The Demon Abyss

Xu Xian nodded slightly.

The Cangming Records stated that there was a river in the Thirty-Third Heaven, and the water within it could not even support a mustard seed, hence it was named Ruoshui. This description was largely the same as what Lei Yunche had said.

However, why would this water fall into Fanzhou?

And why was it trapped within the Demon Abyss?

How did the demon race come to be born on the banks of the Ruoshui?

Such information was not in the little book spirit's memory, nor was it explicitly mentioned in the knowledge base Xu Xian had inherited from the Sword Tower.

Xu Xian only knew that the so-called Cangming Realm was incredibly vast.

It was not limited to the so-called Nine Heavens and Ten Lands or the Three Thousand Worlds.

The Cangming Realm was an entire sector of the starry sky, containing tens of thousands of stars.

Simply put, it was like a galactic nebula similar to the Milky Way. Within it were not only planes visible to the naked eye but also those hidden in the darkness. Some had life, some were barren. There were dead stars and living stars... a chaotic mix of everything.

His memories were scattered and blurred; what he could piece together was naturally incomplete.

He didn't know the specifics. Even in the documents left behind in Fanzhou, no one knew what the Upper Realm was like after ascending through the Sky Gate.

Knowing that the Spirit-Sealing Seal had fallen into the Nether Pool, Xu Xian stopped pressing that issue. Instead, he changed the subject and brought up the Shadow Soul Stone.

"Senior Brother, do you know about the Shadow Soul Stone?"

"Of course," Lei Yunche replied without a second thought. "Do you need some?"

"Yes, it's useful for my cultivation," Xu Xian said honestly.

Electric light flickered in the depths of Lei Yunche's eyes.

Using Shadow Soul Stones for cultivation? If one wasn't a member of the demon race, then they were using the methods of a demonic sect. As for normal people, they only used them to cast the Soul-Binding Curse on others.

However...

Lei Yunche didn't look too deeply into it. This Little Junior Brother of his was different from others to begin with. Although he stayed in the mountains, he had heard that Xu Xian had gone to Demon-Slaying City for over four years and collected a vast amount of fifth-grade beast bones. Upon his return, he was already at the sixth stage.

Since he was asking, there must be a reason behind it.

Thus, he told him the truth. "Speaking of the Shadow Soul Stone, I do know a thing or two. People say they are produced in the heart of the Demon Abyss, but few can say exactly where."

"Years ago, when I ventured deep into the Demon Abyss, I saw them by the banks of the Nether Pool. The Shadow Soul Stones are born within the Ruoshui itself."

"Very few of these stones circulate in Fanzhou. Even in the Demon Abyss, they aren't cheap. They can be used as currency like spirit stones, but they are much rarer."

"The Nether Pool is thousands of miles wide, and the Nether River, which starts there and ends at the Demon Void, is tens of thousands of miles long. There are also the Three Creeks that crisscross the entire demon lands. Yet, these stones are only born at the bottom of the Nether Pool."

"They say the supply is inexhaustible. But the Nether Pool is so deep that even a saint's divine sense cannot reach the bottom. Although the demon race does not fear the Ruoshui and can cross it, diving into it is not something an ordinary demon can achieve. To reach the bottom of the pool is even more of a pipe dream."

Lei Yunche paused for a moment, frowning as he continued, "Strangely enough, these Shadow Soul Stones are clearly very heavy, yet they have no weight within the Ruoshui. Stones from the bottom often float to the surface of the Nether Pool and drift downstream, becoming buried along the banks of the Nether River."

"In the Demon Abyss, there is a group of demons who make a living by searching for and salvaging these stones from the river. The demons call them stone-salvagers. Most of the existing Shadow Soul Stones come from them."

"The Demon Abyss has an agreement with our sect that their people cannot leave their lands. However, the Twelve Immortal Demon Caves have some private dealings with them. Their disciples often move outside the Demon Abyss, bartering goods for stones and then selling them at high prices in the Central Plains."

"Regarding this, I discussed it with your other senior brothers and sisters. We chose to tolerate it rather than stop it. After all, even a cornered rabbit will bite. We can't drive people to a dead end. Leaving them a small opening can be considered a mercy to the people of the Demon Abyss. That place is grey and sunless, lacking everything. It's a compromise; as long as they don't go too far, we turn a blind eye..."

Lei Yunche answered seriously and in great detail. He shared everything he knew, heard, and thought—what should be said and even what perhaps shouldn't. He explained where the Shadow Soul Stones came from, the situation in the Demon Abyss, Wendao Sword Sect's attitude, and even the ways to obtain the stones.

He even spent a long time searching through his storage ring with his divine sense. Then, with a clatter, he piled a heap of Shadow Soul Stones onto the stone table. There were hundreds of them, packed closely together.

He said with great magnanimity, "If you need them, Little Junior Brother, I have some here. Take them all. If it's not enough, I'll take a trip to the Demon Abyss myself. With my reputation, it won't be hard to ask for more..."

Xu Xian stared at the Shadow Soul Stones on the table, showing neither joy nor sorrow, neither surprise nor shock. Although these stones were worth a fortune on the market, Lei Yunche was a saint who had ventured deep into the Demon Abyss. Xu Xian could have accepted it even if he had brought out thousands, let alone a few hundred.

It was just that... a few hundred stones versus a million tons... the gap between the two was no less than that between the bright moon and a firefly. It wasn't even a matter of being a drop in the bucket; it was more like a single hair from nine oxen.

Nevertheless, Xu Xian was deeply moved and flattered by his senior brother's generosity.

"Senior Brother, you're far too loyal."

Lei Yunche waved his hand. "It's nothing."

In truth, Xu Xian wanted to refuse. As the saying goes, a gentleman loves wealth but acquires it through proper means. But then again, if he didn't take them, wouldn't he be slighting Lei Yunche's face?

So... "Senior Brother, can I really have them?"

Lei Yunche said heartily, "Take them!"

Xu Xian didn't hesitate for a second.

"Alright, then I'll accept them."

With a sweep of his sleeve, the table was empty.

Lei Yunche felt something was a bit odd, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he felt this was good—straightforward and unpretentious, just the way he liked it. Besides, these Shadow Soul Stones had been sitting there for thousands of years. If Xu Xian hadn't come, he would have forgotten they even existed. Keeping them was just letting them gather dust; giving them away was no big deal.

Xu Xian thanked him sincerely, "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Xu Xian might be greedy for wealth, but he was also grateful.

"We're brothers; there's no need for pleasantries."

Xu Xian didn't hold back either, stating his stance: "If you ever have a need for me in the future, Senior Brother, just say the word. I'll go to any lengths for you."

Lei Yunche was quite happy, his smile as bright as could be. One thing led to another, and he said, "Haha, I wonder if that's enough for you, Little Junior Brother. If it's not, just say so..."

Lei Yunche was just being polite, but Xu Xian took it seriously.

He quickly followed up, "Really?"

"Naturally."

"To be honest, Senior Brother, I do still need quite a few. If you can help, I would be eternally grateful."

Lei Yunche was stunned. He was a bit dazed! Why did things feel wrong again? Looking at Xu Xian's expectant eyes, he asked, "How many are you short?"

Xu Xian felt a bit embarrassed and said sheepishly, "I'm short by quite a lot."

Lei Yunche felt like he was in a difficult position. But since he had already spoken, he couldn't back down now. He braced himself and asked, "How much is 'quite a lot'?"

Xu Xian smiled. "A million tons."

Lei Yunche was jolted, his eyes widening as if he had been struck by lightning. "How much?"

Xu Xian laughed, easing the tension. "Just a joke, Senior Brother. Don't take it seriously."

That was a million tons. If Lei Yunche wanted to get that much, he would probably have to raid the Demon Abyss all over again. Xu Xian knew where to draw the line.

Lei Yunche breathed a sigh of relief as if he had been granted a grand pardon. He tried his best to remain calm and said, "Little Junior Brother, you truly are quite the humorist."

Inwardly, however, he was muttering to himself. Thank goodness it was a joke. Otherwise, even selling himself wouldn't be enough to get a million tons.

Xu Xian continued to smooth over the awkwardness, raising his cup. "Come, Senior Brother, let me offer you a toast."