Chapter 729

Chapter 729: Demon Abyss

Shui Yingying sighed softly as she examined the blue giant crafted by Ye Yun. Her throat tightened when she glimpsed the ghostly mask adorning its face. Her unique constitution allowed her to sense the seductive demonic energy emanating from the mask—exactly what she craved at this moment.

Suppressing her urge to seize the mask, a storm of confusion erupted within her. Why was she entertaining such greedy thoughts? Regret and fear gnawed at her, as though she’d stumbled into a moral abyss.

"Am I truly this foolish? How could I even consider stealing it?" She clenched her fists, a flicker of unresolved fury in her eyes. Unbeknownst to her, the Ancestor of the Sword Path observed her turmoil.

"What troubles her?" he wondered. He’d always held a soft spot for the girl, especially given her innate spiritual body. Yet the dark emotions swirling in her gaze puzzled him.

"The Nine Yin Body carries inherent coldness, but this level of influence is unusual," he mused, noting the suppressed violence in her demeanor. He chose not to alert Ye Yun, instead pondering privately.

The clash between her Stellar Body and the Nine Yin Body was a recipe for disaster. Their joint cultivation—a fusion of opposing forces—defied natural order. Surviving this long was a miracle, likely due to the Starry Sky methods. Yet Shui Yingying bore the brunt of the backlash alone.

"And now she seeks to harness demonic energy for a breakthrough?" The Ancestor frowned. He detected faint traces of demonic energy buried deep within her, skillfully masked by her Nine Yin Body. It felt less like her own choice and more like unseen strings puppeteering her actions. Though not fully controlled, her subconscious was being nudged—a realization that unsettled him.

Beyond concern for her well-being, he feared the latent flaws in both her and Shui Lingling’s constitutions. Understanding these risks was vital for his own plans.

"What’s wrong?" Ye Yun’s voice interrupted his thoughts. The youth had sensed the Ancestor’s momentary lapse through their mental link.

"Nothing worth mentioning," the Ancestor deflected. "Focus on reaching the Demon Abyss. Your demon spirit should handle the Earth Immortal realm teams there."

"True, but I’ll need your aid if things turn dire. This isn’t the Xumi Treasure—genuine threats lurk here." Ye Yun nodded. Earlier, he’d briefly merged with the Celestial-Demon battlefield’s spatial laws, gauging their foes.

Most Earth Immortal realm experts were novices, save one at the First Level. Yet even that veteran would crumble against Shui Lingling’s combat power and her supreme Immortal artifact—a weapon surpassing even his Fire Dragon Whip.

"Once I reach the Earth Immortal realm, those top-tier artifacts will be mine," Ye Yun thought, though his Purple Shadow Divine Sword remained irreplaceable. Its ability to channel all his divine techniques made it the cornerstone of his "Born as a Sword" mastery.

"Let’s charge in first! Early birds get the treasures!" Shui Lingling declared, waving eagerly.

"Strength trumps timing," Ye Yun countered. "Latecomers with power can always… redirect ownership."

"Ugh! You’re why the world has so many thieves!" she huffed, though she knew such plundering was inevitable—both in the Broken Space and beyond.

"Let’s proceed," Shui Yingying interjected with a smile.

As Ye Yun transformed into lightning alongside Shui Lingling, unease prickled his instincts. Shui Yingying’s usual calm had sharpened into something colder, her brows hinting at restrained fury.

"What’s happening with her?" he silently asked the Ancestor.

"Who knows?" came the evasive reply. "Innate spiritual bodies follow their own mysteries. Only they truly understand their paths."

"You usually love studying matters of innate spiritual bodies. I thought you’d understand," Ye Yun remarked, glancing at the Ancestor of the Sword Path whose expression had shifted. He chose not to press further.

From the Ancestor’s tone, Ye Yun believed the old man had discovered something earlier yet refused to explain. Even if Ye Yun insisted, the Ancestor would remain tight-lipped, forcing him to figure things out alone.

"Sister, are you unwell? Ling’er feels Yingying seems…different lately." Shui Lingling turned to Shui Yingying with concern, sensing an invisible distance forming between them.

"Lingling, enough nonsense. Your sister’s perfectly fine. Perhaps you’re the one needing rest?" Shui Yingying smiled gently at the younger girl’s worry.

"No, it’s just…I feel you’re pulling away. Maybe I’m imagining things." Shui Lingling relaxed slightly upon seeing her sister’s familiar smile.

"How could that be? I’ll always cherish Ling’er most. The only time I’d leave is when death takes me." Shui Yingying floated closer using true qi, her soothing words dissolving Shui Lingling’s doubts.

"Must’ve been mistaken. With their bond, how could conflict arise?" Watching the pair chat cheerfully, Ye Yun dismissed his earlier suspicion as fatigue from refining the demon spirit.

"Can this demon spirit devour demon souls too?" he pondered. "It absorbed all demonic energy from that region, growing stronger. Perhaps demon souls are also consumable."

In Ye Yun’s estimation, the demon spirit could likely absorb Earth Immortal realm demon souls. Though inferior to the Ancestor’s ability to devour demon god souls, it remained effective against the Devil Race.

The Thunder Spirit Qi’s demon-suppressing properties amplified through the demon spirit’s Thunder Spirit foundation. Initially meant only to grant intelligence via demonic energy infusion, the results exceeded expectations.

Within the Celestial-Demon battlefield, this demon spirit proved invaluable – naturally countering evil spirits while requiring minimal effort through the controlling magic disk. Its Third Level Earth Immortal realm strength would clear many obstacles in this realm saturated with Earth Immortals.

"What’s that crowd up ahead? Have we reached Demon Abyss?" Shui Lingling eyed the shifting formation of cultivators.

"Likely guards placed to monopolize the Heavenly Immortal inheritance." Ye Yun’s smile vanished as murderous intent flashed in his eyes when spotting distant watchers. He’d never liked this group – if they blocked his path, they’d pay with their lives.

"Halt!" Ye Yun restrained his Purple Shadow Divine Sword’s aura, preventing its celestial might from scattering the blockers. Information came before slaughter.

"What business?" Ye Yun exuded Fourth Level Nascent Soul energy as the crowd closed in. A Fifth Level cultivator sneered, "Know your place, weakling! A great master claims this Celestial-Demon battlefield. Scram while you can."

"Oh? So others know this secret." Ignoring the dismissal, Ye Yun mused, "Must be from hidden sects, possibly top-tier clans."

"This Broken Space spans vast distances. How dare anyone claim exclusive rights?" Shui Lingling challenged, brow furrowed. "Who empowers this so-called master to plunder freely?"

"Esteemed one," a cultivator addressed Shui Lingling nervously, "You’re from Immortal Dao Sect, yes? The master decreed their members may pass freely – especially two maidens together."

"What if we are? How’d you guess?" Shui Lingling’s anger mixed with curiosity – her Earth Immortal cultivation alone shouldn’t reveal her sect.

"The master instructed no reporting required for Immortal Dao Sect’s dual maidens." The cultivator forced a smile before telling Ye Yun coldly, "No offense, brother, but orders are orders."

"Such arrogance! I’ll learn this master’s name." Shui Lingling’s voice turned icy. "This man’s my sworn brother. Block him again and taste my wrath!"

"Erm…" The cultivator wavered, aware of his master’s stubbornness despite usual leniency.

"Let them pass." A cold-faced woman interjected, bowing slightly to Ye Yun. "Forgive this insult. He’ll be disciplined later."

"No matter. Such low cultivation breeds misunderstandings." Ye Yun dispersed murderous intent with a hand wave.

"Next offense costs your life." Shui Lingling dragged Ye Yun away, shooting the trembling cultivator a final glare.

"But sister," the chastised man protested as they left, "the master wanted minimal entrants…"

"Have you truly become his lapdog?" The cold woman retorted. "His whims mean nothing. They claimed Immortal Dao Sect affiliation – that suffices."

"Yes…" The man retreated miserably.

The cold woman glared at the vanished trio, First Level Earth Immortal aura erupting uncontrollably. Others pretended not to notice – they understood her bitterness after losing the wager binding her to the master’s whims.