Chương 228: Chapter 117: Miscalculation, Falling into Demonic Clutches

The Great Dao of cultivation is fraught with endless obstacles and untold perils. For a cultivator, the journey of cultivation is like a solitary fish swimming upstream against a roaring, torrential current. Every single step forward demands risking life and limb, a narrow journey through death where nine perish for every one that survives. Out of millions upon millions of seekers who embark on this treacherous path, those who ultimately attain the supreme Great Dao are fewer than can be counted on a single hand!

Yet, if a fish can leap over the Dragon Gate, it defies fate and transforms its very destiny—evolving into a flood dragon or a true dragon. It achieves boundless, transcendent magical power and commands an endlessly vast lifespan! In the Golden Core realm, a cultivator enjoys a maximum lifespan of five hundred long years. With a mere wave of their hand, they can stir the winds and alter the colors of the heavens, earning the revered title of Sovereign!

Beyond lies the glorious Dao of the Nascent Soul, where the limit of one's lifespan extends to a full thousand years. When a Nascent Soul expert moves, spiritual energy manifests into physical form around them, triggering natural phenomena—celestial flowers falling like snow, ethereal clouds swirling, and ambient light shifting as if they were true immortal beings from the divine realms above.

In their every gesture, they wield unimaginable magical power and overwhelming, world-shaking force; overturning mountains and parting vast oceans are mere child's play to them! They stand at the absolute pinnacle of the mortal realm, revered by all as This Seats! Reyn had always harbored a deep, instinctive awe toward Nascent Soul cultivators. He was thoroughly convinced that he could not withstand even a single strike from such an entity.

Yet, when he truly felt that wildly raging, tempestuous aura barreling toward him from behind with lightning speed, an unbearable bitterness rose in his throat, and a wave of profound helplessness washed across his pale features. The Demon Flash Escape was a specialized movement technique that had been bestowed upon him by Yu Meiren. Its speed was astonishingly fast; when deployed with all his strength, his velocity was in no way inferior to that of a full-fledged Golden Core cultivator.

Furthermore, there was the Star-Chasing Demon Domain Art, a secretive technique he had obtained after slaying Cheng Ergui of the Jinshan Sect. Although invoking it required consuming his own precious blood essence each time, its speed reached an absolute extreme—blinking a hundred zhang across the heavens in the span of a single breath was no exaggeration!

Relying on these two formidable escape arts, even if a Late-stage Golden Core expert were to pursue him in full force, Reyn was fully confident that he could retreat unscathed. But at this moment, as he sensed the monstrous aura closing in behind him at an impossible velocity, a suffocating strand of despair began to coil around his heart. Crack! The aura of bloody light surrounding him shattered into brilliant crimson sparks. Reyn's face turned noticeably pale as his body ground to a sudden halt in mid-air.

A look of grim, unyielding determination settled upon his features as he slowly turned his head to look back. What met his eyes was a terrifying sight: the entire sky seemed as though it had been violently sliced into two distinct worlds.

Before him stretched a tranquil sky where the gentle wind blew softly beneath a warm, radiant sun; behind him, however, pitch-black storm clouds rolled aggressively, jagged bolts of lightning flashed with deafening claps of thunder, and howling gales swept across the land without end! Such was the horrifying might of a Nascent Soul cultivator! In a single moment of rage, the very winds and clouds altered their colors, and supernatural phenomena manifested out of thin air!

Suddenly, Reyn's face drained of what little color remained. Right at that instant, a terrifyingly deep and vast Divine Sense—boundless like an endless ocean—instantly locked onto him with absolute precision. With just the slightest twist of this psychic pressure, the entity could obliterate his Primordial Soul in less than a heartbeat, leaving not even a speck of his existence behind! Surprisingly, Reyn's expression remained eerily calm, betraying not the slightest hint of fear or panic.

Since he had chosen to stop, he had already braced himself to face the ultimate threat of death. What was more, he was not entirely powerless to resist even now. If he were driven into a dead end, he could use the self-destruction of the Little Divine Hall as a bargaining chip to threaten his pursuer. Surely that Old Monster Mu would harbor enough reservations about destroying a supreme artifact and half his clan to let him walk away safely.

Having thought through this crucial point, his heart settled slightly, and he slowly raised his head to gaze forward. Right at that moment, a figure stepped through the empty void from the distant sky. Around his body, the surrounding Spirit Qi coalesced into grotesque spectral skulls that cackled with eerie, chilling laughter, issuing sharp, bloodcurdling screeches while spewing endless demonic malevolence.

Behind him, tempestuous gales raged, thick dark clouds covered the heavens, and cracking lightning danced wildly in the air. His imposing aura surged straight into the sky like an ancient, wrathful god treading across the celestial realm step by step! Mu Daguang moved at what appeared to be an extremely leisurely pace, taking deliberate steps like an ordinary man walking on solid ground.

Yet, each step he took seemed to shrink distance itself, effortlessly crossing hundreds or even thousands of zhang in a single stride. His countenance was unnaturally serene, save for a slight, barely perceptible furrow between his brows. Yet that simple frown alone radiated an oppressive, suffocating slaughter qi that struck sheer terror into the depths of anyone's soul! Halting his footsteps roughly a dozen zhang in front of Reyn, Mu Daguang let his gaze sweep across the young cultivator.

That single glance felt as though it could pierce through Reyn's soul and lay bare every secret he held. In a flat, emotionless voice, he asked softly, "Disciple Reyn, why are you not peacefully cultivating back at the Mu Family estate? Why have you departed without taking your leave, sneaking away in secret?" Under that piercing gaze, Reyn's face grew paler still, yet a sneer of grim irony curled his lips.

"Master," he spoke, his voice laced with cold sarcasm, "things have already come to this—why must you continue putting on such a hypocritical show? If Master had treated me with genuine sincerity, your disciple would have spared no effort to repay your kindness, without a single complaint even if it meant breaking my bones and scattering my ashes." As he reached this point, his gaze suddenly turned extraordinarily sharp, shining like two gleaming swords piercing straight into the sky.

"Even an ant clings to life, let alone a cultivator like me who walks a path that inherently defies Heaven itself! Faced with a desperate situation of life and death, how could I not fight back with everything I have? Even if Master discovers my escape, the worst outcome is merely death—and that is still vastly superior to having my Spirit Root forcefully devoured, dying an ignominious death without even knowing why!" Hearing these words, Mu Daguang's expression darkened noticeably.

The spiritual skulls swirling around his body flitted up and down with violent frenzy, their ferocious air swelling. A moment later, however, a strange smile crept onto his face, and he spoke calmly: "Since you already know the truth, this Monarch sees no further need for deception. I presume you learned of this matter from the lips of that Shen Zui?"

"That man can indeed be considered a remarkably patient and enduring individual. For many years, though this old man harbored suspicions, I was never able to confirm whether he was truly insane or merely playing the fool. To think he actually seized an opportunity to escape—and nearly ruined this old man's grand plan in the process." Reyn let out a cold smirk upon hearing this and remarked, "That man's actions likely carried a deeper, hidden motive.

Had he not secretly tampered with the Space-Shattering Spirit Feather, I fear Master would not have realized so quickly that I had fled the Mu Family." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Mu Daguang frowned slightly at this, but then waved his hand dismissively.

"Since I cannot make sense of his motives, I shall bother thinking about it no longer. If I were in his position, after escaping, I would keep my mouth tightly shut to avoid drawing this Monarch's murderous pursuit. Thus, the secrets of my Mu Family are unlikely to spread far and wide. Wouldn't you agree, my disciple?"

"Indeed," Reyn replied measuredly.

"Unless there were an unresolvable, deep-seated hatred, a man with his level of cunning would never take reckless or extreme actions." An intrigued look flickered across Mu Daguang's face as he cast a penetrating glance at Reyn, asking, "Since you already know everything, how is it that you remain so remarkably composed at this moment? Do you perhaps still hold some hidden trump card in your hand? If that is the case, this Monarch shall grant you a single opportunity to state it.

Otherwise, once I make my move, you will not be given even a sliver of a chance." Reyn's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he answered in a deep, resolute tone, "I do!"

"Your disciple possesses a Dao Artifact, which currently remains inside the Mu Family compound. If Master allows me to depart safely and vows never to seek trouble with me in the future, your disciple can swear a binding Demon Heart Oath to never leak even a single word of what transpired here today!"

"Otherwise, the moment your disciple determines that there is no hope left for survival, with a mere thought, I will trigger that Dao Artifact to instantly self-destruct! Given Master's profound wisdom and experience, you surely understand the catastrophic power unleashed when a Dao Artifact detonates! At that time, while your disciple will undoubtedly perish, more than half of the cultivators in your Mu Family will be dragged down to be buried alongside me!"

"Furthermore, an explosion of such magnitude will inevitably draw the attention of countless powerful forces across the realm. Should the vile, secret deeds conducted by the Mu Family in the dark be exposed to the world, then even with Master presiding as a Nascent Soul supreme expert, the Mu Family will still face total annihilation and ruined ruin!" Upon hearing these words, Mu Daguang's countenance flickered slightly, and a streak of surprise and uncertainty glinted in his eyes.

If what Reyn said was indeed true, he truly would not dare to ruthlessly strike him down! After falling silent for a short moment, he spoke in a heavy, booming tone: "If what you say is true, it would not be impossible for this Monarch to grant you safe passage today. However, you must first reveal that Dao Artifact for this Monarch to examine—otherwise, how can I possibly take you at your word?" A faint surge of joy welled up in Reyn's heart.

If there was a way to retreat completely unscathed, he naturally had no desire to perish alongside the Mu Family in mutual destruction.

"This artifact was originally something that belonged to your Mu family, but during this trip into the Trial Realm, through an extraordinary twist of fate, I happened to acquire the ninth Mu Jade Sword! Therefore, the object I speak of is none other than your family's solemn grand sanctuary—the Azure Jade Palace! So long as Master grants me safe passage and allows me to leave, I will use my Primordial Soul to drive this supreme treasure away with me.

Otherwise, I will detonate it on the spot, and we shall both perish together in mutual destruction!" Mu Daguang stood frozen for a brief moment, his features stiffening slightly before a sinister, overcast darkness washed across his eyes. His gaze turned bone-chillingly cold as he scoffed, "This Monarch has no desire to squander precious time playing verbal games with you. Since you are utterly incapable of producing anything that can truly inspire dread in my heart, then you will simply return with me quietly!"

The moment his words fell, he slightly spread the five fingers of his hand. An invisible, irresistible force instantly bound Reyn, causing his body to lock up rigidly as he was yanked helplessly through the air and dragged straight into the grand patriarch's unyielding grasp. A sudden, icy wave of foreboding surged from the depths of Reyn's heart. Why had Mu Daguang remained so utterly brazen and devoid of fear the moment he heard the words 'Azure Jade Palace'?

Could there be some critical secret regarding this ancient treasure that he had been completely kept in the dark about?

"Master," Reyn rasped through tightly clenched teeth, forcing his trembling voice to maintain a semblance of composure despite the crushing grip restraining him, "your disciple has one final question. Why is it that after learning the object in question was the Azure Jade Palace, you no longer harbor even the slightest misgiving?" Mu Daguang let out a frigid, contemptuous chuckle.

He cast an indifferent, dismissive glance at Reyn, his voice carrying the haughty arrogance of a supreme sovereign as he spoke: "Gathering all nine Mu Jade Swords to automatically become the rightful master of the Azure Jade Palace... was nothing more than a calculated ploy devised by my Mu family tens of thousands of years ago to entice greedy cultivators from various sects into entering our domain.

The true Artifact Spirit of the Azure Jade Palace was ripped out and thoroughly refined by the ancient ancestors of my Mu family during the Great War of antiquity! So tell me—how in the world could a pathetic fool like you possibly become the master of the Azure Jade Palace today?"

"Had you claimed to possess virtually any other item, this Monarch might indeed have felt a shred of hesitation before acting," Mu Daguang added, his lips curling into a cruel, mocking sneer.

"But you were simply too clever for your own good! By trying to play your sly little tricks with the Azure Jade Palace, you have handed me absolute peace of mind. Naturally, I no longer have any reason to hold back!" Hearing those words, Reyn's pupils violently contracted to the size of pinpricks. A cold shock rippled through his entire body. If what Mu Daguang said was the absolute truth, then... what in the world was Little Divine Hall?!

"Hmph, foolish child!" Mu Daguang sneered, casting a cool, calculating look over the immobile youth in his grip.

"If you had truly gained absolute, unfettered command over a supreme Dao Artifact like the Azure Jade Palace, then right now, with me having physically captured you, you would have already ordered it to self-detonate in order to drag me into the abyss with you!"

'Little Divine Hall... are you truly the Artifact Spirit of the Azure Jade Palace, or not?' Reyn remained completely silent, his mouth tightly shut, but a sharp, piercing wave of mental intent shot forth from his Primordial Soul, demanding an immediate answer deep within his consciousness. A long, suffocating moment of silence passed before Little Divine Hall's voice finally echoed back. It sounded noticeably guilty, stammering with an awkward, hesitant weakness: "You... have you already...

found out about something?" Upon hearing that timid admission, Reyn's heart plummeted into a dark, bottomless abyss. A wave of endless, desolate bitterness flooded his soul. He had never imagined in his wildest dreams that his ultimate trump card—the single lifeline he had counted on to turn the tides—was nothing more than an utterly laughable delusion. Now that he was completely immobilized within the grip of Mu Daguang, a terrifying Nascent Soul monster, he was truly staring into the jaws of unavoidable doom!

As if intimately sensing the overwhelming bitterness and suffocating despair radiating from Reyn's Primordial Soul, Little Divine Hall suddenly blew its top, shrieking and screeching at the top of its lungs: "Fine! It's true! The original Artifact Spirit of the Azure Jade Palace was indeed torn out and refined tens of thousands of years ago! It is dead, dead as a stone, dead beyond any shadow of a doubt!

But this Divine Hall was grown directly from a lingering strand of consciousness that original spirit left buried deep within the nine Mu Jade Swords! Theoretically speaking, that still makes me the legitimate Artifact Spirit of the Azure Jade Palace! I didn't lie to you about that! Not one single word was a lie!"

'Can you currently command the Azure Jade Palace to unleash the full, destructive power of a Dao Artifact right now?' Reyn's mental transmission was ice-cold, cutting through the spirit's frantic excuses with razor-sharp, merciless clarity.

'I am already completely trapped in Mu Daguang's hands. If you cannot do it right this second, I am guaranteed to die today!'

"I can! This Divine Hall definitely can!" Little Divine Hall wailed in desperate, panicked shrieks, begging fervently like a child pushed to the brink.

"I just need a tiny bit more time! Master, you have to trust me! Just give me a little more time, and I will be able to completely take over and control it! I swear!"

'How long?' Reyn asked, his mental tone devoid of all emotion.

"... At the fastest... half a day..." Little Divine Hall's voice faltered noticeably, growing quieter and full of hesitation.

"... At the slowest... perhaps two days..."

'I don't have time.' Reyn went silent for a long moment, replying with a flat, lifeless calm. Immediately after the final syllable echoed in his consciousness, he unhesitatingly severed the spiritual connection between them.

"No time...?" Looking at the complete loss of Reyn's presence, Little Divine Hall stood completely frozen inside the palace space. Although it possessed fragmented memories passed down from the ancient Artifact Spirit, strictly speaking, Reyn was the very first living cultivator it had ever met since gaining awareness and coming into this world. For reasons it could not fathom, Reyn's abrupt severance of their mental link instantly sparked a wave of hysterical, primal terror within its nascent soul.

"Damn it! Damn it all to hell! How could things turn out like this?!" Little Divine Hall flew into a frenzy, roaring again and again with desperate, shrieking panic.

"This Divine Hall strictly forbids you from dying! Hold on just a little bit longer! I'm almost done, I'm almost done taking control!" But at that exact instant, the frantic shouting abruptly died in its throat. Little Divine Hall froze in absolute, horror-stricken silence. The subtle, thread-like soul bond that had linked it to Reyn ever since it acknowledged him as master... had now vanished completely without a single trace.