“Di境… soul…” Xiao Yan stared blankly at Xiao Xuan, who wore a subtle smile on his face, but his words shook Xiao Yan speechless, leaving his mouth feeling excessively dry. In this world, should anything bear the faintest relation to the word “Di,” it would be sufficient for it to become a metaphor for supreme power. Whether it is a Battle King, a Di-grade medicinal pill, or a Di-level soul, all command awe and unparalleled status among all people. In equal measure, a Di-level soul is held aloft in that echelon too. The Battle King, Di-grade pills, and a Di-level soul — among this triune power, given the current situation of the continent itself, the likelihood of reaching the Di-soul seems greater. Because it does not necessitate an absorption of the legendary “Primordial Divine Qi.” This does not, however, indicate that the Di-level soul is simply reached; those that have ascended into such a state on current earth Xiao Yan could surmise would be only two people — Gu Yuan as well as Hun Tian Di.
Currently, Xiao Yan’s soul resides at Tian境, the great completion stage; such is a tier which only has a short step before it can also ascend into the level of emperors. Yet, this tiny gap halts numerous powerful adepts in their tracks eternally. Regardless of their cultivation advancement efforts over lifetimes, not even a hair’s breadth in progression can occur! Furthermore, knowing the nature of being a pill master, Xiao Yan is particularly aware of just how great the gap is between these stages. Although the completion mark in soul cultivation at Tian great complete state has lasted Xiao Yan a good number of years already, that barrier simply refused even now to be bridged. This sensation always felt akin to his efforts having achieved nothing against the indescribable gulf standing between Tian complete state and the Di-soul level. Hence, upon hearing from Xiao Xuan that an opportunity could result in a Di-level soul origin, despite his calmness and inner poise, a slight shock left him temporarily still.
“Why, this… cannot be…” After moments of silence and bewilderment, Xiao Yan finally regained composure before murmuring ruefully and shaking off a skeptical tone. The world may indeed contain those whose minds or souls have attained the heights of eminence akin to the emperors; however, in Xiao Yan’s own experiences and observations, except HunTian Di and Gu Yuan, he had never seen anyone breach and claim the Di-soul threshold as their very own might.
“Certainly this challenge is formidable, but by all means, not wholly inaccessible,” said Xiao Xuan strangely with an amused chuckle while raising his vision toward the foggy firmament above — those spectral echoes found here weren’t the true soul he was speaking of; “the soul of Xian Di is what is truly unique to discuss.”
The ‘soul of Xian Di? Has Xian Di even birthed consciousness of its own?” Shock and utter unbelief filled Yi Han Yan’s mind at Xiao Xuan’s revelation when suddenly a tremor coursed within. The entity born since inception — from a confluence of countless residual souls. It could be looked upon as custodial, although perhaps best interpreted through ‘prison wardens’; governing this domain entirely and imbuing the residual energies with carnal desires to consume one another perpetually.
“Truly none beyond your present perception and those spectral constructs perceive or know. Not even Gu Yuan and his ilk,” Xiao Yan swallowed hard at this, astonished to comprehend the abstract manifestation of a realm possessing consciousness was unprecedented; such profundity defies ordinary comprehension—its origins rooted from some fabled Battle King whose artifice knew not mortal bounds.
“Was this being a mighty foe?” A mumble escaped Yao Lian Han while he pondered about souls interred in Xian Di were formidable, thus assuming soul residue might grant the so-called ‘Di魂’ unfounded strength; it simply exalted fearsomeness.
“One of prodigious power.” Xiao Xuan simply affirmed but those succinct syllables cast a shadow against Yi Han’s mind, the tone underscoring something truly terrifying beyond measure.
“Fear not! Albeit formidable still remains surmountable,” as though ascending with gravity forsaking him, so floated Xiao Xuan skywards, dissolving the mists enveloping them all with an emergence of pressure, chilling the heart into dread, extending to encompass entirety contained within Xian Di.
Under the oppressive aura of this magnitude, all energy bodies turned their gaze upward with eyes no longer empty, but now alit with stirring excitement.
“It’s as if Lord Xiao Xuan is about to strike back…” In the far depths of the ancient tomb, the crimson sabre saint hastily rose amidst his quake, his essence fixed upon the figure ever climbing higher. Here within their after-existence, despite granting survival through transformed forms and states that diverged vastly from those once possessed; their essence, under this otherworldly force known as Tianmu, felt an alien carnality imposed upon its being — an unnatural desire compelling consumption among peers. Thus transforming a once sanctimonious resting place into an existence solely based on feeding and strengthening the essence by absorbing the rest of the entities.
Previously, this sacred crypt was simply an eternal bed where strong souls laid to rest — but its tranquility altered irreversibly the very day this “soul of the crypt” emerged, corrupting their reality into a spiral of devouring others endlessly, feeding on residual souls with unnatural intent. Those daring to contest such malevolence met only swift reprimand and consumption without fail. The only entity inspiring hesitance within Tianmu was hidden in the crypt’s deepest corners — Xiao Xuan. There were entreaties, supplications made in days past begging Xiao Xuan release them into final slumber, yet he remained unmindful. Such neglect allowed only further resignation among them over time. When resistance was clearly a doomed pursuit — submission appeared humanity’s path. That was why they felt something stir within once numb beings at this sudden change in his behavior from millennia — the longing and thirst for peace, renewal. The longing to escape endless consumption as one man against a brother once close.
“Formerly I had a duty holding me within bounds but that duty ends here; with its end, let me fulfill what once was requested in your names…” A voice descended as Xiao Xuan drifted upward to his thousand meters height, his presence unshaken by soul shattering gales, while gazing down, he uttered — all beings hearing his tranquil speech in kind.
“Lord Xiao Xuan!” Amid their ongoing clash, figures halted, and red, glazed-over eyes stirred — bodies stiffening from movements as the skywards gaze met one man’s poised form; one by one the crowd sank into kneeling forms across the lands…
Ascending alongside, the sight caught Yi Han momentarily silent as well, being only an outsider — he could yet fully understand their plights. And yet understanding dawned: Tianmu spirit, a source none would favor.
With Yi Han’s musing stirred, a low rumbling surged from beyond distant voided skies like rolling thunder, erupting into space causing many energy bodies shivering under the pressure. Focusing forward, in a moment Yi Han was sensing a sudden tide in soul pulses unfathomably deep as the ocean — merely glancing into contact left a burden upon him equaling colossal mountains descending upon his being without cease. The pulse itself seemed fearsomely robust, but somehow fractured, marred — a likely consequence from excessive soul residue consumption feeding the essence of that entity’s being.
Swirling grey void energies rapidly formed, and moments thereafter spatial boundaries writhed, revealing from absolute nothingness a colossus visage — thousands upon miles spanning into visibility amidst the endless ether high heavens above — etched with the indifference marked as foreign.
“This being… The spirit of Xian Di?” Yi Han questioned aloud while observing the colossal face solidifying across the heavens, tone solemn.
“Long did our spheres coexist without intrusion, yet here you stand ready ready shattering the ancient accord? Why thus disturb our balance and peace?”
The visage writhed, its unfeeling eyes targeting Xiao Xuan as chilling tones echoed amidst realms alike booming thunderclaps resonating far and wide.
“You weren’t born to reign. Rather born from an anomaly — the ancient Battle King creating Xian Di most certainly could not perceive an anomaly taking birth like you inside the sanctum…”
“Fabrication and folly you speak. My birth was to obey and guard. Your being here owes to me — obey then you all must!”
“Your existence stemmed from souls, not directly of sanctuary birth; they shaped you, not you the sanctuary,” Xiao spoke mildly which incited the face further, the features ever worsening in a grimace, appearing increasingly demonic.
“Then die you must by hand of will!” With another swell, an opening within the colossus mouth expelled forth immense soul winds — whirlpools manifesting violently into spirals and impaling like coned spears at full speed.
Yet meeting its strike, all Xiao Xu did was move calmly; stepping forward with measured gait while that violent spiraling assault seemed powerless merely flowing into ethereal nothingness once encountering his essence. Xiao Xuan advanced unmolested and without interruption to just beneath looming mass — where all at once his presence kindled a rare phenomenon: flame-born sparks of mystery ignited, appearing to emanate as though his very psyche combusted — consuming itself yet serene and unmarred.
“Surrender essence soul origin unto me,” the flame gently surged forth; a gentle, increasingly peaceful smile now gracing the man himself in that celestial standoff.
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