Chapter 798: Responsible

Chu Feng and Ying Zhexian remained motionless in their original positions, captivated by the dazzling, colorful miniature tree within the soul light. Standing over half a person tall, it bore seven intricate and profound symbols, one on each of its seven branches. Each symbol was intricately patterned, representing an embodiment of order and an extension of fundamental rules. This inherent nature endowed the tree with its formidable power.

Once activated, a mere sweep of the tree could instantly draw even the most divinely talented individuals into a curtain of colorful light, or reduce them to dust. The Seven Treasures Divine Technique possessed two extraordinary applications. One function resembled the Five-Colored Divine Light, capable of sweeping away all matter, but it was considerably more advanced and powerful. While the Five-Colored Divine Light occasionally proved ineffective against unusual substances outside the five elements, the Seven Treasures Divine Technique had no such limitation. It could sweep away everything in the world, treating all matter as mere dust. Its other application was an exceptionally potent offensive capability. In conflicts among peers, unleashing the Seven Treasures Divine Technique with full force could instantly obliterate an opponent into fine powder.

At this moment, Chu Feng and Ying Zhexian were utterly engrossed, immersing themselves in the study and comprehension of the seven resplendent branches and their symbols, their insights growing ever deeper. Faintly, chanting sounds began to emanate from the treasured tree, which was over half a person tall. Numerous scriptural symbols emerged and settled upon them. This marked a deeper level of enlightenment, as they delved into the profound intricacies of the Seven Treasures Divine Technique!

However, their posture was undeniably intimate; they were locked in an embrace, and most strikingly, their lips were still touching. The primary reason for this was their fear that any change in posture might cause the mysterious tree to vanish, thereby squandering an immense opportunity. Neither was distracted; any potential romantic feelings or emotional disarray were firmly suppressed by their unyielding will and unwavering spiritual resolve. At such a critical juncture, they remained entirely focused on comprehending the profound technique, unwilling to be negligent or break their concentration.

Eventually, they emerged from their enlightened state and looked at each other. The posture was incredibly awkward, though only Ying Zhexian appeared embarrassed. Chu Feng, with his notoriously thick skin, seemed completely at ease. Then, Ying Zhexian felt something amiss. Could souls salivate? The sensation was utterly unpleasant.

“Did you bite me?!” Chu Feng transmitted via soul light.

“Let… go of me!” Ying Zhexian exclaimed, her voice thick with humiliation. This was an entirely new experience for her, and she felt inextricably linked to the man before her.

“Is this what they call dual cultivation in Taoist legends? I suppose only Dao companions would have their soul lights merge like this.” Chu Feng remained self-composed, leisurely drawing out the moment. To her particular annoyance, he audaciously added, “Will you take responsibility for me?”

Upon hearing these words, even Ying Zhexian, renowned for her composure, felt an urge to dismember him. Her hidden mischievous side instantly surfaced, and with calm determination, she bit down. Chu Feng immediately regretted it; a sharp pain shot through his lips, and 'soul blood' began to flow. He yelped, and in that same instant, both of them simultaneously activated the divine technique. Their combined effort synthesized the true Seven Treasures Divine Technique, unleashing a dazzling streak of multicolored light.

Immediately, space fractured, revealing a large, dark rift. The two layers of energy fields on the ground instantly disintegrated, blown apart. Simultaneously, the multicolored light vaporized a vast lake, leaving behind no trace of its expansive green waters. An entire island was also reduced to dust, vanishing from sight.

“My mistake, *I’ll* take responsibility for you!” Chu Feng yelled, his chin still firmly bitten by her unyielding grip. Nearby, energy surged violently. The lingering force of the Seven Treasures Divine Technique shattered all the energy fields Chu Feng had established, forcefully tearing them apart. This demonstrated the terrifying power of a supreme divine technique: it swept through any obstacles with overwhelming force. Ancient practitioners who mastered the Seven Treasures Divine Technique undoubtedly understood true invincibility. Whether facing a barrage of countless techniques or a vast encircling army, a single sweep of multicolored light would pierce through all resistance. Otherwise, how could it have resonated through history and shone so brightly?

Just then, Ouyang Feng broke free from his confinement. Upon seeing the two, he immediately yelled, “I said earlier that Chu Feng’s eyes were glowing green, but I never imagined it was a mutual embrace! You’re truly brazen, defiling my eyes right in front of me? What impropriety! Are you trying to provoke this Divine King because he’s single? This is outrageous!”

In the same instant, Ying Xiaoxiao also broke free, the vibrant multicolored light shattering the energy field that had sealed her. “Oh dear, Ying Zhexian, you… you actually got devoured! Heavens, my dear sister, you’re done for, you’re doomed. I’ll go tell our mother that you were incredibly audacious, kissing someone, and trying to corrupt me!” The silver-haired loli’s mouth clattered like frying beans as she rattled off a stream of nonsense.

All this unfolded in a flash. After Chu Feng and Ying Zhexian unleashed the Seven Treasures Divine Technique and shattered the energy fields, Ouyang Feng and Ying Xiaoxiao were freed and immediately discovered their predicament. Chu Feng and Ying Zhexian hadn’t even had time to separate, caught red-handed.

With a whoosh, Ying Zhexian elegantly floated away, immediately using the Five-Colored Divine Light to sweep her sister towards her, then proceeded to give her a thorough scolding. “She’s trying to silence me! Brother-in-law, help! Come quickly and save me! If you don’t, I’ll tell our mother and object to you two becoming Dao companions!” Consequently, she suffered even more, wailing and howling as Ying Zhexian disciplined her.

After a considerable time, silence finally settled. Ying Xiaoxiao sat with puffed cheeks and a pout so pronounced it looked like it could anchor a donkey. Once the silence returned, Chu Feng, with a smile, moved closer to Ying Zhexian, intending to mend their awkward interaction.

“I warn you, don’t say a word!” Ying Zhexian reverted to her ethereal, almost unworldly demeanor, clearly uncomfortable with the intimacy and seeking to avoid it directly.

“What happened?” the silver-haired loli, already forgetting her recent lesson, asked Chu Feng quietly, her large eyes darting about.

Chu Feng replied exasperatedly, “Your sister said she won’t take responsibility for me!” Ouyang Feng’s beak hung wide open, his eyes askew in stunned silence. Ying Xiaoxiao was equally petrified, feeling as if lightning had struck. What was actually happening? Was her sister the aggressor, who had initiated something only to abandon Chu Feng?!

“Sis, you’re so audacious! I truly admire you; I’m going to learn from you in the future!” Then, amidst sounds of impact, the silver-haired loli was once again beaten by her sister, ending up bruised and swollen, looking quite miserable. Subsequently, Ying Zhexian directly began to pursue Chu Feng.

Meanwhile, Pulin was not far from their location, less than three hundred *li* away, leading over a dozen individuals, including five divine archers. He sneered, anticipating the hunt. The other three dozen or so individuals had fanned out, searching in different directions. Pulin sensed they were closing in on their target, no longer far.

“Once we meet, use the spirit arrows imbued with Yang energy to instantly blow them away. Show no mercy!” Pulin commanded viciously.

As the morning glow intensified and the sun began to rise, a colossal beast roar echoed from deep within the mountain forest, instantly silencing Chu Feng and his companions. It was a fierce beast of unimaginable rank, conservatively estimated to be at least at the sub-saint level. Fortunately, they were sufficiently far away. They surveyed the mountainous terrain. Distant peaks emitted traces of primordial chaos, and the nearby exotic beasts were formidable, exuding potent blood energy. Had this been just a few days prior, they would have had to immediately flee. Such concentrated blood energy, once unleashed, would have been unbearable, causing their Yin spirits to explode.

Ouyang Feng declared, “Let’s go back the way we came and eliminate that bastard Pulin!” He rubbed his hands together, unable to wait another moment, eager to dispatch the young marquis. Just days ago, during their escape, they had suffered terribly, nearly being blown apart by arrows on several occasions! Their souls had been gravely imperiled multiple times by those Golden Body-level divine archers, their very soul forms having even ignited.

Ying Xiaoxiao also clamored, “Yes, let’s get revenge right now! Everyone who bullied me, Ying Xiaoxiao—except for my wicked sister—I’ve already crippled!” Ying Zhexian cast a side-eyed glance at her sister. “Going so openly would just make us easy targets, wouldn’t it?” she remarked. Her mischievous side was once again somewhat present.

Ying Zhexian suggested they hunt for suitable physical bodies nearby. Since they were now Yang souls, they could inhabit appropriate forms, and approaching Pulin with altered appearances would be more prudent. Chu Feng agreed, and they began to act in concert.

The forest was vast, teeming with various fierce birds and beasts. Eventually, by a remarkable lake, they spotted several powerful, exotic swans. Most of these swans were at the Body Shaping realm, with a few powerful individuals nearing the Golden Body level. They were all exceptionally ferocious, evidenced by the numerous human and crocodile bones scattered nearby—remnants of their meals. Ultimately, the sounds of swans calling gave way to a fierce battle. Moments later, three white swans and one black swan soared into the sky, departing the area.

Ouyang Feng undoubtedly inhabited the black swan’s body, as he felt it more closely resembled his true form and was visually familiar. Chu Feng, Ying Zhexian, and Ying Xiaoxiao transformed into white swans. Initially, they found it unsettling, but after considering that it was merely a temporary possession and not a long-term change, they became indifferent to it.

“Let’s go, to eliminate Pulin!”

They followed their original route. With a mere flap of their wings, they moved with astonishing speed, covering hundreds of *li* in what felt like an instant.

“Stop!” Chu Feng transmitted the command, for as they flew out of the mountain forest and over the desolate plains, he spotted several knights from high above.

“Heh, what a small world! Isn’t that Pulin, that bastard? Let’s harvest his head. No, first, let’s beat him until even his mother wouldn’t recognize him.” They spotted Pulin, leading a dozen or so knights, advancing from the plains towards the mountain forest.

“You ghost slaves, you damned Yin spirits, I’ve finally found you! Prepare to die; I’ll shoot each of you to oblivion with an arrow shortly!” Pulin cursed under his breath, looking haggard after days of enduring the elements. Though he carried a jar of divine beast blood, he hadn’t found an opportunity to consume it during his pursuit of Chu Feng and the others. Even among his trusted companions, he dared not reveal such a secret in front of so many.

“This bastard still wants to kill us? Let’s go down and end him!” Ouyang Feng muttered.

“Let’s wait for them ahead,” Chu Feng suggested. As it was their first direct confrontation and fierce battle against divine archers, he hesitated to dive straight down, wary of becoming an easy target. Still, he speculated that even a direct dive wouldn’t pose a significant problem. It was all for the sake of caution.

“Alright, we’ll finish this battle within three breaths of time!” Ouyang Feng nodded.

At that moment, Pulin looked up and spotted them. A sinister expression crossed his face as he snarled, “A black swan? Shoot it down for me! Damn it, that kind of black swan reminds me of that detestable ghost slave with the black turtle shell. Just as irritating. Shoot it dead!”

Ouyang Feng felt an overwhelming urge to curse Pulin’s ancestors; could he really be discriminated against for this? Then, seeing the divine archers on the ground actually nock their arrows, he felt a surge of exhilaration. Folding his wings, he forewent flying and, like a diver, somersaulted headlong downwards.

“This foolish bird can’t even fly anymore, is it scared silly?” Pulin wondered.