Chapter 217: Yellow Springs Temple, Peerless Little Yu

After devouring the Great Elder of the Bai family, Wang Yu not only experienced changes in his spiritual root but also felt his life essence increase slightly. This meant his lifespan limit had extended.

This change was not mentioned in the Demonic Embryo Profound Origin Secret Incantation.

This made him feel very strange.

"Why didn't I notice it last time, or rather..."

As he pondered, a wisp of Yellow Springs Ghost Mist suddenly appeared beside him, and a hand holding a dagger fiercely stabbed towards him!

Wang Yu's expression shifted. His spiritual consciousness surged out, instantly forming a Soul Shattering Finger that twisted towards the ghost mist. With a downward grab of his right hand, he immediately seized the assailant's wrist.

He flipped his palm and reversed his grip, unleashing the surging third-tier Ice Flood Dragon Alchemic Flame.

"Ahhh!!!"

In the close-quarters combat, the attacker, though skillful and a formidable opponent, quickly fell in the lightning-fast struggle.

Engulfed by the Ice Flood Dragon Alchemic Flame, the Yellow Springs Ghost Mist could no longer be maintained, finally revealing the attacker's true form.

"Late Foundation Establishment... that's it?"

With a thought, a spiritual light shot from Wang Yu's waist, transforming into the shape of a glazed octagonal lamp. It rotated behind his head, none other than the Glazed Soul Lamp.

Soul fire, directly targeting spiritual consciousness, bloomed. Combined with the Ice Flood Dragon Alchemic Flame, the dual searing turned the person into a charred corpse in moments.

This level of strength was, at most, that of an outer sect deacon—stronger than a rogue cultivator, but only marginally so.

The gray-white vision of Mountain Search and Demon Hunt unfolded in Wang Yu's eyes. He said, "Come out. Since you've made your move, don't think of hiding any longer."

As his words fell.

Wisps of Yellow Springs Ghost Mist appeared, nineteen in total. Including the one who died, there were exactly twenty people. The leader openly displayed their cultivation level.

"Late Core Formation..."

Wang Yu's eyes flickered. He finally felt pressure. Discreetly, he clutched an Escape Talisman and said:

"Fellow Daoists from Yellow Springs Temple, you have crossed the border to seize the sacred offerings of the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect. What is your intention? Do you wish to start a war?"

"Start a war? With just you?"

The Core Formation cultivator from Yellow Springs Temple stepped out of the Yellow Springs Ghost Mist, their disdain palpable.

Wang Yu continued, unperturbed.

"You seem to have misunderstood the nature of the situation. The sacred offering system has been maintained within the Sacred Sect's territory for thousands of years, and no outsider has ever dared to seize anything. You have committed a grave taboo, and yet you're still plotting here?

"If I were you, I'd already be preparing for my demise. Yellow Springs Temple will not protect you."

"Heh heh, how presumptuous!"

"What if I told you this was an order from within the Temple? What would you do? Now... kneel and become my servant, and I might spare your life."

Wang Yu's eyes narrowed. Just as he suspected!

Through this verbal probing, he had successfully exposed the mastermind behind it.

But why would Yellow Springs Temple do this? Guiling City is on the border. Was it to contend for sovereignty over the ruins of Dongjijing?

That didn't make sense. After all, the ruins were there, and the territory of Yunling Province had been established for at least a thousand years. There was no reason to contend for it now when they hadn't before.

He couldn't help but recall a piece of information he had once received.

"Can you represent Yellow Springs Temple? Or are you... Elder Dizang?"

"You know?!"

At this, the Core Formation cultivator revealed even more information. Wang Yu immediately concluded that this was likely not a strategic objective of Yellow Springs Temple, but rather a personal endeavor of Elder Dizang.

Whatever scheme he had concocted, it no longer mattered.

After reaching this conclusion.

This matter had escalated from a local dispute to a diplomatic conflict, which he shouldn't have to bear alone. He could only be grateful that he had sent a messenger to Yunling Prefecture City before coming.

He just needed to survive this crisis.

Thinking this, he suddenly lowered his head.

"Senior, I, Wang, am willing to join Yellow Springs Temple. As for whether Elder Dizang will agree, you can certainly inquire. What do you say?"

As he spoke.

Wang Yu spread his hands, appearing completely unthreatening, and gradually approached the late Core Formation cultivator. The cultivator, unconcerned by Wang Yu's strength, remained deep in thought, frowning.

He didn't know what Wang Yu was plotting, but since Wang Yu knew about Elder Dizang, it was indeed not up to him to decide his fate. If he disrupted the elder's plan, he would be guilty of a capital offense.

Seeing them within three paces, he said.

"You'll come with me."

"No problem."

In an instant, Wang Yu closed the distance in a single stride and seized the Core Formation cultivator's wrist.

The cultivator was surprised but felt no danger.

"What are you doing?"

"Just getting a little closer."

Seeing Wang Yu's neatly bared teeth, the cultivator suddenly felt something was wrong; spatial power was affecting him.

"What kin—"

The next instant, the Escape Talisman activated, teleporting the fellow to the location Wang Yu had pre-set: Guiling City Lord's Mansion!

Due to the large-scale search, only a few dozen regular garrison personnel were stationed in the City Lord's Mansion. Wang Yu remotely activated the Spirit Sealing Life Execution Grand Formation.

With the power of this formation, even if that person was a late Core Formation cultivator from a dominant force, it wouldn't kill them, but it could certainly tie them down for several months, preventing them from leaving.

By then, the people from Yunling Prefecture City should have arrived.

Involving other dominant forces required the highest vigilance. Moreover, Wang Yu was backed by the Nascent Soul Three Clans, who must have been informed, ensuring an even faster response.

After unexpectedly sending the person away, Wang Yu immediately bellowed, "Qingyang!!!" The battle instantly erupted. The scroll painting, stretching for dozens of miles, combined with Snow Jade, completely sealed off the frozen ground.

Ink traces brought creatures to life as ink beasts emerged, launching attacks towards the remaining eighteen wisps of ghost mist.

It was then that Wang Yu realized the strength of the remaining individuals.

Two early Core Formation, four late Foundation Establishment, eight mid Foundation Establishment, and two early Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their strength was considerable, but still within his manageable range.

Qingyang, who had been hidden for a long time, descended from the dark clouds.

Amidst the howling wind and snow, he proactively released the third-tier Iron Puppet he had previously acquired. Wang Yu, for his part, released the Grand Yin Corpse. The puppet he had obtained was severely damaged and was currently undergoing repairs.

The temporary release only allowed for three strikes, so the timing had to be precise.

Thus, Qingyang dealt with one Core Formation cultivator, the Corpse and Iron Puppet dealt with another, while Wang Yu himself plunged into the group like a tiger among sheep, unleashing the Ice Flood Dragon Alchemic Flame over a wide area.

The frozen ground field released by Snow Jade became enveloped in blue ice flames, causing the ghost mist to evaporate. All enemies were forced to escape from it, employing various techniques to fight against the ink beasts initially released by Qingyang.

The battle erupted, almost immediately escalating to a life-and-death struggle.

The environment was extremely disadvantageous for this team from Yellow Springs Temple.

Almost at the very start of the battle.

Two rapidly spinning ice wheels sliced two early Foundation Establishment cultivators in half. Wang Yu's priority was to eliminate the weakest targets, reducing the enemy's numbers.

After a few breaths, the four late Foundation Establishment cultivators killed the entangled ink beasts and immediately swarmed towards Wang Yu.

"Yellow Springs Ghost Claw!"

"Underworld Finger!"

"Shadowless Sword Art - Invisible Sword Qi!"

"Ghost Eye - Illusion!"

The formidable Ghost Claw and Underworld Finger were both a hundred meters in size, and the Invisible Sword Qi was impossible to perceive with the naked eye, yet he felt a sharp stinging sensation from behind.

This encirclement tactic was smoothly coordinated: three attacks and one control. For a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator, it would indeed mean instant annihilation.

Unfortunately, the target was Wang Yu.

The sole controlling illusion was one of its biggest flaws. In an instant, his eyes lit up with the crescent moon mark.

With just a single glance exchanged with that person, the opponent plummeted to the ground like a bird with broken wings.

The three-tailed Snow Fox seized the opportunity, striking the ground fiercely.

A swift ice spike, over thirty meters long, shot out. The two, working in tandem, actually impaled the Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was under the control of the Moon Illusion, like a skewer.

"—Soul Devouring Evil Armor!"

With a low roar, this demonic arcane art, cultivated for years, once again shone brightly. Wang Yu, giving his all, charged into the Yellow Springs Ghost Claw.

He crashed into it with his body, using the opportunity to evade the first wave of attacks from the Underworld Finger and Invisible Sword Qi. Immediately after, his Frost Moon Wings unfurled, his escape speed soared, and he plunged into the formation of the eight mid Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Thus.

The three, wary of harming their companions, had no choice but to hold back their techniques and opted to fly in pursuit.

Wang Yu, meanwhile, grabbed the claw of an ink evil flood dragon, flipping himself onto it while delivering a flying kick.

The Yin Underworld Demonic Flood Dragon, transformed from vital energy and blood, burst forth, blindly ramming a Foundation Establishment cultivator who was struggling against the painted beasts, turning them into a bloody mist!

The ice wheels whistled, shooting out again, specifically targeting the mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators who were having difficulty. In just over ten breaths, three more had fallen.

Wang Yu tilted his head back and swallowed a supreme-grade Spirit Recovery Pill.

The Glazed Soul Lamp above his head continuously unleashed eight streams of soul fire, attacking everyone nearby.

At the same time, the Ghost Wail Flute, a magical artifact nurtured for several years with treasure-nourishing liquid, which had elevated it from a supreme-grade second-tier to a low-tier third-tier, appeared in his hand.

The foundation of this artifact was already strong. After a gentle upgrade with the treasure-nourishing liquid, its form didn't change much, except for the addition of crow-like patterns on its ink-jade body.

The full effects of the Ghostly Weeping Bamboo were activated, granting it the ability to devour living souls and fierce spirits, and to release a ghostly domain, similar in function to soul banner-series magical tools and artifacts.

It also had a natural affinity with the Yin Crow Soul Devouring Sound.

"Ooh—"

Raising it to his lips, under the command of his third-tier spiritual consciousness, the power of the Soul Sound Secret Art was unleashed to its maximum, especially with Wang Yu's mastery, which could be called perfect.

The full power of the magical artifact could not be completely activated without sufficient magical power.

Thus, only a hundred-meter ghostly domain unfolded. Within this range, soul-devouring yin crows rapidly generated, launching indiscriminate attacks in all directions.

Combined with the massive number of ink-painted beasts left by Qingyang, it dealt a devastating blow to the Yellow Springs Temple cultivators, whose bodies fell like rain.

Their living souls were forcibly extracted by Wang Yu and absorbed into the Ghost Wail Flute, instantly adding eight second-tier soul-devouring yin crows.

At this moment.

The three pursuers simultaneously turned their heads and ran towards the Core Formation battlefield, shouting, "My lord, this person is not right! The spells he masters and casts all seem to be at the perfected realm! And he has magical artifacts assisting him!"

"Heh heh—

"Thinking of running now? Too late!"

Wang Yu's fingers flickered, and the Ghost Wail Flute transformed into a beautiful melody. The leftmost of the three fleeing individuals suddenly conjured a magical tool and stabbed it towards his companion.

"Pffft~"

"Zhou Zhen... you... ugh!"

The companion on the right drew a long sword and delivered a fatal strike to the one in the middle. Under the dual flanking backstabs, he perished on the spot.