Chapter 1066: Soul Mark

Ye Mo calmed down. Since meeting this female cultivator, she had dominated their conversation.

“Yuan Guannan was a mere nascent soul state level five, ranked around 200 on the nascent soul state trial tablet. It’s no wonder you could kill him, since you reached level six,” the female cultivator said calmly.

“How do you know I killed Yuan Guannan?” Ye Mo asked. Hiding it was pointless. He'd been recognized by Yuan Guannan before, and despite changing his appearance, Ye Mo no longer trusted his stealth.

The female cultivator replied slowly, “Most core disciples of 8-star and 9-star sects have a soul mark. Killing them transfers the mark; it persists for years, and cultivators above the body condensation state can see it. Yours is quite clear, indicating the recent death of a 9-star sect core disciple.”

“Few 9-star sect disciples reach level five. Yuan Guannan was outwardly gentlemanly, but actually vengeful. If he wanted someone dead, he'd act secretly. I suspect you offended him; he attacked, and you killed him.”

Ye Mo was shocked, admiring her sharp mind. It was as if she’d witnessed the event. He remained neutral, neither confirming nor denying. “Since you say those at the body condensation state or above can see the mark, how can you?”

The female cultivator smiled, anticipating his question. She produced a mirror and tossed it to him. “Because of this. It's called the Extreme Mirror; it sees souls invisible to the eye or spirit sense, and penetrates all mask magic artifacts.”

Ye Mo examined himself in the mirror. He was shocked—he saw not only a faint shadow on his back but also his true face. He didn't know if the mirror could penetrate Stealth Sand, but his confidence in stealth mask magic artifacts plummeted. He hadn't even sensed the ghostly mark. A 9-star sect was truly powerful.

“Can you help me remove it?” Ye Mo asked, retaining the mirror. He'd calmed his worry.

The female cultivator nodded approvingly. “I can’t remove it, but I can conceal it. Only truth realization states could see through the concealment; those below wouldn't detect it.”

Ye Mo shook his head. If truth realization states could see through it, concealing it was pointless. Truth realization state cultivators had been present in South Peace City when he killed Tian Aofeng; what would they do about Yuan Guannan?

He wanted to burn the mark with his heaven flame, but not in front of her.

He considered this before asking, “Does this mark affect only nascent soul state cultivators, not golden core state cultivators?”

“Correct. This soul mark only marks cultivators with an essence spirit. Golden core state cultivators lack a nascent soul, and thus, an essence spirit.” She paused, then smiled. “You’re bold; you likely killed Tian Aofeng as well. The Lightning Cloud sect still rages, and you challenged the Infinity sect—it’s a miracle you’re alive.”

Ye Mo was speechless; she was incredibly astute. A casual question, and she’d deduced he’d killed Tian Aofeng. He didn't bother arguing; killing two didn't significantly worsen his situation.

Seeing his silence, she changed tack. “You reached level six, meaning you can sever mental pressure. My request is simple: I have a method, but I can't reach level seven alone. I need your help. In return, I’ll conceal your soul mark.”

Ye Mo remained silent, then said, “Agreed, but I can't stay. In five days, meet me at the stairway to level seven. I need to borrow your mirror for a few days. I may not need you to hide the mark; I just need a new identity upon leaving.”

The female cultivator was shocked. “Remove it yourself? Impossible! But a new identity is easy; I can provide that anytime.”

“Good,” Ye Mo agreed readily.

“I’m Jing Yingli. Remember that.”

“I’m Ye Mo.” He had no need to hide his name.

Then, he remembered something. “The 9-star sect Abstruse Sound Sect has a Jing Yingmeng. What's your relationship to her?” Jing Yingmeng was ranked fourth among the South Peace State's ten beauties.

Jing Yingli sneered. “You’re quite the womanizer, but I advise against pursuing Jing Yingmeng.”

Ye Mo finally sensed her emotion—she’d been calm, but he felt a flicker of anger and hatred at the mention of Jing Yingmeng.

“See you in five days.” Ye Mo vanished on his Zi Xu, leaving Jing Yingli. Her primary goal was Truth Fall Palace level seven, but level six held valuable resources; she’d gather what she needed in five days.

After leaving Jing Yingli, Ye Mo entered the Golden Page World. He immediately donned Stealth Sand and tested it with the Extreme Mirror. It was superior to 9 Transformations, but still left traces; discerning them required careful scrutiny.

The mirror was extraordinary, yet Jing Yingli readily lent it to a stranger. Clearly, Truth Fall Palace level seven was crucial to her.

Ye Mo put away the Extreme Mirror and used his spirit sense thoroughly, examining his body repeatedly. He had to return the mirror; if he couldn't find the mark, what then?

After numerous searches, he finally located a faint shadow on his back—the soul mark. He unleashed the mist lotus heart fire. Under the heaven's scorching heat, it dimmed slowly.

Ye Mo cursed. Even the heaven flame couldn't burn it! He deployed the Purple Flower Fire and the Snow Essence Fire. Under the three rare flames' assault, the shadow shrieked and vanished.

Ye Mo checked himself again in the Extreme Mirror; the soul mark was gone. He finally relaxed. Jing Yingli had genuinely helped him. Without her, he’d have been killed by body condensation state cultivators upon leaving, without knowing why.

He felt significantly better, the discomfort from killing Yuan Guannan gone. He opened the storage rings—vast quantities of spirit herbs and ores, all from the Truth Fall Palace, now his.

Yuan Guannan’s other storage ring contained a spirit beast ring. He easily bypassed the restriction to find a cute fox.

“Snow Fur Fox?” Ye Mo exclaimed. Was this the snow fox from the Mei Nei mountain ranges? How did it end up here, as a level five spirit beast?