Just as the situation shifted, the three Foundation Establishment Spirit Platforms not far beside Su Yi suddenly erupted with even more dazzling brilliance, as if answering a summons!
Boom!—
Three pillars of spiritual power—distinct in attribute yet equally vast and majestic—soared into the sky, tearing through the secret realm's gloomy heavens!
A spiritual pressure several times stronger, purer, and more stable than that of those “pseudo-Foundation Establishment” demons swept outward in all directions like a tsunami!
Within the fiery red pillar of light, flames roared around Shi Yan as though a fire god had descended upon the world. He snapped his eyes open, molten lava seemingly flowing within his pupils, and let loose a hearty, unrestrained roar that shook the surrounding lands: “Hahaha! Since you’ve come, don't even think of leaving! Demons, every single one of you bastards is staying behind today!”
Before the echoes of his roar could fade, he transformed into a crimson meteor, sweeping forth with blistering heat that could incinerate the eight wastelands as he charged headfirst into the demonic ranks! His target was aimed straight at the panicked “pseudo-Foundation Establishment” demons!
Almost simultaneously, the ice-blue pillar of light abruptly converged, revealing Ling Qingyu’s figure. She remained as cool and detached as snow, but the biting chill radiating from her was easily more than tenfold sharper than before.
Without sparing the small fry even a glance, her ice-blue eyes, like two unsheathed sharp swords, instantly locked onto Fang Xiu, who possessed the strongest aura!
Clang—!
The longsword in her grasp let out a clear, ringing cry as a frigid sword intent capable of freezing one's soul tore through the air, striking straight for Fang Xiu's vitals!
She actually intended, as a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator, to clash head-on against Fang Xiu, who had established his foundation long ago and possessed unfathomable strength!
The emerald-green pillar of light, by contrast, appeared far gentler. Shang Shuyi drifted gracefully to the ground, her green robes fluttering, surrounded by surging vitality and an even deeper, more vast reservoir of mental strength.
Rather than rushing into the fray, she flickered forward and arrived swiftly by Su Yi’s side, her voice urgent yet steady:
“Young Manor Lord Su, the few of us are more than enough here! Please proceed to establish your foundation immediately and do not miss this golden opportunity! Leave this battlefield to us!”
She could see that Su Yi had delayed his own breakthrough until now for the sake of the greater situation. Now that the immediate crisis was averted, she naturally hoped he would complete his Foundation Establishment as soon as possible to enhance their collective strength.
Su Yi glanced at her before quickly shifting his gaze to the final spirit platform. There, five-colored spiritual light circulated around Tantai Yunzhi as her aura climbed steadily, yet her brows were slightly furrowed.
Extremely faint wisps of black profound qi—nearly undetectable had he not been watching closely—writhed like living creatures around her, intertwining and contending with the five-colored spiritual light. It seemed that... the process of absorbing the spirit sources was not going entirely smoothly.
‘As expected... establishing a foundation with the Five Elements Dao Physique is no small matter. It requires an astronomical amount of spirit sources, and her constitution seems to have genuinely triggered something... Could it be the Nascent Soul inheritance?’ Thoughts raced through Su Yi's mind.
In the original plot, the righteous path had suffered a catastrophic defeat with devastating casualties among disciples, ultimately surviving only because Tantai Yunzhi had stumbled upon the inheritance's guidance.
However, because of that, Tantai Yunzhi had interrupted her own Foundation Establishment, leaving flaws in her Foundation Establishment realm.
Though the situation had changed because of him, certain pivotal pieces of “karma” still seemed to be at play.
“All right! I leave this place to you!” Su Yi hesitated no longer and gave Shang Shuyi a firm nod.
He moved and sat cross-legged on the spirit platform. Outwardly, he appeared to be establishing his foundation, but in truth, he was personally acting as Tantai Yunzhi’s protector.
After all, he had no need to undergo Foundation Establishment. His goal had always been to ensure Tantai Yunzhi's successful breakthrough and seize any opportunity related to the inheritance.
His gaze swept across the battlefield below. Shi Yan was like a tiger among sheep; wherever his flames swept, those “pseudo-Foundation Establishment” demons collapsed in defeat. Ling Qingyu's sword technique was exquisite and her chill biting, locking Fang Xiu in a battle where neither could gain the upper hand for the moment.
Shang Shuyi coordinated from the center, her azure wood spiritual power transforming into countless vines and healing radiance, heavily disrupting Tu Lingqie.
The situation appeared thoroughly favorable.
Yet Su Yi's brows knit slightly. ‘Something isn't right... The demons are acting too weak.’
The sense of foreboding in his heart grew increasingly intense.
‘If it were only this, the righteous path wouldn't have been defeated so completely in the original plot even without me. Unless... the demons still have a stronger trump card they haven't played! Or could it be... the secret realm itself?’
Lacking the advantage of foresight from the original script here, Su Yi could only suppress his misgivings for now, focusing his mind on guarding Tantai Yunzhi while staying vigilant for any potential developments.
Just as the battlefield descended into chaos, the cold, sinister voice of the demonic soul echoed once more in Zhao Qian's sea of consciousness, carrying an unquestionable command:
“Girl, keep your eyes on that Tu Lingqie!”
Zhao Qian's heart tightened upon hearing this. Involuntarily, her gaze drifted toward Tu Lingqie, who was currently tangling with Shang Shuyi.
Demonic notes echoed around the young woman, and her techniques were eerie and bizarre; indeed, she bore a somewhat kindred aura to the demonic soul inside her.
“Is... is she also from Soul Lost Ridge?” Zhao Qian asked hesitantly in her mind.
“Indeed! From the very same origin, and her inheritance seems quite pure!”
The demonic soul's voice held an irrepressible greed and urgency. “Get closer to her! As long as you enter within ten zhang, this venerable one has a secret art to communicate briefly with her! When that happens, we can break free from this cursed righteous camp! Once we reach the demons and I reshape my physical body, I will take you as my disciple and aid your cultivation!”
“Leave the righteous path?” Zhao Qian stiffened, her footsteps faltering instantly. “B-But my Zhao clan...”
“Fool! Still thinking of your clan?!” the demonic soul snapped sharply, its voice shrill. “From the moment you accepted my power and tried to hide it, there was no going back for you! If you keep lingering, that Su Yi will drag you into the light sooner or later!”
The demonic soul knew full well that with Su Yi feeding Zhao Qian Demon-Cleansing Pills day in and day out, she wouldn't even need to be discovered—her own soul would scatter to the winds first!
And the only reason she wanted to speak with Tu Lingqie was simply that she considered Zhao Qian far too useless!
Indecisive, prone to rage, and consumed by jealousy—in her eyes, Zhao Qian didn't possess a single redeeming quality, lacking both the talent and the strength to match her ambitions. Now that she saw the far more suitable Tu Lingqie, abandoning Zhao Qian as early as possible was for the best.
Meanwhile, the demonic soul's words were like icicles, stabbing viciously into Zhao Qian's deepest fears.
Sensing her wavering, the demonic soul continued to tempt her, while also letting slip some of her true intent: “Hurry! Do as I say!”
“Fine! I'll do as you say!” Zhao Qian gritted her silver teeth, a glint of resolute viciousness flashing in her eyes.
She hesitated no longer. Moving like a specter, she used the chaos from Shi Yan's roaring flames and the masking frost of Ling Qingyu's sword intent to conceal her presence, slinking soundlessly toward Tu Lingqie.
She dared not employ any spiritual power that might catch the notice of Su Yi or Shang Shuyi, relying entirely on physical strength and the agility spurred by terror to slip through the gaps of shadow and chaos.
Yet before she could even reach the battlefield—
Suddenly, the black profound qi on Tantai Yunzhi surged violently. At the same time, a spatial rift bearing terrifying pressure appeared in the sky above the secret realm.
Fang Xiu, locked in combat with Ling Qingyu, abruptly stiffened.
‘How could the inheritance entrance open here? What about the Elders’ side?!’
The righteous disciples were equally astonished, but not knowing what this secret realm entrance was, they dared not act rashly.
Likewise, Su Yi watched this scene intently. He had intended to enter immediately, but the moment he rose to his feet, seeing Tantai Yunzhi beside him with furrowed brows, not having completed her Foundation Establishment, he sat back down.
Rate on N.U.
