Chapter Thirty-Nine: The True Meaning of the Demon Marshal's Nether Soldiers

However, the secret of the seven-colored divine light was intimately tied to the great mystery of his own origins—how could he possibly reveal it to Buxu now?

Yang Nan shook his head, feigning curiosity as he countered, “Was there something special about that seven-colored light earlier?” The origins of the little copper coin were shrouded in mystery, and each use of its divine light consumed a tremendous amount of spiritual energy before it could be used again. Yang Nan had experimented before: after placing the copper coin within the spiritual talisman’s cave, it absorbed the vast, oceanic spiritual energy there, only to produce but a few wisps of seven-colored light in the end!

If he let the copper coin devour freely, the spiritual energy accumulated over millennia by the Talisman of Pure Emptiness would be utterly consumed without a trace!

In other words, the copper coin seemed capable of devouring all the spiritual energy under heaven...

With such a bizarre artifact, Yang Nan was even more disinclined to confide in Buxu. Who could predict what her intentions might be?

Buxu offered a faint, knowing smile, seemingly unsurprised by Yang Nan’s reaction. She hinted, “It’s said that in the Celestial Realm, there exist primordial treasures of the immortals. Each of these treasures was wrought by the Ancestor Panxi at the dawn of creation, condensing the purest energies of heaven and earth into natural spiritual objects. When an immortal refines such an object into a treasure, its might is boundless and unfathomable! The so-called Yin Yang Gourd, the Ring of Creation, and the like are all of this tier—innate spiritual treasures, a class above even the world’s ten supreme weapons!”

The Yin Yang Gourd could invert the world, the Ring of Creation could ensnare all living beings across the Three Realms. Was his little copper coin truly on par with such terrifying divine artifacts? Yang Nan’s heart pounded violently, but he forced a smile and said, “Immortal Sister, how could a divine artifact of the heavens appear in the mortal world? Even in the Celestial Realm, I’d wager there are only a scant few of such primordial treasures. Perhaps you’ve made a mistake?”

Buxu pondered for a moment, then lowered her gaze and replied coolly, “Perhaps. Only among primordial treasures does one find an innate spirit residing within; at best, mortal artifacts may carry a trace of spiritual imprint or demon soul. That seven-colored light was faint, its power meager, and it did not quite resemble the potent spirit of a true primordial treasure.”

Seeing Buxu’s uncertainty, Yang Nan let out a silent sigh of relief. The copper coin’s origins must never be revealed—otherwise, the consequences would be far more dire than exposing the Talisman of Pure Emptiness. If a heavenly artifact suddenly appeared in the mortal world, imagine the frenzy of the cultivators!

Was the copper coin truly a celestial artifact?

Regardless, now that it had withdrawn its light, even an expert of Buxu’s caliber could discern nothing. As long as he refrained from unleashing its radiance, no one would discover its secret. Yang Nan privately relaxed—best not to use the copper coin unless absolutely necessary...

As he pondered, Buxu deliberated briefly, then suddenly produced a jade token and handed it to him. “After months of cultivation, my task is complete; I’ll be leaving first. I’ll deliver the Xuan Yan Sword to Senior Xuanxu, and convey your request as well. Take this token—if you can’t pass through the Seven Elements and Seven Evils Path to Immortality beneath Mount Kunlun, show this token and ascend the mountain instead.”

The front of the token bore the image of a fierce golden dragon; the reverse was inscribed with four large characters: “Kunlun Buxu.” Its luster was radiant, its color resplendent, the texture smooth yet edged with hidden sharpness—undoubtedly Buxu’s personal token!

Possessing her token delighted Yang Nan—this was far more practical than the Xuan Yan Sword!

The “Senior Brother Xuanxu” Buxu mentioned was none other than the current master of the Kunlun Sect, a legendary saintly cultivator!

That she would leave first was no surprise to Yang Nan. Given her aloof and solitary nature, it was already remarkable for her to have remained on this boat for months. Now that her wounds were healed, she was even less likely to stay. The Xuan Yan Sword was entwined with secrets of the previous sect leader; if she took it, so be it—surely a person like Buxu would not covet his sword for herself?

“Immortal Sister, with you gone, what if more thieves harass us on the road? What am I to do?” What Yang Nan regretted losing most was this supreme bodyguard. Without Buxu, he and Chiyang would have had only escape as an option; neither the flood serpent, the white dragon, nor the three pirate kings were adversaries he could handle. With Buxu leaving, he felt stripped of all sense of safety.

“Little rascal, haven’t you benefited enough along the way? With your supreme demon body, how could ordinary folk harm you? But if you lack the strength, don’t act rashly or seek trouble.” Buxu’s lips curled in a slight smile. Having cultivated the Everlasting Yin Yang Wheel with Yang Nan, she naturally felt an affinity with him—otherwise, with her temperament, she would never address another as “sister.”

The Everlasting Yin Yang Wheel possessed its own profound mysteries, rendering even strangers familiar, almost as if their hearts and minds were subtly linked...

Yang Nan gave a wry smile. “Immortal Sister, if not for these strange treasures, I wouldn’t be worried. But if I run into a demon king or some evil master, I fear I won’t make it to Mount Kunlun alive.” To possess treasures but lack the strength to protect them was the most vexing predicament. His bitterness was genuine—whether in the cultivation world or the mortal realm, danger lurked at every step. Without Buxu, any master of grandmaster rank could kill him and take his treasures!

Buxu considered this and finally nodded. “Very well. Since you’re entering Kunlun and have the Xuan Yan Sword as your stepping stone, an inner disciple’s place is assured for you. I’ll teach you a method from the Martial Sect. Paired with the wonders of the Everlasting Yin Wheel, if you’re diligent, you can accumulate power through two different affinities. In a year or two, using the Divine Light Incantation of the Talisman of Pure Emptiness, you’ll be able to flee a thousand miles at a thought, safe from harm. If you fail, don’t blame me for your demise.”

Though Buxu’s words were severe, Yang Nan paid them no heed. In the eyes of someone like her, he was indeed as insignificant as an ant. In the river of mortal life, only the brave rise above. With so many treasures and secrets, if he made no progress, would he even be worthy of calling himself a disciple of Kunlun? All the benefits Buxu had granted him were mere repayment for aiding her recovery and delivering the Xuan Yan Sword. As for true friendship, they were not yet truly close.

Buxu promptly imprinted the cultivation method into Yang Nan’s mind. It was a classic Martial Sect technique from Kunlun, called the “True Explanation of the Luosha Yin Soldiers,” expounding the ways of refining qi through weapons and attaining Dao through martial arms.

The True Explanation of the Luosha Yin Soldiers was not only a wondrous method for the Martial Sect, but also a means of forging one’s own natal weapon.

Overcoming inner demons, attaining grandmastery, fulfilling one’s ambition—these were the keys to becoming a master!

Buxu had perused countless cultivation arts; this was simply a remarkable method she’d once memorized. Though not the very peak of cultivation, it was still a top-tier martial technique.

A first-rate method could make a grandmaster, even a master! Such a method would be enough to make any cultivator green with envy.

The Everlasting Yin Yang Wheel was a technique for absorbing and transforming spiritual energy, unrelated to true power. In contrast, the Yin Soldiers’ True Explanation was a direct path to cultivating Martial Sect power, describing in detail how to gather baleful qi and unleash the supreme might of one’s natal weapon.

To Buxu, this method was nothing special, but Yang Nan knew this was a rare stroke of immortal fortune, and he thanked her profusely, both surprised and delighted.

Immersed in the secrets of the martial path, Yang Nan barely noticed Buxu’s departure. After imparting the technique, she lingered no longer. She sheathed the Xuan Yan Sword, summoned the golden dragon, and with a shimmer, mounted the dragon and soared into the sky.

Yang Nan was well aware of his own weakness. Though he possessed a king-grade demonic sword, the Ring of Rivers and Mountains, and the Talisman of Pure Emptiness—several peerless treasures—he lacked the strength to protect himself. In his current state, even a single grandmaster could slaughter him and all his companions. Faced with such peril, Yang Nan hungrily dove into the long-awaited study of the martial technique.

For a martial cultivator, there are one hundred and eight acupoints in the human body; refining them all leads to physical sainthood. For a Daoist cultivator, the soul has nine great apertures: Upper Origin, Middle Origin, Lower Origin, Hidden Void, Stepping Valley, Left Pool, Right Pool, Spring of Emanation, and Divine Purification.

Martial artists train their bodily apertures to commune with the heavens and earth; Daoists refine their spiritual apertures to create a world within themselves!

These nine apertures reside in the soul, invisible to the mortal eye, but they determine the strength of the soul and the depth of one’s power—they are a matter of life and death. All cultivators yearn to open the nine apertures in their lifetime.

Once the nine spiritual apertures are opened, sainthood is attained! Accumulate power in a single aperture and you reach the Initiate stage; crystalize the aperture and your power to become a Master; transform the aperture into a spiritual pearl and you become a Grandmaster; deify the aperture and your power is boundless—you become a Lord!

Yang Nan’s water-elemental power resided in the Lower Origin aperture, commonly known as the lower dantian, while Martial Sect cultivation was rooted in the Upper Origin aperture, or upper dantian.

The True Explanation of the Luosha Yin Soldiers was created by Luosha Zhenren, a Daoist who ascended to the heavens over a thousand years ago, laying his foundation with this very technique. Originally a peerless art, it had lost its “Path to Sainthood” chapter over the centuries, lacking the method for uniting the nine apertures and entering sainthood. Only the methods for grandmastery and deifying the apertures remained. Thus, it had become merely a first-class technique instead of a peerless one.

This method did not pursue supernatural transformation, but pure, robust power. For Yang Nan, seeking great martial might, it was still distant from his goals.

The Yin Soldiers’ True Explanation focused on accumulating the sharpness of the martial path, ultimately achieving a single sword to break all spells, with baleful energy that was unstoppable. However, it lacked the means to control the myriad transformations of a martial weapon.

Though somewhat disappointed, Yang Nan understood Buxu’s intentions. Cultivators valued magical transformations, but without a solid foundation of power, even the greatest techniques were useless.

Buxu wanted him to establish his foundation and accumulate power. With such a base, would the Kunlun Sect lack secret manuals for magical transformations?

True Martial Sect cultivation was grounded in power and sharpness—with these, even plain iron could shatter magical artifacts!

What’s more, a technique capable of making grandmasters and challenging sainthood was itself a rare treasure—Buxu had been exceedingly generous.

Yang Nan set aside both the Supreme Demon Body and the Mysterious Blue Water Technique, devoting himself to practicing the True Explanation of the Luosha Yin Soldiers within the talismanic cave. This method had twelve levels, each with a transformative effect. Upon reaching the first level, the Cloud of Yin, his power could manifest as baleful force—akin to the sword energy employed by innate masters in the martial world. Even among martial grandmasters, reaching the innate realm was only just entering the threshold of a Daoist martial artist.