Conquering That Great Demon Lord [Xian Ni Fan Fiction] - Chapter 1 : Soul of Life

Chapter 1 : Soul of Life

The Fire Beast had invaded the Scorched Kingdom, forcing cultivators to breach the borders of Xuanwu Kingdom in search of refuge. The two nations were locked in relentless warfare over territory.

Assigned to a squad mission, Li Muwan had obtained a Magical Artifact from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, though its purpose remained unknown to her.

During a respite, Li Muwan separated from her squad and sought a cave to meditate. As an alchemy-focused cultivator, she was naturally unskilled in combat. The recent battles had drained much of her Spiritual Power, and her Elixirs were nearly depleted.

After meditation, she wiped sweat from her forehead and retrieved a pearl from her Storage Bag. Her beautiful eyes shifted thoughtfully as she murmured in a clear, melodic voice, “What is the origin of this pearl? It holds not a trace of Spiritual Energy.”

In the distance beyond the valley, echoes of cultivators clashing drifted faintly through the mountains.

“Thirteen comrades from my squad remain missing. My priority should be returning to the Scorched Alliance.” Li Muwan rose, her blue-and-white gauze dress swaying as if touched by an unfelt breeze, resembling a lotus fairy.

In this chaotic world, protecting herself was all she could manage with her current cultivation level yet now, even that seemed a distant hope.

Having regained her energy, Li Muwan prepared to leave the cave. But before taking two steps, an unseen Magic Array immobilized her completely, leaving only her eyes able to move. Alert, she extended her Divine Sense to probe for disturbances, yet detected nothing beyond nature’s ordinary whispers.

Suddenly, a violet light shaped like a lotus descended from above, slowly lifting her into mid-air. Suspended, Li Muwan couldn’t even raise her head.

Above the violet glow floated a blue pearl, now drawing the Soul of Life from her body.

She felt an inner force being extracted but couldn’t identify it. Her widened pupils reflected resistance, while subtle pain etched across her brows.

Within moments, the Soul Pearl drifted before her eyes.

[All things follow karma, fated one. Having absorbed your Soul of Life, you are now my master.]

The voice emerged from the Soul Pearl itself a talking Magical Artifact? Li Muwan stared in brief astonishment.

Soon, a pale blue ethereal form was fully drawn from her body and absorbed into the pearl. Depleted of strength, Li Muwan collapsed softly to the ground.

“What… what are you? And what is this ‘Soul of Life’ you mentioned?”

[I am the Soul Pearl. By absorbing your Soul of Life, we have become one.]

“Soul of Life? What is that?” Since entering the World of Cultivation, Li Muwan had dedicated herself to alchemy, studying countless texts. Though well-read, she had never encountered records about the Soul of Life or Soul Pearls in the River Luo Sect’s Scripture Repository.

[Every cultivator possesses a Soul of Life. Losing it bars further cultivation progress, leading to death when longevity expires.]

“Then why did you take mine?” Li Muwan assessed her cultivation and Spiritual Power, finding no discomfort after recovery.

[Each Soul Pearl absorbs its master’s Soul of Life upon bonding, enabling Divine Sense connection. On the Vermilion Bird Star, Soul Pearls are rare.]

“You’ve taken my Soul of Life, restricting my future cultivation. How can I reclaim it? Would that lift the limitations?” Her mind swirled with confusion everything had happened too suddenly to process.

[Complete the tasks set by the Soul Pearl, and your Soul of Life will be restored, removing all cultivation restrictions.]

“Why did you absorb my Soul of Life?”

【The Soul Pearl feeds on a cultivator’s seven emotions and six desires to enrich its attributes. Having lingered on Vermilion Bird Star for millennia, I currently lack joy, anger, and sorrow. Once these final three attributes are achieved, I will possess an autonomous primordial spirit and shall naturally return your Soul of Life.】

“What task?”

【Seduce the Fiend.】

Li Muwan didn’t understand. The purple glow emanating from the Soul Pearl gradually dimmed after absorbing the Soul of Life, returning to its original appearance.

“Fiend?” She gazed increasingly perplexed at the peculiar pearl. “Where is this Fiend you speak of?”

The Soul Pearl rotated twice before falling back into Li Muwan’s palm.

【You must find the Fiend yourself. Should they meet the Soul Pearl’s criteria, I will enter your Divine Sense to inform you.】

After contemplation, Li Muwan remained skeptical. “Hindering cultivation and limiting lifespan is there a defined cultivation level requirement?”

【On Vermilion Bird Star, over thousands of years, I’ve absorbed Souls of Life from countless cultivators of varying levels. The lowest stopped at Foundation Establishment stage, while the highest reached Nascent Soul stage.】

“Foundation Establishment stage…” Li Muwan pondered. Her current cultivation was precisely at Foundation Establishment stage. If she failed to complete the task promptly, wouldn’t she…?

Yet since the Soul Pearl stated there were no cultivation restrictions, everything remained flexible. Li Muwan stored the Soul Pearl back in her Storage Bag, deciding to return to the Flame Scorch Alliance first to deliberate further.

Perhaps historical records contained relevant information she hadn’t yet discovered.

She wondered if the founding masters of the Flame Scorch Alliance had heard any legends about the Soul Pearl. The pearl’s task was to seduce a Fiend, but she hadn’t inquired in detail about what constituted successful seduction. These thoughts occupied her mind throughout her Flying Sword journey.

Currently, righteous cultivators from Xuanwu Nation were hunting isolated Flame Scorch Alliance members.

After leaving the cave, Li Muwan flew on her sword toward the Flame Scorch Alliance for three days and nights. Along the way, she sensed someone persistently following her.

Her Divine Sense probes failed to pinpoint the target, indicating the pursuer’s cultivation must surpass her own. With two nations currently at war, it could only be a cultivator from Xuanwu Nation.

“Show yourself.” Li Muwan halted her flight, cautiously scanning her surroundings with peripheral vision. A massive Magic Array swept through the thick fog, instantly revealing a greasy, lecherous middle-aged cultivator.

Only then could Li Muwan discern his cultivation level.

“Core Formation stage.” This person meant trouble. If he merely sought her life, he wouldn’t have trailed her for three days.

Li Muwan observed him silently.

“Little lady, all thirteen members of your squad have been eliminated. Where do you think you’re escaping to?”

As the man lunged forward on his Flying Sword, Li Muwan swiftly formed hand seals to evade the Core Formation cultivator. “My Luo River Sect has generations of experience in pill refining and poison testing. If you’re not afraid ”

“How dangerous for a young girl to handle pills and poisons,” the Core Formation cultivator interrupted, tracing his finger along the contour of her face as if appraising a pet. “Wouldn’t Dual Cultivation be preferable?”

The Dual Cultivation Sect, with Evil Arts permeating their practice, could be considered demonic cultivators. Li Muwan wondered if this matched the Soul Pearl’s definition of a Fiend. But if all Fiends looked like this, she thought darkly, perhaps her Soul of Life wasn’t worth keeping.

During her momentary contemplation, the Core Formation cultivator’s fingertips materialized a sharp gleam that sliced through the gauze on Li Muwan’s shoulder, the fabric drifting downward slowly.

Li Muwan glanced helplessly around. If it were merely a Core Formation cultivator, she could buy time and seek an escape opportunity. Seeing that her Luo River Sect threat held no sway, she began devising another plan.

At this moment, the Core Formation cultivator seemed drawn by something, gathering spiritual power in his palm to form a glowing sphere that he directly smashed toward the ground. Instantly, a figure burst out from the earth. Li Muwan glanced behind her.

Familiar!

Wasn’t this the fellow cultivator who nearly caused a misunderstanding earlier in the bamboo forest when she and her brother were pursuing Sun Youcai?

Li Muwan remembered him. This person belonged to the same Flame Burning Alliance as her and was also a disciple of War God Hall. Feeling as if she had grabbed onto a lifeline, her face lit up with joy. The flying sword beneath her feet changed direction and immediately halted before Wang Lin.

In her urgency, she didn’t overthink it. Lightly touching Wang Lin’s shoulder with her fingertip, she pleaded helplessly, “Senior brother, save me.”

Wang Lin briefly scanned the situation. Since he had already been discovered, escape wouldn’t be easy. He had initially wanted to avoid this trouble because without the Bloodthirsty Heavenly Demon Array, dealing with a Core Formation cultivator would undoubtedly be troublesome.

Now that he was exposed, he had no choice but to get involved.

He was contemplating solutions and paid no attention to Li Muwan’s plea for help.

Li Muwan understood clearly: both she and this man were at the Foundation Establishment stage. If she wanted him to join forces with her against a Core Formation cultivator, she would need to offer substantial benefits to make him willing to assist.

Having long understood the law of the jungle in the World of Cultivation where interests come first, she definitely wouldn’t expect a stranger to risk his life for her.

“This person is a cultivator from the Dual Cultivation Sect of Xuanwu Kingdom. She knows I possess a Sky Sundering Pill.” Li Muwan could see that Wang Lin’s cultivation had reached the Great Perfection stage of Foundation Establishment the critical moment for forming his golden core. The Sky Sundering Pill could significantly increase a cultivator’s chances of successful core formation, so it would certainly be useful to him.

Wang Lin, who had been looking straight ahead, finally turned to glance at Li Muwan. The icy chill emanating from his eyes made her heart skip a beat.

Wang Lin’s reaction confirmed her speculation mentioning the Sky Sundering Pill could make him willing to help.

Just as Li Muwan began to relax slightly, a message from the Soul of Life transmitted through her Divine Sense.

[Soul Pearl: Identified that this person meets the Fiend criteria defined by the Soul Pearl. Conquer this person to reclaim the Soul of Life.]

Her momentary relief was instantly replaced by inner turmoil. If this person was a Fiend, hadn’t she just delivered herself to his doorstep?

[Li Muwan: What? This person belongs to the same Flame Burning Alliance as me and is also a War God Hall disciple. How could he be a Fiend?]

After saying this, she glanced again at Wang Lin before her. With his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, majestic bearing, and graceful presence like jade was this really a Fiend?

She muttered to herself, “Since when do Fiends look like this?” Regardless of whether he was a Fiend or not, falling into his hands would still be better than falling into the hands of the Dual Cultivation Sect cultivator.

[Li Muwan: Soul Pearl, earlier you said to conquer the Fiend. Specifically, how should I conquer him?]

[Soul Pearl: Make him completely fall in love with you.]

Li Muwan was puzzled.

[Li Muwan: Is that all?]

[Soul Pearl: …]

“He can’t save you.”

Lost in her thoughts, Li Muwan failed to notice the Core Formation cultivator’s attack. Dozens of flying swords descended simultaneously, slicing through the air as sword energy swept toward them at close range.

Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed sharply. He abruptly grabbed Li Muwan’s arm, barely dodging the glowing sword attacks.

Wang Lin employed the Earth Escape Technique to swiftly flee, with the Core Formation cultivator in hot pursuit. Li Muwan couldn’t imagine how he could possibly evade the attacks. Her only hope now rested entirely on him.

Bringing another person along was indeed more troublesome, but he remembered that Li Muwan had mentioned possessing a Sky Sundering Pill. Wang Lin pondered carefully judging by the Core Formation cultivator’s reaction, he clearly hadn’t known about this beforehand.

This woman only mentioned the Sky Sundering Pill to make him save her. Wang Lin’s expression darkened as he turned to glare at her, demanding, “Do you really have the Sky Sundering Pill with you?”

His gaze was utterly cold and ruthless, reminding Li Muwan of the Soul Pearl’s reaction.

This man was a fiend! Her fear intensified.

In the urgency of the moment, she hadn’t thought it through clearly even a fiend was better than falling into the hands of the Xuanwu Kingdom cultivators and suffering humiliation.

Besides, they both belonged to the Fire Burning Alliance. Considering this, Li Muwan spoke up, “I don’t have a finished Sky Sundering Pill…”

Sure enough, a sharp glint flashed in Wang Lin’s eyes, sharper than the light sword conjured by the Core Formation cultivator. Li Muwan averted her gaze and hurriedly explained, “I only have a semi-finished one with me…”

Wang Lin’s gaze grew even more terrifying. “The Sky Sundering Pills from Luohe Sect are all semi-finished. They only need half an hour of refinement to be completed; otherwise, their efficacy is greatly reduced.”

Wang Lin said nothing more after that. Li Muwan hadn’t been straightforward earlier, intending to use the Sky Sundering Pill to lure his assistance. Now, she was willing to disclose the pill’s effects. As an elite disciple of Luohe Sect, refining it shouldn’t be difficult for her.

Since he was already involved in this mess, why not bring her along? Having her refine pills for him anytime wouldn’t be a loss.

Li Muwan knew she still had value at this moment and was certain Wang Lin wouldn’t abandon her. There were two things she needed to do.

First, ensure Wang Lin helped her escape danger. Second, investigate his identity as a fiend before deciding whether to pursue him and complete the Soul Pearl’s mission.

The Soul Pearl required the fiend to fall completely in love with her for the mission to succeed. Thinking of this, her confidence instantly wavered.

Because this man was extremely aloof.

[Li Muwan: Soul Pearl, is this man truly a fiend?]

A resonance echoed from between her brows.

[Soul Pearl: Meets the criteria for a fiend. Can be pursued.]

[Li Muwan: What exactly are the criteria for the Soul Pearl to define someone as a fiend?]

[Soul Pearl: The Soul Pearl has no absolute criteria for defining a fiend.]

[Li Muwan: …]

[Li Muwan: I’ll give it a try.]

Wang Lin took Li Muwan and fled swiftly toward the Fire Burning Kingdom using earth escape, successfully leveraging the Fire Beast’s attack to eliminate the Dual Cultivation Sect’s Core Formation cultivator. However, this attracted the relentless pursuit of the Fire Beast, forcing Wang Lin to use the icy Spiritual Energy of the Sea of Demonic Cultivation to shake it off.

After three days of escape, Li Muwan gradually gained some understanding of Wang Lin’s strength. Each time his Spiritual Power depleted, he would drink from a gourd containing a liquid that restored his energy and accelerated their earth escape.

To pursue the two of them, the Fire Beast redirected its assault toward the Fire Burning Alliance. It was clear Wang Lin possessed something the Fire Beast wanted.

Naturally meticulous and sharp-witted, Li Muwan became even more convinced that the Soul Pearl’s classification of him as a fiend was not without reason.

The warmth from the fiend’s grip on her wrist felt real as she gazed at him, her thoughts drifting far away.

Good news: she had found her target.

Bad news: the fiend was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

Her originally jade-like skin was now extremely pale, devoid of any trace of color. If she wanted to escape alive, her only hope was to refine the Sky Sundering Pill for him.

But she wasn’t in a hurry to flee anymore.

The Sea of Demonic Cultivation was fraught with dangers. With her Foundation Establishment stage alchemy cultivation, the chances of leaving safely on her own were slim.

Whether for survival or to stay and carry out her pursuit plan, her immediate priority was to gain the fiend’s trust and make him aware of her value.

Li Muwan’s eyes flickered, her voice trembling slightly. “Senior Brother… there are no finished Sky Sundering Pills, but I can refine pills. I know all of Luohe Sect’s pill formulas, and I’ve memorized many ancient prescriptions.”

Wang Lin put away his spiritual liquid flask, glancing at her impassively. Based on Li Muwan’s previous actions, he couldn’t fully trust her. Li Muwan was certain – that gaze carried doubt.

“As long as there are sufficient medicinal ingredients, I can refine them all.” Li Muwan suppressed her fear, forcing her trembling under control as she spoke resolutely.

Her words caused a slight waver in Wang Lin’s previously unmoved heart. If she could be used by him to refine large quantities of pills, his chances of forming his golden core would greatly increase.

As the two stood in confrontation, Li Muwan felt herself growing colder. This chill didn’t originate from Wang Lin, but rather from her surroundings, as if she were trapped within a block of ice.

Two beams of light burst from the ground, shooting into the thick mist formed by water vapor. Li Muwan scanned the area – endless water vapor swirled overhead, surrounded by peculiar mountain rocks. She pressed her lips together, showing some fear. “Senior Brother, this is the Sea of Demonic Cultivation.”

Wang Lin turned to face the Fire Beasts behind them, saying coldly, “I know.”

They watched as the Fire Beasts successively charged into the Sea of Demonic Cultivation’s territory, instantly turning into ice and dying. The sea’s yin-cold spiritual power had a resisting effect against Fire Beasts – touching it meant certain death.

The Sea of Demonic Cultivation’s yin-cold energy was highly beneficial for Wang Lin’s cultivation of the Underworld Life Aperture Art. Now was the time to establish a cave dwelling and form his golden core as soon as possible. Only by successfully forming his golden core and becoming the foremost expert below Nascent Soul stage could he survive in this extremely dangerous Sea of Demonic Cultivation.

Watching the Fire Beasts charge into the sea one after another only to die, all blocked outside the sea, Li Muwan felt some relief from the tension built up over days of escape.

In her daze, her wrist was grabbed by Wang Lin’s large hand. He took her on his Flying Sword deeper into the Sea of Demonic Cultivation.

The deeper they went, the thicker the mist became, making figures indistinguishable beyond a few zhang. Li Muwan tried her best to follow Wang Lin on her Flying Sword.

“Senior Brother, it’s said the Sea of Demonic Cultivation is full of dangers. Most cultivators here don’t follow reason – strength is the only weapon. And there aren’t many female cultivators in the Sea of Demonic Cultivation. Unless they have powerful backing, otherwise…” While Li Muwan was explaining the sea’s dangers to Wang Lin, her underlying meaning was clear: if he wanted her to refine pills for him, he must protect her safety at all times.

But Wang Lin completely ignored her, continuing to fly. Li Muwan stared at his back, straight as a sturdy pine. Seeing his indifference, she couldn’t help but sigh at her own plans. Forget about winning this person over – merely surviving would be fortunate enough.

Just as she was lost in thought, a long sword from above pierced through the thick fog ahead, rapidly descending directly toward them.

Wang Lin suddenly stopped, pulling Li Muwan who couldn’t react in time. The sudden attack and force nearly made Li Muwan lose her balance. Sword energy brushed past half a chi in front of her, the spiritual power fluctuations shaking her original thoughts.

She only felt the solid chest of the person behind her lightly pressing against her back, but she had no time to dwell on it. After regaining stability, she quickly hid by Wang Lin’s side. Wang Lin’s gaze was terrifying as he stared into the thick fog, commanding intimidatingly, “Come out.”

Three men gradually emerged from the mist in a triangular formation. Li Muwan successively identified their figures and assessed their cultivation levels.

She and Wang Lin were only two people. Although she was at Foundation Establishment stage, she mainly cultivated pill dao and naturally couldn’t match them in combat ability. The leader was even at late Foundation Establishment stage.

“They are at late Foundation Establishment stage,” Li Muwan retreated slightly, moving closer to Wang Lin. “There are three of them.”

“Senior brother, let’s escape quickly.”

Wang Lin remained unmoving like a mountain.

“How dare you! This is our Fighting Evil Sect’s territory. Leave the female cultivator behind, or else…” One of the Fighting Evil Sect disciples hadn’t even finished speaking.

“Annoying. Die.” Wang Lin said coldly. His Limit Divine Sense transformed into a red light resembling lightning, entering the space between the three people’s eyebrows. They perished instantly.

With a wave of his right arm, he retrieved the three Storage Bags. Seeing this, Li Muwan swallowed hard twice. Her previous movement of approaching Wang Lin vanished, instead she subtly distanced herself from him. She said hesitantly, “They…”

Wang Lin, who was examining the Storage Bags, glanced sideways at her with an expression that suggested this was completely natural. “Weren’t you just saying that the Sea of Demonic Cultivation only respects the strong?”

Li Muwan drew a sharp breath. The mission regarding the Soul Pearl had become even more crucial.

Then she caught onto something. “Was that the Death Curse Technique you just used?”

“Death Curse Technique?” Wang Lin paused slightly, then remained expressionless, neither admitting nor denying it.

His concealment and disguise, combined with the technique he used that closely matched the Death Curse Technique she had read about in the Luohe Sect’s ancient texts.

It was said that the Death Curse Technique used Divine Sense to attack, capable of eliminating enemies with just one word. To master this technique required merging three energies into one – an extremely difficult feat with almost zero success rate.

Li Muwan didn’t dare to think further, secretly confirming in her heart why the Soul Pearl had defined him as a Fiend.

To gather yin energy, killing intent, and death energy into one to cultivate the Death Curse Technique – wasn’t she just delivering herself to the tiger’s mouth?

[Li Muwan: Soul Pearl, if you could have explained the Fiend’s attributes earlier, I wouldn’t have set my sights on him.]

[Soul Pearl: You’d better take care of yourself…]

Li Muwan thought to herself that this person was more terrifying than any demonic cultivator in the Sea of Demonic Cultivation.

Meanwhile, Wang Lin remained silent after hearing her explanation of the Death Curse Technique.

Li Muwan couldn’t stop trembling inwardly. She could only hope he would agree to let her leave after refining the Elixir. Otherwise, she definitely wouldn’t try to conquer him!