Chapter 131: Might of the Talisman Treasure
Song Yan’s heart sank to the bottom. The sudden change in the Infinite Hells caught all the Qi Refining cultivators within completely off guard.
Not only had he been separated from Li Qingfeng, but he had also been pushed far away from the safe path that Elder Xu Ziqing had refined.
Screams and howls rose and fell one after another.
Jin Tianya, however, was extremely pleased.
Though this method of manipulating the Infinite Hells was something he could only use once.
But the vast majority of Qi Refining cultivators within the domain had already perished. That was enough.
“…”
A dramatic reversal.
At this moment, anyone would feel some panic.
But Song Yan forced himself to calm down quickly, minimizing his spiritual energy consumption as he slew the ghostly apparitions.
At the same time, he observed and considered his current situation.
Only now did he understand why the ghostly apparitions around him seemed to be growing more numerous, and why the demonic hands reaching out from the hellscape reflection beneath his feet were becoming more and more dense.
Because…
Right now, outside the boundary, almost all of the Foundation Establishment cultivators were refining this Infinite Hells.
The material-less terrain grew ever larger, the ghost domain ever smaller.
The evil ghosts naturally grew more numerous, and the ink-darkness naturally deepened.
Many elders outside the boundary had already noticed this as well.
In that case, for those disciples who could not reach the safe zone, the elders’ refinement of this painting was actually accelerating their deaths!
Quite a few disciples who had been displaced too far from the safe path had already begun to give up.
The surroundings grew quiet, because not many cultivators were still alive.
“Old Song!”
Li Qingfeng let out a shout from somewhere.
Song Yan turned to look.
With the boost from the ghost pill, Li Qingfeng was already almost within the path refined by Elder Xu Ziqing.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Song Yan shook his head.
His gaze was extremely calm as he resolutely turned around.
Looking toward another place.
The very center of all of Shigu Ping—the Mountain of White Bones!
It was the very center of the entire Infinite Hells, surrounded by densely packed fierce ghosts, the ink-darkness on the ground extremely thick.
But…
It was very close to him!
“If I can slay the person on that Mountain of White Bones, would this ghost domain collapse on its own?”
The spiritual energy in his body was nearly depleted.
He knew clearly that he no longer had any chance to retrace his steps and escape outward.
If he went all in, he might still be able to fight for a sliver of a chance at survival!
His gaze firm, he stepped toward the Mountain of White Bones.
…
Outside the boundary.
Influenced by various factors, the refinement progress of the Foundation Establishment cultivators varied considerably.
Among them, Shen Yu, who had focused all his efforts on reaching the spirit within the painting, naturally made the fastest progress.
However, even Elder Shen’s refined path had only reached roughly the halfway point.
“Hm?”
At that moment, someone among the Six Sects suddenly let out a soft exclamation.
Everyone looked toward the scene and saw that the Eastern Abyss Sect inner disciple had not fled outward, nor had he given up to wait for death.
Instead, he was pushing through the sky-full of ghostly apparitions, walking step by step toward the Mountain of White Bones.
“What is he trying to do?”
Shen Yu frowned.
He naturally recognized this youth named Song Yan.
The string of unexpected events at Silent Valley had given him quite a bit of trouble.
Now what kind of trick was he up to again?!
“Ah… after the Infinite Hells shifted, he’s too far from the outside. He won’t survive.”
“But there’s no need to seek death, is there?”
“Could it be…”
At that moment, the cultivators speculated on Song Yan’s thoughts and intentions.
“Could it be that he still wants to go straight to the Mountain of White Bones and refine the spirit within the painting?”
“Tch.”
Among the Profound Abyss Sect disciples, someone sneered.
“With such a rare treasure, even the Foundation Establishment seniors find it difficult to refine. Could it be that he wants to claim the treasure with just a Qi Refining cultivation?”
That was absolutely impossible.
Whether it was Shen Yu, the other elders, or even Liu Ciming and the demonic ape Hu Rifei, all of them understood this clearly.
Judging by the current momentum, even late Foundation Establishment spiritual energy would likely fall slightly short.
Liu Ciming understood even better what would happen if one recklessly unleashed spiritual energy within the ghost domain. The demon cultivators of Corpse Bone Abyss and the Underworld Springs Path paid no attention to this Qi Refining cultivator moving against the flow.
In their eyes, Song Yan was already a dead man.
Only Shen Yu harbored a trace of worry in his heart.
The cultivators of Eastern Abyss Sect were all a bit unstable in the head. If this kid was trying to climb the Mountain of White Bones and erase the spirit within the painting…
No…
That shouldn’t be possible.
Even if he truly harbored such thoughts, with his Qi Refining Stage seventh-layer cultivation, it was impossible for him to even climb the Mountain of White Bones.
He simply could not achieve it.
Thinking this, Shen Yu felt slightly relieved.
Jin Tianya now sat securely atop the Mountain of White Bones. Having become the spirit within the painting, the worst outcome was being refined by someone. He would not die at all.
Because if he died, this ink treasure would collapse and shatter.
This was a Deity Transformation ink treasure. No one would want to destroy it.
The scene in the arena was indeed as everyone had imagined.
Song Yan walked slower and slower.
His spiritual energy had been nearly exhausted, and more than half of the sword qi within his Town-Dao Sword Manor had been consumed.
But the closer he got to the Mountain of White Bones, the more terrifying the Infinite Hells became.
At this moment, countless ghostly apparitions charged at him in unison, yet he did not deploy his flying sword.
“Sigh…”
Xu Ziqing’s brow was tightly furrowed, his heart aching.
This disciple was considered a promising talent.
Shen Huai had already reached the path refined by Shen Yu, safe and sound.
She walked along the path toward the outside while recovering her spiritual energy.
Glancing sideways at Song Yan, he sneered inwardly: “Wishful thinking.”
Just then, she saw Song Yan take out a strange spirit talisman from his Cosmos Bag.
A cyan jade luminescence flowed within it.
Three round jade pieces seemed to form illusory shadows, slowly rotating.
It was precisely that incomplete Talisman Treasure!
Hummm—
The cyan jade spiritual light flashed, and the Talisman Treasure floated beside him, while three orbs of cyan jade light circled around his body.
They swept away the demonic mist and ghostly apparitions one by one.
What?!
Everyone could not help but feel startled.
“A Talisman Treasure?”
“This kid’s luck is pretty good.”
Though Elder Fu did not know Song Yan, the Eastern Abyss Sect and Sun-Shooting Sect were on good terms. Having one more promising young cultivator survive was naturally not a bad thing.
“But what exactly is he trying to do?”
Cong Yuzhen, standing behind her, looked at Song Yan with some surprise.
She saw him let out a turbid breath, quickly adjust his vital energy, and then continue walking toward the Mountain of White Bones.
Though it was an incomplete Talisman Treasure, the remaining spiritual essence within could sustain him for half an incense stick’s worth of time.
That was enough for him to reach the Mountain of White Bones!
The surrounding ghostly apparitions could not approach him, and the demonic whispers and hallucinations vanished as well.
Only the black hands from the hellscape reflection beneath his feet still surged forward wave after wave.
The Talisman Treasure’s power was somewhat stronger than he had imagined!
He controlled only the minimum amount of sword qi needed to sever the hands in the ink-darkness.
Step by step, he walked toward the Mountain of White Bones!
Closer, very close!
Watching Song Yan gradually approach the Mountain of White Bones within the boundary, Shen Yu felt alarm surge in his heart!
Though he knew full well that this Qi Refining cultivator would not pose any threat to him.
But he was unwilling to gamble even on that one-in-ten-thousand possibility!
“Shen Huai.”
He transmitted his voice: “Kill him.”
Shen Huai, who had been walking outward, paused slightly, her steps halting.
Without hesitation, spiritual light burst from her fingertips, and a hairpin slowly materialized beside her.
Spiritual energy gradually condensed.
In a single instant, it shot forth!
Song Yan had been fully focused on controlling his sword qi. By the time he sensed something was wrong, it was already too late.
He instinctively dodged, barely avoiding the hairpin magical artifact’s attack.
But the hairpin turned slightly in midair and pierced the Talisman Treasure floating beside him.
The cyan jade luminescence abruptly went out.