Chapter 181: The Soul Severance realm of the Old Emperor (6k)

"A beast is a beast after all, with brute force but a simple mind, only knowing how to use the most savage and direct method to solve problems. Yet they are completely unaware that such behavior, sometimes not only cannot achieve the goal, but will be counterproductive and set themselves on fire."

Cao Zhengyang clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

Yan Xiaohu said indignantly: "No, what kind of person is this? Because he was greedy for things in the abyss, he ran out to seek opportunities, and after the things were lost, why blame us?"

Lu Yaoyao was also angry: "Yes, the image stone has clearly recorded Li Niang. We just helped to find it because of the feelings of many years. How did it become like we stole the holy medicine now?"

"We helped with good intentions, but instead became sinners. How can there be such a thing?"

Lu Yaoyao looked aggrieved and angry.

Zhou Qing still looked at the image stone. The original good impression of Hou Shan vanished at this moment, and he was even extremely disappointed.

Cao Zhengyang sighed and said: "We have been thinking from his perspective, understanding his mood, but over the past few months, his actions have indeed been chilling."

"Now he has changed from his previous suspicion to completely determining that it was our Taiqingmen and the Chiyan Longshi who stole it. This is simply indiscriminate. But those Demon Kings are holding together, and we have no way."

Cao Zhengyang's tone was full of helplessness.

"If you want to add a crime, there is no excuse. Coupled with the agitation of those Demon Kings who came to watch the fun, in fact, even if it were really found, they would come up with a sentence that the holy medicine has lost its medicinal properties, and they would find an excuse to vent."

If the other party really wants to find trouble, they can always find an excuse.

After Zhou Qing heard this, he thought about it and said: "Does Shibo mean that these Demon Kings who came to watch the fun are actually taking advantage of our Five Sects fighting for many years, each suffering heavy losses, wanting to take advantage of our weakness and fatigue to get some benefits?"

Cao Zhengyang nodded and said: "It should be. Before, Hou Shan might have really wanted to ask us to find the holy medicine, but with more and more Demon Kings gathering, people said one thing and another, his original intention might have changed."

"People are mixed, those Demon Kings instigated, he probably followed and became confused, feeling that it was the problem of our Five Sects."

"Perhaps in their view, under the threat of a Demon King, the Five Sects were scared to stop fighting and went all out to help find the medicine, which already explains the problem." Cao Zhengyang explained helplessly.

Lu Yaoyao was even more angry after hearing this and said: "Then why do we still help them continue to look for it? We have been so dedicated, they don't appreciate it and even wronged us. What is the meaning of looking for it?"

Cao Zhengyang looked at the three and suddenly smiled: "On the surface, we still have to look for it."

"On the surface?" Zhou Qing frowned slightly, a little puzzled.

It's like this, and still not tearing the face?

Cao Zhengyang suddenly looked at Zhou Qing and said: "You came back just in time, come with me tonight."

Zhou Qing was puzzled. Seeing that Shibo didn't want to say more, he didn't ask much.

…………

Under the moonlight, eight figures kept shuttling through the night.

Zhou Qing didn't expect that Supreme Elders like Duanmu Shu had also come. Such a terrifying combination, are they planning to sneak attack someone?

Soon, they landed at the designated location, only to see that the people of Qingyu Xian Sect and Jin Leizong had been waiting for a long time.

Besides the Sect Masters of the two sects, there were also several Soul Formation Great Perfection powerhouses that Zhou Qing had never seen before. This lineup was not small.

Ten?

Catch the thief first, catch the king?

Zhou Qing was suddenly a little nervous, and more of it was an inexplicable sense of excitement.

Looking at Cao Zhengyang bringing Zhou Qing, who is now in the limelight among the younger generation, everyone was a little puzzled. Is there any special arrangement?

Zhou Qing immediately stepped forward to pay respects to the elders.

"Are you not planning to..." Lei Wuji looked at Cao Zhengyang and opened his mouth, but stopped talking.

Cao Zhengyang smiled slightly, which was considered acquiescence.

Immortal Immortal Xuanyou Xianyou Xianzi looked at Zhou Qing with great emotion.

Previously, this child was still a Foundation Establishment disciple coming to sponge off free breakfasts, but now he is already someone who can kill the five great geniuses of the Cangyan Dao Palace and has been designated by Cao Zhengyang as the next Sect Master.

【Heart Identification Point +9】

The next moment, the 【Really Great】 note on Immortal Immortal Xuanyou Xianyou Xianzi's head changed rapidly into the words 【Taiqingmen's Little Sect Master】.

Seeing this new entry note, Zhou Qing was stunned, reacted immediately, and subconsciously looked at Cao Zhengyang, his face full of disbelief.

Recalling before, Shibo started to tell him about the various secrets investigated, constantly asking himself what choice he would make if he were in his position, and now bringing him to participate in this matter, Zhou Qing suddenly felt a little panicked.

No, he did behead the five great geniuses of the Chiyan Longshi, but it wouldn't go so far as to be determined by you as the next Sect Master, right?

He is now just a small Nascent Soul realm, and even on the surface, he used the "Void Realm Dharma Image" to suppress his cultivation to the early Nascent Soul realm.

It was even claimed to the outside world that he used poison, arrays, and united with others to luckily kill them.

Gui Ao, Li Daoxuan, and many other peak leaders, which one is not more qualified and stronger than him?

And Cao Zhengyang didn't notice Zhou Qing's gaze, but looked at the crowd and said: "Are you sure you have thought it through?"

Lei Wuji and Immortal Immortal Xuanyou Xianyou Xianzi subconsciously looked at their own elders, and the Supreme Elders looked at each other and nodded silently.

Seeing this, Cao Zhengyang took a deep breath, his expression became serious and said: "Good, since that's the case, let's set off!"

Afterward, the group set off again.

Although Zhou Qing was puzzled, facing such a scene, he didn't dare to ask too much, but followed them silently.

It seems that this operation is top secret. After all, the peak masters of various peaks, including the many Soul Formation realms of the other two sects, didn't come.

Just like that, about an hour later, when Zhou Qing saw the people of the Chiyan Longshi and the Tianji Sect, his face suddenly turned cold.

Vaguely, he seemed to understand something.

"Brother Cao, Brother Lei, Immortal Immortal Xuanyou, we meet again!" Si Kong Yan and Xuan Ji Zi walked up to greet them with a smile.

But this smile seemed hypocritical to Zhou Qing.

Cao Zhengyang and the others just made a simple salute, had no intention of chatting with them, and asked directly: "Where is the thing on the portrait?"

Si Kong Yan looked at Zhou Qing unexpectedly, gave a hehe, and said with a hint of mockery: "Are you sure you want this little guy to know?"

"That is my business!" Cao Zhengyang said without giving in.

Si Kong Yan shrugged and said: "Okay, this indeed has nothing to do with me. Elder Xu, take it out!"

After speaking, he turned his head and opened his mouth to a Soul Formation Great Perfection elder behind him whose aura was restrained and exuded a powerful aura.

That white-haired old man, his face slightly flushed, walked out steadily, his gaze was like substance, and he swept around the crowd lightly.

Immediately after, he slowly extended his right hand.

I saw a strange lotus flower quietly appearing in his hand.

This is a strange black lotus that is still in a budding state, and its whole body exudes a deep purple-black light.

The layered petals are tightly clustered together, but it is difficult to hide the dead silence power exuding from the inside out, making the surrounding air seem to be drawn away from vitality, becoming cold and solemn.

At the top of the lotus bud, a faint emerald green light flickered, and more rich demon energy escaped from the top, condensing into crystal ice silk in the air, crisscrossing.

The eyes of everyone present were instantly firmly attracted by it, and everyone held their breath, their eyes locked tightly on this lotus flower.

Zhou Qing was also unbelievable. Although he was well-informed and involved in various rare treasures, he couldn't recognize this thing at all at this moment.

And including Duanmu Shu and others, they became short of breath, full of excitement, and even greedy.

"It really is... Nine Nether Demon Lotus!" Cao Zhengyang only felt his mouth dry, and couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva. His voice became a little trembling because of excitement.

Si Kong Yan said: "That's right, it is the Nine Nether Demon Lotus, a peerless divine medicine that can only grow with an extremely low probability by growing on the edge of the Nine Nether Purgatory and taking root where the remains and essence blood of ten thousand demons gather."

"Brother Cao, Brother Lei, Immortal Immortal Xuanyou, to tell you the truth, this Five Sects war was not something I wanted to provoke, but I was pushed."

Si Kong Yan sighed long, his face became complex, and he said slowly, "I have no other way. I think you should know what is happening in the many prefectures under Long Yuanjun recently. We can't hide from it."

Watching the other party put away the Nine Nether Demon Lotus, Cao Zhengyang and the others came back to their senses.

Lei Wuji took the lead and asked: "This matter is not mentioned for now, I just want to know, where did you get this Nine Nether Demon Lotus?"

Others also looked over one after another.

Si Kong Yan said: "I got it by accident a few years ago. It's a pity that it hasn't bloomed yet. If it can be fully unfolded, once the Nine Nether lotus seeds inside can mature, you should know what this represents."

Saying that, he looked at Duanmu Shu and the others, his eyes revealing a hint of temptation.

Everyone was silent.

At this moment, Zhou Qing was full of curiosity, but could only endure it. If he had known, he would have identified it just now.

Seeing that everyone didn't speak, Si Kong Yan had to continue: "This Nine Nether Demon Lotus wants to fully mature, it needs to be irrigated with massive essence blood of the demon race, and the essence blood of the Soul Formation realm demon race is better."

"I'm not afraid to tell you, my original plan was to deal with you on one side, and secretly capture Demon Kings and many demon races with the elders on the other side, breaking them one by one, accumulating over time, and it can also let it mature slowly."

Si Kong Yan directly said his previous plan without reservation.

"Unfortunately, you have seen the situation now. The plan can't keep up with the changes. I even suspect that these beasts are stealing and playing tricks, deliberately wanting to find an excuse to unite, and want to take advantage of the fire when we are both hurt."

"No way, I can only find you to cooperate."

Si Kong Yan said, looking at the crowd, his face full of anger.

Cao Zhengyang frowned and opened his mouth: "Even if eighteen Demon Kings are all gathered together, I am afraid they cannot make it mature, right?"

After all, he also knows a little about the Nine Nether Demon Lotus, and the conditions for maturity are extremely harsh.

Si Kong Yan said: "That naturally won't work. I said just now, it needs massive amounts. According to the news I got, many demon beasts have started to gather toward Mount Canglan. We can't hide from the beast tide. Since that's the case, it's better to do a big one."

This time, it is a crisis, but it is also a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity.

As long as it is used well, nothing is impossible!

"How to do it?" Immortal Immortal Xuanyou Xianyou Xianzi asked.

Si Kong Yan smiled slightly and looked at the Supreme Elder before again.

I saw the other party patting the storage bag, and an array disk flashing with five-colored light appeared in his hand.

Seeing this scene, everyone's face changed suddenly.

Black puppet, Nine Nether Demon Lotus, five-colored barrier, what other things does this Chiyan Longshi have that they don't know?

Zhou Qing's face also changed slightly, but he soon noticed something wrong. It seemed that a ray of green light was relatively dim, which was out of place with the other four bright colors around.

Si Kong Yan introduced: "This array is called 【Demon Sealing Killing Array】, ranked in the five-colored barrier. It's a pity that it is incomplete, and can only exert four-colored power."

"At that time, I will use the Nine Nether Demon Lotus as the array eye, and use the essence blood of hundreds of millions of demon beasts to irrigate and catalyze it. It will definitely be able to give birth to Nine Nether lotus seeds."

Si Kong Yan said this, his eyes full of madness.

After hearing this, everyone looked at each other. It was truly a great means to use the beast tide to make the Nine Nether Demon Lotus mature. This idea was indeed bold enough, but at the same time, the slaughter caused was probably unimaginable.

But I have to say, if it can really succeed, the harvest will be too great!

And Zhou Qing frowned. When he heard the name "Demon Sealing Killing Array," his heart moved.

This array seems to be in the inheritance left by Senior Xuan Qingzi.

He looked carefully hurriedly, and sure enough, he found relevant information in the inheritance memory.

At this time, a Supreme Elder of the Qingyu Xian Sect couldn't help but open his mouth: "How many lotus seeds? How to distribute them then?"

Si Kong Yan said: "I don't know about this, and I can't guarantee it for you. But the Nine Nether Demon Lotus and the Demon Sealing Killing Array are both from my Chiyan Longshi. How can I say it should account for half?"

Lei Wuji said excitedly: "So, the remaining half belongs to our Three Sects?"

"Everyone, did you forget my Tianji Sect?" Xuan Ji Zi opened his mouth to remind.

Everyone couldn't help turning their heads to look.

Xuan Ji Zi said: "First of all, Si Kong brother and I are allies. In addition, the layout of this Demon Sealing Killing Array cannot be without the Tianji Sect."

Si Kong Yan nodded and said: "He is right, so the Tianji Sect will account for 20%, and the remaining 30% belongs to your three families. As for how many seeds there will be? And how to divide them? It depends on the treasures you take out."

The Sect Masters of the three families looked at each other, and then looked at their own Supreme Elders.

Many Soul Formation Great Perfection were silent, discussed through voice transmission, and then nodded, which was considered agreement.

Seeing this, Si Kong Yan's mouth couldn't help but show a smile. Immediately after, three lists floated out.

"Since that's the case, prepare early. This is the number of various materials and supreme-grade spirit stones selected for starting the 【Demon Sealing Killing Array】, and it must be fast. At least at this time tomorrow, we must start laying it out."

After Cao Zhengyang and the others took the list and saw the massive amount of things on it, they were shocked. These things, I am afraid they have to empty all the inventory accumulated over the generations?

"What about the location?" After a brief silence, Cao Zhengyang asked.

Si Kong Yan smiled: "Don't you think that this Mount Canglan is the best place?"

……

Under the night color, Cao Zhengyang said goodbye to Jin Leizong and Qingyu Xian Sect, and then took Zhou Qing toward his own station.

At this time, Zhou Qing finally couldn't help asking about the situation of the Nine Nether Demon Lotus.

After all, the reason why the Three Sects Alliance suddenly cooperated with the Chiyan Longshi seemed to be because of this thing, especially the Supreme Elders, who were extremely urgent.

Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing and said excitedly: "Do you know how the Old Emperor promoted to the Soul Severance realm back then?"

Zhou Qing was stunned, just about to ask subconsciously, and reacted immediately: "Because of the Nine Nether Demon Lotus?"

Cao Zhengyang nodded, just about to explain to Zhou Qing, Supreme Elder Duanmu Shu opened his mouth: "Zhou Qing, do you know why the Soul Severance realm is called Soul Severance?"

Zhou Qing shook his head.

In the entire Sacred Martial Dynasty, there are only more than ten Soul Severance realms, but I don't know how many Soul Formation Great Perfection are below this line.

How many people peek at its threshold and cannot enter, and finally can only sit and die when their lifespan is exhausted.

Duanmu Shu looked at the rolling mountains in the distance, sighed long, and said: "The 'soul' that the Soul Severance realm wants to

"Obsession Spirits?" Zhou Qing asked, puzzled.

Elder Duanmu Shu nodded and simply took this opportunity to explain it to Zhou Qing.

So-called Obsession Spirits are the intense emotions—desires, regrets, hatreds, attachments, and so on—that you have accumulated along the way from the moment you were born, whether you were cultivating or not.

From another perspective, one could say they are simply obsessions.

However, some of these obsessions you may have long since let go of, or perhaps you don't even remember them yourself.

But your body and mind have kept them firmly recorded for you, along with the torment and harm you once suffered because of them, and even more.

Take Zhou Qing, for example: he once had his Golden Core crushed by someone, was ambushed by the Blood Bone Old Ghost, and was targeted by the five great geniuses of the Cangyan Dao Palace. These tribulations are only a part of the many dangers in his life, and in the future, he will face all kinds of predicaments.

In the process of experiencing these hardships and obstacles, countless emotions, regrets, and unfinished matters related to them will condense in the depths of the soul, forming a special kind of existence—an Obsession Spirit.

They are like shadows hidden in the dark corners of the soul, merging and coexisting with the cultivator's soul, silently absorbing the soul's power to strengthen themselves.

Some subtle matters in life can actually reflect the existence of Obsession Spirits from the side.

For example, you have a dream in which someone you haven't seen for many years appears.

This person might be a childhood playmate, or perhaps a deceased relative you were close to.

In the dream, you are either walking side-by-side in familiar streets or sitting together chatting; the scene is vivid, and the emotions are genuine.

These are Obsession Spirits that had deep bonds with you in days gone by.

Those words left unsaid and those unfulfilled promises inadvertently planted the seeds of obsession in the depths of your heart.

But this kind is a form of healthy farewell, or perhaps a reconciliation has been achieved, and the Obsession Spirit is released to a certain extent as a result.

Yet life is long, and Obsession Spirits that can be thoroughly let go of and leave like this are merely a drop in the bucket.

Most of the time, those Obsession Spirits you ignored will surge out from the depths of your memory like a raging tide when you reach the critical juncture of breaking through to the Soul Severance Realm, catching you completely off guard and unprepared.

They will crazily stir up your sea of consciousness, triggering soul tremors that make it fundamentally impossible to condense spiritual power to strike at the realm barrier.

Not only that, they will also manifest into various terrifying illusions, launching fierce attacks from a psychological level.

They attempt to crush your psychological defenses, plunging you into an abyss of negative emotions like despair and fear, leaving you no time to attend to anything else, completely controlled by these emotions.

Even more terrifyingly, Obsession Spirits will mislead you into circulating your spiritual power incorrectly, leading to a backlash of spiritual power that erodes the cultivator's meridians; the light result is severe bodily injury, the heavy result is the soul being scattered.

At the same time, the spiritual power backlash will trigger chaos in the external spiritual power tides, attracting heavenly phenomena such as lightning tribulations and storms, making the already difficult path of breakthrough even more perilous.

And after reaching the Divine Transformation Realm, one's lifespan will increase to over two thousand years.

Over two thousand years, seven hundred and thirty thousand days and nights—in such a long span of time, the things you experience every single moment are as numerous as the stars.

One must ask, in such a situation, which Divine Transformation Great Perfection powerhouse would dare to try it lightly?

Unless their lifespan is nearing its end, no one dares to court death by breaking through.

It wasn't until someone discovered the marvelous use of the Nine Nether Demon Lotus that it was known its mature Nine Nether Lotus seeds possess a dense power of deathly stillness.

Once a Divine Transformation Great Perfection powerhouse who has accumulated enough spiritual power and touched the Soul Severance Realm refines it, there is a twenty percent chance of suppressing the Obsession Spirit.

Furthermore, it causes the cultivator to experience "Spiritual Sense Retrospection," taking advantage of the Obsession Spirit being suppressed to let the spiritual sense flow upstream along the river of memory, re-examining those key nodes that formed the obsession.

By analyzing and letting go from the perspective of a bystander, one further weakens the foundation of the Obsession Spirit, making the subsequent severance smoother.

The former Old Emperor obtained a Nine Nether Demon Lotus, successfully severed his soul with its help, and divided the remaining seeds among his own younger brother, Xuan Yuan Shuo.

Afterward, he even announced this discovery to others, which created the situation in the Saint Martial Dynasty where there are now more than a dozen Soul Severance Realm powerhouses.

Alas, the number of Nine Nether Demon Lotuses is too small, and one person can only consume three at most before the medicinal effect is lost.

Whether one can suppress the Obsession Spirit depends entirely on personal luck; after all, there is only a twenty percent chance.

Therefore, when Sikong Yan brought out an immature Nine Nether Demon Lotus, the crowd was shocked to that extent.

If this matter were to spread, I fear even the Old Emperor would come in person to fight for it.

Of course, no one would be stupid enough to do such a foolish thing; once one ascends to the Soul Severance Realm, who would dare to meddle in the affairs of the several great sects of the Eastern Region?

After that, one could sit on equal footing with the Emperor and be brothers.

Consequently, for the sake of secrecy, this matter is only known to the several Sect Masters and the many Supreme Elders who can be of use.

That Zhou Qing can participate in such a confidential matter this time shows Cao Zhengyang is truly already cultivating him as the next Sect Master.

Letting him slowly come into contact with these important affairs and participate in these high-level occasions will broaden his horizons and accumulate experience.

After hearing this, Zhou Qing finally understood how great the temptation of this Nine Nether Demon Lotus is to the Supreme Elders of the three sects.

If things go wrong, the entire Taiqingmen could take this opportunity to soar into the sky.

"But what about the credibility? I always feel that this Sikong Yan is unreliable. How could he be willing to split this item equally among our three families?" Zhou Qing asked worriedly.

(End of chapter)