Chapter 0903: Phantom Spirit Academy

Chapter 0903: Phantom Spirit Academy

"Sister Qi Rou, I've obtained another martial technique called the Star-Shattering Palm!" Qin Yun said. "It's said to have been created based on Martial Souls!"

"Star-Shattering Palm? I don’t think I’ve heard of it. Can you tell me the details?" Xie Qirou was both curious and delighted. "Xiao Yun, if it truly is a martial technique created for Martial Souls, then it should be easier to master!"

Qin Yun quickly took out a mirror, which recorded the mantra and techniques of the Star-Shattering Palm.

He carefully recited it for Xie Qirou.

After listening, Xie Qirou exclaimed in surprise, "This seems to be the Star-Transforming Dao Art!"

"Star-Transforming Dao Art? How strong is it? What’s its ranking?" Qin Yun asked eagerly.

"It's ranked twenty-ninth!" Xie Qirou said. "But the Star-Shattering Palm is an improved version of the Star-Transforming Dao Art, specifically tailored for the Tremor Martial Soul! As for its power, it’s hard to say—improved Dao Arts like this aren’t ranked!"

Qin Yun knew nothing about these Dao Arts but was deeply intrigued.

Xie Qirou continued, "Xiao Yun, you’ll have to learn the Star-Shattering Palm on your own since you possess the Tremor Martial Soul! Moreover, your Tremor Martial Soul is innate, not transplanted later. Learning a specialized martial technique will be much easier for you!"

"Alright, I’ll try to comprehend it when I have time!" Qin Yun nodded. "Sister Qi Rou, can you tell me the direction where the Dark Sun Soul is located?"

Xie Qirou gave him the direction and reminded him to be cautious of dangers.

Qin Yun put away the Buried Immortal Diagram, left the secret chamber, bid farewell to the Hunchback Steward, and began his journey.

Before leaving the Odd Pattern Hall, he asked the Hunchback Steward for a map.

The maps here were quite fascinating—they were like mirrors, with the maps engraved inside. By using his fingers, he could zoom in and out, pinpoint his location, and determine the direction he was heading.

Qin Yun left the Odd Pattern Hall and the city, heading in the direction Xie Qirou had indicated.

As he soared through the sky, he took out the map mirror to see what lay ahead on his path.

"What a coincidence, the Hundred Towers Sect is in that direction!" Qin Yun thought.

"Xiao Yun, wherever the Dark Sun Soul is found, the location is always perilous!" Ling Yuner suddenly spoke. "Check the map—are there any dangerous areas in that direction?"

"Why must there be danger?" Qin Yun asked curiously.

"The Dark Sun Soul protects itself to avoid detection or to test those who seek it. Over time, it creates a dangerous zone!" Ling Yuner explained. "In short, obtaining the Dark Sun Soul won’t be easy!"

Qin Yun carefully examined the direction but found no marked dangerous areas.

"The direction Sister Qi Rou mentioned doesn’t have any marked dangerous areas!" Qin Yun said.

"Xiao Yun, if you truly get close to the Dark Sun Soul, don’t charge in recklessly! Wait until Yang Yang, the Nine Heavens Black Sparrow, awakens, or until your Demon Star Tyrannical Bone Dragon construct completes its transformation!" Ling Yuner admonished seriously.

"Alright!" Qin Yun knew Ling Yuner had his best interests at heart.

The Demon Star Tyrannical Bone Dragon was the name Ling Yuner had given after the fusion of the Demon Star Overlord and the Bone Dragon.

Qin Yun was very curious about how it would transform and how strong it would be.

"I wonder which will happen first—Yang Yang’s awakening or the Demon Star Tyrannical Bone Dragon’s transformation?" Qin Yun chuckled.

"Hard to say!" Ling Yuner laughed. "If Yang Yang succeeds in breakthrough, she'll surely become incredibly powerful! And then she’ll want to eat your dragon meat again!"

The mention of dragon meat reminded Qin Yun of Long Tianji, the Poison Dragon Spider.

Qin Yun gave Ling Yuner a large piece of Celestial Dragon meat. She ate so much that she now remains motionless all day, digesting that huge chunk of Celestial Dragon meat.

A few days later, Qin Yun arrived at a medium-sized city.

Upon entering the city, he also wanted to inquire about any nearby dangerous areas.

Ling Yuner had mentioned that the region where the Dark Sun Soul resided was filled with various naturally formed dangers and traps, so it should be somewhat well-known.

Qin Yun was unfamiliar with the place, but fortunately, there was a Qiwén Hall here.

Wherever there was a Qiwén Hall, his Purple Crystal Card would work, and the Purple Crystal Coins inside could be used.

Qin Yun had nearly a staggering twenty billion Purple Crystal Coins!

With such wealth, gathering information would be easy for him.

He wandered around the city, visiting many taverns and teahouses frequented by old-timers, but failed to learn of any nearby dangerous areas.

The only thing he discovered was that there might be one person who knew about it.

That person was the old madman who rambled all day long on the streets, spinning all sorts of tall tales that no one believed.

The old madman was something of a local celebrity here because his storytelling was vivid, and many ordinary people enjoyed listening to his tales.

After some inquiries, Qin Yun arrived at a fancier restaurant.

The first floor of the restaurant was spacious, with many small tables where groups of two or three gathered, drinking and chatting.

In the center of the restaurant, a white-haired elder, dressed neatly and exuding refinement, was spinning a tale in a hushed, mysterious tone—this one about ghosts.

Qin Yun also sat down to listen to the elder's tale.

The first floor of the restaurant was quiet, with everyone attentively listening to the story.

"My story about the Ghost Frenzy is finished—and it's all true!" the old madman laughed.

The crowd erupted in scoffing, dismissing it as pure fiction.

The old madman had described the Ghost Frenzy as incredibly powerful, capable of effortlessly possessing Martial Kings and Emperor Wu, and at night, using its terrifying spectral claws to tear open the bodies of Emperor Wu, drinking their blood and devouring their flesh.

"Since when are Emperor Wu and Martial Kings so weak? No matter how strong the Ghost Frenzy is, it's nothing but a spirit! It can't defeat Martial Kings or Emperor Wu with their powerful physiques!"

"Exactly! Hell, even a Dao Lord of the Xuanwu Realm wouldn't lose to it!"

"Old-timer, you might not be a Martial King yourself, but surely you've seen one before? Are Martial Kings really that weak?"

Many in the crowd questioned the old madman's story, as it sounded like pure nonsense.

The old madman chuckled. "It's not that Martial Kings and Emperor Wu are weak—it's that the Ghost Frenzy is too strong! You've never seen it, so you don't know how terrifying it is! Now that the story’s over, if you enjoyed it, how about tossing me a few Purple Crystal Coins or buying me some good wine!"

Qin Yun—disguised in a bamboo hat and fake beard—slapped down a hefty bag of Purple Crystal Coins on the old madman's table and said with a smile, "Elder, could you tell me a story in private?"

The crowd gasped under their breath!

Qin Yun's large bag of Purple Crystal Coins looked substantial—probably thousands.

For most ordinary people, several thousand Purple Crystal Coins was a fortune.

Most of those listening to the stories here were regular folks.

Because capable warriors wouldn't listen to such pointless tales, as they themselves have encountered many terrifying things.

"Come inside, warrior, let's talk!" The old madman picked up the purse of Purple Crystal Coins and pointed to a booth.

Qin Yun followed the old madman into the private room.

After closing the door, the old madman asked, "Warrior, what story would you like to hear?"

Qin Yun took out the mirrored map and placed it on the table for the old madman to see. Then, he circled a direction on the map and said, "I want to know if there are any hazardous zones in this direction. I've asked many people, and they all said there aren't any!"

The old madman carefully examined the direction, then enlarged that section of the map to look at the name marked in that area.

"In this direction, there's a very mysterious region! That area is only accessible during certain times and can only be exited at a specific time as well!" The old madman frowned and said, "The details escape me—I only heard it from someone else! That person has been researching this area for a long time!"

"Who is it? Please introduce me!" Qin Yun prompted.

The old madman produced writing materials, wrote down an address and a name, and handed it to Qin Yun.

After reading the note and thanking the old madman, Qin Yun quickly left the city.

"Yu Shutian... a woman?" Qin Yun soared through the skies, looking at the note.

The address written by the old madman was: "Hundred Towers City, Phantom Spirit Academy!"

"Hundred Towers City is near the Hundred Towers Sect—it must have been built by them. But what's the story behind the Phantom Spirit Academy?" Qin Yun was also very curious.

"Xiao Yun, if what the old madman said is true, then the Dark Sun Soul is likely concealed in that place!" Ling Yuner said. "Seek out this Yu Shutian and see how much she knows! If necessary, you should have her lead the way inside!"

Hundred Towers City sprawled vast—by the standards of the Profound Domain, it was a major city.

After flying for several days, Qin Yun finally arrived at Hundred Towers City.

Once inside the city, he made inquiries and eventually found the Phantom Spirit Academy.

The academy was located in a most prestigious location—the most bustling district.

Qin Yun also learned the academy's purpose.

As long as one could afford the tuition, they could enter and study various subjects.

Beyond that, the academy also offered many martial arts to learn, and there was even a chance to be recommended for entry into the Hundred Towers Sect.

"The Hundred Towers Sect is so hard to get into—how did Murong Daren and Hong Yan manage it?" Qin Yun mused. "Did they follow Elder Xie and Huo Zhong in?"

When Qin Yun arrived at the entrance of the Phantom Spirit Academy and tried to enter, he was stopped.

Non-students were not allowed inside.

Left with no choice, Qin Yun was forced to infiltrate!

He had plenty of methods to do so—using his invisibility power, he easily slipped through the main gate.

Those who studied at the Phantom Spirit Academy all came from wealthy backgrounds, so the students were all from affluent families.

Once inside, Qin Yun changed into luxurious attire. With his already handsome appearance, dressed in fine clothes, he was instantly transformed into a young nobleman.

The Phantom Spirit Academy teemed with over ten thousand students!

Qin Yun could only marvel—there were so many aristocratic families in the Profound Domain, as sending a student here to study cost many millions of Purple Crystal Coins per year.

Qin Yun passed himself off as a young noble... though he didn't really need to pretend, as he was already extremely wealthy.

If his peers were to compare fortunes, none could match him.

Clutching the slip of paper, he asked everyone he met, "Do you know Yu Shutian?"