Chapter 535: What Was Before is Nothing Compared to Now (Sorry, It's a Bit Late)

Chapter 535: What Was Before is Nothing Compared to Now (Sorry, It's a Bit Late)



The higher the mountain, the harder the climb, and only by scaling the treacherous path can one truly understand the difficulty.

With his previous experience and the foundation of Divine Peak True Essence, Shen Yi's absorption of Demon Spirit Lifespan became faster and his rest periods shorter.

If his first mountain-climbing experience felt like being overwhelmed by vastness, like being trapped in a quagmire, then this time, it was as if countless quagmires had gathered to form a mountain, which then shrank until it was palm-sized, and finally crushed down on the climber's back.

It was a feeling of having one's soul scattered.

In An Yi's eyes, Shen Yi sat cross-legged outside the small mountain, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably, his dark robe already soaked through, sticking to his skin.

No matter how she wiped, she couldn't remove the fatigue from his brow.

Just then, a streak of light flashed across the horizon.

Yan Chongzhang had just arrived at Nameless Mountain and saw Elder Yang with a blank expression.

This look on his face made Yan Chongzhang inexplicably recall his own experience when Shen Yi had observed the mountain before.

This bold thought made Yan Chongzhang momentarily forget about Pan Boyang's matter, and he impatiently searched for Shen Yi's figure.

After spotting the familiar silhouette, Yan Chongzhang's eyes widened in shock: "..."

He knew how much Nameless Mountain doted on Shen Yi, and he had been trying to come to terms with the three-day incident, finally almost convincing himself, but now this happened.

How long had it been? Just an afternoon?

Judging by the changes in his appearance, he had clearly gained quite a lot.

What's going on? Is Nameless Mountain worried that he might tire himself out and not come again, so it created a ladder for him?

"Take it easy... At least he personally observed the mountain, it didn't go looking for him."

Yang Yunheng patted his disciple's shoulder and offered some comfort: "By the way, has that person been dealt with?"

"Phew."

Yan Chongzhang rubbed his temples, forcing himself to look away from Shen Yi, or he feared he wouldn't be able to stop himself from grabbing the other by the neck.

"Who is this?" He turned to the young girl beside Shen Yi.

"A little friend brought by Shen Dao Friend, quite well-behaved, but with a personality similar to his, a bit cold and distant."

Yang Yunheng smiled, but then saw the worry in Yan Chongzhang's eyes: "What's wrong? Surely Pan won't cause trouble on our turf."

"Forget it, just be careful with your words." Yan Chongzhang didn't hold back, directly telling him about the previous incident in the hall: "Fortunately, Shen Xiao You gave me another surprise. You go deal with it, and I'll take care of sending him off after he's done observing the mountain."

"..."

Yang Yunheng took a deep breath, never expecting the direct disciple of the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect to speak such shameless words, blatantly throwing mud at the Mountain Movers Sect.

But with Xue Yan's reputation echoing through Hongze, it was better to avoid offending him.

"I'll go." The old man nodded slightly and disappeared into the horizon.

Yan Chongzhang retracted his gaze, only to notice that Shen Yi's silhouette had stopped trembling.

In an instant, his pitch-black eyes slowly opened, and within their deep pupils was a reflection of a towering boundary marker with only the clumsy characters "Peak Suppressing" inscribed on it.

【Fusion Dao (Treasure). Peak Suppressing Technique: Not Yet Initiated】

【Remaining Demon Spirit Lifespan: 230,000 years】

"Is that it?"

Yan Chongzhang stood frozen, having climbed for so many years without fully understanding the Peak Suppressing Technique, and now, with only a basic grasp of it, Shen Yi had gained a great reputation in Western Hong.

Even without Pan Boyang's matter, he couldn't help but want to send Shen Yi away from the Mountain Movers Sect.

This mountain was just too damn frustrating!

Why was it so harsh on its own cultivators?

Yan Chongzhang took a few deep breaths, quickly walked up to Shen Yi, and took out a treasure pill prepared for nurturing the divine soul: "Shen Xiao You, quickly take this to avoid damaging your foundation."

"Thank you, Yan Daozi."

Shen Yi habitually adjusted his emotions, trying to maintain a calm demeanor, and his hoarse voice thanked him.

At this moment, An Yi reached out and took the treasure pill, took a few steps forward, silently extended her hand, and wiped his sweat with her sleeve before placing the pill in his hand.

Although she didn't know what Shen Yi had just experienced,

in that eerie tomb, when she felt the most helpless and miserable, she had hoped someone would pat her head like this.

So, she did it unconsciously.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced at the little girl, suddenly realizing that with a Fusion Dao Realm Binding Stone by his side, he had gained some depth.

He closed his eyes again, and when he opened them, his forcibly calmed eyes finally revealed a mix of irritability and resistance.

Who would enjoy enduring the pain of having their spine crushed while climbing this damn mountain, and for nearly 400,000 years?

He couldn't wait to kick this Nameless Mountain to pieces!

Shen Yi gulped down the soul-nourishing treasure pill, looking a bit sulky, leaving Yan Chongzhang completely bewildered, as he had never seen Shen Xiao You with such an expression.

What's going on? Did he have a fight with Nameless Mountain?

Does that mean... I have a chance?

Yan Chongzhang shook his head, dismissing the strange thought, and said with a hint of reluctance: "I have some matters to attend to, so I can't accompany you for long. If you don't have other plans, I'll send you off now, and we can gather again when we have the chance, and we won't leave until we're drunk."

"Okay."

Shen Yi nodded.

He had overheard their conversation earlier and had a rough idea of what it was about.

Although he advocated the principle of eliminating threats, Shen Yi also understood boundaries, and knew that killing a disciple of the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect within the Mountain Movers Sect would bring great trouble to these cultivators.

He hadn't expected Pan Boyang to be so impatient.

Oh well, there will be other opportunities.

"This way, please."

Yan Chongzhang heaved a sigh of relief and, as usual, led the way down a small path, escorting Shen Yi out of the sect.

Shen Yi stood up and followed, while An Yi still stared at his boot heels, not leaving his side.

Under Yan Chongzhang's lead, the three of them quickly left the Mountain Movers Sect.

"Friend Shen, I apologize for any neglect this time. Next time, please don't hesitate to visit again."

Yan Chongzhang led Shen Yi far away, ensuring that no Boundless Dao Emperor Sect cultivators were lurking nearby, and that it was safe for them to leave.

Only then did he reluctantly bid farewell with a cupped fist salute.

The teachings his master had given him earlier were of no use today.

"Wait a moment."

Shen Yi held a jade slip in his hand and didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave.

"What else do you have to say, young friend? Speak freely." Now that things had come to this, Yan Chongzhang was too lazy to bother with his master's methods. He didn't like the feeling of mutual scheming, and judging by Shen Yi's attitude, he probably wouldn't fall for it anyway.

Shen Yi was about to raise his palm when he slightly turned his head.

Yan Chongzhang also sensed something and his face changed abruptly as he quickly turned around.

At the edge of the sky, a majestic painting of a grand landscape rapidly extended, instantly bringing a bustling atmosphere to the Azure Sea and Blue Sky.

A figure from outside the painting glided over mountains and rivers, moving through streets and alleys, covering the vast distance as if it were a mere step.

Until he finally stood directly above the two of them.

Pan Boyang crumpled a handkerchief and threw it away, then lightly clapped his hands, gazing down at the two figures below with a hint of playfulness. "As expected of a Mountain Movers Sect disciple, you're indeed steady. Clearly, the person I'm looking for is in your Mountain Movers Sect, yet you can still act so nonchalantly."

"If I hadn't thought a little more, leaving a trace of my aura on you, you would have fooled me today."

"Am I still speaking nonsense now?"

Pan Boyang's lips curled up, but his eyes were icy cold. "The Mountain Movers Sect agreed to our request but went back on their word, colluding with evil cultivators and ruining my senior brother Xue's grand plan. You'd better think carefully about how to appease my anger."

It was clear that this gentleman had done similar things before, and with just a few words, he had already pinned the blame on the Mountain Movers Sect.

"As for you, it's much simpler."

Pan Boyang turned his gaze to the other Ink Robe figure and slowly withdrew his smile. "You just need to prepare to die."

Under his words, Yan Chongzhang's breathing grew heavier. He had never imagined that Northern Hong's methods would be so profound, leaving him completely unaware.

Now that the secret was out, he could almost foresee the trouble the Mountain Movers Sect would face. If Pan Boyang's words were true and the capture of the demon spirit was indeed related to Xue Yan, this matter might even implicate the Unification Realm master, the Fusion Dao Colossus.

Caught red-handed.

Even with Yan Chongzhang's extensive experience, he was at a loss for what to do.

He couldn't possibly... kill this subordinate? Although the idea was tempting, and being in the territory of the Mountain Movers Sect, if he truly wanted to take action, Pan Boyang could be said to have no chance of survival.

But the fact that he dared to walk over so boldly already indicated that this was not feasible.

A renowned direct disciple of the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect, his whereabouts were known to all. If he perished in Western Hong, there would be no way to hide it.

And to maintain their deterrence, the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect would never let it go lightly.

In this situation, perhaps being forced to hide in a corner like the Southern Hong Seven Sons was the best outcome for the Mountain Movers Sect.

"What's the matter? Seeing my true body, you don't dare to be as arrogant as before?"

Pan Boyang stared at Shen Yi, finding his silence amusing.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced at the jade slip in his hand, his brows furrowed with impatience. He said softly, "Close your eyes."

Pan Boyang and Yan Chongzhang both paused in surprise.

After a moment, Yan Chongzhang realized that Shen Yi was speaking to him.

Close... close my eyes?

For a White Jade Capital cultivator with a divine soul, this action was as pointless as covering one's ears to steal a bell.

But it represented Shen Yi's attitude.

First, he wanted to clarify that this matter had nothing to do with the Mountain Movers Sect, and as for what exactly he wanted to clarify...

Yan Chongzhang quickly turned around, staring at the youth beside him in shock. "Friend Shen! Don't be impulsive! Let me discuss this with him again."

Killing a direct disciple of the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect was no laughing matter, especially since the opponent had now appeared in his true body, and his strength was far beyond what it was the last time.

"Close your eyes."

Shen Yi didn't bother to say more. With a casual wave of his palm, he unleashed the Heavenly Transformation Forty-Nine on Yan Chongzhang.

As the Mountain Movers Sect disciple fell into a daze.

He finally raised his eyes, casually scanning the familiar yet unfamiliar figure above. A calm voice, with an inexplicably dangerous aura, said, "I think I told you before that I don't like people standing above me and talking."

Hearing these familiar words and seeing Shen Yi's casual expression,

Pan Boyang's face finally twisted in horror, losing the composure he had when talking to Yan Chongzhang.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Even though he had come in his true body, he instinctively refrained from summoning the chain Dao armament.

Instead, he glared and said in a low voice, "So what?"

Shen Yi held the jade slip in one hand and, slightly unaccustomed, lightly pressed it with his left hand, responding to the other party.

The Divine Peak Technique erupted with perfect mastery.

Pan Boyang's face didn't even have time to react before his entire body plummeted from the sky like a bird with broken wings, crashing into the water with a loud splash!

He never expected Shen Yi to have such a bizarre method.

For a moment, he struggled frantically in the deep water, like a hooked whitefish, desperately reaching out his hand as if grasping the last straw. His five fingers clenched tightly.

In the sky,

Like a red dragon, it swept into the water, stirring up raging waves as if tearing the entire body of water apart.

"Now, it's my turn!"

Pan Boyang finally held it in his palm, his heart steadied, and he roared, shattering some of the invisible mountains on his body. Then, he swiftly glided towards the water!

Just as he was about to leave the water, he couldn't return to the River and Mountain Map as he had imagined.

A pair of long boots lightly stepped on his shoulders, and the figure in the ink robe seemed incredibly thin. But under his feet, Pan Boyang felt a pressure even more terrifying than before.

Half of his body sank into the water, and no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't move an inch further.

He looked up in horror and met Shen Yi's indifferent gaze. The handsome face showed little interest, and he didn't even bother to look at Pan Boyang directly.

"Go."

Shen Yi took out a jade slip and casually tossed it to An Yi.

As Pan Boyang watched in disbelief, the small girl, who had no trace of aura, disappeared in place with a single step.

In that instant, the fluctuation of aura made his entire face contort, and he deeply doubted his own perception.

How could this be?!

"Get out of my way!" Pan Boyang roared in fear, and the Heavenly Origin Illusory Thunder Ruler in his hand fiercely struck the figure on his body! But his peripheral vision caught sight of a straight golden-patterned mystic sword in Shen Yi's empty left hand, appearing there at some point.

The sword blade casually swept by.

The black and gold blade sliced into the crimson thunder, touching the translucent jade ruler covered in blood-red threads.

Crack!

Without any chance to react, just like a real iron smashing into a piece of jade, the jade ruler didn't even last a breath before completely shattering into countless jade fragments.

The long sword ruthlessly pierced through Pan Boyang's fragile neck.

Thud!

A fresh head flew into the air!

"..."

Shen Yi slightly felt the warm bloodstain on his fingertip, his expression unchanged, and he casually sheathed the long sword.

Just then, the River and Mountain Map in the sky suddenly rolled down and took away the unblinking head in front of him.

Shen Yi turned to look.

In the map, a Daoist decisively broke his own neck, jumped high, and caught Pan Boyang's head with his neck.

The next moment, Pan Boyang came back to life on the old Daoist's body, his face filled with panic as he started running frantically through the streets and alleys.

At the same time, the entire River and Mountain Map quickly rolled towards the Boundless Dao Imperial Palace.

"Tsk."

Shen Yi frowned slightly. He finally understood why these Northern Hong cultivators were so arrogant.

Aside from the Dao soldiers, these methods, even if they weren't immortal techniques, were still shocking enough.

He retracted his gaze and lightly tapped his waist with his fingertip.

There hung a delicate jade pendant, displaying black and white colors, intertwining like Yin and Yang fish.

As the jade pendant swayed.

A tiger's roar transformed into invisible ripples, penetrating the entire River and Mountain Map.

This painting, formed by the gathering of heaven and earth's aura, turned into an actual painting in an instant, being devoured by raging flames and dissolving at a visible speed.

The old Daoist wailed and knelt on the ground, instantly engulfed.

The head fell again.

Held in those slender palms, Pan Boyang's voice trembled with a few sobs: "I surrender! I surrender! Dao Brother, spare my life!"

However, in his tearful and blurry vision, Shen Yi's fair face showed no significant difference from the previous time.

Equally calm and decisive.

As the five fingers suddenly clenched!

The fragile head exploded into pieces.

The arena fell silent once more.

Shen Yi cleansed his palms with his aura, collected Pan Boyang's corpse, and then removed the Heavenly Transformation Forty-Nine that had been placed on Yan Chongzhang earlier.

An Yi had already returned to his side, passing the jade slip to him.

Shen Yi walked to Yan Chongzhang, who was filled with shock, and placed the two jade slips in his hand, saying softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Daoist Shen. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

With that, he didn't intend to explain further, turning and transforming into a purple-white rainbow that flew away.

"Gulp."

Yan Chongzhang finally snapped out of his thoughts about breaking the Heavenly Transformation Forty-Nine, standing dumbfounded in place. When his peripheral vision caught the still dark red water surface, he seemed to realize something, and his eyes widened as he looked up at the sky in horror.

The clear sky was empty, with no sign of the Boundless Dao Imperial Palace.

"Daoist Shen..."

Yan Chongzhang suddenly felt his heart racing, to the point where his soul seemed to be leaving his body.

Instinctively, he held up the jade slip in his hand and anxiously infused his divine soul into it. After reading its contents, his gaze became even more scattered.

In the first jade slip was the thing he had always dreamed of—a complete Mountain-Stabilizing Precious Art! As for the second jade slip, the contents were just as shocking as the first.

It was a simple scene.

The golden-patterned mystic sword easily shattered the Heavenly Origin Illusory Thunder Ruler, as effortlessly as smashing a block of tofu, and then cleanly severed Pan Boyang's head.

The jade slip didn't record the appearance of the attacker, but it was enough to prove many things.

For example, such a powerful Dao armament must have had nothing to do with the Mountain Movers Sect.

Furthermore, with such a long distance, and Pan Boyang being defenseless, the Mountain Movers Sect couldn't offer any assistance, only managing to record some information about the attacker...

Even though there were still many loopholes.

But in that instant, this might have been the limit of what Daoist Shen could do.

Yan Chongzhang stood there, holding the two jade slips, still dazed and unable to speak for a moment.

He couldn't imagine what kind of terrifying power could cultivate a heaven-born talent like Daoist Shen, who was also a meticulous cultivator.

The other party seemed indifferent, acting ruthlessly, but he was more worthy of befriending than anyone Yan Chongzhang had ever met.

This Daoist from the Mountain Movers Sect stared blankly at the sky.

Perhaps his last action was even more correct than what his master had imagined.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end