Chapter 1012: The Qiankun Pool

Gazing at that person, Ye Chen felt a sense of dizziness, thinking he must have seen wrong, for it was a face he remembered all too well: Wang.

Ye Chen could hardly believe it. The one Lin Shihuai had summoned from the underworld was actually Wang, who had long since died.

In his daze, memories from the past flooded his mind. The mighty Wang had met a tragic end in the sea of thunder, his unyielding figure perfectly matching the Wang standing before him now.

Wang's eyes encompassed the heavens and earth, flickering with a cold, piercing light that left Lin Shihuai's face pale and drained.

Eventually, he shifted his gaze, scanning the accompanying experts from Tian Court, before settling on Ye Chen, whose body was covered in blood.

"Junior Ye Chen, greets senior." Ye Chen spoke up, his tone calm, as he cupped his hands in a respectful bow toward Wang.

"Ye Chen." Wang's voice was hoarse, his smile a mix of resentment, anger, admiration, and astonishment. This reunion across worlds added a touch of weariness and age to his expression.

"How has Great Chu fallen into such a state?" Wang did not dwell on old matters, his aged eyes fixed on Ye Chen.

"The outer domain's heavenly demons have invaded." Ye Chen took a deep breath. "The descendants of the emperors, the kings of past generations, and Great Chu's Tian Court have all united to fight against them."

"The descendants of the emperors and the kings of past generations have actually united." Wang paused, his smile growing even more weary. "And what exactly is this so-called Tian Court, that it stands shoulder to shoulder with the descendants of the emperors and the kings of past generations?"

"Tian Court has unified Great Chu. Ye Chen is our Tian Court's holy lord." The accompanying black-robed elder from Tian Court answered on Ye Chen's behalf.

"Great Chu unified." Wang's mind wavered for a moment as he looked at Ye Chen, his vast eyes filled with ancient depth. "It seems that after my death, too many unimaginable things have occurred."

"Finished talking?" Behind them, the three demon generals crossed their arms, watching Ye Chen and Wang's group with amused interest, their eyes gleaming with sinister malice.

Wang said nothing, turning stiffly to face the three demon generals, his somewhat cloudy eyes staring quietly at them.

With his insight, he could tell that these three demon generals were no mere Zhun Tian Jing experts; their cultivation had been suppressed.

Boom!

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the sky. Behind the three demon generals, the void churned with rolling black mist, summoning countless demonic soldiers that surged forth like a vast black ocean, devouring the land inch by inch.

"Little girl, release the seal on my soul." Wang spoke, his tone no longer as icy.

Lin Shihuai hesitated for a moment but ultimately formed a hand seal with one hand, dispelling the restrictions within Wang's body.

As the soul seal was lifted, a visible halo of light shot up from Wang's crown, piercing the heavens and making the entire world tremble with its overwhelming pressure. The supreme king revealed his supreme might once more.

This...!

The three demon generals' expressions changed drastically, and they instinctively stepped back, never expecting a dead man to possess such formidable power.

"Kill! Kill for me!"

The three demon generals retreated another step and roared in unison.

Instantly, the demonic soldiers charged in like a dark curtain, plunging the heavens and earth into darkness.

"Bullying Great Chu as if it has no one left?" Wang snorted coldly, forming a hand seal with one hand. The void tore open on the spot, and countless rays of nether light descended from above. Standing on the ground, they revealed themselves as strange ancient elders of various forms, arranged in neat formations. Their numbers were so vast that even Ye Chen felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Tongling?" The black-robed elder from Tian Court exclaimed in shock.

"Yinming Kui Jiang." Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at Lin Shihuai. "Can someone who has been tongling also perform tongling techniques?"

"Theoretically, no." Lin Shihuai smiled lightly. "But he has consumed the bloodline of the ancient clans, so he can use the tongling secret arts."

"I'm surprised you could tongling Wang."

"This is a forbidden secret art passed down by my master." Lin Shihuai smiled wearily. "During the battle at Zhengyang Sect years ago, he collected Wang's fresh blood. Using his blood as a medium, I was able to summon him. Today, it was truly a last resort; otherwise, I would not have disturbed the spirit of the dead."

"I see." Ye Chen took a deep breath, silently marveling at the immense power of the Taixu Ancient Dragon's abilities.

Bang! Boom!

As they spoke, the army of Yinming Kui Jiang clashed with the demonic forces.

The battle was fiercely brutal, with figures turning to ash in droves. The once-powerful Kui Jiang seemed vulnerable against the heavenly demons, but their sheer numbers allowed them to faintly suppress the demonic army.

"Qiankun Pool, appear!"

Wang did not join the fight but formed another hand seal, summoning a spiritual pool from beyond the heavens.

The pool was only about ten zhang in diameter, yet it was extraordinarily strange, with bursts of exotic colors and radiant divine light. It brimmed with vast essence, surging blood energy, and various profound phenomena intertwined, every strand worthy of being called a divine elixir.

This is...!

Lin Shihuai was startled, and even the Qing Luan's phoenix eyes revealed a fervent glow. They both seemed to recognize what the Qiankun Pool was.

"Why aren't you going in?"

Wang glanced at Ye Chen, who was also staring at the Qiankun Pool.

Ye Chen hesitated for a moment, understanding Wang's intent—this divine pool summoned from another realm was meant for healing his wounds.

Naturally, Ye Chen would not refuse. Great Chu needed him to return to his peak state.

He stepped directly into the Qiankun Pool. As he entered, ripples spread across the water, and the pool's refined true essence poured into his body through every pore, nourishing his sacred body.

Ye Chen sat in a dignified posture, like an ancient monk in meditation, and activated the Swallowing Heaven Magic Art to voraciously absorb the pool's essence.

Beside him, the black-robed elder from Tian Court drew his killing sword, standing guard by the Qiankun Pool to handle any potential threats.

Meanwhile, Wang and Lin Shihuai stood side by side, silently watching the bloody battle between the Yinming Kui Jiang and the demonic army.

For some reason, blood kept overflowing from the corners of Lin Shihuai's mouth, one stream after another, impossible to stop. Her aura was rapidly fading, and her once-clear eyes grew dimmer with time.

"Worth it?" Wang, who had remained silent, finally spoke, as if he knew why she was in this state.

"It saves his life, and it saves many others' lives. Why wouldn't it be worth it?" Lin Shihuai smiled lightly, her face exhausted. "I only hope this contract will let you stay a bit longer, senior, to save even more people."

Wang said nothing more, his brows furrowing slightly.

After some time, he formed hand seals again, summoning more Yinming Kui Jiang to join the fight, as another demonic army was approaching from one side. Their formation was so massive that even Wang felt wary.

This time, he not only summoned Yinming Kui Jiang but also the lingering Yinming dead generals, along with the ancestors of the three sects, the sect elders, and many ancient experts, all called forth once more.

Boom!

As the void rumbled, Ye Chen burst out of the Qiankun Pool, swallowing the remaining essence in one gulp.

He had not fully recovered to his peak, but at least he had regained seventy to eighty percent of his strength. Compared to his previous weakness, he now had the ability to protect himself. His injuries had been too severe; even the Qiankun Pool could not completely heal them.

Ye Chen approached and stood alongside Wang, smiling with a touch of weariness. "I never thought Ye Chen would stand shoulder to shoulder with Wang."

"You should thank the heavenly demons for that." Wang's voice rang out resolutely as he stepped forward into the battle, sweeping out with a palm that cleared a path, then seizing a black war spear and charging straight at the three demon generals.

"Arrogant!"

The three demon generals sneered in unison and attacked together.

Wang's combat prowess was tremendous; wielding the spear like a staff, he smashed the demon general holding the battle-axe, sending blood and bones flying.

Seeing this, Ye Chen gripped his Blood Spirit Divine Saber and plunged into the fray, swinging wildly and forcefully reaching Wang's side. With one slash, he nearly split the demon general wielding the war halberd in two, then flipped his hand to repel the one holding the demonic blade.

The black-robed elder from Tian Court also joined the fight. He might not match the demon generals, but he handled the ordinary demonic soldiers with ease.

With a sharp cry, the Qing Luan, carrying Lin Shihuai, soared in, spreading its phoenix wings and unleashing flames and thunder that reduced swaths of demonic soldiers to mist.

Pfft!

As fresh blood sprayed, the mighty Wang thrust his spear through the chest of one demon general, shattering even his life soul.

"You should go see her off." Wang turned his attack toward the demon general with the demonic blade, glancing at Ye Chen, who had just slain a demon general. "She signed a contract of eternal life and death with me."

Hearing this, Ye Chen, who was about to rampage further, furrowed his brow and looked toward the void, his gaze landing on the massive Qing Luan—more precisely, on Lin Shihuai on its back.

Lin Shihuai lay slumped there, her divine light completely extinguished, her entire body enveloped in a hazy aura of death.

Ye Chen dashed forward in an instant, crossing the void in a single step to land on the Qing Luan's back.

"Shihuai!"

Ye Chen grasped Lin Shihuai's jade hand, channeling his essence into her, only to find her hand ice-cold. Her life soul was disintegrating, and her soul flame was on the verge of extinction.

"Senior brother, don't waste your essence." Lin Shihuai nestled in Ye Chen's arms, murmuring softly, utterly exhausted.

Ye Chen remained silent, frantically pouring in his essence, his eyes bloodshot. Had Wang not mentioned it, he would not have known she had sacrificed her soul. She had long prepared for death, which was why she had been so bold as to kiss him.

"Dying in Ye Chen's arms... it's wonderful." Lin Shihuai continued to murmur, her pale face burying greedily into his chest. This might be the closest she had ever been to him, and it would be the only time.

In her final moments, her dimming eyes recalled that year at the Hengyue Sect's outer mountain, in the pitch-black night, when a warm hand had pulled her back from hell.

He was Ye Chen, etched forever into her soul, never to be erased across lifetimes.