Chapter 87.2: Entering the Land of the Sunken Coffins, Murderous Intent Revealed

The others looked at him, puzzled. Still, Qi Yuan had his reasons. If the Second Prince had allies, they likely carried Soul Thought Flowers. And right now, what Qi Yuan lacked most was his soul strength. His divine soul was too weak, even his game refused to let him in. It tainted him daily, luring him in but never letting him enter.

That flower would change everything. Eaten raw, it nourished the soul. Refined, it became Soul-Split Pills. Either way, it was exactly what he needed. He'd long been itching to dive in the game, carve a path of carnage, and grow stronger than ever.

Kang Fulu hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Be careful, Junior Brother." He didn't ask why Qi Yuan was leaving. He knew he didn't need to. Within the Divine Light Sect, the Five-Light Peak and Seven-Color Peak were equals. The other peak disciples owed him deference, but Qi Yuan didn't.

Miao Li crossed her arms, frowning slightly. "Going off alone sounds dangerous."

Earlier, Qi Yuan had mentioned that their enemies still had companions lurking nearby. Perhaps they weren't much of a threat to the top ten talents of Great Shang. However, Qi Yuan had just broken through to Foundation Establishment realm, and they were in the perilous Celestial Dragon Realm. If he ran into Po Lang, disaster was almost certain.

"Don't worry," Qi Yuan said lightly, "I have my own plans."

With that, he bid them farewell and ventured into the depths of the Celestial Dragon Realm. As he flew, his figure turned into a streak of light, cutting across the sky like a comet.

He muttered under his breath, "Iceberg Empress said that a Heavenly Dao-class cultivator is blessed by fate itself. That their words carry divine power. That when they speak, gods tremble and fall.

"Then why is my Heavenly Dao class so weak?

"Could it be, when I formed my foundation in that dream, I lost the fight to that guy? Did I sign some unfair contract and end up suppressing my own strength?”

The more he thought about it, the more it irritated him.

That strange creature just had to pick a fight with me! All I'd done was accidentally wander into that fellow's wooden hut! How was that my fault?

Qi Yuan still refused to accept it. Sure, he hadn't won, but he'd left that fellow with a swollen face and a bloodied nose before they finally called a truce. As per the agreement, Qi Yuan would stay and live in that wooden hut. Now, he suspected that very agreement had left him weaker than he should be.

"So that's it... to truly perfect my Heavenly Dao class, I need to crush that guy, just like the Iceberg Empress said! Only then will my words command the heavens!" He clenched his fists. "Damn it. If I'd had a teacher to tell me this earlier, I'd have fought with every ounce of strength I had until he keeled!"

As these thoughts burned in his mind, Qi Yuan suddenly halted. Before him, a river stretched silently. Its waters were perfectly still, like a mirror. There wasn't a ripple, let alone a single living creature stirring within.

[This is the River of Lost Souls. If an ordinary cultivator dares cross, their divine soul will fall into it forever.]

Qi Yuan's eyes narrowed. "So, this river divides the Celestial Dragon Realm in two?"

Beyond it, the spiritual energy was thicker and richer, as if tempting him to cross. He sent out a wisp of divine sense, letting it drift across the water. Yet, the river that was said to devour the very essence of any who approached did nothing to him.

"Just as I thought," Qi Yuan said softly. "A Heavenly Dao-class is no ordinary man... This river can't shake my soul."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Growing bolder, he surged forward. He blurred into light once more, crossing the river instantly. Then, he disappeared into the misty expanse beyond.

***

Deep within the Celestial Dragon Realm, an elder wrapped head-to-toe in a purple robe sat with his eyes closed.

Without warning, he disrobed, radiating a dense pall of death all over. A sliver of astonishment flashed through his gaze. "Someone crossed the River of Lost Souls?"

The River of Lost Souls also existed in the first Celestial Dragon Realm. Great Shang had spent a hundred years studying it in secret, and with the backing of a mysterious great cultivator, they had finally discovered its flaw. It was an entry point that led straight to the heart of the realm, where the coffin was buried.

"Liang Ye," the purple-robed elder murmured.

In the next moment, a man in light armor materialized. His eyes radiated feverish intensity. The aura he exuded was unmistakably that of a Core Formation cultivator.

If Kang Fulu found out, he would be astonished. How on earth did a Core Formation cultivator manage to get in?

The elder issued a command. "North-east, there's a cultivator who broke through and entered. Deal with him swiftly. Return as soon as you're done."

He was plotting for true control over the Celestial Dragon Realm. No interference was allowed. Anyone who dared disturb his plans would be killed without mercy!

"As you command!" Liang Ye replied respectfully.

The intruder was a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. It would be child's play for Liang Ye. He withdrew at once, speeding toward the northeast to crush the interloper.

The elder remained seated, his face contorted with ferocity. "Soon... In ten more days, the Celestial Dragon Realm will belong to our Great Shang royal family."

His expression darkened with fanatic devotion. "Second Prince, rest in peace. Your vengeance will be mine to fulfill! When this is finished, I will personally sever the heads of Kang Fulu, Lei Wen, Miao Li, and Qi Yuan, and offer them upon your grave! The Divine Radiance Sect, the Xuanfu San Sect—all must be destroyed! Only our Great Shang royal family deserves to rule!"

Madness flickered in his death-filled eyes.

Once he refined this place down, the Land of the Sunken Coffin would appear again. The coffin wouldn't flee like before, and once he obtained it...

The elder dared not even imagine the magnitude of the opportunity it would bring.

***

The armored man's eyes flickered with surprise when he saw the intruder. "Qi Yuan?”

Qi Yuan looked him over, but his eyes gleaned nothing useful. "You know me?"

"I know every promising young talent from the three great sects by heart!" Liang Ye declared, his gaze burning with murderous intent. "I shall offer your blood as a sacrifice and begin the glorious march of our Great Shang!"

Liang Ye advanced slowly toward Qi Yuan. If he'd met someone like Kang Fulu or another of the top ten talents of Great Shang, he would've been cautious. Someone like Qi Yuan just wasn't worth his notice.

"Remember my name, Liang Ye. In the future, the Great Shang cultivation world will speak of me as a legend!"

His voice brimmed with fanatic confidence and dreams of fame.

Qi Yuan snorted inwardly. "As expected of a villain. I can’t even get three sentences out before you try to kill me?"

He drew out his knife, intending to stage a convincing play. "This blade was a gift from my master, it is a Nascent Soul treasure. I can barely coax a trick or two from it, but it's enough to kill you."

Then, Qi Yuan launched himself at Liang Ye with wild ferocity. The knife moved like a rampaging storm, radiating a terrifying pressure. It was as if a single hit would leave one maimed and broken.

Liang Ye's expression shifted, growing restless at the weapon's aura. "How is it so strong?!"

With the knife, Qi Yuan's strength exceeded that of the Great Shang's top ten talents, yet Liang Ye still managed to retaliate.

"If you die, that treasure will become mine!" Liang Ye growled, eyes greedy for the weapon.

Qi Yuan let a look of forced strain cross his face. "So strong... I must use a secret technique, or..."

Resolute, he murmured an incantation. His movements blurred. Only a streak of white blade-light could be seen on the sharp grassland, sharp enough to split a Nascent Soul Core apart.

Terror ripped across Liang Ye's face, but he had no time to resist. "No!"

The knife fell, severing him cleanly in two.

Qi Yuan stood panting, his face ashen. "

Huff

."

He spat out blood as his legs trembled.

"As expected of a Core Formation... Just to kill him, I have to use my master’s precious gift, which cost me most of my power..." He steadied himself. "I must recover quickly, or I won't be able to use that treasure if more enemies come."

He stripped Liang Ye's storage pouch, plucked the Soul Thought Flower from his waist, and stuffed it into his own. Once the act was complete, his battered guise dissolved.

"That performance should win me the Magnolia Award[1], right?" he whispered to himself, grinning. "I'm a genius."

Qi Yuan could have cut Liang Ye down instantly. However, Liang Ye also carried Soul Thought Flowers. If he took it by force, others would be alerted. That was why he needed to put on a show.

Now, he made it seem like he was recuperating. The bait would drive the true mastermind to send more attackers. Small fry, then bigger threats, then the elders. The Soul Thought Flowers would flow into Qi Yuan’s hands in a steady stream. If he'd revealed too much power up front, his plan would have failed, and the enemies would flee.

His face lit up but suddenly, it fell.

"Oh no, this is bad!" Panic flashed across his face. "I forgot to play the BGM! Without the soundtrack to set the mood, my performance won't get the Magnolia Award!"

Regret kicked him in the guts. He resolved that next time, when attackers came, he would cue some rousing battle music first. Then, he’d finish with something heart-wrenching, coughing up blood for effect.

Qi Yuan smiled at his own theatrical imagination. "If only I had 'A Cut of Plum'... [2] If I spew blood while playing that song, it'd be perfect."

1. One of China's most prestigious television awards. ☜

2.

"A Spray of Plum Blossoms"

is a classic Chinese love song that became iconic across the Chinese-speaking world. ☜