Chapter Fifteen: Journey of Five

The Celestial King’s Codex began to circulate within him, and spiritual power streamed slowly like a river. As it flowed through his core, suddenly the Demon King’s inner elixir emanated a fierce suction...

Spiritual energy, which normally could only circulate within his body, was now drawn irresistibly toward his core by this force.

Very soon, a sphere of spiritual energy about the size of a fist manifested—a spiritual eye within the core.

The formation of the spiritual eye marked that Ye Feng had set one foot into the Spirit Communion Realm.

What followed was the process of purification. Waves emanating from the Demon King’s inner elixir fused into Ye Feng’s limbs and bones—a transformation that enhanced his body in all aspects.

When these waves made contact with the spiritual eye in his core, his spiritual energy began to boil.

In an instant, its near-liquid state condensed swiftly into a golden, solid spiritual eye, about the size of a pigeon’s egg.

At that moment, the spiritual marks on Ye Feng’s chest also began to change. One after another, they dissolved, pouring their accumulated spiritual energy back into his body, merging into the spiritual eye at his core.

Not until the last spiritual mark on his chest vanished did the spiritual eye, like a bottomless abyss, remain unchanged in size—unchanged, yet now filled with incomparably dense, golden energy.

...

When the eastern sky turned pale with dawn, Ye Feng finally completed his communion with the spirit. He slowly opened his eyes and rose to his feet.

As he moved, the bloodstained clothes clinging to him made a brittle crackling sound.

Though he looked utterly disheveled, Ye Feng’s face shone with vitality. Stepping into the Spirit Communion Realm had brought him another step closer to avenging his grievances. In the eyes of some, he was still as insignificant as an ant—but this ant was steadily growing stronger.

The world around him was silent. The servants had already been driven away under strict orders to keep quiet.

Amid the chaos, Ye Feng stood alone.

Turning his gaze inward, he found his meridians had widened, his spiritual energy was more vigorous than ever. His strength had increased more than tenfold.

Suddenly, a diagram of meridians appeared in Ye Feng’s mind.

“Spirit Communion Skill: Soaring Flood Dragon”—this was the innate spiritual technique of the Demon King, the Dragon Flood King.

Generally, after forming a communion with a spirit beast, a cultivator would merely gain some enhancement in a particular ability. For example, if one communed with a beast known for speed, one’s speed would improve; rarely would a spiritual technique be directly acquired.

But to commune with the Dragon Flood Demon King, all that transpired seemed to defy ordinary logic. Not everyone could commune with a spirit of such extraordinary might.

No one had expected that “Soaring Flood Dragon” would be a movement technique.

Spiritual techniques, used for both attack and defense, were zealously guarded by the great families. Movement techniques were the most treasured among them.

To this day, Ye Feng had never seen anyone perform a movement-type spiritual technique.

He closed his eyes. While channeling spiritual energy into the acupoints required by “Soaring Flood Dragon,” he tentatively took a step forward...

Had anyone been watching, they would have seen Ye Feng’s movements, following the steps of “Soaring Flood Dragon,” render his figure ghostly and elusive. He seemed to be right before their eyes, yet upon closer inspection, it was only an afterimage—while he himself was already five or six meters away.

“Senior, for your aid, I shall repay you greatly in the future!” Ye Feng bowed solemnly to the empty air and spoke softly. If not for the intervention of the Dragon Flood Demon King and the power of the inner elixir, he would surely be dead by now.

He waited for a while, but hearing no response from the old demon, Ye Feng could only return to his own courtyard, where he began to cleanse himself of the filth.

...

As purple light streaked across the sky and the sun appeared once more to greet the world, a new day began.

Far from Shrouding Heaven City, at the foot of the Wild Goose Mountains three thousand miles away, five young men appeared quietly.

“Spirit communion is no child’s game—it carries real danger. Ye Feng, with only eleven spiritual marks condensed, was in such a hurry to advance. Truly laughable!” one of them remarked to the youth beside him.

Had Ye Feng been present, he would have recognized the person being addressed—it was none other than Ye Li of the Ye family.

“Hah! He’s nothing but a mediocre sort, forced into this choice by Brother Ye Li. But does he really think he can successfully commune with a spirit just by entering the Wild Goose Mountains? This selection ritual carries a touch of cruelty. The strong succeed, the weak become a beast’s meal. We might not even have to act ourselves,” said the smallest youth among them.

At these words, Ye Li’s expression darkened. The previous day’s contest still puzzled him. How could someone who had condensed eleven spiritual marks and mastered the Dragon Seizing Hand perform so miserably?

Although doubts lingered in his heart, Ye Li relaxed as he glanced at his companions: the four youths beside him were all promising talents from the Yuan family, one of the three great clans of Shrouding Heaven City.

Yuan Yuan, who had spoken first, had also condensed eighteen spiritual marks—his strength was no less than Ye Li’s own.

“What’s going on with Ye Feng? Why hasn’t he shown up?” Yuan Yuan took several steps forward, scanned the distance from a high platform, and addressed a youth behind him.

At Yuan Yuan’s question, the youth turned to Ye Li. “Are you sure he’ll come?”

Ye Li offered an awkward smile. “He said he would.”

The group exchanged bewildered looks, incredulous as they stared at Ye Li, unsure what to say.

“What do you mean by this? Are you toying with the Yuan family?” In the end, it was still the strongest, Yuan Yuan, who spoke, his tone thick with reproach.

Ye Li, sharp as ever, sensed the other’s dissatisfaction. But today’s events were simply the arrangements of the Grand Elder. Faced with reproach, he didn’t know how to respond. Still, out of pride, he would never apologize.

“If you gentlemen have no intention of cooperating with my grandfather, then feel free to leave. As for that fool Ye Feng, I can deal with him myself!” Unable to save face with an explanation, Ye Li could only invoke his status as the grandson of the Ye family’s Grand Elder.

“Heh, if that’s so, why haven’t we seen Elder Ye send his famed Golden Scale Guards? Or did they all perish in the forest last time?” As the two spoke, a mocking laugh sounded. At this, both Ye Li and Yuan Yuan frowned.

“Yuan Yi, enough!” Before Ye Li’s darkened face could erupt, another Yuan family youth quickly intervened.

“Hmph! Our clans are cooperating for now, so let’s leave this be. But if I find out your Yuan family had a hand in the Golden Scale Guards’ demise, no matter your status, I, Ye Li, will personally take your head.” Though he stood alone, Ye Li did not retreat an inch, his face cold as he faced them.

Struggles for power—even the fiercest—remained internal family matters. Outside assistance was merely a temporary alliance.

While the Grand Elder’s faction needed the Yuan family’s help to contend with Ye Tianya, if the other party had indeed played a role in the Golden Scale Guards’ demise, Ye Li would not simply let it pass.