448: Return to the clan

Every weak breath Hun Jiu took brought forth viscous black blood from his throat.

The massive wound in his chest and abdomen, pierced by Ling Xuzi's self-detonation, not only failed to heal but worsened during his forced escape!

The flesh around the wound was like it had been gnawed by thousands of tiny soul-eating maggots,

accelerating its decay and emitting a foul stench!

Even more horrifying, the immense, dark, and malevolent Demonic Essence within him, originally from the orthodox Heavenly Demons, now sizzled like ice water dropped into hot oil,

scorched by large streams of escaping destructive Origin energy (residue from Ling Xuzi's self-detonation)!

His Realm was no longer merely at the initial Soul Transformation Stage; even his newly advanced Late Nascent Soul Stage was in jeopardy!

He was truly a flickering candle in the wind!

"Hoo... hoo... Myriad Sword Valley... driving me to extinction..."

Turbid, filthy blood seeped from between his teeth, and his emerald ghostly eyes held only endless venom and bone-deep fear.

He could clearly feel the Divine Thought of those Sword Valley Elders sweeping across this region countless times like cold tentacles!

Each time made him cower and tremble at the bottom of the tree hollow like a startled bird!

"Great Yan... I can't stay here... I must go to Hegemonic Summer... and seek refuge with Mad Extreme Demon Lord..."

This was the only way out he could think of! But the outside was covered in a dense net of swords; showing his face now would be akin to walking into a trap!

"Just wait until my injuries are a little better... just a little..."

Hun Jiu's eyes held only the fierce light of desperate survival. Trembling, he dug out a few remaining, filthy demon cores from the depths of his tattered Storage Pouch.

These cores were mixed with corpse-qi and vengeful spirit essences. He closed his eyes and shoved them into his mouth, as if swallowing the world's most potent poison.

The excruciating pain of rotting bones and severed intestines instantly overwhelmed his Divine Sense, yet it also forcibly squeezed out a faint wisp of Origin demonic patterns, weak as a candle in the wind,

tightly wrapping around his collapsing dao foundation, beginning a slow, hibernating recovery... Several days later, Jinyan City.

A flash of light on the teleportation plaza. Yao Delong, dressed in ordinary, unremarkable common clothes,

stepped out inconspicuously among several other Cultivators also waiting for teleportation or arriving from elsewhere.

The rumors of a half-month strict inspection had already reached here, but compared to the core storm zone of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range, this place seemed much calmer.

Relying on his identity as "Long Aotian" and the aura of the Yin Yang Sect, he easily bluffed his way through.

He successfully found the cross-domain teleportation array to Bali City, paid the Spirit Stones, and waited half a day for enough people to gather.

Buzz!

The spatial energy briefly enveloped his entire body before suddenly disappearing. Stepping out, the unique aroma of Bali City, a mix of spices, fresh air, various Cultivation Materials, and worldly smoke, wafted over him.

The bluestone paths were the same, the towering city walls and the clamor of the marketplace were noisy and vibrant.

“It's much more peaceful.”

Yao Delong looked at the orderly streets, feeling a slight relief in his heart compared to the treacherous killing intent of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range.

Although this journey had its twists and turns, the harvest was far beyond expectations—

Physical Body Perfection, Cultivation Technique transformation, the soul devouring banner, Hun Ya's storage ring, Han Ruyan's Ice Sword Talisman... He specifically found a rather elegant restaurant in the city, ordered a few exquisite small dishes, and casually inquired.

Sure enough, the waiter familiarly spoke of a couple named Han and Liu who, several months ago,

had left Bali City with the Yin Yang Sect's noble token, reportedly to visit a Sect.

Yao Delong took a shallow sip from his cup; the tea was slightly bitter but left a sweet aftertaste.

This Mortal couple had gained an Opportunity and embarked on the path of immortality, their life trajectories forever changed—a good Karma indeed.

After a brief rest, he no longer lingered.

Leaving Bali City a thousand li behind, he ensured he was out of sight of the Mortal world.

Yao Delong's ordinary fire-attribute aura receded like a tide!

Whoosh!

Crimson-gold burning flames suddenly rose from his feet, instantly enveloping his entire body!

A terrifying burst of speed! The air was torn apart, emitting deafening sonic booms!

A crimson-gold light trail streaked across the sky, like a blazing sun or a falling star, plummeting towards the northwest!

Its speed was far beyond what it had been on the way here!

Yin Yang Immortal Sect!

Enveloped in clouds and mist, thirteen immortal peaks pierced the vast sea of clouds, with countless pavilions and towers faintly visible.

The massive Sect-protecting formation absorbed the essence of the sun, moon, and stars, exuding a profound, heavy, ancient dao rhyme that suppressed thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.

Two Golden Core Disciples guarding the mountain gate were leisurely surveying their surroundings.

Swish!

A tiny speck of light broke through the air from the extreme distance!

Initially not very noticeable, it approached directly overhead in an instant!

An indescribable, terrifying aura of vital blood, like an ancient savage Vicious Beast awakening or a surging magma vein, descended with the brilliance of a blazing sun!

This pressure did not spread ostentatiously; merely the unintentional overflow of its Origin aura caused the two Late Golden Core Stage Disciples to instantly stiffen!

The surging magical power within their bodies solidified like a stream encountering a natural enemy!

An uncontrollable tremor and reverence rose from the depths of their Divine Souls! Even looking up was incredibly difficult!

"Wh-which... which direction..."

One Disciple's throat was dry, and he barely managed to speak. The other Disciple, sharp-eyed,

managed to discern the silhouette and features of the newcomer through the core of the dazzling light!

"It's... it's Senior Brother Yao Delong!"

He exclaimed in alarm, his voice trembling with utmost respect and awe!

"Luoxia Peak's True Disciple, Senior Brother Yao has returned to the Sect!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Yao!"

Both hastily bowed in salute, cold sweat even seeping from their foreheads, their backs bent to the extreme!

The pure Physical Body's scorching vital blood, as if capable of incinerating all things, and the heavy sense of power subtly tearing space apart,

made them feel as if they were standing on the edge of an erupting volcano!

That dazzling crimson light did not pause at all, disappearing into the layers of cloud and immortal barriers like a teleportation,

leaving only the buzzing aftersound of air being violently torn and a lingering sensation of heat.

"Hiss—"

Seeing the crimson light vanish, one Disciple straightened up, panting heavily,

his face pale, his back drenched in sweat. He looked at his companion with lingering fear,

"Junior Brother Wang, did... did you feel that?

This vital blood... this might... it's like a humanoid primordial Vicious Beast standing before us!"

Junior Brother Wang also nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief:

"Too terrifying! Much stronger than at the grand ceremony!"

I feel like if Senior Brother Yao had looked at us for one more second just now, our Divine Souls would have been scorched by that vital blood!

You say... Senior Brother... he... couldn't have already stepped into... the Soul Transformation Realm, could he?"

His voice was extremely low, full of reverence.

The two Disciples looked at each other in horror, both seeing the same answer in each other's eyes—even if it wasn't true Soul Transformation,

Senior Brother Yao's Realm was beyond their comprehension at this moment!

It was a complete transformation and leap in life essence and Origin power!

...Luoxia Main Peak, Luoxia Great Hall.

A cold, desolate aura permeated the air, as if an unchanging cold moon hung over it.

Above the high platform in the hall, a solitary figure in a flowing cloud and plain snow robe sat quietly,

wreathed in wisps of Moon Soul Frost Essence, seemingly integrated with the hall's solitude.

Leng Yuekui's eyes, like a frozen lake, slightly opened, and a barely perceptible ripple passed through them.

She had already sensed the immense vital blood that could alarm the peaks upon her Disciple's return.

The hall doors opened silently.

Yao Delong stepped into the hall with steady strides. The terrifying vital blood power naturally retracted into his body the moment he entered the hall,

as if it had never appeared, leaving only a dignified aura, as solid as a mountain and as deep as the sea, circulating around him.