Chapter 44: First Clash with Yuwen Chengdu

On this day, across the three thousand peaks of Changbai, the demonic souls restrained their auras, and the various military garrison squads held their breath, speaking in hushed whispers for fear of disturbing that god of slaughter.

Among the descendants of the princes and dukes of the Great Sui Divine Dynasty, Yuwen Chengdu was the first to step into the Divine Hidden Realm. Deeply valued by the Divine Emperor Yang Guang, he did not report to the demon-suppression vanguard camp, but instead came straight to the Mist-Hidden Valley.

In the Mist-Hidden Valley, the dense mist seemed cowed into dispersing, revealing damp, green moss.

Inside the valley, debris and white bones could be seen everywhere.

A wisp of bloody stench drifted through the air.

Not to mention the grey harriers and falcons, not even a trace of the split soul of the Profound Water Black Serpent could be seen; they had long since been carved up by the demonic souls.

Even the handwriting originally left behind by the Grey Eagle had been completely erased.

Yet Yuwen Chengdu's profound eyes, resembling pitch-black whirlpools, still scrutinized every single spot, afraid of missing any valuable information.

After a long while, he swung the long spear in his hand.

The Mist-Hidden Valley—a valley not particularly large among the three thousand peaks of Changbai, yet possessing a unique terrain—was thoroughly leveled to the ground.

Outside the three thousand peaks, Ling Xuan carried the Benevolent Heart Needle Case on his back, a playful smile on his face. "Wife, how is it?"

Ye Ziyan was still utterly bewildered. How had the Prairie-Kindling Fire-Phoenix Spear, worth seventy-five million military merit points, been obtained so easily?

Yet on the identification token, the Prairie-Kindling Fire-Phoenix Spear was still listed among the redeemable items of the Imperial Tiannong Pavilion.

"Wife, never mind that, just use it first," Ling Xuan said, biting on a blade of grass. "Anyway, it'll be yours from now on; no matter what anyone says, it's useless."

"How on earth did you get it?" Ye Ziyan racked her brains in confusion.

"Hehe, traded for it with my life," Ling Xuan chuckled heartily.

It would have been fine if he hadn't said it, but as soon as he did, Ye Ziyan's heart tightened. "Did you find a clue about the Yellow Needle?"

"Didn't we say not to bring that up?"

Ling Xuan curled his lips.

There was not the slightest clue regarding the Yellow Needle, and the bronze astrolabe of the Benevolent Heart Needle Case gave no hints whatsoever; everything had to be left to luck.

Of the three days, half a day had already passed.

With only two and a half days left before his demonization, he had to reach the three thousand peaks.

What a half-human, half-demon would turn into, he did not know.

Yet only once he reached the three thousand peaks, even if he truly transformed into a half-human, half-demon and his demonic nature flared, he would not implicate Ye Ziyan.

His speed suddenly increased. "Wife, come and test your movement technique."

Feeling a pang in her heart, Ye Ziyan whispered, "Don't forget, you still have to accompany me to see my mother."

"Where is that mother-in-law of mine?" Ling Xuan hurriedly asked.

"Only by finding all nine needles and lifting the Profound Ice Evil Curse can we find news of my mother." Pursing her lips in a soft sigh, Ye Ziyan took Ling Xuan's large hand. "Yet look at what you've become yourself?"

"Can't a half-human, half-demon still look for the nine needles?"

The more his heart raced like ants on a hot pan, the more brilliantly the smile bloomed on Ling Xuan's face.

He also wanted to see his parents, but he had no idea where they were.

His grandfather had been summoned by the Prince of Heshun before leaving, saying he would be able to see his parents then.

Yet when he asked Qiu Rui, Qiu Rui had only shaken his head.

His mother was Qiu Rui's own younger sister, and his father was Qiu Rui's sworn brother. Qiu Rui had previously inquired through various channels, but had found no news whatsoever.

He was only told that it was highly likely related to the Nine Benevolent Needles.

As for the Nine Benevolent Needles, he only possessed four: the black, white, red, and orange needles, with not the slightest clue regarding the remaining five.

He looked at the snake markings on his arm; two of them had already seeped into his body, wrapping around his bones.

Now those two were entwined by the little white snake.

Ling Xuan gave an involuntary shudder. Could a fifth snake marking be about to appear?

The appearance of the previous four snake markings had all relied on the power of the Spiraling Serpent Coiling the Moon.

However, ever since the red and orange needles had entered his body to be nourished, this method clearly no longer worked.

Now, he was even able to absorb the power of the moonlight and make use of the power of the snake markings.

To put it simply, the previous method of making snake markings appear on his arm was completely unfeasible.

Yet for a snake marking to appear on his arm, he still had to use the power of the Spiraling Serpent Coiling the Moon.

When he had spurred the Flaring Infinity at Eagle's Sorrow Ravine, he had only used the power of a single snake marking, and back then his body had felt as hollowed out and exhausted as it could be.

It was strikingly similar to the first time he used the Spiraling Serpent Coiling the Moon.

It was as if Ling Xuan had spotted a ray of light in the darkness, and his eyes lit up. "Could it be that I need to use the power of two snake markings simultaneously for the fifth snake marking to appear?"

His speed increased once more as he charged into the three thousand peaks of Changbai, immediately noticing that the atmosphere was wrong.

"Eh, did we take the wrong path?"

Not to mention Ling Xuan, even Ye Ziyan held the same doubt. When had the three thousand peaks ever been this quiet?

When the three of them had entered previously, they had fought their way through every step.

Not only were there plenty of demonic souls, but the various military garrison squads coming to complete missions had also been shouting arrogantly.

At this time, the main armies of the east and west demon-hunting vanguards were on their way here, and even more military garrison squads should have been coming to the three thousand peaks for trial by combat.

Logically speaking, it should have been even livelier.

How could it be so dead quiet?

The trial squads being quiet could be explained; some person of high nobility must have been exerting pressure.

For the demonic souls to be quiet, however, meant there must be something strange afoot.

Purple light flashed instantly in her eyes as Ye Ziyan scanned her surroundings. "Either someone from the Divine Hidden Realm has arrived, or a six-star blue-glow demonic soul has appeared."

"What would someone in the Divine Hidden Realm come here for?"

Ling Xuan could not make sense of it. The three thousand peaks of Changbai were meant as a training ground for the various military garrison soldiers.

The grade of the demonic souls highest there reached only five-star green-glow.

The soldiers of the various military garrisons had at most only opened their Qi Oceans.

Even the Grey Eagle, had it not been for the affair of the Grey Harrier, would not have come here on his own initiative.

One could say that the three thousand peaks of Changbai were specifically prepared by the Prince of Beiping, Luo Yi, in accordance with the Divine Emperor's imperial decree, as a training ground for those in the Qi Ocean Profound Realm and the Major and Minor Heavenly Cycles.

As for the three thousand peaks and Mount Changbai itself, snow covered it year-round; people at their level of cultivation simply could not ascend it.

At most, everyone stayed at the foot of the mountain to scenery-watch.

The last time they harvested the Eight-Leaf Ice-Dew Grass, the three of them had been right at the foot of Mount Changbai.

It was said that the summit of Mount Changbai was covered in snow year-round, completely barren, devoid of life, and extremely difficult to reach; even if one went up, it was useless.

Yet how could someone in the Divine Hidden Realm have come to this ghost of a place now?

A wave of excitement welled up within him, and Ling Xuan hurriedly called out, "Wife, let's go take a look and see if there are any benefits to be had!"

He wouldn't have looked had he known, but looking gave him a fright.

A cold, fierce glare was fixed upon him, and Ling Xuan hurriedly scampered backward. "How could we run into this fellow?"

He had gone to such great lengths trying to avoid him, so how could he bump into him right here?

"Crown Prince of Changping, where are you running to?"

The voice shook the vault of heaven as Yuwen Chengdu shouted, "You tricked my Grey Harrier, and now you want to slip away?"

"Damn it, what realm am I in, and what realm are you in?"

Ling Xuan replied playfully, "If you want to bully me, at least find a better excuse."

"This general will suppress his realm and fight you both as a couple," Yuwen Chengdu stated bluntly.

"Come on, as if we'd be afraid of you!"

With the Prairie-Kindling Fire-Phoenix Spear in hand, a surge of heroic spirit rose naturally within Ye Ziyan. A battle was inevitable sooner or later, so there was no harm in probing Yuwen Chengdu's bottom line right now.

"Wife..."

Ling Xuan wanted to say something, but Ye Ziyan interrupted him. "Swords have no eyes; let's fight with fists and kicks instead."

True to his word, Yuwen Chengdu suppressed his Divine Hidden Realm cultivation, revealing merely the cultivation of the Qi Ocean Profound Realm. He shook his spear, sending out spear flowers, and thrust it straight into the ground.

It landed completely soundlessly, but the air seemed compressed, emitting a faint explosion.

"So strong?"

Ling Xuan finally believed it. This was the legendary peerless hero of the world; his reputation was truly well-deserved.

"If you want to quickly fuse the Ten Ultimate Tyrannical Arts, seize this opportunity," Ye Ziyan said, lowering her spear and whispering instructions. "Find his flaws whenever possible."

Her Serpent-Form Escaping Shadow immediately unfolded as Ling Xuan abruptly thrust forward with his Purple Firmament Divine Flute.

Yuwen Chengdu remained motionless, casually throwing a punch.

The force of the punch was fierce, brushing right past his shoulder, and Ling Xuan felt a burning pain in his ears.

Even with Yuwen Chengdu suppressing his realm to the Qi Ocean Profound Realm, he was still incomparable to someone who had just stepped into the Major Heavenly Cycle.

Ye Ziyan leaped into the air, her leg shadows filling the sky.

"Not bad, strong power," Yuwen Chengdu nodded slightly. "To be able to kill my Grey Harrier, the Crown Princess of Changping indeed has some skills."

"Cut the crap!" Ling Xuan spun around, smashing down fiercely with the Purple Firmament Divine Flute.

"You are far too lacking!"

Full of disdain, Yuwen Chengdu threw another casual punch, striking directly against the Purple Firmament Divine Flute.

Staggering back three steps, his arm trembling and almost failing to hold onto the flute, Ling Xuan was secretly startled. He had already been able to unleash the force of a thousand jun.

Although he hadn't used his full strength, to still be in such a sorry state after a single move was appalling.

Yet this was not the time to expose his full strength, especially since Yuwen Chengdu had only thrown a casual punch.

Ye Ziyan flew forward with a kick like a blade, sweeping horizontally outward.

Yuwen Chengdu's expression remained unchanged as he casually dissolved the attack.

Ling Xuan hurriedly closed in, driving his Serpent-Form Escaping Shadow and thrusting the Purple Firmament Divine Flute toward a vital acupoint on his shoulder.

Yuwen Chengdu neither dodged nor evaded, letting the flute land squarely on him.

A wave of elation washed over Ling Xuan, but it instantly plunged as he nearly lost his footing. A rebound of force surged back, and the Purple Firmament Divine Flute almost slipped from his grip. "What is this?"

*Bang.*

Ye Ziyan's flying kick struck true, but her body was sent flying backward instead.

The rebound force unleashed by Yuwen Chengdu was simply too powerful; the greater the force absorbed, the more violent the rebound. "Haven't you eaten? Is that all the strength you have?"