Nameless Region Chapter 28: Life and Death, No Distinction

As night fell, Zhou Xuanhong ceased his cultivation and made his way to their usual meeting spot. The Kong siblings, Xiaori and his sister, were already there, tending to the fire and preparing the evening meal.

“Brother Hong, you sure are punctual every day. With your yellow-grade talent, shouldn’t you be spending every waking moment cultivating? Aren’t you worried you’ll never reach the Golden Core stage?” Kong Xiaori teased.

Zhou Xuanhong tapped his temple, his words layered with meaning. “You don’t understand. In this world of cultivation, it’s brains that get you ahead. Talent is useless if you lack cunning and strategy—without those, the gifted end up as nothing but fodder for others.”

He wasn’t just talking about scheming and shrewdness; he was also referring to his second foundational root concealed within his sea of consciousness—the Earth Spirit Root.

Kong Xiaori was busy dealing with the last demonic beast carcass they’d received from Xu Biao. “I heard about what happened today,” he said. “Does this mean no one will be delivering ingredients to us anymore?”

Xu Biao’s fate was irrelevant to him. What mattered was whether their supply of ingredients would continue. As long as they had what they needed, it didn’t matter if Xu Biao was killed by Wang Li or anyone else.

“Of course the supply won’t stop,” Zhou Xuanhong assured him. “I’m counting on your spiritual cuisine to aid my cultivation. Don’t worry; I’ve posted a commission at the Task Hall. From now on, there will be an endless stream of ingredients delivered to us—better than ever.”

Kong Xiaori was intrigued. “You may be a true disciple, but do you really have that many spirit stones to burn? Or did your master reward you handsomely for reaching Foundation Establishment?”

Zhou Xuanhong nodded confidently. “That’s right. I’m my master’s only disciple, after all. What use are those resources to him if not for me?”

Soon, a whole roasted deer was ready, filling the air with its enticing aroma. As they sat down to eat, Kong Xiaori brought up the matter of the Secret Herb Realm.

“Brother Hong, you’re not just planning to have the two of us working for you, are you? There must be more helpers.”

Zhou Xuanhong replied vaguely, “There are others. They’ll be here soon.”

Not long after, a figure emerged from the path, offering Zhou Xuanhong a respectful salute. “Young Master, you summoned me. What is your command?”

It was Xu Biao, now dressed in the robes of the Form-Transforming Sect. Yet, the aura of a man accustomed to fierce battles with demonic beasts still clung to him, a stark contrast to the scholarly elegance of the Daoist robes.

His expression was strained. Since being cast aside by Zhou Xuanhong that morning, all gratitude and loyalty had evaporated from his heart.

Zhou Xuanhong looked up and gave him a cool glance. “Still haven’t figured it out? Think a little harder.”

Xu Biao was puzzled. He recalled the events of the morning and the jade slip left in his storage pouch. Some things became clearer, but much remained obscure.

“I am slow-witted, my lord. Please enlighten me.”

Zhou Xuanhong gestured to a stone nearby. “Sit first. As I said before, if you performed well these days, I would reward you handsomely—and you have. Rest assured, serving under me will bring you no shortage of benefits.”

He tore off a haunch of venison for Xu Biao. “Eat first. When you’re done, we’ll talk business.”

The aroma of roasted meat had long set Xu Biao’s mouth watering. Though he’d tasted spiritual dishes in Chaoxian Town, none compared to the roast venison before him.

What he didn’t know was that hidden within the meat was a bloodthirsty parasite. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhou Xuanhong had planted it without leaving a trace, and Xu Biao was utterly unaware.

Xu Biao tore into the meat with gusto, oblivious as the parasite entered his body. Zhou Xuanhong had no intention of killing him—he simply valued caution. If Xu Biao remained loyal, there would be no issue; if he betrayed him, Zhou Xuanhong would ensure he learned the cost of disloyalty.

When the four had eaten their fill, Zhou Xuanhong addressed Xu Biao. “You’re aware of the opening of the Secret Herb Realm. The resources I mentioned are tied to that.”

Xu Biao was puzzled. “I’ve heard some talk in Chaoxian Town, but isn’t it only for outer disciples? Young Master, you…”

“I won’t be going, of course,” Zhou Xuanhong replied. “But you will.”

Xu Biao understood Zhou Xuanhong’s intention and looked at the Kong siblings. He shook his head. “You must be joking, Young Master. I’m only at the eighth layer of Qi Condensation, as are this young man and his sister. There are many other outer disciples far stronger. We don’t stand a chance.”

Zhou Xuanhong shook his head again. “If I say you can enter, you can. And you’ll be perfectly safe inside. There’s no need to fear that Wang Li fellow.”

Xu Biao brightened. To be one of the twenty allowed into the Secret Herb Realm meant a fortune in resources—enough even to break through to Foundation Establishment.

“What ingenious plan does Young Master have?”

Zhou Xuanhong did not elaborate. His schemes shifted with circumstance; no one could predict what would happen next.

“No need to know—just do as I say. The benefits will come.”

He turned to Kong Xiaori. “I’ll need you two to help out then. I’ve received inside information: in four days, disciples from other sects will participate in the grand competition. Are you confident?”

Kong Xiaori squeezed his sister’s hand, brimming with assurance. “Don’t worry. I may not outwit you, but when it comes to strength, few in the Nameless District can match me at our level.”

“I’ll be counting on you,” Zhou Xuanhong said. “In the coming days, I have some business outside the sect. Look after Xu Biao—don’t let Wang Li bully him too badly.”

Xu Biao was baffled. Why did Zhou Xuanhong value these two young siblings so highly? Could it be that he wasn’t a match for them, despite not being at the peak of Qi Condensation?

Recently, the number of outer disciples at Form-Transforming Sect had swelled. Those who had been away on tasks or personal business were returning, especially those at the late stages of Qi Condensation. Mid-stage disciples returned merely to witness the spectacle; there were no benefits for them.

After suffering heavy losses in their campaign against the Fierce Ghost Sect, the sect’s Foundation Establishment disciples were depleted and in dire need of new blood. Should a sect war break out, with too few core disciples, Form-Transforming Sect would be in grave danger.

Zhou Xuanhong rode his sword from the sect. His wounds had nearly healed, thanks to Gu Tianyun’s unparalleled skills in immortal medicine, which had not only pulled him back from death’s door but left no hidden ailments.

During his recuperation, Zhou Xuanhong had also been cultivating a soul secret art—the Minor Soul Transposition Technique.

This technique, found on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, was exceedingly rare. Even core disciples were not permitted to study it; only a true authority—a Golden Core elder—could grant access with their personal seal. Zhou Xuanhong, despite his status as a true disciple, had only gained entry with Xu Yuan’s endorsement.

Fortunately, Xu Yuan viewed Zhou Xuanhong favorably: he was respectful toward his elders, sincere in his love for his wife, and not excessively devious. While he did value his own life, that was only human nature.

Cultivating the Form-Transforming Manual had already made his soul exceptionally strong, and he possessed a unique talent in this area. Thus, his progress was swift, and during his convalescence, he mastered the secret art—it would become a powerful asset.

The Minor Soul Transposition Technique allowed the practitioner’s soul to leave the body, but only under absolutely safe conditions. Otherwise, even a single spark could destroy the soul entirely.

After all, it was not a true out-of-body technique; only experts at the Nascent Soul level and above could truly achieve that, and there were many restrictions.

Once separated, the soul could perform a simplified possession—not by devouring the target’s soul, but by swapping or suppressing it. The target had to be non-human and possess a much weaker soul. The ideal outcome was a direct transposition; even with a weak body, the practitioner could wield the power of a Foundation Establishment soul.

If only suppression was possible, and the practitioner’s soul power far exceeded the target’s, the target’s consciousness could be destroyed, and the practitioner’s own soul might also be damaged.

For Zhou Xuanhong, the bloodthirsty parasite in his possession was the perfect target: weak, absolutely loyal, and even if they swapped souls, the parasite—under the mother’s restraints—could do nothing with his body.

To others, this technique might be useless, but for Zhou Xuanhong, it was the perfect weapon for his secretive schemes. He’d immediately recognized its value the moment he saw it in the Scripture Pavilion, knowing it was the support he needed to perfect his plans.

…

Within the main hall atop the Sect Leader’s Peak, Xuan Qizi sat in the chief seat. To his left sat Elder Liu Xiang, the Grand Elder; to his right, another formidable cultivator at the late Golden Core stage sat with eyes closed, aloof and indifferent. He was a neutral party in the sect’s internal struggle.

Liu Xiang addressed Xuan Qizi, “Senior Brother Xu, during your absence from the Sect Leader’s Peak these past twenty days, the neighboring Yin Corpse Sect, Song Mountain Sword Pavilion (branch), and Five Spirits Pill Valley have joined forces to pressure our Form-Transforming Sect. They want their disciples to enter the Secret Herb Realm with ours. What is your opinion?”

Liu Xiang’s tone toward Xuan Qizi was telling—there was no hint of deference. He treated the sect master as an equal, like a fellow disciple. In private, such familiarity might be excused, but this was the Jade Qilin Hall, the sect’s most formal venue, with all the senior elders present. To address the sect leader so casually, with no respect, was bold indeed.

No one objected; all were used to it. The sect’s internal factional struggle was no secret—every core disciple felt it. You either chose a side or, like the elder on the right, maintained neutrality, though that required enough strength; otherwise, neutrality led to an even worse fate.

Xuan Qizi didn’t look at Liu Xiang. He replied coolly, “Our sect has suffered greatly—it’s no time for hardline stances. If they want a piece of the pie, let them have it. But we will add one rule: in the Secret Herb Realm, life and death are left to fate.”

Liu Su frowned. “I do not object to this rule, but the Song Mountain Sword Pavilion’s sword fanatics are among them. Their individual strength is unmatched. Our sect will suffer heavy losses.”

Xu Yuan spoke, her eyes cold and murderous. “Then we send in a handful of elites and a host of the less talented, and increase the number allowed to enter. Our Foundation Establishment disciples have been decimated—let their three sects send in new blood too, and let them suffer as well!”

Xu Yuan was always compassionate toward her own sect, but toward outsiders, she was ruthless. Anyone who had reached the Golden Core stage would have blood on their hands.