The names of each resource and their descriptions were listed on the page. At the top, a name was specifically marked: Yan Zhixian. Luo Chen figured that this was the actual name of the white-robed cultivator.

"Made your pick yet?" the Angler asked.

Luo Chen looked up and asked cautiously, "Why don't we have the technique he used to set up that black domain?"

During the battle at the Winding Defensive Line, Yan Zhixian used many techniques and abilities, but the one that left the deepest impression on Luo Chen was the black domain formed through the Myriad Soul Banner. It was like a ghostly abyss, yet also like a trapping formation. But what it most closely resembled was the Nascent Soul Domains unleashed by the Wolf Emperor Defiant Howl and Han Zhan during their battle on the Heavenly Drum Plains. Within that black domain, an enemy's mana was greatly suppressed, and even their thoughts slowed. Otherwise, a mere early-stage Adept like Yan Zhixian could not have faced three other peers at once. If one could use such a technique, it would grant an overwhelming advantage against enemies.

The Angler said with some regret, "A technique like that would be exclusive to True Inheritors of the devil sect, and never taught to anyone else. Why would he have a copy?"

Luo Chen wasn't entirely convinced, but the Angler's expression was calm and showed no sign of lying. After thinking for a moment, Luo Chen pointed at a line. "In that case, I'll go with Soul Fusion."

The Angler smiled faintly. "Just as I thought. I had a feeling you'd pick that one. After all, you've got a pretty decent Myriad Soul Banner yourself."

Luo Chen smiled knowingly. He had acquired the banner from Yan Nantian, and it had not been this powerful back then. But later, in the Profound Rock Sea Region, Han Zhan had gathered many Demon King souls and raised its power. Moreover, during the battle at Coldlight, Han Zhan used the Oceanseal Eight Trigram Formation to absorb the soul of the late-stage Adept Qian Ting. Because of that banner, Luo Chen was able to resist the suppression of the black domain during his fight with Yan Zhixian.

After that assessment task, the Angler allowed Luo Chen to devour many of the Ghost Kings from Yan Zhixian's banner. Over the course of five years, it underwent a complete transformation. The Ghost King formed from Qian Ting's vengeful soul devoured most of the strange Ghost King that had once resided in Yan Zhixian's banner, a creature neither human nor beast. Now, it had grown even more formidable. If he used Soul Fusion, Luo Chen might be able to merge the many scattered Ghost Kings within his banner into one to unleash an even more tremendous power. That would give him yet another trump card.

The Angler smiled as he explained, "This art is something every disciple of the devil sect's Soul Refinement Lineage learns. It's not passed around freely, of course, but over the years, cultivators in the Northern Sea have come up with similar arts of their own. So the price for this Soul Fusion isn't too high. Factoring in the sect's name, it's set at 200,000. Since you're a four-star demon hunter, you get a discount, so you'll only need to pay 120,000."

This really wasn't much, especially after the discount. Luo Chen couldn't help but sigh. "These star-rank discounts for demon hunters really are something... If only I was a nine-star hunter, or even seven or eight stars.... That'd free me up a bit on the rent for Surging Lake."

The area had many spirit veins, so most of them were rather affordable, but that really only applied to the lower-grade ones. For third-tier ones, the cost was still high. Surging Lake cost three million a year, and even with a forty percent discount, the annual cost was still 1.8 million. Over five years, that came to 9 million. If Luo Chen managed to get a higher rank, the total might drop to 7 million or even less. For someone like the Angler, an eight-star demon hunter, a top-grade third-tier cave residence cost only 3 million for five years! It was practically dirt cheap! In fact, there might even be additional benefits from the division that waived the fee entirely.

The Angler just shrugged. "What do you mean, if? With your abilities, you can just take on a few more missions and your rank will go up. Maybe the eight-star rank is a bit much right now, but you can definitely get seven stars."

Those awarded one to three stars were mostly Initiates. Those awarded four to six stars were generally Adepts. On rare occasions, an Initiate could receive four stars, but only after earning great merit. By the same token, Adepts who earned great merit could receive seven stars... or so the theory said. In practice, there were incredibly few, and all of them were late-stage Adepts. In fact, not every late-stage Adept could attain that rank. Huangfu Song was a prime example: He was at the seventh stage of Golden Core, yet he only had six stars.

The Angler's words were a clear acknowledgement of Luo Chen's strength. He was placing Luo Chen on the same level as the most formidable late-stage Adepts. Yet Luo Chen remained humble and waved his hand. "Most of those missions are dangerous. Even ordinary demon-hunting jobs mean going into battle. That doesn't really suit someone focused on quiet cultivation, and I'd rather not take them."

The Angler was speechless. THE Devil Lord Azure Yang, whose fearsome reputation had by now spread far and wide, disliked fighting and only wanted quiet cultivation? Had the sun risen from the west that morning? Then, he thought back to the earlier incident. Luo Chen had handled it with clear restraint; he had shown no desire to stir up trouble. Maybe the Angler had misjudged him? But still...

The Angler sighed. "Unfortunately, the second thing I came to discuss... might disrupt your quiet cultivation."

Before Luo Chen could respond, the Angler explained the situation. Golden Core demon hunters were required to take on a mandatory mission every five years. This was something everyone had to understand before joining the division. Luo Chen had been cultivating at Surging Lake for five years, yet he had not taken a single one. Even with the Angler stepping in, it could no longer be delayed.

"Well, you don't need to worry. These missions are usually not too dangerous. They are time-consuming, though."

Luo Chen frowned. "Time-consuming?"

The Angler waved it off. "I know what you're worried about. You don't want it cutting into your cultivation time."

Luo Chen nodded. He was indeed worried about that. The longer he cultivated at Surging Lake, the better it was for him. He truly did not want to waste time on trivial tasks. If it weren't compulsory to go out, he would rather stay at home every day and cultivate all the way to Perfected Mastery.

"I've already picked out a few missions for you. They're all quick ones. How about I walk you through them?" the Angler added with a smile. As a veteran of the division, he knew exactly which missions were dangerous, which were easy, and how long each would take. It was clear that, to get on Luo Chen's side and maybe to learn more from him, he was already putting his influence to use.

Luo Chen's eyes lit up. "I'm all ears!"

***

The next day, a pale-faced cultivator stepped out of Hidden Wind Cave. He locked his cave residence and activated its formation before leaving. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw a streak of light flying in from afar toward a nearby peak. It stopped midway, then turned and descended beside him. "Fellow Daoist Duan Li, is it you?"

Duan Li looked over and replied with some hesitation, "Fellow Daoist Xiao?"

The newcomer was none other than Xiao Buhuan, the five-star demon hunter stationed on Winding Island. Xiao Buhuan laughed. "That's right, it's me. Didn't expect you'd still remember me."

Duan Li forced a smile. "Well... You remember me too, don't you?"

Xiao Buhuan smiled, then looked at the cave residence behind him with some confusion. "Hidden Wind Cave?"

Duan Li nodded. "I'm renting this place now. Looks like we're neighbors."

Xiao Buhuan was taken aback. Back then, he had recommended this place to Azure Yang several times. He had hoped the man would become his neighbor. He had never expected it to end up with Duan Li instead. He noticed that Duan Li's complexion was still pale. It seemed the aftereffects of that battle had yet to fade.

Duan Li was somewhat curious. "I haven't seen you around all these years, so I thought you were in seclusion, but you look like you've just come back from a long trip. Did you just come back from Winding Island?"

"That's right," replied Xiao Buhuan.

Duan Li was surprised. "Aren't garrison assignments usually rotated yearly? How did you end up staying there that long?"

Xiao Buhuan shook his head. "I'm a bit of a special case. I took on a long-term assignment that lasted for ten years. During that time, my cave residence here at Splendid Mountain was kept for me. And missions like that help you build up your demon hunter rank."

Duan Li nodded. This was entirely reasonable. Even for an Adept, a decade-long mission was incredibly demanding in every respect, all the more so considering that those stationed on the frontlines faced the constant risk of battle against demonic beasts. Such missions were completely different from the usual mandatory tasks.

Xiao Buhuan asked curiously, "What about Fellow Daoist Azure Yang? Are you still in touch?"

"Huh? You haven't heard?" Duan Li blurted out, then immediately shook his head. "Right... you just got back."

"What happened to him?" Xiao Buhuan became even more curious.

Duan Li smiled. "I was just about to head to Surging Lake to visit him. Want to come along and see where he's staying?"

Surging Lake!? When did they put that one up for rent? Xiao Buhuan's eyes lit up, and he nodded without hesitation. "Alright! Let's go together!"