Translator: Cinder Translations
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Su Anqing quickly caught up to the spirit medicine shop. Upon noticing the five foundation-building cultivators of the Su family hiding within the formation, he felt a surge of anger.
"Why are you all just watching as the Elder is captured, while you cower in fear and hide in the formation?"
At the moment of Su Xiuyong's capture, he was still alive; hence, Su Anqing expressed that Su Xiuyong had been captured.
As he spoke, his speed did not decrease; he continued to pursue Song Wen, the distance between them rapidly closing.
However, a single remark from Su You quickly slowed him down.
"Be careful, Family Head! That rogue cultivator has a false third-tier silver corpse; his strength is not to be underestimated."
Su Anqing paused momentarily, slowly stopping as he looked at Song Wen's retreating figure, finding it hard to believe.
"A false third-tier silver corpse! Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"
Su You nodded solemnly. "We five witnessed it with our own eyes. Otherwise, how could we have lost in a six-on-one situation? Moreover, this person has a late-stage second-tier ghost general and can even use lightning techniques. His methods are endless."
"Raising corpses and commanding ghosts, and can even cast lightning techniques!"
Su Anqing's face was filled with shock!
When did the Su family provoke such an enigmatic rogue cultivator?
Just the false silver corpse in his hands alone would make it so that, without the intervention of their ancestor, no one from the Su family could contend with him in a fair fight.
At this moment, Su Anqing was filled with worry.
Their ancestor was aging, and enemies that had once only dared to lurk in the shadows were now starting to emerge, hoping to take a piece of flesh from the Su family's massive stature.
The Du family, a newly ascendant golden family, had suddenly struck against the Su family, seizing the Blood Crystal Mine.
Now, with the addition of this mysterious rogue cultivator...
First, he stole the Yellow Essence Mushroom that the Su family had cultivated for many years, and now he had captured the fifth elder.
Su Anqing felt a sense of urgency, as if a storm was approaching. The only thing that could save the Su family now was their ancestor, who needed to consume the Yuan to prolong his life.
TL: In Chinese philosophy and traditional beliefs, "Yuan" (元) often refers to origin, source, or a primordial state.
At that time, all the crises facing the Su family would naturally be resolved.
...
Seeing that the pursuers behind him did not follow, Song Wen felt slightly disheartened.
There was only one opponent; as long as they didn't gang up on him, he had confidence in being able to keep the opponent at bay.
After flying for a while, Song Wen lowered the sword light and landed at the foot of a tall mountain.
At this moment, although Su Xiuyong had lost his breath, Song Wen had cast the Soul Binding Technique on him, imprisoning his soul within his body. Therefore, he need not worry about his soul dissipating on its own.
Song Wen focused intently, grasping Su Xiuyong's head with his left hand and exerting all his strength to cast the Soul Searching Technique.
His spiritual sense was slightly stronger than Su Xiuyong's, and since he had just killed him, he could not afford to fail in the soul search.
Powerful soul energy fused into Su Xiuyong's soul as fragments of memory were forcibly snatched away by Song Wen.
After a moment, Song Wen began to devour his soul and essence blood.
From Su Xiuyong's memories, Song Wen finally learned of the Su family ancestor's plans to prolong his life.
"Seventeen days from now?"
Song Wen murmured to himself, various schemes flashing through his mind.
He had to find a way to disrupt the ancestor's lifespan extension.
As long as Su Qian was dead, the destruction of the Su family would only be a matter of time.
"Perhaps, I can drive the wolf away using the tiger!"
Song Wen's eyes brightened, a plan forming in his mind.
Glancing at the gradually darkening sky, Song Wen flew toward Qingping Mountain.
The plan to disrupt Su Qian's lifespan extension could be approached gradually, but for now, he still needed to continue lurking within the Su family.
Upon returning to his residence, Song Wen set up the Concealment Spirit Formation in his room and took out the Top-grade Ghost Banner.
The Ghost King, which had not yet been completely refined, struggled and roared within the Ghost Banner, attempting to break free from its confinement.
Powerful spiritual energy poured into the Ghost Banner, repeatedly washing over the Ghost King, slowly refining it.
With little time left before the day of Su Qian's lifespan extension, Song Wen needed to quickly enhance his own strength.
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Time Passed.
For a while, Song Wen traveled back and forth between the alchemy room and his residence, not venturing outside.
Whenever he had free time, he made the most of it, fully refining the Ghost King.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
This day, in the early morning.
He walked out of his residence and headed towards the alchemy room.
Song Wen intentionally passed by Qi Xiong's residence, discovering that Qi Xiong was not inside. He then went to the dining hall but still did not see any sign of Qi Xiong.
He continued on to the alchemy room, and after receiving the gathered Qi Pills and spiritual herbs from Su Huayue, Song Wen asked, "Superior Su, have you seen Master Alchemist Qi Xiong today?"
A flicker of vigilance passed through Su Huayue's eyes as she countered, "What do you need Qi Xiong for?"
Song Wen replied, "Since I arrived at the Su family, Master Alchemist Qi has taken good care of me, and we have a good personal relationship. Last night, we clearly returned to our residence together, but this morning, when I wanted to call him to the alchemy room, I couldn't find him. I'm a bit worried about his safety."
Su Huayue said, "I arranged for Master Alchemist Qi to refine three batches of Profound Qi Pills. He came to the alchemy room very early today, and right now, he should be in the alchemy chamber. Refining Profound Qi Pills takes considerable time; he should be there for the next few days, so you need not worry."
Song Wen cupped his fists, "Thank you for the information, Su Zhiwei."
After speaking, Song Wen turned and walked toward the alchemy room.
Su Huayue stared at Song Wen's departing figure, a cold glint flickering in her eyes.
"An old man nearing his sixties is quite meddlesome."
...
Three hours passed, and while Song Wen was refining the second batch of gathering Qi pills, the stone door of the alchemy room suddenly opened.
Su Huayue flashed into the alchemy room and pressed a mechanism beside the stone door.
"Bang!"
The stone door closed again.
Su Huayue had a fierce expression, and a sharp sword appeared in her hand, stabbing toward Song Wen, who was sitting cross-legged in front of the alchemy furnace.
Suddenly, a cloud of black smoke erupted from the alchemy furnace in front of Song Wen, the alchemy process interrupted and the furnace exploded.
Seeing Su Huayue appear suddenly, Song Wen felt a sense of helplessness.
Why seek death unnecessarily?
Song Wen raised one hand, empty-handed against the blade, and pinched the sword's body tightly with two fingers.
Su Huayue was instantly shocked; she was an eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivator, and to ambush a mere seventh-layer Qi Refining old man and fail was astonishing.
Yuan Cheng had concealed his cultivation!
This thought flashed through her mind as she reached for the storage bag at her waist, where an emergency communication jade slip was kept.
As an important area of the Su family, if an emergency occurred in the alchemy room, the emergency communication jade slip could be activated, alerting nearby members of the Su family to come for immediate support.
A cold light flashed.
Su Huayue's arm was severed at the shoulder!
"Ah..."
Wounded severely, Su Huayue screamed in pain.
"Why do you want to kill me? Is it because I was inquiring about Qi Xiong's whereabouts?" Song Wen stood up slowly, asking in a stern voice.
Before Su Huayue entered the alchemy room, through the Sacred Gu guarding oustside, Song Wen had already sensed her approach.
Su Huayue did not want to alert other alchemists about her intention to kill Song Wen, to avoid causing panic among the outer family alchemists.
Thus, she dared to enter Song Wen's alchemy room only when she was sure there was no one else around.
This meant that, for a short time, no one would know what was happening inside this alchemy room.
(End of the Chapter)
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