Chapter Forty-Eight: The Realm of Nether Spirits

Nether Soul Domain of Death?
To dare call it a land of death means it cannot be traversed easily.
Especially a place named the Nether Soul Domain—one can tell at a glance it must be connected to the soul!
“Many ambitious cultivators, just like you, wish to reach the sacred lands of cultivation in the East. There, the land is a paradise for cultivators. But this Nether Soul Domain of Death stands as an impenetrable barrier, blocking their path forward.”
Su Yizhao gripped his jade slip, listening intently.
“For countless generations, innumerable talented young cultivators have met tragic ends within. Tell me, friend, the southwestern frontier may be remote, but there are still some rare spiritual treasures and top-grade profound stones here. Yet have you ever seen cultivators from outside the Three Sects come to this place?”
Su Yizhao didn’t need to think, and nodded, “No, I haven’t.”
The southwest belonged solely to the Three Sects.
Anyone not joining one of the Three Sects could not obtain cultivation methods; all rogue cultivators were executed without exception!
Cultivators outside the Three Sects—he truly had never seen any.
“Ha! That’s exactly it. I, however, have studied the Nether Soul Domain for many years and have discovered a path where the dangers are minimized!”
“How many profound stones?”
Su Yizhao was straightforward.
Since the road eastward exceeded his understanding, he knew he must pay the appropriate price.
During those days in the southwestern seas, he had realized there were far too many things and people on this continent beyond his comprehension!
Arrogance and conceit would never find a place in him!
“Five hundred thousand.”
“Deal!”
The cultivator added, “Top-grade profound stones!”
Five hundred thousand top-grade profound stones?
Su Yizhao hesitated briefly; the seven cultivators seated in meditation all nodded to him.
“Deal! When can we depart?”
The cultivator laughed heartily, “Ha, you are indeed forthright! As soon as we gather ten people, we can set out! The path is narrow, accommodating at most ten. And all must be at least at the Five Divine Realm.”
Su Yizhao nodded in agreement.
It was only natural for the journey to require a certain level of cultivation.
However, cultivators of the Five Divine Realm were not exactly numerous!
“I am Chi Xiangdong. Rest assured, we’ll have the last two in no time!”
Su Yizhao joked, “From your name alone, Chi Xiangdong, it’s clear you have researched the road east thoroughly. I have full confidence!”
Chi Xiangdong, looking like a down-and-out young man, seemed to be at the early stage of the Sixth Divine Realm.
The seven seated, five men and two women, all appeared to be at the late stages of the Fifth Divine Realm.
“You may meditate here to adjust your state, or go out and explore, broaden your horizons, and purchase some resources to strengthen your soul.”
Su Yizhao nodded and turned to leave.
Chi Xiangdong watched his departing figure and murmured, “Within two days at most, we’ll have the last two. Everyone, conserve your energy and be ready to depart at any time.”
Su Yizhao wandered through the bustling streets, the calls of vendors filling his ears.
He soon noticed that nearly all goods for sale were related to the soul.
Nether Soul Crystals, Nether Soul Stones, Soul-Enhancing Powder…
There were soul-strengthening treasures, as well as pills crafted by the Profound Soul Sect.
Buying some would certainly not be an issue—he lacked nothing in terms of profound stones.

Within his storage ring, over a million top-grade spirit stones—should he wish to exchange them, that would amount to tens of millions in top-grade profound stones.
And there would definitely be cultivators eager to trade.
Spirit stones—each one used is one less, always in high demand.
Yet he had to know: just how dangerous was this land of death?
Blending with the crowd, his figure flickered.
A shadow remained where he stood, shattered instantly when someone brushed against it.
From high above, he gazed eastward.
From afar, nothing seemed amiss.
Barren, continuous mountain ranges, sparse green dots scattered atop the peaks.
Could this truly be a land of death?
The entire southwestern frontier looked much the same; beneath those ranges lay the most common profound stone mines.
Suddenly, he frowned.
At the far edge of his vision, where heaven and earth met, there seemed to be a momentary distortion.
But when he looked more closely, nothing unusual could be seen.
After pondering, he activated his cultivation method and soared toward the horizon on his sword.
“What is this force?”
At a thousand feet in the air, the void itself seemed to twist.
It was as if an invisible barrier sealed off the entire southwestern frontier.
The sight alone made his heart tremble. He sent a thread of spiritual sense probing forward.
A crack!
A hiss!
Su Yizhao drew a cold breath as a faint pain pierced his mind.
Devouring?
He ceased probing and descended slowly.
The lower he went, the weaker the twisted energies seemed.
A hundred feet from the ground, the distortion vanished from view.
He landed and took a step forward.
A buzzing sounded in his mind, his thoughts disturbed. He concentrated, and swiftly dispelled the interference.
Soul disruption!
This area released immense soul interference.
Su Yizhao strode forward, invisible soul disturbances repeatedly shaking his mind.
He was forced to maintain constant, unwavering concentration.
After a short while, he withdrew.
He was now certain: without a special method, it was impossible to cross.
A cultivator’s soul strength far surpassed that of ordinary mortals.
As a mid-stage Five Divine Realm cultivator, his soul was exceedingly strong.
However, lacking soul-cultivation techniques, he could neither utilize nor continuously strengthen it.
In this region, Profound Soul Sect cultivators would likely endure much longer.

Su Yizhao pondered briefly, then turned and left.
Back on the street, he began searching for treasures capable of protecting the soul.
Of course, if he could obtain the Profound Soul Sect’s main cultivation method, the Profound Soul Art, he would immediately begin practicing it.
Within the domains of the Three Sects, cultivating another sect’s main method was considered treason.
Yet outside their domains, it was a commonplace affair.
“Soul-Guarding Crystal, eighty thousand mid-grade profound stones! Anyone interested, take a look!”
Su Yizhao crouched down.
A silver-gray stone sat quietly on the stall.
“How effective is it?”
“As the name suggests, it protects the soul for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea! At least, while walking on the ground, you need not fear soul interference!”
Su Yizhao tossed over a mid-grade spirit stone, “Is that enough?”
The cultivator caught it, saw it was only one, and instinctively said, “Not enough!”
“Look again, more carefully.”
The cultivator’s expression changed, astonished, “A spirit stone? Mid-grade spirit stone? Yes, that’s more than enough!”
Su Yizhao smiled, “How many Soul-Guarding Crystals do you have?”
A stick of incense later, Su Yizhao returned to his room.
Inside, another cultivator had arrived.
“Is there a private room?” He ignored their gazes and asked directly.
“One hundred profound stones!”
Outside, everything required profound stones. At this rate, his stock of spirit stones in the storage ring didn’t seem as abundant as he’d thought!
Cultivation demanded considerable wealth to advance.
Seated cross-legged in his private chamber, he began to inventory his storage ring.
One million one hundred thousand spirit stones, including both mid and high grade.
From the profound stone mine, he had seized a purple-glowing orb after slaying three men—its purpose still a mystery.
Four silver flying swords.
One jade slip containing the Profound Body Art.
A Soul-Guarding Crystal, eight bottles of Soul-Enhancing Powder, and a jade slip of the Profound Soul Art.
These three items he had just acquired.
Among them, the Profound Soul Art, from first to fourth tier, cost him one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
A single mid-grade spirit stone equaled a hundred top-grade profound stones.
Ten million top-grade profound stones!
Yet he did not feel the loss—if wealth could not be converted into strength, it would sooner or later become someone else’s fortune.
If there were a fifth-tier technique, he’d pay ten times as much to acquire it.
The eight bottles of Soul-Enhancing Powder were for practicing the Profound Soul Art.
Pressing the jade slip to his forehead, the cultivation method appeared instantly in his mind.
“The Dao is formless, techniques manifest, the soul is formless, guided by profound energy…”