https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-963-The-Sect-Grants-You-a-Prime-State/13463541/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-965-Can-a-Person-Live-Without-a-Heart-/13463543/
Chapter 964: The Black Coffin Suspended Tomb and the Birth of the Blazing Dragon
Chapter 964: The Black Coffin Suspended Tomb and the Birth of the Blazing Dragon
A full moon hung high in the sky, its light as pure as jade, reflecting myriad scenes below.
A cultivator in black armor stopped outside the Yin-Yang Tomb. He stared intently at the moon, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light.
In the netherworld, a red moon usually hung high, and he had initially assumed it was due to some special Zhen Fa. Now, it seemed to be the work of a magic treasure.
Indeed, under the gaze of his crimson eyes and golden pupils, the moon revealed itself to be a disc-shaped artifact.
The red moon seen elsewhere was merely an optical illusion caused by the refraction of light.
Now, standing closer, he could appreciate its intricate design. The bronze wheel, a hundred feet in diameter, was inscribed with bowl-sized scriptures, and faint chants of Buddhist hymns could be heard.
The mirror-like surface reflected all the scenes of the netherworld, even showing Bai Xuanjun's hesitant expression as he lingered near the Gate of Death. After several glances back, he finally made up his mind and fled through the gate, disappearing from sight.
Under the influence of this treasure, the once eerie tomb appeared somewhat more peaceful, though only slightly.
Luo Chen lowered his gaze, and the massive tomb, spanning ten miles, came into view.
Fierce claws, like screens, stood guard around the tomb. Shiny tiles were arranged in a scale-like pattern, and two lanterns hung high, like beacons guiding the way to the underworld.
An open entrance, resembling the gaping mouth of an ancient beast, awaited its prey.
"Are the people inside?"
Luo Chen no longer concealed his presence. A powerful wave of divine sense spread out, searching for any traces.
Soon, he detected several lingering auras.
Red Leaf's, Meng Shentong's, and Master Li Tian's!
"They're all inside!"
After confirming the number of people, Luo Chen took a step forward.
But as his divine sense swept the area, he made a new discovery.
"There's another strange aura?"
Luo Chen frowned, hesitating at the entrance for a moment before finally stepping into the Yin-Yang Tomb with a determined expression.
Upon entering, the initial path was extremely narrow, like a narrow corridor.
But as Luo Chen quickened his pace, the corridor gradually widened.
Eventually, it became over a hundred feet wide on either side, hardly resembling a passage designed for humans.
Moreover!
Sss...
Luo Chen's fingertip emitted a sword aura, which sliced through the walls on either side, leaving only white marks.
This was truly incomprehensible.
The sword aura he had unleashed was from the Great Five Elements Sword Formation, inheriting the sharpness of the True Artifact Sword Orb. Under such an attack, most True Artifacts and magic treasures would struggle to withstand it.
Yet, the walls of this corridor could resist it.
"Why is this so?"
Luo Chen frowned, touching one of the walls. It wasn't hard but had a slight elasticity.
"If I use the Sword Orb itself, can I cut through it?"
"What about the Yuan Tu Sword?"
As Luo Chen was about to act, a shrill and piercing scream came from deep within the tomb.
"It's Red Leaf!"
Luo Chen's eyebrows shot up. He ignored the walls and shot forward at high speed.
After a few breaths, the scene before him suddenly brightened.
A spacious underground plaza came into view.
The most prominent feature was a black coffin guarded by a dragon's head!
This must be the resting place of the great Yin-Yang Zi.
Next, the battle scene around the plaza caught his attention.
Old Red Leaf had been impaled from behind by a sharp sword. Her flesh was rotting uncontrollably, emitting a hissing sound, and her bones were clearly visible.
It was the Corpse Poison!
Based on the toxic knowledge Luo Chen had acquired in a short time, he immediately recognized the cause of Red Leaf's condition from her external symptoms.
This poison was common in the cultivation world.
It could be extracted from corpses.
But the more common a toxin, the more dangerous it often was, just like how basic cultivation techniques were often simplified versions of advanced ones.
If the Corpse Poison came from a powerful corpse, its potency would increase exponentially.
Especially for Body Refiners, it was incredibly effective.
It would spread through the bloodstream, merging with the meridians and bones.
Seeing this, Luo Chen's expression turned grave.
"It seems you've recognized it. Unfortunately, this poison was originally intended for you."
A faint, regretful voice echoed from the center of the plaza.
Luo Chen followed the sound and saw Master Li Tian standing before the black coffin, looking at him from a distance.
At his feet, a creature with a pair of wings on its back and three blood shackles restraining its neck, waist, and ankles lay prostrate.
The Flying Yaksha!
Luo Chen's pupils dilated. This creature was the Flying Yaksha he had startled earlier, an apex existence among flying zombies, comparable to a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Due to its powerful body, which resisted all kinds of attacks, even ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators were reluctant to provoke it.
Of course, Luo Chen was not afraid of such a creature.
What made him wary was the fact that the Yin-Yang Tomb had only been open for a short time, and the battle should not have reached a decisive conclusion so quickly.
However, the moment he entered, he saw Red Leaf severely injured and the Yaksha subdued, while only Master Li Tian remained unscathed.
This clearly demonstrated his capabilities.
Taking a deep breath, Luo Chen’s eyes gleamed with determination as he scanned the surroundings, finally settling on a particular spot.
“Friend Meng, why not show yourself?”
“Hmm?”
“Hmm!”
Two soft exclamations echoed, one from Master Li Tian and the other from the spot Luo Chen was staring at.
Ripples undulated, and a somewhat disheveled figure slowly emerged.
It was none other than Meng Shentong!
However, he looked quite ragged, with faint bloodstains on his body.
Master Li Tian looked at Luo Chen, his eyes widening in surprise. “I didn’t expect that you could instantly see through the Luo Sect’s Concealment Technique, which even I couldn’t discern. Luo Chen, you’ve given me far too many surprises.”
Luo Chen ignored him and kept his gaze fixed on Meng Shentong.
Meng Shentong’s face darkened, and he said, “Be careful, Fellow Daoist. Master Li Tian’s strength and methods are beyond imagination.”
“I can see that,” Luo Chen said, the corners of his mouth twitching.
In such a short time, to force back three peers, whether through ambush or direct confrontation, Master Li Tian’s strength had rapidly elevated in Luo Chen’s estimation.
His eyes locked onto Master Li Tian, and he suddenly said, “Hand over the Heart Demon Parasite, and I’ll leave the Yin-Yang World immediately.”
Meng Shentong, standing nearby, was taken aback, unsure of the connection between the Heart Demon Parasite and Master Li Tian.
Master Li Tian smiled gently, maintaining his benevolent demeanor.
“Why do you suspect me? The Heart Demon Parasite Emperor is notorious in the Southern Frontier, and everyone there wants him dead. I, on the other hand, am respected and revered. There’s no connection between us!”
Luo Chen replied calmly, “Intuition!”
Master Li Tian was speechless for a moment, then countered, “Intuition is too vague. The Southern Frontier is vast; why single me out?”
Luo Chen pursed his lips. “Using your method of elimination, the Southern Frontier is only so large. Only a few people meet the criteria for the Heart Demon Parasite Emperor. Song Yang isn’t one, and neither is the Lion from the Life and Death Sect. Xuan Ji Fairy’s gender doesn’t match, so could it be my companion, Meng Shentong?”
Meng Shentong quickly waved his hands. “I’ve seen the previous Heart Demon Parasite Emperor, but I am not him!”
Master Li Tian smiled. “Didn’t I also mention Elder Zangsheng as a suspect?”
Luo Chen shook his head. “Elder Zangsheng’s methods are brutal but not cruel, which doesn’t fit the Heart Demon Parasite Emperor’s style. In contrast, you are rumored to have experimented with live humans and beasts to cultivate your parasites. Though praised for your quest for knowledge, your methods are undeniably cruel.”
“Not enough!” Master Li Tian continued to smile.
Luo Chen persisted. “It’s said that the new Heart Demon Parasite Emperor rose to power by devouring the old one. Initially, I couldn’t imagine how someone of a lower realm could overcome such a significant gap in cultivation and the suppression of the Heart Demon Parasite. Later, I realized that it must be due to an extremely deep understanding of parasites, allowing him to reverse the Heart Demon Parasite and devour the Supreme Being. In the vast Southern Frontier, no one knows more about parasites than you!”
Master Li Tian raised an eyebrow. “Still not enough!”
Luo Chen fell silent, and the square was still filled with cries of pain.
It was the wails of Red Leaf.
Under the influence of the Corpse Poison, her physical body was rapidly deteriorating.
In this state, her nascent soul couldn’t escape.
If even a trace of Corpse Poison contaminated her nascent soul, the situation would only worsen.
She could only continuously use Zhen techniques to try to remove the toxins from her body.
Luo Chen’s gaze swept over her, and he suddenly said, “Then how do you explain the manipulation you’ve done to me?”
Master Li Tian was taken aback, then said regretfully, “You’ve discovered it?”
Luo Chen touched his heart, speaking calmly. “The Heart Demon Parasite works by refining essence into qi. The stronger one’s physical essence and blood, the more efficient the refinement. In the Southern Frontier, physical cultivation was once aided by parasites and flourished. It declined after the Great Heart Demon Catastrophe, when Body Refiners became the primary targets.”
“Since I entered the Southern Frontier cultivation world, I deliberately displayed my powerful physical body to attract the Heart Demon Parasite Emperor’s attention.”
“I intended to lure him into infesting me with a parasite, but I didn’t expect your methods to be more indirect, using the Mother-Child Linked Parasite instead.”
Master Li Tian sighed. “It’s not that I couldn’t do it, but people are too wary of the Heart Demon Parasite. Any trace would expose me.”
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re admitting it?”
“So, you were trying to trick me!” Master Li Tian realized.
Luo Chen waved his hand. “Not really a trick, just a reasonable inference within the bounds of logic. Even if I’m wrong, it’s of no great consequence.”
Just as Master Li Tian had once investigated the Heart Demon Insect Emperor for Luo Chen, the Southern Frontier may seem vast, but to a Nascent Soul True Person, it’s only so large.
As long as the Heart Demon Insect Emperor is alive and seeking the Great Dao, he cannot stop cultivating.
And those who initially chose to use the Heart Demon Parasite would never give up the pursuit of the Great Dao.
Thus, the suspects were only a few individuals.
However, Master Li Tian was clever enough to distance himself from the start.
If not for Luo Chen discovering his tampering while cultivating the Hundred Toxins Body Tempering Technique, it would have been difficult to suspect him.
Master Li Tian exhaled a long, heavy breath and admitted candidly, "Indeed, the current Heart Demon Insect Emperor is this old man."
Upon hearing this, Meng Shentong’s face changed dramatically, and his gaze toward Master Li Tian became even more wary.
Master Li Tian paid no heed to others’ reactions and continued, "Back then, I was just a mediocre disciple of the Moon Worshipping Sect in the Golden Lion Empire. It was only through the Heart Demon Parasite that I managed to advance to the Golden Core Stage. During the great calamity of the Heart Demon, I hid everywhere, and by chance, I entered this Yin-Yang Remnant World."
"At that time, the Netherworld had not yet fallen into such decline, and various ghosts and zombies were in a state of transformation. Relying on the research left behind by Yinzi on various parasites, I gradually found a path as a parasite cultivator."
"It was also through this ability in parasite cultivation that I altered the Heart Demon Parasite’s attributes. When the old man found me, I managed to turn the tables and devour him, inheriting his formidable cultivation and advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage in one fell swoop."
"But I knew that relying on the Heart Demon Parasite for cultivation would eventually be discovered. Therefore, I chose the orthodox path and gradually rose to prominence in the Southern Frontier as a parasite cultivator."
"Step by step, I reached my current position and achieved my current Dao."
"You, Luo Chen, are the only one in five hundred years to move me!"
Luo Chen was both amazed and touched by the story, but he frowned at the last sentence.
Master Li Tian laughed and said, "Such a powerful body, if it were to be devoured by the Heart Demon Parasite, how much more power could it grant me! Compared to the Purple Cloak Marquis, whom I cultivated intentionally, you are ten to a hundred times stronger!"
Luo Chen replied coldly, "You may not know, but my sect detests those who covet my body! Anyone who does so will end up without a trace, their soul and body destroyed!"
Master Li Tian shrugged and laughed, "Since you’ve already discovered the Mother-Child Tether Parasite and dealt with its aftermath, there’s nothing I can do to you. How about we cooperate?"
"Cooperate?" Luo Chen asked.
Master Li Tian nodded, "Yes, I’ll give you the Heart Demon Parasite, and you help me kill Meng Shentong. What do you say?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Shentong’s expression changed drastically, and he instinctively moved several dozen feet away from Luo Chen.
Luo Chen calmly glanced at Meng Shentong, then turned his gaze back, "If you can severely injure Red Leaf and suppress the Flying Yaksha, Meng Shentong shouldn’t be your match, right? Why do you need my help?"
Master Li Tian sighed, "The Lu Sect is an ancient and powerful sect in the Southern Frontier, and the Vacuum Parasite combines combat, cultivation, and stealth. I might be able to defeat him, but killing Meng Shentong is extremely difficult. When you arrived, your eyes revealed Meng Shentong’s hidden position, showing that you have a way to counter the Vacuum Parasite. As for your strength..."
Master Li Tian glanced outside.
Three mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t stop Luo Chen, and the various feats under the Dan Sect’s name convinced him that there was no false reputation. Luo Chen was more than capable of dealing with Meng Shentong.
Meng Shentong’s expression grew even more wary, and his figure began to blur until he disappeared.
But no matter how he hid in the void, Luo Chen’s gaze followed him relentlessly.
This made it clear that those eyes could truly pierce through the void and see everything!
“Luo Daoist, don’t listen to this old man’s schemes. Inside the Black Coffin lies a fifth-stage parasite, the Life-and-Death Parasite, the source of the Heart Demon Parasite. If Master Li Tian obtains this, advancing to Soul Transformation will be a matter of time. Even if your Dao is unparalleled, you won’t have a good ending!”
Meng Shentong’s words were hurried.
Clearly, he understood the weight of the Dan Sect’s name.
In the oppressive atmosphere, Luo Chen stood at the entrance of the Yin-Yang Tomb, his robes fluttering in the wind.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The sound of seals breaking echoed.
The three blood shackles suppressing the Flying Yaksha began to loosen under the immense force.
Master Li Tian’s brow furrowed, and his patience was wearing thin.
“Luo Chen, have you made your decision?”
Swish! Swish!
Luo Chen’s eyes snapped open, locking onto Master Li Tian.
“I’d rather take the direct path than the crooked one. I’ll take the Heart Demon Parasite myself!”
As he spoke, the heavens and earth within the Yin-Yang Tomb suddenly changed.
Red clouds spread, and flames engulfed the world.
A Blazing Dragon emerged from the clouds above the Netherworld Mountain, breaking through layers of rock and charging straight at Master Li Tian. (End of Chapter)
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