Chapter 1241: Thousand Bodies and Ten Thousand Shadows

The Boiling Blood Evil Flower is a demonic marvel, offering no aid to Nascent Soul formation. If Blood Ganoderma truly existed, he could simply harvest it, refine it into pills, and help his disciples form their Nascent Souls. Why go to such trouble to scheme for the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet?

Marquis Dongyang sighed inwardly, forced to admit his admiration for the methods Old Daoist Chongyi and Old Ancestor Scarlet Hair used to train their disciples. The Pure Yang Sect disintegrated after Old Ancestor Scarlet Hair's death, but the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Taiyi Pill Sect have cultivated together since childhood, forging an excellent bond. They will not repeat the same mistakes. With favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony, the Taiyi Pill Sect is destined to prosper! Old Daoist Chongyi can now die without regrets.

In this current era, Soul Transformation is a distant dream, and the Immortal Path is even more elusive, never having manifested for countless ages; it exists only in legends. All cultivators are keenly aware that the path to immortality is severed, and true longevity is nothing more than a beautiful aspiration. In reality, cultivators only live a few years longer than mortals. Mortals are like morning mushrooms, unaware of the passing of day and night. They are like summer cicadas, whose entire existence of chirping ends before autumn. In such circumstances, unless one is truly detached and inactive, who wouldn't want to leave a mark in the world, proving they once existed? Mortals spend their lives seeking nothing more than fame, fortune, and power, establishing achievements, and leaving their names in historical records. What cultivators seek is the continuation of their lineage and the assurance of successors. Furthermore, Marquis Dongyang had sworn before his master's coffin to revitalize Shaohua Mountain.

Experiencing the soul shadows within the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet and comprehending the Nascent Soul realm is a lengthy process. Even for those with excellent aptitude, it requires at least forty-nine days. However, the Spirit Stabilizing Jade contains only a single breath of Azure Spirit Qi; it is destroyed after one use and cannot sustain such a long duration. Having obtained the Spirit Stabilizing Jade, Gongliang Yu could only use it to control the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet for treasure hunting.

Once the Blood Lake opened, Marquis Dongyang knew his opportunity had arrived. The Blood Lake is the most dangerous forbidden area within Boundless Valley; even Nascent Soul cultivators cannot guarantee their safety there. If it were honest people like Tie Guanzi, they would hesitate, fearing the loss of the sect's most precious treasure and the ensuing disaster. But Gongliang Yu had always held himself in high regard, and he would undoubtedly carry the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet with him when entering the Blood Lake to search for medicine. This way, he could discreetly capture Gongliang Yu, seize the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet, and later, amidst the chaos, annex the Shangyuan Pure Serenity Palace—a plausible outcome. It was also Tie Guanzi's poor judgment of character that sowed the seeds of this calamity. Of course, it's hard to say whether Marquis Dongyang played a role in instigating this.

Gongliang Yu was intelligent; with just a few words, he accurately deduced Marquis Dongyang's past schemes. Their conversation was conducted via divine sense, happening in an instant. Realizing Marquis Dongyang's intent, Gongliang Yu was greatly alarmed. Since Marquis Dongyang had come for the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet and had already set a trap here, waiting for him to walk into it, how could he not have countermeasures?

The Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet, summoned by Gongliang Yu, returned to protect its master. Just as it was about to pull away from the Blood Ganoderma, blood mist suddenly churned beneath the plant, and streams of mystical light shot out. The illusion of the Blood Ganoderma shattered completely. This illusion was set up by Marquis Dongyang using a treasure as bait. It was not without flaws, and its concealment method was not particularly ingenious. However, Gongliang Yu's cultivation was inferior to his, and with countless blood shadows in the vicinity and limited time from the Azure Spirit Qi, Gongliang Yu had no time for a detailed examination. Marquis Dongyang had lured his enemy here, so he had naturally planned meticulously.

*Whoosh...*

The sinister wind grew fiercer. From within the blood mist, ten thousand rays of light suddenly shot forth, and a vortex immediately appeared. A phantom image of a grand formation emerged from below, and at its center was a jade bottle. Its mouth, pointed directly at the puppet, continuously emanated a powerful suction force. Pulled by the jade bottle, the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet's speed greatly diminished, as if it had fallen into a swamp, making every step arduous.

The puppet roared. Being an evil puppet infused with countless soul shadows, its temper was violent. How could it willingly be bound? Immediately, its entire body glowed, and countless talismanic shadows erupted simultaneously. Dazzling attacks of mountains, rocks, water, fire, thunder, and ancient wood erupted from the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet, as brilliant as fireworks, impacting the grand formation. Gongliang Yu, anxious, urged it repeatedly.

The Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet struck, causing the jade bottle to tremble violently and the grand formation to shake, yet the suction force persisted relentlessly, making it impossible for the puppet to break free immediately. To make matters worse, Marquis Dongyang chanted an incantation. The Vajra Hoop above his head emitted a crisp metallic clang, splitting off a tangible hoop shadow that descended directly upon the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet.

*Roar!*

As the hoop shadow contracted, the binding force pressed upon the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet's body, making it creak. Its physical body was hard and felt no pain, but it sensed that the opponent's actions were intended to capture it. Becoming even more enraged, it roared repeatedly and counterattacked with increased frenzy. Unfortunately, Marquis Dongyang had long planned for this, specifically seeking out a grand formation designed to counter the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet. There was no way it could easily break free. Most of the spiritual talisman power unleashed by the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet was swallowed by the jade bottle, which merely vibrated continuously. It was uncertain when the puppet would be able to burst the bottle.

Seeing this situation, Gongliang Yu felt a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing that the tide had turned against him. It was absolutely impossible for him to retrieve the Nascent Soul Talisman Puppet, and the sect's most precious treasure, inherited for many years, would be lost in his hands. His only course of action now was to preserve his own life. Marquis Dongyang had committed such an evil deed and chosen to act here, certainly intending to eliminate him as well to prevent future troubles. As this thought flashed through his mind, Gongliang Yu saw a cold glint in Marquis Dongyang's eyes, and his murderous intent surged.

Gongliang Yu dared not hope that Marquis Dongyang would spare his life. He was a decisive man; seeing the situation was unsalvageable, he steeled his heart and unhesitatingly self-detonated the Heavenly Fiend Blade Talisman! The secret talisman self-detonated, forcing back the nearby blood shadows and barely opening a path. The dragon phantom on Gongliang Yu's body roared wildly. He spared no effort to activate the Nine Dragons Celestial Carriage Talisman and simultaneously deployed a magic treasure inherited from his sect, specifically designed to boost escape speed. His speed was astonishing, comparable to that of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator. Unfortunately, before Marquis Dongyang, it was still insufficient.

His figure had just moved. Before he could escape far, he felt a blinding white light before his eyes and a terrifying binding force descend from above. His blood seemed to stop flowing, and only then did he realize the vast disparity between himself and a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Gongliang Yu exerted all his effort, but all his methods were useless, easily nullified by the Vajra Hoop.

Just then, he suddenly struck his own chest with a backhand. Golden light burst from his palm, revealing a golden spiritual talisman.

*Crack!*

Gongliang Yu's body shattered in response, instantly splitting into tens of thousands of golden streams of light, faintly accompanied by Buddhist chants. Even the Vajra Hoop couldn't restrain them, and they rushed in all directions. This was Gongliang Yu's most powerful escape method.

A sudden turn of events occurred, but Marquis Dongyang, far from panicking, instead sneered, "The Thousand Bodies and Ten Thousand Shadows Talisman of the Shangyuan Pure Serenity Palace is indeed a top-tier life-saving divine ability. If we were elsewhere, I wouldn't be able to catch you. Unfortunately, this talisman originates from Buddhism, where righteousness and evil counteract each other, and this place is one of sinister evil and filth, specifically countering this talisman."

Before his words had fully fallen, sinister evil surged, and countless blood shadows suddenly pounced on the golden light like mad, devouring it completely on the spot. The Thousand Bodies and Ten Thousand Shadows Talisman shattered instantly. Gongliang Yu stumbled out in a sorry state, his face pale. The Thousand Bodies and Ten Thousand Shadows Talisman was extremely difficult to restrict. Marquis Dongyang had tricked Gongliang Yu into this place precisely because he feared this talisman and worried Gongliang Yu might escape.

The spiritual talisman was indeed broken. Marquis Dongyang calmly pointed a finger at Gongliang Yu.