https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-977-Golden-Flame-Burns-the-Sea-Qixia-Descends/13466339/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-979-The-Great-Wastes-Awaken-Commanding-the-Sea-and-Sinking-the-Land/13474459/
Chapter 978: The Flawed Fate Soul and the Battle Against Qing Shuang
Chapter 978: The Flawed Fate Soul and the Battle Against Qing Shuang
Humans are born with both a spiritual soul (hun) and a corporeal soul (po).
The spiritual soul governs the mind and spirit, while the corporeal soul controls the physical body.
The spiritual soul is divided into three parts: the celestial, terrestrial, and human souls. Among these, the human soul is also known as the fate soul, a concept fundamental to cultivation.
The celestial and terrestrial souls often reside outside the body, while the fate soul remains within.
The process of cultivation for a cultivator is one of continuous refinement and strengthening of the spirit and soul. If the three souls—the celestial, terrestrial, and human—are unified, one achieves the state of the Primordial Spirit, reaching a point where the physical body can perish but the self remains eternal.
Before that, if a cultivator dies, their soul and spirit will dissipate. Even if a nascent soul acts as a secondary host, it merely prolongs the inevitable.
This is why low-level cultivators who transform into ghost cultivators often exhibit diminished mental clarity. It is because their fate soul is destroyed, leaving only the celestial and terrestrial souls to form a rudimentary shape.
Through subsequent cultivation, these ghost cultivators can gradually recover a small portion of their fate soul, thereby regaining a unique consciousness.
In essence, the fate soul is the most crucial element for a cultivator, and it must not be compromised.
When Mo Shouzhuo abruptly asked, "Luo Chen, do you still have your fate soul?" everyone present understood the implications of his words.
The quickest to react was not Luo Chen, who was far away in the Yellow Springs Sea, but Qixia Yuanjun, who was close at hand!
Her face darkened, and she struck without hesitation.
Her target: Mo Shouzhuo!
With a single palm, the Nirvana Holy Fire surged forth.
Faced with this lethal attack, Mo Shouzhuo's eyes twitched, and he hastily retreated.
Behind him, Dan Sheng and Lian Cheng moved in unison, rushing forward to shield him and counter Qixia Yuanjun's assault with their own techniques.
Boom!
With just one clash, the ethereal spiritual light that formed the great array trembled.
Immediately following was Qixia Yuanjun's even more formidable, wave-like attack.
In the distance, Luo Chen emerged from the Yellow Springs Sea, his body enveloped in the Withered-and-Flourishing Flame Robe.
His expression was grim as he stared into the distance.
"Headmaster Mo, please explain yourself!"
With his fellow cultivators temporarily holding back the pressure, Mo Shouzhuo regained his composure and calmly replied, "I see your cultivation level is nearing the late stage of the nascent soul realm. You must have noticed the flaw in your fate soul by now, right?"
Luo Chen seemed to sense something, and his usually controlled body began to tremble uncontrollably.
The ninth soul had long failed to separate, even though his main soul had grown to its peak. He dared not forcefully split the ninth soul, for he felt that doing so would lead to irreversible consequences.
He had cultivated the Soul Sundering Scripture to perfection and had achieved great completion during his years on Soul Island, far surpassing Han Zhan's former accomplishments. Yet, he often felt a sense of loss, as if something was missing, making him feel inferior to Han Zhan's small achievements. He thought it was due to the incompleteness of the cultivation technique, but now it seemed that was not the case.
Furthermore!
Even with eight divided souls, his spiritual foundation far exceeded that of any late-stage nascent soul cultivator. His spirit perception had expanded nearly tenfold, bringing him infinitely close to the realm of the Transformed Sage.
Yet, despite all this, he could not condense a true Primordial Spirit, which was truly baffling.
All the bafflement seemed to be answered by Mo Shouzhuo's words.
Luo Chen stepped out of the Yellow Springs Sea, his gaze fixed on Mo Shouzhuo.
"When did it happen?"
"During your entry into the Star Gate, when you entered the Shenlong Paradise", Mo Shouzhuo replied frankly.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!
The green Withered-and-Flourishing Flame Robe swelled without a breeze, forming tendrils of flame that enveloped Luo Chen, concealing his facial expressions.
Only his murmurs could be heard from within.
"No wonder..."
No wonder, when he first entered the Shenlong Paradise, his spirit had convulsed, causing him to fall into a brief coma.
Fuqinglan, whom he had protected, had a weaker spiritual foundation and cultivation level than him, yet she showed no signs of being affected.
At the time, Fuqinglan explained that every first-time entrant to the Shenlong Paradise would be struck by the residual consciousness of the Shenlong, causing a brief coma. Only by using the "pass", the Phantom Chess given to each person by Mo Shouzhuo in advance, could one escape the illusory realm created by the Shenlong's consciousness.
The Dao Sect cultivators, including Fuqinglan, were different; they had undergone the Shenlong's aura baptism within their sect, so they were not affected.
Now, reflecting on it, there were many inconsistencies!
The Shenlong's aura baptism was not the same as the Shenlong's consciousness baptism.
Even if they were familiar with it, how could they not be affected at all?
At the time, his attention was on the Heavenly Dao Pill given to him by Dan Sheng before his ascension, and he did not suspect that the Heavenly Origin Sect would harm their protectors, so he did not think much of it.
But now, connecting the dots, he finally understood.
When he entered the Shenlong Paradise, he was not only struck by the residual consciousness of the Shenlong but also had a part of his fate soul intercepted by the Sect Master of the Heavenly Origin Sect, Mo Shouzhuo, using the Phantom Chess!
And this was the true cause of his spirit's convulsion and the flaw in his fate soul!
"Despicable!"
"Not despicable. You all agreed to join the Star Gate, and thus your lives were tied to Heavenly-Earth Peak. The portion of the fate soul taken would be returned at the right time, not affecting your advancement to the Transformed Sage realm. It was you, Luo Chen, who betrayed the Star Gate and the Heavenly Origin Sect!"
"Enough talk. What will it take for you to return that sliver of my fate soul?"
Before Mo Shouzhuo could answer, a loud explosion resounded.
Lian Cheng, rolling like a tumbleweed, spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression panicked.
"Senior Brother, help quickly!"
Can the four of them still not contain Qixia Yuanjun?
The conversation between him and Luo Chen was brief, but in that short time, Qixia Yuanjun's ferocity had erupted. Even within the grand formation, even facing four Hua Shen simultaneously, he still fought with unparalleled skill and remained unmatched.
Mo Shouzhuo slowly extended his hand, blocking an attack from Qixia Yuanjun who was chasing Lian Cheng, and issued an order to Luo Chen.
"Kill Qing Shuang, and I'll return your Minghun! Otherwise, your soul will return to the Yellow Springs now!"
"Agreed!"
Without any hesitation, a thunderous explosion echoed through the vast Yellow Springs Sea.
As sparks fell, Luo Chen's figure vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already beside the woman in green.
He delivered a powerful punch!
Slap!
Qing Shuang calmly grasped Luo Chen's thick fist and shook her head coldly.
"Your Minghun may not be in his hands right now."
"I can't take that risk!" Luo Chen's expression was fierce.
Qing Shuang retracted and released her wrist, using immense force to push Luo Chen back.
Her black hair fluttered, and her eyes remained calm.
"But you are no match for me!"
Luo Chen grinned, "I can at least tie you up and prevent you from interfering with their battle."
As he spoke, his attacks didn't stop.
Stepping lightly, his figure moved erratically, circling around Qing Shuang and leaving a trail of afterimages.
Qing Shuang frowned, putting aside her thoughts of helping Qixia Yuanjun and focusing on dealing with Luo Chen.
Upon engaging, she suddenly noticed some changes in him.
Faster!
Stronger!
Tougher!
When they clashed mid-air, the impact actually caused her some pain.
This was a pain she had never felt before, a pain others had never inflicted upon her.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Another clash of palms forced them to step back.
Qing Shuang was surprised, "You've grown stronger?"
Luo Chen's hands hung down, and a red-black aura began to spread from his fingertips. He said calmly, "People always change, not just you, but me too."
Qing Shuang nodded slightly, acknowledging that this was true.
She was now just a step away from the Hua Shen realm.
And Luo Chen's transformation over the years was clearly visible.
During their first encounter, he had no resistance and was effortlessly ensnared by her sleeves.
During their second encounter, he had some resistance, especially when he used the Wilted and Flourishing Divine Flame, which injured her. However, he ultimately put up a desperate fight and was captured.
And this third time!
"You are worthy of my full strength."
Luo Chen smiled, "I also want to test the fruits of my cultivation over the years."
With those words, they both attacked simultaneously.
The air exploded, and only their afterimages remained at the spot. When they reappeared, they were already locked in combat.
From the moment they stepped onto Soul Severing Cliff, both Luo Chen and Qing Shuang realized that their magical techniques and powers were greatly suppressed in this place.
They were not like Qixia Yuanjun and the five elders of the Heavenly Origin Sect, who could resist that suppression.
Thus, close combat was the best way to fight.
This understanding turned into a tacit agreement between them.
However, while this made the battle less grand compared to the other battlefield, it increased the intensity and danger tenfold, even a hundredfold.
Thud!
A dull sound echoed as Luo Chen, without the protection of his mystical armor, had a large indentation in his chest, with his back bulging out.
He reached back and dragged his hand across her slender, tough arm.
Swish!
Five red-black claw marks appeared clearly, with a faint, acrid smell lingering in the air.
Qing Shuang's expression changed, and her arm trembled.
The claw marks vanished, but the acrid smell remained.
Poison!
"Poison technique? Is this the reason for your rapid improvement in body refinement?"
As she spoke, she lunged forward, her fingers like a sword, aiming for Luo Chen's vital points.
Luo Chen's blood and qi surged, and his primordial energy flowed, healing his chest. Facing her finger sword, he retreated, stepping lightly, and then turned to strike with his elbow.
Mountain Relying Technique!
Thud!
He felt an extreme pain in his shoulder, and upon closer inspection, a blood hole was shockingly visible.
Qing Shuang didn't fare much better, being knocked back, her fingers slightly bent.
"For this battle, you have no idea how many times I've imagined it in my mind!"
Ignoring the blood hole in his arm, Luo Chen pressed his advantage, using the Demon Lord's Seven Dispersing Hands and Fengyue Thundercloud Steps to Immortality in seamless succession.
Qing Shuang countered his moves, using fists, palms, fingers, and kicks, matching him blow for blow.
The two figures clashed and separated around the perimeter of Soul Island.
Their movements were unpredictable, and blood rained down.
The clash of their palms caused the sea to surge.
However, even in this intense close combat, they were not the main players.
The grand formation that almost enveloped the entire Soul Island had been pushed to its limits.
Inside, six figures moved in and out, one after another.
Powerful magic treasures flew like meteors.
Occasionally, a destructive aura would spread, shaking the Soul Island with a thunderous sound.
This battle, involving the lives of eight people, would ultimately decide their fates.
Luo Chen had no time to think about the other side. He only knew that his Minghun was in the hands of the Heavenly Origin Sect, and his life was at stake with each clash.
Holding the Hun Tian Staff, he swung it, causing massive waves.
Meanwhile, Qing Shuang had donned a pair of silver-white gloves. Even when the heavy Hun Tian Staff came crashing down, she fearlessly blocked it.
Those gloves, made of an unknown material, were of an extremely high grade.
When Luo Chen gripped the Hun Tian Staff, he found himself pinching a handful of pale stone powder.
This was the Hun Tian Staff, the very staff that even the Yuantu Sword could only leave a white mark on!
At that moment, Luo Chen's pupils constricted.
He dared not hold back any longer. The Death-dealing Golden Feather swayed beside him, occasionally stabbing and lashing out, preventing Qing Shuang from getting too close to his body.
If the Golden Feather True Person of the Wu Xing Shen Sect were still alive and saw this, he would likely curse loudly.
The incredibly sharp Death-dealing Golden Feather was meant to be used in conjunction with magical techniques and divine powers, but Luo Chen was using it as a close-combat weapon.
But Luo Chen couldn't afford to care. If Qing Shuang's hand touched him, not only would his bones break and his tendons snap, but his skin would tear open as well.
After another close combat clash, Luo Chen lunged forward.
The Hun Tian Staff suddenly expanded and lengthened, pushing Qing Shuang back dozens of feet.
Then, a fierce glint flashed in Luo Chen's eyes.
"Go!"
The Wilted and Flourishing Divine Flame shot out along the Hun Tian Staff like a fiery serpent.
Just as it was about to touch Qing Shuang, her figure vanished like a ghost.
"Is this a spatial technique?" Luo Chen was taken aback. He suddenly remembered that on this Soul Island, other laws of nature might be suppressed, making it impossible to draw on primordial energy, but Qing Shuang was different.
She had comprehended the true meaning of spatial laws!
Space and time are everywhere, omnipresent and eternal!
In the void, a voice of approval echoed, as if praising a worthy opponent.
"I admit your progress over the years!"
In the next moment, ripples in the void fluctuated, and a silver-white hand reached out, pressing against Luo Chen's back.
Just as it was about to touch him, a burst of power without any light erupted, aiming to destroy everything.
Boom!
The burst of power erupted, shattering the illusion.
Qing Shuang was taken aback, her beautiful face showing a hint of disbelief.
This fatal strike had missed.
In response, a blood-red sword tip appeared.
Luo Chen turned and struck, reaching for the stars and the moon, aiming straight for her heart.
Qing Shuang's heart raced with alarm. Her left hand bent oddly, suddenly appearing in front of her, blocking the flat area of her chest.
Clang!
The sword tip met the glove, producing a deafening screech that almost ruptured eardrums.
Luo Chen gritted his teeth, his expression fierce. He gripped the sword with one hand and pushed the hilt with the other.
"Break!"
The incredibly sharp Yuantu Sword advanced three inches, forcibly breaking through the silver-white glove.
Swish!
Qing Shuang floated backward, her green robe blooming like a flower, revealing a splash of blood.
The once-flat chest now had prominent peaks.
She slowly raised her hand, glanced at it, and then looked up thoughtfully.
"Good sword!"
"But the best was your illusion that confused my spirit perception!"
However, Luo Chen's face showed no trace of pride at the compliment.
The Soul Art - Demigods and Ghosts Yield was a technique he had created by observing the illusions of the Ghost Immortal Tower of the wild beasts. It was almost invincible against those with weaker divine souls.
Especially now, with his divine soul strength reaching its peak, there were few nascent souls who could match him.
Throughout their battle, he had suppressed the urge to use this soul art, all to create the perfect opportunity for a fatal strike.
However, even though Qing Shuang had fallen for it, he still failed to kill her, only causing her slight injuries.
"I have simulated countless scenarios of our rematch, always overestimating you. But now that the moment has finally come, I realize I still vastly underestimated you."
Luo Chen held the blood-red long sword, the Death-dealing Golden Feather swaying above his head. He stood in the void, his figure ethereal and elusive, his true form hidden.
Even his voice seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint his location.
Qing Shuang watched him, her expression becoming extremely serious.
She was hailed as the best below the Transformed Sage!
Her past records deserved this praise.
If not for a cultivation mishap, even the powerful Yuan of the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect might not have been able to capture her easily.
But now, she had been injured by an equal, and if not for her quick reaction, she would have met a chilling fate.
She couldn't afford to be careless!
The two of them said no more, each unleashing their full power and charging at each other.
Halfway through her charge, Qing Shuang's figure disappeared again.
Ripples in the void fluctuated, and she reappeared at Luo Chen's side.
Miraculously, the Yuantu Sword was perfectly positioned at her swan-like neck, as if she had willingly run into it.
Squish...
A blood trail appeared.
Luo Chen didn't fare much better. A powerful palm strike, ignoring the confusion of the Demigods and Ghosts Yield, struck his waist.
Boom!
Luo Chen fell from the sky, landing in the turbulent Yellow Springs Sea. He leaned on his sword with one hand and pressed his waist with the other, his face dark.
"Why could she ignore the Demigods and Ghosts Yield?"
On the other side, Qing Shuang wiped the blood from her neck, the blood as vivid as a flower, her beautiful face showing a hint of disbelief.
"Why could he detect my spatial technique?"
In the dim sea, their gazes met, both heavy with seriousness.
Slap!
A palm struck the sea, and Luo Chen leaped up again.
Qing Shuang, undaunted, broke through the air once more.
Power surged, origin energy fueled, and the two figures darted up and down, colliding repeatedly, wounds appearing uncontrollably on both of them.
This battle, far less grand than the one above the Soul Severing Cliff, gradually escalated to an extreme.
Rumble!
The waves rolled in, growing more violent, washing the two tiny figures like two wobbling sea birds.
And the Soul Severing Cliff, standing tall and silent in the distance, bore witness to the most powerful beings in this realm moving toward their destruction. (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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