Chapter Forty-One: I Won’t Be at Ease Until He Dies

Within the Three Sovereigns Stronghold, in the grand hall, Suo Rongcheng stood with his back to those seated, hands clasped behind him. The people around him knelt, heads bowed in silence. After a short while, a gaunt middle-aged man burst into the hall, his clothes tattered and covered in claw marks. Especially on his back, a massive scar made by claws looked terrifying. The moment the middle-aged man entered the hall, he collapsed to his knees, unable to rise, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Suo Rongcheng still did not turn around, his voice cold, “I sent you to protect the young master, and now he is dead. You…”

Before Suo Rongcheng could finish, the gaunt man nodded slightly, a fierce glint in his eyes. He channeled spiritual energy into his palm and struck his own crown, blood splattering across the hall as he slowly fell over.

A servant outside the hall entered, took out a paper talisman, and tossed it onto the corpse. The body ignited and burned to ashes.

An elder among those kneeling looked up and said, “Chief, after Su Fan battled with Elder Gan, he must be seriously wounded. Why not seize this opportunity to kill him? He likely has no strength left to fight back.”

Suo Rongcheng sneered, “Su Fan managed to kill two and seriously injure one, even when surrounded by Elder Sun, Gan, and the young master. He must have had help. If we go now, are we not courting death?” The elder’s lips quivered, he glanced at Suo Rongcheng, then lowered his head.

Time passed. Eventually, Suo Rongcheng slowly turned around, smiling, “Who among you is willing to aid the guards at the third checkpoint?”

Not a sound was heard in the hall; no one replied.

Suo Rongcheng’s expression changed. “No one is willing? Fine, very well.” After repeating “very well” three times, he flicked his sleeve and strode out of the hall, ascending into the sky.

The people below began to murmur. An elder, appearing to be of higher rank, coughed twice, restoring silence. He stood and declared, “The chief has lost his beloved son. If we ignore this today, Su Fan will not be easy to deal with. I suggest we leave as soon as possible.

It’s said Su Fan is bloodthirsty, slaughtering without hesitation. If we don’t leave now, when he comes for us, we’ll all die. Even if he doesn’t come, when the chief returns, we won’t escape death.” With those words, the elder turned into a wisp of smoke and departed. The rest exchanged glances and hurried away as well.

Inside the cave, Su Fan continued to infuse his divine sense, attempting to refine the corpse puppet. Fan Ruoyu sat cross-legged to restore her spiritual energy, occasionally glancing at Su Fan, then quickly closing her eyes.

Su Fan was shrouded in red light, sighing, “I hadn’t expected the corpse puppet’s demonic aura to be so intense. Clearly, it has killed countless people. Since I can’t refine it with my divine sense, I’ll bind it with an array instead.”

With that, Su Fan’s hands flashed through incantations, sending white nets of light into the corpse puppet. Gradually, the influx of demonic aura slowed. Su Fan smiled faintly, stamped his divine sense onto the puppet, and suddenly felt a connection, as if their minds were linked.

This was the sign of Su Fan’s successful refinement of the corpse puppet. Now, with a single thought, the puppet would obey his every command. Su Fan’s eyes brightened; he willed it, and the puppet’s eyes flashed with green light as it punched the cave wall, causing the earth to shake and rocks to fly.

Fan Ruoyu sprang up, startled by the scene, then laughed, “You’ve succeeded in refining it?”

Su Fan replied calmly, “Only a preliminary refinement. I can sense the puppet is heavily damaged. If I can find materials to repair it, its strength will increase further.”

He continued, “We should restore our cultivation to its peak as soon as possible in case Suo Rongcheng attacks.” Fan Ruoyu nodded and sat cross-legged. Su Fan did likewise, took out some pills, and began to meditate and recover.

After a long time, Su Fan slowly opened his eyes and took out Suo Tianhao’s storage pouch. With a sweep of his divine sense, the imprint left by Suo Tianhao was quickly erased, and Su Fan probed inside.

There were few items: two small purple daggers, some cultivation manuals, and, to Su Fan’s delight, several dozen mid-grade spirit stones—each one worth a hundred low-grade stones. Lastly, there was a single gem, oddly shaped like a teardrop.

Su Fan examined it with his divine sense; it seemed entirely mundane, devoid of spiritual energy. After several attempts, he stored it away and turned his attention to the two purple daggers.

Su Fan remembered that his Mountain Soul Fan had been damaged by a single blow from these daggers, and now it could not be repaired. These daggers were clearly extraordinary.

He bit his tongue, spat a mouthful of essence blood, and infused his divine sense. The daggers hovered before him, shrouded in blood mist, pulsing with violet light.

Moments later, Su Fan summoned the daggers into his hands, smiling softly, “Soul Severing Blades. Not yet spiritual treasures, but stronger than any magic weapon.”

Fan Ruoyu opened her eyes, gazing thoughtfully at Su Fan without speaking. Su Fan noticed and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Fan Ruoyu smiled lightly, “Nothing. Let’s go. Suo Rongcheng has dominated the Three Sovereigns Stronghold for years; his cultivation is not to be underestimated, and he is ruthless. We must be careful.”

At the mention of Suo Rongcheng, a cold glint flashed in Su Fan’s eyes. He put the corpse puppet away, took Fan Ruoyu's hand, and led her outside.

Beyond the bamboo hut at the third checkpoint, it seemed like another world: snow falling from the sky, pure white everywhere, two sets of footprints marking the snow-covered ground. Su Fan walked ahead, Fan Ruoyu followed, head lowered, stepping in Su Fan’s tracks.

Suddenly, Su Fan stopped and turned. Fan Ruoyu, not watching, bumped right into his arms. She quickly glanced up at him, then looked down again, cheeks flushed.

Su Fan coughed twice, “Look ahead. The footprints are chaotic. My divine sense detected no cultivators, but be careful.”

Fan Ruoyu raised her head, scanned the surroundings, her eyes narrowing. She took out a miraculous flower and whispered, “There’s a tower ahead, possibly dangerous. You be careful too. Let’s reach it first.” Su Fan gripped his golden bow and crossbow, advancing.

Soon, a wooden tower appeared, surrounded by silence. Scattered across the snow were the uniforms of Three Sovereigns Stronghold’s guards. Su Fan’s heart trembled, murmuring, “I can sense my mother’s soul nearby.” Fan Ruoyu grabbed his hand, “Don’t rush. We can save her.”

With a wave of her red flower, a crimson light shot toward the tower. Suddenly, a shadow flashed out and struck the red light, shattering it. The figure landed, revealing their form.

Su Fan’s eyes reddened as he stared at the man, shouting, “Suo Rongcheng, I’m going to kill you!” He formed incantations, and sand from his pouch flew out, coalescing into twenty fierce swords. As Su Fan prepared to strike, Suo Rongcheng sneered and produced a gleaming soul.

With a smile, he said, “Come then. I’d like to see how someone can kill their own mother’s soul with their own hands.” Su Fan stepped back, suppressing his fury, and spat blood.

Suo Rongcheng grinned, storing the soul away, then transformed into a shadow and rushed at Su Fan. As Fan Ruoyu saw him clearly, Suo Rongcheng punched at Su Fan. With a loud crash, Su Fan’s lips curled; the corpse puppet blocked the blow.

Suo Rongcheng’s gaze cooled, “A corpse puppet?” The puppet’s eyes glowed green as it punched Suo Rongcheng’s waist, sending him flying. The puppet’s body was incredibly tough; Suo Rongcheng’s attack did it no harm. Yet Suo Rongcheng was worthy of being the chief—he emerged unscathed from the puppet’s full-force strike.

Suo Rongcheng smiled viciously, “Why not bring out your helper to speak with me?” He cupped his hands to the void, “Senior, this is a personal grudge between Su Fan and me. Please do not interfere.”

Fan Ruoyu laughed, “What senior? We need no help to kill you.” Suo Rongcheng’s expression faltered, embarrassed, and blurted, “Today, I’ll destroy your mother’s soul first!”

He reached for his pouch at his waist, only to find it gone. He looked up sharply at Su Fan. Su Fan smiled, waving the pouch, then his expression changed. He swiftly formed incantations, summoning twenty swords to attack Suo Rongcheng.

Fan Ruoyu waved her red flower, sending three crimson beams at Suo Rongcheng. Fear flooded Suo Rongcheng’s eyes as he tried to flee, shouting, “Senior brothers of Tianyuan Sect, help me!”

At that moment, a yellow light and a green beam flew over, shielding Suo Rongcheng.

Su Fan and Fan Ruoyu’s attacks were blocked. Then, two middle-aged men landed: one fat, smiling, the other thin in Daoist robes, stern-faced.

The fat Daoist smiled, “Fellow Daoist Su, let’s put this matter to rest. You have already killed Suo’s son; the grudge is settled.”

Su Fan’s eyes blazed, “Daoist, when Suo Rongcheng committed his crimes, your Tianyuan Sect did nothing. Now, when I seek revenge, you aid him.”

The fat Daoist blushed, unable to answer. The thin Daoist scowled, “Such disrespect to elders! You’ve killed so many here—what kind of cultivator are you? No trace of chivalry.”

Su Fan laughed coldly, “Chivalry? You condone criminals, let them go free, and now you help them. You are not worthy of the Dao.”

The thin Daoist’s face darkened, “Sophistry! Leave now. No matter what, we will protect Chief Suo.”

Su Fan was about to retort, but Fan Ruoyu gently tugged his sleeve, whispering, “If these two act, we can’t resist. Let’s go.” Su Fan glared at Suo Rongcheng behind the Daoists, then turned and left with Fan Ruoyu.

Suo Rongcheng’s eyes flashed coldly. He shoved the Daoists aside, gathered his spiritual energy. From the tower, a giant sword flew out; Suo Rongcheng formed incantations and aimed the sword at Su Fan. The Daoists’ expressions changed, one shouting, “Chief Suo, what are you doing?”

Suo Rongcheng sneered, “I won’t rest until he is dead.”