191: Kunlun Taoist Temple

[On the vast square, Disciples of the Three Great Factions gathered in groups, each guarding one side of the great teleportation array.]

[After you landed on the square, a team of black-armored guards came forward to stop you. Their Captain coldly shouted, “Teleportation is sealed. Quickly leav—”]

[Before he could finish speaking, you lightly raised your hand—Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi condensed into several Wind Blades, which, carrying sharp whistles, slashed across their necks.]

[“Pfft—”]

[Blood sprayed. This team of guards slowly knelt down, clutching their spurting throats, their eyes still frozen in terror.]

[Ignoring the corpses on the ground, you walked straight to the center of the great array, carefully observing the missing corner of the array pattern.]

[After examining it, your heart was filled with both joy and worry—]

[The joy was: The Distance-less Teleportation Array indeed originated from the Boundary Teleportation Great Array.]

[The worry was: The missing module of the Boundary Teleportation Great Array was large, and the size of the core module in your hand was clearly insufficient.]

[However, you had already thought of a countermeasure.]

[As you raised your hand, a flash of light appeared, and the core module of the Distance-less Teleportation Array precisely embedded itself into the missing pivotal position of the great array.]

[After the module was embedded, the gap between it and the surrounding array patterns was several meters wide.]

[But you had prepared in advance. One hundred and eight Top-Grade Spirit Stones flew out of your sleeve, accurately filling the gaps and forming connecting pathways.]

[Although using Top-Grade Spirit Stones for connection was extravagant, in order to leave Tianyang Star, you couldn't worry about such things—you couldn't choose money over life, after all.]

[The next second—]

[The majestic Spiritual Qi surged out from the Top-Grade Spirit Stones, transforming into strands of silver light that forcefully connected the core module and the great teleportation array.]

[Immediately after—tens of thousands of inscriptions on the ground lit up sequentially, spreading and intertwining rapidly like golden pathways across the floor, eventually converging into a brilliant net of light.]

[“Buzz—”]

[A low rumbling sound came from deep within the earth veins, growing louder and louder until it was deafening.]

[You were overjoyed—this method really worked!]

[It was just that the great array was starting up somewhat slowly. It seemed the module was too small, making it very strenuous to activate the great array. You felt anxious and faintly sensed a palpitation.]

[The disturbance here immediately attracted the attention of a large number of Cultivators.]

[“Quickly stop him!”]

[A guard Captain was filled with shock and rage. Hundreds of Cultivators simultaneously struck, and hundreds of thousands of Spell lights rained down upon you.]

[Just then—]

[Liu Ruyan's figure descended like a startled swan from the heavens. Her jade feet lightly tapped the ground, and the Late Nascent Soul Stage pressure swept across the entire scene like a tsunami.]

[With a light push of her fair hand, an invisible Qi Wall crushed all the Spells in the sky. Hundreds of Cultivators were sent flying backward like kites with broken strings, the sound of cracking bones echoing as they hit the ground.]

[Suddenly, a female voice that startled your heart rang out from the Sky Dome—]

[“Ru Yan, stop!”]

[The next second, water-like ripples spread across the sky—Liu Jinfeng suddenly appeared, her Phoenix eyes filled with murderous intent as she looked down at you:]

[“So you are Qin Chen?”]

[You inwardly cried out that things were bad—the light of the great array beneath your feet was still flowing, and it needed a few more breaths to fully activate.]

[But these few short breaths were enough for Liu Jinfeng, a Spirit Transformation Realm powerhouse, to thoroughly detain you.]

[Countless thoughts flashed rapidly through your mind...]

[Liu Jinfeng saw through your intentions instantly, a cold light flashing in her eyes: “Since you insist on dying within this array, this Seat shall grant your wish!”]

[With a slight movement of her mind, the space across the entire square instantly solidified!]

[A dense aura of death spread out, seemingly transforming this place into the Underworld.]

[The invisible Law of Death strangled you from all directions. You felt your vitality rapidly draining away, your skin visibly shriveling and wrinkling, and even your Nascent Soul began to dim and shrink.]

[At the same time, she lightly raised her jade hand. Heaven and Earth energy converged into a pitch-black giant palm wreathed in Death Qi, descending upon your head with the momentum to crush mountains and rivers!]

[Just at this critical moment of life and death—]

[“Great-Aunt, I'm sorry!”]

[Liu Ruyan's sorrowful voice rang out.]

[Brilliant golden light erupted from her body. She poured all her Nascent Soul Power into a Protective Light Shield, transforming herself into a shooting star that charged upward, colliding with the giant palm of death without hesitation!]

[Liu Jinfeng's expression drastically changed, filled with shock and rage: “Ru Yan, you—!”]

[But it was too late.]

[“Boom—!”]

[The pitch-black giant palm and the golden stream of light violently collided.]

[Under the corrosion of the Law of Death, Liu Ruyan's Protective Light Shield shattered instantly. Her delicate body was torn into pieces like a wilting flower petal, and blood stained the sky.]

[She fell, barely breathing, with only a final trace of faint vitality remaining.]

[“Ru Yan—!”]

[Liu Jinfeng let out a heart-rending cry, instantly flashed into the air, and tightly caught Liu Ruyan's broken body.]

[Liu Ruyan used her last strength to lift her eyelids, her scattered pupils struggling to focus. She showed you a sorrowful and beautiful smile.]

[Her cracked lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to use her last strength to bid you farewell, but ultimately failed to make any sound.]

[Finally, her neck weakly dropped, and her raised wrist heavily fell to the ground. Her vitality was completely devoured by the Power of the Law of Death.]

[“Ru Yan—!”]

[Liu Jinfeng trembled all over, her mournful cry tearing through the long sky.]

[At this moment, she was certain—Liu Ruyan had been implanted with a Slave Contract by you.]

[She suddenly turned her head to glare at you, her bloodshot eyes surging with monstrous hatred:]

[“You evil spawn! How dare you use a Slave Contract to control my Ru Yan?!”]

[You looked at the dying Liu Ruyan, forcefully suppressing the shock in your heart.]

[You had not used the Slave Contract to order her to do this.]

[This action of hers was completely unexpected, and it made your heart tremble slightly.]

[But you quickly regained your composure, repeatedly reminding yourself in your mind—]

[“She is not the real Liu Ruyan after all...”]

[“All of this is the effect of the Slave Contract...”]

[Fortunately, she exchanged her life for this momentary opportunity. The great teleportation array beneath your feet finally lit up the last inscription—]

[“Buzz!”]

[A pillar of light shot into the sky, completely enveloping you. Majestic Space-Time Power began to distort reality.]

[As your figure gradually dematerialized, you met Liu Jinfeng's blood-red eyes and let out a loud, hearty laugh:]

[“Liu Jinfeng, the day I return will be the day your Liu Clan Immortal Family is reduced to ashes!”]

[Silver light flashed brightly, and your figure completely vanished within the great array.]

[On the empty square, only Liu Jinfeng remained, holding Liu Ruyan's shattered body and letting out a blood-curdling, mournful cry that shook the clouds:]

[“Qin Chen—!”]

[“Even if I chase you to the end of Reincarnation, this Seat will refine your Divine Soul thread by thread, making you taste the suffering of soul extraction and refinement!!”]

[The twentieth year,]

[After escaping Tianyang Star, you traveled through more than a dozen Star Continents.]

[But you discovered that the Liu Clan's movements were extremely swift—at every major Pivotal City, there were Liu Clan Disciples and Affiliated Forces searching for your whereabouts.]

[You had no choice but to flee to Kunlun Immortal City.]

[You have been in Kunlun Immortal City for half a year, and here you finally feel a little peace—so far, you haven't found anyone from the Liu Clan searching here.]

[This Kunlun Immortal City is the Foundation of the “Kunlun Dao Academy,” one of the Five Great Top Factions. Its vast scale still deeply shocks you—]

[Sometimes you even feel that the boundless land beneath your feet is a city in itself.]

[Because you have been walking continuously for the past year, yet you have never reached the city's boundaries.]

[What you find most incredible is a rumor circulating in the city: Kunlun Dao Academy was built upon an Immortal Stone.]

[That's right, the ground beneath your feet is a stone—everyone calls it the “Kunlun Immortal Stone.”]

[No wonder, while in the city, you can always feel a special kind of energy and Dao Rhyme floating in the air, making you feel infinitely profound.]

[This is also the origin of the name “Kunlun Dao Academy.”]

[Not only that, but Kunlun Dao Academy is all-encompassing, having established the Pill Institute, Array Institute, Artifact Institute, Talisman Institute, Sword Institute, Divination Institute, Ghost Institute, Poison Institute, Puppet Institute... and so on, a total of three thousand Dao Academies.]

[The territory under the jurisdiction of each institute is even vaster than Tianshu City in your memory, complete with mountains, rivers, palaces, pavilions, and Cultivation Immortal Caves.]