Chapter 238: Xin Kui Reappears!
To condense a Supreme Dharma Body required an enormous, nearly terrifying amount of energy. The black ocean behind Yun Yi was precisely the evil qi refined and extracted from the bodies of the fallen Fire Evil Clan.
As a member of the Evil Spirit Clan, Jiang Yun naturally possessed his own unique, innate advantages. That was—he could absorb both spiritual energy and evil qi. Both could serve as sources of energy for his cultivation. Moreover, he could freely switch between the two.
The Fire Evil Clan had brought quite a few experts at the Earthly Sovereign level. The evil qi refined and extracted from the bodies of these individuals was more than sufficient for Jiang Yun to complete a seamless, flawless conversion between Dou Qi and spiritual energy. He fundamentally wouldn't experience that situation common when first entering the Great Thousand World and cultivating spiritual energy for the first time, which led to a drop in strength.
Within that churning, surging Supreme Sea, a purple light slowly condensed and coalesced, transforming into a human figure that sat cross-legged amidst the sea waves. That was precisely Jiang Yun's soul.
His soul had long since also broken through to the Emperor Realm. Its entire body was permeated with an undying, imperishable luster.
At this moment, the face of that miniature figure representing Jiang Yun's soul was also filled with solemnity and gravity.
Whoosh.
A mouthful of spiritual energy, mixed with a purple tongue of flame, was slowly exhaled from the mouth of the divine soul. Immediately, its eyes abruptly turned grave and solemn. Its hands fiercely formed a complex and peculiar, unique hand seal.
"Boom!"
The instant Jiang Yun's hand seal was completed, within this Supreme Sea, a thunderous, rumbling boom immediately resounded. Enormous pillars of spiritual energy light shot forth violently from within the Supreme Sea.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The pillars of spiritual energy light shot into the sky, then abruptly swooped down, like giant dragon after giant dragon. Finally, in an eye-shaking, shocking display, they fiercely collided together.
The entire Supreme Sea was shaken at this moment, erupting with towering, sky-high waves. The color of primal chaos, interwoven black and white, spread out from mid-air in the Supreme Sea. At the central point of the collision, the berserk spiritual energy caused the very space to take on a distorted, warped appearance.
'Jiang Yun' gazed solemnly at that dazzling, brilliant place. Immediately, his small hands once again formed seals.
Boom.
The Supreme Sea trembled once more. Countless streams of spiritual energy shot into the sky like water pythons, finally all howling towards that place permeated with Primal Chaos Light. That scene was like a long whale sucking in water—exceedingly spectacular and magnificent.
Boundless, majestic spiritual energy continuously converged towards that place. As such vast spiritual energy ceaselessly poured in, that stretch of primal chaos land also grew increasingly dazzling and brilliant.
Within that dazzling brilliance, faintly, a colossal figure of light seemed to be slowly taking shape.
This was the first step in cultivating a Supreme Dharma Body—using one's own spiritual energy to condense the initial prototype of the Supreme Dharma Body.
This step could only rely on one's own spiritual energy.
Within this vast, mighty Supreme Sea, enormous pillars of spiritual energy light continuously shot into the sky with the wave of 'Jiang Yun's' hand, finally pouring entirely into that colossal figure of light.
The originally boundless, majestic spiritual energy within the Supreme Sea was clearly also being consumed at an astonishing speed.
However, all of this was merely a piece of cake to Jiang Yun and posed no significant threat.
When this infusion had continued for approximately a full ten minutes or so, the violent upheaval within the Supreme Sea finally began to gradually subside. In the mid-air of the Supreme Sea, it was now permeated with profound Primal Chaos Light.
There, a colossal figure of light of primal chaos color slowly stood. A terrifying spiritual energy fluctuation rippled around its entire body.
The Supreme Dharma Body Prototype had been formed!
Gazing at that figure of light, Jiang Yun nodded. He then turned to look at Yun Yi beside him. The other similarly looked over. The two didn't need to exchange any words. With just a single exchanged glance, they knew what to do next. This kind of tacit understanding—probably even Zi Yan would feel inferior if she came.
Because they were, in essence, one and the same.
"Boom—"
In the next instant, raging, blazing black flames ignited on Yun Yi's body. Within several breaths, his entire form transformed into a pitch-black flame, radiating a bizarre, eerie aura.
Immediately, under 'Jiang Yun's' control, that black flame, carrying the sky-high black sea of energy, slowly slid down, bit by bit, through the top of the skull of that primal chaos-colored figure of light in the sky.
The black flame entered the body. Instantly, it occupied half of its form. Yet at this moment, the spiritual energy and evil qi within the Supreme Dharma Body instantly transformed into mortal enemies, slaughtering each other and vying for territory.
Then, a terrifyingly high temperature radiated from within the Supreme Dharma Body. The enormous energy within it was incinerated and burned at an alarming speed.
The colossal size of the giant shadow also rapidly shrank. At this rate, probably in less than a few dozen breaths, the Supreme Dharma Body Prototype that Jiang Yun had condensed would completely collapse because it couldn't withstand the clash between the two.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun's expression remained calm. He flexed his finger and flicked it. The calm Supreme Sea once again seethed and boiled. Sky-high spiritual energy transformed into a torrent that surged towards the shrinking Supreme Dharma Body Prototype in mid-air.
Rumble!
Torrent after torrent of spiritual energy shot into the sky, surging overwhelmingly into the Supreme Dharma Body.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
With the addition of such an enormous amount of spiritual energy, the rate at which the Supreme Dharma Body Prototype was shrinking still didn't slow down. Only, on one hand, the two sides clashed, damaging and destroying the Supreme Dharma Body. On the other hand, the torrent of spiritual energy ceaselessly repaired and mended it.
Faced with this situation, Jiang Yun naturally wouldn't just sit and wait for death. He pointed out with another finger. The pure white Undying Sacred Flame flew forth, landing towards the Supreme Dharma Body Prototype. In the blink of an eye, it joined the battlefield.
The two flames, black and white, with different properties, dominated and directed the spiritual energy and evil qi, which continuously fought and struggled. This process... was also a process of purification.
Thus, half a day slowly passed. When he sensed that the evil qi and spiritual energy within the Supreme Dharma Body could no longer be purified any further, Jiang Yun knew the time had come.
In the next instant, a vertical slit suddenly split open on Jiang Yun's brow. A drop of blood, permeated with purple color, slowly dripped down.
The inherently violent, turbulent Supreme Sea suddenly became eerily calm at this moment. Ripples of fluctuation spread across the sky above the Supreme Sea.
A drop of purple radiance descended from the heavens, enveloping the entire Supreme Sea.
Brilliant, dazzling purple light quietly landed on the Supreme Dharma Body. A bizarre, strange situation occurred. After that purple light landed on the Supreme Dharma Body's brow, the spiritual energy and evil qi within it actually became eerily calm, no longer clashing with one another.
Seeing this, the hand seals in Jiang Yun's hands changed. The Supreme Dharma Body Prototype suddenly began to dissolve and melt away. It looked as if it were formed from spiritual liquid, as if it might dissipate at any moment.
In the next instant, his Dharma Body abruptly shattered, transforming into countless droplets of spiritual liquid suspended in mid-air.
Strangely, within that shattered Dharma Body, there existed a peculiar, unique connection. An aura of eternal, everlasting indestructibility emanated forth.
In the next instant, a skeleton ten thousand zhang tall materialized from illusion into reality, appearing in the void. As the skeleton took shape, this eternal, everlasting indestructible aura grew increasingly dense and rich.
Swoosh—
The droplets of spiritual liquid that had originally been suspended all around gradually dripped down onto the skeleton. As these droplets of spiritual liquid landed on the skeleton, strands and traces of life force were born from within.
Instantly, meridians were rebuilt, flesh and blood regenerated...
A short while later, the Dharma Body once again appeared in the sky. The features of the Dharma Body were exactly the same as Jiang Yun's. If anyone could see inside its body, they would discover that on the skeleton of this Dharma Body, black and white light circulated and flowed, as if radiating surging, torrential death qi. Yet, within that death qi, life force also emerged. Life and death interwove—profound, abstruse, and infinite.
In its eyes, left and right, two black-and-white flames blazed against each other. At the very center of the Dharma Body's brow, a mysterious purple pattern radiated a mysterious, flowing light.
This combination gave Jiang Yun's face a trace of a demonically alluring, strange aura.
The Dharma Body was fully formed. It sat quietly cross-legged in the sky, saying nothing, silent and still. An indescribable, ancient, majestic, and boundless aura spread forth.
At this moment, feeling the vast, mighty power within him, because of extensive, ample preparations, he had already successfully broken through to the Upper Earthly Sovereign level. What was even more terrifying was that the Dou Qi within his body and the collected evil qi still had half remaining, unabsorbed and unconverted.
Once all of this was fully incorporated into his new system, Jiang Yun believed he would once again return to that realm—quasi-Heavenly Sovereign.
"So patient and forbearing?" Jiang Yun, who sat cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze turned towards the outside world. He murmured, "So patient, can you be?"
That unknown member of the Extraterritorial Evil Clan—their concealment divine ability was indeed not bad. Even now, he still hadn't been able to detect the other's specific location. Jiang Yun hadn't expected the other to be so capable of enduring and forbearing. This somewhat exceeded his expectations.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Jiang Yun's gaze focused sharply, looking towards a certain patch of space.
"Why has there been no movement for so long?! Xiao Yun won't be in trouble, will he?!"
During these past few days while Jiang Yun was condensing his Supreme Dharma Body, the figures of both Jiang Yun and Yun Yi had vanished from everyone's sight. Only the grand array in the sky slowly rotated.
Now, with Jiang Yun still not seen emerging, the several women deeply connected to Jiang Yun could no longer suppress the worried expressions on their faces.
"Judging from the earlier battle situation, Yun Yi clearly fell into Jiang Yun's array. This array is under Jiang Yun's control; there shouldn't be any mishap. That Yun Yi is also not someone easily dealt with. It's normal for it to take a bit longer," Compared to Zi Yan, Medusa, though worried in her heart, still maintained her calm and composure.
"Zi Yan jie-jie, Medusa jie-jie is right. We have to believe in Jiang Yun ge-ge. He is the strongest!" Qing Lin spoke softly from the side. Although she was also worried in her heart, her eyes were full of confidence in Jiang Yun.
Hearing the comforting words of her sisters beside her ears, Zi Yan's heart also relaxed considerably. Yet, not having seen Jiang Yun, she still couldn't completely set her heart at ease.
Boom—
Just at that moment, endless evil qi suddenly surged forth in the sky. That evil qi directly transformed in the air into an enormous skull, ten thousand zhang in size. The skull let out a piercing, sharp howl. Surging forward, it opened its mouth and bit directly towards the array where Jiang Yun was!
"Who is it—"
"Not good! There's still a powerful enemy! Jiang Yun..."
"Jiang Yun..."
The sudden attack exceeded everyone's expectations. No one had imagined that hidden in the shadows, there was still an expert of the Extraterritorial Evil Clan!
The aura emanating from that skull made all of them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar. It was an aura exactly the same as a Dou Di's! That meant... it was an expert of the same level as Jiang Yun and Yun Yi!
Yet, there were still those who, braving that formidable, oppressive pressure, fearlessly launched attacks towards the enormous skull in the sky.
They were precisely Zi Yan, Medusa, and the other women. They didn't care how strong the newcomer was! They only knew that Jiang Yun was currently at a critical juncture. If he were interrupted, it would be extremely dangerous!
"Boom—"
An enormous, nine-colored luster suddenly streaked across the horizon, transforming into a colossal Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python. Behind it were several dozen Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Pythons. They all bit and tore viciously towards that giant skull.
Bang—
The giant pythons in the sky couldn't obstruct the other's advancing footsteps in the slightest. As they drew close to it, evil qi erupted from that skull. Those Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Pythons and Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Pythons were instantly eroded and corroded completely clean.
Roar—
A berserk, violent dragon's cry resounded. Immediately, an enormous purple-gold dragon seal, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, appeared above the other party and fiercely slammed down.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Useless! All attacks couldn't hinder the other's descending steps in the slightest! Whether it was the Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python, the Supreme Dragon-Phoenix, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Serpent, or the endless forest sea—all were effortlessly shattered and blasted apart by the other.
Everyone could only watch helplessly as that giant skull opened its abyss-like giant maw and bit down towards the array where Jiang Yun was.
"Jiang Yun—"
"Heh heh..." Just at that moment, a soft, low laugh made everyone's cries abruptly stop. Immediately following, a familiar voice transmitted from within that array: "Truly not easy... You finally came out."
"It's been several years since we last met. The moment we meet again, Brother Xin Kui gives me quite a grand welcoming gift!" The instant the other party attacked, Jiang Yun had already discerned their origin.
It was precisely the prodigy of the Heart Demon Clan he had encountered back on the Relic Continent—Xin Kui.
Boom—
Accompanied by the ringing out of this voice, suddenly, endless flames surged forth from within the void. A terrifying temperature directly enveloped the entire sky.
Under these flames, the demonic qi that had originally filled the Dou Qi Continent was directly evaporated at an astonishing speed at this very moment. That despair-inducing giant skull even more so let out a piercing, sharp howl at this moment. Then, flames spontaneously ignited on its body, swiftly reducing it to nothingness.
The sudden turn of events directly startled everyone. They abruptly raised their heads, gazing with pleasant surprise at the array whose interior couldn't be seen clearly.
At this moment, that array slowly split open. Endless, boundless flames howled forth from within. Those flames presented an extremely dazzling, brilliant color. Yet, simultaneously, they also radiated a heart-stopping, hair-raising, terrifyingly dangerous aura.
Facing Xin Kui, out of caution and prudence, Jiang Yun temporarily set aside the Saint Demon Flame and instead used the Emperor Flame.
Having obtained Tuo She Ancient Emperor's inheritance, he had naturally acquired the laws of all the Heavenly Flames of the Dou Qi Continent. Although he walked the path of "one Dao suppressing ten thousand Daos"—aside from the Dao of Life and Death of the Saint Demon Flame, he had resolutely abandoned all others, using them as nourishment and sustenance for the former—he could still use the Emperor Flame.
Within the grand array, a slender, tall figure slowly walked forward. With each step he took, it seemed as if even this stretch of space was trembling faintly, as if unable to bear his descent.