Chapter 86

After completing all of this, Wang Lin’s expression became even more solemn. His eyes flickered as he stared at the array formation that appeared on the sword scabbard. He made a hand seal and spat out a blue spiritual energy. As soon as the spiritual energy appeared and touched the scabbard, a blue flame suddenly ignited from within the scabbard.

Although it was called a flame, it was somewhat inappropriate, as it had the shape of a flame but lacked its heat. On the contrary, as soon as the blue flame appeared, the temperature around it immediately dropped, and a cold current continuously surged.

Wang Lin did not blink, carefully controlling the cold flame and began the refining process.

This cold flame was an imitation of the alchemy fire used by Core Formation cultivators. He had tried it himself, as there was no one to consult. Wang Lin was extremely cautious. After much deliberation, he believed that theoretically, his cold flame should be able to refine weapons.

Time slowly passed. Three days later, on the plain outside the Corpse Yin Sect, Ye Zizai’s figure streaked through the sky like a meteor. Upon landing, he stepped down and immediately vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already in his secluded cultivation place within the Corpse Yin Sect. Ye Zizai’s expression was uncertain as he silently calculated the gains and losses of the alliance with the other three demonic sects.

A century ago, during the qualification match for the extraterritorial battlefield, the demonic path had won. However, this time, due to the appearance of Bok Nam-ja, the Xuan Dao Sect had joined the righteous path, adding many variables. The final outcome was still unknown.

Furrowing his brows, he pointed at his forehead and muttered, "Bok Nam-ja, do you have the confidence to eliminate her?"

A hoarse voice came from within Ye Zizai’s body, "Although that junior only has the cultivation of a middle-stage Nascent Soul, she has already reached the peak. If she has good luck, she will definitely enter the late-stage within a hundred years and become an ultimate expert of a third-tier cultivation nation. If I complete my transformation, I won’t take her seriously, but now, it’s hard to say."

Ye Zizai remained silent. After a long while, he flipped his right hand and took out a jade slip. The jade slip was entirely green, with tiny blood-colored runes flashing continuously on it.

"Foundation Establishment disciples from the 77th to the 99th cave, quickly gather at the 36th cave." After saying this, Ye Zizai pondered for a moment, glanced at A Dái, who had been sealed in the corner of his secluded place for several days, and made a decision. He took out another jade slip, placed it on his forehead for a short while, and then threw it out.

Mu Rong was in meditation when he suddenly opened his eyes. The jade slip in his storage bag flew out on its own. His expression changed slightly, and after picking it up, his face became uncertain. After a long while, he sighed and muttered, "Fortunately, I broke through to the early-stage Foundation Establishment three years ago, leaping from the 87th cave to the 72nd cave. Otherwise, I would probably have lost my life this time."

Suddenly, a wisp of green smoke appeared silently in front of him, transforming into a jade slip.

Mu Rong was taken aback, took it, and focused his mind to scan it. He immediately sneered and, without a word, turned and rapidly flew toward Wang Lin’s cultivation place.

Before long, he arrived at the cave where Wang Lin was. Looking at the sealed entrance, Mu Rong placed his hand on it, released a bit of spiritual energy, and after several vibrations, he called out loudly, "Ancestor, the Primordial Ancestor has summoned the Foundation Establishment disciples to gather at the 36th cave. I have come to guide you."

After a while, seeing no response, he frowned. From the message the Primordial Ancestor had given him, this Wang Lin was not favored. Additionally, the Primordial Ancestor had specifically instructed him and a few other Foundation Establishment disciples to guard the surrounding passages, indicating that Wang Lin was essentially a prisoner.

However, Mu Rong was shrewd and would not reveal his thoughts through his words.

At this moment, the sealed entrance of the cave made a creaking sound, extending to the sides and slowly opening. Wang Lin, looking exhausted, walked out.

Mu Rong glanced at Wang Lin and smiled, "Ancestor, what happened to you?"

Wang Lin did not answer this question but took out a deep blue jade slip and said, "The direction of the 36th cave, I hope Brother Mu can lead the way."

Mu Rong did not mind, nodded, and walked ahead.

A flash of cold light appeared in Wang Lin’s eyes, and he followed with a cold laugh in his heart. Over the past few days, although he had not completely refined the sword scabbard, he had increased the refinement from three-fifths to four-fifths, significantly enhancing the power of the flying sword.

After walking through several caves, the two arrived at a large cave. Sixteen stone pillars stood inside, each with a blue fireball floating above it.

The cave was illuminated by a dim light, giving it a sinister atmosphere.

Inside the cave, about twenty people stood in neat rows, each with a coffin floating behind them. The coffins had various shapes but all emitted a powerful aura.

After bringing Wang Lin here, Mu Rong glanced at the people with a complex expression and left without a word.

Wang Lin frowned, feeling that something was amiss. He carefully observed the people, and the more he looked, the more puzzled he became. Most of them had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and strangely, most of them had a dull expression, lacking any vitality.

There were no middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, but there were three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. These three were clearly different from the others, like the difference between the living and the dead.

Wang Lin’s pupils slightly contracted. At this moment, the sixteen fireballs suddenly dimmed, and Ye Zizai’s figure appeared silently in the air. As soon as he appeared, Wang Lin noticed that most of the disciples had a fanatical look in their eyes.

Ye Zizai’s gaze swept over the crowd, lingering on Wang Lin for a moment. He then said in a calm voice, "The extraterritorial battlefield will open once every hundred years. To obtain the qualification to enter, we need to compete with the righteous path. According to the usual practice, Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators are not allowed to participate. Soon, you will be sent to the gathering place of the four demonic sects. Once there, all actions of our Corpse Yin Sect will be led by Du Chen. Du Chen, step forward."

A middle-aged man in black slowly stepped out of the crowd. Wang Lin’s gaze swept over him, and this man was one of the three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, already in the pseudo-Core Formation realm.

"This is the token to enter the extraterritorial battlefield. Take it and remember, the main goal of this competition is to seize the opponent’s token. Additionally, be cautious of the other three demonic sects. Whoever kills five enemies will gain freedom of the soul." After saying this, Ye Zizai threw a token to the middle-aged man and then took out three jade slips, his gaze cold as he suddenly stared at Wang Lin.

Wang Lin’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at Ye Zizai without a word.

"The soul of everyone here is contained in these jade slips, except for you." Ye Zizai’s tone was calm and indifferent.

Without a word, Wang Lin bit his tongue, spat out a thread of fresh blood, and placed his right hand on his forehead. Instantly, a yellow light flashed, and the blood coagulated into a golden blood bead.

This secret technique for extracting a thread of the soul was detailed in the deep blue jade slip Ye Zizai had given him.

Wang Lin pointed at the golden blood bead, and it instantly shot out a golden arc, landing on one of the jade slips in Ye Zizai’s hand. Ye Zizai was taken aback and looked deeply at Wang Lin. He had not expected such a straightforward response. Originally, he had planned to kill Wang Lin if he resisted, as he had already decided not to use him as a furnace or a puppet. In his view, apart from the purity of Wang Lin’s cultivation technique, his talent was not exceptional. Among the prepared furnaces and puppets, any one of them had better talent than Wang Lin. Therefore, he had chosen A Dái.

Seeing Wang Lin’s compliance, Ye Zizai glanced at him and then waved his sleeve. The cave trembled, and a large circular door appeared, dark inside and emitting a suction force.

He threw the three jade slips containing the souls of the people to Du Chen and two others in the crowd. Wang Lin’s gaze flickered, and the other two were the remaining late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Wang Lin’s doubts grew stronger. He remained calm and silently remembered one of the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, as the jade slip containing Wang Lin’s soul was in his hand.

"Go in, I await your good news." Ye Zizai said indifferently.

Du Chen nodded respectfully and stepped into the large door, disappearing in an instant.

Wang Lin’s expression remained unchanged, and without any hesitation, he followed the others into the large door, vanishing from the Corpse Yin Sect.

After everyone left, a hoarse voice echoed in the cave.

"Ye Zizai, with these twenty-odd puppets and the blood of that boy as a guide, after they absorb it, they will surely go berserk and instantly reach the pseudo-Core Formation realm. The qualification for the extraterritorial battlefield is as good as secured for the Corpse Yin Sect."

Ye Zizai’s tone was calm as he said, "The yin-cold energy in Wang Lin’s body is extremely pure, and he must have secrets. If I had met him a few years ago, I might have been interested in investigating. However, I can’t live for more than three months, and the day the extraterritorial battlefield opens is the day I will be completely devoured. Therefore, this is no longer important. Since I have decided not to choose him as a furnace, I might as well use him as a guide for the puppets to increase their cultivation.

"Raksha, I require you to advance A Dái to the Core Formation stage. He will be my furnace. As for the puppet, I hope you can choose one for me after the extraterritorial battlefield opens. In exchange, I will go to the Withered Forest and help Lord Zi devour my junior brother Wu Yu."

The hoarse voice laughed maniacally and agreed.

Jue Ming Valley, located in the southern part of the Zhao Kingdom, was vast, even containing several dense forests and streams. As the battle site for the extraterritorial qualification match every hundred years, it was often shrouded in mist.

At this moment, a large door suddenly appeared in an open area on the north side of the valley. One by one, cultivators with coffins floating behind them walked out.

After the last person came out, the large door gradually turned into bright spots and slowly dissipated.

At this instant, the three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, who were the last to come out, glanced at each other and, without a word, were about to crush the soul jade slips in their hands.