Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Undying was silent for a moment. He asked, "Master, do you know what that blood cocoon is? Yellow Springs Fog isn't something naturally produced by the heavens and earth. Rather, it is the dissipating aura of ominous and terrible things. This ominous thing here is called an evil hell spirit.

"From ancient times, rumors say that there is a mysterious domain that exists between the heavens and earth. When living beings die, it is where their souls go. This place is called the Yellow Springs Hell. The so-called evil spirit is merely a title. Master may regard it as a special life form born from hell. It has the ability to control a hundred ghosts and command a ghost army.

"The Yellow Springs Hell truly exists. Although I have no idea why this blood cocoon would appear here, if I am not wrong, it is the embryo of an evil spirit."

Undying paused for a moment, leaving some time for consideration. "With my current plan, there is a high chance that master can seize this evil spirit embryo for your own use. Once you refine and subdue it, you will obtain the strength to command a hundred ghosts. Master can only resist an ordinary Calamity Immortal right now, but if you had a hundred ghosts assisting you, your strength could multiply!"

Qin Yu's heart shook. He really didn't expect that this blood cocoon would have such origins. If Undying gave him such an explanation and said what he did, he should have certain assurances of success. With Qin Yu's current cultivation, every further step became extraordinarily difficult. The chance to multiply his strength was right before him…the temptation was truly mind-boggling!

Moreover, he didn't need to do much. All he needed to do was quietly wait and watch.

If he said he wasn't moved, he would be lying to himself. But as light shimmered in his eyes, he slowly shook his head, a firm resolve on his face.

Undying quietly said, "This is a heaven-sent chance. Master, you must consider it clearly - is it worth it?"

Having come to a decision, Qin Yu's heart was actually at peace. He said, "When a person travels through the world, there will always be tempting choices laid out before them. However, one should always adhere to a basic bottom line."

If he stood by today and did nothing, he might feel guilty for the rest of his life. Yes, it might not be worth it, but this was when humans were called human. Otherwise, what differentiated them from wild beasts?

Undying sighed. "I hope master won't regret this in the future." Although there was some helplessness in his voice, there was also some gratification.

At this moment, within his soul space, the Cosmic Seacross Bell and the purple moon high in the air, as well as the blue sun phantom in his dantian sea, halted for a moment as their auras wavered. It wasn't just Undying who was affected by this - even the several 'residents' in his body were. Perhaps on this day, only now did they develop a sense of true trust towards Qin Yu.

In this brief moment, many things had been decided. But Qin Yu simply didn't know of any of this right now.

Undying's voice returned to tranquility. "If master wishes to rescue her then the plan needs to be changed. I will begin to make preparations…as for that woman Sang Zhu, she should also have made her own preparations. Master needs to be extra cautious."

Qin Yu nodded.

After entering the Sea of Purgatory, he had indeed been a bit distressed and battered. However, this wasn't because he was weak, but because the Sea of Purgatory was simply too terrifying.

He originally had a cultivation that could fight with an initial Calamity Immortal. When placed amidst all the cultivators that entered the Sea of Purgatory, he undoubtedly stood at the very pinnacle of them.

Moreover, he had numerous cards in hand. He didn't feel any dread towards Sang Zhu. This wasn't brazen arrogance, but a confidence produced from tempering himself through countless near-death experiences.

Feng Yunyun felt as if she were stuck in a swamp. There was pitch black mud all around her that grinded down at her from all directions with a terrifying suppressive strength.

Her chest felt dull and her bones wailed and creaked. It was like her entire body was being crushed.

Hazily, she knew that her current state wasn't right. She struggled to wake up, but her eyelids seemed to be a thousand jins heavy. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't open them.

Her body became increasingly cold. The consciousness that she barely managed to gather together began to show signs of dispersion. She didn't know what was happening to her, but a sense of fear rose up in her heart. She felt that if she were to fall asleep here, she would never wake up again.

"You cannot sleep! Wake up!

"Hurry and wake up!"

She screamed out within her heart, but all of this was useless. Her consciousness became increasingly blurry.

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion. Like the crash of a thunderbolt from a raging storm, it rumbled into the depths of her heart.

The oppressive feeling around her body suddenly vanished. She subconsciously gasped for air in deep heaving breaths. It was only now that Feng Yunyun discovered she had woken up.

Her entire body was worn out and aching. Every inch of her body hurt and felt soft. She couldn't summon a single ounce of strength.

A layer of thick mucous membrane clung tightly to her body. She tried to move, but discovered there was something on her head. She struggled to reach up a hand to grab it, and when she pulled at it a fierce pain tore through her body. This foreign object had drilled into her and was still trying to wriggle its way deeper.

Panic rose in her heart. She completely disregarded the pain that coursed through her. Feng Yunyun had no idea where she managed to find the strength, but she pulled out the foreign object.

When she looked down she finally saw that it was a bunch of blood vessels that looked like blades of grass. They squirmed in her hand, struggling for a moment before withering away.

This…what was happening…in her memories, she remembered she had just been together with Xu Wenze…

But before she could contemplate further, a shrill and sad scream pierced through the air. It passed into her mind like a sharp arrow. Feng Yunyun's mind buzzed briefly before she fainted.

The black fog rapidly drew back. The Yellow Springs Fog that blocked out the surrounding area started to retreat like a falling tide, all of it submerging into the blood cocoon. Then, it howled far away, its speed as fast as lightning. It vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye, simply not giving anyone time to react.

When Qin Yu heard that scream that was filled with hatred and resentment, he stiffened.

Undying was both startled and angry. "That evil spirit had already awakened!"

At first Undying felt shame, but then he immediately rejoiced. Luckily, Qin Yu had decided to save that girl. If things had proceeded according to his plan, then once the growth of that evil spirit had been completed the consequences would have been inconceivable.

Sang Zhu looked towards the direction the blood cocoon had vanished in and her mind went blank. Through these years, she had diligently struggled towards this day. She had paid an immense cost, even compensating with her own purity and innocence, completely blocking out all possible paths of escape. But in the end, this was the final result?

Dragging water with a bamboo basket…this was a phrase often used to describe actions that achieved nothing, and today she finally understood what it meant and the bitterness contained within it. Then, deep in her heart, all of that raging anger, hate and despair, all of it turned icy cold.

Sang Zhu looked up. Qin Yu had appeared as the black fog dispersed. Her voice seemed to arise from the nine nether hells. "I will definitely suck out and refine your soul!" From her point of view, it was Qin Yu's sudden actions that had awakened the not yet grown evil spirit, causing all of her plans to fall short.

She lifted a hand and a small bell appeared. It was ink black in color and its surface was slightly translucent.

Her hand moved and the small bell resounded. The rapid notes seemed to stir up some kinds of aura between the heavens and earth.

Black arrows formed out of thin air. There were so many that they were like a heavy rainstorm, flooding every inch of visible space.

Whoosh -

Whoosh -

The arrows fell down, the sounds of piercing air raging out!

Qin Yu lifted a hand and thrust forward. Layers of deep blue light erupted, expanding with a vast potential as it transformed into the phantom of a massive expanse of water.

Countless black arrows shot into the barrier of water. Then, like snow beneath the blazing sun, they melted and vanished.

Although there were countless arrows and they caused great waves to rise in the vast phantom of water, they weren't able to break through at all.

Qin Yu moved his hand from side to side. The vast water inundated the innumerable arrows. The great strength of the path of water was exposed without any reservations.

Although he had yet to reach large success, when it came to defensive potential, this move was no weaker than that of a common Calamity Immortal.

Sang Zhu clenched her teeth, her eyes turning even icier. No wonder this person dared to ruin her plans; it was because he had such skills. She immediately felt regret in her heart. She had already sensed that this Xun Feng wouldn't be easy to deal with. If she had been more careful, she might have been able to avoid today's result.

But the more regret she felt, the angrier she was. Sang Zhu opened her mouth and spat out a bead. The bead was pitch black in color. As soon as it appeared, the temperature all around began to drastically lower.

She had her own reasons for knowing about the matter of the evil spirit. She possessed a natural Yin Bearing Physique, and this was the greatest source of confidence for her being able to refine the evil spirit.

Now that the evil spirit had fled, all of her preparations had become useless. All she thought of now was to kill Qin Yu who had ruined her plans.

No matter the price!

The bead looked ordinary as if it only possessed ice attributes. But, it was actually something that Sang Zhu had spent an endless amount of time and effort creating. It was condensed from the yin chill energy between the heavens and earth. There was a brief flash of hesitation in her eyes before it turned into decisiveness. She lifted a hand and shattered the bead.

Hu -

A beam of black light shot out. It was like an illusory shadow, unimpeded by any obstacles. It immediately pierced through the deep blue wall of water and drilled into the point between Qin Yu's eyebrows.

But the viciousness on her face only lasted for a single breath of time before turning into anger and terror. This was because there was no change in Qin Yu's expression. It was like the black light that drilled in between his eyebrows was really only a shadow…or, he was a black hole that could erase anything that entered him.

No matter what the reason was, what it represented was a terrifying strength. Sang Zhu's complexion paled and fear appeared in her eyes.

She turned and fled. It was unknown what method she used, but her figure divided into three. Each figure had a similar aura as they fled in three different directions.

The storm of black arrows had disappeared. Qin Yu withdrew his hand and the wall of water dispersed. He looked at the three fleeing figures of Sang Zhu, his eyes ice cold.

This woman had an extraordinary status and her personality was ruthless and merciless. Since she had clearly developed a life or death blood grudge against him, he naturally couldn't let her live.

Although the three figures had similar auras, the soul wouldn't lie. Using the Cosmic Seacross Bell, Qin Yu could lock directly onto her true body.

He lifted his right hand and his index finger curved as if he were drawing back a bowstring. Silver white light rapidly condensed. A terrifying aura began to emanate outwards, as if this silver white light could break through a thousand mountains and rivers to reach its destination.

Hum -

Qin Yu released his finger. The silver white light howled forward with an unimaginable speed.

Sang Zhu sensed the terrifying aura rapidly approaching her from behind. She wanted to dodge but her mind chilled. This was because she discovered that this attack had locked tight onto her.

She could not evade!

While she wasn't weak, the disparity between her and Qin Yu was considerable. This path of metal that was accompanied by such slaughter intent was more than enough to kill her.

Moreover, this path of metal was stimulated by the part of him that was the Great Dao Body and it touched directly upon the world's rules. Its prestige was even more formidable!

"Ahh!"

Sang Zhu screamed out loud, crazily galvanizing her protective powers. Layers of light shrouded her.

But beneath the path of gold, all of these layers of light popped like air bubbles at the slightest touch.

She couldn't block it!

Just as Sang Zhu was about to die, the air suddenly condensed. A layer of frost emerged on the silver white light.

Because the colors were similar, it was hard to notice at first. It was only discovered when the ice cold aura completely spread outwards, freezing over the silver white light.

Kacha -

The layer of ice shattered. The path of metal's sure-kill strike vanished along with it.

…

Translator's note: for information related to Feng Yunyun and Xu Wenze, please look back to the Infinite Realm arc! Ch404-ch406.