The first step's a success!

This thought appeared in both their minds. Luo Chen thus proceeded to repeat the same actions again and again. At first, the extraction was almost instantaneous, but as time passed, it grew slower. After half a day, the change became even more obvious.

"AHHHHHHHHH..."

A beast-like growl came from Duan Li's throat. Luo Chen struggled slightly as he controlled his mana. It was not that his divine soul foundation was insufficient, but that he had to control the force with extreme precision. If he overstepped, he would extract not just the black energy, but Duan Li's very soul. Just as success came within reach, a thought flashed through his mind. These strands of black energy... they're almost identical to the soul essence described in the texts. Using something like this to attack is truly vicious. If I use the Dragon-Slaying Art, could it achieve the same effect as this formation?

The thought passed in an instant. In the next moment, Luo Chen rose to his feet and shouted, "It's now or never!"

Duan Li's body shuddered. A thick strand of black energy, as wide as a finger, shot out from the crown of his head. The white flag fluttered in the air and absorbed it completely, turning black in the process. The light of the formation then faded. Duan Li collapsed onto his side, drenched in so much sweat that he looked as if he'd been saved from drowning rather than a soul injury. But though his face was twisted in pain, his crooked smile revealed immense relief.

Luo Chen grabbed the black flag. "Fellow Daoist, take a moment to recover. I'll wait outside."

Duan Li blinked in pain but said nothing. He truly could not speak at all. After some time, he cleaned himself up and returned to the main hall of his cave residence. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Luo Chen examining the black flag.

"What is it? Have you discovered anything?"

Luo Chen pointed at the black flag. "If I am not mistaken, this black energy should be soul essence."

All living beings possessed three souls and seven spirits.[1] They were normally intangible and undetectable for lower-level beings; only at higher realms would they condense into tangible form. Ghost Generals and Ghost Kings, for instance, appeared solid at first glance, but their "physical" bodies mostly consisted of yin qi. Cultivators had learned to extract the essence from souls through secret techniques. This soul essence was practically a sacred medicine. Used properly, it could greatly strengthen a cultivator's divine soul foundation. If developed into an offensive method, its power would far exceed that of ordinary divine soul attacks.

Duan Li was stunned, then understanding dawned on his face. "No wonder... I tried so many methods, and none of them worked. If it really is soul essence, then even after the owner's death, it would still retain a trace of spirituality and keep attacking my divine soul. What can I say... If that's the case, then it really isn't weird that I couldn't get rid of it."

"I'd like to have this, if you don't mind."

Duan Li hesitated, but thinking of the suffering he had endured over the years, he nodded. "You've helped me greatly this time. It's just a bit of soul essence, so just take it."

He sighed with emotion. "Now that it's gone... it really feels like a weight's been lifted. My mind's clear and my body feels light. I haven't felt this at ease in five years."

Although his face was still pale, he now looked just exhausted rather than deathly sick. A hint of flush had already returned. He bowed deeply. "I've truly troubled you. I owe you a favor."

Luo Chen waved him off. "As you said, it's just a bit of soul essence. It wasn't much. When Huangfu Song came looking for trouble earlier, didn't you step in for me as well?"

Duan Li straightened and shook his head. "That's different."

It was indeed not the same. Favors carried different weight. What Duan Li had done for Luo Chen a few days before was merely the cherry on top of an already good cake; what Luo Chen had just done for Duan Li was a warm meal to a starving man.

"In the future, if you ever need me, I'll go all out for you! I won't go back on my word!"

Seeing how serious Duan Li looked, Luo Chen swallowed the polite refusal that had been on his lips. At a critical moment, having an Adept at his side would be a great help, and Duan Li was no weakling. He had managed to break through the black domain, and that alone spoke volumes. That opponent had been a True Inheritor of a Holy Land, someone far beyond ordinary sect disciples, let alone rogue cultivators.

After advising him to recuperate well, Luo Chen left Hidden Wind Cave and returned to Surging Lake. When he got back, he first summoned Zhang Jiadi and praised his composure in the face of a great enemy, also taking the opportunity to ask about the breeding of the Golden Dragon Carp. Then he met Heavenjade and entrusted her with some minor matters. Finally, after meeting Han Zhan, he took Black King with him and set off in a flying boat toward the Winding Sea Region. The teleportation formation in Dragon Abyss Immortal City required a considerable amount of spirit stones to use outside of assessment missions or wartime mobilization, and Luo Chen was unwilling to spend that much just to save a couple of days. The Winding Sea Region was not far from the Hidden Dragon Mountain Range. A sea vessel would take quite a while to get there, but a flying boat could cover the distance quickly.

Luo Chen adjusted the flow of mana as the vessel sped north. A little black dot cut across the sky, leaving a white streak of clouds in its wake.

***

Five days later, somewhere in the Winding Sea Region, a patrol team stopped in their tracks. They looked toward the horizon and saw a streak of spirit light cutting through the sky. As it drew closer, they recognized the shape of a flying boat. Those who dared to cross the sea by flying boat in the Northern Sea were either people making short trips within safe zones or people confident in their strength. The Winding Sea Region was the exact opposite of a safe zone, which could only mean that the one on the flying boat had to be the second kind of person.

The patrol captain stepped forward to meet the newcomer. "Senior, this is the Myriad Immortal Society's second defensive line. Please state your identity and purpose of visit."

The red-robed Daoist on the flying boat casually tossed out an item. "I am a four-star demon hunter, Azure Yang. I am here to carry out a garrison mission."

The patrol captain looked at the identity token in his hand, which was enough of a confirmation. A deferential smile spread across his face. "This way, Senior. Another Adept just arrived a few days ago. Would you like me to introduce you?"

Luo Chen's brow arched. He naturally knew who had arrived first—Sovereign Thatched Mountain, the demon hunter sent to replace Xiao Buhuan, who was also on a ten-year-long mission according to what Luo Chen had been told. What surprised him was that the other assigned to the same short-term garrison mission as him had yet to arrive.

"Take me there first!"

1. In Daoism and Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a belief that living beings have three hun (三魂 sān hún), i.e. three ethereal yang souls, and seven po (七魄 qī pò), i.e. seven corporeal yin souls. The hun souls govern the mental/spiritual functions, while the po souls govern the physical life functions. ☜