The most secure job in Dajin

Chapter 510, Playing a Tune for the Ferocious Beast

The Soul Codex is the supreme holy scripture of the Soul Clan.

This book records in detail the origins and lineage of the Nine Nether Soul Clan, and also includes various basic and universal soul techniques.

In terms of status, it is the spiritual cornerstone that the Soul Clan regards as the ultimate standard; in terms of rarity, it is as common as an everyday book, something that every member of the Soul Clan has a copy of.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have fallen into the hands of others so easily.

After Hua Changxi was able to construct a sizable and stable 'Soul Domain' with a wave of her hand, she picked up the "Soul Codex" and began to read it, hoping to find a few more soul techniques that humans could cultivate and learn them.

"The Ballad of the Soul..."

"Soul Ballad" is a soul song with only three lines of sheet music, and it can be played on any instrument.

This piece has the effect of soothing, purifying, and elevating the soul. Its sound is like a clear spring in the depths of the netherworld, capable of washing away the restlessness and impurities in the souls of all races, allowing weary souls to return to tranquility, and restoring the radiance of dusty souls.

Therefore, this soul melody is not only beloved by the Soul Clan, but also a celestial sound sought after by other races with souls.

Even the various races of the Nine Netherworlds, whose daily lives revolve around killing and plundering, can find resonance in the melody of "Soul Ballad" and feel the comfort and nourishment coming from the depths of their souls.

This piece may seem simple, as it is one of the most basic introductory soul arts, but its difficulty in mastering it is greater than that of various profound secret arts.

For this reason, few members of the Soul Clan can play the "Soul Ballad" melody.

In order to hear the heavenly sounds, other races in the Nine Netherworlds, and even some powerful figures from the Nine Netherworlds, have tried to cultivate it, but unfortunately, almost none of them have succeeded.

The difficulty of playing "Soul Ballad" is so great that not only are the various races of the Nine Netherworld completely baffled, but even the Soul Clan has not been able to truly understand it.

Is it really that difficult?

It's just three lines of musical notation, isn't it?

Hua Changxi was immediately filled with dissatisfaction and doubt when he saw that the first soul technique recorded in the "Soul Codex" was described as so difficult to master.

Having studied the "Soul-Capturing Melody" and mastered it in a short time, she was now very confident in her musical talent. The place where she was sitting was a bamboo forest, so she reached out and plucked a bamboo leaf, which she then put to her lips.

"Whoo~"

There was only the sound of blowing air.

"No, you can't play it like that. This is a soul song; you have to use your soul power to play it."

Hua Changxi mobilized her soul power, channeling it to her lips. With a force exerted by her lips, she injected her soul power into the bamboo leaves.

The next instant, a clear and ethereal soul voice rang out, seemingly drifting from the depths of nothingness, gentle yet penetrating the very soul.

Hua Changxi's eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but cheer in his heart: "I am truly a musical genius!"

With that thought in mind, she played the instrument with even greater concentration.

However, she was completely unaware that when she mobilized her soul power, tiny golden threads, almost invisible to the naked eye, were injected into the bamboo leaves along with the soul power.

The "Soul Ballad" echoed through the valley, its melodious and lingering notes resonating long afterward.

Even Hua Changxi himself felt a warm and gentle power in the music, which slowly cleansed his mind and spirit, as if his soul was being washed and nourished again and again, leaving him feeling completely comfortable.

The most shocking discovery was yet to come.

Since stepping into the fifth level of the Nine Netherworld, the black flames coiled on her nascent soul have become increasingly frenzied.

Whether one silently recites the Heart-Cleansing Mantra or forcibly suppresses it with internal energy, the black flames remain swaying erratically, exuding an aura that suggests they could surge out of control at any moment.

But as the melody of "Soul Ballad" flowed, the originally raging black flames strangely came to a standstill.

It no longer throbbed wildly, but instead seemed to have its restlessness soothed by some invisible force, and docilely lay dormant around the nascent soul.

In no time, all the negative emotions that had been building up in her heart were washed away as if a bucket of cool, clear water had been poured over her head, leaving only a clear and lucid mind.

Hua Changxi was overjoyed to have another way to control the black flames.

"Truly heavenly music!"

Thinking of the bamboo leaves needed to play "Soul Ballad", Hua Changxi quickly went forward and collected more.

"Ok?"

While collecting Soul Bamboo leaves, Hua Changxi noticed that the white mist deep within the Soul Bamboo had thinned considerably.

In the memories of Lady Crimson Flame, she could not go to every place in Soul Nightmare Valley. One of them was deep within the Soul Bamboo Forest.

Hua Changxi looked at the Soul Bamboo Forest where the white mist had dissipated, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped inside.

In areas where the white mist was thin, there was no discomfort upon stepping in, but once she was in areas where the white mist was thick, Hua Changxi felt as if all five senses were lost, and she was so frightened that she quickly retreated.

Why did this white mist dissipate?

The white mist seemed to have dissipated when she was playing "Soul Ballad". Thinking of this, Hua Changxi took out another Soul Bamboo Leaf and began to play "Soul Ballad".

As the hymn began, Hua Changxi's eyes widened suddenly. The thick, dense, and all-encompassing white mist was dissipating layer by layer at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Although Hua Changxi was surprised, he continued to play "Soul Ballad" as he walked deeper into the white mist.

The melody was clear and melodious, lingering and swirling in the secluded valley, seemingly resonating with the soul power within, blending and complementing each other.

Suddenly, the requiem came to an abrupt end.

At the same time, Hua Changxi also suddenly stopped in his tracks, his aura instantly tensing up, his gaze fixed on the enormous shadow that appeared and disappeared in the white mist ahead.

Elephant trunk, rhinoceros eyes, ox tail, tiger feet.

At just one glance, two words came to Hua Changxi's mind—Nightmare Eater.

The Nightmare Eater, one of the ten most ferocious beasts in the Nine Netherworlds, feeds on the souls and dreams of others. Due to its innate supernatural ability—invisibility—it often devours the souls of others before they even realize what's happening.

She had previously thought that the Nine Netherworld experts dared not seize Soul Nightmare Valley because they were afraid of Lady Crimson Nightmare. Now she knew that what the Nine Netherworld experts were truly afraid of was the Nightmare Eater in front of them, who was either a King or an Emperor.

The Nightmare Beast fully revealed itself, staring intently at Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi felt a chill run down her spine from the stare, constantly preparing to summon the black broken sword for a decisive battle or to escape.

"Bang~"

The Nightmare Beast moved, not to attack, but tossing a fruit radiating a holy white light at Hua Changxi's feet.

Upon seeing the fruit, Hua Changxi's pupils dilated again.

The Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Fruit!

This fruit is shaped like a miniature, crystal-clear heart, with nine naturally formed spiral patterns on its surface, pulsating like blood vessels and radiating a soft, holy light.

It is no ordinary plant or tree, it does not take root in the soil, but rather it draws upon the essence of soul power accumulated over hundreds of millions of years from the depths of the Soul River in order to be born.

Such a rare find is extremely rare, perhaps even more so than once in ten thousand years. Its rarity far surpasses the word "precious," making it a supreme sacred object that exists only in legends within the world of soul plants.

Its effects are even more miraculous.

Anyone who takes it will experience a qualitative change in their primordial spirit (soul).

Firstly, all nine orifices are clear and bright.

The fruit has nine markings, corresponding to the nine orifices of the soul. After consumption, these nine orifices can be opened one by one, increasing the soul's perception several times over. Even the most subtle fluctuations of soul power that ordinary people cannot detect can be perceived. In the realm of soul power, it can be said to have opened a heavenly eye.

Secondly, the soul and body solidify.

Ordinary souls are inherently weak and fearful of yang energy; they will dissipate if not handled carefully.

After consuming the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruit, the soul body will become extremely solid and its toughness will be greatly enhanced, making it difficult to disintegrate even when struck by heavenly lightning.

For the Soul Clan, after consuming this fruit, their soul defense is comparable to that of other races with innate advantages such as physical bodies, ghost bodies, demon bodies, and underworld bodies, and they are no longer constrained by the fragility of their soul bodies.

Its effects are also particularly outstanding for human cultivators.

Human beings typically need to cultivate their primordial spirit to the stage of leaving the body, and only when the primordial spirit grows strong enough can it leave the body and travel freely.

However, if one consumes the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruit, as long as one successfully condenses a primordial spirit, one can ignore realm limitations and directly leave the body!

Hua Changxi looked at the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruit at her feet, swallowed hard, and then looked up at the Nightmare Eater.

Seeing that she didn't move, the Nightmare Eater threw another Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruit with a 'bang'.

Hua Changxi's eyelids twitched and her throat went dry as she read.

Seeing that she still didn't move, the Nightmare Eater threw another one over.

Hua Changxi: "."

The Nightmare Eater, having given away three Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruits but still receiving no response, grew angry: "Human, you are too greedy."

Hua Changxi's heart pounded at the mention of the word "human race." She glanced at the Nightmare Eater, which had not yet launched an attack, and then at the fruit at her feet, asking uncertainly, "Senior, would you like to hear 'Soul Ballad'?"

The Nightmare Baku snorted: "Otherwise what?"

If it weren't for the extreme rarity of those who could play the "Soul Ballad," it would have swallowed this human's soul whole long ago.

Having received a definite answer, Hua Changxi quickly picked up the three Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruits, took one, and ate it right before the Nightmare Eater's astonished eyes.

Without even tasting it or sensing the changes in her soul, Hua Changxi finished a Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruit in a few bites, and then said, "Senior gave me three Nine-Aperture Exquisite Soul Heart Fruits, so I will play three 'Soul Ballads' for you."

The Nightmare Beast glanced at Hua Changxi, snorted, seemingly too lazy to waste words with her, and flicked its front paw, creating a funnel as tall as a person in front of Hua Changxi: "Three times."

Seeing the Nightmare Eater's bristling expression, as if it would explode if she refused, Hua Changxi wisely picked up the Soul Bamboo Leaf and began to play it.

As the "Soul Ballad" began, the Nightmare Eater's ferocious expression instantly softened, and it closed its eyes contentedly, lost in the melody. (End of Chapter)