Gathering

In contrast to Zhang Xuezhou's decline in the Great Han Dynasty, Hongku thrived in the Yedie River Holy Land.

After several successful counterattacks, no one dared to target Hongku anymore.

Furthermore, the Yang Soul Incarnation Technique brought an indescribable harmony to the Yedie River Holy Land.

This not only meant that no one dared to target Hongku, but Hongku also stopped daring to target anyone else.

Under Yangpo's influence, all beings are equal, and everyone has the right to be carefree. It's too difficult to scheme against them completely, and there are rarely any more blatant and open attacks and retaliations.

This is a technique that will change the landscape of the Yedie River Holy Land.

As he ascended to the high position of Venerable One, Hongku gradually understood the different stances of Venerable One and Dharma Master, and seemed to understand why he had been targeted in the past.

The more outstanding a Dharma Master's performance, the easier it is for them to replace a Venerable One's position, which in turn attracts the attention of certain Venerable Ones who secretly target them.

Over the years, he has calmed down and has continued to use his status as the Venerable of the Yedie River Holy Land to gather resources.

"I can exchange seventy-six blood essences for you. I don't know the name of the blood essence, but it's a substance that replenishes Qi and Blood, can improve health and prolong life, and should be of some use to your body!"

Hongku's asking price wasn't low; he believed that Nanming Fire was worth that price, and he even felt that his offer was too low.

However, he was only making an offer at that moment; whether Zhang Xuezhou accepted it was up to him. If Zhang Xuezhou was not satisfied, they would discuss it again.

"Useless," Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and said, "Half a year ago, I consumed the blood essence of a Mingwang Peng with the cultivation of the Sole Self Realm. Apart from causing me a lot of trouble, it was of no use after I consumed it!"

"The Blood Essence of the Bright King Peng, whose cultivation is at the Sole Self Realm? Where did it come from?" Hongku asked in surprise.

"That Mingwang Peng is called 'Divine Song,' a demon god worshipped by a small country called Supi," Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and said, "A powerful cultivator was fighting with it, and I happened to be there and managed to get some of its Essence Blood, which I then refined into blood essence!"

"You absolutely must let me know if you ever have anything good like this in the future!"

Hongku felt that Zhang Xuezhou was in a sorry state, but neither the Southern Ming Fire Technique that Zhang Xuezhou possessed nor the Ming King Peng Blood Essence that Zhang Xuezhou had once consumed were things that Hongku did not have.

He felt sorry for Zhang Xuezhou at one moment, and at the other moment he felt that Zhang Xuezhou was wasting his talents and was extremely hateful.

Having already consumed Ming Wangpeng's blood essence, Zhang Xuezhou was clearly no longer interested in his seventy-six blood essence pills, Hongku with no choice but to ask for a higher price.

"Would you like some 300-year-old iron-tendon ginseng? I can give you ten of them," Hongku said.

"Does it help strengthen your body?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"The main function of Iron-Tendon Ginseng is to strengthen muscles and bones. You can take it the same way as regular ginseng. It will definitely benefit you," Hongku nodded.

"This method of mine didn't come easily, you need to add a little more," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Then I'll take three Creation Pills and ten Spirit-Forging Pill," Hongku said.

"Can!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded and didn't press the matter further, which greatly pleased Hongku.

Meeting your own needs without asking for exorbitant prices is the proper way to socialize.

Zhang Xuezhou was relieved, Hongku was happy to accept it, and neither of them would try to play any tricks on each other.

"After you finish searching and verifying things in Chang'an City, I... I'll just fall into a coma?"

Just as Hongku was about to discuss the handover, Zhang Xuezhou suddenly closed his eyes and collapsed.

He glanced outside the study; it was still dark, far from nightfall.

Compared to Zhang Xuezhou's previous habit of sleeping soundly through the night, Zhang Xuezhou condition has indeed become more serious.

"When will he regain consciousness?" Hongku asked Rong Tianding.

"Elder, my cousin will wake up in about twelve days," Rong Tianding said cautiously.

"About twelve days? Why is your estimate of when he'll be lucid so vague?" Hongku frowned. "Could it be that his condition is fluctuating unpredictably?"

"The last time he was unconscious was fourteen days and two hours," Rong Tianding said. "I wonder if the elder has any further instructions? If not, I need to take my cousin back to his room for treatment!"

"He's healing while he's asleep?" Hongku.

"Yes!"

Rong Tianding nodded in agreement, which prompted Hongku to wave his hand, signaling Rong Tianding to quickly pull Zhang Xuezhou away.

"Wu Jin was a pitiful man too, Wu Chao... sigh~"

Hongku's life was very hard, but Hongku felt that his students' lives were also hard.

Leaving aside the students who died, Zhang Xuezhou watched helplessly as the living deteriorated further. Wu Chao was assimilated into Buddhism by the Western Sect and became a monk, living a miserable life as well.

If there is value in it, Hongku is still willing to help, even though Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao were both traitors in the past.

Ultimately, it's not that they were incapable, but rather that their past circumstances left them with no other choice.

Without the threat of life and death, even if they were no longer in a master-disciple relationship of mutual support, they could still be considered half friends.

Hongku sighed deeply, touched his forehead, and his naked body immediately receded.

His body vanished into nothingness, leaving only the yang form of his three souls and seven spirits.

Drifting aimlessly, Hongku left Chang'an City.

Hongku, and an overwhelming urge to vomit surged through his body, forcing him to take a moment to calm himself.

After a long while, he calmed down, his face ashen, and then walked out of a small town inn.

It was already night, but Hongku still took a horse from the stable and rode for half an hour into a desolate mountain.

Greetings, everyone!

Torches were lit to illuminate the desolate mountains, and many venerable monks and Dharma masters gathered together.

Hongku bowed to the crowd and then took his place in the front row.

"Venerable Hongku has returned, so everyone is now present!"

The senior Venerable Black Mountain looked around at the crowd.

The skill level of the Yang Soul Incarnation Technique varies among individuals, resulting in different condensed forms, varying degrees of power, and different casting distances.

Protecting their physical bodies was also extremely important. Many of their Yang Soul incarnations entered Chang'an City, but their physical bodies were not in the same place until their Yang Soul incarnations returned to their bodies, at which point they were able to reunite.

"The yang spirit incarnations of White Bone, Huangsha, Zhihuang, and Hongnong were slain; Venerable Lei was blasted away from the Chang'an Imperial Palace by the Nine Dragon Cauldron; the yang spirit incarnations of Hongyi and Hongye were erased; and Wutu's physical body was damaged during the battle!"

The Venerable Black Mountain names one by one.

The Yang Soul Incarnation is a product of Law Power condensed with reference to the physical body. It has a certain resistance to physical attacks, meaning that being stabbed twice in certain parts of the body is not a big deal.

However, the framework supporting the existence of the Yang Soul Incarnation is essential. Only when this framework exists within the Three Souls and Seven Spirits can they extract the essence condensed within their bodies and unleash the power of the Yang Soul Incarnation in casting spells.

This framework is the weakness of the Yang Soul Incarnation. Whenever their head or other parts are severed, their Yang Soul Incarnation will go out of control and can only flee for their lives in fear.

The deaths of Venerable White Bone and others are not a major issue; they can recover after a period of rest.

The Yang Soul incarnations of Hongyi and Hongye suddenly vanished without their knowledge, leaving only their three souls and seven spirits to return in a state of panic. They need a long period of quiet recuperation and cultivation to be able to condense their Yang Soul incarnations again.

The situation of everyone was as expected before coming.

However, an unexpected incident occurred during this attack test.

The Venerable Black Mountain pointed to Utu, who was lying on the ground.

Wutu is a genius cultivator from the Yedie River Holy Land in recent years. He entered the Divine Ability Realm at the age of thirty-five and is about to step into the ranks of mages.

However, not only was Wutu's Yang Soul incarnation destroyed, but his physical body was also damaged by the source.

"Venerable Weaver Emperor, Venerable Hongku, Dharma Master Hongnong," Venerable Black Mountain spoke up, "Wutu should have been gathered with the three of you at the Jing River. Did you see who made the move?"

"I was shot by Li Guang, and my Yang Soul was difficult to reassemble, so I returned directly," Venerable Weaver Emperor shook his head and said, "Shortly afterward, I sensed that someone had used magic to break the spell I had placed on Xu Chang. With my Yang Soul dissipated, I was unable to fight, so I reluctantly severed the connection and know nothing of what happened afterward!"

"I was also shot down by Li Guang's arrow," Hongnong said in a muffled voice. "That guy's archery skills are too fierce. I had just ripened the mayfly and it died as soon as it emerged. I didn't even see what happened!"

"That's alright. Normally, we would avoid Li Guang, so when have we ever been so fearless of him? Once the Yang Soul Body can unleash its full power, that will be Li Guang's doom!"

Venerable Black Mountain comforted Master Hongnong and then looked at Hongku.

"I've been hiding among them for a long time. Wutu must have been countered when he cursed Xu Chang. His cultivation was a little weaker, and he couldn't hold on!"

Hongku shrugged.

He glanced at Wutu, who was lying unconscious on the ground, and felt extremely satisfied.

Hongku certainly knew the reason, but how could he possibly explain what he knew?