500: We can be friends

The allied armies of Han, Zhao, and Wei attempted to join forces against Liu Yan. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of Cultivators formed a defensive line, setting up layers of killing formations.

Liu Yan, alone, charged into the formation. His bamboo flute played horizontally, and black Evil Qi transformed into countless lotus petals, each carrying a destructive aura.

The killing formations were instantly torn apart. The spiritual power of the allied Cultivators was devoured by the Evil Qi, and the soldiers slaughtered each other amidst the flute's melody.

The three monarchs were seized by Liu Yan from a distance. In front of millions of common people, he refined their Divine Souls with Evil Qi and sternly declared, "From this day forward, in the Eternal World, there shall be no more nations. Whoever dares to establish a nation shall meet this fate!"

The remaining vassal states were scared out of their wits. Some monarchs voluntarily abdicated, while others tried to conceal their national titles to prolong their existence, but none could escape Liu Yan's pursuit.

A minor monarch changed his name and surname, continuing his rule under the guise of a Sect, but Liu Yan saw through it. Not only was the monarch's soul shattered and destroyed, but his entire Sect was also razed to the ground by Evil Qi. "What I want is not merely the absence of nations on the surface, but for the words 'nation' and 'country' to become a taboo in the Eternal World."

Liu Yan's voice spread throughout the land, carrying an undeniable ruthlessness.

Over a hundred years, Liu Yan's presence was felt in every inch of the Central Continent.

With just one man and one flute, he slew seventy-two monarchs and annihilated thirty-six vassal states.

Former national borders were erased, Spiritual Vein resources were no longer monopolized by royalty, and Cultivators had to band together for survival. Sects, aristocratic Families, and great Families emerged like bamboo shoots after rain, and the entire world's Cultivation resources began to flow freely.

Today, in the Eternal World, the name "Liu Yan" has become a taboo.

When Cultivators speak of him, they tremble all over. Children crying at night immediately fall silent if

Sects establishing themselves must first swear an oath: "Do not interfere with national politics";

Family Legacies must warn future generations with "the lesson of the abolished nations."

Some say he is a demon who delights in slaughter; others say he is a promoter of the Great Dao, breaking shackles with extreme methods.

But no matter the evaluation, Liu Yan's objective had been achieved.

Without the constraints of nations, Cultivators competed to explore Spiritual Veins and study Cultivation Techniques. Geniuses emerged in droves, the entire world's Cultivation level soared, Nascent Soul Cultivators were no longer rare, and Soul Transformation powerhouses also began to appear.

Liu Yan, meanwhile, remained hidden in the shadows, watching more and more high-level Cultivators emerge, a glint of greed in his eyes.

Soon after, the first Forbidden Ground Secret Cave set up by Lu Chen appeared, with a pillar of light descending upon Black Wind Valley in the Extreme Northern Ice Plains.

At that time, Liu Yan had just ended the national system, and Schools throughout the land were newly established. To contend for the entrance to the Secret Cave, three emerging Schools fought a bloody battle for three days, nearly ten thousand Cultivators perished, and the frozen soil of Black Wind Valley was soaked with blood, remaining barren even a hundred years later.

However, no one expected that the ultimate winner of this brutal struggle would be Xiao Jingyan, who arrived alone.

As the Child of Destiny chosen by Lu Chen, Xiao Jingyan seemed to have the Heavenly Dao's protection.

While other Cultivators were still fighting bloody battles at the entrance and deciphering ancient killing formations, he followed a faint, almost imperceptible guidance of Puppet Qi, bypassing all mechanisms and traps, and directly entered the core of the Secret Cave.

Deep within the cave, there were no guardian Yao Beasts as imagined, only a stone platform suspended in a Puppet Qi vortex. On the platform quietly rested the "Myriad Puppet Dao Scripture" and the Divine Artifact, "Puppet Suppressing Seal."

The "Myriad Puppet Dao Scripture" is an unprecedentedly strange Cultivation Technique that can transform negative emotions such as resentment and indignation into pure Puppet Qi. Cultivators can control Puppet Qi to condense Puppets, and even use themselves as a medium to Incarnate into an immortal Puppet Body;

The "Puppet Suppressing Seal" contains the supreme Law of controlling Puppets. It can not only suppress violent Puppet Qi but also refine all things into Puppets. From small birds and beasts to large mountains, Essence Spirits, and even Cultivators' Divine Souls, all can become the user's combat power.

Xiao Jingyan Cultivated in seclusion in the Secret Cave for thirty years, fully comprehending the essence of the Cultivation Technique. When he emerged from the Myriad Puppet Abyss, he had already reached the Early Spirit Transformation Stage.

"Little darling, long time no see. You've made quite some progress."

Liu Yan's figure appeared from the swirling snow. His green robe was unchanged, the bamboo flute at his waist glowed faintly green, and the black lotus Evil Qi around him merged with the valley's cold air, actually condensing into black ice lotuses.

Liu Yan had killed millions of people and absorbed countless negative emotions, and his cultivation had finally recovered to the Early Spirit Transformation Stage.

Xiao Jingyan's Puppet Qi instantly surged, and dark red Puppet Fiend Qi condensed into a giant spirit phantom dozens of feet tall.

"Liu Yan! You still dare to appear!" The giant spirit phantom swung its boulder-like fist, carrying world-destroying power, and smashed it fiercely towards Liu Yan. Where the fist wind swept, the ground cracked into gullies several feet deep.

Liu Yan's lips curled into a sickly smile, and he raised the bamboo flute to his lips.

A melodious yet eerie flute sound instantly rang out, and black Evil Qi transformed into countless lotus petals, surging like a tide towards the giant spirit phantom.

Each lotus petal carried the power to tear apart the Divine Soul, striking the giant spirit phantom and emitting a harsh shattering sound.

"Thirty years of secluded Cultivation, is that all you've got?" The flute's pitch suddenly rose, and a giant hand condensed from black Evil Qi reached out from the Void Realm, firmly catching the giant spirit phantom's fist. The collision of two terrifying forces made the entire Black Wind Valley tremble.

Xiao Jingyan's heart tightened. He hadn't expected Liu Yan's cultivation to be on par with his own.

He no longer hesitated. The Puppet Suppressing Seal flew out from between his eyebrows, instantly expanding to several feet in size. Runes flowed across its surface, emitting a suppressing power over all things.

"Suppress Puppet, Seal Evil!" Xiao Jingyan roared, and the Puppet Suppressing Seal, carrying immense Puppet Qi, smashed fiercely towards Liu Yan.

"Interesting." A glint of excitement flashed in Liu Yan's eyes. The black lotus Evil Qi within him circulated wildly, and nine black lotus flowers bloomed before him, layered upon each other, forming a solid defense.

The Puppet Suppressing Seal struck the lotus flowers, emitting a deafening roar. The black lotus flowers shattered layer by layer, but they also dissipated most of the power.

Liu Yan seized the opportunity to close in, his bamboo flute transforming into a green light, carrying a sharp, space-tearing whistle, and piercing directly towards Xiao Jingyan's glabella.

Xiao Jingyan dodged to the side, his surrounding Puppet Qi condensing into countless sharp Qi blades, sweeping towards Liu Yan. At the same time, he controlled the giant spirit phantom to attack from the flank.

Liu Yan's figure moved like a ghost between the Qi blades. His bamboo flute waved, and chains condensed from black Evil Qi continuously Entanglement, colliding with the Puppet Qi blades, sparks flying.

The two fought fiercely in Black Wind Valley. Soul Transformation-level power continuously impacted, leaving the already shattered ground of the valley even more riddled with holes. The bloodstains from a hundred years ago were shaken out again, mixing with the wind and snow, turning into eerie blood ice.

"Clang!" The Puppet Suppressing Seal and the bamboo flute collided fiercely. A violent force spread along their weapons. Xiao Jingyan was shaken back repeatedly, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and a crack appeared on the Puppet Qi battle armor on his chest;

Liu Yan was also not well. His black lotus Evil Qi became chaotic, the green light on his bamboo flute dimmed a bit, and black blood seeped from his fingertips.

Both retreated several feet simultaneously, their gazes clashing. The Puppet Qi and Evil Qi in the air intertwined madly, forming a visible energy barrier that constantly twisted and collided.

"Not bad, Xiao Jingyan, you didn't disappoint me." Liu Yan licked the black blood from his fingertips, the madness in his eyes increasing instead of decreasing. "In less than a hundred years, you can already fight me. What a pity, I can't kill you, otherwise, you would have been a corpse long ago."

Xiao Jingyan frowned, wiped the blood from his mouth, his heart full of doubts.

Liu Yan's strength was clearly on par with his own, and even more insidious in terms of Evil Qi. In their previous exchange, he clearly had several opportunities to deliver a fatal blow, but he deliberately avoided vital points.

"What do you mean by that? Why can't you kill me?"

Liu Yan's eyes flickered, as if realizing he had said too much, and the black lotus Evil Qi at his fingertips subtly fluctuated.

His master, Dawn Moon, was like an invisible Lock, constantly reminding him not to kill the Child of Destiny, but this secret, he absolutely could not reveal. "Some things, it's better you don't know, it's good for both you and me." He changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of impatience. "You are no longer valuable to me. Your malevolence has already been absorbed by me, so it won't give me much improvement. Little darling, goodbye. I hope next time we meet, we can be friends."