Translator: Cinder Translations
Zhu Yin smiled faintly, seemingly already prepared for the question Song Wen had raised.
"So, that's what you're worried about."
She waved her hand, and a small boat, roughly a zhang in size, appeared before her.
"This boat... you're probably not unfamiliar with it, are you?"
The small boat that Zhu Yin summoned was none other than a Star Chariot Divine Ship. Although it had not been activated yet, preventing its true nature from being revealed, Song Wen immediately recognized it as the very same Star Chariot Divine Ship he had thrown into the trench.
"How is this boat in your possession?" Song Wen asked coldly.
"For that, I have you to thank," Zhu Yin replied with a slight smile. "If I'm not mistaken, after killing Yun Cang, you realized you couldn't refine the Star Chariot Divine Ship in a short time, so you threw it into the trench. Had you not erased the vessel's tracking array, making it impossible for the Wu Ji Sect to retrieve it, I wouldn't have been able to claim it for myself."
"With this Star Chariot Divine Ship, I can condense my Nascent Soul while staying aboard, without being confined to one place for an extended period. This way, as long as Yin Shuo doesn't see me with his own eyes, he won't suspect that I am in seclusion cultivating," Zhu Yin explained.
The Star Chariot Divine Ship she originally possessed had already been returned to the Wu Ji Sect.
Song Wen looked at the Star Chariot Divine Ship before her with a mix of envy and frustration. He had been fixated on the vessel, yet it had ended up in Zhu Yin's hands. All his earlier efforts had ultimately benefited her.
Perhaps noticing Song Wen's interest in the Star Chariot Divine Ship, Zhu Yin offered, "If you Star Chariot Divine Ship, I can give it to you after I successfully form my Nascent Soul."
Song Wen frowned. "Would you really part with it?"
"By then, we will be cultivation partners. A mere Star Chariot Divine Ship will mean little," she replied.
"Alright, I agree. My Nascent Spirit Pill is yours," Song Wen declared.
Hearing this, Zhu Yin's lips curved upward, and a radiant smile spread across her face. It was captivating, full of joy and relief.
"Ji Yin, you won't regret today's choice."
"I hope so," Song Wen responded.
Zhu Yin then swore a soul oath, vowing that once she successfully formed her Nascent Soul, she would quickly find Song Wen to engage in dual cultivation and assist him in forming his Nascent Soul.
As per their agreement, Song Wen handed over the Nascent Spirit Pill to her. After obtaining it, Zhu Yin took her leave.
She didn't reveal too many details about her plans for forming a Nascent Soul, but Song Wen knew she would attempt it as soon as possible. Time was of the essence for her.
The reason Song Wen agreed was that he still had another Nascent Spirit Pill in his possession. He had crafted three in total. Even if Zhu Yin failed, it would only reduce his own success rate by one-tenth. If she succeeded, however, his chances of forming a Nascent Soul would rise to 80%, equal to hers.
For Song Wen, risking a 10% reduction in exchange for a 40% increase was undoubtedly worth it.
Whether Zhu Yin succeeded or not, there would be no immediate outcome. Song Wen, naturally, wouldn't wait idly. He planned to spend the next decade or so cultivating the third layer of the Undying True Corpse Transformation and the Focused Spirit Stab while further consolidating his cultivation base.
It had only been thirty years since he reached the Core Formation stage. Most of his cultivation, from the early Core Formation stage to its peak, had been gained through absorbing the cultivation of others.
Song Wen was concerned that his rapid progress might hinder the formation of his Nascent Soul. Therefore, he decided to use this opportunity to stabilize his foundation.
The cultivation process for the Undying True Corpse Transformation was excruciatingly painful, as it required transforming one's body into a zombie-like state. This would make a cultivator's physical body capable of withstanding the magical treasures of opponents at the same level.
At Song Wen's current peak Core Formation cultivation level, once he employs this technique, ordinary mid-grade magical treasures would find it hard to injure his body.
If Song Wen advances to the Nascent Soul stage, even ordinary high-grade magical treasures would struggle to harm him.
Perhaps due to his practice of The Ten Thousand Poison Body and long-term consumption of corpse curse water, Song Wen's physical body was already far stronger than that of most cultivators at his level.
With a robust foundation and years of body refinement, his tolerance for pain far exceeded that of ordinary people. Thus, cultivating The Undying True Corpse Transformation was relatively manageable for him.
Additionally, cultivating The Undying True Corpse Transformation required significant resources.
Apart from fourth-tier spiritual materials like the Falling World Lotus, it also demanded many other spiritual materials as well as the essence blood of demonic beasts or humans.
These materials were often rich in spiritual energy and vitality.
Nine years passed in the blink of an eye.
On Ji Yin Island, the sea breeze swept gently, carrying the salty, moist scent of seawater.
In a pavilion atop the island, Song Wen leisurely sipped spiritual tea.
The sea breeze passed through the pavilion, ruffling his hair and bringing a refreshing coolness.
In a nearby spiritual field, An Tong was clearing weeds.
Signs of age had begun to show on her; she was now forty-eight years old.
Three years earlier, An Yin had gone to great lengths to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill for her elder sister, but An Tong had failed again in her attempt to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.
Having failed twice, her path to Foundation Establishment was effectively severed.
Her only wish now was to tend to the spiritual field diligently, earning more spirit stones for her younger sister, An Yin, to help her progress further and more smoothly on her cultivation journey.
After finishing her work in the spiritual field, An Tong made her way to the pavilion.
"Greetings, Senior Ji Yin."
"No need for formalities, take a seat," Song Wen said indifferently.
Having spent nearly thirty years with the two sisters, and seeing that they had never acted against him, Song Wen gradually lowered his guard around them.
Over the past nine years, Song Wen had lived a relatively leisurely life. During his free time, he would chat with the sisters and occasionally offer them cultivation guidance, and their relationship grew closer over time.
An Tong didn't stand on ceremony and sat down as instructed.
"Senior, a few days ago, I caught a Blue-Scaled Serpent. I was planning to cook it tonight. Would you like to try it?" An Tong asked.
The Blue-Scaled Serpent was a Tier-2 sea snake known for its tender flesh and rich, savory flavor.
"The Blue-Scaled Serpent is a rare delicacy; I must certainly try it," Song Wen said with interest.
Hearing this, An Tong smiled brightly and eagerly replied, "I will do my utmost to prepare a delicious Blue-Scaled Serpent stew for you, Senior."
"Very well!" Song Wen nodded slightly.
At this moment, An Yin's figure appeared on the distant horizon, flying toward them on her sword.
"Greetings, Senior Ji Yin," An Yin greeted respectfully after landing.
Then she turned to An Tong and said, "Sister, I'm back."
An Tong asked with concern, "How was your trip to Wu Ji Island? Was everything smooth?"
An Yin replied with a smile, "Everything went well."
An Tong nodded, "That's good. Stay here with Senior while I go prepare the Blue-Scaled Serpent. Tonight, Senior will be dining with us."
"Alright," An Yin replied sweetly.
"Senior, I'll take my leave now," An Tong said to Song Wen.
Song Wen gave a slight nod.
TL/N: Am I dreaming? The author threw in a filler episode.
Read (RDC) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c810. [+2]
Translated (5) Series, (2.6K+) Chapters, (3.5M+) Words.