399: Soul-Suppressing Sword

Before the furnace in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Ouyezi was using Kunwu Divine Fire to perform the final tempering of the soul suppressing sword.

The sword blank was based on the purest Qingming Jade core, mixed with netherworld cold iron and the Spiritual Qi crystals from the Beyond Heaven summoning array. The blade glowed with a golden-blue interwoven luster, and the Soul Suppressing runes carved on the sword spine flowed within the flames, seemingly pulsating with life.

"It's done!" Ouyezi plunged the sword blank into ten-thousand-year-old profound ice water. With a 'sizzle,' white mist rose three zhang high, and the sword's temperature instantly dropped to freezing point, yet the runes became even clearer. He lifted the long sword, and its hum was like a Dragon's roar, causing the ice chips in the underground palace to rustle down. "Young Lord, this sword can suppress all evil, and the malevolence of the Spirit Devouring Beast will surely retreat before it!"

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the cold jade couch, watching the soul suppressing sword in Ouyezi's hand through the water mirror, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest. In another corner of the water mirror, the cage in Tianshu Hall vibrated violently. The roar of the Spirit Devouring Beast emanated through the Restriction, and even Hanyue Valley could feel that immense malevolence.

New Stirrings of the summoning array

[System Prompt: Detecting that the Spirit Devouring Beast is about to break its Seal, triggering a "Demon Suppressing" type Summon.]

[Summonable Character: Zhong Kui]

[From: Folk legends and related records of "Zhong Kui Catches Ghosts"]

[Realm: Land Immortal Realm Peak]

[Martial Skill: Zhong Kui Sword Art (specializing in slaying evil spirits), Soul Suppressing Seal (can suppress thousand-year-old malevolent ghosts)]

[Specialty: Ghost Catching (absolute restraint over spiritual entities), Demon Discernment (can see through evil disguises)]

[Summon Cost: Spiritual Qi 96%]

The summoning array suddenly burst into crimson-gold light. The soul suppressing sword, just forged by Ouyezi, actually flew into the array by itself, merging with the runes at the array's core. Zhong Kui, clad in a red robe and holding a peachwood sword, stepped out of the light. His face was stern, his beard bristly like needles. He cupped his hands to Jun Xiaoyao: "Your subordinate Zhong Kui greets Young Lord. I hear there is a Vicious Beast causing trouble; I am willing to go and slay it!"

[Character Panel: Zhong Kui]

[Status: Standby]

[Special Abilities: Ghost Eye (can directly see the true form of the Spirit Devouring Beast), Yin Commander (can mobilize earth vein Yin Qi to assist in combat)]

[Loyalty: 92%]

[Current thought: The Spirit Devouring Beast contains ancient malevolence, requiring the soul suppressing sword in conjunction with the Soul Suppressing Seal to suppress it.]

Jun Xiaoyao pointed his finger at the roaring beast in the water mirror: "Tianshu Hall tried to appease it with the Spiritual Qi from the Qingming Jade Mine, but it backfired. You and Ye Gucheng go together; you must weaken its malevolence before it breaks the Seal."

Zhong Kui accepted the order, taking the soul suppressing sword handed to him by Ouyezi. The sword's body touched his peachwood sword, emitting a resonating sound. "This sword has a connection with your subordinate." He stroked the runes on the sword spine, "With its help, I will not fail my mission."

Tianshu Hall's Desperate Act

In the water mirror, the Tianshu Hall envoy was kneeling before the cage, his black robe torn by the beast's malevolence, revealing festering skin underneath. "Your Excellency, please bear with it a little longer!" he roared at the cage, "The remnants of Xuantian Sect are already mining the Qingming Jade Mine; within three days, the Spiritual Qi will surely be drawn here!"

Inside the cage, the Spirit Devouring Beast's nine heads simultaneously slammed into the Restriction. The transparent light barrier rippled, developing spiderweb-like cracks. One of the heads opened its massive maw and sprayed a burst of black Qi. The envoy failed to dodge, and half his body was instantly corroded, screaming as he dissolved into pus.

The remaining Tianshu Hall Disciples scattered, trying to flee, but were blocked by the sudden appearance of Ye Gucheng. The sword Qi of the qingming immortal sword swept across, rendering the Disciples' Blood Evasion Technique ineffective in its path, and they fell to the ground. "Young Lord has commanded that the remnants of Tianshu Hall be killed without mercy." Ye Gucheng pointed his long sword at the cage, "Lord Zhong Kui, it's time for us to act."

Zhong Kui arrived, treading on air. His peachwood sword and the soul suppressing sword crossed, drawing a golden rune Seal in the air. As the rune Seal descended, the cracks on the light barrier actually stopped spreading temporarily, and the beast's roar also deepened. "It's temporarily stable." Sweat beaded on his forehead, "But the Restriction won't last a day; we must find its weakness."

Marshal of the Unruly's Weakness Investigation

Marshal of the Unruly had already infiltrated Tianshu Hall's library and found half a volume of the "Record of Exotic Beasts" among a pile of scorched scrolls. The pages recorded the origin of the Spirit Devouring Beast: a Vicious Beast sealed in ancient times, feeding on Spiritual Qi, its nine heads corresponding to nine negative emotions, with the "Greed" head being the most vulnerable because greed would make it lose its guard.

"Greed head..." Marshal of the Unruly made a rubbing of the scroll, and the message talisman transformed into a wisp of green smoke. "Young Lord, the beast's weakness is its leftmost head; that is its Spiritual Qi absorption entrance, and its defense is the weakest."

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the rubbing's content and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Have Zhong Kui primarily attack the Greed head, Ye Gucheng use the qingming immortal sword to restrain the other heads, and then have Ouyezi send a batch of netherworld cold iron molten liquid over—the cold iron can freeze its Spiritual Qi circulation."

Zhao Gao accepted the order and quickly mobilized resources. Half an hour later, Ouyezi's Disciples arrived at Tianshu Hall with ten barrels of cold iron molten liquid, pouring the liquid into pre-dug trenches, forming a circle around the cage.

Divine Might of the Soul Suppressing Seal

In the water mirror, Zhong Kui's Soul Suppressing Seal descended again, this time specifically targeting the Greed head. The golden rune Seal struck the head, and the Greed head let out a painful roar, actually temporarily stopping its absorption of Spiritual Qi. "Now!" Ye Gucheng seized the opportunity, and the sword Qi of the qingming immortal sword condensed into a beam of light, accurately piercing the Greed head's eye.

"Awoo—" The giant beast roared in pain, and the other eight heads simultaneously turned towards Ye Gucheng, black Qi raining down like a storm. Zhong Kui swung his peachwood sword, unleashing a rune wall to block the black Qi outside: "Benefactor Ye, retreat quickly! I'll use Yin Commander to freeze it!"

He formed hand Seals, and earth vein Yin Qi surged from underground, coiling around the giant beast's limbs. The Greed head took the opportunity to ram the Restriction again. The cracks in the light barrier widened, on the verge of shattering. Just then, Ouyezi's Disciples splashed the cold iron molten liquid onto the light barrier—the molten liquid instantly froze upon contact with the malevolence, forming a layer of ice, temporarily reinforcing the Restriction.

"It can last another half day." Zhong Kui wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, "We must find a way to completely suppress it, otherwise, once the cold iron ice shell melts, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Sweeping Monk's Method of Deliverance

The Sweeping Monk's figure suddenly appeared in Tianshu Hall. He looked at the painfully roaring beast, pressing his palms together: "Although this beast is fierce, it is also trapped by malevolence. This old monk may try to deliver it."

He walked to the cage and softly chanted the "Diamond Sutra." Buddhist light fell upon the giant beast like fine rain. The Greed head's roar gradually subsided, and a hint of confusion actually flickered in its eyes. Zhong Kui was overjoyed at the sight: "It's working! Its malevolence is receding!"

However, at this moment, the Greed head suddenly went berserk again, biting towards the Sweeping Monk—it had only pretended to be delivered, actually accumulating strength. The Sweeping Monk was prepared; a Diamond Wall instantly unfolded, blocking the fatal blow, but he was also shaken back several steps, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"This beast is indeed greedy and cunning!" Ye Gucheng's sword Qi erupted again, forcing back the Greed head, "We can't hold back anymore!"

Beyond Heaven's Ultimate Killing Move

Jun Xiaoyao watched the tug-of-war in the water mirror and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Have Wang Chongyang activate the backup plan."

Wang Chongyang had already set up a Spirit Locking Array around Tianshu Hall. Upon receiving the order, he immediately infused Spiritual Qi. The Qingming Jade Mine powder at the array's core lit up, forming a massive Spiritual Qi vortex, forcibly extracting the Spiritual Qi from the giant beast's body.

"Awoo—" The Spirit Devouring Beast felt its Spiritual Qi draining away, and its nine heads simultaneously slammed frantically against the Restriction. The ice shell and light barrier shattered at the same time, and the giant beast finally broke free!

"Now!" Zhong Kui, holding the soul suppressing sword, transformed into a red light and stabbed directly at the Greed head's eye. The peachwood sword flew from his hand, embedding itself in the beast's brow, and runes appeared out of thin air, pinning its four limbs to the ground.

Ye Gucheng's qingming immortal sword and Ouyezi's cold iron molten liquid descended simultaneously. The sword Qi froze the Greed head's neck, and the molten liquid flowed into the wound, freezing its Spiritual Qi Meridians. The Greed head let out a final roar, then drooped powerlessly, and the other eight heads also withered.

The Sweeping Monk seized the opportunity to chant scriptures again. Buddhist light surged into the giant beast's body, and the swallowed vengeful spirits transformed into golden light and flew out. The giant beast's body gradually became transparent, eventually dissipating into the air, leaving only a pigeon-egg-sized spiritual core, radiating pure Spiritual Qi.

Dust Settles, A New Beginning

In the water mirror, Zhong Kui picked up the spiritual core and handed it to Ye Gucheng: "This core contains pure Spiritual Qi and can aid Young Lord's Cultivation." Ye Gucheng nodded, placing the spiritual core into a jade box. The Sweeping Monk, meanwhile, was clearing the ruins of Tianshu Hall, delivering the remaining departed souls.

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the image of the spiritual core, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest. Zhao Gao walked in, handing over the latest resource list: "Young Lord, after the fall of Tianshu Hall, we have taken over their three spirit mines and five Secret Realm entrances. The Net's influence has expanded into the Central Plains heartland."

The summoning array's Spiritual Qi, having devoured the beast's residual malevolence, had risen to 99%. As the runes flowed, more blurred figures appeared. Jun Xiaoyao knew this was just the beginning.

"Give the spiritual core to Ouyezi," he said indifferently, "Have him use the spiritual core's Spiritual Qi to forge a protective talisman for each member of The Net's 'Heaven' group, capable of withstanding one attack from the Land Immortal Realm."

Zhao Gao acknowledged the order and withdrew, and the underground palace returned to silence. In the water mirror, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the ruins of Tianshu Hall. Ye Gucheng and Zhong Kui's figures gradually receded, leaving only the Sweeping Monk chanting scriptures in place, Buddhist light and twilight glow interwoven, as if blessing this land.

Jun Xiaoyao gazed at the new names about to light up in the summoning array, his eyes showing no ripples. Beyond Heaven's territory was still expanding, and he, the Young Lord behind the scenes, only needed to await the next Summon, watching The Net continue to weave, bringing the entire continent under its control.

Outside the underground palace, the wind and snow in Hanyue Valley gradually subsided, revealing a clear night sky. The stars belonging to Beyond Heaven were quietly rising in the night sky, growing brighter and brighter.