Chapter 344 - 343: The Seal is Broken

"Hiss—"

As countless Fusion Realm experts exploded in the sky, [Dream Demon], who had never left the ground, gritted his teeth. He stubbornly resisted the impact of the Soul Power, managing to hold on until now with only his Half-Step Fusion Realm Cultivation.

But blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth. Despite being a Soul Body, all his injuries manifested as if on a physical body. An unprecedented pressure weighed down on his mind.

At that moment, he thought back to his time on Blue Star. ’As a member of the Demon Race who was noticed by Emperor [Chen] at a very young age, I cultivated the profound Nightmare Secret Technique. They say it was a terrifying Cultivation Technique, unparalleled even in ancient times.’

’I had such great prospects. If I followed Emperor [Chen], I might have even reached the Harmonization Realm one day and become a Demon Emperor of my generation.’

’It was precisely because of this Talent that after my Transformation, I traveled through the major provinces of Xia Country. I wandered through its cities, experiencing the uniquely complex emotions of the Human Race and their many inventions and creations.’

’Because of my Secret Technique’s unique nature, no one at the time knew I was actually a member of the Demon Race in disguise. I never took pleasure in killing, though I did occasionally test the progress of my Nightmare Secret Technique by giving people a few nightmares.’

’Back in Jiangnan, I saw countless commoners struggling to become Martial Artists. Among them were the poor—not quite beggars, but close enough—who toiled in factories and lived in dilapidated shantytowns that looked like garbage dumps.’

’An invisible pressure, like a hydraulic press, bore down on those workers’ minds. An unseen hand manipulated the masses... just like right now...’

"The Fusion Realm experts... they’re all dead..."

THUD. [Dream Demon] could no longer withstand the pressure and collapsed. Fortunately, all the Fusion Realm masters in the sky had turned into splendid fireworks, and the explosions ceased.

More Spirit Charm washed down, coating the surface of his Soul Body with the faint, weak aura of a Dragon Race bloodline. It was just enough to save his life.

This was the third stage of the Dragon Spirit Secret Realm: the birth of the Dragon Spirit Fish.

High in the sky, the once-faintly visible Dragon Spirit Fish had now become substantial. The souls of the Fusion Realm experts, who had become fireworks, were absorbed into its body, strengthening it.

Those poor Fusion Realm Cultivators. They had relied on their peerless Soul Secret Techniques or their own domineering racial Talents, thinking they could dominate the Dragon Spirit Secret Realm. They even dreamed of seizing the unattainable Dragon Spirit Fish.

Little did they know this was all a massive trap. The revival of the Dragon Spirit Fish required immense Soul Power. With over six thousand Fusion Realm experts dying at once, the resulting offering was simply staggering.

Next was the true appearance of the Dragon Spirit Fish!

BZZZZ—

As the last specks of dust fell away, a massive body shimmering with intersecting golden and black light gave a slow flap of its wings. The light throughout the Secret Realm flickered, and endless Soul Power gestated within its form. A shackle that transcended this realm began to loosen.

The Dragon Spirit Fish was about to break free from the seal placed upon this Secret Realm countless years ago. It would be truly born, bearing the aura of a True Dragon’s remains—and that was the Dragon Spirit Fish everyone truly coveted!

’If I can just hold on... I’ll be able to complete Emperor [Chen]’s mission, break through to the Fusion Realm, and surpass several of the Ten Great Demon Marshals.’

Muttering to himself, [Dream Demon] imagined a bright future. He was certain he could survive to the end and use the methods Emperor [Chen] had given him to secure the Dragon Spirit Fish. It was foolproof.

The hardest part was over. All he had to do now was wait.

But things rarely go as planned. Just as his Soul Body lay pinned to the ground, slowly recovering, a spatial vortex ripped open in the sky, and a world-crushing pressure descended.

BZZZZ—

BZZZZ—

Invisible gales swept across the land. The perpetually calm sea churned once more. The resilient, bamboo-like trees bowed over, wave after wave, as if cowering before the arrival of a peerless expert.

"Pfft—"

He spat out a mouthful of blood. His Soul Body, which had only been halfway recovered, flickered violently. It seemed as if the slightest misstep would cause him to vanish from the world entirely. He was facing a completely new, crushing pressure!

His eyes widened as he looked up. A figure in a black robe and a black Yama mask hovered high in the sky. His body was completely enveloped by the robe, its fabric dancing in the wind.

The man wasn’t using any special Secret Technique. His mere presence, hovering in the air, exerted a devastating pressure upon countless souls.

’Thankfully, he isn’t looking down this way. Otherwise, we’d all be dead!’

"This is a Harmonization Realm expert... [Netherworld]?!"

’From the aura of his Cultivation System, which is deeply bound to the Yin Yang Great Realm, I can tell he’s a native Harmonization Realm expert from there. And that mask... it’s said to be the one [Netherworld] always wears. There’s no doubt. It’s [Netherworld], the Monarch of the Netherworld Dynasty.’

’The aura of death is so thick... he’s mastered the Death Dao to its absolute limit. An existence like him could kill countless Fusion Realm experts with just a flick of his finger, especially since we’re all Soul Bodies... oh, right. They’re already dead.’

But it wasn’t over. After [Netherworld]’s appearance, eight more spatial vortexes materialized beneath the Dragon Spirit Fish’s massive body, and from them emerged eight more peerless Harmonization Realm experts.

Their auras were no weaker than [Netherworld]’s. One of them, a red-skinned member of the Demon Race with a pair of horns, was even stronger than him when it came to the soul!

That was Venerable [Red Demon] of the Hollow Demon Race, one of the three main races of the Nine Venerable Great Realm. His power was so great, he could likely rank in the top ten on the Yin Yang Great Realm’s Yin Yang Celestial Pride List!

Why was the Nine Venerable Great Realm called the Nine Venerable Great Realm?

Because the Nine Venerable Great Realm had nine Venerables, who symbolized the absolute power of that Great Realm. Each of the three main races had three Venerables, and when fighting on their home turf, they were capable of channeling the will of their world.

’Venerable [Red Demon] is one of the Peak powers of the Nine Venerable Great Realm. And he actually came in person to the Dragon Spirit Secret Realm in the Yin Yang Great Realm?!’

Upon confirming this, [Dream Demon]’s heart began to race. His memories felt compressed, and all his thoughts grew thin and blank.

The combined auras of nine peerless Harmonization Realm experts pressed down, with a Venerable of such profound mastery over the Soul Dao dominating the scene.

’I feel... even with the life-saving measures Emperor [Chen] gave me, I won’t make it out alive... Even if I did survive, I would lose too much. I might have to start all over, reverting to the colorful butterfly I once was, flitting about the shores of Dragon Lake...’

As these thoughts surfaced in [Dream Demon]’s mind, the nine Harmonization Realm experts in his blurry vision had already begun scheming to divide the Dragon Spirit Fish. Under their manipulation, the Dragon Spirit Fish’s seal rapidly unlocked.

BZZZZ—

A peculiar Dragon’s Roar echoed from all directions. The resplendently golden Dragon Spirit Fish was finally free, revealing its complete form.

The sky went dark.