The Dead Still Swamp was perpetually shrouded in noxious miasma, a vast expanse of mire where every step demanded caution; straying meant sinking into the sludge or being ambushed by lurking demonic beasts.
To the east of the Dead Still Swamp, the area was comparatively remote, attracting far fewer martial artists to its vicinity.
Along the way, Shi Yan encountered several mercenaries operating near the swamp, hunting beasts or searching for rare medicinal herbs. Most of them were at the Innate or Human Ranks, their cultivation levels decidedly unremarkable.
Shi Yan's sole focus was exiting the Dead Still Swamp as quickly as possible, so he avoided any confrontation with these mercenaries. In fact, upon spotting any of them, he would deliberately steer clear, lest they memorize his face and inadvertently reveal his tracks to Bei Ming Shang.
One night, however.
Shi Yan pondered deeply for a long while. He retrieved the Sky-Splitting Sword and the Ice Armor, spoils taken from Bei Ming Ce, and tossed them into the viscous, green marsh water before him. He watched, unblinking, as these two profound treasures, once belonging to Bei Ming Ce, were gradually consumed by the swamp’s foul, poisonous depths.
Both the Sky-Splitting Sword and the Ice Armor were extraordinary secret treasures, all forged by Bei Ming Shang himself.
Traces of Bei Ming Shang’s divine sense were subtly embedded within the sword and the armor; within a certain radius, Bei Ming Shang might yet be able to perceive their location.
Though fully aware of the immense value of the Sky-Splitting Sword and the Ice Armor, Shi Yan endured the pain and discarded them for the sake of his very life.
The corrosive nature of the swamp’s toxic water was something Shi Yan had already tested. He trusted that once submerged, the foul liquid would sever Bei Ming Shang’s psychic tether to the artifacts.
Having completed this grim task, Shi Yan resumed his trek toward the east.
Three nights later.
Shi Yan stood concealed within a thicket of leaves, subtly suppressing his aura, and cautiously observing what lay ahead.
Sounds of a skirmish drifted from a nearby wetland, suggesting a one-sided rout based on the noise alone.
Though curiosity tugged at him, Shi Yan held back from investigating, resolving to proceed eastward only after the fighting had completely ceased.
A quarter of an hour later, the sounds of combat ahead finally fell silent.
Shi Yan remained motionless for another half an hour, ensuring the parties involved had surely departed, before he quietly slipped out of the brush and moved toward that section of wetland.
The route to the east required passage across that particular patch of dry land, flanked on both sides by the swamp—the very reason he had not bothered taking a detour.
Arriving there, Shi Yan found seven or eight corpses strewn across the ground. Their vital energy had long since dissipated into the atmosphere; there was nothing for him to gain.
These bodies likely belonged to a single mercenary band, their armor generally uniform. They appeared to have been savaged by a demonic beast, their bodies torn beyond recognition—a truly gruesome end.
After a brief survey, Shi Yan confirmed he could salvage nothing from the remains, sparing them no further glance. He quickened his pace, eager to leave the scene.
“I knew you would come this way.”
Just then, a voice drifted from a nearby cluster of bushes. It was Xia Xinyan.
As the words faded, Xia Xinyan’s graceful figure, masked as always, emerged from behind a curtain of foliage.
Behind her, the two towering, giant men were methodically wiping traces of blood from their hands with pieces of gray cloth.
“Did you kill these people?” Shi Yan asked flatly.
“Mm.” Xia Xinyan nodded, offering no explanation for slaying the mercenaries. Her beautiful eyes flickered with an unusual light as she gazed intently at Shi Yan. After a long pause, she spoke, “You truly obtained Ouyang Zhi’s Star Soul Source Imprint.”
“Ouyang Zhi?” Shi Yan’s expression shifted slightly. “Who is he?”
“He is the one who constructed the Pseudo-Heavenly Gate and left behind the legacy of the Soul Source Imprint. Ouyang Zhi is a legend in our Boundless Sea, the Star God of the Three Gods Cult. A thousand years ago, he possessed cultivation at the Third Heaven of the Divine Realm, reportedly just a single step shy of True Godhood,” Xia Xinyan explained slowly.
“The Three Gods Cult? The Star God? What else do you know?” Shi Yan exclaimed.
“A thousand years ago, the Sun God, Moon God, and Star God of the Three Gods Cult journeyed together into the Seventh Netherworld and clashed with King Yama Abi in the Nether Sea. They were trapped by King Yama Abi’s formation, the ‘Abyssal Hell,’ woven with thirty million nether soldiers. It was the most devastating battle in the Seventh Netherworld in a millennium. The conflict inflicted catastrophic losses upon the Three Gods Cult, killing countless disciples. After that battle, only the Sun God of the three returned from the Seventh Netherworld; the Moon God and Star God vanished without a trace. Of King Yama Abi’s thirty million nether troops, only five million survived, and King Yama Abi himself was reportedly severely wounded, having not risen from the depths of the Nether Sea in a thousand years…”
“The Sun, Moon, and Star Gods? The Seventh Netherworld? King Yama Abi?”
Shi Yan’s eyes were clouded with confusion. He shook his head. “Are you saying that Heavenly Gate was constructed by one of the Three Gods, the Star God?”
“Correct.” Xia Xinyan nodded lightly. “After that battle, many assumed the Moon God and Star God were dead; indeed, they have not appeared in the Boundless Sea for a thousand years. Judging by the Pseudo-Heavenly Gate and the anomalies at Absolute Yin Valley, Ouyang Zhi was gravely injured in the Seventh Netherworld and is likely truly dead. However, before his demise, he somehow arrived here, slew the Rank Eight demonic beast, the Mud Marsh Flood Dragon, and used the beast’s essence crystal and residual power to construct this Pseudo-Heavenly Gate and Pseudo-Divine Domain, leaving behind his Soul Source Imprint—a legacy for his Martial Soul.”
“Soul Source Imprint.”
Shi Yan let out a soft cry, instinctively glancing toward his heart. A strange look crossed his face.
“The Soul Source Imprint is the brand of a Martial Soul. Once a martial artist obtains one, they can claim the Martial Soul contained within. Divine Realm experts, knowing their end is near, can use profound divine arts to transform their Martial Soul into a Source Imprint, ensuring their soul lineage doesn't vanish. The mark of the Star Martial Soul is small, stellar specks on the heart, resembling a vast star chart magnified billions of times,” Xia Xinyan elaborated.
“It’s a Martial Soul?” Shi Yan’s eyes instantly brightened, looking joyfully at the area over his heart.
“Not just a Martial Soul, but a Saint-Grade Martial Soul!” Xia Xinyan confirmed.
“Saint-Grade Martial Soul?” Shi Yan paused. “Martial Souls have ranks?”
“Of course. Based on the power and the number of times they can evolve, Martial Souls are categorized as Mortal, Profound, Spirit, Saint, and Divine Grades. The mightier the power, the stronger the divine abilities, and the more evolution cycles a soul permits, the more formidable it naturally is. For example, the Sun, Moon, and Star Martial Souls of the Three Gods Cult are all Saint-Grade. Similarly, our Xia family’s Samsara Martial Soul is also Saint-Grade. Martial Souls appear too rarely where you come from for any ranking system, but here in the Boundless Sea, there are countless bizarre and varied Martial Souls, each with distinct characteristics and powers. Without a detailed classification system, how would anyone know which one is superior or possesses greater potential for growth?”
“What grade would our Shi family’s Petrification Martial Soul be?”
“Without a specialized assessment, I cannot make an accurate judgment. However, I suspect it would be, at best, Spirit-Grade. I’ve never heard of a Saint-Grade Martial Soul in your region. A Martial Soul’s rank depends not just on current power but also on how many times it can evolve and its ultimate potential—the details are incredibly complex. In the Boundless Sea, there are dedicated Martial Soul Halls that handle these matters; they have the final say on a Martial Soul’s standing.”
“Are Saint-Grade Martial Souls very rare?”
“Extremely rare, of course. In the Boundless Sea, Saint-Grade Martial Souls represent the highest tier. Families possessing them are undoubtedly the foremost powers. Do you think Saint-Grade Martial Souls are common?”
“So, you’re saying I hit the jackpot this time?”
“What do you think?”
“Miss Xia, thank you for telling me so much. I intend to go to the Boundless Sea; are we traveling in the same direction?”
Xia Xinyan suddenly fell silent.
If Shi Yan never ventured to the Boundless Sea, his existence would pose little threat to her interests.
However, the moment Shi Yan entered the Boundless Sea and displayed the Star Martial Soul, the Three Gods Cult would surely learn of it. They would spare no expense to find him, elevate him to the status of a Divine Child, and provide him with the optimal cultivation environment.
The Three Gods Cult and the Xia family were direct rivals. Shi Yan’s Star Martial Soul destined him to become one of the future pillars of the Three Gods Cult. His arrival in the Boundless Sea guaranteed the Xia family would face a formidable adversary down the line.
“Miss,” the two tower-like men murmured softly, prompting her.
“You are truly going to the Boundless Sea?” Xia Xinyan looked at him deeply, complex emotions flickering in her bright eyes.
Shi Yan frowned, unable to gauge her true intentions. After a moment of thought, he smiled wryly. “In my current predicament, if I don’t go to the Boundless Sea, can I still survive in Tianyun City? You are well aware of Bei Ming Shang’s influence in the Merchant Alliance. If I return there, I die, and the Shi family will suffer collateral damage. I have no choice.”
“Let me be frank with you.” Xia Xinyan paused, then stated suddenly, “Our Xia family and the Three Gods Cult belong to opposing factions. Given the Star Martial Soul within you, if you go to the Boundless Sea, there is a very high probability you will become a key figure in the Three Gods Cult. In the future, you will be my enemy—and a powerful one at that.”
Shi Yan’s expression chilled abruptly. He instinctively took a few steps back, putting distance between himself and the trio, and sneered, “You three waited here, intending to eliminate future trouble. Miss Xia, I don’t understand why you wasted so much time talking to me. Were you just ensuring I died an informed ghost?”
The two imposing men moved out from behind Xia Xinyan, one on either side, spreading out and fixing Shi Yan with icy glares. Their posture clearly indicated they were prepared to strike.
“Hold your hands,” Xia Xinyan frowned slightly, issuing a sharp command that stopped the two giants. She then fixed her gaze on Shi Yan. “You can join my Xia family first, becoming one of our retainers. I will implant a specific poison in you, and then arrange for you to enter the Three Gods Cult to study their secret arts. No matter what status you achieve within the Cult, you will remain a member of the Xia family. How about that?”
“Become your Xia family’s mole inside the Three Gods Cult?” Shi Yan scoffed.
“Mole? That description is quite accurate. Yes, that is the intent. What do you think?” Xia Xinyan watched him. “If you agree, I will aid you fully. All you must do is learn their arts and never oppose my Xia family in the future. I swear I will never trouble you.”
“I agree.”