Futile Devices Scans

As Chen Yixin spoke, he beckoned to Wenren Li. At the same time, he crouched down and sat upon the jade edge of the pond. Removing his shoes, he dipped both feet into the bone-chilling water, then turned sideways and leaned against Wenren Li’s leg.

Wenren Li lowered his gaze. The surrounding scenery was impossibly beautiful, yet his eyes could not move away from the person leaning against him. Chen Yixin was happy. Wenren Li could feel it. Likewise, he was happy too.

“When A-Rong misses me, shake it, and I’ll come see you.”

As Wenren Li spoke, he held Chen Yixin’s shoulder and sat down beside him. His own feet also sank into the pond alongside Chen Yixin’s. He gently lifted Chen Yixin’s left foot, where the bell he had given him was tied.

He tapped the bell lightly with his fingertip before placing Chen Yixin’s foot back into the shimmering pond.

“Alright.”

Chen Yixin smiled softly, tilted his head, and leaned against Wenren Li’s shoulder.

The long night stretched on. Chen Yixin and Wenren Li sat beside the pond like this for most of the night, while everyone inside and outside the Demon Palace froze along with them for the entire night. When Chen Yixin’s fingertip touched the pond, their souls and consciousness recovered, but the chill their bodies could feel did not disappear.

For cultivators like them, however, this counted as a kind of cultivation. No one dared go to Chen Yixin or Wenren Li to complain.

Wenren Li waited until Chen Yixin had played enough before sealing away the icy object within the pond.

Wenren Li did not wait until after Chen Yixin’s northern campaign army set out before entering seclusion. On the second day, he entered the Three Lives Well and began absorbing the remnant body of the silver broken wood, while Chen Yixin discussed the northern campaign plan with Ze Fang and the others.

Ten days later, the Demon Guard army departed from Yan Province, where the Demon Palace was located, and marched toward the Northern Domain.

Meanwhile, in Spiritmount City of the Northern Domain, the nine immortal sects gathered to discuss plans against the Southern Domain. The immortals and demons had always opposed each other since ancient times. To make them submit to the demonic sects was something some people could not accept even in death.

“What is there to discuss? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of surrendering to the demonic sects?”

A long-bearded old Daoist spoke impatiently. Looking at Han Zichuan, who presided over the meeting, his eyes showed dissatisfaction. Clearly, Han Zichuan’s many analyses of the situation over the past few days had failed to convince him fully.

“How many people of our righteous path have the demonic sects killed? How many bloody massacres have they caused? How can these grudges be set down just because someone says so? The immortal alliance army must be formed. If your Heaven’s Secret Sect is willing to become the demonic sects’ lackeys, this old man won’t force you.”

Han Zichuan narrowed his eyes. Slowly, he stood and looked toward the silent elders and sect masters around him. A faint coldness appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“Very well. I’ve said all I can. Since the sect masters have decided this way, Han has nothing more to say.”

He strode forward and left the council hall. His stance was already obvious. Heaven’s Secret Sect would never become enemies with the Demon Guard army led by Chen Yixin, even if he and Heaven’s Secret Sect had to bear the reputation of “demonic sect lackeys” for it.

The long-bearded old Daoist’s outburst and Han Zichuan’s departure made the atmosphere in the council hall even more awkward. Even so, the immortal alliance army was still formed on schedule. Apart from Heaven’s Secret Sect and Jade Cauldron Sect, all other immortal sects gathered at Spiritmount City, the Northern Domain’s first defensive line.

While they gathered their forces, the Demon Guard army led by Chen Yixin also arrived at Yong’an City, only a hundred li away from Spiritmount City. Chen Yixin wore a wide-sleeved robe refined from deep-sea ice silk and held a feather fan in hand. Among the Demon Generals and Demon Guards clad in armor, most of them tall and powerfully built, he stood out conspicuously and looked utterly different.

“Who is willing to be the vanguard?”

Chen Yixin leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping over the ten Demon Generals he and Wenren Li had appointed, the twenty deputy generals, the Demon Palace’s original protectors, and nearly a hundred commanders.

As soon as he spoke, four or five commanders stepped out from the ranks. Chen Yixin’s gaze swept around before landing on the Roc Demon Emperor.

“Then Azure Roc it is. This seat awaits your good news.”

“Yes.”

Azure Roc knelt on one knee and accepted the vanguard token Chen Yixin had An Cheng deliver. Then he left the council hall and gathered the vanguard forces outside Everpeace City to launch a direct assault on Spiritmount City.

“Zitan, Qing Ning, remain ready to support Azure Roc at any time.”

Chen Yixin immediately issued another order. After the two left, he looked toward Ze Fang.

“You lead people from the rear and bring back the bodies of fallen Demon Guards.”

Ze Fang’s expression showed slight surprise, but he still accepted the order and left. During the year Wenren Li had slept, the army’s cooperation with Chen Yixin had essentially been completed. Orders were obeyed without hesitation, and no one in the Demon Army refused to submit to him. Ze Fang was no exception.

As Demon Consort, Chen Yixin could sometimes be willful and emotional, but when handling Demon Palace affairs and military matters, he was decisive, sharp, and flexible in his methods. He had essentially never made a mistake.

After issuing all orders, Chen Yixin did not continue remaining in the Everpeace City Lord’s residence. He walked to the northern city wall and watched the battlefield ahead from there, with An Cheng and Qiu Yi at his side.

The one facing Azure Roc was the Grand Elder of the Spirit Void Sect, one of the ten immortal sects. His spiritual power was equal to Azure Roc’s, but the magical treasure in his hand was extremely strange. It could block all of Azure Roc’s attacks, causing the two to remain locked in stalemate for a time, with victory and defeat difficult to determine.

“That magical treasure does have some tricks.”

Chen Yixin sat on the long chair An Cheng had someone bring over. Gazing intently ahead, his brows lifted slightly. With one sentence, he revealed the origin of the treasure.

“It contains traces of Black Tortoise aura and belongs among ancient treasures.”

After saying this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“From this, the Spirit Void Sect must be quite wealthy.”

“Lord Yi is correct.”

Qiu Yi responded to Chen Yixin while receiving a look from him. Raising his hand, the magical treasure held by the Spirit Void Sect Grand Elder vanished into thin air, with not even the slightest trace of aura left behind.

“My Black Tortoise Armor! Where is my Black Tortoise Armor?!”

The elder’s face flushed red. He was almost more anxious than if he had lost half his life. Yet no matter how he tried to sense it, the ancient treasure had simply cut off all connection with him and could no longer be found.

In the middle of battle, how could Azure Roc give the elder time to breathe and search for his magical treasure? His attacks followed one after another. The elder’s legs were injured by Roc feathers, and he retreated in defeat. Once he was defeated, the Demon Army led by the Roc Demon Emperor surged forward.

On this not particularly wide plain, all kinds of spells and magical treasures appeared together. From a distance, the sight was quite pleasing to the eye, but within it, killing intent lurked everywhere. One careless mistake meant death and the destruction of one’s Dao.

In the battle of Spiritmount City, with Qiu Yi secretly taking action, the Southern Domain’s Demon Army won a great victory. The immortal alliance army retreated in defeat, and Lingshan Province, where Spiritmount City was located, became part of the Southern Domain’s territory. Even so, the Demon Guard army still inevitably suffered losses.

Chen Yixin was generous toward the Demon Army soldiers, distributing spiritual medicine without stinginess. As long as someone still had a breath left, they basically would not die. Yet there were still warriors unlucky enough to be killed in a single strike, without even a chance to take medicine.

“Reporting to Demon Consort, all the fallen soldiers’ bodies have been recovered. They are currently in the small square in the southern city.”

Ze Fang personally came to report to Chen Yixin, then led him and Qiu Yi toward the small square. As for An Cheng, Chen Yixin had sent him to Spiritmount City to count the spoils of war.

“What does Demon Consort intend to do with these bodies?”

Ze Fang endured the question the entire way, but when they were almost at the small square, he finally could not hold back and asked.

Qiu Yi also looked toward Chen Yixin along with Ze Fang. He did not understand what Chen Yixin wanted these bodies for either. Even if they were Immortal Lords or Immortal Emperors, they could bring ordinary mortals back from death, but for cultivators who had stepped onto the path of cultivation, even they were helpless.

From the moment cultivators stepped onto the path of cultivation, their three souls and six spirits were no longer within the Heavenly Dao’s cycle of reincarnation. Once they died, they were truly dead. Occasionally, some might defy heaven and extend life, but that required paying a price beyond ordinary imagination, and only then was success possible.

“Gathering souls. Resurrection…”

Chen Yixin spoke softly, his expression becoming solemn. He was doing this not only to save these fallen soldiers, but also to prepare for the future.

Ze Fang and Qiu Yi both froze where they stood, as though they wanted to refute him, but in the end, they remained silent and watched from the side, not daring to disturb him.

Chen Yixin had no intention of joking with them. What he said was exactly what he was about to do. Whether he would succeed or not, they would simply watch.

In the small square, hundreds of bodies lay upon rows of straw mats. Blood and deathly aura rushed toward them. As the sky darkened, this part of the world became especially eerie and terrifying.

Chen Yixin walked in step by step. Only when he reached the center of the small square did he stop. A point of blue light ignited at his brow. His hands slowly opened, and the aura around him immediately became faint and elusive.

He gently tugged up his trouser leg, revealing the blue bell. Holding his fan, Chen Yixin began to dance. The clear ringing of the bell, together with the faint sound of wind, instantly made the atmosphere of this place strange and uncanny.

Qiu Yi stretched out an arm and stopped Ze Fang, who had nearly been bewitched into stepping forward. He tapped Ze Fang’s brow with a fingertip, then stepped aside.

“I’ll stay here. Go guard the perimeter.”

Ze Fang’s cultivation simply could not withstand the unconscious Heavenly Phoenix charm Chen Yixin emitted. If he barged in, he could very likely interfere with Chen Yixin’s spell. Saying he should guard outside was merely a nicer way to put it.

Ze Fang no longer dared look toward Chen Yixin. He nodded and walked out. After taking a few steps, he could not help touching the spot on his forehead where Qiu Yi had tapped him.

“Who exactly is he…”

Before Ze Fang could figure it out, his gaze sharpened slightly and his figure vanished. A moment later, he blocked a cultivator who had used a secret treasure to sneak in.

“An immortal path spy?”

“Move aside.”

The figure revealed himself. It was Han Zichuan, who had left Spiritmount City several days earlier. His expression carried some urgency, but Ze Fang was not as easy to dismiss as an ordinary cultivator. With him blocking the way, Han Zichuan could not approach at all.

“What the Divine Son is doing defies heaven too greatly and harms himself. He cannot continue. Move aside quickly!”

“Who are you? Why should I believe your words?”

Ze Fang hesitated slightly upon hearing this, but he still could not allow someone of unknown identity to approach. Compared to him, Ze Fang trusted Chen Yixin and Qiu Yi’s judgment more.

“I am Han Zichuan, Sect Master of Heaven’s Secret Sect. The dance the Divine Son is performing is recorded in ancient books preserved by my sect… Move aside quickly, or it will be too late!”

Han Zichuan looked anxious and tried to break through, but Ze Fang’s late-stage Soul Transformation cultivation steadily suppressed him.

“Return, come… souls, return…”

A clear, ethereal song drifted from afar. Chen Yixin slowly descended from midair. Around him floated clusters of pale golden soul bodies, all of them the souls of the fallen soldiers.

Chen Yixin closed his eyes briefly. Behind him, a pair of blue spiritual wings slowly spread open. The soul bodies drifted on their own to either side of the wings, protected by them as they gradually took shape.

“Sigh…”

Han Zichuan sighed softly and no longer tried to break through Ze Fang’s obstruction. He looked up at the sky. Dark clouds covered it, their color gradually shifting from gray to pitch black. This lightning punishment was something even Immortal Emperors could not withstand. It was called the Punishment of Divine Fall.

This was divine punishment that could cause even ancient heavenly gods to fall. Chen Yixin was truly acting far too recklessly.

Qiu Yi’s expression also became grave. Once this lightning punishment descended, among the soul bodies Chen Yixin had painstakingly gathered, perhaps not even one in a hundred would remain.

The thunderclouds also alarmed the other Soul Transformation powerhouses within Everpeace City, as well as An Cheng, who flew back from afar. He rushed inside anxiously, his round face wrinkled beyond recognition.

“Reckless, this is far too reckless… Even if Young Highness wants to gather souls, he cannot gather them like this!”

Even if Chen Yixin possessed the gift of soul gathering, he could not gather several hundred souls at once. One could imagine how terrifying the lightning punishment would be.

“If we miss tonight, the success rate will drop greatly. Then what difference would gathering them or not gathering them make?”

Chen Yixin glanced at An Cheng, who was anxiously hopping in place. He also lifted his gaze to the sky. At the same time, the spiritual wings behind him continued to spread, drawing even more soul bodies inside.

“Be at ease. Since this seat has recalled your consciousness, I will not let you scatter again.”

As his words fell, he did not cast immortal arts to resist the heavenly punishment. Instead, he lifted his right foot again. The bell tied there continued shaking with a slight rhythm. Then silver light flashed, and Wenren Li, who had been in seclusion at the bottom of the Three Lives Well, appeared beside Chen Yixin.

An Cheng drew in a deep breath, instantly settling his panicked heart back into his stomach.

He had been too anxious and had forgotten their Majesty. Others might have no way to deal with heavenly punishment, but Wenren Li was different. To others, heavenly punishment was something that could not be touched in the slightest. To Wenren Li, however, it was one of the finest supplements.

Chen Yixin turned his head and met Wenren Li’s gaze. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and his voice lowered.

“A-Li, I missed you.”

Previous

Main

Next