An Ominous Transformation

A layer of barely visible, pale green mist descended upon the wounds of the young man's corpse. Drawing from his previous experiences, Yang Fan was confident that the Rain Dew Technique could easily mend any injury—be it a wound, scar, or bruise.

However, the moment the green mist made contact with the injury, a peculiar transformation began to unfold.

**Sizzle~ Sizzle~**

The wound, now enveloped by the Rain Dew Technique, suddenly emitted wisps of black toxic smoke, causing a disorienting dizziness. Furthermore, a pool of blood began to seep from the wound, the flesh around it melting away in a gruesome display that was utterly nauseating.

Yang Fan's complexion turned ashen. With a swift leap, he retreated several feet, his gaze fixed warily on the unfolding spectacle.

"Could it be… a corpse transformation?" he muttered, alarm evident on his face. He observed as the black smoke gradually dissipated, leaving behind a pool of blood that mingled with the earth.

After a lengthy moment, the bizarre phenomenon finally subsided, revealing the gruesome aftermath: the flesh around the wound had decayed significantly, leaving a large, putrid expanse.

Such an uncanny occurrence left Yang Fan feeling both repulsed and intrigued. "What could have caused this transformation?" he pondered, his brow furrowed in thought, yet no answers emerged. Eventually, he sighed deeply. "It seems the *Xianhong Jue* still harbors many mysteries that require my exploration."

The ability to heal others and elevate his own cultivation was merely one of the effects he had unearthed thus far.

"This desolate wilderness is not a place for lingering." Yang Fan finally quelled his curiosity, disregarding the corpse altogether as he departed the eerie expanse.

With a deep breath, he resumed practicing the *Withered Wood Technique*, harmonizing his aura to blend in with ordinary people. To avoid recognition by any familiar cultivators upon reaching *Xiuyugue*, he also employed the *Transmutation Technique*, adding a slight elevation to his height and subtly altering the muscles of his face.

**Withered Wood Technique + Transmutation Technique**: the former adjusted his aura while the latter altered his physical form and slightly modified his appearance. Yang Fan was confident that anyone who was not intimately familiar with him would find it nearly impossible to recognize him.

Afterward, he made his way to the main road, unfastened his horse's reins, and, cloaked in the soft night, rode forth as dawn approached.

Not long after Yang Fan's departure, a flying eagle with eyes ablaze in green fire swooped through the night sky. It circled the vicinity of the two corpses for a moment before vanishing into the horizon.

In the blink of an eye, a figure emerged from the sky: a plump, elderly Taoist clad in a gray robe, enveloped by a sinister black mist as he descended. He fixed his gaze upon the two bodies below, locking his attention on the young man's lifeless form.

Beside the corpse lay a strange pool of blood, and the rotting, charred flesh sent a chill down his spine.

"Curious... Could it be that a formidable enemy of my *Ghost Corpse Path* has emerged?" the rotund Taoist exclaimed, fear flickering across his features. He extended his spiritual awareness, scanning the area but detecting nothing amiss.

After a prolonged moment of contemplation, he waved his hand, sending forth two strands of eerie green fire that lunged into the two corpses.

Soon enough, the corpses began to writhe, astonishingly rising from the ground.

"Both of these corpses belonged to cultivators, one of whom had reached the *Consolidation Stage*..." The old Taoist's expression brightened slightly.

He then began to command the two reanimated corpses to move.

"Eh?" He fixed his gaze upon the young man's corpse, realizing it was more challenging to control than the one at the *Consolidation Stage*.

Upon witnessing this, the old Taoist's countenance darkened, and he unleashed several strands of sinister green energy that surged into the young corpse.

**Sizzle~ Sizzle~**

A series of faint wisps of smoke emerged from a particular spot on the young corpse, and only after several breaths did it finally stabilize.

"What sort of technique is this? It appears to counteract my *Ghost Corpse Path* spells..." The old Taoist wore a grave expression, his eyes glinting with cold light. He swiftly patted a special black pouch at his waist.

An ominous aura emanated from the pouch, enveloping the two puppeteer-like corpses. In an instant, they vanished, drawn into the depths of the black pouch.

After concluding this task, the old Taoist soared into the sky atop the black mist, while the green-eyed eagle flew off in search of its next target.

"As dawn approaches... Since I'm here, why not pay a visit to *Xiuyugue*? I require some refining materials." With that, the plump old Taoist navigated the black mist toward the bustling market of *Xiuyugue*.

---

Meanwhile, after departing the desolate wilderness, Yang Fan urged his horse along the main road with fervor. Yet, after racing for a short distance, an uneasy feeling began to stir within him.

The realization that he had left behind the site of battle, with the two unburied corpses still lying there, gnawed at him. Each thought of those remains filled him with trepidation.

Though resilient in spirit, this was Yang Fan's first encounter with killing and plundering.

"Well, they're already dead. As long as I exercise caution and refrain from revealing the middle-grade spirit weapon, I should be safe enough." He resolved to dismiss his anxieties regarding the two bodies.

As dawn drew nearer, an inexplicable reaction welled up within him. He instinctively gazed skyward, where, to his discerning eyes, only a vague haze of black mist was visible.

"What could that be..." Yang Fan concentrated, summoning his spiritual sight to focus on the darkened mass. Faintly, he discerned a slightly portly figure gliding through the air on the black mist.

"That person is a practitioner of the demonic path!" Yang Fan's heart raced, prompting him to quickly retract his *Spiritual Eye Technique* to avoid detection.

Several breaths later, the veil of black mist faded from his sight.

"That person must be a cultivator of at least the late *Consolidation Stage*. Why did I suddenly sense their presence?" Yang Fan pondered, feeling perplexed.

He took note of the figure's size and general outline, ensuring to remember this encounter.

After spending several days on the road, Yang Fan finally arrived at a river near *Xiuyugue*, named the *Qingjiang River*.

The *Qingjiang River* wound its way through vast valleys for thousands of miles, boasting a formidable current and widths exceeding a hundred yards in most areas, with numerous vessels navigating its waters.

"*Qingjiang River*, *Xiuyugue*—this isn't my first visit here..." Yang Fan sighed, gazing at the turbulent river, which flowed relentlessly toward the steep mountain ranges.

He recalled his father taking him to *Xiuyugue* when he was six, before sending him off to *Yang Family Fortress*. After reaching the *Consolidation Stage*, he had returned once again, seeking traces of his father but returning empty-handed.

Now, as he approached *Xiuyugue* for the third time, he came as a low-tier pharmacist.

This time, Yang Fan could not soar through the skies as he had before; he would have to find a ferryboat along the riverbank.

He recalled the route to *Xiuyugue* and sought out several fishermen, hoping to hire them for passage. However, most of them were unaware of *Xiuyugue's* location.

"Young master, I hear you wish to go to *Xiuyugue*?" Just then, a shifty-eyed boy approached him.

"Indeed! Do you have any information?" Yang Fan smiled slightly, sensing an opportunity. Surely, he was not the only cultivator wanting to visit *Xiuyugue*, and many below the *Consolidation Stage* had found means to cross the river.

"Follow me, young master." The boy winked and said smartly.

Yang Fan understood and followed the boy for four or five miles until they reached a teahouse. They then entered through a back door and approached a middle-aged man with a dull complexion.

"Three Master, I've brought you someone who wishes to go to *Xiuyugue*," the boy said, his tone obsequious.

"Very well. Here's two silver coins for you." The middle-aged man dismissed the boy, turning to Yang Fan with a smile. "Are you heading to *Xiuyugue*? We specialize in that. Please, follow me."

"Lead the way." Yang Fan noticed the man was a mid-stage *Qi Refinement* cultivator, and his dull complexion was likely the result of a disguise.

Following a dark passage, the middle-aged man brought Yang Fan into a spacious hall. 

As soon as the door opened, he was greeted by a warm glow, suffused with a faint scent of sandalwood. 

Yang Fan's eyes swept across the hall, and his pupils contracted slightly.