Moments later, wisps of clear energy drifted out from the cave entrance, likely signifying that the souls had been refined.
Gazing at the clear energy, Chen Xiao felt an indescribable sensation. There was a touch of sadness for the passing of his kind, but also a sense of novelty.
He did not stop the ghost messengers, for even if the souls were not pushed into the Soul Refining Furnace by them, they would not have survived anyway. It was more like a part of natural law, even if it wasn't exactly "natural."
"Who is that over there?"
"How dare you trespass into the Soul Refining Cave! You're seeking death!"
"Seize him and bring him before King Yama!"
As Chen Xiao was lost in thought, gazing at the clear energy, the group of ghost messengers finally discovered his presence. They drew their sabers and surrounded him.
Chen Xiao sighed helplessly, about to eliminate these ungrateful ghost messengers, when King Yama finally arrived, albeit late.
"Bold of you! Show no disrespect to Master Chen! Retreat immediately!"
Hearing King Yama's reprimand, the ghost messengers quickly retreated.
"The ghost messengers were rude, I hope Master will forgive them..."
Just as King Yama was about to explain, Chen Xiao waved his hand, indicating it was fine, and then asked, "You said the Soul Refining Furnace can refine souls into soul crystals. I just saw souls being pushed into the furnace, so where are the soul crystals produced?"
"Master Chen, please follow me."
King Yama said respectfully.
Then, King Yama led Chen Xiao towards the adjacent stairs. They descended for about ten minutes before reaching the bottom of the underground palace.
The space at the bottom of the underground palace was larger than the area above, with ghost messengers bustling about. Upon seeing King Yama, they immediately bowed respectfully. King Yama waved his hand, signaling them to continue their work.
Finally, Chen Xiao followed King Yama into a secret chamber, which was the crystallization outlet of the Soul Refining Furnace.
Soul crystals were neatly stacked in the secret chamber. Just then, a fresh soul crystal was produced from the crystallization outlet. The entire process resembled an assembly line, with the soul crystal being the product.
King Yama picked up the fresh soul crystal and handed it to Chen Xiao. Chen Xiao took it and observed that the soul crystal was shaped like a brick, with a purplish-black color. This single soul crystal contained extremely pure spiritual energy, of a higher quality than the pills Chen Xiao had consumed in Medicine King Valley.
"How long does it take to produce one soul crystal like this?" Chen Xiao asked.
"It produces about a dozen pieces per day," King Yama replied.
A dozen pieces a day, so over five hundred years, that would be tens of millions of pieces... This was an astronomical figure, and the spiritual energy contained within was unimaginably vast.
Chen Xiao began to ponder what the tin man intended to do with these soul crystals. Was it for his own cultivation, or to supply others? If it was for others to cultivate, what terrifying existences would that create? According to Chu Changqing, the war against the Heavenly Dao five hundred years ago was led by the tin man. And before that, the tin man had come to the underworld to extract soul crystals multiple times. Where were those soul crystals used? Chen Xiao was utterly perplexed and grew more confused the more he thought about it.
"Master Chen, would you like to try it?" King Yama asked tentatively. What he meant by "try it" was naturally the soul crystal.
Chen Xiao remained silent, examining the soul crystal in his hand. Finally, he shook his head and returned the soul crystal to King Yama. If he hadn't known the method of refining these soul crystals, Chen Xiao might have tried it. But the thought that these soul crystals were refined from the souls of deceased humans made Chen Xiao feel uneasy. In his opinion, absorbing these soul crystals was no different from eating the flesh of one's own kind, so he decisively refused.
After asking King Yama a few more questions and not receiving any useful information, Chen Xiao decided to leave. King Yama visibly relaxed upon hearing that Chen Xiao was leaving.
Chen Xiao sneered, "What, do you think you can do as you please once I'm gone?"
King Yama's heart tightened, and he stammered, unable to speak. Chen Xiao snorted, "You'd better abandon the thought of leaving. After I leave, you can continue to live as you did before, and I won't interfere. But when the tin man comes to extract soul crystals again, you must notify me, understand?"
"I understand, Master," King Yama quickly replied. "But how should I contact Master then?"
Chen Xiao took out another piece of jade marrow and handed it to him. "If the tin man comes, crush this jade marrow, and I will know."
"Yes, Master!"
"Alright, I'm leaving then!"
"Farewell, Master!" King Yama said hurriedly, afraid Chen Xiao might change his mind.
"I am at Wu Guide's home!" Chen Xiao took out the Judge's Brush and wrote on the ground with flowing strokes. However, this time, the Judge's Brush remained unresponsive and did not transport him.
King Yama explained, "Master, the Judge's Brush is only effective between two locations within the same space."
"So that's how it is," Chen Xiao nodded, suddenly enlightened. That was why he had first left the underworld from the Ghost Gate and then returned to Wu Guide's home.
It was just past three in the morning, and the sky was not yet light. However, Wu Guide's home was brightly lit. Qi Tianhu and Yin San'er were still there, waiting for Chen Xiao's return. Wu Guide had also woken up from his sleep and recounted the events that transpired when his soul had left his body to the others. While finding it bizarre, everyone also admired Chen Xiao's boldness in confronting Bull Head and Horse Face. If they had seen King Yama being so subservient to Chen Xiao, they would have been astonished.
As the group sat chatting, Chen Xiao returned from outside. Seeing Chen Xiao return safely, Qi Tianhu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Chen Xiao did not explain anything to them. He had returned primarily to give Wu Guide a reward, as he wouldn't have been able to enter the underworld smoothly without him.
"Mr. Chen, I cannot accept this money. It was just a small gesture. Besides, if it weren't for you, my daughter might not have woken up for who knows how long, or perhaps never. I should be thanking you!" Wu Guide firmly refused the bank card Chen Xiao offered.
"Take it, you must take it!" Chen Xiao insisted on pressing the bank card into Wu Guide's hand. "Use the money to start a business. Stop this profession of a 'walking ghost' from now on. If you encounter trouble, go find Old Qi in Jiangcheng!"
"Mr. Chen, I truly don't know how to thank you..." Wu Guide was so moved that he almost cried. Calling Chen Xiao his reborn parents wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Alright, it's almost dawn. You all should get some rest early. Old Qi, you and Old Yin should also head back," Chen Xiao said.
"Yes, Boss Chen. What about you?" Qi Tianhu asked.
Chen Xiao smiled mysteriously and took out the Judge's Brush, drawing on the ground.
"I am in my own home!"
With a flash of light, Chen Xiao disappeared from the spot. The others looked at each other, stunned as if they had seen a ghost. After a while, Wu Guide said blankly, "The brush in Mr. Chen's hand looks somewhat familiar. If I'm not mistaken, that seems to be the Judge's Brush..."
The Judge's Brush... What exactly had Chen Xiao done in the underworld? Everyone couldn't help but let their imaginations run wild...
At this moment, Chen Xiao had returned home without anyone noticing and entered his room. On the soft, large bed, a stunning beauty was curled up in a lazy sleeping posture, her dark hair obscuring her beautiful face. It turned out Li Ziqing had returned. Chen Xiao took off his clothes and tiptoed onto the bed. Although he moved very lightly, Li Ziqing still woke up. She opened her hazy eyes, and upon realizing it was Chen Xiao, closed them again, murmuring indistinctly, "Husband, you're back..."
"Yes, it's still early, you should continue sleeping," Chen Xiao said softly. Li Ziqing didn't reply. She snuggled into Chen Xiao's embrace, found a comfortable position, and hugged him, her hand moving downwards. Feeling a firm and hot sensation, Li Ziqing's sleepiness vanished instantly. "Husband, I missed you." Chen Xiao said nothing and turned over. That night, the bed rocked until dawn.
...
The next day, Li Ziqing did not go to work and stayed home to catch up on sleep. Chen Xiao waited until she was sound asleep before getting out of bed. It was past ten in the morning. His mother was not home, and he didn't know where she had gone. Chen Xiao casually grabbed something from the refrigerator and ate it slowly. With his current cultivation level, he could already go without food; he ate out of habit. After eating, he went to the basement. Chen Xiao first checked the magic formations, ensuring they were all operating normally, and then went to the level below the basement. He intended to find Prince Lu Ling. Following Prince Lu Ling's guidance, he had already found the Phoenix Feather of Jiuyi Abyss and the Thunderous Divine Crown from the bottom of the Forgetfulness River. Now that four sacred relics had been gathered, only the last one remained. Perhaps Prince Lu Ling had news about the final sacred relic.
The path leading to Prince Lu Ling's tomb, also known as the Six Harmony Palace, was still sealed. However, this time it wouldn't stump Chen Xiao. He took out the Judge's Brush and wrote on the ground with flowing strokes.
"I am in the Six Harmony Palace!"
With a flash of light, Chen Xiao arrived at Prince Lu Ling's underground palace. The golden sarcophagus, pulled by eight thick chains, still hung in mid-air. Everything before him was the same as when Chen Xiao had last visited.
"Huh? How did you get in?" a confused voice rang out. Then, the coffin lid flew open, and a figure jumped out. The middle-aged man before him had a refined demeanor and a face like jade. It was Prince Lu Ling, and he still exuded an ethereal aura as before.
"Junior greets Senior Prince Lu Ling, thank you for your guidance!" Chen Xiao cupped his hands towards Prince Lu Ling and thanked him sincerely. Then, he brandished the Judge's Brush in his hand. "Senior, junior entered with this magical artifact." Prince Lu Ling's eyes lit up, and he suddenly understood. "So it was the Judge's Brush. I was wondering how you got in..."