Chapter 1209: Lost Soul Ruins Tale

“Ye Mo, can you remove these spirit sense marks?” Bian Fengta asked. Removing truth realization state spirit sense marks is extremely difficult for Cauldron Filling state cultivators, but Ye Mo was no ordinary Cauldron Filling state cultivator, in Bian Fengta's eyes. Teng Yi also looked at Ye Mo anxiously, hoping for a positive response.

Ye Mo nodded. “Yes, I can, but not right now.”

“Why?” both men asked simultaneously.

“If I remove them now, we’ll have to leave immediately and forgo the Lost Soul Ruins,” Ye Mo explained. Removing the marks would alert Teng Xiong and the other truth realization state cultivator, who might then lie in wait. If entry to the Lost Soul Ruins proved impossible, he would remove the marks and flee. Otherwise, he would leave them in place, leading the others to believe he perished within.

Ye Mo placed eight extreme-grade spirit stones on Blue Moon. Fueled by his cultivation essence, it sped across the sky above the Heartless Sea. A few days later, Blue Moon landed.

This was Ye Mo’s first sight of the Lost Soul Ruins, and he instantly recognized it as no ordinary place. A grey mist shrouded the entire area, resembling a city ravaged by war. Ruined buildings were scattered amidst the fog; even the island itself appeared to sway.

“Don’t scan your spirit sense in!” Teng Yi’s warning came too late. Ye Mo had already done so, and a sharp pain shot through his sea of consciousness. A voice beckoned him into the ruins, his mind clouded, his body moving forward involuntarily.

The Three Birth Chant spontaneously activated, however, and Ye Mo immediately realized something was amiss. He severed the voice using Purple Eye Soul Sever. Teng Yi reached him just then.

“I forgot to warn you against scanning your spirit sense in. Did you just do that?” Teng Yi asked.

Ye Mo nodded. “Yes, it’s incredibly powerful and unsettling.”

“You scanned your spirit sense in and managed to sever the connection?” Teng Yi was astonished. Normally, such an action would be fatal without assistance, yet Ye Mo had broken free. This was incredible!

After consuming a Spirit Recovery Pill, Ye Mo nodded. “My spirit sense is unique, allowing me to sever the connection, but these Lost Soul Ruins are truly extraordinary. How could a place like this possibly contain level nine spirit herbs? It’s unthinkable.” He could believe the presence of ores in an abandoned city, but level nine spirit herbs defied logic.

Teng Yi spoke gravely, “Level nine spirit herbs do exist within. Once, a Disaster Transformation state tertiary stage cultivator was seen seizing three, then fleeing, but his soul was lost, leaving him a mindless zombie. Many others followed, but none returned. Eventually, while the presence of level nine herbs became common knowledge, fewer and fewer dared enter.”

“Do you know its origin? Why does it resemble a city?” Ye Mo inquired.

Bian Fengta also looked to Teng Yi for an answer.

Teng Yi nodded. “I know a little, but it’s only a tale. In ancient times, the Lost Soul Ruins were a beautiful city named Bright Moon City. It was a human city, ruled by City Lord Feng Chun. Feng Chun had a close friend, Li He; they were as close as brothers. Consequently, Li He married his only daughter, Li Hun, to Feng Chun’s only son, Feng Xi.”

The silence was profound, the swaying buildings of the Lost Soul Ruins enhancing the mystery in Teng Yi’s tone.

Teng Yi continued, “Feng Xi and Li Hun, bound by their fathers’ friendship, grew close, becoming deeply devoted lovers. But tragedy struck: Feng Chun and Li He faced a formidable foe in the Heartless Sea. Combined, they were no match. Feng Chun pushed Li He aside, confronting the enemy himself, entrusting Li He with his daughter and Feng Xi’s safety. Li He resisted, but was forced away as Feng Chun self-destructed with his essence blood, engulfing their foe.”

Bian Fengta sighed, “This Feng Chun qian bei was a true hero.”

Teng Yi nodded. “Li He heard the explosion, knowing it was futile to return. He raced back to Bright Moon City, fearing retribution. After months, however, the enemy hadn’t appeared. He assumed the enemy had fled, grievously wounded by his friend’s sacrifice. He left Bright Moon City, intending to marry his daughter to Feng Xi. But then, another calamity struck.”

“What?” Bian Fengta asked urgently.

Even Ye Mo was eager to hear the rest.

Teng Yi continued, “Upon his return, Li He found his daughter unconscious, her soul lost during cultivation. She became a living corpse, soulless. Despite seeking the finest pill king in the Heartless Sea, he could not save her. In despair, Li He retreated to his own island, isolating himself with his daughter.”

“Li He was indeed a tragic figure,” Teng Yi murmured, contrasting his father with Li He.

Ye Mo frowned. As a pill king himself, he knew cultivation complications could arise, but losing one’s soul was exceedingly rare—unless external forces were at play. Then Ye Mo recalled this was merely a tale, perhaps not entirely factual.

Teng Yi sighed. “Feng Xi was heartbroken by his father’s death. A year passed, with no sign of Li He bringing Li Hun to Bright Moon City, so he sought them out. Learning her plight, his sorrow deepened. He finally asked Li He to allow him to take Li Hun, promising lifelong care. Li He, considering his prior intention to marry his daughter to Feng Xi, agreed.”

“Upon bringing Li Hun home, Feng Xi was determined to save her. He searched his father’s writings, eventually discovering a secret soul-recovery technique: the Soul Nourishing Formation. It involved placing the soulless individual within the formation, then using one’s own soul to nourish theirs. After 99 days, the afflicted might recover a portion of their soul, which could then be strengthened through cultivation. The immense flaw, however, was that nourishing another soul with one’s own heavily damaged the essence blood of the soul. At best, you'd lose 80% of your lifespan; at worst, you'd lose your own soul and become an imbecile.”

Bian Fengta sighed. “Feng Xi was a man of great emotion.”

Ye Mo knew of the Soul Nourishing Formation, but it was useless unless the afflicted still possessed a sliver of their soul. The Soul Nourishing Pill, far superior, could cultivate a lost soul and even repair those of the deceased. It was a Heaven-grade level seven pill, but its value matched level eight, even level nine pills. It required the Soul Return Fruit, a level eight spirit herb rarer than most level nine herbs.

“Did Feng Xi succeed?” Bian Fengta asked.

Teng Yi shook his head. “If he had, the Lost Soul Ruins wouldn’t exist.”