Chapter 7: 386-392
Chapter 386: Destiny
However, when Chen Fei's mind exited the Strange Heart Realm, that feeling of dizziness and light-headedness reappeared once more. When his core soul energy reached the late stage of the Aperture tempering realm, the weakness in his acupoint cultivation was somewhat highlighted.
Fortunately, with the continuous operation of the Spirit Suppression of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant technique, this uncomfortable sensation gradually dissipated.
Inside the secret chamber, Chen Fei opened his eyes, and there seemed to be a radiant light in his gaze. An aura of not being angry but imposing emanated from him.
After a moment, this aura was retracted by Chen Fei.
For a short period, or until Chen Fei's acupoint cultivation caught up, there was no need to enter the Strange Heart Realm again.
In martial cultivation, both elemental energy and core soul energy were crucial, and it was best for the number of acupoints not to exceed one's core soul energy. Otherwise, it could lead to inadequate control. While core soul energy could surpass the number of acupoints, and many believed the more, the better, it was clear that more was not always better. People thought this way because they hadn't had the opportunity to let their core soul energy significantly surpass the number of acupoints.
Exceeding the number of acupoints by a small margin was fine, but as in Chen Fei's case, exceeding it by an entire realm, problems began to manifest. Thankfully, Chen Fei had the Suppressing Dragon Elephant technique, and this minor issue wouldn't adversely affect him.
The Strange Heart Realm would always be there; it wouldn't disappear. Since Chen Fei had already found a way to increase his core soul energy, he could elevate it when needed.
The following morning.
"Has your core soul energy increased again?" Chi Shuqing muttered, looking at Chen Fei in astonishment.
A few days ago, Chi Shuqing had already noticed that Chen Fei's core soul energy had become much stronger because they had been practicing together, and it was Chen Fei who predominantly guided the operation of the techniques.
Chi Shuqing clearly sensed the increased activity and growth in her own core soul energy, both of which exceeded her usual levels. Her own core soul energy hadn't changed much recently, so any change could only come from Chen Fei.
However, today, Chi Shuqing discovered that the rate of increase in her core soul energy had unexpectedly risen again. It had only been a few days, and she couldn't fathom how Chen Fei's core soul energy could grow so rapidly.
"I made some gains in my cultivation," Chen Fei said, looking at Chi Shuqing's languid demeanor. "Have you heard of the Strange Heart Realm?"
"Of course, I've heard of it," Chi Shuqing replied wearily. "Rumors say that only core soul energy can enter that place, and it's filled with impurities. Only those in the Aperture tempering realm can resist that kind of mental contamination." "Are you interested in visiting the Strange Heart Realm?" Chen Fei contemplated for a moment before saying.
At present, Chi Shuqing was too weak, and the assistance she provided to Chen Fei in their joint cultivation was diminishing. It had become more about enjoyment. Enjoyment was, of course, a good thing – a blend of work and leisure. But what if, on the foundation of enjoyment, they could continuously enhance their cultivation, wouldn't that mean double the happiness?
Inside the Strange Heart Realm, there were numerous eerie creatures. Even if a few hundred people were to hunt them down, it wouldn't pose any threat to Chen Fei, let alone just having one more person like Chi Shuqing. Moreover, Chen Fei could clearly sense that the effects on himself might start to weaken after the First-Order Eerie creatures, possibly to the point of no growth. However, if Chi Shuqing could improve, it would provide substantial assistance to Chen Fei.
"Go to the Strange Heart Realm?" Chi Shuqing was slightly startled but nodded nonetheless. Whatever Chen Fei said at this moment, she was willing to listen.
"Then let's speed up our cultivation," Chen Fei chuckled softly, and Chi Shuqing closed her eyes, blushing with shyness.
An hour later, Chen Fei led Chi Shuqing into the Strange Heart Realm.
It was Chi Shuqing's first time in the Strange Heart Realm. The world was gray and white, with faint murmurs in the background. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she found this environment too oppressive.
Here, there was a strong aversion to living beings!
"Where are we going now?" Chi Shuqing stuck close to Chen Fei. It seemed that only in this way could she instinctively feel a hint of security.
Chen Fei didn't speak. He activated the Star Gazing Art, his eyes emitting a faint light. In the next moment, he grabbed Chi Shuqing's hand, his figure flickering, and he rushed forward.
After a moment, a blurry figure appeared in Chi Shuqing's vision, and a chaotic and maddening aura swept toward them. Chi Shuqing was about to speak when she saw Chen Fei had already taken her into the black mist.
The eerie creature turned its head toward Chen Fei, its mouth about to roar, but before it could let out a roar, a sword light flashed, and the eerie creature's figure split in two instantly.
The eerie creature's stone floated out, and Chen Fei's right foot stepped forward. The formation diagram of the Heart Refinement Formation appeared on the ground, forcibly pulling the eerie creature's source over.
Having recently slain too many eerie creatures, Chen Fei had become adept at dealing with First-Order eerie creatures. He acted simply and straightforwardly.
Chi Shuqing was still somewhat unresponsive. She saw wisps of black gas emanating from the formation diagram, filled with filth and madness, making it seem best to avoid it.
In just a moment, a pure eerie creature source calmly floated within the formation diagram. Chi Shuqing glanced at Chen Fei, who nodded in agreement. Chi Shuqing then placed her palm on the formation diagram.
The eerie creature source within the formation floated over and passed through the position of Chi Shuqing's palm. Chen Fei furrowed his brow slightly as he noticed that this eerie creature source didn't integrate into Chi Shuqing's mind.
Chi Shuqing also looked somewhat surprised. She could feel her mind's strong desire to absorb this source, as integrating it would undoubtedly bring great benefits. However, to her dismay, this source seemed elusive, like an illusion, and there was no connection established between them.
Chen Fei attempted to control the source to make contact with Chi Shuqing, but the result remained unchanged. For Chi Shuqing, this source felt fake.
Stepping forward, Chen Fei reached into the formation diagram. As soon as the eerie creature source made contact with Chen Fei, it naturally merged into his mind.
Chen Fei radiated a faint light for a while before stopping.
His mind had grown a bit more, but compared to before, the growth provided by the First-Order eerie creature was now quite minimal. However, that wasn't the main concern. The source was normal, so why couldn't Chi Shuqing absorb it?
Chen Fei had some speculations in his mind. Activating the Star Gazing Art, he looked around and held Chi Shuqing's hand. The two of them disappeared into the black mist.
After a moment, by the side of a small stream, Chen Fei sliced an eerie creature with his sword. It wasn't dead yet, as Chen Fei had intentionally spared its life.
"You go ahead and kill it," Chen Fei turned to Chi Shuqing and said.
"Alright!"
Without asking more questions, Chi Shuqing conjured a sword blade in her hand and proceeded to kill the eerie creatures with a few swift strikes.
As these eerie creatures weren't slain using the Slaughter Spirit Technique, they manifested as a mass of black mist. Chi Shuqing drove this black mist into the Heart Refinement Formation.
The Heart Refinement Formation activated, and the black mist began to seep out. Within the formation diagram, only a cluster of eerie creature source remained. However, compared to when Chen Fei had used the Slaughter Spirit Technique, the formation took much longer to operate. It was only in the final moments that it expelled the lingering impurities from the source.
"Now, give it a try," Chen Fei said, turning to Chi Shuqing.
Chi Shuqing nodded and reached her hand into the Heart Refinement Formation. The eerie creature source floated over, but the result was the same as the first time—it passed right through Chi Shuqing's palm.
It was like a wisp of mist passing by, or even less substantial. At least with mist, you could feel its presence when it touched you, but this eerie creature source left Chi Shuqing without any sensation.
Chen Fei had Chi Shuqing step fully into the Heart Refinement Formation, but there was still no change. In the end, Chen Fei absorbed the eerie creature source.
"Heart technique, Heart Refinement Formation…"
In Chen Fei's mind, he couldn't help but recall the Heart Formation and the monk's spiritual device he had encountered in the Strange Wind Realm. "Maybe I need to control this formation to make it work?" Chi Shuqing speculated.
"Perhaps, but it's also possible that controlling the Heart Refinement Formation won't allow us to absorb these sources either!" Chen Fei furrowed his brow and then thought of those ruined buildings once again.
With the might of the Heart Refinement Formation and the Star Gazing Art, that mysterious lineage must have been incredibly prosperous and powerful in its heyday. After all, the rapid growth of core soul energy could solve many problems for cultivators.
However, despite having such a powerful heritage, this lineage declined, leaving behind only remnants and ruins.
Chen Fei had initially thought that this lineage encountered an irresistible adversary within the Strange Heart Realm, leading to its downfall. Now it seemed that the transmission of this lineage required individuals with special constitutions to cultivate successfully, didn't it?
The compatibility between techniques and cultivators mattered significantly.
If the compatibility was high, cultivation could be smooth sailing. Conversely, if the compatibility was lacking, it might be challenging to make progress, especially for those with mediocre talents.
Therefore, a sufficiently powerful sect typically had multiple techniques in its transmission, allowing its members to have a variety of choices rather than being confined to a single path.
Often, the introductory techniques for beginners were already a way of selecting suitable candidates. These entry-level techniques often embodied the unique characteristics of a sect's techniques.
Regular cultivation techniques emphasized compatibility, so it was entirely normal for the mysterious lineage of the Strange Heart Realm to prioritize compatibility.
It was even possible that this lineage required individuals with certain physical attributes or mental characteristics to practice it.
"Let's head back for now. I'll pass on the Heart Refinement Formation to you later. Try to practice it and see if you can master it," Chen Fei said softly, looking at Chi Shuqing.
Although Chen Fei had doubts about whether Chi Shuqing could control the Heart Refinement Formation, given her lack of response when she touched the source earlier, he still wanted to give it a try.
As for whether Chen Fei possessed this special constitution or not, it was uncertain. However, since the interface allowed Chen Fei to forcefully control the Heart Refinement Formation, whether he had a special constitution was no longer important.
"If I can't control this formation in the future, I'll still have to rely on you to cultivate my core soul energy," Chi Shuqing said playfully, looking at Chen Fei.
Chi Shuqing also considered the possibility that she might not be able to control the formation, and she couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. But constitution was something that couldn't easily be changed; it was determined by one's innate nature and was difficult to alter later in life.
Chen Fei smiled faintly, grasping Chi Shuqing's hand, and they both disappeared into the Strange Heart Realm.
Over the next month, Chen Fei continued his systematic cultivation, opening up seven more acupoints, bringing his total to sixty-eight.
Compared to the previous pace of opening one acupoint every three days, Chen Fei's progress was slightly slower this month. It wasn't due to a lack of resources, but rather a deliberate decision to slow down in order to further solidify his foundation.
Compared to other cultivators, Chen Fei's martial foundation was already exceptionally strong. After all, with late-stage Aperture Tempering realm techniques in his repertoire at the great completion level, he was undoubtedly a unique presence in this realm. Even in a place boasting numerous geniuses like the Imperial City or other dominant factions, it was unlikely for anyone to match Chen Fei's monstrous talents..
Chapter 387: Puppet
In addition to achieving mastery in his techniques, Chen Fei's core soul energy had also reached the later stages of the Aperture tempering realm. Furthermore, his robust physique, granted by the Suppressing Dragon Elephant Technique, along with all these factors, provided Chen Fei with an unparalleled foundation.
However, even with all these advantages, Chen Fei decided to take it a bit slower.
After opening each acupoint, Chen Fei would pause for a few days to contemplate the changes the acupoint brought to his body. Once he understood these changes, he would proceed to open new acupoints.
In the practice of cultivation, understanding the underlying principles was crucial, not just knowing the techniques. Failing to grasp the why and how of things could lead to future problems.
The interface, an extraordinary existence, offered Chen Fei profound insights during the cultivation of each technique. These insights allowed him to comprehend the mysteries hidden within the techniques.
Chen Fei diligently absorbed these insights, making them a part of himself. Although Chen Fei had slightly slowed his pace, opening seven acupoints in a month was still an incredible speed that would leave others in disbelief if it were known.
From the breakthrough of the mid – stage Aperture tempering realm to now, it had been roughly eight months, not even a full year. Yet, in this short span, Chen Fei had already opened sixty-eight acupoints.
With only four more acupoints to open, Chen Fei would be able to attempt breaking through to the later stage of the Aperture tempering realm. To achieve this leap in just under a year, from mid-stage to later stage, was an accomplishment that would sound like a dream to most. Many cultivators in the Aperture tempering realm struggled to open a single acupoint in a year, making Chen Fei's rapid progress nothing short of astonishing.
Initially, it took Chen Fei over two years to break through from the early stage of the Aperture tempering realm to the mid-stage. Now, as his cultivation level grew, the time required for breakthroughs became increasingly shorter. In the past month, in addition to the growth of his acupoint cultivation, Chen Fei also reached mastery in the practice of Star Gazing Art.
Having achieved this level in the Star Gazing Art, Chen Fei's sensory perception had become remarkably heightened even when he wasn't actively using the technique.
Currently, even cultivators at the later stages of the Aperture tempering realm or the pinnacle of the realm couldn't approach Chen Fei without being detected. Notions of ambush or surprise attacks were utterly ineffective against him.
Furthermore, Chen Fei could extend his vision for dozens of miles, granting him an expanded awareness of the surrounding area.
While he couldn't yet achieve "Thousand-Mile Soul Lock," within a hundred miles, if someone's aura was detected by Chen Fei, they had no hope of evading his pursuit.
Unless that person possessed a speed that far surpassed Chen Fei's. However, among cultivators of the same realm, Chen Fei had yet to encounter anyone ' with such exceptional speed.
Apart from the Star Gazing Art, Chen Fei had been consistently practicing the "Primordial Sword Scripture," which had reached the perfection of its fourth level.
Although reaching the fourth level of the Primordial Sword Scripture allowed Chen Fei to begin incorporating it into the inheritance of the fourth style, his current primary focus was on mastering the "Great Thunder Sword," which was still in the stage of proficiency.
Hence, the complete mastery of the fourth level of the Primordial Sword Scripture had not yet provided Chen Fei with significant combat enhancements.
However, given the current pace of his practice with the Great Thunder Sword, it wouldn't be long before it reached perfection. With a perfected Great Thunder Sword, incorporated into the Primordial Sword Scripture, the boost in power would become quite substantial.
Chen Fei's accelerated cultivation speed also influenced the pace of training for Chi Shuqing.
After all, they had been practicing together, and Chen Fei's source power had always been the guiding force. The stronger Chen Fei became, the more he could naturally channel the elemental energy from all directions.
Currently, Chi Shuqing practically lived at the Primordial Sword Sect. The constant back and forth between her own cultivation and assisting Chen Fei was starting to feel bothersome. When compared to her solo cultivation, the speed of advancement while practicing with Chen Fei was undeniably much faster.
Clearly, when there were quicker and better alternatives available, hardly anyone would choose the original way.
Going from frugality to luxury is easy, but reversing the process and returning to frugality can test one's self-discipline. The key was that Chi Shuqing had no need to test her self-discipline in this matter; there was simply no reason to consider it.
Moreover, after each joint cultivation session, Chi Shuqing's body would feel weak, and she needed quite some time to recover before she could leave.
Chi Shuqing was very content with this cultivation lifestyle. However, the only issue was that she had been struggling to make progress with the Heart Refinement Formation that Chen Fei had taught her.
Even though she could understand things like diagrams, she couldn't seem to lay out the formation, whether in reality or within the Strange Heart Realm. This seemed to confirm Chen Fei's earlier speculation that the mysterious cultivation techniques or formations from that particular lineage might indeed require a specific kind of constitution to succeed.
Clearly, Chi Shuqing did not possess this constitution, while the young disciple from the earlier seedling period probably had the required constitution, meeting the lineage's criteria.
Because Chi Shuqing frequently visited the Primordial Sword Sect, news of her relationship with Chen Fei had spread throughout the sect. Most of the elders looked at Chen Fei with envious eyes. The selection of partners among disciples of the Sunken Water Pavilion was already strict, and for elders in the Aperture tempering realm, it was even more so.
Chi Shuqing choosing Chen Fei in the beginning might have surprised some people, especially since Chen Fei seemed to possess immense potential but hadn't yet transformed it into true strength. Only a select few like Qu Qingsheng truly understood how accurate Chi Shuqing's judgment was and how swiftly she acted.
Under a starry sky, in the courtyard, Chen Fei sat cross-legged with Chi Shuqing beside him. She hadn't left tonight mainly due to her lack of strength. Suddenly, Chen Fei's eyes opened, and he looked in the direction of the mountain gate with a puzzled expression. He slowly stood up.
"What's wrong?" Chi Shuqing asked, watching Chen Fei.
"Something's odd!"
A faint light flashed in Chen Fei's eyes. With Star Gazing Art activated, he ignored all terrain obstacles and took in the scene outside the mountain gate. "Elder Wu?"
Seeing the figure outside the mountain gate, Chen Fei was momentarily surprised. He naturally recognized the aura of Wu Guangyin. However, at this moment, Wu Guangyin felt extremely peculiar to Chen Fei, completely different from before.
What was more critical was that Wu Guangyin should be on the other side in Shang Wu City, monitoring the situation there. How could he suddenly return here?
Outside the mountain gate, Wu Guangyin moved silently, slipping into the mountain gate like a night bat. The disciples patrolling the mountain didn't notice his presence. The formations inside the gate had already recorded his aura and didn't trigger any alarms.
Wu Guangym's figure flickered as he arrived at the residence of the inner sect disciples. His eyes displayed moments of clarity and struggle, and a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.
However, as the red glow in Wu Guangyin's eyes grew stronger, the signs of his struggle gradually faded away. Instead, a bloodthirsty expression began to surface, sending shivers down one's spine.
A sinister smile crept onto Wu Guangyin's lips as he moved towards a particular house. With his right hand extended forward, a powerful suction force emanated from his hand.
An inner sect disciple was helplessly drawn into Wu Guangyin's grasp, completely defenseless. Just as Wu Guangyin was about to crush the disciple's neck, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Wu Guangyin's expression changed abruptly, and he was about to react, but he suddenly felt an immense force surging into his body. All his elemental energy retreated in the face of this overpowering strength.
Wu Guangyin had almost no resistance and was subdued, unable to move.
With a gentle movement of his right hand, Chen Fei silently returned the oblivious inner sect disciple back into the residence. With Wu Guangyin in tow, he disappeared towards the main peak.
Wu Guangyin's body trembled incessantly as he attempted to break free from Chen Fei's restraint. However, the disparity in their strengths, coupled with Chen Fei's sudden intervention, made it impossible for Wu Guangyin to escape. In the blink of an eye, Chen Fei arrived in front of Qu Qingsheng's courtyard. Sensing Chen Fei's aura, Qu Qingsheng appeared at the door and saw Chen Fei holding Wu Guangyin.
Upon witnessing this scene, Qu Qingsheng was momentarily surprised. However, he quickly noticed something unusual about Wu Guangyin. It wasn't just the cruelty in Wu Guangyin's eyes; there was also something extremely peculiar mixed in his aura.
"Just now, Elder Wu appeared in the inner sect disciple's area…"
Chen Fei briefly recounted the recent events. When Qu Qingsheng heard that Wu Guangyin intended to kill an inner sect disciple, a hint of shock appeared on Qu Qingsheng's face.
Qu Qingsheng was about to approach and assess Wu Guangyin's condition when Wu Guangyin's body suddenly trembled slightly, and the faint aura of cruelty that had been emerging vanished instantly.
Wu Guangyin slowly opened his eyes and, upon seeing Qu Qingsheng and Chen
Fei, he couldn't help but pause, not fully understanding what had happened. Glancing around, Wu Guangyin realized he was back within the sect, and his surprise deepened.
"Sect Master, wasn't I in Shang Wu City? What's going on?" Wu Guangyin looked at Qu Qingsheng, his expression filled with confusion, puzzlement, and a hint of anxiety.
For anyone to suddenly find themselves transported thousands of miles away with a blink of an eye would be quite unnerving, let alone for someone in the Aperture tempering realm. This level of disorientation was even more terrifying.
"Do you have no recollection of what just happened?" Qu Qingsheng furrowed his brows.
As a veteran Aperture tempering realm cultivator in the Primordial Sword Sect, even though Wu Guangyin was only in the early Aperture tempering realm stage, he possessed significantly more experience and strength than the average elder. Under these circumstances, if Wu Guangyin could be silently controlled, what might happen to others who encountered a similar situation?
Chen Fei released his grip on Wu Guangyin's shoulder, took a step back, and watched Wu Guangyin. He didn't speak but continued to operate the Star Gazing Art to its fullest extent.
"I only remember observing the movements of that person in Shang Wu City. Everything that happened afterward is a blank," Wu Guangyin shook his head.
"Relax your mind, I will examine your sea of consciousness," Qu Qingsheng said with a solemn tone after a moment of contemplation.
Wu Guangyin's situation seemed akin to someone having placed an imprint on his mind and subsequently manipulating it at will. Unfortunately, when it came to one's own mental state, it was difficult for others to discern any irregularities from the outside if the person did not release their guard.
"Very well," Wu Guangyin nodded.
Releasing his mental guard would mean being completely defenseless, but Wu Guangyin didn't hesitate.
"Wait a moment," Chen Fei suddenly stopped Qu Qingsheng, who looked at him with some confusion.
"Elder Wu, do you think Master Xi Lian is foolish?" Chen Fei stared at Wu Guangyin and suddenly asked.
"What…what?" Wu Guangyin's aura trembled significantly, and he looked at Chen Fei with a bewildered expression.
"I mean, Master Xi Lian, is he a fool and a despicable person?" Chen Fei said with a stern voice.
"You… how dare you!"
Wu Guangyin's eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, his acupoints all over his body quivered, and he was about to explode. However, Chen Fei's right hand, in the form of a sword finger, had already touched Wu Guangyin's forehead in advance..
Chapter 388: Blood Sacrifice
"Buzz!"
A ripple spread out from the center of Wu Guangyin's head, and his body trembled slightly as a dark shadow was forcibly ejected.
As soon as the dark shadow appeared, a bloodthirsty and savage aura rushed forth, just like the eerie and chaotic presence in the Srrange Heart Realm, mad and frenzied. But within the madness, there was a hint of cunning.
"Roar!"
The dark shadow roared towards Chen Fei, but before it could make a move, a sword light had already pierced through it. The dark shadow quivered slightly, and in the next moment, it turned into black smoke and dissipated.
Wu Guangyin's body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, from start to finish, it was just the time it took for a few thoughts to pass.
Chen Fei approached and helped Wu Guangyin up, sending his energy into him. In just a moment, Wu Guangyin's eyes slowly opened. There seemed to be no change from when he pretended to be conscious earlier, but Chen Fei knew that Wu Guangyin was now fine.
"What happened to me?" Wu Guangyin looked at Chen Fei and Qu Qingsheng, his expression confused.
Qu Qingsheng looked at Chen Fei, and Chen Fei nodded, indicating that Wu
Guangyin was now okay.
If it weren't for the Star Gazing Art, a technique that specifically targeted the mind, Chen Fei would have had a hard time detecting Wu Guangyin's abnormality. Not to mention sensing Wu Guangyin's strangeness from several miles away at the mountain gate.
The Thousand Thread Technique is actually quite sensitive to the perception of the mind, but it still lacks a bit. Especially when Wu Guangyin pretended to recover just now, the Thousand Thread Technique didn't detect anything wrong. Only the Star Gazing Art kept reminding Chen Fei, which led to the probing scene just now.
When Wu Guangyin returned from Shang Wu City, the biggest suspicion was on Master Xi Lian from Shang Wu City. The probability of Master Xi Lian possessing Wu Guangyin was low, but turning Wu Guangyin into a ghastly puppet was highly likely.
A ghastly puppet, someone who is enslaved to do another's bidding, and the dark shadow just now was the true form of that spirit.
If Wu Guangyin had released his mind just now, and Qu Qingsheng had probed with his mind, there was a high possibility that Qu Qingsheng's mind would have been contaminated. Normally, the mind of a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator would not be easily contaminated, and it was rare to hear of a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator being enslaved.
But for Wu Guangyin to release his mind, indicating that the degree of contamination was beyond imagination. Even a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator might encounter significant problems if not careful.
Qu Qingsheng also seemed to have realized this situation. At this moment, his expression was grave. If Chen Fei hadn't sensed something was wrong just now, not only would Qu Qingsheng have been in danger, but the entire Primordial Sword Sect might have been in trouble.
"You were being controlled by Master Xi Lian," Chen Fei said in a low voice, briefly recounting what had happened just now.
After hearing Chen Fei's words, Wu Guangyin's eyes slowly widened, and there was a look of horror in his eyes. He wasn't afraid of dying himself, but if he were controlled and dragged the entire sect down, he couldn't die in peace.
At the same time, fragments of memories started to surface in Wu Guangyin's mind.
"Blood Sacrifice!"
With a bit of strength returning to his body, Wu Guangyin straightened himself and continued, "Kill the inner sect disciples, draw their essence and blood, set up a blood formation, and release the aura to corrupt even more people!" Qu Qingsheng glanced at Chen Fei, truly grateful for Chen Fei's quick thinking. Wu Guangyin was an elder of the sect, and the array formations wouldn't have triggered any alerts. By the time they realized something was amiss, the blood formation would probably have been completed.
The outer and inner sect disciples in the Body Refining Realm wouldn't stand a chance against this contamination. Even the core disciples of the True Transmission Peak would likely be unable to escape this calamity.
As for the remaining elders in the Aperture tempering realm, it was hard to predict what would happen. After all, the extent of contamination from a blood formation that included disciples from the entire Primordial Sword Sect was uncertain. Perhaps even those in the early stages of the Aperture tempering realm would be gradually corrupted, and it would become increasingly difficult to reverse the damage.
The worst-case scenario would likely involve only a few surviving elders in the Primordial Sword Sect or even total annihilation, turning into puppets of
Shang Wu City.
Trapped between the desire to survive and the inability to die!
Chen Fei furrowed his brow deeply, realizing how sinister these mind-controlling people in the Aperture tempering realm could be. Because they feared Shang Wu City, everyone maintained a considerable distance from it, yet they still fell victim to the scheme unknowingly.
"Perhaps it has something to do with that damaged high-grade magical treasure?" A thought suddenly flashed through Chen Fei's mind.
In this region, the most powerful magical treasures were of low-grade quality, held by various strong cultivators in the Aperture tempering realm. There was once an attempt to craft a medium-grade magical treasure, but it ultimately failed.
It was rumored that high-grade magical treasures possessed incredibly potent power, even when damaged. They likely retained many mystical qualities.
In the end, everyone had underestimated Shang Wu City and the mind-controlling individuals like Master Xi Lian.
"There are people from various sects outside Shang Wu City. We need to inform them. Chen Fei, you go and notify the disciples of the Sunken Water Pavilion," Qu Qingsheng said.
Qu Qingsheng's expression was solemn, and the situation was dire. Despite the competition among several sects surrounding Immortal Cloud City, in the current circumstances, the benefits of unity far outweighed any rivalry.
Chen Fei nodded in agreement and accepted the task.
Qu Qingsheng, along with Wu Guangyin, vanished from their location, while Chen Fei returned to his courtyard and found Chi Shuqing.
"Shang Wu City and a blood sacrifice?"
After hearing Chen Fei's brief account, Chi Shuqing immediately stood up. She hadn't expected so much to happen in just the short time Chen Fei was away. "Elder Chen was sent to Shang Wu City, and now he might be in trouble," Chi Shuqing said as she rushed out of the courtyard, eager to return to the sect.
Chen Fei moved quickly, catching up with Chi Shuqing. He held her hand, activated his Soaring Heaven Technique to its limit, and with the aid of the Shuttle of Flying Clouds, the two of them disappeared from the Primordial Sword Sect in the blink of an eye.
Chi Shuqing had only reached the early stage of the Aperture tempering realm, and under normal circumstances, she could handle most situations. However, if the Sunken Water Pavilion was truly in trouble, her early-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivation would render her extremely vulnerable.
Furthermore, Chi Shuqing hadn't cultivated the Star Gazing Art, so she wouldn't be able to discern who was tainted and who remained unaffected within the Sunken Water Pavilion. Chen Fei realized that once they left, he might not see Chi Shuqing again.
Having spent so much time together, Chen Fei couldn't just watch Chi Shuqing go off to what might be a perilous situation. Given the chance, Chen Fei hoped that the Sunken Water Pavilion would remain unharmed.
Chi Shuqing looked at Chen Fei beside her, her eyes filled with tenderness. His willingness to accompany her deeply touched her heart. At the same time, Chen Fei's display of speed with his cultivation technique surprised Chi
Shuqing.
This kind of speed was something Chi Shuqing had only seen in the Sunken Water Pavilion's Sect Master in the past. And Chen Fei had clearly only recently broken through to the mid-stage of the Aperture tempering realm.
Every time Chen Fei revealed a bit of himself, it would astonish Chi Shuqing. While she continued to admire him, she also grew curious about how many more secrets Chen Fei might be hiding.
Originally, with Chi Shuqing's cultivation level, she considered herself well-informed, but in front of Chen Fei, it seemed like all her knowledge lost its significance.
The Primordial Sword Sect was dozens of miles away from the Sunken Water Pavilion, but in just fifteen minutes, Chen Fei and Chi Shuqing arrived at the gate of the Sunken Water Pavilion.
Seeing the relatively calm Sunken Water Pavilion, Chi Shuqing couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She had been afraid that when she arrived, all she would see was a blood-soaked gate.
"Let's go, we should find the Sect Master first."
Chi Shuqing turned to look at Chen Fei but noticed that he was frowning as he stared at the Sunken Water Pavilion. This sudden change in Chen Fei's demeanor made Chi Shuqing tense up again.
"What's wrong?" Chi Shuqing realized her voice was trembling.
"Elder Chen might have returned."
Due to the barriers of the Sunken Water Pavilion's formations, Chen Fei found it challenging to sense the strange aura inside the sect. It was different from when he was in the Primordial Sword Sect, where the formations there didn't pose any hindrance to him.
However, even with the barriers of the Sunken Water Pavilion's formations, Chen Fei still had a vague feeling that something was amiss.
"Let's send in a clone to check first," Chen Fei said in a low voice.
A phantom figure emerged from within Chen Fei, moved swiftly, and rushed into the Sunken Water Pavilion. The formation at the gate of the Sunken Water Pavilion slightly trembled upon Chen Fei's arrival, already issuing a warning inward.
Inside the Sunken Water Pavilion, the clone of Chen Fei's gaze swept over the area for disciples, but it seemed like nothing unusual had happened, everything was as usual.
Chen Fei's gaze scanned the surroundings again; everything appeared normal, yet that strange feeling still lingered in his heart. Chen Fei's figure flickered as he rushed toward the main peak of the Sunken Water Pavilion.
Regardless of whether there was an issue or not, his first priority was to find the Sect Master of the Sunken Water Pavilion, Ji Ruiqing, and inform her of the situation.
"Who are you, and why do you trespass into my Sunken Water Pavilion?" A sharp shout came from afar, and a graceful figure flickered, chasing after Chen Fei. Chen Fei didn't deliberately avoid her, stopping on a boulder and waiting for the approaching person.
Seeing that the intruder hadn't left after entering the gate from afar, Chu Yushuang's expression couldn't help but change slightly. As she got closer and combined it with the aura, she immediately recognized Chen Fei's identity. Recently, Chen Fei had been talked about quite a bit within the Sunken Water Pavilion. Apart from his natural talent, the biggest reason for this was Chi Shuqing.
After all, Chi Shuqing's choice of Chen Fei had surprised many people within the Sunken Water Pavilion. Regardless of how you looked at it, Chen Fei could, at best, be considered a rising star. Even if they truly valued Chen Fei's future, he would have to come to the Sunken Water Pavilion of his own accord.
But, precisely because Chi Shuqing had gone to the Primordial Sword Sect, it could be said that the result had come about because of Chi Shuqing's initiative. Many within the Sunken Water Pavilion were puzzled, and what's more, the Sect Master Ji Ruiqing had silently consented to Chi Shuqing's actions. People speculated that there might be some hidden circumstances involved, making them even more curious about Chen Fei.
Chu Yushuang was also curious about Chen Fei, even having thoughts of finding an opportunity to meet him. However, Chu Yushuang hadn't expected that they would cross paths in this manner.
Chen Fei had actually intruded into the Sunken Water Pavilion at night, a method that didn't involve notifying or requesting permission. Such an approach was far from friendly.
Considering Chen Fei's relationship with Chi Shuqing, this behavior could even be described as disrespectful. It was almost equivalent to not knocking on the door and instead directly kicking it down.
"Lady Chu, I come under the orders of Sect Master Qu. I request an audience with your Sect Master," Chen Fei said, bowing to Chu Yushuang..
Chapter 389: Irreversible Calamity
"At this hour, seeking an audience with the Sect Master?" Chu Yushuang was taken aback upon hearing Chen Fei's words.
However, considering Chen Fei's act of intruding into the Sunken Water Pavilion at night, she knew no one would joke about such a matter.
Chu Yushuang nodded and, with a flicker of her figure, headed towards the main peak. Chen Fei's steps followed closely by her side.
As Chu Yushuang saw Chen Fei easily keeping pace with her, she recalled Chen Fei's reputation as a genius and felt a hint of competitiveness rise within her. She unconsciously increased her speed.
Chu Yushuang hadn't broken through to the mid-stage of the Aperture tempering realm for long, just a few years earlier than Chen Fei. However, with her exceptional talent and background, she attempted the breakthrough and succeeded at the age of twenty-five.
Therefore, in terms of age, there wasn't much difference between Chen Fei and Chu Yushuang.
Over the years, Chen Fei had shown even greater talent, overshadowing Chu Yushuang. Gradually, people had stopped mentioning Chu Yushuang's name.
Chu Yushuang didn't harbor jealousy; after all, the turnover of generations was a common occurrence, and people always focused on what was new and fresh. It was a perfectly normal phenomenon.
Chu Yushuang's sudden increase in speed was more of an instinctive comparison. There was a saying, "In the world of scholars, there is no number one; in the world of martial artists, there is no second." This situation applied perfectly here, and among peers, it was even more pronounced.
Chu Yushuang's sudden acceleration didn't bother Chen Fei, as it brought them closer to meeting Ji Ruiqing faster. Whether he could keep up or not, his clone might have lower power, but when it came to speed, excluding the Shuttle of Flying Clouds, they were evenly matched. After all, the clone was an extension of the Soaring Heaven Technique, and their agility was identical.
In Chen Fei's eyes, Chu Yushuang's unexpected burst of speed was nothing remarkable. In fact, if it weren't for the breach of etiquette, he would have liked to grab Chu Yushuang's hand and dash directly to the main peak of the Sunken Water Pavilion. However, in matters of men and women, one had to maintain boundaries. Grabbing Chu Yushuang's hand would lead to serious consequences.
The two figures flickered, and in just a short while, they arrived at the main peak.
Chu Yushuang secretly glanced at Chen Fei and felt a hint of dissatisfaction. No matter how she accelerated or even gave her all along the way, she couldn't create even half a body's distance between them.
Throughout the journey, Chen Fei appeared relaxed and composed, showing that this speed wasn't challenging for him. This expression somewhat irritated Chu Yushuang. Despite breaking through several years earlier than Chen Fei and excelling in her cultivation, she found herself trailing behind.
It was frustrating for Chu Yushuang to accept that. She excelled in her cultivation, and her primary expertise was in agility. Among the early-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivators in the Sunken Water Pavilion, she was even among the top three.
Achieving such status within a few years demonstrated Chu Yushuang's unquestionable talent. However, it seemed that she was now losing to Chen Fei, which was hard for her to accept.
If the initial competition was just a subconscious comparison, now it had truly ignited the competitive spirit within Chu Yushuang.
"Yushuang seeks an audience with the Sect Master!"
"Chen Fei of the Primordial Sword Sect seeks an audience with Sect Master Ji!" Chu Yushuang and Chen Fei proclaimed separately.
Given Ji Ruiqing's late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivation, she should have sensed their arrival by now. However, there was no response from the main peak.
"Yushuang seeks an audience with the Sect Master!"
After waiting for a moment without a response, Chu Yushuang's brow furrowed, and she raised her voice again. However, Ji Ruiqing remained silent.
"Is Elder Su within the sect?"
Chen Fei's expression slightly changed, and he was tempted to rush in directly. But there was a protective formation on the main peak that even his clone's strength couldn't break. Trying to force his way in would likely result in the formation retaliating and killing him.
As for Elder Chen, whom Chu Yushuang had mentioned earlier, Chen Fei had asked Chu Yushuang about his whereabouts on the way, and she had said he hadn't returned yet. However, the current situation didn't seem to align with Elder Chen's absence. Ji Ruiqing wouldn't have issues like this if everything was normal.
'Elder Su went on a mission a few days ago and hasn't returned to the sect." Chu Yushuang also sensed that the situation had changed. Unfortunately, the second late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator within the Sunken Water Pavilion wasn't present at the moment.
"Where can we sound the alarm?" Chen Fei asked in a low voice.
They couldn't afford to search for everyone individually anymore; it would take too much time. Chen Fei preferred to make a mistake by gathering everyone rather than risk leaving someone behind.
"There!"
Chu Yushuang pointed to another peak and quickly rushed towards it. While on the way, Chen Fei briefly explained the severity of the situation, and Chu Yushuang immediately grasped the gravity of it.
In the past few days, she hadn't seen Elder Chen return, which had given her some peace of mind. However, the current circumstances didn't look promising.
"Whoosh!"
A figure flickered past Chu Yushuang in an instant. She watched as Chen Fei's rapidly retreating figure and couldn't help but widen her eyes. What kind of speed was this?
Was this the agility one should possess at the early Aperture tempering realm?
Chu Yushuang's mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened. The competitive spirit she had harbored moments ago had been shattered by Chen Fei's astounding speed.
"Boom!"
Before Chu Yushuang could fully comprehend what had happened, there was a deafening sound from a distant peak. Simultaneously, the aura of another Elder from the Sunken Water Pavilion, Qu Yuexiu, appeared in Chu Yushuang's senses.
"Why would Elder Qu be there?"
Chu Yushuang pushed aside her concerns about Chen Fei's agility, and an overwhelming sense of unease settled in her heart.
"Clang!"
A thunderous voice, reminiscent of a tolling bell, instantly reverberated throughout the entire Sunken Water Pavilion, startling everyone awake.
On the Bell Mountain Peak, Qu Yuexiu wore a grim expression as she glared at Chen Fei. Occasionally, a dark glint flickered in her eyes. Chen Fei furrowed his brow and observed Qu Yuexiu closely. With the help of Star Gazing Art, he detected the same unusual presence mixed in Qu Yuexiu's aura, just like what he had sensed from Wu Guangyin earlier.
Clearly, Qu Yuexiu had been contaminated at some point. He had probably stood guard in front of the bronze bell to prevent anyone from ringing it.
However, Chen Fei's current body, while of average strength, possessed agility far beyond the norm for an early Aperture tempering realm cultivator. With just a few maneuvers, he managed to deceive Qu Yuexiu and promptly rang the bronze bell.
"Intruder! You shall be killed!" Qu Yuexiu stared at Chen Fei with a chilling gaze.
"Senior Qu, it's a misunderstanding," Chu Yushuang shouted from a distance as she arrived on the scene.
"Yushuang, this person harbors ill intentions. Join me in slaying him!" Qu Yuexiu glanced at Chu Yushuang and said in a low voice.
Before her words could fully sink in, Qu Yuexiu had already appeared in front of Chen Fei. Her sword pointed toward Chen Fei's head, and simultaneously, a chaotic and frenzied sword intent assaulted Chen Fei's mental state.
Mental techniques were rarely used among cultivators of the same level, as they could lead to backlash unless there was a significant power disparity, like when a mid-Aperture tempering realm cultivator was suppressing an early Aperture tempering realm cultivator.
Qu Yuexiu, being in the early Aperture tempering realm, didn't consider the consequences of using mental techniques like someone twisted and deranged. She only cared about achieving results.
Chen Fei remained expressionless, completely ignoring Qu Yuexiu's mental technique. With his right hand formed into a sword finger, he pointed it directly at Qu Yuexiu's forehead.
A sinister smile crept across Qu Yuexiu's face as she released another surge of sword intent toward Chen Fei's mental state. However, before this second wave of sword intent could reach Chen Fei, it collided with the first wave, which had struck Chen Fei's mental state moments ago.
Qu Yuexiu let out a muffled grunt as her mental sea violently roiled, feeling as if her mental state was on the verge of shattering.
The initial collision between the first wave of sword intent, which was as strong as hitting solid iron or diamond, and Qu Yuexiu's own sword intent, which was more like tofu, left no doubt about the outcome. Qu Yuexiu's sword intent shattered in the face of Chen Fei's, just like fragile glass.
Qu Yuexiu thought that as long as she disregarded everything and did whatever it took, she would be able to win. After all, reckless madmen were the most terrifying because their actions were unpredictable.
However, she failed to realize that such a reckless approach only hastened her downfall.
Chen Fei's clone may have been weaker in terms of other aspects, but his mental state was identical in quality to the original. The difference lay mainly in quantity, but he still had the protection of the Spirit Suppression of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant Technique and the Thousand Thread Technique.
Even if it were a mental technique from a late Aperture tempering realm cultivator, it would not harm Chen Fei. In fact, it would likely be even more challenging for the opponent.
With a resounding impact, Chen Fei's finger touched Qu Yuexiu's forehead. Under the influence of the Star Gazing Art and the Thousand Thread Technique's subtle control, Chen Fei's Godslayer Sword drove straight into Qu Yuexiu's mental sea. While Qu Yuexiu's mental sea was in turmoil, Chen Fei tore apart the black mist shrouding Qu Yuexiu's mental state.
A howl erupted from the dark shadow, as Chen Fei forcibly expelled it from Qu Yuexiu's mental sea. The shadow attempted to resist, but Chen Fei's Godslayer Sword stifled it once more.
This dark entity seemed to recognize Chen Fei's prowess. It glanced at Chu Yushuang, who was approaching from afar, and with a swift flicker, it charged toward her. It needed to reattach itself to another cultivator's consciousness because, in its current state, it was at its most vulnerable.
Once a ghastly puppet attached itself to a cultivator's mental sea, it was challenging to expel. Many conditions needed to be met, but Chen Fei met them all. Whether it was the formidable Godslayer Sword, the subtle control of the Thousand Thread Technique and Star Gazing Art, or the fearlessness in close-quarters combat thanks to the Suppressing Dragon Elephant Technique and Thousand Thread Technique, all these factors allowed Chen Fei to easily expel the ghastly puppet.
A virtual sword flash streaked by as the dark entity made its move, severing one-third of its form. The dark entity let out a painful, deafening roar.
Chen Fei pointed a finger to his own forehead, and three Godslayer Swords flashed out, encircling the ghastly puppet and immobilizing it. Whenever it tried to move, the Godslayer Swords would slice through its shadowy form as if it were being tortured.
The ghastly puppet, in response to the three sword lights, let out a wild howl but refrained from making any further moves.
"What is this?" Chu Yushuang arrived late on the scene, observing the fallen Qu Yuexiu and glancing at the ghastly puppet. A chaotic and maddening aura emanated from it, making people instinctively want to avoid it.
"It's a ghastly puppet! When the others arrive, we must first find out the whereabouts of Elder Chen and Sect Master Ji," Chen Fei whispered.
The entire Sunken Water Pavilion felt increasingly peculiar to Chen Fei.. The two missing individuals must be involved in something, and whatever it was, it had the potential to bring about utter catastrophe for the Sunken Water Pavilion!
Chapter 390: Bitter Water Peak
In just a moment, the cultivators of the Sunken Water Pavilion who had heard the commotion began to gather on the Zhongshan Peak. Their initial focus was entirely on the ghastly puppet, as its frenzied and chaotic presence was palpable even from a great distance.
Chen Fei left the ghastly puppet there for a reason—to quickly convince everyone of the situation. Otherwise, Chen Fei, an outsider, barging into the Sunken Water Pavilion and knocking out one of its elders would seem highly suspicious no matter how you looked at it. With the ghastly puppet standing there, many words need not be spoken.
Qu Yuexiu slowly regained consciousness, looked at the group of people, and her expression showed confusion. However, soon, fragments of memories flashed through Qu Yuexiu's mind, and her complexion changed slightly.
"Elder Qu, have you remembered anything? Where are Elder Chen and Sect Master?" Chu Yushuang asked anxiously upon seeing Qu Yuexiu's expression.
The situation in the Sunken Water Pavilion was extremely urgent at the moment. If they couldn't get information from Qu Yuexiu, they would have to search separately for potential locations. However, this would be far less efficient. Moreover, if someone did find a location, they might be vulnerable to an ambush by the ghastly puppet.
Even Sect Master Ji Ruiqing, who was in the late stage of the Aperture tempering realm, had gone missing. If they encountered an unexpected situation, they might not be able to handle it. But if they didn't split up to search, their efficiency would be even lower.
"They're at Bitter Water Peak," Qu Yuexiu urgently replied.
"Bitter Water Peak?"
Hearing this location, everyone was taken aback. Chen Fei, not being a member of the Sunken Water Pavilion, was naturally unaware of it, and the others were equally puzzled.
Earlier, when they heard what Chen Fei had said, the biggest possibility regarding the ghastly puppet was its intent to perform a blood sacrifice on the entire Sunken Water Pavilion, using the gained power to bolster Shang Wu City and plunge the world into chaos.
However, when Elder Chen Xiangyu returned, he didn't kill any disciples, which seemed entirely different from a blood sacrifice. They had previously speculated on a few locations, all of which were secret places within the Sunken Water Pavilion.
Their earlier consideration of splitting up to search was based on heading in those directions.
What they had never expected was that they would find them at Bitter Water Peak.
The name "Bitter Water Peak" derived from the natural spring water on the mountain, which had a bitter and unpleasant taste that was hard to swallow. Additionally, the trees on Bitter Water Peak were sparse, perhaps due to the water source, and even the surviving trees appeared thin and malnourished, giving them an unsightly appearance.
Over time, the number of disciples on Bitter Water Peak dwindled, and eventually, everyone moved away from the peak, leaving it completely deserted.
The people of the Sunken Water Pavilion had considered renovating Bitter Water Peak since it was one of the sect's peaks, and leaving it unused seemed like a waste. However, no matter how they tried to improve it, the mountain's spring water remained extremely bitter, and they couldn't identify the cause. Even when they attempted to guide spiritual energy into the peak using formations, it didn't significantly improve the situation.
Eventually, even the people of the Sunken Water Pavilion gave up on Bitter Water Peak, and the sect's disciples almost forgot about it, treating it as an unnamed mountain range.
The group swiftly moved toward Bitter Water Peak. Chen Fei glanced at the ghastly puppet, and three slashes of the Godslayer Sword flashed by, causing the ghastly puppet to emit a resentful scream before dissipating completely.
Outside the Sunken Water Pavilion, Chi Shuqing anxiously watched the location of the mountain gate. Just a moment ago, she had vaguely heard the sound of the bronze bell coming from the mountain gate, which was a signal that the sect was facing an emergency situation.
"I killed a ghastly puppet, and now everyone has gone to Bitter Water Peak," Chen Fei's main body turned to Chi Shuqing and briefly explained the situation.
"So, should we go in now?" Chi Shuqing let out a sigh of relief, realizing that the situation hadn't reached its worst point yet. It was fortunate that they arrived quickly, and Chen Fei was there as well. Otherwise, it would have been challenging to identify who the ghastly puppet was.
As for Bitter Water Peak, no one could have expected it.
"Alright!" Chen Fei nodded after giving it some thought. The large-scale blood sacrifice by the ghastly puppet was still in preparation, so the danger of the Sunken Water Pavilion to Chen Fei was not that high.
If they encountered an extreme situation, Chen Fei was confident he could escape with Chi Shuqing.
After all, the strength of his main body had weakened somewhat, and if he were to engage in combat, he could easily be killed. By the time Chen Fei's main body arrived, it might be too late.
Moreover, the strength of the clone was ultimately a little weak. If it really encountered a fight, it could easily be killed. By then, it would probably be too late for Chen Fei's main body to rush over.
As Qu Qingsheng had thought, when one's interests were closely linked to another's, the destruction of Sunken Water Pavilion would bring no benefits to the Primordial Sword Sect or the entire surrounding Immortal Cloud City. Therefore, it was clear that they should try to save the Sunken Water Pavilion.
After all, they had gone through so much effort, and they couldn't just give up at the last moment.
Upon hearing Chen Fei's agreement, Chi Shuqing's face lit up with joy. Chen Fei smiled faintly, took Chi Shuqing's hand, and with a swift movement, they headed towards Bitter Water Peak.
Meanwhile, inside the Sunken Water Pavilion, the group had already arrived at Bitter Water Peak.
The bitter mountain spring water of Bitter Water Peak, which Chen Fei had not yet tasted, had an unusual quality. Just as they arrived, Chen Fei noticed that the spiritual energy around Bitter Water Peak felt somewhat sluggish compared to the normal spiritual energy found elsewhere. It instinctively repelled those who ventured near.
Although this type of spiritual energy could still be absorbed and used for cultivation, it made people feel uncomfortable.
Using his Star Gazing Art, Chen Fei observed the aura of the entire Bitter Water Peak, and in the next moment, his figure flashed towards a location halfway up the mountain.
As Chen Fei led the way, Chu Yushuang couldn't help but be impressed. Dealing with a ghastly puppet was undoubtedly dangerous, but Chen Fei was still the fastest to act. This was not the Primordial Sword Sect but the Sunken Water Pavilion, and Chen Fei's actions made people involuntarily have a good impression of him.
Not only Chu Yushuang, but the other elders of the Sunken Water Pavilion also felt the same way when they saw Chen Fei's actions. Chen Fei had no idea about the emotions of the Sunken Water Pavilion elders following him; otherwise, he might have shaken his head and laughed.
This was just a clone. It was just that Chen Fei had perfected his "Soaring Heaven Technique" and his core soul energy had reached the late-stage of the aperture tempering realm. This made it impossible for anyone present to realize that this was merely a clone.
The key was that the clone had managed to subdue Qu Yuexiu.
Defeating a mid-stage aperture tempering realm cultivator with just a clone seemed almost unreal no matter how you looked at it.
Chen Fei had rushed ahead first because even if his clone were to be destroyed, it wouldn't cause any real harm to him. The spiritual contamination from those ghastly puppets was usually something that ordinary aperture tempering realm cultivators couldn't withstand, but Chen Fei was completely unaffected.
Unless the real Master Xi Lian appeared, then Chen Fei would indeed be unable to resist. However, at most, he would self-destruct the clone, which wouldn't affect him in any significant way. Either Master Xi Lian would kill him with a remote spiritual attack, bypassing the clone and directly striking his true self, or Master Xi Lian would have already caused widespread casualties throughout this kingdom if he possessed such abilities.
As far as Chen Fei knew, there was a more advanced version of the Star Gazing Art within the enigmatic sect inside the Strange Heart Realm, that had such techniques. Unfortunately, Chen Fei hadn't learned them.
With a swift motion, Chen Fei's clone sliced through the air, emitting a piercing sound. In the blink of an eye, it had reached halfway up Bitter Water Peak. Chen Fei scanned the surroundings, then appeared before the mountainside and struck it with a palm.
Chen Fei's clone couldn't benefit from the protective power of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant technique because it wasn't a real physical body. However, with his Zhongyuan Sword and Giant Spirit Sword both perfected, even without using their blades, Chen Fei's every movement could unleash tremendous power, and his clone was no exception.
Boom!
The entire mountainside vibrated violently, countless rocks shattered, and an opening appeared in front of Chen Fei. However, behind the opening, there was a formidable array blocking Chen Fei's path, seamlessly hidden behind the entrance and perfectly connected to the earth's energy of Bitter Water Peak.
"Combine your strength to break the formation!" Chen Fei instructed as he saw Chu Yushuang and the others arrive. With the power of his clone alone, he couldn't break the formation in a short amount of time.
"Boom!"
Among the nearly twenty Aperture tempering realm cultivators present, a few were even in the mid-stage of the realm. With this level of power, breaking the formation was a trivial task. With a single strike, the formation inside the cave entrance shattered.
"Master Chen, be careful!" Chu Yushuang couldn't help but remind Chen Fei as he once again rushed inside. However, before she could finish her sentence, Chen Fei's figure had already disappeared.
A few of the elders glanced at Chu Yushuang, a hint of amusement in their eyes. Chu Yushuang felt their gazes and blushed slightly, though no one made any teasing remarks.
At this moment, the most crucial task was to resolve the crisis in the Sunken Water Sect. Everything else could be dealt with later. If the Sunken Water Sect were to fall, everything would become meaningless for them.
Inside the cave, Chen Fei's figure moved swiftly. There were many forks along the way, and for someone visiting this place for the first time, it was easy to take the wrong path. However, Chen Fei followed the guidance of his Star Gazing Art, descending steadily without any hesitation.
As he passed through, Chen Fei left markings along the way to help the others from the Sunken Water Sect catch up.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Chen Fei passed through a cave entrance, and a biting cold greeted him, causing the flow of inner energy in his clone to slow down slightly. However, he could also feel the surging elemental energy here, but it was extremely frigid, incompatible with his cultivation method. If he forcibly absorbed it, it would likely consume a significant amount of his energy to refine and assimilate it.
"Swoosh!"
The sharp sound of a blade cutting through the air rang out, and a cold light grazed Chen Fei's neck as it passed by. Chen Fei's right hand formed a sword-like gesture and pointed towards the intruder's forehead.
"Kill!"
Chen Xiangyu shouted explosively, and a surge of sword intent shot out from his mind directly into Chen Fei's consciousness.
Sensing Chen Xiangyu's action, Chen Fei's brow furrowed slightly. Did these ghastly puppets not communicate with each other? The same move, once again?
This kind of simultaneous mental attack, which felt like burning both jade and stone, was indeed an effective technique against other Aperture tempering realm cultivators. Whether it would harm the host being possessed, in this case, Chen Xiangyu's own mental state, was not a concern for the ghastly puppets. Their logic was focused on eliminating their target as quickly as possible.
However, among these ghastly puppets, it was unclear whether they couldn't coordinate with each other or simply lacked intelligence. They seemed to provide Chen Fei with convenient conditions by targeting his core soul energy output..
Chapter 391: Unstoppable Momentum
"Boom!"
As if a fragile sound from within its soul, the sword intent clashed with Chen pel's seemingly impenetrable consciousness, shattering the sword intent in an instant. Chen Xiangyu's figure involuntarily stiffened.
The ghastly puppets didn't care much about their host's mental damage because they were the ones in control. While a host's mental injury had some impact on them, it wasn't significant.
However, the clean and swift shattering of the sword intent caused a backlash that made Chen Xiangyu's body involuntarily stiffen, affecting the ghastly puppet attached to him as well.
Chen Fei's pointed finger thrust directly into Chen Xiangyu's forehead. The Godslayer Sword moved like it was cutting through bamboo, effortlessly slicing through the location where the ghastly puppet was attached.
"Hum!"
Behind Chen Xiangyu, a dark mass burst out. It was the ghastly puppet that Chen Fei had expelled. Just as it was about to roar, the Godslayer Sword flashed, cutting it in half, and it dissipated into black smoke. Keeping such ghastly puppets alive was only a source of trouble; it was better to kill them outright.
Chen Xiangyu's body lost strength, and she slumped to the ground, her face pale. She had been possessed by the ghastly puppet for too long, and it had already harmed her core.
Chen Fei glanced at Chen Xiangyu briefly, then turned his gaze forward to where the Sect Master of the Sunken Water Pavilion, Ji Ruiqing, was standing on a pool of water. Inside the cave, the pervasive cold air emanated from this pool.
While the mountain spring at the Bitter Water Peak was bitter and the surrounding spiritual energy was sluggish, inside the cave, the spiritual energy was pure and abundant.
Chen Fei gazed at Ji Ruiqing, and he sensed the ghastly puppet's aura emanating from Ji Ruiqing. Evidently, Ji Ruiqing had let her guard down and had fallen under the ghastly puppet's influence.
Regardless of whether compared to Qu Yuexiu or Chen Xiangyu, the madness and malice radiating from Ji Ruiqing right now were several times more intense. Just looking at her back, one could feel a chilling sensation enveloping their heart.
"Without permission, you've trespassed into my Sunken Water Pavilion."
Ji Ruiqing slowly turned around, looking at Chen Fei. Her eyes widened, and she sternly exclaimed, "You, you have quite the audacity!"
"Whoosh!"
An astonishing aura burst forth from Ji Ruiqing, pressing directly onto Chen Fei. Inside the cave, a sudden gust of wind blew, causing Chen Fei's hair to flutter backward.
This kind of aura might instill panic in the hearts of those in the early or middle stages of the Aperture tempering realm, and if someone had a weaker disposition, they might even flee in terror.
After all, this was the genuine power of the late stage Aperture tempering realm, and without reaching a similar level, it was akin to a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
However, Chen Fei didn't flee. Instead, he kept his eyes locked onto Ji Ruiqing, using his Star Gazing Art to the fullest to observe every subtle change in Ji Ruiqing's aura.
The aura of the aperture tempering realm alone was not enough to intimidate Chen Fei, because Chen Fei himself was also at the late-stage aperture tempering realm. Just his aura alone couldn't pose any threat to Chen Fei.
Behind Chen Fei, the members of the Sunken Water Pavilion followed the marks he had left behind and entered the cave.
Seeing the hidden paradise inside the cave, everyone was somewhat surprised. They didn't understand the situation here, but now, it didn't matter. They all noticed something unusual about Ji Ruiqing.
"Master…" Chu Yushuang looked at Ji Ruiqing and couldn't help but mutter softly.
"Allowing outsiders to enter our mountain gate without resistance? And now you let them in! Kill him!" Ji Ruiqing looked at the Sunken Water Pavilion members, sternly rebuking them while pointing at Chen Fei.
Ji Ruiqing's imposing aura overwhelmed the other members of the Sunken Water Pavilion, making it difficult for them to breathe. Faced with the aura of a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator, not everyone could disregard it like Chen Fei.
Even though the members of the Sunken Water Pavilion were determined in their hearts, under the pressure of this aura, they could only perform at around seventy percent of their strength, which was already considered good.
Hearing Ji Ruiqing's words, the members of the Sunken Water Pavilion exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. In the past, they would have unquestioningly followed Ji Ruiqing's orders, but now it was evident that Ji Ruiqing was being controlled.
However, they had no idea how to free Ji Ruiqing from this control. Rushing forward and trying to subdue Ji Ruiqing? Putting aside whether they could defeat a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator, even the idea of challenging their leader went against their ingrained beliefs, making them hesitate.
"What are you waiting for? Do you want to betray the Sunken Water Pavilion?" Ji Ruiqing shouted angrily, and the water pool beneath him trembled slightly. The already intense aura grew even stronger, as if Ji Ruiqing was about to make a thunderous move at any moment.
"Now, you can't move, can you?" Chen Fei calmly looked at Ji Ruiqing and said. Ji Ruiqing turned to look at Chen Fei, and a hint of a sinister smile suddenly appeared on her face. In terms of age, Ji Ruiqing was from the same generation as Qu Qingsheng and was already over a hundred years old now.
However, cultivators in the Aperture tempering realm would not show signs of aging in their appearance until they were approaching the end of their natural lifespan. Moreover, the Sunken Water Pavilion's cultivation techniques had a remarkable effect on preserving youthfulness.
In addition to the effects of some longevity pills, Ji Ruiqing's appearance not only did not show any signs of aging, but she also appeared to be in her early thirties at most.
The enigmatic smile she wore at this moment had a unique charm to it.
Inside Chen Fei's sea of consciousness, the Suppressing Dragon Elephant remained calm, and there was no change in Chen Fei's expression.
Failing to achieve the desired effect, Ji Ruiqing's brows furrowed slightly The overwhelming aura that had filled the entire cave was now entirely focused on Chen Fei, but Chen Fei remained calm.
"Controlling a cultivator's mind in the late Aperture tempering realm must be challenging, right?" Chen Fei began to slowly approach Ji Ruiqing, a slight smile on his face. He continued, "I believe Master Ji is still trying to break free right now, so are you just stalling for time?"
The smile vanished from Ji Ruiqing's face as she watched Chen Fei approach step by step. She slowly raised her right hand, gathering a vast amount of elemental energy in her palm.
The expressions of everyone present changed drastically. If Ji Ruiqing were to truly unleash the power of the late Aperture tempering realm, it would be difficult for anyone in the vicinity, including those at the same cultivation level, to contend with her.
Particularly if the ghastly puppets were to disregard everything and even burst their cultivation bases to gain strength, everyone would likely be wiped out.
This was the power of the late Aperture tempering realm, and it was the kind of strength that sects like the Sunken Water Pavilion relied on to suppress their rivals. A sect without a late Aperture tempering realm cultivator would see its sphere of influence greatly diminished.
Much like the Black City District, if the District Master of the Black City District did not possess a late Aperture tempering realm cultivation, it would be impossible to control and maintain such a gray area, and it would have long been divided up by other cultivators.
The fluctuations in Ji Ruiqing's elemental energy became increasingly intense, akin to the moments before a mountain collapse or a tsunami. A palpable sense of unease arose in everyone's hearts, but Chen Fei continued to advance slowly towards Ji Ruiqing.
Ji Ruiqing's eyes displayed a hint of sternness as she was about to unleash a sword technique with her right hand. Suddenly, her expression changed, and the right arm she had raised slowly struggled to lower itself.
Chen Fei's eyes brightened, and his figure flickered. In an instant, he appeared in front of Ji Ruiqing, pointing a finger at Ji Ruiqing's forehead.
Through his earlier observations with Star Gazing Art, Chen Fei had noticed that Ji Ruiqing's aura had been subtly fluctuating, and her mental state had been in constant turmoil. It was evident that, although the ghastly puppet had controlled Ji Ruiqing, Ji Ruiqing had never given up resisting. This was reflected in the unusual fluctuations in her mental state.
While late Aperture tempering realm cultivators' mental states were not supposed to be controlled so easily, the ghastly puppets under Master Xi Lian's command were apparently an exception, possibly due to the influence of that high-quality magical treasure.
However, despite Ji Ruiqing's momentary lapse in control, it was clear that she had not given up resisting. Chen Fei's provocations and Ji Ruiqing's recent actions only confirmed Chen Fei's speculation.
As long as Chen Fei's fingertip touched Ji Ruiqing, he was confident he could establish a mental connection with Ji Ruiqing's true self and expel the ghastly puppet from Ji Ruiqing's sea of consciousness.
Losing Ji Ruiqing as the host, a single ghastly puppet was no cause for concern.
"How dare you!" Ji Ruiqing raised her head to look at Chen Fei and a burst of sword energy exploded from within her. Although Chen Fei's fingertip was just an inch away from Ji Ruiqing's forehead, that one inch seemed insurmountable.
"Boom!"
Chen Fei's body was involuntarily sent flying, and his right hand was shattered by the close-range impact of Ji Ruiqing's sword energy. Not only his right hand, but the sword energy also swept across Chen Fei's body, leaving him riddled with injuries.
This was undeniably the sword energy unleashed by a late Aperture tempering realm cultivator, and even mid Aperture tempering realm cultivators would be severely wounded or killed with a single touch. Chen Fei's clone was unable to withstand it, and his fate seemed grim.
"Chen Fei!"
Chu Yushuang watched Chen Fei's fragmented and battered body in mid-air, feeling his weakening aura, and couldn't help but shout loudly. The others were equally horrified.
"Everyone, attack together and save the Sect Leader!"
Everything happened too quickly, and the members of the Sunken Water
Pavilion couldn't react in time. Chen Fei was on the brink of death, and it seemed likely that he would die soon.
However, at this moment, they couldn't afford to think too much. They rushed towards Ji Ruiqing, hoping to expel the ghastly puppet while Ji Ruiqing was not completely under its control.
"Rebellion from within, a grave offense that merits execution!"
In Ji Ruiqing's sea of consciousness, a manic aura radiated outwards, sweeping the surroundings. Everyone's hearts were thrown into chaos, causing the force behind their attacks to unconsciously weaken.
At the same time, Chen Fei's aura completely vanished from their senses, a
result that cast a shadow over everyone's hearts.
Ji Ruiqing's eyes turned black, and with a sweeping sword strike, several mid Aperture tempering realm elders who were at the forefront were instantly sent flying, their blood staining the sky.
However, compared to the sword energy that had killed Chen Fei just now, this time, the force was significantly weaker. It was evident that Ji Ruiqing's own consciousness had been struggling to break free all along.
"Kill, kill, kill!"
Ji Ruiqing's pupils vanished, replaced by a sky-high killing intent. Chu
Yushuang had just rushed to Ji Ruiqing's side when she met her gaze, and she was suddenly immobilized, unable to move.
Ji Ruiqing's longsword in her hand twirled and slashed toward Chu Yushuang's neck. Not only Chu Yushuang, but also the few Aperture tempering realm initiates who had rushed forward slightly faster, were all rendered motionless at this moment.
They could only watch helplessly as the sword edge approached their own necks. Despair pervaded the hearts of each and every one of them; they were about to die!
Once this sword struck, there would be no doubt about their deaths!
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Ji Ruiqing without a sound and pointed a finger at the back of her head.
Everyone's eyes widened as they watched the figure behind Ji Ruiqing.
Chen Fei?
Didn't his aura dissipate just now? Wasn't he dead?
Before everyone could react, ripples spread out from Ji Ruiqing's body, and a dark figure was expelled from her..
Chapter 392: Annihilation
Indeed, Chen Fei's clone had been shattered, and in the face of the power of a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator, the clone conjured by Soaring Heaven Technique's illusions was undoubtedly weaker.
What appeared behind Ji Ruiqing at this moment was Chen Fei's true self. Fortunately, Chen Fei's true self arrived in time; otherwise, the people here might not have been completely wiped out, but those at the early stage of the Aperture tempering realm would probably not have survived for long.
The difference in strength between the late-stage and early-stage Aperture tempering realm was vast, and even though Ji Ruiqing couldn't fully unleash her power due to the struggle for control over her body, it was still far beyond what an early-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator could withstand.
In battles among cultivators, sometimes a slight difference could mean the difference between life and death. When the gap was two realms apart, they weren't even in the same league.
With the expulsion of the ghastly puppet, Ji Ruiqing's body swayed slightly, but she quickly steadied herself. She looked towards the ghastly puppet, and in its panicked state, the ghastly puppet lunged towards the nearest elder of the Sunken Water Pavilion.
Without a host, the ghastly puppet's power significantly diminished.
Whoosh!
A streak of sword energy soared through the air, catching up to the ghastly puppet in an instant. The ghastly puppet attempted to dodge, but found its body frozen, and it could only watch as the sword energy cleaved it in two.
This sword energy was unleashed by Ji Ruiqing herself. At this moment, her true power as a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator was fully displayed. Unlike Qiu Yuexiu and Chen Xiangyu, who would faint immediately, Ji Ruiqing not only remained conscious but also directly slew the ghastly puppet on the spot.
For cultivators in the Aperture tempering realm's late stage, this was the norm under normal circumstances; foreign ghastly puppets couldn't control their minds. It was only due to carelessness, failing to recognize that their disciples had been tainted, that led to them being possessed together.
However, Master Xi Lian's ghastly puppet was indeed much more formidable than the average ghastly puppet. It had never appeared before, just like how there had never been an eerie being among those in the combined aperture tempering realm. It was too easily overlooked.
When they saw the ghastly puppet being slain, a collective sigh of relief swept through everyone in the Sunken Water Pavilion. What was more crucial was that their core figure, the Sect Master of the Sunken Water Pavilion, Ji Ruiqing, finally regained consciousness.
"It's been hard on everyone," Ji Ruiqing said softly as she looked at the others.
Ji Ruiqing then turned to Chen Fei, who cupped his hands in respect. This was a basic show of respect for a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator, especially the Sect Master.
"Master Chen, we owe you a great debt this time. Otherwise, the Sunken Water Pavihon would probably have become history," Ji Ruiqing said in a hushed tone.
Although Ji Ruiqing had been contaminated and possessed by the ghastly puppet, she remembered everything that had happened in the outside world clearly.
If it hadn't been for Chen Fei's arrival this time, not only would most of the Aperture tempering realm cultivators in the Sunken Water Pavilion have perished, but even all the ordinary Body Refining Realm disciples would not have been spared.
The frigid pool within this Bitter Water Peak was actually connected to the earth's veins of the entire Sunken Water Pavilion. The Sunken Water Pavilion was established here precisely because of this earth's vein.
The true core of the earth's vein, only a few of the Sunken Water Pavilion' elders knew its location, and it was also protected by formations. As for this frigid pool, only Ji Ruiqing and one other late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator were aware of it.
Normally, this frigid pool wouldn't have any impact on the earth's veins, and it was also protected by formations. Any disturbance would be immediately known by Ji Ruiqing.
However, no one had expected that Ji Ruiqing would be possessed by a ghastly puppet, leading to the current situation.
The ghastly puppet had intended to sacrifice the entire earth's vein. In that case, the first to suffer would be the Sunken Water Pavilion' Body Refining Realm disciples, and by the time the other Aperture tempering realm elders realized something was amiss, it would have been too late.
As Ji Ruiqing had mentioned, if Chen Fei hadn't arrived in time and if they had delayed a bit longer, no matter how desperately they fought, it would have been impossible to turn the tide.
Furthermore, Ji Ruiqing would have been completely controlled by the ghastly puppet, and the remaining elders of the Sunken Water Pavilion, when facing Ji Ruiqing in her Aperture tempering realm late stage, would have had no chance to escape.
Thank you, Sect Master Ji," Chen Fei replied with a respectful gesture.
The others in the Sunken Water Pavilion looked at Chen Fei, still very puzzled about his resurrection. They had clearly sensed Chen Fei's aura disappearing just a moment ago.
However, now he had reappeared full of life and energy. Some of them even suspected that the one who had died just now might have been Chen Fei's clone. After all, the Primordial Sword Sect's Soaring Heaven Technique allowed for the creation of clones, which was quite famous.
However, the strength of the clones created by the Soaring Heaven Technique was relatively weak, likely only at the Body Refining Realm level, while Chen Fei had just subdued both Qu Yueshu and Chen Xiangyu in succession. This displayed power far beyond what a clone should possess.
Standing in the background, Chi Shuqing watched as everyone's attention was on Chen Fei. A proud smile appeared on her face.
This was the man she had chosen, and now he had saved her sect from dire straits. Chen Fei's demonstrated strength was just the tip of the iceberg. When the others within the sect truly grasped Chen Fei's capabilities in the future, the look on their faces would be even more satisfying to Chi Shuqing.
This favor is etched in the Sunken Water Pavilion' memory," Ji Ruiqing said softly.
"Sect Master Ji, there's no need for this," Chen Fei waved his hand, addressing Ji Ruiqing directly. With Ji Ruiqing's status, saying these words in person meant that any request Chen Fei might make in the future, as long as it didn't jeopardize the Sunken Water Pavilion' survival, Ji Ruiqing would likely readily agree.
With the crisis at the Sunken Water Pavilion resolved, Ji Ruiqing insisted on hosting and entertaining Chen Fei, but he politely declined.
The Sunken Water Pavilion would undoubtedly need to address and rectify any remaining issues and potential threats following the recent events. Chen Fei's continued presence might be ill-timed, and he needed to return promptly to the Primordial Sword Sect to ensure no other dangers threatened the sect.
Chen Fei headed toward his sect, while another Aperture tempering realm late-stage cultivator from the Primordial Sword Sect, Zhou Zixun, had just arrived at the entrance of the Big Dipper Tower.
The Big Dipper Tower was quite distant from the Primordial Sword Sect, over a hundred miles away. Among martial sects, maintaining sufficient distance between them helped avoid suspicion and allowed for enough resource allocation.
Zhou Zixun stood before the Big Dipper Tower's entrance, gazing up at the peaks inside. His brows furrowed slightly. Zhou Zixun didn't possess Star Gazing Art, so he couldn't sense aura as keenly as Chen Fei, but as a Aperture tempering realm late-stage cultivator with over a hundred years of cultivation experience, even slight abnormalities couldn't escape his notice.
Considering the recent encounter with their adversaries, Zhou Zixun's expression darkened slightly. Something felt amiss, and while he couldn't put his finger on it, he knew he had arrived too late.
"Hoo!"
A sudden gust of wind swept across the flat ground, causing the fabric of Zhou Zixun's cyan robe to rustle continuously. A figure appeared silently at the entrance of the Big Dipper Tower, observing Zhou Zixun with a smile on their face.
At first glance, the smile seemed warm and friendly, but upon closer inspection, one would notice that although the person's face displayed a smile, his eyes held no trace of amusement. Furthermore, the meaning conveyed by ' his gaze sent shivers down one's spine.
"Elder Zhou, what an honor to have you here! Please forgive any shortcomings in our reception!" Elder Zhong, a senior member of the Big Dipper Tower, greeted Zhou Zixun warmly with clasped hands.
Zhou Zixun remained silent, his gaze locked onto Elder Zhong. His brows furrowed tighter and tighter as he observed him.
Elder Zhong was a mid-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator and had encountered Zhou Zixun a few times in previous years, though they were not particularly familiar with each other.
However, as Zhou Zixun scrutinized Elder Zhong, he felt an unsettling chill creeping over him. The fact that a mid-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator like Elder Zhong could make Zhou Zixun, a late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator, feel this uneasy was far from normal.
Clearly, Zhou Zixun's spiritual sense was sending a warning signal, urging him to get away from this place quickly. Zhou Zixun glanced at the entrance of the Big Dipper Tower and let out a sigh. Simply retreating like this wasn't in his nature.
Whether it was a ghastly puppet or some other threat, Zhou Zixun needed to gather information about the true situation within the Big Dipper Tower. Going back to the Primordial Sword Sect in ignorance wouldn't allow him to provide any meaningful assistance.
"It's been several years, Elder Zhong, and your cultivation must have grown even more profound. Today, I'd like to exchange a few moves," Zhou Zixun declared. Without waiting for Elder Zhong's response, he swiftly moved forward. Simultaneously, a shadowy figure emerged from behind Zhou Zixun; it was his clone, employing the Soaring Heaven Technique.
Gathering intelligence was a task best suited for his clone.
Zhou Zixun had no intention of rushing into the Big Dipper Tower alone, as it would be far too dangerous. If the Primordial Sword Sect were to lose an Aperture tempering realm cultivator like him, they would become extremely vulnerable to various threats in the future.
Therefore, Zhou Zixun wouldn't put himself in harm's way.
In the next moment, the sound of explosions filled the air, and sword energy crisscrossed the surroundings. Elder Zhong's earlier friendly smile had vanished completely, replaced by an extreme coldness and madness.
One quarter of an hour later, Zhou Zixun's figure flickered, and with a few steps, he was already a hundred paces away. Several figures chased after him for a while but had to eventually stop. They stood there, watching Zhou Zixun's retreating figure with icy stares.
Zhou Zixun's expression was solemn. His clone had entered the Big Dipper Tower, and not far inside, he witnessed the true scene unfolding within.
Blood flowed like a river, and the pungent scent of blood permeated nearly every corner of the Big Dipper Tower. Madness and chaos reigned, and an insane atmosphere filled the air, driving people to the brink of insanity.
Most of the Big Dipper Tower's disciples were dead, and the remaining few engaged m frenzied battles, showing no hint of their former camaraderie. Deep-seated grudges seemed to be the only thing remaining.
The Aperture tempering realm elders were maintaining a formation, with themselves as the core. They used their own lives as the formation's anchor to complete the sacrificial ritual. Once the ritual was done, they would also turn into ashes.
Before Zhou Zixun's clone could witness more, a flash of blade light shattered it in mid-air.
However, from what Zhou Zixun had already seen, he knew he didn't need to witness any more. The Big Dipper Tower was already destroyed. From top to bottom, there were no survivors.
The Big Dipper Tower was the farthest sect from the Immortal Cloud City and therefore the closest to the Shang Wu City. The ghastly puppet from Shang Wu City had naturally arrived at the Big Dipper Tower first.
The time between the discovery of the anomaly with Wu Guangyin and Zhou Zixun's arrival at the Big Dipper Tower had taken over an hour. This time difference had led to the complete destruction of the Big Dipper Tower.
Zhou Zixun's heart was filled with coldness and lingering fear. If it weren't for
Chen Fei's prompt discovery of Wu Guangyin's anomaly, what fate would have befallen the Primordial Sword Sect?
Would they have met the same fate as the Big Dipper Tower, completely wiped out in just over an hour, becoming a mere part of history?
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