Chapter 412 – Fallen Jiao Lake

“Master, have you finished your business?”

Seeing Lu Chen emerge once more from the Soul-Suppressing Bell, Little White Deer immediately approached with curiosity.

After all, this was the first time she had witnessed Lu Chen wield such a Magical Artifact.

The moment that small bell appeared, even a powerful Great Mountain Lord like Fox Venerable at the Transformation Soul Stage had been completely helpless against it.

If she possessed such a Magical Artifact herself, wouldn’t she be able to challenge anyone she wished, roaming without restraint?

Observing Little White Deer’s sparkling eyes that practically spelled out the word “envy” on her face,

Lu Chen admonished: “Magical Artifacts are ultimately external objects. Without sufficient cultivation to support them, even the finest Magical Artifacts can hardly display their full effectiveness.”

“The Natal Immortal Sword within you is no ordinary treasure either. Only when you can completely master it should you consider other matters.”

“For now, your true path lies in refining your Swordsmanship to perfection.”

As he spoke, Lu Chen stored away the Soul-Suppressing Bell in his hand.

Having fully absorbed the Divine Soul of the Great Thousand Mountains’ Wing Venerable from the Immortal Alliance, the current Soul-Suppressing Bell now faintly showed signs of evolving into a genuine Celestial Artifact.

Although with Diting temporarily serving as its artifact spirit, the Soul-Suppressing Bell already functioned no differently from an ordinary Celestial Artifact,

Diting wouldn’t remain within the Soul-Suppressing Bell permanently.

Therefore, the bell ultimately needed a true artifact spirit of its own.

Moreover, if Diting could act as the Soul-Suppressing Bell’s artifact spirit, he could equally serve as a temporary artifact spirit for other Celestial Artifacts.

If the Soul-Suppressing Bell successfully completed its transformation,

then in the future, should he acquire other damaged Celestial Artifacts, he could rely on Diting’s unique Divine Ability

to effectively control two Celestial Artifacts simultaneously.

Never mind cultivators at the Transformation Soul Stage—

even Half-Immortals like Hua Ling might find themselves in serious trouble.

“Alright, the matters to come are not something you can casually participate in. First, enter your master’s Painted World.”

“Oh, alright.”

Seeing Lu Chen take out the Mountains and Seas Scroll, Little White Deer directly transformed into a stream of light and entered the Painted World.

Watching Little White Deer become an ink-wash figure within the scroll’s imagery,

Lu Chen ensured she was fine before storing the Mountains and Seas Scroll within his own Divine Soul.

The Ancient Domain was perilous. Although Little White Deer possessed a portion of his Aptitude,

her cultivation was ultimately still too low to withstand the distorted Dao power within the Ancient Domain.

A single misstep could lead to her being assimilated by the local Dao power, transforming into some twisted, indescribable monster.

This wasn’t mere speculation on Lu Chen’s part, but various realities he had witnessed within Fox Venerable’s memories.

Originally, the Dao was a precious thing that cultivators sought but rarely obtained.

Given the chance to personally encounter the Dao, many cultivators in the Immortal Cultivation World would even risk their lives for it.

But that was under normal Dao power conditions.

Although the Dao power in the Ancient Domain shared the same Origin as that in the Immortal Cultivation World,

their manifestations had undergone completely different changes.

The most intuitive difference was that while the Dao power in the Immortal Cultivation World was difficult to access and observe, it didn’t significantly affect the external world.

The Dao power in the Ancient Domain, however, was different.

It seemed… to have undergone some transformation, as if it had become alive.

Such Dao power was undoubtedly extremely deadly to cultivators.Because absorbing such great Dao power is akin to swallowing a living worm into one’s own body.

Everything you do ultimately ends up being nothing more than preparing a bridal gown for someone else.

This is also why Lu Chen refers to the cultivators of the Ancient Fiend Nine Realms as livestock raised by the Ancient Fiends.

The power bestowed upon them is like feed thrown out by the Ancient Fiends.

Its purpose is not out of the Ancient Fiends’ kindness or any goodwill toward the cultivators below.

They are merely using this method to ensure the “fruit” harvested in the future is as delicious as possible.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen developed further speculations about these twisted existences known as the Ancient Fiends.

However, these speculations still require evidence to confirm, so no definitive conclusion can be drawn for now.

“Now everything is ready, all that’s left is for this strange bird to arrive at the Land of Inheritance.”

With these words, Lu Chen closed his eyes and began to meditate and cultivate.

Because he understood that awaiting him in the near future would be a perilous battle.

And this battle would determine whether his Heretical Avatar could break through the bottleneck and attain Deity Transformation.

If he failed this time, Lu Chen wouldn’t suffer any significant losses.

At worst, he would just lose one Clone.

But it wouldn’t be easy for him to come to the Ancient Domain again as he does now.

Moreover, falling behind one step means falling behind step by step.

If he couldn’t achieve a breakthrough this time, who knows what variables might arise in the future.

Therefore, he needed to adjust his condition to its peak.

Strive to succeed in one attempt.

Above the Land of Inheritance of the Jiao Lord in the Ancient Domain.

With a sound of tearing through the air, a massive strange bird burst through the clouds and arrived at this desolate place.

Following its pre-programmed behavioral logic.

The strange bird He, after emerging from the clouds, flew directly toward a distant lake and eventually landed on an open space by the lakeshore.

After He landed, it immediately opened its mouth.

Subsequently, a human figure flew out from its mouth and landed on the open ground ahead.

“So this is the Land of Inheritance of the Jiao Lord…”

Lu Chen gazed at the vast, endless lake before him.

Somewhat surprised that the Jiao Lord’s Land of Inheritance presented such a scene.

After all, if one ignored the gloomy clouds overhead and the twisted, withered trees surrounding the area.

Lu Chen might even have thought he had merely arrived at an ordinary, unremarkable lakeside.

But all this was merely superficial.

Lu Chen looked around and activated his ‘Azure Lotus Eyes.’

With the Dharma Eye opened, many things normally invisible immediately appeared before Lu Chen.

The once sparkling lake surface instantly transformed into a chaotic abyss of dancing demons in his vision.

Countless vengeful spirits and Fierce Ghosts frantically tried to burst out from the lake.

But a powerful force emanated from the depths of the lake, pulling these beings back down.

Presenting a scene straight out of hell on earth.

Additionally, the trees around the lake also revealed their true forms to Lu Chen.

These were no ordinary trees at all.

But rather skinned, desiccated corpses.

These corpses had been grafted together by someone, forming twisted potted plants.

Although it wasn’t his first time witnessing the twisted aesthetics of the Ancient Fiends.

This hellish spectacle still made Lu Chen frown involuntarily.

“Only one inheritor? That’s somewhat unexpected.”

On the lake surface, a Fisherman wearing a straw raincoat paddled a small boat to the dock before Lu Chen.

He came ashore and glanced at Lu Chen with curiosity.During this process, Lu Chen was also sizing up the other party.

Upon seeing the other’s true form, Lu Chen was uncharacteristically surprised.

Noticing Lu Chen’s scrutiny, the Fisherman said displeasedly, “Little one, keep your eyes in check.”

“Don’t look at what you shouldn’t, lest you bring trouble upon yourself.”

“Alright, come aboard. I’ll take you where you need to go.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen silently boarded the boat and sat directly at the bow.

Seeing that he was in position, the Fisherman immediately poled the small boat toward the center of the lake.

As they traveled, the Fisherman began explaining the contents of this Legacy.

“Once we reach the island in the lake center, this old man will accompany you there for seven days.”

“During these seven days, you must find a way to catch a Jiao fish from the lake.”

“The larger the Jiao fish you catch, the more Legacy power you’ll obtain, and the stronger you’ll become as Jiao Lord.”

“As for the bait used for fishing…”

At this point, the Fisherman let out a strange laugh.

He looked toward the trees on the shore and said, “You’re quite special, lad. I suppose you’ve seen the true nature of those trees.”

“Care to guess where all their bark has gone?”

Lu Chen calmly replied, “Naturally used as bait.”

The Fisherman revealed his yellowed teeth and smiled, “Correct. Their bark has all become nourishment for this Fallen Dragon Lake.”

“With more people, even if you had little talent, you might still catch one relying on the schools attracted by others’ bait.”

“But with only you here, I wonder how much skin you have to last until you catch one.”

Faced with the Fisherman’s teasing, Lu Chen didn’t respond, merely sitting silently at the bow, lost in thought.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, their small boat finally reached the island at the lake center.

Like the seemingly ordinary yet mysterious forest and lake outside, this island appeared extraordinary in Lu Chen’s eyes.

The island wasn’t large, roughly the size of a football field, easily visible at a glance.

Apart from a single pavilion, the only structure on the island was the dock at the shore.

The rest of the island was covered with a bamboo forest.

However, the true form of these bamboo stalks was human bones.

Quite horrifying.

“We’ve arrived.”

The Fisherman moored the boat at the dock and jumped ashore.

He looked at Lu Chen still sitting in the boat and extended his hand.

“Though a bit late, you can’t skip paying the ferry fare.”

“You clearly have some tricks up your sleeve, so I needn’t tell you what the fare is, right?”

Lu Chen stood up and directly tossed out a Mountain Lord’s corpse from his Storage Bag.

Seeing this, the Fisherman was startled, then his expression turned unpleasant.

He had intended to extract something from Lu Chen himself.

Unexpectedly, the lad’s Storage Bag contained a corpse at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Though this fare was superior compared to previous ones, he inexplicably felt shortchanged.

But rules were rules—he couldn’t defy them.

The Fisherman thrust his pole into the Mountain Lord’s corpse.

In the blink of an eye, the corpse was sucked dry, leaving only a layer of human skin.

Then the Fisherman lifted the skin with his pole, stepped aside with a gloomy expression, and made way for Lu Chen.”There are plenty of fishing rods all over this island—just pick one and make it yourself.”

“Seven days, starting now. You only have seven days.”

“Whether you succeed or not, I must take you back after seven days. Understand?”

Lu Chen didn’t respond. He stood up, walked to the shore, and headed straight for the Bamboo Forest.

The Fisherman watched Lu Chen’s retreating figure and grumbled, “Such an ill-mannered fellow. Couldn’t even bother to reply after listening.”

With that, the Fisherman casually found a spot to sit by the dock.

Meanwhile, after entering the Bamboo Forest, Lu Chen didn’t venture deeper. Instead, he stopped at the nearest bamboo stalk and flicked his finger.

The next moment, the bamboo in front of him fell with a snap.

Then Lu Chen raised his hand and made a few more swift gestures.

Sharp Sword Qi swiftly trimmed away the excess parts of the bamboo, leaving only a straight fishing rod.

After finishing this, Lu Chen carried the rod back to the shore.

The Fisherman was astonished to see Lu Chen return with a fishing rod so quickly. After all, in all his years here, this was the first time he’d seen someone choose a bamboo rod this fast.

Previous Legacy seekers had always been desperate to select what appeared to be the finest bamboo, wasting half a day in the process.

They often ended up fighting fiercely, with casualties occurring frequently.

Although the bamboo Lu Chen chose was decent, it was only of medium to low quality in this “Ten-Thousand Bone Bamboo Forest.”

The Fisherman didn’t believe Lu Chen couldn’t have picked a better one.

But having a rod and bait alone wasn’t enough—without a fishing line and hook, catching fish was impossible.

Just as the Fisherman was about to explain how to make a fishing line and hook here, hoping to extract some payment, Lu Chen walked right past him to the shore.

Under the Fisherman’s stunned gaze, Lu Chen dumped the Mountain Lord’s corpse from his Storage Bag into the lake.

Though these Mountain Lord corpses were missing their most vital parts and their True Spirits had long since dissipated, they still made excellent bait.

As soon as the corpses hit the water, the previously calm Lake Surface began to churn violently.

The Fisherman observed everything from the side.

After waiting a moment, Lu Chen gripped the fishing rod with one hand, channeled his Spiritual Power to form a fishing line, and cast it into the lake.

At the end of the line hung an Immortal Sword.

Seeing this, the Fisherman’s expression turned grave.

Although this was Lu Chen’s first time here, he seemed to have already grasped the rules perfectly.

Every step he took was precise, leaving the “guide” with little to do beyond the essential task of ferrying him.

Even so, the Fisherman believed he might still have a chance to gain some benefit from Lu Chen.

After all, catching a flood dragon fish from the Fallen Dragon Lake was no simple task.

What appeared to be fishing was, in reality, a battle of cultivation.

The Cultivator on shore had to find a way to kill a dragon fish in the lake and retrieve its corpse before other dragon fish devoured it.

During this process, the only part where the Fisherman could intervene was the final “net retrieval.”

But his assistance wasn’t unconditional—he would only help the Legacy seeker if offered something satisfactory in return.In previous years, whether successful or not, inheritors of the Legacy would typically request his assistance multiple times.

Yet Lu Chen had not done so even once so far, which seemed peculiar in every aspect.

Thinking of this, the Fisherman couldn’t help but murmur to himself:

‘Could it be that this lad has already seen through my true identity, and thus refrains from actively seeking my help?’

(End of Chapter)