The Danxia Sect was one of the five great Daoist sects of Yunzhong. Although its power had waned in recent times, it had a legacy spanning tens of thousands of years and boasted countless disciples. As Core Formation cultivators within such a sect, Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo should, by all rights, possess a broad perspective. Since they recognized the Corpse Soul Art, they should know at least some methods to counter it.
Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads in contemplation.
"Senior Brother," Qiu Chengruo spoke after a moment, her voice tinged with hesitation. "City Lord Mei is not unaware of our identities. Why would he still deceive us into coming here? Not just us, but among the demonic cultivators are also Core Formation experts from the three great demonic domains. How could a mere City Lord of Xingluo City afford to offend them?"
Yong Ruyu pondered for a moment before replying, "The matter is indeed suspicious, but we have indeed discovered the Demonic Crystals. It is certain that City Lord Mei harbors ill intentions."
"But..."
"Since a fact is already laid before us, it is meaningless to deny it. We can only say that there must be some condition we have overlooked." Having said this to Qiu Chengruo, Yong Ruyu turned to Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang. "Fellow Daoists, what my Junior Sister says is correct. By common sense, Xingluo City is but a small demonic territory in the Northern Lin State. Even if he is a Nascent Soul Cultivator, he cannot afford to offend the forces behind us."
"Therefore," Mo Tiange continued, knitting her brows, "this City Lord Mei must stand to gain immense benefits from this—benefits so great that he can either ignore these forces or abandon Xingluo City altogether."
"Exactly," Yong Ruyu said. "I've been thinking for a while, and something still doesn't add up. Even if he successfully performs the Corpse Soul Art on all fifteen of us Core Formation cultivators, the benefit to him wouldn't be that significant. After being controlled by the Corpse Soul Art, a cultivator's cultivation level does not drop, but their actual combat strength falls short of their original power. I believe both Fellow Daoists understand the reason for this."
Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang both nodded. The difference in power between a person with autonomous consciousness and a puppet was obvious.
Yong Ruyu went on, "Fifteen Core Formation puppets sound terrifying, but what do they amount to for a Nascent Soul Cultivator? The strength of a Nascent Soul Cultivator compared to a Core Formation Cultivator can be said to be one against a hundred. Without special means, even an early-Nascent Soul cultivator would not fear a group of Core Formation puppets."
"Precisely."
Encouraged by Mo Tiange's agreement, Yong Ruyu continued, "So the question circles back: what benefit could City Lord Mei possibly gain from this to make him so reckless?" This time, without waiting for an answer, Yong Ruyu answered in a low voice, "I thought of one possibility: by refining so many Core Formation puppets, he has a special use for them that can greatly increase his own power."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange carefully considered the idea.
Yong Ruyu's deduction was not flawed. Without sufficient benefit, City Lord Mei truly had no need to do this. The movements of so many Core Formation cultivators could not be concealed. Yunzhong had many high-level cultivators; every major power certainly had several Nascent Soul Cultivators, and Late-Nascent Soul cultivators were not uncommon. If City Lord Mei was not afraid of the forces behind them seeking revenge, it meant the benefit was enough to elevate him to the ranks of the top cultivators, making him unafraid of Late-Nascent Soul Cultivators.
Reasoning to this point, two possibilities emerged. First, the benefit could allow him to advance to the Late-Nascent Soul stage—a temptation no Nascent Soul Cultivator trapped at their current realm could resist. Second, it could grant him a heaven-defying treasure or an earth-shattering Supernatural Ability, making him fearless of any Late-Nascent Soul Cultivators seeking revenge.
Thinking this, Mo Tiange asked, "Fellow Daoist Yong, I have two inferences. Which do you think is more likely?"
After Mo Tiange explained the two deductions, Yong Ruyu furrowed his brows in thought for a moment before replying, "The latter."
"Why?" Mo Tiange asked.
"Because... those Core Formation cultivators of Xingluo City seem to be in the know," Yong Ruyu said.
Mo Tiange was taken aback and pondered carefully. Even if City Lord Mei hadn't explained everything to his subordinates, those Core Formation cultivators could not be completely ignorant, because they had a hand in luring them into this trap. For example, Elder Liang, and those few who activated the restriction—such things could not be hidden from them.
Thus, two more possibilities arose. One, these Core Formation cultivators were fully aware. Then this matter would not only bring benefits to City Lord Mei but also to them, allowing them to also be unafraid of the forces behind the deceived cultivators. Two, City Lord Mei had not fully informed them or had used other excuses to placate his subordinates. But in that case, why would these people help City Lord Mei so wholeheartedly? A cultivator's nature is self-interested, and demonic cultivators even more so. It couldn't be denied that some possessed worldly loyalty, but certainly not all. Or perhaps, these cultivators had long been controlled by City Lord Mei and had no choice? This wasn't impossible, but judging by Elder Liang's demeanor, it seemed less likely.
Negating one possibility and affirming the other, the conclusion was already clear. Yong Ruyu's judgment was correct. If what he gained was a heaven-defying treasure or an earth-shattering Supernatural Ability, then it was likely this treasure or ability could also protect the Core Formation cultivators of Xingluo City, which was why they were helping City Lord Mei so fully.
But the other possibility could not be completely dismissed either. After all, people were unpredictable, and they had no idea what this City Lord Mei had actually done. Perhaps City Lord Mei had used some method to force his Core Formation subordinates to help him. Once he obtained profound cultivation, even those Late-Nascent Soul Cultivators could do nothing to him. What would Xingluo City matter to him then? Compared to personally advancing to the Late-Nascent Soul stage and becoming a top cultivator, what was a city lord? The entire Xingluo City would be nothing more than a dispensable pawn.
At this point, Yong Ruyu knocked his head, looking utterly distressed. "But I truly cannot understand how creating so many Core Formation puppets using the Corpse Soul Art could bring him such immense benefits."
"We've overlooked one possibility," Nie Wushang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke. "Perhaps these Demonic Crystals are not for performing the Corpse Soul Art at all."
Yong Ruyu was stunned. "Not for the Corpse Soul Art?"
"Correct," Nie Wushang looked at him calmly. "Fellow Daoist Yong, can these Demonic Crystals only be used for the Corpse Soul Art?"
Yong Ruyu thought for a while, then shook his head. "I don't know. Although this object is terrifying, it is also precious. I'm not entirely clear on all its uses. It's just that its use in the Corpse Soul Art is too famous. The moment one mentions Demonic Crystals, the Corpse Soul Art immediately comes to mind."
"Exactly," Nie Wushang continued. "I have some research into demonic arts, though only superficial knowledge. Since this object has such a unique function of absorbing vital essence, it absolutely cannot be limited to just one evil art. In fact, based on its properties, one could invent some evil arts."
"That's right," Qiu Chengruo murmured. "Senior Brother, do you remember that rumor? The Corpse Soul Art was invented by a certain Demon Lord with extraordinary Supernatural Abilities after he discovered the Demonic Crystals?"
"..." Yong Ruyu wiped the sweat from his face, his complexion pale as he said dejectedly, "This matter is becoming more and more unimaginable. I... I am truly... powerless..."
"Fellow Daoist Yong!" Mo Tiange stared at him, her gaze sharp. "What kind of talk is this? Are you giving up now?"
Despair appeared on Yong Ruyu's face. "A person capable of inventing an evil art based on this—how could we Core Formation cultivators possibly oppose them? It's not that I'm willing, but that my strength is simply insufficient."
Nie Wushang snorted coldly, glaring at him. "We asked you to think of a way because you understand the situation in Yunzhong, not so you could seek your own death! Everything is still just speculation, and you're already cutting off your own path to survival? Pull yourself together! Otherwise, we can eliminate you right now to prevent you from damaging morale!"