C1475 Why Me?
On the surface, Zhong Chichen, who was inside the pill furnace, had already opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, two balls of purple flame burned fiercely, driving him to relentlessly pound against the furnace lid. However, Loong Jie's firm hand kept the lid from budging. Without his consciousness, Zhong Chichen's instinct and brute strength were clearly no match for Loong Jie's restraint.
Observing the soul-fueled purple flames in Zhong Chichen's eyes, the old dragon spoke with detachment, "He's on the brink of becoming a demon. It would be best if the situation is resolved swiftly."
Du Yazi, Tong Rui, and Ye Hee cast desperate, pleading glances at Fong Zhong. They knew that Zhong Chichen's fate was of little concern to Loong Jie, who was only assisting due to his respect for Yu Yuan. In truth, even as an Earth Demon, Zhong Chichen would stand no chance against Loong Jie in this place.
Suddenly, a soul thought transmitted from the jade pendant around Fong Zhong's neck, causing his expression to contort oddly. "Has there been any news from the Merchant Union?" Loong Jie asked, grinning.
Fong Zhong had recently briefed the Merchant Union about Zhong Chichen's predicament, Yu Yuan's ordeal in the Foul World, and the Earth Demon Ancestor Huangyin, along with Yuen Qingxi from the Ghost Wizard Sect. Loong Jie could tell from Fong Zhong's facial shift that the Merchant Union had indeed replied.
The other three envoys from the Medicine God Sect watched with trepidation, fearing the Merchant Union might decide to eliminate Zhong Chichen to avert future threats.
"Mr. Fong, Sect Master Zhong has never hurt anyone. He's compassionate and has always looked out for us. His reputation for integrity is well-established, and his current state is due to being wronged by others. Please, show mercy!" Tong Rui implored earnestly.
"Don't worry, it's not as you imagine," Fong Zhong said, his expression enigmatic. "President Lyi has personally instructed that Senior Loong should simply keep an eye on Zhong Chichen for now, ensuring he doesn't escape the pill furnace. Regarding Yu Yuan..."
Fong Zhong glanced down at the ground, cleared his throat, and continued, "The Divine Soul Sect has assured President Lyi that there's no need to be overly concerned for Yu Yuan's safety in the underground. They seem to have great faith in him, almost as if they believe he'll hold his own even in territories favorable to the Earth Demon and the Ghost Wizard Sect."
Upon hearing those words, Loong Jie and the trio from the Medicine God Sect were taken aback.
Could the Divine Soul Sect truly have such confidence in Yu Yuan?
...
Deep underground.
As the Demonic Mark Array of the Evil Cauldron shifted into a Soul Transformation Formation, a torrent of devils and ghosts cascaded down like rain.
In a mere moment, tens of thousands of these spirits were consumed. Inside the cauldron's miniature world, Yu Yiyi was busy refining them, aiding their evolution into new Evil Devils.
Yu Yiyi was thrilled.
She navigated the interior of the cauldron, absorbing the dark soul energy seeping from its walls. The emergence of the Soul Transformation Array signified that Yu Yuan was mastering more of the Divine Soul Sect's secret arts.
She was drawing ever closer to her goal!
And the Evil Cauldron was set to undergo a radical transformation thanks to the gains from this venture!
The surge of Evil Devils since her consciousness awoke paled in comparison to this bounty!
Whoosh!
A streak of scarlet lightning burst forth from Yu Yuan's chest, hurtling directly at Huangyin.
Mid-flight, the lightning morphed into his Yang God form, brandishing the Demon Blade Blood Prison, and delivered a swift slash at the Flame Dragon emerging from the lake.
The dragon, belching flames that consumed multicolored mini-dragons, was cleaved in two by the Blood Prison's gleaming edge and plunged back into the lake's depths.
As the dragon attempted to reform, Yu Yuan's Yang God was already upon Huangyin, unleashing a flurry of blood-red beams that engulfed him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The body Huangyin inhabited, now struck by the Blood Prison's blade light and edge, rang out with the clangor of metal being forged, as a shower of dazzling sparks flew.
This body, transformed by Huangyin into a devilish form, was as unyielding as divine iron!
"A body that once ascended to the level of a Primordial Spirit, now further refined by your hand, indeed holds some merit."
Yu Yuan, still stationed on the Dragon Slash Platform and managing the Soul Transformation Formation, watched his Yang God relentlessly swing the Demon Blade. Huangyin's devil body, however, remained intact, prompting Yu Yuan to express his admiration.
As he expressed his admiration, the dark mass of devils and ghosts in midair had already diminished significantly.
Those devils and ghosts not caught within the Soul Transformation Array's range began to flee in a frenzy.
"Mr. Yuen, are you content to just observe and not step into the fray?"
Yu Yuan, atop the Dragon Slash Platform, turned his gaze to the elder of the Ghost Wizard Sect when Huangyin remained silent.
"Are you a bit taken aback? Heh, you're aware that the Divine Soul Sect developed numerous soul techniques and secret arts to counter the Outland Devaputra as it grew in power. All to stand against them in the endless expanse of the cosmos."
"To me, the Earth Demon born in the vast depths and the Outland Devaputra seem quite similar."
"Isn't it fitting that I shatter Huangyin's legion of devils with the Divine Soul Sect's soul techniques and formations?"
Yu Yuan's laughter was unrestrained.
Meanwhile, Yuen Qingxi's expression darkened as he straightened up from his kneeling position before the white bones.
Whoosh!
In a blink, he stood shoulder to shoulder with the gray fox in the long robe.
The gray fox, another creation of the Earth Demon, showed no surprise at Yuen Qingxi's sudden approach, even nodding in acknowledgment.
Then, the gray fox slowly opened its mouth.
One by one, the Asura, like Du Jing, who had been refined by the Earth Demon, flew into the open maw of the gray fox.
Within the gray fox, the Asura tore at each other, like scraps of fabric seeking to fuse together.
"Mr. Yuen, I'm quite curious why you took an early interest in me. Back when I was Hong Qi, I couldn't cultivate at all and had only a slight talent for alchemy. Yet, you picked me, meticulously set up the Ghost Wizard Reincarnation Array to enhance my three souls, and even taught me to craft the Reincarnation Pill..."
"Why choose me?"
As the Yang God and Huangyin clashed fiercely, Yu Yuan's true form chatted with Yuen Qingxi, a smile playing on his lips.
He could see that Yuen Qingxi was integrating the Asura into the gray fox's body, effectively forging a new malevolent curse.
The gray fox's form was capable of sustaining the power of this new curse, ready to manifest its formidable might.
Unlike Du Jing, who turned to ash as soon as he faced a backlash, he wasn't concerned.
"You visited the Medicine God Sect and saw the formation in the secret chamber? You even know it's called the Ghost Wizard Reincarnation Formation," Yuan Qingxi said, somewhat astonished. "Knowing I mean you no harm, why do you persist in opposing the Ghost Wizard Sect?"
"Because I belong to the Divine Soul Sect," Yu Yuan replied, looking at him as if he were simple-minded.
Yuan Qingxi fell silent for a moment, then said with a tone of deep regret, "You were meant to be one of us."
He lamented the loss. He took pride in his judgment; the greater Yu Yuan's displayed power, the more accurate his initial assessment proved to be.
It pained him to see such a promising cultivator allied with the Divine Soul Sect.
He couldn't stand the thought.
How perfect it would have been if he were one of us...
As he pondered this, Yuan Qingxi looked up at the sky, his face twisted with malice. "Zhong Chichen thwarted our plans! Without him, you would have been renowned worldwide as a member of the Ghost Wizard Sect! Without him, you would have already unified the Ghoul Glyph Sect and the Voodoo Cult!"
"Three hundred years squandered! Imagine what you could have become with an additional three hundred years."
Yuan Qingxi's roar was followed by an eruption of dense runes across his face, neck, and any exposed skin.
A ferocious energy was gathering within him.
"Wasted... three hundred years?" Yu Yuan murmured, his eyes narrowing.
It seemed Yuan Qingxi had prepared everything, believing that if Yu Yuan had awakened earlier and joined the Ghost Wizard Sect, he would have been unstoppable.
He would have led a life both splendid and extraordinary!
"But the question remains, why me?" Yu Yuan pressed.
Yuan Qingxi's gaze shifted to the skeleton.
The skeleton, taken aback, responded in confusion, "Why look at me?"
"It was your choice."
...
Subsequently, the city descended into turmoil. The neighborhood was partially locked down, every household was mandated to undergo nucleic acid testing, resulting in lengthy queues. Supermarkets were swarmed by people stockpiling supplies.
Just picture it. You ought to empathize with me. Why did it come to this, with only one chapter left? *bows in resignation*
