Otherworldly Affairs Office-Chapter 685 Intense Battle with Li Songtao (Part 3 - Seeking Subscription)
The experiences of battling Lelajin and other demon race traitors who betrayed the Demon God to join forces with the Blood Ritual gave Pei Yan a clear understanding of the so-called dark forces within various planes. No matter what conflicts existed between them and the orthodox forces before, in the end, what they pursued was nothing but breaking through their own limits to gain power they couldn't obtain in the past.
Therefore, when engaging in combat with Li Songtao, although Pei Yan appeared indifferent on the surface, he was actually cautious in secret. Throughout the fight, he continuously probed the changes in the source energy within Li Songtao's body. As he suspected, Li Songtao indeed possessed the power of the Blood Ritual. However, to his surprise, there was another power within his body that Pei Yan had never encountered before. Just a slight probe into it and he was unsettled by the sinister and vengeful energy it carried. While bewildered as to why Li Songtao was forced to such an extent yet refused to use this power, he became deeply interested in its potential origins and combat capability.
"You even know about the power of the Blood Ritual. Oh right! I almost forgot that you battled with those guys on the Hell Plane, so it seems all those rumors about you are true. Haha, it's funny because I stubbornly thought it was all exaggerated. I really became a frog in a well." Having his secret exposed by Pei Yan, Li Songtao instead calmed down. He looked up at the battle-ready Pei Yan and sneered, "You want to see all my strength? Sure, today if I don't use all my power, I can't leave here alive. But before that, I hope you can answer one question!"
"Ask!"
"How did you actually escape from my ice seal?!"
Pei Yan laughed at his words, spreading his palm to reveal a blazing flame in his hand. Li Songtao frowned, dissatisfied as he looked at the flickering fireball, "Are you mocking me!? You think such flames could melt my seal!"
Hearing this, Pei Yan shook his head with a smile. With a gentle nudge of his power, the flame in his hand expanded dramatically, its temperature continually rising until it formed a fireball the size of a basketball. At this moment, Li Songtao, standing below, was finally able to feel the immense energy contained within the fireball under the assault of the heatwave.
"Had I encountered you a few days earlier and seen you perform such a Cultivation Technique, I would have approached it differently." As he spoke, Pei Yan flicked his wrist, causing the blazing fireball in his hand to change shape at will. He then explained in a boastful tone, "However, not long ago, I absorbed a Dao Heart Stone that allowed me to perceive the Law of Flame in the Daoist Realm. During this period, I pondered endlessly on how to integrate these energies with my own. As a result, what I initially aimed for wasn't achieved, but accidentally I stumbled upon this attack method. The principle is actually simple—I originally possessed an energy ability from the Foundation Plane. Even if I told you what this ability is, you wouldn't understand; I can only reveal that the immense energy it contains is the fundamental support for my physique's functioning."
As Pei Yan recalled the energy supporting the flames, he waved his hand and dismissed the dazzling fireball. Clapping his hands, he continued, "Accompanying this powerful energy is its terrifying destructive capacity and prolonged environmental damage as a side effect. Therefore, I've always been cautious about releasing it externally, even in the most dangerous moments. I only use it as an energy provider for my body. However, this comprehension of the Law of Flame gave me a chance to reveal its power. I experimented with converting this special energy into the Spiritual Qi of the Daoist Realm, infusing it with the Law of Flame. Surprisingly, they were a perfect match, leading to everything you witnessed. Haha, talking about freezing everything, don't make me laugh. Now, I can easily raise the flame temperature above 1500 degrees, and I can increase this temperature significantly if I want!"
Unlike Li Songtao, who could only vaguely grasp the general idea from Pei Yan's ambiguous explanation, Shitang Longsi and Suhabaru, from the same Foundation Plane, quickly understood the nature of the special energy Pei Yan referred to. For a moment, Shitang Longsi's expression shifted several times. No wonder he had such a robust energy foundation. However, even if he could defeat such an opponent, what use would it be? At last, if Pei Yan were truly cornered, casting aside everything to wield that power, they would both face mutual destruction.
Thinking this through, Shitang Longsi suddenly grinned, a sinister smile spreading across his face. Mutual destruction? That doesn't sound like a bad choice!
At this instant, Li Songtao hadn't the resolve for mutual destruction. Semi-understanding, he roughly grasped Pei Yan's meaning, shaking his head in denial, "No, this has nothing to do with the flame's temperature! If it were just ordinary ice, how could it be a unique technique? My ice-sealing power can freeze Spiritual Qi and souls. This is the core—how did your soul remain unharmed by me?!"
"That's already a second question, and I have no obligation to answer! Now, unleash your power, or you can refuse, and I will kill you right now!" Laughing at the thought of soul harm? Inside Pei Yan resides the original body of Lin Junzhao! Never mind this ice-sealing power; even Lelajin's reincarnation curse couldn't harm him in the slightest. As a tenant, Lin Junzhao remains dutiful in this realm. Attacks against Pei Yan's soul consciousness are generally ignored; she is happy to see Pei Yan suffer minor inconveniences, but if a fundamental harm threatens, she will defend and resolve it. This counts as one of Pei Yan's hidden survival strategies—he certainly wouldn't share it with Li Songtao.
Dismissing him coldly, Pei Yan's sarcastic response flared up Li Songtao's black-and-white mottled face to a reddish-purple hue. He nodded repeatedly, sneering, "Fine! Fine! Now that things have reached this point, not showing my true skills is no longer an option. I hope when you see my real strength, you won't regret it and beg for mercy!"
With those words, Li Songtao reached for a small porcelain bottle from his waist pouch, uncorked it and downed the pills inside. Then he closed his eyes and tilted his head back as the pills slid down his throat.
Throughout the entire process, Pei Yan did not intervene, simply watching Li Songtao, who was now hunched over, hands hanging to the ground, and unresponsive. It was only after Pei Yan, growing impatient, was about to speak, that the opponent's body suddenly moved.
"Ugh…!" It started with a hoarse, non-human howl from Li Songtao's throat, followed by changes in his body. His hair, once loosened in battle, turned a dull gray-white, lacking luster, and his previously normal physique instantly withered to skin and bones, resembling a mummy. At this point, Li Songtao slowly lifted his head, casting a wicked smile at Pei Yan. Facing this facial transformation, even Pei Yan, who had mentally prepared himself, was so startled that he took several steps back.
