Dawning Pill Sect was one of the five great sects in Yunzhong. Although it was weak now, it had been passed down for tens of thousands of years and had countless disciples.
Being from such a sect, Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo were both Core Formation cultivators, so their knowledge shouldn't be narrow. Since they knew this was the Corpse Soul Technique, they should know some ways to deal with it.
Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo glanced at each other and lowered their heads in contemplation.
"Senior Martial Brother," Qiu Chengruo said hesitantly after a while, "City Lord Mei knows our identities, so why did he trick us into coming here?
Not only us, but among those devil cultivators, there are also Core Formation experts from the three Devil Regions. How could a mere City Lord like him offend them? "
Yong Ruyu pondered for a while then said, "This is indeed suspicious, but we did find devil crystals. City Lord Mei definitely harbors malicious intentions."
"But …"
"Since this matter is already in front of us, it's meaningless to deny it. We can only say that there must be some conditions that we neglected."
Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo finished talking, then turned to Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang. "Fellow Daoists, my junior martial sister is right. According to common sense, Descending Star City is only a small Devil Region in the Northern Qilin Country. Even if he's a Nascent Soul cultivator, he can't afford to offend the forces behind us."
"Therefore, City Lord Mei must've obtained great benefits by doing this, so much that he can ignore these forces or give up on Descending Star City," Mo Tiange said with a frown.
"Correct," Yong Ruyu said, "I thought about it for a while and still felt something was wrong.
Even if he used the Corpse Soul Technique on all fifteen Core Formation cultivators, it wouldn't be of much benefit to him.
After being controlled by the Corpse Soul Technique, a cultivator's cultivation level won't drop, but his strength won't be as good as before. I'm sure you two understand this reason. "
Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang nodded.
It was obvious that there was a difference in power between a self-aware person and a puppet.
Yong Ruyu continued, "Fifteen Core Formation puppets may sound terrifying, but they're nothing to a Nascent Soul cultivator.
A Nascent Soul cultivator's strength is comparable to a Core Formation cultivator's. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he could fight a hundred Core Formation puppets alone. Even an early stage Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn't be afraid. "
"Exactly."
Now that Mo Tiange had confirmed it, Yong Ruyu continued, "Then the question comes back to us. What kind of benefits can this City Lord Mei obtain from this matter that made him disregard the consequences like this?"
This time, Yong Ruyu didn't wait for anyone to answer. She already said in a deep voice, "I've thought of something. Since he refined so many Core Formation puppets, he must have a special use that can greatly increase his strength!"
Upon hearing what he said, Mo Tiange began to ponder in her heart.
Yong Ruyu's inference wasn't wrong. If there weren't enough benefits, then City Lord Mei wouldn't have done this. With so many Core Formation cultivators present, it was simply impossible to conceal their whereabouts.
There were many high level cultivators in Yunzhong. Every great force had several Nascent Soul cultivators, and late Nascent Soul cultivators weren't rare either. City Lord Mei wasn't afraid of the forces behind them coming to seek revenge. This meant that this benefit was enough for her to stand among the top cultivators. She wasn't afraid of late Nascent Soul cultivators!
At this point, there were two possibilities.
First, this benefit could allow him to advance to the late Nascent Soul realm. This was a temptation no Nascent Soul cultivator would be able to resist. Second, this could allow him to obtain a supreme magic weapon or a heaven-shaking divine ability. That way, he wouldn't have to fear those late Nascent Soul cultivators coming to seek revenge.
With this thought in mind, Mo Tiange asked, "Fellow Daoist Yong, I have two inferences. Which one do you think is more likely?"
After Mo Tiange explained the two inferences, Yong Ruyu wrinkled her brows and pondered. After a while, she answered, "The latter."
"Why?" Mo Tiange asked.
"Because … those Core Formation cultivators in Descending Stars City seem to know about this," Yong Ruyu said.
Mo Tiange was startled and began to ponder carefully.
Even if City Lord Mei didn't explain this matter clearly to her subordinates, those Core Formation cultivators definitely wouldn't be clueless about it. After all, those Core Formation cultivators also played a part in deceiving them into this trap.
For example, Elder Liang and the several people who opened the restriction — these things couldn't be hidden from them.
That being the case, there were two possibilities.
One was that those Core Formation cultivators were completely aware of this matter. In that case, not only would City Lord Mei benefit from this matter, but it would also bring benefits to their subordinates as well. That way, they wouldn't need to be afraid of the influence behind these deceived cultivators.
The other possibility was that City Lord Mei didn't tell them everything or used some other reason to brush off her subordinates. But if that was the case, why would these people go all out to help City Lord Mei?
Cultivators were naturally self-interested, and devil cultivators were even more so. It was undeniable that some people had the spirit of loyalty in the secular world, but not all of them.
Or perhaps, these cultivators had long been under City Lord Mei's control and had no choice?
This wasn't impossible, but based on Elder Liang's behavior, the possibility was relatively small.
One side denied and the other confirmed. The conclusion was very obvious.
Yong Ruyu's judgment was correct. If they obtained a supreme magic weapon or a heaven-shaking divine ability, then it was very likely that this magic weapon or divine ability could protect the Core Formation cultivators in Descending Stars City. That was why they went all out to help City Lord Mei.
But the other possibility couldn't be completely erased. After all, people were alive, and they didn't know what City Lord Mei had done.
Perhaps City Lord Mei used some method to force these Core Formation cultivators to help him. At that time, if he obtained a profound cultivation level, even those late stage Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn't be able to do anything to him. What would happen to Descending Stars City have to do with him then?
Compared to advancing to the late stage of Nascent Soul and becoming a top-notch cultivator, what was a City Lord?
The entire Descending Stars City would be nothing more than a dispensable chess piece.
At this point, Yong Ruyu knocked her head with a distressed expression. "But I really don't understand. How could using the Corpse Soul Technique to create so many Core Formation puppets bring him so many benefits?"
"We missed a possibility," Nie Wushang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said.
Nie Wushang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, "Perhaps, this magic crystal isn't used to cast the Corpse Soul Technique."
Hearing this, Yong Ruyu was stunned. "Not used to cast the Corpse Soul Technique?"
"Correct."
Nie Wushang stared at him and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Yong, could it be that this devil crystal can only be used to cast the Corpse Soul Technique?"
Yong Ruyu thought for a while then shook his head. "I don't know. Although this thing is terrifying, it's also precious. As for what it's used for, I'm also not very clear.
It's just that this thing is too famous for using the Corpse Soul Technique. Whenever I mention devil crystals, I'll immediately think of the Corpse Soul Technique. "
"That's right," Nie Wushang continued, "I've done some research on the Devil Path, so I know some superficial things.
Since this thing has the unique function of absorbing spiritual essence, it's definitely not only used for one evil technique. Moreover, some evil techniques can be invented according to this thing's characteristics. "
"Correct," Qiu Chengruo murmured. "Senior Martial Brother, do you remember that rumor?
The Corpse Soul Technique was invented by a Devil Monarch with extraordinary divine power after discovering devil crystals? "
"…" Yong Ruyu wiped the sweat on his face. His complexion was deathly pale as he said dejectedly, "This matter is becoming more and more difficult to imagine. I … I'm really … powerless …"
"Fellow Daoist Yong!" Mo Tiange stared at him with a fierce gaze. "What are you saying?
Don't tell me you want to give up now? "
Despair appeared on Yong Ruyu's face. "How can Core Formation cultivators like us fight against someone who can invent an evil technique?
It's not my wish; I'm really powerless. "
Nie Wushang let out a cold "hmph" and stared at him. "We asked you to think of a way because you understand the situation in Yunzhong — we didn't ask you to bring about your own destruction!
Right now, everything is just speculation, yet you want to end your own life?
Raise your spirits!
Otherwise, we can kill you right now to avoid you from damaging our morale! "