Chapter 1203: East Black State Cultivator

Ye Mo immediately replied, “Brother Bian, I didn’t come from the Three Seas; I came from South Peace State. If you’re using a middle-grade flying cultivation artifact, it will take less than a year to reach South Peace State. Good luck.”

“Brother Ye, you actually came from South Peace State? Is the South Peace State spirit chi truly dense and suitable for cultivation, even immortal ascension?” Bian Fengta asked, his voice filled with surprise and joy.

Ye Mo nodded. “That’s right, it has dense spirit chi. Although I haven’t witnessed anyone ascend to immortality, it’s undeniably the best place for cultivation.”

“Then you’re going back to South Peace State? Let’s go together,” Bian Fengta immediately offered. While Ye Mo was only at the body condensation stage, his power and skill with lightning cultivation made traveling with him considerably safer.

Ye Mo apologized, “I need to go to the Heartless Sea to find a herb, so I can’t go back with you.”

Remembering the map Meng Hanan gave him—its location near the eastern side—he wondered if Bian Fengta had been there. He produced it and asked, “Brother Bian, have you been past this area?”

Bian Fengta examined the jade slip. His face changed drastically, and he stared at Ye Mo in shock. “You’re going to Lost Soul Ruins?”

“You must not go there! You won’t be able to get back out.”

Ye Mo looked at Bian Fengta, confused. “Brother Bian, you’ve really been there? It’s called Lost Soul Ruins? It can’t be that dangerous, can it?”

Bian Fengta spoke seriously, “That place is extremely eerie. I haven’t been inside, but I passed by. I heard people say there were level-nine spirit herbs there, so I considered going…”

“Heard?” Ye Mo questioned. He’d never heard such a thing.

Bian Fengta explained, “My survival isn’t solely due to my power—barely below disaster transformation state level one—but also my caution. I never seek trouble in the Heartless Sea; I won’t even touch low-level spirit beasts. Not all beast cultivators in the Heartless Sea are murderous; some pursue cultivation like human cultivators. I learned about Lost Soul Ruins from a peak-stage cauldron filling beast cultivator. He told me many things I didn’t know about the Heartless Sea, including Lost Soul Ruins. He claimed it held vast quantities of level-nine, and even level-ten, spirit herbs.”

Ye Mo was shaken. A level-ten spirit herb was an immortal herb. How could it exist in the cultivation realm?

Bian Fengta continued, “That beast cultivator, Teng Yi, and I became good friends. Since I’m a level-three pill king and helped him concoct many pills, he took me to Lost Soul Ruins, but we didn’t enter. From afar, I felt an ominous presence. The entire Lost Soul Ruins is shrouded in a grey mist, impenetrable to spirit sense. Teng Yi told me that regardless of whether human or beast cultivator, those who entered never returned. The few who did come back were soulless, mere walking corpses.”

Ye Mo’s heart sank. Either Meng Hanan had misled him, or she only knew of the place's outskirts. The Immortal Curl Flower was Ji Ling’s only hope; Ye Mo couldn’t forgive himself if he didn’t try.

“Brother Ye, are you still going?” Bian Fengta asked, his gaze expectant. If Ye Mo declined, they could return to South Peace State together.

Ye Mo nodded slowly. “Since I’ve come this far, I must investigate. If there’s truly no way, I’ll have no regrets.” He wouldn't enter if it meant certain death, but he had to try.

Bian Fengta was silent for a moment before saying, “In that case, I will go with Brother Ye.”

Ye Mo was confused; they had only just met. He didn't possess that much charisma, did he?

Bian Fengta smiled. “Brother Ye is only at body condensation state level seven, and you weren’t injured fighting a disaster transformation state cultivator. Plus, your Lightning Sword is incredibly powerful magic I’ve never witnessed. I believe you’re no ordinary person from South Peace State. My cultivation level surpasses yours, but it’s only a matter of time before you surpass me. I don’t know anyone in South Peace State, so I might as well go with you.”

He continued, “Plus, I’ve traveled the Heartless Sea for decades. I don’t mind staying an extra year or two. To be honest, I greatly admire you and want to be friends. Do you think I’m being too forward?”

Ye Mo finally understood why Bian Fengta, despite his cauldron filling state, had befriended a beast cultivator. He had sharp eyes and a disarming manner; he was a genuinely honest and straightforward person.

Ye Mo felt no need to hide anything; he considered Bian Fengta a worthy companion. His Three Birth Chant instincts were keen, rarely leading him astray.

He told Bian Fengta, “Of course I’d love to be friends, Brother Bian. But besides finding the Immortal Curl Flower at Lost Soul Ruins, I also need to go to North Far State. So, regardless of success or failure, I won’t be able to return to South Peace State with you. But don’t worry about lacking a place to go in South Peace State—as you said, I have some fame there. I have my own city, Mo Yue City; if you don’t mind, you can stay there.”

“What? You want to traverse the Heartless Sea and then go to North Far State?” Bian Fengta stared at Ye Mo, shocked.

Ye Mo nodded seriously. “That’s right.”

Bian Fengta fell silent for a long while before exclaiming, “Brother Ye, you’re the bravest cultivator I’ve ever met—to dare cross the Heartless Sea at body condensation state, and leave the dense spirit chi of South Peace State to go to North Far State! I know you have a compelling reason, but regardless, I greatly admire you. I’ll still take you to Lost Soul Ruins and wait a month for you.” Bian Fengta trusted his judgment; Ye Mo was extraordinary, and a few years spent forging this connection would be worthwhile.

Ye Mo understood his meaning—if he didn't return, Bian Fengta would take the news to South Peace State. However, Ye Mo clasped his fists in a salute. “Thank you, Brother Bian, but you only need to show me the way. There’s no need to accompany me and wait a month.”

Bian Fengta responded sincerely, “Brother Ye, if you’ll accept me, let me accompany you. Although I can’t go to North Far State with you, it’s my honor to meet someone like you.”

Ye Mo smiled. “In that case, alright. I’m younger than you, just call me Ye Mo.” Bian Fengta’s willingness to spend years assisting him made this friendship invaluable.

Bian Fengta said joyfully, “Okay then, Ye Mo, just call me Er Taa—that’s what my martial siblings called me in my sect.”

Ye Mo replied, “Okay, Er Taa. Seeing that you’re at cauldron filling state level eight, you must be from a major sect in East Black State, right?”

Bian Fengta’s eyes flickered with sadness as he nodded. “Yes, I was from the Hidden Sword Sect…”

“The eight-star Hidden Sword Sect?” Ye Mo asked, astonished.

“You know East Black State’s Hidden Sword Sect?” Bian Fengta looked at Ye Mo in confusion.

Ye Mo nodded. “Yes, my wife mentioned it’s one of only three eight-star sects in East Black State.” Luo Ying had told him this while they were at the Magical Herb Sect.

Ye Mo asked, “Er Taa, do you know a small four-star sect called Magical Herb Sect in East Black State?”

Bian Fengta nodded. “You seem to know a lot, even about such minor sects. I only learned of it after I left. It’s said the sect is very low-key, but their low-grade pills are good. I don’t know anything else.”

A wave of sadness washed over Ye Mo. He believed that when Bian Fengta left, the Magical Herb Sect hadn’t yet been attacked.