With the bloodstained manacles and matching shackles now identified, Wang Yu had assembled a complete set.
This would be invaluable for exploring the [Capital Suppression Prison].
He had previously shared this theory with Ding Ming, a true disciple of Fierce Eclipse Peak. Though they hadn't met again in Spiritridge, Wang Yu had seen enough through recorded footage.
Ding Ming and Wei Shanze had arrived late, yet were the first to appear within the pillar of light—clearly, they had triggered something.
As for the final fate of the [True Demon Scripture of Rakshasa], that remained unknown. But since Jin Miaoshan had obtained the [Asura Saint-Slaying Canon], Wang Yu decided to use this opportunity to ask her directly.
Alongside Ye Qing's latest message came a familiar pearl—an elite communication artifact linked to Jin Miaoshan.
Upon infusing it with true essence—
Only Jin Miaoshan's face appeared, and even that was blurry—likely due to the vast distance between them.
"Daoist Wang, we meet again."
"Daoist Jin, just name your terms."
The main ingredient for the [Soul Origin Pill] was once called [Soul Origin Flower] in ancient times. Today, it was known as [Wailing Ghost Bloom]. Wang Yu didn't understand why Jin Miaoshan insisted on negotiating personally.
If he could refine the Soul Origin Pill, he was confident he could elevate his spiritual sense to Core Formation level within twenty years.
That long timeline was due to the need to perfect the [Ancient Soul Chant]—a tier-two spiritual sense technique. Perhaps the placement panel could help evolve it to tier-three, but it would take immense time.
Jin Miaoshan's mood seemed subdued. She ignored Wang Yu's blunt tone and began her explanation.
"The Soul Origin Pill is an ancient formula from the lost sect [Heavenly Soul Sect], which specialized in spiritual sense cultivation.
"Its founder reached Soul Formation—but still perished during the [Blood Demon Cataclysm]. In many ways, Heavenly Soul Sect and the Blood Reversal Sect are mortal enemies.
"And you… you possess the true inheritance of Heavenly Soul Sect, don't you?"
Wang Yu remained indifferent. The Blood Demon Cataclysm—also known as the Age of Ruin—had wiped out countless sects and nearly severed the cultivation world's continuity.
But what did that have to do with him?
"You want the Heavenly Soul inheritance?"
"Of course. Share it with me, and Goldfull Pavilion will deliver over a thousand [Wailing Ghost Blooms]. All other ingredients for the Soul Origin Pill will be provided."
Though Jin Miaoshan's eyes held a hint of urgency, the blurry image prevented Wang Yu from seeing it clearly.
Still, her eagerness made him suspect something—and nearly laugh aloud.
After a theatrical pause of three breaths, Wang Yu narrowed his eyes.
"Fine. Standard procedure—let's sign a Nether River Pact."
"I'll share the full cultivation method of Heavenly Soul Sect's foundational technique. Daoist Jin, you fulfill your promise."
"Agreed."
The Nether River Pact was a high-grade contract. Even across vast distances, the black parchment would manifest before both parties. As for transmitting the technique—oral recitation sufficed.
As the black paper vanished into the void, Jin Miaoshan dropped all pretense and urged:
"Begin."
"Soul governs the spirit, thought defines the self. Will is the true essence. Gather purple qi to nourish spirit, absorb solar essence to strengthen thought, invoke lunar yin to cleanse soul… thus begins the Ancient Soul…"
Wang Yu recited the technique slowly and precisely, without altering a single word. He fully transmitted the tier-two [Ancient Soul Chant]—everything he knew.
Moments later—
Jin Miaoshan seemed to grasp something, but her calm lasted only briefly. She grew agitated again.
"And? What comes next?!"
Wang Yu blinked.
"That's all I have. Satisfied?"
Jin Miaoshan froze. A surge of killing intent nearly overwhelmed her. She forced a strained reply:
"Only tier-two? I expected at least tier-three. Fine… the thousand sets of Soul Origin Pill ingredients will arrive at Spiritridge within half a month."
The image vanished. The pearl crumbled into dust.
Wang Yu frowned. Jin Miaoshan had clearly seen through his attempt to provoke her into a second deal—but instead of lashing out, she accepted the loss.
Her desperation for the Ancient Soul Chant was unmistakable.
Something was wrong with her.
Given the cursed shackles and manacles, it was likely she had encountered problems after switching to the [Asura Saint-Slaying Canon]. Whether the issue lay with the technique or herself—Wang Yu suspected both.
What made the Ancient Soul Chant special? Was it just a spiritual sense technique?
No. Goldfull Pavilion could easily find similar ones.
That meant Heavenly Soul Sect's inheritance had unique properties.
"Ancient Soul…"
Wang Yu suddenly understood.
The Ancient Soul Chant didn't just cultivate to Soul Formation—it granted the soul a unique trait: Ancient Soul.
This trait rendered the soul immune to over 90% of negative effects targeting spiritual sense in the cultivation world.
"Jin Miaoshan has been corrupted by Asura killing intent."
That was the obvious conclusion. She was struggling to maintain her identity and seeking a way to save herself.
"Not my problem. The thousand sets of materials are my reward—I'll use them when I return."
The items would arrive within two weeks. Wang Yu didn't linger at the City Lord's Manor. After layering invisibility and silence spells, he slipped out the back.
This was his first trip since arriving in Spiritridge. He planned to return within twenty days—no extended absence. His vigilance was at maximum.
As he journeyed toward the Eastern Polaris ruins, he periodically cast [Mountain Search Demon Probe] to scan his surroundings. If any cultivators approached, he immediately retreated.
He would not meet anyone.
—
Seven days passed.
A blood-soaked wasteland appeared before him.
This was the battlefield erased by the previous conflict. The ground was stained with cultivator blood. At its center were two bottomless pits—
Remnants of the inheritance light pillars.
Rumor had it that some cultivators had entered the pits, hoping to reach the ruins' core. None had ever returned.
Wang Yu avoided the shortcut. He bypassed the battlefield and arrived at the true entrance: an ancient surface complex.
Centered around the ruins, many cultivators had built temporary shelters—some crude huts, others simple caves carved from earth and stone.
Cultivators really did love caves.
Over time, these makeshift dwellings formed a small market-like cluster. But the residents were wary and rarely interacted.
When Wang Yu arrived, he saw only five or six people.
At this time, the number of active explorers likely didn't exceed 300—a tiny figure for such a vast ruin.
According to intelligence—
Wang Yu was intimately familiar with this place.
But no matter how much he'd read, he hadn't seen it with his own eyes. It was still unfamiliar.
He had twenty days. Fourteen for travel. Only six for exploration.
He planned to scout the outskirts, experience the terrain firsthand, and chart a deeper route for next time.
This was an ancient ruin that had stood for years. He would return more than once. Better to acclimate early.
Wang Yu adopted the cautious mindset he'd used during his first expedition to Blackbone Mountain. That felt like a lifetime ago.
—
Underground darkness.
Two cold flames lit the surroundings. Invisible spiritual sense rippled outward with the [Mountain Search Demon Probe], penetrating terrain and architecture.
Everything within a kilometer was mapped in his mind. At full directional focus, the range extended to fifteen kilometers.
After passing through the looted surface ruins, Wang Yu entered the truly dangerous underground zone. Darkness was the greatest threat.
Bright light attracted ancient corpse monsters. Cold flame was ideal—its glow was soft and cool.
He was now scanning for monsters:
Ancient corpses, corpse demons, corpse ghouls, ghost bats…
"Found one."
The cold flame dimmed. Wang Yu switched to spiritual sense and [Lunar Nether Eye], seeing through the dark with ease. But spiritual sense drained faster than true essence and recovered slower.
He had to conserve it. Unlike true essence, which he replenished with premium pills, his reserves never dropped below 30%.
It was a corpse ghoul.
Three meters tall. Humanoid. Arms dragging on the ground. Its claws dripped with virulent corpse poison. Its body was black and hairy—some had red fur, a sign of misfortune and calamity.
It was immensely strong, fast, and stealthy. Its regeneration bordered on immortality. For low-level cultivators, it was a nightmare-tier killer.
In Crimson Kite Territory, its reputation was infamous. A true monster—rare even in these ruins. Its cousin, the corpse demon, was more common and classified as a beast.
Despite similar names, their species were worlds apart.
Wang Yu returned to his old habits—lurking in the dark, waiting for the perfect moment.
The corpse ghoul toyed with a skull. Judging by the rotting flesh, it was a remnant from the last exploration wave.
But the key detail—
Beneath its backside sat something Wang Yu recognized instantly.
Ancient cursed treasure—Bloodstained Shackles.
Two wooden boards joined together, with circular wrist holes. A matching piece to the five-point manacles.
(End of Chapter)
—