Chapter 508: Breaking the Dream

This means that other body parts, once activated in a way similar to the fundamental transformation and sublimation of a Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart, can ultimately radiate eternal brilliance.

If this hypothesis truly holds, then the future of the human race might surpass the Divine Race, forging a new path to ultimate power.

Of course, this was merely a fleeting thought in Xiao Hua's mind, with no immediate opportunity to verify it. For now, their priority was to stabilize the shepherd boy's emotional state.

Indeed, with Shi Lingyun's extraordinary performance, the countless dazzling sound blades unleashed an unprecedented suppressive effect, swiftly eradicating the Blood Demon Curse mark located in the shepherd boy's soul origin within his mind.

"Aargh!!"

This process was undoubtedly extremely painful because the Blood Demon Curse had fundamentally integrated with the shepherd boy's soul origin. Eradicating the curse's power also, to a certain extent, eroded his soul origin.

"You damned fellows, stop pushing me!"

Shi Lingyun seemed to hesitate once more, but this time, it wasn't due to doubt about her own strength. It was out of reluctance to harm the innocent child before her.

When Xu Yang looked back again, his gaze had become exceptionally firm!

"Trust me, helping him return to reality is the only way to truly free him from his misery. Forever immersed in this illusory beauty will only make him more miserable. He has already awakened, and it's impossible for him to completely immerse himself in the eternal dream as before. Better a short, sharp pain than prolonged agony!"

Shi Lingyun nodded gravely, finally entering the last stage of her Sacred Dao Heavenly Melody. The colorful sound waves she emitted became incredibly dense, violently washing over the shepherd boy's soul origin like an unending river.

This process, undoubtedly, pushed the shepherd boy's momentary pain to its absolute extreme.

Pain often makes lost souls immersed in illusions exceptionally clear-headed. At this moment, the shepherd boy was experiencing precisely such cruel circumstances.

Simultaneously, it also meant that the eternal dream he had woven was finally collapsing...

"Brother, don't go, wait for me!"

Finally, as the periphery of the dream was swiftly consumed by crimson flames, the little girl clutching two steamed buns, no matter how frantically she ran, could no longer catch up to her brother's footsteps.

The shepherd boy suddenly turned his head, following the cries, and met his sister's eyes one last time. The pain in his heart finally erupted with ultimate brilliance.

In that moment, Xu Yang instinctively recalled the instant his own Asura power was pushed to its absolute extreme!

The Asura of old had unleashed its god-devouring power precisely because it had lost its angelic protection. Xu Yang now felt a strong resonance with that moment as he observed the shepherd boy.

Blood-like tears streamed from the shepherd boy's eyes. It was at this moment that he tasted the ultimate agony of the mortal world. With nothing left in this world for him to cling to, why remain human? He thought: "Embrace corruption!"

The instant the eternal dream completely vanished, all the surroundings around Xu Yang and the other four instantly reverted to their original state.

However, as Xu Yang and his companions gradually regained consciousness from the dream state, they finally realized that the shepherd boy, who had just experienced the ultimate agony of the mortal world, now had a soul origin that had completely turned reddish-black!

And behind his soul origin, a familiar sight reappeared!

In Xu Yang's vision, just like the damaged, broken-winged angel totem sealed within his mind, the other half—a black demonic wing—finally emerged!

The shepherd boy, who had completely transformed into a corrupted demonic form, emanated an incredibly powerful soul aura. It seemed to have surpassed the critical state that Xu Yang's team could resist, reaching the intensity of a true God-Soul level.

"Oh no, Boss, this shepherd boy must have gone mad, transforming into this! His aura is terrifying!"

Only Xu Yang and Xiao Hua truly understood the reason behind this scene. Xu Yang hadn't had time to explain the specific situation to the other three, but seeing the shepherd boy, now corrupted into a demon, charging towards them with his soul body, Xu Yang almost instinctively switched to Asura Mode. The Asura Sword immediately appeared in his hand, and a powerful Asura aura swiftly erupted from him.

"Oh? Why does this form of yours feel somewhat familiar to me?"

Xu Yang's aura was equally powerful at this moment. Although he hadn't received the true divine glory bestowed by godhood, the intensity of the soul power he unleashed was in no way inferior to a God-Soul level.

"Within every demon's heart resides the image of an angel. We sympathize with what you've gone through, and we want to free you from eternal suffering, but not in the way you've chosen. It was my idea to bring you out of the dream and back to reality. If you have any grievances, you can vent them on me, but I still hope you won't escape everything you've experienced in the past."

However, it seemed his words had little to no effect.

"When I wove this dream, I had already made my choice. Since you are the ones who destroyed my dream, there's no need for further pointless talk. Today, either I perish, or all of you will accompany my sister to the grave."

The demon unleashed his full power, releasing powerful waves towards the Asura before him.

The aura fluctuations emanating from the two of them were very similar, yet fundamentally different.

Demons, in a sense, like angels, belong to the divine lineage; from the moment of their birth, they wield divine power. Asura, however, is a lineage that truly grew from the human realm to divine strength!

The formation of both powers involved similar processes: both had experienced endless suffering and also felt the purest beauty in this world. But when they eventually meet in combat, everything else becomes meaningless; it seems only battle can help them vent their deep-seated grief and indignation!

"Very well, since you crave a fight to the death, then let us settle this with a decisive battle between us!"

The moment the Asura Dao totem behind him perfectly manifested, Xu Yang finally understood the shepherd boy's emotions. No longer hoping to sway him with mere words, the battle between them was ultimately unavoidable.

The outbreak of battle was no longer a means to correct a mistake, but the only channel for venting and releasing pain.