Chapter 472: Without Casting Light, There Is No Seeing Light

Chapter 472: Forge No Light, See No Light

An utterly unremarkable sword thrust once more into Dao Buer’s shattered body.

If the first sword annihilated Dao Buer’s flesh, the second ground his soul to dust.

Qi Yuan’s strike carried the full force of a Great Principle.

Though it could not even wound an ordinary Great Principle.

Yet… slaying a Principle was effortless.

In Dao Buer’s broken pupils lingered incomprehension and disbelief.

“You are not… a Great Principle, why…”

After years of verbal sparring with Qi Yuan, Qi Yuan’s eyes had gleaned much from Dao Buer.

Had Dao Buer not secretly probed Qi Yuan’s depths?

Qi Yuan’s body bore no trace of a Great Principle’s aura.

At his peak, he was merely a Principle, like Dao Buer himself.

How could he… so easily kill him in a single blow?

“No wonder you lost—your memory is poor.”

“I was never a Great Principle. I am… the Purple Mansion!”

As the words fell, Qi Yuan’s hand twitched.

Dao Buer’s towering, mighty body and soul were utterly crushed in that instant.

Until death, Dao Buer’s face held an expression of utter incomprehension.

For some reason, he felt Qi Yuan’s words were no lie—they were sincere.

Could the other truly be the Purple Mansion?

How was that possible?

“I… slain by a Purple Mansion!”

At the final source of his life, he let out a roar, then instantly fell silent.

At the same time, the cultivators in Tiankun’s Strange Land watched the scene, eyes wide, their disbelief no less than Dao Buer’s.

“It’s over just like that?”

“Dead?”

They had expected a cataclysmic battle, one that might even engulf them.

After all, with a single breath, Dao Buer had sucked all the spiritual energy of Tiankun’s Strange Land into his belly.

This left them now weak and drained.

They had thought a world-shaking war would shatter mountains and rivers.

But the result… a one-shot kill!

And most terrifying of all, the one who died was that Saint Light clansman.

Then, many cultivators turned to Liu Xi, their expressions tinged with regret.

“What a pity, Fellow Daoist Liu Xi. If you had served that lord back then, your future would have been… boundless.”

“Such terrifying power… could it be the legendary Great Principle?”

Having chosen to come to Tiankun’s Strange Land, they had naturally investigated the Saint Light clan there long ago.

Otherwise, they would not have dared to enter.

That lord’s ability to slay that Saint Light clan’s Yang God was simply… horrifying!

Liu Xi heard this, his expression unchanged, and said calmly, “In this world, there are always countless choices. Who can be sure every choice they make is right?

At least I’m still alive now—that’s a gain.”

Liu Xi remained free-spirited, accepting it openly.

Meanwhile, in the sky above, Qi Yuan gazed at the tattered-robed wraith, his eyes shifting.

He was somewhat curious about what Dao Buer had been scheming to take from that wraith.

“Old man, care to come to my place for a visit? Stop wandering out here. I’ll give you a… home!”

Qi Yuan called out to the tattered-robed wraith after watching for a while.

That wraith was clearly something extraordinary.

He had no interest in what Dao Buer had plotted—he was intrigued by the wraith’s true form.

If he put it into the Human Emperor Banner, the banner’s refinement would surely advance further.

The tattered-robed wraith, aimlessly wandering through the void, paused once more.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, “Don’t worry, I won’t charge you rent, and I’ll even cover meals and lodging!”

Qi Yuan gritted his teeth—no bait, no catch.

The wraith had no body, yet Qi Yuan felt as if a pair of eyes were fixed on him.

Seeing no further reaction from the wraith, Qi Yuan gritted his teeth again: “I’ll throw in social insurance too—no, double insurance!”

This time, he was really going all out.

After all, facing this tattered-robed wraith, Qi Yuan even sensed a hint of threat.

The wraith stared at Qi Yuan, and a desolate, solemn aura suddenly spread.

Qi Yuan seemed to hear a mournful sound from the abyss and ancient times.

“Forge no light, see no light.”

As the vast voice ended, before Qi Yuan’s eyes, the tattered-robed wraith was gone.

The blood-red hue in the sky vanished at that moment as well.

Where the wraith had gone was unknown.

“This is…”

Qi Yuan was startled, for in his hand appeared a tiny, pearl-like round grain.

Upon that crystalline little pearl was a single trace of bloodstain.

[Embryo of Light, stained with blood of ill omen.]

Seeing this, Qi Yuan was briefly stunned.

He waved his hand, and the Tiankun Ancient Mirror appeared in his grasp.

Earlier, when he had looked with his eyes, that mirror too seemed stained with blood of ill omen.

“This blood of ill omen… what blood is it?”

“And… why did that tattered-robed wraith suddenly give me the Embryo of Light? Was he really moved by my double insurance? But why didn’t he follow me? Could it be… he doesn’t need lodging?”

Qi Yuan speculated.

He pondered for a long time but could not figure it out.

He shouted into the void, "Hey, old man, what do you mean by that?"

Unfortunately, no one in the void answered him.

"Not forging light, not seeing light—what does that mean?"

Qi Yuan mused.

At that moment, the Embryo of Light in his hand suddenly burrowed into Qi Yuan's divine soul.

Qi Yuan was startled. "It burrowed into my soul?"

He shook himself and flicked the Embryo of Light back out.

A look of curiosity crossed his face.

"This thing can burrow into a soul?"

Qi Yuan was surprised.

After all, ordinary treasures could simply be stored in a pouch or placed in the dantian underworld; entering the soul was rare.

"It seems to be a very powerful treasure, but... I wonder what it's actually for?"

For the moment, Qi Yuan could not discern the function of the Embryo of Light.

"Alright, the journey to Tiankun Wonderland... is over for now. Time to go back."

Qi Yuan said calmly.

At the Ghost Pass, a whole bunch of white moonshines who disliked bathing were waiting for him.

"For some reason, my right eyebrow has been twitching lately... Could it be that I'm about to encounter danger?"

Qi Yuan mused slightly.

"Could it be that Ghost Imperial Heaven has a plan against me?"

"No, with Ghost Imperial Heaven's strength, he's not worthy!"

"So... the most likely is the Taihuang Palace. Could it be that my superb acting is useless, and the Taihuang Palace is about to... discover me?"

Qi Yuan pondered.

He had come to the upper realm, though he had always kept hidden.

But if someone searched carefully, they would surely find some clues.

"It's fine, no fear. Even if the Taihuang Palace comes after me, I'm in the right!"

"The light from their sun shines into my cave dwelling, violating my sacred private property!"

"That's a great crime!"

Qi Yuan was not worried.

He had many escape routes.

For instance, Tiankun Wonderland was actually a qualified retreat.

Not to mention Dao Bu'er, even that tattered-robed ghost would intimidate the Great Principle, preventing it from daring to burrow into Tiankun Wonderland.

Qi Yuan was different; he stood upright without fear of a crooked shadow, having done nothing shameful, so he dared to enter boldly.

......

In the dilapidated market.

Tianyun yawned, feeling that life was dull.

"Sigh, I wonder how that venerable lord is doing?" Tianyun thought of the black-robed figure and couldn't help sighing.

Aunt Luan sat beside Tianyun. "Don't think too much. What happens to him has nothing to do with us."

Just then, a calm voice suddenly came.

"May I ask, if I... may come in?"

Outside the cave dwelling, a black-robed figure appeared.

Hearing this, Tianyun's expression changed drastically.

Aunt Luan was extremely vigilant, her eyes full of wariness.

"It's... it's that senior," Tianyun stammered.

Then, exchanging a glance with Aunt Luan, she said, "My lord... please, enter without hindrance!"

As the words fell, a man in a black robe appeared.

This black-robed man was, of course, Qi Yuan.

After giving instructions to Stone Disk, Qi Yuan left Tiankun Wonderland.

He did not immediately head to the Ghost Pass but came to meet Tianyun.

After meeting Stone Disk and the others, Qi Yuan discovered that Tianyun and Stone Disk shared the same bloodline.

Or rather, Tianyun's bloodline was even purer.

And this bloodline should be deeply connected to that tattered-robed ghost.

To understand the function of the Embryo of Light, Qi Yuan thus came to visit Tianyun.

"Senior... have you come from Tiankun Wonderland? May I ask what business you have with this junior?" Tianyun sat upright, her expression uneasy.

Aunt Luan also stood nearby like a reprimanded junior.

Her mind was in turmoil.

How could this person have come out of Tiankun Wonderland?

According to the timeline, he had entered Tiankun Wonderland many years ago; shouldn't the Holy Light Clan have captured him?

"On the Night of Pure Yin Souls, I once saw a tattered-robed ghost. He should be deeply connected to you," Qi Yuan said calmly.

Hearing this, Tianyun and Aunt Luan's breathing became rapid.

Finally, Aunt Luan spoke, her voice desolate: "According to the ancient records of our clan, that tattered-robed ghost is the... Human King of our Celestial Clan."

"Oh, the Human King?" Qi Yuan paused slightly.

One who could be called Human King must be a great hero of a region, or rather, a lord of a realm.

No wonder that tattered-robed ghost was unwilling to be wrapped up; because he was merely a Human King, if he lived in the Human Emperor Banner, wouldn't that be overstepping?

"He once said a sentence to me that I did not understand, so I came to ask you about it," Qi Yuan stated his purpose.

"The Human King... spoke?" Aunt Luan looked at Qi Yuan in shock, as if she couldn't believe it.

The Human King's remnant soul had existed for no less than tens of millions of years.

But in all those years, when had he ever spoken a word?

"He said to me, 'Not forging light, not seeing light.' What does that mean?" Qi Yuan asked.

Hearing this, Aunt Luan's expression changed once more.

She believed it—this mysterious great figure had truly drawn the remnant soul of the Human King to speak.

She lowered her head and spoke, her voice tinged with desolation: “In our Celestial Clan, there is a record from ancient times. Under the leadership of the Human King, our clan… flourished with unparalleled prosperity, even… rivaling the current Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.”

At this mention, Aunt Luan’s face brimmed with pride.

The Celestial Clan had once possessed a resplendent civilization, countless worlds under their sway.

“But one day, darkness descended, and the Celestial Clan was plunged into shadow, unable to see the heavens!” As Aunt Luan spoke, deep sorrow welled in her eyes.

“The Human King led the divine generals to the front lines, resisting the darkness… Alas, the darkness was too powerful. The Celestial Clan could not withstand it in the end, and the entire clan was annihilated, save for a few who fled and arrived at the Kunlun Wondrous Land.”

Aunt Luan’s voice carried a note of weariness.

She had never lived through that ancient dark turmoil, but as a child, she had often heard her people speak of it.

Their ancestors, too, had once shone brightly.

“At that time, the Human King received a prophecy: only by forging the Radiant Marvelous Treasure could the darkness be shattered and light restored,” Aunt Luan said slowly. “But alas, the Radiant Marvelous Treasure was merely a legend. Before the entire clan could build it, the Celestial Clan was destroyed.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan’s mind raced with further connections.

If all this were true, then the Radiant Embryo must be the prototype of the Radiant Marvelous Treasure—a half-finished version of it.

“Which is stronger, the Radiant Marvelous Treasure or the Creation Marvelous Treasure?” Qi Yuan asked.

Aunt Luan paused, then shook her head. “Too distant a matter, I do not know. But… the legendary Radiant Marvelous Treasure should surpass ordinary Creation Marvelous Treasures?”

“Do you know how to forge the Radiant Marvelous Treasure?” Qi Yuan was eager to use the Radiant Embryo to craft it.

Yet the forging techniques he had learned in the Kunlun Wondrous Land seemed useless.

“I do not,” Aunt Luan said, shaking her head.

Such knowledge had long been lost.

“True enough. If your Celestial Clan could have forged it, you wouldn’t be in this state today.” Qi Yuan sighed.

He had roughly grasped the purpose of the Radiant Embryo.

Hmm… for him, it was useless now.

“I see. I understand. Thank you. Farewell.” Qi Yuan came and went swiftly, but before leaving, he offered a reminder: “The Sacred Light Gate in the Kunlun Wondrous Land has been destroyed, and Dao Bu’er of the Sacred Light Clan has been slain by me. You may return to the Kunlun Wondrous Land at any time; there is no danger.”

With that, Qi Yuan’s form dissolved and vanished, leaving behind a stunned and bewildered Aunt Luan and Tian Yun.

“Aunt Luan, is what that senior said true? That was… the Yang God of the Sacred Light Clan?”

“Could he be a Supreme Venerable? No, even a Supreme Venerable…”

“What identity does he hold?”

…

Within the Ghost Gate.

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable opened his eyes, curiosity gleaming within them. He looked toward the nearby envoy of the Taihuang Palace and could not help but ask, “Has a Supreme Venerable already… begun to align with the Taihuang Palace?”

Just moments ago, during a conversation between the Taihuang Palace envoy and several Great Principles, this fact had been subtly hinted at.

Only a fool would think it unintentional; it was clearly deliberate.

The Taihuang Palace was flexing its muscles.

The Taihuang Palace envoy’s eyes held a smile. “Besides one Supreme Venerable, several Great Principles at the level of Banner Lords have also pledged their allegiance.”

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable and Ghost Yuan Heavenly Venerable drew in sharp breaths.

Though they knew that once the Linya Exuviation began, many major powers would flock to the Taihuang Palace,

the speed of it still caught them off guard.

Clearly, even if those great powers in the Six Heavens were unwilling, they had long since inferred the outcome of this Linya Exuviation in secret.

“So, you need not worry. As long as the battle at the Black Demon Abyss succeeds, the Palace Lord will surely ensure your Ghost Imperial Heaven’s safety during this Linya Exuviation!” the Taihuang Palace envoy boasted.

Hearing this, Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable’s expression grew deep. “Unfortunately… the envoy of the Human Emperor Hall has been lurking outside, making it impossible for us to… strike at the Demon Gate!”

At this, Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable felt a pang of frustration.

A group of Yang God Heavenly Venerables like them had been beaten into hiding by a single enemy, forced to rely on the Banner Lord’s Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner to save the day.

If word got out, who knew how their peers would mock them.

The Taihuang Palace envoy, too, wore a look of indignation. “That fellow is far too slippery, utterly insolent!”

The last great conspiracy against the Black Demon Abyss had been shattered because of him.

Naturally, he harbored a deep hatred for the Human Emperor Hall envoy, especially since the man had threatened him before leaving, making him afraid to stray too far from these two Great Principles.

After all, who could guarantee that the Banner Lord’s Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was truly foolproof?

“But rest assured, once the Linya Exuviation begins, our Taihuang Palace will pinpoint his location. Then… it will be his death sentence.”

The Taihuang Palace envoy spoke calmly.

The Taihuang Palace had many hidden enemies.

Besides this envoy of the Human Emperor Hall, there was also the vanished Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable, and another… the Taihuang Palace envoy had only heard rumors of—a certain Qi Yuan from the lower realm.

What Qi Yuan had done, he did not know, only that he, too, was on the death list.

“When the time comes, we shall stand by and assist!” Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable declared.

At that moment, the one who would strike at the Human Emperor Hall envoy would naturally be a powerhouse at the Banner Lord’s level, or even a Supreme Venerable acting in person.

Thus, their assistance was merely to watch how the Human Emperor Hall envoy would die.

“Rest easy. The more arrogant he is now, the more miserably he will die then,” the Taihuang Palace envoy said.

Just then, a message suddenly reached his ears, and his face lit up with wild joy.

“Hahaha…”

He burst into laughter.

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable and Ghost Yuan Heavenly Venerable exchanged glances, startled. “Your Excellency, has some good news arrived?”

The Taihuang Palace envoy replied calmly, “Not exactly good news, but barely passable.”

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable and Ghost Yuan Heavenly Venerable leaned in, eager to learn what had happened.

They heard the Taihuang Palace envoy say, “News just came: the old Abyss Lord of the Black Demon Abyss has finally lost his composure and is willing to pay tribute to the Taihuang Palace. He also stated that during this Linya Exuviation, he will not oppose the Taihuang Palace.

It seems he is a wise man, having likely learned of many things.”

The Taihuang Palace envoy spoke cheerfully.

Though they had not slain Black Sword or killed the Great Principle of the Black Demon Abyss this time, forcing the Abyss Lord to bow his head was still a success.

“Are we just letting the Black Demon Abyss off like this?” Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable could not help but ask, somewhat dissatisfied.

After all, in this battle against the Black Demon Abyss, the Black Demon Abyss had suffered almost no losses, while their Ghost Imperial Heaven had taken a heavy blow.

If the Black Demon Abyss were allowed to survive the Linya Exuviation intact, Ghost Imperial Heaven would suffer greatly.

“Rest assured. Since the Black Demon Abyss dared to oppose you, how could our Taihuang Palace let them off easy?

Merely retreating without paying some price—do you think the Taihuang Palace would agree?” the Taihuang Palace envoy said.

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable and Ghost Origin Heavenly Venerable exchanged a glance, lowering their voices: “Could it be…”

Just then, the Taihuang Palace messenger extended two fingers: “At least this many, otherwise…”

As he spoke, his expression was arrogant, as if he were a judge holding the fate of all living beings.

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable and Ghost Origin Heavenly Venerable drew a deep breath.

Two fingers represented two Great Ultimate Principles.

That beings like them could one day be cast aside as pawns was truly terrifying!

“We need only sit at Ghost Pass, leisurely awaiting the start of the Linya Molt; that Abyss Lord should know what to do,” the Taihuang Palace messenger said calmly.

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable and Ghost Origin Heavenly Venerable drew another deep breath, feeling ever more the terror of Taihuang Palace.

That it could gain the permission of the Sole Hall to preside over this Linya Molt.

Even a power as mighty as the Black Demon Abyss, under Taihuang Palace’s might, had to cut off its tail to survive.

“It seems this Linya Molt will be a relaxed affair,” Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable laughed. “The Black Demon Abyss surrenders; aside from the Principle Society and the Moon God Palace, what other force would foolishly resist?”

“Right, and that jumping jack like the Human Emperor Hall Envoy is nothing but a grasshopper, easily dealt with…”

Boom!

Before the words faded, a tremendous roar suddenly rang out.

The expressions of Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable and Ghost Origin Heavenly Venerable stiffened sharply; a terrifying thought was born.

How could this be?

The Banner Master had personally set up the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner—how could the Human Emperor Hall Envoy have entered?

Yet then, a familiar voice suddenly came.

“So this is the Yang Spirit of the Ultimate Principle Realm—it takes two sword strokes to kill!”

All the Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerables looked over, and there in the void stood a man in blood armor, holding a blood-colored longsword.

Before him floated a corpse, still and silent.

That corpse was unmistakably that of a Yang Spirit of the Ultimate Principle Realm!

In the star realm, a star rapidly dimmed and died.

This was a Yang Spirit of the Ultimate Principle Realm!

Not an ordinary Heavenly Position Realm Yang Spirit!

Even in Ghost Imperial Heaven, the number of Ultimate Principle Realm Yang Spirits was absolutely limited—only a little over a dozen!

“Human Emperor Hall Envoy, you… how did you get here?”

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable roared in fury, his body charging toward Qi Yuan, a surge of mighty immortal spiritual power sweeping forth.

Ghost Origin Heavenly Venerable was about to step forward and strike, but the Taihuang Palace messenger pulled him back: “Don’t go! Protect me!”

The Taihuang Palace messenger was terrified.

He himself was only an Ultimate Principle.

If that Human Emperor Hall Envoy targeted him, he would likely be killed with a single sword stroke.

Seeing this, Ghost Origin Heavenly Venerable felt both helpless and furious, but he dared not defy the Taihuang Palace messenger’s wish and stayed put.

At that moment, from the heavens came the Human Emperor Hall Envoy’s cold, raspy voice.

“If you surrender my Human Emperor Banner, I will grant you some dignity; otherwise… do not blame me for hunting you down day after day!”

Qi Yuan did not tangle with Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable; instead, he soared away and effortlessly slew a Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerable who had been watching from afar.

That Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerable’s Ten Thousand Soul Banner was also taken into his possession.

Seeing this, Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable was enraged and bellowed: “How did you get in! Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, suppress him!”

With his roar, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner that spanned the entire Ghost Pass stirred.

A profound, boundless power immediately pressed down upon Qi Yuan.

Feeling that power, a glint of greed flashed in Qi Yuan’s eyes.

Because with a single light grab, he could take away the phantom of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

But he had to hold back.

For he did not like small gains—he wanted a big one!

Thus, facing the suppression of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, Qi Yuan’s face showed a helpless expression.

“Alas, is this all you have to suppress me with? Pity, a Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner of this level cannot hold me down!”

“Farewell, everyone!”

Qi Yuan clapped his hands and vanished instantly from the sight of the many Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerables.

Above the heavens, the aura of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was eerie and fearsome, enough to move even a Great Ultimate Principle.

Yet it could not detain Qi Yuan.

Ghost Crime Heavenly Venerable’s face was dark as thunder: “How… how did he get in!”

(Chapter End)