C10 Shangluo City

"Lei Yan, please don't kill me," the disciple pleaded, trembling as he noticed the long blade in Lei Yan's grasp and the unmistakable glint of murderous intent in his eyes.

With a calm expression and no hesitation, Lei Yan swung the blade, swiftly decapitating him.

Ten minutes later, he had also slain the still-unconscious Outer Disciple.

For his own survival, Lei Yan knew he had to eliminate all four witnesses.

He then buried the four bodies separately. He also concealed the long blade, over thirty Common Soul Pills, and the manual for the Meteor Sword Technique in a hidden spot, planning to retrieve them once he grew stronger.

Suddenly, he noticed the cut on his right arm was healing rapidly, likely to be fully healed within a day.

"Today's misfortune has turned into a blessing, granting me the Meteor Sword Technique manual. Yet, I must refrain from practicing this technique for now," Lei Yan mused, still worried as he departed but soon feeling a sense of joy.

Unbeknownst to him, Lee Qingping had witnessed everything. With her vastly superior strength, Lei Yan was oblivious to her presence nearby.

"This new Outer Disciple, Lei Yan, is not only strikingly handsome but also shrouded in mystery. His Cultivation Talent is incredibly exceptional. If I could be with him..." Lee Qingping's thoughts drifted into a daydream as she watched him enter the small stone house.

...

"Lei Yan!"

The next morning, a man in his thirties, Han Yun, rushed to Lei Yan's small stone house. A member of the Divine Plant Pill Sect for a decade, he remained an Outer Disciple.

Known for his forthright nature, he lived in a small stone house hundreds of miles away. After one meeting with Lei Yan, their shared interests had quickly forged a strong friendship.

"What's going on?" Lei Yan inquired, about to leave for his daily cultivation when he spotted Han Yun.

"I've heard that Chen Qiang and three others vanished yesterday. The elders found blood traces and a heavy concentration of Devil Qi at the scene. The incident has caused quite an uproar; all the Outer Disciples are on edge, fearing that the Devil Clan has infiltrated the Divine Plant Mountain!"

"Thanks for the heads-up, Brother Han," Lei Yan said, a surge of secret joy in his heart as he quickly expressed his gratitude to Han Yun.

Han Yun gave a nod, adding another word of caution, "For the next few days, it's best not to venture out for cultivation. Stick to practicing around here."

"Don't worry, Brother Han, I won't stray far from this spot," Lei Yan assured him with a slight nod.

After exchanging a few more words, Han Yun departed.

At that moment, the sun was ascending in the east, casting a golden glow over Divine Plant Mountain, shrouded in layers of mist. Even from a high vantage point, one couldn't see where it ended.

Deep within Divine Plant Mountain, the spiritual energy was thick, and under the sunlight, it shimmered with rainbow hues.

At high noon, when the sun was at its peak, Lei Yan, clad only in shorts, sat cross-legged on a massive rock, immersed in the practice of the Devil Ape Body Refining Arts and the Soul Devouring Arts.

Determined to advance to Level 4 of the Human Soul state as quickly as possible, he had covertly retrieved over thirty Common Soul Pills from a hidden stash and had ingested ten of them in one go.

Lei Yan focused on channeling the Soul Devouring Arts to assimilate the spiritual and soul power from the medicine pills, allowing it to fortify his physical body and soul.

Within an hour, the power within those ten Common Soul Pills was completely depleted, and without hesitation, he consumed another ten.

As the relentless flow of spiritual and soul power continued to refine his body, Lei Yan's physique began to gleam with a metallic sheen, and the insidious poison deep within his soul was kept at bay.

By evening, after refining thirty Common Soul Pills and enduring over six hours of intense cultivation, Lei Yan's skin appeared to have undergone a transformation, becoming incredibly fair and radiant.

He was naturally handsome, but previously, he radiated an aura of ferocity and dominance. Now, after days of dedicated cultivation, his demeanor had undergone a significant transformation, exuding a sense of noble righteousness.

Particularly striking were his eyes, which seemed to naturally possess a commanding presence over all beings.

"Hahaha…" Standing beneath the amber hues of the setting sun, Lei Yan let out a hearty laugh, delighted to discover that the Devil Sovereign's body he now inhabited had undergone considerable changes through his renewed dedication to cultivation.

If given a bit more time, it might become challenging for most to recognize him as the once-feared Devil Sovereign.

Lei Yan's cultivation speed was astonishingly rapid. While a significant part of this was due to the Devil Sovereign's memories and cultivation experiences, one couldn't deny that his innate Cultivation Talent was exceptionally rare and powerful.

"If I could just acquire a few more Common Soul Pills, I might achieve a breakthrough," he mused, sensing that he was teetering on the edge of a significant advancement.

Having inherited the Devil Sovereign's memories and legacy, Lei Yan had an acute awareness of the signs leading up to a breakthrough.

Eager to advance his abilities, he unearthed his long saber that night and stealthily made his way out of the Divine Plant Pill Sect.

Located over three hundred miles from the Divine Plant Pill Sect was Shangluo City, a bustling hub with hundreds of shops, both large and small. A wide variety of items were available for purchase, and many shops also engaged in buying goods.

Disciples of the Divine Plant Pill Sect often sold their finds to these shops, using the proceeds to purchase necessities.

Even mortals, if they had the means, could acquire items like Common Soul Pills. Wealthy individuals from the Great Qian Dynasty frequently visited Shangluo City's shops to purchase Medicine Pills crafted by the Divine Plant Pill Sect.

The Great Qian Dynasty had risen to become the dominant power within a ten-million-mile radius. The Devil Island, once under the Devil Sovereign's rule and the most formidable force in the region, was completely eradicated by the Great Qian Dynasty just a month prior.

While the Divine Plant Pill Sect's influence paled in comparison to that of Devil Island and the Great Qian Dynasty, it was a minor faction affiliated with a powerful Soul Sect on the Soul Weeping Continent, making it a force neither the Devil Island nor the Great Qian Dynasty would provoke lightly.

In Shangluo City, Lei Yan disguised himself as a well-to-do middle-aged merchant, confidently strolling through the city streets.

"Spirit Herb Steamed Buns, only one Great Qian Spirit Coin each! They can instantly replenish your spiritual energy and even nourish both Yin and Yang—a travel essential for every gentleman."

"Spirit Fruit Candy, a specialty of the Divine Plant Pill Sect, reputed to extend one's lifespan. A mere Great Qian Spirit Coin will get you ten pieces."

"Spirit Vine Armor is a low-grade armor capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Level 1 Human Soul warrior. It's available for just one hundred Great Qian Spirit Coins."

"The Spirit Pattern Sword, forged from Profound Iron, boasts exceptional sharpness and can penetrate the protective spiritual light shield of a warrior at the Peak of the Human Soul. Yours for ten thousand Great Qian Spirit Coins."

"Our selection of Soul Pills is second to none, offering both affordability and quality. Rest assured, our products are fair and honest."

"We also offer a variety of Human Soul Stage cultivation techniques. Why not come and see for yourself?"

Chapter 18 - The Great Qian Spirit Coins