Chapter 462

Within the giant crater, Eastern Extreme Capital was completely engulfed in Purple Qi Divine Flames. Cultivators with strength below the Nascent Soul realm were almost instantly burned into black ash the moment they entered.

Even Nascent Soul cultivators were faring poorly. The power of these Purple Qi Divine Flames was not inferior to the concentrated eruption within the Immortal Officials’ Medicine Vault. In fact, their quality was even higher.

Scorching Sun Old Demon, who had escaped with only his Nascent Soul, had been burned by the purple flames until his Nascent Soul flickered unstably, like a soul on the verge of dispersing. The only way to describe his state was utterly weak and fragile.

In this condition, any Nascent Soul cultivator who appeared could easily capture him alive.

Seeing this, Wang Yu naturally wanted to strike while he was down.

Unfortunately, for the moment he could not find him.

At the imperial palace located at the core of the Purple Qi Divine Flame eruption, all kinds of bizarre restrictions activated simultaneously. Violent storms and multicolored spiritual radiance filled this small pocket of space.

The turbulence even threw the surrounding space into disorder.

Under these conditions, Nascent Soul teleportation techniques were completely ineffective. Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable himself was not in a good situation either. The air-sealing restrictions had reached an unprecedented level.

Even fifth-rank escape techniques could not lift a person even half a step off the ground.

The curse of the Yellow Springs Great Demon had weakened him significantly. When his Spirit Transformation demonic essence was mobilized from the Qi sea, it suffered severe suppression. Under such circumstances, the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord’s combat power, which exceeded his cultivation realm, faintly formed a situation of equal opposition against him.

As the Raging Blood Domain Intent spread wildly, Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable quickly regained his composure. Normally, when a Spirit Transformation cultivator fought a Nascent Soul cultivator, the result was absolute suppression.

However, there were four exceptions.

The Joyous Union Saint Lord, the Blood Demon Hall Master, the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord, and the Nether Mountain Sect Leader.

Even including the Taihu Spirit Domain, neither the Sword Sect nor the other righteous sects possessed half-step Spirit Transformation cultivators. This showed that the gap between righteous and demonic paths was still quite significant.

The reason the demonic path had five great sects was closely related to the combat power of their sect masters. The title of half-step Spirit Transformation could not be claimed casually.

Considering how Crimson Heaven usually treated Nascent Soul cultivators, it could almost be described as not treating them like humans at all. With the slightest excuse, he could torture and kill them.

Using that same attitude toward the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord would naturally lead to problems.

Since breaking through the bottleneck, Crimson Heaven had only managed to cultivate to the second layer of Spirit Transformation. His strength was also at the bottom tier of this realm.

Now he faced the situation of Purple Flames Burning the Capital, along with the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord watching him like a tiger.

The thought of seeking reinforcements had already arisen in his mind.

However…

Ever since Eastern Extreme Capital appeared in the world, not a single powerhouse from Taihu had arrived yet. That was partly due to the efforts of several venerables from the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect. Moreover, no one had expected that an underground ruin already explored countless times would produce such a large number of opportunities to reach Spirit Transformation once it fully manifested.

Only the Blood Reversal Sect and Yellow Springs Monastery could confirm this matter.

Others could not.

There was also a reason why Spirit Transformation venerables rarely acted. Besides their duty of guarding their territories, the greater reason was that the Ice Prison Realm could only accommodate cultivators up to the Spirit Transformation realm.

It was just like when Wang Yu had exhausted his demonic essence inside the Celestial Star Tower. Without the support of a fourth-rank spirit vein, simply sitting in meditation to recover would take years.

Spirit Transformation cultivators faced an even harsher situation.

Once the Nascent Soul transformed into Spirit Transformation, it completely fused with the soul, forming the core of the primordial spirit. Divine sense increased explosively, allowing them to manipulate the spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth within a certain range.

Whether amplifying their own divine abilities or using other techniques, the improvement was immense.

However, immortals from the upper realms had once modified the laws of the Ice Prison Realm.

Whenever Spirit Transformation cultivators exerted their full strength, their vital essence would be forcibly burned away. The longer they fought, the more severe the loss became. Especially after unleashing their full power, the damage could even affect their lifespan.

Because of this, Crimson Heaven’s thought of calling for reinforcements vanished almost as soon as it appeared.

He knew that Blood Pill Master of the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect was also inside Eastern Extreme Capital. Together with the two late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivators from the Yin-Yang Gate, they might be able to lend him a hand.

However, asking juniors for help would hurt his pride.

His face simply could not endure it.

In a brief moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Finally, the idea of going all out surged forward.

Anyone capable of comprehending the Raging Blood Domain Intent was never a calm and stable person to begin with.

A fiery temper and explosive anger had been the impression others held of Crimson Heaven for most of his life.

And Spirit Transformation cultivators possessed two defining characteristics.

Aside from Domain Intent, there was another ability derived from the primordial spirit.

Using the primordial spirit as the core, and combining it with supreme mana, one could construct the body of a divine manifestation.

“Crimson Heaven Raging Blood Dharma Form!” 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Taking a step forward, the naked Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable suddenly released a golden-red primordial spirit from the crown of his head. Its appearance was identical to his own.

A massive surge of demonic essence burst forth from his limbs and bones, expelling every trace of the curse power that the Yellow Springs Great Demon had implanted into him.

In an instant, a golden-red giant rose from the sea of purple flames. His hair and beard flew wildly as his face twisted with fury. A blood-like fluid formed a crimson divine halo floating behind his head.

Under the spread of his Domain Intent, the entire Eastern Extreme Capital was enveloped.

This was the manifestation of heaven and earth.

A unique power constructed by Spirit Transformation cultivators using their primordial spirits as the core. Every Spirit Transformation cultivator possessed a different Dharma Aspect, though cultivation techniques specifically designed to train powerful Dharma Aspect had also been created.

For example, the Dharma Aspect inheritance that Yellow Springs Monastery had inherited from the White Bone Dao.

The White Bone Demon God Dharma Aspect.

As the saying went, those who learn from me live, those who imitate me die.

The purpose of Dharma Aspect inheritance was mainly to provide successors with experience and reference models, allowing them to condense an even stronger Dharma Aspect of their own.

Blind imitation would never work.

However, for Nascent Soul cultivators, directly mimicking these aspect allowed them to obtain a portion of that power and experience the might of a Spirit Transformation Dharma Aspect in advance.

Once they truly reached the breakthrough stage, they could then reshape the Dharma Aspect and walk their own path.

Now that Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable had unleashed his full strength, the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord also looked solemn.

The loss of internal organs had already left him heavily injured. In this condition, confronting a Dharma Aspect head-on was something he knew he could not win.

But reaching this stage was already enough.

The corner of his eye glanced toward Crimson Heaven’s five followers. The three black flood-dragons and the two old children were not much of a threat. None of them had reached the late Nascent Soul stage.

They were completely unable to participate in this level of battle.

However, when they had entered the Longevity Medicine Vault earlier, they had collected at least a dozen fifth-rank precious pills. Later, when the vault collapsed, they had escaped in miserable condition as well.

They were not far from this place.

Combined with the violent activity of restrictions throughout the imperial palace area, there was only a very small zone where they could stand safely.

The thought that fortune lay within danger rose in his mind.

Since he had already offended Crimson Heaven to this extent, offending him even further did not seem like such a big matter.

With a thought…

A gigantic White Bone Demon God rose from the ground. It was half a head shorter than the [Crimson Heaven Raging Blood Dharma Aspect], like two world-destroying giants clashing violently under the glow of the purple divine flames.

One could see that every punch of the Raging Blood Dharma Aspect gathered the spiritual momentum of heaven and earth. Each strike fell like endless heavy blows capable of shattering the bones of the White Bone Dharma Aspect.

The latter’s advantage lay in the seemingly inexhaustible Yellow Springs power. Although its strength was inferior to the Raging Blood Dharma Aspect and its counterattacks were soft and weak, its recovery ability was extremely powerful.

The Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable quickly discovered the problem.

At the core of the White Bone Demon God Dharma Aspect was not the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord, but a fifth-rank spirit treasure.

The Yellow Springs Treasure Vase.

This was one of the inherited spirit treasures of the [Yellow Springs White Bone Dao].

After the Yellow Springs Monastery obtained it, it had always remained in the hands of the Monastery Lord. Jade Water Demon Lord’s life-bound treasure was a similar type of artifact, though its rank was not high enough.

One of this treasure’s greatest characteristics was its ability to store what could be considered an endless amount of Yellow Springs Azure Fall power, provided it had first been refined by its owner.

It functioned like an external storage Qi sea.

Normally, one could accumulate power slowly over time. During battle, it could then be released and used, making it extremely significant both in effect and meaning.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord’s true body used a Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell technique.

He suddenly escaped.

His target pointed directly at the three flood-dragons and the two children.

“Impudent!”

During this trip to Eastern Extreme Capital, nearly all of the Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable’s gains, aside from that piece of Destiny Dragon Gold, were in the hands of these servants. If they were seized by the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord, then this entire journey would become meaningless.

The Yellow Springs Monastery Lord’s expression was icy. He showed no fear toward the oppressive aura of a Spirit Transformation Venerable.

“You killed my junior brother Youming of the Monastery. You should have expected that I could also kill your twin children and lackeys in return!”

The Raging Blood Dharma Aspect smashed the White Bone Demon God apart with a single punch.

Then it raised its foot and stomped down toward the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord.

“I am one of the leaders of the demonic path. Even if I bully you and suppress you, an ant like you should accept it.”

“Absurd!”

How could the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord accept such words?

His life-bound treasure could not exert sufficient power in a battle at this level, so he once again used a hidden trump card.

A second fifth-rank spirit treasure appeared.

The Azure Fall Purifying Demon Sword.

If the White Bone Demon God Dharma Aspect relied on the Yellow Springs Treasure Vase as its foundation, then the power consumption required to wield this spirit treasure had to be borne entirely by him.

Facing the stomping foot of the Raging Blood Dharma Aspect, he angrily drew his sword.

He dared to make every being who looked down on him pay the price in blood.

“Back then, this Monastery Lord was nothing but a beggar. If I climbed to my position today, it was never through schemes, but through the sword in my hand!”

He ignited.

Fighting Crimson Heaven to the death did not align with his interests or position.

But the situation forced his hand, leaving him no choice. The Yellow Springs Monastery Lord had already prepared himself mentally to perish together with his enemy.

With an upward slash, the Azure Fall Purifying Demon Sword cut away half the foot of the Raging Blood Dharma Aspect. The green radiance of the Azure Fall Purifying power was an extremely formidable force.

Moreover, Azure Fall power specialized in restraining the 'primordial spirit'. A Dharma Aspect divine body was constructed with the primordial spirit as its core, so this strike truly made the Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable feel pain.

It had injured the foundation of his primordial spirit.

With that single move, the three flood-dragons and the two children fell into the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord’s grasp. With a casual Yellow Springs Great Hand Seal, he struck them, sending them fleeing in all directions.

Unfortunately, the Imperial Palace Region was filled with restrictions.

Numerous small-scale fifth-rank restrictions were hidden everywhere. Entering them was harmless, but once triggered by accident, the result was instant death.

Calling it a place of certain death was not an exaggeration. The purple divine flames burning everywhere made the situation even worse.

Divine sense could hardly spread through the area.

It felt like being trapped in a maze.

Looking in every direction, survival seemed impossible.

While Crimson Heaven howled in fury, the two older “twin children” suffered first.

One was instantly torn into fragments by the palace restrictions.

The other was slain by the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord with a single sword strike.

His body was purified into a small sphere of condensed blood and flesh essence.

The pill was swallowed on the spot. His demonic essence consumption and the damage to his internal organs recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye. By the time the battle had reached this stage, neither side could truly do anything to the other.

The Yellow Springs Monastery Lord possessed an endless stream of fifth-rank spirit treasures, all top-tier items of high-grade or even supreme-grade quality. Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable’s life-bound spirit treasure was also fifth-rank, but it was merely a low-grade item.

Considering how a cultivator’s realm affected the power a spirit treasure could display, if they were to compare purely the might of spirit treasures, the level they could unleash would actually be quite similar.

The problem was that in Yellow Springs Monastery, the Monastery Lord stood at the very top of the hierarchy. All the sect’s foundational treasures were in his possession.

In the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect, however, although Crimson Heaven held the title of Venerable, it was impossible for him to touch those true foundational spirit treasures. They were controlled by senior brothers older and stronger than him. As a result, the burden on him was not as heavy, and he had far more time to explore opportunities.

Because of that, when he heard news of a Spirit Transformation opportunity, he rushed over without hesitation.

Meanwhile, during the brief intervals between their exchanges of divine abilities, many Nascent Soul cultivators had already successfully escaped Eastern Extreme Capital. A large portion of them were Nascent Soul Ancestors from Yellow Springs Monastery.

When they turned back and saw their own Monastery Lord locked in a life-and-death battle with the Demon Venerable, their hearts immediately sank.

Their first thought was to seal off the news.

But there were simply too many Nascent Soul cultivators present. At most they occupied half of the total number. The other half consisted of scattered Nascent Soul cultivators from the territories of the Blood Reversal Sect.

There were also a small number of rogue cultivators and cultivators from outside the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain, among others. Some of them had even reached the mid or late Nascent Soul stages.

Trying to suppress the news was nothing more than a fool’s dream.

Once the situation here spread, the internal balance of power among the demonic sects of the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain would undergo earth-shaking changes. The battlefield in Cloud Ridge Prefecture would also be affected.

Moreover… could the Monastery Lord actually win?!!

The outcome was extremely important.

……

……

At the same time, Wang Yu had also flown to the end of the underground dark river, emerging from the edge of the outer city of Eastern Extreme Capital. Although this underground river was enormous in scale, it was not naturally formed. It was still part of the geomantic feng shui layout established by the Ancestor of Earth Masters.

Its patterns and characteristics had long been completely understood by Wang Yu.

When he turned back to look, he saw the clash of the two gigantic Dharma Aspect manifestations, along with that world-shocking sword light that slashed upward against the heavens. He could not help but mutter to himself.

“To actually fight to this extent… it seems I underestimated the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord. The fact that it stands alongside the other five great demonic sects is not without reason.”

After realizing this, Wang Yu did not regret leaving.

Even with the authority of the Coiling Dragon Ring assisting him, Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable might very well have died.

But regardless of whether that outcome succeeded or failed, it would have pushed Wang Yu himself into the abyss. The situation within the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain would also become even more unpredictable.

Soon after, Wang Yu began deducing the current situation.

He discovered that no matter what the final outcome was, both the Blood Reversal Sect and Yellow Springs Monastery would very likely become targets of the Heaven Refining Demon Sect. His own existence was not exactly a secret either.

To ensure safety, temporarily leaving the Blood Reversal Sect and the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain would be the wisest choice.

As for participating in the war, his original intention had been to obtain Nascent Soul cultivation resources. Now, however, his trip to Eastern Extreme Capital could be described as a textbook example of getting rich overnight. Just the Heavenly Yin Divine Water alone, measured in tens of thousands of tons, would allow his strength to reach a new level.

Entering seclusion to digest these gains would be his next stage of cultivation.

With that in mind, his requirements for location were not particularly high. Even an environment without a spirit vein would be acceptable. The Idle Slot system could solve his daily cultivation needs.

In the short term, he would not be breaking through to a major realm anyway, so the restrictions imposed by spirit veins were minimal.

Thinking about it this way, perhaps he could attempt something ruthless.

Whether it succeeded or not, it would at least be a way to fight back against the outcome that seemed destined.

Of course, if both Crimson Heaven Demon Venerable and the Yellow Springs Monastery Lord could be permanently buried in Eastern Extreme Capital, that would be even more satisfying.

Wang Yu smiled coldly. The Coiling Dragon Ring in his hand underwent a second transformation.

It turned into a scepter about one meter long.