Xu Ying's scalp tingled. Seventeen Nuo Immortals, each hidden in their own Latent Transformation realm, hoping to live as earthly immortals—yet not one had survived.
Was the Nuo shaman's path truly without meaning or value?
"They experienced great terror before death. I examined their remains—most were like this ghost Nuo Immortal, reduced to nothing but a skin. Some were more complete but missing specific parts: those who cultivated the Mud-Pellet Repository lost their brains and the Mud-Pellet Palace. Those who cultivated the Crimson Palace had their hearts scooped out. Others had their feet severed, their heads removed..."
Xu Ying and Yuan Qi both shuddered.
Based on their reasoning, the one who killed these Nuo Immortals was their own master—the one who had transmitted their techniques.
But from Zhou Qiyun's description, they seemed less like disciples and more like livestock being raised for consumption. A discerning gourmand would select only the finest cuts: some preferred brains, some hearts—thus only those parts were taken.
Yuan Qi couldn't help but interject: "I've read that some immortals ascend through 'golden cicada shedding'—the body becomes nothing but a husk, a discarded shell. Could it be that those Nuo Immortals who left only skin have in fact ascended?"
Zhou Qiyun studied him with interest. "You've read quite a bit."
Yuan Qi lifted his chin with modest pride. "The Yuan family—er, the Ox family—has a distinguished scholarly tradition. Many books in the collection. I read a few in my spare time."
He suddenly remembered his home was gone, and those books were likely buried beneath the floodwaters. Three generations of the Ox family's glory, washed away in a moment. Grief welled up.
Zhou Qiyun frowned at the mention of "Ox family,"不知 why they would carry that surname. He had no idea it was his own abandoned scripture, the Elephant-Force Ox-Demon Fist, that had caused the confusion.
"There is another theory—'plumage transformation.' They shed their original form and become something we cannot comprehend. But I examined these so-called ascended remains and found they had been consumed. There was no ascension."
Yuan Qi offered yet another possibility: "There is also the 'tribulation fire ascension'—the Nuo Immortal dies, and tribulation fire burns the body, leaving only ashes, while the true soul ascends to the Celestial Realm."
Zhou Qiyun looked at him with admiration. "You've truly read extensively. Do you know the 'weapon dissolution ascension'?"
Yuan Qi nodded. "Legend says a Nuo Immortal dies or is killed and is buried in a coffin. When the coffin is opened, the body is gone—only clothing and fingernails remain. They say this is weapon dissolution or corpse dissolution ascension. The fingernails and clothing are left behind to avoid shocking the world."
Xu Ying listened without a word, thinking: "Reading has its uses after all—I couldn't have contributed to this conversation."
* * *
Zhou Qiyun continued: "But what if all of it is false? What if these Nuo Immortals didn't ascend—what if they were devoured, leaving nothing but clothing and nails?"
Yuan Qi's face darkened. "Are the books all lies?"
Zhou Qiyun laughed. "It depends on who wrote them. If I were writing, I would expose the deception and lay bare the bloody truth—so future generations would not be led astray."
He dropped the skin and strode out of the great temple. "These seventeen Nuo Immortals—their teachers are the true culprits! These old monsters didn't pass on their traditions to create heirs. They were harvesting crops!"
His voice turned cold. "Treating the world's finest as leeks, cutting one crop after another! But I refuse to be a leek! I will turn the blade!"
Xu Ying followed him outside. The temple entrance was packed with people—row upon row, a vast army.
Their auras were immense. Behind each figure, the Sea of Chaos churned. Bright grotto-heavens twisted space itself, plunging into the sea to draw energy. Their radiance was so fierce that even the Temple World's sun lost its brilliance.
"The Zhou family's experts are as numerous as the stars!" Xu Ying marveled.
Such a vast family—such a formidable power.
Zhou Qiyun stood at the temple gate and addressed the crowd: "Zhou family disciples and associates—hear my command. Tear down every door, strip every roof, pry out every nail! This Hidden Vision Latent Transformation—strip it bare!"
The Zhou family experts bowed in unison. "Yes!"
They dispersed in all directions, dismantling everything of value. Even the white-robed Nuo Immortal's Hidden Vision was refined and collected in strange containers. Xu Ying saw the Nuo Immortal's skin rolled up and carried away as well.
Others cut flesh from the Five-Mountain Peaks, placing it in containers for purposes unknown.
Even the petrified divine beings were carried off—not one left behind.
Their methodical efficiency suggested this was not their first such operation.
* * *
Zhou Qiyun walked on. Xu Ying and Yuan Qi stood on clouds that rose of their own accord beneath their feet, floating along behind him.
"Senior Zhou—you searched for eighty years and found seventeen dead Nuo Immortals. Did none of them survive?"
Zhou Qiyun paused to consider. "I found seventeen dead. But there were also some Hidden Vision spaces that were empty—no body, no ashes. I cannot say whether they survived. The odds are slim."
Xu Ying understood. Nuo Immortals who retreated into their Hidden Visions had exhausted their lifespan. Even if they recognized the trap and escaped, they likely had only a few years left.
"After discovering the trap in the techniques, I searched across the five mountains and three sacred peaks. Though my findings were disheartening, they were not without value. Those who became Nuo Immortals were not fools—some had sensed the problems in Nuo shaman techniques. A few had even gone further, attempting to find a solution in more ancient cultivation systems. Among their relics, I found traces of demon arts."
Yuan Qi opened his mouth, then closed it—still unwilling to voice his theory about the demons' pioneer civilization. He thought: "The Zhou family is human after all. If I expose the human conspiracy, I'll only paint a target on my back. Better to stay quiet."
Xu Ying said: "The so-called demon arts are actually ancient Qi-Refining techniques, lost to time and becoming the arts of demonkind. Their approach gave you inspiration?"
Zhou Qiyun smiled. "They failed, but their experience was invaluable."
Xu Ying's eyes flickered. "And you came to Yongzhou's new land to find me—to help you decipher the Qi-Refining techniques and solve the trap in your cultivation?"
Zhou Qiyun laughed and shook his head. "The trap in my techniques was solved long ago—otherwise I would never have dared break through to the ninth layer one hundred and seventy years ago."
His voice carried the absolute conviction of one who had mastered himself. "I came to this new land for three purposes! The first and smallest: to kill the Mud-Pellet Palace Master, ending the threat once and for all!"
Xu Ying's heart trembled, watching his back.
Zhou Qiyun was no virtuous man—yet his charisma was undeniable.
Zhou Qiyun gazed at the sky, eyes bright. "He once treated me as a teacher, but he intended to consume me. I cannot wait for him to act. I lacked the power to destroy him before—but now I have it. The battle at Wuwang Mountain was our first engagement. I had to guard against another presence, and he escaped. But he will return."
His voice was calm. "Next time, I will give him no chance."
Xu Ying asked: "And the second purpose?"
Zhou Qiyun smiled. "I will follow the precedent of the Great Emperor of the Way and travel to the Underworld myself—to speak with the Underworld Emperor. I do not wish to be stabbed in the back while I am fully engaged."
Xu Ying could barely believe it. Journey to the Underworld to negotiate with the Underworld Emperor—did Zhou Qiyun possess the might of the Great Emperor of the Way?
Zhou Qiyun smiled. "The third purpose is the most important. The first two are merely paving the way."
Xu Ying steadied himself. "And what is the third?"
Zhou Qiyun laughed. "After I kill the Mud-Pellet Palace Master, then we'll speak. It is not yet time. Xu Ying—stay by my side and help me decipher the *Scripture of Tuoyu*."
"The Scripture of Tuoyu?"
"The Zhou family obtained a celestial scripture from the ancient grotto-heaven of Dujiao Mountain. It is profoundly mysterious and exceedingly difficult to understand. The grotto-heaven's master was called Tuoyu, hence the name."
Zhou Qiyun continued: "The Zhou family already has several brilliant minds working on it, and they've deciphered some useful content. Xu Ying, you have the talent for this work. The Zhou family will not treat you poorly."
Xu Ying's eye twitched. "Senior Zhou's generous invitation honors me, and as my elder, I cannot refuse. However—I have killed Zhou Yang and Zhou Yihang. There may be some misunderstandings if I come to the Zhou family."
Zhou Qiyun shook his head. "They will not trouble you excessively."
"I think you misunderstand," Xu Ying said calmly. "I meant that I will fight back."
Zhou Qiyun studied him deeply, then laughed. "One who dared to slay a deity—naturally, you fear nothing. Fight back, then."
* * *
They emerged from the Temple World and returned to the Water-Entrance Temple—only to find someone already there. At their head stood a handsome youth in white robes trimmed with blue-green: Yuan Weiyang. Behind him was Xiao Bo, the blue-robed elder.
The two had been nearby and had clashed with Zhou Yu Po while trying to rescue Xu Ying. Zhou Yu Po had escaped; they had pursued but failed to find her.
When Zhou Qiyun had forcibly torn open the Water-Entrance Temple's disguise, revealing the Five-Mountain Peaks, they had rushed to the scene—and encountered Xu Ying's party.
Yuan Weiyang's gaze fell upon Zhou Qiyun. His brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Xu Ying.
Xiao Bo stood behind him, studying Zhou Qiyun without recognizing him as the Zhou family ancestor. Zhou Qiyun had achieved fame over two centuries ago and had since lived in seclusion—Xiao Bo had never seen him.
Yuan Weiyang was about to speak when Xu Ying laughed: "Weiyang! You're here too? It's been too long!"
He stepped forward, seized Yuan Weiyang's hand, and gave it a squeeze. "Senior Zhou, this is my old friend from Lingling. Weiyang—this is Senior Zhou of the Zhou family, a leading figure."
He squeezed again, thinking: "Why are his hands so soft? His skin is smoother than mine. City boys really do take care of themselves—nothing like us rough country folk."
Xiao Bo stared at Xu Ying's hand, eyes nearly spitting fire.
Xu Ying squeezed once more to confirm: very smooth indeed.
Yuan Weiyang withdrew his hand without expression. "Since you are occupied, I shall take my leave."
He turned to go. Xiao Bo glared at Xu Ying and hurried after him.
Then Zhou Qiyun spoke: "You are surnamed Yuan? Your ancestor Yuan Wuji was a fine fighter—I crossed swords with him once, and he lost by a single move."
Yuan Weiyang froze. Xiao Bo's face drained of color—he now understood Xu Ying's intentions.
Yuan Wuji was the Yuan family ancestor—a figure of divine stature, long since a legend of the clan.
And this white-browed youth claimed Yuan Wuji had lost to him. There was only one person he could be: the Zhou family ancestor.
Zhou Qiyun's voice carried the weight of command: "Deciphering the Scripture of Tuoyu requires exceptional talent. The Yuan family produces such talent. You will stay."
Xiao Bo's anger surged, but Yuan Weiyang raised a hand to restrain him. Yuan Weiyang bowed. "As you command."
He came to stand beside Xu Ying and waited in silence, his own fate apparently of no concern to him.
* * *
Yuan Qi noticed that Xu Ying kept sniffing his right hand, a strange expression on his face. He whispered: "Ah Ying, what's wrong with your hand?"
Xu Ying sniffed his fingertips again. "Strange. When I held Yuan Weiyang's hand, a scent transferred to me. Smell this!"
Yuan Qi sniffed and scoffed. "That fellow is as delicate as a woman. His hands smell of flowers!"
---
*Thanks to the patron Li Xi Gongzi for the great support!*