Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 240: The Return of the God of Death

As Xue Feifei conveyed her senior brother Liu Xiangshi’s proposal to Chu Tianyu, she also expressed her own concerns. The connection between her and Chu Tianyu was not as direct as the physical contact between Chu Tianyu and Tai Nianran; instead, communication relied on invisible flute melodies.

However, this brought its own problems. With her current skill level, Xue Feifei could sustain playing these melodies for a day or two, but if it had to continue for a long time, it would be difficult to maintain. Moreover, since she was on the outside, such energy circulation required complete undisturbed conditions, and someone needed to protect her. If anything went wrong, Xue Feifei wasn’t afraid, but if it affected Chu Tianyu inside, she would never agree to the proposal, no matter how favorable the chances might seem!

After expressing her thoughts, Chu Tianyu immediately reassured her, “Feifei, don’t worry. Your senior brother’s proposal is excellent. From what I’ve observed these days, with your involvement and the support of this massive energy, there’s no need to worry about exhaustion. On the contrary, this energy will greatly enhance your cultivation. If my assumptions are correct, the Green Dragon energy within you could even take shape through this opportunity and transform back into a dragon…”

Before Xue Feifei could rejoice, Chu Tianyu shifted his tone and said with a wry smile, “But this blessing isn’t easy to enjoy. I’ve actually thought about your senior brother’s idea too. My biggest concern is that even if we get you involved, we might still not be able to control such immense energy. It would have to operate day and night endlessly, with no end in sight…”

“Tianyu, I hope you understand. Whatever it takes, if it can help you, I’ll do it! Tell me, if three people need to work together to control this energy, what else do I need to prepare?” Without waiting for Chu Tianyu to finish, Xue Feifei firmly interrupted him, expressing her determination.

This left Chu Tianyu speechless!

……

With the help of her senior brother Liu Xiangshi, Xue Feifei quickly made some preparations. In fact, according to Chu Tianyu, no preparations were necessary at all, as the scale of this energy was beyond ordinary people’s comprehension. As long as it could be activated successfully, it would surely form a strong protective barrier around Xue Feifei.

But Senior Liu Xiangshi couldn’t rest easy, so he set up a Xuan Tian Great Formation together with the two other seniors in the snowstorm as a precaution. When Xue Feifei’s Heavenly and Earthly Voice rang out again, she successfully established contact with Chu Tianyu and the others. The three of them exchanged words first, after which Chu Tianyu controlled Xue Feifei’s Heavenly and Earthly Voice to gradually enter the energy field formed between him and Tai Nianran, following that energy as it moved within their bodies. This was Chu Tianyu’s initial attempt; if Xue Feifei’s Heavenly and Earthly Voice could also follow this path to form a complete cycle, then their vision would have a chance of coming true. Soon, they achieved one full cycle, and the subtle sensations involved left Xue Feifei utterly astonished—especially when she sensed Tai Nianran’s vast and powerful vital energy; she could hardly believe she had only absorbed a fraction of it. As for Chu Tianyu, in Xue Feifei’s eyes, if his cultivation level had previously been like an endless ocean, vast and profound, now it felt like the unknown—a mystery, an unfathomable world that could never be glimpsed! At the same time, Chu Tianyu brought her another surprise: the Purple Void Dragon Core within him had fully reached the condition to break free from its seal, as the previously sealed core was now moving in small circles in place along a highly complex path. It was a strange sensation; although on the surface the dragon core was only vibrating slightly in his dantian, Chu Tianyu felt as though it was soaring freely in a vast space of its own! Could this be the legendary “mini-universe”? At this thought, not only did Tai Nianran and Xue Feifei laugh, but Chu Tianyu himself shook his head in amusement and added humorously, “What do you think? With our combined strength now, we should at least be at the level of Golden Saints, right?” “You watch such old cartoons too?” Tai Nianran and Xue Feifei asked, barely holding back their laughter. “Of course! I remember that after training with my masters, to integrate into normal society as soon as possible, I started cramming everything a three-year-old should know!” Chu Tianyu said proudly. “Huh, how do you two know about this? Did you watch it too?” After saying that, Chu Tianyu asked curiously.

“Heh, I’m not as boring as you. It’s because when I was little, my idiot brother spent all his time watching these things, constantly talking about unleashing his inner power, and then using stuff like the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms or the Heavenly Horse Meteor Fist to fight with others…” Tai Nianran said jokingly.
“The disciples of our Tianyin Sect who practice in seclusion don’t get the chance to experience the outside world. So when we were kids, even the shows we occasionally watched were a dozen or twenty years behind those outside…” Xue Feifei replied honestly.
“Alas, such is fate! Don’t blame Bai Lei for saying I have women on both sides—he’s just jealous. Look, this is reality—even the cartoons we watch together prove that those who aren’t part of the same family won’t share the same home…” Chu Tianyu said shamelessly.
“Go to hell!” Tai Nianran and Xue Feifei spat in unison.
Just then, before they could recover from their banter with Chu Tianyu, both suddenly felt a tremor inside them—“Boom…”—as an explosive wave of energy surged through their bodies, accompanied by a roaring sound in their minds. At the same time, Chu Tianyu’s voice rang out: “Hold your spiritual center firm, relax your mind, breathe naturally—everything is under control!”
Tai Nianran and Xue Feifei were both extremely intelligent. After the initial shock, they quickly understood that Chu Tianyu was merging energies, using Xue Feifei’s Heavenly Sound to guide that energy into her body and then pull it back. The earlier tremor had occurred when the energy’s path was disrupted and redirected, while the roaring sound later was caused by the energy being brought back into their bodies by Chu Tianyu, adapting to the new path through their meridians. After these two tremors, the energy finally succeeded in circulating within the three of them through this special method using the Heavenly Sound as a medium.
Though the process seemed lengthy, it was almost completed in an instant, and the dangers involved were self-evident!

It turned out that when Chu Tianyu was talking about light topics earlier, he saw that after going through so many hardships, Tai Nianran and Xue Feifei were finally relaxed for once. At the moment when they both said “Go to hell!”, their thoughts and emotions almost aligned, reaching a state where actions happened naturally without deliberate effort. So Chu Tianyu made a quick decision—connecting the sounds of heaven and earth with that energy at that very moment, using all his strength to guide the energy along the path set by those sounds, successfully breaking through, and then controlling it to pull it back, thus completing the entire cycle.

At that time, Tai Nianran and Xue Feifei felt the energy flowing smoothly and gently within them, realizing that Chu Tianyu had finally succeeded. Yet the weakness and exhaustion emanating from him also reached their hearts instantly, preventing them from feeling joy and plunging them instead into sorrow and distress. They quickly asked about Chu Tianyu’s condition.

Chu Tianyu, feeling the warm affection transmitted by the two of them, though exhausted from having used almost all his strength, was content enough to receive such care and love from these two beautiful women.

So, at that moment, the three of them ignored matters related to energy circulation or absorption, fully immersed in the emotional connection and resonance among them.

After what seemed like a long time, when Chu Tianyu gradually regained his senses, he was shocked to find that his originally depleted vital energy had now filled his entire body, becoming even purer, stronger, and more enduring…

Overjoyed, Chu Tianyu immediately shared this good news with Tai Nianran and Xue Feifei. While celebrating for him, they also noticed that their own vital energy had become more abundant and powerful. Especially for Xue Feifei, the change was particularly noticeable—she felt not only an abundance of vital energy but also the lingering energy of the Green Dragon continuously strengthening her, making her feel as if she were a dragon returning to the sea, full of freedom and exuberance.

Faced with these changes, Chu Tianyu quickly examined the energy flowing within them and was delighted to discover that the three of them had absorbed nearly two-thirds of it in such a short time—simply incredible!

Moreover, Chu Tianyu felt that the speed of this absorption was accelerating. The surging true energy within the three of them gradually seemed uncontrollable. Especially under the influence of Xue Feifei’s Qingjiao energy, the already integrated Mo Long energy in his body suddenly became infinitely vibrant. The two energies resonated with each other, attracting one another. Combined with the electromagnetic waves in Tai Nianran’s body, they gradually formed a vortex-like magnetic field composed of true energy. This field not only absorbed the remaining energy within their bodies but also seemed to expand outward, drawing in everything around it…

Outside, since Xue Feifei successfully joined in, things turned out exactly as Chu Tianyu had predicted. It seemed as though some kind of energy entered Xue Feifei’s body instantly along invisible lines in the air, and her energy radiated outward, enveloping her in a colorful glow that naturally formed a protective barrier.

It seemed their efforts to set up that formation had been in vain. Xue Feifei’s radiating energy almost instantly destroyed the large formation with overwhelming force. Fortunately, this energy only surrounded Xue Feifei and did not spread further; otherwise, those outside the formation would have been affected. Not to mention approaching her, even the situation inside was obscured by the light, out of sight!

However, witnessing this scene, everyone realized the power of this energy. According to Chu Tianyu’s explanation, just the circulation of this energy through Xue Feifei’s body could produce such immense power—it was simply incredible! No wonder, with Chu Tianyu’s current level of cultivation, he could only absorb a small amount of energy in a week, not to mention that Illusory Flame True Vessel still roaming around.

“Senior brother, does this… count as success?” Ouyang Ziyi asked anxiously.

“It seems so, depending on the situation!” Liu Xiangshi replied hesitantly.

Ouyang Ziyi frowned again and asked, “Then how long do they think this will continue?”

Before Liu Xiangshi could answer, their uncle Xian Tian took over the conversation, speaking soothingly, “No one can say for sure. It depends on their fate. But with my young disciple’s abilities, surely good fortune will be on his side!”

“Yes, let’s observe the situation here. If anything changes inside, there should be some signs…” Another uncle, Xian Feng, had barely finished speaking when a massive wave of energy suddenly erupted from Xue Feifei’s body, instantly spreading throughout the surroundings and silencing everyone. They looked at each other in shock.

It turned out that although this immense energy could be felt by everyone almost immediately, strangely, it wasn’t as domineering as before. As this energy flowed over them, it was like a gentle stream passing through their bodies, bringing comfort and a sense of freshness, making them feel ethereal and full of vitality. Moreover, wherever this energy passed, the plants and trees in the forest also burst with vitality, instantly transforming the area into a scene brimming with life. But the good times didn’t last long. Before anyone could recover from their shock, a sucking force appeared, and the life energy that had just been released was absorbed back again, just as if through breathing. The sucking force grew stronger, gradually forming a misty vortex around Xue Feifei… This scene resembled the moment when the Illusory Flame True Meridian first began to take shape, absorbing vast amounts of natural essence. Faced with this sudden change, those outside had to quickly find a place to stand, leaning against large trees, and use their internal energy to resist any potential danger. The sucking force grew even stronger, far beyond what ordinary people could endure. Ouyang Ziyi, in particular, was pressed tightly against the tree trunk by the immense force. She could even hear the “creaking” sound of her bones against the tree trunk. But soon, a surge of energy enveloped her, greatly reducing the pressure she was under, and her pale complexion quickly regained some color. Ouyang Ziyi turned to look at her senior brother Liu Xiangshi, who was helping her resist, and nodded in gratitude. But before Liu Xiangshi could respond, her expression changed suddenly, and her arms rose involuntarily, as if controlled by some force. A green light flashed as her arms rose, and along with it, her entire arm glowed brightly, the light spreading instantly throughout her body. A green glow emerged from her wrists, gradually forming an imaginary bow and arrow adorned with green leaves and vines. At each end of the bow and arrow appeared lifelike elf heads, both of whom seemed to be filled with joy and excitement, as if influenced by something, facing the direction of the sucking force.

Strange things happen every year, but there are especially many this year! Faced with this scene, Liu Xiangshi could only stare in disbelief, his mouth wide open, filled with amazement. He inwardly exclaimed, “Good heavens! Who exactly is this junior disciple of mine? Why is every girl he meets so ‘special’? Some can play the sounds of heaven and earth, some have supernatural abilities, and even the last one, who seems relatively normal, can conjure up ‘foreign kids’—truly, each has their own unique skill! I thought I was so superior, having pursued esoteric studies my whole life, but just the abilities of these few girls are enough for me to study! Sigh, it seems choosing to remain single might be a mistake itself…”

As Liu Xiangshi was lost in his thoughts, he felt a tremendous rebound force coming at him. The energy he had released to protect Ouyang Ziyi was instantly scattered. The force was so powerful that, after pushing back his protective energy, it headed straight for his heart. Terrified, Liu Xiangshi quickly mobilized all his strength to block it, but at the cost of spewing blood.

After barely stabilizing his breathing, he turned to check and saw that Ouyang Ziyi had disappeared without a trace, leaving him in shock. It turned out that Ouyang Ziyi was now suspended in mid-air, enveloped in a green glow. It was impossible to see what was inside, so there was no way to know her condition. Her Elf Bow, which she had been holding, kept changing shape and lengthening, slowly moving along the spiral path into Xue Feifei’s energy field.

At that moment, Liu Xiangshi realized that the strange green bow and arrow inside Ouyang Ziyi must also be a form of energy from heaven and earth. Under such immense suction, it had finally broken free from her body to seek its origin.

The situation was now completely out of control, and Liu Xiangshi was at a loss, not knowing what to do. Meanwhile, his two uncles also sensed something unusual and sent messages to him. Liu Xiangshi could only smile bitterly and describe what had happened and his theories. After hearing this, the two uncles were also shocked into silence, with no solution in sight.

As for what was happening outside, Chu Tianye and the others had long since gained a clear view, as if they had divine eyes, able to see everything clearly, including every word spoken by their senior brothers. Yet, although they could see and hear, they were unable to express their thoughts or send messages.

In fact, Chu Tianyu and the other two were also at a critical moment inside. Thanks to their combined efforts, most of that energy had been absorbed, leaving only a tiny amount, about the thickness of a little finger, still circulating. However, after the recent massive release, their physical potentials seemed to have reached a certain saturation point, preventing them from absorbing even this remaining energy. They could only helplessly let it continue to circulate within them. As a result, Chu Tianyu and the others still couldn’t leave or break free from the space created by the Illusory Flame True Vein.

Yet the changes inside caused the Illusory Flame True Vein to become anxious. It spun frantically around Chu Tianyu and Qin Nianran, but seemingly out of some restraint, despite its urgency, it never approached the energy field formed by the three of them.

So Chu Tianyu temporarily set it aside and focused on examining his own condition. According to his plans, combined with the Green Dragon energy in Xue Feifei’s body, the three of them should be able to absorb that energy without problem. But reality deviated slightly. From the absorption process so far, almost all of the energy had been absorbed by Xue Feifei. Her Green Dragon energy, empowered by this massive energy, repaired her body and enabled her to reach the realm of ascension. She even transformed directly into a dragon right in her dantian, avoiding the heavenly calamity and completing the entire transformation process—a truly extraordinary feat!

Moreover, since the entire dragon body was confined within Xue Feifei’s body, its so-called “ascension” couldn’t take place in mid-air. Instead, it merged with Xue Feifei’s meridians, allowing her to achieve the state of unity between man and heaven. At the same time, it utilized Xue Feifei’s body to perfect the supreme technique of “containing Mount Sumeru within a meson, hiding nature amidst the hustle and bustle.”

It was also thanks to the power of the Green Dragon that most of this massive energy was absorbed. It could be said that Chu Tianyu and Qin Nianran absorbed very little during this process. For Chu Tianyu, this energy, which might be regarded as the finest treasure in the universe by others, could only serve as a minor supplement. Compared to the true energy in his body that combined the Ink Dragon and lunar energy, it was far inferior—not to mention that restless Purple Void Dragon Core.

As for Qin Nianran, given her original physique and cultivation level, her energy had already reached saturation long before Xue Feifei’s transformation, leaving her completely unable to absorb any more energy.

However, Xue Feifei’s internal energy had now reached saturation, and the remaining energy left the others feeling somewhat helpless. Moreover, due to the energy vortex generated by Xue Feifei’s transformation from a green dragon to a real dragon, an even stronger suction force was created, once again drawing in the life essence of all things—this was precisely the suction force that Liu Xiangshi and the others had just sensed outside. As a result, the remaining energy circulating within them began to grow stronger, leaving Chu Tianyu at a loss—turns out, being too happy could also cause headaches! Fortunately, Chu Tianyu promptly noticed Ouyang Ziyi and realized her situation along with that of her senior Liu Xiangshi. An idea struck him, and he immediately transmitted this idea to Qin Nianran and Xue Feifei at the same time. Xue Feifei immediately expressed some concern, as it was still uncertain whether Ouyang Ziyi’s Spirit Bow could integrate or accept this energy. It would be one thing to enjoy blessings alone, but another to face difficulties together! Qin Nianran, after hearing this, did not express her opinion right away but thought for a while before saying in a calm yet slightly joking tone, “I think we should try following Chu Tianyu’s idea. After all, she always acts like a little wife. Now that her ‘husband’ is in trouble, wouldn’t she step forward? I know her personality—if she knew the situation now, she’d definitely be willing to take the risk! Ah, Feifei, you probably don’t know yet, but our Ziyi is an elite member of dozens of adventure clubs…” Though her tone seemed teasing, Xue Feifei didn’t quite understand at first, but Chu Tianyu grasped the profound meaning behind Qin Nianran’s words. Although Ziyi usually appeared composed and acted like a strategic advisor by Chu Tianyu’s side, in reality, she envied Xue Feifei and Qin Nianran for their martial skills. After the events in Europe, she realized even more the importance of martial prowess. Though she didn’t say it often, being around those with high martial skills made her gradually feel a sense of loss—lacking such skills not only meant she couldn’t help Chu Tianyu but also seemed to deprive her of a common language.

So faced with such a great opportunity—a chance to instantly become a top master—this risk was well worth taking for Ouyang Ziyi! Qin Nianran could say such things precisely because she understood Ouyang Ziyi so well. After all, they were known as the twin beauties of Peking University and had been competing against each other for so long. As the saying goes, the one who knows you best is your enemy—truly true!
After realizing this, Chu Tianyu hesitated no longer. Centering on Xue Feifei and combining the three of them’ current strength, they successfully broke through the outer barrier. Their energy surged forth, purposefully enveloping Ouyang Ziyi and pulling her to Xue Feifei’s side. However, they failed to control the force properly, causing Liu Xiangshi, who was using his energy to protect Ouyang Ziyi, to be rebounded and spit blood on the spot—what a mistake!
Chu Tianyu had been very careful, thinking that if the Elf Bow inside Ziyi was incompatible with this energy, he could proceed step by step, just as he had initially controlled a small amount of energy to heal Nianran, without causing any major problems.
But things went far beyond Chu Tianyu’s expectations. The moment the energy enveloped Ziyi, the Elf Bow in her body slipped out of her control, bursting forth and eagerly rushing toward the vortex formed at the periphery, diving into it as if starved for years. Without Chu Tianyu’s control, it immediately merged with the remaining energy. From that bow, two green elves over half a meter tall gradually emerged, while the original bow split into two, with each elf holding one.
As the energy was almost completely absorbed by the two elves, everyone felt a massive shock in the energy field. Suddenly, the Illusory Flame True Pulse broke through and surged in, pouring a vast amount of scorching energy into everyone’s bodies…
…
On a cold night in Beijing, several dark shadows flew across the sky above Lishan Villa, stopping in an instant in front of a pile of ruins marked with police tape.
“Is this… my villa?” A delicate cry of shock rang out at the same time.