Record of a Demon's Cultivation

Chapter 547 - Xu Geng? Bie Chou?

Translator: Cinder Translations

---

Song Wen carried Cui Huo and rushed toward the outskirts of the city at high speed, while the Shadow Gu took Cui Xinyi in a different direction, also heading outside the city.

Cui Xinyi's unique status made her a potential decoy if pursuers were to arrive, diverting some of their attention.

However, Song Wen did not kill her. Her death would only attract the Cui Family's notice even faster.

The unconscious Cui Xinyi was dropped by the Shadow Gu in a mountain ravine about a hundred miles outside of Yaotai City.

After flying several hundred miles and confirming that no one was chasing him, Song Wen continued soaring through the sky and asked:

"Where did you get the soul of Xu Geng?"

Cui Huo, who suddenly found himself able to speak, replied nervously and off-topic:

"Y-you're a Golden Core cultivator?"

"Stop with the nonsense. Answer what I ask," Song Wen said coldly.

"Senior, I swear I'll tell you everything I know! But... I don't know anyone named Xu Geng," Cui Huo stammered anxiously.

"Don't think you can fool me!" Song Wen sneered. "I worked hard to infiltrate the Cui Family; how could I be unprepared? Don't tell me you're unaware of the soul hidden in the jade pendant on your chest."

"Senior, you must be referring to that! But the soul in the pendant doesn't call itself Xu Geng. It claims to be Bie Chou," Cui Huo clarified.

"Bie Chou?" Song Wen's expression shifted slightly.

He had tracked the aura from the Soul-Nurturing Wood Core without error. The soul in the jade pendant had to be Xu Geng.

"Could Xu Geng have lied to Cui Huo and concealed his true identity?" Song Wen speculated internally.

He swiftly yanked the jade pendant off Cui Huo's chest.

"Tell me everything about the origins of this pendant," Song Wen demanded.

"I found this pendant at a street stall in Yaotai City," Cui Huo explained. "It had no spiritual fluctuations, but its design was ancient and its engravings exquisite. Thinking it might be a hidden treasure, I bought it for a low price."

"Later, I discovered that the pendant housed a soul, though it was weak, barely surviving. The soul identified itself as Bie Chou, an ancient Nascent Soul cultivator, and offered to teach me ancient techniques."

"His condition was that I help him find treasures to restore his soul," Cui Huo added.

"Is there anything else you'd like to confess?"

As Song Wen spoke, a chilling killing intent emanated from him.

Suddenly realizing something, Cui Huo began trembling in fear.

"Senior, please spare me! I don't want to die! I've just joined Junxiu Peak and have such a bright future ahead—"

Before he could finish, Cui Huo was reduced to a ball of flame, matching his name.

TL/N: Huo means flame.

Song Wen took the storage pouch from Cui Huo's ashes and retrieved the jade pendant.

"Xu Geng, how much longer do you plan to hide?" he said coldly.

A voice echoed within Song Wen's mind:

"You know my name, so you should also know that I am the Hall Master of the Nether Shrine and Deputy Master of the Divine Blood Gate. If you treat me with respect and assist in restoring my soul, I can teach you the supreme techniques of the Divine Blood Gate."

"You're nothing but a weak, withered soul. You have no right to negotiate with me. I could destroy you at any moment," Song Wen retorted.

"You risked your life, scheming endlessly to obtain my soul. Surely, you want something from me. Assist me in recovering my soul, and I'll give you what you desire," Xu Geng replied.

"Very well! Let's do it your way," Song Wen agreed.

He retrieved the Soul-Nurturing Wood Core from his storage ring and said:

"As long as you provide the complete cultivation method for the Corpse King Rebirth Art, this item will be yours."

"So, the Soul-Nurturing Wood Core ended up in your hands," Xu Geng's voice trembled with excitement. His soul suddenly emerged from the jade pendant, attempting to seize the Soul-Nurturing Wood Core.

With a flick of his hand, Song Wen made the wood core vanish without a trace.

"'To take, one must first give.' Senior, how about teaching me the Corpse King Rebirth Art first? Then we can discuss the rest," Song Wen said leisurely.

"My soul is too weak. Let me enter the wood core first, and then I will pass on the technique to you," Xu Geng replied.

"Absolutely not!" Song Wen refused flatly.

"My soul is extremely frail now, as vulnerable as a fish on the chopping block. Do you really think I can pose a threat to you?" Xu Geng reasoned.

"Senior, you've survived for tens of thousands of years. Who knows what tricks you may still have up your sleeve? I'd rather be cautious," Song Wen replied.

Seeing that Song Wen remained unwilling to let him enter the Soul-Nurturing Wood Core, Xu Geng fell silent.

After several breaths, he spoke again.

"Since you know about the Corpse King Rebirth Art, it seems you have ties to the Wu Ji Island."

"Practicing the Corpse King Rebirth Art is far from simple. The technique requires a cultivator's spiritual power to possess both the characteristics of life and death to switch over successfully."

"The higher your cultivation level, the harder the transition. With your current cultivation, unless you are willing to abolish your powers and start anew, or cultivate the Longevity Technique and Corpse King's Blood Refinement Technique to an equal level, it will be impossible to master the Corpse King Rebirth Art."

Xu Geng seemed unwilling to hand over the technique and instead focused on emphasizing its difficulty.

"That's for me to worry about, Senior. All you need to do is hand over the technique," Song Wen said firmly.

"Fine! Since you're so persistent, I'll give it to you. However, I expect you to honor your promise. Once you've obtained the technique, let me enter the Soul-Nurturing Wood Core," Xu Geng finally relented.

A profound and complex cultivation method began to echo in Song Wen's mind.

About twenty breaths later, as Xu Geng finished reciting the foundational part of the Corpse King Rebirth Art, Song Wen interrupted sharply:

"Senior Xu Geng, do you take me for a child? You dare to pass off a fake technique as the real one?"

The technique recited by Xu Geng seemed plausible but contained critical flaws in several key areas.

"Junior, you shouldn't speak carelessly. This is a supreme technique inherited from the upper realms, the core legacy of the Divine Blood Gate. How could it possibly be fake?" Xu Geng retorted.

"Hmph! It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Let me show you something!"

Song Wen activated the technique. A surge of spiritual power, interwoven with the aura of both life and death, radiated from him without reservation.

"The Corpse King Rebirth Art! How have you already cultivated this technique? The entire Chaotic Sea shouldn't have any inheritance of it. Where did you obtain it?"

Xu Geng's voice trembled with shock as he stared at Song Wen, his gaze filled with disbelief.

"The entire Chaotic Sea has no inheritance of the Corpse King Rebirth Art?"

Song Wen's expression shifted subtly, a trace of doubt flickering across his face.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What do I mean?"

Xu Geng's expression twisted into a grotesque and feral grin. His soul erupted with overwhelming power, like a dormant beast suddenly awakening, shedding all signs of weakness.

In a flash, his soul transformed into a streak of light, charging directly toward Song Wen's forehead with lightning speed.

"What I mean is that I don't have the Corpse King Rebirth Art. No one in the entire Chaotic Sea does."

"But from now on, your body will be mine! Hahaha..."

Xu Geng's laughter reverberated within Song Wen's mind as his soul forcefully entered Song Wen's spiritual sea.

TL/N: SMH 😩

(End of the Chapter)

---

Read (RDC) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c728. [+2]

Early Access at $5.

Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words.