Chapter 676 1: A New Energy Substance?

Ao Hong's question made Wang Ping think of his grand-disciple, Zhao Yu'Er. She had been possessed by an extraterritorial being during her cultivation, absorbing its energy and becoming the ghoulish creature she was today.

Although she gained power, it made her an outcast, and she was in constant danger of going mad.

'Seeing Buqiong's firm stance, it seems the Star God Alliance forbids absorbing Extraterritorial Energy. They've even classified it as a taboo, something not to be discussed.'

After Buqiong finished speaking, her usually gentle expression turned severe. Half her face was once again covered in shadow, and the eye within it glowed with a faint violet halo. That eye now turned to Pang Xu. "Go fulfill your duty!"

"Yes!"

Pang Xu didn't dare to look Buqiong in the eye. He lowered his head in assent, then flew to the vicinity of the Array on the dark plateau to meet with the two Third Realm Star Gods and prepare for the coming battle.

At that moment, Buqiong looked at Ao Hong and said, "Seventh Prince, you should first go look at the archives in the projection hall. Although we have cultivated to the Fourth Realm, and there is no one in this world besides the True Monarchs who can make us bow our heads, some things cannot be said in front of outsiders."

Her eye, gleaming with a faint violet halo, stared intently at Ao Hong. "Cultivators of the world may show you favor for the Dragon Monarch's sake, but there are certain things you cannot act recklessly about. As a Fourth Realm Cultivator, you should be able to understand my meaning, right?"

Hearing Buqiong's words, Yu Lian cheered in Wang Ping's Spirit Sea, "Ah, someone finally told him off! He always acts so high and mighty, it's really annoying!"

Ao Hong was so thoroughly rebuked that he was left in an awkward position, yet he couldn't lash out.

Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, Buqiong relaxed her severe expression. She looked up at the extraterritorial matter rapidly approaching from outer space and continued, "This energy can indeed be absorbed. Not only that, it allows for a rapid increase in strength, but it also easily drives people to madness."

As she spoke, she discreetly activated a soundproofing array.

The awkwardness on Ao Hong's face vanished, replaced by a serious expression. He seemed to be contemplating Buqiong's words.

Wang Ping, on the other hand, was using his Primordial Spirit to observe the extraterritorial matter. In his Inspiration Realm, they coexisted with the Five Elements Yin and Yang energies of the world. On the surface, they didn't seem hostile, nor did they devour each other, but they were incompatible, like oil and water.

Within this roiling energy, there was a very clear consciousness.

When Wang Ping's Primordial Spirit Consciousness pierced the outer layer of roiling energy, attempting to observe its interior, he immediately felt the consciousness within try to lock onto him through his probing Primordial Spirit Consciousness!

'Interesting!'

Wang Ping didn't panic; instead, he found it interesting. The consciousness trying to observe him was very weak. He quickly captured that wisp of consciousness, but it was just that—a wisp. It was intertwined with the gray, energetic matter, trying to fuse with more of it, which required it to compete with other consciousnesses.

Its thoughts were frantic. Its earlier probe was an attempt to devour; it had tried to consume the Primordial Spirit Consciousness Wang Ping had released, but it gave up immediately upon realizing the strength of Wang Ping's Primordial Spirit.

'They are mad, yet they possess a certain instinctual awareness!'

Yu Lian read Wang Ping's thoughts and communicated with him in his Spirit Sea.

"That's not strange. Any life in the Cosmos will have instinctual awareness, but their awareness is sometimes consumed by madness. For example, those sealed extraterritorial beings are left with nothing but madness!"

As she spoke, the extraterritorial matter became visible to the naked eye. It looked like a roiling black cloud, moving with astonishing speed. It clung to space, becoming one with it, as if it were a natural law of the universe. Thus, it encountered no obstacles or restraints like a flying Cultivator would.

Buqiong and Ao Hong were also observing the extraterritorial matter.

After a brief moment of silence, Buqiong said, "Within the Alliance, there are many who secretly absorb the energy of wandering souls, even breaking down the energy of the Earth Soul for their cultivation. But this is limited to Fourth Realm Cultivators. This practice has become especially prevalent in the last few centuries, and that traitor, Wei Kong, was a master of it!"

She turned to Wang Ping and Ao Hong. "But this matter is forbidden to be revealed to the Cultivators below. Wei Kong broke this taboo!"

"Is it because Cultivators below the Third Realm can't control this power?"

Yu Lian asked curiously.

Buqiong nodded. "That's one reason. Also, the number of Third Realm Cultivators is too great, and their way of thinking can be very naive. In the Cultivation Realm, naivety is no virtue!"

She meant that Cultivators below the Third Realm lacked sufficient cultivation of their humanity and rationality.

"Furthermore..."

She looked at Wang Ping and asked, "Would you absorb their energy?"

Wang Ping was taken aback, then answered decisively, "I wouldn't!"

"Exactly!"

Buqiong looked down at the lower-realm Cultivators preparing for battle. "We all have our own paths, but they are still lost. The lost are the most easily tempted!"

Wang Ping and Ao Hong nodded involuntarily. In the Cultivation Realm, most people were not as fortunate as them.

Buqiong continued, "There has always been debate about this matter within the Alliance. Now, with Wei Kong's rebellion, the disagreement will surely intensify. I expect that in the end, they'll just outright ban everyone from absorbing Extraterritorial Energy!"

Ao Hong asked, "What is the attitude of the True Monarchs?"

The True Monarchs he referred to were the True Monarchs of the Mystic Sect and the Heavenly Sect.

Buqiong chuckled. "The True Monarchs never state their position, and neither do the Alliance Leaders of the various districts." She paused, then continued, "Because they just act directly!"

'She seems to hold some resentment.'

Neither Wang Ping nor Ao Hong responded.

At that moment, the extraterritorial matter from outer space was already approaching the void around the moon. Pang Xu stood beside a Fire Spirit Array, forming a Spell with his left hand.

The next moment, the Fire Spirit Array beneath him flared with dazzling light. Simultaneously, his entire body was coated in a layer of fire. This layer of fire contained a Fire Spirit Array, and as it unfurled, it merged with the Array below, creating a Combined Formation.

SHREEEK~

An ear-piercing shriek tore through the heavens and earth, but it was quickly suppressed by the silence of the Cosmos. A pillar of fire shot deep into outer space, igniting the Spiritual Qi there.

The rampaging flames instantly engulfed the Extraterritorial Energy!

'This Fire Spirit Array uses the Cultivator themself as its power core.' Wang Ping's eyes lit up; his knowledge of arrays had just expanded.

Then, Wang Ping seemed to hear a frantic roar echo in his ears, but it was quickly smothered by the silence of the Cosmos.

He then saw the gathered extraterritorial matter quickly disperse within the flames, forming individual, roiling entities. They seemed to be mimicking humans; the moment they scattered, many of them transformed into human shapes. However, the faces on their heads were constantly shifting, which, combined with their pitch-black bodies, was rather nauseating.

As the extraterritorial matter scattered, over a hundred Second Realm Cultivators, in five-person combat teams, took the initiative and charged toward them. The two Third Realm Cultivators followed behind. It wasn't that they were afraid of dying; they were holding the line. If any team ran into trouble during the battle, they could provide immediate reinforcement.