What was that?
Li Su's heart jolted as he stared fixedly at the red glow deep within the great canyon.
A living creature? No!
He had felt no breath of life. Resentful aura? A dead soul? Or something else?
It was too bizarre. In an instant, his flesh had begun trembling beyond his control, and even his soul felt pressure, as though it were about to freeze solid.
If the patterns of Earthly Baleful True Source on his golden core had not trembled and expelled that strange fluctuation from his body, who knew what might have happened?
"I thought I'd have to lend you a hand."
Beside him, Di Gongrui looked somewhat surprised. She seemed greatly taken aback that Li Su had immediately regained control of his body.
"Senior Sister Di, do you know what that thing is?" Li Su drew a breath, his expression turning rather grave.
Di Gongrui did not hide anything. Looking into the depths of the canyon, a trace of solemnity appeared between her brows. "I don't know. But I can be certain that its essence is the emotion left behind by a living being unwilling to die, the final remnant of its thoughts."
Li Su froze for a moment, then said in surprise, "Why does that sound a little like Earthly Baleful Qi?"
Di Gongrui shook her head. "They're somewhat alike, but they aren't the same thing."
"How so?"
"Earthly Baleful Qi forms when living beings die with unwillingness and resentment in their souls, gathering with yin qi as its vessel. This thing is merely a collection of thoughts. There is no soul within it."
At that, Li Su's eyes flickered. "Is the difference that great?"
"It isn't merely great—it's inconceivable!"
Di Gongrui took a light breath, her tone carrying disbelief. "You must understand that