Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

As soon as the golden-armored giant finished speaking, he flipped his hand and took out a gleaming golden spear. He came to the front of the great formation, thrust the spear out, pierced through the formation's barrier, and the great formation collapsed with a roar.

He moved with incredible speed and charged straight at Chen Yuan, his killing intent overwhelming.

Xuan Chenzi's expression changed, and he stood in front of Chen Yuan.

The old man in black robes sneered, "Fellow Daoist Ao, this old thief is stubborn and unyielding. Why don't we join forces to take his life first, and then kill Li Xuan?"

The golden-armored giant fell like a meteor, thrusting out his spear and shouting, "Since you insist on your death, I, Ao, will grant your wish today!"

"Wait a minute!"

Xuan Chenzi raised his hand and made a hand seal, summoning a small yellow flag that emitted a thick yellow light, transforming into a shield in front of him.

The golden-armored giant's spear pierced the shield, producing a piercing screech. The shield nearly shattered, but the spear did not penetrate it.

The golden-armored giant snorted coldly, and his spear surged with golden light, becoming even sharper. With a single slash, he cut the light shield in half.

Xuan Chenzi said, "Even if you want to avenge General Ao Xuan, you should at least let us die knowing why."

"After I took Li Xuan as my disciple, I lived in seclusion here and have never revealed any flaws. How did you find this place?"

Upon hearing this, the golden-armored giant suddenly stopped, and the black-robed elder, who was about to command the zombies to attack, was also blocked by the giant extending his spear.

The old man in black robes frowned: "What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoist?"

The golden-armored giant glanced at him and said, "These two are already trapped. Killing them won't be difficult. There's no need to rush."

A hint of displeasure flashed in the old man's eyes, but he still shook the bell in his hand to summon back the zombie and said coldly, "For your sake, fellow Daoist, let this old thief live a little longer."

Xuan Chenzi's eyes flashed, he put away the small yellow flag, put his hands in his sleeves, put them behind his back, and stood straight as a pine tree.

The golden-armored giant turned around and said, word by word, "I did not know that you two were cultivating here, but when Li Duchuan sent away this bastard, he left a loophole."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and showed a jade pendant, which was crystal clear and delicate, with a dragon carved on it. The dragon had pale gold eyes and was very lifelike. Next to it was a beautiful and elegant character "萱" (Xuan).

This is a top-grade spiritual artifact, emanating a faint spiritual aura, mixed with a wisp of almost imperceptible demonic energy.

The golden-armored giant said coldly, "Since learning of my little sister's death, I have been traveling around for more than three hundred years to avenge her. I have already killed Duan Liu and Han Ya Zhenren."

"And before Duan Liu died, he told me that although Li Duchuan and his younger sister died, they left behind a child, who was taken away by Li Duchuan's disciple and disappeared without a trace."

“Since then, I have been searching for the whereabouts of this bastard, to see him alive or dead, but I have not found anything.”

"Until twenty years ago, a spirit slave of the human race buried in my Desolate Valley discovered this jade tablet at an auction, recognized the golden dragon holy blood within it, bought it at a high price, and sent it back to Desolate Valley."

"Upon taking one look, Ao recognized the little sister's aura and handwriting, and thus dispatched men to follow the clues and trace the origin of this jade pendant."

"They spent ten years tracing their way to Qingyang City and discovered that the jade pendant had been sold to a pawnshop by a beggar more than two hundred years ago."

"It's ridiculous, but the things my little sister left behind were only pawned for five taels of silver by that beggar."

"However, the pawnshop owner had some foresight. He regarded it as a family heirloom and passed it down for over a hundred years. Later, a cultivator emerged from his descendants, and he entered the world of cultivation."

“The beggar who sold the jade pendant has long since vanished without a trace, but I have carefully investigated all the unusual events that have occurred in Qingyang City in the decades before and after the pawnshop bought the jade pendant.”

"After that, I discovered that more than twenty years after the beggar died, a handsome early Foundation Establishment cultivator broke into the city and killed the then Qingyang County General and his son, the young master of a wealthy family in the city, and a steward in his mansion. Even the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Taisu Palace who were guarding Qingyang City at that time did not dare to stop him."

"I inquired about this person and learned that he had already formed his core, so I ordered my spirit servant to abduct him."

"After soul-searching and interrogation, we finally learned that the Foundation Establishment cultivator used metal element magic back then, and that there was a Nascent Soul cultivator named Xuan Chenzi backing him up."

"After you two left, this person secretly investigated the matter and discovered that before the wealthy young master died, he called the handsome young man 'Master Li'."

"Therefore I am certain that this person is Li Duchuan's bastard child. I will do everything in my power to find out where you two are."

"It just so happens that Fellow Daoist Bai Jiang was also searching for your whereabouts. We hit it off immediately and joined forces, finally finding your hiding place."

Xuan Chenzi said slowly, "Since you are so persistent, it seems that today we are destined to fight to the death."

"My lifespan is coming to an end, what does it matter if I die? But Li Xuan is the son of my savior and my disciple, he must not die at your hands... Let's go!"

He suddenly turned around and shouted at Chen Yuan, then pulled out his hands. His right hand held a tattered talisman, shrouded in a layer of white spiritual light, its runes filled with rich spiritual energy.

As the golden-armored giant began to speak, Xuan Chenzi was secretly injecting true essence into the broken talisman!
The golden-armored giant's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he lunged forward, his demonic power surging and covering his spear, transforming it into a golden spear shadow several meters long, which pierced straight at Xuan Chenzi.

Unfazed, he threw out the remaining talisman, and lightning descended from the sky, shattering the golden spear shadow. A fierce wind followed, transforming into a towering tornado that trapped the golden-armored giant and the black-robed elder within.

Chen Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "This disciple will go with Master!"

Without turning his head, Xuan Chenzi raised his hand and formed a hand seal. His true essence surged, his beard and hair fluttered, and he said sternly, "You must leave immediately. This talisman is damaged and must be maintained at all times. I cannot get away from it."

"When you have achieved a certain level of cultivation, you will avenge your master!"

Without further hesitation, Chen Yuan bowed deeply to Xuan Chenzi, his figure blurred, and he transformed into a ten-zhang-long golden dragon, then turned and fled into the distance.

He hasn't reached the Nascent Soul stage yet, so staying here would only be a burden. It's better to preserve his useful body so he can avenge Xuan Chenzi in the future.

After Chen Yuan transformed into his true form, his escape speed increased greatly. In just a quarter of an hour, he had traveled over a hundred miles and had already escaped the range of the golden-armored giant and the black-robed old man's spiritual senses.

But he dared not relax in the slightest and continued to fly into the distance, covering thousands of miles in one breath before slowing down his escape speed.

Suddenly, a righteous voice descended from the vast sky: "Where did this fiend come from, daring to be so presumptuous, do you think my Tai Su Palace has no one to rely on?"

Chen Yuan was startled and immediately stopped. He then saw a flying sword descend from the sky and sever the dragon's head.

A sharp pain shot through him, and Chen Yuan's consciousness faded into darkness.

……

When Chen Yuan regained consciousness, he found himself back in that strange space, where colorful mist slowly surged around him, impacting the crumbling golden barrier.

Chen Yuan sighed softly. He used to behead people, but he never expected to be beheaded by a single sword today.

The golden barrier, which had reached its limit, finally shattered completely under the erosion of the seven-colored mist.

The seven-colored mist seeped in from the gap and surged into Chen Yuan's body, like an octopus with countless tentacles, trying to devour him completely.

Chen Yuan had already made preparations, so he wasn't flustered at all. He just watched the surging seven-colored mist.

He was merely his primordial spirit here, without any divine soul power or true essence, unable to use any supernatural abilities or secret techniques, and utterly powerless to fight back.

He could only hope that the seven-colored mist only stripped him of some of his memories, rather than completely engulfing his soul, so that he might still have a sliver of hope...

Just then, a scroll appeared above Chen Yuan's head, casting rays of golden light that merged into the shattered golden light barrier.

The colorful mist that had surged into the golden light barrier vanished under its glow. The golden light barrier was also quickly repaired and slowly expanded, forcing the colorful mist to disperse in all directions.

Chen Yuan was overjoyed, but he forgot that this mysterious scroll, like the jade pendant, was also a celestial treasure!

The colorful mist churned and crashed against the golden barrier, but the barrier, reborn from the ashes, became as solid as a rock, easily blocking the colorful mist without a single crack appearing.

Chen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he didn't need to worry about the seven-colored mist eroding his primordial spirit, and he still had a chance to escape this illusion.

Chen Yuan carefully sensed his primordial spirit and found no changes. The scroll had only repaired the golden light barrier and had no other effect.

He was slightly disappointed, but quickly suppressed the thought and returned his mind to his body.

Chen Yuan opened his eyes and heard Xuan Chenzi's stern yet concerned voice: "You must leave immediately. This talisman is damaged and must be maintained at all times. I cannot get away from it."

"When you have achieved a certain level of cultivation, you will avenge your master!"

Before them was a massive tornado of wind and thunder, in which the old man in black robes and the giant in golden armor were trapped, desperately trying to use their supernatural powers, but they were unable to break free for the time being.

Without hesitation, Chen Yuan bowed deeply to Xuan Chenzi, then turned and flew away.

This time he learned his lesson and did not transform into his true form. Instead, he flew away in human form. Although the speed was much slower, he would not be killed by the owner of the mysterious voice again.

He flew along the same route he had used to escape last time. The owner of that mysterious voice seemed to be a cultivator from the Tai Su Palace, who hated the demon race and probably wouldn't harm human cultivators. Perhaps he could even ask them for help.

Chen Yuan fled for over a thousand miles, but before he could reach the place where the dragon's head had been severed, a hoarse voice came from below: "What a handsome lad! I've just come out of seclusion, and you've delivered yourself right to my doorstep. I'll just have a good feast!"

The next moment, a black wind rose up, transforming into a huge maw that swallowed Chen Yuan from below.

Chen Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He flipped his hand and took out a golden short spear, which flew out and was silently swallowed by the black wind's giant maw.

With the connection to his natal magic weapon severed, Chen Yuan's soul was severely injured, and he spat out a mouthful of blood essence, his figure retreating violently.

But the black wind suddenly expanded, blotting out the sky and swallowing Chen Yuan whole.

A tremendous squeezing force surged through him, plunging Chen Yuan's consciousness into darkness. He then heard that vaguely familiar, hoarse voice again: "Huh, it's a mixed-race person..."

……

Chen Yuan opened his eyes and saw a golden protective shield around him, as well as a mesmerizing seven-colored mist all around him.

This time, even after death, the golden barrier did not shrink and still firmly kept the colorful mist outside.

Chen Yuan frowned. If he transformed into his true form, he would have his dragon head severed; if he maintained his human form, he would be swallowed whole. Either way, he would die.

At this moment, he recognized the hoarse voice. Before he was sent to the General's Mansion by Young Master Liu, he escaped from the mansion at night and was eaten by the owner of this hoarse voice—a low-ranking demon general.

Now, this low-level demon general has reached a higher level of cultivation and is now a mid-level demon general. Chen Yuan is still powerless to fight back.

What a coincidence!

On his escape route, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Tai Su Palace and a mid-level demon general were waiting to take his life.

This must have been a deliberate arrangement by the illusion. It seems that by abandoning Xuan Chenzi and fleeing, I went against the script set by the illusion, which is why I have suffered two near-death experiences.

However, even staying by Xuan Chenzi's side was no match for the golden-armored giant and the black-robed elder, and they still could not escape death.

Chen Yuan was in a dilemma, but looking at the indestructible golden barrier, he decided to try again.

After the scroll appeared, the golden light barrier was no longer afraid of the seven-colored mist, so dying a few more times wouldn't matter.

Chen Yuan's mind returned to his physical body, back to the moment when Xuan Chenzi told him to escape alone.

Chen Yuan bowed deeply to Xuan Chenzi, then changed direction and fled into the distance.

He flew for more than three thousand miles, then slowed down slightly. Suddenly, a meteor fell from the sky, wrapped in raging flames, heading straight for Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan tried his best to dodge, but the fiery meteor seemed to have identified him and relentlessly pursued him, eventually landing on him.

Chen Yuan sighed softly, turned to ashes in the flames, and his consciousness faded into darkness.

When he woke up, he was back in that strange place.

The colorful mist surged and churned, eager to break through the golden barrier, but it could not budge it in the slightest and was firmly blocked outside.

Chen Yuan's mind returned to his body, and he heard Xuan Chenzi's stern voice in his ears: "You must leave immediately. This talisman is damaged and must be maintained at all times. I cannot get away from it."

"When you have achieved a certain level of cultivation, you will avenge your master!"

Chen Yuan's expression turned solemn, and he bowed deeply to Xuan Chenzi: "How could this disciple allow Master to cover the retreat? Please forgive this disciple for not being able to obey. This disciple will live and die with Master!"

Xuan Chenzi said with exasperation, "Ridiculous! You haven't even formed your Nascent Soul yet, staying here is useless, you'll only be throwing your life away in vain."

"Your talent is unparalleled, no less than your father's, and you have inherited your mother's bloodline, making you the head of two clans. When you have achieved great success in your cultivation, it will not be too late for you to avenge your master. Leave now!"

Chen Yuan declared proudly, "Then this disciple will go to the Yellow Springs with Master. No matter what, this disciple will never abandon Master!"

Xuan Chenzi was stunned. He turned to look at Chen Yuan, two lines of turbid tears streaming down his aged face. Suddenly, he laughed loudly: "Good disciple, worthy of being Fellow Daoist Li's bloodline!"

"Back then, Fellow Daoist Li dared to defy the entire cultivation world for the sake of your mother and you, and fled with your mother and you without fear of death."

"Today, you and I, master and disciple, will join forces to fight these two!"

Having said that, he stopped urging Chen Yuan to flee alone and instead focused on controlling the wind and thunder tornado.

Chen Yuan summoned his golden short spear, circulated his true essence, and waited for the wind and thunder to dissipate before making his move.

Judging from his past experiences, as long as he doesn't deviate from the script arranged by the illusion, he won't lose his life.

Since the illusion made him stay, there must be another reason.

About fifteen minutes later, the wind and thunder tornado dissipated, and the golden-armored man and the black-robed old man looked somewhat disheveled, but were unharmed.

This wind and thunder tornado is an ancient fragment of a talisman, with only one-tenth of its power remaining. It's already quite remarkable that it could trap two people for a quarter of an hour.

The black-robed elder was furious and commanded the two zombies to attack Xuan Chenzi, while the golden-armored man went straight for Chen Yuan.

Xuan Chenzi tried his best to resist the two, but the three were evenly matched in cultivation. He could only block the old man in black robes and watched helplessly as the golden-armored man came to Chen Yuan and thrust out with his spear.

Chen Yuan retreated rapidly, but how could he dodge? The golden-armored giant pierced his heart with a spear.

Chen Yuan stared at the golden-armored man's hateful eyes, feeling the excruciating pain in his heart. His face was filled with astonishment as his consciousness once again plunged into darkness. (End of Chapter)