Chapter 1215: Spirit Transfer Formation
“Come, come, come, try my Dragon Teng Palace’s Blue Wei Fruit. It’s freshly picked,” Teng Xiong offered, holding up a fruit. He was relieved that Ye Mo’s spirit sense mark had reappeared after its disappearance, though still puzzled. He wouldn't let a cultivator like Ye Mo slip away. The Blue Wei Fruit, a level six spirit fruit, was delicious. While a truth realization state cultivator might simply enjoy its taste, those present were focused on the young level seven pill king. Acquiring Ye Mo would significantly increase the Dragon Teng Palace's power, making Teng Xiong the sole provider of pills, a position of immense advantage.
Their interest lay not in the fruit itself, but in securing Ye Mo for the palace's benefit. Teng Xiong, well aware of their motives, turned to the woman who presented the fruit. “I want to discuss cultivation with these friends; I’ll need some time. If Teng Yi returns, tell him to wait for me at his mother’s. I’ll visit her afterward.”
The cultivators sneered at this; directing Teng Yi to his mother meant Ye Mo would go as well, making a private meeting inconvenient. They understood Teng Xiong's strategy but had no choice but to wait for an opportune moment to approach Ye Mo. Unbeknownst to Teng Xiong, Teng Yi had no intention of returning to his mother, a fact Teng Xiong would have learned had he spoken with her.
“Yes, father. I saw Ninth Brother Teng a short while ago. He’s with two human cultivators, and… and…” the woman said sullenly. This was Hu Yi, whom Ye Mo had met previously. Unaware of Teng Yi’s return—their flying artifacts were slower than Ye Mo's—she personally served the fruit to report on Teng Yi. She detested being referred to as Second Brother’s wife while with Sixth Brother, a fact Teng Yi knew yet still mentioned.
Teng Xiong frowned, judging her as overly talkative. Before he could question her, another level seven truth realization state cultivator asked, “Oh, did you see Teng? Where are they now?” He clearly suspected Hu Yi had seen Ye Mo and Teng Yi after they left the Dragon Teng Palace. Knowing Ye Mo's location would provide an excuse for a visit.
Teng Xiong, prompted by the cultivator’s question, looked at Hu Yi and said, “And what? Say it.”
With increased petulance, the woman replied, “Teng Yi befriended two human cultivators. Sixth Brother reprimanded him, but he ignored it. But… those two human cultivators stared at me lustfully, as if they wanted to eat me…”
Teng Xiong leaped to his feet, his face alight with glee. “You said a human cultivator looked at you lustfully?”
Hu Yi, believing her lie had worked, replied, “Yes, even though Brother Jie has been gone for decades, I’m still…”
Teng Xiong waved his hand. “Very well, I consider you my own daughter.” Before she could celebrate, he continued, “That cultivator who looked at you is named Ye Mo. Prepare yourself; when he returns in a few days, I’ll marry you to him. Excellent! Excellent! Haha…”
Hu Yi stared blankly. She had intended to report on Teng Yi, but instead, the king had betrothed her to a human cultivator. It was preposterous! Teng Xiong, her grandfather, was casually marrying his daughter-in-law to another man, regardless of his son’s fate.
Panic swelled, but before she could react, Teng Xiong dismissed her. “Go prepare yourself and await Ye Mo’s return. Let the maids serve the fruit; you needn't attend.”
“Yes,” Hu Yi responded, knowing further protest would only enrage the king.
After Hu Yi's departure, Teng Xiong chuckled at the truth realization state cultivator. “I didn't know Ye Mo was interested in my daughter. It seems Brother Lan won't need to introduce his granddaughter, haha…” The others could only silently condemn Teng Xiong's shameless maneuver.
Meanwhile, Ye Mo left the streets and arrived at a vast square. The grey mist, seemingly fearful of Shadowless, dissipated before Ye Mo even activated his Purple Eye Soul Sever.
“Where is my soul? Where is my soul?” The voice echoed again, startling Ye Mo; he felt his soul threaten to detach from his body. His spirit sense detected a dark figure, but it vanished upon closer inspection. Even with Purple Eye Soul Sever, his spirit sense was limited, and the recurring voice unnerved him.
He reasoned that as a Cauldron Filling state cultivator, he shouldn't fear ghosts. But the voice felt inherently unsettling; it wasn't the voice of a cultivator, the influence on his mind was unmistakable. What cultivator's will could affect a Cauldron Filling state cultivator, especially him? His resolute mind, honed under the Bitter Bamboo, had even withstood the heart demon during his divine damnation.
The voice ceased at the entrance of a ruined palace, its grandeur still evident in its skeletal remains. The palace remained standing, albeit with damaged outer pillars. Despite the complete darkness, Ye Mo entered.
Inside, a chill enveloped him, not from the temperature, but a profound unease, a sense of trespass. Two faintly luminous eyes appeared, causing Ye Mo to halt. His spirit sense revealed a faint, black figure, nearly invisible in the darkness.
It was neither ghost nor spirit cultivator; Ye Mo was astounded. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered—not human, spirit beast, nor spirit item. Could the grey mist have developed its own will over time?
“Shadowless, attack!” Ye Mo commanded, but Shadowless remained motionless. Ye Mo immediately understood—the entity was already gone. The black figure's speed was astonishing, exceeding even Shadowless’s ability to capture it.
Passing through the dark hall, he reached the courtyard of what appeared to be the city lord’s estate. His spirit sense focused on the largest room, where a large bed dominated the space.
His interest lay not in the bed, but in the formation markings nearby. Examining a small, broken formation flag, he understood. This was Feng Xi’s room; the bed was where she had attempted to save Li Hun. He understood Li Hun's father's rage; there was no misunderstanding. The broken formation was not a Soul Nourishing Formation, but a Soul Devouring Formation, or perhaps, a Spirit Transfer Formation.