Xu Ying looked up. Zhou Qiyun's soul-head soared into the air, spewing Samadhi true fire that incinerated the curved blade. His soul reconnected and instantly restored itself as good as new.
Xu Ying was deeply shaken. If even a soul could regenerate, then if Zhou Qiyun cultivated a Primordial Spirit, wouldn't it be truly immortal and indestructible?
The colossal beast blotted out the sky as it bore down before Zhou Qiyun, forming a stark contrast with his tiny figure.
When they collided, the sky became violently unstable, as fragile and brittle as a mirror.
Xu Ying watched clumps of lightning-fire leak from the shattered space. Roaming along the fissures across the firmament, they abruptly detonated—more dazzling than fireworks!
In the very instant the beast collided with Zhou Qiyun, the human skeleton stood up and thrust forward with a sword.
This strike from the skeleton seemed even more perilous than the colossal beast's blow. Behind Zhou Qiyun, the Sea of Chaos surged violently; nine great cave-heavens emerged in unison, plunging into the sea to mobilize all his might against the thrust.
Suddenly, a brilliant orb of light exploded in the sky. Multihued immortal light cascaded down through the torn heavens; to his amazement, Xu Ying beheld vivid colors of a kind found only in the Realm of Xiyi, impossible to witness in the mortal world.
Wherever the radiance shone, the Netherworld surrounding the giant locust tree convulsed violently. It was night, the hour when the Netherworld's incursion was at its peak; yet where the immortal light cast its brilliance, the Netherworld retreated at breakneck speed, and even the Nai River was cut off!
The unstable space between the yin and yang realms grew even more turbulent. This immortal light descending from the heavens possessed the power to interfere in the struggle between two realms!
When Xu Ying saw the origin of the light clearly, he realized it was radiating from within Zhou Qiyun. He seemed like an immortal of legend ascending into transcendence, ethereal and standing apart from the world.
An immortal realm expanded in all directions with him at its center.
Xu Ying saw the rivers, mountains, and lands of Shenzhou unrolling like a painted scroll, resembling a fairyland!
The colossal beast and the master of Huaihua Palace were drawn into Shenzhou's domain in an instant. Atop the beast's head, the skeleton abruptly leaped up, shooting like a streak of light toward the perimeter of the immortal realm in an attempt to flee before the land fully unfurled.
Yet the unfolding of Shenzhou's domain outpaced its flight. By the time it had flown hundreds of li, the rivers and mountains of Shenzhou had completely merged with this patch of heaven and earth, leaving no boundaries behind.
The skeleton halted in midair and looked outward. There was no new territory, no giant locust tree, and no Nai River. It knew it could never leave without killing Zhou Qiyun.
The skeleton turned back, speeding to the colossal beast's side and alighting on its head. Rather than fighting separated from the beast, joining forces gave it a fighting chance.
Their previous battle at Mount Wuwang had been rushed for both Zhou Qiyun and him; neither side had been fully prepared, and before either could employ their ultimate methods, both had departed.
Who could have guessed that in this seemingly certain victory, Zhou Qiyun would unleash the ultimate form of Hidden Scenery latent transformation, pulling them into his immortal realm for a final showdown!
Xu Ying looked up and saw the Bone Emperor pulled into that Shenzhou immortal realm as well, deeply stirred.
The domain of Hidden Scenery latent transformation was a cultivation method unique to Nuo masters, designed so that when their lifespan reached its limit, they would have an immortal realm in which to establish a foothold, transforming secretly and concealing their forms to achieve longevity and eternal life.
Yet Zhou Qiyun's path was somewhat different. His domain of Hidden Scenery latent transformation seemed to discard the need to hide or conceal his form altogether!
He actually aimed to merge his domain completely with the entire continent of Shenzhou, turning Shenzhou itself into an immortal realm, with no need to hide between the cracks of yin and yang like the white-robed Nuo immortal!
He wanted to live openly and uprightly in the mortal world, to be an immortal who lived forever, proud and unhidden!
In this alone, he surpassed the white-robed Nuo immortal by leaps and bounds!
As Zhou Qiyun's Shenzhou immortal realm blossomed, the flesh that had grown on the Netherworld ghost soldiers rotted and withered away in an instant. Coming to their senses one after another, the ghost soldiers let out roars and charged toward Huaihua Palace.
The thirteen elders of the Zhou clan shot into the sky at once to intercept them.
These thirteen elders possessed immense power. The cave-heavens behind each of them shone with dazzling brilliance, warping space. Some manifested Hidden Sceneries as surging rivers in midair, sweeping back and forth to blast away hundreds of ghost soldiers;
others manifested theirs as towering mountain ranges of crushing weight that soared into the azure skies and crashed down, smashing ghost soldiers into flying chaos and powdered bone;
and still others manifested theirs as brilliant rainbows upon which the elders stood, wreaking havoc in all directions!
Yet the ghost soldiers were simply too numerous; many bypassed them on the spot and swarmed toward Huaihua Palace.
"Demon King Xu, now is the perfect time for us to leave."
Xu Ying turned around and saw Yuan Weiyang and Uncle Xiao standing not far away. With clear eyes, Yuan Weiyang looked at him and said, "The top experts of the Zhou clan are hard-pressed to defend themselves, and the other Zhou experts will soon be unable to protect even their own lives. No one can stop us from leaving now. If you are willing, Demon King Xu, Uncle Xiao can escort us out."
Xu Ying hesitated, then shook his head. "Thank you for the kind offer. I still have two friends up in the giant locust tree. I can't just walk away."
Uncle Xiao sneered, "He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened. Xu Ying, you know neither yourself nor others. I fear you will die here. Follow this old man, and I can get you out!"
Yuan Weiyang let out a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "As expected of Demon King Xu. Uncle Xiao, let us go."
He charged out of Huaihua Palace alongside Uncle Xiao. The green-robed old servant carved a path through the encirclement, slaying dozens of ghost soldiers in rapid succession with astonishing might, before quickly vanishing into the night.
The disciples of the Zhou clan also poured out in succession, clashing violently with the ghost soldiers. Xu Ying did not bother blocking the ghosts; instead, taking advantage of the chaos, he slipped back into Huaihua Palace and searched around for valuable treasures.
Having witnessed at Shuikou Temple how the Zhou clan stripped temples down to their roof tiles, he had been profoundly impressed, which inspired him to loot some riches amid the confusion.
Xu Ying slipped into the study where Zhou Qiyun had been resting, hoping to find some goodies. Seeing a jade seal on the desk, he knew it was a treasure and grabbed it.
Right then, the sky shook violently, as if a towering mountain were crashing down from the heavens, making the ground shudder unceasingly.
Xu Ying hastily pushed open the window to look outside. He saw a mountain range a hundred li long crash into the Netherworld mountains—its peaks and ridges undulating, it was none other than the body of that colossal beast!
Looking up, Xu Ying saw the beast's head plummeting from Zhou Qiyun's immortal realm!
As he watched, he saw the canopy that covered several mu snap and tumble backward, blown to pieces amid fierce, sharp light.
In the next moment, the Bone Emperor shattered, and that battered Primordial Spirit ignited into flames, fleeing into the distance enveloped in fire.
Seeing this, Xu Ying closed the window, put the jade seal back where it belonged, wiped away his fingerprints, backed out of the study, and shut the door.
*Looting a burning house depends on whether you can get away with it,* the simple and honest youth thought to himself.
In the sky, the colossal beast's head plunged downward wrapped in raging flames. It rolled a few times upon hitting the ground—and in just those few rolls, it covered more than ten li, coming to a halt directly before the fleeing Yuan Weiyang and Uncle Xiao.
A towering mountain had suddenly appeared here, its base bubbling with gushing gore that formed a river of blood five to six zhang wide.
Uncle Xiao was about to lead Yuan Weiyang over the mountain when Yuan Weiyang stopped in his tracks. Uncle Xiao looked back in confusion.
With a placid expression, Yuan Weiyang said, "Uncle Xiao, we can't get away. Let us head back."
Uncle Xiao said loudly, "Young Master Weiyang, once we cross this mountain, we can escape!"
Yuan Weiyang shook his head. "The Zhou clan ancestor right now is already the foremost person in Shenzhou. He is far, far stronger than when he defeated our ancestor Yuan Wuji."
Uncle Xiao was puzzled.
Yuan Weiyang continued, "Rather than fleeing only to be dragged back by him, it is better to remain of our own accord. By staying at his side, we can still learn a great deal from him."
Uncle Xiao said in a heavy voice, "But once he is done with you, he will dispose of you! Staying will only lead to disaster!"
"Uncle Xiao, do you still not understand? Tossing down the head of the master of the Mud Pill Palace was a warning."
Yuan Weiyang turned and walked toward Huaihua Palace, saying, "He could throw this head down to become a mountain barring our path, or he could drop it directly on top of us. Neither you nor I could stop it; we would be crushed to paste."
Uncle Xiao's mind reeled. Staggering back to his side, he muttered, "The Zhou clan ancestor cannot possibly be this powerful... He couldn't possibly clash with two peerless beings and still monitor our every move..."
Yuan Weiyang looked up at the battle in the heavenly immortal realm, his face serene. "He is already a mortal immortal. So long as he makes no mistakes, he is invincible in the human world and will enjoy eternal life. And yet..."
Puzzled, he murmured, "Ancestor Zhou, what more are you seeking? Why do you still need us to help decipher the Qi Refiners' cultivation technique?"
When Yuan Weiyang returned to Huaihua Palace, he found the unrest had already been quelled, and Xu Ying was already waiting for them.
Seeing Xu Ying, Uncle Xiao felt his old face flush slightly. Raising a sleeve to shield his face, he thought with embarrassment, *I lectured him about how he who knows others is wise and he who knows himself is enlightened, yet he foresaw that we would return and waited here for us.*
Xu Ying didn't mind. Looking up at the final showdown between Zhou Qiyun and the human skeleton in the sky's immortal realm, his expression was somewhat troubled. "That the Zhou clan ancestor is this strong was something I never expected. I thought that at the very least, both sides would suffer mutual destruction."
Previously, he had possessed some confidence in slipping from Zhou Qiyun's grasp; now, he had none at all!
Yuan Weiyang also felt secret dread welling up.
Zhou Qiyun would never allow them to keep idling about; he would definitely make them decipher Granny Tuo's Immortal Scripture.
If they didn't decipher it, they died.
If they did decipher it, they still died!
"Then let's give him Granny Tuo's Immortal Scripture," Xu Ying said suddenly.
Yuan Weiyang looked at him in surprise, and after a moment, nodded quietly.
The battle in the immortal realm above ground to a halt. Xu Ying looked up to see the skeleton standing in midair. The sword in its hand suddenly shattered with a clatter, but the skeleton remained standing tall.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qiyun—youthful in countenance with white brows—straightened his robes, lifted his hems, and knelt with utmost reverence before the skeleton, placing both hands flat on the ground and knocking his head against it.
"You were my revered master after all. Though you bore ill intent, you still showed me kindness."
Zhou Qiyun's face was calm as he said, "Killing you makes me unfilial. I kneel and beg my revered master's forgiveness."
The skeleton burst into hearty laughter. "Good, good! With a disciple like you, my heart is deeply comforted. I, too, can depart in peace!"
*Crack!* The skeleton exploded, disintegrating into fine powder.
Zhou Qiyun reeled in his immortal realm, and resplendent Shenzhou rolled back into his body like a silk painting.
He stepped down from the sky with a steady gait, but when his feet touched the ground, he suddenly stumbled. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, which he immediately swallowed down.
Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang felt a flash of joy: *He was injured after all! He isn't invulnerable!*
Yet as if drawn by some supernatural instinct, Zhou Qiyun glanced toward the giant locust tree beside him, his white brows arching slightly as he murmured, "Seeing me wounded, are you still not going to strike?"
Hearing those words, the fine hairs on Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang's bodies stood on end, every single strand trembling.
Zhou Qiyun's words hid layers of meaning; just contemplating them made their bodies shake, and they dared not think too deeply into it.
Zhou Qiyun walked over, his expression calm. He nodded slightly to the two of them and said, "Within the next few days, I want to see the deciphered scrolls of Granny Tuo's Immortal Scripture. Prepare yourselves." With that, he walked into Huaihua Palace.
Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang exchanged a glance. After a brief silence, they asked in unison, "Is he actually injured, or is he feigning injury to draw out another enemy?"
Uncle Xiao was completely mystified and hurriedly asked, "Who is this other enemy you speak of?"
Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang both looked toward the giant locust tree. Following their gaze, Uncle Xiao said in bafflement, "Young Master, do you mean this giant locust? That's impossible, it's just a tree..."
Xu Ying leaned in close to Yuan Weiyang's ear and whispered, "Your family's steward is a bit dim-witted. Don't listen to him on everything, or he'll drag you down."
Yuan Weiyang's breath was like orchids as he whispered back, "I know. But sometimes I can't sway him. My mother is very strict and told me to listen to him while away from home."
Xu Ying said, "He'll make you foolish too. Your earlobes are really pretty—translucent and clear, almost semi-transparent, letting the light shine through."
Yuan Weiyang's earlobes turned red.
With a dark expression, Uncle Xiao stepped forward and thrust both hands between them, pushing them apart.
Xu Ying gave a hearty laugh and said, "Come on, let's go get some sleep! Tomorrow, we decipher Granny Tuo's Immortal Scripture!"
The rest of the night was calm and uneventful.
When the Chou hour arrived in the dead of night, lightning flashed and thunder roared without warning. The earth shook violently, and the room where the Zhou clan ancestor Zhou Qiyun resided blew apart. The crowd rushed outside the chamber, only to see flickering silhouettes upon the lattice windows, amidst shadows of candlelight and the clashing sounds of battle wavering within.
Suddenly, crackling rumbles sounded as immense tree roots burst through the ground like monstrous pythons, yet even thicker, twisting and coiling tightly around Zhou Qiyun's room!
After a moment, the giant locust tree shuddered violently twice, then went still.
Xu Ying was among the crowd, unsure of what had transpired inside Zhou Qiyun's room.
While everyone was still guessing, beneath the layers of roots, the door creaked open. Zhou Qiyun pushed it open from inside, his complexion looking far healthier than before. He said, "I borrowed eight thousand years of life force and vitality from Daoist Locust. I feel much better now. Everyone, return to your rest."
Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang's scalps prickled with numbness. Both turned and walked back in silence.
After a moment, Yuan Weiyang whispered, "Lord Bell once said that the giant locust had eight thousand years left before it burned to death."
Xu Ying nodded silently. "He feigned injury to tempt the giant locust into ambushing him, when in truth he intended all along to seize its vitality. The moment the giant locust struck, it fell right into his trap."
Yuan Weiyang said, "Actually, his injuries really were severe."
Xu Ying's eyes gleamed. When Zhou Qiyun had slain the master of the Mud Pill Palace, he truly had been heavily injured; had the giant locust attacked then, it definitely could have killed him. But because Zhou Qiyun openly showed signs of injury, the giant locust hadn't dared to make a move.
Once Zhou Qiyun returned to his room and finished making his preparations, he lured the giant locust into attacking.
The moment the giant locust made its move, its fate was sealed.
Chapter 54