12dz Chapter 867: Core Competition: Twin Combat Techniques
Chapter 867: Core Competition: Twin Combat Techniques
The corpse puppet cemetery was filled with a sickening stench of decay, and black mists moved around Yun Yao and Chu Mochen like living creatures. The Heavenly Dao corpse puppet before them bore a face identical to Yun Yao's, with half of a "Heavenly Dao Core" embedded in its chest, emitting a faint blue glow. Strangely, the core's surface was covered in dense, chain-like patterns, as if hinting at a fate of imprisonment.
Chu Mochen suddenly grasped Yun Yao's hand, his voice low but firm, "This is the foreshadowing we laid together back then." These words exploded like thunder in Yun Yao's heart. She searched her mind for the scattered fragments of memories from her past life, but only managed to capture a few blurry images—a secret room with flickering candlelight, a stone slab engraved with runes, and a familiar figure standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
Before Yun Yao could contemplate, the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet suddenly opened its eyes, a strange purple flame dancing in them. "Void Spirit Envoy, I've finally met you," the corpse puppet's voice was hoarse and distorted, as if emanating from the depths of the abyss. Before it finished speaking, it raised its hand and unleashed a "Heavenly Dao Strangulation." Countless black chains burst from the ground, wrapping around the two like venomous snakes.
Yun Yao and Chu Mochen retreated in unison, each summoning their respective magical weapons. The Void Jade in Yun Yao's hand glowed with a soft white light, while Chu Mochen's Ni Lin Blood Sword shone with a cold golden radiance. They exchanged a glance and simultaneously unleashed the "Fate-Defying Twin Art" they had co-created in their previous lives. Instantly, chaotic spiritual energy and the power of defying fate surged wildly between them, forming a vast "Chaos Domain." The space within this domain began to warp and deform, even the chains emanating from the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet were pulverized by this force.
However, the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet was clearly no easy task. It roared to the heavens, and the black mist surrounding it suddenly condensed, transforming into a gigantic phantom. In its hand, the phantom clutched a massive sword formed from the laws of Heaven. "Heaven's laws are unified, and all things submit!" the phantom roared, slashing down with the sword.
Just as the giant sword was about to fall, Yun Yao and Chu Mochen's spiritual energy suddenly resonated strangely. The light of the Ni Lin Blood Sword and the Void Spirit Jade intertwined, unexpectedly condensing into a "Heaven-Creating Sword Qi" in the void. This sword energy contained the power of the beginning of chaos, carrying the momentum of devastating destruction, and met the giant sword of the Heavenly Dao Law.
"Boom!" The two forces collided, unleashing a powerful burst of light and shockwaves. Yun Yao and Chu Mochen were sent flying backwards, blood oozing from their mouths. The Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet wasn't feeling well either. Cracks appeared on its phantom, and the greatsword in its hand shattered.
But the crisis wasn't over. The "Heavenly Dao Core" within the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet's chest suddenly erupted with a powerful light, and the chain patterns within the core began to wriggle frantically, as if trying to break free. Yun Yao keenly noticed that these chain patterns were identical to those on the Soul Jade Slip she had seen in the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.
"Oh no! It's forcibly absorbing the core's power!" Chu Mochen shouted, charging forward once more with his sword drawn. Yun Yao followed closely behind, knowing that if the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet successfully absorbed the core, the consequences would be disastrous.
The moment the two approached the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet, something strange happened. A beam of light suddenly emanated from its core, enveloping Yun Yao. Yun Yao felt her consciousness forcibly pulled into a strange dimension, and images flashed before her eyes: the sinister smile of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion Master, the agonized expressions of countless cultivators as their spiritual energy was drained, and... a massive furnace, countless souls burning within it, and even within it, a scene of modern Earth!
"This is the Tiandao Pavilion's true purpose!" Yun Yao exclaimed in horror. It turned out that the so-called "unification of the Heavenly Dao" was just a cover. The Pavilion Master's true plan was to use the essence of countless worlds to refine the "Heavenly Dao Furnace," bringing all worlds under his control. And modern Earth had long been his target.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Chu Mochen was locked in a desperate struggle with the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet. Without Yun Yao's cooperation, his situation became increasingly difficult. The light from the Ni Lin Blood Sword gradually dimmed, and wounds appeared on his body. But his eyes grew more determined, for he knew Yun Yao would find a way out.
Yun Yao struggled desperately within her consciousness, trying to break free from the core's control. Suddenly, she remembered what the System Master had said: "Your ethereal body is essentially the embodiment of the astral origin." With a thought, she tried to mobilize the chaotic spiritual energy within her body, merging it with the astral origin's power.
A miracle occurred. In Yun Yao's consciousness, a massive vortex of chaotic spiritual energy and the primordial power of the astral realm formed. The suction generated by this vortex actually began to absorb the power within the core. In the real world, the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet let out a scream, and the core in its chest began to fly uncontrollably towards Yun Yao.
"Want to run? Not that easy!" The Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet obviously would not give up easily. It tried its best to condense a Heavenly Dao law attack again, targeting Yun Yao who was absorbing the core.
At the critical moment, Chu Mochen desperately blocked Yun Yao's way, holding his Ni Lin Blood Sword high, and took the blow head-on. Under the powerful impact, Chu Mochen's body flew out like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the stone wall in the distance, and blood stained a large area of the ground red.
"Chu Mochen!" Yun Yao was heartbroken. Her anger and sorrow transformed into a powerful force, accelerating her absorption of the core. Finally, the "Heavenly Dao Core" was completely absorbed by her. A dazzling light erupted from Yun Yao's body, and her realm began to rise rapidly. The aura of the Void Realm became increasingly terrifying.
After absorbing the core, Yun Yao's eyes flashed with a cold light. She looked at the injured Chu Mochen, her heart filled with guilt and heartache. Then, she turned her gaze to the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet, the chaotic spiritual energy in her body surging wildly. "Today is your doom!"
The Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet sensed Yun Yao's terrifying aura, and fear flashed across its eyes for the first time. It attempted to flee, but discovered that Yun Yao's Chaos Spiritual Energy had restrained its movements. Yun Yao raised her hand, and an attack imbued with the Laws of Chaos and the power of the celestial realm instantly struck the Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet.
"No—" The Heavenly Dao Corpse Puppet roared in frustration, its body beginning to collapse. With a resounding bang, it completely dissipated into thin air, leaving behind only a devastated battlefield.
Yun Yao didn't bother checking her own increased strength, and hurried to Chu Mochen's side. Chu Mochen's injuries were even more serious than she had imagined. His breathing was very weak, and his face was as pale as paper. Yun Yao fought back tears, carefully helped him up, and then took out a precious pill and fed it to him.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault..." Yun Yao said with a sob.
Chu Mochen opened his eyes with difficulty and forced a smile, "Silly girl, I'm fine... I'm glad you're okay." His voice was weak but gentle, which made Yun Yao feel even more uncomfortable.
At this moment, Yun Yao's system suddenly sounded a piercing alarm: "The aura of the Heavenly Dao Furnace has been detected to be rapidly increasing. The spiritual energy of all small worlds is fluctuating abnormally!"
Yun Yao's heart tightened. She knew the final showdown with the Tiandao Pavilion Master was not far away. Looking at Chu Mochen in her arms, she secretly vowed: no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, she would protect him, this world, and her homeland - modern Earth.
She carefully lifted Chu Mochen to his feet, letting him lean against her. Although weak, Chu Mochen still managed to stand up. The two of them supported each other, their eyes firmly fixed on the distance. They knew that greater challenges awaited them, but as long as they were together, no difficulty was insurmountable.
Yun Yao took a deep breath, mobilizing the chaotic spiritual energy within her body to form a protective shield around them. Then, she led Chu Mochen slowly out of the corpse cemetery. Along the way, they vigilantly observed their surroundings, ready to respond to any possible danger.
And in the distant sky, a massive shadow slowly gathered, emanating from the very aura of the Heavenly Crucible. A final battle, one that would determine the fate of all worlds, was quietly unfolding...