Chapter 232: Different Souls, One Body

"If I told you I have a way to contain the complete Dragon Source and free you from this agonizing suffering, would you be willing to give up everything?"

"What did you say?!"

Mu Qingtian was utterly shocked; his wide-eyed expression said it all.

"You... really have a way?"

Disbelief filled his eyes. Mu Qingtian seemed to recall his past visit to the Heavenly Mist Sect, where he had witnessed the breathtaking cultivation methods and insights left by Xu Yang. He truly began to wonder if the man before him could really perform another miracle.

However, that thought was quickly dismissed. His gaze towards Xu Yang became tinged with suspicion and solemnity.

"You... aren't like everyone else, merely trying to seize the Dragon Source, are you? Even if you possess profound strength and exceptional talent, I don't believe you can achieve such a great feat. If you fail, everyone here will die!"

Xu Yang raised his eyes to Mu Qingtian, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Ultimately, you still can't let go of the Dragon Source's temptation. Indeed, the Dragon Slaying War destroyed the foundation of the Firmament Dao Sect you built over half your life, making the world's foremost Dao Sect vanish without a trace. Though the Dragon Source is the root of your pain, it is also the sole reliance deep within your soul. I understand."

"But I am almost certain that if I leave now, you will lose your only chance to be saved. Do you wish to endlessly endure this suffering, forever trapped in this state?"

Mu Qingtian fell into confusion once more. He didn't even understand what he was clinging to. His sect was destroyed, few people in the world remembered the name Mu Qingtian, and he was hiding in this sunless underwater ruin, enduring immense pain. What was it all for?

"Perhaps I can hear your plan. You only have one chance to convince me."

Mu Qingtian slowly turned his back to Xu Yang and the Empress, his eyes indifferent as he gazed at the blood-stained temple before him.

"It's simple. Using the power of the Dao, I will separate your physical body from the Ghost Shadow Asura without harming your life. Then, I will channel the complete Dragon Source into his body, eliminating this culprit who should have perished long ago. Immediately after, I will disperse the Dragon Source into several parts and help you absorb your portion, assisting you in rebirth."

Mu Qingtian was truly moved by Xu Yang's plan, but he didn't seem inclined to start immediately.

"There's something you might not know. The Ghost Shadow Asura's soul hasn't truly perished; it's merely been forcibly suppressed into slumber because her spiritual power is inferior to mine. The moment we attempt physical separation, she will undoubtedly resist. At that point, even if I want to cooperate with you, I won't have sole control over this body."

What Mu Qingtian said was naturally within Xu Yang's consideration.

"It's fine. As soon as she awakens, I will immediately suppress her. With me here, you can rest assured."

No sooner had Xu Yang finished speaking than Mu Qingtian took a deep breath, then sat cross-legged on the ground, beginning the final preparations under Xu Yang's spiritual guidance.

Just then, however, Mu Qingtian, who had only just regained his composure, suddenly contorted in extreme pain, clutching his grotesque head and howling hysterically!

Evidently, this was a sign that the Ghost Shadow Asura's soul was about to awaken, attempting to forcibly seize dominance.

"Quick, act now, stop her!"

"Oh no, it must be that Mu Qingtian's meditation, relaxing his spiritual energy, allowed the Ghost Shadow Asura to seize the opportunity!"

The Empress warned from behind him, but Xu Yang wasn't in a hurry to act. Instead, he calmly observed every change in his opponent.

"Hehehe, outsider, dreaming of coveting the Dragon Source's power? Dream on! As long as this Asura exists, even if it means self-destruction, I will never let your dream come true! If you want to save Mu Qingtian, you'll have to get past me first!"

Two eerie green lights shot forth from his pupils, a clear indication that the Ghost Shadow Asura's spiritual power had gained the upper hand. Simultaneously, a cultivation aura distinctly different from Mu Qingtian's erupted wildly around him!

The Ghost Shadow Asura was hermaphroditic, and its voice sounded incredibly eerie. As the green glow intensified, Mu Qingtian's soul completely fell into slumber, and the Ghost Shadow Asura once again became the ruler of this physical body.

"Brat, dare to scheme for the Dragon Source? You're asking for death!"

*Whoosh!*

The Ghost Shadow Asura unleashed its power at the Divine Infant Grand Perfection realm. A shadow, identical in outline to its main body but much fainter in glow, appeared behind it, like an extra clone manifesting from nothing. The two outlines flashed out simultaneously, launching a pincer attack on Xu Yang.

"Hmph, then let me experience the true strength of you, Ghost Shadow Asura!"

Xu Yang was already prepared for battle. With a flick of his Eternal Divine Weapon, terrifying sword energy fluctuations surged, noticeably more powerful than before. Undoubtedly, Xu Yang had also reached the Divine Infant Grand Perfection realm, intending to engage this entity in a true peak-level duel!

Only when both sides are at the exact same cultivation realm can the victor's unparalleled strength be truly demonstrated, and the disparity in power be most fairly determined.

"Take this!"

The two outlines lunged forward, their eerie green aura extremely powerful. Each outline raised a hand, pressing down on Xu Yang.

This time, Xu Yang uncharacteristically used no combat techniques. Instead, he met them head-on, simultaneously raising both palms to counter-attack them in mid-air.

*Rumble!*

The terrifying power of the Divine Infant Grand Perfection realm erupted, spreading sound waves that instantly enveloped the entire Dragon Slaying battlefield, stirring up a massive dust cloud and momentarily intensifying the smell of blood in the air.

Even protected by Xu Yang's golden Dao light, the Empress and the little dragon python at her feet felt a chilling aura sweep past them.

"My heavens, is the boss getting serious? I've known him for so long, and I've never seen him unleash this level of power! It seems we greatly underestimated his true strength before!"

The little dragon python also felt like it was "blinded by a single leaf, unable to see Mount Tai." Looking at the peerless Xu Yang before him, the dragon python exaggeratedly folded its arms and instinctively nudged closer to the Empress's feet.

As for the Empress, she was growing anxious. She watched as the two outlines launched a pincer attack on Xu Yang, yet she could not offer any help.

Although they had formed a team to rescue someone, the Empress was well aware that her limited strength offered no chance of resistance against the true top powerhouses of the East Sea. Without Xu Yang, she doubted she could even enter the depths of the East Sea, let alone the Dragon Slaying battlefield.

"You must win!"