Chapter 327: Chapter 191: Returning to the Northern Domain

The Eastern Army Governor arrived at Dock No. 7 only two hours after the two Golden Core Cultivators.

He looked much younger than Canyuan True Monarch—a handsome, dashing middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe.

"Greetings, Cyan Void True Monarch."

The two Golden Core Cultivators immediately stepped forward, respectfully welcoming their direct superior.

Cyan Void True Monarch merely gave a casual nod before fixing his full attention on Dong Xixian. His gaze was like a pair of daggers, as if ready to slice the man open.

Dong Xixian trembled in fear, cowering like a quail. ’Now that even the Eastern Army Governor, Cyan Void True Monarch, is here,’ he thought, ’this has gotten completely out of hand.’

"Bring out the Human Demon’s corpse and let me see it."

Cyan Void True Monarch withdrew his gaze.

The Eastern Army Governor’s Mansion directly faced the Demons of the sea, so they had far fewer dealings with Demon Cultivators than the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion.

The well-sealed corpse of the Mermaid was quickly brought out. Cyan Void Daoist Monarch inspected it carefully and nodded.

"It is indeed a Human Demon. There is no doubt."

With the exception of their Primordial Ancestor, all Nine Nether Ghost Car Demons—a type of Outer Celestial Demon—are formed from Nascent Soul Demon Cultivators who undergo Soldier Resolution to ascend.

"I have already sent a messaging Token to inquire with Senior Brother Canyuan. He did indeed suppress a Nascent Soul-tier Human Demon in the sea, one that was cultivating the Nine Nether Ghost Car Scripture."

Coming from Cyan Void True Monarch, these words effectively settled the matter.

"So, you’re Yang Jing?"

He looked at Yang Jing, his gaze tinged with curiosity.

"I am."

"Your Thunder Technique is impressive. Even though it was only the remnant soul of a Human Demon, it’s far beyond what an ordinary Foundation Establishment junior could withstand."

Cyan Void True Monarch nodded.

With his level of insight, he naturally saw much more. However, Canyuan True Monarch had spoken very highly of this disciple, so he had no intention of revealing all of Yang Jing’s methods in front of everyone.

"Though it was just a wisp of a remnant soul, allowing it to roam free in the Eastern Domain would have brought endless disaster. You have performed a great service by slaying it."

As he spoke, Cyan Void True Monarch retrieved a golden pot from his sleeve.

"This pot contains one hundred grains of Thunder Marsh Divine Sand, which I collected myself from the Nine Heavens. You can refine them into a Magical Treasure to enhance its power, or you can refine the sand into a Magical Treasure of its own. It is up to you how you use it."

Cyan Void True Monarch’s voice sounded in Yang Jing’s ears.

Thunder Marsh Divine Sand was exceptionally precious. Only Nascent Soul Cultivators could fly to the sea of thunder marshes in the Nine Heavens to gather the Thunder Sand.

A single grain or two was enough to empty the pockets of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, to say nothing of the hundred grains contained in this pot.

Cyan Void True Monarch had chosen to speak via Divine Sense transmission precisely to avoid attracting unwanted attention and envy.

Yang Jing bowed respectfully.

"Since you hold the post of Minister in the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, you should return there as soon as possible."

Cyan Void True Monarch said.

"Yes!"

Yang Jing knew Cyan Void True Monarch was offering to handle all subsequent matters, allowing him to depart without a worry. He put away the golden pot and led everyone back to the Flying Boat.

The soldiers aboard the Flying Boat deftly started it up and accelerated away.

"Seeing is believing. I’d heard that Cyan Void True Monarch was known for being harsh with his subordinates, but after actually meeting him, I never expected him to be so reasonable."

Zuoqiu Feng clicked her tongue in amazement. The Commanders of the Five Armies were all powerful and influential figures within the Six Sects. As such, Noble Families like the Zuoqiu Family studied their personalities to avoid unknowingly offending such major figures.

Yang Jing glanced at the golden pot in his hand. ’For a Human-Demon Remnant Soul at the Foundation Establishment Realm, a reward of ten grains of Thunder Marsh Divine Sand would have been sufficient. Cyan Void True Monarch gave me one hundred because he values my mastery of Thunder Techniques and my exceptional Talent.’

As long as a disciple of the Six Sects demonstrated sufficient worth, most seniors were willing to help them along.

After all, a small investment today might benefit their own juniors and descendants in the future.

And Cyan Void True Monarch was especially magnanimous, making an incredibly generous move.

"The West Sea Great Saint has already been the vessel for a possession once; she cannot seize another body. Soon, she will undergo Soldier Resolution and pass away. She will probably want to see Yellow Foot before that happens. We should return to the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion as quickly as possible and bring Yellow Foot out to see her."

Yang Jing said after letting out a slow breath.

Back in the Upper Realm, the Immortally Cultivation Realm had a concept of reincarnation. As long as one’s Cultivation reached the Nascent Soul Realm, one could reincarnate with one’s memories intact. After breaking through the delusion of the womb, one could recover the memories of their past life.

However, ever since the Central Continent fell from the Upper Realm, there have been no rumors of any Nascent Soul Cultivator successfully breaking through the delusion of the womb.

After a Nascent Soul Cultivator lost their physical body, they could use various precious materials to refine a Dharma Body to serve as a shell and move about the world.

However, the Power of a Nascent Soul inhabiting a Dharma Body was feeble. Furthermore, rumor had it that using a Dharma Body to evade the Netherworld’s cycle of reincarnation meant forfeiting one’s chance to ever be reborn.

Unless their Sect or clan faced a life-or-death crisis, most Nascent Soul Cultivators would not choose this path.

As soon as they left the Dong Kingdom, Yang Jing ordered the Flying Boat to raise its Defensive Spirit Light and conceal its aura.

He suspected that the mysterious Nascent Soul Cultivator from before had tracked them by their aura. Although raising the Defensive Spirit Light would greatly increase Spiritual Qi consumption, it would also lock in the Flying Boat’s aura and prevent it from leaking out.

The overland route was much longer than the sea route. Moreover, some Fiefdoms had set up blockades and did not permit Flying Boats to pass directly through their airspace.

After a dusty, seventeen-day journey, the Flying Boat finally reached the Northern Domain and docked at the pier of the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion.

After freshening up his appearance, Yang Jing immediately went to request an audience with Canyuan True Monarch.

He had just stepped into Canyuan True Monarch’s Governor’s Mansion when an attendant informed him that the Governor was already waiting in his Cave Mansion.

Not daring to delay, Yang Jing quickened his pace and entered Canyuan True Monarch’s Quiet Chamber.

Canyuan True Monarch was already seated cross-legged in the Quiet Chamber. His fifth disciple, Yellow Foot, was nestled cozily beside the True Monarch, leisurely pecking at a plate of Spirit Fruits.

These Spirit Fruits were brimming with Spiritual Mechanism, clearly no ordinary products.

Yang Jing was quite surprised by Yellow Foot’s appearance. Having not seen it for over two months, its body had expanded by a full size. Even nestled on the ground, it now stood twenty feet tall, a gigantic ball of white fur.

The change in its size was secondary; the greatest change was in its vital energy, which had nearly doubled.

It had clearly been eating very well during its time with Canyuan True Monarch.

Upon seeing Yang Jing, Yellow Foot immediately let out a joyous "CHIRP CHIRP!", pushing itself up on its legs and trying to share the Spirit Fruits with its master.

Yang Jing affectionately ruffled its fluffy head, motioning that he wasn’t hungry.

"This disciple of yours is about to eat me out of house and home."

A smile touched Canyuan True Monarch’s lips when he saw Yang Jing, but it vanished as he recalled the message from Cyan Void True Monarch, and a flicker of sorrow appeared in his eyes.

He summoned an attendant to lead Yellow Foot outside.

"Sigh... To think that Human Demon still had a remnant soul. If you hadn’t slain it, a great disaster would have likely occurred, and the fault would have been mine. It is a pity about the West Sea Great Saint. The Feathered Whale clan is truly plagued by misfortune."

Yang Jing took out the Demon-Catching Tripod.

"True Monarch, the Human-Demon’s remnant soul is not actually dead. I have it imprisoned within this Demon-Catching Tripod. I was worried about the Human Demon’s cunning and feared being deceived, so I have not interrogated it."

A sharp glint flashed in Canyuan True Monarch’s eyes.

"Yang Jing, Yang Jing... you truly are resourceful. Slaying its physical body and driving its remnant soul back to the Outer Realm would have been remarkable enough. I never imagined you could actually capture it."

Even with all his methods, there was a limit to what he could interrogate out of a Human Demon at the Nascent Soul Realm. But this remnant soul, only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, was a different matter entirely.

Several Spiritual Light Chains rose from the Demon-Catching Tripod, dragging the Human-Demon’s remnant soul up above the vessel.

The moment the remnant soul saw Yang Jing, it burst out cursing.

"You, a disciple of the Righteous Dao, refining a Demonic Spiritual Artifact! If you ask me, you’re the real demon spawn!"

But when the remnant soul saw Canyuan True Monarch, it immediately fell silent and refused to speak.

Canyuan True Monarch had no mercy for such Human Demons. He first restrained it with Yellow Dragon Qi, then took out his Magical Treasure, the Celestial Mirror, and shone it upon the Human Demon.

The instant the Celestial Mirror’s light fell upon it, the Human Demon shrieked as if it had been plunged into a vat of boiling oil.

Only after a long while did Canyuan True Monarch put away the Celestial Mirror.

The Human Demon now seemed stupefied, bound by the Spiritual Light Chains, dazed and unresponsive.

"Use your Demon-Catching Tripod to refine this demon. Human Demons are treacherous. It’s only feigning the loss of its intelligence."

Canyuan True Monarch said with a disdainful glance at the Human Demon.

Hearing his words, the Human Demon immediately began to struggle for its life, trying to break free from the Demon-Catching Tripod’s confinement.

Yang Jing, of course, gave it no such chance. He activated the Demon-Catching Tripod and began the Refining process. Although the Human Demon’s fundamental nature was of a high tier, this wisp of a remnant soul was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Before long, the pattern of a Three-headed Ghost Vehicle appeared on the Demon-Catching Tripod.

"This Sub-Soul was originally attached to the True Demon Mark on Yellow Foot. It was only when Yellow Foot was about to leave with me that it grew worried I would detect it. That’s when it seized the body of that poor Mermaid, and that’s why your Profound Pure Demon-Locking Spell had no effect."

Canyuan True Monarch explained, having read the Human Demon’s memories stored within the Celestial Mirror, thus resolving Yang Jing’s confusion.

"The methods of Human Demons are so bizarre... It’s impossible to guard against them completely."

With his questions answered, Yang Jing couldn’t help but sigh in wonder.

"There’s a great deal of other useful intelligence within this Demon’s memories. Though fragmented, it contains quite a few secrets about the Outer Realm."

A Human Demon would never place all its memories into a single remnant soul, but even this small fragment allowed Canyuan True Monarch to glimpse the bigger picture and learn many secrets regarding the Celestial Demons.

"Cyan Void has already rewarded you for this matter, so I won’t give you a physical object. I will record twenty thousand Merit Points in your name. You should redeem them for a Transformation Pill as soon as possible to help Yellow Foot undergo his Transformation. As a Feathered Whale, his body will only continue to grow larger. If he remains in his beast form forever, it will eventually become very inconvenient."

In truth, Yang Jing already had two bottles containing a total of twenty-four Transformation Pills, all of which he had managed to fleece from the Profound Carp Association.

But these particular Transformation Pills couldn’t exactly be brought out into the open. If he could obtain one through official channels, that would be for the best.