Scene Out of Control, The Dagger Revealed

Outside the Blazing Wasteland, in the Qifeng Mountain Grand Canyon.

Frost falls, bears climb trees; in the forest, deer drink from streams.

Gongcheng Tiansheng, who was quietly meditating on a rugged boulder, coughed up two mouthfuls of blood before he could stop his nearly rampaging Nascent Soul.

On his face, veins bulged and crawled like earthworms before quickly receding and disappearing.

"Hoo—"

After a long while, he finally exhaled a mouthful of turbid air mixed with black and red.

"That brat Zhuge Wuwei, no wonder he was so reckless in deducing me. He thought he had figured out my temperament, set a trap, and invited an ancient powerful expert to protect him."

"And Zhuge Chunqiu, that old scoundrel, who lived his life honorably, actually has such a sneaky son?"

"As expected, the closer one gets to success, the greater the risk!"

"This has cost me nearly a year of hard cultivation! Fortunately, I should be able to reap the rewards soon."

"Let me see what the specific situation is first."

Gongcheng Tiansheng mused in his heart, then raised his head, his eyes seeming to become exceptionally deep.

The next moment, above his head, wisps of purple-black, cloud-like aura rose.

Soon, this aura gradually condensed, forming a little boy who looked about three or four years old.

The little boy wore a purple-black bib, on which ancient runes occasionally flowed with mysterious energy.

After the little boy appeared, his body seemed to begin to crack. The purple-black color on him started to become clearly defined.

Gradually, purple and black each occupied half, constantly permeating each other.

Soon, when the purple and black converged again, the little boy began to float above Gongcheng Tiansheng's head, meditating in the same posture.

Then, strands of black energy rose from the little boy's head, and a smaller, completely black infant gradually condensed.

This black infant was a true infant, only about a foot long, with a head the size of a teacup.

The infant had not yet opened its eyes, but its body was covered in wrinkles, making it look like a little old man, somewhat eerie.

"Mysterious Qi Movement."

Suddenly, Gongcheng Tiansheng softly uttered four words.

As these four words were spoken, the pitch-black infant suddenly opened its eyes.

They were blood-red eyes.

Extremely blood-red.

Within those eyes, a series of terrifying and mysterious changes in energy unfolded.

The moment the infant opened its eyes, in the distance, the white bear climbing the tree suddenly froze. Its flesh and blood rapidly withered, and it fell from the tree, turning into a pile of bone powder.

The wild deer drinking water at the bottom of the canyon also suddenly convulsed, quickly becoming skin and bones, then weathered away, scattering into a pile of white bones.

The clear stream at this moment immediately turned dark and turbid.

The sounds of birds, beasts, insects, and fish that were originally chirping also abruptly ceased.

In the world, all sound seemed to be lost in that instant.

At the same moment, within the black infant's eyes, rapid streams of images seemed to appear.

However, these images were not clear, but rather extremely blurry.

Gongcheng Tiansheng sensed carefully, but still unable to perceive the scenes behind those images, he decisively withdrew his technique.

"At a time like this, that sneaky brat suddenly deduces, and deliberately lets me notice. Such a direct provocation, I fear, has a deep purpose!"

"I've long heard that this person is quite capable, but I didn't take it seriously. This time, it seems he has obtained an incredible treasure—very likely a top-tier sacred artifact! Otherwise, why would he be like this!"

"No, his goal should be more than just provocation; it's also a test. On one hand, it's to test my abilities, and on the other hand, it's likely to test my injuries."

"This time, it seems he has figured out some of my background, knowing that I have a hot temper, am violent and irritable, and have a strong killing intent, exploding at the slightest provocation!"

"But, this is just the image I maintain externally. Just like this time, if I hadn't cautiously acted and held back, I would have been severely injured by that protecting expert's gaze, my Nascent Soul would have been damaged, and my Dao injury would have erupted immediately. Then, I would truly have been annihilated on the spot!"

"Fortunately, I only used my Nascent Soul to guide it, splitting off a killing soul aura."

"Therefore, the plan needs to be executed more cautiously. And on the other hand, that batch of soul food I've been raising will be allowed to grow for a while longer, and incidentally, they can be used to scout ahead."

After Gongcheng Tiansheng withdrew his Nascent Soul, his expression was extremely solemn.

In the previous scene, he used his special 'Mysterious Qi Movement' talent, utilizing the soul path of his dual Nascent Souls, to review memories. The result was that the scene was blurry!

This was simply beyond his imagination!

Precisely because of this, he became extremely wary of Zhuge Wuwei.

The other party's true realm was indeed much lower than his.

But, at the Infant Transformation Realm, the actual gap in combat power was not that astonishing anymore.

Not to mention, cultivators of the Heavenly Secrets lineage, once they reach the Infant Transformation Realm, their combat power is quite terrifying!

But similarly, his own Dao injury had not healed, and after condensing dual Nascent Souls, his Nascent Souls were unstable, and his strength was greatly reduced.

This time, Zhuge Wuwei suddenly deducing him could only be a blatant probing!

Moreover, that old scoundrel Zhuge Chunqiu is no easy person either. The father and son are probably scheming some malicious plan to ambush him!

As Gongcheng Tiansheng thought of this, his heart suddenly tightened. As if by a sudden intuition, he immediately recalled the faint "sense of crisis" that inexplicably arose during his cultivation earlier.

That faint sense of crisis originated from his talent, "Mysterious Qi Movement," and its celestial induction ability. This talent has helped him overcome more than ten life-and-death crises!

Many people believe that he was able to become a peerless expert at the ninth level of the Infant Transformation Realm at the mere age of over three thousand years due to his heaven-defying talent and physique!

This is indeed true!

However, many other prodigies with even better talent and who worked even harder have died in droves in the Infant Transformation Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, or even the Golden Core Realm!

The fundamental reason is his extremely keen sense for danger!

Even if there's only a sliver of crisis, a flicker of unease, he would never act rashly.

Living means having a future.

Dying, no matter how brilliant or monstrous you are, means becoming nothing but a handful of yellow earth offered to the heavens!

Therefore, after repeated deliberation, Gongcheng Tiansheng made a decision: first, he would help his two "disciples" improve their cultivation, give them some benefits, and make them "grow" even harder.

Then, he would coincidentally check the specific situation of the "eerie woman in the crystal blood coffin." If there was an opportunity, he would seize it directly.

If not, he would further catalyze the bloodline power within her!

And absorb her soul after refining it!

After completing these tasks, he would flee directly—no, he would return directly to the "killing cave mansion" he had prepared long ago and enter strict seclusion!

He would hide for a while before coming out!

No matter how much you scheme, I won't play along with you. You won't be able to trick me, right?

After Su Li finished speaking, Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Yunxiao were utterly shocked!

Both of their bodies were trembling slightly!

It wasn't that their abilities couldn't control their bodies, but the information was like a bolt from the blue, shaking their very souls!

Although Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Yunxiao had already had a slight inkling of that possibility before Su Li spoke—after all, regarding both the Washing Ancestral Bones and the ancestor's malevolence, Su Li had already hinted at it!

More importantly, the notion of "ancestor's malevolence" came up two days ago!

And the revival of their ancestor Hua Lingshang happened at dusk yesterday.

There are two possible scenarios for such a revival: one is that the soul is weak and in a dormant state, but due to the extremely powerful physical body, it is nourished by the powerful spiritual qi channels, and then, unseen, it comprehends some Dao patterns, thus reviving the soul and undergoing a brand-new transformation. This is a positive revival.

The second scenario is that the soul is weak and gradually dying, but the physical body is too powerful, so the physical body remains alive. Then, this powerful physical body absorbs various negative energies, the unyielding obsessions and resentments of various powerful individuals before their deaths, forming a completely new, independent soul!

This soul, in some extreme cases, can even revive all the memories of its previous life and believe itself to be the original host!

And this situation has a relatively higher probability—once a realm evolves to the Infant Transformation Realm, the physical body reaches a state of near immortality. Unless it is forcibly destroyed, the terrifying vitality of the physical body often breeds many demonic creatures.

The so-called "Puppet Death Warriors" are similar to these existences, but they are merely artificially created.

And these naturally produced ones are true disasters!

Because these beings' physical bodies have been nurtured by the various laws and Dao patterns of the earth for countless years, and their souls are extremely dark and demonic. Their potential can be developed to one hundred percent, or even one thousand percent!

Let alone those of the same realm, even those three to five minor realms higher would be instantly killed!

Fighting?

Don't even think about it. Cultivators of the same realm, without thirty to fifty of them working together, wouldn't be able to defeat one!

This is no longer a matter of scale!

What's even more terrifying is that even if the physical body is destroyed, such a being doesn't die!

Because the physical body is equivalent to its cage. While it restrains the exertion of its power, it also protects its Demonic Soul from significant damage and allows both the Demonic Soul and the physical body to continue evolving!

Once the physical body is gone, it is equivalent to a vengeful ghost of the Infant Transformation Realm. Although it can no longer grow stronger, it can control a region as a ghost domain, making it impossible to kill or destroy!

Unless there is absolute suppressive power, to instantly seal and destroy it with supreme lightning, heavenly fire, or even a supreme counter-ability!

Otherwise, if such a being escapes, hides, and seizes a suitable body for its Demonic Soul, it will become a peerless ferocious demon again in a few years!

Therefore, once such a being truly revives and fully emerges, wherever it passes will truly become a land of destruction and catastrophe!

Why was the Hua Clan tragically destroyed?

It was a Demonic Soul...

At this thought, Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Yunxiao exchanged glances, their faces already ashen.

Su Li's mood was a mixture of anger, regret, and sorrow, because he had seen a lot of important information from Gongcheng Tiansheng's psychological activity!

This information included Gongcheng Tiansheng's cunning probing attack that almost backfired, his determination to refine the "female corpse," and his plan to escape.

The female corpse was naturally his mother, Mu Qingya. He was naturally furious about this.

Although his mother had passed away since he could remember, so he didn't have deep feelings, she was still his mother after all!

However, anger was useless. Now, trapped as he was, he had to increase his strength as quickly as possible. At the very least, he had to obtain the golden Latent Dragon Pill to improve his spirit, energy, and essence!

Otherwise, these old foxes, each with their deep schemes and ruthless methods, would make it incredibly difficult and passive for him to deal with them.

Furthermore, Su Li had now confirmed that the Five Emperors Ancient Coin, combined with the deduction from 'Heavenly Secrets Value', could indeed counteract the 'covetous' influence brought about by deductions.

However, this was a very passive ability.

Perhaps, if Gongcheng Tiansheng had truly attacked with full force just now, the Five Emperors Ancient Coin might have been able to 'passively defend' and kill him!

What Su Li regretted was that this point was beyond his control—without the 'defense' of the Five Emperors Ancient Coin, Hua Yunxiao and Zhuge Wuwei might already be dead.

But, it was also very possible that the defense would fail.

This was because Gongcheng Tiansheng's previous counterattack was merely a probing one. Although he was repelled, the Five Emperors Ancient Coin had already developed tiny cracks.

This method clearly couldn't be used repeatedly; otherwise, the Five Emperors Ancient Coin would likely shatter completely after only a few uses.

Gongcheng Tiansheng was cunning and overly cautious. His temporary withdrawal now, while seemingly a good thing, actually prevented Hua Yunxiao, Zhuge Wuwei, and even Yun Yifan from deducing the crisis or sensing any danger, leaving them completely without worries!

Therefore, the current dilemma was—what would Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Yunxiao choose!

Would they try every means to kill Hua Lingshang, or suppress him and seize the Five Emperors Ancient Coin from his hand?

From the scene before, Su Li already knew that Zhuge Wuwei was coveting the Five Emperors Ancient Coin and had already harbored many suspicions about that strange phenomenon.

As Su Li pondered, he summoned the Life Archives of Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Yunxiao, and examined their current psychological activities.

This time, perhaps their minds were completely in disarray, allowing Su Li to see their detailed thoughts!

Then, Su Li was truly shocked.

Because the current thoughts of Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Yunxiao were no longer focused on him, but were filled with shock, fear, and utter bewilderment!

"I just said it casually, but what if the Demonic Soul really revived? Could that Hua Lingshang truly be a Demonic Soul revival?!"

"If this is true, then it's absolutely outrageous!"

"And if it is true... then things will become truly dire!"

Su Li felt that this matter was far from simple!

Afterward, he carefully examined Hua Yunxiao's physiognomy—the phantom bone ridge between Hua Yunxiao's eyebrows was still fully prominent, as if it were about to burst his head.

Su Li then looked at Zhuge Wuwei.

A faint wisp of black energy vaguely appeared above Zhuge Wuwei's head, but this black energy was hidden and suppressed, as if covered by an unknown mist, making it unclear.

Su Li suddenly felt extremely uneasy.

It was a profound sense of unease originating from the depths of his soul, surpassing any danger he had faced before.

Just then, Su Li abruptly noticed that the current information on Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Yunxiao's Life Archives had all turned into question marks.

"Master Su, how about this: you come with me and Imperial Lord Yunxiao to meet my father, Zhuge Chunqiu. Then, we'll head to the Hua Clan together! To have a word with Senior Hua Lingshang."

Zhuge Wuwei spoke, his gaze locking directly onto Su Li.

Immediately, an invisible pressure washed over him.

Su Li was instantly unable to move.

"Wanli Holy Land?"

Su Li's heart sank. Things were spiraling out of control.

"Some people will always have to die."

Zhuge Wuwei glanced calmly at Hua Ziyan, Mu Yuxi, and the others outside, his eyes cold and emotionless.

Hua Yunxiao's facial muscles twitched, and he pleaded, "Take Yan'er with us."

Zhuge Wuwei pondered for a moment, then said, "Ten breaths. Settle everything, and we leave immediately!"

At this moment, Su Li's gaze turned sharply towards Yun Qingxuan.

Yun Qingxuan, unaffected by any shielding formations, had heard all the exchanges between the three.

At this moment, hesitation was clearly evident in her eyes.