Chapter 376: The Method of Return to Emptiness

Shen Yi acted as if he were holding a grudge.

Whenever he saw a bookshelf broken open, he would reach out, take a look, and then throw it back.

Hearing the thumping sounds, the Spider Emperor's eyes twitched.

These things were useless, yet they were all painstakingly created by it; breaking open each one required hundreds or even thousands of years.

Letting this lion see them was like a cow chewing on a peony.

Finally, Shen Yi seemed tired and placed the last jade slip back.

"I thought there was something good here, worthy of your vigilance. Just this?"

He turned around, the Jin Guang on his eyes nearly scattering due to his emotional fluctuation.

【Return to Emptiness (Rare). Palace of the Boundless Dao Emperor: Not Entered】

This was the first technique Shen Yi had seen after flipping through so many jade slips that required no prerequisites.

The very first sentence was a marked reminder, obtained by an elder of the sect during travels outside, with its origins unknown.

Perhaps because it was too precious, it was collected by the Library of Hidden Arts and placed together with other jade slips.

"Hmph, you are the second person besides this Emperor to see these things; do not be ungrateful."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor rearranged the jade slips and issued a cold rebuke.

It could grant this lion some favor, but that did not mean it would tolerate the other ignoring hierarchy and respect.

"Who is the other one?" Shen Yi glanced sideways.

"And... what is that to you, He Gan!"

The Xuanming Spider Emperor spoke instinctively, then angrily glared over.

Yet, in its mind, the figure of a young man in a wide green robe inexplicably surfaced.

With only the realm of Transformation of Spirit, the other had successfully visualized a prototype of the Dao Palace at that critical moment of life and death, not only severely injuring itself but also escaping with six opponents against one.

On that occasion, many technique jade slips taken by Nie Jun were all ones the Spider Emperor had spent years breaking through arrays to retrieve.

It was precisely because of this precedent.

That it was ordered by the old dog not to touch the treasures of the Library of Hidden Arts again.

"Anyway, if that person dares to enter again, it will be certain death!"

"..."

Seeing the Spider Emperor's furious appearance, Shen Yi instantly knew that person's identity.

To provoke the Ten Great Demon Emperors and still survive to this day.

It could only be the cultivators from Mount Wutong.

It should not be Shenxu Laozu; after all, he could lead the Sanfangtong Alliance to confront the Thousand Demon Cave, so he was likely a Return to Emptiness cultivator. If the demons could kill him, they would have done so long ago, rather than dragging it out until now.

It seemed Nie Jun was even stronger than Shen Yi had thought; as long as he did not come to the Thousand Demon Cave, even these great Demon Emperors could do nothing to him.

Unless necessary, he should try not to wander around outside in the guise of a demon in the future, to avoid being the target that draws the arrow, and be spotted by that killer.

"Enough, you wanted to see, and you have seen."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor curled up again, pulled a scroll from the corner of the desk, and threw it at the lion: "A gift for you. With your brain, just look at these things."

Shen Yi took it in his hand.

He saw the characters "Reflections on Watching Baohua Xianzi Bathe" carved on the scroll.

"..."

To avoid suspicion, he forced himself to submerge his divine soul into it.

The same scene as last time unfolded in his mind.

When the clouds and mist dispersed, a pool of azure lake came into view, surrounded by cultivators of various attire, all radiating a terrifyingly powerful aura.

Some stood on precious boats, while others rode golden-scaled fierce beasts.

Everyone was staring at the lake.

This made Shen Yi slightly surprised; what kind of fairy was this, that bathing required so many people to gather and admire?

In an instant, ripples rose on the azure lake surface.

A white dragon nearly hundreds of zhang long leaped out of the lake, its long whiskers glowing with purple light, and as its body coiled, it was filled with an unusual beauty.

It scanned the surroundings once, and contempt and helplessness surged in its clear eyes.

Then, without looking back, it plunged into the clouds.

The scene froze, then was covered by clouds and mist.

Shen Yi withdrew his divine soul and was about to speak when he saw a prompt jump onto the panel.

【Return to Emptiness. Dragon Leaps to the Heavenly Yin: Not Entered】

His eyelids twitched slightly.

This was no bathing picture; it was clearly a technique.

The cultivators of the General Nanyang Sect, simply by watching the purple-whiskered white dragon bathe, had comprehended a Return to Emptiness-level teleportation method.

"Tsk."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor caught the joy in the lion's eyes.

It felt a slight contempt in its heart.

But it quickly suppressed the emotion.

Having flaws was not a bad thing; if the other truly had no desires or demands, it would instead feel somewhat uneasy.

"Settle your thoughts; it is time for proper business."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor reminded slowly: "You drove away Youwei, and Lei Ti was killed by your hand. With no one guarding their territories, it will surely attract the attention of cultivators. Do not forget, disciples of Mount Wutong are still hiding inside the Thousand Demon Cave."

"Go, bring them here."

Tolerance presupposes sufficient value.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced at the bookshelves in the distance.

He had only just touched upon the Void-Return Method, plus one Movement Technique; there must be many other means here.

But if he continued to linger now, it would be too obvious.

"Understood."

Shen Yi turned and walked toward the light curtain.

He needed to think of other methods.

As for capturing the disciples of Mount Wutong... as long as that group wasn't foolish, judging by the previous battle, they had likely already left the Thousand Demon Cave.

Shen Yi left the Scripture Repository and found a quiet place at random.

He opened the panel again.

The previous prompt for deducing the Heaven-Silk Soul-Forging Art had already ceased.

【In the twenty-fourth millennium, you have long since mastered the entire cultivation method, yet you have repeatedly failed the final assessment. The Iron-Stroke Silver-Hook Array resembles a lotus, composed of several parts; with your current soul strength, you can at most complete about thirty percent.】

Shen Yi closed the prompt.

He wasn't going to struggle over this, after all, it was just a test question.

He wasn't a disciple of the General Nanyang Sect anyway; there was really no need.

The Iron-Stroke Silver-Hook consists of Trapping, Killing, and Sealing.

Three techniques in total.

Even if separated into individual parts, each could actually serve a good purpose; it wasn't that complicated.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: Ninety-four thousand years】

Thanks to the thirty-two thousand years of lifespan contributed by the Demon Emperor Lei Ti, the remaining amount was now actually much higher than before he began practicing the Heaven-Silk Soul-Forging Art.

Shen Yi looked at the two newly acquired cultivation methods, a hint of expectation rising in his eyes.

In the next moment, he poured the vast demon lifespan into that Palace Method.

【In the first year, you summoned Shenxu Laozu and began studying the Boundless Dao Emperor Palace. You read with extreme obscurity; looking up, you saw the old fox was also covered in sweat. You two stared blankly at each other.】

"..."

This was the first time Shen Yi had seen such a prompt.

He had some self-awareness, but the old fox's reaction was quite absurd.

What happened to being well-traveled and knowledgeable?

What about the calm composure shown when teaching array knowledge earlier?

Shen Yi fell silent for a long while.

He could only watch helplessly as the demon lifespan vanished at a visible speed.

Inside the Thousand Demon Cave.

A four-winged flying eagle suddenly convulsed all over, then was silently dragged down.

While struggling frantically, it also saw the faces of the several people nearby, and its eyes instantly filled with terror.

It saw four figures standing with hands at their sides, their faces all bearing an identical coldness.

"I will give you only one chance."

The woman who was clearly the leader stepped forward slowly: "Golden-Eyed Lion, is he still alive? Where is he?"

Behind that woman.

Tong Xinchuan, Miao Qinghui, and even the youthful-faced True Person Qingfeng all had intense killing intent in their eyes at this moment.

"Youwei, the cave dwelling of Demon Emperor Youwei."

As the four-winged flying eagle finished speaking, it saw the woman lightly wave her palm; immediately, a spiritual pressure surged into its eyes, expanding within its skull until that eagle head exploded with a bang.

True Person Qingfeng took a deep breath: "I have already left many messages outside the Thousand Demon Cave, none of which received a response; I fear even that Golden Body Dharma Image has left..."

"The Lion is still alive, yet he has even given up the thought of revenge. That boy surnamed Shen might truly be in trouble." Qingfeng looked to the side.

Upon hearing this, only Miao Qinghui showed a reaction, revealing regret in her eyes: "Last time, it was that Golden Body who saved you."

"Therefore, I must do something." Li Qingfeng gritted his teeth, forcing out a strained smile: "I trouble Jiang Shijie."

"I do not care who you are talking about."

True Person Lingxi calmly withdrew her hand and said indifferently: "I simply want Master to see that Mount Wutong also has someone like Lingxi."

She stepped forward again, walking toward the front.

"In my impression, this is the first time the Eldest Jiang Shijie has left the mountain; I didn't expect her to be so decisive and straightforward."

Miao Qinghui spoke to ease Qingfeng's embarrassment.

"..."

Tong Xinchuan said nothing.

For some reason, although the Eldest Jiang Shijie possessed a Soul Transformation Perfection cultivation, and in terms of realm alone, she could be called the second only to Master, he always found himself unable to trust her.

There was no reason, only an instinctive reaction from within.

According to his thinking, at the very least, much more preparation should be made, such as contacting Great Qian to inquire about the whereabouts of that Yin Spirit cultivator.

But once the Eldest Jiang Shijie's temper flared, who could possibly dissuade her?

It was clearly because of the matters concerning Jiang Qiulan and Nie Jun that she had already lost some control over her emotions.

"Regardless, at least her cultivation is real; I only hope nothing goes wrong."

Tong Xinchuan sighed silently in his heart and moved to follow her.

Just as the group drew near the cave abode of the Nether-Tail Demon Emperor.

Inside that cave, a plump, graceful figure lay reclined.

"Tsk."

Jin Chi, the Demon Emperor, propped his head with his palm, growing more and more uneasy the more he thought.

Earlier, he had been tricked out of his wits by that lion with just a few words.

Now that he had returned and reflected, the other party had still explained nothing clearly; this time, he must get a clear answer.

(End of this chapter)