Chapter 42: Why Have I Drifted Away for So Long

Before the gray mist could spread, Master Ji flipped his palm, and the haze was swiftly sucked into a rune-covered leather pouch he had prepared in advance, as if swallowed by an invisible black hole. The shrill wail of ghosts flared up but once, then fell abruptly silent.

The black box seemed almost like a bewitching chest that could control the minds of those present, for everyone leaned forward eagerly, craning their necks to peer inside. Only Master Ji and Black Crow remained unmoved, already knowing what lay within.

The box was deep, its interior and exterior alike painted black. Inside rested a skeleton the size of a grown man, but its bones were not ordinary white; they shimmered with a metallic sheen, neither quite gold nor copper, as if forged from some unearthly alloy.

Apart from this strange color, nothing else seemed remarkable about the bones. Su Mu, unable to restrain his curiosity, stepped closer to the box, leaning in for a careful inspection.

“Master, is this the Nether Bone? Is it just like a human skeleton?” Su Mu had grown up sheltered by his parents, never having seen human remains before, nor ever having the opportunity. Yet now, faced with the legendary Nether Bone, he felt no fear—only fascination.

“It is nearly identical to a human’s, save for two extra vertebrae and a more pronounced coccyx. But those differences are trivial; they won’t affect your form after the bone replacement,” Master Ji replied.

Su Mu pursed his lips in disappointment. He had imagined countless times what the fabled Nether Bones might look like, and never had he pictured something so unremarkable. He could not fathom what made them so extraordinary.

Sensing Su Mu’s thoughts, Master Ji patted the edge of the box and smiled mysteriously. “It seems you underestimate these bones. Do you know what makes them so marvelous?”

Now intrigued, Su Mu ventured a guess: “Are they truly indestructible? Even a greatsword could not chip them?”

Master Ji laughed heartily. “Oh, you are still so naive. If that were all, why would so many of the world’s most formidable figures scheme so desperately to obtain them? After refining their bodies, cultivators of Vital Essence can strengthen their bones to be as hard as steel—what is so extraordinary about that?”

“Then what makes them so powerful?” Su Mu pressed.

“The wonders of these bones are too many to count, and even I do not know all their secrets. Only you can discover them. If all goes well, they will become you, and you will become them.” At this, Master Ji’s voice grew a touch desolate. “Alas, I wonder if I will live to see the day you truly merge with the Nether Bones and refine your second Star Source. The closer it draws, the more anxious I become. If you should fail…”

Black Crow seemed about to interject with words of comfort, but Master Ji raised a hand to stop him. “You needn’t say it—I know your thoughts.”

Black Crow could only bow his head. “Yes, Master.”

Master Ji rubbed his eyes, gathering his composure, then seized Su Mu’s arm with renewed vigor. “Come, let me show you the abilities of these bones we already know. Watch closely.”

At his signal, two members of the Night Guard performed a series of hand seals; one unleashed a flurry of ice blades, the other sent tongues of fire into the box.

Su Mu gasped in alarm, but the spells vanished the moment they struck the Nether Bones. There was no trace of frost or scorch marks, as though nothing had touched them at all.

“What happened?” Su Mu exclaimed in amazement. The chill of the ice blades and the searing heat of the fire had been all too real.

“In the realm of the dead, there is naught but endless nether qi and deathly mists—no trace of the elemental forces of nature. Objects from that world are innately resistant to such powers. These bones, relics of the Nether God himself, are even more formidable. Only a cultivator who has reached the Sea of Stars realm in soul refinement might hope to damage them.”

“Does that mean…” Su Mu’s eyes sparkled as he seized Master Ji’s sleeve, struck by a sudden thought.

“I know what you’re thinking, and you are correct,” Master Ji said, his own excitement rising. “Once your entire skeleton is replaced with these Nether Bones, soul cultivators will be no more threat to you than clay chickens or straw dogs—they’ll become utterly insignificant.”

“If all goes well, with your talent for Vital Essence and a new Star Source after the transformation, you’ll become an ultimate path cultivator, fearless even in the face of soul masters. Imagine what heights you’ll reach then!” Master Ji’s face was flushed with anticipation, the veins in his clenched fists standing out. Such a formidable being would soon emerge from his own hands.

“If I had possessed these bones before, how could that wretched Du Feiyang have harmed me? Lan would not have died in vain. Anrui… Anrui would be safe and sound.” Su Mu’s heart ached at the thought, yet hope surged anew. If he could achieve the realm Master Ji described, nothing in heaven or earth could daunt him—no longer would he be subject to the world’s injustices.

“Master, when do we begin the training?”

“When would you like to start?” Master Ji asked, half in jest.

“As soon as possible! Tomorrow—no, today—no, right now! I’m ready!” Su Mu blurted, changing his answer repeatedly, provoking hearty laughter from all present.

“You’re still too green, boy. Have you forgotten? Only after reaching the Heavenly Son realm can you begin cultivating the Nether God’s Phantom Body art,” Master Ji reminded him. Black Crow glanced about, lowering his voice when he mentioned that forbidden technique.

“Then I’ll train even harder and reach the Heavenly Son realm as quickly as I can!” Su Mu declared. Only now did he recall the purpose of coming to Dead Ridge City: he was still just a boy, not even at the threshold of that realm. The chasm between his hopes and reality left him deeply dejected.

“You feel no pain—a rare gift for those who cultivate Vital Essence. I believe you’ll progress swiftly. But I must leave for the capital today—urgent matters await me there, so I cannot guide you in your training,” Master Ji sighed, rubbing Su Mu’s head with some reluctance.

“What?! Master, you mustn’t go! What will I do without you?” Su Mu cried, suddenly childlike, clinging tightly to Master Ji’s leg.

“Haha! Enough of your antics. Stay here and train. I’ll leave Black Crow to look after you. At most, I’ll be gone a year—perhaps only six months before I return. Your training is a matter of utmost importance to me,” Master Ji said.

“My lord, this won’t do!” Black Crow, caught off guard by the arrangement, protested anxiously.

“Nonsense. You’re only running errands by my side. If we meet an enemy even I cannot handle, what use would you be? It’s better you stay and watch over Su Mu. Remember how important he is to me.” With a wave of his sleeve, Master Ji concluded, “It’s settled. Ten Night Guards remain; the rest come with me.”

Black Crow’s legs gave way, and he knelt, bowing his head several times, his voice thick with emotion. “Master, when I lay in a coma for ten days and nights, you spent years of your own lifespan and all your strength to bring me back, nearly collapsing yourself. Since then, I have never left your side. Now, you go on alone—I cannot serve you anymore. Please, take care. The capital is dangerous; if anything happens, I’ll come at once, whatever the cost.”

“Sentimentality! Get up, or you’ll make Su Mu laugh. I have Shang Yi’s assistance in the capital—don’t worry,” Master Ji said, his back turned, his voice trembling despite himself.

“Master, rest assured—I’ll obey Brother Black Crow in all things, train diligently every day, and never slack off,” Su Mu promised, kneeling beside Black Crow, understanding that Master Ji’s journey was vital and wisely refraining from further protest.

“That’s good. When I return, I hope you’ll have reached the Heavenly Son realm. Don’t let me down.” Master Ji then drew Black Crow aside and spoke in a low voice, “I leave the Nether God’s Phantom Body manual with you. Keep it secret. If Su Mu advances quickly and attains the Heavenly Son realm before I return, let him begin training. You know the method for the bone replacement—there’s no time to waste.”

“Yes, my lord. As long as I draw breath, the manual will be safe. Even if disaster befalls me, even if I become a vengeful ghost, I’ll protect it with my life,” Black Crow vowed, receiving the manual as though it were his very soul.

Master Ji snorted. “Foolish talk. The manual is useless without the Nether Bones. Su Mu and the bones are the true priorities.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll protect Su Mu at all costs,” Black Crow replied, sneaking a glance at Su Mu, who was still peering curiously at the bones, completely oblivious.

Before night fell, Master Ji departed in haste, not alarming Zhou Chan—but Zhou Chan noticed nonetheless.

“My lord, Master Ji has left, taking all but a few cultivators and the young man called Su Mu.”

Though Zhou Chan’s interest in Su Mu was piqued, the boy’s cultivation was too low to warrant serious attention. Learning that Master Ji had left, he wondered if the youth was nothing but a pawn, left behind for convenience.

“Hmm… Since he’s gone, there’s no need to worry much. Just keep an eye on the boy. Focus instead on those cultivators from the Myriad Laws Sect who have infiltrated in disguise. For the Three Sects and Four Clans to go to such lengths to sneak in—this is worrisome indeed.”

Ever since discovering that agents of the Myriad Laws Sect had entered Dead Ridge City in disguise, Zhou Chan had not known a moment’s peace. The names of the Three Sects and Four Clans were too weighty to ignore.

Before leaving, Master Ji poured the gray nether qi back into the box. After his departure, Black Crow resealed the bones and carefully checked the house’s perimeter before locking up.

“Su Mu, these Nether Bones cannot be left exposed for long. Without the nourishment of nether qi, their essence will slowly fade. You must not reveal their existence to anyone. With the master gone, we cannot defend against a great cultivator who might try to seize them. I’ll have them hidden in the Black Coach—no one can divine what is inside it, so you may rest easy.”

“What’s the Black Coach? Is it a carriage?” Su Mu asked in confusion.

“It’s a special conveyance. Its carriage is woven from a fabric refined from the corpses of a rare insect, impervious to the senses of mind cultivators. We use it to store our most important items, and it’s hidden at our secret outposts,” Black Crow explained.

Su Mu followed him out into the courtyard, where he saw a large, pitch-black tent standing alone, with no horses in sight.

“The Black Coach is our most secret asset, driven only by several mind cultivators working in concert. It moves without a sound, and its drivers are trained in the arts of stealth. The coach cannot bear the light of day,” Black Crow added.

As he spoke, several Night Guards carried the black box to the Black Coach. A handful of black-robed cultivators appeared as if from nowhere, each pointing a finger at the tent. The tent swiftly contracted, shrinking just enough to cover the box, then held its new shape. The cultivators took up positions around it, and as Su Mu watched, the coach and its attendants seemed to merge into one, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.

“Incredible!” Su Mu exclaimed, clapping his hands. He glanced up at the sky, but found no trace, then followed Black Crow back inside.

At night, Dead Ridge City became a ghost town; aside from the night patrol, none dared venture out. Yet not far from Su Mu’s lodging, the air inexplicably twisted. A blurred white figure slowly took shape, glancing around in hesitation.

“This aura… Could it be…? How is this possible…? And now it’s vanished again?”