Chapter 415: Gathering of the Bell Souls

"Well then," came the reply, "let's see who can find what we're looking for first."

This appeared to be their final exchange. After that, silence gradually descended upon the starry expanse. Both individuals became fully absorbed in their search for the secret.

Yet, against the backdrop of this vast starry sky, a human soul felt like a fleeting speck of dust, incredibly minuscule.

Xu Yang soon realized that if he continued to observe blindly, he might never uncover the true answer.

Perhaps only by delving deeper, allowing his mind and body to fully merge with the starry expanse, could he pierce through the veil and perceive the underlying truth.

Xu Yang touched the center of his brow, attempting to replicate the mental state he had experienced during his breakthrough to the Heavenly Eye realm in the fantasy world. He recreated the unique mindset associated with activating the Heavenly Eye.

As expected, that state proved equally effective under the starry sky. When Xu Yang's perception of his surroundings returned, he was astonished to find that he had merged with the endless void, becoming an intrinsic part of it. Not a single wisp of aura from the countless brilliant stars around him escaped his heightened senses.

Meanwhile, Feng Xiu's soul-sense, also observing the stars, suddenly found that he had lost all trace of Xu Yang's aura. What was once a distinct, solid presence had transformed into something immensely vast and ethereal.

"What's going on? Did that guy really discover the secret before me? That's impossible! I've been here for half a year, and he's only been here for a few hours. There's no way he could have found the answer so easily before me!"

Ever since his breakthrough to the wondrous realm of the Heaven-Defying Demonic Cultivation, Feng Xiu had grown significantly arrogant. However, his arrogance was not unfounded; had Xu Yang and his team not successfully escaped the Burial Mound, Feng Xiu would undoubtedly be one of the foremost cultivators across the entire Three Thousand Dao States.

A thunderous boom echoed!

Suddenly, Feng Xiu's soul-sense perceived an unparalleled sound of celestial destruction echoing through the void—the collision of stars! Immediately, his spiritual energy locked onto that direction.

Indeed, he witnessed a truly astonishing sight!

From the explosion of the two stars, a brilliant fragment shimmered with golden light, though its exact nature remained obscured. Feng Xiu directed his soul-sense to approach the glowing speck, only to abruptly realize that his soul-sense had silently entered a terrifying, inescapable domain.

It felt as if he had been drawn into a void abyss, a terrifying realm from which escape was impossible. An oppressive, dark aura had already completely engulfed his soul-sense.

"Welcome to my domain, Feng Xiu!"

It was undeniably Xu Yang's voice. Feng Xiu's soul-sense struggled to comprehend what was happening.

"What have you done? Where are you?"

"Do you really want to know?"

Suddenly, in the void before Feng Xiu's soul-sense, a gigantic pupil silently materialized. This single eye was so immense that it dwarfed countless stars surrounding it.

At that moment, Feng Xiu finally grasped the true extent of the disparity in their cultivation realms. This was clearly Xu Yang's doing; he had truly merged with the entire starry expanse.

"Indeed, as you can see, I am now the absolute master of this starry sky. If you wish for your soul-sense not to be reduced to a handful of ashes, then I command you: immediately withdraw from the bell tower and do not harm any of the Dao cultivators outside! Otherwise, I will not hesitate to make you experience defeat at my hands once more, and I assure you, this time your demise will be far more gruesome!"

Feng Xiu was not one to compromise easily, but at that moment, he truly grasped the immense gap that still existed between him and Xu Yang.

Even though he had successfully broken through to the Seventh Realm, becoming the sole cultivator in the history of Heaven-Defying Demonic Cultivation to directly reach the peak of Tribulation Transcending, he still could not overcome this exceptionally gifted individual.

To avoid plummeting into an endless abyss just as success was within reach, Feng Xiu, for once, chose to compromise. After all, the Nine-Colored Qiankun Bell was not his sole option.

In fact, Feng Xiu's lineage had long been aware of the Yunmengze lineage, and the Nine Heavens Exquisite Heart was also his next conquest.

"I believe we both understand that this is not our ultimate battlefield. It appears you've won this round, but remember, Xu Yang, I, Feng Xiu, will ultimately be the victor."

Xu Yang smiled indifferently. "You know, crushing an ant now brings me more satisfaction than defeating you. Since you have no desire to contend with me, then you may leave."

As Xu Yang spoke, he abruptly waved his hand, forcibly ejecting Feng Xiu's remnant soul from the starry domain he controlled.

The next instant, Feng Xiu's soul-form coalesced back into its complete shape, appearing beneath the massive Nine-Colored Qiankun Bell Tower. Behind him stood the inner disciples of the Free and Easy Dao Sect, who had been waiting for a long time.

"This is the one who killed the Sect Master! Everyone, attack!"

"Don't act rashly."

The Third Senior Brother suddenly appeared, halting the disciples' advance. At that moment, Feng Xiu had his back to these vulnerable individuals, his gaze fixed on the bell tower, as if contemplating the vast disparity between himself and Xu Yang. A faint trace of sorrow crossed his face.

"I couldn't defeat Xu Yang, but does that mean I can't kill you lot of good-for-nothings? Get out of my sight immediately, or I won't hesitate to slaughter your Free and Easy Dao Sect today to vent my frustration over Xu Yang's insult."

The Third Senior Brother understood the immense power of the soul-form before them; even their Sect Master had been effortlessly annihilated. As the saying goes, "When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken."

The Third Senior Brother clearly understood that the reason this individual had not attacked, and had inexplicably been ejected from the bell tower, was most likely due to Xu Yang, who had recently entered and overpowered him. It was also out of deference to Xu Yang's unspoken will that Feng Xiu's soul-sense had refrained from acting. Otherwise, given his murderous intent, he would have undoubtedly slaughtered everyone present.

"A senior of your power, I imagine, would not concern yourself with us juniors. The Free and Easy Dao Sect simply seeks peace. If you have no further business, senior, perhaps you could depart. On behalf of our sect, I am grateful for your mercy in not taking our lives."

Feng Xiu gazed intently at the Third Senior Brother, a faint smile gracing his lips. "You're a very discerning young man. It seems those elders of the Free and Easy Sect truly accumulated good karma in a past life by taking you in."

With a cold snort, Feng Xiu transformed into a streak of light and vanished towards the distant end of the sect's mountain range.

Only after confirming the individual's departure did the Third Senior Brother finally let out a long sigh of relief, unaware that his back was drenched in sweat.

While he yearned to avenge his master, he fully understood that it was foolish to throw an egg against a rock. One should not engage in direct confrontation without the necessary strength.