Blind Spot
Chapter 522: Escape from One

Chapter 522: Escape from One

The meeting didn’t last long; one could even say it ended quite abruptly.

Li Chengyi swiftly passed on all the information about the true nature of the world that he dared disclose.

Then came the practical arrangements.

For the Earth-Moon White Star, he had Da Xiong, Rainbow Candy, and Xindela take charge of the general situation before swiftly packing up and, through Void NightStep, headed toward Shaoyin.

In fact, inside the fortress city of Shaoyin, his identity as Wang Yichen had already vanished for nearly ten years.

The real Yin Yue even issued a missing persons order.

Because even for someone of his stature, a retreat lasting three to five years was normal, but a ten-year disappearance without any word could be practically confirmed as death.

However, the moment Li Chengyi returned to Shaoyin, the Yue Pendant linked to Yin Yue detected his presence right away, and the missing persons order was retracted.

Without much explanation, Li Chengyi returned to Quling Mansion and once more entered a state of secluded cultivation.

No one asked where he had been, not even Yin Yue herself, who merely inspected him briefly before choosing not to pursue the matter further.

Obviously, Yin Yue was extremely indulgent with her disciples, caring only for their life and loyalty, while all else could be ignored.

This saved Li Chengyi the effort of having to explain himself.

Time accelerated, and years flew by swiftly.

Everything returned to calm, and in the blink of an eye, eight years had passed...

*

*

*

Clouds of darkness enveloped the sky.

To the northwest of Quling Mansion.

Tens of thousands of soldiers, led by their generals, surged toward the opposing side like locusts.

Black armor clashed against black armor, the primary distinction being the giant blood characters on the armor; on one side was Shaoyin, on the other, Tushan.

In the deafening sounds of combat, generals surrounded by True Qi or displaying three to four-meter-tall Blood Bodies charged headlong into the fray, slaughtering at will.

After an initial clash, the soldiers and generals each found their counterparts, and the fight became one of mano a mano.

At higher grounds, where the battle flags of both sides were planted, top-level commanders oversaw the situation.

On behalf of Shaoyin, two individuals stood on a temporarily constructed watchtower, dressed in casual clothing, gazing into the distance.

"This Tushan insists on its old ways, daring to offend despite repeated damages; where do they get so many capable soldiers and generals?"

Both disciples of the real Yin Yue, Yun Song stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. Though he wore an urn over his head, it didn’t seem to hinder his vision; he could still perceive the situation on the battlefield.

At his side was a tall man with short black hair, clad in a simple black velvet robe with an open chest that exposed his muscular pectorals. His eyes were a pale gold, and he had ash-white antlers on his forehead. Sparks occasionally flew from his mouth and nose—it was Li Chengyi, who had come from Earth-Moon.

In eight years, he had finally perfected the Void NightStep and the Triple Yin Canon Techniques, just short of the last step of Spirit Fusion with the True Seal. But what confounded him was that no matter how he tried to merge with the seal, he couldn’t cross that threshold.

From the Four Seals to the Five Seals, this step seemed to be blocked by an immense wall, forbidding anyone to pass lightly.

Initially, he thought it was a matter of insufficient power and that accumulating enough would break through, but he later realized that wasn’t the issue.

After eight years of accumulation, his Blood Essence power was equivalent to what others would achieve in over a millennium of cultivation. Even divided among the four techniques, it was enough to complete them all.

However, he was stuck at the last step, unable to progress. The Spirit Fusion failed to become a seal, leaving him perpetually at the Four Seals.

Now, he seemed to understand why, on the side of Earth-Moon, only Xu Meng of the Yuan Ying organization possessed the Five Seals, while the rest were only at the Third Seal.

"This time, it’s Xu Jingting coming. Among the nearby fortress cities of Tushan, the only one that could be mentioned in the same breath as you is this man," said Yun Song as he glanced at Li Chengyi.

"It’s just a formality. If Brother is bored, you can go back to rest for a while," Li Chengyi said casually.

So far, the fight had been like child’s play. Real battles were left to those below, and none at the level of Yin God would act recklessly.

"It’s alright; there’s nothing to do back there anyway, and resting is just as dull. The State Preceptor took Sister to hunt exotic beasts in the Night Sea, and I don’t get along well with Tiancan in the city," stated Yun Song. "It’s actually you, Junior Brother, your progress these years has been tremendous, truly a top genius valued by our master!"

"Brother flatters me," responded Li Chengyi with a light smile. He pulled a command banner from a cylindrical holder and threw it outwards.

The banner soared into the sky, ignited by Blood Essence, turning into silver fireworks.

Then a harsh metal clang signaled the retreat.

The soldiers belonging to Shaoyin immediately ceased fighting and began to withdraw.

And the forces of Tushan Country did the same, retreating in tacit agreement.

After three years of fighting, they had already developed an understanding; the battle had raged for a considerable time, but only a few dozen people had died.

Most of these casualties were the result of heedless charges by some impetuous generals.

On the platform, Li Chengyi noticed several generals from the opposite side still shouting and trying to charge forward.

Indeed, the Blood Body state could make one act rashly.

"How presumptuous."

He raised his hand and pointed gently.

A gray-white Blood Essence shot out like an arrow, instantly divided into four, and at a terrifying speed fifteen times the speed of sound, hit those generals squarely in the chest.

Thud Thud Thud Thud!

All four were struck in the chest, their bodies mounted on warhorses powered by exotic beast bloodlines, instantly becoming rigid and immobile.

Boom!!

In an instant, a synchronized explosion sounded.

Countless gray-white bone spikes burst forth within each of their bodies.

The bone spikes protruded from inside out, skewering the four and turning them into blood bags riddled with holes.

Blood splattered everywhere, landing on the surrounding ground and corroding it into strands of white smoke.

Some soldiers were caught off guard and affected; they instantly began to smoke all over their bodies. In just moments, their bodies swelled, and their bones grew rapidly thicker, squeezing their flesh and internal organs into mush. Their skin also stretched and tore, revealing a series of grotesque wounds.

They howled in agony on the ground, but within a few seconds, they were gone.

"This is a warning," Li Chengyi’s voice traveled far to the opposite side.

"Hmph!" came a response from a leading general on the side of Tushan Country, but he did not retaliate. Indeed, those four had broken the tacit agreement between the two sides.

The sound of the gong for retreat rang out, and both sides ceased combat.

The soldiers’ formation and encampment was under the charge of their respective leaders below, while Yun Song and Li Chengyi descended from the high platform and returned to the temporary military camp’s large tent nearby.

"Speaking of which, White Star, you’ve reached the limit of the True Seal, haven’t you?" Inside the tent, Yun Song set up a stove, inviting Li Chengyi to breathe a puff of fire to ignite the charcoal, starting to brew tea.

"Yes, I’ve reached the point where I can’t advance any further," Li Chengyi sighed, nodded, and didn’t hide it.

"Being limited by the True Seal means you are on the eve of the wandering realm in the Yin Canon, at least the Four Seals... Quite astonishing..." A hint of envy flashed in Yun Song’s eyes.

"I’m now just barely condensing the Third True Seal, and here you are, surpassing all of us, already at the Four Seals. It’s just not fair."

"When has there ever been fairness in this world? And even if it exists, it was probably destroyed with a wave of the State Preceptor or our teacher’s hand long ago. Our fates, when have they ever been controlled by external forces?" Li Chengyi spoke indifferently.

"Well said! No wonder our teacher favors you more and more, often telling us to follow your example. Not to mention anything else, but this courage alone is something that Tiancan, that good-for-nothing, can’t compare to. That guy is still at two seals, making slow progress," Yun Song taunted.

"Brother, can’t you say something nice for once? Can you give me any hints on how to make a breakthrough next?" Li Chengyi said helplessly.

He had been stuck here for a long time now, having tried various methods, but to no avail.

"Haven’t you asked our teacher? What did he say?" Yun Song replied, exasperated, "I’m just a guy who barely has the Third True Seal, and you’re asking me a question of such high degree, isn’t that a bit over my head?"

Lately, White Star’s terrifying cultivation speed had spurred on his fellow senior brothers and sisters, and as a result, everyone had started to push themselves harder.

If White Star hadn’t disappeared for nearly ten years, delaying his progress by ten years, Yun Song wasn’t sure he could have managed to break through to the Third True Seal and mastered the third Blood Essence martial arts.

What a pity... White Star is a freak, already at the limit of the Four Seals...

Although the number of True Seals isn’t an absolute measure of strength below the Five Seals, his speed is still too... exaggerated.

"The teacher indeed mentioned it, but I didn’t understand," Li Chengyi said helplessly. "The old man said, ’Be calm, not impatient, the full will overflow naturally.’

"Isn’t that just the same as saying nothing?" Yun Song was equally exasperated.

Because of a remark made by the real person Yin Yue in the past, he remembered to maintain a good relationship with his junior brother White Star. Over the years, their relationship had grown stronger, and they had exchanged many vital pieces of information in their casual conversations.

"No kidding..." Li Chengyi said helplessly. He was about to continue his grumbling when suddenly, the jade pendants at the waists of both men lit up with purple light.

The voice of the real person Yin Yue quietly sounded.

"White Star, come back once; your opportunity to break through has arrived."

Snap.

Li Chengyi’s eyes snapped open, and with a whoosh, he stood up and vanished in a flicker of black light.

Yun Song was about to pour tea but heard the voice, hurriedly got to his feet, arranged for his people to withdraw, and, wrapped in his Blood Essence, turned into a streak of red light and disappeared.

*

*

*

Quling Mansion, Tian Ju Pavilion.

Faded leaves fluttered, the ground covered in yellow decay.

In the courtyard, Yin Yue sat opposite a woman in gray and white Taoist robes, with a glowing white chessboard between them. The black chess pieces moved on their own from time to time.

Soon, Li Chengyi and Yun Song entered the courtyard, one after the other, seeing Tiancan, Du Her, and Qiu Ming, who had already gathered.

All the Yin Gods under Yin Yue’s lineage had assembled.

Clearly, something significant was about to start.

"Brother, everyone is here, time is precious, let’s begin," the woman in the white Taoist robes said softly.

"Sister Guangli is as impatient as ever," Yin Yue chuckled.

"It’s rare to have a chance to observe Breaking the Divine Limit; naturally, I’m a bit impatient," the woman smiled, her facial features gentle, and her demeanor akin to a revered Buddhistic Divine Being from a temple, exuding an air of solemn splendor.

With a wave of her hand, suddenly three female figures appeared in the courtyard at her side.

The three women knelt and saluted, addressing her as ’Teacher’.

"Today, junior brother White Star under the tutelage of Uncle Master Yin Yue is about to break the divine limit. Watch carefully, and you will benefit in the future," the woman instructed softly.

The three women responded in unison.

Yin Yue had already risen to his feet, and with a flash, he appeared in front of Li Chengyi.

"White Star, the reason you cannot break through the Five Seals is not a problem with yourself, but rather it is because of the very components of this world, which can’t nourish such a powerful individual."

"To put it simply, it’s due to a lack of nutrients, missing the most crucial point," he said, looking towards Li Chengyi, who appeared contemplative.

"Today, the opportunity within the heaven and earth has arrived. I shall take you to break through this world’s cage!"

He swept his sleeve.

Suddenly, red light erupted, and countless rays enveloped the entire courtyard.

Hisss!

Suddenly a soft crack sounded, and a whirlwind of dizziness flashed by.

When everyone regained their senses, the surroundings of the courtyard had turned into a pitch-black void.

Countless black mists, like living things, tumbled and surged beyond the courtyard walls.

The sky was pitch-black, revealing nothing.

A feeling of threat, as if stripped of all clothes, surged into the hearts of everyone present.