Chapter 146: Mist Sovereign
In the wind and snow at the mountain range peak, waves of harsh, owl-like screeches echoed.
It was the Dragon Gate Successor Dragon Ting summoning “Man-eating Bats” with his flute sound. This was a fiend demon with formidable combat power and ferocious temperament, its body over two or three meters long, with broad flesh wings, sharp claws, and a ferocious human-like head.
In the clash at the mountain peak, he had fallen into a disadvantage and was forced to summon a swarm of Man-eating Bats to counter Jiang Ning.
The miserable cries of the Man-eating Bats rang out as they continuously died under Jiang Ning’s sword, turning into blood rain in the wind.
“Boom!”
Dragon Ting fought while retreating, his figure flying northward.
The magic energy fluctuations from their clash gradually weakened and vanished into the darkness.
Li Weiyi slowly stood up, looking toward the avalanche gap in the mountain terrain a hundred zhang away, then gazing in the direction the two had left, his eyes full of longing. Only with cultivation reaching such heights could one lead the trends among the younger generation and look down on all heroes.
His gaze fell on Li Ling beside him, sensing her completely different look, like a sixteen-year-old girl who had seen thousands of years of vicissitudes in a single day.
Li Ling turned her face to meet his eyes: “Shall we chat?”
“Since it’s a chat, I hope everyone can be honest.”
Li Weiyi was not intimidated by the intangible aura emanating from her, striving to adjust his state of mind and telling himself she was no longer the ancient heavenly emperor who once dominated Lingxiao Life Realm.
Li Ling looked toward Yun Prefecture shrouded in endless darkness and deathly silence, her eyes deep: “Have you heard of Yang Marriage?”
Li Weiyi looked confused and shook his head.
“Aren’t there three departed spirit old guys by your side? They don’t know either?” Li Ling said.
Li Weiyi shook his head again.
“Hmph, these three are really ignorant and ill-informed.”
Li Ling used this as a starting point and explained in detail: “That day, you fell onto the Bronze Ship and happened to smash into this seat’s tomb mound, spilling a lot of blood. It was the blood flowing from your body that awakened me, who had already passed away.”
“This is the unique energy of your ancient clan disciple’s bloodline!”
“If it had ended there, I would have merely awakened, like those three old guys, just a departed spirit. My past cultivation experience would be useless, and I would have to walk the path of departed spirit cultivation. Re-cultivating to my former heights would be extremely slim.”
“Most departed spirits in the Nether Realm grow stronger by devouring each other. Their cultivation method is comprehended through devouring. Their wisdom emerges gradually after their cultivation grows powerful.”
“So, compared to the completely unfamiliar path of departed spirits, full of various uncertainties, I chose the path of life that I had once walked.”
“Once truly alive, bones would grow flesh, the spring eye and Sea of Qi would naturally return, the Dao Seed could easily blossom and bear fruit, and the Longevity Lock would have long been broken… This seat could return to the peak in an extremely short time, even recast a stronger and more perfect foundation, and go even further in the future.”
“But to reverse life and death is to resist the Life Laws and disrupt the order of the Yang Realm.”
“The only way is to borrow the special bloodline of you ancient clan disciples to marry back to the Yang Realm.”
Li Weiyi was stunned by her statement, finding it hard to understand: “Marry back to the Yang Realm? Nether marriage?”
Li Ling appeared extremely calm: “According to the classics, your ancient clan does indeed have extraordinary abilities, able to seize the creation of heaven and earth. As long as one becomes a member of the family, they can turn from death to life.”
Seeing her extremely serious and earnest, not like joking, Li Weiyi said: “Too absurd, too superstitious. Senior is an ancient heavenly emperor, yet you believe the baseless tales in the classics? Just by marrying a disciple of this family, one can turn from death to life? Wouldn’t all departed spirits under heaven rush to marry? Moreover, Senior said it yourself, this disrupts the order of the Yang Realm and goes against the Life Laws. Who can resist natural laws?”
“The wielder of order, laws, and rules.” Li Ling answered him in a serious tone.
Li Weiyi said: “…”
“Legend has it that the old ancestor of your ancient clan was no simple figure, so the descendants’ bloodlines are all exceptionally blessed by heaven.”
Li Ling continued: “I originally couldn’t confirm if Yang Marriage truly existed, until your Guardian Wife appeared, which made me completely believe the legend.”
Li Weiyi fell silent.
The Guardian Wife was indeed strange; it seemed there was no other reasonable explanation besides believing in Zen Sea Observing Mist.
He asked: “How exactly does Yang Marriage work? On the Bronze Ship, why did you pull me into the tomb and try to kill me?”
Li Ling stared at him: “I didn’t try to kill you. Pulling you into the tomb was to complete the Yang Marriage ceremony.”
“Yang Marriage ceremony?” Li Weiyi said.
Li Ling said: “It’s exchanging soul spirits! In the tomb, I injected a strand of my soul spirit into your body. Just as I was about to take your soul spirit, you broke free, so the ceremony was only half completed at the time.”
Li Weiyi recalled carefully. When his forehead touched Zen Sea Observing Mist’s white bones in the tomb, a chill power had indeed entered his brow.
No wonder Li Ling could always find him and precisely lock onto his position.
No wonder Yan Prefecture Governor Zhu Qin Feng mistook him; it was sensing Zen Sea Observing Mist’s soul spirit aura on him.
“No!”
Li Weiyi shook his head: “On the Bronze Ship, you clearly said you needed a large amount of my blood and soul spirit. Since it’s a marriage ceremony, it should be fair. Why must I give much more? If you had said then that you only needed a strand of my soul spirit, perhaps it wouldn’t have caused so many misunderstandings later.”
Li Ling said: “I needed a large amount of your blood to grow flesh and blood capable of resisting the order of the Yang Realm, to reform into a living being. As for the soul spirit… it’s the same reason. After all, you are normal in the Yang Realm, while a nether wife is abnormal.”
Li Weiyi always felt she was not speaking from the heart, not fully honest, not telling the whole truth.
But it didn’t matter!
Because it was absolutely impossible for Li Weiyi to give her a large amount of his blood and soul spirit. Who knew if he would be controlled by her in the future?
Or have his life and death gripped by her?
Not to mention she didn’t truly want to marry.
Even if she did, a woman before and after marriage is completely different. The more given before marriage, the deeper the constraints after.
“What if I choose not to give you blood and soul spirit?”
Li Weiyi thought of the formidable strength she had shown earlier and finally swallowed the words that reached his throat, smiling: “I feel like the so-called Yang Marriage ceremony is just you constantly demanding by force, never asking my opinion.”
“I can understand your mentality. The majestic ancient heavenly emperor, a living being at the peak of Lingxiao Life Realm, once plowed a thousand li with one finger and held rivers and seas in a cup with supreme supernatural powers. How could you look upon a mere weak mortal man?”
“Would you care about his opinion? Would you consider his feelings? You never saw him as a Yang Marriage husband, just as a tool to let yourself live again.”
“If from the beginning, you had chosen to communicate, the result might have been completely different.”
Li Ling refuted: “If I had communicated with you at first, would you really have given me blood and soul spirit? Would you have believed me? Without sufficient understanding, neither of us would trust the other.”
“You’re right. After thousands of years of cultivation, this seat’s mentality has changed greatly, making it hard to empathize with a mortal’s feelings.”
“But I can guarantee you that once the Yang Marriage ceremony is completed, I will take responsibility for you and protect you for life.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can ask those three old guys. They should know what kind of person Zen Sea Observing Mist is.”
Li Ling’s gaze fell on Li Weiyi’s chest, focusing on the Buddha’s Sarira of the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish, sensing the fluctuations of the three departed spirits there.
She could detect them because the three masters had been sensing the outside world, eavesdropping on their conversation.
Jar Master was very excited, transmitting to Li Weiyi: “Marry her; that’s Zen Sea Observing Mist. Losing a bit of blood and soul spirit is nothing. Anyway, you hold a strand of her soul spirit. Think about it: in the future, walking under heaven, saying ‘my wife is Zen Sea Observing Mist’—how impressive!”
Spirit Tablet Master said: “Weiyi, my advice to you is that the logic of the Yang Marriage and Zen Sea Observing Mist’s actions from awakening on the Bronze Ship to parasitizing Li Ling’s body can be explained. What she said should be the truth.”
Coffin Master said: “The information I can give you is that Zen Sea Observing Mist, at least in her lifetime, did things I admire. But don’t listen to your Jar Master. Once you marry her, the karma is not small; it’s a lifelong bond.”
Li Ling’s voice turned cold: “You three think I can’t hear your transmissions? You dare directly call out Zen Sea Observing Mist? A thousand years ago, when you came to Lingxiao Palace to pay respects, how did you respectfully address this seat?”
The three masters immediately fell silent, no longer speaking.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
…
The ground trembled.
Snowflakes splashed from the mountain peak, accompanied by large amounts of gravel rolling down.
“Roar!”
A deafening tiger roar resounded through the night sky, ripples of magic energy appearing in mid-air.
On the snowfield of the mountain ridge, strong practitioners were fiercely battling again.
The Zou Wu, now only the size of a cat, was extremely excited and pounced toward the mountain peak, but was grabbed by Li Ling by the tail and held upside down.
“It’s Cang Li’s power aura. How did he come to the Nether Realm of the Dead too?”
Li Weiyi went invisible again, concealing his aura, his gaze looking upward.
He could see two bright masses of magic energy fiercely colliding. Cang Li had released White Tiger Battle Intent; opposite was a dazzling golden light, the living being within having four arms, each holding a high-grade magic tool of considerable power.
“It should be the demon race successor from Tian Ya Ridge, Heartless Golden Ape.” Li Ling said.
Li Weiyi nodded. In the entire Southern Territory, among young masters who could fight Cang Li to this extent, besides Zuo Qiu Ting, there was only Heartless Golden Ape.
This was an extraordinary signal!
Unless absolutely necessary, why would these young heavenly prodigies with bright futures all come to the Nether Realm of the Dead? And make such a big commotion—truly not afraid of alarming departed spirit fiends at the Dao Seed level?
Thinking of something, the two suddenly locked eyes.
Li Weiyi said: “If Yaoguan City and Zangxian Town erupt in turmoil, it will inevitably trigger a larger chain reaction. At that time, the entire Li Zhou will be engulfed in war. The major powers’ younger generation martial cultivators wanting to leave Li Zhou might find the edges of the Nether Realm of the Dead safer instead.”
“That’s the reasoning.” Li Ling said.
Li Weiyi felt a strong sense of crisis and said: “The Jiu Li Clan will send their young outstanding martial cultivators out of the Li Zhou battlefield; the Four Great Sects will surely do the same. This mountain range is likely to become very lively next. Senior Zen Sea, what is your strength like exactly? Can you handle it?”
Zen Sea Observing Mist’s strength was very strong, but seemed not enduring, only able to put on a bluff, so Li Weiyi asked this.
Li Ling said: “If the Yang Marriage can be completed, I can naturally protect you comprehensively.”
Li Weiyi smiled noncommittally: “No other ways?”
“There is—enter Shaoyang Star and hide for a few days. After they pass, we can slowly follow.” Li Ling said.
This was indeed a pretty good method!
Avoiding the sharp edge was the wise choice; no need to dance on the knife’s edge.
But Li Weiyi feared inviting a god was easy but sending one away difficult, so he first communicated with Spirit Tablet Master.
“Don’t worry, Shaoyang Star is your home turf.” Spirit Tablet Master didn’t dare say too much, being concise, afraid of offending Zen Sea Observing Mist again.
Li Weiyi and Li Ling quickly moved toward the mountain below on the Nether Realm of the Dead side.
In a concealed area near the mountain foot, Li Weiyi quickly dug out a cave and sealed the entrance with Ghost Flag and soil.
Before activating the Buddha’s Sarira, he used a black cloth bag that could block perception to put Zou Wu inside.
“Swish!”
Space fluctuations spread, and he and Li Ling disappeared from the cave.
In the cave, only the Buddha’s Sarira, held aloft in mid-air by a Tai Chi Seal, remained.
…
After Li Weiyi’s mind power attainment reached the Square Inch Bright Fire realm, the Blood Mud Space had expanded to dozens of zhang in radius.
On the blood-colored muddy ground, the over thirty-meter-long Magic Tool Jade Boat and the massive Silver Coffin like connected houses were the most eye-catching.
Li Ling’s gaze was drawn to the over two-meter-tall governor’s treasure seal at the bow of the Magic Tool Jade Boat, murmuring: “I didn’t expect you to have such a treasure.”
“Swish!”
Bright auspicious radiance bloomed from Li Ling, her delicate body wrapped in a light mass, and the ancient heavenly emperor’s powerful aura erupted.
Gradually, a stunning figure much taller than Li Ling emerged from the radiance, nearly 8 meters tall with perfectly proportioned build.
She wore a red robe of extraordinary grade, long hair cascading, filled with serene and refined Dao charm.
Her skin was fair like immortal jade, with a flower adornment on her brow, looking only eighteen or nineteen, yet exuding a sharp temperament overlooking the mortal world despite her youth.
Zen Sea Observing Mist did not deliberately release her aura, but possessing an ancient heavenly emperor’s bones, her true body emerging could intimidate ordinary martial cultivators into kneeling.
Li Weiyi used Jade Void Breathing Technique to steady his mind, standing three zhang away, staring at her.
He could not see her face clearly.
Mysterious energy around her distorted space and light.
“Swish!”
Like a red-robed fairy, Zen Sea Observing Mist soared up and landed at the bow of the Magic Tool Jade Boat, her slender fingers touching the official seal.
Circles of magic energy ripples scattered from her fingertip.
The millstone-sized official seal rapidly shrank to fist-sized and fell into her palm.
The soul shadows of the three masters appeared behind Li Weiyi.
Jar Master’s soul shadow gazed afar while whispering encouragement: “Marry her; even if you suffer a little loss now, you’ll gain huge face!”
“Jar Master, just face, no substance?”
Li Weiyi shook his head, pondered for a moment, then said loudly: “Senior Zen Sea, didn’t you say you needed a large amount of my blood to grow bones into flesh? I see you’ve already regrown your physical body.”
Standing on the Jade Boat like an immortal about to ride the wind away, Zen Sea Observing Mist looked down: “This is a physical body condensed from the blood moon lake in Thirty-three Mile Mountain. It can’t deceive the Yang Realm’s order; only in that Sea of Bones and this Shaoyang Star can I leave Li Ling’s body.”
Li Weiyi said: “So, to completely break free from Li Ling’s physical body restrictions, truly return to life, and roam freely in the universe, you still need a large amount of my blood and soul spirit? I’ll give you the bottom line!”
“Massive blood loss would leave me weak, which I can endure. But handing over a large amount of soul spirit to you, I really can’t do.”
“Even if Senior was ever so brilliant in life, I truly don’t know you, and I have no obligation to pay such a price to help someone I don’t owe.”
Zen Sea Observing Mist met Li Weiyi’s gaze, seeing no yielding in his eyes: “This is your final decision? Not afraid I’ll fly into a rage? Do you think you two have much chance of winning together?”
Li Weiyi said: “Senior doesn’t need to threaten me. Killing me benefits you nothing; you won’t do it.”
Coffin Master said: “Mist Heavenly Child, he is someone valued by the Bronze Ship owner, and moreover the owner of Shaoyang Star. You should know better than us what these two powers mean.”
Zen Sea Observing Mist sighed: “Come up; this seat will truly be honest with you once.”
Li Weiyi thought for a moment, then leaped onto the Jade Boat.
The two stood facing each other, reassessing one another, but with different mentalities.
White radiance emerged on the Jade Boat, isolating it from the outside.
Zen Sea Observing Mist finally spoke: “Actually, the Yang Marriage ceremony doesn’t necessarily need a large amount of your soul spirit. Soul spirit exchange—just one strand each is fine.”
“Then why did you demand so much?” Li Weiyi asked puzzled.
Zen Sea Observing Mist said: “Because I don’t want to go through the normal Yang Marriage ceremony.”
“What is the normal Yang Marriage ceremony?” Li Weiyi said.
Zen Sea Observing Mist said with the fewest words: “Consummation.”
Li Weiyi wasn’t a fool and instantly understood, then laughed wryly in realization: “I get it! For you, that’s indeed too difficult. For a being like you, with your pride, and the object being a mortal like me. That hurdle in your state of mind is hard to pass, right?”
“Yes, very hard.”
Zen Sea Observing Mist said: “But do you know why I chose to talk face-to-face with you instead of forcibly taking your blood and soul spirit? Because you’re actually not bad; I can convince myself to accept you.”
Knowing the truth, Li Weiyi relaxed greatly and smiled: “I feel you’re very reluctant, and I feel you haven’t convinced yourself yet.”
Zen Sea Observing Mist couldn’t smile at all: “I know you’re resistant too, so I thought of a pretty good way to get along. We can be nominal spouses, actual allies. You help me marry back to the Yang Realm; I help your cultivation and protect you comprehensively. Mutual benefit—why not?”
“Then wouldn’t you just be another Guardian Wife? Actually, if it’s just exchanging one strand of soul spirit, I’m not that resistant.” Li Weiyi observed her eyes and smiled.
Black lines appeared on Zen Sea Observing Mist’s forehead; she knew she shouldn’t have told him the truth.
Li Weiyi stopped smiling: “Just kidding; I’m not taking advantage of the fire. But I’ve told you my bottom line. Taking a large amount of my soul spirit for Yang Marriage, I really can’t do it. Moreover, are you sure my Guardian Wife would agree?”
Zen Sea Observing Mist fell into deep thought.
“You said it right earlier; we can be allies, at least no need to be enemies. If you force it, you’ll suffer backlash. Truly think you can suppress me for life? My cultivation speed isn’t slow.”
Li Weiyi leaped off the Jade Boat.
…
Li Weiyi had ample food on him, and had “earned” a large amount of precious medicines and Dyeing Cloud Exotic Medicine in Zangxian Town, so he began closed-door cultivation in the Blood Mud Space.
With Radiant Flame Pills and Fusang Divine Tree continuously providing spiritual light to replenish mind power consumption, he could sustain the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish for long periods.
Half a month later.
Li Weiyi, cross-legged on the massive Silver Coffin, raised his right arm, magic energy gathering in his palm to form a two-meter-diameter storm vortex.
Within the vortex, magic energy condensed into numerous three-inch cow-hair thin needles.
“Bang bang!”
Dozens of solid magic energy needles struck the distant Jade Boat in succession, the sound crisp, capable of piercing gold and cracking stone.
Li Weiyi withdrew the magic energy into his body, cherishing it greatly.
After all, he had to fully cultivate the magic energy in his first Sea of Qi before impacting the Second Realm of Five Seas Realm. Half a month’s accumulation had already stored five portions, filling half the Sea of Qi.
“Magic energy solidified. With First Realm of Five Seas Realm cultivation, I’ve cultivated Second-Tier Qi of Five Seas.”
Li Weiyi was in excellent mood. After long-term swallowing of Radiant Flame Pills, the spiritual light bright fire in his Forehead Spirit Realm was flourishing, ready at any time to impact the Great Mind Master’s “Square Inch Realm”.
Zen Sea Observing Mist meditating on the Jade Boat was startled awake by his magic energy flying needles, curiosity flashing in her eyes. She then slapped out a palm from afar.
“Swish!”
A several-zhang-sized magic energy palm seal hovered above Li Weiyi’s head.
Li Weiyi had noticed early, feeling wind force surging from all directions, the pressure like heaven collapsing.
“Heaven-Overturning Palm Seal.”
He struck a palm toward the sky dome, magic energy surging. A wondrous and massive golden seal appeared, millstone-sized, clashing with Zen Sea Observing Mist’s palm seal.
With a boom, both shattered.
She praised: “Worthy of Chan Sect’s supreme art; power not ordinary. Your magic energy is just Second-Tier Qi of Five Seas. But with this palm technique, the condensed divine seal reaches four or five times the density of Second-Tier Qi.”
“How about another palm?” Li Weiyi said.
Zen Sea Observing Mist frowned slightly, ignoring him, continuing to absorb Shaoyang Star’s power to nourish soul.
Li Weiyi stood up: “I’m serious. In that clash just now, I vaguely sensed the existence of battle intent. I think this Heaven-Overturning Palm Seal can cultivate powerful battle intent, but it needs exploration in battle.”
Zen Sea Observing Mist looked at Li Ling: “You go spar with him; don’t hold back.”
