Chapter 1467: Cold and Ruthless Zhang Wuchen

Northern Border, Fiery Cloud Mountain Range.

Deafening roars echoed from deep within the Fiery Cloud Mountain Range, and flames shot into the sky.

Deep inside the mountain range, in a valley with pathways extending in all directions, two men and one woman were attacking a pale-faced, gaunt old man in a green robe. More than a dozen corpses lay on the ground. These bodies were desiccated, their vital essence seemingly drained. Scattered on the ground were over a dozen dimly glowing magic treasures and numerous broken formation flags.

The old man in green held a feather fan radiating a seven-colored glow. With a gentle wave, a swath of seven-colored light flew out. Various spells struck the seven-colored light, dissolving like snow in early spring, unable to get close to the old man.

The old man in green was covered in wounds, his face pale.

"Ouyang Hongguang—no, you must be a fiend! You can't escape now. Surrender quietly, and we might spare your life."

A tall, ruddy-faced old man in a red robe shouted in a deep voice. Centuries ago, Ouyang Hongguang, the fifth elder of the Ouyang family, was possessed by a demonic entity. He then snuck back into the Ouyang family and stole the Seven-Colored Phoenix Feather Fan, one of their three greatest family treasures. Ouyang Hongsheng injured this fiend, who then fled into the Meteor Immortal Icefield to escape the pursuit.

Centuries later, the fiend reappeared in the human world and broke into the Puppet Emperor's Tomb. However, he was discovered by the Nascent Soul cultivators guarding the tomb. Afterward, the three major sects—Nine Nether Sect, Three Flames Palace, and Sacred Talisman Palace—offered a reward of ten million spirit stones for his capture.

"Heh heh, surrender? Do you honestly think I'd believe such foolish words?"

Ouyang Hongguang sneered. He was from the same era as the Four Seasons Sword Venerable. However, he was severely wounded by the Sword Venerable and died from his injuries. His corpse then transformed into a bone zombie, which cultivated using malevolent energy. It then possessed Ouyang Hongguang's body, regaining a physical form.

He flipped his hand and took out a three-foot-long black banner. On its surface was embroidered a grotesque white skull.

With a gentle wave, a series of mournful, wailing ghost cries rang out. The skull seemed to come alive, spewing out a large mass of thin black threads. These threads coiled around several sparkling magic treasures, whose spiritual light immediately dimmed, rendering them unstable and seemingly drained of their spiritual essence.

The old man in red quickly summoned a palm-sized crimson jade bottle, which spewed out rolling flames that struck the black threads. The black threads remained unharmed. When the magic treasures struck the black threads, a 'clanging' metallic sound echoed.

Ouyang Hongguang let out a cold laugh. The thin black threads were 'Malevolent Soul Threads,' refined from malevolent energy. He had refined them for over a millennium using a secret technique, giving them the ability to corrupt magic treasures. Only items of extreme yang and hardness could counter the Malevolent Soul Threads; most magic treasures were powerless against them.

A graceful young woman in a golden dress, her eyes flashing with a stern glint, let out a soft snort. Ouyang Hongguang felt a splitting headache, his sea of consciousness wounded as if by a sharp weapon, leaving him dizzy.

Just then, a golden light flashed above Ouyang Hongguang's head, revealing a thick golden chain. The chain's surface was covered in abstruse runes. It instantly bound Ouyang Hongguang, its end disappearing into the ground.

A tremendous wave of heat emanated from above. A crimson blade energy, over a hundred zhang long, descended from the sky, striking towards Ouyang Hongguang's head.

A large mass of black mist surged from his body. After blurring, it transformed into a shimmering black armor, protecting his entire body. He crossed his hands and blocked forward.

The crimson blade energy struck the black armor, producing a muffled clang of metal. A tiny crack appeared on the black armor, but with a flash of black light, the crack vanished.

A deafening dragon's roar echoed. A hundred-zhang-long crimson fire dragon lunged forward, radiating intense heat.

Ouyang Hongguang's body was bound by the golden chains, unable to move or evade. He hurriedly waved the seven-colored feather fan in his hand, releasing a swath of seven-colored spiritual light. The crimson fire dragon touched the seven-colored spiritual light and, like snow melting in early spring, dissipated into scattered sparks of light.

The sky suddenly darkened. A massive golden seal abruptly appeared above Ouyang Hongguang's head, descending with a whooshing sound.

Ouyang Hongguang tried to evade. A cold snort echoed in his ears, and a sharp pain surged through his sea of consciousness.

Just then, a lively flute melody began. A hazy green sound wave swept forth, supporting the falling golden seal.

A silver light shot forth. The old man in red sensed the astonishing spiritual energy emanating from the silver light and was about to evade. Then, a piercing flute sound rang out, his head felt heavy, and he became drowsy.

With a flash of silver light, the old man in red was split in half, his eyes wide in disbelief.

The silver light suddenly pierced through the bodies of the three Nascent Soul cultivators; their defensive magic treasures couldn't block it, and not even their Nascent Souls could escape.

With a flash of spiritual light, the silver light revealed itself to be a crescent-shaped silver great blade. After blurring, it transformed into scattered silver points and vanished.

"Silver Moon Soul-Severing Blade! So, a fellow daoist from the Sun-Moon Palace has come to assist. I invite you to show yourself."

Ouyang Hongguang's body trembled, and the golden chains fell away. His gaze was grim.

As far as he knew, the Silver Moon Soul-Severing Blade was a secret technique that only the Palace Lord of the Moon Palace within the Sun-Moon Palace could cultivate, though a Vice Palace Lord could also cultivate it.

Two streaks of light flew from a distance, landing in front of Ouyang Hongguang. They were Zhang Wuchen and Lin Yuzong.

Zhang Wuchen was a remnant soul reborn through possession. Her lifespan was fixed; she had just over two centuries left. If she couldn't advance to the Soul Transformation stage within those two centuries, she was certain to die.

Two centuries might sound like a long time, but advancing from the middle Nascent Soul stage to the Soul Transformation stage within that period was exceptionally difficult.

Before her possession, she had reached the Nascent Soul stage before the age of 300, yet she wasn't confident in advancing to Soul Transformation then. Even less so now, with only just over two centuries of lifespan remaining.

To advance to Soul Transformation, rare and exotic fruits were the top priority. She had high hopes for the Immortal Ascension Ruins, even sending her spiritual body, Zhang Hongwu, there. Unfortunately, Zhang Hongwu perished, so she had to journey elsewhere.

The Eastern Wilderness was too barren, and the Central Plains were controlled by the Five Great Dynasties. After the Nine Nether Sect was greatly weakened by internal strife, various forces seized the opportunity to intervene in the Northern Border. The environment in the Northern Border had become much more relaxed, attracting many high-level cultivators to travel through its cultivation world. Aside from the Northern Border's abundant mineral resources, the Puppet Emperor had once unified the Northern Border's cultivation world, leaving behind numerous secret realms and forbidden areas.

Zhang Wuchen's journey was precisely for those secret realms and forbidden areas. By chance, she discovered that the three major sects were hunting down Ouyang Hongguang. No, strictly speaking, this person was not Ouyang Hongguang.

"Zhang Wuchen, it's you! I never expected Fairy Zhang to be from the Sun-Moon Palace! I recall the Palace Lord of the Sun-Moon Palace is Fang Yue. May I ask what your relationship is with her?"

Ouyang Hongguang narrowed his eyes, speaking with a half-smile.

"You don't need to know that. All you need to know is that I'm here to help you. Otherwise, you would have been the one to die just now. With our help, your tasks will be easier."

Zhang Wuchen's tone was indifferent. Had it not been for Ouyang Hongguang's capabilities and his knowledge of the forbidden areas, she would have killed him long ago.

"Help me? Heh heh, doesn't Fairy know that I've possessed this body? You dare to help a demonic deviant like me? Do you even know what I intend to do?"

Ouyang Hongguang chuckled, a meaningful expression on his face.

"I'm not interested in your affairs. Exorcising demons and defending the righteous path interests me even less. All I care about is whether I can advance to the late Nascent Soul stage. In short, if you cooperate with me, you can continue your wicked deeds, and I will collect heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Each of us gets what we want."

Ouyang Hongguang's expression turned cold. "And what if I refuse to cooperate?" he asked.

"Then we'll just kill you and do it ourselves. I've already shown considerable sincerity by appearing in my true form. Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Your physical body cultivation is impressive, but can it withstand the Silver Moon Soul-Severing Blade? This spiritual art specifically counters body cultivators. The higher the cultivation, the greater its power. Our seventh-generation Grand Elder of the Sun-Moon Palace, at the early Soul Transformation stage, used this art to instantly destroy a late Nascent Soul stage demon."

Zhang Wuchen's face showed disdain. By the end, her face was filled with arrogance.

Ouyang Hongguang's expression fluctuated between dark and light. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded and said, "Alright, let's cooperate. I hope you won't change your mind halfway, or I won't be polite."

Indeed, it would be difficult for him to break into the Puppet Emperor's Tomb alone. With Zhang Wuchen and the other person's help, it would be much easier.

"Rest assured! We're not interested in slaying demons or eliminating evil. After I die, let the floods rage."