Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Facing hardship among fellow disciples yet looking on without lending a hand is considered a grave or minor infraction within the West Sea Sect, depending on the situation and outcome.

The severity of punishment can range from crippling a disciple's cultivation level to expulsion from the Sect!

If Shan Yuxin wanted Wang Chen to rescue the stronghold of Wuliushi, Wang Chen could have righteously refused—assistance beyond one's capabilities can be ignored.

However, if the other party simply sought refuge, then Wang Chen was both morally and rationally bound to not turn them away.

Otherwise, should the matter be exposed, his reputation within the Sect would be tarnished, not to mention the punitive Sect rules.

Therefore, Wang Chen returned to the ground-level defense area as quickly as possible.

While controlling the protective array, he opened the gates of the defense area.

The moment the door opened, a figure flashed in instantaneously.

Wang Chen immediately closed the door again.

Still, an extremely chill aura swept into the hall, causing ripples in the protective array.

Wang Chen did not meet with this fellow disciple directly but communicated through the array: "Senior Brother Shan, I need to conduct a check, please forgive me."

Shan Yuxin, who appeared to be around thirty years old, had a lean face and penetrating eyes, with a long beard under his chin. Despite looking somewhat disheveled, he still maintained the demeanor of a Purple Mansion cultivator.

He nodded agreeably: "Of course."

Wang Chen immediately activated the array's Evil Wraith detection function to inspect the disciple who sought help.

A faint light swept across Shan Yuxin's body in an instant.

The other party remained calm, without the slightest hint of guilt.

After the array's detection was cleared, Wang Chen came downstairs and bowed to Shan Yuxin: "Senior Brother, please forgive my impudence. My name is Wang Chen. Let's sit and talk."

Shan Yuxin laughed heartily: "Junior Brother Wang, you're too polite."

After they seated themselves, Wang Chen commanded the Puppet Servant to brew Spiritual Tea and then asked curiously, "Senior Brother Shan, what exactly happened?"

"Alas—"

Shan Yuxin heaved a long sigh, saying with shame, "It was all due to my negligence!"

He had entered the Yin Nether Realm before Wang Chen but not much earlier and was also encountering the Yin Winds for the first time.

Although Shan Yuxin had made preparations, the location of his defense area was poorly chosen. After several days of relentless assault by the Yin Winds, his protective array could hardly hold up.

Seeing that his place of shelter was at risk of collapsing at any time, Shan Yuxin decisively abandoned his possessions, taking the risk to seek help.

Despite possessing a map from the Pioneering Command, the Yin Winds were so fierce that he struggled immensely to resist. Only after expending two Protective Spirit Artifacts and numerous Spirit Talismans was he able to make his way to Wujiuwu.

Wang Chen was his last hope.

"Junior Brother Wang."

Shan Yuxin stood up and bowed deeply to Wang Chen: "No thanks could match your kindness. Once we return to the Sect, I shall repay you generously."

"Generous repayment?"

Wang Chen's expression suddenly became strange: "Is poisoning others your way of repaying kindness?"

Shan Yuxin straightened up abruptly, a fierce glint flashing in his previously warm eyes.

He took a step back, barely smiling: "Junior brother, what do you mean by that?"

Wang Chen smiled: "Senior Brother must be very curious, why I remain unharmed till now?"

This fellow disciple had been continuously administering poison from the moment he entered the defense area.

His skill in using poison was extremely sophisticated; had Wang Chen not been vigilant, he might not have noticed the other's actions.

Daring to target a Purple Mansion cultivator with poison, the toxin used by Shan Yuxin must be extraordinary.

The problem was, he chose the wrong target!

Wang Chen's Vajra Invulnerability granted him complete immunity to all poisons, an ability that could neutralize the potency of any toxin.

There might be supreme toxins in the world of Immortal Cultivation capable of bringing him down, but they certainly wouldn't fall into the hands of someone like Shan Yuxin!

Therefore, everything Shan Yuxin did was, in the eyes of Wang Chen, as ludicrous as a clown's performance.

Ridiculous and despicable!

Upon hearing Wang Chen's mockery, Shan Yuxin's gaze suddenly turned extremely fierce, and his face was instantly shrouded in a layer of black air.

He let out a low growl as sharp claws suddenly protruded from his fingertips.

But before Shan Yuxin could make another move, a large net suddenly fell from the sky, enveloping him completely.

Heaven-Ensnaring Punisher Net!

The Heaven-Ensnaring Punisher Net was a supreme sharp weapon against Evil Wraiths, but it wasn't very effective in fights between Cultivators.

Unless they were Evil Cultivators!

In fact, as soon as Shan Yuxin used the Pioneering Command to Open the Gate, Wang Chen had activated the global mode of the Immortal Cultivation panel to scan him.

In Wang Chen's vision, Shan Yuxin was black and red, black and red!

From this, he deduced that the other party was most likely possessed by Evil Spirits.

The problem was, the Defense Area's protective array couldn't detect it, and who knew what kind of methods the other used.

But Wang Chen believed that there were no wronged souls under the Demon-Slaying Net!

As expected, once trapped in the net, Shan Yuxin revealed his true form and instantly exposed a fierce and ugly visage.

His body rapidly swelled, muscles bulging out quickly, and the Robe he was wearing shattered into countless pieces, revealing skin covered in dark patterned tattoos.

Spikes of bone burst through the flesh!

However, the Demon-Slaying Net was specialized in subduing all unruly Evil Wraiths and Monster Spirits. The resistance was so feeble that it couldn't even last a moment before the tightening cords of the net made it emit thick black smoke and wail miserably.

Its Evil Power was ruthlessly absorbed and devoured by the Demon-Slaying Net!

This absorption was irreversible and not something an Evil Spirit of its level could withstand.

In just a moment, its size returned to normal, and it rapidly began to deflate.

"Ah!"

At that moment, a face suddenly appeared on the chest of the Evil Spirit.

It was the face of Shan Yuxin.

He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something to Wang Chen through the Demon-Slaying Net.

His eyes were filled with a look of pleading.

But Wang Chen was unmoved and continued to channel Mana into the Demon-Slaying Net.

No matter whether it was the true essence of Shan Yuxin flickering back or a trick of the Evil Spirit, he ignored it altogether.

Not until the Evil Spirit inside the net shrunk to the size of a raccoon, breathless and without any ability to resist, did Wang Chen suddenly release the Demon-Slaying Net and set it free.

At the same time, he struck with his left hand in a sword-finger gesture, summoning a bolt of Nine Heavens Divine Thunder to strike down upon it!

The Evil Spirit was already at the end of its strength, and hit by the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder which was the bane of Evil Wraiths, it was instantly reduced to ashes.

[Human Virtue +1790]

The information appearing in his vision took Wang Chen by surprise.

He had only intended to give it a try and hadn't expected the outcome to be so unexpected.

That was quite a lot of Human Virtue!

But no matter how much it was, Wang Chen would never think it too much. He had just been worrying about the lack of Human Virtue sources, concerned that once the stored points were exhausted, he would no longer be able to use the global mode.

Now, he had clearly found a new way.

Could it be that only by slaying cultivators possessed by Evil Spirits can one obtain Human Virtue?

Wang Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully.

If that were the case, it would be great to have a few more like Shan Yuxin.

Wang Chen sitting in the Defense Area, setting his net and waiting, and Human Virtue flowing in was also a very nice thing!

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Second update posted.

PS: I got sunburned, my throat feels like it's cut by a knife, I can only describe it with the word "miserable".