C884 Chu Jing Is Dead!

Yu Yuan offered a smile and casually remarked, "No need for formalities."

The presence of the Soul Wood Puppet had created a unique bond between him and Qi Yunhong. Even though the frenzied Qi Yunhong had departed, he left behind a Soul Shadow that was intricately linked to his Yin God.

Yu Yuan was taken aback by the enigmatic bond the Soul Wood Puppet forged with the soul. It was far more sinister than any tale he'd heard from the Fiend Sect. Rumor had it that to control a formidable being, one must dominate their three souls—of Heaven, Earth, and Man—or their transformed Yin God. Once the soul departed, the control should dissipate.

Yet, why did a mysterious Soul Shadow remain, allowing Qi Yunhong's Yin God to influence others through the Soul Wood Puppet, even after merging back with his true form? The reverence and genuine obedience in Qi Yunhong's eyes didn't seem feigned. Could this object truly warp one's soul? Yu Yuan marveled at the thought.

"Deal with Chu Jing's body; I'm going to check on Qin Yun."

Yu Yuan retraced his steps, making his way back to the Seven Divine Sect. Qi Yunhong watched him leave until the dark cauldron vanished from sight. He inhaled deeply and whispered, "The true master must be the immense void soul I witnessed within that puppet. Only such a force would remain indifferent to the Spirit Void Sect, unburdened by conscience."

Chu Jing's demise had unsettled him. He could almost predict that soon, the Spirit Void Sect's mightiest would emerge from their seclusion, hell-bent on Yu Yuan's demise.

"The wrath of the Spirit Void Sect will be quite the spectacle. Now, let's see what secrets the Artifact Soul of the Spectral Umbrella holds."

...

Shortly thereafter, Yu Yuan, piloting the Evil Cauldron, re-entered the domain of the Seven Divine Sect. There, he found Huang Ming and Qiao Yunyu, both at the early stages of Soul Wandering, along with several Yin God Stage cultivators, all bearing various injuries. Huang Ming, whom Yu Yuan knew well, looked as though he'd been struck by lightning, his body charred and smoking. Another, a practitioner under Qin Yun's guidance, appeared scorched by intense flames, pleading earnestly with Qin Yun for mercy.

Huang Ming's lightning strike was likely the work of Qi Yunhong, while Qiao Yunyu sustained injuries at the hands of Qin Yun.

Upon Yu Yuan's arrival, Qin Yun's face broke into a wide smile. "Young Master! Did you manage to frighten Qu Jing away after injuring him?"

With the Ice Concubine, the myriad evil demons within the Evil Cauldron, and the scabbard at his disposal, he was convinced that Qu Jing of the Spirit Void Sect had met with significant defeat.

"Qu Jing is dead," Yu Yuan declared.

At those words, every cultivator within the Seven Divine Sect's territory came to a standstill, as if under a spell, their breaths heavy with tension.

Qin Yun's face went slack with shock. "Dead, really dead?"

"Indeed, I killed him. His soul is shattered, beyond any hope of return," Yu Yuan stated calmly. "He tried to use the Illusion Pearl and the Spectral Umbrella to silently assassinate me in that secluded mini-universe. Unfortunately for him, he was outmatched and I ended his life."

For Yu Yuan, dispatching Chu Jing carried no weight on his conscience. After all, if Chu Jing could attempt his life, why shouldn't he be able to retaliate?

"Truly, he's actually dead?" Qin Yun asked, his voice quivering.

"Completely. Qi Yunhong is dealing with his remains and has subdued the Artifact Soul of the Spectral Umbrella," Yu Yuan replied.

With that revelation, the Seven Divine Sect cultivators gazed at Yu Yuan as if he were speaking of the dead.

Chu Jing was no ordinary figure. As the foremost among the seven lower sects, the pride of the Spirit Void Sect, the direct disciple of the Spirit Void Taoist, and the heir apparent to the sect leadership, his sudden death was inconceivable.

Could the Spirit Void Sect simply stand by after such a loss?

They envisioned the Spirit Void Sect stirring up a storm, relentlessly pursuing Yu Yuan, Qin Yun, and Qi Yunhong across the globe.

Unaware of the Divine Soul Sect's return or the vast changes in the Boundless Land, these individuals could only speculate. They assumed that Yu Yuan's streak of luck in Darkmoon City had finally run its course.

"Brother Qin, you and your companions should leave at once. Don't draw disaster upon us," Huang Ming pleaded, his face contorted with distress. "Let me be clear: it's not us who've been against you. It's Yang Chuhe! As the current Sect Master, we have no choice but to obey his commands."

"Yang Chuhe was injured by Old Cash, and we have no idea which river he's hiding in to heal," they said.

"Brother Qin, you've had your fight and flexed your might, please, spare us any further trouble. We're begging you, leave the Seven Divine Sect—for our sake, and for your own."

Huang Ming believed that with Chu Jing dead, Qin Yun and his young master, Yu Yuan, wouldn't survive either. His concern was that the wrath of the Spirit Void Sect might spill over to the Seven Divine Sect, bringing calamity upon them all.

"Are you letting the Seven Divine Sect off too easy?" Yu Yuan's brow furrowed. "The way they look at us—it's unsettling."

As he spoke, he covertly reached out to Yu Yiyi, intending to unleash a portion of the Evil Demon to give those present from the Seven Divine Sect an experience they'd never forget.

"Master, let it be. I've invested too much in the Seven Divine Sect," Qin Yun interjected quickly. "They're right; the only one truly after me was Yang Chuhe. And now that Old Cash has dealt with him, he's in hiding."

"Let's get out of here first!"

Qin Yun tumbled into the Evil Cauldron, tugging on Yu Yuan's sleeve urgently. "Take Qi Yunhong and get out of the Rainier Empire as fast as you can. Huang Ming informed me that your mother has awakened in the Jade Peak Mountain Range. That's likely where Mr. Yan is too. Lau Ying and Old Cash have headed there as well."

"She's awake..."

Yu Yuan's focus shifted instantly.

The cauldron, too, began to drift away, leaving the Seven Divine Sect's domain behind.

Watching the Evil Cauldron fade into the distance, Huang Ming and Qiao Yunyu, both in the early stages of the Soul Wandering Stage, looked visibly relieved, exhaling deeply.

"Do you think he was telling the truth?" Qiao Yunyu asked, skeptical. "Chu Jing had a formidable reputation on the Heavenly Source Continent, second only to the prodigies of the three upper sects. Plus, with his advanced Yin God Stage and powerful artifacts, he shouldn't be underestimated."

"Could that guy have been bluffing?" Wu Nan Ting from the Seven Divine Sect wondered aloud.

"He could have claimed that he severely wounded Chu Jing, even shattered his Yin God. But he declared Chu Jing dead, his soul utterly dispersed!" Huang Ming's face was grave. "Death is not something you can easily lie about. Now, immediately! Inform the Crown Prince of Chu Jing's demise!"

"He's truly dead?" Wu Nan Ting exclaimed in horror. "How could he dare?"

"This lunatic! He actually killed Chu Jing!"

"He, along with the entire Yu family, will surely face the fury of the Spirit Void Sect!"

...

"Spirit Void Sect's Taoist Chongxiao and Taoist Tianjing are both secretly en route."

Like Qin Yun, Qi Yunhong, who had also stepped into the Evil Cauldron, stowed the Spectral Umbrella with a stern look. "I learned while subduing the Artifact Soul that Taoist Chongxiao and Taoist Tianjing wish to keep their movements hidden. They intended to slip into the Illusion Pearl and assassinate you."

"Taoist Chongxiao and Taoist Tianjing are both Yang Gods, each with advanced late-stage prowess."

"We cannot linger in the Rainier Empire; we must make haste to depart."

Qi Yunhong was already proactively strategizing for Yu Yuan's safety.

"Two late-stage Yang God cultivators!" Qin Yun's face turned ashen. "Mr. Yan is currently in the Jade Peak Mountain Range, not the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, and can't communicate with you right away. The Rainier Empire has become perilously dangerous. We'd better not rely on the Evil Cauldron, as it would make us too conspicuous."

"I know of a hidden route, and I possess an artifact that can conceal our presence," Qi Yunhong offered.

Together, they deliberated on the best way to silently evacuate the Rainier Empire.

Chu Jing's death had sent them into a tailspin, their anxiety mounting with the knowledge that Taoist Chongxiao and Taoist Tianjing were already on their way.

...

Half a day later, a figure in grey, ghostlike, emerged in the forest where Chu Jing had met his end.

Surveying the ravaged landscape, the gaping craters, the unmistakable signs of combat, and the lingering scent of Chu Jing's blood, Taoist Chongxiao invoked a secret incantation.

The incantation, fueled by a drop of his own blood essence, sought to harness the remnants of Chu Jing's life force to pinpoint his last location.

Moments later, Taoist Chongxiao's face underwent a dramatic shift. "Not a single trace! Within the borders of the Rainier Empire, it's impossible for someone to vanish without a trace unless there's a barrier like the Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation at play. What on earth happened?"

His expression flickered between hope and despair, a foreboding feeling settling in his chest.

With a whoosh, Taoist Chongxiao soared over the woodlands, arriving in the Seven Divine Sect's domain as swiftly as a streak of lightning.

"Where is Chu Jing from my sect?" Taoist Chongxiao demanded.

Huang Ming stepped forward reluctantly, his body quivering with fear. "Yu Yuan from Darkmoon City reported that Chu Jing is dead. He... he was the one who killed Chu Jing."

"Chu Jing is dead!"

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