Chapter 1209: Monster Birth (A Late Chapter)

Wang Qingshan quickly moved forward, enveloped in a ball of yellow light. He knew clearly that his escape speed was no match for a Nascent Soul cultivator. Fortunately, he had acquired a Nine Heavens Spirit Escape Talisman, which should prove useful.

After a short while, Wang Qingshan returned to the ground. He took out two light-gold talismans, covered with rice-grain-sized runes. He slapped them onto himself, and with a flash of golden light, two identical stocky men suddenly appeared.

These were Heaven Shadow Talismans, top-grade tier-three spirit talismans that Wang Qingshan had exchanged from his family's treasury. Heaven Shadow Talismans could perfectly replicate the user's aura and cultivation level, creating a highly realistic illusion. However, Wang Qingshan wasn't entirely sure if they could fool a Nascent Soul cultivator.

One of the "stocky men" turned into a streak of green light and shot through the air, covering a hundred zhang in an instant. The other "stocky man" continued to escape by burrowing underground.

He then took out the Nine Heavens Spirit Escape Talisman and slapped it onto himself. Countless silver runes surged out, enveloping his body. With a flash of silver light, Wang Qingshan suddenly vanished.

The Nine Heavens Spirit Escape Talisman was a secret talisman exclusive to the Miao family. It was rumored to be able to deceive Nascent Soul cultivators, but Wang Qingshan didn't know if that was true. If all else failed, Wang Qingshan would have no choice but to fight to the death. They had blocked the Nascent Soul cultivator's path, meaning the cultivator would try to kill them. He truly dared not entrust his life to the opponent.

After a while, Zhou Yujiao emerged from underground. She released her spiritual sense, a look of mockery on her face. "Insignificant trickery," she scoffed. "To dare play games before me, you must be tired of living."

With a flick of her wrist, a golden spiritual bird flew out from her spirit beast pearl. The bird had a long, slender tail and a vibrant, multi-colored crest on its head. This was a Rainbow Phoenix-Crested Bird, a tier-four spiritual beast that Zhou Yujiao had raised since it was young.

"Go, catch him and bring him back," she commanded. Zhou Yujiao pointed her slender finger towards the sky, and the Rainbow Phoenix-Crested Bird spread its wings, stirring up a strong gust of wind as it soared high in pursuit.

Zhou Yujiao pursued underground. She had not been in the Nascent Soul stage for long and did not detect Wang Qingshan's presence. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhou Yujiao reappeared, her face filled with anger. In her hand, she held a shimmering golden talisman. The Rainbow Phoenix-Crested Bird also returned, clutching a light-gold talisman in its claws. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, she had been made a fool of, which infuriated her greatly.

Just then, a deafening roar echoed from the distant sky, as if high-level cultivators were battling. Immediately afterward, a brilliant golden sun appeared high in the sky, highly conspicuous.

Zhou Yujiao raised an eyebrow, leaped, and landed on the Rainbow Phoenix-Crested Bird. With a clear cry, the Rainbow Phoenix-Crested Bird spread its wings and flew towards the sky, soon disappearing into the horizon.

Thousands of zhang up in the sky, Zhou Guangyang's aura was weak. Opposite him stood a gaunt middle-aged man. The middle-aged man had handsome features and wore a golden python robe. He exuded an astonishing surge of Yin energy, and his clothes were embroidered with the character "Yan." In his hand, he held a miniature Nascent Soul.

"I never thought I'd see the light of day again. It truly wasn't easy!" the golden-robed man muttered to himself, his expression indifferent.

Zhou Guangyang's gaze was filled with doubt and alarm. He had been pursuing a Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator when the golden-robed man suddenly appeared and instantly killed the demonic cultivator.

"Your Golden Light Devil-Slaying Palm is well-practiced; you must have put in a lot of effort! Unfortunately, I am not a demonic fiend, so the Golden Light Devil-Slaying Palm cannot harm me. Back then, I was responsible for teaching spiritual techniques, and no one knows our imperial family's spiritual arts better than I do."

The golden-robed man chuckled lightly. From his tone, it was clear he was very familiar with the Golden Light Devil-Slaying Palm and was a member of the imperial family.

"Our imperial family? You're that imperial family member who was sealed away? How are you still alive?" Zhou Guangyang asked, finding it hard to believe. He remembered clearly that this forbidden area had existed for over four thousand years, and even a Soul Transformation cultivator couldn't live that long!

The golden-robed man chuckled, saying triumphantly, "The lifespan of the Saint Clan is beyond your imagination. This is all thanks to those old geezers, Tianjizi and the others, for sealing me away; otherwise, I wouldn't have cultivated a different technique. Well, since you and I are both of the imperial family, it's time to send you on your way. Having just broken free, I need some nourishment."

The golden-robed man stretched out his hand and clapped at Zhou Guangyang through the air. The void buzzed as countless black gases surged forth, forming a black hand tens of zhang large, which struck down like lightning. Even before the black hand struck, a bone-chilling cold swept towards Zhou Guangyang.

Simultaneously, a cacophony of ghostly wails erupted, making Zhou Guangyang dizzy. He bit the tip of his tongue, and the pungent taste of blood filled his mouth. He quickly summoned a golden short ruler, unleashing countless golden ruler projections to strike the black hand.

Boom!

The black hand was unstoppable; all the golden ruler projections were shattered. Zhou Guangyang was struck by the black hand and rapidly plummeted towards the ground, spitting out a large mouthful of blood.

A black light flashed, and an ink-black bell suddenly appeared, instantly expanding in size. A clear bell sound rang out, and a dark, hazy sound wave swept forth. Zhou Guangyang's body was dismembered piece by piece, turning into a shower of blood.

With a flash of golden light, a terrified miniature Nascent Soul, clutching a small golden sword, broke through the air and was a hundred zhang away in an instant. A fierce Yin wind rose, and countless black gases suddenly appeared above the miniature Nascent Soul's head, instantly materializing in front of the golden-robed man. His left hand reached out to grab the miniature Nascent Soul. The miniature Nascent Soul quickly threw out the small golden sword in its hand, striking it against the golden-robed man's head.

"Clang!"

A dull clang of metal echoed, leaving only a faint sword mark on the golden-robed man's head.

"A body cultivator? That's impossible!" The miniature Nascent Soul's eyes widened in shock as it gasped.

The golden-robed man opened his mouth, and a black ray of light flew out, engulfing the miniature Nascent Soul. He reeled it into his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed it. Immediately after, he swallowed the other miniature Nascent Soul he was holding, a satisfied expression on his face.

At that moment, Zhou Yujiao arrived. She witnessed Zhou Guangyang's demise firsthand, her eyes wide with shock. She knew well how powerful Zhou Guangyang was, and for him to be killed so quickly was astonishing. What was the golden-robed man's cultivation level? Late Nascent Soul stage? Or something even higher...?

"Oh, more food is coming," the golden-robed man mumbled. He licked his lips, his gaze intensely fixed on Zhou Yujiao. He clapped his right hand towards Zhou Yujiao through the air. The void twisted, and a black hand, over ten zhang large, materialized out of thin air, accompanied by gusts of Yin wind. Zhou Yujiao hastily summoned a golden banner, unleashing a large expanse of golden lightning. Simultaneously, the Rainbow Phoenix-Crested Bird beneath her spread its wings, accelerating its escape.

Boom!

The black hand failed to strike Zhou Yujiao, but it thoroughly frightened her. She fled back along the path she came from. The golden-robed man did not pursue her, instead flying in the opposite direction. He was clearly putting on a brave front despite his weakness; otherwise, he would have long since killed Zhou Yujiao.