Chapter 69: Devious Schemes

It was far too brief—a span of time that didn't even allow Qingxu to react, let alone resist. One must remember, a single snap of the fingers contains sixty instants!

“How could this be? To move within the Three Yin Forbidden Ground? How can a dying man with no cultivation release such domineering force?” His heart was flooded with confusion, and his eyes could not conceal their shock.

But Qingxu could not afford to remain stunned. In that moment, the evil, ferocious energy within him was rampaging, surging upward like a tide, ascending through twelve levels to assault his Niwan Palace. Its target was clearly the most vital element of a cultivator—the primordial spirit. The thought terrified Qingxu; if the primordial spirit was struck, at best his origin would be damaged and his cultivation diminished, at worst his spirit would be annihilated, his true essence vanishing without a trace.

He dared not neglect the threat and immediately mobilized the power of his avatar to suppress the energy, desperately defending his Niwan Palace inside and out. Unfortunately, having expended his strength to cast the Heavenly Fire Net, he was now too hurried to muster much power. Against such ferocity, his defenses crumbled step by step; at this rate, the breach of the Niwan Palace was only a matter of time.

“What cunning, what scheming! I thought myself shrewd, yet I have been ensnared by you, Youqiong! Is that it? Is Youqiong merely a vessel for Qiongqi? How could I have overlooked such a simple name?” Qingxu’s face was deathly pale, drained of all color, his eyes fixed on Youqiong. Now, his strength was flagging, the Heavenly Fire Net could no longer confine the Shadow Spirit, and the Qiongqi Beast had returned. The situation had never been more perilous.

By this point, Qingxu could no longer doubt that Youqiong was the true vessel of Qiongqi, while the other two—Shadow Spirit and Qiongqi Beast—were akin to secondary and tertiary souls. Realizing this, he could only marvel inwardly. To split one’s mind in two was already difficult; to manage three separate entities, each acting independently without revealing a single flaw, was a feat of control that inspired awe. At least, Qingxu had no confidence he could achieve the same.

“This Qiongqi is truly monstrous! Not only has he perfected the art of dividing his mind three ways, but his scheming is terrifying. I insulted him countless times before Youqiong, yet he showed not the slightest discomfort, luring me step by step into his trap?” These thoughts left Qingxu’s mind in turmoil.

“It seems you’ve more or less figured it out, haven’t you?” By now, the dying appearance had vanished from Youqiong; his face was flushed with vitality, a sinister smile twisting his features, his eyes cold and merciless, as if capable of freezing all things. The Qiongqi Beast stood behind him, ready to strike, while the Shadow Spirit hurled itself at the Heavenly Fire Net, dark hands tearing and rending until sparks flew and the brilliant net began to dim. At this rate, it would be free within moments.

“Wasn’t your cultivation destroyed? How can you... still move? Still shift your position?” Qingxu asked in agony, his whole body trembling, barely able to stand.

“Hahaha! Let me grant you clarity before you die. All of this is because of the left arm this body lost. Days ago, that arm was hidden beneath this Forbidden Ground. The true aim of the Shadow Spirit and Qiongqi Beast was to lure you to its resting place. That arm contained all the power I’d cultivated, combined with the Yin Fiend energy to form this domineering force. As for moving? Hmph, since it’s all part of the same body, what do you think?” Youqiong replied smugly. In his eyes, Qingxu was already at his mercy, victory assured.

With a bitter smile, Qingxu finally understood the plot: first, using the hidden left arm to shift positions, then merging it with his body, then launching a surprise attack. The Shadow Spirit and Qiongqi Beast were merely supporting players. He had only himself to blame for letting down his guard, thinking Youqiong powerless without cultivation. Disaster had followed.

The force formed by combining all of Youqiong’s power with Yin Fiend energy was devastating; once it entered Qingxu’s body, it rampaged unchecked, wrecking muscles, organs, meridians—everything was gravely wounded. Only his early-stage True Immortal avatar’s resilience kept him from exploding on the spot.

Though he had preserved his life for the moment, his ability to fight was lost. As a mid-stage Earth Immortal, he could barely exert any power in this Forbidden Ground; now, with his body catastrophically injured, he was completely powerless. Even his avatar, forced to focus on sustaining his injuries and protecting his spirit, was unable to fight. Qingxu was like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

The crisis was desperate, the situation critical. Yet Qingxu felt no fear. He still had the Supreme Celestial Talisman—a trump card that could turn the tables.

This contest had never been fair. The gap between them was too great. Qingxu’s overwhelming strength was beyond Qiongqi’s reach. One True Immortal avatar was manageable, but three avatars at the mid-stage Golden Immortal level, especially controlled by the Hunyuan Supreme Sage himself—what suspense could there be?

As the saying goes, no matter how intricate the plot, against absolute strength it is but a joke.

Qingxu’s own realm was not high—just a mid-stage Earth Immortal. He couldn’t use even seventy percent of the True Immortal avatar’s strength; had he controlled a Golden Immortal, it would have been wasted. But in the hands of the Supreme Sage, the full power could be unleashed—perhaps even exceeding it. Three mid-stage Golden Immortal avatars might be able to challenge even late-stage Golden Immortals. With such a heaven-defying trump card, what had he to fear from Qiongqi’s intricate schemes?

“I am a disciple of the Lord of Primordial Purity. If you dare kill me, are you not afraid of the Sage’s wrath?” Qingxu stalled for time, all the while suppressing the force within him and working to heal his wounds. He still hoped to resolve the crisis himself; the Supreme Celestial Talisman was not to be used lightly. Over-reliance would do him no good, and he wished to study it in the future.

“The Sage’s wrath? The Lord of Primordial Purity? I should thank him, really—if not for him, how would I exist? His favor will be repaid in full one day. As for you—body and soul shall perish!” The voice from Youqiong was venomous and hateful. Clearly, he also despised the Lord of Primordial Purity—just as Taowu had before. Qingxu wondered if the other two vicious beasts felt the same.

“What grudge does my master bear these Four Fiends, that even the waters of all rivers and seas could not wash it clean?”

While Qingxu pondered, the Shadow Spirit had already shattered the Heavenly Fire Net. Without support, the net could not hold for long—just as Qingxu had foreseen.

A roar burst forth, vibrating the air in rippling waves. The Shadow Spirit transformed into a black scythe, flashing toward Qingxu’s neck. At the same time, the Qiongqi Beast attacked from the side. As for Youqiong, with no left arm remaining, he truly had no power left.

The plan was clear: injure Qingxu with a sneak attack, then finish him off with the full power of the Shadow Spirit and Qiongqi Beast. Seeing everything proceeding smoothly, Youqiong’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.