Chapter 601: Swallowing Immortal Dregs, Closed Beta Cultivation Technique (Thanks to 'maleim')

Chapter 601: Swallowing the Immortal Dregs, Beta-Testing the Cultivation Technique (Thanks to 'maleimalei' for the Guild Leader reward)

"Get away!!"

A fierce roar erupted from Zhang Yu's mouth, and the figure that had just been pushed down leaped up instantly.

Surging protective qi, mingled with the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, burst forth from his body, transforming into streaks of golden flames that enveloped his form and instantly shattered Kuang Tianqing before him, scattering her into the air.

Yet in Zhang Yu's eyes, Kuang Tianqing's figure continued to flicker in and out of existence around him.

A moment ago, his naked eyes could still track her, but the next moment, when his physical sight failed, it was his eye bones that sensed the opponent's presence.

But whenever he struck out with a palm, his protective qi sweeping across, her figure would vanish like a phantom right before his eyes.

"Heavenly Demon Phantom Body..."

Upon sensing Kuang Tianqing's presence and realizing his perception was being deceived by the illusion, the data on the military-grade cultivation techniques of the Heavenly Demon University immediately surfaced in Zhang Yu's mind.

"The Heavenly Demon Phantom Body can distort an opponent's perception, altering sensations of sight, touch, smell, as well as spatial and directional awareness."

"Kuang Tianqing must be using this military-grade Daoist art to trick my senses."

"These phantoms aren't all illusions; her true body is definitely among them."

"It's just that our distorted perceptions make it impossible to tell them apart, and even if we strike her... we wouldn't feel it or realize it."

"The key to this Daoist art lies in the air; as long as we cut off the connection with the outside air and switch to internal breathing..."

Zhang Yu thought so and acted accordingly, but he was soon shocked to find that even after entering a state of internal breathing, he still could not stop his perception from being continuously distorted by his opponent.

Just then, Zhang Yu felt a chill on his lower abdomen, as if an icy palm had gently brushed against it.

"See that?"

Kuang Tianqing's voice came from behind him, a stream of hot breath constantly blowing against his neck, while a soft pressure pressed against his spine.

"Do you see that, Bai Zhenzhen?"

"I'm going to grope him now."

Zhang Yu roared in anger, his protective qi surging violently as he shattered the opponent's phantom once more, yet unable to prevent its reappearance.

And with each reappearance, the phantom's hand reached further down, as if Kuang Tianqing were standing right behind Zhang Yu, inching her way toward his vital points.

"I'm going to grope him, I'm going to grope him, I'm starting to grope him!" Kuang Tianqing laughed loudly. "Have you opened your eyes wide and seen clearly, Bai Zhenzhen? Your good friend is completely in my grasp!"

Bai Zhenzhen stared fiercely at Kuang Tianqing's figure with wide eyes, her eyes, usually like a pool of clear autumn water, now seeming to churn with a violent storm.

"Zhang Yu... is being forcefully ravaged!"

If Zhang Yu were truly willing to do this, if he took the initiative to charge for it, Bai Zhenzhen would have nothing to say.

Even before cultivating the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao, Bai Zhenzhen would have supported Zhang Yu in doing this to earn money, to support the family, to cultivate... like guarding the door for him, collecting money, holding the fort, or lending a hand.

Simply because this was inherently a righteous path, the orthodox way of Kunxu.

And even after cultivating the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao, if Zhang Yu chose to walk the righteous path, Bai Zhenzhen would not be willing to stop him.

She only thought of changing herself, forging a new Extreme Emotion Sword Dao, hoping that one day she could reform and not drag down the speed at which Zhang Yu earned money.

But now...

"No!"

What was happening before her was Kuang Tianqing, in severe violation of Zhang Yu's will, attempting to forcefully and freely devour Zhang Yu.

Whether considered from an economic perspective, a choice of personal emotion, or the restless sword qi stirring within her body at this moment... everything was telling Bai Zhenzhen the same answer.

"Take your hands off him!"

Watching Kuang Tianqing embrace Zhang Yu from behind, her hand reaching to grope further down, Bai Zhenzhen roared, her crimson sword qi surging out and slashing swiftly toward Kuang Tianqing's figure.

"Don't touch him with your filthy hands!"

Amidst the howling sword qi, Kuang Tianqing's figure was violently shattered, tearing apart the earth for hundreds of meters behind her.

But the next moment, Kuang Tianqing reappeared, licking the corner of her mouth with a smile. "Oh? So excited?"

"Is the power of your sword qi growing again?"

"Bai Zhenzhen, don't tell me you haven't even played with him yourself yet?"

"Then watch closely, as I, Kuang Tianqing, take the lead and forcefully swallow this immortal dreg!"

Under the fierce resistance of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, Kuang Tianqing's figure was continuously shattered, only to reappear time and again.

And with each reappearance, her enchanting figure drew closer and closer to Zhang Yu's vital points.

Although Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen tried many methods to break the illusion, it seemed that no matter what they did, they could not interrupt what Kuang Tianqing was about to do, and they could never shake off the influence of the Heavenly Demon Phantom Body.

"Damn it!" Bai Zhenzhen roared, the sword qi around her growing redder, as if blood were about to drip from it.

Zhang Yu only felt the flow of his blood, qi, and magical power accelerating, seemingly being stirred into restlessness by Kuang Tianqing.

"No... this can't go on..." Zhang Yu thought to himself. "All the methods recorded in the intelligence to break the Heavenly Demon Phantom Body have been tried, and all have failed."

"Then there is only one possibility... the Heavenly Demon Phantom Body has been updated."

"The Heavenly Demon Phantom Body at this very moment has surpassed the intelligence recorded in our data."

Thinking of this, Zhang Yu immediately sent a message to the other party: Ah Zhen! Retreat!

Zhang Yu: Don't continue fighting Kuang Tianqing until we figure out a way to break the Heavenly Demon Phantom Body.

The instant their communication ended, their figures flashed and shot out like arrows.

Under the cover of the Divine Spiritual Root, their figures dissipated together, as if their very existence had been completely erased from heaven and earth. Watching this scene, Kuang Tianqing chuckled softly, "Can you escape?"

...

At the same time.

Above the arena.

The ten Deity Transformation principals from the ten great universities each descended a beam of divine light, gathering here to watch the fierce battle on the floating continent below.

The light representing Deity Monarch Tianyan trembled slightly, and the voice of the principal of Wanfa University emanated from within: "Old Zizai, when was the Heavenly Demon Phantom Body updated? How come I didn't know."

From the divine light representing the Heavenly Demon University, Deity Monarch Zizai chuckled and said, "It's a beta version. Kuang Tianqing happened to participate in the project update, so she just learned it along the way."

"If you're not reassured about the procedures, I can show you."

Deity Monarch Tianyan said indifferently, "You really went to great lengths for this first place."

Deity Monarch Zizai smiled and said, "It's just the students making a fuss down there; we're just going with the flow."

...

Accompanied by howling winds and swirling grass and leaves, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen transferred over a thousand meters in the blink of an eye.

But during this rapid transfer, the two could always see Kuang Tianqing's phantom constantly appearing, finding it impossible to shake off.

Under the cover of the Divine Spiritual Root, their bodies were completely invisible.

Yet in the vision of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, they could see Kuang Tianqing grabbing Zhang Yu, chuckling softly, "Bai Zhenzhen, do you see? He's going to react, he's going to react in my hands!"

With a soft swish.

The crimson sword qi grazed the edge, shattering Kuang Tianqing's figure and startling Zhang Yu.

“No…” Zhang Yu murmured inwardly, “This Celestial Demon Incarnation can distort perception over a vast area. Unless we can break free of Kuang Tianqing’s sphere of influence in one breath, we’ll never shake her off.”

“And even with the concealment of the Divine Spirit Root, the sheer momentum of high-speed movement is too great. It would easily allow Kuang Tianqing to pinpoint our general location, prompting her to unleash the Celestial Demon Incarnation to warp our senses across a wide radius…”

“What do we do?”

“What can we possibly do to break free from the illusionary influence of Kuang Tianqing?!”

Just as Zhang Yu’s mind began to race with frantic calculations, Bai Zhenzhen suddenly spoke from beside him, “Yu-zi!”

Zhang Yu turned his head to look at Bai Zhenzhen, and as he felt the focus of her gaze, a sudden chill seized his heart.

Bai Zhenzhen’s body trembled slightly as she spoke, her voice laced with defiance and humiliation, “If this goes on, there’s no way to stop her from continuing to defile you.”

“She is devouring you, bit by bit.”

“Once she truly completes the dual cultivation with you and begins to drain your body, you will slowly lose all power to resist.”

“Then there is only one last resort.”

Crimson sword qi surged upward as Bai Zhenzhen said, “Yu-zi, just let go of that part. Eradicate your weakness completely, and give Kuang Tianqing no more chances to exploit!”

Zhang Yu parted his lips, wanting to refute her, yet found himself utterly unable to form a counterargument.

“Is this truly the only way?”

“Damn it, think! Think of some way to break through this predicament.”

“What exactly must I do?!”

Watching Bai Zhenzhen step toward him, her sword qi surging with every stride, Zhang Yu felt his own speed of thought accelerating in tandem.

“The Celestial Demon Incarnation absolutely cannot be without flaws.”

“There must be some way… but can I figure it out?”

“Damn it, if only Master were here. What would she do?”

Struck by a sudden epiphany at the thought, Zhang Yu’s heart jolted and he cried out, “Wait, A-Zhen.”

At that very moment, countless artifact refining schematics flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind. He selected one for a treasure possessing the power to resist illusions and abruptly unleashed the might of Heavenly Craft.

In the next instant, a myriad of knowledge and memories—some belonging to Zhang Yu, others to Sovereign Magnetic Pole—surfaced in his mind, continuously refining the schematics until, in mere moments, a brand-new blueprint was forged.

“This is it!”

“The blueprint for an artifact, refined by Master and me together, capable of countering the Celestial Demon Incarnation!”

Yet Zhang Yu knew that, at this very moment, he simply did not have the time to forge this artifact.

But gazing upon the contents of the blueprint could help him deduce a method to counter the Celestial Demon Incarnation.

“Oh? So this is the potential flaw in the Celestial Demon Incarnation that Master and I have researched together?”

In the next instant, accompanied by a soft, crisp snap.

Zhang Yu had already clamped his hand firmly around Kuang Tianqing’s descending palm.

This time, there was no phantom-like dissipation; Zhang Yu tangibly felt the physical form of his opponent, shattering through the distortion of his senses.

Under Kuang Tianqing’s gaze of surprise, Zhang Yu offered a faint smile and said, “Finally… I’ve got you!”

(End of Chapter)