Demon Cultivator in Abyssal Era

Chu Xiu smiled faintly, ”You don’t need to worry, I will take you out with me, and I’m not foolish enough to rashly delve into an unknown place when I’m not in good condition.”

Hearing this, Jiang Miaoyin breathed a sigh of relief and asked, ”What does senior plan to do?”

Chu Xiu said, ”I have a blueprint for crafting an artifact that can absorb miasma and poison gas, and it should also work against this death qi. As long as we can craft it, we can easily leave this place.”

Chu Xiu wasn’t lying. On his way back, he had already found an artifact he needed among the thousands of artifacts passed down from the Duo Bao Demon Venerable!

This artifact is called the Myriad Filth Returning Origin Bag!

To be honest, Chu Xiu had picked out over ten artifacts from those thousands, all very suitable for the current situation, able to effectively resist the death qi.

But the moment he saw the Myriad Filth Returning Origin Bag, he abandoned all previous candidates without any hesitation!

The reason was simple; this artifact was just too perfect for the current scenario!

First, the difficulty of crafting this artifact was almost the lowest among the thousands of artifacts. Even though Chu Xiu hasn’t reached Core Formation, he could still craft a decent grade with Perfect Refining.

Secondly, the materials needed to craft this artifact are highly substitutable. It’s like making a chair where the materials can be iron, wood, copper, or even molded from clay.

This is how the artifact is; all its materials can be gathered in this Hundred Ghosts Melting Furnace!

Finally, the main material required to craft this artifact is something that grows in places with dense yin qi. So even if other materials aren’t the ”standard materials” listed on the blueprint, the power of the crafted artifact won’t differ much.

And that’s not all!

The more powerful an artifact is, the more complex its crafting becomes, with more intricate engravings and restrictions, requiring highly precise materials.

Just like a precision instrument where changing a material less than one ten-thousandth of the total could result in vastly different effects, or even complete failure.

So generally, the more powerful the artifact, the less substitutable the materials are.

Why is the Myriad Filth Returning Origin Bag so highly substitutable then?

Being part of the Duo Bao Demon Venerable’s inheritance naturally means it’s a high-grade, powerful artifact. The reason is, this artifact is merely a container used for storing.

This artifact has only two functions: to absorb poisonous miasma and to refine and concentrate the absorbed miasma into more powerful gas.

That means the power of this artifact entirely depends on whether the user can collect enough potent miasma!

What should have been a downside was a source of great joy for Chu Xiu!

He could hardly imagine the terrifying power of the artifact if it absorbed an entire waterfall of chaotic death qi!

Even demigods might be instantly killed by the invading death qi!

Of course, the Myriad Filth Returning Origin Bag has limited capacity, and converting and concentrating the poison gases will take time, depending on the grade crafted.

However, for an artifact noted in the Demon Sect’s inheritance, even a lowest ninth-grade one would be impressive, not to mention Chu Xiu has specific Artifact Origins to enhance it.

Once the artifact is crafted, regardless of its power, reaching the peak of the Holy Mountain should be effortless.

And he didn’t even need to say more, as Jiang Miaoyin immediately nodded understandingly, ”I will go out of the city to explore and see if I can collect some useful items.”

Chu Xiu nodded. Jiang Miaoyin had specially prepared exploration tools from the Jiang Family and help from Instantaneous, making her well-suited for searching for rare artifacts in this place.

With the Red Lotus Sun Chasing Bow, she need not fear any heroic spirit or ghost, ensuring her safety.

Chu Xiu estimated her efficiency finding treasures outside wouldn’t be much less than if he searched himself.

”With your constitution, resisting the death qi alone for three to four months should be no problem. Return to You City if you feel unwell,”

”Rest assured, once the artifact is crafted, I’ll definitely take you with me,” Chu Xiu said finally.

With his assurance, Jiang Miaoyin relaxed, agreed, and took her leave.

Chu Xiu wouldn’t idle either.

Searching aimlessly in this enormous Hundred Ghosts Melting Furnace was incredibly inefficient.

Previously, he heard that the Immortal Palace issued tasks, and as long as one’s strength was sufficient, it was a way to quickly gain Yin Stones.

With Ying Stones, he could exchange for the materials he needed with other ghosts.

Using his token, he passed unchecked all the way to the innermost Immortal Palace, where, after stating his intention, a ghost led him to a wall covered densely with various commissions.

[Looking for a cultivator above the fifth layer of the Inverted Yin and Yang Technique to explore treasures together; a three-seven split upon completion; suitable location already found, interested parties please come quickly...]

[Purchase of three Profound Yin Spirit Grass at five Liang of Yin Stones each, price negotiable...]

The content on the wall included all sorts of things, even requests for seniors to help solve cultivation doubts.

But most of these commissions were trivial tasks with low rewards, only commissions seeking rare materials offered higher rewards, which Chu Xiu couldn’t fulfill.

Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a commission at the top of the wall.

[Regular Commission: Go to the Carrion Cave to clear scavengers and dead spirits, and map secret paths. Reward for each scavenger is three liang of Yin Stones, and for each dead spirit, twenty jin, with the map reward based on contribution.]

Killing a dead spirit can reward twenty jin of Yin Stones!

Chu Xiu’s eyes widened.

Although he didn’t know what a dead spirit was, twenty jin of Yin Stones — valued at sixteen liang each jin here — was undeniably significant.

”I’ll take this commission,” Chu Xiu said without hesitation, pointing to that commission.

However, the responsible ghost of the Immortal Palace was taken aback, hurriedly advising, ”Friend, think twice! This commission isn’t easy to take!”

”Oh? Why is that?” Chu Xiu inquired.

This ghost was the same who guided Chu Xiu to the Holy Mountain before. Knowing Chu Xiu’s strength but also his first time in You City, the ghost hurriedly explained, ”Friend, you may not know this, but the Carrion Cave is one of the four most dangerous places in this world!”

”Don’t take it lightly. It’s unknown how these extreme hazardous places were formed, the beings inside are unlike anything else in this world, and their peril far exceeds any other dangerous areas.”

”Especially the dead spirits that are vicious and violent, with a skill to disintegrate soul bodies.”

”Not to mention, friend, only halfway to the Holy Mountain, even those already in the Penglai Immortal Realm, who have refined themselves with immortal qi and molded perfect immortal bodies, don’t dare to rashly risk it!”

”That’s why this commission remains posted in the Immortal Palace year after year and still goes unclaimed.”

While the ghost appeared grave, Chu Xiu was unfazed.

If it weren’t as dangerous, would they offer such high rewards?

Moreover, he had ample confidence in his strength. So what if they were immortals? Even if the ruler, three venerables, and six lords came at him all together, he might not lose.

Of course, Chu Xiu didn’t truly know the strength of these beings; he just estimated based on powerful heroic spirits. If a demigod ghost appeared, he might not be an opponent.

Seeing Chu Xiu’s resolve, the ghost sighed but offered no further persuasion, simply taking out two items.

”This is a map of the cave. You can use Divine Soul Power to carve it; friend, just follow and complete it.”

”This Guiding Lamp, when used, will lead to that cave. Use it the same way as returning to You City; light it, close your eyes, then step back forty paces.”

”For the scavengers and dead spirits, you’ll need to keep the crystals inside them as proof.”

Chu Xiu took the items and left without lingering.

He left You City, and after just a few steps, the vast city and towering Holy Mountain behind him vanished mysteriously.

Chu Xiu marveled, following the ghost’s instructions from the Immortal Palace, lighting the Guiding Lamp, and stepping back forty paces with his eyes closed.

As he took the fortieth step, an extreme cold enveloped him instantly!

Chu Xiu opened his eyes abruptly, shock manifesting strongly!

Before him lay a cave exuding a freezing chill.

But what shocked him wasn’t this unannounced spatial shift, as his mind was prepared for it.

The shock was from the cold feeling just now, exactly reminiscent of the malice from the Abyss he sensed during his breakthrough!