Chapter 453: The Mystery of the Immortal Dynasty's Fall, Transforming Divine Treasures

The Barrier-Breaking Talismans, which appeared to be mere trash, were in fact regulated resources. These talismans were not made available to ordinary cultivators in either Chiyuan or Taihu. Wang Yu's current batch, numbering over five hundred, had been accumulated over an unknown number of years.

Confronted with these special talismans designed specifically to break restrictions, the Eastern Palace's protective layer was instantly breached, creating a large hole. Wang Yu swiftly flew inside, and the restriction quickly restored itself as part of the imperial palace's cyclical array.

Wang Yu glanced back but paid it no further mind. The Eastern Palace was both significant and insignificant, yet it was sure to contain valuable treasures.

Entering through the main gate, he encountered no traps or similar obstacles. What surprised him was a coffin placed conspicuously and unusually in the center of the hall. Wang Yu instantly grew much more cautious, refraining from approaching rashly.

Many versions of the legend surround the downfall of the Ancient Immortal Dynasty, but the most widely accepted and prevalent attributes it to ancient devils breaking free from their seals. Indeed, most ruins from the Ancient Immortal Dynasty bear severe marks of battle damage, so attributing their destruction to ancient devils was not without basis. Considering the formidable cultivation world of ancient times, only these ancient devils could have inflicted such devastating damage, to the point of utterly collapsing the Immortal Dynasty. The Taiyin Sect itself was built upon the ruins of the Immortal Dynasty.

A coffin placed so prominently in the Eastern Palace suggested an extraordinary identity. Wang Yu looked around but found no ancestral tablet, leading him to wonder. "Could it be the Crown Prince in there…?" As soon as the idea formed, Wang Yu dismissed it. Given the Crown Prince's significance, even if he had died at the very end, his body wouldn't have been left here so openly. It was more probable that the Crown Prince himself had arranged this.

After a thorough search yielded no other discoveries, Wang Yu returned to the coffin. His divine sense unfurled into countless threads, spreading out to cover the entire area, probing through every crack, corner, and even directly penetrating the coffin to discern what lay within.

Inside the coffin, as soon as Wang Yu's threads of divine sense entered, it felt as though he had stepped from the height of summer into a freezer. A bone-chilling cold permeated his being, from head to toe, capable of even freezing his divine sense. This only intensified Wang Yu's curiosity.

As he pondered, he took out his Feng Shui compass. The Ancestral Order of Water emitted a misty blue glow, and under its augmentation, Wang Yu's miraculous Feng Shui techniques were greatly enhanced. His Qi-gazing Golden Eyes pierced through the building's obstructions. Everything related to the Feng Shui layout glowed with a distinct spiritual light in his vision. When his gaze swept downwards, Wang Yu was momentarily stunned.

Thick, icy crystal channels converged from all directions. The dense Yin spirit energy flowing through them was comparable to the small realm of the Celestial Yin Water Pool. All of it poured into the coffin. Within this flow, there was also a transparent power, clearly beneficial to divine sense. Following these secret conduits, he traced their sources.

Wang Yu discovered that the Yin spirit energy originated from various locations across Dongji Capital. The Celestial Yin Water Pool had once been one of the largest contributors, but since he had taken it, that particular conduit was now empty and virtually defunct. The transparent power, however, originated from the residential houses throughout both the inner and outer cities. After Dongji Capital was buried underground, residual soul power remained within the ancient corpses there. Endless Yin energy proliferated, nourishing these ancient corpses.

After existing for so many years, these ancient corpses should have grown immensely powerful. Yet, precisely due to the Eastern Palace's arrangements, they had remained perpetually weak, excluding a few unique individuals. Every wisp of soul power they generated was siphoned away and sent to this coffin. No wonder they were so weak!

"Millions of ancient corpses' soul power nourished for so many years, combined with an almost endless supply of Yin spirit energy, would have turned even a pig into a terrifying monster," he muttered to himself. His scalp tingling as he realized he had stumbled upon a significant problem.

Furthermore, with the Celestial Yin Water Pool already taken by him, and the ancient corpses in both the inner and outer cities largely slain or captured by invading cultivators—even the more powerful Fourth-tier Three-Eyed Corpse Babies had been taken—the power conveyed through these conduits had become incredibly weak. Regardless of the mastermind's objective, it was certain that once the current arrangements became meaningless, there would be a contingency to directly activate the next phase.

As he looked around, still debating whether to open the coffin, a beam of starlight suddenly descended from the sky. The previously unremarkable dome revealed a completely different appearance. Wang Yu looked up, astonished to finally discern the full extent of the extraordinary Feng Shui formation in this place.

"The Heavenly Star Earth Yin Soul-Returning Array?"

The layout orchestrated by miraculous Feng Shui techniques was essentially a simple array, though it demanded precise control over celestial timing, geographical advantages, and orientation, with deviations not exceeding half a finger's breadth. Some intricate arrays could only be established under specific celestial phenomena. The Heavenly Star Earth Yin Soul-Returning Array itself originated from the second Earth Array, known as the "Houtu Revival Array," which had been researched and refined by Feng Shui geomancers. It replaced the Houtu (Earth) power, which bears the earth, with Heavenly Stars and Earth Yin. Both arrays aimed for resurrection, but the man-made version could only achieve soul return. Ultimately, it led to reincarnation through spirit possession.

After his initial surprise, Wang Yu quickly regained his composure and confidence. He had worried that the accumulated powers might have nurtured a monster only a Soul Transformation Venerable could handle. If it was merely for resurrection, then there was nothing to fear. "It appears the one lying within must be the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty." It wasn't wrong to place hope in the Crown Prince; even if he was suppressed by the Human Emperor in life, he would have possessed at least Nascent Soul cultivation. It shouldn't be difficult for him to achieve Soul Transformation using the remaining resources of the Immortal Dynasty. However, resurrection at this point was far too late, and unforeseen complications might arise.

Having assessed the situation, Wang Yu delivered a swift kick to the corner of the coffin, instantly flipping off its lid.

In an instant, a surging column of pure Yin spirit energy erupted, shattering the Eastern Palace's dome. The black-gray beam of light ascended even further, piercing through the palace's protective restrictions. Within the chaotic energy tide, the faint wails of countless wronged souls could be heard, followed closely by a tempest of soul power. Wang Yu was forced to retreat several steps, hastily forming a semi-circular spiritual shield with his demonic essence. Even with his divine sense and Taiyin Specter Eyes employed simultaneously, he couldn't penetrate the hundred-thousand-year accumulation of this energy tide.

Opening the coffin spelled great ill fortune! This was literally true. The unfolding events once again surpassed Wang Yu's expectations, for inside lay a voluptuous, naked female corpse. The woman's face was exquisitely beautiful, surpassing all women Wang Yu had ever seen. Even Xiao Chan'er seemed to pale in comparison. Her lifeless, withered white hair drifted around her. Aurora light already emanated from Wang Yu's body, indicating he was ready to flee at any moment. He had not been separated from Old Demon Glorious Sun for long, so the latter certainly hadn't entered the Longevity Medicine Repository yet. If he went there now, he might still be able to help.

Within the terrifying Yin spirit cold current, the aura emanating from the female corpse vaguely surpassed the limits of the Nascent Soul stage. As the female corpse's eyes opened, revealing pure white orbs devoid of pupils, an even more unsettling aura emanated. Her full lips parted and closed, as if muttering or driven by some deep obsession. "My husband~~~"

Cold sweat trickled down Wang Yu's back. He clearly understood that she wasn't calling him; there was no reason the Crown Prince wouldn't have reserved such a precious soul-returning opportunity for himself. Yet, given the current situation, Wang Yu suspected this female corpse might be the Crown Princess or another beloved individual. He slowly backed away, and more Barrier-Breaking Talismans appeared in his left hand, concealed behind his back. His desire to escape had reached its peak.

The next moment, all the strange phenomena vanished simultaneously. Pupils appeared in her pure white eyes, and the surrounding drapes suddenly flew inward, covering her alluring, snow-white form. The woman sighed wistfully, then looked at Wang Yu and spoke.

"What year is this?"

"Approximately a hundred thousand years after the fall of the Immortal Dynasty. The precise date is impossible to ascertain now."

As Wang Yu replied, a doubt arose within him. The soul-returning array had both benefits and drawbacks. The female corpse had awakened too late; the miraculous Feng Shui techniques were beyond saving her. She could not live. Had she died within a thousand years, there would have been a chance for revival. But with nearly a hundred thousand years gone by, even a stone would have crumbled to dust. Thus, the female corpse hadn't fully awakened instantly; her soul had been continuously nourished, suffering no significant damage. Her physical body, however, had completely withered away, and the moment she regained consciousness, the decay of her spirit began as the mighty force of time exerted its influence upon her. She was forced to re-experience those lost hundred thousand years. Even a Soul Transformation cultivator would have perished.

Upon hearing that so much time had elapsed, the female corpse visibly wavered. "You said… you would be with me forever. Is this the 'forever' you chose?"

The female corpse reached into the coffin and retrieved an object. It was a bone whistle. She caressed it against her cheek with great care before placing it in her mouth and blowing.

Simultaneously, from the imperial mausoleum, its location unknown, a shimmering spiritual object erupted from the tomb of the Immortal Dynasty's Crown Prince—who had been interred as the heir apparent—shooting into the sky and swiftly vanishing.

The female corpse, or rather, the Crown Princess, then turned her attention to the wary Wang Yu. "I am not a bloodthirsty person; you may rest assured."

"Senior jests. I, your junior, rose from humble beginnings and have long been accustomed to such caution; it's a habit I cannot break."

"You speak much like the eunuchs."

Wang Yu's lips trembled as he tried to speak, but no words came out. Soon, however, his curiosity about history overcame his caution. "May I ask, Senior, if you could reveal the truth behind the fall of the Immortal Dynasty? The cultivation world today is striving towards a similar goal."

The Crown Princess had no reason to conceal anything; from the moment she emerged from the coffin, her life had entered its final countdown. Since Wang Yu asked, she began to speak. Seeing her about to speak openly, Wang Yu quickly employed the Six Senses Concealment secret art to guard against eavesdroppers and any observers from outside the Ice Prison Realm. The Crown Princess had no objection, speaking with a sigh of melancholy.

"At that time, the Sword Venerable and Soul Venerable were corrupted by the ancient Devil of Slaughter. In their later years, they descended into madness, sacrificing to the ancient devils through mass slaughter. This allowed the Devil of Slaughter to break free from its confinement."

"Are you referring to Asura and Rakshasa?"

"Yes. It seems you possess considerable knowledge about the Immortal Dynasty."

"Not much, just a little."

Seeing his response, the Crown Princess continued. "Once the Devil of Slaughter's physical body was free, it acted on instinct, unleashing widespread destruction. At that time, the Buddhist Pagoda Venerable, intending to convert it, secretly gathered several other Buddhist Venerables. They confronted the Devil of Slaughter directly, at a time when the Immortal Dynasty was still unprepared… the outcome was exactly as one might expect."

"Completely annihilated?"

Wang Yu frowned deeply. These Buddhist Venerables seemed to be lacking in judgment. At their cultivation level, they should have had some understanding of the ancient devils' origins. How could they have been so reckless?

As if reading his thoughts, the Crown Princess sighed with emotion. "The Buddhist sect actually had confidence. Their Prajna Heart Sutra, passed down through their lineage, allowed them to cultivate extremely high spiritual realms, specifically countering the Devil of Slaughter's corrosive killing intent. Furthermore, the Ice Prison Realm, having been reshaped by the rules of immortals from the Upper Realm, restricted the power that ancient devils' physical bodies could unleash to not exceed the Soul Transformation stage—unless a demon-corrupted apostle used secret arts to help the ancient devil circumvent these rules."

The answer was self-evident. Asura and Rakshasa, through their blood sacrifice ritual, caused the Devil of Slaughter's power to skyrocket, which in turn demonized the Buddhist Venerables. From that point, events spiraled out of control. The Ancient Immortal Dynasty had revered Buddhism as its national religion precisely because it boasted numerous Venerable-level cultivators. Their sudden demonization caused Buddhism to rapidly descend into chaos from top to bottom. They then turned against the Immortal Dynasty in the decisive battle against the Devil of Slaughter. This severely wounded the Dynasty, leading to a prolonged war of attrition. Midway through, the second ancient devil, Moon, appeared, becoming the final blow that crushed the Immortal Dynasty. After a complete defeat, all living beings faced the desperate prospect of massacre.

This continued until an immortal from the Upper Realm descended to save the world, at which point the story reached its most critical juncture. The Crown Princess's expression was filled with resentment and sorrow.

"The immortal consumed fire essence to save the world. Accusing the Immortal Dynasty's Human Emperor lineage of mismanagement, they sentenced the entire line to execution. After my body and soul were severed, my husband rescued me, allowing me to barely cling to life. Who could have known that consuming the spirit-transforming fire vein would incur divine wrath? To save himself, the immortal resorted to demonic secret arts, nearly wiping out the entire cultivation world of that era. He attempted to recover his injuries by absorbing immense quantities of life essence and pure spiritual energy, but ultimately failed. I watched him turn to dust above Dongji Capital!"

As the story concluded, Wang Yu keenly grasped a crucial detail. "Senior, are you saying that the first time an immortal descended to save the world, they ultimately perished here in Dongji Capital?"

"If you seek what was left behind, let's discuss it later."

No sooner had she spoken than a streak of light swiftly crossed the sky, ultimately landing in the Crown Princess's hand. She then explained, "After this person's demise, all his belongings were placed in my husband's mausoleum. What responded to the bone whistle's summons is a supreme treasure of the Human Emperor. If you can find the Crown Prince's mausoleum in the future, you will naturally obtain the immortal's relic. I give this item to you, hoping you, young brother, can do me a favor."

The so-called Human Emperor's supreme treasure was, in fact, a Coiled Dragon Ring. Its grade was beyond doubt: a fifth-tier, high-grade Soul Transformation spiritual treasure! The moment he accepted the treasure, he understood it meant accepting a new karmic entanglement.

The Crown Princess stated, "This is the Blood Vengeance Origin Bead. I want you to swear by your Dao Heart to slaughter every living being in the Ice Prison Realm that causes this bead to glow!"

Wang Yu had no idea who these enemies she spoke of were. However, he clearly had no grounds to refuse. After only a brief silence, he swore a Dao Heart oath and signed a binding contract. He thus acquired a Soul Transformation spiritual treasure and a blood bead.

The Crown Princess's physical body began to dissipate, turning entirely into dust and returning to the natural world. A flicker of tears seemed to glint at the corners of her eyes. She murmured, "My husband, Ruoshui has come for you."

Several breaths later, silence returned to the Eastern Palace.

Wang Yu scratched his chin, deep in thought. His visit to the Eastern Palace had been unexpectedly swift; everything was resolved on the first day, despite him having taken on another "task." However, the reward was already in hand, and there was no requirement to actively seek out targets; it was simply a matter of killing them if encountered, which he considered relatively straightforward.

"A Human Emperor's supreme treasure…" He examined the ring in his hand. As a Soul Transformation spiritual treasure, it possessed ample spiritual essence, vibrant like a child of a few years old. He touched it with his divine sense and began to refine it with his demonic essence. Without any resistance, he immediately sensed the true effect of the Coiled Dragon Ring. An idea quickly sparked in Wang Yu's mind.

(End of Chapter)