Chapter 1030: Qingniu's Demonic Transformation

Xu Qing looked up at Er Niu. Snowflakes swirled across the icy plains in the wind. The woman amidst the white snow appeared even more radiant and graceful, but to Xu Qing, it was all an illusion.

"Senior Brother, there was a flaw in your previous plan!" Xu Qing said calmly, his hand still firmly clutching the jade slip.

Er Niu glanced at Xu Qing's hand holding the jade slip, muttering under his breath. It had to be said that Xu Qing's tactic was quite effective against Er Niu, who always valued his reputation. At the very least, Er Niu couldn't boast as he had before.

Er Niu cleared his throat. "What flaw? Feng Lintao's wanted status?"

Xu Qing nodded.

"I thought of that already. Feng Lintao's wanted status naturally makes him unsuitable, but Yue Dong has more than one puppet!" As he spoke, Er Niu waved his hand. A coffin immediately flew from his storage bag and landed with a thud on the icy plains. The coffin was jet black, covered with numerous markings, and several nails firmly secured its lid.

As Er Niu formed a hand seal, the coffin trembled. The nails vibrated and pulled themselves out, and the markings and runes on the lid rapidly flashed, causing it to shoot open. Inside lay the corpse of a seven or eight-year-old child. The corpse was completely black, covered in rigor mortis spots, and exuded cultivation fluctuations of the Great Perfection of Guixu.

"We don't even need to rely on the Six Thieves' Delusion Authority to create a puppet. I found this one in Yue Dong's storage bag!" Er Niu continued. "I've already investigated its origin through Yue Dong's memories—it's her junior brother!" Yue Dong's lineage was renowned in the Demonic Plume Holy Land. Her master was a Great Immortal Master in life. Yue Dong and her junior brother then battled for many years until Yue Dong killed him and refined him into a corpse puppet.

Er Niu spoke with a smacking sound, a hint of mockery in his tone. Although Yue Dong's cultivation had later advanced, rendering this corpse puppet unnecessary for combat, she kept it due to their past relationship, occasionally taking it out to torment it. "You can see how much she hated this junior brother. So, little A Qing, look, compared to this, aren't I incredibly good to you?" "You should cherish it."

Xu Qing nodded.

Er Niu, feeling content, ended his "lesson" and pointed at the coffin. "Little A Qing, you can transform into him first!" "I've also replenished your pills!" With that, Er Niu tossed over a black pill—the Mysterious Heaven Demonic Moon Pill of the Yi clan.

Xu Qing caught the pill, his gaze contemplative as he looked at the corpse. "Senior Brother, how many times can this pill be refilled?"

Er Niu chuckled. "Don't worry, it can be used multiple times. If you don't like this puppet, once we reach the Holy Land, we can find a charming female cultivator like Yue Dong, and you can transform into her!" "Then, you and I, the Twin Jiao of Green Ox, will surely cause a sensation in the Holy Land!"

Er Niu looked proud. Xu Qing, pretending not to hear such lofty ambitions, pressed the pill to his brow. The next instant, black mist rose from his body, forming a shroud that completely enveloped him. In Er Niu's eyes, Xu Qing's form began to shrink, his skin turning black and covered in numerous rigor mortis spots. A thick aura of death also swirled around him.

The entire transformation took only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. What stood before Er Niu was now completely the figure of the corpse child. Then, Xu Qing opened his eyes. His white pupils and white eyes, contrasting with his black skin, made him resemble a vengeful spirit, radiating a chilling aura.

"Not bad!" Er Niu licked his lips.

Xu Qing turned his head, glanced at the corpse in the coffin, then at Er Niu, and suddenly waved his hand. Immediately, the Great Emperor's Needle appeared out of thin air. It first threaded through the corpse, connecting its fate and karma with Xu Qing. After this, under Xu Qing's control, the needle flew to Er Niu, continuing to stitch and graft Er Niu's fate with Yue Dong's. In this way, karma, destiny, and aura were all completely integrated.

"Perfect." Er Niu's eyes lit up, and he waved his hand with satisfaction. "Let's go, Junior Brother, we're going home!"

As he spoke, Er Niu's figure swayed and shot straight into the sky. Invisible threads emanated from Xu Qing, now in the form of the child, connecting him to Er Niu. This was a manifestation of their Six Thieves' Delusion Immortal Art Authority. With this immortal art, even the last remaining flaw could be concealed. Er Niu had already ascended. In mid-air, he looked up, formed hand seals, and waved towards the sky. With that wave, a void rift rapidly formed in the firmament. It resembled a wound in the heavens, extremely unstable and quickly trying to heal. This method was the teleportation art to return to the Demonic Plume Holy Land, which Er Niu had found in Yue Dong's memories. The moment it formed, a strong sense of anticipation flickered in Er Niu's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. His gaze turned cold, his face like frost. With an indifferent expression, he took a step and entered the rift. His jade-like hand then grasped, as if controlling the fate of the corpse puppet child behind him, pulling him into the rift as well. The next instant, both figures vanished. The rift instantly healed. Only the wind and snow swept through the area, engulfing it. Some snowflakes from the northern part of Wanggu also traveled with Xu Qing and Er Niu through the rift to the Holy Land.

During the teleportation, an unseen force descended, locking onto them both. It exuded immense power, conducting a deep identity verification. This investigative method was based not on aura or bloodline, but on destiny.

In the Eastern Region of the Demonic Plume Holy Land, far from the Eastern Emperor's Altar, lay a plain called Tianluo. Spring breezes swept across it, bringing the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. No unusual or foreign energy was present here. The spiritual energy was incredibly dense, a rare sight in Wanggu.

In this ethereal place, there was a teleportation array. This array, connected to Wanggu, was one of many used by Demonic Plume cultivators returning from there. Presently, hundreds of Demonic Plume cultivators sat cross-legged around the array. They wore long silver robes emblazoned with starry sky patterns, exuding remarkable energy fluctuations. Each of them also possessed wings on their backs. Their cultivation varied, with the weakest being at the Nascent Soul stage, while the leaders had reached the fifth or sixth realm of Spirit Incubation, and there was more than one such leader.

They were the team guarding this array during wartime, responsible for verifying the identities of all returning travelers. While the Demonic Plume Holy Land's arrays could detect non-Demonic Plume cultivators, during wartime, every teleportation array was subject to additional verification by Demonic Plume cultivators to prevent unforeseen incidents. Their primary task was to check for records of the individuals having left the Holy Land, and if necessary, they could conduct forced searches, including storage bags.

Suddenly, the teleportation array glowed, its light and fluctuations immediately drawing the attention of all nearby cultivators. They activated their cultivation, released their auras, and sharpened their gazes, preparing for any enemy. Soon, wind and snow drifted out from within the array, followed by two figures—one tall, one short; one female, one male—rapidly appearing within the array's light. After a few breaths, as the teleportation concluded, Xu Qing, now in the form of the corpse, and Er Niu, transformed into Yue Dong, stood within the array, visible to all the Demonic Plume cultivators. The moment he appeared, Xu Qing remained expressionless, knowing he was a puppet, a corpse, and thus required no emotional display. Everything could be left to Senior Brother.

Er Niu lived up to expectations. He lifted his chin, his expression cold, and stepped out of the array. Upon seeing Yue Dong, most of the surrounding Demonic Plume cultivators' expressions shifted, with some even bowing their heads in reverence. "Greetings, Immortal Master!" Their words reached Xu Qing's ears, but his expression remained unchanged as he followed. Yue Dong, however, completely ignored them and was about to step out of the array when a figure emerged from the crowd, appearing outside the array, and issued a low command: "Halt."

Er Niu's gaze fixed on the individual, his voice cold. "Are you trying to stop me?"

The cultivator hesitated, then took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice, "During wartime, regulations are strict, and I, Li, am merely fulfilling my duty. Please understand. Immortal Master Yue Dong, you indeed have a record of having left and are permitted to return, but the corpse puppet behind you has no record. We require verification of its identity and for you to disclose who it is."

Yue Dong remained expressionless, uttering no words. The cultivator gritted his teeth, formed hand seals, and activated a spell, drawing on the array's power to envelop Xu Qing. Simultaneously, he took out a jade slip and began to verify if Xu Qing was from the Holy Land. After a moment, as the verification concluded, the cultivator sighed in relief. However, he remained hesitant regarding the corpse's identity.

At this moment, Yue Dong spoke blandly: "He is my junior brother. Years ago, he contended with me for the Immortal Master title and was subsequently refined into a corpse puppet by me!" As Yue Dong's words rang out, the hearts of the surrounding cultivators stirred. They were aware of Yue Dong's identity; her master, in life, was once a renowned Great Immortal Master of the Demonic Plume Holy Land's Eastern Region, overseeing the Eastern Immortal Arts Hall. Immortal Arts within the Holy Land were not accessible to everyone; even incidental exposure only granted superficial knowledge. The truly formidable Immortal Arts were exclusively found within the Immortal Arts Hall, and only those with the status of an Immortal Master could learn them.

As for the junior brother Yue Dong spoke of, they had heard rumors of his refinement, but this was their first time seeing the corpse puppet. Yue Dong's statement also gave the leading cultivator pause. For anyone else, he might have investigated more deeply, but he harbored reservations about Yue Dong. "Those who cultivate Immortal Arts are all lunatics... Moreover, this Yue Dong has strong ties with the Lan family. Now, with the Lan family suffering a great calamity, and that respected senior having returned... this is a sensitive time, it's best not to get involved!" With this thought, the cultivator stepped back, clearing the path, and allowed Yue Dong and her corpse puppet to exit the array and fly into the distance.

The surrounding cultivators all looked up, their gazes fixed on Yue Dong's figure in the sky. However, a few of them secretly took out communication jade slips and swiftly transmitted the news of Yue Dong's return. In the sky, Er Niu smiled faintly. "Junior Brother, your new identity should attract them on their own!" Hearing this, Xu Qing calmly replied, "I hope the ones who come will be suitable."

Simultaneously, as the cultivators responsible for the teleportation array spread the news of Yue Dong's return, someone in a bare mountain cave dwelling in the eastern region suddenly opened their eyes, revealing a bloodshot gaze. "Yue Dong, you've finally appeared. With the war merits I gained from the human race, I've exchanged for resources that greatly increased my cultivation, and your ties with the Lan family have also withered with their recent calamity!" "Then... it's time for our grievances to be settled." The next instant, the cave dwelling rumbled, and a figure emerged amidst a blood mist, shooting straight towards the sky.

At the same time, in the eastern part of the Demonic Plume Holy Land, near its center, a massive war chariot rumbled across the sky. Cultivators, with solemn expressions, guarded the front and back of the chariot. The entire vehicle was exceptionally luxurious, clearly a sight to behold. At this moment, excited laughter suddenly erupted from within the chariot. "Change course! We're not going to the battlefield first; we're heading to Tianluo Plain." The war chariot rumbled, immediately altering its trajectory and heading directly for Tianluo Plain. Inside, a fair-faced young man in opulent robes was visibly agitated. Clutching a jade slip, his eyes were filled with endless tenderness. "Lady Dong'er, you've finally returned... Do you know the pain of longing? For these five hundred and twenty-nine days you've been gone, I've prayed for you every single day!" "Little Dong Dong, don't worry, I'm no longer who I was. From now on, with me by your side, no one will be able to bully you!"