Soul Stabilizing Bead

Not long after, Zhang Huan arrived at the Underworld's main hall again.

A certain important figure had approved his application exceptionally, allowing Zhang Huan to come to the hall to collect the spirit items he had exchanged for.

It was also time for him to ask the Female Saint for some burial pits.

After a long period of investigation, he felt that there were an unusual number of ancient tombs among the burial pits, and he wondered what rule they followed.

While waiting for the Female Saint, she was clearly very excited, making Zhang Huan curious about which important figure it was. Could it be one of the Quasi-Emperors in charge?

She chattered excitedly to Zhang Huan, taking credit for herself. After he asked, the Female Saint's explanation was vague, only that the person's status was extremely high, so much so that even her direct superior dared not offend them. Their identity was mysterious, and she knew nothing else.

According to her, Zhang Huan guessed it might be someone from one of the three main factions that governed the Underworld.

After a short while, Zhang Huan sensed a powerful aura heading his way.

It carried no killing intent, only a cold, chilling aura. Seeing this, Zhang Huan did not act rashly and waited for them to arrive.

The door opened wide, and a middle-aged man walked in as if no one else was there.

"You are Zhang Huan?"

He tilted his head and looked down, his eyes cold and lifeless, like a specter.

Zhang Huan stood up and silently observed the man.

He could feel that the other party's strength was definitely not weak. He had come very far in the Great Saint realm, likely touching upon the absolute peak.

However, there was too much deathly energy on him, damp and decaying, which made his heart churn with revulsion.

"This is a dead person, refined to be alive, like an artifact. They've retained some of their past consciousness!"

In the man's hand, the materials that had been submitted were circled in red, indicating approval.

"I am."

A bead was thrown to Zhang Huan along with the materials, accompanied by a voice like a howling ghost.

"You've done well. You've been noticed by the master. This Soul Stabilizing Bead is enough to help you kill that soul. Afterward, leave the Quasi-Emperor corpse behind; the master has use for it."

With that, he didn't linger, as if he were merely running errands for his master. Before leaving, he deliberately warned Zhang Huan.

"Do not disappoint the master, or you will wish you were dead."

He acted so arrogantly, a mere servant daring to be so high and mighty.

Watching the dead man leave, Zhang Huan glared fiercely. If the servant was like this, his master couldn't be much better. They didn't even show up in person, clearly equating Zhang Huan's status with that of a servant.

Such disregard for others clearly stemmed from immense confidence. To be able to order a Great Saint around, not many in the Underworld fit that description.

The master he spoke of was indeed from one of the three factions.

Mere threats were nothing to him. The master behind this person was somewhat interesting. They had pre-ordered a Quasi-Emperor corpse, but what for?

In his opinion, they likely intended to refine it into a War Slave.

Once Zhang Huan broke through to the Quasi-Emperor realm, another War Slave would be acquired. With a tool that could be retrieved later, getting two Quasi-Emperors for free was simply too profitable.

"Could it be that the three factions of the Underworld are even competing for control of War Slaves? First come, first served?"

Zhang Huan thought it was highly possible. Quasi-Emperor level War Slaves were already rare, with only a dozen or so in the entire Underworld. The Underworld's own people and corpses with immense potential would not be touched, as they would naturally awaken in the desolate lands.

The remaining ones were few. Quasi-Emperor level War Slaves must be rare commodities among the three factions, no wonder they were so eager and requested that Quasi-Emperor corpse.

He turned to ask the Female Saint, who had yet to recover from her shock.

It seemed she had never witnessed a Great Saint running errands before.

Zhang Huan waved his hand in front of her eyes and asked.

"What is this Soul Stabilizing Bead?"

He had never heard of such a thing and assumed it was unique to the Underworld, knowing nothing of its effects.

"The Soul Stabilizing Bead, in a sense, is a priceless treasure. It specifically counters Malevolent Spirits and is the bane of ghosts and spirits."

"Each one has a profound origin and is incredibly precious. Being illuminated by the divine light from the bead will immediately cripple more than half of one's strength. For your Quasi-Emperor enemy, this item is equivalent to a natural predator."

The Female Saint explained comprehensively, having done her research.

Zhang Huan formed a hand seal to control the bead, and it immediately emitted a withered yellow light.

When Zhang Huan, an ordinary person, came into contact with it, he felt no weakening effect. Instead, he felt a warmth.

"This item also has the effect of nourishing the soul?"

Zhang Huan asked.

"Yes, Great Saint. This bead is refined from specific Yin corpses, integrating the essence of their lives and afterlives. Therefore, it can not only nourish spiritual sense and souls but also has an excellent effect on tempering the physical body."

The Female Saint continued, noting that judging by the bead's quality, it must have been refined from a Quasi-Emperor. There were very few such beads throughout history; they were rare and precious.

"It has such an effect? Then I must truly thank that unknown figure."

Zhang Huan smiled. They were indeed plotting against him, and his earlier guess was almost certainly correct.

This person had malicious intentions, specifically choosing such a treasure to scheme for a double kill.

He'd make a note of it. If he could find out who it was in the future, Zhang Huan would definitely find an opportunity to settle the score.

"Are there any Yin Corpses here for me to test its power on?"

He wanted to see firsthand if its effectiveness was as potent as the Female Saint described, and to master it by refining it first.

When the time came to fight the spectral Quasi-Emperor lying there like a corpse, he wouldn't have the luxury of testing the bead's power.

By the time he left the great hall, Zhang Huan had become adept, tormenting a Saint-level Yin Corpse relentlessly. Its effectiveness was indeed as the Female Saint had said, exerting a strong suppressive effect on such corpses.

He could interrupt the Quasi-Emperor corpse's transformation and then unleash this bead, suppressing its strength to the minimum.

"Master, I didn't dare speak up until now, but this Soul Stabilizing Bead seems to have a specific incantation for its control."

The Demonic Box transmitted its Divine Sense at the opportune moment.

"An incantation?"

Zhang Huan stopped and asked for details.

"The Soul Stabilizing Bead has a strong restraining effect on extremely Yin corpses and ghosts, but that's not its only use, as you heard from the Female Saint earlier."

"It can help one condense their soul and temper their physique, making it a rare treasure for body refinement."

"However, to unlock its true potential, an incantation is needed to control it, allowing it to actively emit its internal energy. Otherwise, without grasping the key, one will only be absorbing its superficial aspects, never realizing its true value."

The Demonic Box chanted, reciting the secret method. According to it, this incantation was created by an Ancient Heavenly Venerate from the mythical era, specifically to extract the Soul Stabilizing Bead's essence and refine it.

The formation and wondrous uses of this bead, and its origins, all stemmed from him. In that era, ghosts were numerous and plagued the common people. This Heavenly Venerate was distressed by his inability to kill them.

At some point, inspiration struck, and he devised this method of weakening enemies to bolster himself.

By absorbing the bead, which was like a potent tonic, this Heavenly Venerate's strength advanced by leaps and bounds. He suppressed the chaos caused by the rampaging ghosts, thus achieving enlightenment and ruling an era.