Chapter 48: Perfection

Courtyard, quiet chamber.

“It has been confirmed that the scent of the Wolfbane flower does indeed aid in tempering the soul, and the most effective way to unleash its properties is through burning.”

Seated cross-legged, gingerly holding a petal between his fingers, Jiang Chen’s eyes reflected a trace of contemplation.

The outside world had been in turmoil these days, lively and chaotic, but none of it concerned him. Despite Iron Butcher’s repeated demands for Golden Sands Valley to deploy greater forces, Jiang Chen merely delegated the task to Skinny Monkey, having no intention to act himself.

Through days of study, he had come to a deeper understanding of the Wolfbane flower’s properties. Its fragrance could conjure illusions, stimulating the spirit and thereby boosting the power of the soul. Yet, this method was fraught with danger—ordinary folk might easily lose their minds, descending into madness.

“The reason the Wolfbane flower can help living beings break through the Qi-training stage is essentially because it hypnotizes, amplifying desires and unconsciously unlocking restraints, releasing greater potential and thus creating the illusion of enhanced affinity with spiritual energy.”

“In theory, this method does aid cultivators in breaking through, but the cost is severe—not only is the quality of cultivated true Qi poor, making future progress difficult, but it also drains the body and even the soul’s potential, shortening one’s lifespan.”

“It’s precisely for this reason that the Wolf King of the Fierce Wolf tribe perished so early.”

Having grasped the medicinal nature of the Wolfbane flower, Jiang Chen now speculated on the truth of its assistance in Qi-training breakthroughs.

The Wolfbane flower could indeed help one break through, but at a steep price. Nevertheless, this did not negate its value; for Jiang Chen, it was no better than poison, but for many ordinary cultivators, it remained an opportunity.

“True to its reputation, the medicine of tigers and wolves—yet if used wisely, it still holds immense worth.”

With this thought, Jiang Chen tossed the petals into the prepared incense burner.

Moments later, as the Wolfbane flower burned, wisps of blue smoke rose from the burner.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen immediately adjusted his state, emptying his mind.

He inhaled gently, and the smoke slipped into his nostrils like serpents. As time passed, the flower’s properties began to take effect; Jiang Chen felt his body lighten, as if shedding all fatigue, floating toward transcendence.

Time passed silently, his expression utterly tranquil, his whole being relaxed. Only when the last petal in the burner was consumed and the fragrance faded did Jiang Chen open his eyes again.

“I possess a trace of second-tier soul essence. Stimulated by the Wolfbane flower, it truly assists soul growth. Though I’ve only practiced once, I already sense a slight increase in my soul’s power.”

“If this continues, it won’t be long before my soul reaches the peak of the first tier—ten times that of an ordinary person.”

Sensing the change within, a faint joy stirred in Jiang Chen’s heart.

Soul advancement has never been simple, whether in quantity or quality. Yet, owing to his abilities, he found breakthroughs far easier than most.

Compared to the path of immortality, soul abilities were not particularly formidable—at least, this was true for Jiang Chen at present—but he valued them deeply. It was thanks to these abilities that he had survived the apocalypse for so long.

Moreover, soul abilities and cultivation complemented each other. He had only been here for a few months, but his current strength owed much to his soul powers.

“I already possess second-tier essence. Once I reach the peak of the first tier, returning to the second will not be difficult. Then a new world will open before me; compared to the first tier, second-tier souls offer far more wonders.”

“The most important task now is to cultivate the Wolfbane vine and harvest more flowers. But this requires large amounts of flesh and blood; it’s manageable for now, but in the long term, it will become a problem.”

Turning these thoughts over, Jiang Chen considered his future direction.

The Fierce Wolf tribe’s cultivation of Wolfbane vine was crude—they simply watered it with blood and flesh. If enough was provided, the vine would bloom. This method, though simple and brutal, was inefficient, something Jiang Chen aimed to change. Unfortunately, he himself was not skilled in this area.

“In the cultivation world, nurturing spirit plants is an academic field with its own traditions. I must pay more attention in the future.”

“Speaking of which, the Wolfbane vine is the most precious spirit item in my possession. Compared to the low-grade Spirit Spring Stones, it is at least a true-tier spiritual object.”

He shook his head, dismissing further thoughts, and stepped out of the chamber. At that moment, thunder cracked, clouds gathered, and rain poured from the sky.

“Rain again—this weather is truly odd.”

Standing beneath the eaves, he stretched out his hand to catch the falling drops, gazing up at the sky.

This season was typically dry; rain should have been a blessing. Yet this month, it had become unusually frequent, a stark departure from previous climate patterns.

As Jiang Chen stared at the sky, lost in thought, Wang Yuan, clad in a raincoat, hurried in from outside.

“Third Master, a letter written personally by the First Master.”

Approaching Jiang Chen, Wang Yuan pulled a letter from his breast.

Without hesitation, Jiang Chen took it and opened it without attempting to conceal its contents.

“They have confirmed the whereabouts of Zhao Meng. I am to personally lead a team to intercept him? All must be killed, not a single one spared, and all treasures brought back?”

Reading the letter, Jiang Chen’s brows knit together.

“Has Iron Butcher found what he was searching for, or is this group somehow special?”

“Take a look.”

With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Chen handed the letter to Wang Yuan.

Wang Yuan accepted it without hesitation.

“The tone is fierce. I suspect the First Master is unhappy with your continued presence in the valley.”

“According to Skinny Monkey, the Second Master has appeared on the river recently. With this happening, and the First Master repeatedly demanding your personal involvement, it’s clear this fleet is anything but ordinary.”

After a brief pause, Wang Yuan spoke candidly, unafraid to share his thoughts. Though all were river bandits, he knew clearly for whom he truly served.

Jiang Chen was pleased by this.

“What do you think I should do now?”

He directed his gaze at Wang Yuan and asked again.

At this, Wang Yuan raised his head to meet Jiang Chen’s eyes.

“May I ask, Third Master—if you were to face the First Master, what are your chances of victory?”

His voice was low, posing the most crucial question.

“Absolute.”

The reply was calm, without a trace of fluctuation. Jiang Chen gave his answer.

Hearing this, Wang Yuan couldn’t help but feel a jolt, even though he had long suspected Jiang Chen’s extraordinary nature. In that moment, it was as if something ignited within his eyes.