NOVPUB"Let’s go take a look!"
With a gentle grasp, the Frost Demon Lord was taken into the Suspended Realm, allowing him to rest and recover. Meanwhile, I channeled my strength and transformed into a wisp of blue smoke, drifting straight toward the direction of the battle.
Although I didn’t know who was fighting or why, it was only natural to check it out since the opportunity had arisen.
As I drew closer, the oppressive presence of the battle grew stronger, akin to a volcanic eruption of demonic energy. Intertwined with strange soul shocks, it caused any cultivators trying to approach to faint on the spot.
Hiding within the soil, Zhang Xuan observed the scene from a distance of over a hundred Baili from the battle’s center. The ground was littered with countless Primordial Beasts and even the flowers and trees couldn’t withstand the combatants’ power, withering and dying.
The battle between the two experts had turned an area of over a hundred Baili into a terrifying wasteland.
"Is this a battle between Bodhisattva Realm experts?"
Zhang Xuan’s throat felt dry.
No wonder the Frost Demon Lord ended up in such a state with just one encounter; the difference between the Bodhisattva Realm and the pinnacle of Life Sea 9-dan was vast as heaven and earth, entirely on different planes.
Even with the Eternal Heart and having forged two pieces of the Buddha Bone Relics, he wouldn’t be able to withstand any one of them for three seconds.
Circling around a small mound, I finally saw the combatants clearly. One had a graceful figure, shrouded in a black robe with no feet, resembling a serpent from the waist down. The other was an old man with a radiant gaze like stars, surrounded by warped space that made it impossible to see or discern clearly.
"It’s... the Soul Hall Master, Feng Yuanping?"
Zhang Xuan was startled.
The second person, the old man, turned out to be someone he’d seen before—the Soul Hall Master who had taken Lu Chong away. Back then, it wasn’t clear just how powerful he was. Now it was evident he had surpassed Life Sea 9-dan, reaching the higher Bodhisattva level.
The Soul Division is a massive force not weaker than the Medicine Sect. Why would such a prominent leader venture into the Ten Directions Demon Realm? Was he not afraid of being surrounded and killed by the Four Great Demon Emperors?
Watching stealthily.
The battling parties had unleashed some power that shattered the space around them like a broken mirror, reflecting dazzling layers of light. Just a glance could cause one’s mind to sear, as if struck on the back of the head or exhausted after a day of heavy drinking.
"It’s a soul confrontation; this half-snake person must be the Soul Evil Demon Emperor!"
Zhang Xuan confirmed.
Each of the Four Great Demon Emperors had their own expertise, and in the field of souls, the Soul Evil Demon Emperor had profound mastery, not weaker than the Soul Hall Master.
But why were the two fighting?
Driven by curiosity, Zhang Xuan moved a bit closer, noticing something odd.
Not far from the battleground, atop a peak, space remained calm and stable, like an island in a giant wave, unaffected by the fight.
Taking a look, he understood. It wasn’t that the area was special; the combatants were deliberately avoiding it. Even in a life-and-death struggle, they spent part of their strength to protect this place.
"Is there some treasure here?"
For two experts, usually peaceful, to fight like this, there could only be one reason: to seize an artifact. But then, what treasure could drive Bodhisattva-level experts to madness?
Zhang Xuan brimmed with curiosity.
"Eye of Insight!"
With soul energy rampaging, the space ahead remained distorted. One couldn’t see it with normal vision and had to rely on this ultimate skill developed on the Master Teacher Continent.
Ring-like patterns appeared in his pupils. Moments later, the twisted space reconstructed in his sight, revealing a bluish-purple flower atop the mountain.
Not large, resembling a common butterfly orchid, yet it felt as if it would vanish into the space at any moment.
"Is this... a distortion of the soul?"
Zhang Xuan’s pupils contracted.
The sensation was somewhat akin to when he first met Feng Yuanping—it seemed normal, yet the soul felt intermittently missing.
Clearly, it’s a soul treasure. Otherwise, it couldn’t induce two Bodhisattva-level powerhouses to fight life and death while still protecting it.
Looking around, the peak was small. The flowers and plants continued to thrive since the fighting didn’t extend there. Even a green butterfly danced leisurely with the floral scent, seemingly unaware of the surrounding crisis.
"Do you know what this flower is?"
Zhang Xuan explained everything he saw to the Frost Demon Lord.
"It should be the ’Blue Butterfly Spirit’!" the Frost Demon Lord hesitated, then said.
"Tell me more!"
The Frost Demon Lord continued, "I have only read about it in books and never seen it before. It’s said to contain pure soul energy, which can nourish the soul and repair the spirit!"
"Pure soul energy? In this place?"
Zhang Xuan’s eyes widened, looking as if he’d seen a ghost.
This place was filled with suffocating demonic energy and killing intent. Staying here long enough could drive anyone insane. Yet, a herb containing pure soul energy was born here... Is this real?
"Manure grows flowers, mud births lotus; the more chaotic to the soul, the more likely pure forces appear. It’s likely part of the Tian Dao, the doctrine of extremes," speculated Frost Demon Lord.
Zhang Xuan nodded.
Indeed, that was true.
The more undervalued something is, the more likely it develops unmatched qualities.
Prosperity must decline, a full moon must wane.
Everything in the world is never constant.
The Ten Directions Demon Realm, ruthless and tough for survival. Yet, anything living here are formidable, whether plants or Primordial Beasts.
The Blue Butterfly Spirit seems to be an elite among them, no wonder those skilled in soul cultivation would fight fiercely over it.
"Master, if you obtain this medicinal material, your soul strength will surge significantly..."
The Frost Demon Lord’s excited voice came through.
"Hmm!"
Zhang Xuan nodded.
His body had gained the Eternal Heart, becoming increasingly resilient and improving rapidly, but his soul strength visibly lagged.
Though as the Master of One Realm, his soul energy was abundant and unwavering, the purity was much lacking, unable to keep pace with his growing body.
If he could get that Blue Butterfly Spirit, his soul might take a leap, and with the Eternal Heart, he might burst out with power comparable to the Bodhisattva Realm in a short time.
Should that really happen, even if he couldn’t save Empyrean Kong shi within the Law Heavenly Capital, escaping wouldn’t be too challenging.
After all, Bodhisattva-level power stands at the pinnacle of the entire Source World.
However... two Bodhisattva-level experts were dead set on having it, willing to risk life and death. For someone as minor as him, only at Life Sea 1-dan, to snatch it from their clutches, seemed nearly impossible!
