429: Chapter 433 Aftermath

On the shattered battlefield, Yun Chenzi looked at the massive crack stretching across the sky, a complex and indescribable light flashing in his eyes.

His purpose for this trip was originally to deal with the so-called "the dao-obstructing person" and clear the hidden dangers for his future Nascent Soul path.

To this end, he did not hesitate to force his way into the Zhuge Family, coercing Zhuge Xuanji to accompany him, tracking all the way here.

He just didn't expect the process to be so convoluted.

Even less did he expect to inexplicably clash with that madman, Jiang Wunian.

The two went from initial testing to eventually going all out, and finally to a fight to the death.

This battle shook the heavens and earth, eclipsed the sun and moon, and forced both sides to pay an unimaginable price.

Now, although he had the superior skill and narrowly won, the price paid was equally heavy, making his heart ache.

His dao foundation was damaged, his cultivation was unstable, his Divine Soul was wounded, and his blood and Qi were depleted...

If given some time and a massive amount of resources for secluded meditation, he could repair these injuries and return to his Peak state within a few years.

However, it was precisely at this moment that the Xuanling Secret Realm emerged!

That crack was quietly open not far above his head, and the towering Dao Palace deep within the crack was faintly visible, as if silently calling to every Cultivator who craved a Nascent Soul Opportunity.

Yet his current state was terrible to the extreme—almost at the point of exhaustion.

In such a state, let alone being unprepared, even if fully prepared, entering such a peril-filled Secret Realm would be no different from a narrow escape from death.

But Yun Chenzi had no choice.

Because the xuan yin jade marrow was his only hope for condensing a Yin and Yang Nascent Soul.

His Dao was originally one that went Heaven-Defying.

From the Five Elements to Yin and Yang, from Yin and Yang into the Dao Realm, every step was like walking a tightrope.

Now only the final step remained, condensing the Nascent Soul, to truly transcend the mundane.

And the chance to condense the Nascent Soul was within the Xuanling Secret Realm.

If he missed this time, he didn't know how many years he would have to wait for the next opening of the Secret Realm.

And his Lifespan could no longer afford to wait.

A Golden Core Cultivator has a Lifespan of eight hundred years.

According to a normal Lifespan, his limit should have been reached long ago.

However, he had relied on various Spirit Pills and miraculous medicines for longevity to barely survive for over a thousand years.

The remaining time was already numbered.

If he could not seize the xuan yin jade marrow and condense his Nascent Soul in this Secret Realm, he would surely pass away within a hundred years, his lifetime of cultivation turning to dust and all his pursuits vanishing into thin air.

"Even if I'm to die, I must take this gamble!"

Yun Chenzi gritted his teeth, a flash of determination in his eyes.

The path of cultivation was originally a struggle for life against heaven.

If one didn't even have the courage to gamble once, then why cultivate? Why seek the Dao?

He took a deep breath, suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, and his gaze gradually became firm.

However, before entering the Secret Realm, he had to wrap things up here.

He turned to look down.

Amidst the rubble and ruins, Jiang Wunian was covered in blood, his aura so weak it was almost undetectable.

He lay there, soaked in blood, his Daoist robe tattered, and his limbs twisted at bizarre angles.

But at this moment, Jiang Wunian's eyes were still open, staring fixedly at the massive crack in the sky, his eyes full of frantic greed.

Seeing this scene, the corner of Yun Chenzi's mouth curled up slightly, forming a mocking arc.

As the saying goes, happiness comes from comparison.

Granted, he was currently heavily injured, his dao foundation was damaged, and his state was terrible to the extreme.

But compared to Jiang Wunian, he was the one who laughed last.

At least he could still walk into the Secret Realm to gamble for that elusive Nascent Soul Opportunity.

While Jiang Wunian could only lie here, watching the Secret Realm open with his own eyes, yet no longer having the chance to step inside.

This feeling was harder to accept than any physical injury.

"Jiang Wunian."

Yun Chenzi spoke slowly, his voice calm and indifferent.

"You lost."

Those three short words were like a heavy hammer smashing into Jiang Wunian's heart.

He lay on the ground, his whole body trembling, the madness in his eyes growing even more intense.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but could only cough up mouthfuls of blood.

Yun Chenzi looked at him in this state, shook his head, and said no more.

He raised his right hand, and within his palm, the Yin and Yang Qi slowly circulated, condensing into a sharp and incomparable light.

It was time to end it.

However, at the moment he was about to strike, the corner of Jiang Wunian's mouth suddenly curled up, revealing a bizarre smile.

That smile was both bizarre and crazed!

"You want me dead?"

He spoke hoarsely, his voice like a broken gong.

"Then you... don't expect a good time either!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence blood!

That essence blood did not scatter in the air but suddenly condensed, turning into a bizarre rune!

The rune was pitch black all over, but its surface shimmered with seven-colored light, as if it had condensed all the negative emotions in the world into this tiny rune!

This was the forbidden secret technique of the Six Desires Demonic Sect—the Seven Emotions Curse Seal!

Using a lifetime of cultivation as the guide, the seven emotions and six desires as the foundation, and the life Origin as the sacrifice.

Feeling the extreme power of the curse contained within that rune, Yun Chenzi's pupils suddenly contracted!

He immediately wanted to dodge!

But at this moment, he was at the end of his rope.

If he were in his Peak state, he could have easily resisted or even neutralized this curse with the power of his Yin and Yang Laws.

But now, his body was weak to the extreme, his Divine Soul was withered to the extreme, and his reaction speed was more than a step slower than his Peak!

He simply couldn't dodge in time!

In the spark of a moment, he could only force out the last trace of mana in his body, attempting to condense a defense in front of him.

However, the speed of that rune was beyond imagination!

Almost the instant his mana condensed, the rune had already sunk into his brow!

Boom!!!

An indescribable and bizarre power instantly flooded into his Sea of Consciousness!

That power was like countless venomous snakes, frantically boring into the depths of his Divine Soul!

That power was like countless maggots, stabbing fiercely into his Dao Heart, then desperately tearing at everything he had!

Anger, greed, fear, despair, madness, jealousy, resentment...

Seven extreme negative emotions, like seven shackles, tightly wound around his Dao Heart!

Yun Chenzi groaned, his face turning pale as paper in an instant!

His body trembled violently, and his aura rapidly withered.

Even worse, his Dao Heart felt as if it were being pierced by ten thousand arrows, sending waves of unbearable pain!

This was the Seven Emotions Curse Seal; the person cursed would be trapped by the seven emotions for all eternity, their Dao Heart never at peace, their path difficult to walk!

As long as it wasn't completely resolved, even with Dao Heart Perfection, under the erosion of years and months, it would surely be slowly worn away.

"You!!!"

Yun Chenzi struggled to raise his head, wanting to say something.

However, what he saw was a scene he would never forget.

After unleashing the Seven Emotions Curse Seal, Jiang Wunian's body suddenly exploded!

Boom!!!

A world-shaking explosion!

Jiang Wunian's entire body was torn apart, turning into countless fragments that scattered in all directions!

Then, those fragments exploded again!

Within a few short breaths, a dignified Dao Realm expert had completely turned into a mist of blood!

The blood mist permeated and drifted away, finally dissipating completely between heaven and earth, leaving not a single trace!

Self-detonation!

Jiang Wunian had actually self-detonated!

Yun Chenzi stood dazed on the spot, Gazing at that empty void, Gazing at that empty void, looking at that empty Void Realm, his eyes full of disbelief.

Why?

Yun Chenzi was completely baffled.

Did he really feel that he was doomed, so he made this final struggle, using self-detonation to give him a final blow?

Does this... make sense?

Yun Chenzi frowned deeply.

If it was said that Jiang Wunian was unwilling to die like this and wanted to take him down as he died, that would indeed make sense.

But the problem was, someone who could fight him to a standstill shouldn't have such a lack of will to resist.

He would rather self-detonate than die at his hands?

Or did he have some other purpose?

An indescribable and strange feeling welled up in Yun Chenzi's heart.

He quickly closed his eyes and channeled the power of Law to sense every inch of the surrounding Void Realm.

Nothing.

Jiang Wunian's aura had completely disappeared.

Not a single trace remained.

It was as if this person had never existed.

He then probed his Divine Sense deep into his spiritual platform, sensing that trace of Human Tribulation tribulation qi that had troubled him for a long time.

That faint trace of tribulation qi was now slowly dissipating at a speed visible to the naked eye.

This is...

The Human Tribulation is over. Has the dao-obstructing person died?

Yun Chenzi was stunned.

According to common logic, once the dao-obstructing person falls, the Human Tribulation naturally dissipates.

Now that the tribulation qi was dissipating, didn't it prove that Jiang Wunian was indeed the dao-obstructing person?

However, he always felt that something was wrong, yet he couldn't put his finger on it.

A strange feeling always lingered in his heart, refusing to go away.

"Forget it."

Yun Chenzi shook his head, suppressing those chaotic thoughts.

Whether Jiang Wunian was the true dao-obstructing person or not was no longer important.

The person died and the tribulation dissipated; his path was temporarily safe.

What was most important now was the Xuanling Secret Realm above his head.

He looked up at the sky. That massive crack had now expanded to a hundred miles wide.

Deep in the crack, the phantom of that towering Dao Palace became clearer and more real.

He could already clearly see the majestic Peaks, rushing rivers, vast forests, and brilliant starry sky within the Dao Palace...

That was a complete world, a world of its own!

It was a world containing endless Opportunity, and more importantly, a world that could change his destiny!

But for now, he couldn't go in yet.

The Secret Realm had not yet fully manifested; only when the gates of the Dao Palace were completely thrown open could he truly step inside.

According to ancient records, this process could take as little as three to five days, or as long as half a month.

This period was the final preparation time left for the Cultivators of all sides.

"I must heal my wounds as quickly as possible..."

Yun Chenzi murmured to himself, suppressing the emotions surging in his heart.

Even if he only recovered a trace of combat power, there would be one more hope of survival after entering the Secret Realm.

Most importantly, he had to find a way to wear away the Seven Emotions Curse Seal left by Jiang Wunian.

Otherwise, it would always be a hidden danger.

Yun Chenzi took a deep breath and immediately sat cross-legged in the Void Realm.

He formed hand seals, and a faint five-colored light suddenly appeared around him.

Then, a palm-sized ring slowly flew out from his brow and hovered three feet above his head.

The ring was crystal clear all over, woven from five colors of spiritual light.

Gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—the five colors circulated on it in a continuous cycle, faintly emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

This was the Lifebound Treasure Yun Chenzi had spent hundreds of years of effort refining.

The Five Elements Dao Ring!

Its grade had reached the rank of a top-grade Magic Treasure, just one step away from transforming into a true Spirit Treasure!

If this ring were to fully take shape, its power would be enough to crush any Magic Treasure of the same rank!

Unfortunately, this Five Elements Dao Ring was something he had nurtured when he was previously comprehending the Five Elements Laws.

After breaking through to the Dao Realm, he hadn't had the chance to refine it further, so it still lacked a true Opportunity for transformation.

Therefore, in the previous battle, he had never used this ring.

But now, he desperately needed protection.

Although he had temporarily formed an Alliance with Zhuge Xuanji, that old fox was shrewd and calculating; now that he was heavily injured, there was no guarantee the old man wouldn't have some ulterior motives.

Instead of trusting others, it was better to trust himself.

The Five Elements Dao Ring was now his most reliable guardian object.

Buzz—

The five-colored light flowed, and the Five Elements Dao Ring slowly rotated.

With every rotation, a layer of five-colored light screen descended from the ring, enveloping his entire body.

The light screen seemed thin, but it contained the profound power of the Five Elements' mutual generation and restriction. These five powers intertwined to form an indestructible defense.

Inside the light screen, after finishing everything, Yun Chenzi closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.

...

Far away, a thousand miles away.

Zhuge Xuanji, who had witnessed the entire process, was now completely stunned.

Whether it was the Life and Death struggle between the two Dao Realm experts or the emergence of the Xuanling Secret Realm, each event was overwhelming.

"But..."

Zhuge Xuanji looked at the massive crack stretching for a hundred miles in the sky, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Why did the Xuanling Secret Realm appear early?"

Zhuge Xuanji thought of the scene where Jiang Wunian had previously used a forbidden secret technique to summon a phantom of the Six Desires Heavenly Demon, and became thoughtful.

"Could it be because of that?"

It should indeed be so!

Recalling the previous heaven and earth anomaly, which seemed like the Heavenly Dao was angered.

If that was truly the case, leading to the early emergence of the Xuanling Secret Realm, it would seem to make sense.

"Is the Heavenly Lord unable to hold back?"

One must say that Zhuge Xuanji was the person most capable of comprehending the heart of heaven. Others might not be clear, but he knew exactly what this Xuanling Secret Realm was.

Everyone only knew that this was a place of Opportunity, a chance for the hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul.

But every time the Secret Realm opened, countless Cultivators would lose their lives within it.

Yet no one ever wondered why?

After all, in their understanding, competing for Opportunity inherently involved life-threatening danger; this seemed like a matter of common sense and nothing to be surprised about.

But Zhuge Xuanji knew that things were not that simple.

Otherwise, how could one explain why the Heavenly Lord detested high-Realm Cultivators so much, yet allowed the Xuanling Secret Realm to exist? Wasn't this a self-contradiction?

"It seems this emergence of the Secret Realm is going to lead to another bloodbath in the world."

Zhuge Xuanji looked at the crack across the sky, shook his head, and sighed with emotion.

He knew. If the Heavenly Lord was truly angered this time and wanted to settle accounts with these Cultivators who shouted about being Heaven-Defying all day, then this Xuanling Secret Realm would be the best Opportunity for a reckoning.

"Forget it, forget it. This old bag of bones won't go and get involved in such a place."

He murmured to himself, his expression showing no trace of regret as he turned and left, his figure soon disappearing.

As for notifying Yun Chenzi?

There was no need!

Seeing how the other party guarded against him like a thief, there was no need for him to go and invite trouble. Better to leave this place of strife as quickly as possible.