Chapter 184 – Reward for Slaying Nascent Soul: Ten Million Experience Points!

“Fellow Daoist Bai, Fellow Daoist Liang, continuing to fight like this isn’t a solution. Why don’t we sit down and have a proper discussion?”

“After all, I’m no fool. Compared to the Sword Diagram, my life is clearly more important.”

“If things become impossible, I could simply discard this Sword Diagram and leave alone.”

“Even with the two of you joining forces, you absolutely cannot keep me here. Therefore, why don’t we have a good talk and see if we can find a perfect solution? What do you say?”

Kong Guangping looked at Bai Yu and Liang Jinyun before him and ultimately conceded.

Because he realized that if they continued fighting like this, even though his cultivation level surpassed both of theirs,

facing two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators working together, he truly had no particularly good methods.

Trying to take this Sword Diagram out alone was clearly nothing but a pipe dream.

And those capable of cultivating to his Realm were all scheming individuals.

Naturally, he wouldn’t risk his life for something as elusive as a Sword Diagram.

After all, this Sword Diagram was only particularly effective for Sword Cultivators. For a Demon Cultivator like him, its usefulness was quite limited.

Hearing Kong Guangping’s words, Bai Yu and Liang Jinyun both paused briefly after some contemplation before temporarily stopping.

Just as Kong Guangping didn’t want to sacrifice his life for a Sword Diagram,

they similarly didn’t want to risk themselves for one either.

Since they could talk, then everyone should sit down and have a proper discussion.

If they could resolve the issue without fighting, that would bring considerable benefits to all three parties.

But just as the three were about to stop and properly communicate,

an Earth Corpse Immortal suddenly charged out.

For some reason, after emerging, it directly rushed toward Liang Jinyun.

This sudden development left all three present momentarily stunned.

Because none of them could understand why a mere Golden Core Stage Earth Corpse Immortal would actively attack a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

Was it seeking death?

Among the three, Liang Jinyun was closest to this Earth Corpse Immortal, so he instinctively took action.

A Bone Sword suddenly appeared in Liang Jinyun’s hand, and without hesitation, he swung it toward the Earth Corpse Immortal.

Although he had recognized that this Earth Corpse Immortal was the Corpse Fiend of the Corpse Fiend Cave’s Golden Core Stage cultivator Yi Chi, at this moment he wouldn’t ponder why Yi Chi’s Corpse Fiend was attacking him.

He only instinctively wanted to eliminate this Earth Corpse Immortal that had offended him.

Seeing this, Bai Yu immediately shouted, “Wait!”

Hearing Bai Yu’s words, Liang Jinyun subconsciously redirected his flying Bone Sword,

intending to let it pass by the Earth Corpse Immortal’s side.

But something bizarre occurred.

For some reason, this Earth Corpse Immortal suddenly changed position.

The movement looked as if it was trying to dodge Liang Jinyun’s Bone Sword but coincidentally ran right into it instead.

Thud!

Liang Jinyun’s Bone Sword struck squarely into the Earth Corpse Immortal’s head.

Despite the tenacious vitality of a Golden Core Stage Earth Corpse Immortal, facing such an attack meant certain death with no chance of survival.

Because Liang Jinyun’s strike not only destroyed the Earth Corpse Immortal’s Physical Body

but also completely annihilated the residual Divine Soul within it.

And this Earth Corpse Immortal was precisely Gou Dong’s Earth Corpse Immortal, controlled by Lu Chen using a Heretical Avatar.Watching her beloved die before her eyes.

Bai Yu completely lost her mind.

The abrupt shift from extreme joy to profound sorrow stripped Bai Yu of all reason.

“Ahhh!!!”

Bai Yu glared at Liang Jinyun with a ferocious expression, her eyes bloodshot.

She looked as if she wanted to tear Liang Jinyun apart and devour him alive.

Feeling the undisguised hatred radiating from Bai Yu, Liang Jinyun was stunned.

Wait, I accidentally killed an Earth Corpse Immortal who served as a Golden Core Stage Protector in my sect.

Why is a Black Lotus Sect Elder hating me so intensely?

As if I killed your family member.

What Liang Jinyun didn’t know was that although Gou Dong wasn’t Bai Yu’s relative,

in Bai Yu’s twisted psyche, Gou Dong meant more to her than any blood relation.

Thus, when she witnessed Earth Corpse Immortal Gou Dong fall by Liang Jinyun’s hand, Bai Yu completely snapped.

“I’ll kill you!!!”

Bai Yu’s Law of Heaven and Earth fully manifested, her furious Bodhisattva Avatar even distorted by her mental state.

The originally serene expression now contorted into a vicious grimace.

“You’ve gone mad!”

Liang Jinyun watched the demonically enraged Bai Yu while activating his own Law of Heaven and Earth and continuously retreating.

He truly couldn’t comprehend why Bai Yu, who moments ago was prepared to sit down for civil discussion,

would suddenly erupt into such frenzy.

Just over an Earth Corpse Immortal? Was it really worth this?

Besides, he had clearly held back earlier – that Earth Corpse Immortal had impaled himself on his sword.

He never intended to kill the Earth Corpse Immortal.

But Bai Yu gave Liang Jinyun no chance to explain.

Because the current Bai Yu had long abandoned all rationality.

If Gou Dong was the sole light in her distorted mind,

then Liang Jinyun’s actions had just personally extinguished that light for Bai Yu.

Thus, Bai Yu had now completely cast aside all pretense.

She no longer cared about any Sword Diagram.

All she wanted was to tear Liang Jinyun into pieces and make him experience the feeling of being dragged into the abyss.

Facing the frenzied Bai Yu, though unclear about what triggered this,

Liang Jinyun had no choice but to engage in combat with her.

However, against a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator who disregarded everything, even life and death,

Liang Jinyun undoubtedly found himself at a disadvantage.

Because Liang Jinyun had no intention of fighting Bai Yu to the death.

Let’s not forget – Kong Guangping of Great Thousand Mountains was still watching them like a hawk from nearby.

Though Kong Guangping didn’t understand why Bai Yu had suddenly gone berserk,

this development was nothing short of beneficial for him.

His cultivation had already surpassed both of theirs to begin with.

Now these two were fighting each other.

This was an unprecedentedly perfect start!

Not only did this mean they had completely eliminated any possibility of alliance,

but as long as they didn’t join forces, his triple-revolved Nascent Soul Stage self would be invincible within the Sword Formation Ruins.

Nothing could threaten him anymore.

However, due to his cautious nature, Kong Guangping didn’t rush to intervene in their battle.

Although the probability of this being an act was slim, it wasn’t impossible.

As long as they kept fighting, he would remain in an unbeatable position.

Thus, there was no need to hurry – he could simply wait for them to determine a victor.

If he rushed to take action instead, unexpected variables might emerge.

He might even lose this perfectly advantageous situation.After all, none of the three could leave at the moment, since Hidden Sword Peak was located deep within the Azure Cloud Sect’s territory.

Currently, there were still other Dao Lord Sword Intents present outside the Azure Cloud Sect.

They had been able to enter this place only because the three sects had joined forces, using a secret technique to open a special passage. This allowed them to bypass the dangerous Sword Intent zone at the sect’s periphery and directly enter Hidden Sword Peak.

However, this secret passage had one limitation: it required the cooperation of all three sects to reopen.

This was because Lu Chen, Bai Yu, and Liang Jinyun each carried a secret key.

Only by simultaneously producing these secret keys could they use the passage to leave.

Otherwise, their only option would be to risk crossing the perilous Sword Intent zone outside.

That area posed a lethal threat not just to Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, but even to those at the Deity Transformation Stage.

This was precisely why Kong Guangping had wanted to talk with the other two earlier.

If they didn’t negotiate, his only way out would be to kill them both.

But in a one-against-two situation, the more likely outcome was that he would be the one killed.

After all, he had to carefully consider the combined strength of two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.

Before he could even begin negotiations, Bai Yu and Liang Jinyun had already started fighting each other.

To this, Kong Guangping could only say it was a fortunate development.

Otherwise, he might genuinely have been in danger.

However, the timing of this internal conflict was not only opportune but also strangely coincidental.

Kong Guangping had an inexplicable feeling,

as if some unseen hand was secretly manipulating everything.

Yet Kong Guangping couldn’t figure out who this person might be.

Kong Guangping wasn’t wrong—the current situation hadn’t occurred naturally.

It was entirely orchestrated by Lu Chen.

In previous instance experiences, Lu Chen had actually brought the situation to this point multiple times.

But each time they reached this juncture, the three life-preserving cultivators would find ways to resolve their issues without fighting.

This was naturally unfavorable news for Lu Chen,

since his goal was the Sword Array Fragment Map.

If these three were to sit down and negotiate, even with his Deity Transformation Stage Mystic Talismans,

he would be unable to capture all three at once.

After all, the Sky-Splitting Seal activated through talismans could never match the power of one directly cast by a Deity Transformation Stage cultivator.

If these three realized the situation was turning against them and scattered in escape,

Lu Chen’s best outcome would be using his Mystic Talismans to suppress two while letting one escape.

Regardless of who escaped, Lu Chen would ultimately be no match for them.

Even with two Harmony Realm Sword Domains and trump cards like the Heretical Sword,

the vast gap between the Nascent Soul Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage remained insurmountable for Lu Chen.

Therefore, he had to find a way to make these three Nascent Soul Stage cultivators fight—

and to the death, no less.

Thus, upon learning of Bai Yu’s special feelings for Gou Dong,

Lu Chen finally found the key to break the deadlock.

This led to the earlier scene where the Earth Corpse Immortal Gou Dong deliberately sacrificed himself.

Everything was carefully planned by Lu Chen.

He wanted to extinguish the only light in Bai Yu’s heart.

He wanted to make her fight Liang Jinyun.

Only through this could he have a chance to clear the Sword Formation Ruins instance.

And now, the critical moment was approaching—

Bai Yu and Liang Jinyun were already engaged in a fierce, white-hot battle.As Bai Yu completely lost her mind, relying on her ruthless determination to disregard life and death, she not only fiercely suppressed Liang Jinyun but also inflicted significant injuries upon him.

Witnessing Bai Yu’s apparent resolve to fight to the death, Liang Jinyun had no choice but to seek aid from Kong Guangping nearby: “Fellow Daoist Kong, please join me in subduing this madwoman. If we can suppress her, I will give you the Sword Diagram and offer a drop of Celestial Corpse Essence Blood as reward.”

Upon hearing Liang Jinyun’s offer of Celestial Corpse Essence Blood, Kong Guangping’s eyes instantly lit up. After all, Celestial Corpse Essence Blood was one of the rare treasures that could assist him in achieving a breakthrough to the Transformation Soul Stage—a truly fortuitous find.

Although he found the conditions favorable, Kong Guangping knew he could demand more benefits given the circumstances. Remaining on the sidelines would only bring him advantages without any drawbacks. Thus, he chuckled and said, “Besides the Celestial Corpse Essence Blood, I also want you to give me a Fourth Realm Dao Artifact.”

Liang Jinyun was taken aback but quickly realized Kong Guangping was taking advantage of the situation. Yet, at this moment, Bai Yu seemed utterly deaf to reason, single-mindedly intent on his demise. Moreover, his Corpse Manipulation techniques were precisely countered by Bai Yu’s abilities. Continuing like this would surely lead to his death. Though it pained him, Liang Jinyun ultimately agreed to Kong Guangping’s terms.

“Deal.”

“Hahaha! Then swear an oath by your Corpse Fiend Cave’s patriarch.”

Without hesitation, while controlling his Earth Corpse Immortal to block Bai Yu’s frenzied assaults, Liang Jinyun made a Heavenly Dao Oath. However, unlike the Heavenly Dao Oaths of the cultivation world, those in the Ancient Fiend World were sworn to the ancient fiends behind each practitioner. In this regard, the ancient fiends acted more as witnesses. Should either party break the oath, the ancient fiend could exact a price from the violator.

“By Yama above, disciple Liang Jinyun hereby swears a Heavenly Dao Oath: If Fellow Daoist Kong Guangping aids me in suppressing Black Lotus Sect’s Bai Yu, I shall present him with one drop of Celestial Corpse Essence Blood and one Fourth Realm Dao Artifact.”

After Liang Jinyun spoke these words, a gaze traversed endless space and directly fell upon him and Kong Guangping. Sensing this, Kong Guangping immediately agreed to the transaction. Soon after, a distinctive black pattern appeared on the back of both their right hands—the special mark of Yama, signifying that their contract was established.

With an ancient fiend backing the agreement, Kong Guangping finally ceased his passive observation and joined the effort to suppress Bai Yu.

Originally, Bai Yu’s strength was on par with Liang Jinyun’s. Her advantage came from her reckless ferocity and her Black Lotus Dao Lineage, which countered his techniques. But with Kong Guangping entering the fray, Bai Yu quickly found herself overwhelmed. Kong Guangping alone possessed the capability to defeat her, let alone with Liang Jinyun’s assistance. The situation had completely reversed: whereas she and Liang Jinyun had previously teamed up against Kong Guangping, now it was Kong Guangping and Liang Jinyun united against her.

Even so, Bai Yu remained fixated on Liang Jinyun, determined to drag him down to Hell with her even if it meant her own death.This not only filled Liang Jinyun with terror and rage, but also made Kong Guangping marvel in astonishment.

What kind of deep-seated grudge could this be?

Wasn’t it just an Earth Corpse Immortal?

Could it be that the Earth Corpse Immortal had some special relationship with Bai Yu?

Though curious about why Bai Yu harbored such hatred toward Liang Jinyun for accidentally killing that Earth Corpse Immortal, Kong Guangping was bound by the Heavenly Dao Oath. No matter how curious he was, he couldn’t allow Bai Yu to continue her frenzied rampage.

Under their combined efforts, Bai Yu’s Law of Heaven and Earth was swiftly shattered by the two of them.

Along with it, Bai Yu herself suffered severe injuries and crashed to the ground.

Seeing this, Liang Jinyun immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

For Bai Yu’s Divine Soul was now shattered, her Great Dao completely destroyed—death was merely a matter of time.

Just as the two prepared to deliver the final blow to Bai Yu, hoping to avoid further complications, an unexpected figure appeared by her side.

Bai Yu, with both arms severed and her abdomen pierced, struggled to lift her head.

What met her eyes was Lu Chen’s familiar yet unfamiliar face.

It took her a while to recall that this was the Black Lotus Sect disciple who had brought the Earth Corpse Immortal Gou Dong to her.

In her dying moments, Bai Yu’s emotions finally settled, allowing her to reflect on the events that had transpired.

Connecting the bizarre circumstances of Gou Dong’s willing death with the fact that the Great Thousand Mountains and Corpse Fiend Cave had arrived almost simultaneously as she found the Sword Diagram, a startling realization dawned on her.

“It was you… you orchestrated all of this?”

In response to Bai Yu’s words, Lu Chen calmly nodded.

Witnessing this, Bai Yu’s eyes widened in shock, and a palpable wave of hatred emanated from her.

She never imagined that the mastermind behind everything would be this mere Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator standing before her.

But how did he know about her relationship with Gou Dong? How did he discover the location of the Sword Diagram?

Though countless questions swirled in her mind, Lu Chen showed no intention of offering any explanations.

Swoosh!

With the flash of an azure profound Spirit Sword, Bai Yu’s head tumbled to the ground.

Even in death, her eyes remained fixed on Lu Chen’s direction, as if she could not rest in peace.

[You have slain Black Lotus Sect Elder · Bai Yu (First Transformation of Nascent Soul Stage/Sixth Grade Earth Path Nascent Soul). You have obtained 5 million experience points, Soul Crystal Shard (Gold)*1, Special Divine Ability · White Bone Contemplation…]

[Current Experience: 11.5 million]

The moment Lu Chen killed Bai Yu, a flood of information began scrolling across his panel.

Although he had previously used a Deity Transformation Stage Talisman to suppress Bai Yu and the others, the talisman’s attack duration was brief. Combined with the fact that Nascent Soul Stage cultivators could employ Primordial Spirit Leaving the Body techniques, he had been unable to finish them off completely at that time.

They always managed to escape with fragments of their Primordial Spirits at the last moment.

After these remnants fled, the remaining unharmed Nascent Soul Stage cultivator among the three would immediately attack him, preventing any chance to pursue the escaping soul fragments. Thus, he had never received the rewards for slaying a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

But this time was different. Not only was Bai Yu severely wounded by Liang Jinyun and Kong Guangping, rendering her incapable of Primordial Spirit Leaving the Body, but her shattered Divine Soul couldn’t even separate from her Physical Body.

That was why Lu Chen could kill her so directly.The reward from a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator was undeniably generous.

It also gave Lu Chen his first taste of exceeding ten million experience points.

And this was just from one Nascent Soul Stage cultivator – there were still two more Nascent Soul fruits waiting for him to harvest.

On the other side, although Kong Guangping and Liang Jinyun didn’t possess as much information as Bai Yu to deduce that Lu Chen was the mastermind secretly plotting against them, they immediately sensed something was wrong when a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator dared to kill a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator at such a moment.

This Foundation Establishment cultivator was somewhat peculiar.

Lu Chen had no intention of wasting words with them. A special talisman immediately appeared in his hand.

The moment they saw that talisman, Kong Guangping and Liang Jinyun’s pupils instantly contracted.

A Deity Transformation Stage mystic talisman?!

Without any hesitation, Kong Guangping and Liang Jinyun immediately turned to flee.

In response, Lu Chen calmly said, “Go.”

As the talisman flew out, a massive Heavenly Seal materialized above the two men’s heads.

With the appearance of this Heavenly Seal, Kong Guangping and Liang Jinyun’s bodies instantly became heavy, and many of their divine abilities were restricted, becoming completely unusable.

Terrified, they looked up at the Heavenly Seal overhead. Knowing it was too late to escape, they resolved to face it head-on.

But as mere Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, attempting to resist this Deity Transformation Stage mystic talisman was undoubtedly overestimating their capabilities.

“Descend.”

Under Lu Chen’s control, the golden Heavenly Seal tore through the clouds and violently descended upon Kong Guangping and Liang Jinyun below.

This time, there would be no mysterious Sword Qi appearing to weaken the power of this Heavenly Seal.

Staring at the Heavenly Seal above them, Kong Guangping and Liang Jinyun fell into despair…

(End of Chapter)