Chapter 150: Top Grade

“It’s possible for Top Grade versions to emerge from Upper Grade Soul Slaves and Spirit Ghosts. Top Grade Soul Slaves and Spirit Ghosts have absolutely no side effects, which is precisely why I came to find you. Based on my observations, Nangong Mu is very likely a Top Grade Soul Slave.”

Mo Xuan said with great solemnity. If Liu Chen could truly refine a Top Grade Soul Slave, then it was highly probable he could also refine a Top Grade Spirit Ghost.

Even the Mo Family would treat the Refining of an ordinary Upper Grade Spirit Ghost with caution. A Top Grade one, however, could provoke extreme measures from others, especially given Liu Chen’s current lack of strength.

“Master…”

Liu Chen was a little stunned. He took out Nangong Mu’s Soul Ring and handed it to his master.

‘So Soul Slaves and Spirit Ghosts have distinct grades.’ This was the first time Liu Chen had heard of it. However, Nangong Mu’s condition had indeed changed as his Soul Control Technique grew stronger, and he was completely different from the Hundred Ghosts Elder and the female ghost from before.

Mo Xuan took Nangong Mu’s Soul Ring and observed it closely.

“It really is a Top Grade Soul Slave! How did you do it?”

Mo Xuan’s breath quickened. A Spirit Ghost was the simplest and most perfect way to enhance one’s Talent, especially a Top Grade Spirit Ghost.

‘If he can refine a Top Grade Soul Slave, he can probably refine a Top Grade Spirit Ghost.’

“It’s the Soul Control Technique I got from the Hundred Ghosts Elder.”

Liu Chen answered frankly. Then, under his master’s somewhat puzzled gaze, he picked up the Soul Ring containing the Meridian Beginner Soul Slave and began to refine it with the Soul Control Technique.

Mo Xuan watched quietly, isolating the room’s energy fluctuations with a wave of his hand.

This time, Liu Chen was directly Refining a Spirit Ghost, rather than further perfecting the Soul Slave.

Mo Xuan saw streams of Spiritual Power form Magic Veins and envelop the Soul Ring. At first, he could follow the process, relying on his many years of cultivation. But soon, all he could do was watch, dumbfounded. An incense stick’s worth of time later, Mo Xuan clearly saw a Wandering Soul dissipate. In its place, a massive amount of Spiritual Power converged into the Soul Ring.

“It’s done.”

Liu Chen retracted the last of his Spiritual Power. The Soul Ring floated down into his hand, and a miniature, humanoid phantom emerged from it.

Other than its humanoid shape, the phantom had no discernible gender—or rather, it would later adapt to match its master’s. This was a Spirit Ghost.

Mo Xuan carefully sized up the newborn Spirit Ghost, his eyes filled with irrepressible surprise. It was completely different from any Spirit Ghost he had ever seen. Still, to be certain, he took the Soul Ring to examine it closely.

“A Top Grade Spirit Ghost… It’s even more perfect than any Top Grade Spirit Ghost I’ve ever seen.”

Mo Xuan couldn’t help but marvel. He recalled a past conflict that had arisen over a Top Grade Spirit Ghost, feeling a sense of resignation. He had thought that seeing such a legendary entity once in a lifetime was a tremendous blessing. He never imagined he would one day witness the Refining process of a Spirit Ghost firsthand.

Even Soul Cultivators who could only refine low-grade Spirit Ghosts guarded their techniques like priceless treasures, never allowing others to observe.

“Your Talent is even greater than I imagined.”

Mo Xuan handed the Top Grade Spirit Ghost to Liu Chen. Though incredibly precious, a Top Grade Spirit Ghost at the Meridian Passage Realm was useless to him. Besides, as long as Liu Chen possessed this skill, Refining Spirit Ghosts of a High Realm in the future was not out of the question.

“When we return to Purple Bamboo Peak, I will stand as your Guardian. Once you refine this Qi Refining Peak Soul Slave into a Spirit Ghost, your power will certainly increase. Even if you cannot step onto the Peak Path in the Qi Refining Realm yourself, you can borrow the Spirit Ghost’s Peak Path to wield the power of the Qi Refining Peak.”

After speaking, Mo Xuan shook his head to himself. ‘With Liu Chen’s Talent, that day will likely never come. As for Qi Refining Peak… that is by no means Liu Chen’s final destination. At most, it’s merely the third step on the Peak Path.’

“Master, the Soul Contract that comes with the Soul Control Technique only allows the Spirit Ghost to assist with cultivation. It can’t achieve the rumored fusion of two into one.”

Liu Chen couldn’t help but ask. Having a Spirit Ghost refine Spiritual Power to speed up one’s cultivation was just the most basic function. A complete fusion of the two was what led to an all-around enhancement of one’s own power.

“Don’t worry. In a little while, I’ll get you the appropriate Soul Cultivation Technique for that.”

Mo Xuan nodded. To the wider Cultivation Realm, the Great Xia Dynasty was not just a drop in the ocean but an utter backwater. He was already surprised that any Soul Cultivation methods existed here. It was only normal that they wouldn’t have the ultimate technique that all Soul Cultivators sought.

A clan or sect couldn’t even hope to have heard of such a technique without a foundation stretching back thousands of years.

Even rarer than the technique itself was a Soul Cultivator who could master it and truly achieve the fusion of two into one. The appearance of such a Soul Cultivator would be enough to shake the very foundations of the old, established powers in the Cultivation Realm.

“Thank you, Master.”

Liu Chen was thrilled. ‘If I had to find it myself, I probably wouldn’t succeed in my entire lifetime. But if Master can get it for me, then I won’t have to worry about the Spirit Ghost at all.’

“Don’t mention it.”

Mo Xuan shook his head and turned to leave. ‘Since Liu Chen can refine Spirit Ghosts, perhaps I can have him take some time to strengthen the foundation for my wife and me. The only question is whether we can find a Demon Beast of the appropriate Realm nearby.’

‘Besides power, we also have to consider its bloodline. If the Spirit Ghost’s original bloodline becomes a limitation after the fusion, things could get troublesome.’

“After we return to Purple Bamboo Peak, I want you to take advantage of the Great Xia Dynasty’s festival in the tenth month. Make a trip to the Ye Family and the Great Xia Royal Family, and help Suyao and Linglong completely sever the chains their families have placed on them. When you return, you will undergo the formal ceremony to become my disciple.”

Mo Xuan’s thoughts drifted to the future, but then he recalled the potentially dire situation that lay ahead. He wasn’t worried about Purple Cloud Valley’s safety, but he might have to return to the Mo Family ahead of schedule. Before then, he certainly wouldn’t be able to personally handle matters for his other two disciples, so he had no choice but to entrust the task to Liu Chen.

“This disciple obeys.”

Liu Chen agreed without hesitation. ‘Family entanglements are so troublesome.’ He knew that much from his dealings with Nangong Ye. He was quite thankful that he didn’t have to worry about family interests; he was all alone, with no ties to hold him back.

He wasn’t too worried about helping his two junior martial sisters, though. It was just a matter of making the Great Xia Royal Family and the Ye Family Patriarch sign a Spirit Contract, confirming that his junior sisters’ future cultivation would have nothing to do with the Great Xia Royal Family or the Ye Family.

“Get some rest. We’ll discuss the rest when we’re back.”

Mo Xuan left with those words. He calculated the time. ‘It’s about time to go discuss the future disciple quotas for Fire Dragon Valley.’

After seeing his master off, Liu Chen closed his eyes and resumed cultivating the Bright Eyes Technique.

In another room, Bai Qiulan sat in a chair, observing Ye Linglong and Ji Suyao, who still hadn’t seemed to recover from the shock. Liu Chen’s earlier actions had astonished even her, to say nothing of these two youngsters who had only just begun their cultivation journey.

“Now you’ve seen what Liu Chen is capable of. Is he different from what you imagined?”

Bai Qiulan’s tone was calm. She had thought the two of them would only gradually witness this side of him during future assessments and trials. Who could have predicted that upon his return, Liu Chen would so brazenly reveal the dark underbelly of the Cultivation Realm?