"A pseudo Nascent Soul?"
Xue Chang was surprised by the excitement he heard in Yong Heng's voice.
It was the first time he had ever been so interested in something since the moonlit jade statue. In fact, it seemed he was more excited about this 'nascent soul' than he was about that!
"There are many stages that come after Qi refinement. The one you are most knowledgeable about is the Foundation Establishment state."
Xue Chang silently nodded his head. Of course he was aware of the legendary foundation establishment level. His father had once said that if he were to make a breakthrough into that level, even the main family would have to be careful of offending him.
If Zhao Wei had been at that level eight years ago, his uncles wouldn't have dared to send assassins when he and Xue Hai were practicing cultivation.
And even if they were still foolish enough to attempt to kill them, no one would've even said a word of complain of Zhao Wei actually did kill his brother-in-law.
He wouldn't have had to held back all those years ago.
But from what Yong Heng was telling him, it seemed that this was just the tip of the iceberg.
"In the continent you live in, foundation establishment experts couldn't even be considered strong people. To those monsters out in the world, they're nothing more than children. Yes they might be considered unbeatable beings here, but in the end they're still just a big fish in a little pond."
This news shocked Xue Chang to his core. He wasn't surprise that there were levels beyond foundation establishment.
Although those experts held power beyond what mortals could comprehend, cultivators wouldn't be such a mighty existence if that really was the limit.
But he was surprised that foundation establishment experts were considered so weak.
He always thought that even if they weren't the strongest, they'd at least be mid tier. Yet out there in the continent, they were no different from children in the eyes of true experts.
Seeing where Yong Heng was leading to with his speech, Xue Chang asked curiously.
"So a nascent soul has something to do with one of those 'experts' right?"
Yong Heng nodded, "There is a stage called the Nascent Soul stage. To say it simply, if a foundation establishment cultivator had to use all of his strength to destroy a city, a nascent soul expert could do it with the swipe of their hand. And that little glowing infant in that table is a pseudo nascent soul. Nascent souls are a source of power for nascent soul experts. Because of this, one wouldn't give up their nascent soul until their deaths."
A chill traveled down Xue Chang spine.
"So you're saying that these people killed an expert like that?!"
"Of course not, if that was the case then this city would already be a bloodbath. That right there is a pseudo nascent soul. To put it in layman's terms, it's a copy of the real deal. Not even holding a hundredth of the original's power."
Xue Chang couldn't help but release a sigh of relief after hearing this. If what they were dealing with really was at that level, he would be lucky to escape with his life much less avenge the deaths of the villagers.
"But even so, a pseudo nascent souls is still undoubtedly a nascent soul. It can act as a powerful power source for several different things. But the method of making one..."
"What's wrong with the production method?" Xue Chang was surprised to hear Yong Heng trailing off and not bragging with his knowledge as always.
"They're produced by taking in a large amount of fallen souls. And the number needed for just one is probably ten times the number of people that populated the village that Wanwan girl lived in."
The chill that had left Xue Chang's spine just moments ago once more reappeared. But this time it wasn't from fear but from unbridled anger suddenly taking over him.
Just this bit of information was all he needed to piece a few things together. He now knew why these mysterious people were plotting against those small villages.
It was to collect souls in order to use them as a fuel source!
A single village held at least two thousand people inside of it.
Five times that was nearly ten thousand! This group killed people like culling cattle.
The thought sickened him.
"We have to do something." Whispering through gritted teeth, Xue Chang's nails dig into his palm, drawing blood.
"Xue Chang, this is a good opportunity actually. Remember the spirit seal trapped within your body? This is a good chance to put it to good use."
An imperceptible smile surfaced on Yong Heng's face, out of Xue Chang's sights.
"You are a coward and I'm desperate, so let's make a deal. Whatever they plan to do with that nascent soul, it is clear that it will negatively affect your precious city. It might even cause countless deaths, more than those simple villages. And I'm sure you've noticed but that beast guarding it..."
"Is not something I can handle." Xue Chang admitted.
"That's right, it appears to be a level seven demonic beast, the sky leopard. Such a monster is impossible for you to handle... in your current state."
Those last few words of Yong Heng affected Xue Chang's attention immediately. Looking over at the almost transparent apparition of the handsome beauty behind him, Xue Chang squinted his eyes, "What are you getting at?"
"Xue Chang, so let's make another deal. I'll provide you with a method to steal the nascent soul, but in return I want it."
The greed in Yong Heng's voice made it sound like he was salivating over a delectable meal. It was completely obvious that whatever Yong Zheng planned to do with the nascent soul might improve his situation for the better.
The problem was Xue Chang didn't like the idea of using souls. After seeing how other people treated human lives, he wanted to stay away from that side of humanity.
Seeing Xue Chang's hesitation, Yong Heng couldn't help but sight to himself.
"Xue Chang, consider everything carefully. Do you really think these people would just stop at a few villages? Besides, their tomb is located right in the middle of your city. Not only that but the beasts on the borders are becoming more and more agitated. It is obvious that whatever these schemers are planning, it will undoubtedly affect Water Cloud City. Sometimes a lesser evil is needed to prevent a larger one. If you allow these people to get away with these deeds now, it'll only be a matter of time before even more people will die. And while all the other times couldn't be helped, next time that blood will be on YOUR hands."
With Yong Heng's words being whispered into his ears, a solemn expression appeared on Xue Chang's face.
Unable to refute the logic, Xue Chang finally conceded for the first time ever.
"What do we do?"
"Just follow my instructions, then that nascent soul will be ours!"