Chapter 939: Memory

"You want the Soul-Nourishing Wood?" A faint smile surfaced on Bai’s face as he sized Qin Sang up and down. "So the Soul-Nourishing Wood was your true goal. Do you understand its value? It is the only treasure I left behind in life and is of tremendous aid to us ghost cultivators. Do you think I would hand over the Soul-Nourishing Wood just to survive?"

Qin Sang fell silent for a moment. "It seems like you have been trapped within the barrier and do not know the situation outside. This place has become a hidden realm that opens only once every few decades, granting a chance to enter. Because it is exceedingly dangerous, the ferocious beasts have, for unknown reasons, lost their wits, and those trapped in Seven-Kill Hall have never reappeared, including famed experts. There are many other ominous signs as well, so no one dares remain here after the hidden realm closes. Yet you have stayed safe all this time in the ghostly land. You are the only exception I have seen. Can the barrier avoid Seven-Kill Hall’s effects? Perhaps I do not need to rush to leave. I could remain within the barrier for a few decades and then depart when Seven-Kill Hall opens next time. Would that man really keep camping at the door the whole time?"

Bai’s smile froze. The threat in Qin Sang’s words was plain. If worst came to worst, he would risk everything and bet that the barrier was unaffected, allowing him to wait safely for the next opening.

"You would gamble your future? Your fleshly body is strong, and your body-refinement attainment rivals your cultivation. Your arts must be extraordinary, perhaps pointing straight at the immortal path. But there is nothing here except boundless ghostly mist. If you stay for decades, even if your primordial spirit remains intact, your body will likely fail, corroded by the mist, and you will be forced onto the path of corpses and ghosts. Is that worth it for an external object?" Bai fixed his gaze on Qin Sang, trying to dissuade him. Yet his instincts told him this man would do anything once he made up his mind.

Qin Sang suddenly smiled, amused. "Did you know? In order to form my core, I once staked everything and voluntarily stepped onto the corpse path. Only later, by chance, did I return to the proper road and, against the odds, form my core in one stroke."

At that, surprise flashed through Bai’s eyes; his understanding of Qin Sang deepened by another layer.

"Besides, the Soul-Nourishing Wood is no external object to me." A glint shone between Qin Sang’s eyebrows, and the ebony sword flashed out to hover between them. "This sword is called the ebony sword, my life-bound astra, tied intimately to my cultivation. It is special and must fuse with spiritual wood to grow. At this point, only spiritual wood on the level of the Ten Divine Woods can advance it further. My cultivation has stalled for years because of this. With the Soul-Nourishing Wood before me, if you were in my place, would you let the chance pass?"

Qin Sang knew the risks of remaining in the ghostly land and did not want a do-or-die confrontation unless he had no choice.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He cultivated both body and spells and carried the top-tier techniques of two races. If he were corroded by the ghostly mist and forced onto the path of corpses and ghosts, the loss would be immense, and he had no top-tier method for that path.

So he simply revealed the ebony sword, making it clear to Bai that the Soul-Nourishing Wood was something he must obtain.

"The Soul-Nourishing Wood is a supreme treasure for ghost-path cultivators. You no longer need to rely on it, do you? Once you regain freedom, with your ability, you might find a way to restore a human body..."

Qin Sang spoke earnestly, but Bai only stared fixedly at the ebony sword, his expression turning strange.

Noticing this, Qin Sang’s heart stirred. "Did something come to mind?"

Bai is the remnant soul of an ancient cultivator. Has the sight of the ebony sword triggered some hidden secret?

Qin Sang actively circulated the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment, urging the ebony sword. Rings of cool, verdant sword light flickered along the blade, letting Bai see clearly.

"Ah!" Bai suddenly cried out, clutching his head, his face contorted in pain. After a long moment, he recovered and, under Qin Sang’s tense gaze, said, "Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood! I only now realize your astra was forged from Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood?"

"It is indeed Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood!" Qin Sang had thought Bai might discern the origin of his arts and was a bit disappointed. He tentatively asked, "Have your memories returned?"

Bai shook his head, his tone tinged with joy. "No. Perhaps because I hold the Soul-Nourishing Wood, my subconscious connected related things. When I saw your sword, four words jumped out within my soul: Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood. It seems my memory may yet be recoverable. I understand now. No wonder your life-bound astra cannot advance. Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood is the filthiest wood under heaven, famed alongside the Soul-Nourishing Wood. Unless one adds a top-grade spiritual material that can resist the mulberry’s defilement, it cannot be refined together with it, or it will be befouled and lose all spiritual essence. Your fortune runs deep indeed, to have obtained even Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood."

"I dare not claim much. I obtained only a thin sliver of spiritual wood. I rejoiced then, thinking it was destiny, never expecting that blessing would hide calamity..." Qin Sang gave a brief explanation, then could not help pressing on. "So if you see objects familiar from your life, you might recall portions of your memory?"

"Not necessarily!"

Bai’s tone dimmed; he did not look optimistic. "I am only a single remnant soul. Even if I recover anything, it will be a meager portion, most of it trivial. Finding my true self will be exceedingly hard. It was the same with the Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood. I must once have known it in detail, yet now I recall only scraps..."

He rubbed his forehead, fell silent for a while, then looked up. "You are right. When it concerns one’s own Great Dao, were I in your place, I would not miss the chance, either."

Qin Sang’s expression shifted slightly. "You mean..."

"It seems I can only bring out the Soul-Nourishing Wood as ransom for my life," Bai said with a bitter smile.

To Qin Sang’s surprise, Bai agreed crisply to his demand. Qin Sang could not help a quiet sigh of relief. It was, without doubt, a result that pleased both sides.

But Bai cautioned him not to rejoice too soon. "I cannot hand you the Soul-Nourishing Wood directly. Let us swear by heart devils. Only after you help me break the barrier and deliver the spirits will I give you this treasure. Thereafter, you must aid me with all your strength to refine this body and must not raise a hand against me..."

He seemed to have a plan ready and swiftly recited a heart-devil oath with no loopholes to exploit.

Qin Sang pondered for a long time, then softened his tone. "Barring the utmost necessity, I do not wish to be your enemy. I can swear by heart devils to those terms. In fact, if you face trouble while searching for yourself in the future, I may be able to help a little. However, you should at least let me see the Soul-Nourishing Wood and confirm it."

He did not fear a heart-devil oath, and he would not break his own promise.

"No problem. I will remember what you have said..." Bai nodded readily, a sly smile playing at his lips.

He opened his mouth wide and spat out a gust of corpse qi. Something seemed wrapped within it. When it fell into his palm, it became a black, decayed length of wood, nearly half a chi long and as thick as a forearm.

It was the Soul-Nourishing Wood! And within Bai’s body, another piece of about the same size remained hidden.

He had apparently anticipated this moment long ago and had already split the Soul-Nourishing Wood into two.