Chapter 1008

Crisp footsteps echoed in the underground palace, and Youquan frowned as she hurried to the center of the teleportation array.

"The Cangwu Mountain array has always been hidden; why did it suddenly activate today?"

"Who is the blind fool?"

After walking down the last step, the scene of the spacious underground palace instantly came into view.

However, as far as the eye could see, it was empty, with no figure at all.

Youquan was stunned, almost thinking she had perceived it wrong.

But after seeing the light gradually dissipating on the teleportation array, she reacted instantly.

"Someone did indeed teleport over, from the branch array on the North Sea side, but where are they?"

She looked around, slightly bewildered.

At the same time, in another void space.

Luo Chen, who had just arrived at Cangwu Mountain, was moved over; even though he deliberately did not resist, this ability to move others out of thin air was definitely not something that could be achieved by ordinary means.

Luo Chen's expression was complex as he looked at the woman standing quietly in the void.

Her figure was still as tall as ever, her long legs firm and powerful, and her originally cold temperament was now even more ethereal.

She stood there quietly, her face as beautiful as a banished immortal; clearly in this realm, yet it seemed as if she might ride the wind and return at any moment.

"You really have reached Soul Transformation!"

Qingshuang looked at Luo Chen calmly, "You have said this sentence twice."

Luo Chen gave a bitter smile; he had indeed said it twice.

The first time was a shocked question, the second time was the helplessness after confirming it face-to-face; the emotions contained within this, perhaps only he himself could know.

He once treated Qingshuang as a hypothetical enemy, a benchmark to chase!

When experimenting with certain ideas or creating new killing moves, he would always subconsciously think about how this move would fare against Qingshuang.

This was because Luo Chen had previously been defeated by Qingshuang without any power to fight back, and even those Nascent Soul True Persons and famous Great Cultivators he looked up to were no match for Qingshuang.

He constantly worked hard to improve himself, eventually catching up to Qingshuang step by step.

From trying his best to injure the other party to mutual compromise in life-and-death battles, especially after the battle in the Western Desert Buddhist land, the world listed the demoness Qingshuang alongside the Wuxiang Moluo, which made him feel proud for a time.

Over these years, Luo Chen's strength had improved tremendously again.

Whether it was entering the ninth layer of the Nascent Soul realm, or the Million Evil Soul Banner, the Blood Jade Three-Flame Fan, or even the Great Perfection of the "Thousand Xiao Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Scripture," one by one, great means capable of threatening Soul Transformation stage cultivators were mastered by him, making him feel that he had completely surpassed Qingshuang.

Until this moment.

Qingshuang had reached Soul Transformation, walking ahead of him once again.

Luo Chen sighed, maintaining his composure, and bowed: "Congratulations!"

Unexpectedly, Qingshuang looked at him indifferently:

"You need not belittle yourself; when you first entered the Core Formation stage, I was already in the late Nascent Soul stage."

Luo Chen was startled; the thoughts in his heart had been perceived by the other party.

Was it because of the Life-and-Death Gu?

"Now I have only taken a step ahead; you will catch up sooner or later. After all, you have also condensed a Primordial Spirit, and you are only one step away from Soul Transformation, are you not?"

Luo Chen was speechless, self-deprecatingly saying: "It is I who was obsessed."

"You returned from the North Sea?"

"Yes, I went there to handle some matters and used the Cangwu Mountain teleportation array to save time."

"You still have time to go to the North Sea; do you not intend to retrieve your Life Soul?" Qingshuang's willow eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she did not understand how Luo Chen could have such leisure to go to the North Sea.

Regarding the incompleteness of Luo Chen's Life Soul, Qingshuang knew the inside story.

And having experienced the breakthrough to Soul Transformation, she was even more aware of how important the completeness of the soul was for taking that step.

Especially for Luo Chen, whose foundation was so profound it was unprecedented in history; as long as his Life Soul was complete, taking the final step would be a natural and logical matter.

Luo Chen exhaled a turbid breath, "I have already made arrangements for this matter, and the day of the challenge is not far off."

Having said this, he looked at Qingshuang with a half-smile.

"Caring for me so much, could it be that you want to help me? It just so happens that your realm has greatly increased, and you possess the incredibly powerful Space Law; surely you have the strength to fight against the older generation of Soul Transformation powerhouses!"

Qingshuang ignored Luo Chen's teasing and said indifferently: "I have not fought them, but I imagine it would not be bad."

"Then come help me!" Luo Chen's spirit lifted, and he spoke eloquently: "The Tianyuan Dao Sect is, after all, the holy land with the deepest foundation in the Shanhai Realm. Do not look at the fact that only one Soul Transformation powerhouse, Ancestor Liancheng, remains on the surface; I fear they might still be able to erupt with some Soul Transformation combat power. I have contacted a Soul Transformation powerhouse in the North Sea; if I have your help as well, then this matter will be certain."

Qingshuang glanced at him coldly, "Why should I?"

Why should Qingshuang help him?

Regarding this question, Luo Chen was full of confidence.

That would naturally be because of the life-and-death connection between the two!

However, when this answer reached his lips, seeing Qingshuang's cold gaze, Luo Chen could not say it out loud.

If he used this as a threat, not only would it reveal his petty nature, but it would also needlessly incur the other party's dislike.

Especially since the Life-and-Death Gu that Luo Chen planted back then was only fourth-tier; for the ancient demon Qingshuang who had already reached Soul Transformation, it was hard to say how much binding power this fourth-tier Gu worm still had.

Luo Chen put away his smile and pondered for a moment.

After a while, he said solemnly: "Helping me is not just helping me; it is also helping yourselves!"

Qingshuang had a cold nature and was dedicated to cultivation, but that did not mean she was foolish.

"Your words are half-true and half-false."

Luo Chen did not deny it; the false part was his selfishness, while the true part was indeed considering Cangwu Mountain.

He said slowly: "A hundred years ago, Qixia Yuanjun aggressively attacked the Central Continent, causing the land to sink, the Dao Sect to collapse, and casualties numbering in the hundreds of millions; the two sides have since formed an indelible blood feud!"

"Over these years, the Dao Sect powerhouses have not dared to step into the Eastern Wasteland because they fear the Yuanjun's might. But the Yuanjun did not kill her way into the Central Continent again to cut the weeds and dig up the roots, presumably because she was seriously injured and unable to fight again."

"If it were just this, it would be fine; as time passes, the Tianyuan Dao Sect recovers its vitality, and Qixia Yuanjun heals her injuries, at worst they can just fight another battle."

"But as far as I know, the current Tianyuan Dao Sect is setting up arrays on several continents, wanting to reunite the Central Continent and recreate Heaven and Earth Peak. Once they complete this step, they can establish contact with the Upper Realm, and perhaps even recreate the scene where many powerhouses from back then descended upon the Central Continent."

"Given the blood feud between the Tianyuan Dao Sect and your sister Qixia Yuanjun, at that time, countless powerhouses will inevitably cross the sea and forcibly storm Cangwu Mountain."

"Qingshuang, do you want to see that scene?"

Qingshuang's expression shifted, and her slightly curved willow eyebrows furrowed gently.

Regarding her sister's situation, she had never revealed it to outsiders, but Luo Chen's guess was actually not far off.

Since the great battle with the Heaven Refining Demon Lord a thousand years ago and drifting to this realm, Qixia Yuanjun had been seriously injured and was forced to use the Nirvana method.

After a thousand years, she had recultivated back to the Void Refinement realm.

However, because her sister was not a native creature of this realm, the Void Refinement realm was strictly suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth, unable to fully unleash her power, and she could only use Soul Transformation means.

Although she later achieved many proud results, such as destroying the Yuanmo Sect, burying the Mingyuan Sect, and severely damaging the Tianyuan Dao Sect, she had ultimately accumulated immense injuries.

Especially the final strike of the Tianyuan powerhouse of the Mingyuan Sect, which attracted the attention of the Heavenly Tribulation, and the Tianyuan Five Elders activating the Void Refinement Great Wilderness Soul-Hanging Wilderness at Broken Soul Cliff, which brought unimaginable heavy injuries to her sister.

What Luo Chen said about "Qixia Yuanjun being unable to fight again" was a fact!

This was also the reason why Qingshuang had not stepped out of the mountain gate for a hundred years after returning to Cangwu Mountain, forcibly crossing into the Soul Transformation realm.

She wanted to protect her sister during her weakest stage!

As long as her sister recovered from her injuries, then although the Shanhai Realm was vast, no one would be her match!

However, the Tianyuan Dao Sect now wanted to take a shortcut, recreate Heaven and Earth Peak, and summon the incarnations of Upper Realm powerhouses to descend.

"Can Heaven and Earth Peak be recreated without the Star Gate?" Qingshuang muttered to herself.

Luo Chen captured that word, "Star Gate?"

Qingshuang nodded, her face showing a bit more confidence, "Yes, the Dao Sect's Star Gate was snatched away by my sister. Without this

space spirit treasure that can cross the void and traverse the universe, given the distance between the Shanhai Realm and the Xuan Realm, ordinary powerhouses cannot descend."

The woman's hand flickered, and an ancient, simple gate flashing with starlight appeared in her hand.

When Luo Chen wanted to look closer, that gate vanished from Qingshuang's hand in an instant.

So Qixia Yuanjun attacked the Central Continent back then just for this spirit treasure?

As Luo Chen realized this, his heart could not help but turn bitter.

If the Tianyuan Dao Sect, having lost the Star Gate, could not summon Upper Realm powerhouses, then Cangwu Mountain would actually face no danger, and Qingshuang would have no reason to help Luo Chen.

Luo Chen was still unwilling to give up and said a term that Li Canghai had mentioned.

"The North Sea array powerhouse Li Canghai mentioned that the Tianyuan Dao Sect set up an array called the God-Descending Array on Heaven and Earth Island; I wonder if this array can summon across realms?"

"God-Descending Array?" Qingshuang looked slightly confused.

It seemed she did not know about this kind of array either!

Luo Chen sighed, finding it difficult to persuade the other party.

Forget it!

Ultimately, he still had to rely on himself!

Luo Chen's heart stirred, and with one step, his entire person detached from that void.

Looking around, he was in the Zhoukong Hall, with Qingshuang standing in front, looking thoughtful.

Luo Chen walked toward the outside of the hall, and as they brushed past each other, he feigned ease and said: "If I can successfully retrieve my Life Soul and step into the Soul Transformation realm, I will voluntarily dissolve the Life-and-Death Gu contract. If I fail, with your current realm, you should be able to withstand the backlash of the contract. Thinking about it this way, your successful Soul Transformation is a good thing."

After speaking, he stepped out of the Zhoukong Hall with heavy footsteps.

Sometimes seeing hope and then losing it is far more painful than having nothing at all.

However, after exiting the Zhoukong Hall, Luo Chen's mindset had already adjusted; after all, from the beginning, he had not factored Qingshuang's combat power into his plans.

"Sister Qingshuang, someone seemed to teleport just now... eh, Luo Chen?"

Youquan, who had hurried to the Zhoukong Hall wanting Qingshuang to investigate the abnormality of the teleportation array earlier, stopped at the entrance of the main hall.

Youquan showed a look of realization, "Luo Chen, so it was you who used the teleportation array earlier!"

Luo Chen looked over calmly, "Deputy Hall Master Youquan, shouldn't you address me as Duzhen Hall Master, or Lord Luo Chen?"

Mastering all three, what was the difference between this young man in front of him and a Soul Transformation great master?

Boom!

A behemoth sat on the glacial wilderness.

Luo Chen looked up and saw a strange creature that looked like an octopus and also like a jellyfish.

A bright and round huge bald head, facial features like a human, black spots like ring scars all over the body, and eighteen tentacles covered with cracks.

"Master, this is my true body."

As the bald head spoke, the cracks on those tentacles also opened in unison, making the same sound.

Nineteen mouths spoke at the same time, buzzing and annoying, as if a nagging monk was constantly chanting scriptures.

Nineteen mouths spoke at the same time, the buzzing sound annoying, as if a nagging monk were chanting scriptures incessantly.

Luo Chen smiled and waved his hand.

"You'd better transform into a human form, your true body is really a bit ugly."

Amidst the demonic energy, the huge chanting monk dissipated, turning into Kong Chan's withered body.

He stood respectfully in front of Luo Chen, not looking like the Great Demon Emperor who once ran rampant in the North Sea.

Luo Chen took a step, his eyes shining with golden light, and walked toward a direction of the Origin Demon Sect.

While walking, he asked Kong Chan about the demon clan.

Especially the specific situation of the Origin Demon Sect's destruction back then.

"That battle was the North Li Great Saint and the Sea Emperor Whale ancestor joining forces to fight the Soul-Refining ancestor, breaking his flesh, and even the Primordial Spirit was scattered by the Sea Emperor Whale ancestor. Before the Soul-Refining ancestor died, he scattered his Primordial Spirit and set up an array to trap us in Night-Mo Heaven for over a hundred years."

"As for the Origin Demon ancestor of the Origin Demon Sect, the battlefield was not on our side at that time, and I don't know who was fighting him."

"Only remember that a wisp of golden flame leaked out from that battlefield, taking away millions of strong experts of both human and demon clans."

Luo Chen's steps paused.

"Golden flame?"

Kong Chan nodded, and then as if remembering something, a look of surprise and uncertainty appeared in his eyes.

The means Luo Chen used to kill the corpse giant in the blood lake earlier seemed to be a kind of golden flame.

Could it be...

Luo Chen's eyes flickered; some speculations from back then were finally verified at this moment.

The dignified Origin Demon Sect was actually wiped out by the demonic beasts they had suppressed for three thousand years; the inside story was indeed not simple.

Inside, Monarch Qixia personally took action!

Destroying the Origin Demon, burying the Ming Yuan, causing the two major continents of the North Sea and Eastern Wasteland to be empty of strength, attracting the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect to send troops to occupy them.

Her ultimate goal was actually the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect.

And later, Monarch Qixia did indeed kill her way into the Central State.

But why didn't Monarch Qixia take action against the Western Desert and Southern Frontier?

No!

Perhaps it wasn't that she didn't take action.

The Western Desert Buddhist Land was alert and closed the Hanging Temple in advance, and only opened the mountain gate after the Central State collapsed.

And in those years, the demon clan in the Western Desert also moved out, which led to the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect sending troops.

As for the Southern Frontier?

With the You Li Divine Monarch stationed there, even Monarch Qixia didn't dare to rashly kill her way to the mountain gate.

However, the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect later did send people to the Southern Frontier, causing the Central State's strength to be empty, and was taken advantage of by Monarch Qixia.

"Monarch Qixia was so calculating, creating excellent conditions for her to attack the Central State; what was her purpose?"

"According to intelligence, the final battlefield of that battle in the Central State was Heaven and Earth Peak, and there was the Star Gate, one of the three treasures of the Dao Sect, stationed on Heaven and Earth Peak."

"After Heaven and Earth Peak broke, the Star Gate organization disintegrated, and it is rumored that even the spiritual treasure Star Gate disappeared."

"Could Monarch Qixia's ultimate goal be to seize the Star Gate?"

Luo Chen thought carefully, even his steps slowed down a lot.

No sound came from his ears, he reminded: "Continue, talk about the recent attacks of the North Sea demon clan on the three continents of the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect."

Kong Chan didn't dare to neglect, and told what he knew one by one.

"I don't know much about this either, only that it was the order of the two ancestors."

"Some people guess it's to avenge the hatred of the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect intervening in the North Sea battle over the past hundred years and obstructing the demon clan from unifying the North Sea cultivation world."

"But from the little monk's point of view, the intensity of the retaliation is not high, at least the strong experts at the Great Demon Emperor level did not participate."