Chapter 132: You’re on Your Own

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: You’re on Your Own

"That would indeed save a lot of trouble."

Yang Haichen nodded. The Hundred Affairs Hall would be more than happy to handle this. The Hundred Affairs Hall exists to earn profits for the various peaks. With the Xiao Family’s heirloom in their hands, the price in Spirit Stones they demand won’t be any less—it might even be more.

"This way, Junior Brother Liu won’t have to worry about possible retaliation from the Xiao Family. The Hundred Affairs Hall will take care of everything."

Ren Xunchun also nodded. If it were an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple, the Hundred Affairs Hall might not treat it so seriously—at most, they’d give the Xiao Family a warning. But since it’s Liu Chen, the Hundred Affairs Hall might just make the Xiao Family sign a Spirit Contract.

"What can I say? My Cultivation is low."

Liu Chen shrugged helplessly. Seeing his expression, Yang Haichen and Ren Xunchun almost burst out laughing. And with that, their post-lunch chat came to an end.

Yang Haichen left the Purple Cloud Valley’s gathering area and entered a courtyard. Inside were seven people, all disciples of the Yang Family.

In other words, they were all his brothers.

"Well? Any results from the investigation?"

Seeing Yang Haichen return, the man in the lead asked hurriedly. If the Yang Family could resolve the Xiao Family’s problem, then based on that favor alone, they could secure a partnership with the Xiao Family and gain a profit of over ten thousand Spirit Stones.

"I’d advise you not to get involved. If the Xiao Family can’t handle this properly, there probably won’t be a Xiao Family in the future."

Yang Haichen shook his head. The Yang Family was, after all, his family. Now that he had just become an Inner Sect Disciple, his ties to the Yang Family were still quite close. When his elder brother requested his help, of course he had to ask about it.

But after hearing the full inside story, Yang Haichen was completely stunned. He himself was one of the parties involved, and the other person was none other than Junior Brother Liu.

"Is it that serious? Don’t they just want to buy back the Snowflake Sword?"

Someone asked incredulously. It was just a Spirit Sword. The Xiao Family had made it very clear: they would consider the Swordsmanship a gift. All they wanted was the Snowflake Sword back.

"I’ve said all I’m going to say. You’re on your own."

Yang Haichen glanced at the speaker and turned to leave without another word. He had run away from home back then precisely because he couldn’t find his place in the family. Now that he was an Inner Sect Disciple of Purple Cloud Valley, he could naturally escape the Yang Family’s internal rivalries. There was no need to explain further.

"What if the Xiao Family comes asking?"

Before Yang Haichen stepped out, the man in the lead couldn’t help but ask. He was Yang Haichen’s biological older brother, but unfortunately, he was no longer a match for his younger brother.

"Tell them to contact the Purple Cloud Valley’s Hundred Affairs Hall directly."

Yang Haichen’s voice drifted back as he left without a backward glance. If not for resolving the knot in his heart after seeing his father last time, he wouldn’t have bothered with these people at all.

Meanwhile, back in his room, Liu Chen directly broke his ownership bond with the Snowflake Sword. Speaking of which, he had used this sword back in Fire Dragon Valley. However, everyone who had seen it was already dead. The only one who might be a leak, Nangong Ye, had been at death’s door at the time, so it was highly unlikely he had the energy to pay attention to the Snowflake Sword.

’Should I just kill Nangong Ye?’

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes, contemplating how to eliminate this potential problem. But in the end, he shook his head. ’Leaving aside whether Nangong Ye even remembered the Snowflake Sword, killing one of Qingxu Hall’s top Inner Sect Disciples over a mere sword just wasn’t worth it.’

’If Qingxu Hall were to conduct an in-depth investigation, could he really kill everyone involved?’

Liu Chen gave up on the idea and resumed cultivating the Soul Crossing Technique.

Two hours passed quietly. The True Spirit he had seen when his Soul Crossing Technique reached Perfection appeared in Liu Chen’s mind once more, only this time it was more detailed, more complete.

Liu Chen could even see the process of the True Spirit returning to Heaven and Earth, though it was very blurry, making it difficult to perceive the full picture.

[Soul Crossing Technique: Unique]

After the Soul Crossing Technique evolved to the Unique level, it could accelerate the process of any "True Spirit" returning to Heaven and Earth. The most fundamental difference from the original Soul Crossing Technique was its ability to guide the Wandering Souls of plants. However, aside from making the Purple Bamboo forest on Purple Bamboo Peak seem less gloomy, it didn’t seem to have much other use.

’Of all the Magic I wanted to master before the trial, only the Solid Spirit Technique is left. But that technique doesn’t require special cultivation. Next, I’ll cultivate the Soul Control Technique. If I can really succeed in Refining a Spirit Ghost, my future Cultivation speed will only get faster.’

At that moment, there was still half an hour left before he had to prepare dinner. Liu Chen briefly reviewed the Magic he currently possessed and decisively chose to cultivate the Soul Control Technique.

This should have been a favorite method of Ghost Cultivators, but Liu Chen decided to cultivate it anyway. On one hand, it was for the rumored Spirit Ghost that could speed up Cultivation. On the other hand, it was because of the Soul Ring he had taken from the stone platform beneath the lava.

This was probably the greatest opportunity within Fire Dragon Valley. If he couldn’t use it, it would be meaningless. And to find out what kind of Soul Slave was inside, he needed to cultivate the Soul Control Technique to the Great Success stage.

Considering that the Cultivator who left the inscription might not have been friendly, Liu Chen felt it would be more reliable to try after his Soul Control Technique had evolved to the Unique level. Moreover, he had to do it on Purple Bamboo Peak. If an old monster intent on possession was hiding inside, Liu Chen definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it on his own.

[Soul Control Technique Proficiency +500]

Half an hour passed leisurely. In Liu Chen’s mind, the originally complex Spiritual Veins for the Soul Control Technique gradually became clearer. This meant Liu Chen’s Soul Control Technique had successfully advanced from Beginner to Minor Success.

The first thing Liu Chen did after his Soul Control Technique advanced was to take out Nangong Mu’s Soul Ring and perform another round of Refining on it. This made Nangong Mu’s Soul Body clearer, though his strength remained unchanged.

’It looks alright. I just wonder how Junior Sister Ye will handle it.’

Liu Chen didn’t wake Nangong Mu up directly. After all, he hadn’t established a formal ownership bond. If the fluctuations this guy emitted attracted other Purple Cloud Valley disciples, it would be a huge mess.

After putting Nangong Mu away, Liu Chen took out his Storage Ring and began to prepare the Spiritual Cuisine. The ingredients had all been left with him, personally preserved using his Solid Spirit Technique. If they had been left with Senior Brother Yang, they probably would have been inedible in a few days.

As for Jackal, that guy had already left Fire Dragon Valley by road. He was just waiting for the trial to end to formally undergo the Servant assessment and become Senior Brother Yang’s Servant.

Dinner passed without incident. Liu Chen handed a portion of Spiritual Cuisine sealed with the Solid Spirit Technique to Senior Brother Yang. If nothing unexpected happened, Purple Cloud Valley would be facing Qingxu Hall at midnight tonight. He just didn’t know which senior brother would be fighting.

As midnight on the fourteenth of the ninth month arrived, a pillar of light appeared on the second volcano. Xie Xichen appeared near the pillar with a smile. In the distance, Thunderstorm turned and walked away. Nangong Ye sighed helplessly but ultimately chose to fight.

Thunder Mountain had already fought yesterday, so it was perfectly reasonable for them to rest for a day. But if Qingxu Hall didn’t fight, it would be equivalent to forfeiting this match. However, the one from Qingxu Hall who had been stronger than Xie Xichen had yet to break through to the Meridian Passage Realm, and their existing Meridian Passage Realm cultivators were no match for Xie Xichen.

Nangong Ye felt completely helpless, but he had no choice but to step up. Because of him, Qingxu Hall had been disadvantaged in the trial. For the sake of both sentiment and reason, he had to be the one to step forward.