Chapter 232

Chapter 232: A Natural Connection

As they entered, it felt as though they had left the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins and stepped into a realm of pure nothingness.

The sky was vast and empty, stretching endlessly.

The ground was the same—an infinite expanse of void.

Nothing surrounded them. In this endless emptiness, only one thing stood—a towering Great Path Sacred Fruit tree, growing from an unknown source and stretching to an unfathomable height.

It was just within reach.

Standing before it, they realized just how massive the Great Path Sacred Fruit tree truly was. Its canopy seemed limitless, and there were countless fruits hanging from its branches—far more than the few they had seen earlier.

They both felt a surge of excitement.

The more, the better.

Qiu Yinong instinctively wanted to bargain with Zhang Yang, but before she could speak, a sudden gust of wind swept through.

They had no idea where the wind came from.

Yet the moment it touched them, they both instinctively tensed, wary and even slightly afraid.

This was no ordinary wind.

It carried the power of the Great Path, sweeping through the void as if purging impurities.

Without hesitation, they moved, choosing to take shelter behind the thick, dragon-like branches that stretched elegantly in the air.

However, as they both reacted at the same time, noticing the Great Path wind simultaneously and moving forward together, they collided.

Their instincts kicked in.

One raised a fist in defense.

The other lifted her sword.

Their eyes locked, filled with caution.

Then, the Great Path wind rushed past.

Strangely, it did not disturb the tree’s branches at all, yet the edges of their clothing were caught in it, instantly disintegrating into ash.

At the same moment, they moved again.

It was as if they had trained together for decades—their reactions perfectly in sync. They released their Holy Might, testing the power of the wind.

Bang! Bang!

The Great Path wind trembled slightly before dispersing.

They immediately understood—the wind’s power wasn’t strong enough to pose a true threat to them.

Still, as if disgusted by their unintentional coordination, they both took a step back, putting distance between them.

Yet, much to their frustration, their movements were still perfectly synchronized.

At the same time, they both reached out for a Great Path Sacred Fruit.

There were so many that neither of them bothered counting. The only thing that mattered now was who could grab more. It was an unspoken contest.

Both focused entirely on the fruit before them.

Especially Qiu Yinong. This time, she had to win!

She had never lost to anyone else.

Yet, against Zhang Yang, she had never won.

Not even once.

He had seen through her completely—twice.

Then, both of them looked at their empty hands in surprise.

They had caught nothing.

The Great Path Sacred Fruit tree, despite shielding them from the wind, seemed to exist in a subtle, separate layer of space. Though the fruits appeared right in front of them, when they reached out, their hands grasped only air.

It was as if the Great Path Sacred Fruits existed beyond their current dimension.

So mysterious that it left them momentarily speechless.

But they understood.

This was the magic of the Great Path Sacred Fruit tree!

After all, when one delves into the Great Path, how could it not be extraordinary?

Of course, neither of them was willing to give up.

They struck again.

Unleashing their Holy Might, they released their power.

One wielded Diamond Dragon Holy Power.

The battle for the Great Path Sacred Fruits had only just begun.

The other wielded her sword, infused with the Saints’ laws.

Both forces swept past the Great Path Sacred Fruits before them, as though they didn’t exist.

They furrowed their brows slightly.

Neither could ignore the uncomfortable thought forming in their minds—they might have to work together.

Feeling indignant, they exchanged a look before launching an attack in unison.

One threw a punch.

The other slashed with her sword.

Both forces crashed toward the fruit in the center.

Once again, their movements were perfectly synchronized.

This synchronicity made them feel… nauseous!

Both wore expressions of disdain.

However, the outcome made them forget their discomfort entirely—they still failed.

The Great Path Sacred Fruits existed in an entirely different world, utterly unreachable. No matter how much they tried, they couldn’t shift the space here.

“Isn’t it the same time and space?” Qiu Yinong murmured. “Only by leaving this world can we reach the same time and space?”

Zhang Yang’s heart pounded at her words.

What does that mean?

A Great Path Sacred Fruit tree existing in one space while its fruits resided in another time and space?

Was this the nature of the Great Path?

Could the Great Path bridge the river of time, connecting different times and spaces?

Suddenly, the image of that river of time resurfaced in his mind.

Oh no!

Zhang Yang quickly tried to erase the thought.

That vision was unthinkable. Unimaginable. Unforgettable.

Fortunately, he had been refining his mind lately, training himself to resist the shadows of inner demons—especially after the ordeal of seeing Qiu Yinong’s body. This constant mental tempering allowed him to suppress the terrifying thought once again.

Phew…

He exhaled slowly, a lingering fear still gripping him.

Qiu Yinong eyed him suspiciously, sensing that Zhang Yang had just experienced immense terror. Strangely, the fear seemed to ripple through her as well, filling her with an inexplicable dread. It was as though probing any deeper would lead to her immediate demise.

She studied Zhang Yang with newfound curiosity.

Suddenly, she realized—this petty, foul-mouthed man was full of mystery.

“What is that!”

Zhang Yang suddenly shouted coldly, looking past her.

Qiu Yinong snapped out of her thoughts, but it was already too late.

A chilling presence invaded her body—an invisible shadow creeping into her very core.

An overwhelming coldness seeped through her being.

Then, she felt it—something trying to take control of her.

Fury surged within her.

Proud as she was, she despised having her body violated in any way. Enraged, her powerful Great Boundless rank soul erupted.

Bang!

The invasive force was expelled instantly.

At the Great Boundless rank, one’s soul was tempered by life force, known simply as the soul. Only by reaching the Ascending the Heavens realm could the soul be sublimated into a primordial spirit, allowing one to become a Saint—transcending the limits of existence and gaining a lifespan of a thousand years. Though aging would still occur, consuming holy or even immortal medicines could easily extend one’s life.

Zhang Yang and Qiu Yinong both saw it.

A phantom hovered in the air—the remnant soul of the Daybreak Phoenix Luan.

“The remnant soul of the Daybreak Phoenix Luan!”

They exclaimed in unison.

Hiss!

The spectral form of the Daybreak Phoenix Luan lunged at Zhang Yang, moving purely on instinct.

Qiu Yinong’s true Great Boundless realm completely suppressed any attempt at possession.

Yet, it kept attacking Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang remained calm.

He clenched his fist and threw a punch.

Soul Binding Power!

This ability had saved him countless times, and he rarely used it lightly. It was terrifying—its destructive force targeted the soul directly, leaving the physical body completely unharmed.

Boom!

His fist struck the remnant soul.

A shriek echoed through the void as the Daybreak Phoenix Luan’s soul nearly shattered. For a fleeting moment, it transformed into the figure of a beautiful woman—only to fall back into madness.

Zhang Yang acted on pure instinct, stepping forward and throwing another punch.

Again, he wielded Soul Binding Power.

This time, the remnant soul trembled violently, on the verge of breaking apart.

Its wavering form flickered once more—a faint aura of Holy Might radiated from it, revealing the truth…

This was the remnant soul of a goddess!

“Again!”

The woman’s voice rang out in a frenzied howl as she attempted to revert to her Daybreak Phoenix Luan form, but the madness consumed her.

Zhang Yang didn’t hesitate.

Bang! Bang!

Two more consecutive punches landed, each infused with Soul Binding Power.

The remnant soul finally shattered, disintegrating into countless motes of soul light.

Then, suddenly—

A thread of fire burst forth from the remnants.

It burned fiercely, consuming the lingering darkness.

As the blackened fragments were incinerated, the motes of soul light became pure—clear, radiant, and cleansed.

They merged once more, forming the hazy figure of a beautiful woman who gazed at Zhang Yang with a smile. Then, just as suddenly, she reverted to the remnant soul of the Daybreak Phoenix Luan. However, the extreme cold that had once radiated from her was gone—replaced by a faint warmth.

Without warning, she collided with a branch of the Great Path Sacred Fruit tree, clearing away a misty veil. Letting out a sharp cry, she then dashed toward Zhang Yang’s storage bag and disappeared inside.

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow.

Inside that storage bag… lay a green mountain.