Chapter 84: Origin One

The spirit, transformed from black smoke, suddenly expanded to an immense size, its form wreathed in flames.

Calamity!

Xu Zhong sensed the force of tribulation emanating from those flames.

The spirit suppressed the power of calamity, drifting gently as though a dark cloud hovered above the two of them.

In this moment, any action felt superfluous.

For the power radiating from this spirit already surpassed the limits of their cultivation; to put it plainly, from the instant the spirit appeared, they were so awed that they could not move.

The black cloud swept toward Xu Zhong.

In the blink of an eye, it enveloped him.

Within the spirit, the black mist shifted and churned, then condensed into countless tiny figures identical to himself, which burrowed into his flesh through his acupoints.

Xu Zhong only felt the surge of a dense, viscous black energy flooding into his body and coursing through him.

Several of the spirit’s miniature forms leapt into his niwan, seeking out his soul amidst the chaos.

As they crossed through the confusion, they beheld a vast palace, guarded by innumerable divine beasts and birds, all protecting Xu Zhong’s soul.

No sooner had the spirit’s minions entered the niwan than the divine beasts and birds summoned the power of tribulation.

In an instant, dark crimson flames erupted along the little spirits, swirling around their forms. The entire niwan became a sea of fire, scorching them relentlessly.

The spirit’s minions were swiftly melted away.

Then, the fire of calamity burst from Xu Zhong’s acupoints, latching onto the spirit itself, setting it alight as well.

The spirit’s incarnation frantically attempted to extinguish its own calamity, and at that moment Xu Zhong regained control of his body, drew out his round cauldron, and smashed it toward the figure.

“Fellow cultivator, wait! I have a tremendous opportunity for you,” the spirit hastily said, blocking the cauldron.

But even as it spoke, Shiyue beside them once more summoned her star disk, weaving intricate incantations as five elemental lights surged forth, transforming into five massive chains that sealed the spirit.

She could sense how, after enduring the tribulation fire, the spirit’s aura had diminished, its power thinned as if it had only just attained true sentience. Now was the perfect moment to kill it.

“I am Yuan Yi, a life born from the mingling of Thunder Ancestor’s will and Wei Yan’s essence! Do not harm me—I promise you great fortune—”

But the instant it spoke of being a new life formed from Thunder Ancestor’s will and Wei Yan’s blood, Xu Zhong’s expression shifted rapidly, and before Yuan Yi could finish uttering the word “opportunity,” Xu Zhong unleashed his spell, spitting forth the energy of Ding Fire. Meanwhile, Shiyue spun the star disk, guiding the Ding Fire into the five elemental chains, the power of fire swelling, devouring the other four elements, and in a flash, becoming a sphere of flame with Yuan Yi trapped within.

The Ding Fire even fed the tribulation flames, consuming Yuan Yi’s immortal radiance along with it.

“Damn you!” Yuan Yi howled.

The voice grew louder and louder. Within the sea of fire, a figure emerged, taking Yuan Yi’s form.

He swelled larger and larger until he matched Xu Zhong in size, opened his mouth wide, and swallowed the fireball whole.

Then he leapt free from the star disk’s seal.

No sooner did he appear than Xu Zhong rose, raising the jade ruyi.

The jade ruyi was crafted to strike at souls.

A flash of white light— the ruyi landed upon Yuan Yi’s spirit.

A dull thud rang out.

Yuan Yi suffered a grievous blow, his form split by an intangible force into soul and spirit.

Both halves shifted, striving to reunite.

But Shiyue gave him no chance.

She raised her spear, thrusting it forward.

This spear, forged of unknown materials, radiated a cold, lethal aura, charged with the chilling force of earth’s yin.

With a single thrust, the spear nailed Yuan Yi’s seven souls to the palace hall.

A muffled bang sounded.

The body formed by the seven souls exploded into seven streams of light, fleeing from beneath the spear, merging into the three spirits, and Yuan Yi’s two halves coalesced once more.

At the same time, he widened the distance between them, hovering above the desiccated corpse. “You are all the yang aspects of the Thunder Ancestor,” he declared. “No matter how far you cultivate, you will only become his vessels. But I can help you erase that brand!”

Shiyue was puzzled, but Xu Zhong, hearing this, was deeply shaken. There was truth in Yuan Yi’s words, but also flaws.

He calmed himself, steadied his mind. “If you truly had that power, why would you be trapped in the Thunder Ancestor’s palace?”

Yuan Yi faltered, speechless, mouth opening and closing without response.

“If you want to deceive, at least concoct a better excuse!”

Xu Zhong summoned the Cloud-Swallowing Sword, causing countless streams of sword energy to flow from the purple jade gourd.

In an instant, the sword and the gourd formed a celestial sword array.

Three hundred sixty flying swords rose and fell, their qi flowing like a great river.

Within him, his immortal radiance invoked the thunder gods of the five elements, pouring their might into the Cloud-Swallowing Sword.

In a flash, lightning surged along the sword light; the sword’s edge pressed Yuan Yi back, step by step.

“I may not have the power myself, but I know the way!” Yuan Yi cried, drawing on the power of the five celestial spirits to defend himself.

Yet after so long sealed and now set alight by tribulation, his cultivation was lacking. Against Xu Zhong alone, he might have managed, but facing two opponents, he was clearly struggling.

Shiyue stood beside Xu Zhong, awaiting her chance. As she manipulated the star disk, flags flew from behind her to form a Pure Yang True Fire Array, awaiting Yuan Yi’s entry.

“It seems you’ll only be willing to talk once I beat you into submission,” Yuan Yi sneered, undaunted.

He opened his mouth, drawing in the energy of Ren Water from all around, forming a long river that swept against Xu Zhong’s sword qi.

But he stumbled into Shiyue’s formation.

Suddenly, from nothing, the array birthed the sun’s true fire. Yuan Yi stood within, glancing in all directions, only to see the flames burning fiercely around him. Above, and at each of the four corners, a golden crow manifested.

From their beaks shot four beams of light, pinning Yuan Yi’s limbs and head in place. Beneath him, the sea of flames surged, and he was burned anew.

“You dream of refining me? Impossible!” Yuan Yi spat forth the energy of Kui Water, which snuffed out the roaring inferno.

This Kui Water was truly wondrous, for it awakened the secret of Water Star in Xu Zhong’s niwan.

Xu Zhong’s eyes gleamed with a hint of greed.

With a swish, as Yuan Yi had just escaped, another formation was triggered.

Flying swords burst from the marks etched throughout the cave, converging into a single blade of light that severed Yuan Yi’s head.

But the severed head glanced at its own body, rose up, and reattached itself as if nothing had happened.

No sooner had his head been restored than the rattle in Xu Zhong’s hand sounded, sending ripples through the air, causing wisps of spirit to flake from Yuan Yi’s immortal radiance.

Yuan Yi’s heart jolted, but his face betrayed nothing as he pulled back from Xu Zhong.

“I truly can erase the brand within you,” Yuan Yi declared, his form now flickering and faint, suspended in the void as he addressed the pair. “Why must you insist on refining me instead of talking?”

Shiyue’s formation flags shifted ceaselessly, and Xu Zhong’s sword and gourd continued to emit dazzling sword light.

Yuan Yi was a strange one; he seemed impossible to kill.

“My spirit is ever-changing, impervious to blade or sword, untouched by pure yang or pure yin. Only a spirit’s power could kill me, and you possess none.”

Xu Zhong wasn’t sure if this was true. He glanced at Shiyue, who nodded; apparently, Yuan Yi spoke no lie.

“We are willing to talk, but you tried to possess me the moment you appeared. How can we trust you without a proper fight?” Xu Zhong did not relax. “Otherwise, swear an oath, in the name of the Thunder Ancestor!”

Thunder boomed.

A bolt struck the back of Xu Zhong’s head, causing him to stagger.

Shiyue and Yuan Yi both started in alarm.

Xu Zhong casually patted the singed hair at the back of his head, his expression unchanged.

“Swear your oath, and I’ll believe you.”

Yuan Yi glanced warily overhead—no sign of thunderclouds. He couldn’t fathom where the lightning had come from.

He tentatively uttered the Thunder Ancestor’s name.

The next moment, he too was struck by a bolt of lightning.

He stumbled from the void, crashing to the ground in a sorry state.

Getting up, he dusted himself off, and under the pressure of Xu Zhong and Shiyue, swore his oath.

“Is that enough?” Yuan Yi asked, then quickly added, “Now it’s your turn to swear not to attack me.”

Xu Zhong scoffed. “Did I ever say I’d swear an oath?”

Yuan Yi was struck dumb.

Xu Zhong toyed with the rattle in his hand, eyeing Yuan Yi. “You seem afraid of this instrument.”

“Not at all,” Yuan Yi replied, face impassive.

“Oh?” Xu Zhong’s voice was icy as he spun the rattle.

Yuan Yi groaned, black smoke trailing from his spirit as wisps of soul drifted away.

To have one’s soul scattered—that was exactly this state.

“It seems I am indeed afraid of that artifact,” Yuan Yi admitted, his demeanor settling.

“Speak, then.” Xu Zhong played with the rattle. “What is this method you speak of? If it works, I might let you go.”

Yuan Yi drew a deep breath. If not for that accursed rattle, he would have simply possessed Shiyue and then dispatched this troublesome whelp.

Forcing himself calm, Yuan Yi secretly cast a spell to obscure heaven’s sight and evade the oath’s constraints, then began, “This is Wei Yan’s Water Star Treasury. Every palace here—”

He was cut off by Xu Zhong. “I could have guessed as much. Speak of something useful—don’t waste our time.”

Without warning, he spun the rattle again.

Yuan Yi’s head felt as if it would split, an invisible force poised to tear his spirit in twain.

He looked to Xu Zhong.

Beyond the rattle, there was also the jade ruyi, and behind him, Shiyue fixed him with a deadly glare, spear in hand.

“I know you’ve likely used some special spell to escape the oath’s punishment, so don’t waste time here.”

Yuan Yi forced himself to remain calm.

“There is a golden core belonging to Wei Yan here,” he said at last. “His golden core can cleanse you of the brand.”

“Why?” Xu Zhong’s brow furrowed, the rattle clearly ready to strike.

“Because that spell originated with Wei Yan himself,” Yuan Yi replied.