Rain fell in a furious deluge, pattering down like soybeans, crashing onto the roof tiles with crisp sounds and sending ripples spreading through the mud. The world blurred into a haze, and the only sound left was the steady "crash-crash" of rain. This was no ordinary rain—clearly, heaven had opened the sluice gate of the Celestial River, flooding the mortal realm. Zhang Yuanqing had never witnessed such a terrifying downpour. Despite the throbbing pressure in his head, he unfolded his Yin-Yang robe and donned it. He had hoped the robe’s water-control abilities would help him push back the rain and gain a clear view, only to be stunned to find that the water-control function had been suppressed—not vanished, but dampened—by a more powerful force. Huang Taiji also sensed the anomaly, and said calmly, "Try using the Star-Dart Technique to leave the estate." As soon as the words were spoken, the Prime Immortal had already transformed into a shimmering stream of starlight, vanishing and reappearing at the entrance of the estate. "Father, we can’t get out!" Zhang Yuanqing pushed at the wooden door, now riddled with cracks, and shouted back. "The Mirroring Realm!" Huang Taiqi's face was more serious than ever. "This is power beyond the Sage Realm. In the Mirroring Realm, we can't get out." We can't get out... Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart sink. He looked up—rain poured down in a steady roar. How could he possibly match this boss? "Ah!!" A sharp, piercing cry rang out from the Yi Zhuang—coming from Zhao Youcai. Yi Chuan laughed lightly and joyfully, her mission complete: "You all are going to die." She sat cross-legged in the rain, looking disheveled, her life hanging by a thread, yet her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled with bright vitality, fixed unwaveringly on the Yi Zhuang. Through the blurred rain, a figure emerged from within the Yi Zhuang. He passed by the bonfire—its red coals, as if doused with a sudden flood of cool water, hissed and went out. The horsemen who had gathered around the fire quickly shriveled, losing moisture, turning into dry, lifeless corpses. The Dehydrator! Zhang Yuanqing immediately recalled the young emperor of the sea at Yishan, yet compared to the malevolent creatures within the Yi Zhuang, the young emperor was indeed too small. While the young emperor still needed time to shed the moisture of a fourth-tier saint, the creatures instantly transformed the seasoned镖 masters like Zhuo Peiran into dry skeletons—these two were worlds apart. "Huang Taiji was also observing the monster inside the coffin, saying, "The earth element overcomes water—now I understand why it was escorted by the Huang Qi Baoju." "Waiting for him to break the coffin and then reassert control?" Zhang Yuanqing perked up. "No," Huang Taiji replied, "It's to ensure that, even in the worst case, we'll have a chance to escape and reach the Divine Sword Manor to complete the main quest." Father, I didn't expect you to be so witty... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. Yi Chuan Mei, sitting down at the distance, raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Once you arrive at the Divine Sword Manor, you'll find yourselves in the same predicament—whether the side quest succeeds or fails will ultimately determine the success of the main quest. You'll never know what you've truly lost." Her eyes sparkled with pride, as if the spiritual realm had granted her an extraordinary reward. Huang Taiji and Zhang Yuanqing grew even more serious. From Yi Chuan Mei's words, it was clear that if their side quest failed, they would be at a severe disadvantage upon reaching the Divine Sword Manor. " Huang Taiji's face remained still and calm, like still water, as he gently shook his head, "At this moment, survival is the most important thing." As he spoke, Zhao Youcai stepped out beneath the eaves. Though the rain poured down in torrents, the vines and mud beneath his feet dried and hardened swiftly, their moisture completely drawn away. Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden dryness on his face, then a growing thirst, his throat aching, as though he were a traveler walking through a desert—without drinking a single drop of water for three days. He watched Huang Taiji's face gradually lose its moisture, wrinkle, and realized that he himself was experiencing the same. Huang Taiji then stepped firmly, and a wall of mud rose up, rolling and thick, between the two of them. Soon, more walls emerged, forming a sturdy mud hut that sealed Zhao Youcai inside. Zhang Yuanqing's parched throat immediately felt refreshed. Yet before he could even breathe easily, the damp mud walls began to dry and harden, cracking like ancient pottery. Huang Taiji raised his hand, palm facing the earthen cottage, and a hazy glow shimmered in his eyes. The cottage began to dry and harden rapidly, its cracks spreading and widening, transforming into solid plates of stone. In an instant, the earthen cottage became a stone cottage. On the other side, starlight blossomed behind Yuchuan Mei, shaping her into Lin Ci—clear-eyed and graceful—she lifted her gourd hammer high. Yuchuan Mei laughed coldly, "Unwise! Overreaching!" She remained seated, her long, snow-white neck arched upward, emitting a sharp, high-pitched cry. "Hmph..." Zhang Yuanqing groaned, blood gushing from his seven orifices, clutching his head and retreating step by step. "Return, don't let her drag you into the dream," Huang Taiji said firmly. Starlight surged, and Yuan Shi Tian Zun returned to his side. Without a word, he reached into his deep-blue-gloved right hand, pulled out a vial of life essence, and injected the pale golden liquid into his neck vein. Having endured repeated spiritual assaults, his soul now teetered on the brink of collapse—had this Suddenly, his languor and suffering vanished at a visible pace. Yet this could not reverse the duo's declining momentum. Whether or not Yuchuan Mei lived or died no longer mattered—she was now spent, her strength waning, able only to expose herself and unable to sustain continuous attacks on the two. The real challenge lay with Zhao Youcai. At that moment, thick plumes of black mist seeped out from the crevices of the stone armor, gathering heavily above the courtyard, clinging to the eaves and tiles, and settling like cotton candy. This was the true form of the creature! "Father-in-law, it has emerged!" Zhang Yuanqing's brows furrowed. The sensation of dehydration returned. Zhang Yuanqing watched as the flesh and muscle on his arms rapidly shriveled, and his eyes, blurred by dehydration, grew hazy. Huang Taiji stepped back, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, and in a steady voice commanded, "Open!" The ground beneath their feet suddenly collapsed, and mud surged upward swiftly, forming a bowl-shaped mound that inverted and covered their heads, shielding them from the descending black mist. The state of dehydration vanished once more. The Mountain God’s sense of security is truly strong… Zhang Yuanqing, feeling protected, exhaled a sigh of relief—only for a sudden itch in his throat and a burning sensation on his forehead. Within seconds, he experienced the sharp pain of a small knife scraping his throat, cement sealing his nasal passages, a craniotomy performed without anesthesia, and a sharp blade slicing through his abdomen. He was ill. The black mist not only deprived the land of moisture but also spread disease. Pathogens had breached the protective barrier of the earthworks and infiltrated. “Cough, cough…” Huang Taiji began to cough as well, looking at Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun with some surprise. “Your physical constitution is quite good.” Since their infection timelines were nearly identical, their immune responses were comparable. Yet Huang Taiji, a Level 6 earth monster, demonstrated significantly stronger resistance to this negative impact than other characters of the same level. Thus, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun’s resistance to illness was on par with that of a Level 6 creature. Huang Taiqi removed a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, poured several pills into his mouth, then handed it to Yuan Shi Tianzun. "It can suppress the illness for five minutes. Within that time, if we can't come up with a solution, we'll have to prepare to return to the spiritual realm." Zhang Yuanqing took the pills, swallowed them, and said, "Father, this is only a temporary measure. What do you have in mind?" Huang Taiqi paused for a moment. "Right now, I'm actually rather envious of the scouts." Because the scouts are quick-thinking and resourceful—exactly the kind of people suited for handling the current situation. Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily stunned, unsure whether to praise him for his humor or his talent for telling dry jokes. The big players themselves were faltering—now even the big one was struggling to stay afloat. Zhang Yuanqing could only begin to think through his own strategies. After some reflection, he realized that even if he sacrificed all his reserves, he still wouldn't stand a chance against the monstrous creatures. Of course, if he used the universal trading vouchers from the Universal Trading House, he could certainly defeat the monsters. But that would be a strategy that meant sacrificing everything The Celestial Heaven Robe is a direction—only the trial costs are too high. Once the black mist cannot be contained, he will be instantly drained into a dry, hollow form. A few minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing began coughing, his breathing growing labored, followed by Huang Taiqi. A few seconds later, their symptoms worsened, especially Zhang Yuanqing’s—his lungs felt like those of a blacksmith’s bellows, his breathing heavy and hot, expelling steaming air. Not good. If this continues, I won’t even be fully drained before I succumb to illness… Zhang Yuanqing’s heart pounded fiercely, as if he might suffer a sudden cardiac arrest at any moment. In the pitch-black, featureless darkness, Huang Taiqi looked at the Prime Celestial Sovereign and said, “If I have no other choice, I can merge with the earth. I can survive, though I regret that I won’t be able to save you.” He still had one life-saving option—the Spirit of the Earth’s Pulse. The Spirit of the Earth’s Pulse is a skill of a Level Five Mountain God, enabling communication with the earth and eventual assimilation with the land and rivers, becoming part of the earth and mountains The mountain deity who awakens the spirit of the earth veins shall gain unparalleled defense, endurance, and a continuous flow of spiritual energy. Dehydration and illness shall no longer be able to claim him, though at the cost of immobility and entering a state of deep sleep. "Cough... cough... cough..." Zhang Yuanqing collapsed to the ground, his forehead blazing hot, his consciousness growing hazy. Huang Taiji drew a vial of life essence fluid. "I can manage that myself," Zhang Yuanqing waved it off, with a wry smile. "Life essence fluid can't eliminate pathogens—its effect is limited." While the fluid revitalizes his cells, it still cannot prevent the pathogens from gradually draining his vitality—it merely addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. Huang Taiji did not retract the vial, but placed it before him. After a moment's thought, this slightly gray-haired adoptive father said: "The formidable entity we are escorting belongs to the Water element. Once it attaches itself to you, it will seep into your kidneys and gradually drain your life force. As a Night-Wandering Deity, you may consider letting go of your physical form." "说着，他取出一小块黑色的磁石，道：'这是息壤，能附着灵魂，保护灵魂，有它庇护，伊川美应该杀不死你的灵魂。'" Xiang Yuanqing breathed heavily, his eyes widening in surprise as he glanced at him. His own faction's warehouse also held this item—a priceless treasure. How could Huang Taiji have so generously lent him such a precious artifact? Though they were both official figures, they had only recently met, with no close ties. To offer it as a gift so readily was truly remarkable. "Thank you..." he accepted the Xiang soil. "If I survive, how shall I awaken you?" "Simply communicate with my soul," Huang Taiji said solemnly. A series of golden lights rose from the soles of his feet. With a series of crisp 'crack' sounds, Huang Taiji's legs gradually turned gray, losing their luster, much like common stones. This grayish-white texture spread upward, slowly transforming him into a lifeless statue, completely devoid of any vitality. "Oh...," Zhang Yuanqing folded up the Life Source Liquid and the Xishang, settled against the edge of the pit, and checked himself in the Ghost Mirror—the glow of blood had grown even more intense. Was this indeed the death fate indicated by the turtle shell? His consciousness was gradually fading, his mind unable to think, drifting toward the brink of death. "I simply can't devise any strategy in this condition... Fortunately, I still have one divine artifact..." As his thoughts came and went, he reached for the Jade Belt of the Qing Emperor. The elegant belt, adorned with jade stones, was now securely fastened around his waist. Without hesitation, he activated the "Qing Emperor's Immortality Technique," and instantly, a soft, clear green light blossomed, illuminating the stone carvings. His physical strength, spiritual energy, and mental state had all returned to their peak, and the pathogens within his body were completely eradicated. "Ah," Zhang Yuanqing quickly pulled on the Houtu Boots and held the exchange voucher from the Universal Trading House tightly in his hand. His mind raced, reviewing every item and material in his inventory, striving to find hope in the midst of this dire situation. "The black mist will infiltrate the body. If, after it enters, I take the Life Source Liquid and simultaneously activate the functions of the Sacred Heaven Set, can I suppress it?" "Theoretically, yes—but if the Sacred Heaven Set fails to hold, I will die on the spot." Suddenly, Zhang Yuanqing had an inspiration and thought of a solution. Practice the Pure Yang Washing Record! Since the black mist is a water-element spirit of resentment, the Golden Sun power can control it. While practicing the Pure Yang Washing Record, he can guide the black mist into his body. With the Golden Sun power combined with the Sacred Heaven Set, the success rate is extremely high. "Once the black mist is sealed, the side quests can continue." As the visions began to emerge, a cracking sound came from above—like a turtle shell breaking. After the Yellow Taiji entered deep sleep, the soil layer above its head lost the support of spiritual energy and began to dehydrate and collapse under the erosion of the black mist. Seeing the situation, Zhang Yuancheng no longer hesitated. He decided to go all out, pulling out ten golden bars infused with the power of the Sun God, a ceramic jar containing the Life Source Liquid, and four vials of the Life Source Liquid. At that very moment, the soil collapsed and crumbled, and dim daylight and torrential rain surged in. From afar, Yuchuan Mei carefully observed, clearly seeing the scene at the bottom of the pit, and smiled, saying, "It seems Huang Taiji has given up on you now, Yuan Shishen. Your myth has come to an end." Though she smiled, her eyes carried deep regret—like a vain antagonist who, out of necessity, had to defeat the number one beauty of the world. Yet, it wasn't time yet. Zhang Yuancheng raised the Ghost Mirror, studied his facial expression, and said a remark that puzzled Yuchuan Mei: "Don't think you've won!" The damp, heavy black mist collapsed and settled over the shallow depression, enveloping Zhang Yuancheng. Instantly, Zhang Yuancheng's body shriveled, his skin pressed tightly against his bones, his hair turning to dry grass, and he transformed into a skeleton. "Plink, plink, plink..." The ceramic jars and syringes beneath his feet shattered, their contents flowing into his mouth like streams. Though his dry form remained hollow, the damp, viscous black mist seemed to have found its sweet spot, rushing in through his pores, nostrils, and mouth, greedily siphoning away his vital energy. Yet, despite the waters and pathogens capable of instantly killing a Fourth-Rank Saint, they failed to claim his life. With great resolve, Zhang Yuanqing firmly crushed the ten golden bars held in his hands. A brilliant golden light surged through the darkness, ten small suns rising from within the bars. Immediately, he activated the breathing technique of *Pure Yang Bathing*, drawing all the suns into his mouth in one breath. "Hmph..." Golden flames instantly flared within his body, his hair burning completely, his flesh melting away to reveal red bone—only for it to regenerate moments later, only to be consumed again in the next cycle. This process repeated continuously. Inside him, there was a crackling sound, as if cold water had been poured into a hot pot—the sound of the black mist being vaporized. It lacked wisdom, merely following instinct, settling in the kidneys, consuming vital energy, and clashing against the powerful, resolute force of the Golden Sun. "The Life Source Fluid protected me… yet it also became the very foundation of the divine power that counters the Sun God's might… I must, I need to suppress it." As the two forces battled, Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness gradually blurred. With great effort, he held onto a thread of thought, activating the celestial ritual suit. The Yin-Yang robe surged upward with a sudden burst, igniting into a roaring flame, forming a fiery mantle that fluttered behind him, illuminating the ancestral hall. The force representing water separated from the robe and enveloped him, solidifying into a dark robe embroidered with patterns of the mythical phoenix, exuding a quiet elegance and grace. A vibrant, emerald sash at his waist, soft and warm, subtly softened the depth of the black robe and the commanding presence of the flaming mantle. A pair of exquisite silk boots upon his feet, exuding a rich, solid, and majestic presence—like a sovereign of unwavering dignity. Yuchuan Mei was stunned. Yuanshiben, his back adorned with a flame-embroidered cloak, wore a long, deep indigo robe and stepped in elegant, imposing boots, his waist encircled by a soft, warm jade sash. His aura was powerful, balanced, resolute, and profound—like a celestial deity dwelling in the ninth heavens. The black mist coiling around his waist seemed suppressed, retreating step by step, its dense light continuously gathering and merging into Zhang Yuanqing’s kidneys, gradually yielding ground. The stalemate was broken. The power of the Sun God burned fiercely, scorching every part of his body, refining his bones and organs, evaporating the yin qi within the mist until it became increasingly refined. This process lasted precisely ten minutes before the golden flames finally dimmed. "I'm still alive," Zhang Yuanqing thought, a surge of joy rising in his heart—only to have his consciousness sink into boundless darkness. The rain ceased. The mirror world collapsed. “This….” Yuchi Mei staggered forward, supporting her severely wounded body—having used the Life Source Liquid to heal her injuries while the black mist held the enemy in place. She awakened Huang Taiqi. Once again, this阴尸 was thwarting her plans. Huang Taiqi opened his eyes, swiftly surveying the surroundings before settling on Yuchuan Mei and Yuan Shi Tianzun. The black mist vanished—just for a moment—before he could ponder it further, he raised his foot and stamped down hard. Earth spirit power immediately enveloped Yuan Shi Tianzun's body, blocking Yuchuan Mei. Then, he reached out, transforming the stone armor into a stone sword, which he swung at Yuchuan Mei. Yuchuan Mei's form dissolved like a phantom, her true essence appearing outside the pit and rushing toward the main gate. She moved with decisive resolve. Though the Life Source Liquid had healed her injuries, the physical and spiritual exhaustion it had caused remained unrestored. Huang Taiqi, being an earth creature, possessed boundless endurance. Facing him, she had no choice but to fight to the end. After Huang Taiqi fell into deep sleep, his absorbed domain disappeared. Earth creatures were famously clumsy, lacking agility. He could only watch helplessly as Yuchuan Mei cleared the courtyard wall and vanished into the night. Lady Yin Yao raised her small horn, "His spiritual body is still there, but he cannot awaken. Something has gone wrong—he..." "Has he passed away?" Huang Taiqi glanced at her. Though his ethereal face remained expressionless, as a soil creature, he could feel the intense spiritual surge. Lady Yin Yao held the horn, urging, "Awaken his physical body, or he will transform into a spiritual servant." Huang Taiqi nodded, set aside his stone sword, and drew out the Life Source Liquid to dissolve the soil shell formed by the Yellow Earth Spirit, then infused it into Yuan Shi Tian Zun's body, waiting patiently—yet still seeing no signs of awakening. "His physical body has completely perished... What exactly did he do?" Huang Taiqi furrowed his brows, turning to the speaking shade. "He said he needed to suppress the black mist. He told me that no matter whether he succeeds or not, as soon as the mirror image vanishes, you must awaken me immediately." Lady Yin Yao stood there, stunned, her once vibrant crimson eyes now dimmed. Compressed the black mist... Huang Taiji pressed his palm against the blackened corpse's waist, focused his awareness, and sensed a deep, profoundly cold energy swirling within. His palm quickly withered. "The black mist has settled inside him, fused with his kidneys... he's succeeded." This usually reserved, serious earth-being rarely showed such astonishment. "He truly did it." With only a level 4 body, he had never believed he could contain a boss possessing dominion-level traits. Suddenly, Huang Taiji recalled Fu Qingyang's evaluation of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign in the group chat: the more adversity one faces, the greater their potential unfolds. Princess Yin Yao looked at Huang Taiji. "Take him to the Divine Sword Manor—perhaps someone there can save him, or perhaps there's a method to extract the black mist. Hurry." "I'll do it. Don't worry." "I'm not worried." "You are worried..." "I'm not!" Huang Taiji did not argue further, merely nodded, and placed his palm against the chest of Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Mud flowed forth, enveloping the charred body and solidifying into a coffin two meters long. Huang Taiji then lifted the coffin, accompanied by Lady Yin Yao, and walked slowly out of the ancestral hall.