Chapter 692

Chapter 692: Collecting

"Now that you’ve sent him away, we can begin preparing for the fourth trial," the Ancestor of the Sword Path remarked as he watched Ye Yun tear open space with the Born as a Sword technique to dispatch Yue Xiao. "You’ve expended significant true qi earlier. Resting briefly would be prudent if time permits."

"No need. This level of consumption remains manageable." Ye Yun shook his head, his gaze fixed on the obsidian palace ahead. Its pristine yet sinister structure, though grand in form, lay entirely smothered beneath an encroaching blackness.

"Did that Heavenly Immortal merely suppress the demon instead of killing it?" Ye Yun wondered silently, observing the malevolent aura swirling around the throne.

"Impossible. A Heavenly Immortal’s methods would have eradicated such a creature, not left it restrained," the Ancestor countered, probing the palace with his spirit perception. Upon the jade-and-emerald throne lay a golden Dragon Banner embroidered with nine coiling black dragons, their crimson eyes glaring with unnatural vitality.

"No matter the explanation, this demon clearly still lives." Spotting wisps of formless Dark Energy, Ye Yun sighed and lashed out with the Fire Dragon Whip. A river of molten rock surged forth, crashing toward the throne.

The Dragon Banner remained inert until the lava struck it. Then it billowed as though worn by an invisible figure, the nine dragons twisting to life. Their ruby eyes blazed fiercer under the lava’s glow, as if the demonic presence had fully awakened.

"Alive indeed. If subtlety fails, brute force must suffice." With a resigned exhale, Ye Yun dismissed the whip and drew the Purple Shadow Divine Sword. Surging Sword Energy filled the chamber, its oppressive might shredding the dragon-shaped shadows.

"Well? What’s your next move?" Ye Yun addressed the Ancestor coldly. "You’ll handle this. Consider it reparations for misusing my body."

"Ah, this Ancestor’s lot is hardship! Briefly freed, only to become your laborer." Grumbling, the Ancestor channeled soul’s origin from the Dragon Pearl, merging it with his Sword Path will to crush the banner.

"Unusual. Its power neared the peak of the Seventh Level of the Nascent Soul stage, perhaps exceeding it." Ye Yun smirked as the cleaved banner clattered to the floor. "Still fell to one strike."

"You squandered a tenth of my soul’s origin for that theatrics!" the Ancestor snapped. "Where’s the tempering in reckless expenditure?"

"Expedience matters more. My cultivation’s already perfected—only trials rivaling the Dragon Gate’s trials could further refine me." Ye Yun shrugged. "In this Xumi Treasure, efficiency trumps tradition. Securing the Sun and Moon Dual Souls takes priority. ‘Fairness’ depends on my mood."

Had others heard him, envy would’ve choked them. While they crawled through dangers, Ye Yun reaped treasures with the Ancestor’s aid—an unfair advantage that drew no sympathy from him.

Reading Ye Yun’s resolve, the Ancestor relented: "Very well. That creature might’ve wounded you regardless."

"Injury matters less than unpredictability. Had Yue Lengxuan survived, she might’ve explained this demon’s nature. Now…" Ye Yun approached the throne and slashed its jewels. The seat shuddered, spewing Dark Energy that coalesced into a snarling demon.

"Persist in folly, and I’ll oblige your demise." The Purple Shadow Divine Sword radiated icy brilliance as Ye Yun unleashed the Born as a Sword technique. Seven glacial Sword Shadows erupted, encasing the demon in frost before shattering it.

"Pointless resistance." Ye Yun eyed the newly revealed path—a lone illuminated trail amidst darkness. "Fourth trial cleared. The fifth remains before claiming my prize." Sword still drawn, he advanced warily.

As he treaded, an ethereal door creaked open ahead. Light flooded forth, revealing intertwined orbs of solar radiance and lunar serenity—the Sun and Moon Dual Souls.

Ye Yun reached out, and the energies surged into him, eliciting a tingling sensation. "They’ve merged directly? Does this initiate bodily refinement?"

"Seems so. Sparing me the trouble of lightning-channeling methods." The Ancestor chuckled, observing the flickering dual glow within Ye Yun. "Their effects manifest unpredictably, but potency is assured."

"So their boon might idle here?" Ye Yun mused, glancing at the crescent blade in his hand. "Perhaps I should’ve preserved those sacrifices. The Moon Blade absorbed Yue Lengxuan’s Moon Goddess power—who knows its potential now?"

"Earlier you deemed the blade inert. Why this sudden interest?"

"The Fire Dragon Whip alone brought immense advantage. A second supreme Immortal artifact attuned to lunar forces would bolster my survival." White light flashed as Ye Yun summoned the crescent blade.

"Using the reverse time array’s accelerated realm to stockpile Moon Goddess power might work, but overloading it risks eroding the blade’s will," the Ancestor warned.

"Understood." Ye Yun tested the blade, its edge slicing air with crystalline resonance. The throne’s jade fractured under casual swings. "Yet another reason to seek greater treasures here."

Though the blade couldn’t manipulate spatial laws like the Purple Shadow Divine Sword, the Moon Soul within Ye Yun resonated with it. A phantom full moon gleamed in its hilt as he swung, rippling the surrounding space.

"Mastering the Moon Refining Technique would make this my perfect weapon." Ye Yun admired the spatial distortions. "But that’d require years I won’t spare. The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique alone strains my focus—reaching the Nascent Soul stage suffices."

After gathering nearby heavenly materials and earthly treasures, Ye Yun reentered the fourth trial’s chamber. He incinerated the Dragon Banner’s remnants with Fire Spirit Qi.

"Ruthless, yet efficient." The Ancestor approved as flames consumed the palace. "This sunken mausoleum deserved no mercy."

"More accurately, it offended my eyes." Ye Yun unleashed a magma wave, obliterating the site entirely.

*

"Someone’s claimed the second layer’s prize—the Sun and Moon Dual Souls." Jun Ruolan stood bathed in solar glory, her gaze piercing the abyssal depths. Behind her, hundreds of Moon Goddess Palace disciples awaited orders.

"Likely a Moon Dynasty rat." Her beauty, accentuated by form-fitting black robes, was undercut by glacial severity. "Investigate Zhang Yanhua’s condition. I’ll advance to the third layer alone. Follow only after Yao Hongchen arrives."

"Senior Sister, isn’t solo entry too perilous?" A youthful disciple ventured.

"Even united, this rabble couldn’t bar my path." Jun Ruolan’s tone forbade dissent. Elite disciples knew better than to question their future sect leader.

"Yue Lan," she continued, "uncover evidence of Yao Hongchen’s framing of Yao Feng."

The addressed disciple flushed, bowing hastily before departing.

Jun Ruolan stared seaward, Moon Goddess power flaring. "Who among the Moon Dynasty dares?" Becoming a streak of light, she vanished.