Bai Jinkun suddenly chuckled, "Junior Brother, among those young disciples from the Golden Phoenix Sect, there are two fine female cultivators. Would you like Senior Brother to share one with you to serve as a cauldron?"
A knowing smile appeared on Chu Xuan's face, "Sure, please have her sent to my Black Evil Peak."
Lin Fan, aside from his epicurean tastes, never turned away a high-quality female cauldron. He could tell Bai Jinkun was testing him. If he refused Bai Jinkun's offer now, it would likely arouse more suspicion in the other's mind.
"Junior Brother, just wait, I'll send someone right away, hahaha!" Bai Jinkun laughed heartily and turned to leave.
A few hundred zhang later, his expression gradually darkened. "With Lin Fan's strength, killing Xiao Tianjiao should have been difficult, yet he managed it, surely hiding some trump cards."
"Lin Fan's talent is only above average; he must have had some fortunate encounter to be able to kill Xiao Tianjiao..." Bai Jinkun considered another possibility, "It's also possible he's possessed by a powerful being, though that's highly unlikely. Which great power would care about a minor sect like Myriad Souls?"
"However, I can use this opportunity... Master will surely be surprised to learn how this little junior brother managed to kill Xiao Tianjiao." Bai Jinkun sneered and flew directly towards the main peak of Yin Soul Mountain Range.
Meanwhile, Chu Xuan returned to Black Evil Peak with Wang Hu and other Foundation Establishment cultivators. A cultivator from Scorpio Peak was already waiting there with Zhao Rong.
"Elder Lin, this is the cauldron my master instructed me to deliver to you," he said respectfully.
Chu Xuan nodded and instructed Zhu Jie, "Clean her up and place her in my cultivation chamber."
Zhu Jie snickered, "Yes, I'll make sure she's fresh and fragrant!"
Zhao Rong's face was pale. She knew what was to come. Yet... becoming a cauldron was somewhat acceptable to her. Having been captured by demonic cultivators, she felt fortunate just to be alive.
Moments later, inside the cultivation chamber, Zhao Rong, draped only in a light gauze, anxiously awaited the arrival of the peak's master.
The stone door burst open. Chu Xuan, having had his fill, strode into the cultivation chamber.
"Master... I am willing to serve you... just treat me well," Zhao Rong said tremblingly, her fair skin blushing with shame from her humiliating plea.
Chu Xuan glanced at her oddly. Without letting her speak further, he said indifferently, "Rest assured, I always make the most of people."
Zhao Rong was stunned by Chu Xuan's statement, sensing something odd about it. Before she could ponder further, her soul was swiftly extracted by Chu Xuan and tossed into the Sky-Shielding Umbrella, her physical body thrown into the Corpse Tower without any hesitation. The entire process was executed flawlessly and without delay.
"Ha, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dares covet my body," Chu Xuan said coolly. To him, even using such a person as a cauldron was a waste of time.
"But Bai Jinkun's suspicions about me are growing," he mused. "Tonight, I should visit the Myriad Souls Elder, and take complete control over him. Through him, controlling Bai Jinkun will follow."
Chu Xuan calmed his mind and retrieved Xiao Tianjiao's soul from the Sky-Shielding Umbrella to perform a soul search.
"So, he was a prodigy of Golden Phoenix Sect," Chu Xuan discovered. "Quite cunning, too, using the excuse of 'destroying the jade' to privately hoard the Spirit Mechanism Jade, leaving his juniors to attract hatred while he escaped."
"He thought I had treasures, which prompted his attempt to counter-kill? Young man, you hid a minor realm, but I've concealed a major realm," Chu Xuan chuckled to himself. Xiao Tianjiao was merely at the beginning stages of survival on the path; Chu Xuan was a master of it.
"However, this prodigy was from Golden Phoenix Sect. His death in the Yin Soul Mountain Range will surely enrage them. I expect Golden Phoenix Sect will soon ignite another war between the righteous and demonic paths."
With this in mind, Chu Xuan stood up. "It's indeed time to take control of Myriad Souls Sect, to secure my peace."
Meanwhile, at the main peak of the Yin Soul Mountain Range.
"Bai Jinkun, kneeling before the grand hall, respectfully called out, "Master, disciple Bai Jinkun requests an audience!"
"Kun'er, speak from outside," the hoarse voice of the Myriad Souls Elder came from within the hall.
"Master, this matter is of great importance. I wish to see you in person," Bai Jinkun stated firmly.
After some rustling noises, the Elder finally responded calmly, "Then come inside."
The wooden doors of the grand hall creaked open, revealing a darkness that resembled the gaping maw of a giant beast. Bai Jinkun seldom entered this grand hall, but he was always impressed by its immense strength and solidity.
Decades ago, the Myriad Souls Elder had taken in an exceptionally talented disciple, even considering him as a potential successor. However, this disciple refused to be controlled by the Elder.
Secretly, he cultivated up to the False Soul realm and acquired several powerful magic treasures, planning to ambush the Elder during a meeting. This disciple also secretly contacted Bai Jinkun, hoping to join forces with him.
Bai Jinkun, wary of the Myriad Souls Elder's capabilities and after much deliberation, had chosen not to ally with that daring disciple. That disciple had acted alone, and by the next morning, his soul had become one of the ghosts refined by the Myriad Souls Elder.
Following this incident, the Elder's control over his disciples tightened further, causing many of them to secretly resent the recklessness of the one who had provoked such a fate. "Why couldn't he just accept his role as the chosen successor quietly?" they thought. "His foolish actions only tightened the noose around all our necks!"
Bai Jinkun was acutely aware that the grand hall was inscribed with a powerful array, designed to be impervious not only to external threats but also to internal betrayals. No sound from inside could escape unless, like the Myriad Souls Elder, one condensed sound into a focused beam to be projected outward.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Jinkun stepped confidently into the dark chamber. The door closed behind him with a loud clang, leaving him facing the faint green glow of the Elder's eyes in the darkness.
"Speak, what is it?" the Myriad Souls Elder asked calmly.
Bai Jinkun recounted all the day's events, concluding with, "Junior Brother Lin managed to kill Xiao Tianjiao of the Golden Phoenix Sect, which I find astonishing. I suspect he has concealed his talent and secretly obtained powerful magic treasures. He must have also seized numerous treasures upon killing Xiao Tianjiao, yet he has mentioned none of this to you, Master. I worry... that Junior Brother Lin might repeat the mistake of the fourth junior brother."
The "fourth junior brother" referred to the once talented disciple who had betrayed the Elder. At the mention of this, the Elder's gaze sharpened. Since the betrayal, he had increasingly regarded his disciples not as individuals but as tools.
Lin Fan's actions—hiding his talent, concealing his level, keeping treasures secret, and killing Xiao Tianjiao without surrendering any of the spoils—were pushing the boundaries of what the Myriad Souls Elder was willing to tolerate.
The Elder took a deep breath and commanded, "Go, bring Lin Fan to me!"