C14 Heavenly Deity Descends

Golden eyes locked onto the roiling black mist, a stark contrast to the previous standoff where one side looked down from above while the other defiantly gazed upward.

Xia Yi, like a deity descending to earth, cleared away the black mist on the third floor of the Spirit Gathering Tower and stared directly at the 'evil spirit' within the swirling darkness. He stepped forward with a measured pace.

Since Xia Yi's heavenly descent, the evil spirit had remained silent, exuding an air of caution, and even ignored the tempting 'delicacy' of Yang Zhangzhen.

When the evil spirit noticed Xia Yi approaching, it lashed out. The black mist swelled and, at its peak, vanished as if it had never been on the third floor of the Spirit Gathering Tower.

Xia Yi's stride remained unaltered as he made his way toward Yang Zhangzhen.

A tendril of black mist stealthily materialized behind Xia Yi, aiming for his back like a sharpened needle.

Without faltering, Xia Yi continued forward. As the black needle was about to pierce his back, a palm-sized aura of light emerged. A barely visible faint golden 'glyph' intercepted the black needle.

The black needle, unable to penetrate even a fraction closer, persisted in its struggle against the faint golden glyph. Simultaneously, numerous black needles sprang up around Xia Yi, all thrusting toward him.

The swarm of black needles seemed intent on engulfing Xia Yi in darkness.

A faint golden aura blossomed around Xia Yi, warding off the relentless assault of black needles. Between them, a soft golden light radiated, gentle yet enduring like an eternal flame.

"Who are you?!"

It was the first time the 'evil spirit' spoke since Xia Yi's descent.

Xia Yi paid no heed to the evil spirit's inquiry, instead walking to the side of the unconscious Yang Zhangzhen.

The faint golden halo that shrouded Yang Zhangzhen brushed against Xia Yi, then seamlessly blended with the aura surrounding Xia Yi, enveloping both him and Yang Zhangzhen in its protective embrace.

Only then did Xia Yi halt, turning to face an empty void beside him. His blood-red eyes pierced the darkness.

Before Xia Yi's gaze, a mass of black mist slowly took shape, revealing that the true form of the 'evil spirit' had been concealed there all along.

"Disperse," Xia Yi said softly, raising his hand and waving away the countless black needles surrounding him.

Deep within Xia Yi's consciousness, a spirit seed slightly larger than a sesame seed began to glow faintly. Though it was no brighter than a firefly, it created the illusion of a brilliant light.

With a wave of his hand, Xia Yi caused the black needles to vanish. Yet, the true form of the 'evil spirit' before him grew increasingly agitated, its dark miasma churning like boiling water.

"So it was you with that enticing aura!" An excited voice echoed from within the swirling darkness.

Previously, the 'evil spirit' had been causing chaos on the fourth floor of the Spirit Gathering Tower when it detected an irresistibly tempting aura emanating from the third floor. It believed that devouring this aura would greatly enhance its power, prompting it to desperately pursue the source down to the third floor.

When Xia Yi had approached the fourth floor's entrance, the 'evil spirit' hadn't detected the alluring aura on him, which is why it had furiously ordered him to leave. Its pursuit wasn't about Xia Yi, but rather the seductive aura.

Unexpectedly, the 'evil spirit' had let the proverbial 'meat at its mouth' slip away. Only when Xia Yi's spirit seed stirred did it realize that its sought-after target was right before its eyes.

Xia Yi seemed oblivious to the 'evil spirit's' exclamations. His bloodshot eyes stared vacantly at the 'evil spirit,' as if cautioning it against any hasty moves.

But how could the 'evil spirit' contain itself? It had expended tremendous energy to reach the third floor, all to devour this enticing being.

It was not only ready to act but felt compelled to do so immediately, especially since Wu Liang, the young man, was likely on his way.

In an instant, the 'evil spirit' vanished from Xia Yi's sight.

The billowing black Qi appeared formidable, but sustaining such a form was incredibly draining on the 'evil spirit's' spiritual energy. To regain its full strength, it had to revert to its original, invisible state. In facing the formidable 'Xia Yi,' the 'evil spirit' knew it had to exert every ounce of its power.

It understood all too well the adage that even a lion must use all its might to hunt a rabbit.

The moment the 'evil spirit' vanished, a slight frown creased Xia Yi's hollow blood-red eyes. He lifted his right hand, summoning a faint golden light that intercepted the 'evil spirit's' assault. The light seemed to dimple, sending visible ripples shooting outwards; then, another ripple emerged from the opposite side. When the two ripples met, they unleashed an invisible force.

"Chi!" A slash appeared on the sleeve of Xia Yi's right arm, revealing a thin cut on the skin beneath. A single drop of blood seeped from the wound.

As the ripples multiplied around him, the intensity of Xia Yi's clash with the 'evil spirit' escalated.

"I didn't expect you to be the strongest human here. Unfortunately, your power is still too weak!" A voice suddenly echoed by Xia Yi's ear, seemingly out of thin air.

The air beside Xia Yi's left ear appeared to warp as if struck by an invisible hammer. With a barely audible tear, his defenses were breached.

A swirl of black mist emerged within Xia Yi's mind, unlike the Flying Sickle Cat or the Golden Armored Crocodile he had encountered before. The 'evil spirit' took the form of a dark cloud of gas.

As soon as the black mist materialized in Xia Yi's consciousness, it lunged at the spirit seed, barely larger than a sesame seed, without a moment's delay.

"Hehehe! I won't hold back..." The 'evil spirit's' gleeful cackle cut off abruptly.

"What's happening?! What is this?!" The black gas bellowed in frustration, realizing it had been struck by a powerful slap that left it significantly weakened.

The 'evil spirit' had attempted to devour Xia Yi's spirit seed but instead found itself biting off more than it could chew, prompting it to bellow in rage.

Unconvinced, the 'evil spirit' tried to consume the spirit seed once more, only to find itself immobilized.

On the third level of the Spirit Gathering Tower, Xia Yi's right index and middle fingers were pressed together at the center of his forehead. Between his hand and his face, a rune glowed with a soft golden light, floating gently in the air.

Above the rune, the light dazzled, flowing with the energy of the inscriptions. The radiant golden hue contrasted sharply with the subtle glow of the rune, creating a spectacle of light and color.

"Thank you for your spiritual energy," Xia Yi stated calmly.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the golden runes erupted in a blinding light. At its zenith, the light bathed the entire third floor of the Spirit Gathering Tower, casting an ethereal glow as if divine beings had descended. Almost immediately, the golden radiance retracted, channeling through Xia Yi's right hand and into the subtly parted space at his brow.

The force of the golden runes surged into Xia Yi's consciousness, striking the shackled 'fierce spirit' with ferocity and enveloping it.

Amidst the tranquility of his mind, a piercing scream from the 'fierce spirit' sent shockwaves through his consciousness.

Xia Yi trembled violently, blood streaming from every orifice, as he collapsed limply to the ground, his blood-filled eyes slowly closing.

Curious and unseen Martial Spirits peeked out from where the third and fourth floors of the Spirit Gathering Tower met.

"You're welcome."

At the entrance to the second floor of the Spirit Gathering Tower, Wu Liang, his hair white as snow, paused in disbelief. He rubbed his eyes, certain he had seen a flash of golden light at the entrance to the third floor.