Qi Fortune is an elusive thing, as is misfortune.

Setting aside the West River Pill, which defies logic, Qi Fortune is actually hard to fathom, and no one knows when it will start taking effect.

The same goes for misfortune, which is even harder to grasp, and no one can predict when they will be really unlucky, except for self-destructive actions.

These are the thoughts in Han Yu’s mind at the moment, expressed with a sense of feeling.

The reason is simple: they have traveled so far, yet no one from the Daoist side has come out to encounter them.

This useless misfortune, the Celestial Secret Tower is just a fraud, I’m definitely not a Plague God.

Han Yu frowned, and the Artifact Spirit mocked angrily, "Didn’t you say it’s elusive?"

"Well, having some hope is always good!"

He said sourly.

The endless sea, an infinite horizon, they don’t know how long they’ve been traveling, but in a ripple of space, the world ahead became slightly different.

The open sea in front of them suddenly revealed a huge island. The merchant waved, and the separated land turned toward the island.

With a sound of collision, the merchant leisurely stepped onto the island, and behind him, the reluctant Soul Fragment guided the flying land, following him.

"Could I have been captured to the territory of the Corpse Refining Lineage?"

Han Yu looked through the ice at the strange flora outside. The environment on the island was quite peculiar, with flowers and plants vastly different from those in the outside world, exuding an eerie aura everywhere.

Why do I say this? Because flowers and plants with legs are running all over the place, isn’t that strange!

"It seems that it’s not flowers and plants that have grown legs, but living creatures that have grown flowers and plants on them."

The Artifact Spirit looked for a moment, frowned, feeling even more amazed.

Han Yu looked at these things for a moment and instantly remembered the Ox Head from before.

In White Emperor City, the Human-faced Sunflower did indeed grow from human bodies!

Besides these bouncing flowers and plants, there was also a grove, with trees entirely black, no taller than ten feet, branches plentiful yet without a single leaf, and from a distance, the bare canopy appeared to be full of white flowers.

As they approached, when Han Yu looked again, he realized it wasn’t flowers but white dolls hanging everywhere.

Every tree had about a hundred dolls tied to it, and the threads connecting them to the branches occasionally glimmered with golden light.

Just after a few more glances, Han Yu felt a chill on his back, as every tree trunk was entwined with roots, each concealing a corpse within the dense network.

"These dolls’ abilities couldn’t possibly have grown here, right?"

Han Yu’s gaze was dazed. This was beyond absurd!

The Artifact Spirit could also see them, equally shocked.

"Highly possible; look at the clothes on these corpses, completely decayed, but the bodies are still intact, seemingly refined Corpse Kings."

Corpse King?

Han Yu immediately associated it with those Corpse Kings possessing divine techniques, and the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Looking at the dense grove in front of him, there must be at least a hundred trees here, right?

If each tree had some strange divine power, then...

Just the thought made Han Yu’s scalp tingle; how many abilities could the merchant possibly have?

"The terrifying part isn’t him but the force behind him; they have cultivated over a hundred types of acquired divine techniques."

The Artifact Spirit focused on the Corpse Refining Lineage behind the merchant, creating divine creatures was outrageous, and transferring divine techniques into cultivators or Corpse Kings was horrifying.

Looking at this number, it’s obvious they’ve created quite a few acquired divine techniques, and that’s the scariest part.

Without terrifying resources and unparalleled skills, none of this would be possible.

"Being targeted by these people is certainly not good news."

The Artifact Spirit sighed.

"Then I’ll surely be doomed!"

Han Yu felt bitter inside, wondering how the Corpse Refining Lineage was so formidable. It was the misleading from the likes of the Soul Fragment and Ox Head and Horse Face, who were too weak, making him think the Corpse Refining Lineage couldn’t be that strong.

The Artifact Spirit comforted, "You won’t die for now; at least you’re still useful for the moment."

"At least, before the Soul Fragment throws you in the latrine for ten days or so, you won’t die."

Han Yu’s face darkened, thinking it might be better off dead.

The merchant, with a leisurely demeanor, led people to the center of the island, a large, flat open space with just a single pavilion and no other buildings.

After placing down the land, the Soul Fragment hesitated, reluctant to hand over Han Yu right away.

Han Yu harbors too many secrets; he would at least need to savor it all before handing it over.

This is the merchant’s place, but the Soul Fragment also wanted to join in the feast.

Han Yu was the first to catch his eye. Ox Head, Horse Face, and the Judge were all his subordinates, and after they were wiped out, he had his eye on Han Yu.

If not for Han Yu’s astonishing and rapid progress, he would have kept it all for himself.

However, looking at the merchant’s posture, he didn’t seem inclined to share. To put it frankly, he wouldn’t even let him sip the soup.

Even before he could speak, the merchant spoke first.

"You can go now. As for your captured avatar, I’ll plead for you when the time comes."

The Soul Fragment’s features twisted in fury upon hearing this; he was furious.

"Just like that?"

He asked, his voice confused, suppressing his anger.

The merchant clicked his tongue, mocking him with a sidelong glance, sneering as he replied, "Do you expect me to invite you for a meal?"

Then he feigned a sudden realization, saying deliberately, "With your neither human nor ghost appearance, you probably can’t eat anyway."

The Soul Fragment immediately fumed, but meeting the other’s suddenly cold gaze, he could only suppress his emotions, "I contributed."

"What did you contribute?"

The merchant couldn’t help but laugh aloud; he had captured the person, while the Soul Fragment at most relayed information and led the way, and had already promised to resolve the captured avatar issue.

I... I at least sacrificed my avatar.

But, ultimately, he couldn’t bring himself to say it, so the Soul Fragment retreated, asking, "I just want the secret to Han Yu’s power. He has too many valuable secrets; I just want this one."

In fact, he desired the ultimate technique Han Yu used in battle, which could sever one’s Origin. If he mastered it, he wouldn’t be the bottom-ranked in the ten Yama Kings.

Yet, he knew that such a terrifying ability would undoubtedly be kept by the other party, so he had to settle for something they could accept.

If he could obtain Han Yu’s rapid growth method and combine it with the Heaven and Earth Four Division Skill, he could still compete for a spot among the ten Yama Kings.

The merchant looked contemplative, then quickly smiled, eyeing the Soul Fragment before saying, "It’s not impossible, but you’ll need to exchange something."

The Soul Fragment’s features twisted again, exchanging something? What the other fancied wouldn’t be ordinary, and the only thing of value left on him was his Spiritual Treasure body.

"You want my Spiritual Treasure?"

The merchant shook his head; as great as the Spiritual Treasure was, it was useless to him, but what he wanted was indeed related to it.

"I want you!"

The Soul Fragment was shocked and hurriedly stepped back a few paces.

"I’m no longer human, and you’re still interested?"