248: To be treated like a beast of burden!

Underneath Ji Imperial City, at the core of a Tier 3 Spiritual Vein.

Mu Han sat cross-legged on a Spiritual Vein node, where the spiritual mist was so dense it was almost impossible to disperse, gradually forming a spiritual spring.

Mu Han sat in the spiritual spring, and the surrounding Spiritual Qi swirled around him, being frantically absorbed into his body to repair the heavily damaged Golden Core within his Dantian and Qi Sea!

Each time the spiritual energy washed over him, it caused a sharp pain, making Mu Han grunt.

This made him recall the terrifying scene from several years ago.

At that time, he and his Junior Brother, Shen Yuan, had finally obtained an Opportunity from an ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave, but the news leaked, and they were relentlessly pursued by the four Righteous Path Sects, with nowhere to run or hide.

In the end, they had no choice but to flee into the perilous Cloud Mist Mountain Range!

As a result, they had just escaped one danger only to fall into another; while fleeing, they accidentally trespassed into the territory of a Tier 4 Demon Venerable.

Even now, thinking of the giant claw that blotted out the sky and the monstrous might, Mu Han still felt a lingering fear.

If not for the two of them, Senior Brother and Junior Brother, fighting with all their might and using all their trump cards, they would have long since entered Reincarnation.

Although the two escaped with their lives, they were severely wounded, their resources were depleted, and they ended up in this Southern Wilderness Region with its sparse Spiritual Qi.

Fortunately, there were no decent Cultivators here, nor anyone who could threaten him, making it a quiet place for recuperation.

"However..."

Mu Han slowly opened his eyes, a cold light flashing within them.

"If my injuries hadn't been so severe that day, how could I have tolerated that Ji Ruge acting so presumptuously in front of me!"

He recalled the day he descended upon Ji Imperial City; that Ji Ruge, merely a Middle Stage Golden Core, was defeated by him in less than three moves.

If not for his quick escape back into the Tier 3 city-protecting grand formation, he would have crushed that person long ago!

Fortunately, that person had something to care about. The two of them used the lives of the Imperial City's inhabitants as a threat, and offered a Tier 4 Cultivation Technique, along with various Spells and Legacies, to entice him. Only then did they reach a consensus, exchanging it for the Opportunity to heal here.

But every time he thought of this, Mu Han felt a wave of humiliation.

He was a True Disciple of the Soul Devouring Demonic Sect, one of the seven Nascent Soul Sects in the Profound Spirit Domain!

He was a renowned figure even in the Profound Spirit Domain; when had he ever suffered such indignity?

"Once my injuries recover, I will make you wish for death but be unable to die!" he muttered to himself, a wisp of black Qi swirling around his fingertip. "But it should be soon!"

Mu Han estimated the time; Junior Brother Shen had been out for some time. With his abilities, conquering the surrounding forces should be effortless.

As long as they unified the Southern Wilderness Region and extracted all the resources from this area, not only would his injuries heal quickly, but his cultivation could also improve!

Moreover, he could prepare in advance for refining a Tier 4 Spirit Treasure.

Thinking of this, a flicker of fervent desire flashed in Mu Han's eyes.

If he could refine a Tier 4 Nascent Soul Spirit Treasure, he would have the confidence to return to the Profound Spirit Domain and contend for the Opportunity that rightfully belonged to them!

But at this moment, Mu Han's expression shifted as he sensed that the Restriction he had set up outside had been triggered.

"Who dares to disturb this Venerable One's cultivation!"

This area had long been designated a forbidden zone by him, and he had secretly altered the permissions of the grand formation covering it. Logically, no one should be able to disturb him without his permission.

However, he soon felt a familiar aura.

"He's back so soon?" Mu Han raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

Logically, the speed shouldn't be this fast. After all, no matter how weak the opponent, they were still a Golden Core. It would probably take Shen Yuan a considerable amount of time to conquer a Golden Core force.

But when he opened the Restriction and saw the remnant soul drifting in, he was completely stunned.

"Senior... Senior Brother..."

Shen Yuan's soul was so weak it was almost transparent, barely able to maintain a human form. His lower body had already turned into wisps of green smoke, drifting away.

"What happened!" Mu Han suddenly stood up, his body trembling with spiritual energy. "Who injured you like this?"

Shen Yuan's remnant soul was so startled by this aura that it almost completely dissipated. After a long while, he managed to stabilize his soul body and recounted the events of the incident with a trembling voice.

And when he mentioned Ji Ruge's sudden betrayal and backstabbing, and then teaming up with an unknown Golden Core to ambush him, Mu Han's Face had become so dark it looked like it could drip water!

"And the Cultivation Technique that person used was also extremely bizarre; it could directly burn my Golden Core Origin..."

Shen Yuan's voice was filled with uncontrollable rage, and a deeply hidden fear.

"In the end, if I hadn't used that quasi-Tier 4 exotic treasure, the 'Void Cicada Exuviae,' I wouldn't even have escaped with this wisp of a remnant soul!"

"What! The Void Cicada Exuviae! Why did you use it!"

Mu Han's Face was etched with heartache; this was an excellent life-saving item!

The 'Void Cicada Exuviae,' as the name suggests, is the exuviae of a Tier 4 Void Cicada.

After a Cultivator refines it, it can be used as a one-time exotic treasure. When activated, the Physical Body can be discarded in place like a 'cicada exuviae,' while the soul tears open a spatial rift to escape.

Moreover, due to its Void characteristic, its activation will not cause any spatial ripples, nor will it be perceived by anyone! It can be said to be a top-tier escape treasure!

If he hadn't needed his Junior Brother to clear obstacles in the Southern Wilderness Region for him, and he had to give him a little incentive, he wouldn't have lent the 'Void Cicada Exuviae' obtained in the Secret Realm to Shen Yuan.

He had thought at the time that since no one in the Southern Wilderness Region could threaten Shen Yuan, this item would eventually return to his hands if it wasn't used.

He never expected that it would be used during this trip out!

If Shen Yuan weren't in a remnant soul state right now, he would even suspect that his Junior Brother intentionally withheld the item and was unwilling to return it to him!

Seeing Senior Brother Mu's heartbroken expression, Shen Yuan was speechless and couldn't help but remind him.

"Senior Brother, can you focus on important matters!"

Oh right, important matters!

"Is it that unknown Golden Core?" Mu Han narrowed his eyes. "How can there be other Golden Cores in the Southern Wilderness Region? Could it be..."

A terrifying thought flashed through his mind.

Could it be that people from the Profound Spirit Domain have found this place?

But he quickly dismissed this idea. If it were those people, there would never be just one person, and it would be impossible for them to fail to capture even Shen Yuan's remnant soul!

However, he was still very displeased.

The sudden appearance of an unknown Golden Core created many variables out of thin air.

He hated variables the most!

The Southern Wilderness Region concerned his Dao path; whoever blocked him, even the heavens wouldn't be given Face!

"Senior Brother, you must avenge me!" Shen Yuan, seeing that Mu Han didn't care about his current remnant soul state at all, had to actively lament.

"Junior Brother, don't worry, Senior Brother will definitely get justice for you!" Mu Han slowly approached, a meaningful smile appearing on his Face. "But Junior Brother... if Senior Brother avenges you, shouldn't you also show some gratitude?"

Shen Yuan's soul body trembled violently. He knew this Senior Brother too well; especially in the Soul Devouring Demonic Sect, talk of camaraderie was a joke, only profit was eternal!

However, he was now only a remnant soul, and all his possessions had remained with his Physical Body in Heavenly Star Immortal City.

"Senior Brother, you've seen my current state; it's a bit difficult..."

Shen Yuan was a little troubled and could only plead bitterly, vowing, "After I reshape my Physical Body, I will definitely repay Senior Brother's kindness by being your beast of burden!"

"Later?" Mu Han chuckled softly, a small, black banner, no bigger than a palm, appearing in his hand at some point.

At this moment, the banner surface emitted a chilling aura, and countless distorted human Faces could vaguely be seen wailing upon it.

Mu Han's tone became playful as he looked at Shen Yuan's remnant soul: "Why wait until later? You can be my beast of burden now!"

"Senior Brother! What are you doing?" Shen Yuan had a bad premonition when Mu Han took out the soul devouring banner.

He wanted to retreat in horror but found that he was already confined in place by an invisible force, unable to move.

"My soul devouring banner is still missing a main soul!" Mu Han slowly made hand seals, his voice faint: "I think Junior Brother is very suitable!"

"No! Senior Brother! For the sake of our years as fellow Disciples..."

Shen Yuan shrieked in despair. As a Disciple of the Soul Devouring Demonic Sect, no one knew the terror of the soul devouring banner better than he did.

But he used to treat others this way, and at that time, he didn't feel anything, even finding it noisy.

But now that he was facing it himself, he finally understood that deep despair!

However, no matter how fiercely his soul body struggled, severely wounded as he was, he had no room to resist in front of Mu Han.

Mu Han remained unmoved. The soul devouring banner grew with the wind, transforming into a size of about ten feet.

Countless ghostly hands stretched out from the black banner surface, firmly grasping Shen Yuan's remnant soul and pulling him into the soul banner.

"Junior Brother, rest assured, Senior Brother promised to avenge you!"

Mu Han coldly watched as the ghostly hands dragged Shen Yuan into the banner. Horrifying screams echoed in this underground space.

Along with the final Spell being cast, a new main soul imprint appeared on the soul devouring banner.

Mu Han stroked the banner surface with satisfaction, his gaze then looking outward.

"Ji Ruge... since you chose to betray me, then this Immortal Dynasty has no reason to exist."

He had long coveted the billions of lives in the Immortal City. If he could sacrifice all these lives, not only would his injuries recover quickly, but his cultivation could even advance another level.

And the old emperor's three thousand concubines... Mu Han licked his lips, an obscene glint flashing in his eyes.

However, he quickly calmed down.

Shen Yuan's Physical Body fell in Heavenly Star Immortal City, so that item had probably fallen into the hands of that unknown Golden Core.

"There's no need to rush." Mu Han sneered. "Without the other half of the token in my hand, it's useless even if he gets it."

Besides, the other party probably doesn't even know what it is!

It wouldn't be too late to settle the score with that person after he devoured the Immortal Dynasty and his cultivation recovered to its Peak!

"But Junior Brother, really, he didn't even tell me that person's name!"

But that was easy to handle, after all, Junior Brother had seen this person.

Mu Han made hand seals, and Shen Yuan's blurry Face immediately appeared on the soul devouring banner.

Soon, by activating the soul devouring banner, memories concerning that unknown Golden Core were extracted by him.

"Hmm?"

Mu Han looked with interest at the figure in Shen Yuan's memory, standing amidst a monstrous sea of blood.

"Interesting, it seems he's a fellow practitioner of the Dao!"

Mu Han licked his lips, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.

"The blood of a Demonic Cultivator... is the best to drink!"