Chapter 155: Peak

After subjugating three Sects, the total number of Su Yun's Enslavement exceeded three thousand people.

Over three thousand female cultivators, from Foundation Establishment to Soul Transformation, were distributed across the Southern Territory, Central Territory, and Western Territory. The feedback of spiritual energy generated by their daily Cultivate converged into an endless, flowing river that surged into Su Yun's Dantian from all directions. This river was most visible at night; when Su Yun closed his eyes to introspect, he could see countless tiny specks of light emerging from the Void Realm, drifting into his body like fireflies. Some of these specks came from Qingyou Valley in the Southern Territory, some from Qinghe City in the Central Territory, and others from the Tianxuan Sect, Biyun Sect, Qinyin Pavilion, and Luoxia Gate in the Western Territory. Each speck was very weak, but when three thousand were gathered together, they formed a force that could not be ignored.

Su Yun's cultivation was steadily climbing. His Late Huashen Stage Realm had completely stabilized, and the barrier leading to the Peak was being washed away day after day by the feedback of spiritual energy, becoming thinner and thinner. He no longer went into seclusion, but instead sat in the courtyard every day, quietly feeling the growth of power within his body. Zhao Lanxin still came to bring him soup every day and still sat beside him doing embroidery. She did not know what the Spirit Transformation Peak Stage was, nor did she know what was waiting for her husband in the Northern Wasteland. She only knew that Brother Su was still there, and that was enough.

Valley Master Su Yao's Soul Transformation Stage Pill refining was becoming increasingly smooth. She had improved the Pill Formula, increasing the success rate by thirty percent; one furnace could produce five Medicinal Pill, and the quality was all High Grade. She distributed the Medicinal Pill to those Peak Nascent Soul Stage female cultivators to help them Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Stage. Three months later, the number of Soul Transformation Stage female cultivators in Qinghe City reached forty. Half a year later, it reached sixty. A year later, it reached one hundred.

Fairy Jianyun's sword technique had become even more fierce. She practiced sword techniques on the city wall every day, with seventy-two Flying Sword dancing around her, the sword light weaving like fabric, moving too fast to see their trajectory. Her cultivation had reached the Peak of the Mid Spirit Severing Stage, only one step away from the Late Stage. She said this step might take a year, or it might take ten years. Su Yun said there was no rush, take it slow.

Zi Wuji's lightning technique also had a Breakthrough. He practiced the secret lightning technique of the Purple Mansion, and after reaching the Mid Spirit Severing Stage, its power was several times stronger than before. He had once sparred with Fairy Jianyun, and the two fought for half an hour without a winner. Su Yun watched from the side without speaking. He knew in his heart that Zi Wuji's strength was slightly inferior to Fairy Jianyun's, but not by much.

Bai Shuang's injuries had healed. She returned to the Northern Wasteland and continued to monitor the black shadow that had rushed out of the Ten Thousand Year Cold Pool. She sent a message back every month, saying that the black shadow was still wandering in the depths of the Northern Wasteland and had not come south. However, it seemed to be looking for something, circling around the ice fields of the Northern Wasteland every day. Bai Shuang dared not get close and could only follow from a distance.

After receiving the message, Su Yun spread the map of the Northern Wasteland on the table. Bai Shuang had marked the activity route of the black shadow; that thing kept moving back and forth between the Thunder Pool and the Ten Thousand Year Cold Pool, occasionally going east, but never going west. Su Yun asked Valley Master Su Yao what this indicated. Valley Master Su Yao thought for a moment and said that the thing might be looking for the skeleton left behind by the Thunder Beast. The Thunder Beast was a Mid Spirit Severing Stage Yao Beast, and its skeleton contained residual powerful lightning energy, which was the best nourishment for that thing. However, it did not know that the Thunder Beast's skeleton had already been taken away by Su Yun.

Su Yun took the blood-red bead from his Storage Ring and placed it on the table. The blood light on the surface of the bead had been suppressed by the Seal of the Bi Spirit Grass, turning it into an ordinary red bead. But Su Yun knew that inside, a Divine Soul fragment of a Spirit Transformation Peak Stage expert was sealed. The fragment was restless inside the bead, occasionally emitting a low roar, like a beast trapped in a cage. Every time Su Yun heard that roar, he would think of the long howl of the black shadow in the Northern Wasteland. The sounds of the two were exactly the same.

He asked Valley Master Su Yao: "If I release the Divine Soul fragment from the bead, will it go find that black shadow?"

Valley Master Su Yao's expression changed. "Master, you cannot do that. Once the fragment in the bead is released, it will merge with that black shadow. By then, that thing's strength will be even greater, and we will be even less able to deal with it."

Su Yun nodded. "I know. I am just wondering if it is possible to use the bead as bait to lure that thing to the place we want."

Valley Master Su Yao was stunned. She thought for a moment and said that theoretically it was possible, but it was too dangerous. That thing was at the Spirit Transformation Peak Stage; once it was lured over, the entire Qinghe City could be destroyed. Su Yun smiled and said that luring it over did not mean luring it to Qinghe City, but to the Thunder Pool in the Northern Wasteland. Although the Restriction of the Thunder Pool had loosened, there was still residual power. If he could lure that thing to the center of the Thunder Pool, use the Restriction of the Thunder Pool to trap it, and then use the Heavenly Thunder to scatter its Divine Soul, the chances of winning would be much higher.

Valley Master Su Yao was silent for a long time. "Master, you are intending to use yourself as bait."

Su Yun said: "Yes."

Valley Master Su Yao did not speak again. She knew her Master's personality; once he had decided on something, no one could persuade him otherwise. She just silently took out a dozen bottles of Medicinal Pill from her Storage Ring and placed them on the table. "Healing Pill, Detoxification Pill, Spirit Recovery Pill. Master, take these to use on the road."

Su Yun put away the Medicinal Pill and stood up. He walked into the courtyard, and the moonlight spilled onto him. Zhao Lanxin stood at the doorway, holding a bowl of soup in her hands. She gestured to ask him if he was leaving. Su Yun said yes, but not now. Zhao Lanxin breathed a sigh of relief, brought the soup over, and watched him finish it.

Su Yun finished the soup and returned the bowl to her. He lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead, then turned and walked into the study. He needed to prepare many things: Medicinal Pill, Magical Artifact, Talisman, and that bead. He had to have everything ready before going to the Northern Wasteland.

The next morning, Su Yun took Valley Master Su Yao, Fairy Jianyun, Zi Wuji, Bai Shuang, and one hundred female cultivators at the Initial Stage of Soul Transformation, left Qinghe City, and flew towards the Northern Wasteland. Zhao Lanxin stood at the city gate, clutching a belt she had not finished embroidering. She did not cry, just stood there, watching quietly. Zhou Ruoyun stood beside her, tugging at her sleeve, tears falling drop by drop. Liu Wugou stood in the crowd, her eyes red, but she said nothing. Elder Han Yue stood at the very back, her expression calm.

Su Yun looked back and smiled at Zhao Lanxin. The little girl blushed and lowered her head. He withdrew his gaze and accelerated.

After flying for seven days, they crossed the Cangwu Mountain Range and passed through the Sunset Plains. On the eighth day, the gray-white land of the Northern Wasteland appeared in their field of view. Su Yun landed in the small town on the border of the Northern Wasteland. The town was still empty, the houses were broken, and the ground was a mess. He did not stop and continued to fly north.

After flying for another three days, they arrived at the Thunder Pool. The pool water was still deep purple, thick like congealed blood. There was not a ripple on the surface of the pool, as calm as a huge mirror. But the twisted shadows at the bottom of the pool were much more numerous than last time, densely packed, countless in number. They moved slowly at the bottom of the pool, as if waiting for something.

Su Yun stood at the edge of the Thunder Pool and took the blood-red bead from his Storage Ring. The bead trembled slightly in his palm; the Divine Soul fragment inside sensed something and emitted a low roar. The surface of the Thunder Pool began to ripple, the purple liquid surged, and sharp screams came from the bottom of the pool.

Su Yun held the bead and waited. He knew that thing would come soon.