465: Chapter 465 The Mountain Range of the Dead, Venerable Star River

Central Plains.

After a night's rest in the early morning, Hun Tiandi and Mud Bodhisattva left the city, intending to search for everyone's traces.

Speeding away, they soon reached the northwest region. This was the Dead Soul Mountain Range, a dangerous land.

For unknown reasons, it was bitingly cold all year round, with mist covering the sky.

If one barged in recklessly, they would get lost. Within the Dead Soul Mountain Range, there were many powerful, bloodthirsty, and cruel magical beasts, which were somewhat difficult to deal with.

Even those with keen spiritual perception would be restricted.

"Dead Soul Mountain Range..."

Hun Tiandi's gaze was deep, as if he had fallen into a memory, and he muttered softly.

The Hall of Souls had chosen this place to establish a branch hall; it was very well-hidden.

He hadn't expected to return here today, and he couldn't help but feel moved by the familiar scenery.

"Your Majesty, there is a hidden aura following us from behind. The visitor does not come with good intentions..." Mud Bodhisattva suddenly spoke.

"Jie jie jie, he's finally here. It wasn't in vain that this Emperor lured him over."

Hun Tiandi gave a wicked smile and said, "Go down and prepare!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mud Bodhisattva said respectfully, his figure flickering as he rushed toward the depths of the Dead Soul Mountain Range.

Hidden in space was a middle-aged man wearing a starry robe, with silver-white hair and even white eyebrows.

His eyes were as bright as stars, and his aura was as deep as an abyss.

"Since you've come, why hide? Wouldn't that be beneath your status?" Hun Tiandi spoke faintly.

His tone carried a hint of teasing.

The middle-aged man hiding in space had a change in expression. To think he was actually detected; this youth was truly formidable.

No wonder Young Master Ghost Demon asked him to come out?

Buzz!

Immediately, a figure flashed out from the void and landed on a mountain peak.

"There really is someone?" A playful look flashed in Hun Tiandi's eyes. He had originally just been bluffing; he hadn't expected someone to actually come out.

"To have such scheming at such a young age is truly not simple. However, today next year will be the anniversary of your death."

The middle-aged man said coldly.

"Jie jie, Venerable Xinghe? The Punishment Elder of the Starfall Pavilion. This Emperor has quite the reputation to actually have a Dou Zun powerhouse take action."

A slight smile appeared on Hun Tiandi's handsome face as he looked intently at Venerable Xinghe.

"You knew this Venerable was coming?" Venerable Xinghe's face darkened. After receiving the word from Young Master Ghost Demon, he had quietly left the Starfall Pavilion.

He had thought his tracks were well-hidden, but he hadn't expected the youth before him to know.

"A Dou Zun powerhouse? Ghost Demon really thinks highly of this Emperor, jie jie jie."

"Since you've come, don't leave." Hun Tiandi gave a handsome and wicked smile, seemingly wanting to keep Venerable Xinghe there.

"Boastful! Astral Finger!" Venerable Xinghe roared, the Fighting Qi inside his body surging out. The silver Fighting Qi condensed into a giant finger.

It was as brilliant as starlight, illuminating the Dead Soul Mountain Range as the cold moonlight poured down.

"Interesting. Today, I will use you to test the Purgatory Soul-Suppressing Melody, Chapter One: Tongue-Ripping Purgatory."

Hun Tiandi moved his hand casually, and a pitch-black ancient zither appeared. Instantly, the Qi of myriad desires in the world boiled and poured into the zither.

A cold and chilling nether deathly Qi spread around him, and the Purgatory Soul-Suppressing Art circulated within his body.

Ding dong...

The sound of the zither, like flowing water, echoed through the Dead Soul Mountain Range. However, this strange zither music did not cultivate the soul; instead, it was filled with endless nether Qi.

Performing the Tongue-Ripping Purgatory for the first time, the gates of hell opened wide, and endless evil ghosts roared.

The Purgatory Qin Realm instantly enveloped Venerable Xinghe. The scene before his eyes changed into a blood-colored world of purgatory, showing all kinds of things in the world.

All those who, while alive, stirred up trouble, slandered and harmed others, were glib-tongued, used honeyed words, or lied to deceive people, would step into the nether purgatory after leaving the world.

They would be cast into the Tongue-Ripping Purgatory, where ghost soldiers would pry open the person's mouth and grab their tongue with pincers.

It wouldn't be pulled out all at once, but rather stretched... slowly...

"This is..." Cold sweat broke out on Venerable Xinghe's forehead after seeing the horrific sight of the Tongue-Ripping Purgatory. To be able to cultivate to the Dou Zun level...

Both his talent and mental state were top-tier choices.

With Hun Tiandi performing the Purgatory Soul-Suppressing Melody, combined with the supreme divine power of the nether demonic zither...

He forcibly trapped Venerable Xinghe within the Tongue-Ripping Purgatory.

In his mind, he recalled the scene he was most willing to believe: a quiet little mountain village, two brothers in a family. The parents favored the younger brother, while the elder brother, Venerable Xinghe, was not well-regarded.

All the heavy work in the house fell on him.

Despite being exhausted from daily labor, he did not give up on cultivation. Relying on his own outstanding talent, he cultivated in secret.

Fortunately, Venerable Xinghe's younger brother treated him very well.

Any delicious food the parents left for the younger brother, he would save a little for Venerable Xinghe.

Awoo...

One day, while the two brothers were herding cattle in the mountain forest, they encountered a Wind Wolf magical beast. It was bloodthirsty and cruel, its speed increasing as it lunged toward Venerable Xinghe. As a youth, he was terrified.

Puchi...

He stood in place, his eyes full of fear. At the critical moment, a huge force pushed him away, followed by the muffled sound of claws piercing a chest.

Hot blood sprayed on his face. When he opened his eyes, he found that his younger brother had blocked the attack and was killed by the Wind Wolf.

"Brother, run quickly." These were his brother's final words before he was torn apart by the magical beast.

The young Xinghe turned and ran toward the village, covered in blood. By the time he brought people back, only his brother's clothes remained at the scene.

"You... you jinx! You killed your brother!"

"Get out! I don't want to see you again..." His parents' angry accusations and the strange looks from the villagers followed.

The young Xinghe was forced to leave the village. He cultivated hard to increase his cultivation level, and once successful, he pacified the magical beasts in the village.

But... his brother could never return.

This became Venerable Xinghe's nightmare.

He had thought he had long forgotten, but in the illusion of the Tongue-Ripping Purgatory, that indestructible state of mind began to crack from the inside out, the fissure spreading.

Puchi.

Venerable Xinghe spat out a mouthful of essence blood, his face pale. It turned out that the guilt in his heart had not disappeared; instead, it had become increasingly intense.

Hun Tiandi plucked the zither strings, seeing everything clearly. Aiming at that crack in the mental state, he used the Purgatory Soul-Suppressing Melody to amplify it, intending to destroy Venerable Xinghe in one go.

"Brother, the past is in the past. You didn't let me down. Live well."

"Take my wishes and see the peak scenery of this Fighting Qi Continent."

Within the purgatory illusion, a young boy of about seven or eight years old spoke to comfort Venerable Xinghe.

He showed a bright smile, reached out his right hand to wave, and then vanished.

"Brother, where are you going?" Venerable Xinghe's eyes were full of tears, and he reached out to grab him, but it was useless.

"Don't even think about using illusions to control this Venerable." Venerable Xinghe took a deep breath, his state of mind seemingly calm as he shouted angrily.

"Astral Finger, shatter!" With a low shout, he shattered the Tongue-Ripping Purgatory illusion with a single finger. The scene before him changed, returning once more to the mountain peak in the Dead Soul Mountain Range.

Ding dong...

The zither music stopped. A hint of surprise flashed in Hun Tiandi's eyes. This Venerable Xinghe was truly impressive; he was the first person to step out of the illusion.

At this moment, a smile appeared on Venerable Xinghe's face, and two lines of clear tears flowed down.

Hu!

Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened his eyes, looked at Hun Tiandi, and bowed with his hands cupped.

"Thank you. To see my brother once more in this life... although it was an illusion, it still fulfilled my wish."

Venerable Xinghe spoke calmly. Having experienced the illusion, it was as if his state of mind had been sublimated. Not only did he not perish in the illusion, but he also made up for his regrets, causing him to undergo a transformation.

"To express my highest respect, I will kill you with my own hands."