Chapter 523: Its Body, Her Soul

Chapter 523: Its Body, Her Soul

As the Jiangshan Map crumbled, the entire sky turned a dusky hue, as if heralding the approaching dusk.

The tall and slender figure stood unwavering.

The tattered remains of his Xuan armor drifted away like wind-scattered sand, returning to the array at his heart, leaving only the slightly raised ink-colored robe.

Shen Yi lowered his gaze to his now-empty palm, where Pan Boyang's blood had been, and felt a lingering sense of unease.

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

The golden-patterned Xuan dagger shot out from the ancient tree, transforming into a beam of light that reaped the lives of the remaining ghost vipers!

Puchi! Puchi!

In the face of this dagger, capable of shattering the Green Fire Blue Lotus Sword and disregarding the Heavenly Illusion Thunder Ruler, the heavily wounded viper demons had little room for resistance. Their bodies were torn apart without them even realizing it.

The bloody stench that permeated the world intensified once more.

The onlookers slowly regained their senses.

Yang Yunheng, the leader of the Moving Mountain Sect, along with its many personal disciples and elders, suddenly felt a chill down their spines.

Previously, within the sect, their attention had been solely focused on those few Daoists. Subconsciously, they had overlooked this ink-robed young man.

But now, they finally realized the truth. If the giant of the Unity Realm hadn't intervened, who had spared whom that day?

After all, disregarding the others, just the Heavenly Sword Sect Daoist was no weaker than their own Yan Daoist.

And when the Yan Daoist was unable to create more avatars...

Even if they joined forces, how could their situation be any better than these ghost vipers?

Moreover, Wei Yuanzhou and Bai Wu, as South Hong Daoists themselves, certainly wouldn't be lacking in strength.

The South Hong Seven... It seemed that they weren't merely a name buried in the river of history, as most of the Hong cultivators believed. They had indeed declined, but they weren't dead yet, and they were tenaciously waiting for another opportunity to soar once more.

"For now, don't contact him again, including those few Daoists."

Yang Yunheng quietly transmitted his thoughts to Yan Chongzhang. According to the rules, even as the grand elder, he wouldn't normally speak to a sect Daoist in such a tone.

But the Yan Daoist's previous actions had truly unnerved the grand elder.

After all, Shen Yi's displayed strength was exceptional, and it inexplicably reminded him of another figure—one who also hailed from South Hong and had once dominated the scene.

It would undoubtedly be a good thing to forge a connection with such a figure early on.

However, the problem lay in their background.

Both were geniuses, and both were decisive in their actions. But who stood behind Li Xuanqing? It was none other than the South Hong Seven, a force that had once been almost on par with the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect, along with the full support of the East Dragon Palace!

The Purple-Bearded White Dragon Clan treated him like their own son, bestowing upon him heavenly treasures and anything else he desired. If anyone dared to bully Li Xuanqing, that Qin Sect Master wouldn't need to take action himself; the White Dragons would send people with an edict from the East Palace first.

Combined, these two forces had few rivals in all of Hongze.

This was why Li Xuanqing, even before reaching the Unity Realm, could influence the situation in Hongze with his every move.

The Purple-Bearded White Dragons favored peace, and the Hongze immortals paid no heed to the mortal world. The Dragons couldn't bear to see the slaughter of mortals, so they strongly supported the union between Purple Lotus Immortal and Li Xuanqing, hoping that this would calm the disputes in Hongze.

And indeed, for a long time, Hongze enjoyed a peaceful era, with many cultivators following in the couple's footsteps, and numerous tales of love between cultivators and demons were also told.

If it hadn't been for that incident—Li Xuanqing, that ungrateful wolf, ignoring Purple Lotus Immortal's persuasion in his desire to compete for a moment, forcefully trying to cut off her immortal path, leading to the South Hong Seven being personally punished by the Hongze Immortals and suffering a reputation ruined beyond repair—things might have been different.

With the support of the East Dragon Palace, there was no longer any mention of the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect.

But Shen Yi was different.

His background was still questionable. Even if he truly was from the South Hong Seven, the current Seven was completely unlike their former selves.

Moreover, they had just left South Hong and simultaneously offended a top-tier cultivator faction in Hongze, as well as the Luli Qingfeng Clan, a force not to be underestimated in West Hong.

What was even more terrifying was that Shen Yi's actions made it clear that he had no intention of resolving these grudges. Instead, he seemed determined to forge unbreakable death feuds.

The Moving Mountain Sect was an enormous sect, but when faced with such enmity, if they rashly intervened, they might not even be able to protect themselves.

Immortal techniques were precious, but one needed to stay alive to learn them! Otherwise, why not just go and rob the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect?

Furthermore, it was uncertain if Shen Yi could truly unlock the secrets of the Nameless Mountain's hidden treasures.

Additionally...

The sudden joint efforts of the West Dragon Palace and the South Dragon Palace against the South Hong Seven...

Could it be that these South Hong cultivators could no longer bear the resentment in their hearts and were planning to reemerge and take action?

As the grand elder of the Moving Mountain Sect, Yang Yunheng had to consider the worst-case scenario.

If these seven sects truly harbored such intentions, such as seeking revenge... Forget immortal techniques, nothing was more important than one's life.

"... "

Yan Chongzhang turned his head and glanced silently at the grand elder.

There was a saying in the cultivation world that neither talent nor bloodline could compare to the character "Yuan," which could also be called good fortune.

Good fortune brought forth wondrous objects that others could behold and touch but never truly make their own. They awaited the one destined for them.

It might seem peculiar, but Yan Chongzhang suddenly felt that Mount Wuming, which he had accompanied for countless years, seemed to have finally found its destined owner.

His complex emotions were difficult to express in words. He even felt that Mount Wuming might have shown Shen Yi things that it had never revealed to him, perhaps even imparting the ultimate enlightenment... Otherwise, it was hard to explain the current situation.

After all, in just a few days, one wouldn't even have enough time to thoroughly read through the entire Shen Yue technique, let alone master it.

With this thought, Yan Chongzhang sighed.

Mount Wuming was the foundation of the Moving Mountain Sect, but now it seemed that this "foundation" had run off with someone else.

This was cause for lament, yet when he recalled how Shen Yi had grabbed Pan Boyang by the neck, his seemingly indifferent expression drawing all the anger and attention away from the Moving Mountain Sect and the South Hong Seven, focusing it solely on himself, Yan Chongzhang clenched his fists and raised his eyes, finally turning his gaze towards that tall and slender figure.

This gaze conveyed a multitude of emotions.

The most important message it carried was the desire to maintain this connection.

At the very least... he hoped that Shen Yi would continue to visit the mountain!

Everyone present was a cultivator who had ascended to Bai Yu Jing, and they could easily discern the underlying meaning behind Yan Chongzhang's subtle actions.

Under the intimidation of the Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect, even glancing at Shen Yi again was extremely dangerous.

Yet, he not only looked but also waited for a response.

"Tsk."

Bai Wu opened his mouth, clearly wanting to say something about how the Moving Mountain Sect was going too far, arranging such a thing when they hadn't even died yet, right before their eyes.

However, when he saw that Wei Yuanzhou and Su Hongxiao remained silent, he could only click his tongue in displeasure.

After slaying the remaining few ghost vipers...

Shen Yi's regret finally lessened a bit. His figure glided over the ocean, collecting all the viper demons' corpses into his finger cot.

Only after doing all this did he give an almost imperceptible nod.

Then, his figure transformed into a purple and white rainbow, disappearing at the end of the horizon.

"Phew."

Yan Chongzhang breathed a sigh of relief.

He had never imagined that, while taking such a huge risk, he would have to ask for the other party's consent before letting them view his treasured mountain.

Such an outrageous situation had made him inexplicably nervous, as if he were afraid that Shen Yi would refuse.

How absurd.

He wore a bitter smile and relaxed his clenched fists.

This was the biggest decision Yan Chongzhang had made since becoming a Daoist, one that could even affect the survival of the entire sect.

"What are you doing?" Yang Yunheng's face turned slightly green as he wondered if the sect's Daoist had lost his mind. He rarely questioned Yan Chongzhang's decisions, not only because of his revered status but also because of his calm and dependable behavior since becoming a Daoist. But this time, he truly couldn't understand, to the point that he momentarily ignored the breach of etiquette, his words carrying a hint of anger.

"I must report this matter to the sect leader... Don't blame me."

Hearing the grand elder's words, the other elders and personal disciples stood there, unsure of what to do or say.

Not just the Moving Mountain Sect members, but even the three South Hong Daoists in the sky sensed the shift in the atmosphere.

Wei Yuanzhou raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, and bowed, intending to take his leave. "Since the matter is concluded, we should..."

At that moment, Yan Chongzhang lifted his eyes once more and returned the bow. "Thank you for your help. I, Chongzhang, will not forget this debt, and I will definitely visit South Hong as promised."

"Thank you!" Wei Yuanzhou finally showed a hint of relief on his face.

He had never imagined that requesting aid would be so difficult. Even with their connection to the Moving Mountain Sect, it was only because of Shen Yi's presence that they were able to convince Yan Chongzhang.

If Shen Yi hadn't been there, their pleas would have fallen on deaf ears, and they would have returned empty-handed, losing face and causing the Moving Mountain Sect to underestimate the South Hong Seven. They wouldn't have truly taken their previous promises to heart.

Now, he wondered what would happen when they returned to the Moving Mountain Sect... Would this Yan Daoist's words still hold any weight?

With the matter finally concluded, Bai Wu's mind also eased up a bit, and he glanced at Su Hongxiao beside him. "What are the odds?"

With Liuli Qingfeng dead and the Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect's senior cultivator thoroughly humiliated, possibly even suffering a loss of face that could affect his cultivation, he was asking about the carefree Shen Yi, of course.

Usually, Su Hongxiao would either ignore him or snap a reply.

But now, the extremely charming girl in red pondered for a long time before a complex smile appeared on her face. "If a few more years pass, perhaps there's a chance of a battle. If luck is on my side and I can open the fourth city, I might be able to win."

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

Given Su Daozi's personality, modesty was not in her nature, so this must be her honest assessment of the situation.

Bai Wu raised an eyebrow, amazed as he laughed, "At least there's a chance."

Unexpectedly, Su Hongxiao glared at him and coldly replied, "Fool."

Hearing this, Bai Wu choked. He was clearly trying to comfort her, yet she called him a fool. Feeling wronged, he was about to speak when he heard Su Hongxiao sigh with resignation.

"At this moment, I am probably the closest I've ever been to him." Su Hongxiao calmly raised her eyes, and 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 Shen Zongzhu had only left the Nanyang Treasure Land a year ago.

For other White Jade Capital monks, this would be the time it takes to meditate, or perhaps even less.

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

Even with Bai Wu's personality, he began to give more credence to this rumor.

...

As everyone's thoughts diverged, Shen Yi had already found another secluded place to inspect his gains from this trip.

First was the demon lifespan force, most of which had been taken by the Moving Mountain Sect monks and the few South Hong Daoists, leaving him with very little.

Although the East Hall Master had fought valiantly, even to the point of seeming slightly insane.

However, his own experience and knowledge were limited, as he was merely a demon with a nine-layer Returning Void realm cultivation. Although he had undergone the refinement of several Returning Void realm spirit laws, which had resulted in significant growth, this could not ignore the fact that Unity realm techniques were still far beyond his capabilities.

Consuming a total of more than six hundred thousand years of demonic lifespan force, Ke Thirteen's demonic soul had been forcibly suppressed by the Divine Mountain True Will for so many years. If it weren't for his previous tribulation-transcending experience, he would have perished in the face of such overwhelming pressure.

It is worth noting that achieving Unity within a treasure land is considered true realm-breaking.

"The Divine Mountain Law allows monks to prematurely master some of the abilities of that level."

And without any rare prefixes, it is considered one of the most basic types.

But even with this grade of spirit law, Shen Yi was able to easily crush Liuli Qingfeng and overpower the virtual shadow of the monk from the Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect, whose realm and spirit laws surpassed his own.

"It would be great if I could obtain a Unity realm body-tempering law."

Shen Yi lowered his head to glance at himself, feeling slightly uneasy about the earlier breakage of his Xuan armor.

Even with an exceptional bloodline, he was still just a demon comparable to the Three Cities realm.

If he were to encounter a Supreme Unity realm grand demon, the Divine Mountain Law would not be enough to protect his life.

Never mind, now is not the time for idle dreams.

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

He rarely smiled, only doing so when the pressure became too overwhelming, as a way to comfort himself.

Although he had no clear concept of the Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect's strength, just from the attitude of the Moving Mountain Sect monks towards them, one could infer a great deal.

Only a fool would provoke such a force without good reason.

But since he had no choice but to face them, and they had already revealed their murderous intentions, Shen Yi decided to go all out and vent his frustration.

Now that the outburst was over, he had to get on with his life.

[Remaining Demon Lifespan Force: 1,690,000 years]



The mother pythons he had killed first were only Returning Void realm demons, averaging around forty to fifty thousand years each, while the ones he killed later, having survived until the end, had higher realms. The lowest among them was at the Two Cities level of cultivation, and they all had lifespans of at least a hundred thousand years.

Liuli Qingfeng and the Young Master of You Mang truly lived up to their reputations as heaven's pride, the former contributing a total of two hundred and seventy thousand years, and the latter, eighteen thousand.

But even combined, it was still a meager amount.

Shen Yi began to gather the demon source force to reshape Liuli Qingfeng's demon soul.

In truth, he didn't have high hopes for this phoenix, but compared to the Young Master of You Mang, who had been captured by Wei Yuanzhou and was waiting for someone to rescue him, she was at least a slightly better option.

These demons from West Hong had impressive cultivation levels but lacked the mental fortitude of the Returning Void realm demons from South Hong, such as Ke Thirteen, whose willpower was much stronger than these two.

After expending twelve demon source forces,

Liuli Qingfeng's demon soul was finally completely reshaped, and Shen Yi directly sent it into the town stone he had prepared in advance.

The two hall masters quietly appeared on either side of him, guarding him.

Shen Yi closed his eyes, familiar with this process.

The purple light between his eyebrows transformed into a rainbow that pierced the sky, causing the clouds to part without any wind. At the tip of the rainbow stood a blurry crimson figure with hands clasped.

The Infinite Demon Emperor opened his eyes once more and beheld the five majestic cities.

In his vision, black winds raged, demon qi soared into the sky, and the plaque above the cities now bore the intimidating name of the Myriad Demon Hall.

Shen Yi silently chewed on this word.

If he understood correctly, the so-called illness tribulation implied a torment of the body?

Pushing open the gates to this Imperial City required the foundation cultivated during the seventh to ninth layers of the Returning Void realm, and it was during this stage that the concentration of Primordial Purple Qi he obtained saw a tremendous leap compared to before.

He gazed at the third Grand Hall of Myriad Demons.

At Shen Yi's command, Liuli Qingfeng didn't even have time to utter a word before she reluctantly glided towards the door.

The massive door slowly revealed a sliver of an opening.

The same shifting radiance as before, only this time it lasted longer, and amidst the dense purple glow, the golden light became increasingly prominent, until it occupied half of it.

Bathed in the radiance of purple and gold, Liuli Qingfeng's face instantly contorted into one of bitterness.

She seemed to have lost her previous arrogance, and she glanced back timidly at the scarlet-robed figure. Under his indifferent gaze, she was forced to step into that door.

"It won't do."

Ke Thirteen, who had been in a daze, suddenly murmured softly.

As if in response to her words.

Liuli Qingfeng had barely stepped into the Imperial City for even ten breaths when, under the influx of less than twenty years' worth of demon lifespan force, a sharp wail rang out in Shen Yi's mind.

"Nooo! Let me out! Let me out!"

"Please! Spare me!"

In Shen Yi's vision, on the towering mountain peak, the phoenix with azure feathers convulsed, lying beside the giant stone. Its feathers were withered, its flesh rotting, and a putrid stench filled the air.

Instead of calming her mind, she went insane and started bashing her head against the stone!

Shen Yi glanced at Ke Thirteen.

"It can't even endure the innate agony of its own heart flame and needs the help of the Dark Viper clan to ease the pain." Ke Thirteen's voice was slow, his mind still not fully recovered.

"It seems to relish pain, but in reality, it fears pain the most... This illness tribulation happens to target its weakness."

"..."

Shen Yi fell silent for a moment, then said helplessly, "Next time, speak up sooner."

Let it go this time, after all, Ke Thirteen's current state was partly due to his own relentless urging.

Now that she had been sent in, there was no taking her back out.

The reason it was called the illness tribulation was that it inflicted unbearable torment on those undergoing the tribulation, a torture that was inhuman... yet they would never die.

At this moment, Liuli Qingfeng had already gone insane, her attention fully focused on herself, despite Shen Yi deliberately slowing down the influx of demon lifespan force. Her madness knew no bounds, and she smashed the mountain beneath her into pieces with her broken body.

At least Wu Jun had waited for the appearance of the spiritual light, even if he was a bit dull. As long as there was enough time, there would be a chance for a turnaround.

But Liuli Qingfeng had clearly given up from the start, and now she only wished for death.

"Can it die faster?"

For the first time, Shen Yi began to hope for a tribulation failure. He watched helplessly as the demon lifespan force rapidly diminished—200,000 years... 400,000 years... 600,000 years...

This phoenix had exceptionally poor willpower, but her origins were truly outstanding. The strength of her soul far surpassed that of demons of the same realm.

As a result, even though she had given up early on, her soul refused to collapse.

Until the mountains were reduced to rubble and the oceans evaporated.

The demon lifespan force had already been depleted by 670,000 years, and the phoenix, now resembling a featherless chicken with rotting flesh that exposed its stark white bones, finally plummeted.

For some reason, as he watched her transform back into stone and gradually turn into a town stone, Shen Yi felt a sense of relief.

"Phew."

Finally, it was over... As the difficulty of tribulation increased, it seemed that he would have to carefully consider the experiences and personalities of the demon geniuses he chose in the future.

Just then, a faint voice reached Shen Yi's ears.

"My master, can I give it a try?"

Hearing this, Shen Yi paused for a moment before realizing who the voice belonged to.

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

Indeed, after having her blood essence drawn for 100,000 years, it was quite something that this woman still had the mood to cause trouble. Perhaps she really did fit the bill for this illness tribulation.

However, the problem was that he had already consumed her body.

"I am of the same clan as it, and this body... the Primordial Phoenix should be able to use it as well." The Primordial Phoenix, as if guessing Shen Yi's thoughts, made her request again.

Sometimes, opportunities only came in the briefest of moments, and she really didn't want to miss this chance.

Ever since she had accompanied her master in deducing the Immortal Phoenix Undying Sword Body the last time, she had been trapped in that deep, lonely night, as if forgotten, with no chance to leave.

"Give it a try?"

Shen Yi sighed. They had already wasted 670,000 years, so it probably wouldn't make much difference, and it would be a chance to continue the tribulation that was left halfway.

As he spoke, he casually flicked his sleeve.

A phantom of a phoenix, insubstantial and ethereal, glided into the Imperial City without hesitation!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end