Chapter 82 - Ambushed
Gathering all forty-eight slaves in an open field, Cale stood at the center of their circle. They remained shackled, their slave seals binding them to his will. They were incapable of even whimpering.
Cale contemplated, hand resting on his chin. "Quite a few in their twenties. That should provide decent nourishment. The purer the soul, the better, heh."
He opened the Thorned Lotus in a single fluid motion and made a sweeping cut through the air—a complete three-hundred-sixty-degree slash.
All forty-eight heads severed simultaneously, bodies and heads alike falling with thuds, blood spurting like fountains.
Cale immediately activated his domain and hurled a barrier talisman, trapping their souls within before they could disperse into the afterlife.
He sat quickly, activating Separator and Soul Severance to sever their connection with physical bodies. Normally, cultivators would have resisted, their developed wills would have fought back—but mortals had no such defense.
Using Override, he seized control of their souls. Some did resist instinctively, but his Nihility Domain relentlessly crushed their defiance and their left over wills.
Consuming Soul Refining Pills and Spirit Gathering Pills, he began the absorption process. All forty-eight souls merged into a flowing fog of white essence.
He directed some energy into the Thorned Lotus, some into refining his own body, the remainder into his mindspace for his three soul bodies to utilize and refine even further.
The process continued for three more hours.
Once complete, he sent the soulless but not-yet-dead bodies into his inner sanctum for future anatomical uses. The corpses could prove useful for understanding this world’s human physiology. Given that he wanted to make a body for his system, and if possible, make puppet bodies which he would provide souls to. He had seen the corpse sects’ people once, and they were full of such crazy techniques.
Standing finally, Cale sighed. "That wasn’t much at all. Guess I do need to hunt higher-level cultivators or at least normie cultivators. Can’t just become a serial killer now, can I?"
[Congratulations host for advancing to Peak Advance Stage of Soul Cultivation!]
[Reward: Curse Skill, Chains of Holding Technique]
"Oh, a curse skill? And chains—a restraint technique? That’s useful too..."
’Huh?’
Suddenly his senses erupted in warning.
He jumped and flew as high as his wings could carry him.
BOOM! BOOM!
Tens of explosions detonated below—exactly where he’d been standing moments before.
Flying higher, Cale looked down at the landscape below, his expression shifting to tension and confusion. He did anticipate a pursuit, but this scale...
"There’s more than 700 of them! Tsk! Fucking hell... why did I conduct a soul refinement here?!"
But then again, how was he supposed to go around with 48 slaves following him, they were damn slow too!
He was surrounded, not exactly close, but positioned kilometers away in all directions, forming a perfect circle with Cale at its center. It resembled a massive formation. Multiple layered barriers shimmered across the landscape, and since he floated near the shoreline, portions extended across the water itself.
His eyes narrowed as he activated Analyze, desperately searching for weak points before the formation solidified completely.
’Damn.’
But this was an impossibly large force. One or two arrays and formations he could handle. Dozens of high-tier ones? It was impossible for someone at Peak of Master Stage.
’Sigh, I need to go all out now...’
He landed seeing no choice left.
Two figures emerged from the shadows, their every footstep causing dozens of followers to materialize behind them.
"Child, you’ve run far enough," one called out. "It’s time you learned your place."
Cale maintained his composure despite his racing heart. "How far has the Wang clan fallen, sending hundreds to deal with one person?"
Wang Rou smiled as Wang Zetian materialized beside him.
"We wouldn’t have done this ordinarily. But you’re unusual, even opening a domain at Advance Stage? We detected unprecedented things, comparable to Merth himself. Why wouldn’t we commit everything to get to you?"
Cale drew Noxis, the fan splitting into eighteen flying blades that arranged themselves behind him like guardian wings.
’Hell! This is insane. I just broke through and now I’m surrounded by test subjects numbering in the hundreds, but I can somehow escap—’
An unknown pressure crashed down on him—a force so overwhelming that mere will alone drove him to his knees.
"W-Who?!"
He couldn’t even lift his head. His eyes were forced toward the dirt below. His elbows trembled violently. This was definitely someone above Expert Stage!
More enemies emerged from concealment.
When Cale finally found his footing and looked up, he saw him: a young man in green and white robes standing atop a distant cliff, his eyes piercing directly into Cale’s soul.
He quickly checked the system:
[Name: Wang Yunfeng]
[Age: 239]
[Cultivation: Peak Emperor Stage]
[Body: Rearing Smoke Body]
[Domain: Devouring Fog Domain]
[Spiritual Root: Wind, Sword, Water]
’Fucked, aren’t I?!’
How was he supposed to oppose a Peak Emperor Stage cultivator? That was an entire realm beyond Expert, even beyond Grandmaster— it was literally someone approaching divinity.
He stood quickly, facing Wang Yunfeng directly. "M-my lord... I am but a mere child in your eyes. Why are you even personally involved?"
"Hahahaha..."
Yunfeng laughed—a sound carrying amusement. "Child? Ah yes, child of that monster... although I wouldn’t normally aid in such matters, today even I am enraged. Blame your father for this, child."
Cale’s mind shattered. ’F-father?? What did he do? No way... did Silvester get him involved? Isn’t this too early though! I knew it, that goddamn father of mine is no good in my life!’
Every sign pointed toward exactly that scenario.
Gathering courage, Cale asked carefully, "I-I do not understand what has transpired. I’ve been isolated this entire time. This concerns something my father has done, Lord. I hope you’re benevolent to spare my life..."
Zetian roared, unable to contain his fury. "Your father has attacked and decimated nearly all our strongholds! He’s killed four emperors and eleven Expert Stage cultivators! Do you understand how much problematic that is to our plans? To survive months in the desolate wastelands and emerge just to face someone this powerful?!"
’Sigh, I might understand that better than you, old man. But seriously... was my father this strong? Killing emperors? I knew he was hiding it but.. fuck. What’s his cultivation realm then? Should I consider staying with my family? No, no, no—focus on current survival!’
He knelt on one knee. "Seniors! My father is merely a 5th Circle mage. He couldn’t possibly kill emperors unless the king himself took action..."
Wang Yunfeng sighed deeply. "Are you feigning ignorance or just unaware?"
Wang Rou continued, "We investigated you too, kid. Rising from a simple mortal without a core or spiritual roots to Master Stage in merely a single year? Even the topmost clans don’t produce such talent."
Cale couldn’t answer immediately. After a moment, he stood, pushing against the oppressive force with his own will, activating his domain to create breathing room.
"...I-I shall join your clan then! That should solve it right? I will help you get this continent."