You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Chen Yang's eyes.

"Uncle Li, please make this trip immediately and head to Qingxi Village! With your divine power, suppress those absurd rumors about the 'dragon head's energy vein' and 'damaged dragon energy,' and quell the panic! You must quell this matter as soon as possible! If there are any troublemakers behind this... you can observe their aura and use your divine power to slightly suppress them, but do not harm the innocent!"

"Don't worry, young master."

Uncle Li bowed calmly without the slightest hesitation.

"I will certainly handle this matter properly!"

After saying that, he swayed and disappeared into the mountain mist, vanishing outside the Qingwei Sect's gate in the blink of an eye. His aura blended into the vast green mountains, making it difficult for anyone to discern his whereabouts.

That sense of returning to the wilderness, along with a subtle, long-dormant aura of the mountain god, quietly emanated from him. For dealing with the mortal villagers who were inciting trouble for no reason, this former mountain god was indeed an excellent choice.

After watching Uncle Li leave, Chen Yang discussed the follow-up matters with Master Huang and Liu Yu for a few more minutes before returning alone to his secluded little courtyard deep in the bamboo forest behind the mountain. Pushing open the door to the attic, a familiar, tranquil atmosphere filled with the fragrance of bamboo and wood rushed towards him, slightly soothing the mental fatigue brought on by the days of running around and fighting.

Outside the window, dusk was falling, and Xuanxian Mountain was shrouded in a hazy night, with swaying bamboo shadows and the chirping of insects.

The day's mental and physical exertion, coupled with the previous fatigue, left Chen Yang feeling waves of weariness washing over him. His nerves, which had been taut during the trial, finally received a signal to completely relax.

He was too lazy to practice his cultivation technique, so he took off his outer robe and just wanted to make a cup of tea and then go to sleep.

Just as he reached out to take the tea cake from the tea canister on the table!

The fingers of his right hand froze slightly in mid-air without warning!
A faint yet icy and sharp divine consciousness fluctuation, like the tip of a needle or the tip of a wheat awn, carrying an aura of scrutiny and malice, swept silently and swiftly through the environment around him, like a venomous snake hidden deep in the grass!
If he hadn't just experienced countless life-and-death trials in the Trial Death Zone, and his divine sense perception hadn't been brutally honed to the extreme, and if he hadn't become extremely sensitive to "unexpected" events when he returned to his most familiar and relaxed environment, he would never have been able to catch this fleeting glimpse!

Someone is lurking in this cliffside courtyard that belongs to him and that even the elders of the Qingwei Sect rarely disturb!

Chen Yang's heart clenched tightly in an instant! His fatigue vanished, and his instincts, honed by countless life-and-death experiences, caused his spiritual energy to instantly and rapidly circulate! But his face remained expressionless as he took a cup of tea; only his eyes suddenly sharpened to the point of being as hawk-like as a hawk's!

"What extraordinary person would dare to visit my humble abode in the dead of night? Such sneaking around is beneath your dignity!"

His voice rang out calmly, still with his back to the direction where the aura was faintly present, but his right hand was already gently placed on the storage bag at his waist.

The pure spiritual energy of the Pure Subtle Yuan Descent Technique within his body circulated continuously, like an undercurrent poised to erupt. At the same time, the soft Heavenly Silkworm Armor clinging to his body also emitted a warm aura, like a living thing awakening, covering the vital areas of his body!

The voice echoed in the quiet attic, and even the chirping of insects outside the window seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Only the night, like cold ink, silently permeated this space.

The deathly silence lasted for several breaths.

"laugh……"

A very light and cold breath, almost imperceptible, came from behind Chen Yang, deep in the shadows of the bamboo forest shrouded in the hazy moonlight.

The space there was like the surface of water after a stone has been thrown in, rippling outwards in circles.

A pure black shadow appeared without warning before Chen Yang. Its robe seemed to devour all light, but the dark mask etched with crazed demonic patterns on its face exuded an inhuman chill from its jawline. A viscous, tangible cold tide, a mixture of decay and a powerful, judgmental pressure, instantly filled and solidified the entire pavilion!
"Humph."

A nasal voice, devoid of emotion, came from beneath the mask, carrying the harshness of metal scraping against metal.

"Chen Yang... how dare you! You have repeatedly broken the rules of my Xuanmen sect and stirred up trouble. How do you suggest we settle this debt?"

Alarm bells rang in Chen Yang's mind, his back tensed like a bow stretched to its limit, and his pure and subtle Yuan energy circulated wildly within his dantian.

"The rules of the Xuanmen?"

He suppressed the tremor deep in his soul, his voice steady yet carrying a hint of coldness.

"My actions are in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people! To eliminate evil and uphold justice, and to protect this region, these are my rules! How could I possibly know about the 'rules and regulations' you speak of? If you want to settle scores, then show me your abilities. Why hide your true colors and speak so furtively?"

"I don't know how high the sky is!"

The man in black robes suddenly became stern, his killing intent surging!
Before the last word "account" had even faded, the black-robed man unleashed a suffocatingly cold aura, his figure transforming into a streak of dark light that tore through the night!

A withered hand covered in a dark leather sheath, carrying immense force capable of crushing rocks, instantly grabbed at Chen Yang's throat! The speed was faster than the reaction of sight!
"The Pure and Subtle Primordial Descends, Commanding All Spirits!"

Chen Yang's pupils constricted sharply, and he roared!
He poured out all his inner energy from his dantian, and a condensed and resilient wall of pure energy instantly appeared in front of him, flowing with purple-gold light, desperately resisting the deadly claw strike.

"Sizzle—!"

A piercing, tearing sound echoed throughout the attic!
The moment the withered claw touched the Qingwei Qi wall, it erupted with violent ripples, tearing the tough Qi wall apart as if it were thin paper! Although the claw's force was weakened, its sinister and decaying power was still unstoppable, slamming into Chen Yang's chest!
A close call!
With a muffled "hum", the Heavenly Silkworm Armor that Chen Yang was wearing suddenly shone with a layer of restrained and soft silver light!

The claw force, powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, struck his chest, causing the silver light to fluctuate violently, forming countless tiny ripples, like soft water transforming into powerful energy.

An overwhelming force surged through the armor, causing Chen Yang's internal organs to churn in excruciating pain, his blood to boil, and a strong, metallic taste to rise in his throat!

He groaned, his entire body crashing heavily into the wall behind him like a kite with a broken string, leaving spiderweb-like cracks! If it weren't for the Heavenly Silkworm Inner Armor he had taken from the Ghost Daoist, which absorbed ninety percent of the force, that claw would have already pierced his chest!

"Nothing special."

Beneath the mask, the lips seemed to curve into a subtle, cruel arc.

"A lawful artifact? Let's see how many attacks it can block for you!"

Having landed a successful blow, the man in black robes did not linger. His figure transformed into a ghostly phantom once more, and the dark claw wind tore through the air, bringing out a piercing shriek, forming an impenetrable net of death that once again enveloped Chen Yang!
Chen Yang gritted his teeth and persevered, pushing the Qingwei Yuanjiang Heart Technique within his body to its limit. He continuously unleashed Qingwei Divine Incantation Runes imbued with thunder and fire, attempting to halt the opponent's offensive.

However, the difference in their cultivation levels was like a chasm. His counterattack landed on the surging, chilling aura in front of his opponent, like a clay ox sinking into the sea, the slightest ripple extinguished silently. The enemy's power was far beyond imagination, and his speed unpredictable! In just a few breaths, Chen Yang withstood three more heavy blows from his opponent!
Bang bang bang!
Each resistance was accompanied by the intense buzzing of the Heavenly Silkworm Armor and the groans of the bones straining under the weight.

Blood trickled from the corner of Chen Yang's mouth, and he staggered. His internal energy was on the verge of collapse due to the frantic consumption and intense pain.

The black ghost claw, however, was like a leech clinging to a bone. Its fourth claw, carrying a killing intent that could pierce through everything, struck directly at Chen Yang's unsuspecting brow!
The aura of death was chilling and piercing! A hint of despair flashed in Chen Yang's eyes.

"presumptuous!"

At this critical moment of life and death, a clear, cold shout, like shattering ice, exploded from the depths of Chen Yang's soul! An overwhelming spatial force instantly took over Chen Yang's body, and a powerful soul force far exceeding his own limits erupted! Chen Yang's body twisted at an impossible angle, narrowly avoiding the fatal claw!
"what?"

The man in black robes let out a soft sound of surprise.

At this moment, Chen Yang's eyes suddenly turned deep and icy, as if they held the weight of ancient stars. His hands moved like butterflies, forming hand seals with lightning speed!

"The primordial essence descends, divine power manifests!"

"Space—Stop!"

hum! !

An invisible yet solid spatial barrier, carrying a heavy will to suppress all things, suddenly condensed and took shape in front of Chen Yang! On the barrier, subtle spatial distortions and ripples could be faintly seen.

This use of space is exquisite and far surpasses Chen Yang's own level!

Boom!

The black-robed man's fifth claw slammed into the spatial barrier, producing a deafening clang like metal clashing! A violent shockwave exploded outwards, instantly shattering the tables and chairs inside the pavilion into dust!

The spatial barrier fluctuated violently, with countless fine cracks spreading out. Although it was on the verge of collapse, it stubbornly withstood this attack that far surpassed the previous one!
"What kind of demon has possessed me?!"

For the first time, the man in black robes' voice carried a hint of shock and a barely perceptible apprehension.

"Such spatial control...you are not a member of the Qingwei Sect!"

Chen Yang didn't answer at all. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Taking advantage of the fact that the opponent's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated, his body, which was strengthened by the power of space, burst out with terrifying speed!

The Qingwei Yuanjiang Dharma Seal, which incorporated the insights of Lirou Space, condensed once again. A purple-gold thunderfire talisman, refined to its extreme and with a twisted spatial rift wrapped around its core, slammed into the face of the black-robed man with a terrifying aura that could incinerate the soul!
This strike combined Chen Yang's fundamental fire magic with Li Rou's most primal power of annihilation space!
"The evil spirits are gone!"

Beneath the black robe and mask, his usually calm and collected eyes finally changed color!
In his haste, he crossed his claws over his face, and thick, viscous black evil energy desperately condensed into a shield in front of him.

BOOM—!!
The blinding purple-gold light exploded with a deafening roar! The violent energy instantly engulfed the figure in black robes! Amidst the deafening explosion, there were sounds of tearing cloth, tiny bone cracks, and a muffled groan that was being suppressed!

A shockwave rolled in, and smoke and dust filled the air! When the light faded, the figure in black robes had retreated to the edge of the pavilion. The sleeves he used to block the light had turned into pieces of black butterflies and scattered, revealing arms covered with strange black scales but also covered with scorch marks. There seemed to be a deeper ink color sliding down the lower edge of the mask.

His once invincible and domineering aura visibly weakened, and for the first time, his eyes revealed shock and disbelief.

"Well done... well done, Master Qingwei!"

His voice was hoarse and venomous, and it looked even more ferocious through the mask.

"They really hid it well! I didn't expect them to have such methods!"

Chen Yang's breathing was also somewhat disordered, and forcibly manipulating Chen Yang's body to use the power of the primordial space was also a huge drain on her.

She controlled Chen Yang's body to take a step forward, her voice icy cold, carrying a disdain that came from the depths of her soul.

"Get out, or die!"

These four simple words, yet they exuded a chilling killing intent, as if their words carried the weight of law!
The man in black robes trembled almost imperceptibly, his deep eyes fixed on Chen Yang's inhuman gaze, as if trying to see through its illusions. After a moment of deathly silence, he let out a fierce, extremely unwilling roar.

"I, the Lord of Heaven, will settle this score with your Qingwei Sect one by one!"

Before he could finish speaking, his figure exploded into a thick, churning black mist, which, like a living thing, swiftly burrowed into the cracks in the floor and vanished without a trace in an instant, leaving only a nauseating, chilling aura and shattered ground. The attic fell silent once more, with only the messy scene telling the story of the thrilling battle that had just taken place.

Chen Yang's body went limp, and the feeling of being forcibly lifted and controlled instantly subsided. The cold consciousness belonging to Li Rou receded like a tide, and intense fatigue, bone-deep pain, and nausea as if his internal organs had shifted instantly swept over his entire body.

He staggered and fell to one knee, gasping for breath. Each cough brought excruciating pain, and his mouth tasted of rust.

“Arou…”

He called out in his heart, his voice weak.

Li Rou's divine sense immediately arrived, carrying obvious fatigue and solemnity.

"How badly am I injured? That guy... is very strong. The 'Xuanmen rules' are probably just a pretext. The key is the word 'Destiny' on him."

They've got their eyes on you—no, they've got their eyes on what you have and for ruining their shady plans. I just forcibly used my spatial power, and it's taken a huge toll on me. I need to sleep to recover, Chen Yang… From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself. Be extremely careful!

“I understand…” Chen Yang wiped the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth with difficulty, his eyes as cold as iron.

“‘Destiny’? Retribution? Very well… then let’s wait and see!”

He struggled to sit up cross-legged, forcing himself to circulate the Pure Subtle Essence Descent Technique to nourish his almost broken body.

The resilient energy of the Heavenly Silkworm Armor slowly repaired the tremors within his body. After a full hour of meditation, his disordered qi and blood finally calmed down slightly.

It was already past midnight, and the attic was dilapidated and silent.

Chen Yang felt a heavy weight in his heart, recalling the forced interruption of his cultivation last night and the newly acquired "Blazing Fire Immortal Technique." In the battle just now, if he had possessed this extremely offensive fire technique, even if he had only cultivated a fraction of its essence, combined with the Heavenly Silkworm Armor, he wouldn't have been in such a perilous and disheveled state!
He dared not delay any longer, enduring the throbbing pain from his injuries, he sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, and sank his mind into the depths of his consciousness.

The ancient and intense mantra of the "Blazing Fire Immortal Technique" flowed through my mind.

Unlike the vast and orthodox Qingwei Yuanjiang, this immortal technique is full of domineering and annihilating intent.

"The fire of the heart ignites, burning away all things; a single spark of spiritual flame illuminates the nine netherworlds!"

Chen Yang slowly inhaled and exhaled, his mind and will highly concentrated.

He attempted to draw upon the Yuan energy in his dantian, circulating it through the special meridians described in the immortal manual to connect with the omnipresent fire elemental energy of heaven and earth. Initially, it was difficult and obscure, the flow obstructed, and his internal Yuan energy often suffered from qi stagnation at key meridian points due to injuries, resulting in excruciating pain. (End of Chapter)