Chapter 893: Chapter 61: The Legend of the Soul Refining Demon Cave
After leaving the space of the Dark God Tower, Zhou Yan arrived in a vast hall inside the tower.
In the hall, the Tai Chu Rune Ancient Array displayed various listed information.
This information was all composed of Tai Chu Runes.
Without understanding the Tai Chu Runes, these messages would be impossible to decipher.
Zhou Yan did not focus on this waterfall-like stream of information, instead walking straight to a large virtual platform.
On the platform, many Guardian Ancient Arrays connected to form massive pavilions. Around the pavilions, numerous cultivators came and went, accepting or submitting corresponding purgatory tasks.
This transformation of Tai Chu Runes into a technological-like information platform left Zhou Yan feeling somewhat shocked.
The Mechanical Clan copied the advantages of the Wanling Race, manufacturing many Mechanical Wanling Clan members, while the core hub of the Dark God Domain similarly simulated the Mechanical Clan’s intelligent information system using Tai Chu Runes.
A life-and-death battle was occurring between the two, yet amidst the fight, there was a mutual penetration of civilizations.
They continuously adopted each other’s strengths to rectify their own weaknesses.
Coming from Earth, Zhou Yan understood these matters quite clearly.
Zhou Yan stood on the virtual platform for a moment, as a white light emerged from the pavilion in front of him, shining on Zhou Yan as if verifying his identity.
Moments later, a very mechanical Tai Chu Rune voice sounded from the white light: "Identity—Zhou Yan, Void Level Nine-star Purgatory Refiner, please enter the Dark God Domain Purgatory Center."
"Whoosh whoosh—"
Following the mechanical voice, the white light wrapped around, bringing a sound akin to sky-breaking.
Zhou Yan suddenly felt darkness before his eyes, then brightness, and he found himself in an exceedingly cozy room.
A reception suite like those used to welcome distinguished guests in ancient times.
"Honorable Void Level Nine-star Purgatory Refiner, you have activated the badge promotion mission. Since your contribution is zero, the difficulty will be at the highest nine-star level. Do you confirm to accept the promotion purgatory refiner task?"
"Accept."
As Zhou Yan’s gaze swept around, he could not tell if the speaker was male or female, or truly an intelligent mechanized entity.
However, Zhou Yan could discern that this seemed more like the Mechanical Clan’s method of managing and issuing tasks.
Still, the fact that the Dark God Domain could incorporate all this so systematically was indeed quite commendable.
As Zhou Yan pondered, the white light covered him again, seemingly scanning something, but due to certain energies and his powerful Soul Realm, even the white light failed to detect specific information.
"Constitution evaluation result—unknown. Talent evaluation result—negative one thousand, Soul Energy detection result—superior. Bloodline withered, unable to determine. Comprehensive result—inferior. Task difficulty increased."
"Within three months, please slay three leftover Tai Chu Yin Spirits from the Outer Heaven Demon Domain. Upon slaying, the badge will automatically devour the Yin Spirit Tai Chu Yin Qi and complete the badge’s automatic upgrade."
This mechanical voice meticulously explained the ascension method of the Purgatory Badge.
For other cultivators, this was undoubtedly extremely difficult.
But for Zhou Yan, it was not a significant challenge.
Within his Soul Sea, there was stored Yin Spirit energy. Zhou Yan speculated that if the badge lacked monitoring capability, it would suffice for him to pass.
However, with plenty of time in hand, Zhou Yan was in no rush to undertake this task.
"Then, in the Soul Refining Demon Cave, are there Yin Spirits?"
Zhou Yan inquired.
He hadn’t expected the mechanical voice to respond, but unexpectedly, it did answer.
"There are, and many. But with your strength entering, the survival rate is assessed as zero. It is not recommended for you to go. Honorable Purgatory Refiner, life is not trivial, please consider carefully."
The mechanical voice was very courteous.
Yet its words left Zhou Yan quite speechless.
A talent evaluation of minus one thousand was tolerable, but entering the Soul Refining Demon Cave with a survival rate of zero, wasn’t that essentially a death sentence?
Zhou Yan felt quite strange about it, yet he wouldn’t argue with a ’low-level intelligence’ crafted from Tai Chu Runes.
"Alright, I understand. Hmm, I want to contribute a batch of Soul Stones and a batch of Artifact Refining and Alchemy resources to exchange for some contribution points. Then, I’ll use the points to purchase some fundamental books recording historical information about the Dark God Domain."
Zhou Yan said helplessly.
From eradicating the Mo Bei of the Mo family and Lan Ji, Zhou Yan had obtained quite some Soul Stones, items he seldom used himself, so he decided to contribute them all for a few contribution points.
With these contribution points, Zhou Yan could freely purchase basic information books to gain further understanding of the Dark God Domain.
In the Dark God Tower of the Dark God Domain, information materials did not greatly consume contribution points, allowing access to extensive materials for very few points.
This, however, was precisely in line with Zhou Yan’s intentions.
After finishing these tasks and consulting relevant knowledge to learn the location of the Soul Refining Demon Cave, Zhou Yan then took on the task of realm advancement and exited the Dark God Tower.
...
"Tai Chu Yin Spirit—if Lan Ji’s information is accurate, it should originate from the Soul Refining Demon Cave. Is the Soul Refining Demon Cave not the destined place of the Purgatory Refiner?"
Stepping out of the Dark God Tower, Zhou Yan walked on the streets within the boundless city of Tianxing City, pondering in his heart.
This time, the secrets Zhou Yan knew were simply too many.
Yet, the more he knew, the more confused he became.
It was as if a voice inside his heart told him to steadfastly strengthen his Dao heart by any means necessary, ignoring everything else.
Walking through Tianxing City, Zhou Yan was in no rush to leave, nor to head to the Sky Sword Sect.
After comparing the knowledge at his disposal, Zhou Yan gradually adjusted his condition by a few degrees.
In the eyes of others, the injury that nearly destroyed his soul path foundation was, in Zhou Yan’s opinion, not so severe. However, even in this Dark God Domain, cultivators who understand powerful restoration techniques akin to the Nirvana Rebirth Technique and the Undying Rebirth Technique are rare as phoenix feathers.
After viewing some foundational knowledge systems, Zhou Yan became increasingly aware that the Xingyi Dao Scripture he had comprehended by combining the Nirvana Scripture and the Taiyin Talisman Scripture was no ordinary thing. Among them, the Xingyi Rebirth Technique possessed earth-shattering creative powers.
Staying in Tianxing City for about three days, Zhou Yan temporarily stabilized his injuries and attempted to decipher the complex Tai Chu Runes of the Hidden God Fragment but to no avail.
However, Zhou Yan always felt that the Hidden God Fragment, which survived within the Dragon Breath of the Gray Dragon, was no ordinary object.
Three days later, Zhou Yan’s understanding of the various affairs in Tianxing City, the Dark God Domain, and the Dark God Tower had finally reached a very familiar level, and he had thoroughly mastered the foundational knowledge systems. Only then did he ride the Xuanyuan Sword alone, flying through the air, out of Tianxing City.
Traveling alone, Zhou Yan utilized part of his space power, flying with full speed and effort, which took him nearly a day to leave the basic range of Tianxing City.
And even after flying for a whole day, Zhou Yan could still see the massive silhouette of Tianxing City in the distance.
Zhou Yan flew once again, and this time, after flying just tens of thousands of meters, he was immediately blocked by six black-armored cultivators.
"Hmph, you’ve finally come out. We’ve been waiting for you for five days, and you sure know how to keep your cool!"
The leader was an elderly man with crane-like hair, short stature, yet with a pair of antennae on his head resembling dragon horns.
This was a Divine Spirit Fourth Transition cultivator, also a Divine Level Three-star Purgatory Refiner.
"You’re waiting for me? It should be for those two extraordinarily talented young women, or perhaps for me, this waste with ancient Dragon Soul Soul Energy?"
"You’re not stupid. We’re indeed here for those two women, but also for you and that Bear Demon. Our master wants to have a chat with you."
As the Dragon Horn Elder spoke, the other five Divine Spirit Third Transition cultivators all surrounded Zhou Yan as well, their mouths adorned with obvious sardonic smiles, each one filled with murderous intent and cold expressions.
Such mocking glances were akin to viewing a dead man when they looked at Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan smiled, calmly said, "If your master wants to talk to me, you shouldn’t have come, as you all are really too weak."
Zhou Yan’s words changed the expressions of all six people.
"Young man, don’t be arrogant with your words. Tell us immediately where those two girls and that Bear Demon went!"
The Dragon Horn Elder’s voice was deep and cold, scolding.
"Sumeru Immortal Mountain."
Zhou Yan’s answer was neither humble nor pushy, very composed. His gaze disregarded these people, yet he was secretly preparing his countermeasures.
"Ignorant thing, speak truthfully! Sumeru Immortal Mountain? Do you think the people from Sumeru Immortal Mountain would come to Tianxing City?! Do you really take us for fools?"
One of the nameless men in black armor surrounding Zhou Yan shouted sharply.
Apparently, they did not believe Zhou Yan’s words.
"Capture him and we’ll speak later! By then, we’ll directly refine his soul, and search his Soul Sea memory to know his origin and truth!"
That Dragon Horn Elder’s voice turned cold, indicating they were no longer expecting answers and were ready to take action.
As he spoke, he was the first to strike, enveloping Zhou Yan with a powerful spatial domain rule, trapping him within a small void space world.
The other five black-armored men were also enveloped within this small space, surrounding Zhou Yan but not taking action, only their sneers grew more pronounced, as if Zhou Yan was sure to die once caught in this domain space.
"I have already locked his soul in suppression; you all take action, sever his bloodline, and ascertain what bloodline and origin he possesses. As that woman had a close relationship with him and shares the same surname, they presumably come from the same clan.
From the same clan, we only need to extract a bit of bloodline to determine its most excellent genes, and after extraction, we can present it to our master."
The Dragon Horn Elder spoke.
After he finished speaking, one of the black-armored men coldly summoned a terrifying killing intent, viciously attacking Zhou Yan within the small world.