Ye Fengling and Yun Yu discovered that Li Qiang's whereabouts were elusive.
Ye Fengling said angrily, "This guy is simply outrageous! He's deliberately messing with us sisters!"
Yun Yu said slowly, "He doesn't know we're tracking him. Sister, let's ignore him and go to the Gusong Kingdom to find out about the artifact. What's the point of catching up with him?" She really didn't understand why her senior sister was so enthusiastic about chasing Li Qiang.
Following their trail, the two sisters entered the territory of the Gusong Kingdom. Ye Fengling asked curiously, "Where exactly is this guy thinking of going?"
Yun Yu was exhausted. She said weakly, "Sister, I'm so tired. Can I take a rest? I've been holding the Thousand-Thread Spirit Instruction for so long, it's so tiring."
Ye Fengling said impatiently, "Little sister, you're so lazy! You're complaining about such a small thing... Hurry up, he seems to be speeding up."
Yun Yu frowned and muttered, "Sister's gone mad... Yu'er is so unlucky..."
Ye Fengling called out fiercely, "Little sister!"
Yun Yu shuddered in fright. "I... I didn't say anything, why did you call me, sister?" She was genuinely a little afraid of this domineering senior sister.
Ye Fengling said, "Quickly, find out! Where did this guy go?"
Yun Yu pointed to a large forest in the distance and said, "Hey, sis, he's gone into the woods."
Without saying a word, Ye Fengling grabbed Yun Yu and flew over.
Li Qiang suddenly emerged from the forest, blocking their path from a distance. " Ling'er, Yu'er, stop! This is the infamous Bewilderment Forest. Don't go in, you'll get lost. I'll come back for you when I get out." Without waiting for their reply, he disappeared back into the Bewilderment Forest.
Yun Yu held Ye Fengling tightly, saying, "Sister, don't go in! He's already warned us."
Ye Fengling sneered, "He dares to lie to me? Humph, what Bewilderment Forest... I don't believe it at all, little sister, don't pull me... Hey, come with me!" She dragged Yun Yu and rushed into the forest.
Looking at her stubborn senior sister, Yun Yu smiled wryly and said, "What he said is true, sigh... we're in big trouble now."
Ye Fengling ignored her complaints and asked, "Little sister, where is he?"
Yun Yu's hand seals had dissipated, and she said, "I can't find it. Alas, this is the Star-Density Grand Formation, a long-lost array. No tracking methods are useful inside."
Yun Yu is a well-known bookworm in the Wise Heng Palace; she knows a lot.
Ye Fengling laughed, "Little sister, let's go outside and chase after them." She leaped into the air.
Yun Yu sat down under a big tree and whispered, "You naughty sister! You dragged me to this desperate place, let's see what you're going to do now!" Seeing her senior sister flying aimlessly, she had no choice but to get up and follow her. If they got separated in the Star-Density Grand Formation, they would be impossible to find.
Ye Fengling dashed left and right, running around wildly, but she realized she really couldn't get out.
Yun Yu called out, "Sister, stop running around! You'll get stuck! You're really the one who caused this!"
Ye Fengling was both angry and embarrassed, and shouted in a sweet voice, " Li Qiang! Come out here!" She went berserk and actually shot out her flying sword. Countless thin Blue Light swept across the surrounding trees. There was a series of crackling sounds. She thought that all the nearby trees should have fallen down, but a wisp of white smoke drifted by, and it was as if nothing had happened.
Yun Yu finally couldn't hold back any longer and screamed, "Sister! It's no use, this is the Star-Secret-Great-Array!" The little girl was furious.
Ye Fengling reluctantly retracted her flying sword and hurriedly hugged Yun Yu, saying, "Little sister, what's your name? Hehe, you're the little genius of our Wise Heng Palace. Tell me, how can we get out?"
Yun Yu nearly fainted. Her usually shrewd older sister seemed completely out of her mind this time. She said with a wry smile, "I can't break this kind of formation anyway, so we're stuck here now."
Ye Fengling calmed down and realized she had been too impulsive. Thinking back carefully, she realized Li Qiang knew they would chase after her, yet he only gave her a half-hearted warning – wasn't he deliberately provoking her into the Star-Density Grand Formation?
She realized what had happened and stomped her feet in anger, yelling, " Li Qiang! Humph, he tricked me... Li Qiang? Ancient Sword Academy? Wait a minute... Little sister!"
Yun Yu was startled. "Sis, why are you so jumpy? You scared me to death!"
Ye Fengling raised her eyebrows slightly, " Ancient Sword Academy... Hey, does the name Li Qiang sound familiar? It seems like I've heard it somewhere before... Strange, I can't remember, Ancient Sword Academy..." She got stuck on the topic of the Ancient Sword Academy, but of course she couldn't figure it out.
Yun Yu was the first to react. " Li Qiang is from the Chongxuan Sect! Right! I remember now, he's Old Master Fu's brother... Why did he say he was from the Ancient Sword Academy?"
Ye Fengling was stunned. Li Qiang's seniority was far beyond what the two of them could compare to.
She said dejectedly, "It's over. He's deliberately making us suffer. What are we going to do?"
Yun Yu sat cross-legged on the ground, calmly saying, "Sister, don't worry, he'll lead us out of here."
Li Qiang watched the two sisters rush into the forest, chuckled, and thought, "It's good to teach this clingy little girl a lesson, so she won't become arrogant later." He made a hand seal and instantly entered the Star Palace.
Returning to this familiar place, Li Qiang was filled with emotion. He first calmed the little Sea Demon, fearing it might harm Mo Huaiyuan, before flying along the tunnel.
Passing through the outer five palaces and entering the inner palace, he easily arrived at the deep blue hall where he first met Mo Huaiyuan. The Cosmic Azure Field Grand Formation in the center of the hall was still shrouded in smoke, and the cloud table in the middle appeared and disappeared intermittently. He knew that Mo Huaiyuan had not yet broken this only array.
"You... you're back!"
Li Qiang suddenly turned around and saw Mo Huaiyuan leaning against the entrance of the passageway, looking at him with disbelief.
The two just stared at each other.
Mo Huaiyuan is still the same as ever, unchanged.
Finally, Li Qiang couldn't hold back any longer. He shouted, "Haha, brother... I'm back!" He flew over and hugged Mo Huaiyuan tightly, yelling again, "I found the Sea Soul Agate! I found the Sea Soul Agate!"
Mo Huaiyuan, being Nascent Soul, possessed the most sensitive senses. He fully felt Li Qiang's joy, a genuine and unpretentious happiness. At the same time, he also sensed that Li Qiang's cultivation level was completely different from when they first met; it was now at the Leaving the Body Realm stage.
Mo Huaiyuan said with emotion, "Although God has made me lonely for thousands of years, He has also sent me a good brother. Hehe, I have no regrets." He knew that Li Qiang must have suffered a lot in order to find the Sea Soul Agate. This could be seen from the fact that his cultivation had increased greatly. That was not something that could be achieved through seclusion. It was a cultivation that had been earned through battle.
Li Qiang put Mo Huaiyuan down, then proudly presented the Sea Soul Agate, saying, "This is the best water-eroded agate. Brother, is this kind of Sea Soul Agate suitable?"
Mo Huaiyuan took out a bottle and examined it closely. Inside the crystal bottle, deep yellow Sea Soul Agate was slowly flowing. He exclaimed, "Top-grade! This is top-grade Sea Agate! It's very difficult to obtain. Solid agate needs to be stored for at least two hundred years before it hydrates, and it also needs to be refined. Sigh, it's not easy at all."
Mo Huaiyuan was so moved that he didn't know what to say.
Li Qiang laughed and said, "That's great, as long as it works. By the way, brother, how long does it take to become Loose Immortal? If it doesn't take long, I'll wait here, okay?"
Mo Huaiyuan nodded and said, "My cultivation level is already high enough, all I need is Sea Agate. Hehe, with this top-grade Sea Agate, I'll be able to complete my cultivation very quickly. Come, let's go to the All Is Empty Palace, you'll protect me."
The All Is Empty Palace is one of the five outer palaces of the Star Palace. The special feature of this palace is a large formation called the Illusory Void Grand Formation, which is somewhat similar to the Buddha Sect Great Illusion Buddha Realm. However, the difference is that the Buddha Sect Great Illusion Buddha Realm changes according to the State of Mind of the person entering it, which can cause negative reactions and is considered a very ominous formation. On the other hand, the scenery that changes in the Illusory Void Grand Formation is fixed and not dangerous. It is a formation for leisure and entertainment.
Mo Huaiyuan led Li Qiang into the Illusory Void Grand Formation.
A bluish-white haze flashed before his eyes, and Li Qiang couldn't help but marvel at how wondrous this world truly was.
Blue skies and white clouds, lush green grass, and a clear stream flowing gently. Turning past a small grove of low trees, a vast lake suddenly appears ahead, with reeds swaying in the breeze and several wild birds taking flight from the reeds. Gazing into the distance, the green mountains are like dark eyebrows, and the mist and clouds are like brocade, making one feel refreshed and relaxed. Standing by the lake, Li Qiang felt a sense of otherworldly beauty.
Mo Huaiyuan laughed and said, "Brother, the night view here is even more beautiful."
Li Qiang nodded in approval, saying, "A remarkable place."
Mo Huaiyuan made a hand seal and said, "Hurry!"
The surrounding scenery suddenly changed, with mountains embracing the area, their peaks covered in snow. A cold wind blew down, carrying snowflakes that drifted down. The two stood on the summit, facing the cold wind, as if they were about to ascend to immortality.
Having witnessed the Great Illusion Buddha Realm, Li Qiang wasn't surprised by this change. He laughed and said, "Brother, if I were to establish my own sect, hehe, I'd also create one of these Illusory Void Grand Formation. I could bring my disciples and followers here to play around whenever I wanted."
Mo Huaiyuan was taken aback, then nodded and said, "Establish a clan and family? Hmm, if you're interested, brother, I'll definitely give you my full support."
Li Qiang was unaware of how arrogant his words were. Even a master like Fu Shan wouldn't dare to casually say he wanted to establish his own school or sect. It's true what they say, ignorance is bliss; he dared to say such things precisely because he knew nothing.
Mo Huaiyuan would never stand idly by in anything Li Qiang did. Let alone establishing his own clan, even if Li Qiang offended the Heavenly King himself, Mo Huaiyuan would still help him to the very end.
Mo Huaiyuan laughed and said, "Brother, let's go to Flower Valley and cultivate there." He cast another spell.
This was a large valley, covered with wildflowers. Li Qiang casually plucked a branch and sighed, "It's like a dream... indescribable, utterly baffling."
The wildflower emitted a faint fragrance, and the dewdrops on its petals were crystal clear, just like the flowers and plants in the real world. It was truly wonderful.
In the center of the valley is a huge flat area, as if carved from a single piece of topaz, smooth and polished.
Mo Huaiyuan stopped in the middle and said, "Brother, just watch from the side. If you see anything strange, don't do anything. It will pass soon..." His weak voice trembled slightly. He was finally about to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Li Qiang asked, "What is the Dharma Protector supposed to do?"
"You can't help. As far as I know, if one cultivates inside the Mystic Suppression Pagoda, a supreme treasure of the Buddha Sect, one can be immune to external demonic influences. Heh, it's a pity there's no Mystic Suppression Pagoda here."
Li Qiang exclaimed in surprise, "I've been to the Mystic Suppression Pagoda... and there really are people inside who have cultivated to become Loose Immortal..."
Mo Huaiyuan was taken aback and asked, "What's going on? I remember when the Mystic Suppression Pagoda was completed, I went to see it. It was crafted by nine elders of the Buddha Sect over a hundred years. It was exquisitely detailed and unparalleled in the world. It was truly a wonderful thing."
Li Qiang laughed and said, "That happened thousands of years ago. Even Buddha Sect has disappeared from this world now." He then briefly recounted what had happened.
Mo Huaiyuan was both surprised and delighted, and asked, "So you've obtained the Golden Lotus Jade Throne from the Buddha Sect?"
Li Qiang smiled and tossed it out. In an instant, the Golden Lotus Jade Throne transformed into a lotus seat beneath Li Qiang's feet, and the golden light emanating from the tips of the lotus petals enveloped his entire body.
Mo Huaiyuan said excitedly, "This treasure can help me, hehe, it's a pity I don't have the Purple Cloud Meditation Cushion, otherwise the effect would be even better."
Li Qiang suddenly remembered the futon he found in the garden beneath the Mystic Ice Cavern in Heavenly Melody City. He took it out and asked, "Is this it?"
Mo Huaiyuan took it in his hand and exclaimed in surprise, "This isn't the Purple Cloud Meditation Cushion, it's the ' Purple Condensation Canon ' which can be used to calm the mind. It's a treasure of the Buddha Sect patriarch. How did it end up in your hands?"
Li Qiang hadn't expected this, nor did he know how rare it was. He chuckled and asked, "Brother, is this useful?"
Mo Huaiyuan shook his head and said, "It's useless to me, but it's extremely useful to experts in the Spirit Severing Realm. Don't show it to others, or you'll be annoyed to death."
Li Qiang, seemingly understanding but not quite, put away the Purple Condensation Canon and said, "Brother, let's begin." He retracted the Golden Lotus Jade Throne, which transformed into a palm-sized golden lotus flower.
Mo Huaiyuan said, "Use the Golden Lotus to protect the platform. Remember, if anything unexpected happens, don't act rashly. I don't care if I don't become a Loose Immortal, but I absolutely cannot let you be caught in the crossfire. You must promise me that, because I don't know what powerful things might appear."
Li Qiang nodded, but he would absolutely not stand idly by. Given his current temperament, he didn't care what powerful things came out; he would fight first and worry about the consequences later.
He tossed the golden lotus with a wave of his hand, and in an instant, golden light flashed, enveloping the entire platform in its glow.
Mo Huaiyuan sat upright, while Li Qiang, having formed a magic seal, watched Mo Huaiyuan intently. Witnessing this cultivation process would greatly benefit his future cultivation.
Mo Huaiyuan's blue Heart Armor fell off first, followed by his storage bracelet flying out. A dazzling Blue Light shone from his chest, and gradually his whole body began to glow. A soft " Bobo " sound rang out, and the crystal bottle in his hand suddenly exploded, releasing a thick, deep yellow mist.
Li Qiang suddenly realized that apart from the golden light emanating from the Golden Lotus Jade Throne, the surroundings were completely dark, as if many ghosts were howling at the same time, which shook him to his core.
Surprised, he uttered a soft cry, "Chu!" The golden lotus suddenly shone brightly, and countless golden threads shot into the darkness. A dense, bead-like "drip-drip" sound rang out, and the surroundings immediately fell silent.
Those were Formless Baleful Intent Demon summoned by Mo Huaiyuan's cultivation. Fortunately, the Golden Lotus Jade Throne was its nemesis, and the demons were swept away by the golden light. However, even without the Golden Lotus Jade Throne, Mo Huaiyuan could have dealt with it. Li Qiang's intervention cleared the obstacles, saving Mo Huaiyuan a lot of effort.
Mo Huaiyuan on the golden lotus was no longer human; he was like a luminous mist, constantly tumbling and writhing, with strange sounds occasionally drifting out from within the mist.
Li Qiang struggled to form hand seals. He suddenly felt very tired, which was a rare occurrence. He quickly sat down cross-legged and rapidly circulated his Nascent Soul, which made him feel a little better.
The so-called "seizing the mandate of heaven and acting against the will of heaven" is probably what Mo Huaiyuan is doing now. Only those involved can truly understand the difficulties involved. Although Li Qiang is an outsider, he has also noticed some signs. Witnessing the entire process of Loose Immortal into a wandering immortal has given Li Qiang a lot of enlightenment in grasping the Heavenly Dao.
With the Golden Lotus Jade Throne blocking the invasion of the Formless Baleful Intent Demon, and the cultivation place being in the celestial palace, the difficulty of Mo Huaiyuan's Loose Immortal a rogue immortal was reduced. In addition, his own cultivation level was sufficient, and he successfully passed the first test, the " Dispersing Form Pass ".
Next comes the " Defying Heaven Pass," the difficulty of which is to retain one's intelligence and maintain a sliver of clarity; otherwise, even if one passes the Defying Heaven Pass, one will know nothing at all.
Li Qiang watched in horror. The strange noises emanating from that swirling ball of light were truly horrifying, a heart-wrenching wail mixed with a shrill, sinister laugh, making one feel as if they were in hell.
The sound surged in like a tide, wave after wave, seemingly endless. Li Qiang was anxious; he couldn't help Mo Huaiyuan, so he could only pray silently, begging God to spare him.
Perhaps his prayers had an effect, for the sound gradually faded away. Li Qiang was surprised to find himself drenched in sweat. He hadn't felt the effects of sweating in a long time, and now the strange noise from the spiritual light had caused him to break out in a cold sweat. One can only imagine how distressed Mo Huaiyuan, a cultivator of the loose Loose Immortal, must have felt.
To Li Qiang's surprise, the ball of light seemed to be shrinking and emitting a strange seven-colored glow. Soon, the brilliant colors were replaced by a pure blue, and a tiny, indistinct figure floated in the Blue Light, its knees tucked together.
Unbeknownst to him, Mo Huaiyuan had reached his final hurdle, the " Rebirth Pass," which was also the most dangerous one.
Suddenly, everything returned to normal, with flowers blooming and the sun shining brightly. But Li Qiang had a feeling that disaster was about to strike. Without thinking, he put on the Billowing Essence Battle Armor, donned the Radiant Sun Ring, and simultaneously surrounded himself with the Star-Absorbing Sword Mist. He was always very cautious, and this time was no exception.
The Blue Light flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, reflecting off the golden light of the Golden Lotus Jade Throne and creating a bizarre and fantastical scene.
Li Qiang's Divine Sense stirred, and he sensed something. Looking up, he saw a white cloud that had gathered at some unknown time rapidly churning and flying towards him.
Li Qiang immediately felt a tremendous threat. He didn't know that this was the Heavenly Baleful Intent, also known as the White Baleful Intent Loose Immortal. It was the Heavenly Baleful Intent Heavenly Tribulation Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation cultivators who were trying to become Loose Immortals. It, along with the Azure Fiend, the Heavenly Tribulation Black Baleful Intent for those who cultivated Azure Baleful Intent Gods and Devils, and the Black Fiend, the Heavenly Tribulation for cultivators who were trying to overcome Heavenly Tribulation Three Heavenly Fiends. They came and went without a trace, making them extremely difficult to defend against and incredibly powerful.
This Heavenly Baleful Intent only affects Nascent Soul Loose Immortal undergoing tribulation; it has no effect on others. However, because Li Qiang protected Mo Huaiyuan with the Golden Lotus Jade Throne, the Heavenly Baleful Intent also indirectly affected him.
Under immense pressure, Li Qiang felt every hair on his body stand on end. In an instant, he channeled his power to its peak, and the purple-gold light emanating from his Billowing Essence Battle Armor was dazzling. He glared and shouted, "Clumsy!"
Countless golden threads, as thick as an arm, shot out from the Golden Lotus Jade Throne, wrapping Mo Huaiyuan in layers.
The White Baleful Intent emitted a soft "crackling" sound, but to Li Qiang's ears, it was more terrifying than ten thousand war drums beating at the same time.
The little Sea Demon flew out like an arrow, hiding to one side trembling, sensing the extreme danger it was in.
Li Qiang's cultivation was ultimately insufficient. With just a slight exertion of force from White Baleful Intent, his golden lotus could not withstand the attack, and the spiritual incantation in his hand dissipated. With a loud tremor, the surrounding scenery changed, revealing a huge space—the main hall of the All Is Empty Palace. The Illusory Void Grand Formation was shattered by this massive shock, revealing its true form.
Li Qiang's Golden Lotus Jade Throne was also shattered and fell to the ground. White Baleful Intent tumbled even more violently. Li Qiang disregarded everything and flew to the edge of the Blue Light enveloping Mo Huaiyuan, and the Star-Absorbing Sword Mist suddenly covered the Blue Light. His eyes were bloodshot.
Mo Huaiyuan was at a critical moment, and in his dazed state, he was unaware that Li Qiang was risking his life for him.
Because Li Qiang was frantically fighting against the Heavenly Tribulation White Baleful Intent, Mo Huaiyuan in the Blue Light gained precious time and grew rapidly.
The White Baleful Intent churned once more, this time even more powerful, causing the entire All Is Empty Palace to seem to distort.
Li Qiang still had a sliver of clarity in his mind, knowing that passively taking a beating was not a solution. He unleashed a four-layered attack, maximizing the power of the Devil-Slaying Thorn. In an instant, a crystalline rainbow shot into the White Baleful Intent.
Li Qiang roared, "Explode!"
The ceiling of the All Is Empty Palace was indeed built by immortals; even with such a terrifying collision, it did not collapse. Only a few fragments fell down, and the entire hall shook violently.
This time, Li Qiang still didn't gain the upper hand. The Star-Absorbing Sword Mist was knocked back to its original form and fell to the ground with a crisp "clanging" sound. Immediately afterwards, a bright, malevolent aura struck him.
Supreme Radiance Shuttle suddenly activated, and a sharp golden light slashed towards White Baleful Intent.
With a deafening roar, Li Qiang was sent flying like an arrow, his blood spraying out like fireworks. The Billowing Essence Battle Armor couldn't withstand this natural force containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, shattering into small pieces that scattered everywhere. At the same time, it emitted strange Blue Light that dissipated the enormous impact force, protecting the armor's owner.
The little Sea Demon also fought desperately. It suddenly flew over, a flash of Blue Light, and a bright, colorful light disappeared into Li Qiang's body.
It used its inner core to protect Li Qiang's internal organs and the spiritual pearl on his chest, which was Gu Mei'er's Primordial Spirit.
In an instant, the little Sea Demon was also severely injured. It tumbled to the ground, revealing its Sea Demon form. Its bright inner core lost its luster and slowly flew back into its body, where it fell unconscious.
Li Qiang slammed hard against the wall, spitting out another mouthful of blood. His vision went black, and he muttered, "Brother, I tried my best... Damn it... What... is... this... thing... so powerful..." before losing consciousness.
White Baleful Intent was struck by the golden light of Supreme Radiance Shuttle and instantly vanished without a trace.
The main hall of the All Is Empty Palace was in a mess, and the Blue Light hanging in the center of the hall shone even brighter. Mo Huaiyuan was about to be reborn.