Chapter 157: The Tsundere Queen!
The world was in turmoil, space itself fluctuating violently at this moment.
Around the remnant soul of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint, strange ripples suddenly began to emerge. These ripples faintly intertwined to form a colossal, formless figure a full thousand zhang in size.
Facing this figure, one felt as though they were confronting the entire world itself!
"Moo!"
The true form of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint, formed from sound waves, locked its indifferent gaze upon Jiang Yun in the distance. An ancient-sounding syllable rang out, transforming into an intangible attack that hurtled toward Jiang Yun.
Visible to the naked eye, the surrounding space shattered inch by inch under the spreading sound waves. A nearly annihilation-level sonic shockwave surged forth at a speed even faster than light.
"What Yellow Spring Heaven's Wrath? Hand it over!"
And in the face of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's display of such terrifying Yellow Spring Heaven's Wrath, Jiang Yun let out a mischievous laugh and roared with laughter.
"What is this?"
In the next instant, the Yellow Spring Demon Saint seemed to witness something utterly inconceivable, staring at Jiang Yun in stunned disbelief.
Behind Jiang Yun, a perfectly ordinary seven-story little tower hung suspended in midair. Though appearing so utterly ordinary, at this moment, it radiated an ancient, sacred, and indescribably profound and wondrous aura.
"Senior Qing Ming, I'll trouble you. Please try to preserve this wisp of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's remnant soul!" Jiang Yun looked at the Qing Ming Tower above his head and spoke softly.
"Heh heh, the dao of reversing life and death—I'm also quite curious to see if you can succeed!"
A soft chuckle rang out. Qing Ming's figure slowly appeared beside Jiang Yun. At this moment, he gazed calmly at the Yellow Spring Demon Saint and extended a single finger.
Just as the sound waves were about to descend upon Jiang Yun, a tower-shaped phantom slowly materialized before him.
Boom!!!
Countless low, muffled explosions erupted before the Qing Ming Tower's phantom. The towering silhouette of the Qing Ming Tower stood like a pillar propping up the heavens—utterly immovable. In contrast, the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's massive form, hundreds of zhang in size, shrank and grew increasingly illusory at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"For a world beyond to actually give birth to such a terrifying existence as you?"
The sound waves swept past, and everything in their path was reduced to nothingness under that sonic assault. An utterly black radiance shrouded the surroundings.
A weakened voice came from afar. A solitary mountain peak towered within this dark void. At some unknown moment, the Yellow Spring Demon Saint had returned to his throne. Upon his now even more transparent face, he gazed at Qing Ming with faint traces of wonder.
In the next instant, the Qing Ming Tower swelled with the wind. Under the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's gaze of stoic resignation, it descended and enveloped him.
After suppressing the Yellow Spring Demon Saint, the Qing Ming Tower slowly shrank and returned to Qing Ming's hand. Looking at the slumbering soul spark within, Qing Ming spoke slowly.
"This Dou Qi Continent has indeed produced no small number of heavenly geniuses and outstanding individuals. Had they broken through and gone to the Upper Plane, they could all have become existences renowned across a region. What a pity..."
Then, with a beckoning wave, a cluster of light flew out from the Qing Ming Tower and landed before Jiang Yun.
It was a mass of golden liquid—the blood essence of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint. The moment it appeared before him, Jiang Yun could feel the bloodline power within his body begin to fluctuate intensely.
"The blood essence of a Half-Di—not too shabby indeed!" Jiang Yun examined the pool of blood essence, then stowed it away within his ring. Turning his head, he looked at Qing Ming and asked:
"Senior Qing Ming, the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's remnant soul hasn't dissipated, has it?"
"See for yourself!" Qing Ming did not answer Jiang Yun. Instead, he passed over the Qing Ming Tower.
Jiang Yun focused his gaze within. There, in the third level of the tower, a drop of golden-yellow liquid floated amidst it all. Within that liquid, a tiny soul spark flickered.
That was the final trace of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint left in this world!
"Yun'er, are you confident you can resurrect them?" Qing Ming watched Jiang Yun retract his gaze and asked with keen interest.
"Not at all!" Jiang Yun pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head. He continued, "An Emperor Realm soul possesses the attribute of imperishability. Even after falling, it still exists between heaven and earth—merely exceedingly difficult to detect. Legend has it that the Nihility Devouring Flame can cause the dead to turn back between illusion and reality, becoming living dead. I've only just grasped a sliver of the dao of life and death. A fallen Emperor Realm soul is excellent experimental material!"
"The Undying Lord of the Great Thousand World is a great achiever of the dao of life and death. Yet even he cannot fully fathom its profound mysteries. For you to have gained some comprehension can also be considered a karmic opportunity. Perhaps in the future, it might give you a few more methods at your disposal," Qing Ming nodded and spoke seriously.
"Mm!"
Jiang Yun nodded in agreement. Just then, within the void space, the mountain peaks and the throne began to rumble and collapse, starting to dissolve into nothingness.
The two exchanged a glance. Qing Ming once again transformed into the Qing Ming Tower and sank silently into Jiang Yun's sea of consciousness.
And Jiang Yun's figure trembled slightly. His illusory form also slowly faded away within this space. As his figure disappeared, this space, too, with a quiet hiss, silently vanished.
"It's already been the better part of a day!"
Atop the altar, Medusa and the others watched Jiang Yun, who had been sitting motionless on the stone pedestal for nearly an entire afternoon. Their elegant brows could not help but furrow slightly.
Although she had faith in Jiang Yun and knew he still held Qing Ming, that ultimate trump card, Medusa still could not avoid feeling some worry.
Among them, Qing Lin was the least able to keep calm. She couldn't resist turning to ask Medusa.
Hearing this, Medusa also frowned and looked at Yao Ming. "Clan Leader Yao Ming, when your people entered the stone tablet in the past, did it also require this much time?"
Hearing the question, Yao Ming hesitated briefly and was about to shake his head and answer when he saw the stone tablet suddenly burst forth with a brilliant, intense radiance.
Under the delighted, surprised gazes of the group, Jiang Yun's soul phantom shot out from within at high speed, heading straight for his original body seated cross-legged there.
At the same time, upon that hundred-zhang-tall stone tablet, besides the imprint of a single finger and the imprint of a single palm, yet another imprint—that of a mouth—slowly wriggled into existence on the tablet's surface.
"It's the Yellow Spring Heaven's Wrath... The Young Master has succeeded!" Looking at that mouth-shaped imprint, Yao Ming was momentarily stunned before his face erupted in wild joy. He spoke with fervent excitement, forcibly suppressing the urge to immediately go and learn it.
"Jiang Yun, are you alright?"
After Jiang Yun opened his eyes, Medusa and the other two women hurried forward and asked.
"I'm fine," Jiang Yun slowly shook his head and rose to his feet.
Then, looking at Yao Ming, he said, "The Yellow Spring Heaven's Wrath is right here. However, without a soul realm at the mid-stage of the Heaven Realm or above, do not forcefully attempt to cultivate it. Now—to the Nine Serene Yellow Spring!"
"Many thanks, Young Master!"
Yao Ming nodded and spoke respectfully to Jiang Yun. As for the Demon Saint's blood essence, he did not even bring it up. That was no longer something he could set his sights on.
Arriving once more at the Nine Serene Yellow Spring, Jiang Yun looked at Medusa, who stood quietly beside him, and said: "The chilling yin energy contained within the Nine Serene Yellow Spring is extremely overbearing. To an ordinary expert, it would be more than enough to be lethal."
"But the Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python is itself heavily imbued with chilling yin energy. You are the only one who can absorb the energy within it without restraint. By the time you emerge from seclusion, you should be able to break through to Dou Sheng."
"The time required for this cultivation will likely not be short, either. We won't be staying here for long. However, I will instruct Yao Ming to seal off this area and wait for you to come out."
"Also... take this." With a flick of his finger, a jade bottle radiating dazzling golden light appeared in his hand. The very moment it materialized, it drew everyone's gazes. Sensing the energy emanating from within the jade bottle, they all clicked their tongues inwardly in wonder.
"This is...?"
Gazing at the jade bottle before her, Medusa's body trembled slightly. Raising her head, she looked at Jiang Yun and asked—though, in truth, she already knew what it was.
"This is the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's blood essence. About eighty percent of it is all here. I've placed a heavy wager on you. You absolutely must become even stronger. Otherwise, I'll feel very unsafe!"
Jiang Yun chuckled softly, gazing at Medusa as he spoke slowly, his tone carrying a teasing lilt.
Medusa gave Jiang Yun a complicated look. Her teeth lightly bit down on her lip, and a faint trace of emotion flickered through her eyes. Under Jiang Yun's gentle gaze, she smiled radiantly.
Her exquisite features instantly brimmed with enchanting allure. In that single smile, Jiang Yun found himself briefly spellbound!
Her gaze rippled. Within those long, narrow, seductively charming eyes of Medusa's, a mischievous glint flashed. Unexpectedly, a pair of somewhat cool red lips gently pressed against Jiang Yun's mouth.
Jiang Yun froze for a moment before quickly reacting. A trace of a smile flickered through the depths of his eyes. His arm gently wrapped around that enticingly tempting, soft and boneless slender waist. That bewitching serpentine waist, as it gently twisted, exuded a charm that could enchant all living beings.
A long while later, Medusa gently turned her head away. Her faint, delicate voice drifted into Jiang Yun's ears: "This King admits you've won. However, if you want this King to be a lesser wife, that will still depend on your capabilities!"
Hearing this, Jiang Yun was slightly dazed. For this tsundere beauty of a snake to actually utter such words... In the next moment, the beauty in his arms swayed and transformed into the incomparably colossal Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python. With a swing of her giant tail, she charged headlong into the Nine Serene Yellow Spring without a backward glance, sending up sky-high waves.
"Remember—before this King emerges, you are forbidden to die!"
Her gentle yet domineering voice was the last thing to echo beside Jiang Yun's ear. A faint smile lingered at the corner of his lips.
"Nine-Colored... To think it's actually the Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python!"
At that moment, an astonished voice rang out from the side. Yao Ming was staring blankly at the magnificent giant python, his heart seemingly churning with tempestuous waves.
The Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python was a legendary divine beast—even more formidable than the Ancient Heavenly Serpent, the progenitor of all serpent-type magical beasts. The number of times it had appeared throughout history could be counted on one's fingers.
He had never imagined that, in his lifetime, he would actually be able to lay eyes upon a divine beast that existed only in legends...
"Yao Ming, now that you know Medusa's identity, you know what to do, don't you?" Jiang Yun looked at the stunned Yao Ming and spoke in an even tone.
"I know! Young Master, rest assured—I will certainly protect the Mistress's safety!" Yao Ming, pulled back to reality by Jiang Yun's voice, gave a fierce jolt. Patting his own chest, he vowed.
At this moment, his mind began to stir once more. The Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python! The most powerful serpent-type magical beast currently existing on the continent! Since he was already Jiang Yun's subordinate, if he were to support Medusa in ascending as sovereign and unifying all the serpent-type clans of the Magical Beast World...
Wouldn't that be a deed of tremendous merit!
His eyes darted about. Yao Ming had already decided—next, he absolutely must ensure Medusa's smooth emergence from seclusion.
"Mm!" Toward Yao Ming's attitude, Jiang Yun nodded with satisfaction. He then said, "Yao Xiaotian's followers have all been identified, yes? Next, it's Qing Lin's turn."
Hearing this, Yao Ming's entire body trembled. He then hurriedly replied, "Everything is already prepared. Those traitors deserve to die a thousand deaths. To be of use to the Young Master—that is their good fortune!"
Watching Yao Ming grow increasingly fawning, Jiang Yun was left speechless. Turning his head, he looked at Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, are you ready?"
"Everything will be as Jiang Yun gege says!" Qing Lin gave Jiang Yun a sweet smile and answered obediently.
Afterward, Jiang Yun and the others remained in the Nine Serene Deep Earth Python Clan for another three months. Only once Qing Lin was firmly on the right track did they finally depart.
Regrettably, Xiao Yi Xian had never been able to sense the Bodhi Ancient Tree. Whether it was because the Bodhi Ancient Tree had not yet arrived in the Ancient Wasteland Region, or whether his speculation had simply been wrong—he did not know.
The Central Plains.
A vast, verdant plain stretched out. A pitch-black rift suddenly appeared. The next moment, two figures stepped out from within.
It was precisely Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian. As for Zhu Feng, he had already concealed himself in the shadows.
"So this is the Central Plains?" Xiao Yi Xian curiously surveyed her surroundings and said softly, "The heaven-and-earth energy contained in the air here seems considerably more abundant than in the Northwest Continent."
"Naturally, the Central Plains can't be compared to a remote frontier like the Northwest. The opportunities here are also far more numerous than in the Northwest Continent, and so is the number of experts. Let's go—first, let's head to the Alchemy Domain and take a look." Jiang Yun chuckled lightly as he gazed at the surrounding landscape and spoke.
Xiao Yi Xian naturally had no objections. Fortunately, Zhu Feng had set them down in a place not too far from the Alchemy Domain, sparing Jiang Yun and her the need to use the nearby spatial wormholes.
In just half a day's time, the two arrived at the most prosperous place on the Dou Qi Continent: the Central Plains' Alchemy Domain!
In the distance, a crimson-red square was practically packed with a sea of people. A deafening, overwhelming cacophony emanated from within, converging and rushing straight into the clouds. Even the cloud layers in the sky above had thinned considerably under this clamor.
"So this is the Alchemy Domain?" Surveying the bustling crowds all around, as well as the figure after figure clad in alchemist robes, Xiao Yi Xian could not help but marvel, "So many people! So many alchemists!"
Not only were there vast streams of people, but alchemists—usually a rare sight—could be seen everywhere here. A single brick thrown out would probably take down at least three or four alchemists.
Holy Pill City—the sacred land in the hearts of all alchemists!
Such was the rallying power of Holy Pill City. Although the majority of the continent's high-level alchemists belonged to the Yao clan, in terms of sheer numbers, the Alchemy Domain still reigned supreme.
"Come, let's take a good stroll and see if there are any suitable medicinal ingredients. You should also get your alchemist rank certified!"
Jiang Yun laughed softly. Taking Xiao Yi Xian's hand, he slowly made his way toward the center.
Holy Pill City was vast in size, no less than the Black-Corner Region. Even for a Dou Zong expert, flying from north to south would likely take nearly half a day.
By evening, Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian still hadn't covered all that much distance. In the end, they found an inn and settled in for the night, planning to speed up their exploration the next day.