Turbulence

That black energy, filled with a chilling aura, surged into Shen Yi's body.

Shen Yi immediately recognized this energy. It was from the skull he had destroyed earlier. He hadn't realized it was merely a disguise, and the true form was this black energy, which had now taken advantage of his weakened state.

"This is going to be interesting!"

Shen Yi felt the black energy thrashing wildly within him. In an instant, it encountered the cursed sword energy. The two energies immediately intertwined and began to fight. Shen Yi's body bulged in large sections that moved erratically within him. The intense pain caused him to break out in a cold sweat. After enduring for a moment, his vision went black, and he fainted again.

Meanwhile, outside Youjin Mountain Valley, half a year had passed in the blink of an eye. The elders and sect leaders from various sects were still waiting anxiously. Among them were many disciples, all looking listless. They had all been defeated in the Yin Yang Chess Game and teleported out.

"Counting the days, they should be out by now. We've suffered heavy losses this time!"

Sect Leader Hong of Ningxian Sect glanced back at the disciples behind him. Although his tone was heavy, a hint of relief flickered in his eyes. He had learned how perilous the ruins were and was grateful that his few disciples had made it out alive.

"The path of cultivation is inherently a life-or-death struggle."

The Great Elder of Qingxuan Sect, Wang Shangren, spoke very casually, with a proud expression. He was confident in his disciples' strength; a mere ruin was nothing to them.

Only Feng Yang remained silent. Qingxuan Sect at least had one disciple teleported out, providing valuable information. However, not a single disciple from his Immortal Academy had emerged. Despite his confidence, the uncertainty of life and death made it difficult to make any definitive statements.

"They're appearing, over there!"

Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's attention.

The Golden Core cultivators also noticed the spatial fluctuations appearing in the valley and rushed towards them.

"Finally out. I thought I was going to be buried in there."

"What a shame, this mission wasn't completed. I'll surely be punished when I get back!"

"It's too late to do anything now, damn it!"

Jiang Miaoyi and the other three paid no attention to the words of others. Their hearts were heavy, and sorrow was etched on their faces.

"Those are disciples from our Mysterious Nether Cult branch!"

"Hahaha, those are disciples from my sect."

Feng Yang saw Jiang Miaoyi and the others from a distance, a smile on his face. But as he approached, he realized Shen Yi was not among them, and his heart sank.

"Impossible! My son Mingxuan is a prodigy of heaven. Why is no one else from our Qingxuan Sect emerging!"

Wang Shangren's eyes blazed with fury. He grabbed a Qi Refining rogue cultivator and roared, demanding answers.

The cultivator couldn't withstand his immense pressure and fainted. Wang Shangren cursed and tossed him aside, his eyes scanning the others.

An Ping, seeing this, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes, spoke:

"Master, disciples like us were obstructed by Shen Yi of Ninghai Immortal Academy. He killed many of our fellow disciples, and we failed to retrieve our sect's supreme treasure, allowing the Immortal Academy's people to obtain it. Please punish me, Master."

He knelt on the ground, his face full of grief, but his eyes secretly glanced towards Wang Shangren.

Wang Shangren noticed this action and immediately understood the hidden meaning. He glared furiously in the direction of Ninghai Immortal Academy.

"Feng Yang! Lend me your disciples!"

His words were domineering, brooking no refusal. He unleashed a divine ability, intending to apprehend Wu Liujian and the others.

"Hmph!"

Feng Yang snorted coldly and waved his hand, interrupting Wang Shangren's divine ability. Anger was evident on his face. "Fellow cultivator, restrain yourself. My young disciples cannot withstand the Soul Searching Technique."

"If that's the case, then hand over that brat Shen Yi. I will return him after I've questioned him."

Wang Shangren remained relentless, still wanting to find out Shen Yi's whereabouts.

"Senior Brother Shen is still in the ruins!"

Wu Liujian stepped forward, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, the path of cultivation is inherently a struggle for survival. Your attitude is excessive," Feng Yang said, shielding Wu Liujian behind him. He offered a well-intentioned piece of advice, then fixed his gaze on An Ping and questioned, "Junior, do your words imply you intend to make a move here?"

Feng Yang's sharp reprimand resounded like thunder. An Ping tried to retort but a mouthful of blood gushed out, and his cultivation was completely lost.

"Such powerful aura. Feng Yang's cultivation is insurmountable."

The elder of the Mysterious Nether Cult was horrified. He shot An Ping a fierce glare and, with a wave of his hand, led the remaining disciples away, leaving a bewildered An Ping behind.

"I will get to the bottom of this matter!"

Wang Shangren flicked his sleeve and also left with his remaining disciples. Feng Yang looked deeply at his retreating back, a flash of killing intent crossing his eyes.

The remaining onlookers, having witnessed Feng Yang's imposing display today, did not wish to linger, fearing they might anger him. They all took their leave.

After everyone had departed, Jiang Miaoyi recounted everything that had happened in the ruins to Feng Yang. By the end, she was overcome with emotion, her face streaked with tears.

"Sigh," Feng Yang lamented, falling silent.

The group waited at Youjin Mountain Valley for another half month, but their hopes of Shen Yi's return were in vain. They had no choice but to leave and return to the Immortal Academy.

Spirit Sealing Grotto-Heaven ruins.

Shen Yi finally awoke. The Indestructible Scripture automatically circulated, healing the injuries within his body.

"I don't know if this is a blessing or a curse."

Shen Yi sensed that both forces within his body were now dormant. It seemed they had both suffered heavy losses in their earlier battle, and their strength had been significantly weakened.

"To completely expel these two forces, I'm afraid I'll need to cultivate the Indestructible Scripture to the second level, the Great Accomplishment of the Indestructible Meridian," Shen Yi thought, using his spiritual energy to temporarily suppress the two powers. He put away the Coiled Dragon Halberd and pondered his next move.

"Spiritual pills and herbs are now useless for cultivating the Indestructible Scripture. To temper the meridians, I need to use the Spiritual Flame. With my current cultivation, it's still barely enough."

Shen Yi opened his map and suddenly recalled the Molten Flames he had previously braved. Those flames, when attached to his body, seemed capable of burning his meridians. With this thought, Shen Yi collected the pills in the area into his Cosmic Ring and quickly headed to the Molten Flames region.

"Hiss—"

Shen Yi extended a finger into the flames, and it was immediately engulfed. He felt that familiar, sharp pain in his meridians, gasping in pain but also feeling quite satisfied. His guess was correct, but his current body strength couldn't withstand it all at once; he could only proceed gradually.

For the next few days, Shen Yi tended to his injuries while attempting to temper his meridians with the Molten Flames. To his surprise, he discovered that the strand of black energy within him seemed to greatly fear this flame, frantically hiding whenever it came into contact with the fire.

Thus, he continued, tempering his meridians with a mixture of pain and pleasure.

Ever since Feng Yang and the others had departed, a divine sense had hovered over Youjin Mountain Valley, constantly monitoring every blade of grass and tree. Even a single flying bird that dared to leave would be instantly annihilated by that divine sense.

"Xuan'er, your father will surely grind Shen Yi into ashes and avenge you!"