Record of a Demon's Cultivation Chapter 1241: The Plan Succeeds

Translator: CinderTL

"Master, the Nether Fox has arrived at the mountain valley," Shadow Void reported from within Song Wen’s Sea of Consciousness.

"Provide a detailed account of its movements," Song Wen commanded.

"It entered the valley and began circling along the cliff walls at the edge," Shadow Void responded.

*Surprisingly compliant, this Nether Fox,* Song Wen mused.

Yet, his sense of satisfaction proved fleeting.

"Master, it discarded its tentacle, leaped over the mountain, exited the valley, and is now moving away into the distance," Shadow Void announced.

"How much of the valley did it traverse?" Song Wen inquired.

"Only half a circle," Shadow Void replied.

A barely perceptible twitch disturbed the corner of Song Wen’s mouth. He realized he had been prematurely pleased.

"Master, the two humans have arrived," Shadow Void's voice echoed once more.

Shortly after, the distinct sounds of air being violently rent reached Song Wen's ears.

Manager Yin and Bu Ren had been relentlessly pursuing the Beauty Serpent. However, after Song Wen incapacitated the serpent, their attention discreetly shifted to the Nether Fox, which was carrying the serpent as it fled. Unaware that the Beauty Serpent was already in Song Wen's possession, they soared directly overhead.

A moment later, Shadow Void continued to update Song Wen on the unfolding situation within the mountain valley: "Master, the duo has entered the valley. They are tracking the Nether Fox's path, moving along the perimeter."

"Hmm! That gaunt old man, Bu Ren, has picked up a scale—it must be from the Nether Fox's tentacle. When did that happen? I didn't even perceive it."

"Manager Yin also found a scale. They are now heading towards the valley's center, following the direction where the scales are scattered, deviating from the Nether Fox's route."

"Bu Ren discovered a tentacle lodged in a fissure. They are speculating if the Beauty Serpent succumbed to the Nether Fox's venom. Bu Ren has brought out that stone platform used for tracking void fiends, placed the tentacle upon it, and is now initiating a spell—likely to pinpoint the Beauty Serpent's location."

Shadow Void fell silent for a beat, presumably due to Bu Ren's focus on manipulating the stone platform, leaving no immediate updates.

"Master," Shadow Void's voice suddenly grew sharp, "a figure has emerged from a mountain valley fissure, exuding intense killing intent. It appears Bu Ren's tampering with the stone platform formation has provoked this individual. The figure is now charging directly at Manager Yin and Bu Ren, who are attempting to flee in panic."

"Is that individual a corpse cultivator?" Song Wen questioned with urgency.

"Undoubtedly," Shadow Void confirmed. "The figure is enveloped in dense corpse qi, confirming their identity. Their cultivation level has reached the apex of Void Refinement."

A flicker of triumph ignited in Song Wen's eyes. His intricate scheme had borne fruit—the Six Fiends Hall was indeed concealed within the valley.

Manager Yin and Bu Ren had brought this predicament upon themselves.

It was now evident that the Six Fiends Hall lay hidden somewhere beneath the valley floor.

Judging by their reaction, had the pair simply followed the Nether Fox's trail and exited the valley swiftly, they might have evaded alerting the Six Fiends Hall. However, their decision to employ a formation for tracking the Beauty Serpent had generated significant Spiritual Qi disturbances, provoking the Six Fiends Hall into dispatching someone to eliminate them.

"Shadow Void, initiate a slow withdrawal with me until we are at least ten thousand miles distant from the valley," Song Wen instructed.

Wei Gu, the hall master of the Six Fiends Hall, wielded a low-tier void beast of the late seventh-tier. Its detection range was presumed to be comparable to Shadow Void's.

To ensure his complete safety, Song Wen resolved to retreat beyond its perceptive radius before making further advancements.

Shadow Void's spherical form reluctantly broke through the ochre earth and began to recede.

Even after retreating ten thousand miles from the mountain valley, well beyond Shadow Void’s known sensory limit, Song Wen remained unsettled. He directed Shadow Void to pull back an additional thousand miles. Despite Shadow Void's assertion that a mere late seventh-tier low-ranked void beast could not possibly possess a superior sensory range to its own mid seventh-tier high-ranked void beast, Song Wen prioritized utmost caution.

Shadow Void released its adhering tentacles and gradually withdrew back into Song Wen’s Sea of Consciousness.

Song Wen's physical form materialized, revealing a colossal, monstrous fish hovering before him—the peak fifth-tier void fiend he had previously vanquished.

He channeled his spiritual power, continuously infusing it into the deceased fish.

The fish's carcass began to swell at an accelerated rate, inflating like a taut leather bag, becoming rounded and firm, seemingly on the verge of rupture.

Enveloping the corpulent corpse with his spiritual power, Song Wen then hurled it with utmost force towards the mountain valley.

The spherical fish, tearing through the dense Primordial Qi, whistled through the atmosphere, instantly traversing thousands of miles.

Boom!

A deafening roar accompanied the monstrous fish’s explosion, shattering the profound silence of the world.

Hearing the distant detonation, Song Wen turned his gaze towards Shadow Void.

"Shadow Void, ascertain the aftermath of that explosion," Song Wen commanded.

Shadow Void commenced his report.

"Master, the corpse cultivator has manifested at the explosion’s epicenter. He is currently holding Manager Yin and Bu Ren by their necks, interrogating them regarding any accomplices. Both are gravely wounded and merely clinging to life."

"Bu Ren contended that they had no associates, but rather identified himself as a subordinate of Lord Yingwu, retorting with threats of Lord Yingwu’s retribution should the corpse cultivator dare to end his life."

"The corpse cultivator, however, scoffed at Bu Ren’s hollow threats and proceeded to eliminate both individuals, even annihilating their divine souls."

"Master, he is now in pursuit of you."

A subtle smile graced Song Wen’s lips. The fish had finally taken the bait; his meticulous planning had not been in vain.

He abruptly pivoted and fled, making no effort to conceal the spiritual power radiating from his person, deliberately forging a trail for his pursuer.

The corpse cultivator maintained a slightly superior speed to Song Wen, though the difference was marginal.

Thus, the two figures streaked across a million miles, with the corpse cultivator eventually narrowing the distance to within a hundred miles of Song Wen.

By this juncture, they had reached the remote outskirts of the Primordial Qi Death Zone, where their divine senses could finally perceive each other’s presence.

"You must be that 'Lord Yingwu' I’ve heard whispers of," the corpse cultivator rasped, his desiccated lips parting to emit a voice akin to the desolate moan of wind sifting through ancient bones. "To dare provoke the Six Fiends Hall with mere late-stage Void Refinement cultivation? You are, indeed, courting your own demise!"

Before the final syllable had even dissipated, a two-foot-long Soul Breaking Awl materialized, hurtling directly towards Song Wen.

Perceiving the awl’s ferocious trajectory, Song Wen eschewed any attempt at evasion, instead halting his movement abruptly.

Throughout his flight, Song Wen had repeatedly confirmed with Shadow Void that the corpse cultivator was indeed utterly alone.

Brilliant Thunderlight erupted from Song Wen’s form, silvery-white plasma cascading forth like the celestial sweep of the Nine Heavens’ Milky Way, surging with immense power towards the incoming Soul Breaking Awl.

"A thunder cultivator!" The corpse cultivator’s eyes narrowed, a fleeting apprehension surfacing within his gaze before solidifying into unyielding resolve. "Hmph! What significance does it hold if you are a thunder cultivator?"

His withered, talon-like hands moved with incredible speed, forming an intricate sequence of arcane seals.

Instantly, a noxious surge of corpse qi billowed forth from the Soul Breaking Awl, its surface becoming adorned with countless contorted and unsettling talismans that flickered in and out of tangible existence.

The Soul Breaking Awl met the onslaught of Thunderlight head-on.

The Thunderlight detonated in a spectacular, blinding flash, resembling a miniature sun imploding.

Corpse qi, formidable and pervasive, rolled outward with the destructive force of a tidal wave, completely engulfing the proximate expanse.

After several prolonged breaths, the ethereal Thunderlight finally dissipated, and the Soul Breaking Awl’s formidable momentum had been significantly blunted.

"So, this is the extent of a thunder cultivator’s might!" The corpse cultivator sneered, channeling an even greater influx of energy into the Soul Breaking Awl.