Ji Changkong, having barely managed to secure the Dan Yan, had thought his tolerance for the others, allowing them to siphon stellar energy from the periphery, was generous enough. He hadn't expected these individuals to take advantage and then demand more, actually uniting to push toward the interior. This immediately ignited a killing intent within Ji Changkong.
Ghost Old Seven and Xiao Yunduan were likewise furious, their two divine souls burning like raging fireballs.
The fellows from Xuanyuan Valley, like Huang Xun and Lan Xingyun, had been cultivating peacefully only to be suddenly disturbed. Naturally, they had no patience for it, each secretly waiting for the intruders to appear, prepared to teach them an unforgettable lesson.
Soon, clusters of divine souls, resembling hellish ghost-fires, pierced through the dense surrounding light rays, gradually approaching Ji Changkong and Ghost Old Seven.
The divine souls spread out like an invisible broom, sweeping the area. Ji Changkong immediately absorbed the auras of these twenty-seven souls into his nebula-like soul consciousness. Twenty-seven souls, with cultivation realms roughly comparable, exhibited varying strengths in mental power.
The leading three soul clusters shared a long and profound aura. Their souls carried a faint scent of sulfurous magma, and even before approaching, waves of heat radiated from them.
After a cursory scan, he instantly discerned that the leading three likely hailed from the same Celestial Master sect or family; they might even be sworn brothers or blood relations.
The sulfuric scent, reminiscent of a volcanic eruption emanating from their souls, suggested they were Celestial Masters from Huoluo Kingdom in the Western Regions—a nation riddled with volcanoes that could supply such abundant sulfur for their cultivation.
Having confirmed the identity of the leaders, Ji Changkong’s killing intent deepened. The Huoluo Kingdom habitually revered the Manichaean religion as a divine faith. Most Celestial Masters there were connected to Manichaeism. Unsurprisingly, Ji Changkong, who held no affection for Manichaeism, had no intention of being courteous to these three arrivals.
“What business brings you here, sirs?” Before the others could draw closer, Ji Changkong boomed.
One of the three leading soul clusters abruptly vibrated, sending a faint wave of heat washing over him.
“Heh heh! Such a prime cultivation paradise, and only twelve of you are here siphoning energy? That’s quite the waste. As fellow Celestial Masters cultivating on Tianheng Star, I trust you won't mind if we join in and take a little benefit?”
As the sulfur-laced hot wave struck, Ji Changkong’s nebula-like soul shifted, slowly emitting a wave of subtle fluctuation. This pulse, gentle as a spring breeze, seemed to dissolve the noxious, sulfurous heat wave into nothingness.
“Didn’t you already take your fill from the periphery?” Ghost Old Seven’s soul flickered like a green, eerie flame, its chilling aura subtly seeping outward.
“Heh heh! You mentioned the periphery. How can the density of stellar energy out there compare to what’s here?”
“Exactly. We are all comrades on the path. Since the stellar energy here is dense enough and still flowing toward us, you certainly can’t use it all. What’s the harm in letting us share a bit?”
“Be reasonable, friend, don’t be so stingy!”
The leading three clusters, clearly acting in concert, exchanged remarks, making it plain they intended to stay.
Behind them, the divine souls from various sects and families, spurred on by the leading trio, also began to clamor, clearly intending to settle in and cultivate.
“Very well, please, make yourselves comfortable!”
Unexpectedly, Ji Changkong agreed outright, then commanded Ghost Old Seven, Xiao Yunduan, and the others: “Let’s move. We’re leaving this spot!”
Ghost Old Seven and Xiao Yunduan harbored doubts, puzzled as to why Ji Changkong would show weakness. However, they had always followed Ji Changkong’s lead unquestioningly and moved their souls without further comment.
It was Huang Xun, Lan Xingyun, and the others who took issue. Their souls didn't immediately depart; instead, they began arguing vociferously with the newcomers, accusing them of boundless greed.
“What’s the matter? This place isn't exclusively yours! If you can come, why can't we?” The leading soul vibrated coldly, transmitting a thought.
“This place is exclusively ours. If Young Master Ji weren't here, this spot…” one from Xuanyuan Valley retorted.
“We’re leaving!” Ji Changkong abruptly cut off his argument and turned, flying outward.
Ghost Old Seven and Xiao Yunduan followed closely behind.
Seeing Ji Changkong, Ghost Old Seven, and Xiao Yunduan retreat, Huang Xun and the others hesitated no longer. Though feeling a degree of reluctance, they followed suit.
The dense, lingering stellar energy gradually dissipated after Ji Changkong departed. In a short while, less than six-tenths of the formerly concentrated energy remained, and it was vanishing at an alarming rate.
“The ones capable of gathering the stellar energy must be them! If they leave, not only will the energy stop accumulating here, but it will spread rapidly!”
“We must follow them, or all this stellar energy will disappear soon!”
“If everyone wants their cultivation efforts to yield twice the result, we have to keep up!”
The leading trio ceaselessly urged the others on.
Of the twenty-seven individuals who had gathered, excluding the leaders, a portion began flying in the direction Ji Changkong’s group had taken, attempting to shadow them closely, hoping to use their peculiar stellar energy accumulation method to benefit themselves.
Another portion did not follow the leading trio. These individuals discussed amongst themselves; feeling that since the spot wasn't naturally formed but manually condensed by Ji Changkong’s group, pursuing them felt improper, they abandoned their greed.
In their view, if this location had formed naturally, like the 'Yin Peak'—a natural cultivation site—then Ji Changkong could cultivate, and so could they. But if the site was something others had worked to create, it was their territory, and demanding access now would be an act of banditry.
They had not violated their own principles.
“Young Master Ji, those people clearly have ill intentions, and now they are trailing far behind us. Why did we leave?” After gaining some distance, Lan Xingyun couldn’t hold back his impatience and pressed for an answer.
The divine souls of Ghost Old Seven, Xiao Yunduan, and others converged, evidently just as curious about Lan Xingyun’s question.
“Not everyone who arrived just now harbored ill intentions. The astute ones simply didn't understand, assuming the place was naturally formed. If it were us, and there was a natural cultivation spot like Yin Peak, we’d want to benefit from it too.”
He paused, then added, “However, those still following us now are the truly malicious ones… Since they know the stellar energy accumulation is entirely due to us, yet they still follow, there’s no need to treat such people politely!”
“Everyone, prepare yourselves. When they arrive shortly, there will be no warning, no courtesies. Strike immediately,” he ordered.
“That’s more like it!” Huang Xun immediately voiced his agreement.
“Young Master Ji’s ability to discern right from wrong and avoid needless killing is truly admirable! I am convinced,” said the person who had spoken rashly before, expressing shame.
“Everyone, let’s be cautious. There are still seventeen more coming. The leading three likely hail from the Western Region's Huoluo Kingdom. These three practice the same Celestial Master secret technique and share tacit understanding. When we fight, we must be wary of these three!” Ji Changkong cautioned them.
“Hey! Those ahead, wait! Wait up.” One soul, carrying the scent of volcanic sulfur, rapidly approached, its soul-thought condensing into a sharp arrow that pierced the faint light rays and quickly reached Ji Changkong’s party.
Ji Changkong's group, whose souls moved with great speed, seemed to sense his incoming thought-wave and all came to a halt, waiting silently for their arrival.
“Haha! You friends ahead are truly kind people. I knew you wouldn't be so unreasonable. Hey, friends, we were mistaken just now, we misunderstood you. It turns out that place really was exclusively yours. Our apologies, our apologies!”
The followers who caught up chimed in, all agreeing they had been blind and failed to see the truth just moments ago.
As these followers transmitted their messages, they rapidly closed the distance toward Ji Changkong’s group, subtly fanning out. Inexplicably, they began to fly in a semi-circle toward Ji Changkong’s party.
Based on their trajectory, if Ji Changkong’s group had remained motionless and allowed them to approach, they would have ultimately stopped in a ring formation, encircling the souls of Ji Changkong’s party in the center.
Their intentions were clear enough without saying a word!
At that very moment.
Streaks, waves, and rings—some long and thin, others wide and broad—of intense soul fluctuations erupted violently from the front, surging forth like a broken dam, fierce and relentless!
Soul attacks were always perilous and merciless. Ji Changkong’s group had prepared for this, striking unexpectedly. These sharp soul attacks reached the pursuers almost instantly. Ghost Old Seven, Huang Xun, and the others, who had long observed the newcomers’ subtle movements, harbored deep resentment and struck without mercy.
Soul beams, mental ripples, tides of endless hatred, soul-shattering needles—attacks specifically targeting the divine soul—rained down in a flurry, their killing intent razor-sharp.
The leading three soul clusters, recognizing the perilous situation, suddenly split apart.
These three souls seemed to have planned for this moment; their escape was impeccably timed. As so many attacks descended, they were the first to evade them. The rogue cultivators following these three were not so fortunate. The leading few were immediately struck, their divine souls buffeted wildly by the fierce assault, their lights flickering.
“Ji Changkong! How dare you strike with such malice!”
“Everyone, pay attention! The one attacking you is Ji Changkong of Xuanyuan Valley!”
“Ji Changkong, your soul is shaped like a nebula—that is the Star Cloud Soul Refinement Art of the Aoluo Divine Sect! Did you think we wouldn't recognize it?”
The three souls that had managed to flee suddenly broadcast powerful soul fluctuations.
“You fellows from the Western Region’s Huoluo Kingdom, you know me, and I know you. Heh heh, I’d like to see if these followers, even incited by you, can protect you wretches.” Ji Changkong’s soul-thought expanded, suddenly enveloping the entire area.
“The new generation’s leader of the Aoluo Divine Sect, I have long admired your name. I am Palidai of the Manichaean Sect, greetings, esteemed one!” From the distance, a potent wave of soul fluctuation arrived, carrying an aura of deep, chilling darkness as the message approached. (To be continued)