Cultivation... gone!

The Divine Spring is gone too!

This feeling of losing everything is not pleasant; in fact, he had long forgotten what it was like to be without these two things.

For centuries, he lived as a cultivator.

The memory of a mortal body had long been forgotten.

"Did you destroy me?"

Xin Zui’s old face appeared even more aged at that moment, even showing signs of decay.

"Without the support of his cultivation, this guy will probably have to experience birth, aging, illness, and death like everyone else."

The Artifact Spirit made a clicking sound, not out of pity, but finding it quite amusing to see an arrogant cultivator fall to the mortal world.

Only someone like Chasing Soul could understand this feeling; those damn memories were reviving, and as part of the soul’s past experiences, he understood the pain of a thousand years of cultivation being destroyed overnight.

This was even harsher than killing a person.

Death is straightforward, but living means keeping a broken body while slowly awaiting death in the years to come.

Such an outcome wasn’t something these centuries-old monsters could accept.

Amidst wailing, Xin Zui was carried away by several arriving cultivators, and likely, hoping to die of old age was no longer an option.

With Quan Xiaotong’s personality, squeezing out his final value would make even dying difficult.

Not long after, Xia Wuyou and Elder Luo arrived together.

They were supposed to head to the Northern Border, but after going, they returned.

"The cultivators of the Nanli Sword Studio and Nanling Prefecture have already withdrawn; there’s little reason for the two of us to stay at the Northern Border anymore."

Xia Wuyou, looking pale, shook his head.

The disciples had already been withdrawn, and arrangements at the Northern Border were left to the Fifth Tower, but they couldn’t stay peacefully at the rear.

Especially with the hatred for the deceased elders!

They came here because Quan Xiaotong was here, and more importantly, Han Yu was here too.

"Now that we know that Nanling Prefecture also has a formation, can it still be activated after we’ve withdrawn the people?"

Quan Xiaotong gently tapped the table, pondering.

"I don’t know."

Chasing Soul shook his head; the layouts of Yama Hall were kept secret, beyond the understanding of those low-level pawns like them.

But it was certain that Yama Hall would definitely not give up on that formation.

"Can it be found and destroyed?"

Quan Xiaotong had a sudden idea; it was the most straightforward way to break it.

If the formations could be destroyed, perhaps Yama Hall’s arrangements could be interrupted.

"Theoretically feasible, but I fear they may not operate on theory."

Chasing Soul couldn’t offer him any advice; the strange nature of Yama Hall was hard to understand for those who hadn’t encountered it.

"How about the two of us go back once more."

Xia Wuyou suddenly spoke; whether feasible or not, having a method was better than none, worth trying, even if it failed, the result wouldn’t worsen too much.

No one knew Nanling Prefecture better than the two of them, nor were there more suitable people to go.

Xia Wuyou and Elder Luo hurriedly came and then left just as hastily.

Meanwhile, three communication birds flew into Sea Stone City one after another.

Not long after, a cultivator came running in, holding three letters.

Quan Xiaotong didn’t even need to look at the contents; his face had already turned extremely grim.

This wasn’t going to be good news.

Indeed, it wasn’t good news; after opening and reading the letters one by one, his face turned icy cold.

The Mo Family was fighting as well; damn it, they were also within the formation’s scope. Fortunately, when the message came, it was as a warning; it wasn’t yet the time for the Mo Family to ask for help.

That means the Mo Family hasn’t been affected yet.

White Emperor City asked for help; nearby Dragon and Phoenix Palace disciples had all moved into the city. This was truly affected.

Su Wanjun’s letter said that the Dragon and Phoenix Palace had completely turned into a battlefield, with two waves of powerful people fighting fiercely.

The third letter, Piaomiao City was also seeking urgent aid, as someone extremely powerful had appeared there.

Quan Xiaotong set the letter aside, giving Han Yu a helpless glance; of the three places, at least two were tricky.

Crucially, these two places were miles apart.

"I can help with White Emperor City."

To everyone’s surprise, Chasing Soul actually volunteered to help.

It immediately drew surprised looks from Quan Xiaotong and Han Yu.

He wasn’t helping for nothing; rather, it was more like doing Han Yu a favor.

"When Central Continent really goes down, take me with you when you run."

He said this so openly that it darkened Quan Xiaotong’s face.

Even though Central Continent was not up to much, couldn’t he wish for something better?

Han Yu looked puzzled, so this guy planned to stick with me?

But didn’t he know what I’d just done to Yama Hall?

Honestly, following him might mean dying even sooner.

Now, the few notable ones over there needn’t be mocked; they were all eager to kill him at the sight of him.

"As long as you’re happy."

Han Yu’s mouth twitched, but he still responded with a smile.

...

Chasing Soul wasn’t wrong about one thing: the Celestial Dao Sect and Yama Hall had indeed switched roles as attackers and defenders.

Before, Wang Xingzhi and his crew were the foot soldiers blocking the split souls, preventing them from easily entering the Central Continent.

Now, Yama Hall was trying every means to keep the strong members of the Celestial Dao Sect from entering Central Continent.

With this step, they would absolutely not want the Celestial Dao Sect strong members disrupting their plans.

This made the old daoist quite uncomfortable.

His journey to visit friends was inexplicably interrupted, and with the fierce battles outside these days, he became restless, contemplating a visit to Central Continent.

They had barely moved less than a hundred miles away when an equally intense aura suddenly locked onto them.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the owner of that aura had already appeared before the old man.

Li Yingqi was staring at the old man, and the old man was similarly watching him.

What a peculiar old fellow.

Li Yingqi felt inexplicably apprehensive; the instant his aura clashed with the old man’s, he sensed that this old man was rather inscrutable, with a strength possibly no less than his own.

Such a formidable junior.

The old man likewise raised his estimation of the opponent; evidently, this was another junior comparable to his second disciple.

Both sides struck simultaneously.

Li Yingqi waved his delicate hand, and a phantom formed behind him, creating a ten-foot Dharma Aspect. Surprisingly, its countenance was identical to his.

"Soul Hall!"

With just this move, the old man recognized the other’s origins.

The Dharma Aspect and the body moved simultaneously, and after a mysterious light swept across, it turned the area within several miles into a Ghostly Realm.

Inside the Ghostly Realm, the Dharma Aspect appeared more ferocious, detaching itself and rushing toward the old man.

"Fall within seven steps!"

The old man spoke sternly, as if his words were divine decree.

The Dharma Aspect, which should have been brimming with killing intent, suddenly fell in mid-air.

"Words follow the law!"

Li Yingqi was shocked beyond words; was there really someone who practiced such a troublesome Dao Seed?

At one point, he almost turned around to leave; encountering such a person, he feared it would spell disaster for him.

A real fear that the old man might at any moment utter a fatal decree.

But having waited for a long time, the old man’s subsequent words didn’t come.

Li Yingqi looked perplexed and pulled up the Dharma Aspect to probe again.

"Fall within seven steps."

The Dharma Aspect fell once more!

Li Yingqi’s curiosity grew increasingly stronger, and moments later, he chuckled and spoke.

"Is that the only phrase you have?"

"Of course not."

The old man’s face blushed unwittingly; how could he venture out with just that one phrase?

"You..."

He pointed at his opponent, once more uttering divine decree.

"Within thirty breaths, suffer unbearable stomach pain."

Li Yingqi’s face initially changed, but with the old man’s words, it turned downright ugly.

He was indeed startled just now, thinking it was a true killing move.

Yet the unbearable stomach pain did come, and who knows what odd experience it is for a Divine Dao Realm expert to experience stomach pain.

Li Yingqi’s expression grew cold; he saw through the old fellow.

The words follow the law were indeed practiced, but seemingly not ideal.

How could anyone cultivate such an odd great Dao?

The next moment, as the stomach pain vanished, Li Yingqi sneered.

If that’s the only trick, then the old man might as well die!

Ghost shadows loomed, the Ghostly Realm spread.

The fierce Dharma Aspect advanced head-on.

He attacked alongside the Dharma Aspect, followed by endless wrathful ghosts.

"Fall within seven steps!"

The old man struck again, as a river of stars emerged, rushing forth.

He expected Li Yingqi to fall again, but he stood his ground instead, using the expanding Ghostly Realm to counter the river of stars.

Breaking this kind of divine decree is no easier than standing still.

Now it was the old man’s turn to feel troubled; incomplete divine decrees are prone to loopholes.

If perfected, whoever he decrees to fall would fall regardless of movement.

The Dharma Aspect seized the opportunity to vanish, reappearing as it merged with the river of stars, hacking through them like cutting water with a knife.

With the river of stars broken, the Ghostly Realm began to run rampant, boundless shrieks echoing throughout the sea area.

Trouble ahead!

The old man wanted more tricks but couldn’t find suitable words for the situation despite searching his mind.

In the end, he had to resort to his own strength.

The starry river gathered anew, and the bright moon rose!

Meteors fell continuously, one in each of the old man’s hands, hurling towards the Dharma Aspect in the Ghostly Realm.

The earth shook immediately.

The two clashing sides were pushed back several miles; the Dharma Aspect cleaved through the stars but also caused significant backlash to Li Yingqi.

The next moment, the bright moon shone.

The old man even plucked that fake moon to prepare to throw, startling Li Yingqi, who thought the old man intended mutual destruction.

In an unexpected turn, the old man was merely feigning and ran off while he wondered where he’d find a hand to pluck the bright moon.

Bastard.

Feeling played, Li Yingqi’s face changed colors, and he pursued as he pinpointed the direction.

"Your cultivation is admirable but you’re a fool."

As the old man escaped, he took advantage and acted smug; there was no way he would fight head-on.

When he saw the opponent’s Dharma Aspect could cleave through stars, he lost interest in fighting.

This type of opponent is undoubtedly a troublesome one, and prolonged fighting would surely be disadvantageous for him.

Coincidentally, he never indulges in disadvantageous scenarios.