https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-586-Once-Here-There-s-No-Escaping/12938377/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-588-Second-Conversation-with-Hongze-Great-Immortal/12938383/
Chapter 587: A Sudden Turn of Events
Chapter 587: A Sudden Turn of Events
"Ha!"
The scent of dragon blood quickly filled the air, drifting into the noses of the crowd, reminding them of the stark reality of the scene before them.
Even without its skull, the upper half of its body was split open, yet the Yellow Poison Dragon, once the ruler of the Southern Flood Territory, was not dead. It merely lost its fighting spirit, and its towering body staggered forward.
The Western Flood was just ahead, and it seemed that there was still hope as long as it crossed that line.
However, the youth in the black robe held the golden-patterned dark blade in his hand, following slowly behind. Each swing of the blade created a terrifying gash on the remains of the Cole Family Prince.
Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!
The crimson blood splattered, and the already staggering steps of the Cole Family Prince slowed even further, as if he would collapse at any moment. His entire body was drenched in dark red blood, and as Shen Yi raised his arm again, the long blade finally pierced his shoulder, sinking deep into his chest before stopping.
"Huff."
Shen Yi slowly released his palm, and even the gaps between his fingers were filled with sticky, scorching blood. He glanced up slightly, looking at the remains before him as if all strength had left it, tottering to a stop before falling lifelessly forward.
Shen Yi collected the corpse of the Cole Family Prince into his ring finger, then slowly turned around.
"..."
In the moment that his gaze swept past, Cheng Xiaoyuan shuddered involuntarily. He found it hard to imagine that someone could display such indifference and yet wield the blade with such ferocity, killing a Celestial Realm Dragon Demon alive in the waters.
"Snap out of it!"
Huang Wenfa's low exclamation brought Cheng Xiaoyuan back to his senses, reminding him of Shen Zongzhuang's earlier instructions.
The two of them rushed out together, using the Mountain Calming Technique to transform into a massive barrier and fly forward, blocking the impending disturbance within the Southern Flood's boundaries.
"So, this is the heavenly phenomenon."
Cheng Xiaoyuan's face was filled with a mix of fear and strangeness as he glanced at Huang Wenfa beside him while exerting his full strength in the spell formula.
No wonder the other party had such a violent reaction when the jade slip conveyed the news. He must have been familiar with Shen Zongzhuang's style.
Indeed, he was decisive in his actions, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Thank you both."
With the help of these two sect leaders from the Mountain-Shifting Sect, Shen Yi avoided a lot of trouble.
His gaze fell on the Dark Forest Mansion, and with a casual step forward, he arrived in front of it. Then, with a wave of his hand, he dispelled the divine ability, revealing the figure within, curled up like a snake, shivering in fear.
From the initial frenzy and rage to now, hiding its head within its body.
Qi Zhaoyi no longer resembled the Celestial Realm Western Dragon Palace Prince.
Hearing the movement beside him, it slowly raised its head, and the essence in its eyes had long dissipated, leaving only a faint divine soul maintaining its life force. Even this last bit of soul seemed like a flickering candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing.
Despite this, when it saw the wet black-robed figure standing before it, its pupils instinctively contracted, and its massive head quickly retracted like a mountain.
This was an innate fear etched into its bones! Shen Yi extended his palm, and his long fingers gently rested on its forehead, their size difference akin to that of a mountain and an ant. It was as if he was soothing a frightened cat.
Under this palm, Qi Zhaoyi's fear finally subsided, and he slowly closed his eyes.
His soul, damaged beyond repair, could no longer recall the identity of the person before him.
But in an instant, the innate sense of crisis in his bones caused his entire body to tremble violently. The azure sky rippled, and the surrounding heavenly aura was instantly drawn into the white, blood-stained palm.
Crack!
Qi Zhaoyi desperately tried to escape the terrifying figure covered in blood, but in his current state, he had long lost control of his dragon body, let alone resist the Divine Mountain Calming Heaven Art used with full force. He could only feel despair as his head cracked, unable to even let out a roar.
Under the immense force, the massive dragon head gradually deformed, and cracks spread like a spider web, eventually shattering completely! Amidst the blood-soaked sky, Shen Yi slowly retracted his palm.
The two Celestial Realm Mid-Stage Dragon Demons fell almost simultaneously, causing the aura of this piece of heaven and earth to reach its peak of disturbance. The thick, bloody smell spread with the aura throughout the entire Southern Flood!
The continuous clouds and mist took on a faint red hue.
It was as if the setting sun had descended, enveloping the entire land and water in its glow, but this sunset carried a hint of slaughter, making one's heart feel a chill.
"..."
The Treasure Flower Sect Master stared intently at Shen Zongzhuang in the sky. Even now, not a single drop of blood stained his dark red robe.
With his own strength, he had slain two Dragon Demons without a scratch! In the entire Southern Flood, the only one capable of such a feat was probably the South Dragon King.
In a short time, this young sect leader had become an existence comparable to the Dragon King. Even if he still had room for improvement, it was already difficult to imagine how astonishing his future would be!
The Treasure Flower Sect Master had previously thought it a pity that his disciple had missed the opportunity to catch up with Shen Zongzhuang in the Nan Yang Sect and alleviate his longing for him.
After all, not everything in the world needed a result.
Suddenly, he had a different thought.
Based on Shen Zongzhuang's performance, if his disciple were to have the opportunity to interact with him, he would be doomed to a fate far more tragic than his own.
For those who are out of reach, the best choice is... not to even look.
"Shen Yi still has important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
Shen Yi retrieved the Jade Horn Silver Dragon's corpse and bid farewell to the Treasure Flower Sect Master with a bow, before summoning a black cloud and disappearing into the horizon.
After all, he hadn't explained his departure clearly to Senior Deng, and the fall of a Celestial Realm being would emit a detectable aura. He didn't want the leaders of the allied sects to worry, so it was best to return early.
"Please rest assured, we will not let this news spread beyond Nan Hong."
The three of them bowed in unison, seeing Shen Yi off.
They exchanged glances, each seeing the complexity in the other's eyes. The impact was so great that they were somewhat numb, not knowing where to begin.
But one thing was certain.
Nan Hong was about to undergo a major change.
...
The Seven Sons of Nan Hong.
Deng Xiangjun lowered his head in shame under the gaze of his fellow disciples.
He knew nothing.
Where did Shen Zongzhuang go? What was he doing? When would he return?
Facing these questions, he opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.
"You were sent to find Shen Yi, but you brought back his Dao Tablet?"
Ye Jiu's eyes twitched, and he held his breath, almost choking with anger.
"This isn't Deng Shixiong's fault, Shen Zongzhuang always acts like this. He has his own plans."
Ji Jingxi was also worried, but having accompanied Shen Yi to Western Hong, she understood this young sect leader to some extent.
"I can't keep him here, and I can't catch up to him. I..."
Seeing that someone finally understood him, Deng Xiangjun finally showed a hint of grievance.
"Am I blaming him?"
Ye Jiu waved his sleeves impatiently, "Those loaches aren't here now. Who knows if they're lying in ambush for Shen Yi? We don't even know where to start looking!"
They had also heard the long roar of the South Dragon King, and the old loach's emotions were clearly abnormal.
Ye Jiu wasn't questioning Shen Yi's abilities, but...
"Now that we've torn off the mask, what despicable methods can't they use?"
"Shh."
Qi Yansheng suddenly raised his head and stopped the conversation with a gesture.
He frowned, staring at the horizon, where a crimson glow rapidly spread, like a line connecting heaven and earth, turning the entire sky curtain into a faint red.
Seeing this, everyone fell silent.
As the leaders of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong, they had seen it all, and could easily recognize this phenomenon.
But it was precisely because they recognized it that they stood frozen in place.
The aura of a Celestial Realm being was too dense, and their fall would cause the aura to return to the heavens, triggering various anomalies. Even in the entire Hongze, such a scene was a rare sight, occurring once every tens of thousands of years.
But in this remote area of Nan Hong, they had witnessed it twice in just a few days.
In this water domain, the only ones capable of fighting a Celestial Realm being were a handful.
And there was one existence who, each time such anomalies occurred, "coincidentally" happened to be out on business.
Ye Jiu turned back, his eyes numb as he glanced at his fellow disciples, "Him again?"
Before the others could respond, he continued, "Who died this time?"
Ji Jingxi pursed her lips. The answer was obvious. If the South Dragon King had fallen, the commotion would be far greater. The remaining options were either the Cole Family Prince or Qi Zhaoyi... or perhaps both had died together.
When the last thought crossed her mind, even Ji Jingxi was startled. It seemed that whenever it involved Shen Yi, she felt anything was possible. Even the absurd idea of him single-handedly slaying two mid-stage Celestial Realm dragon demons...
"Follow me!"
Ye Jiu summoned his flowing light sword and rushed forward.
"Where are we going?" Deng Xiangjun asked instinctively.
But Ye Jiu turned and glared at him, gritting his teeth, "To welcome our Shen Yi back!"
Ye Jiu couldn't understand what he meant to Shen Yi.
He was the sword of the Seven Sons, and this was a task he should have undertaken. Shen Yi's role was to stay behind, command the overall situation, and be the calming presence in everyone's hearts.
He was the trump card of the Seven Sons, an existence that must not have any accidents!
Unless Shen Yi didn't consider himself a member of the Seven Sects, or perhaps he never took them seriously, treating them as mere tools.
"..."
Ji Jingxi noticed Ye Jiu's dissatisfaction but didn't say anything. She just wanted to find Shen Yi quickly and see how he was doing.
All six sect leaders set out together, heading towards the front.
However, they hadn't gone far from the sect when Ye Jiu stopped his sword and gazed into the distance.
In the sky above the water, a blood-soaked figure stood with his hands hanging by his sides, staring intently at the water below. His gaze was piercing, as if he could see through the endless blue waves and directly into the deepest part of Nan Hong, where the Dragon Cavern was located.
Perhaps their personalities were indeed similar.
With just a glance, Ye Jiu understood Shen Yi's thoughts.
This kid... had indeed killed the Cole Family Prince, and was now pondering whether the South Dragon King would act impulsively due to his heir's death, choosing to leave the Dragon Cavern and fight to the death.
As expected, after sensing the approach of numerous auras, Shen Yi finally withdrew his gaze, a hint of imperceptible disappointment flashing across his eyes.
The entire water domain was as quiet as death.
Not even the death of his own son could make that ancient dragon lose its rationality, and Shen Yi truly couldn't think of any other way to provoke it.
If he couldn't slay this ancient dragon, his plan would be thwarted.
Nan Hong, which seemed to have averted the crisis, had actually fallen into a dire situation.
The reason was simple.
Even if the Ten Thousand Demon Hall was shrouded in mystery, once the Boundless Dao Monarch Sect, the Yue Family, and other powerful forces, along with the Western Dragon Palace that had been waiting for Qi Zhaoyi's return, realized what had happened, they would undoubtedly trace the clues back to Nan Hong.
Only Shen Yi knew that he didn't possess any astonishing talent.
If he were to seclude himself in a sacred ground and cultivate, perhaps by the time his lifespan was exhausted and he was on the verge of withering away, his cultivation and strength wouldn't show any significant changes.
His rapid growth was built upon countless buried demon bones.
Climbing these white bone steps had led to the current Shen Zongzhuang, who was deemed to have "limitless potential."
Take breaking through the Celestial Realm, for example; he needed a large number of Fusion Realm Demonic Origin Stones, and being blocked in Nan Hong meant his path forward was cut off.
Of course, Shen Yi could also send out many Demonic Origin Stones to hunt, but that would only increase the risk of being targeted by numerous forces in Northern Flood. Without unparalleled cultivation, how could he possibly contend with so many powerful factions?
He desperately needed his own territory.
At the very least, he needed to occupy the lands of both Nan Hong and Northern Flood to have the confidence to challenge the Immortals.
Now, how much time he had left depended on how quickly those factions gathered information.
To pin his hopes on others...
"Hmm."
Shen Yi slowly exhaled, turned around, and walked towards the other sect leaders, "Let's go back first."
Regardless, they couldn't afford to lose their composure.
"..."
After watching Shen Yi ponder for a moment, they casually replied and headed towards the Seven Sects, exchanging glances with each other.
It seemed as if he had just gone out to handle some business, and they didn't seem to care if he had just taken a leisurely stroll.
Ye Jiu finally couldn't hold back and sighed, "Can you tell me how many Fusion Realm demons came from Western Flood this time?"
"Hmm?"
Shen Yi turned back with a hint of confusion and casually replied, "Twelve."
Hearing his confident tone and precise number, not only the other sect leaders but even Ji Jing Xi couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly.
Although they didn't know how Shen Yi had accomplished this, Ji Jing Xi seemed to understand why Nan Hong had been inexplicably calm these days.
Ye Jiu closed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "What about the celestial anomaly this time?"
"Two Dragon Sons."
Shen Yi finally understood; he was used to acting alone and had overlooked the fact that these elders had protected Nan Hong for many years, showing kindness and concern for the cultivators and living beings.
Now that the matter was mostly resolved, there was no need to worry about affecting the allied sects anymore. Apart from the Ten Thousand Demon Hall, there was hardly any need to hide anything else.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Although they had already guessed earlier, hearing the confirmation directly from Shen Yi was still shocking.
The faces of the sect leaders were filled with an unconcealed sense of awe.
Especially Deng Xiangjun, who gradually gained a more genuine understanding of what Shen Zongzhuang meant by "handling some business."
"Ye is grateful on behalf of Nan Hong. Your kindness and virtue will be forever remembered."
As the awe gradually subsided, Ye Jiu solemnly cupped his hands and murmured,
"I never imagined that someone could eradicate such a great calamity with their own strength, rendering it invisible."
"Even I couldn't do it now."
But soon, he opened his palms, and a hint of complexity appeared on his lips, "So, do you still need me?"
As the leader of the Sky Sword Sect, Ye Jiu had endured the frustration of these days, holding onto a sliver of hope that when Nanyang rose again, there would be a day when he could be of use, like a rusty, broken sword.
But now it seemed that the new leader of the Nanyang Sect had never considered him in his plans.
Listening to these slightly strange words, Shen Yi fell silent.
It wasn't that he didn't know how to respond, but Qinghua had sent new information. The Immortal who resided in Hongze could no longer hold back and began to communicate with her through the White Rhino Treasure Artifact.
"..."
Shen Yi's silence caused the complexity on Ye Jiu's face to gradually turn into self-mockery.
The other sect leaders, including Ji Jing Xi, stood silently. If even Ye Jiu couldn't catch the attention of Shen Zongzhuang, then they definitely didn't stand a chance.
Perhaps, to these Heaven's Talents, the position of the Nanyang Sect Leader was just a minor part of their cultivation journey.
The hopes they had placed in him were unreasonable in the first place; neither the Immortals nor Northern Flood had any grudges against them.
Shen Zongzhuang had no reason to do so much for a newly acquainted faction.
Being able to lend a helping hand was already a great favor.
But they had no other choice; having caught a glimpse of hope, they could only numb themselves, comforting the hearts that yearned for revenge but were also timid.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
