Chapter 212 - 204: Taiyin Refining Form
"The hell I will...!"
Faced with Qi Yun’s air of superiority, Song Kun’s anger flared. He raised his hand to curse, but before he could finish—
VMMMM!
The entire Taiyin Refining Form Array suddenly converged, an invisible barrier sealing the area off from the outside world and transforming it into an isolated, sealed domain.
"Don’t you specialize in the way of the stars and the moon?"
Qi Yun’s voice drifted through the Array, clear and ice-cold.
"Fine. Then I’ll use that very path to kill you."
He activated the spell, and the Grand Array rumbled to life.
The Taiyin is the essence of the Supreme Yin. It presides over grim slaughter and commands execution.
Its light is pure and cold; its nature, cruel and severe.
This array seizes the killing aura between Heaven and Earth, twisting the life force of Creation into deathly silence.
It forges blades from the moon’s essence and weaves a prison from starlight.
Where the array takes form, the Taiyin Cold Prison is born.
Above, at the dome of the array, a colossal, pale, and lifeless "Pseudo Moon" emerged from the void. It was orbited by icy, dead trails of starlight, and as it slowly rotated, it radiated a chill that corroded all existence.
There was no wind within the array, yet an intense cold that pierced to the bone and froze the soul arose from nothing, spreading in silence.
"You think you can suppress me with the way of the stars and moon?
In your dreams!"
Song Kun snorted coldly. Fighting through his injuries, he poured every last bit of his remaining Magical Power into his own Star Sea Azure Moon Realm.
The Star Sea above his head roiled like a furious ocean, and the azure moon blazed with pure light. He attempted to use his own understanding of the way of stars and moon to wrest control over the Power of Stars and Moon that the array had warped, pitting his brilliant starlight against the lifeless Pseudo Moon.
For a moment, the scene within the array was bizarre. On one side were the stars and the bright moon that Song Kun desperately maintained, shimmering with the brilliance of life.
On the other was the all-consuming Pseudo Moon and its dark stars, conjured by the Grand Array—cold, pale, and lifeless.
Two forces, born of the same source yet diametrically opposed, violently clashed and corroded one another.
SIZZLE—!
When the starlight met the glow of the Pseudo Moon, it made a sound like cold water hitting hot oil.
The light of the stars in Song Kun’s Realm Heaven rapidly dimmed, as if the pale Pseudo Moon were draining all their vitality. Even his azure moon became veiled in a sickly gray shadow.
The omnipresent Power of the Great Yin ignored his Protective Divine Light, seeping through in wisps. Wherever it passed, the circulation of his Magical Power grew sluggish, his meridians felt as if they were being sealed in ice, and even his thoughts seemed about to freeze solid.
"Impossible!" Shock filled Song Kun’s eyes as he felt his own Dao Foundation and Realm Heaven being suppressed by a power of the same origin.
He rapidly activated his Sword Formulas, sending out streams of Star Moon Sword Gang to slash at the surrounding void. He tried to tear through the array’s walls, but his attacks vanished like a stone in the ocean, only provoking an even fiercer backlash.
The pale Pseudo Moon’s light suddenly flared. Beams of incredibly concentrated Taiyin moonlight, like cold swords of execution, wove into a net and slashed down ruthlessly!
At the same time, the surrounding icy starlight abruptly contracted, forming invisible shackles that bound his Star Sea Azure Moon Realm in a death grip.
CRACK...
A distinct cracking sound rang out. As the absolute silence and killing intent corroded the illusion of the Star Sea Realm Heaven above Song Kun’s head, several stars within it suddenly shattered.
Song Kun’s face instantly paled.
The Foundation Establishment Realm Heaven is a Master’s very foundation; damage to one meant damage to both.
"W-Wait...!"
Watching the cracks spread across the Dao Foundation of his painstakingly cultivated Star Sea Azure Moon Realm as its light rapidly faded, Song Kun’s face twitched. He knew that continuing this fight would cause irreparable harm to his core.
He finally suppressed all his pride and venom, his voice hoarse as he opened his mouth to surrender and beg for mercy.
Even an ant clings to life; he did not want his Dao to be extinguished and his body to perish here!
However, Qi Yun clearly had no intention of giving him that chance.
The very instant Song Kun opened his mouth, the Daluo Magical Power within Qi Yun’s body—as vast as an ocean and containing a Venerable Dao Rhyme—surged like a bursting dam, pouring even more furiously into the hovering Human Emperor Banner!
VMMMM—!!!
The aura of the entire Taiyin Refining Form Array suddenly skyrocketed, its oppressive might doubling!
The cold, pale, lifeless "Yin Moon" at the heart of the array trembled violently, unleashing a terrifying gravitational pull that sought to devour all things and bring an end to everything!
The void distorted under this gravitational pull. Within the array’s range, the Spiritual Qi, light, and even dust began to uncontrollably disintegrate and stream toward the Yin Moon, transforming into pale currents of annihilating light that it mercilessly devoured.
Qi Yun’s gaze remained indifferent. It passed through the layers of the array’s light curtain and fell upon Song Kun’s deathly pale face. He said nothing.
But the aura surging around him only grew more intense and tyrannical.
"You... you..." Song Kun felt the Yin Moon’s devouring power targeting him suddenly intensify. His Protective Divine Light flickered like a guttering candle in the wind, and his internal Magical Power—even his Divine Soul—began to destabilize, as if they were about to be forcibly ripped from his body.
He finally panicked, his voice carrying an irrepressible tremor and horror.
"You—you really intend to... refine me?!!"
He couldn’t believe that Qi Yun would dare to make such a vicious move against a fellow Master within the Sect’s grounds!
This was completely lawless!
Facing Song Kun’s question, which was filled with terror and disbelief, Qi Yun finally spoke. His tone was as flat and calm as a still lake, as if he were stating the simplest of facts.
"What else?"
The two words fell lightly.
But they struck Song Kun’s heart and spirit like a death knell, booming with finality!
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Qi Yun slightly raised his right index finger, about to trigger the Grand Array’s final transformation, to refine Song Kun completely and eliminate the problem for good.
But just as the Magical Power at his fingertip was about to be unleashed, an almost imperceptible ripple spread through the space beside him.
A figure appeared silently at his side, as if he had been standing there all along.
"Nephew Qi, stay your hand."
The newcomer, holding a verdant bamboo staff, was none other than Nan Dou Master.
He wore his usual gentle smile. His gaze swept over the bedraggled, weakened Song Kun within the array, and he chuckled softly before speaking.
"Song Kun acted recklessly in provoking you without cause. He is indeed at fault, but his crime does not warrant death.
Besides, we are still within the Sect. It would not reflect well on us if word of disciples slaughtering one another were to get out."
He paused slightly, then looked at Qi Yun, his tone conciliatory.
"For my sake, can you spare him this once?"
The biting aura condensed at Qi Yun’s fingertip quietly dissipated.
He also knew in his heart that it wasn’t realistic to kill a veteran Foundation Establishment Master directly within the Holy Sect, under the watchful eyes of all.
The Sect’s rules could not be flouted.
Furthermore, Nan Dou Master had appeared personally to intercede. By emphasizing the phrase "within the Sect," he had made the implicit warning and the bottom line perfectly clear, and Qi Yun understood.
In a flash, the suffocating killing intent around Qi Yun receded like the tide. He bowed slightly to Nan Dou Master, his tone returning to one of calm.
"Since Senior Uncle has spoken personally, Qi Yun... would not dare to disobey."
"Heh heh, excellent. Excellent."
Seeing Qi Yun grasp the larger picture, Nan Dou Master stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction. Then, his gaze turned to the still-shaken Song Kun within the array. The smile on his face faded, replaced by a hint of sternness.
"Song Kun, you provoked Nephew Qi without cause, instigated internal strife within the Sect, and disturbed the peace. You must be punished.
Your punishment... will be confinement to Flower Moon Hall to reflect on your transgressions. The term will be sixty years."
"I...!"
Hearing this, Song Kun’s vision went black, and he nearly coughed up another mouthful of blood.
He had just ended a sixty-year confinement and had been out for less than a day, and now, in the blink of an eye, he was sentenced to another sixty years!
But feeling the authority in Nan Dou Master’s placid gaze, as well as Qi Yun’s cold, indifferent stare from the side, he forcibly swallowed all his indignation and rage.
He bit his lip so hard that the thick taste of blood filled his mouth. In the end, he could only lower his head in defeat and squeeze four words out from between his gritted teeth:
"Song Kun... accepts the order."
Hearing this punishment, Qi Yun’s eyes flickered slightly.
’Confinement? This is less of a punishment and more of a form of protection in disguise.’
’Nan Dou Master must have realized my killing intent hasn’t faded. He’s afraid I’ll find an excuse to "deal with" Song Kun outside the Sect one day.’
As expected, as if sensing Qi Yun’s thoughts, Nan Dou Master slowly added:
"Furthermore, since you must be confined for sixty years, you will be unable to attend to other matters.
The Shiyi Realm that you are responsible for suppressing will also be transferred to Nephew Qi’s care. This will allow you to repent with peace of mind."
"What?!!"
Song Kun jerked his head up, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief!
"What," Nan Dou Master said, his gaze lowered and his tone flat, "do you have an objection to the Sect’s arrangements?"
"...No."
Song Kun clenched his jaw, forcing the blood that had risen to his throat back down. His fists, clenched so tightly they trembled from the strain, finally went limp as he dejectedly shook his head.
"Good. Then this matter is settled."
Nan Dou Master no longer looked at him. Instead, he gave Qi Yun a slight nod, then with a great wave of his sleeve, an invisible force swept across Heaven and Earth. His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to every corner of the Taixu Mirror Heaven, imbued with the authority of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Great Master.
"What are you all gawking at? Get back to your cultivation!"
As his voice fell, the Divine Senses that had been furtively probing from all directions, barely visible, instantly retracted, clean as a whistle, like a flock of startled birds.
The disturbance subsided for the moment, and the spectating Divine Senses receded like a tide.
"Qi Yun, come with me."
Without further ado, Nan Dou Master called out and led Qi Yun back to the somewhat desolate Daoist Temple, which stood on a secluded, verdant mountain.
Nan Dou Master stepped into the courtyard. His gaze swept over the familiar scene before turning to Qi Yun, his expression returning to its usual placid state as he began to speak.
"Junior Brother Deng has reincarnated. In his line... there are no other disciples to inherit his legacy.
According to the Sect’s rules, the various items he left behind should have been collected by the Sect, placed in the treasury, and bestowed upon others as fate dictates."
He paused, his gaze landing on Qi Yun’s face, a profound, almost imperceptible meaning in his eyes.
"However, before he shed his mortal coil to enter reincarnation, he specifically left me with a Divine Thought, stating that there was one item that he insisted I hand to you personally."
With that, Nan Dou Master casually beckoned toward a long-withered, gnarled old tree in the corner of the courtyard.
WHOOSH—!
A condensed ray of blood-red light shot out from within the seemingly lifeless trunk of the withered tree.
The bloody light gradually receded, revealing the object it enveloped.
Qi Yun’s gaze shifted toward it. He saw that it was a lotus platform, roughly a foot square.
The platform wasn’t forged from jade or metal. Instead, it had a dark, sanguine hue. Its texture was neither wood nor stone, and it exuded an ancient aura.
The surface of the platform was densely covered with countless tiny, twisted, and bizarre ancient characters, packed together like the scrawling of ants and worms.
These characters were not static; they flowed slowly across the surface, emitting a vast torrent of information that shook one’s heart and spirit, along with a strange Daoist Intent that pointed directly to the very origin of life.
"This is..." Qi Yun’s brow furrowed slightly. With a hint of uncertainty, he slowly uttered four words:
"The Blood Spirit Scripture?"
Nan Dou Master nodded slightly, confirming his suspicion. He looked at the floating, blood-red lotus platform and spoke slowly.
"Correct. This is the original foundational text of the Blood Spirit Scripture.
Junior Brother Deng obtained this in his early years after a near-death ordeal. It is profoundly mysterious, but also incredibly perilous.
He poured centuries of effort into it but was never able to fully comprehend it.
In fact... he was deeply influenced by it."
His words carried a hint of regret and caution.
"He entrusted me with giving this to you. Whether it proves to be a blessing or a curse, an opportunity or a tribulation—that is for you to determine.
However, I must remind you of one thing."
Nan Dou Master’s tone grew grave.
"This scripture is no small matter. It carries immense karmic ties. Whether or not you choose to cultivate it, you must be exceptionally cautious."
...