Chapter 523: His Body, Her Soul

Chapter 523: His Body, Her Soul

As the Landscape Scroll shattered, the entire sky seemed to dim like dusk, faintly exuding an air of twilight.

The tall and slender figure stood upright in its original spot.

The damaged mystic armor on his body dissipated like wind and sand, and the Netherworld Immortal Armor had long returned to the heart formation, leaving only the slightly raised black robe.

Shen Yi lowered his gaze to his empty palm, not feeling the warmth of Pan Boyang's blood, and couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

A moment later, he retracted his gaze and casually clenched his palm.

The golden-patterned mystic blade shot out from the ancient tree, transforming into a ray of light that slashed through the remaining few Green Fire Lotus Swords, unaffected by the Heavenly Origin Illusory Thunder Ruler.

Pfft! Pfft!

In front of this blade that could shatter the Green Fire Lotus Sword and ignore the Heavenly Origin Illusory Thunder Ruler, the heavily injured python demons had little room for resistance, and without any sensation, their bodies were torn apart.

The blood-curdling smell that had already permeated the heavens and earth became even more intense.

This also allowed the people present to gradually regain their senses.

Led by Yang Yunheng, the numerous direct disciples and elders of the Mountain Movers Sect suddenly felt a chilling air at the back of their hearts.

Earlier, within the sect, their gazes had been fixed on those several Daozi from start to finish, subconsciously ignoring this black-robed youth.

But at this moment, they suddenly realized that if the Unification Realm giant did not make a move, who had spared whom during that incident?

It was common knowledge that, setting aside everyone else, the Sky Sword Daoist Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect alone was not inferior to their own Yan Daozi.

And in the situation where Yan Daozi was unable to create more clones.

Even if they joined forces, how much better off could they be compared to these python demons?

Moreover, Wei Yuanzhou and Bai Wu were also Southern Flood Monks, and their strengths were not to be underestimated.

The Southern Flood Seven Sons... seemed to be not just a name buried in the long river of history, as most cultivators from the other three Floods believed. They had indeed fallen into obscurity, but they were not dead yet, and with their tenacious vitality, they were ready to soar again at any time.

"Let's not contact him for now, including those Daozi."

Yang Yunheng quietly transmitted his thoughts to Yan Chongzhang. According to the rules, even if he was the Senior Elder, it would be inappropriate to speak to the sect's Daozi in such a tone.

But Yan Daozi's previous actions had indeed made this Senior Elder feel a bit apprehensive.

It was common knowledge that Shen Yi's displayed strength was indeed outstanding, even leading people to subconsciously associate him with another figure from the Southern Flood who had once dominated the limelight—Li Xuanqing.

Forming a connection with such a figure in advance would undoubtedly be a good thing.

But the problem lay in their backgrounds.

Both were Celestial Prodigies, both were decisive in their actions, but who was backing Li Xuanqing? It was none other than the Southern Flood Seven Sons, who were almost on par with the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect, and the entire Eastern Dragon Palace supported him wholeheartedly!

The Purple Bearded White Dragon Clan treated him like their own son, providing him with everything, from Heavenly Materials to other treasures. Who would dare to bully Li Xuanqing? Even before the Qin Sect Master made a move, the Purple Bearded White Dragon Clan had already sent people with an edict from the Eastern Dragon Palace.

The combined strength of these two major powers was such that few in the entire Floodze could match them.

This was also the reason why, even before Li Xuanqing reached the Unification Realm, his every move could affect the situation in Floodze.

The Purple Bearded White Dragon Clan favored peace, and the Floodze Immortal did not involve himself in mortal affairs. They couldn't bear to see the slaughter of living beings, so they strongly promoted the match between Zileng Immortal Maiden and Li Xuanqing, hoping that it would help resolve the disputes in Floodze.

The situation unfolded as the Eastern Dragon Palace had planned, and for a long time, Floodze enjoyed a peaceful era. Many cultivators followed in the footsteps of the couple, and there were many tales of good relationships between cultivators and demons.

If it hadn't been for that last incident, Li Xuanqing, this ungrateful wolf, had disregarded Zileng Immortal Maiden's advice in a fit of anger, insisting on blocking her immortal path, which led to the Southern Flood Seven Sons being personally punished by the Floodze Immortal, and also tarnishing his reputation.

With the support of the Eastern Dragon Palace, what could the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect do now?

But the current Little Friend Shen was different.

His background was still in question, and even if he was indeed one of the Southern Flood Seven Sons, the current Seven Sons were completely different from their past selves.

Moreover, he had just left the Southern Flood and simultaneously offended a top-tier cultivator faction in Floodze, as well as the Crystal Azure Phoenix Clan, who resided in Western Flood and were also not weak.

What was even more terrifying was that from Shen Yi's actions, it was clear that he had no intention of resolving grudges, but instead, he seemed to want to create mortal enemies.

The Mountain Movers Sect was an enormous immortal sect, but when facing such grudges, if they intervened recklessly, they might not be able to protect themselves.

Immortal Arts were precious, but one had to stay alive to learn them! Otherwise, why not just go and rob the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect directly?

Moreover, Little Friend Shen might not even be able to unlock the secrets of Nameless Mountain.

Additionally, the Western Dragon Palace and the Northern Dragon Palace had suddenly joined forces to deal with the Southern Flood Seven Sons.

Could it be that these Southern Flood cultivators could no longer bear the bitterness in their hearts and wanted to reappear in the world to do something?

As the Senior Elder of the Mountain Movers Sect, Yang Yunheng had to consider the worst-case scenario.

If these seven sects were indeed harboring such thoughts, such as seeking revenge... forget about immortal arts, nothing could be more important than their lives.

"..."

Yan Chongzhang turned around silently and glanced at the Senior Elder.

He then fell into deep thought, his gaze fixed on the dark red ocean. But his eyes seemed to be gazing at something else, as if he was looking at an endless and majestic mountain instead of the waters.

Divine Peak Technique, the Divine Peak Technique that had reached perfection.

In the cultivation world, there was a saying that no matter how great one's talent or bloodline was, it could never surpass the power of fate.

Fate, or what some called 'blessed fate', was a crucial factor.

The world was filled with mysterious and profound objects, and while others could observe and touch them, they ultimately couldn't harness their power. These objects were all waiting for their destined owner.

This might sound strange.

Suddenly, Yan Chongzhang felt that after accompanying Nameless Mountain for tens of thousands of years, it had finally found its destined owner.

This complex emotion was difficult to describe in words.

He even felt that Nameless Mountain might have shown Shen Yi something it had never shown him, perhaps even directly bestowing upon him the ultimate understanding... Otherwise, it was hard to explain the current situation.

After all, it was only a matter of days, and it was impossible to even finish reading the entire Divine Peak Technique.

Thinking of this, Yan Chongzhang couldn't help but sigh.

Nameless Mountain was the foundation of the Mountain Movers Sect, but now this 'foundation' seemed to have followed someone else.

This was indeed a lamentable situation.

But when he thought of how Shen Yi had grabbed Pan Boyang's neck with a seemingly casual and indifferent gesture, yet managed to divert the other party's anger and attention away from the Mountain Movers Sect and the Southern Hong Seven Sons, focusing it solely on himself, Yan Chongzhang's grip tightened.

He raised his eyes, finally directing his gaze towards Shen Yi's tall figure.

This gaze held many unspoken meanings.

The most important of which was the desire to maintain this connection.

At least... the other party could continue to visit the Mountain Movers Sect!

Everyone present had reached the White Jade Capital, and they could all understand the significance behind Yan Daozi's subtle actions.

Under the pressure of the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect, even glancing at Shen Yi was an extremely dangerous act.

But not only did he look, he was also waiting for a response.

"Tsk."

Bai Wu opened his mouth, clearly wanting to say something. Was the Mountain Movers Sect going too far? They hadn't even died yet, and this was happening right in front of them?

However, neither Wei Yuanzhou nor Su Hongxiu spoke, so he could only pout in frustration.

After finishing off the remaining Netherworld Pythons, Shen Yi's regret finally lessened. His figure glided over the ocean, collecting all the python heads into his ring.

Only after completing this task did he subtly nod.

Then, his figure transformed into a purple-white rainbow and disappeared at the edge of the sky.

"Phew."

Yan Chongzhang inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

He had never imagined that, under such great risk, he would have to ask for permission before allowing someone else to view his sect's treasure trove.

Such an absurd situation had even made him feel a bit nervous.

It was as if he was afraid that Little Friend Shen would refuse.

He was truly mad.

A bitter smile appeared on his face as he released his tightly clenched fist.

This was the biggest decision Yan Chongzhang had made since becoming a Daozi, and it would even affect the survival of the entire sect.

"What are you doing?" Yang Yunheng's face turned slightly pale, completely unsure if his Daozi's mind was working properly. He rarely questioned his decisions, not only because of his revered status but also due to Yan Chongzhang's steady and reliable behavior after becoming a Daozi. But this time, he couldn't understand at all, temporarily overlooking the overstepping and speaking with a hint of anger.

"I must report this to the Sect Master... Don't blame me."

Hearing the Senior Elder's words, the other elders and direct disciples all looked at each other, standing in their places.

Not to mention the Mountain Movers Sect members.

Even the three Southern Hong Monks in the sky sensed the change in atmosphere.

Wei Yuanzhou raised his eyebrows, thought for a moment, and cupped his hands in a farewell gesture, "Since the matter is concluded, we will..."

Just then, Yan Chongzhang lifted his gaze and returned the farewell gesture, "Thank you for your assistance. Chongzhang will not disappoint you, and I will definitely visit Southern Hong."

Upon hearing this, a hint of relief appeared on Wei Yuanzhou's face, "Thank you!"

He had never imagined that asking for aid would be this difficult. Even with the Mountain Movers Sect's connections, it was only through Master Shen's influence that they managed to convince the other party.

If Shen Yi hadn't been present, even with the intervention of the Crystal Azure Phoenix Clan, they would have returned empty-handed.

Not only would they have lost face, but it would also make the Mountain Movers Sect underestimate the Southern Hong Seven Sons, and they wouldn't truly remember what they had promised earlier.

It was unknown what would happen after returning to the Mountain Movers Sect... whether Yan Daozi's words would still hold any weight.

The matter was finally settled.

Bai Wu's mind also relaxed, and he glanced at Su Hongxiu again, "What are our chances?"

With the death of the Crystal Azure Phoenix and the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect's senior cultivator losing face, perhaps even suffering a realm regression, he was asking about the carefree Master Shen who had left.

Usually, Su Hongxiu would either ignore him or answer immediately.

But now, this incredibly charming red-robed girl fell into deep thought, a complex smile appearing on her face, "If a few more years pass, there might be a chance for a confrontation. If luck is on our side and we can open the fourth city, I can win."

"The former refers to the Reincarnation Sword Body.

When she was at her youngest, that was when Su Hongxiu's true terrifying state was revealed, at least fifty percent stronger than she is now.

But she said... that there was only a chance of a fight.

Considering Su Daozi's character, humility is not her strong suit, so this must be her most honest thought.

Bai Wu raised her eyebrows slightly, smiling in admiration, "At least there's a chance."

Unexpectedly, Su Hongxiu gave her a cold glance and said, "Fool."

Bai Wu was taken aback by her words. He was clearly trying to comfort her, but instead, he was scolded, feeling a little aggrieved for no apparent reason. Before he could say anything, he heard Su Hongxiu make another rare move.

It was a sigh of helplessness, carrying a hint of lament.

"This might be the closest I've ever been to him." Su Hongxiu calmly lifted her gaze, and with a wave of her hand, the white jade sword in her palm disappeared.

"..."

With her reminder, Bai Wu, who wasn't very familiar with Shen Yi, suddenly remembered something extremely terrifying.

That Master Shen had only left the Nanyang Treasure Land a year ago.

For other White Jade Capital cultivators, this would be a mere blink of an eye, or perhaps not even enough time for a meditation session.

Could he be a reincarnated immortal? This is truly frightening.

Even with Bai Wu's personality, he started to believe the rumors a little more at this moment.

...

As everyone's thoughts wandered, Shen Yi had already found another secluded spot and began to inspect his gains from this trip.

First, he checked the Demon Lifespans, which were the most concerning to him. Most of them had been taken by the Mountain Movers Sect cultivators and the Southern Flood Monks, leaving him with very little.

Although the Eastern Palace Lord had fought with all his might, even to the point of seeming a little insane, his experience and knowledge were limited. He was just a Return to Void Realm demon with nine layers, and even after experiencing the tempering of several Return to Void Realm spirit laws, his growth was still significant.

However, this doesn't change the fact that the Unification Realm techniques were still far beyond his capabilities.

Sixty million years of Demon Lifespan had been consumed, and Ke Shisan's demon soul had been suppressed by the Divine Peak True Intention for so many years. If not for his previous tribulation experience, he might have died within the game.

Unification within a sacred land is the true breakthrough.

The Divine Peak Technique allows cultivators to grasp some of the techniques of that realm ahead of time.

And without precious suffixes, it is considered the most basic kind.

But even with this level of technique, Shen Yi easily crushed the Crystal Azure Phoenix and the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect cultivator's phantom, who was of a higher realm and technique than him, had no power to retaliate against Shen Yi.

"If only I could obtain a Unification Realm Body Tempering technique."

Shen Yi glanced down at himself, feeling a bit uneasy as he noticed the cracks in his Mystic Armor.

No matter how superior his bloodline was, he was just a demon comparable to the Three Cities Realm.

If he encountered a Unification Realm demon, the Divine Peak Technique might not be able to protect his life.

Forget it, it's not time to daydream yet.

Shen Yi's lips curled up slightly, and he sighed softly.

He rarely smiled, only when the pressure became overwhelming would he do so to comfort himself.

Although he didn't have a clear understanding of the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect's strength, just the attitude of the Mountain Movers Sect cultivators towards them was enough to give him a glimpse of their power.

Only a fool would provoke such a force for no reason.

But he had no choice but to stay, and since the other party had already shown murderous intent, Shen Yi decided to break the pot and vent his frustration.

Now that the pot is broken, life must go on.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: 1690,000 years】

The first few mother pythons he killed were only Return to Void Realm demons, averaging around forty to fifty thousand years each. As for the ones he killed later, the ones that survived until the end had decent realms, at least around the Two Cities Realm, and had lifespans of over ten thousand years.

The Crystal Azure Phoenix and the Young Lord Dark Serpent lived up to their reputation as Celestial Prodigies, offering twenty-seven million and eighteen million years, respectively.

But even combined, it was still quite embarrassing.

Shen Yi began to gather the demon origins and reshape the Azure Phoenix's demon soul.

In truth, he wasn't very optimistic about this Azure Phoenix, but compared to the Young Lord Dark Serpent, who was captured by Wei Yuanzhou and had been waiting for rescue, the Azure Phoenix was the better choice.

These Western Flood demons had impressive cultivation but seemed to lack the mental fortitude of the Southern Flood's Return to Void Realm demons, like Ke Shisan, who had a stronger will than these two.

After consuming twelve demon origins, the Azure Phoenix's demon soul was finally reshaped, and Shen Yi directly sent it into the Binding Stone he had prepared earlier.

The two Palace Lords quietly appeared on either side of him as his guardians.

Shen Yi closed his eyes, and the purple light between his eyebrows transformed into a long rainbow that stretched towards the sky, dispersing the clouds without any wind. At the top of the rainbow, a blurry crimson figure stood with its hands hanging by its sides.

The Boundless Demon Emperor opened his eyes and once again saw the five majestic cities.

In his vision, dark winds howled, demonic aura soared into the sky, and the plaque above the grand city no longer bore the previous characters but instead displayed the intimidating name 'Ten Thousand Demons Hall'.

Also known as the Imperial Upper City, it represents the "Disease Tribulation" among the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Shen Yi silently pondered this term.

If he understood correctly, the Disease Tribulation would likely involve tormenting the physical body.

The third pavilion, the Ten Thousand Demons Southern Pavilion, was guarded by the power of the False Void Realm, from the seventh to the ninth layer. It was during this stage that Shen Yi's Primordial Chaos Purple Aura intensified significantly, a huge leap compared to before.

He turned his gaze towards the third pavilion.

At Shen Yi's command, the Crystal Azure Phoenix didn't even have time to say a word before reluctantly gliding towards the gate.

The massive gate slowly revealed a narrow gap.

The light changed in the same way as before, but this time it lasted longer, and the dense purple radiance now contained more noticeable golden light, eventually occupying half of the entire gate.

Under the glow of the purple-gold light, the Crystal Azure Phoenix's face instantly turned sour.

It seemed to have lost its previous arrogance, glancing back timidly at the crimson figure, and under its indifferent gaze, it was forced to step into the gate.

"It can't handle it."

Ke Shisan, who had been in a dazed state, suddenly whispered a reminder.

As if in response to Ke Shisan's words, the Crystal Azure Phoenix had barely entered the Imperial Upper City for a few breaths when the Demon Lifespan started to flow into it, but before it could reach twenty years, a sharp wail echoed in Shen Yi's mind.

"No! Let me out! Let me out!"

"Please! Spare me!"

In Shen Yi's vision, on the high mountain peak, the Crystal Azure Phoenix twitched and crouched beside a huge stone, its azure feathers withered, its flesh rotting and emitting a strong stench.

Instead of calming its mind, it frantically smashed its head against the stone!

Shen Yi glanced at Ke Shisan.

"It can't even endure the suffering of its innate Heart Flame and needs the help of the Dark Python Clan to alleviate it," Ke Shisan spoke slowly, his mind still not fully recovered.

"It seems to enjoy pain, but in reality, it fears pain the most... This Disease Tribulation is its greatest weakness."

"..."

Shen Yi fell silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly, "You should have told me earlier."

It was too late now, as Ke Shisan's current state was partly due to Shen Yi's diligent prodding.

The Disease Tribulation earned its name because it tormented those undergoing the tribulation to the point of unbearable pain and inhuman suffering, yet they would never die.

Despite Shen Yi deliberately slowing down the infusion of the Demon Lifespan, the Crystal Azure Phoenix was already mentally broken, having descended into madness, its body smashing the mountain beneath it into pieces.

At least Wu Jun had waited for the appearance of the Spirit Light, even if he was a bit dull, given enough time, there would be a chance for a turnaround.

But the Crystal Azure Phoenix had clearly given up and was now only seeking death.

"Can it die faster?"

For the first time, Shen Yi began to hope for a failed tribulation. He watched as the Demon Lifespan rapidly diminished—twenty thousand years... forty thousand years... sixty thousand years...

This Azure Phoenix had an incredibly weak willpower, but its origin was truly exceptional. Its spirit soul was far stronger than that of demons at the same realm.

As a result, even though it had given up, its spirit soul remained intact.

Until the mountain was completely shattered and the ocean evaporated.

The Demon Lifespan had been drained for sixty-seven thousand years, and the once-majestic phoenix now resembled a bald chicken, its body soaked in thick water, its flesh rotting to reveal its white bones. Finally, it fell.

As Shen Yi watched it transform back into a stone statue and gradually turn into a Binding Stone, he felt a sense of relief he couldn't quite explain.

"Phew."

It's finally over... As the tribulations became increasingly challenging, it seemed that the experiences and personalities of the chosen Celestial Prodigies would need to be carefully considered in the future.

At that moment, Shen Yi heard a faint voice in his ear.

"Master, can I give it a try?"

Shen Yi was taken aback by the voice and needed a moment to recall who it belonged to.

It seemed to be that woman who liked to tug on his robe.

Indeed, after having her essence blood drawn for ten thousand years, she still had the energy to cause trouble, which seemed to fit this Disease Tribulation quite well.

However, the issue was that Shen Yi had already consumed her body.

"I'm like a distant relative of the Crystal Azure Phoenix, and this body... The Dark Phoenix should be able to use it," the Dark Phoenix said, as if guessing Shen Yi's thoughts, and made another request.

Sometimes, opportunities present themselves in the blink of an eye, and she was truly reluctant to let this one pass.

Ever since she had accompanied her master in the deduction of the Divine Phoenix Eternal Sword Body, she had been trapped in a deep, lonely night, forgotten and without a chance to leave.

"Try?"

Shen Yi sighed. After wasting sixty-seven thousand years, it seemed like a small price to pay, and it would also allow him to continue the tribulation he had started earlier.

With a casual wave of his sleeve, a phantom of the Dark Phoenix's soul swiftly glided into the Imperial Upper City!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end