Chapter 353

Muyazi went head‑to‑head with the Abyssal Tribe, which let Yunhe truly gain a deeper understanding and awareness of the peculiarities of the Abyssal Tribe cultivators.

From the initial clash to the later attrition, the duration of this duel was also not short.

As the sky darkened, Yunhe stopped Ji Liuyun, who was also preparing to go out and fight.

Fellow Daoist Ji, the sky is already dark; going out now to fight the Abyssal Tribe cultivators again is not in harmony with the heavenly timing.

Hearing him speak, everyone's gaze turned toward him, and Ji Liuyun smiled indifferently and said:

Fellow Daoist Yunhe, no need to worry; daylight or darkness makes no difference to us cultivators. Even without moonlight, I can see as clearly as if it were blazing fire.

But Yunhe stepped forward, and under Ji Liuyun's astonished gaze, grabbed his arm, stared into his eyes, and spoke in a low voice, word by word:

I say: not in harmony with heavenly timing!

At this point, if Ji Liuyun still hasn't understood Yunhe's meaning, then he is unfit to manage one side of the Bai Xiao Tower.

His face sank slightly, his thoughts myriad, facing Yunhe's unquestionable gaze, he ultimately conceded and nodded.

Since Fellow Daoist Yunhe says so, time is in our favor; the longer we delay, the more advantageous, so let's wait until tomorrow.

Ji Liuyun's reaction caused everyone present to be somewhat surprised.

To speak bluntly, Ji Liuyun is a renowned Yuan Ying Cultivator, and behind him stand the many cultivators of the Bai Xiao Tower; Yunhe's earlier action was absolutely somewhat overstepping, even saying it gave Ji Liuyun little face.

Yet Ji Liuyun actually listened to Yunhe's suggestion.

Actually, when Yunhe first spoke up proposing to cease hostilities, everyone was somewhat doubtful of him.

After all, the elderly Yuan Ying cultivator Muyazi personally went into battle against the Abyssal Tribe precisely to prove his candid human cultivator identity.

But after just one exchange, Yunhe tried to stop him, and even those who didn't want to doubt couldn't help but hold a grudge.

But in the exchange between Ji Liuyun and Yunhe, there was clearly deeper meaning, and Ji Liuyun's reaction also caused everyone to slightly ease these concerns.

Since he could 'persuade' Ji Liuyun, it shows Yunhe certainly has other exceptional qualities.

Actually.

Others don't know Yunhe's abilities, but Ji Liuyun, who explored the cave dwelling of the Floating Cloud Elder together with Yunhe, still knows a thing or two.

This person, though only a Nascent Soul cultivator for thirty or forty years, possesses profound and mysterious arts and abilities, and ought not to be offended.

Soon.

Under Ji Liuyun's gesture, everyone returned to the main hall of the Tingxiang Tower.

However, from the positions of everyone now, it can be seen that they do not trust each other much, keeping a certain distance.

Outside the formation.

Seeing the human cultivators cease their banners and drums, the Abyssal Tribe's priests also ordered the Abyssal Tribe cultivators to rest and recuperate on the spot.

Fellow Daoist Yunhe, what have you discovered? You might as well speak plainly to everyone.

Inside the hall, Ji Liuyun looked at the calm-faced Yunhe and said:

Upon hearing this, Yunhe's face remained calm; he clasped his hands before the crowd, then looked at Ji Liuyun and said: 'I hope Fellow Daoist Ji and fellow cultivators will not blame me for my overstepping.'

Ji Liuyun's smile appeared calm, and he waved his hand, saying:

No problem, no problem.

Yunhe smiled; he wasn't really concerned about Ji Liuyun's reaction, merely taking precaution for later matters.

Please, fellow cultivators, wait a moment longer.

Under the increasingly doubtful gazes of everyone, the Tingxiang Tower cultivators actually brought the Ghost Blade Sect disciples, who had previously gone down to rest, into the hall.

This made Pi Dao Old Ghost Han Bo's face somewhat unsightly.

These disciples were, to varying degrees, injured.

But Yunhe's subsequent action caused the faces of all Yuan Ying Cultivators present to become extremely unsightly.

Only after the Tingxiang Tower disciples had left did he sweep his sleeve and actually raise a great formation here.

Fourth Level great formation, a Five Elements Mutual Generation formation!

Fellow Daoist Yunhe, what do you mean by this?!

Pi Dao Old Ghost Han Bo, who had long been resentful, shouted angrily.

If Yunhe had not previously helped them fend off the Abyssal Tribe cultivators, he probably would not now address him as 'Fellow Daoist Yunhe' but would call him by name directly.

The reactions of the others were similar to Han Bo's, and some had already begun to stir their power faintly.

"Please don't rush," Yunhe said again, bowing to everyone with his usual smile, his tone extremely calm.

"The Abyssal Tribe's schemes—aren't you curious?"

Upon these words, everyone's eyes flickered, and no one responded.

On the contrary, Xiao Wuxian returned the bow and said: 'Could it be that Senior Yunhe already has the answer in mind?'

"Just some speculation; I suppose it shouldn't have much impact on you fellow cultivators."

Yunhe's gaze swept over.

"If I truly intended to do something unfavorable to you fellow cultivators, I wouldn't have gathered you here, found a secluded and unknown corner to act—wouldn't that be better?"

"Then please, Fellow Daoist Yunhe, give us some 'guidance'." Han Bo said with a cold snort.

"Regarding his provocation, Yunhe paid no heed, merely saying: 'I dare not give guidance, but I can try a thing or two.'"

As he spoke, he slapped his corpse‑refining bag.

A corpse refinery exuding strong corpse qi appeared at his side.

"Yuan Ying corpse refinery?!"

Seeing this corpse refinery, Feng Qingdan couldn't help but exclaim.

The others were also greatly astonished.

Xiao Wuxian, gazing at this suddenly appearing Yuan Ying corpse refinery, was also startled; at the same time, a flicker of fervor rose uncontrollably in his eyes, but he soon suppressed it.

"On the contrary, Ji Liuyun unconsciously narrowed his eyes, and in his heart his understanding of Yunhe's identity became a bit clearer."

And as the Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse appeared, that faint palpitation in Yunhe's heart returned.

Indeed!

This made Yunhe feel a bit more certain about his speculation.

Immediately after, the Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse stepped forward in front of several Ghost Blade Sect disciples; its hollow gray-white eyes caused even those who were merely Golden Core or Foundation Establishment cultivators to tense up.

The next moment.

The Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse suddenly seized a disciple's shoulder and, without hesitation, lifted him up and hurled him toward the direction where Muyazi sat cross-legged.

This scared that disciple enough that he instinctively shouted:

"Ancestral Master!"

"Yunhe, how dare you!"

Seeing this, Han Bo's expression turned fierce; he suddenly raised his hand, and a chilling black blade appeared in his grip.

Without hesitation, he slashed toward Yunhe's position.

In an instant, rolling ghostly qi surged forth, a huge blade materialized out of thin air, the fierce ghostly qi stirring the area as the blade descended straight down like a ferocious black tiger coming down the mountain, its momentum overwhelming!

Han Bo's reaction was also unexpected by everyone.

That Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse had merely seized a Golden Core disciple, not even harming him, yet Han Bo's reaction was somewhat beyond everyone's expectations.

But it was not beyond Yunhe's expectations.

Facing the descending black blade, Yunhe showed no intention to dodge; his eyes narrowed, and a flying sword leaping with arc-light lay horizontally before him.

Boom!!!

If not for the formation blocking it, the clash of that blade and sword would likely reduce the Listening Fragrance Pavilion's hall to powder.

As for this collision, everyone chose to stay out of it.

Han Bo's reaction was over the top, yet Yunhe's actions were no less likely to arouse suspicion.

However.

However, everyone's doubts about Yunhe were soon dispelled.

"What is this?!"

Muyazi stared at the object clutched in the Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse's hand—a thread finer than a hair, constantly writhing and struggling—his face filled with astonishment.

As it turned out.

Just as Han Bo drew his blade to slash at Yunhe, the Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse flung that Ghost Blade Sect Golden Core disciple toward Muyazi, and it silently shot out this black filament.

Not only was it incredibly fast, but it also seemed to interfere with divine sense; even Muyazi failed to notice it.

If not for the swift reaction of Yunhe's Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse, that tiny worm-like black thread would have landed on him.

What would happen then, no one could predict.

"A worm? Or a gu insect?!"

Due to Muyazi's exclamation, the surrounding cultivators who looked his way also saw the object held in the Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse's hand, each looking rather startled.

But precisely because this object appeared, Yunhe's earlier actions that seemed somewhat unreasonable all became reasonable.

And likewise, upon seeing the object in the Yuan Ying Cultivator corpse's hand, Yunhe's pupils shrank sharply, and he exclaimed somewhat flustered:

"How is that possible?!"

Before anyone could ask, Han Bo, who had earlier attacked Yunhe, now fell into an abnormal state; a thick ghostly qi rose from his body, the wielder of the black blade wore a ferocious face, his eyes bloodshot, he let out an inhuman growl, and then swung his blade again at Yunhe.

"Fellow Daoist Han, stop!" Feng Qingdan shouted urgently.

But Han Bo now seemed unable to hear any sound, having fallen into a state of losing himself.

"Indeed, was he the first to be hit?"

Yunhe kept a solemn face, took a deep breath, still not dodging, merely raising his hand to grasp the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword hovering in midair.

Thunder suddenly cracked, the previously overlooked golden electric arc leapt up, and that sword in his hand resembled a soaring golden flood dragon as it met head-on the black tiger Han Bo slashed down again.

Dragon and tiger clash!

What should have appeared an evenly matched collision instead, under everyone's astonished gaze, saw the black tiger, upon contacting the golden flood dragon, vanish as swiftly as flying snow.

Afterward, the now mindless Han Bo only felt his ghost blade emit a wail, followed immediately by an indescribable stabbing pain emanating from the blade.

The Ghost Blade Sect cultivator's blade is his natal magic treasure; blade and body are one, so the impact on his 'Black Tiger Beheading Blade' signifies a heavy blow to himself.

Roar!!

The pain-wracked Han Bo's countenance grew ever more ferocious as he spat out a mouthful of blood and issued a bestial howl.

"Is that heavenly thunder power?!"

The Yuan Ying cultivators who had undergone the thunder tribulation now also reacted, gazing at the panicked golden flood dragon and crying out in alarm.

Yunhe can actually command heavenly thunder power?

You see, ordinary demonic cultivators' techniques are restrained by the lightning attribute, but once one's cultivation reaches Han Bo's level, ordinary lightning has no restraining effect on him; yet heavenly thunder power is the bane feared by all demonic cultivators.

Using ghostly qi to oppose heavenly thunder?

That's nothing short of striking a stone with an egg!

To dispel Han Bo's ghostly qi, Yunhe's eyes flashed cold as he formed hand seals.

The golden arc that had restored to a flying sword rang out again; amidst countless leaping arcs, the panicked flying sword shot straight toward Han Bo.

If Han Bo were clear-minded now, he would surely not fall for it easily, but the problem is he is currently muddled, seemingly reduced to mere beastly instinct.

As soon as his surrounding ghostly qi touched the arc-light, it all dissipated; the leaping arcs, upon striking Han Bo, left scorching marks on his body, extremely ferocious.

"Fellow Daoist Yun!" Ji Liuyun exclaimed hastily from the side.

Yunhe's expression was icy, yet he had his own considerations in mind.

Pfft!!

A single sword pierced Han Bo's body, and countless thunderbolts burst forth in an instant.

At the same moment, Yunhe darted forward, flicked his finger to form a sword, and tore open Han Bo's nape, exposing bloody flesh and even the spine.

He then raised his hand and seized.

From Han Bo's nape flew a worm identical to the black insect previously seized by the Yuan Ying corpse‑refining hand!

In his hand it writhed and struggled desperately.

It even tried to burrow into his body.

But it was blocked by a strange gray‑white qi.

Seeing this worm again, if the cultivators present still fail to understand the reason, then they have cultivated in vain all this time.

This gu is precisely the 'hidden hand' of the Abyss Clan!

Just that.

How can such a trifling little gu worm affect a Yuan Ying cultivator?

It not only muddles his mind but does not impair his strength, which chills everyone's hearts.

At the same time, everyone now understands why Ji Li Yun earlier agreed to follow Yunhe's advice.

Although Han Bo is still wounded and his mind is clouded, he could be so easily defeated, which also shows that Yunhe's ability is not insignificant.

But what everyone is now most concerned about is the gu worm in his hand.

"Daoist Friend Yun, what exactly is this gu?" Ji Li Yun voiced everyone's question.

Yunhe fixed his gaze on the black worm in his hand and said in a low voice:

"Heaven Corpse Gu!"

(End of chapter)