Chapter 1093

Chapter 1093: Gathering Strength (Part 1)

Under the veil of night, the small town was alive with the flickering dance of ghostly fires.

Three miles away, atop a grassy mound, Wang Chen surveyed the town ahead, now nearly swallowed by wild grass and creeping vines, his eyes alight with a sharp, determined gleam.

He had ventured far from Luodu Immortal City, thousands of miles to be exact.

For the past three months, Wang Chen had journeyed westward along Fulong Mountain, scouring forbidden lands where spirit beasts and evil spirits roamed freely.

This expedition was not merely to hone his cultivation level and swordsmanship but primarily to amass spiritual energy for the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil, preparing for future battles or even the monumental task of breaking the Golden Core and condensing the Yuan Ying.

The Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil was not only a bane to evil spirits but also had the unique ability to convert dark forces into pure spiritual energy, which Wang Chen could tap into to replenish his magical reserves, significantly boosting his stamina in combat.

In many past skirmishes, it was this very capability of the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil that had enabled him to triumph over formidable foes.

Previously, in his quest to forge the Seven Ultimate Sword, Wang Chen had exhausted all the spiritual energy stored in the net and had since been unable to replenish it, leaving him with a lingering sense of unease.

Thus, this time, he was determined to "feed" this treasure to its brim!

Before departing from Luodu, Wang Chen had taken the initiative to gather extensive intelligence on spirit beasts and evil spirits.

As a Di-level immortal city, Luodu not only housed powerful sages but was also protected by an immensely strong protective formation, ensuring that no evil spirits or demons could infiltrate, thus maintaining its purity from malevolent influences.

However, within the vast jurisdiction of Luodu Immortal City lay numerous villages, mountain towns, and town settlements that were frequently besieged by threats from evil spirits or demons.

Evil spirits were an unending scourge, and the might of demons was on par with that of human cultivators. Since Luodu Immortal City was not the capital of a unified nation, it generally refrained from intervening in local affairs unless the situation escalated to a critical level.

Therefore, it was not uncommon for forbidden lands teeming with spirit beasts and evil spirits to emerge in areas distant from Luodu Immortal City.

These forbidden lands often served as training grounds for many cultivators.

Yet, some who entered these lands never returned.

The records of these forbidden lands were abundant, mingling truth with fiction, making it challenging to separate fact from myth. Wang Chen had invested a considerable sum of spirit stones to procure relatively accurate information.

The area ahead was known as Sifang Town, a place of scenic beauty nestled between mountains and water. It was said that at its zenith, the town was home to over ten thousand souls, bustling with merchants from all directions.

However, a sudden calamity had obliterated everything, transforming this once-thriving town into a desolate ruin, haunted by endless apparitions of spirit beasts and evil spirits, shrouded in mystery.

Some cultivators had ventured into Sifang Town, only to return with nothing to show for their efforts.

Others had disappeared within its confines, their fates a mystery.

In essence, such places were typically shunned by the average cultivator, who preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble.

But Wang Chen was different.

He harbored no fear of evil spirits; his concern was the absence of them, which would render his journey futile!

Throughout his travels, Wang Chen had explored numerous locales, often finding himself at a dead end.

Glancing up at the sky, he noted the moon was obscured, the wind was fierce, and the stars were dim—a perfect setting for evil spirits to emerge. Without hesitation, he formed a spell and began to mask his own aura.

Wang Chen’s cultivation level, or more precisely, the outward manifestation of his dan power, swiftly descended from the seventh level of Golden Core to just the first level before stabilizing.

Under his careful manipulation, his aura appeared unstable, nearly perfectly mimicking the state of someone who had just begun condensing elixirs.

This would serve as an excellent lure!

Many Evil Spirits are exceedingly cunning, possessing an instinct to seek advantage and avoid danger. Upon sensing a threat, they will either hide or escape, never foolishly walking into a trap.

Wang Chen suppressed his aura to the first level of Golden Core, neither too high nor too low. His vitality and soul energy were exceptionally vibrant, and he had already lured many Evil Spirits that could not resist temptation.

Now, he was ready to employ the same tactic once more!

Once prepared, Wang Chen’s figure flickered, instantly covering a distance of several dozen feet.

With a few leaps, he approached Sifang Town.

Facing the dark, ghostly ruins before him, Wang Chen did not hesitate to push through the waist-high wild grass, swiftly making his way to the center of the town.

A dilapidated theater came into view.

Such theaters are common in the villages and towns of Cangqing, where specialized troupes would regularly perform, offering a bit of entertainment to the lowest-tier cultivators of the world of cultivation.

Moreover, during significant events, the theater and its surrounding area served as a gathering place for discussions!

The theater in Sifang Town was quite grand, with intricate carvings and a layout that exuded elegance. Even after years of abandonment, traces of its former splendor remained.

Wang Chen landed lightly on the stage, not disturbing a single speck of dust beneath his feet.

He surveyed his surroundings, his eyes gleaming with a blade-like sharpness.

After a moment, Wang Chen flicked out a spirit pill the size of a dragon’s eye.

The pill flew swiftly several dozen steps away, then exploded without a sound.

An unusual aura immediately spread in all directions.

This spirit pill, known as the Evil Luring Pill, was designed to attract Evil Spirits. Its purpose was self-evident, and due to the rare materials required for its creation, it was quite costly.

However, the Evil Luring Pill was highly effective; within mere moments, ghostly figures began to emerge from the ruins surrounding the theater.

Sifang Town indeed harbored a multitude of Evil Spirits.

Yet, these spirits seemed wary of Wang Chen’s strength, lingering at the edges but not daring to approach the theater.

Eerie whispers surrounded him, their fragmented murmurs like a haunting melody.

Wang Chen waited patiently for half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Sensing the moment was right, he suddenly rose to his feet.

In the next instant, he appeared above the theater, reaching down with his hand to press down. The Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil instantly unfurled.

In the blink of an eye, the Exorcising Net covered an area of a thousand steps, ensnaring all the attracted Evil Spirits within its massive net.

The destructive power of the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil grew with Wang Chen’s strength. Now at the peak of the Golden Core level, combined with his formidable dan power from successfully condensing an elixir, he was able to unleash a portion of the net’s true potential.

Every Evil Spirit caught in the Heavenly Net, regardless of size or rank, became like a fish trapped in a net. No matter how they struggled, they could not break free.

Under Wang Chen’s control, the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil tightened, its strands glowing with a faint golden light, relentlessly consuming the dark forces of the captured spirits.

In an instant, the weaker Evil Spirits disintegrated into nothingness.

As the massive net contracted into a sphere, the last few powerful spirits managed to let out a piercing shriek before they were utterly annihilated.

Their power was transformed into the purest spiritual energy, stored within the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil.

Wang Chen retracted the precious net, feeling deeply satisfied.

By now, the spiritual energy stored within the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil had reached nearly sixty percent. Even if he were to return home now, it would sustain him for a considerable time!