Chapter 816
The Method of Connecting Souls Between Heaven and Man
"died?"
Lan Yingjun's eyes widened, her expression filled with shock and astonishment.
Her eyes trembled, flashing with disbelief and incredulity.
A powerful pseudo-celestial being, at the height of his power, died just like that?
She knew Chen Ping'an's combat strength. He had already displayed an unparalleled domineering power when he suppressed the raging waves and cleaved the earth outside Xuanling City.
But this domineering
How could they be so domineering?!
Since his appearance, it has only been a few breaths, yet he has already killed a pseudo-celestial being with peak combat power.
Until just moments ago, when the other party took the secret medicine and unleashed his power, her heart was clenched with anxiety. But now, that lotus-mist man who had shown them the might of a celestial being was just dead?
Throughout this entire process, her emotions fluctuated wildly, like clouds shifting and rising and falling, catching everyone off guard.
Pong!
Lan Yingjun slapped away the pink demon in front of her with a palm, and a flash of spiritual light around her forced back the array of lotus needles that were shooting out.
Without the spiritual support of the lotus-flower man, such an attack would be nothing to her.
"Lord Chen."
Lan Yingjun bit her red lips lightly, her expression turbulent, and the words hidden in her heart almost slipped out.
She shifted her position, moving closer to Chen Ping'an, only to see him holding a blade, looking at something with a half-smile.
"You've concealed yourself so carefully; surely you don't still think you can fool me with a few tricks?"
Um! ?
Lan Yingjun was stunned for a moment, and her heart skipped a beat.
still alive?
A glint of light flashed in her mind, and a faint green light shone brightly. Without the suppression of the other party's spiritual power, her spiritual perception was much smoother than before.
Her gaze followed Chen Ping'an's line of sight, looking towards that space.
A faint pinkish-white mist drifted slowly in mid-air, dissipating into the surrounding space at an extremely natural speed.
Without the suppression of her soul, her spiritual perception was pushed to its limit. Even the slightest detail within several miles could not escape her senses.
Even if the soul of a pseudo-celestial being has flaws, it is still the power of the soul, which is a level higher than spirituality.
Lan Yingjun carefully sensed the surroundings, but upon closer inspection, she found nothing unusual.
"Not here?" Lan Yingjun suddenly realized.
While her spiritual sensitivity might not be the best among her contemporaries, she has possessed abundant spiritual awareness since childhood, and her perception of danger and subtle nuances is extraordinary. Through years of spiritual practice, her spiritual foundation has become remarkably pure.
Ordinary disguises and concealments cannot fool her in the slightest.
Lan Yingjun was slightly stunned, but seeing Chen Ping'an's calm expression as he looked at the distant patch of evil mist, she instantly dismissed her thoughts.
Just as her emotions were shifting, Chen Ping'an's blade flashed, its sharp and domineering light sweeping across the scene, killing everything in its path.
"No! Impossible! How did you find out?"
As the blade struck, a soft yet piercing shriek echoed within the malevolent mist.
"My Lotus Shadow Transformation Mist Technique has reached a state of perfection. How could you, a mere junior, possibly discover it?"
Amidst the surging mist, an unbelievable and utterly incredulous sound emanated.
The lotus-covered man was no longer as arrogant and confident as before. He had shrunk considerably, surrounded by a thick mist, perfectly blending into the evil fog.
His entire body was covered in broken wounds, but they were all in one place. His waist was almost cut in two, but it was connected by a strange pink and white thread, keeping his body intact.
At first glance, it gives the impression of being still connected to something.
At this moment, his heart was filled with deep horror and despair, and within that despair lay endless doubt.
The power of the brute force far exceeded his expectations. Even after taking the secret medicine and unleashing his full combat strength, he still couldn't block a single strike from the brute force.
To unleash such combat power at the Grandmaster level is something that such a prodigy has never even been heard of before.
If it weren't for the special cultivation method he practiced, which made him extremely adept at preserving his life, that one strike might have already killed him, causing his body and soul to perish.
With his power, even a top-tier pseudo-celestial being using pseudo-heavy treasures to kill him might not be able to force him into this situation.
Ke Mang Dao
A mere junior, yet he accomplished it.
At that moment, he lost all desire for battle. Even though he was terrified, he no longer wanted to fight; he only wanted to rely on his extraordinary skills to escape this calamity and live.
Taking advantage of the situation, he used the momentum of the collapse to employ a life-saving secret technique, transforming into mist and hiding within the pink evil mist.
The Lotus Shadow Transformation Mist Technique he cultivated was something he obtained by chance when he was guarding the sect's forbidden area years ago.
To be precise, in its early stages, when he obtained this technique, it was not a technique at all, but a broken and incomplete jade lotus.
After obtaining the Azure Lotus, he studied it day and night, supplementing it with its essence. Ultimately, based on the sect's cultivation techniques, he comprehended this Lotus Shadow Transformation Mist Technique.
He also used this great method to successfully raise enough resources, and in one fell swoop entered the pseudo-celestial realm, leaping to the top of the sect.
In the years since he entered the pseudo-celestial realm, he has been perfecting this technique. In recent years, he has made new progress and insights, and from the characteristics of the Azure Lotus, he has comprehended new secret methods.
This secret technique, since he comprehended it, has never been revealed to anyone. It is his greatest secret, his greatest source of confidence in battle, and a means of protecting his life.
With this support, he was able to confidently and boldly participate in this operation with the Supreme Elder, working together to accomplish this important task.
His technique of connecting limbs with mist, ever since he mastered it, has repeatedly brought him surprises. Not only can he use lotus threads to connect severed limbs and slowly nurture them, but he can also mist his body to perfectly conceal himself.
These secret techniques, in terms of their grade, specifications, and overall scale, far surpass the so-called life-saving techniques. In terms of their imagery, they have probably already reached the level of a true martial arts manual.
With this secret technique as his reliance, he was confident he could survive even in the face of celestial beings amidst the chaos of battle. But why...
The man with the lotus-shaped vase trembled, his slender, pinkish-white eyes gleaming with an indescribable light.
Die before leaving the army!
When Chen Ping'an first spoke, he tried to deceive him, but just now he realized that Chen Ping'an had truly figured out his secret technique.
"This brute knife"
The tremor in his heart was indescribable.
In the midst of the chaos, even a secret technique that a celestial being might be able to conceal was easily discovered by this junior, Mang Dao. This was something he simply could not accept.
Whoosh!
With a flash of cold light, Chen Ping'an moved.
At that moment, Chen Ping'an stretched out one hand and grabbed the man with the lotus-shaped hairpin by the neck.
"Ho ho ho"
In an instant, the man with the wax apple felt his energy flow become sluggish and his internal organs churn.
That sharp and intense artistic conception invaded his internal organs and every part of his body.
"Chen Chen Ping An."
He struggled desperately, but it was as if he were imprisoned by a mountain and bound by a giant lock, making it impossible for him to escape.
"Do you know why I kept you here!" Chen Ping'an's expression was cold, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
Amidst the tremors of true energy, only the voice that the Lotus Mist Man could hear rang in his ears.
The man with the wax apple wanted to answer, but the hands, as strong as steel chains, gripped his neck tightly, preventing him from saying anything.
The man with the wax apple did not answer, and Chen Ping'an did not need him to answer.
He was surrounded by a dazzling blue light, so bright that it was impossible for people to open their eyes. An invisible light shield enveloped him, isolating him from everything inside and outside.
Looking at the utterly indifferent face before him and hearing the words in his ear, the man with the lotus-shaped mist suddenly widened his pupils, realizing something.
boom!
A divine soul, so pure that it made one tremble and prostrate, descended with a thunderous roar, flawless, pure, and perfectly complete, so pure that it was breathtaking.
"you you."
The man with the wax apple in his eye widened to its limit, his emotions intense and shocked, utterly incredulous. Two streaks of blood slid down the corners of his eyes, his expression one of utter horror and profound disbelief.
He struggled desperately, staring intently with his eyes, trying his best to tell the truth.
But by then, it was all too late.
Amidst the dazzling blue light, Chen Ping'an spoke indifferently.
"Invite the soul!"
Wow~
The flawless, pure, and perfect divine soul power, like an invisible net, completely enveloped his spiritual platform.
The next moment, he felt completely empty, as if he were rising into the air.
then
His soul was torn apart, shattered.
His expression froze, his eyes dimmed, and he stopped struggling and resisting.
In the moment when he was fully conscious, he left behind his last thought.
"Martial Arts Celestial Being!
A martial arts master with a perfectly pure and flawless Dao foundation!
A true celestial being!
Mangdao?
Hahaha, so young and impetuous, achieving fame at a young age, yet he has managed to calm his mind and conceal his talents to such an extent!
Standing at a distance, Lan Yingjun saw the lotus-shaped man who had been slashed out by a single blade, and she immediately understood the gap between herself and Chen Ping'an.
She tried her best to sense it, but couldn't detect the slightest trace, while Chen Ping'an could sense it easily.
She exhausted all means and relied on the secret artifact in her possession to finally become a pseudo-celestial being with a fighting chance.
Chen Ping'an could easily defeat him with just himself and his sword.
Looking at the lotus-shaped man who had been captured by Chen Ping'an with one hand, like a dead insect or a dead dog, Lan Yingjun's eyes were filled with extreme shock.
The next moment, a bright blue light shone forth, with a protective barrier separating the inside from the outside, making it difficult to detect.
Lan Yingjun's emotions rippled through her.
Recalling her earlier words, she couldn't help but feel a slight blush. But after the blush subsided came a heartfelt sense of relief, along with those strange emotions lingering in her heart.
Numerous scenes unfolded before her, not only those from just moments before, but also her conversation and speculations with her mother when the Hidden Dragon Ranking was updated. And...
Those even more distant scenes.
"The Vice Sect Master of the Heavenly Lotus Sect, a pseudo-celestial being, and the Supreme Elder, Xuan Ling, launched an assassination attempt."
"Strange Blue Lotus: The Secret Technique of Lotus Shadow Transforming into Mist"
"The Eight Evil Paths, the Six Demonic Sects, Dragon Gate Pass, North Sea Mist Island"
"."
Chen Ping'an's eyes shone brightly with golden light, his spiritual energy blazing intensely, as fragmented pieces of information flooded into his mind.
Soul-Guiding Incantation!
This was the first time he had truly used it since obtaining it from the Evil Dao Master, Blood Nightmare Luo, and formally applied it to a martial arts practitioner.
The target of their actions was still a pseudo-celestial being.
After many days of practice, Chen Ping'an had made significant progress in his study of the Soul Guiding Technique. Even if he wasn't quite a master, he had certainly reached a high level and was quite proficient in its methods.
Even so, it is not an easy task to use the Soul-Guiding Technique to obtain the other party's information and memories.
From the very beginning, Chen Ping'an had this in mind, which is why he had spare strength and did not kill him with a single strike.
Instead, he chose to spare the opponent's life, severely injuring and weakening their soul, and then using a secret technique to shake their internal organs, disrupt and tear them apart, thus ensuring that the opponent's vitality would drop once again.
Only after all these factors were met did he resort to spiritual means to truly unleash the Soul Guiding Technique.
To ensure success, he held nothing back this time, truly revealing the foundation of his divine soul. This revelation would inevitably be sensed by his opponent, revealing his realm of talent and extraordinary genius.
but
never mind!
He's dead; these secrets will eventually return to dust along with his life.
After actually using the Soul Guiding Technique and applying it in practice, Chen Ping'an truly understood its subtleties and shortcomings.
Unlike the ruthless methods of soul-searching and spirit-stealing, the Soul-Guiding Technique is gentler in its memory-searching capabilities. Its overall effect is not primarily focused on memory retrieval.
The function of the Soul-Guiding Technique lies primarily in the two words "soul-guiding." Searching memories and obtaining information are merely byproducts of this secret technique.
The real essence lies in guiding the soul.
However, the Soul Guiding Technique in Chen Ping'an's hand seemed to be only a part of some kind of cultivation method. The records in it were incomplete, only mentioning the soul guiding, but not what to do after the soul was guided.
Thus, in Chen Ping'an's hands, it was used as a secret method to acquire memories and master information.
However, it seems that the secret technique is working quite well so far.
Under the soul-searching technique, although the other party's soul had become fragmented, it still contained a lot of information, some of which was exactly what Chen Ping'an needed.
"Amidst towering mountains and valleys, beneath the clear cliffs of the Heavenly Lotus Sect, the Supreme Elder, the Dream-Eating Demon Lotus! Title: Lord Dream-Eating Lotus!"
Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed, and the blazing spiritual light gradually dissipated, the golden brilliance also disappearing from his calm eyes.
In actual use, with his cultivation level, the Soul Guiding Technique was quite effective. However, it also revealed many problems.
A normal Soul Guiding Technique should result in the opponent's soul being intact. Instead, as in his case, by the time the soul was drawn out of the body, the opponent's central soul was already shattered.
In fact, according to the secret manual, this situation cannot be considered a complete success.
He was able to do this entirely by overwhelming the opponent with force. He used the power of his soul to suppress and forcibly maintain the fragments of the opponent's soul, searching for their memories.
Under normal circumstances, if this were applied to cultivators of similar cultivation levels, it wouldn't be considered a success at all. The opponent's soul could easily break free from his secret technique's restraints.
Without using force or cultivation level to suppress the opponent, it's clear that the power of secret techniques alone cannot restrain them.
"It seems that with my current cultivation level and mastery of secret techniques, it's still too much of a stretch to apply them to a Martial Dao Celestial." Chen Ping'an's thoughts were clear and his mind was sharp.
He can still try to suppress pseudo-celestial beings with his divine soul and forcibly guide their souls, but this may not be the case with martial celestial beings. If he is not careful, it may even cause a backlash and damage his divine soul.
“If I can advance my cultivation level further and find a newly promoted Celestial Being, I might be able to give it a try. In addition, if I can complete this technique and understand its subsequent steps, its execution might become even more exquisite,” Chen Ping’an pondered quietly.
To master a secret technique, one must either rely on force or on the method itself. It requires either a higher level of cultivation or a more profound secret technique. Most things in the world are like this.
To achieve anything, these two things are essential.
"Besides the secret technique itself, there is also the search for information in memories, which also needs to be done with caution. If the information is too complex and exceeds one's capacity, it may even cause damage to the soul. In addition, if this continues for a long time, the continuous impact may also affect one's sanity."
Chen Ping'an had a commanding view of the limitations on the use of secret techniques, and he had a clear understanding of them all.
Information obtained from the outside world is, after all, just external material. If it's only a small portion, it can be used smoothly. However, if a large amount of information is overwhelming in a short period of time, it may damage the soul. In severe cases, it may even lead to memory confusion or information gaps.
Even if one is lucky enough not to experience memory confusion, it will still take a lot of time to summarize and organize the information in order to avoid affecting one's mental state.
Methods involving the search of the soul are inherently fraught with danger; even if victory is assured, caution must be exercised.
Fortunately, his spiritual foundation was solid enough that ordinary impacts could not affect him in the slightest. In addition, the lotus-mist man's cultivation level was quite different from his own, so he was not hindered in the slightest during this soul-guiding exercise.
However, the information gleaned from the man with the wax apple will require time to organize before it can be truly integrated into one's own knowledge and put to use.
In fact, through the soul-guided process, he also learned the other party's name and identity.
Looking at the effeminate man in front of him, whose eyes were completely lifeless and whose expression was filled with horror, Chen Ping'an released his hand and said softly.
"Now then."
Chen Ping'an's eyes were dark and expressionless.
"You can die!"
Pong!
An endless, domineering, and fierce will erupted instantly, completely destroying the lotus-mist man's body, leaving only his head.
A normal Soul Guiding Technique, though potentially causing complications, allows the soul to return. However, the opponent's soul was shattered during Chen Ping'an's soul guiding. Now that the guiding is complete, it cannot return. Although the opponent's body still retains a sliver of life, it is essentially no different from being dead.
However, to be on the safe side, Chen Ping'an still adopted the most conservative annihilation mode.
hum~
Chen Ping'an reached out and rolled up his sleeve, and a large wooden box appeared.
He gently raised his hand and placed the other person's head into the wooden box.
After completing these steps and completely sealing the wooden box, Chen Ping'an put it away.
Under the Soul Guiding Technique, he had already figured out the other party's identity.
The reason for keeping the other person's head was because the other person's identity would be of value to him.
perhaps
If used properly, it's time to reposition him in Xuanling's position.
Deputy Director of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command, and the Xuanling Garrison Commander, what will be his next position?
"Miss Blue."
Chen Ping'an withdrew his spiritual light, and in a flash, he landed beside Lan Yingjun.
"Lord Chen." Lan Yingjun bowed very respectfully.
"Thank you for your righteous help, Lord Chen. If it weren't for you today, Yingjun would probably be in grave danger."
After the initial pause, the shock and disbelief on Lan Yingjun's face had subsided considerably. She had now composed herself and was grateful for Chen Ping'an's kindness.
"It's alright, it just happened to be the right time." Chen Ping'an waved his hand lightly, his demeanor composed.
“These insects are petty and disturb my peaceful cultivation. I only took action for my own sake, so Miss Lan need not take it to heart.”
Chen Ping'an spoke casually, but Lan Yingjun's feelings were extremely complicated.
She had always known that there were always people more capable than herself, and that there was always something beyond her reach, but only after experiencing it today did she realize how ignorant she had been in challenging him back then. With Chen Ping'an's current combat strength, he would probably have already surpassed her back in Bei Cang.
Lan Yingjun's gaze sharpened, and some images surfaced in her mind.
and also
"That battle in the important town of Beicang back then."
Seeing that Lan Yingjun remained silent, Chen Ping'an assumed that she was worried about Lan Yingying's seclusion.
He offered a simple word of comfort, and seeing that Lan Yingjun's clothes were torn and soaked with blood, he couldn't help but ask her a question out of concern.
"How is Miss Lan's injury?"
As her thoughts drifted away, Lan Yingjun snapped back to reality. She looked down at herself and felt a slight blush creep up her face.
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Chen. Yingjun is fine."
Before the fierce battle, it didn't seem like much, but now that things have calmed down, it feels a bit jarring.
Chen Ping'an only expressed his concern but did not press the matter further. His relationship with Lan Yingjun was neither particularly shallow nor particularly deep; in fact, it had a history of entanglement in the past.
There's no need to be so enthusiastic about meeting and talking about business right now.
Lan Yingjun was concerned about her mother's seclusion. After thanking Chen Ping'an for his kindness, she didn't say much to him before going to check on Lan Yingying's condition.
Only after realizing that his mother's seclusion was unimpeded did he breathe a sigh of relief.
This fierce battle was quite intense, but it ultimately did not affect Lan Yingying, thanks in large part to the restrictions that Lan Yingjun had set up in the past.
Although the aftershocks of the fierce battle damaged many of the restrictive inscriptions, the overall framework remained intact and the main body was largely undamaged.
While Lan Yingjun was checking, Chen Ping'an also took a look at the spiritual restrictions she had set up. Previously, the restrictions were intact, and although he could sense them, the details within were hidden and not so clear.
Now that the restrictions are outwardly visible, and Lan Yingjun has patched them up, he can see things much more clearly.
He had also studied the art of enchanting restrictions extensively, but upon comparison, it was clear that his mastery of such restrictions was far inferior to Lan Yingjun's.
Lan Yingjun didn't waste much time. After confirming that her mother was alright, she quickly stabilized the restriction, put on a blue cloak, and went back to Chen Ping'an to express her gratitude.
If Chen Pingan hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have been completely powerless to fight back, but her chances of survival would certainly have been slim.
Such kindness cannot be expressed with excessive gratitude.
Chen Ping'an didn't seem to care much about Lan Yingjun's gratitude. Instead, he brought up the matter of distributing the spoils.
Although he was the main force in this battle, Lan Yingjun did not remain idle.
Logically speaking, one should share some of the credit for this battle.
Even considering his combat strength, he wouldn't need Lan Yingjun to stir things up from the sidelines, which makes sense.
To be honest, if he hadn't been invited to Black Mist Valley by Lan Yingjun, he probably wouldn't have encountered such a good thing.
The gains of a pseudo-celestial being, though meager compared to a true celestial being, are still considerable due to the power he has accumulated over many years. Additionally, there's the broken green lotus from his soul's memories.
"If it weren't for Lord Chen today, Yingjun's life would be in grave danger. How could I dare to participate in the distribution of resources? The gains here should be what you say, Lord Chen. As for Yingjun, I would never dare to do so." Faced with Chen Ping'an's words, Lan Yingjun naturally refused and declined repeatedly.
Furthermore, she added that both her mother's and Yingjun's lives were saved by the master today, a matter of life and death of paramount importance, and it was Yingjun who should offer this gift to repay the kindness. Her mother usually makes the decisions at home. Once her mother is safely out of quarantine, she will inform her of this matter to repay the master's kindness.
Lan Yingjun had not agreed to the distribution of spoils, and seeing her insistence, Chen Ping'an did not try to dissuade her. However, Chen Ping'an found her words and reactions somewhat strange.
Where did you learn this trick?
Looking at the woman in front of him, who was wearing a blue cloak and had a pretty face, Chen Ping'an was in a daze, and images from the past unconsciously surfaced in his mind.
She was a fair-skinned, bright, and lively young girl.
It appeared before him, accompanied by the clear sound of silver bells.
Ding bell~ding bell~
"Found you!"
The girl was dressed in a light blue dress, with a small sachet hanging from her waist and a string of silver bells on her fair wrist.
"Chen Ping'an!"
The girl, with bright eyes and white teeth, looked over with a smile.
The way it looked back then seems so vivid in my mind, but now that I see it again, it seems like it has changed completely.
Several years have passed in the blink of an eye. I wonder if the girl from back then is still here?
Bowl.
A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying with it a delicate and subtle fragrance.
Chen Ping'an steadied himself. It was the scent of the young girl, a light, lotus-like fragrance, just like that year, that day, that time, and that moment.
Just like when we first met.
Looking at the girl in front of him, who was earnestly and clumsily imitating social etiquette and polite greetings, Chen Ping'an chuckled softly.
"Miss Blue."
"Ok?"
“Miss Lan, there’s no need for that. We’ve known each other for many years, you can just call me Fellow Daoist. If that’s inconvenient…” Chen Ping’an paused, then smiled gently, “I’m a little older than you, you can call me Brother Chen.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Yingjun opened her eyes wide, her gaze bright and lively.
She gazed at the person before her for a long time, and when the wind subsided, she softly called out.
"Brother Chen."
That day, the sun was setting perfectly, and we were both young! (End of Chapter)