Chapter 318: Return of the Deceased!
Chapter 318: Return of the Deceased!
In that violet eye, a dragon coiled menacingly. It loomed larger and larger before Overseer Sikong, turning into a colossal eye that blotted out the sun. Overseer Sikong, in comparison, seemed as insignificant as a mouse, trembling and shrinking into a ball.
"Sikong..." The violet eye pressed down upon his head, tendrils of violet smoke transforming into dragons, seeping into Sikong\'s mind, dyeing his brain a deep violet. "Contribute your life to me, and your dreary existence will finally have worth."
As this nightmarish voice echoed in Overseer Sikong\'s ears, his eyes slowly turned violet.
Time seemed to fly, yet an hour had passed in the blink of an eye.
The onlookers could only see Overseer Sikong motionless, his face a picture of confusion and terror. Yun Xiao\'s vertical eye in his brow had transfixed Overseer Sikong\'s gaze, with dragon-shaped violet mist continually flowing into Overseer Sikong\'s eyes.
As time slipped away, Overseer Sikong\'s trembling body gradually calmed.
"Phew." Yun Xiao took a deep breath, closed the Prison Warden Eye, and took a moment to recuperate, looking somewhat weary.
Overseer Sikong, on the other hand, appeared as if nothing had happened. Yet, with solemn reverence, he knelt deeply before Yun Xiao.
"No need to restrain him any longer," Yun Xiao said.
"Huh?" Mu Dalong asked in confusion, "Exile Yun, what\'s this about?"
"His soul is now under my command," declared Yun Xiao.
Such was the power of the \'Source Soul\' of the Calamity Seal Purgatory!
Though it took an hour, it was, after all, Sikong, who was stronger than those in the Fate Ocean Realm.
"To witness such an unimaginable ability in reality is truly staggering," Mu Dalong observed, her gaze fixed on Yun Xiao. Though she was his elder, she was now a fan, filled with nothing but admiration, just like her daughter.
"It was quite a task. Mainly, it was the Bitter Cicada Pill that confused his mind. Without it, I couldn\'t have captured his soul," Yun Xiao explained, turning to Du Zhongyuan, "Do you have any more of those pills?"
Du Zhongyuan replied guiltily, "Exile Yun, that special pill came from my master. I lack the skill to make them myself."
"Next time you see him, ask him for a few more on my behalf," Yun Xiao said.
"I\'ll try my best," Du Zhongyuan replied, his face flushed with embarrassment. He couldn\'t guarantee success, clearly because the stance of the Eternal Sword Prison and the Exiled Sword Immortal\'s position might not align.
Everyone had to battle for their position and interests!
"What about this old coot Sikong?" Mu Dalong inquired.
As her words fell, Overseer Sikong stood up and silently departed.
"Just like that, he\'s gone?" Du Zhongyuan asked, dumbfounded.
"How can you fish without bait?" Several other Overseers chuckled. They didn\'t speak much, but their gazes towards Yun Xiao were warm from start to finish.
"Tell your dad to get ready, announce to the entire Sword Ruins, it\'s time to cast the net!" After saying this, Yun Xiao headed towards the Exile Palace.
Soon after, he arrived there. Unexpectedly, at the entrance of the Exile Palace, a young man in white was still kneeling.
Inside, a woman, lifeless as a walking corpse, huddled in a corner.
"Bai Wuque? Why are you still here?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Exile Yun, they... they said Exile Ling has risen again and told me to wait here," Bai Wuque replied.
"Was your mother also coerced to come here?" Yun Xiao inquired.
"Not really coerced, it\'s our duty..." Bai Wuque said, looking lost.
Yun Xiao knew just by looking at him that he had been worn down by reality, both mother and son numb to the world. No matter where they went, they were greeted with odd looks, even family and friends would gossip about them.
"You can go now," Yun Xiao said.
THUD! Bai Wuque knelt down, shaking his head, refusing to move. Clearly, he dared not leave.
Inside the Exile Palace, Bai Qingxue shrank back, also too afraid to leave.
"Ling Chen is dead," Yun Xiao announced.
Bai Wuque looked up blankly, then shook his head again, still not daring to move.
"The truths of this world, a mix of illusion and reality, only the strong can break through the mist. Once at the bottom, fog surrounds you everywhere, leaving you clueless about whom to trust," Yun Xiao mused reflectively.
So, even when he declared Ling Chen dead, they dared not believe it.
"Human nature is like countless walls. The weak are within the walls, the strong atop them. Those within are trapped by human nature, hitting walls at every turn, only listening to the strong atop describe the world.
"And so, in this world, there is no ultimate truth, only the decree of the strong."
Such was the world. This too would fuel the growth of his Worldly Dao Heart.
At the Eternal Sword Prison, near the vortex passage.
After Yun Xiao\'s departure, the place became even more like fire and water.
Near the vortex passage, a group of Inscription Cultivators had taken position, while the Withered Bone Keeper and others could only linger a bit further away.
Even they were ensnared in the deadly circle of the eight hells.
The shadows of humans, devils, and demons surged all around!
Everyone\'s eyes were still fixed on that vortex entrance.
After news broke out that Ling Chen had obtained the Heavenly Land, many of the other hells also started to covet it.
Just then, someone arrived from the direction of the Sword Ruins.
"Overseer Sikong?" Ku Xuan quickly stopped him.
"I have urgent news for the old Sword Warden," Overseer Sikong said, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
"Come." Ku Xuan led him to the Withered Bone Keeper, who sat desiccated.
Eight powerful figures from the Sword Ruins gathered together.
Overseer Sikong spoke in a hushed tone, "Old Sword Warden, I have great news."
"Speak," the Withered Bone Keeper opened his murky, gray eyes.
"Exile Ling has returned to the Sword Ruins!" Overseer Sikong announced.
"What?" Hearing this, the other seven were startled, with several breathing a sigh of relief.
"How did he return?" the Withered Bone Keeper asked.
"Have you forgotten? Exile Ling is a master of the Space Dao. By seizing the Heavenly Land, he effectively controls a part of the Nine Hells. Why would he need to exit through here?" Overseer Sikong said excitedly.
"Excellent!" Ku Xuan\'s tense heart finally relaxed, a cold smile spreading across his face.
"Exile Ling is now hiding in the Sword Ruins. Let me inform everyone to return!" Overseer Sikong declared.
"Return?" Ku Xuan clenched his teeth, "He should know, with the whole Heavenly Mirror affair, going back now isn\'t in our favor. If Mu Tianjian gets wind of it, with the Ruination Sword Array in his hands, our situation could get sticky."
Overseer Sikong grinned slyly, casting a glance at Qingzan before whispering, "Have we forgotten? Though we lost the Heavenly Mirror, Exile Ling seized the mightier Calamity Seal Sword! He specifically told me to relay that you two needn\'t worry about the feelings of the Inscription Cultivators. We Sword Cultivators have our own path to heaven."
The two he referred to were the Withered Bone Keeper and Ku Xuan, the grandfather and father of Qingzan.
"The Calamity Seal Sword has always been a shadow over us Sword Cultivators. With Exile Ling wielding this sword, if we overlook our relationship with the Calamity Seal Purgatory, it indeed counts as a great feat for the Sword Ruins. Enough to make up for the Heavenly Mirror mishap," Feng Buhui murmured.
He wanted to return to the Sword Ruins! Otherwise, stranded outside, what would become of their families back in the Ruins?
Their eyes collectively turned to the Withered Bone Keeper.
When it came to the Calamity Seal Sword, the decision lay with him!
Had he and Qingzan had a falling out?
In truth, with Qingzan now occupying the vortex passage, her cold eyes alongside a group of Inscription Cultivators said it all.
"Sikong," the Withered Bone Keeper trembled as he raised his head, his voice weak, "How is Exile Ling faring?"
"The Heavenly Land Sigil is beyond belief! The public opinion in the Sword Ruins has shifted again, back in favor of Exile Ling! Many Peak Masters and Supreme Adjudicators are seeking me out to pledge their allegiance," Overseer Sikong said excitedly.
"Why isn\'t Exile Ling waiting outside the Sword Ruins, for us to return together?" the Withered Bone Keeper inquired further.
"I\'m not sure about that, perhaps because the Nine Hells Conquest Clash is imminent, and he\'s in a hurry to enhance his strength?... Oh! I forgot to mention, I saw with my own eyes Exile Ling inscribing Runes on the Heavenly Land Sigil. His speed was astonishing!
"He told me he needs a lot of Rune Spirit Ink and inscription manuals, but I\'m not qualified to obtain them. I think Exile Ling would really benefit from the old Sword Warden\'s return to support him and gather resources. With his current talent, overcoming Yun Xiao again shouldn\'t be a problem," Overseer Sikong remarked admiringly.
"Did you manage to infiltrate one of the array\'s cores?" the Withered Bone Keeper asked.
"All set! We\'re ready to welcome the old Sword Warden\'s return and take charge!" Overseer Sikong cast a mocking glance at the powerhouses of the other eight hells and chuckled. "As for these blockheads, let them keep waiting for the rabbit at the tree stump."
"Dad! Stop dawdling. The Heavenly Land is Exile Ling\'s biggest opportunity to turn defeat into victory. We need to boost the killing power of his Life Sigil as soon as possible," Ku Xuan urged.
The other Overseers were also concerned about their descendants in the Ruins.
Just then, Qingzan indeed showed up.
"What do you want to say?" the Withered Bone Keeper asked, staring at her.
"Just a reminder, the folks from the Celestial Abyss are also eyeing the Exiled Sword Immortals. They have even worse tempers. If you don\'t want to die, get out now," Qingzan said coldly.
The people of the Sword Ruins fell silent.
"Grandpa, turning back is the correct decision. There\'s still a chance for the Sword Cultivators," Qingzan said, arms crossed. "Let me leave you with this. Don\'t be greedy in your old age."
"Hehehe..." The Withered Bone Keeper shook his head with a bitter smile, his eyes filled with the weight of years.
"Let\'s go." He suddenly turned decisively, to Qingzan\'s surprise.
She was stunned. They were actually leaving?
Just like that, including Overseer Sikong, the eight of them on their Sovereign Swords, sped towards the Sword Ruins.
In that turning moment, a mad gleam flashed in the Withered Bone Keeper\'s eyes.
Ku Xuan coldly said, "Dad! This time, we must reclaim everything we lost!"
"With Exile Ling, there\'s absolutely no problem!" Overseer Sikong\'s eyes shimmered with endless admiration. In his eyes, there was a violet shadow, a nine-headed dragon. It was also the mark of a certain young man in white!
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