Chapter 5, Primordial Spirit
They saw Geng Wuxing rushing towards his beloved daughter from afar, but regrettably, distant water cannot quench nearby fire; they could only watch helplessly, while Shui Qingying closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight any longer
Suddenly, Ding Yuan opened his eyes, and through a haze, he saw Shui Qingying and Su Zhiyu. He smiled with relief and, in a voice barely audible, said with great effort: "I, I have finally fulfilled my promise"
In his early years, he was also a top figure in the demonic path, known for his arrogant demeanor. However, after encountering Shui Qingying, he became much more restrained in his behavior. With the arrival of this beloved daughter, his temperament has become significantly gentler.
At that moment, Sangtu Gong put away the Wuyou Dan and, with great effort, propped up his body and said: "Thank you, thank you!"
One of the ghostly maidens retreated slightly slower and was struck by the golden light on her legs. A piercing ghostly wail was heard, and she instantly vanished within the golden light
Geng Wuxing seized the opportunity and waved the jade fan, causing nine fan ribs to shoot out like sharp arrows. The primordial spirit of Sang Tugu was within arm's reach, leaving no time even to evade.
Su Zhiyu was supporting Ding Yuan as they finally escaped to the temple entrance. Suddenly, she saw a dark shadow fall in front of her, and standing on the ground was Geng Wuxing, which startled her. However, upon looking down and noticing that Geng Wuxing was already breathing more out than in, she let out a sigh of relief and lifted her foot, intending to bypass Geng Wuxing.
The water trembled lightly, and lowering her head, she gazed at Ding Yuan's pale face. Gritting her teeth, she said: "If it really doesn't work, then let's just give it away! After all, for sixty years, neither of us has been able to fathom its mysteries. It would be better to give it to Dan Yi. He is an upright person, and even if he truly can comprehend the treasure, it would be a blessing for Tian Lu."
Therefore, regardless of how perilous the situation may be, it is rare for masters from both the righteous and demonic paths to use their true spirit to exit their bodies in order to fend off enemies. Otherwise, even if they succeed, they would become half a cripple, and the following decades would be extremely difficult.
With a loud "bang," Geng Wuxing's body crashed solidly against the temple door, collapsing to the ground like a dead fish, with a triangular dart still lodged in his chest
Su Zhen looked at his wife's resolute expression, and after a long silence, he nodded emphatically and said: "Alright, we will head to Cuixia Mountain right away, but obtaining that item is not going to be easy."
The pangolin swiftly raised the triangular dart in its hand to block the jade fan, yet it was difficult to defend against the black-armored demon who swung an axe from the side.
Su Zhen walked over to Ding Yuan and Geng Wuxing. Geng Wuxing had already lost his breath, and Ding Yuan was barely hanging on, clearly on the verge of death
Su Zhen raised his hand and tossed three red pills at the feet of Sang Tu Gong, coldly saying: "You should take these first, then find a secluded place to regulate your true energy, and after that, return home to enter seclusion for several years. Although your power may not fully recover, it will be sufficient for your self-protection"
Brother Ding! Su Zhiyu was so taken aback by the scene before her that she began to cry out loudly
Sang Tugu's body trembled a few times, slowly collapsing to the ground. He sighed and said, "Thank you, thank you very much, but I fear— I may not be able to live— any longer!"
Although Ding Yuan was also taken aback upon seeing this, he was ultimately quick-witted by nature and instinctively stepped in front of Su Zhiyu to protect her
The spirit of the ancestral deity, upon witnessing the situation, showed no fear. Instead, it abandoned the four ghostly maidens who were unable to continue fighting and charged directly at Geng Wuxing, wielding the trident in its hand.
The water gently caressed the undulating back of the daughter, softly comforting her, saying: "Alright, my daughter, it’s all over."
In this way, Su Zhiyu and Ding Yuan found themselves in a dire situation, as neither could stand firm against the fierce wind. It was even more challenging for Su Zhiyu to support Ding Yuan in their escape from the earth temple. With each step Su Zhiyu took, she was blown off balance by the gale, making the journey of several dozen steps feel more difficult than ascending to the heavens
The pangolin let out a mournful cry, using all its strength to sever the arm of the black-armored demon that had pierced it with a trident, but immediately afterward, it was struck by another axe.
Su Zhiyu stared blankly at her parents for a while, and suddenly, with a cry, tears gushed out as she exclaimed: "Mother!" Then she threw herself into the gentle embrace of the water.
Two individuals were impaled together by a triangular prism and fell straight down.
Even someone like Geng Wuxing, upon witnessing this, could not help but feel alarmed. At this moment, even if he wished to retreat, he feared that Sang Tugu would not easily let him go. In desperation, he could only fight for his life, yet inwardly he was lamenting. Originally, he only intended to make the other party suffer a little to encourage them to retreat, but who would have thought that Sang Tugu, in a fight to the death, would truly risk his life.
Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her shoulder, as if someone had grasped it. Instinctively, she let out a sharp scream, nearly fainting.
They fought fiercely with the nine masters of Biluo Mountain until midnight, ultimately repelling the enemy. A second-generation disciple of Biluo Mountain was killed on the spot by Su Zhen, and five others were severely injured. If it had not been for Shui Qingying's intervention, it is feared that none of them would have survived to return.
When Su Zhiyu witnessed such a bloody scene, she couldn't help but exclaim, nearly vomiting on the spot
This person, a demon, and eight ghosts engaged in a fierce battle at the earth temple, causing the heavens and the earth to lose their light and the mountains and rivers to change color
Ding Yuan felt a loosening in his throat, just as he was violently coughing to catch his breath. Suddenly, he saw Geng Wuxing's slightly closed eyes widen in shock, as both hands grasped the triangular dart and pulled it forward. The triangular dart pierced directly through Ding Yuan's chest, emerging from his back.
Geng Wuxing's blood gushed forth violently, his body propelled upward, and the Nine Nether White Jade Fan transformed into a blade of light, striking towards the pangolin's head.
Su Zhen smiled wryly and said, "It wouldn't hurt to give it a try, but if the Cui Xia faction seizes the opportunity to demand that item from me, should I ultimately give it or not"
Geng Wuxing did not expect that Sang Tujun was so formidable. With a wild shout, he let go of the jade fan, which fell to the ground, and his entire body was sent flying backward.
Su Zhen and Shui Qingying exchanged a glance, both revealing a wry smile
The pangolin, transformed from the original spirit of Sangtu Gong, dances with a three-edged spear, resembling a descending demon, exuding an overwhelming aura of killing intent. Although the eight ghostly maidens driven by Geng Wuxing are formidable, they are significantly inferior in terms of cultivation and dare only to engage in combat from a distance.
Father, please save Brother Ding!" Su Zhiyu broke free from the gentle embrace of the water and urgently pleaded.
A fierce battle ensued, ultimately resulting in a mutually destructive outcome
Su Zhiyu listened to her parents' conversation, quietly lowering her head to look at Ding Yuan, silently saying to herself: "Brother Ding, just hold on a little longer, you will definitely survive!"
The peril of this battle is unknown to have surpassed that of the previous one by how many times; in just a moment, a black-armored demon was pierced through by a trident, its soul scattering in an instant
Geng Wuxing's eyes were completely black, and his terrifying visage resembled that of a demon, devoid of any trace of allure. The Nine Nether White Jade Fan, under its master's command, erupted with three bursts of black flames, which transformed in mid-air into three black-armored fiends wielding mighty axes, engaging in battle with the primordial spirit of Sangtu Gong.
Suddenly, a stuttering voice sighed softly, saying: "This, this doll is really quite nice, just like in the picture book, but unfortunately, it has to accompany me, the old monster, to hell!" It turned out to be the primordial spirit of the Earth God, speaking while lying on the ground
Geng Wuxing felt both heartache and fear, for the Nine Nether White Jade Fan was a treasured possession personally passed down to him by Chu Wangtian, one of his most prized magical artifacts from his early years. The nine female ghosts were also difficult to collect; losing one meant one less.
The sound of "puff puff" echoed continuously as nine ribs of the fan pierced into the pangolin's body, sending columns of blood soaring into the sky. The pangolin roared in pain, and the three-edged dart in its hand also deeply pierced into Geng Wuxing's chest
Although he ranks among the Nine Demons of the Celestial Land, he has always been a solitary figure, with not a single friend. Many people show him respect in person, yet behind his back, they make jokes about his stutter. Little do they know that Su Zhen not only expended his true essence to help restore his own primordial spirit but also generously gifted him three Wuyou Pills, leaving him with a multitude of emotions.
This earth escape technique can be said to be his means of livelihood before attaining enlightenment, and after cultivating into a demon, he became renowned in the celestial realm for it
Su Zhen took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "If there is still a glimmer of hope, it is to go to Cuixia Mountain to seek Master Dan Yi for a Nine-Turn Revitalization Pill, and then use the Six Harmonies Rejuvenation Technique of the Cuixia Sect to cleanse the marrow and transform the essence of this child, thereby reshaping the physical body"
Su Zhenmo sighed softly and said in an unusually gentle tone: "Child, if you have any unfulfilled wishes, feel free to speak them. Even if it means moving mountains and parting seas, I, Su Zhen, will certainly make it happen for you"
The enormous pangolin was originally the primordial spirit of Sangtu Gong. Five hundred years ago, it was an ordinary pangolin in the Million Great Mountains, but due to mistakenly consuming a celestial herb, it gained spiritual awareness. After more than three hundred years of cultivation, it finally transformed into human form, adopting the title "Sangtu Gong".
However, when encountering someone as resolute as Sang Tugu, once he becomes serious, he disregards everything and even fails to offer a greeting, directly unleashing his primordial spirit
Dante slightly shook his head, and surprisingly, a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he said: "What wishes could someone like me still have? If I must die, then so be it; there is nothing to fear. I only ask that you bury me in a place where no one goes, so that I will no longer be subjected to cold stares from others."
The breathing of the two became increasingly intense, as Geng Wuxing continuously expelled black gas outward, while Sang Tugu's primordial spirit also gasped for breath. However, at this moment, neither could bring themselves to stop and could only fight to the bitter end.
Su Zhiyu thought for a moment, then reached her small hand under Ding Yuan's arm, carefully helping him up and said, "I will take you with me"
Little did they know, Geng Wuxing was not truly dead. Suddenly, his body sprang up, arms outstretched as he clawed at Su Zhiyu, grinning maliciously: "Even if I die, I will drag you down with me!"
In the land temple, a fierce wind howled, and the air was filled with rolling thunder. Geng Wuxing's entire attire swelled up like a balloon, and the Nine Nether White Jade Fan in his hand emitted countless beams of black light
Years later, Sang Tuguo indeed traveled thousands of miles through mountains and rivers, braving fire and water for the sake of this day, thus creating a remarkable tale between heaven and earth.
Little did they know that Ding Yuan, in a moment of crisis, intervened to save Su Zhiyu, leaving Su Zhen and Shui Qingying immensely grateful to him. Therefore, no matter what means they had, the couple was determined to save Ding Yuan. Unfortunately, the three-edged dart was not something to be taken lightly, and even with Su Zhen's abilities, he found himself at a loss.
The pangolin's eyes gleamed with a golden light, and a long red tongue flicked in and out incessantly, with its sticky saliva dripping onto the ground, creating small pits that immediately emitted a pungent smoke.
A single glistening tear silently fell onto Ding Yuan's face, which had already lost all sensation
With the last vestige of his consciousness, Ding Yuan instinctively grasped the trident dagger at Geng Wuxing's chest, exerting all his strength to twist it inward. If it were an ordinary weapon, it would have been of no consequence to Geng Wuxing, but this trident dagger was a magical treasure cultivated by Sangtu Gong over a hundred years, far from ordinary
Su Zhiyu shook her head repeatedly and said: "Brother Ding, you are a good person, I absolutely cannot abandon you. Once I find my parents, I will definitely ask my father to take you as his closed-door disciple"
In a fit of rage, Geng Wuxing shouted, "Old ghost, you have destroyed my celestial treasure, and I will not rest until I have my revenge!"
The power of the primordial spirit is indeed formidable; however, once it leaves the body, there are two significant risks. First, the physical body loses its anchor, making it vulnerable to being destroyed by enemies. Second, the act of the primordial spirit leaving the body consumes a great deal of internal energy. Not to mention that if too much time passes and the internal energy is insufficient, there may not be enough time to return to the physical body, leading to the danger of the soul scattering. Even if one can successfully return to the original body, it would greatly deplete the vital energy, requiring at least several decades, or even up to a hundred years, for recovery.
Su Zhen did not appreciate the gesture and coldly replied, "No need for that, I only did it for Yu Er's sake."
Geng Wuxing, feeling a response, let out a gasp and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his fan waving more frantically in his hand. Over there, Sang Tugong's physical body also shook violently, a gash opening up on his back.
In the midst of the air, the eight female ghostly souls displayed an intensifying glow in their eyes, their figures growing larger and larger, until ultimately two of them reached a height comparable to that of a robust man. Under the influence of Geng Wuxing's incantation, they launched a second attack on the primordial spirit of the Sangtu deity.
Geng Wuxing also had his own calculations in mind. He knew that although the original spirit of the God of Soil was formidable, it could not be sustained for long. As long as he could endure the initial period, the God of Soil would inevitably face disaster.
Su Zhen furrowed her brows, shook her head slowly, and said: "Your brother Ding is unlikely to survive."
If others were to hear this, they would surely be astonished. Su Zhen has always been a person of his word; once he promises to assist someone, he would not hesitate to turn the entire world upside down to fulfill that commitment
Upon hearing these words, Su Zhiyu's tears surged forth once again as she desperately shook her mother, saying: "Father, Mother, please think of a way!"
However, that being said, in order to withstand the primordial spirit of the Lord of the Mulberry Earth, Geng Wuxing would have to exert all his strength. If he survives this ordeal, he would need to enter seclusion for over ten years to recover his vitality from this battle
Ding Yuan smiled bitterly to himself, thinking: "If I could leave, I would have done so long ago. Why would I foolishly wait here to become a meal for those two monsters?" He urged Su Zhiyu, saying: "Why do you care about me? We have no relationship to begin with. After today, we will each go our separate ways."
Geng Wuxing glared fiercely at the pangolin in mid-air and exclaimed, "The primordial spirit has left the body!"
Sang Tuguong fell silent, quietly swallowing the Wuyou Pill. A wave of sweet warmth instantly coursed through his entire body. At this moment, he resolved in his heart that he must repay this kindness, no matter what.
Su Zhiyu said: "Brother Ding, will you walk with me as well"
Su Zhen understood that he could not recklessly pull out the triangular dart lodged in Ding Yuan's chest. He swiftly reached out and struck several acupoints on Ding Yuan's body, temporarily sealing his raging blood flow with the true energy of the immortal.
He spoke softly, yet those who heard felt a pang of sorrow. The water was light, yet it could not withstand the tears welling up. Looking at her husband, she said: "Is there truly no way at all?"
Su Zhiyu looked at the dying appearance of Sang Tugu, yet felt a pang of compassion and pleaded, "Father, he is not actually a bad person; please save him as well."
Su Zhiyu was taken aback and cried out: "I don't want to, Father, you are immensely powerful, you must have a way to resolve this"
However, he is stubborn and absolutely unwilling to lower himself to plead with others for this matter, so he said: "I will not ask your father, nor should you ask for me. You should leave quickly, otherwise it will be too late for everything."
Geng Wuxing let out a wild cry, gradually loosening his grip with both hands, and his body began to fall back limply.
Su Zhen continued, "However, not to mention that the Nine Turns Returning Heaven Golden Elixir of the Cui Xia Sect only has four remaining, the Six Harmonies Rejuvenation Technique requires all six of the ancient immortals from the Cui Xia Sect to work together, channeling their energy for thirty-six days to achieve success. The dangers involved are immense; one could easily fall into demonic deviation. To save this child, each of those six ancient immortals would have to sacrifice several years of their cultivation. Although Master Dan Yi is a person of integrity, I have never had any relationship with him, so how could he be willing to lend a helping hand?"
Sang Tuguo was momentarily taken aback; he naturally understood that these three pills were the renowned Wuyou Dan. Although Su Zhen had the ability to refine them, it would take at least several decades of effort, and one refining session would never yield more than twelve pills. The other party, whom he had never met before, had produced three pills at once, which deeply moved him.
Suddenly, the bald head of the Sangtu Gong flashed with golden light, and a puff of blue smoke emerged, quickly forming into a pangolin over a yard long in the air
Shui Qingying understood that this was Ding Yuan's moment of reflection, and that even the Wuyou Pill could not save him, so she could only shake her head in silence, filled with sorrow
Suddenly, the pangolin swung its head fiercely, disregarding the sharp axe and the fan bones, and its long tongue shot out like a dart, piercing through the heart of the black-armored demon.
Geng Wuxing's bloodied hands were gripping his throat, making it difficult for him to breathe, as if his bones were about to be crushed.
The pangolin suddenly let out a low growl, while the three-edged dart struck left and right, killing two ghostly maidens. However, its chest was also cleaved open by the sharp axe of the black-armored demon, with its intestines spilling out.
Su Zhiyu stood there in a daze, unable to move a muscle
Tonight's fierce battle was unexpectedly disrupted by Sangtu Gong, resulting in a significant loss. Not only do I feel immense sorrow, but I also find myself unable to report back to my master.
Ding Yuan and Su Zhi Yu had already shrunk into a corner, watching the two of them fight fiercely. Ding Yuan whispered, "Yu'er, it seems that neither of them can pay attention to you right now, you should hurry and escape"
Yet, a gentle voice from behind softly said: "Yuer, do not be afraid, your parents have come."
Although Su Zhen had not personally witnessed the incident of Sang Tugu stealing his daughter, he had already guessed most of it. Naturally, he held no fondness for the other party's primordial spirit and merely let out a cold snort.
Gently touching his daughter's small face, Su Zhen thought to himself: "Ding Yuan, I cannot save you. As for Sang Tugu, aside from coveting the treasure in my hand, he poses no significant threat and is quite straightforward. It would be better to fulfill Yu'er’s wish." Thus, he formed a seal with his right hand, channeled his true essence, and with a flash of green energy on his face, sent Sang Tugu's primordial spirit back to his physical body
However, the primordial spirit of the Mountain Lord was also in a difficult situation. At that moment, another black-armored demon took the opportunity to strike down with an axe on the thick back of the pangolin. Although it did not sever its body, the flesh was still torn, and blood flowed profusely
In the midst of conversation, a sudden, furious shriek from Geng Wuxing pierced the air. The two looked up and realized that the eight ghostly princesses had been reduced by half by the primordial spirit of Sang Tugu.
Upon hearing that there was still hope for Ding Yuan's survival, Su Zhiyu disregarded any difficulties and urgently shook her father's sleeve, pleading: "Father, I beg you, you must let that Master Dan Yi save Brother Ding!"
Sang Tugu's primordial spirit was also at the end of its tether, unable to even draw out the triangular dart. His massive and heavy body crashed heavily to the ground, no longer able to move even a fraction, as blood flowed freely from his body, and it was clear that he could not survive any longer
The pangolin's pair of forelimbs resembled human hands, grasping the flying triangular shuttle in the air. With a casual wave, a ripple of golden light radiated outward, causing the nine approaching enchanting ghostly maidens to retreat hastily as if they had encountered the King of Hell.
Beside the water, Su Zhen wore a grim expression, her black clothing torn in several places, seeping dark red blood.
Su Zhiyu turned around and saw Shui Qingying standing behind her. Although her expression appeared somewhat weary, her gaze was filled with affection and satisfaction
Fortunately, Su Zhiyu wore a silver bell bracelet on her wrist, known as the "Lingxi Bracelet." This silver bell bracelet consists of two pieces, each adorned with eight small bells the size of fingernails. As long as one is activated with true energy, the other can respond even from a thousand miles away. The Su couple utilized this Lingxi Bracelet to locate the land temple.
Sang Tugu seemed to be in a state of meditation, his eyes wide open and completely still, appearing to Ding Yuan like a statue made of clay.
He summoned all his energy, gritting his teeth to channel the arduous cultivation of a full sixty years of magical essence, while the Nine Nether White Jade Fan danced in his hand like a wind wheel, continuously infusing power into the eight ghostly maidens.
The black-armored demon perished in response, yet just before its death, the axe still struck down upon its back.
Ding Yuan felt a stir in his heart. Although he did not fully understand the matters of the immortal and demonic paths, he could tell from tonight's tribulation that the Su couple were undoubtedly top-tier figures. If Su Zhen were willing to impart his skills, even learning half of his abilities would be sufficient to exact revenge.
Shui lightly pondered for a moment and slowly said: "It cannot be helped; I can only give it a try. After all, this child has suffered such great misfortune for the sake of Yu'er."
However, after this battle, Su Zhen and Shui Qingying both suffered considerable depletion of their powers, and they would need to return home for several years of quiet cultivation. Concerned about their daughter, they hurried back to the inn, only to find the guest room empty, with only the Tianxin lamp still emitting a solitary red glow.
In a fit of anger and shock, Geng Wuxing unleashed the "Nine Nether Heavenly Evil Technique," a skill he had never used since his debut, expending half a century of his power in an attempt to kill Sang Tugu.
In a brief moment, the pangolin was covered in wounds and drenched in blood. However, the Black Armored Demon was left with only one remaining, and the four Ghost Princesses were halved once again
Generally, practitioners of cultivation, whether from the righteous or demonic paths, possess a primordial spirit within them, which is the essence and vital point of the cultivator. When one reaches a high level of cultivation, like the demonic master Sangtu Gong, they can often allow their primordial spirit to roam the heavens, yet it rarely manifests during encounters with enemies
Su Zhen initially intended to ignore her, but upon seeing her daughter's frail and weak appearance, with tears glistening in her eyes, her heart softened.