The more Qi Yuan thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed. In fact, it was likely the only viable option.

At the very least, it seemed more reliable than disco-dancing on Wang Tiande’s grave…

After all, trying to defeat a dead man without using some underworld methods was practically impossible.

The Wang Family Ancestor was a Golden Core cultivator. Neither Lucky Li nor Richie Zhang, being in the same realm, had the ability to perform a soul search on him. Therefore, although the body was dead, the soul likely remained.

The saying goes, “When the body dies, the soul extinguishes.” Unless under extremely rare and harsh conditions that allow a transformation into a ghost, a soul typically disperses quickly after death.

But Wang Tiande wasn’t just any Golden Core cultivator; he had practiced ghostly evil arts. His soul strength would far exceed that of an ordinary person, meaning the time it took to fully dissipate would be significantly prolonged.

In other words, while Wang Tiande the man was definitely dead, his soul was probably still floating around somewhere…

If Qi Yuan could find a way to summon Wang Tiande’s soul back, defeating the ghost would count as completing the mission!

As for how to summon the soul… just yesterday, he had slain a Left Protector of the Nether River Cult. Inside the storage bracelet left behind was a copy of the Nether River Grand Canon, which recorded numerous secret arts for capturing souls and enslaving ghosts.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Qi Yuan’s expression grew increasingly complex.

Smurfing against noobs, befriending demonesses, dual cultivating with cauldrons, secretly practicing evil arts… my behavior is looking more and more like a villain’s…

Could it be… that compared to the Righteous Path, I’m actually more suited for these demonic, heretical ways?

Qi Yuan shuddered violently, quickly shaking the absurd notion out of his head.

Bah!

I am a pure, red-blooded, upright Holy Scion of a Sacred Ground! How can I be compared to evil heretics? All of this is forced upon me by this Dog System! I am innocent!

After silently comforting himself, Qi Yuan gathered his spirits and instructed Lucky Li beside him:

“Junior Brother Li, go to Falling Cloud Valley immediately and retrieve the Wang Family Ancestor’s head. We will perform the soul summoning tonight.”

“In short, our goal is to let that old monster Wang Tiande, who committed countless evils, experience the justice of the mortal world one more time…”

Bro, are you for real?

Lucky Li’s eyelid twitched involuntarily, but he didn’t dare utter a single word of rebuttal. Instead, he obediently replied:

“This subordinate respectfully obeys the decree.”

With that, he summoned a shuttle-shaped magical artifact and soared into the sky, streaking toward Falling Cloud Valley.

By now, Piao Genshuo had snapped out of his daze. He gave Qi Yuan a strange look and sighed with emotion. “Junior Brother Qi is truly a man of passion. Even revenge must be exacted twice.”

“Regardless, you must invite me along tonight. I’ve truly never seen such a spectacle before. It’s a good chance to broaden my horizons…”

Before he could finish, he noticed Bai Xirou walking in from the courtyard entrance. He asked in surprise:

“Eh? Isn’t this girl Big Qi’s woman? Why is she here?”

Qi Yuan smiled slightly and replied calmly:

“She is my woman.”

Huh?

Piao Genshuo was stunned for a moment, then a look of sudden realization dawned on his face. He shook his head, sighing deeply.

“It seems my life creed is correct. There is no true love in this world; it is merely a transaction of mutual needs between men and women.”

“Since one is bound to grow tired of the old and crave the new sooner or later, it is better to dedicate oneself to the pleasure quarters. As long as you have money, you can be a groom every day and enter the bridal chamber every night in any brothel, never troubled by matters of the heart…”

These words made Bai Xirou’s pretty face frost over. She shot Piao Genshuo a look of disgust.

However, since the man was the Celestial Zenith Holy Scion, she didn’t want to cause trouble for Qi Yuan. She held back her retort and walked straight to Qi Yuan’s side, speaking softly:

“Holy Scion, Sister An has prepared the morning meal and is waiting for you.”

In front of outsiders, she was careful to address Qi Yuan as ‘Holy Scion.’

“No need.”

Qi Yuan shook his head, then turned to Piao Genshuo with a bright smile.

“I have just made a breakthrough and happen to need some guidance. Meeting Senior Brother Piao today is truly a pleasant surprise. How about we find a quiet place for a friendly spar? Just a light exchange, stopping before any real harm is done. What do you say?”

“Haha, well said, Junior Brother Qi! I would be delighted!”

Hearing this, Piao Genshuo laughed heartily and agreed without hesitation.

Simultaneously, he began calculating in secret.

My cultivation is at the peak of the Mid-Nascent Soul stage, not far from the Late stage. We are both Holy Scions with profound foundations. How could I possibly lose to someone who just entered the Mid-Nascent Soul stage?

This is a perfect chance to show this Supreme Mystery Holy Scion what I’m made of. Maybe then he’ll show some respect to me, Piao Genshuo, in the future…

Just like that, the two hit it off immediately. They shot into the sky, streaking toward the deep mountains a thousand miles away.

Watching their fading escape lights, Bai Xirou clenched her small fist with full confidence, whispering to herself:

“Junior Brother Qi, you must teach that foul-mouthed lecher a proper lesson.”

For some reason, Bai Xirou now held a mysterious, blind confidence in a certain someone, as if nothing in the world could ever stump him.

Elsewhere.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!

After a few exchanges.

Piao Genshuo’s face was as pale as paper. He swallowed hard with difficulty.

“Junior Brother Qi… do you think it’s too late for me to call off this spar now?”

Not far opposite him, Qi Yuan smiled warmly, offering encouragement. “Why would you say that, Brother Piao? We’ve barely started warming up. Look, I haven’t even drawn my sword yet. Come on, come on, let’s continue!”

“No! Please, no!”

Piao Genshuo felt like crying but had no tears.

Moments later, a series of miserable, wretched screams echoed through the skies.

“Ahhh! Brother Qi! Stop! I yield! I surrender! Any more and you’ll kill me!!!”

After a not-so-thoroughly-satisfying spar, Qi Yuan returned to the City Lord’s Manor with a composed expression and went straight into a cultivation chamber.

As the Celestial Zenith Holy Scion, Piao Genshuo was actually not weak at all.

On the contrary, his foundation was solid, his methods diverse, and he possessed several powerful top-grade magical treasures. In terms of combat power, he was no less than an ordinary Peak Nascent Soul cultivator, truly living up to the name of a prodigy.

Unfortunately, his opponent possessed a once-in-ten-millennia Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul.

Earlier, Qi Yuan had merely unleashed a fraction of the first refinement of the Blood God Four Refinements, and he had beaten Piao Genshuo until he was crying for his parents, utterly defenseless.

Of course, it was just a friendly spar between fellow cultivators. He hadn’t gone for the kill, strictly adhering to the ‘light exchange’ rule.

The result was that a certain Celestial Zenith Holy Scion was now covered in bruises, looking like a painted leopard…

After pondering for a moment, Qi Yuan collected his thoughts and silently recited in his mind:

System, activate Enlightenment Mode. Target: ‘Nether River Grand Canon · Soul Retrieval Chapter’!