Chapter 175

The mysterious and profound arises in the inner landscape, the soul-aspect observes and sees the three corpses.

The heavy iron chains clanged, and mysterious words echoed in Zhang Fan's mind, but only he could hear them.

The Three-Corpse Cinnabar, a thing refined by the Small Soul-Splitting Method, is a backup of the soul-aspect left by the Three-Corpse Daoist.

The difference between it and the Great Soul-Splitting Method is that the former is just a backup with no consciousness to speak of, while the latter transforms one into three, yet all can practice independently, possessing their own absolute consciousness.

Of the two completely different soul-splitting methods, one can only practice one.

The greatest function of the Small Soul-Splitting Method is that once the original body dies, the Three-Corpse Cinnabar will awaken consciousness under specific conditions. If the opportunity is sufficient and the creation allows, it can even grow slowly and transform into a new soul-aspect.

However, this process is extremely long.

Therefore, throughout history, anyone who practiced the 【Small Soul-Splitting Method】 would not leave just a single backup.

Zhang Fan doesn't know how many 【Three-Corpse Cinnabars】 the Three-Corpse Daoist left behind, but the one he swallowed was the most important one.

The last 【Three-Corpse Cinnabar】 generated by the Three-Corpse Daoist before he died while fighting Chu Chaoran at the peak of Mount Dongyue—it was inside Zhang Fan's body, and at some point, it sprouted its initial consciousness.

Later, after swallowing Meng Qingtong's 【Three-Corpse Cinnabar】, this sprouted consciousness seemed to have changed again.

At this very moment, facing the incense smoke condensed by the 【Three-Corpse Daoist Lord】, the sprouted consciousness hidden in the soul-aspect inner landscape fluctuated.

"Cinnabar of longevity, precious medicine of immortals... I once heard that in the mountain gate, when enshrining the patriarchs and upper gods, there is incense smoke condensed, which ordinary people cannot see. I didn't expect to see it here," Liu Xingchui couldn't help but say.

Mount Zhenwu is one of the top ten famous Daoist mountains in the world and has been a sacred place for cultivation since ancient times.

What is enshrined in the mountain is the Great Emperor Zhenwu, and there are countless believers and incense followers. Every year, just the tourists number in the tens of millions, so the incense smoke is naturally flourishing.

It's just that the incense smoke of Mount Zhenwu is not something ordinary people can see, and even practitioners of the Dao find it difficult to peek at it.

That kind of incense smoke contains the thoughts of countless people, and its power is magnificent and vast. Even the position of Celestial Master would not dare to touch it casually. It can truly be considered the sustenance of immortals and the precious medicine of the heavenly family.

By comparison, the incense smoke of the 【Three-Corpse Daoist Lord】 is much weaker, but it is also a creation that can be glimpsed by Zhang Fan and the others.

"You have committed a killing calamity, the road ahead is vast, and the trials are immeasurable. Keeping this thing has great use."

In the soul-aspect inner landscape, that mysterious voice came again.

"Good, if heaven gives and one does not take, one will suffer the blame."

Zhang Fan looked at the smoke and clouds that looked like firelight, moved his body, and jumped onto the god altar.

The ancient and mottled clay sculpture was like a heartless god or Buddha, its eyelids lowered, as if looking at Zhang Fan, and as if looking at the invisible common people.

At this moment, this ordinary clay sculpture and stone fetus seemed to have truly become a god and an immortal.

"Incense smoke..."

Zhang Fan looked at the firelight that looked like smoke and clouds, his eyes separating and combining, as if falling into obsession. He slowly stretched out his hand and reached over.

Rumble...

His index finger touched it lightly, and a strange feeling followed, like rolling thunder, like scorching True Fire, like piercing cold ice, like withered wood meeting spring... various feelings intertwined and permeated, instantly filling Zhang Fan's body.

Roar...

Just at this moment, Zhang Fan let out a low roar. His clothes billowed violently, his hair stood on end, and there was no more clarity in his eyes.

At this moment, he saw countless figures before him, pouring into his body like a revolving lantern—there were men, women, old people, and children...

They are the common people. There is crying, laughing, hatred, love, anger, and resentment... the common people carrying desires and carrying emotions...

Every breath they exist in the secular red dust produces countless thoughts. These thoughts carry their desires and their emotions, born from fire and rising with the clouds, transforming into the incense smoke offered to gods and Buddhas.

"Ah..."

Zhang Fan let out another low roar. His voice was sometimes painful, sometimes joyful, sometimes angry, sometimes sorrowful... his whole person became dazed, became split, became at a loss, became separated and combined.

"What's the situation?" Liu Xingyu's expression changed abruptly.

He stared fixedly at Zhang Fan and could feel that Zhang Fan's soul-aspect was like a candle in the wind. That ray of light became incomparably dim, and the True Yang in his body was also surging backward, like scorching fire, as if it would burn that body into ashes at any time.

"Stupid!"

Just at this moment, a cold voice rang out in the great hall, carrying three parts indifference and seven parts mockery.

Liu Xingchui turned to look and saw a young man walking in from outside the door. He was wearing a Daoist robe and stepping on straw sandals, quite in the style of a mountain Daoist, but the large gold chain around his neck was completely out of place with him.

"Who are you?" Liu Xingyu's expression changed abruptly, incomparably vigilant.

"Are you... Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang of Mount Laojun!?" Liu Xingchui's gaze trembled, and he exclaimed.

He had once followed Meng Qingtong and visited Mount Laojun with a group of experts from Mount Zhenwu, and he had seen these two legendary proud sons of heaven.

"Disciples of Mount Zhenwu..." The young man's gaze slanted, and after just one look, he slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhang Fan, who was like he had entered a demonic state on the god altar.

"Brother, isn't this one person?" Liu Xingyu's expression was strange, and he tugged at Liu Xingchui's sleeve, muttering.

"Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang of Mount Laojun are born of the same mother, but it is rumored that when they were still in the womb, one of them absorbed and digested the other..." Liu Xingchui said in a low voice.

There are many rumors about these two brothers, and this is the most widely circulated one.

It is also known whether the older brother absorbed the younger brother or the younger brother absorbed the older brother. That body hides two hearts, and most importantly, it also hides two completely different soul-aspects.

This is Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang.

"Various thoughts open the barrier gate, but incense smoke is a human calamity... Brother, he really doesn't know life from death."

Just at this moment, a cold laugh came from that body, understated, but it was the younger brother, Qi Dongqiang.

"Incense smoke is both an immortal medicine and a mortal killing calamity... How many people's thoughts are hidden in this incense smoke? He actually dares to take risks with his body; he really doesn't know life from death."

The voice of that body became extremely calm, as if it were a different person, but it was the older brother, Qi Delong.

As he spoke, Qi Delong and Dongqiang walked toward the god altar.

"What are you doing?" Liu Xingchui felt vigilant. He felt that Zhang Fan's soul-aspect was becoming weaker and weaker, and his consciousness was restless, as if it were about to be swallowed by that incense smoke.

"Since he has touched the incense smoke, he is a ready-made container." Qi Dongqiang sneered.

Incense smoke is wonderful, but it is condensed from the thoughts of all living beings. Even practitioners of the Dao dare not touch it casually, but now it is different. Zhang Fan's body has become a ready-made container and medium. Taking him away is equivalent to taking away the incense smoke.

"You are using him as a container?" Liu Xingyu gritted his teeth and said.

"This container probably won't last long," Qi Delong said indifferently.

Before the words fell, Qi Delong and Dongqiang walked toward the god altar again.

"Wait a minute." Liu Xingchui shouted.

Rumble...

Suddenly, a terrifying pressure rose abruptly, rushing into the sky from Qi Delong and Dongqiang's body, magnificent and shocking, pressing Liu Xingchui and Liu Xingyu's soul-aspects until they trembled, almost collapsing.

Their eyes widened, as if they saw two big fish swimming in a pool of water, their long tails sweeping up, causing monstrous waves—so overwhelming, as if they were going to crush their soul-aspects.

"Yin and Yang coexist, the mixed cave is the only one!" Liu Xingchui's face trembled.

This is the supreme Inner Alchemy method of Mount Laojun, named 【Yin-Yang Mixed Cave Method】, participating in Yin and Yang, embracing oneness and transformation, peeking at the mystery of the mysterious void and mixed cave, and practicing the method of longevity and limitlessness.

This Inner Alchemy method is even above Mount Zhenwu's 【North-South Sect Origin】, but the difficulty of practicing it cannot be mentioned in the same breath. It has always been a secret transmission of Mount Laojun, but because the requirements for comprehension are too high, no one has practiced it successfully in a hundred years.

Hum...

The soul-aspects of the Liu brothers were as if pressed by surging giant waves. Their bodies trembled, their hearts were terrified, and in front of Qi Delong and Dongqiang, they were unable to move.

"For the sake of the incense smoke of Mount Zhenwu, I will not commit killing sins." Qi Delong and Dongqiang's voice was slow, and without even looking at them, they walked straight toward Zhang Fan.

Being able to have this container to carry incense smoke is also a great opportunity and creation for them. Relying on this incense smoke, perhaps their 【Soul-Aspect Combined Phase Great Dharma】 can go a step further.

"Two... this is a treasure of my Wu Wei Sect."

Just at this moment, a light and wonderful voice came slowly.

Qi Delong and Dongqiang stopped and looked up, seeing a young girl walking into the great hall holding a candle. The jumping firelight pulled her graceful and wonderful shadow into a piece of darkness.

"Rabbit of the Mao... (Mao Rabbit)..." Qi Delong and Dongqiang's gaze sank slightly, and they turned around.

"Leave this container to me." Lin Jianyue smiled, her leisurely gaze sweeping over Qi Delong and Dongqiang and falling on Zhang Fan.

"I'm afraid he won't last long. If you have the ability, take us brothers down before he collapses." Qi Dongqiang sneered, but his eyes were full of intense provocation.

"As you wish!"

Lin Jianyue nodded, her jade hand lifted lightly, and the candle was lifted by an invisible force, slowly falling to the ground.

A wisp of candle oil dripped, splashing points of firelight.

"Soul-Disrupting Cinnabar!"

Suddenly, Lin Jianyue's red lips parted slightly, and a crystal-clear pill flew out of her mouth, transforming into grains of cinnabar, scattering in the great hall.

The Liu brothers' gazes jumped, feeling that the scene before them was like a dream. The whole great hall was spinning.

Whoosh...

In an instant, Lin Jianyue was like a gust of wind, already in front of Qi Delong and Dongqiang. She attacked like a knife, her slender fingernails like sharp blades, taking the latter's chest directly.

"Disrupting people's soul-aspects... this little method is useless against us brothers."

Qi Delong's voice was like a thunderclap. Their brothers' soul-aspects were naturally compatible, and they practiced the 【Yin-Yang Mixed Cave Method】, so they naturally wouldn't be affected by the 【Soul-Disrupting Cinnabar】.

His cold gaze locked onto Lin Jianyue, and a large hand carrying the power of a thousand jun pressed toward that delicate body.

"Dharma Sword Cinnabar!"

Just at this moment, Lin Jianyue opened her mouth, and a cinnabar-red pill shot out. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a clear Qi, like a three-foot sword light, setting off a harsh sound, slashing straight at Qi Delong and Dongqiang's palm.

The pill in the abdomen transforms into one Qi, and the one Qi turns and seizes the sword light.

"Suppressing Talisman Fiends!"

Almost at the same moment, a bright yellow talisman appeared in the other hand of Qi Delong and Dongqiang. The talisman characters were distorted and profound, like an opened bag, burning rapidly in his hand.

Hum...

Suddenly, in the exhausted firelight, a gray stream of Qi surged out, like dust flying, actually wrapping around that surging one-Qi sword light, wrapping it tightly.

"Explode!"

Lin Jianyue formed a seal with one hand and let out a soft shout.

Bang...

A violent sound resounded in the great hall, the terrifying sword light exploded suddenly, breaking through the gray stream of Qi, and the aftermath sent the two figures flying.

"Medicine Fire Cinnabar!"

Lin Jianyue was still in her mouth, her body not yet stable, but she opened her mouth again and spat out a sky-blue pill, accompanied by bursts of fragrance.

That great pill immediately transformed into rolling True Fire in the air, as if rising from a furnace, capable of refining various rare medicines, actually covering Qi Delong and Dongqiang.

Facing such a scene, Liu Xingchui's heart skipped a beat.

The power of this True Fire had already exceeded his 【One-Inch Ding Fire】, and faintly, it already had the climate of Zhang Fan's 【Fire Dragon Cinnabar Sword】.

The large hall was almost half filled with that strange True Fire, and the pillars of the great hall were shaking...

Qi Delong and Dongqiang were still in the air, not yet landed. Facing such methods, they had no way to avoid it.

"Worthy of being the Thirteen Zodiacs... such methods, the grasp of timing is simply pure." Liu Xingchui's eyes widened, staring fixedly at the figure about to be swallowed by the True Fire.

"Soul-Aspect Combined Phase Great Dharma!"

Just at this moment, a shout of shock came from the rolling True Fire.

Everyone's gaze trembled, and they saw two soul-aspects about to emerge from that body. In the surging True Fire, the barrier between them became more and more blurred, as if only a halo remained, blending like water and milk. In the end, even that halo dissipated...

In a daze, in that pool of water, the two big fish swam faster and faster, like black and white flowing, like Yin and Yang intertwining. In the end, they were indistinguishable, transforming into that unique mixed cave.

"Soul-Aspect Combined Phase Great Dharma... this is the real Qi Delong and Dongqiang..."

The comparison of Daoist arts is, at the root, the comparison of soul-aspects.

Those two great soul-aspects merged into one in that body. Qi Delong and Dongqiang's chest heaved violently. In an instant, it seemed as if thunder was real. He spat out a breath of air, actually blowing out the True Fire that filled his eyes.

Whoosh...

Just at this moment, Qi Delong and Dongqiang and Lin Jianyue landed almost at the same time, their gazes, slightly solemn, staring at each other.

"Pounding medicine into a pill... truly a rabbit..." Qi Delong and Dongqiang said in a low voice.

"Twins, gods returning to one... truly a freak."

Lin Jianyue's beautiful eyes condensed slightly, and she also said coldly.

"Hmm!?"

Just at this moment, Qi Delong and Dongqiang and Lin Jianyue's expressions changed slightly, and they turned to look at Zhang Fan on the god altar.

At this moment, Zhang Fan's soul-aspect seemed to be extinguished, with no more movement.

"Can't hold on so soon?"

Qi Delong and Dongqiang took a step out, fast as thunder, and swept toward where Zhang Fan was. He didn't want to waste such a good container in vain.

Whoosh...

Almost at the same moment, Lin Jianyue also reacted. A cyan-green pill spat out, transforming into a gust of wind to support her, and she immediately drifted onto the god altar.

"Terrible." The Liu brothers' expressions changed abruptly, and they rushed forward to rescue, but it was already too late.

Qi Delong and Dongqiang and Lin Jianyue attacked almost at the same time, grabbing Zhang Fan's left and right hands respectively, as if to split him in two.

"Gathering various thoughts as great medicine, that is the good god and demon in the human world!"

Just at this moment, Zhang Fan slowly opened his eyes, and a soft sound rang out, carrying heart-moving joy. He opened his hands, but he grabbed the palms of Qi Delong and Dongqiang and Lin Jianyue at the same time.

"You..."

The two looked up suddenly, their expressions changed abruptly, and they looked at Zhang Fan incredibly.

At this moment, their hearts trembled, and they couldn't help but feel a fear and unease they had never felt before in their lives.

Rumble...

Just at this moment, a terrifying aura surged out from Zhang Fan's body, magnificent as heavenly power, inexhaustible as a river and sea, breaking through the Great Luo Treasure Hall, breaking through the Prisoner Immortal Temple, and breaking through Luoxia Mountain.

In the vast night, the vast sky, and the falling black clouds, a crane's cry rang out high and loud, breaking through the clouds.

"The most fierce in the world, seeing gods without avoiding...

"God and Demon Holy Fetus, so you haven't died yet."

Just at this moment, a young man riding a white crane crossed the sky and flew toward Luoxia Mountain, flying toward the Prisoner Immortal Temple!! (End of chapter)