Chapter 587: Immortal Dynasty Crown Prince's Tomb, Underworld Ghost Court

A year had quietly passed with the turning of the seasons.

On this particular day, in Jinchancheng, Wang Yu’s aura swiftly settled, indicating he had completed the process of abandoning and re-cultivating his abilities. His cultivation was now profound and robust, with demonic essence flowing through his meridians like a mighty river. Not only had he achieved his re-cultivation goal, but he had also increased his demonic essence accumulation to a million strands, and his primordial spirit had been further refined and compressed.

With every hundred strands condensing into one, over a third of the conversion process was complete, bringing him not far from the Mid-Soul Transformation stage. This progress was further aided by the “Heavenly Star Controller of Destiny Primordial Cultivation Method.” His primordial spirit experienced a qualitative improvement with each cultivation cycle. Compared to the strength of his primordial spirit when he first broke through the Soul Transformation stage, the improvement was immense. It had transformed from a translucent golden humanoid illusion into an almost tangible entity. To the naked eye, there was no discernible difference between his primordial spirit and his physical body. At this level of intensity, he was not only ready to break through to the Mid-Soul Transformation stage but potentially even the Late-Soul Transformation stage. This secret method for primordial spirit cultivation was still some way from perfection. He pondered what powerful effects it would yield once it had been further refined and enhanced through the “placement slot.”

Overall, he was quite satisfied with the results of his cultivation during this period.

“To compress the demonic essence and prompt its next transformation, sufficient pressure is essential. While using the primordial spirit for assistance is effective, it’s still not fast enough…” These thoughts, coupled with the uncertain external situation, crossed his mind. After resolving the hidden danger left by the Frozen Demon, Wang Yu had no desire for arduous cultivation. What he craved now were resources—specifically, cultivation resources for Soul Transformation cultivators.

“It’s time to depart and search for the Immortal Dynasty Crown Prince’s Tomb.” According to the intelligence he had gathered years ago, the Crown Prince’s Tomb held a supreme treasure left by a lower realm immortal. At the time, Wang Yu had mistakenly believed it to be an immortal artifact, but now it appeared to be a personal magic treasure of a Dao Integration cultivator.

With the constant threat of impending calamity, this supreme treasure was incredibly important. As for avenging those who killed the Immortal Dynasty Crown Prince's lineage, the Blood Source Pearl had shown no reaction to date, and it wasn't even related to Prison King Lingguan himself. He surmised that eighty percent of the enemy's bloodline was likely in the True Spirit Realm. While that promise couldn't be fulfilled immediately, it didn't impede his exploration of the tomb's treasures. A Dao Integration magic artifact was of a high seventh rank, two major realms beyond his current cultivation, and was certainly the most valuable item within the tomb. However, there were likely other funerary objects that could aid his cultivation, which he would only discover by going there himself.

After emerging from seclusion, as planned, Wang Yu first accompanied Jin Miaoshan to meet an envoy from the Myriad Treasure Tower. With the rampant “zero-yuan shopping” trend (looting) in the Ice Prison Realm, there was simply no room for the development of merchant associations. The number of deranged individuals far outnumbered the sane. The two once-powerful merchant associations existed only in name, and Wang Yu's unexpected presence put immense pressure on the Myriad Treasure Tower cultivators, who clearly hadn't anticipated a Soul Transformation cultivator still being present. However, this also spurred them to consider more active strategies.

The Myriad Treasure Tower had two proposed solutions to the current situation. The first was akin to a gecko shedding its tail: abandoning all current possessions, hiding in a secret realm, and attempting to weather the chaotic era. Wang Yu dismissed this as too naive and highly impractical. He rejected it. The second solution involved the two major merchant associations collaborating to form an alliance. They would use their cultivators as a core to establish a legion, forcibly carve out a safe territory, and then recuperate. Neither proposal addressed the issue of external enemies; they merely offered superficial remedies without tackling the root cause. Wang Yu had little interest, always sensing that this group was holding something back.

Wang Yu was quite disappointed. After delegating these matters to Jin Miaoshan, he briefly rallied his fellow cultivators before completely disappearing from Jinchancheng. He disliked the feeling of being confined to one place. Exploring alone was far more interesting to him. He already had a clear idea of the Immortal Dynasty Crown Prince’s Tomb's location. Though he hadn't had time to search for it in recent years, he had meticulously researched its whereabouts. By combining the secrets of Feng Shui arcane arts, celestial star positioning techniques, and information previously revealed by the Crown Princess, he had pinpointed an area within the Taihu Spirit Domain, specifically near the Crane Return Valley ruins. Its proximity to West Extremity Capital suggested that after the events in East Extremity Capital, when the ancient Immortal Dynasty's imperial family was purged by lower-realm cultivators, the Crown Prince had no choice but to flee towards West Extremity Capital, eventually meeting an unexpected end in a nearby area.

The approximate location aligned with his logical deductions, filling Wang Yu with confidence. After a journey of ten days to half a month, he returned to the vicinity of the Crane Return Valley ruins. It was in this very place that he had once been ambushed by Prison King Lingguan. This journey, too, was undertaken with extreme caution. He maintained the “Void Return Heaven Concealment Spell” throughout, ensuring no trace of his presence was revealed, even when witnessing other cultivators battling. His priority was absolute discretion!

The scene now shifted to the western suburbs of Longevity City. Here, the local Longevity Sect and the foreign marauding Heaven-Plundering Alliance had arranged a decisive battle to determine control of the city. Each side commanded three thousand cultivators. In these chaotic times, they were considered 'warlord' level forces, possessing multiple Nascent Soul True Monarchs, making their strength truly formidable. The Longevity Sect had once been a subordinate sect of Crane Return Valley. Its leader, True Monarch Longevity, practiced a cultivation method not suited for direct combat but remarkably effective in prolonging life. Benefiting from his advanced age, he had reached the sixth layer of the Nascent Soul stage. While his higher cultivation realm typically allowed him to overcome most adversaries, this time, the Heaven-Plundering Alliance leader was also at the sixth layer of the Nascent Soul stage. Moreover, he practiced sinister demonic arts and intended to devour True Monarch Longevity, using him as cultivation material to advance to the late Nascent Soul stage.

The control of Longevity City was merely a secondary objective. The Heaven-Plundering Alliance was using the city as a vile means to coerce the Longevity Sect into battle; those with a strong sense of morality were easily manipulated.

At that moment, in the City Lord’s manor, a middle-aged man in the early Nascent Soul stage anxiously addressed an elderly figure with an ethereal, almost immortal demeanor. “Father, let’s flee! I’ve heard that this Heaven-Plundering Alliance leader is a cultivator who escaped from Chiryu. He destroyed Green Pine City, Xuanling City, and Fangjin City, showing no mercy in devouring people and refining their souls. You aren't skilled in combat; how can you possibly be a match for such a ruthless individual? In this world, what could be more important than survival?!”

“—Silence!” True Monarch Longevity's aged eyes widened in displeasure. He waved his sleeve, pushing the middle-aged man back. “When one lives, one holds fast to their beliefs. Longevity City is far more important than you realize; this matter concerns our clan’s mission, and we cannot afford to fail!”

“Father…”

“Leave!”

“Fine, fine, if you won’t leave, I will!” The middle-aged man departed in a rage. True Monarch Longevity did not stop him, believing the outcome of the impending battle was bleak. Provoking his most promising son to leave was, in his view, a way to ensure both their interests were served.

The scene now shifted to the western suburbs of Longevity City. The supposed Heaven-Plundering Alliance leader, rumored to have fled from Chiryu, was actually a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect. His green hair made him appear sinister and grim, and his entire body emanated a dense cadaveric aura. Had Wang Yu been present, he would undoubtedly have recognized him. This was the Heavenly Corpse, one of the Three Corpse Daoist's three clones, also known as the Myriad Poison Yin Blood Corpse. Its true strength had long reached the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage. Yet, it shamelessly masqueraded as the Heaven-Plundering Alliance leader, publicly displaying only sixth-layer Nascent Soul strength.

Since the advent of the chaotic era, major power factions had disintegrated, and powerful cultivators had fled, naturally plundering their sects' resources before departing. The Three Corpse Daoist had initially not wished to leave Chiryu. However, the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect's territory had been transformed into a sea of blood by the Three Blood Nether Demons and was also adjacent to the Blood Abyss, making it excessively dangerous. Therefore, he had decided to come to Taihu in search of a breakthrough opportunity. Given the peculiar nature of demonic secret methods, there were indeed multiple paths to forcefully break through to the Soul Transformation stage. However, one had to fully endure the corresponding side effects. Gaining something always came at a cost; such was the price of taking a shortcut.

Upon arriving, he sensed the vast quantity of Yin Corpse Qi hidden beneath Longevity City. His interest was immediately piqued, as it was perfectly suited to his demonic arts cultivation, serving as ideal material. Thus, the Heaven-Plundering Alliance was established. After casually eliminating several nearby factions to divert attention, the Three Corpse Daoist finally reached his true objective—Longevity City!

The two factions now faced each other. Behind True Monarch Longevity stood four or five Core Formation cultivators. He fixed his gaze on the Heavenly Corpse and declared sternly, “This old man will absolutely not surrender Longevity City.”

“Amusing,” the Heavenly Corpse smirked slightly. Although the Heaven-Plundering Alliance was a hastily formed group sustained by raids, it was not short of capable individuals. Here, he had found a promising talent. This individual was a born demonic cultivation seed, but had unfortunately practiced orthodox methods. After the Heavenly Corpse's guidance, he had switched to demonic cultivation and recently broken through to the Mid-Nascent Soul stage. Therefore, the Heavenly Corpse simply commanded, “Du Long, you’re up.”

“Yes, Master!”

Du Long, who had switched to cultivating the “Dragon Elephant War Demon True Art,” had once been the leader of a minor sect in the Taihu Spirit Domain. He was originally obscure, virtually unknown even among early Nascent Soul cultivators, his cultivation having been stagnant at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage for a century. Now, he had never felt the world so vibrant.

“It’s you!” True Monarch Longevity’s eyes narrowed. He hadn't anticipated that the opposing side would possess a second Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator just before the battle.

Du Long grinned. “Old senior, I believe you’re being rather impolite.”

“Hah, a petty scoundrel aspiring to be a monarch? Are you even worthy?!”

“Obstinate fool.” Du Long’s expression immediately turned grim. Behind him, the phantom of an ancient dragon elephant roared skyward, unleashing terrifying, immense power that stirred the very heavens and earth. It was as if an endless storm had descended. Brute force, when pushed to its extreme, can indeed achieve divine feats. However, Du Long’s demonic energy was impure, tainted with a substantial amount of Yin Corpse Qi, making him resemble a corpse more than a living person. Considering the Three Corpse Daoist, one could surmise that Du Long was not truly a disciple but was destined to become a zombie under his control. Such was the nature of demonic cultivation; using every extreme means was almost a compliment. One could easily fall into their schemes without realizing it.

Du Long, seemingly oblivious, was excitedly hammering True Monarch Longevity. To be able to suppress a sixth-layer Nascent Soul cultivator with only fourth-layer Nascent Soul strength—this, he believed, was his true innate talent! For a moment, he felt even more grateful to the Three Corpse Daoist for having unearthed such potential within him.

“Old Longevity, my master’s name echoes across the cosmos! I can effortlessly suppress you. Why don’t you surrender now?!” With a furious roar, the ancient dragon elephant’s phantom almost solidified. Its front hooves lifted high before slamming down, and to his surprise, True Monarch Longevity was indeed sent flying by this immense force. With a resounding crash, he landed in the shattered ground, his condition unknown.

“Old Ancestor!” “True Monarch!” The Longevity City forces gasped in alarm. Du Long, extremely smug, immediately retreated to his own ranks and declared to the Heavenly Corpse, “I’m glad I didn’t disappoint you.” However, he failed to notice that the Heavenly Corpse’s expression had stiffened, indicating an unexpected development.

Meanwhile, deep beneath Longevity City, Wang Yu stood with his Feng Shui compass, a frown on his face as he observed a figure who had infiltrated the underground ahead of him. “Three Corpse? What brings you here?”

The shadowy figure trembled. Turning, it saw Wang Yu and its face stiffened even further, becoming no less rigid than a corpse.

“Venerable one…”

“No need for pleasantries. Just answer my question.”

The Rebel Spirit Blood Sect had long since disbanded, dissolving any sense of fellowship between them. However, no mortal enmity had been formed in the past either. Though initially flustered, the Three Corpse Daoist quickly regained composure. Wang Yu had risen to prominence quickly and held an excellent reputation; he wasn’t known for wantonly slaughtering others. For this reason, the Three Corpse Daoist chose to be forthright, explaining how he had discovered the location and his purpose for being there.

“I see.” He was, after all, the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty, a figure of profound status with the backing of an ancient realm that had once united the world. While it was said he was buried in an unassuming location, his tomb was certainly not a mere village-level mound. Though it might not meet the specifications of a human emperor’s tomb, it assuredly matched that of a king or prince. All funerary items were likely present, suggesting that the Yin Dynasty formation, arranged by a Feng Shui master, had probably taken effect, creating an underground ghost dynasty—a popular concept in ancient times. It embodied the belief: ‘A king in life, an emperor in death.’

The burial of soldiers and horses as sacrifices was customary. Although the Crown Prince’s actions might have seemed presumptuous, given that the second Human Emperor had been slain and the Crown Prince himself had unexpectedly died while fulfilling a crucial mission, it was plausible that his tomb, which could not be extensively modified, was nevertheless built to the specifications of an emperor. The Yin Corpse Qi here was extraordinarily dense, making the existence of an underworld ghost dynasty highly probable. This realization sparked an idea in Wang Yu.

He also possessed a Corpse Demon secret method acquired years ago. After the 'placement slot' completed the fragmented technique, it had reached Tier 4. At his current cultivation level, deducing and upgrading it would take only a few years. If he could absorb and refine the Yin Corpse Qi present here, he would undoubtedly be able to cultivate a Tier 5 Corpse Demon secret method. Beyond other considerations, his physical strength would certainly undergo a qualitative transformation. His current “Yin Nether Demonic Dragon Cultivation Method” was still stuck, having yet to be deduced to Tier 5. It relied entirely on the Buddhist “Indestructible Vajra Divine Art” to accumulate golden blood and divine marrow, making its progress extremely slow and rendering it rarely his primary combat method anymore. The opportunities here could provide a significant boost. This could even accelerate the development of the Yin Nether Demonic Dragon Cultivation Method. He was currently deducing and completing it himself, which was why progress was exceptionally slow. He intended to seize this opportunity to create a body-tempering cultivation method of his own. Afterward, he could exploit the 'placement slot' bug to deduce and upgrade it to Tier 6, saving considerable effort. His current arduous efforts were for the ease and gratification of the future.

Reflecting on the progression of the Yin Nether Demonic Dragon Cultivation Method, Wang Yu realized he had often drawn inspiration from the Corpse Demon secret method. Its current stagnation might indeed be due to his earlier abandonment of the latter. It wasn't too late to pick it up now.

With this thought, Wang Yu narrowed his eyes and spoke. “I’ve been seeking this place for a long time, Three Corpse. Would you be willing to…”

Before he could finish, the Three Corpse Daoist bowed deeply. “Since the Venerable One has taken a liking to this place, I, Three Corpse, am naturally willing to oblige. I will depart immediately.”

Wang Yu replied, “Very… well.”