Chapter 73: Secret Base

Inside the Star Absorbing Stone, one could clearly see the situation outside. Ding Hao clearly saw a black-robed Immortal Master flying over his head on a Spirit Sword. He was very cunning; after each murder, he wouldn't leave far away but would hide nearby to observe the situation.

"Who is this black-robed person?" Ding Hao was secretly surprised.

"The Elder Miao and others were riding a lotus-like flying spirit tool, not a Spirit Sword for flying! Could it be that this person is not on the same side as Elder Miao?" Ding Hao analyzed in his mind.

"Regardless, I'll interrogate Dugu first."

No matter how fierce the storm outside or how many dangers there were, Ding Hao was very safe inside the Star Absorbing Stone. He took out the Blood Refining and Soul Refining Lamp, placed a Spirit Stone, and lit the Soul Fire.

The Soul Fire illuminated Ding Hao's face. "Dugu, life is full of unexpected meetings, and we meet again so soon!"

In the small Soul Fire, Dugu's face appeared.

"Ding Hao, you cultivate demonic creatures and such evil and bizarre blood cultivation techniques! You are beyond redemption! You are a demon! You are doomed! You will die! Die!"

In the flames, Dugu's face screamed loudly, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Feeling better after cursing?" Ding Hao smiled faintly and asked, "Brother Dugu, have you heard of the torment of soul refining? Do you want to try it?"

"Soul refining!" Dugu's face turned pale with shock.

He had once heard the Young Prince say that after killing Ding Hao, he would be subjected to daily soul refining, a living torment. He never thought he would be the one to suffer first.

Ding Hao took out a small spoon and scooped up some blood oil from the oil pool.

Dugu suddenly felt an inexplicable fear and pleaded, "No! No!"

"Don't worry, it's free to try." Ding Hao smiled happily and poured the blood oil onto the Soul Fire.

Sizzle! The flame instantly illuminated Ding Hao's smiling face.

"Ah! It hurts! It hurts so much!" Dugu finally understood how unbearable the torment of soul refining was!

It was worse than death! Unbearably painful!

Dugu's screams filled the space inside the Star Absorbing Stone. Dugu was actually a coward; he had been defiant just a moment ago, but after one spoonful, he was already begging for mercy. However, Ding Hao ignored him and poured three more spoonfuls. Dugu began to curse, cursing Ding Hao's ancestors for generations.

"Continue cursing." But Ding Hao was still having fun and poured three more spoonfuls.

"Alright, alright, Ding Hao, Grandfather Ding, I know your power! I know your power, spare me! Spare me!" After six spoonfuls, Dugu was completely broken.

Ding Hao said, "The first three spoonfuls were for myself! The last three were for the female boss of Border Village! You have done too many evil deeds, and the cycle of heaven has come around. Yesterday you killed, today it's your turn!"

Dugu was completely cowed, with no thought of resistance, and cried, "Grandfather Ding, I was wrong, I shouldn't have opposed you, I shouldn't have killed the female boss of Border Village, I was wrong!"

As he spoke, Ding Hao poured another spoonful, and Dugu screamed again, bitterly asking, "Grandfather, who are you pouring this for this time?"

"For no one, I just find it fun."

Dugu wet himself, thinking that if he had known Ding Hao was so ruthless, he really shouldn't have offended him! He hurriedly said, "Grandfather, I was wrong, but I was following the orders of the Young Prince and the Chief Merchant! I was just following orders! Please spare me!"

Ding Hao finally put down his hand and said, "Don't worry, one day I will also make the Chief Merchant of the Tang Family and the Young Prince suffer the same torment!"

Dugu thought to himself that he never expected Ding Hao to even want to kill the Chief Merchant. He quickly said, "Grandfather Ding, I advise you not to have this idea. The Tang Family has a late-stage Qi Cultivation Elder, and behind the Tang Family is the Tang Emperor! The Tang Emperor is not just one person; it's a family with many experts! If you offend them, even if you enter the Nine Provinces Academy or the Nine Provinces Dao Sect, you won't have a good time. They are not someone you can shake!"

Ding Hao raised an eyebrow and said, "We'll take it step by step. As long as I set my mind to it, I believe I will have the opportunity!"

Just like hunting Dugu, it was originally impossible for Ding Hao, but with his own strength and the help of treasures, some things could be achieved with determination!

Thinking of this, Ding Hao said, "Alright, let's not talk about these things. Now, tell me about the Young Prince's collusion with the demonic and ghostly Dao. My first target is the Young Prince!"

Dugu thought to himself how he had offended such a vengeful person, who didn't even fear the Tang Family.

He confessed honestly, "Actually, many of the demon tribes outside the domain have connections with the upper-class families. The Young Prince has connections with the Bamboo Demon Tribe and the Bear Demon Tribe. He sent Ding Juncai to the Bear Demon Tribe to cultivate. The Bear Demon Tribe has a technique called Bear Blood Infusion, which can quickly enhance Ding Juncai's strength..."

Ding Hao frowned and said, "Isn't Ding Juncai a Third Rank Sinking Ice, a mental type? What does he need Bear Blood Infusion for? Isn't that turning him into a Body Refiner?"

Dugu said, "That's right, a Body Refiner. Ding Juncai hates you to the bone and wants to block your path in the examination. So he would rather never reach the Great Perfection of the Innate stage than to become strong."

"Stupid." Ding Hao sneered, "He gave up his future just to reach the Ninth Rank of the Innate stage to block my path? Does he think he can block my path with the Ninth Rank of the Innate stage? How ridiculous, how stupid! The Young Prince is supposed to be smart, why didn't he remind him?"

"The Young Prince just uses him as cannon fodder." Dugu added, "But Grandfather, you can't underestimate that little brat Ding Juncai. At the Innate stage, Body Refiners are stronger than ordinary Innate cultivators! Although he is at the Ninth Rank of the Innate stage, he is a Body Refiner, and even ordinary Great Perfection Innate cultivators might not be able to defeat him!"

"Ordinary Great Perfection Innate cultivators." Ding Hao countered, "Do you think I am an ordinary Great Perfection Innate cultivator?"

Dugu hurriedly flattered, "Grandfather Ding, how could you be an ordinary person? The first time I saw you, I felt you were graceful and outstanding! When you reach the Great Perfection of the Innate stage, you will be invincible in the world, the first in the examination! The 3rd Rank Ascension will definitely be yours, and as for the Young Prince and the likes of Chai Shizi, they can only kneel before you and lick your shoes!"

"Ha ha ha!" Ding Hao laughed heartily, very pleased.

Perhaps inheriting the character of his ancestor, the Spring and Autumn Old Demon, Ding Hao had little immunity to such shameless flattery and blatant praise.

After laughing, Ding Hao asked, "Dugu, you keep calling them little brats and dirt chickens. When you talk about me behind my back, do you call me that too?"

Dugu's face turned awkward, and he smiled apologetically, "Grandfather Ding, these are just details, don't take them too seriously."

"Details." Ding Hao snorted and said, "Now, tell me about the detailed situation of the Young Prince's collusion with the Bamboo Demon Tribe."

He didn't know that several Bamboo Demon Immortal Masters were already dead; he just wanted to find evidence of the Young Prince's collusion with demonic and ghostly Dao Immortal Masters and hand it over to Ling Yunxiao. This way, Ling Yunxiao would definitely disqualify the Young Prince from the competition, which would infuriate the Young Prince.

Ding Hao thought this way.

Dugu said, "Grandfather Ding, the Young Prince's contact with the Bamboo Demon Tribe's Immortal Masters is all through the Chief Merchant of the Tang Family. They are very cautious and have no written correspondence. It would be difficult to find evidence."

"Is that so..." Ding Hao frowned, thinking it might be hard to take revenge on the Young Prince.

But Dugu added, "However, I do have an idea." Dugu, now a true traitor, immediately began to offer suggestions to Ding Hao. He said, "These four Bamboo Demon Immortal Masters only come out at night. During the day, they hide to avoid being discovered. I've been following them for a few days and discovered a secret!"

"Secret?" Ding Hao's eyes lit up.

Dugu said, "I found a secret base of the Tang Family in the outer part of the Lianyun Mountains. These four demonic and ghostly Dao Immortal Masters hide in the secret base during the day. The location is very hidden, and I only discovered it by chance."

"Secret base!" Ding Hao began to ponder.

He thought, what is the Tang Family doing with a secret base in the Lianyun Mountains? What are their intentions? But if I can expose it, it will be a way to get revenge!

Ding Hao didn't know at this moment that this secret base would be very useful to him!

He frowned and asked, "Dugu, you're not trying to lure me into a trap, are you?"

Dugu's face turned pale with fear, and he hurriedly said, "Grandfather Ding, I really don't have that intention! Besides, I've never been inside that secret base, so I don't know what's inside. It wouldn't be useful to lure you there!"

"Alright, tell me the location. If anything goes wrong, I'll give you a hundred spoonfuls a day."

Getting the location of the "secret base" from Dugu, Ding Hao put away the oil lamp and carefully considered.

"At this moment, the Bamboo Demon Immortal Masters are searching for me in the mountains. They would never expect me to infiltrate their backyard! If I stay here, it would be dangerous. I might as well go to the so-called secret base. I have the Star Absorbing Stone, so what do I have to fear?"

Thinking of this, Ding Hao said, "Da Huang, let's go to the secret base tonight."

The moonless night was dark, and a half-man-tall yellow dog ran forward. Ding Hao didn't dare to come out but let Da Huang run outside with the Star Absorbing Stone in his mouth.

Da Huang was just a lowly stray dog. The high-ranking Immortal Masters wouldn't bother to kill him even if they saw him. And only a few people, like the Young Prince and Ding Juncai, knew that Da Huang was Ding Hao's pet, so they wouldn't usually encounter them.

Therefore, Ding Hao's strategy was quite safe. With Da Huang's keen sense of smell, he could also avoid the fierce beasts in the mountains. So before dawn, the half-man-tall yellow dog, carrying a stone, arrived at the outer part of the Lianyun Mountains.