Chapter 4: The Soul-Devouring Art of Ten Thousand Shadows

Little Qiongshan Mountain.

This mountain lies twenty miles outside Qingzhou Prefecture, rising a hundred zhang high and covering ten thousand acres. To the east, it borders Pingjiang. The forests remain undeveloped, frequented by wild beasts, deterring ordinary people from venturing up. It serves as a hunting ground for wandering knights.

In a cave on the southern side of the mountain, Chen Tiansheng was roasting wolf meat for Fang Chenghu.

Today marked the second day since Fang Chenghu had captured him.

To prevent escape, Fang Chenghu had shackled Chen Tiansheng’s feet with twenty-pound iron fetters.

“Master Fang, I promise to stay by your side for a month, and I will fulfill that. But could you grant me a few days’ grace to visit the inn and check on my sister-in-law’s safety?” Chen Tiansheng was deeply worried about Gu Xue and angry that Fang Chenghu had kidnapped him and bound him with shackles. Yet, knowing he was no match for Fang, he could only endure for now.

“Rest assured. I’ve already arranged leave for you at the inn, and your sister-in-law is perfectly safe. Now, you just need to obey me for this month,” Fang Chenghu said coldly, taking large bites of the roasted wolf meat.

In the martial world, there are rules. After capturing Chen Tiansheng, Fang Chenghu had sent someone to explain the situation to the innkeeper, Li Dongshan. Even if Li wished to refuse, the reasoning was sound and unassailable.

As for Gu Xue’s fate, Fang Chenghu didn’t care. Chen Tiansheng was merely a nuisance he wanted to shut down.

Yet this boy was surprisingly obedient. Since arriving, he hadn’t uttered a single angry word or lost his temper. He did exactly as told, sparing Fang Chenghu the trouble of discipline. Truly a coward, afraid of punishment.

“Thank you, Master Fang,” Chen Tiansheng said, outwardly relieved but inwardly aware of Fang’s deception. Even so, he could do nothing. Further resistance would only bring suffering. His only hope was that Gu Xue was safe and that he could eventually free himself.

Fang Chenghu had brought him to this remote place, shackled his feet—this was no mere month of servitude.

The possibility of being killed was, in fact, very high.

Fang Chenghu was arrogant and domineering; such men were often obsessed with their reputation. If word spread among the Mortal Path Society that he had shackled and enslaved someone, he would be scorned and blamed. The most likely consequence would be to silence the victim.

Or perhaps Fang Chenghu had intended to kill him from the start, hence the shackles.

But Chen Tiansheng was just a waiter—why kill him? Could it be because Feng Siniang had spoken up on his behalf and offended this vile cultivator of dark arts?

Puzzled, Chen Tiansheng smiled and handed over the roasted wolf meat, testing the waters. “Master Fang, since you’ve summoned me to serve you, it can’t be just to roast meat. Is there anything I can assist you with? I’d like to prepare accordingly.”

“You are indeed somewhat clever,” Fang Chenghu said, sizing him up with interest before speaking with a mocking grin. “I’ll tell you—recently, I’ve been practicing a divine art that requires someone with a strong yang life force to absorb the yin-cold poison inside me. You were born in the year, month, and hour of yang, possessing a pure yang essence. You’re just right to bear the yin-cold poison.”

Yin-cold poison?

This filthy fellow really was practicing dark arts!

“You needn’t worry. Your pure yang essence means this poison won’t harm you much. After this month, I’ll release you—and pay you a handsome reward!” Fang Chenghu downed a jug of wine, making his promise.

“I see.” Chen Tiansheng suddenly understood and respectfully replied, “It is my honor to assist Master Fang’s divine cultivation. Even without reward, I would willingly sacrifice myself to help.”

“Ha ha, good boy!” Fang Chenghu laughed loudly, his voice tinged with mockery. Then, lying on the animal skins laid against the cave wall, he said, “Eat the rest of the wolf meat. Eat well. Tonight at midnight, we begin the cultivation.”

---

“Yes, Master Fang,” Chen Tiansheng replied respectfully.

Fang Chenghu nodded in satisfaction and closed his eyes to rest. As a wandering knight with keen senses, he remained alert even while resting; everything in the cave was under his control. With the heavy shackles on Chen Tiansheng’s feet, an ordinary mortal could never escape his notice.

Still, this cowardly, soft, foolish boy probably felt honored to serve him.

If he dared to run, he’d be taught a harsh lesson—after which, the coward would behave even more obediently than a dog.

Elsewhere, Chen Tiansheng sat quietly by the fire eating the wolf meat, inwardly cursing Fang Chenghu with every coarse word he knew.

He truly was born in the year, month, and hour of yang—the so-called “pure yang body” common among commoners. But this constitution was not rare; it was simply a bit stronger in yang energy. If he were truly exceptional, he could have cultivated immortal arts long ago. He wouldn’t be stuck without even the qualifications to progress.

He didn’t know what dark art Fang Chenghu was practicing, but if this continued, death was certain.

Escape?

A tempting idea—but not now. At least the shackles on his feet had to come off first.

Fang Chenghu was a formidable warrior who had single-handedly wiped out dozens of bandits. Shackled with heavy irons, escape was impossible. But if freed, perhaps he could flee when Fang went hunting.

The iron fetters were forged from solid metal; brute force alone could not break them. If he could find some wire or tool, perhaps he could pick the lock with his lockpicking skill.

Fortunately, he had mastered the art of “Endless Lies,” which could buy him some time dealing with Fang Chenghu.

Carefully surveying his surroundings, Chen Tiansheng picked up a wolf rib bone from the ground and hid it in his sleeve.

Midnight approached in a flash.

Watching the obedient Chen Tiansheng sitting by the fire, Fang Chenghu’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

He had been observing the boy during rest and confirmed he was indeed as foolish and cowardly as expected—unlikely to run.

“Master Fang, you’re awake. Is it time to cultivate? What must I do?” Chen Tiansheng asked excitedly.

“Sit in front of me,” Fang Chenghu said, unaware that Chen Tiansheng possessed the skill of “Endless Lies” and showed no hint of deceit. He was quite pleased with the boy’s demeanor and stretched before beckoning him.

Chen Tiansheng rose, bowed, and sat before Fang Chenghu, looking both eager and fearful, his sincerity unmistakable. He was curious about what Fang intended.

As thoughts raced, Fang Chenghu placed his right hand on Chen’s back. The palm felt slightly cooler than normal but otherwise unremarkable.

Suddenly, Fang Chenghu gave a low shout and began to activate the “Ten Thousand Yin Soul Devouring Technique.” An instant later, an icy, chilling wind swept through the cave.

The fire’s flames weakened, flickering uneasily in the gusts. Chen Tiansheng felt the bone-chilling coldness in the air and was startled. Fang Chenghu’s technique indeed created such an eerie atmosphere—he must have truly mastered a formidable art.

At the same time, the icy wind poured into Fang Chenghu’s body. The suppressed yin poison awakened instantly. As the yin energy refined his body, the intense cold agony ravaged him, twisting his face into a grimace of torment. Then, pushing with his palm, the accumulated poison inside found an outlet and began to flow out continuously, easing his pain.

Chen Tiansheng suddenly felt the palm on his back turn as cold as ice, the yin-cold energy surging from the hand into his body.

---

Sss!

The bone-penetrating chill entered Chen Tiansheng’s body. He involuntarily gasped, feeling as if Arctic ice water was injected into him—both freezing and agonizing.

If this continued, he felt certain he would freeze to death within an hour.

Resist?

That would only bring harsher punishment from Fang Chenghu.

Only endurance remained.

Focusing his mind, Chen Tiansheng entered the “Market Pavilion,” a mental realm to distract from the pain.

Upon entering, the scene before him froze him in place.

Before his eyes, the proficiency of “Housing Mastery” was rapidly increasing, nearing the threshold of mastery...

“That’s right! The way to increase proficiency in ‘Housing Mastery’ is to absorb yin energy from places heavy with yin aura. Fang Chenghu’s use of me to dispel the yin-cold poison is essentially sending me yin energy!”

Chen Tiansheng suddenly understood and laughed aloud within the Market Pavilion.

Not long after, the “Housing Mastery” skill entry on the wall glowed with golden light.

[Housing Mastery: Proficiency 10,000/10,000, Successfully Mastered]

[Trait: Transforms Yin into Yang, Strengthens Body and Spirit]

[Next Stage: 100,000/100,000, Requires Entry to Second Floor of Market Pavilion]

Transform Yin into Yang, strengthen body and spirit!

“Fang Chenghu, your yin poison shall be used to cultivate my body!” Chen Tiansheng’s eyes gleamed with determination.

His consciousness shifted back to reality, where the incoming yin-cold poison still brought unbearable pain.

“Housing Mastery!”

With a thought, the incoming yin-cold poison began to circulate orderly within his body. The freezing currents turned scorching hot, refining his flesh and blood. In mere moments, the cold pain vanished...