Chapter Twenty-Four: The Soul-Capturing Pearl

Page 1 of 3

“The task your master assigned you is truly difficult.”

After experiencing that brief but intense struggle, Li Mu was deeply aware that the power of the evil one was formidable. Even cultivators in the later stage of Qi Condensation would find it hard to deal with—and Li Mie was but twelve years old, his cultivation merely at the middle stage of Qi Condensation. The task was, indeed, daunting.

The deep crimson in Li Mie’s eyes faded considerably. “Master said, if I cannot complete this task, I am not qualified to be his disciple.”

“Lord Yu is truly severe,” Li Mu shook his head. “Have you finished everything there?”

“Yes.”

Li Mu focused his gaze; the villagers’ cries of agony still echoed, but no bandits could be seen in the village anymore. Nearly all had been cut in two, killed in a single blow. Yet Li Mie’s expression remained cold, his killing intent quietly dissipating, as though the bloodshed moments before had left no trace on him.

Li Mu summoned fire, burning the corpse of the evil one before him to dust. Amid the ashes, a pale red jade fragment appeared.

Li Mie’s face changed slightly, but Li Mu reached out, picked up the jade, and infused it with spiritual sense. A scroll of the “Blood God Sutra” unfolded before his eyes.

“Feed on the flesh and blood of men, extract the essence from the dross, cultivate my Blood God Sutra, and master the first divine technique…” After reading only a few lines, Li Mu stopped. Unleashing his strength, he crushed the jade into powder.

“Such a technique must not be preserved.”

Li Mu spoke coolly, glancing at Li Mie.

Li Mie nodded, his voice stern. “All evil ones and their techniques must not be preserved!”

“Let’s go.”

Their work here done, Li Mu fetched a fine horse. The two mounted and set off for Deyang City.

Before reaching the city gates, both sensed something amiss.

The usually calm entrance was now crowded and tense. Many more patrolling cultivators were present, not only at the gates but even floating above the city walls.

Li Mu looked up. It was Chief Jade and Madam Wang, their sharp eyes scanning the cultivators below.

They dismounted and approached the gate, where Li Mie stepped forward to inquire.

A guard, recognizing them as fellow disciples of the Jade Iron Sect, whispered, “You may not know, but an evil one from the Kaiyuan Sect has come here, and his cultivation is very high. All cultivators entering the city are being strictly inspected.”

Page 2 of 3

“Kaiyuan Sect?” Li Mie paused in surprise. “It’s him?”

“Yes, everyone is terrified—no one dares venture outside the city,” the guard nodded. “I can’t talk long, I’m still on duty.”

Li Mu stepped up. “What is the Kaiyuan Sect?”

Li Mie’s expression grew heavy. “Master told me when I entered the sect: the Kaiyuan Sect is the greatest of the evil cults, enemies of all orthodox cultivators. Their power spans many realms, and their numbers far exceed those of any single sect. Any cultivator aspiring to villainy, once they reach the Foundation Establishment stage, the Kaiyuan Sect will not refuse; they accept all, and even bestow the most vicious techniques upon them.”

Li Mu was silent for a moment, thinking, “So even in the cultivation world, there are such forces—it’s just like the underworld of my original world, a gathering place for villains.”

“No one goes to destroy them?” he asked.

Li Mie shook his head. “Master said it’s extremely difficult and not worth it. Kaiyuan Sect cultivators are everywhere, but no one knows where their lair is. As long as their stronghold remains, the sect endures, impossible to eradicate. As long as there are those who wish to become villains, the sect will persist—so Master said.”

Li Mu nodded slightly in understanding. In any world, there will never be a shortage of evildoers.

“But the orthodox sects aren’t worried. Though the Kaiyuan Sect is huge, they are like roaming loose cultivators. Apart from the core members, they rarely communicate. Most act alone, so it’s rare for them to unite to destroy a sect. But lone wanderers who encounter them are gravely unfortunate,” Li Mie explained further, recalling his master’s teachings.

Li Mu understood. It was, in essence, an underworld organization—the largest criminal force in the cultivation world.

Overhead, Madam Wang and Chief Jade were conversing.

“Even in this newly opened Yunshan Realm, the Kaiyuan Sect has sent people. They are truly everywhere,” Madam Wang murmured, fiddling with her hair.

Chief Jade’s expression was dark. “Wherever they go, nothing good comes. We must investigate thoroughly. Not a single Kaiyuan Sect cultivator may be allowed to enter the city.”

“Isn’t that your disciple, Li Mie?” Madam Wang pointed down.

Chief Jade looked, then nodded. “Indeed, he’s returned from his mission—good, he hasn’t disgraced me. Wait, something’s wrong!”

His face changed dramatically, and in a flash, he flew down on his sword.

Li Mu and Li Mie were startled by Chief Jade’s sudden appearance, a trace of confusion flickering in their eyes.

In an instant, a barrier array was cast.

“Hand it over!”

Page 3 of 3

Chief Jade’s gaze was sharp and piercing, as if a fishbone were lodged in his eye.

“Master, what do you want me to hand over?” Li Mie asked hurriedly.

“Not you!” Chief Jade’s eyes fixed on Li Mu.

Li Mu’s expression remained calm, but his heart roiled like boiling water. What was Chief Jade demanding? Could it be the Mythic Spirit Tower? Impossible—even a Core Formation cultivator could not enter another’s sea of consciousness, much less sense the existence of the Spirit Tower.

Had he made some mistake? Li Mu watched the stern Chief Jade, his mind racing.

“Must I act myself? If I do, it won’t be as simple as just handing something over. Your storage pouch!” Chief Jade’s tone grew more severe as Li Mu hesitated.

Storage pouch?

A faint sense of calm returned to Li Mu.

He used the most ordinary of pouches, easily seen through by even a Pulse Training cultivator. Besides, there was nothing special inside—anything truly important could be hidden within the Spirit Tower.

He removed the pouch and handed it over lightly. “May I ask, Chief Jade, what item of mine has caught your eye?”

Chief Jade flicked his hand, extracting a jet-black bead from the pouch. He pinched it, glanced at it, and sternly demanded, “This Soul Capturing Pearl—where did you get it?”

“Soul Capturing Pearl?”

Li Mu was slightly startled. “Chief Jade, you call this a Soul Capturing Pearl? I had no idea what it was. I took it from an evil cultivator—what’s the matter?”

He did not name Wang Damu, instead attributing the bead to an evil one, wishing to avoid implicating himself. He trusted Li Mie would back his claim.

Indeed, Li Mie quickly added, “Master, that’s from the evil one you sent me to eliminate.”

Chief Jade’s expression eased a little. “Strange. How could an evil one use a Soul Capturing Pearl? At most, those who rely on blood techniques—but since when could they manipulate souls?”

At that moment, Madam Wang alighted. Seeing the bead, her face grew solemn. “A Soul Capturing Pearl? Could it be a Kaiyuan Sect cultivator?”

Chief Jade tossed the pouch back to Li Mu. “Go on, both of you. And do not speak of this to anyone else.”