After a moment of hesitation, Qin Xuan decided to dig deeper and eradicate the source of the Yin energy completely.
As long as the source existed, the Yin energy would continuously be produced here.
After some time, it was possible for it to accumulate too much and erupt violently.
At that time, with the Yin energy in excess, it would be difficult to eliminate the source.
Therefore, rather than letting it erupt on its own, it was better to directly remove it before it reached its peak!
No sooner said than done.
Qin Xuan directly picked up the digging tools left by the workers and began to dig downwards, bit by bit.
However, although it was manual excavation, with Qin Xuan's current abilities, it was no slower than those large machines.
Before long, the ground beneath his feet had reached a depth of three to four meters.
"The Yin energy is getting heavier, it seems I'm heading in the right direction!"
"Wait, have I reached the bottom?"
After digging to about five meters, Qin Xuan found that the ground beneath his feet suddenly became hard.
He hammered downwards forcefully twice, only to realize that it wasn't rock underneath, but a huge, man-made stone slab.
*Crack!*
*Snap!*
As Qin Xuan forcefully chiseled, the stone slab broke apart.
With a heave, he flipped the entire slab aside, and beneath Qin Xuan's feet, a vast space appeared!
The moment the space was exposed, a surge of Yin energy, almost liquid in form, rushed upwards from the hole!
It formed a considerable cloud of Yin energy in the air, shrouding the area.
"It's a Yin Gathering Array!"
"Heaven truly favors me!"
Amidst the surprise, an extremely excited, aged voice sounded from Qin Xuan's embrace.
He took out everything from his embrace and indeed saw a phantom old man appear on the dull gray stone ring.
"Who are you?"
"Was that you who made that sound when we were at the Lin family's house?"
Looking at the old man before him, Qin Xuan was very cautious.
Before rescuing Lin Qiaoqiao, he had faintly heard someone say "Xuan Yin Physique."
He had thought it was just his imagination due to too much surrounding mental chatter.
Now it seemed that the voice at that time had been emitted by this old man.
"Heh heh, you are correct."
"That voice back then was also mine."
Since he had spoken out so boldly, the old man had no intention of hiding any longer.
The dull gray stone ring floated gently, and his figure gradually enlarged, becoming life-sized.
"I am Chen Xuan, the True Martial Dao Venerable. I was forced to leave my residual soul here after perishing in a battle with an opponent."
"My purpose was to find a talented individual one day and cultivate them."
"After they achieved success in cultivation, they would avenge me by killing my enemy!"
"It is evident that you are the one I have chosen, and the body-refining technique you are currently cultivating, as well as the myriad divine artifact in your hand, both originated from me."
The old man stroked his white beard, his eyes shining with brilliance.
Qin Xuan, however, was skeptical and did not intend to believe the other party's words at face value.
After all, he was not the protagonist of some cultivation novel who would casually obtain a ring with a golden-finger grandpa.
Therefore, even though the other party appeared friendly, he did not let his guard down.
"Heh heh, little fellow, there's no need to be so vigilant."
"Now, I am but a residual soul. Without sufficient soul power to nourish me, I cannot interfere with anything around you."
"If it weren't for the appearance of the Xuan Yin Physique and the Yin Gathering Array, I would never have expended my soul power to reveal myself."
As Qin Xuan sized up Chen Xuan, Chen Xuan was also appraising Qin Xuan from head to toe.
What he said was true; he was extremely weak now.
If not for the Yin Gathering Array accumulating enough soul power for him to replenish himself, he would not have wasted his meager soul power to manifest his form.
Therefore, what he wanted most now was to immerse himself in the Yin Gathering Array and absorb all the soul power within it.
But clearly, Qin Xuan would not allow him to do so.
"I don't know how much of what you said is true and how much is false."
"But if you don't want to be annihilated here and now, please stay away from that array!"
As he watched the old man gradually float towards the array, strands of white light began to emanate from Qin Xuan's hands.
This was a lightning-elemental Dao technique taught to him by Ke Wudi. It was not only swift and traveled at the speed of light but was also extremely pure and Yang, specifically designed to counter all Yin spirits and malevolent entities.
Sensing the Dao technique in Qin Xuan's hands, the old man's expression changed.
In his current state, let alone a lightning-elemental Dao technique, even the simplest offensive Dao technique would cause his soul to scatter!
"Little fellow, do not panic!"
"I will do as you say."
Drifting back dejectedly, Chen Xuan continued, "Little fellow, my soul power is almost depleted."
"If you don't let me absorb the Yin energy from that array, I might only last a few more minutes before I fall into dormancy again."
"Since your objective is to remove the source of the Yin energy here, why not do a good deed and let me absorb it!"
"Don't worry, everything I've said is true."
"As soon as I absorb this Yin energy and recover some strength, I can take you as my disciple and guide you to become the most formidable existence in the Cangming World!"
"You've already practiced some of the body-refining chapters; you should have felt my capabilities by now!"
"Don't you want to advance quickly and continue cultivating the techniques after the body-refining chapters?!"
Chen Xuan's words indeed struck a chord with Qin Xuan.
He had certainly felt the power of the body-refining technique.
After only a few days of cultivation, he could reach the level of a Martial Grandmaster.
After more than a month of cultivation, he had reached the Great Grandmaster realm.
Currently, even though he had only cultivated the fourth movement,
his physique alone was comparable to that of a seasoned Great Grandmaster.
Not to mention that his third master, who was renowned for his mystical arts, had only cultivated to the same level as him.
"Alright, it's not impossible for you to absorb the Yin energy."
"But you must prove that you won't act recklessly after absorbing the Yin energy."
After a moment of contemplation, Qin Xuan agreed to let Chen Xuan nourish his soul with the Yin energy.
Firstly, Qin Xuan was very curious about the other party's origins and story.
Secondly, it was naturally due to his longing for cultivation techniques.
After all, if possible, who wouldn't want to become stronger?
Seeing Qin Xuan's resolve waver, Chen Xuan was also very pleased.
Without hesitation, he extended his right hand and drew a peculiar symbol in the air.
Then, the sky changed dramatically, and rumbling thunder suddenly appeared in the sky, lingering for a long time.
"Rest assured, I will now make a Heavenly Oath. If I break this oath, you won't have to act; the will of the Great Dao of this world will directly erase me!"
"This way, you won't have to worry anymore, right?"
"That would be best."
Sensing the faint pressure of heaven and earth, and witnessing the old man make his Heavenly Oath,
Qin Xuan reluctantly believed his words.
He put away the Dao technique in his hand and stood with his hands behind his back, waiting for Chen Xuan to go to the center of the array and absorb the Yin energy.
But just as Chen Xuan, riding the stone ring, was about to reach the center of the array, the Yin energy that had gathered in the sky suddenly fluctuated.
As it dissipated with the wind, a figure descended from the sky.
"You scoundrel! Who dares to tamper with my Hundred Ghost Emperor's array?!"