Seven hundred miles south of Tongtian River, there was a wide river surface that spanned two to three hundred meters.
The Seven-star Centipede’s thousand legs twitched, gliding leisurely against the direction of the river flow.
Chen Mu stuck his head out, intently observing the neatly moving jet-black centipede legs, feeling as if he was watching dozens of people rowing a dragon boat in his past life.
After a while, Chen Mu withdrew his gaze, his spirit sinking into the secret acupoint between his eyebrows.
Due to a twist of fate, he was still bathing in a pool of transparent liquid Exotic Force; originally continuously emitting black smoke but now, not a wisp remained.
Thin golden patterns intermittently appeared on the Jet-black Moon Blade and the ghastly White Bone Sphere, the originally somewhat sinister artifact now possessed a bit of solemnity.
“Taiyi Refining Treasure Technique is really useful!” Chen Mu revealed a smile.
These days, while traveling with others, he had been refining the artifact using the Refining Treasure Technique.
With the nourishment of Innate Primordial Qi, the Dragon Ball Spirit Machine and the artifact had been rapidly refined, finally reaching a new phase.
With a thought, Chen Mu’s spirit sank swiftly into the artifact, and a dense network appeared in his mind.
This network was intricate and orderly, lines of gold, silver, black, white, blue, and purple intertwined, resembling the circulatory system of the human body.
“This feeling… is just like when my spirit enters the Heavenly Demon Body and I look inward!”
“Magic Treasure, truly mysterious!”
He had many Magic Artifacts, all driven by the corresponding Dharma Curses. Never before had he been able to freely enter the inside of a Magic Treasure like now.
“The Dragon Ball Spirit Machine must have finished adjusting, becoming a part of the artifact, and no longer fears being tracked.”
“It’s done.”
Chen Mu sighed in relief.
Today, he had finally eliminated all hidden dangers related to the Spirit Mechanism, unafraid of Qiu Jinwu and also not fearing the young man who had suddenly arrived for investigation.
“It’s just a pity about that person’s Mustard Seed Jade Charm.” Chen Mu’s face showed regret.
Look at that person’s Mustard Seed Jade Charm, then look at my Five Ghosts Bag.
What do I have…
Well, I have White Jade Coins!
But what I have are just these thirty to fifty thousand White Jade Coins. That guy’s Mustard Seed Jade Charm contains not just money, many treasures that money can’t buy are quietly lying inside!
“What a loss.”
“If it wasn’t for the fear of being tracked, I would’ve taken those things and put them into the Five Ghosts Bag no matter what.”
Chen Mu sighed lightly, shaking his head to dismiss the distracting thoughts.
Safety is still more critical after all.
That person’s methods were peculiar; perhaps there might be some undiscovered marker inside the Mustard Seed Jade Charm.
Just like that jar of plague poison, thinking about it now, Chen Mu still found it eerily strange.
“The Heavenly Demon Armor could withstand the Yellow Millet Plague Poison thanks to the Qi Forbidden Hundred Miles.”
“Qi Forbidden Hundred Miles belongs to the innate divine ability of the Heavenly Demon Body, very similar to a demon’s Innate Protective Qi Mechanism.”
“The essence of the Heavenly Demon Body is of Ghosts nature, very similar to the human Spiritual Deity, presumably, its protective divine power could also protect the Superior Fetal Spirit.”
“That Yellow Millet Plague Poison which causes people to fall into a deep sleep could be some sort of plague targeting the Superior Fetal Spirit,” Chen Mu pondered reflectively.
A body unaffected yet unable to wake up must surely mean the Spiritual Deity was harmed.
Given enough time, it might even cause a person’s Spiritual Deity to collapse.
“No wonder that person wanted to make me into a Yan Shi puppet,” Chen Mu’s expression darkened.
A clueless, yet physically intact shell, with a bit of refining, could be turned into a fine Puppet Taoist Soldier.
“How utterly vicious!” He was once again startled by the evil nature of human hearts.
“If it wasn’t for the fear of alarming the enemy, I should have turned him to dust and ground his bones right then and there!” Chen Mu’s eyes remained motionless, his gaze filled with a chilling cold.
After a long while, he regained his senses.
“With so many techniques I deployed, even if that guy didn’t die, his Spiritual Deity would definitely disperse, turning him into a living dead.”
“To think about turning others into puppets, yet in the end, he himself became the best material for a Yan Shi puppet; this is truly using his own method against him.”
Chen Mu shook his head, no longer dwelling on it, and looked towards the Seven-star Centipede ahead.
More than ten days had passed, and the originally somewhat spacious back of the centipede was now filled with people.
Over these days, they didn’t head straight to the Hundred Illusion Sect but took several turns, passing through many towns and cities, picking up quite a few people.
Some were Qi Cultivators who had surpassed the second stage of Qi Cultivation and had developed Mana, while many others were young people just over ten years old, who had just developed their Armored Steel Skin.
Looking at Lu Han interacting with people, such recruiting and transporting behavior clearly wasn’t the first time.
The demand for Daoist Soldiers by the Thousand Mechanisms Sect must signify great danger in the Outer Heaven Battlefield.
Lucky that he didn’t listen to the fanciful tales of that old Daoist from Taoshan Temple.
To live in peace, one really must honestly serve as an Auxiliary Soldier.
…
Two days later, after picking up seven or eight people in the last small town, the Seven-star Centipede no longer took detours. Guided by Lu Han, the centipede began to crawl rapidly southward.
Two more days passed, and a range of continuous mountains came into view.
A faint mist enveloped the mountains, making them appear intermittently, accompanied by the roars and cries of Exotic Beasts and Monsters.
What lay ahead was the Mist Forest.
And the Hundred Illusion Sect was hidden within the Mist Forest.
Lu Han commanded the Seven-star Centipede to enter the forest, where the sky-obscuring canopy and the protruding, robust and ominous tree roots, along with the mind-clouding miasma fog of varying densities, appeared one after another.
Lu Han was extremely familiar with this place, and under his guidance, the Seven-star Centipede moved forward effortlessly through twists and turns.
Five days later, a towering cliff that stretched endlessly into the clouds appeared before Chen Mu and the others.
The cliff was shrouded in mist, dark and obscure, its whole view unclear. A few disciples in grey robes had long been waiting at the base of the cliff.
“We’ve finally arrived at the Hundred Illusion Sect.”
Chen Mu’s heart settled.
Whispers of relief also spread through the crowds.
Without further delay, Lu Han greeted the people who took over and handed over the Seven-star Centipede, then waved his hand and led Chen Mu and about fifty or sixty new disciples towards the cliff.
Upon approaching the cliff, Chen Mu saw several stone steps carved along the cliff, winding up and disappearing into the mist.
After climbing for half an hour, turning and changing paths several times, they had reached halfway up the mountain.
A huge cave entrance, five or six meters high, came into view.
“This cave here is called the Washing Body Cave, only those who pass through safely can truly join our Hundred Illusion Sect.”
“Once inside, remember to guard your spirit; no matter what you see, do not exclaim in surprise.”
“If you act recklessly and something happens, you bear the consequences!” Lu Han said sternly.
“Are you not coming with us?” someone asked cautiously.
“This is your initiation ceremony, I will wait at the end of the cave,” Lu Han said, and his body flashed with Spiritual Light; with a whoosh, he soared into the clouds.
Looking at the dark, silent entrance ahead, people couldn’t help but look at each other.
But some remained calm and walked into the cave, seemingly aware of the forthcoming ceremony.
Chen Mu stood among the crowd, observing the calm expressions of the leading few, slightly relaxing his heart.
Judging by their demeanor, this matter seemed to be the usual practice of the Hundred Illusion Sect; even if there were dangers, it should be completely under control.
“Yet this isn’t entirely safe; it could still be a front prepared by the Hundred Illusion Sect,” Chen Mu thought, and then he unleashed the Seven Emotions Curse he hadn’t used for a long time.
The emotions of those leading slowly surfaced in his perception.
Somewhat nervous, but overall calm, without any malice towards others.
Then operating the Truth Listening Divine Power, a winding, uneven cave with strange rocks emerged in his mind.
Chen Mu even saw Lu Han’s figure ten miles away at the exit, obviously waiting.
“There’s no strong Qi Mechanism movement inside the cave, and Lu Han shows no signs of schemes; it doesn’t seem to be a trap.”
“It must indeed be a tradition of the Hundred Illusion Sect.” Chen Mu’s heart lightened.
After confirming again, Chen Mu completely relaxed and blended into the crowd, entering the Washing Body Cave.
…
“Thirty White Jade, I bet half of the new recruits will be scared witless and faint.”
At the other end of the Washing Body Cave, including Lu Han, about a dozen people were hotly discussing.
These people were the same ones from the Hundred Illusion Sect who took over the Seven-star Centipede, having arrived early by some route.
“Don’t forget the thirteen among them who have practiced mana. They’ve wielded power beyond the ordinary for years, who knows how many grudges they’ve settled and how many people they’ve killed,” one spoke up.
“The Washing Body Cave can channel Demon Qi to bring out grudges and foul air. The more grudges one has, the more terrifying the journey. Those who just managed to refine their Shell Soul will definitely be affected. Fifty White Jade, I bet seventy percent!”
“What do you think, elder brother Lu Han?” someone asked, eyes shifting shrewdly, probing.
“I’ve had the most contact with them, so to avoid conflict of interest I won’t bet, just take a cut. You all go ahead,” Lu Han said with a laugh.
People observed his expression closely but shook their heads in disappointment, realizing that getting any information from Lu Han was unlikely.
“So what if there are Qi Cultivators? Can’t those people be good?” a round-faced, short and plump figure objected loudly.
“I’ve observed carefully, those dozen Qi Cultivators who came all looked kind, their grudges probably aren’t that deep. Eighty White Jade, I bet a maximum of thirty percent will faint!”
Inside the Washing Body Cave.
Through the continued observation with Truth Listening Divine Power, Chen Mu nodded in satisfaction.
Just one look and you figured out I’m a good person.
Nice discernment!
You, my friend, I confirm!
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter