Record of a Demon's Cultivation

Chapter 1304: Dharma Protector

Translator: CinderTL

Song Wen and his Cosmic Transformation Incarnation flew together several hundred miles outside the city.

After reaching a secluded forest several thousand miles from the city, Song Wen landed, retracted his Cosmic Transformation Incarnation, and disguised himself as Gou Jun. He then changed direction and headed toward the lake where he had arranged to meet Wang Qiuyue.

When he arrived at the lake, Wang Qiuyue was already standing in mid-air, clearly having been waiting for some time.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, senior. Please forgive my tardiness," Song Wen said.

Wang Qiuyue sized him up for a moment before asking, "Is this your true form, or an Incarnation?"

"How could I dare use an Incarnation when meeting senior? It’s naturally my true self," Song Wen replied.

"Truly?" Wang Qiuyue remained somewhat skeptical.

But she didn’t press the matter further. Instead, she activated her spiritual power to create a soundproof barrier, enveloping them both.

"Tell me, how can you help me comprehend the God-Slaying Thorn?"

Song Wen flipped his hand and produced a jade slip, which he handed to Wang Qiuyue.

"Please take a look, senior."

Wang Qiuyue accepted the jade slip and examined it. A look of delight spread across her face.

"So the God-Slaying Thorn is an incomplete cultivation technique. It’s preceded by the Focused Spirit Stab. But where did you obtain this Focused Spirit Stab?"

"I obtained it by chance several centuries ago," Song Wen replied.

Wang Qiuyue didn’t mind Song Wen’s somewhat perfunctory answer. After carefully examining the Focused Spirit Stab, she put the jade slip away and looked up at him.

"You’re so readily handing over the Focused Spirit Stab. What do you want me to do for you?"

Song Wen said, "I’d like to ask Senior to protect me while I attempt to break through to the Body Integration Stage."

Wang Qiuyue raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

"You trust me so completely? Aren’t you worried I might strike you down during your breakthrough?"

Song Wen replied, "If Senior wanted to kill me, you could do so at any time. Why wait until I’m breaking through? Besides, Senior is a woman of her word, not a treacherous villain."

Wang Qiuyue said, "Very well. I accept your request."

She took out a jade slip and handed it to Song Wen.

"This is my Communication Jade Slip. When you’re fully prepared and ready to attempt the Body Integration Stage, send me a message. During your breakthrough, unless someone stronger than me interferes, no one will be able to disturb you."

"Junior thanks Senior in advance," Song Wen said, accepting the jade slip. He then clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

During Song Wen’s last breakthrough to the Void Refinement Stage, he was ambushed by Zhu Tianlei and two others. Had their strength been greater, or had the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation not frightened them off, his breakthrough would likely have failed.

Therefore, seeing Wang Qiuyue’s upright conduct, Song Wen decided to ask her to protect him during his next breakthrough.

"Gou Jun, there’s something I’m curious about," Wang Qiuyue said. "Why didn’t you ask Bai Wei to protect you? Why did you ask me instead?"

Song Wen was taken aback, only realizing the implications at that moment.

In Wang Qiuyue’s eyes, he and Bai Wei were romantically involved. Logically, he should have asked Bai Wei to protect him, not Wang Qiuyue.

"This..."

Song Wen’s face was troubled, unsure how to respond.

"If it’s inconvenient, don’t worry about it. It’s a private matter between you two, and I shouldn’t have asked."

With that, Wang Qiuyue turned and flew toward Great Tan City.

Song Wen watched her retreating figure, uncertain what she might be thinking.

"Now, besides waiting for Bai Wei to refine the Heavenly Astral Body Integration Pill, I need a cultivation haven," Song Wen muttered to himself.

Breaking through to the Body Integration Stage requires drawing heaven and earth spiritual qi into one’s body.

Breaking through in a place rich with Spiritual Qi slightly increases the chances of success.

However, Cloudstream Valley, Song Wen’s cultivation ground, had rather thin Spiritual Qi. More importantly, it was too close to Great Tan City. The Heaven and Earth Phenomenon that would accompany his breakthrough would easily attract the attention of numerous cultivators.

Song Wen flipped his hand, producing a jade slip. After infusing it with spiritual power, a vast topographical map materialized in mid-air.

This was a map of the entire Southern Nether Continent.

When he first arrived at Great Tan City, the map he had purchased was extremely rudimentary. But through diligent collection—whether by killing for it or buying it—he had managed to piece together a comprehensive map of the continent.

Song Wen’s gaze swept across the entire map.

But his attention remained fixed on the remote regions, far from the major cultivator cities.

Finally, his gaze settled on the central area of the Southern Nether Continent.

This region was known as the Ashen Star Plains. Situated at the border of the three sects’ territories, it had become a chaotic battleground in its own right.

Numerous cultivation clans and sects clashed here, locked in endless conflicts and slaughter. Yet none had ever managed to rise to the level of power held by the three great sects.

With a flicker of movement, Song Wen soared toward the Ashen Star Plains.

Two months later.

Song Wen soared through the sky above a range of mountains.

He had arrived at the Ashen Star Plains several days ago, but the vastness of the plains had made it difficult to find a suitable place for closed-door cultivation.

Suddenly, several figures appeared ahead, blocking his path.

Song Wen casually scanned them with his divine sense, intending to simply fly around them.

They were merely four golden core cultivators and two nascent soul cultivators—he didn’t want to waste too much time on them.

However, they spoke first.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass on the Jia Clan’s forbidden grounds!" a young woman in the late golden core stage barked sharply.

"Jia Clan’s forbidden grounds?" Song Wen’s eyes flickered with confusion.

While the area had decent Spiritual Qi, it was desolate and uninhabited, with no restrictions or barriers. How could it possibly be forbidden?

His curiosity piqued, Song Wen slowed down and approached the group.

"Friends, I’m new to this area and unfamiliar with the situation. I must have accidentally trespassed."

The same woman who had spoken earlier, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed, was about to retort when a nascent soul female cultivator beside her stopped her.

"The younger members of our clan are young and ignorant, and they may have offended you, senior. Please forgive them," the Nascent Soul Stage female cultivator said, bowing deeply.

"It’s a minor matter, little friend. There’s no need to worry. Could you enlighten me as to why this place is the Jia Clan’s forbidden ground?" Song Wen asked.

"Senior, my Jia Clan’s Ancestor, Jia Hongyu, designated the million-mile stretch between the Shantong River and the Luzuo River as the Jia Clan’s forbidden ground thirty years ago, prohibiting outsiders from entering. Senior has already ventured ten thousand miles deep into this forbidden ground."

Song Wen’s pupils narrowed slightly. To claim a million-mile territory with a single decree... Jia Hongyu must be a Body Integration Stage cultivator.

He didn’t speculate that Jia Hongyu was a Great Ascension Stage cultivator because there were no cultivators at that level in the entire Ashen Star Plains.

"I see," Song Wen said, continuing, "Where is the nearest city?"

"If senior travels west for about two hundred thousand miles, you will reach Hongcang City," the female cultivator replied.

"Thank you!"

Song Wen turned and headed west.

He intended to investigate the Jia Clan and Jia Hongyu further. Perhaps this forbidden ground, off-limits to outsiders, would make an excellent place for secluded cultivation.

(End of the Chapter)

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