Archfiend

“Last thirty seconds.” Floatingcloud’s complexion slightly chilled, and misty white fog boiled out of thin air behind him.

As the countdown started at ten, Moonless finally strode over.

He… had walked the line!

Three versus three!

Rocjourney grinded teeth and fiercely clenched his fists. He was just about to speak, but he suddenly saw an arc perk up at the crook of Xu Yangyi’s mouth.

Fellow Daoist… He transmitted via spiritual sense, his heart burning with anxiety. You can still laugh?

Xu Yangyi curbed his smile and gazed icily at Floatingcloud. He… isn't as strong as you think he is!

At this moment, the bodhi seed exhibited maximum effect!

Why? Rocjourney was dazed and quickly asked.

If he was really that strong, he wouldn’t need to just come down on Bladevessel alone! Great Circle Foundation Establishment… As long as he attacks himself, how much qi could he use? All of us might fly through the air for at most half a day if he slaps us! Xu Yangyi said decisively. 

Rocjourney was stunned, and then shouted out excitedly through spiritual sense, That’s right! That’s right! It’s impossible that we’re an opponent for Great Circle Foundation Establishment!

But not only that, he’s still trying to split us apart right now! Why?! Xu Yangyi’s train of thought straightened, and he quickly followed up, He’s afraid that we’ll team up! No, maybe it can be said that he can’t take action currently. He doesn’t have time to mess around with us. It looks like he used Bladevessel to scare us off, but he’s actually hiding the truth!

Rocjourney’s gaze rapidly flickered, and his heart pounded wildly. The truth of things was being hidden, so what was this truth?

There was only one possibility!

The Dream Walker… hasn’t been fully possessed! He’s just splitting us up to stall for time! Xu Yangyi’s words were resolute, slicing through nails and iron. He really is a wily old fox, through and through.

Maybe… he needs Foundation Establishment cultivators?

Impossible! Before Rocjourney even finished speaking, Xu Yangyi firmly interrupted him. I just figured something out! Enihilus once said that the Dream Walker works by speeding up time in the dream to force the Clearcloud Realm’s destruction. Why is that?

I only realized it now. Maybe… he took a deep breath, what he wants to destroy isn’t the Clearcloud Realm… and it’s not like he can’t take over the first Dream Walker’s legacy. On the contrary… he has to act this way, so he can destroy one person.

Meanwhile, Floatingcloud looked to the spirit ape-puppet. “And you?”

“Don’t play confused with me. I can sense your consciousness.”

The puppet didn’t reply.

Xu Yangyi seemed to be paying attention to the puppet with Rocjourney, but the conversation going on in his spiritual sense became even faster.

Has to?

Xu Yangyi nodded deeply. Let me ask you, if the Clearcloud Realm is destroyed what will be left?

Rocjourney said without the slightest hesitation, Only the Dream Walker will survive! Everything else, including us, and any life form born from its dream will be wiped out. Everything that doesn’t belong to this dreamland will be rejected! Even if we don’t go along with the Clearcloud Realm’s destruction, we’ll still be faced with the vast cosmos! There’s no doubt we’ll die!

He fell into a daze before he finished speaking. His eyes then became fiery and saucered wide open. He looked to Xu Yangyi in disbelief.

In kind, Xu Yangyi stared at Floatingcloud with a scorching-hot look.

Yes… in this place, a possibility had emerged!

If Floatingcloud hasn’t completely forced the possession over the Dream Walker… then he’s still outside the ‘dreamland’! Once the Clearcloud Realm is destroyed… he’ll die too! He doesn’t belong to this dream! He’s an Earth cultivator! He’s an actual existence! 

Floatingcloud is on the upswing right now, and the Dream Walker hasn’t shown itself. Perhaps it’s already been forced to a dead end. It… has total reason, and moreover drive, to act this way! And only by acting this way can it escape the great calamity of forced possession! He let loose cold laughter that came from his heart of hearts and licked his lips. I’ve been gradually confirming that Floatingcloud’s spiritual sense is in the final round of struggle with the Dream Walker! He knows as well that it’ll be hard for him to escape calamity once the Clearcloud Realm is destroyed!

He’s roping people for the final decisive battle with the Dream Walker! In his heart, maybe he’s even more worried than we are! Therefore he doesn’t have time to handle us if we group up! Maybe he can’t even drag things out for two hours!

Rocjourney stared blankly.

He thought highly of himself, but he couldn’t manage this!

Xu Yangyi had just made speculations about the Clearcloud Realm’s history. It was enough to shock him, but this wasn’t the end all… Here and now, Xu Yangyi had actually reasoned out the true goal hidden behind Floatingcloud’s great display of power awhile ago!

One after another, threads neatly entered buttons and seams. Rocjourney almost couldn’t refute it! No wonder, no surprise that the Clearcloud Realm’s destruction had come so abruptly this time, so swiftly! If this was the actual matter then everything could be explained!

I’ve heard… that a bodhi seed planted in a cultivator’s mind will make their thought process incredibly fast… Is that how it is? He looked on in a daze at Xu Yangyi. Several seconds later, he fiercely clenched his teeth. In that case… right now, we… 

Wait. At this moment, Xu Yangyi didn’t care about right or wrong. He had to believe his own theory, and said lowly, Don’t act out rashly. Our hidden cards… we don’t have much. If my guess isn’t wrong, then our chance is when the Dream Walker is definitely going to strike back!

Rocjourney asked worriedly, What do we do if that monkey gets roped in?

It shouldn’t be, Xu Yangyi murmured. Those who can be the other half of the seal, AND have had a lot of contact with me, are Moonless, you, the puppet, and Bladevessel.

Bladevessel and Moonless can already be eliminated. The remainder—regardless of whether or not it is the seal—it’s still the only one. The likelihood is great, but we still have to be more careful. 

In the outside world, the puppet waited for several seconds, but it remained motionless. Floatingcloud sneered coldly, “You’ve sought your own demise.”

The situation had settled, seeds having fallen without so much as a sound!

Three versus three!

On the present stage… there were only Foundation Establishment cultivators! From the initial stage to the late stage, and a former Great Circle! Once an attack was made, the entire palace hall would be shattered!

The situation now was already one of mortal combat! Once a tiger was mounted, getting off was a difficult task!

Floatingcloud inhaled deeply and gazed at Xu Yangyi and Rocjourney. “And what of you two?”

“I really don’t want to let either of you enter my nation. Disrespectful and obstinate, you know not the slightest thing about your own trash-like state… You speak, so can you not do as you say?” Floatingcloud chuckled darkly, “Without any worry whatsoever… won’t you allow me to send you two feral dogs on your way?”

“However, I still grant favor beyond law. Come, stand over here. Come to me, and follow me.” He easily beckoned, and a sparkling talisman appeared in his hand. “This item is called ‘A Dream of Nanke’. If planted, you will become masters of this world. There are no side effects…” [1]

But before his voice even fell, his body violently trembled all of a sudden!

At the same time, momentary blankness appeared in Floatingcloud’s eyes! His eyes were unexpectedly like the moon, the whiteness of a waning moon beginning to eat away at his entire eyeballs!

The moment was now!!!

Devoid of any further thought, Xu Yangyi was already turning his hands through the air!

“Ten Cardinals Purgatory!!!” There wasn’t a moment of hesitation. His theory had a 50% probability, but in this situation 50% was already enough to pour everything he had into this fight!

Rumble rumble rumble! Ten purple fire-dragons lingered upon the Animus Armament. In an instant, the sword of dragons thundered forth and pierced straight towards the midair Floatingcloud!

Water receded and rocks appeared, the present situation coming to light! He, Rocjourney, and the puppet were facing off against Moonless, Floatingcloud, and Bladevessel!

A bloody battle of six great Foundation Establishment cultivators!

“I’ve known since the beginning! You haven’t completely possessed the Dream Walker!!!” His voice was like lightning cutting through the sky, shaking the bottom of everyone’s hearts. “As long you guys don’t stop fighting, the Dream Walker’s definitely going to have a moment to counterattack! Fellow Daoists, what are you still waiting for?!”

But… in the next second, Floatingcloud snapped his head up.

His eyes were already back to normal, but Xu Yangyi was no less than fifty meters away from him now!

“Good… good… how good!” Floatingcloud cackled sinisterly and shrieked, “In that case… kill them all!”

Xu Yangyi had already become a streaking rainbow before Floatingcloud’s voice even fell. On his armament, the imprint of ten dragons flashed explosively, and he rushed Floatingcloud with the momentum of wind and thunder!

In a confrontation on a narrow path, the brave triumphed!

“Trifling middle Foundation Establishment, and having just recently advanced as well. You are ignorant of heaven and earth’s immensity, to challenge three Foundation Establishment… heh heh…” Floatingcloud reared his head back and roared in laughter. “Tear this group of dregs to pieces! Suppress them eternally in this nightmare! Handover your loyalty!”

Swoosh! Swoosh! Two gentle sounds rang out! In the instant of attack, the situation suddenly changed!

Bladevessel had taken out a magik treasure, a pitch-black whip of bone. Now, however, the bone whip wasn’t attacking Xu Yangyi, but rather quickly sweeping towards Floatingcloud!

And at the same time, white hair sprouted all over Moonless’s body. With twin claws that were similar to a wolf’s, he ripped straight at Floatingcloud’s throat!

Everyone on Floatingcloud’s side had turned traitor!

“Such treachery!” Floatingcloud howled in anger, “I already knew to be on guard against you two!”

However, Xu Yangyi’s steps came to an abrupt stop.

He didn’t dare believe his eyes as he looked behind him.

The ape-puppet’s hand had loudly pierced Rocjourney’s shoulder. Rocjourney screamed out in anger, and his entire right arm vanished!

“Heh heh heh…” Incredibly carefree laughter came out from the puppet’s mouth. “How was the taste of my Netherghost Hand? A pity, what a pity… Fellow Daoist’s reaction isn’t slow… It truly is too much of a pity that I didn’t pierce your heart just now!”

In his mind, Xu Yangyi stilled a bit.

This development of events had went beyond everyone’s expectations!

Bladevessel had turned traitor!

Moonless had turned traitor!

The Realm Spirit had turned traitor!

The Realm Spirit standing at his side and those on Floatingcloud’s side… The Clearcloud Realm’s few Foundation Establishment cultivators had actually all turned traitor!

Nonetheless, this wasn’t the reason that made him stop for half a second.

“He isn’t the seal!!!” Rocjourney gritted his teeth and groaned, “He is absolutely not the seal!”

The puppet wasn’t the seal! Xu Yangyi clamped down on his surging emotions. His figure like lightning, he pierced straight towards Floatingcloud!

Fellow Daoist Rocjourney, he said as quickly as he could through spiritual sense, Do you remember… what we talked about earlier? When that terrible will descended.

I remember, you truly do have a way? Rocjourney was pale-faced, and pressed down on his shoulder.

I do! Xu Yangyi knew that he couldn’t say ‘no’ at this moment. But you have to guarantee that you can definitely seal the Dream Walker if it manifests!

I… swear a Dao-Heart Oath that if I cannot seal the Dream Walker then I will never reincarnate and be trapped in this nightmare forever! 

Hum… In the void, something seemed to respond. With a light shudder, a Dao-Heart Oath had come to pass.

Xu Yangyi took a deep breath and set down the final worry in his heart, his power like lightning!

1. “A Dream of Nanke”. Previously mentioned. Along the lines of the Dream of Loulan. You dream of something fantastic and then wake up to your normal boring life.