Failed breakthrough

"Gu Huang, don't worry, I've made thorough preparations. As long as we act cautiously, there won't be any mistakes or future problems. So... are you willing to help me or not?" Jiang Wanyue asked.

"What is Yi Runan's current cultivation level?" Song Wen did not directly answer Jiang Wanyue's question.

"Like me, I've been stuck at the Lingxu Dao Immortal Peak for many years, unable to break through," Jiang Wanyue said.

"And what is the cultivation level of her husband Yuan Zhe?" Song Wen continued to press.

"Profound Immortal Yuxiao Late Stage," Jiang Wanyue said.

Song Wen glanced at Jiang Wanyue in surprise.

For the sake of a petty squabble between Chen Nian and his family, she actually wanted to target the biological son of Profound Immortal Yuxiao Late Stage and Lingxu Dao Immortal Peak. This was not just audacious, it was madness.

"Madam Jiang, there are countless people in the world with exceptional talent. Your son could easily choose to possess a gifted rogue immortal. Why insist on keeping his sights on Yuan Yuze?" Song Wen said.

"Yuan Yuze is always accompanied by a guard named Xu Hai, who cultivates the 'Corpse King Blood Refinement Art'," Jiang Wanyue said.

Song Wen frowned, his gaze questioning.

"Madam Jiang, I remember asking you before—besides the Xiao Household family, do you know of any other people who cultivate the 'Corpse King Blood Refinement Art'? Your answer then was 'no'! Why is there now a 'Xu Hai' appearing?"

"Back then, we didn't get along, so naturally I had to hold back," Jiang Wanyue said.

"What is Xu Hai's cultivation level?" Song Wen asked again.

"Like Ji Jinglun and Corpse Daoist Yin, he is also in the Late Lingxu Dao Immortal Stage," Jiang Wanyue said.

"Besides Xu Hai, are there any other people in the Cloud Pill Sect who cultivate the 'Corpse King Blood Refinement Art'?" Song Wen asked.

Jiang Wanyue shook her head.

"I don't know about that. I only found out by chance that he cultivates the 'Corpse King Blood Refinement Art.' During a treasure hunt in a secret realm, I happened to encounter Xu Hai and witnessed his skills. The cultivation aura he displayed was very similar to that of Ji Jinglun and others."

Song Wen hesitated for a moment before replying.

Do you have a detailed plan for dealing with Yuan Yuze?

Song Wen has already captured Ji Jinglun and Corpse Daoist Yin alive. If he can also capture Xu Hai, then there will be three cultivators at the Late Lingxu Dao Immortal Stage. If he absorbs the cultivation of these three, plus the Immortal Essence that Song Wen previously absorbed from Gou Yi, then his cultivation will definitely be able to break through to the Lingxu Dao Immortal Peak.

Jiang Wanyue smiled gently, a hint of smug satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

"I already have a plan in mind, but how to implement it will probably depend on the situation. But there's no rush right now; let's settle these matters here first, and then we can discuss other things."

Song Wen nodded slightly.

This is certainly not the place to talk.

"Madam Jiang, you should leave first. I will come to find you after I have dealt with Ji Jinglun and the Corpse Daoist Yin," Song Wen said.

"Alright. Kui'er's soul urgently needs nourishment with heavenly materials and earthly treasures, so I must return to the Xiao Household first. But you must come to find me quickly, don't keep me waiting too long." Jiang Wanyue's tone was charming, with a hint of coquetry.

After saying that, she turned and left, quickly disappearing into the underground cave.

Song Wen did not rush to leave, but instead directly devoured the Immortal Essence of Ji Jinglun and the Corpse Daoist Yin.

If his cultivation could break through to the Peak Lingxu Dao Immortal Realm after absorbing the Immortal Essence of these two, then perhaps he wouldn't need to provoke Yuan Yuze anymore; he could simply change his appearance and disappear.

Even if Jiang Wanyue became furious afterward because she couldn't find him, it was none of his business.

As Ji Jinglun and the Corpse Daoist Yin's Immortal Essence flowed into his body, Song Wen's aura surged rapidly.

An invisible wave of energy swirled around him, causing the surrounding corpse energy to rotate rapidly, condensing into a vortex that reached the ground and then the cave ceiling.

Song Wen fully activated the "Corpse King Reincarnation Art" to absorb and refine the external Immortal Essence.

His Immortal Essence energy surged, and after a hundred or so breaths, an invisible barrier appeared, preventing his cultivation from advancing further. This was the bottleneck of the Late Lingxu Dao Immortal Realm.

Within the meridians, Immortal Essence surged like waves, simultaneously refining external Immortal Essence energy to further strengthen itself and simultaneously breaking through that invisible barrier.

Yet the barrier remained as solid as a rock, unmoved by the crashing waves, and even faintly exuded a counterforce, giving the feeling that the Immortal Essence within was about to spiral out of control.

Song Wen was unwilling to fail so easily, so he gritted his teeth and frantically activated his Cultivation Method.

However, the external Immortal Essence could not be sustained and gradually began to weaken.

Song Wen knew that Ji Jinglun and the Corpse Daoist Yin's lifelong cultivation was almost completely devoured.

"Just one step away from the goal!"

Song Wen's gaze turned fierce.

He made a desperate gamble, and all the Immortal Essence in his body crashed against that invisible barrier like a trapped beast banging against its cage.

"Boom--"

A dull, loud bang exploded inside his body.

But that barrier remained unbroken.

The force of the recoil surged back like a raging tide, causing the Immortal Essence within the body to flow backward and return to the meridians throughout the body.

"Puff!"

Song Wen opened his mouth and swallowed, spitting out a large amount of blood, and his aura instantly became chaotic.

The vortex of corpse energy suddenly shattered, and a violent shockwave slammed into the ground and cave walls.

In an instant, the ground caved in and rocks fell, causing the entire cave to collapse.

Song Wen's chest heaved violently as he raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.

He glanced down at Ji Jinglun and the Corpse Daoist Yin, both of whom had turned into mummified corpses; their Immortal Essence had been completely exhausted.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Song Wen's eyes; he ultimately failed to break through.

They were separated by only a hair's breadth, yet it felt like an insurmountable chasm.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the disappointment had vanished, replaced by a profound and desolate silence.

Fortunately, the failed breakthrough did not have serious consequences.

The fluctuation of his Immortal Essence caused him minor injuries, which he can recover with a little rest.

"Fine."

Song Wen muttered to himself, then with a flick of his sleeve, he shattered the two mummified corpses on the ground into dust. The dust fell in a flurry, mingling with the dust and rocks in the cave, leaving no trace.

He leaped into the air, braving the falling rocks, and headed outside.

Since the breakthrough failed, the only option left was to target Xu Hai.