Chapter 2982: Unfathomable Demon Heart
Feng Qi's expression was cautious as he said, "This Yin-Shang Corpse Poison is no trivial matter. It originates from the Corpse Clan's patriarch, the Three Calamities Demon Lord. I, this god, am well-versed in the techniques of the Daoist lineage, yet I have never heard of any power capable of dissolving Yin-Shang Corpse Poison!"
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox, with a charm like smoke, said, "Lord Feng Qi is far too modest. You are the heir of Yu Shenwang from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization. If you are merely 'well-versed,' then who in this world dares to claim mastery of the Dao?"
The Wind Clan, like the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, was also a sacred land of the Dao.
Although Feng Xi cultivated at the Truth Divine Temple, she was equally familiar with Daoist techniques, just like Feng Qi. Seeing this Daoist so confident, she couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.
Could the Dao truly possess some secret art capable of breaking Yin-Shang?
Zhang Ruochen approached the Wind Clan Great Saint who was most deeply poisoned, extended two fingers, and pressed them against his brow.
"Swoosh!"
A white halo manifested around his fingertip, suspended in the void.
Zhang Ruochen recited, "What is called the Three Calamities: Yin-Shang, Yang-Huo, and Huang-E. Heaven and Earth divide into Yin and Yang; Yin-Shang belongs to Yin. Yin and Yang harmonized can dissolve it. As it is said, Yang Qi circulates through the spirit and returns to its origin; all things follow its convergence."
His finger seal changed.
Within the white halo, strands of Yang Qi flowed into the Wind Clan Great Saint's brow.
"There was a Daoist sage of old who authored the 'Constant Clarity and Stillness Scripture,' no less profound than Buddhist classics."
"Shang poison entering the soul—this scripture can break it."
Zhang Ruochen's lips moved, uttering divine characters that landed upon the Wind Clan Great Saint.
The Yin-cold, rotting aura on the Wind Clan Great Saint lying on the ground gradually faded. It was not expelled from his body but merged with the mysterious Yang Qi, becoming harmless to him.
On the contrary, it brought boundless benefits.
After all, this mysterious Yang Qi originated from a powerful god.
Feng Qi stared intently at the techniques Zhang Ruochen displayed, sighing in admiration, "Daoist Huang Niu's understanding and control of Yin and Yang Qi have reached an exquisite level. But with such two powerful forces merging within a Great Saint's body, can that Wind Clan Great Saint withstand it?"
The Wind Clan Great Saints who could still suppress the corpse poison held their breath, tense and anxious.
As if responding to Feng Qi, Zhang Ruochen said, "Borrow the power of life force!"
Immediately, the vast life force of the Divine Wood Warship was mobilized by him, flowing like hundreds of streams into that Wind Clan Great Saint's body.
Supported by an endless stream of life force, that Wind Clan Great Saint successfully endured.
Moments later, the Yin-Shang Corpse Poison on him was completely dissolved. His complexion regained color, holy light radiated from his skin, healing the torn flesh.
Feng Xi's taut nerves relaxed. Though her veil hid her celestial beauty, it was clear she was smiling. She said, "Thank you, senior, for your aid. The Wind Clan will remember this debt of gratitude!"
If one could be saved, all could be saved.
Over twenty Great Saints represented a force the Wind Clan could not afford to ignore.
The recovered Wind Clan Great Saint thanked Zhang Ruochen, then bowed deeply.
Zhang Ruochen used the same method to dissolve the corpse poison for the other Wind Clan Great Saints one by one.
Time slipped away quietly. The Divine Wood Warship had already left that star region, speeding toward the Starry Sky Defense Line.
Without Old Yellow Ox causing trouble, and with the Wind Clan Great Saints freed from the poison, the atmosphere became harmonious and joyful. Even Feng Xi, usually reserved, drank several cups of demon brew at the banquet.
After three rounds of wine, Zhang Ruochen voiced a doubt in his heart, "The Phoenix Clan is a first-rate clan in the Demon God Realm, with an ancient heritage and countless experts. Why did Mr. Feng Qi choose to study under King Yu Shen?"
Feng Qi laughed, "Though I am of the Phoenix Clan, not every phoenix is born noble or receives the best nurturing. Especially for a phoenix like me with impure bloodline, I was not valued by the clan in my youth. I had to fight on my own, entering the Merit Battlefield to kill enemies and seize cultivation resources."
"Fortunately, by chance on the Merit Battlefield, I caught the appreciation of King Yu Shen and became his disciple. Otherwise, relying only on myself, how could I have stepped into the divine realm?"
"Daoist Huang Niu, your Dao arts are profound. May I ask where your master resides?"
Qiu Yu Divine Lord, the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox, and Feng Xi all turned their gazes toward him.
Zhang Ruochen did not answer directly. Instead, he said, "Speaking of it, my cultivation is also closely connected to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization."
The others understood tacitly.
After all, there were only a few sacred lands of Dao cultivation in the world. Someone who could reach the level of Daoist Huang Niu must be tied to one of them. It was not unusual for it to originate from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization.
Since he did not wish to elaborate, there must be reasons he found inconvenient, so they naturally refrained from pressing further.
Qiu Yu Divine Lord laughed heartily, "I am also heading to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization this time, representing the Demon God Realm to invite the Fire Seed. What a coincidence that we are traveling together!"
After the drinking, under the guidance of the demon cultivators, Zhang Ruochen and the Wind Clan members settled into the cultivation caves of the Divine Wood Warship.
The warship was enormous, with countless caves.
In the main hall, only Qiu Yu Divine Lord, Feng Qi, and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox remained.
Qiu Yu Divine Lord activated the hall's formation, his smile vanishing. "What exactly is the background of this Daoist Huang Niu? Have you two seen through him?"
Feng Qi's face darkened. "His Dao arts are profound; he must come from the Daoist lineage. He said his cultivation is connected to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, but I have spent many years there and never heard of him. He did not tell the truth!"
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox sat in a chair, her two snow-white jade legs crossed, her thigh skin as smooth as egg white. "Judging by his demeanor, he likely did not know Feng Xi before. He is not of the Wind Clan. That leaves only one possibility: he is a hermit from the Five Elements Temple."
Qiu Yu Divine Lord's eyes turned fierce. "Could he be from the Kunlun Realm? Kunlun's Taiji Dao once flourished and should not be underestimated."
Feng Qi said, "One hundred thousand years ago, the Kunlun Realm was called the number one realm in the myriad worlds, with experts like clouds. Even now, it is not completely dead; occasionally, an ancient god emerges. Your speculation, Divine Lord, has some merit."
"But I think there is another possibility."
"This Daoist Huang Niu might actually be a god of the Wind Clan."
Hearing this, Qiu Yu Divine Lord and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox both stiffened.
The hall fell silent for a long time.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox's slender fingers stroked her enchanting cheek. "If that is the case, wouldn't it mean they already know we are controlling those corpse armies? They deliberately put on an act."
Qiu Yu Divine Lord's pupils flickered with cold light. "If so, they cannot be allowed to reach the Starry Sky Defense Line alive."
Feng Qi's expression changed as he looked at Qiu Yu Divine Lord. "We are not far from the Starry Sky Defense Line now. To silently kill two gods, even a Taiyi realm great god might not be able to do it."
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox asked, "Feng Xi is merely a lower-level god. Killing her would not be difficult for Lord Feng Qi or Divine Lord. But this Daoist Huang Niu gives me a feeling of unfathomable depth. Divine Lord, as a Truth Envoy, can you see through his cultivation level?"
Qiu Yu Divine Lord said, "That is the strange part. Even with the Way of Truth, I cannot see through him. There are only two possibilities: either his cultivation is terrifyingly high, or he carries a treasure that conceals his level."
"The latter is more likely."
"If he were truly a great god-level expert and knew we were controlling those corpses, he would have suppressed us directly. Why bother putting on an act with Feng Xi?"
Feng Qi said, "In any case, this Daoist Huang Niu is no simple character. We cannot act rashly. Just look at his mount—if not for an enormous background, how would a half-god minor demon dare to show such disrespect to a demon god?"
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox nodded in agreement. "That yellow ox is indeed emboldened, with an aura that fears nothing in the world. It must have a mighty backer. In my view, they truly come from the Five Elements Temple."
"Then this is troublesome!" Qiu Yu Divine Lord said.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox said, "For now, we can only hope nothing has been exposed. Perhaps Daoist Huang Niu went to great lengths to save those Wind Clan Great Saints just to curry favor with Feng Xi and build ties with the Wind Clan."
Most gods did not care about the life or death of Great Saints.
Their earlier act of detoxifying the Wind Clan members was likely because Feng Xi was present.
"Should I go test him?" the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox asked, her seductive eyes tracing patterns on her leg with a finger.
Feng Qi snorted coldly. "Your charm techniques might work on ordinary gods, but what kind of person is he? A Daoist expert, with a heart as still as water. If you go test him like that, you will not only fail but also arouse his suspicion. Let me go instead."
...
In the cave, Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged. Invisible Taiji halos returned from the world into his body, entering the Xuan Tai.
The words spoken by Qiu Yu Divine Lord, Feng Qi, and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox in the main hall were all perceived by him.
This was the Wuji Divine Dao.
Wuji is omnipresent.
At the very least, the formation Qiu Yu Divine Lord had set up could not block Zhang Ruochen's perception, nor could it detect his spying through space. Truth Envoy or not?
In Zhang Ruochen's eyes, a Truth Envoy was just that.
Unless the other party was a great god.
"Indeed, both the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm are not lacking in such self-serving people. No matter the situation, they only think of secretly seizing benefits."
A stifling anger welled up in Zhang Ruochen's heart. There were truly few gods in the world who cared for the common people.
What did the destruction of a realm matter to a god? Gods could traverse the stars, free and unfettered.
Especially when the realm destroyed was not their own.
Outside the cave, a voice as pleasant as wind chimes sounded, "Junior Feng Xi requests an audience with Senior Huang Niu."
"Why is she here?" Zhang Ruochen wondered inwardly.
The cave's door opened.
A wisp of divine Qi flew out from within, condensing into a doppelganger at the entrance.
Feng Xi held a jade box in her hands. "I have come specifically to thank senior."
"Have you not already thanked me?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"I have prepared a gift of gratitude. I hope senior will accept it. But this gift is rather special; it can only be opened after entering the cave."
Feng Xi looked toward the cave behind Zhang Ruochen.
Understanding dawned on Zhang Ruochen, and he invited Feng Xi inside, then activated the formation.
...
There will be another chapter tonight.