Chapter Fifty-Four: Spirit Immortal

“Luce, is it?” Leng Bingyan nodded. “Your strength among the bloodkin is no longer considered weak, is it?”

“Yes, my lady goddess. I am now a prince among the bloodkin. Aside from the legendary emperor rank, I am already one of the strongest in our kind.” Luce replied with composure, but his tone carried an unmistakable reverence.

Leng Bingyan pondered this for a moment, not bothering to correct his use of “lady goddess.” At this point, Luce’s power was equivalent to a Nascent Soul stage cultivator; such strength was already at the peak within the bloodkin. Presumably, the so-called emperor rank would be around the Out of Body stage. The bloodkin were considered a formidable force among Western dark factions, but judging from this, the strength of the entire West wasn’t all that impressive.

When compared to the countless demons in the cultivation world… hmm, the East is still stronger!

Immersed in her thoughts, Leng Bingyan was silent for a while before she asked, “What are your plans now?”

“If my lady goddess does not find it beneath her, I hope to stay by your side to serve you in any way I can. My family among the bloodkin is not without influence either. If you require it, I could carve out a territory for you, a place where you may reside in peace.”

Listening to Luce’s vow of loyalty, Bingyan felt somewhat pleased, though she was still a bit averse to being called “goddess.” But upon further thought, what would she need a servant for? It would only add unnecessary burdens to her carefree life. With this in mind, she waved him off. “There’s no need. I do not require a servant by my side.”

Luce seemed a little disappointed, but quickly gathered himself. Though he couldn’t remain by the goddess’s side, his increase in power was undeniable. Not being able to stay with her actually inspired him to return to the bloodkin and pursue his own ambitions. He believed that with his strength as a prince, he could certainly make a name for himself among the bloodkin.

“If you do not need my service, my lady goddess, then I shall return to my kin. Should you ever visit the domain under my bloodline’s rule, I will be sure to welcome you with all the honors you deserve.”

Leng Bingyan smiled and nodded. See, this is the benefit of having a follower. Under her gaze, Luce spread his large, leathery wings, flapped them, and soared into the sky, his figure gradually fading into the distance until it disappeared.

※※※Feather※※※Emperor※※※

The journey to Japan was one Bingyan could not avoid. It turned out that masters in Japan’s ninja and martial arts circles had kidnapped two of Summer Yu’s close friends, drawing her there for a rescue. Yet Bingyan quickly surmised that this was less about a rescue and more of a trap set specifically for Summer Yu.

Summer Yu was a member of the Dragon Squad and had once foiled a plot in Japan. The ninjas’ intentions were clear: eliminate Summer Yu, who posed a threat to them. Summer Yu was a formidable presence before them, unlike Summer Tian, who was even stronger but had never revealed herself to their eyes. Naturally, their attempts to get rid of Summer Yu were understandable.

To protect Summer Yu, Leng Bingyan decided to go as well. Yet Bingyan was puzzled. By all rights, Summer Yu was already at the point of nirvana and no longer needed her protection. Even if she were to “die,” it would be beneficial. But then she remembered Mo Wuxie’s words: “Before Summer Yu’s nirvana, you must ensure she comes to no harm. But when the time comes, you might as well help her through it, making her rebirth smoother.” Should I help her? Bingyan truly didn’t know. To help her—did that mean to end her?

“Master, follow my guidance!” Just as Bingyan was mired in this internal struggle, Ziling’s voice sounded.

“What…?” The sudden voice startled Bingyan, but she quickly realized it was Ziling and followed the guidance without hesitation.

Her figure flickered, moving so swiftly that her form became a blur. When her surroundings finally stabilized, Bingyan found herself standing before a magnificent temple.

“And where is this?” The temple was resplendent, with pavilions and towers—a truly grand structure. But the moment she saw the deity plaque at the entrance, Bingyan felt a wave of deep aversion. So this was Japan’s “divine lavatory.” To think they built a “divine lavatory” so beautifully—it was really such a waste…

“Master, I just sensed an aura belonging to our Yanhuang bloodline.”

“What was it?” Bingyan asked urgently.

“I’m not quite sure myself. The aura flashed by so briefly—gone in an instant. But even though it lasted only a moment, I managed to catch it.” Ziling, usually playful, now spoke with seriousness.

Bingyan sensed the gravity in her words and waited quietly for her to continue.

“It’s beneath this very earth!” Ziling’s words were shocking, making Bingyan pause. “And the entrance should be this ‘divine lavatory’!”

“The ‘divine lavatory’ is the entrance?” Bingyan asked. “What exactly is it?”

“We’ll know once we go inside, won’t we?”

That was true, and Bingyan couldn’t find a reason to argue. The “divine lavatory” was heavily guarded, but such defenses were meaningless before her. With a flicker, she was already inside.

Facing a pristine white wall, Bingyan pointed at it and asked Ziling, “Is it here?”

Ziling nodded. “Alright, then let’s go in!” With those words, Bingyan raised her right hand, forming a dazzling orb of light in her palm—compressed spiritual energy drawn from the world itself. With the Lingyu body, she possessed both the Violet Plume spirit and the immortal energy of ascension, so channeling the world’s energy came as naturally as breathing. For her, compressing it into a ball of power was effortless.

The orb pressed against the hard, cold wall, and a deafening explosion reverberated. Bingyan had forgotten—she was on the second basement level! What would be the consequences?

The ground shook violently. Centered on the “divine lavatory,” it was as if hundreds or thousands of high-yield bombs detonated simultaneously. The “divine lavatory” was instantly obliterated in the eruption of energy, and the earth split open in eight directions, leaving deep ravines and devastation in its wake.

But Bingyan had no time to care. Protected by energy, she was oblivious to the global uproar she had just caused.

The way ahead was open—a long, winding underground passage.

As she walked on, the space ahead widened. What lay before her was a sea of roiling red magma, the scorching heat searing against her. Bingyan instinctively activated the fire essence within her. With its protection, the burning became meaningless, and she continued forward.

What did she see? A giant man, his entire body crimson, stood about three meters tall, seated within a glowing, intricate formation. What most drew Bingyan’s attention was a palm-sized miniature cauldron before the giant.

“That is…”

“The Dragon Cauldron of Kyushu!” Ziling answered with certainty. “So the Dragon Cauldron ended up here. The cauldron’s aura is indestructible, even if the energy remaining inside isn’t very strong. But for so long, there’s been no sign of it, likely due to the great formation around it isolating the cauldron’s aura.”

“And this giant must be trying to refine it—that’s how the cauldron’s aura managed to leak out.” Then, in a tone of disdain, she added, “This brute is a complete amateur. Doesn’t he know the Dragon Cauldron was forged by the Three Sovereigns? No one but them could ever refine it. Hm—” Suddenly, Ziling let out a surprised laugh. “How interesting. I never imagined a spirit immortal would be here. An immortal not in the celestial realm, but in the mortal world.”

Hearing Ziling’s musings, Bingyan took a closer look at the giant, and indeed, he was an immortal with the power of a spirit immortal.