Chapter 1701: Soul Congregation

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

One would need to perform the Blood Owners.h.i.+p Claim on a Spatial Ring if one wanted to access the items in it. A Spatial Ring with an owner would not allow anyone to access it unless the owner personally revoked the Blood Owners.h.i.+p Claim or if he had died.

At this moment, Xu Jing’s Spatial Ring could not be opened at all.

In that case, there was only one possibility.

Xu Jing did not die!

“Impossible!” Duan Ling Tian felt that it was impossible when he thought about it.

When he killed Xu Jing, he had done so with the sword ray consolidated with his 10,000 Swords Territory along with the second stage of the Sovereign Heart Sword, Sword Shadowed Heart, and his brute strength. The powerful sword ray had directly pierced the s.p.a.ce between Xu Jing’s eyebrows.

The s.p.a.ce between the brows and the heart were the Achilles heel of a human being.

The heart controlled the body while the s.p.a.ce between the brows controlled the soul.

Piercing the s.p.a.ce between the brows was equivalent to shattering a soul, and this was the safest technique in ensuring the death of someone.

Attacking the heart had its own risk since some people had hearts that were located slightly away from the normal place.

At that time, if Duan Ling Tian did not kill him in one shot, Xu Jing definitely would have admitted defeat when he regained his senses. Due to this reason, he did not dare to take the risk and did not aim for his heart. It was precisely because of this he had chosen the safest method by piercing the s.p.a.ce between Xu Jing’s brows to shatter his soul.

“At that time, I’d stretched my Divine Consciousness out and determined Xu Jing’s soul has already shattered when his body fell. By right, once the soul has shattered, he wouldn’t be able to survive. H-however, why can’t I perform the Blood Owners.h.i.+p Claim on his Spatial Ring?” Duan Ling Tian’s face was slightly pale.

Perhaps there were many good items in Xu Jing’s Spatial Ring since the Flowery Monk and Jing Xu Zi’s Spatial Rings were in it as well. However, Duan Ling Tian did not think about the items inside, his mind was entirely focused on the reason why he could not perform the Blood Owners.h.i.+p Claim on the Spatial Ring.

No matter how long he mulled over it, there was only one possibility left. Xu Jing was still alive!

“Elder Huo,” Duan Ling Tian who refused to believe Xu Jing was still alive immediately called out to Elder Huo who was inside the Seven Treasures Exquisite PaG.o.da to ask about this matter.

When Elder Huo was in his prime, he was a powerful being in the Devata Realm so he might be able to give him some useful information.

After Duan Ling Tian told him everything. Elder Huo thought about it for a moment before he asked, “You said he’s a Devil Cultivator?”

“Yes,” Duan Ling Tian nodded before he said, “I heard from the others that Xu Jing wasn’t a Devil Cultivator a year ago. Moreover, he was only at the Early Refined Saint Stage… After a year, when he showed up, not only was he Devil Cultivator, his cultivation base had even risen to the peak of the Refined Saint Stage!”

To be honest, even Duan Ling Tian could not help but be taken aback by Xu Jing’s progress.

In fact, even if he had help from the Seven Treasures Exquisite PaG.o.da — five days inside the Seven Treasures Exquisite PaG.o.da was equal to a day outside — he was not confident he could cultivate to the peak of the Refined Saint Stage from the Early Refined Saint Stage in just a year outside.

Similar to the situation before the Rising Sky Ranking Battle. Although he had spent almost four years inside the third level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite PaG.o.da, despite spending most of his time elevating his cultivation base instead of comprehending the Sovereign Heart Sword, he only managed to strengthen his cultivation base at the Early Pristine Saint Stage before he made a breakthrough to the Intermediate Pristine Saint Stage.

Although Duan Ling Tian was only at the Intermediate Pristine Saint Stage, he was very close to the Mastery Pristine Saint Stage. Moreover, his battle ability was comparable to an ordinary powerhouse at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage. This could be seen from how he had killed Xu Jing.

“He progressed so quickly in such a short period of time and became a Devil Cultivator on top of that… I think he must have learned the Soul Congregation technique in the Devil Dao Cultivation Method,” Elder Huo spoke again soon after.

“Soul Congregation technique?” Duan Ling Tian’s eyes widened in shock. This was his first time hearing this.

“Yes, the Soul Congregation technique,” Elder Huo replied, “Some of the higher level Devil Dao Cultivation Method and Dao Celestial Method contains the Soul Congregation technique… The Soul Congregation is a technique that can a.s.semble the soul again once it’s shattered during a period of time. Naturally, although the soul has been a.s.sembled, it’ll take some time before it can recover.”

“Then, does this mean he’ll come back to life?” Duan Ling Tian gasped.

“You can say so,” Elder Huo replied again.

Upon hearing his words, Duan Ling Tian’s expression turned extremely grave. “Then, this means that not only is Xu Jing’s shattered soul being a.s.sembled by the Soul Congregation technique, but he’s even coming back to life? How’s this possible?!” Duan Ling Tian muttered to himself as the muscle on his face twitched slightly.

He had traveled more than 10,000 miles to the Rising Sky Mansion’s district to partic.i.p.ate in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle in order to kill Xu Jing and resolve the crisis for Xue Nai. He had thought he had killed Xu Jing. Who knew it would turn out like this in the end?

“Currently, Uncle Han thinks Xu Jing’s dead. If he finds out Xu Jing’s not dead, how disappointed would he be?” Duan Ling Tian’s expression turned even graver as time continued to pa.s.s.

Earlier, he had planned to find Han Xue Nai to tell her about this piece of good news. However, when he thought of Xu Jing still alive, he left the Greenwave Han Mansion’s estate on his own.

At this moment, he needed to calm down.

“Elder Huo, you said earlier it would take some time before his soul fully recovers after he used the Soul Congregation technique… How long will it take exactly?” Duan Ling Tian asked Elder Huo again.

“It depends on the Soul Congregation technique he has mastered. The Soul Congregation technique is separated into various grades and ranks too… However, even the best Soul Congregation technique I know of would need at least a year or so to completely a.s.semble a soul at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage and return to a body to reincarnate,” Elder Huo replied.

“A year or so?” Duan Ling Tian sighed in relief when he heard this.

Earlier, he was most worried that Xu Jing would recover immediately, and his marriage to Xue Nai would proceed as planned.

However, it seemed like for the time being there was no way for him to proceed with the marriage. Duan Ling Tian felt more at ease for the time being.

‘A year or so… And that’s the best Soul Congregation technique Elder Huo has ever seen! The technique Xu Jing mastered shouldn’t be this powerful. He would most likely need two to three years to recover at the very least.’ The moment Duan Ling Tian thought of this, he felt even more at ease.

However, his gaze turned piercing. “Xu Jing, I can’t believe you’re still alive! However, if I can kill you once, then I can kill you twice! When I kill you in two to three years time, it’ll be as easy as killing a dog!”

Duan Ling Tian was very confident about this.

After two to three years, even if Xu Jing managed to a.s.semble his soul and return to a body, his cultivation base would remain the same as it was when he died.

Duan Ling Tian could already kill him now, it would be even easier to kill him after two or three years since Xu Jing’s cultivation base would still be the same.

‘At that time, I’ll just use Li Feng’s ident.i.ty and find an excuse to kill him… I’ll just say I feel unresigned for not being able to kill him during the Rising Sky Ranking Battle, and due to this, a devilish barrier has formed in my Martial Dao’s heart and blocks my path of pursuing the Martial Dao. Due to this reason, I need to kill him to clear the obstacles in my path! If I use this as an excuse, it won’t implicate the Greenwave Han Mansion.’ The moment Duan Ling Tian thought of this, his heart was completely at ease.

No matter what, the Rising Sky Mansion would never be able to find a connection between Li Feng and the Greenwave Han Mansion. This was why he was not worried this would implicate the Greenwave Han Mansion.

“After a month, it’ll be the day of the marriage set by the Rising Sky Mansion. However, now that Xu Jing’s soul is shattered, he wouldn’t be able to marry Xue Nai. Xue Nai will be safe in within these two to three years,’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself and sighed in relief.

If it was like that, his trip to the Rising Sky Mansion’s district could not be considered to be in vain.

After he had thought it over, he went to find Han Xue Nai.

“Brother Ling Tian!” When Han Xue Nai saw Duan Ling Tian, she was filled with excitement. Her originally gloomy expression had disappeared and was replaced with a smile. However, her smile still contained a hint of bitterness.

“Brother Ling Tian, where did you go during this past year?” Han Xue Nai asked without waiting for Duan Ling Tian to speak.

“I went to the Rising Sky Mansion’s district.” Duan Ling Tian smiled wryly.

“The Rising Sky Mansion’s district?” Upon hearing that, the smile on Han Xue Nai’s face froze immediately. The three words ‘Rising Sky Mansion’ was undoubtedly the bane of her existence.

A month later, she would have to be married to the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion, that playboy and good-for-nothing kid.

Seeing Xue Nai’s expression froze with pain in her eyes, Duan Ling Tian instantly dismissed the thought of teasing her and said without beating around the bush, “Xue Nai, don’t worry. The Rising Sky Mansion won’t come for you for the marriage. Xu Jing, the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion, is dead. He died in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle.”

Han Xue Nai was completely stunned when she heard his words.

Xu Jing, the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion, had died? He had died during the Rising Sky Ranking Battle?

To Han Xue Nai, this news was undoubtedly like a bomb. She was shocked. Naturally, she did not doubt her Brother Ling Tian’s words.

Although she did not know who killed Xu Jing, this was just too convenient, was it not?

Duan Ling Tian looked at Han Xue Nai calmly. From the beginning until the end, he did not miss all the expression flitting past her face.

At first, it was bafflement. Then, it was followed by disbelief before it finally settled on a pleasantly surprised expression.

Duan Ling Tian sighed in relief inwardly. He did not plan to reveal how Xu Jing, the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion, might still be alive. After all, the crisis had been solved for the time being.

“Brother Ling Tian, you… have something to do with his death, right?” Although Han Xue Nai felt it was quite unlikely, she had a strong feeling her Brother Ling Tian had something to do with Xu Jing’s death.

Counting the time, the Rising Sky Ranking Battle had just ended not too long ago.

“Yes.” Naturally, Duan Ling Tian did not hide anything from Han Xue Nai. He nodded as he said, “A year ago, after I left the Greenwave Han Mansion, I went to the Rising Sky Mansion’s district and created a disguise and called myself Li Feng to partic.i.p.ate in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle… I decided to kill him during the Rising Sky Ranking Battle so that his death wouldn’t be connected to the Greenwave Han Mansion.”