Chu Xuan infused the soul into the Evil Soul Chain. Whether the soul was suitable for the Evil Soul Chain required further tempering. If it couldn't endure the tempering, it would dissipate and become nourishment for the cord.

Moments later, a wail echoed from the Evil Soul Chain as the soul shattered into countless fragments.

Chu Xuan shook his head helplessly, "Fellow daoist, you just don't make the cut."

For the next month, Chu Xuan remained in the Misty Mountains. Every few days, he would go out to hunt Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. Of course, his main goal was to find a suitable soul for the Evil Soul Chain.

Absolutely not for their storage bags. Yes, absolutely not.

After a month, Chu Xuan had taken down three Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and more than a dozen Qi Refining stage cultivators. The Myriad Souls Banner had grown significantly.

But he still hadn't found a suitable soul. These souls, without exception, couldn't last more than a hundred breaths before shattering into countless fragments, becoming nourishment for the Evil Soul Chain.

This left Chu Xuan quite frustrated. He even began to suspect the cord was doing it on purpose. As if it wanted to devour more souls.

As for merit, there was no need to worry. After all, there was a difference between immortals and mortals. Once a mortal embarked on the path of cultivation, they became a cultivator, no longer a mere mortal. Slaughtering mortals would harm one's merit, but killing cultivators would not.

"Seems I need to kill a formidable Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. I think Sun Shi would be a good choice."

Chu Xuan nodded to himself. He had seen Sun Shi from afar several times.

However, Sun Shi was quite advanced in his cultivation, at least at the third layer of the Foundation Establishment stage. To deal with such a cultivator, thorough preparation was necessary.

Chu Xuan didn't want to be caught off guard.

"Hmm? The sound of battle?"

At that moment, Chu Xuan's brow furrowed as he heard the sounds of an increasingly intense battle.

The air was filled with the whooshing of spells and magical tools.

In a flash, he appeared atop a giant tree, concealing his presence completely while observing the surroundings. Soon, he saw one person pursuing another.

The one being chased was Liu Zhenxiong. He was bleeding profusely from his right arm and bore multiple wounds.

The one chasing him was Sun Shi.

Sun Shi roared, "Liu Zhenxiong! You killed my Junior Brother Zhao! And you murdered two other Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the Divine Star Sect! Stop and face your death!"

Ahead, Liu Zhenxiong, using his escape technique, was almost spitting blood in anger.

When did I kill anyone from the Divine Star Sect? Nonsense! I've been hiding in a cave every day; killing people would only expose my location!

However, he couldn't be bothered to explain this to Sun Shi. He only wanted to shake off Sun Shi and hide back in the dense fog of the mountains.

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Unfortunately, his injuries were severe, and he lacked healing pills, significantly slowing his escape speed. Though he had injured Sun Shi, the latter had an ample supply of healing pills. Even though he expended his vital blood to escape, he still couldn't shake off Sun Shi.

Worse, the commotion would inevitably attract other cultivators. If the monks from the Golden Dragon Temple were also drawn in, he would surely die!

Up in the giant tree, Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Sun Shi was so focused on pursuing Liu Zhenxiong that he hadn't noticed Chu Xuan's presence. If he attacked now, it would be a thunderous strike! Even if he couldn't kill Sun Shi on the spot, he would undoubtedly deal a heavy blow!

Seizing the opportunity, Chu Xuan struck just as Sun Shi sped past the giant tree.

The Evil Soul Chain shot out like lightning, aiming for Sun Shi's head. The Myriad Souls Banner unfurled, and over a dozen vengeful spirits and evil ghosts pounced viciously.

Sun Shi never expected a deadly ambush from the treetop. In a panic, he instinctively summoned a small silver shield to block.

However, Chu Xuan's long-prepared attack was not so easily thwarted. With a clang, the silver shield dimmed and fell to the ground. The Evil Soul Chain continued its relentless assault, striking Sun Shi's head directly.

With a scream, Sun Shi plummeted to the ground. The vengeful spirits and evil ghosts swarmed him, tearing at his flesh.

Long, who had been waiting for the right moment, surged forward, tearing off one of Sun Shi's legs!

"Get off!"

Sun Shi roared in fury, releasing sixteen small swords from his sleeve. The vengeful spirits were instantly pierced through, forming gaping holes.

Clang, clang, clang!

The sixteen small swords spun around Sun Shi. It was his life-bound magic tool, the Azure Cloud Divine Edge. This treasure, a set of magical tools, consisted of sixteen small swords, capable of both attack and defense, advancing or retreating at will. It was the magic tool that had made Sun Shi famous. Earlier, he had used this very tool to heavily injure Liu Zhenxiong.

Standing on one leg, Sun Shi coldly glared at the top of the giant tree. There, a bald cultivator hovered. He growled, "You are also a demonic cultivator?! Fine, there are actually two Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators in the Misty Mountains!"

He urged the Azure Cloud Divine Edge, sending all sixteen swords hurtling toward Chu Xuan at lightning speed.

In one breath, the swords were in their original position; in the next, they were right in front of Chu Xuan!

Swoosh!

The Azure Cloud Divine Edge pierced the bald cultivator who had ambushed him.

However, it did not feel like it had pierced flesh.

Sun Shi's vision blurred, and he realized that the spot where the bald cultivator had stood was now empty.

All that remained was a mass of dark purple Yin Evil aura.

Sun Shi froze, sensing danger, and hurriedly tried to retract the Azure Cloud Divine Edge to defend against an attack from behind.

But it was too late. The Evil Soul Chain lashed out from behind, slicing across his neck.

A head flew high into the air. Blood spurted like a fountain!

Sun Shi's consciousness was swiftly consumed by darkness and cold.

Chu Xuan activated his soul-extracting technique, pulling a soul from Sun Shi's body.

"Excellent!"

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up. This white soul was much more condensed and superior to the three he had previously acquired. It might just be suitable for the Evil Soul Chain!

Liu Zhenxiong, who had been fleeing desperately, suddenly heard Sun Shi's scream. He halted and looked back. He saw a bald cultivator extracting a soul from Sun Shi's crown. The scene filled him with a sense of familiarity.

This was a common practice among demonic cultivators! Moreover, the soul-extracting technique clearly belonged to the Infinite Sect. Could this be a Foundation Establishment stage disciple of the Infinite Sect?

The Infinite Sect had ten Golden Core Patriarchs, each with Foundation Establishment stage disciples. While Liu Zhenxiong didn't know all of these disciples, he recognized most of them. But this person was unfamiliar.

Liu Zhenxiong did not foolishly approach immediately. Instead, he kept his distance and called out loudly, "Thank you for your help! May I know which Patriarch's disciple you are?"

Chu Xuan glanced at him without responding. He did not want to be associated with the remnants of the Infinite Sect. The five major righteous sects of Yu Kingdom were all keenly watching the remaining demonic cultivators. The closer he got to the Infinite Sect remnants, the more likely he would be targeted. He did not want to live like a rat in the streets again.

Liu Zhenxiong hurriedly continued, "Fellow Daoist, I am Liu Zhenxiong, a Foundation Establishment stage disciple under Patriarch Wan Wuying! Fellow Daoist! My master, Patriarch Wan, is still alive. With him, there is hope for the Infinite Sect to rise again!"