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Chapter 229 The Dawn Destroys the Body and Soul, the Nightmare of the Illegitimate Son's Heart-Piercing Questions [Part Two]

The sudden fluctuation immediately caught the attention of Bai Jue and the other two.

However, they only glanced in this direction before closing their eyes to rest again.

Bai Jue and Yan Yumin had even visited the Nightmare Kingdom, so they naturally knew what the situation was like.

Although Feng Mingyang did not know the specifics, he felt that this dream fluctuation was exactly the same as when Tang Hao's projection avatar met him.

After glancing at it with surprise and confusion, he stopped thinking about it.

Twenty-four black-gold dragon butterflies burrowed into the area around the [skin thieves] without any hindrance, disappearing into the void.

Tang Hao nodded in satisfaction and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

His consciousness did not transfer into the Nightmare Realm.

The battle in the dry well, though seemingly brief, was extremely mentally taxing.

In addition, he had to maintain the rift passage while fighting.

At this point, he was already utterly exhausted.

'Since I've already assigned the ghosts of the Windcaller Clan to Jiuyao, I won't worry about it for now. I'll see how things go at dawn and deal with them together then…'

Before his thoughts had even finished processing, Tang Hao fell into a deep sleep—not in the form of meditation.

He was already by the ship's railing when he fell asleep, his body tilted to one side, and his head lightly bumped against the edge of the railing. Even this didn't wake him up, which shows how exhausted he was.

The commotion made the three of them open their eyes again, and upon seeing this scene, they couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Yan Yumin glanced at Feng Mingyang, but didn't dare to say anything.

Bai Jue, standing beside her, showed no restraint. With a flick of his sleeve, a ribbon of moonlight gently lifted Tang Hao and slowly placed him beside her.

Finally, she let Tang Hao's head rest on her lap.

As the first rays of dawn were about to fall upon the earth, Tang Hao slowly opened his eyes.

'I haven't slept this well in a long time; it's even more peaceful and comfortable than when I slept in my own cave at the sect.'

The moment this thought crossed his mind, he was surprised to find that what he saw was still a blurry white, no, a pitch-black expanse.

Hmm, the area under his head felt soft, and there was a familiar, cool fragrance that seemed to be wafting into his nose.

"Awake?" A charming voice, tinged with a hint of amusement, rang out.

The sound seemed to come from two directions: one from above, falling straight into the ear, and the other... coming from the softness under the head.

After the alluring voice faded, a hand ran through his hair and gently smoothed it.

"Thump!"

Tang Hao's face flushed instantly; he immediately knew what was going on: 'A knee, a lap pillow?'

And it's facing my lower abdomen, how embarrassing!

He knew that Jue Jie definitely didn't set this up herself.

Tang Hao always knew that he wasn't a very sound sleeper.

"Hmm~"

Tang Hao gave a somewhat awkward reply and turned over to face upwards.

Because of the obstruction, only half of Bai Jue's face could be seen, but the smile in his eyes could not be hidden.

'Even from this unflattering angle, Sister Jue is still impeccably beautiful... cough cough!' He met those smiling eyes and quickly sat up.

After getting up, Tang Hao secretly glanced at Bai Jue's thighs and lower abdomen: 'Thank goodness, he didn't drool, otherwise it would have been even more embarrassing.'

Bai Jue had no suspicions and stood up with him.

"Sister Jue..." Tang Hao was about to say something.

The next moment, the first ray of sunlight fell on the earth.

Tang Hao could no longer care about saying anything. Together with Bai Jue and the others, he suddenly turned his gaze to the group of [Skin Thieves].

"Chi chi chi——"

Even before the sunlight touched them, wisps of thin black smoke rose up, accompanied by the sound of flames burning flesh.

Those purplish-black clumps of flesh trembled slightly, as if they sensed the approaching danger through instinct alone, even without the control of a symbiotic consciousness.

They twisted and curled up slightly, trying to stuff their enormous bodies into the tattered skin pouches hanging on their bodies.

Unfortunately, most of the skin was severely damaged, and many were no longer recognizable as human. No matter how much they struggled instinctively, it was all in vain.

"Huh, there are still a few who have a chance to regain their human form..." Bai Jue said with a hint of surprise.

Following her directions, Tang Hao and the other two looked over.

Then I saw four or five of them already extending their tentacles into the skin, trying their best to hold the opening open and stuff the fleshy clumps inside.

However, without the guidance of a symbiotic consciousness, their movements were extremely clumsy and comical, and they failed to succeed even after trying for a long time.

As the four watched indifferently, the sun rose higher and higher.

Even as it burst into light in the air, not a single Skin Thief completed its transformation into human form.

The twenty-four skin thieves, bathed in sunlight, were covered in fine bubbles, and plumes of black smoke shot straight into the sky.

'If it weren't for the wrong color, this thing would really look like a live squid grilled on a hot plate, ugh!' Tang Hao thought to himself, feeling a little nauseous.

Finally, Feng Mingyang couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist Bai Jue, do you have a way to remove the parasites of the Skin Thief? Those few with intact skins might still be saved."

These people are, after all, members of the Hufeng clan. Even if they are all of the Jiliang lineage, their hands may have been stained with the blood of the Chenghuang lineage back then.

For clans, internal strife is common sense, and Feng Mingyang also has the ambition to return to the Hufeng clan and regain control of the discourse when his cultivation is sufficient.

If they can save these people, it means that everyone in Hufeng City can be saved. The siblings might be able to take this opportunity to regain control of the Hufeng Clan ahead of schedule.

Unfortunately, his hopes were immediately dashed.

Bai Jue told Feng Mingyang about the results of their purification spell test the day before, and Feng Mingyang immediately showed his regret without any hesitation.

He then turned to Tang Hao and asked, "If it's convenient, could you perhaps try the [Dust Purification Technique] on the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators later?"

"Of course." Tang Hao agreed to his request without any hesitation.

Upon receiving the promise, Feng Mingyang seemed to find comfort, and his expression softened.

And so, from dawn until midday, they endured for more than an hour, until the twenty-four Nascent Soul level [Skin Thieves] were burned to death by the sunlight.

Looking at the remaining puddles of purplish-black liquid and the twenty-four tattered human skins on the ground, the four of them shook their heads with a sigh.

These were all powerful cultivators in the Nascent Soul stage, yet they were inexplicably parasitized by strange and evil creatures from the outside world, ultimately meeting a tragic end.

"After this ordeal, the Hufeng Clan will probably no longer be able to maintain its status as one of the eight great clans," Bai Jue sighed.

She glanced at Tang Hao, thinking to herself, 'It's a pity my brother's strength isn't enough; the Nightmare Kingdom can't contain a Nascent Soul. Otherwise, this would have been a golden opportunity.'

'If that's the case, it might allow us to control the Hufeng clan. Regardless of where his Chenghuang bloodline actually comes from, it would be a good thing.'

Bai Jue's thoughtful gaze darted back and forth between Tang Hao and Feng Mingyang.

Then she gave a shout and sent a burst of spiritual fire out of the boat.

He then piloted the magical flying boat into the sky and sped towards Hufeng City.

Behind them, on the flat ground in the mountains, twenty-four piles of magical flames burned continuously for a long time.

Tang Hao stood on the flying boat, but his consciousness was in the Nightmare Throne.

His divine soul sat enthroned, empowered by authority, his gaze fixed on a tiny star deep within the void. This star held an extremely close connection with him; though situated in the endless void, it felt as if it were his neighbor—the very location of the Nightmare Kingdom.

A layer of black-gold energy permeated the outer reaches of the star, preventing the ghosts from entering, but also providing protection so that they wouldn't be swept away by the void turbulence.

At this moment, around this small star, twenty-four dazed souls, like satellites, wandered aimlessly around it.

Tang Hao took a look and said, "Yes, it does look like a satellite."

If the Nightmare Realm is the size of a watermelon, then those Nascent Soul souls are about the size of marbles, which is absurd.

They all resembled Nascent Soul cultivators, and were extremely large, though somewhat ethereal and translucent, and shrouded in dense black energy.

'In the previous battle, the Nightmare Kingdom absorbed a large amount of Yin energy. It should be able to withstand a Nascent Soul ghost, as long as it's not an overpowered being like Sister Jue.'

He sensed the intensity of the stars and estimated their carrying capacity.

'Then, let's find a suitable one and try putting it in.'

Tang Hao did not intend to convert them into Nightmare Servants for him to command. With Bai Jue and Yan Yumin around, Tang Hao had no need for them for the time being.

Since Jiuyao took up residence here, he has noticed that the Nightmare Kingdom and the ghosts within it complement each other.

What he wants to do right now is to make a Nascent Soul become nourishment for the growth of the Nightmare Kingdom.

This naturally requires finding something that is close to the limit, but not exceeded.

Using the power of the Nightmare Kingdom, Tang Hao carefully examined them, his gaze finally settling on one of them.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall of the kingdom.

Upon receiving the order, Jiu Yao couldn't help but exchange a glance with Jiu Yao. A Nascent Soul stage ghost, indeed.

Unbeknownst to them, their lord had already reached this point.

After sighing, they were somewhat uneasy, worried that they wouldn't be able to control the situation.

“Let’s go together!” Yin Yuan suggested.

The others nodded and stood up.

Just then, Feng Bohan, who had also received the news, hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said from under the stone platform, "Lord Jiuyao, this person is my father. I am willing to bring Jiliang along to escort him."

"Oh?"

Jiuyao exchanged a glance and agreed without much hesitation.

Outside the energy blockade layer of the star, a Nascent Soul suddenly sank and fell towards the earth.

As it drew closer to the ground, the enormous size of the nascent soul was rapidly compressed, compressed, and compressed again by an invisible force.

Soon, it compressed and condensed into the size of a normal person.

Chief Hufeng felt as if his consciousness was a lone boat being torn apart in a raging storm.

The last remaining "self"—that fragment belonging to the "patriarch," a mixture of greed, fear, pain, and regret.

It was forcibly ripped from its polluted and ravaged body by an irresistible, bone-chilling force.

There was no liberation as imagined, only a deeper fall.

The viewpoint was forcibly pulled, spun, and plummeted... finally settling on a fixed point.

He found himself on the edge of a vast, magnificent square, one ten-thousandth of which could not be described in words.

Above us was the eternal night sky, deep and unfathomable.

Beneath our feet lies an endless expanse of black jade with flowing dark gold patterns, radiating an aura of eternity and majesty.

In the distance, at the center of the square, stands an indescribable nine-petaled stone lotus sculpture that seems to support the entire world.

The air was filled with a terrifyingly pure energy, yet imbued with a chilling will.

Where is this? A paradise after death? Or a deeper purgatory?
"Father."

A cold, familiar voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, pierced his chaotic soul like an awl.

Chief Hufeng suddenly looked up.

Feng Bohan!
He just stood there, not far away.

It was not the humble and respectful demeanor it displayed when it was banished and ignored by the clan, nor even the calm that concealed its sharpness when it returned with the totem.

At this moment, he was still tall and upright, but he was wearing a black robe with dark gold accents that was even more profound and majestic than when he returned. The intricate gold patterns seemed to flow with the will of the nation itself.

He didn't have any strong magical fluctuations around him, but he naturally exuded a sense of authority that resonated with the entire terrifying kingdom.

Beside him, the magnificent, elegant, and pure crimson-colored divine horse Jiliang calmly gazed down at him with its wise and divine eyes.

Those eyes no longer held the weariness and tension of the day of return, only peace and... a trace of barely perceptible pity.

It's as if we're watching a pitiful creature being mercilessly crushed by the wheels of time.

The stark contrast was like a heavy hammer, shattering the last shred of hope and illusory dignity that Chief Hufeng still held.

Bastard!

That illegitimate son he could easily sacrifice in order to consolidate his direct line, to please the elders of the clan, and to secure his own power!

That illegitimate son who brought back the totem only deserved to be coldly watched by him at the welcoming banquet!
now……

At this moment, he is looking down on his father, who is a failure, filthy, and who has not even left a complete corpse, in this unimaginable, magnificent, and suffocating "land of death," with the attitude of a confidant of a ruler.

"Bo...Bo Han?"

Chief Hufeng's body trembled violently, his voice twisted and hoarse, filled with unbelievable madness and the last vestiges of his subconscious... the struggle of a father's dignity.

"It's you? What... what's going on? Your father... your father was just... controlled by that evil thing!"

He tried to reach out, only to find himself nothing more than a bound, imprisoned phantom, ready to be crushed at any moment by the will of the state.

Feng Bohan slowly took a step forward, his boots landing on the black jade ground with flowing gold patterns without making a sound, yet it was like a thunderclap exploding in the very soul of the Hufeng Clan Chief.

"Helpless?" Feng Bohan's voice finally carried a hint of emotion—an extreme mockery, icy and chilling.

"Father, were you so 'powerless' that you were already devouring the flesh and blood of your own kind before the [Skin Thief] tore apart your 'Clan Chief' skin?"

"When you were forced to go there and discovered the changes at the Holy Spring and the transformation of the elders around you into monsters, instead of immediately sounding the alarm, you joined them in turning Windcaller City into a den of demons, just to prolong your life and even enjoy the false power brought by that filthy force?"

"He was there against his will. Senior Feng only stumbled upon your 'feast,' yet you didn't hesitate to order four other monsters, who were also 'without his own will,' to surround and kill him?!"

Each question was like an invisible slap, striking the Wind Clan Chief's twisted soul hard.

Ji Liang snorted beside him, its front hooves lightly touching the ground. Crimson light swirled around it, creating a stark contrast between its purity and holiness and the filth and lies of Chief Hu Feng.

The silent testimony of this totem is more powerful than any accusation.

Chief Hufeng's soul trembled violently, and his attempts to argue and gain sympathy were abruptly cut off.

Looking into Feng Bohan's icy eyes, he was gripped by an unprecedented fear, even deeper than when he was parasitized by the [Skin Thief].

This is not a suppression by force, but a thorough and eternal judgment from within.

"Han'er! My son!"

Chief Hufeng's voice suddenly rose, filled with a desperate cry for survival; blood ties had become the only straw he could grasp.

“I know I was wrong! I was really… really deceived! Save me! Get me out of here! For the sake of our blood ties! You can’t watch your father… suffer this torment forever! I beg you…”

He even tried to pounce on her, but found that he couldn't move at all and could only struggle and wail helplessly.

(End of this chapter)