chance in a few more years, but right now, it would have been impossible unless his third brother had let himself be killed.

"Then what does the Fourth Prince want?"

The Hundred Ghosts Elder felt a bit helpless but put away Nangong Mu’s Wandering Soul nonetheless. Even if a deal couldn’t be reached, this served as an opening for negotiation. Besides, trading a mere Loose Cultivator’s body for a Soul Slave with growth potential was absolutely worth it.

Fire Dragon Valley had two entrances. One was controlled by the Three Immortal Sects and the various Noble Families, while the other was secretly managed by the Black Feather Dynasty. Since he was the one asking for a favor, he had no choice but to accept reality.