Chapter Sixty-Six: Refining the Soul Pearl

By the time he returned home, night had already fallen.

After completing his routine cultivation, Chen Yushu sat quietly in his study.

“This time, it truly was perilous,” he murmured, recalling the events of the day.

First of all, he should not have lingered in the shop, watching Manager Su and the middle-aged Daoist battle the ghost. After all, a gentleman does not stand beside a crumbling wall; in the midst of combat, who knows what might happen? Yet he could not contain his curiosity about the methods of the shadow-walkers, so he stayed, witnessing the techniques of Wu Hong and the Daoist, especially the Daoist's “Soul Pinning” and “Three Incense” arts. Chen Yushu found himself quite satisfied, his horizons broadened.

As for vanquishing the fierce ghost in the end, even he was somewhat surprised. He knew his own abilities well enough; he could contend with a vengeful ghost, but a fierce ghost was a different order altogether. The reason he managed to slay it so smoothly was, first, because the ghost had already engaged in battle with Manager Su and the Daoist, and had been struck directly by the Daoist’s “Three Incense” technique. That art could destroy a vengeful ghost in a single blow; after being hit, the fierce ghost’s strength was greatly diminished, its soul weakened.

Second, he possessed many methods. The Flaming Sun Sword, five Talismans of Evil Repulsion, the Three Yang Treasures… and then the Shadow Suppression Art, but most crucially, the Soul Severing Ruler—a true artifact. Even with his incense cultivation, wielding it was still somewhat taxing. But an artifact is an artifact; even when wielded with difficulty, a single strike carries formidable power. After three consecutive strikes, the fierce ghost, having been weakened layer by layer, could not withstand it. Its soul was severed with a single blow.

“However… Wang Kui…”

Chen Yushu’s expression darkened. Originally, he had a chance to escape into the backyard; at least two people lagged behind him at the time. But Wang Kui’s kick put him at the rear, making him the ghost’s first target.

“This must be settled properly,” Chen Yushu thought. He was not one to accept a loss lightly.

The kick was delivered subtly; questioning Wang Kui openly would yield no justice and only embroil him in the trouble of proving himself—a poor strategy. There would be time enough in the future for Wang Kui to suffer his own losses.

Muttering to himself, Chen Yushu finally reached into his robe and withdrew a black pearl—the remnant left behind after the fierce ghost’s demise.

“This should be a Soul Pearl,” he thought, recalling its name.

The “Li Chao’s Ghost Record” contained descriptions of such things. Soul Pearls usually formed only after the death of beings stronger than fierce ghosts, and only occasionally at that. Their uses were manifold: making talismans, refining artifacts, or assisting shadow-walkers in casting arts. The special soul energy within could also be absorbed to increase incense cultivation.

Their value was immense.

“According to the Ghost Record, Li Chao slew five fierce ghosts, but only obtained two Soul Pearls—about one for every two or three fierce ghosts. The record doesn’t detail how he handled them, but at least one was refined, because within a month he advanced from two sticks of incense cultivation to three, his strength soaring.”

As Chen Yushu remembered this, he considered how best to use the pearl. The obvious choice was to absorb and refine it, as it was a tangible treasure to enhance his spiritual power. Li Chao had used it to advance from two to three sticks of incense cultivation; Chen Yushu himself was only at one, so his progress should be even swifter.

“But… the Soul Pearl is essentially the crystallized soul energy of a fierce ghost. It contains not only potent spiritual power, but also the ghost’s obsessions, hatred, and resentment. Once absorbed, it’s easy to be overwhelmed, one’s temperament altered, prone to mood swings.”

Such thoughts filled his mind, yet he had already unconsciously entered a meditative state.

A chance to strengthen himself was at hand; the path blazed by predecessors would not daunt him. He began his attempt, maintaining a spark of consciousness, gently guiding his spiritual power to connect with the pearl.

At the slightest pull, dozens—hundreds—of strands of energy surged into his mind-sea.

The moment the soul energy entered, he felt his heart grow restless, irritable, a surge of anger welling up within—resentment at the heavens, hatred of the world’s injustice. His brow twitched, as if he might break from his meditative state.

Fortunately, his meditative realm was that of Minor Concentration—not especially profound, but enough to keep him steady.

Soon, his spiritual power grew lively, instinctively drawing upon the White Tiger Visualization Method, refining the soul energy, suppressing the turbulent thoughts until he was calm again.

With tranquility restored, the absorbed energy was fully refined. Though only a third or so remained—the majority dissipating during the process—his spiritual power grew noticeably.

“The effect is remarkable. One refinement equals a whole night’s visualization,” he thought, eyes bright with joy.

He focused his mind, beginning another round of absorption and refinement.

Again and again, the cycle continued.

It seemed slow, but in truth it was countless times faster than cultivating on his own. Were it not for caution—ensuring every strand of soul energy was thoroughly refined without a trace—his progress would be even quicker.

Incense cultivation +1.

“My cultivation increased so quickly. But it makes sense. When I meditated on my own, the daily increase was limited, efficiency slow. Now, with the Soul Pearl, it’s as if drops of water are added to a jar. Each drop stirs up waves; the more drops, the greater the waves. But the water truly accumulates within. Given time to ‘purify,’ the original impurities will settle, and merge entirely.”

Chen Yushu absorbed ten mouthfuls in succession; when his mind felt fatigued, he finally stopped.