Chapter 476: Golden Pupils

Zhong Shan stood beside Zhong Tian, watching the area where the Buddha altar and the holy cities had disappeared. Amid the chaotic battle of countless powerful beings, dazzling spells depicted a cruel massacre.

The battle was imminent. The powerful figures spread out from the crowded environment, allowing them to fight more freely and without restraint.

"Wuhen, lead the troops out of Elysium!" Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes!" Shui Wuhen immediately responded, gathering his subordinates to retreat swiftly.

"Tian'er, take your Daming Temple people and leave quickly, or the Buddhas will see through your disguise and counterattack in desperation!" Zhong Shan instructed.

"Understood!" Zhong Tian replied promptly.

"Haomeili, are you ready?" Zhong Shan called out.

"Ready, ready! Let's go quickly; I think Golden Cicada Buddha has noticed me tampering with his restriction," Haomeili said.

"Then let's get out of here."

"Yes!" Haomeili nodded eagerly.

Eleven more immortal steles—following Zhong Shan to seize treasures was truly rewarding.

As the army retreated swiftly, Zhong Shan headed towards Mr. Corpse's location. Mr. Corpse was digging up the Buddha's tombs, frantically retrieving the corpses of former Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. The Buddha's tombs were in the black world, and although Zhong Shan couldn't see Mr. Corpse, he believed he was there.

"You all go ahead, I'll fetch Mr. Corpse!" Zhong Shan shouted.

"Understood!" everyone responded immediately.

Zhong Shan rushed towards the black world where Mr. Corpse was. As he passed through the white world, he noticed a small courtyard and frowned, deep in thought. This courtyard was the residence of Bodhisattva Piaoxiang of Elysium, now empty after her death.

In the distance.

"Release—!"

On her master's command, Nian Youyou shot a powerful arrow towards Zhong Shan.

"Whoosh—!"

The arrow, shot from an unparalleled bow, reached Zhong Shan in an instant. He had just noticed it when the black arrow struck his thigh.

Zhong Shan's eyes widened, and he resisted with all his might.

He activated the fifth level of his Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique, fully prepared to defend himself.

But the arrow was too fast. It left no time for thought.

"Shh—!"

Despite Zhong Shan's full defense, the black arrow pierced through his thigh.

"Shh—!"

The black arrow lodged in Zhong Shan's right leg, and without hesitation, he rolled into the black world.

"What a powerful body! At this level, he already has the physique of an Emperor Realm cultivator?" Nian Youyou's master exclaimed in amazement.

Nian Youyou, however, breathed a long sigh of relief. Although she had shot the arrow, it had not hit a vital point, only the leg.

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" the woman suddenly glared at Nian Youyou.

"Master, please don't force me!" Nian Youyou said with a sorrowful expression. The ancestral beast on her shoulder looked puzzled, blinking its eyes.

"Alas, don't you see? Although Zhong Shan is only in the Integration stage now, he already has the potential to challenge Emperor Realm cultivators. Zhong Shan's growth is too fast, just like him back then. If you can't bring yourself to kill him now, you might never have another chance," the woman said.

"Master, if there is no chance, then so be it. Didn't you also—" Nian Youyou said with a pained expression.

"Rubbish! You and I are different. Do you remember the oath you took before practicing the Supreme Emotionless Technique? What did you say?" the woman glared at her.

"I said that I would never let emotions hinder me, and if I couldn't bring myself to kill the one I love, I would fall into the lowest level of hell," Nian Youyou said, biting her lip and shedding tears.

"Good that you remember," the woman said sternly.

"But, Master, I really can't do it," Nian Youyou said sorrowfully.

"Even if you can't, you must. We can't allow Zhong Shan to grow any stronger. He must die. From now on, I'll stay with you until you kill him. He must die. Next time, aim for the vital spots. Kill him with one shot. If you fail to kill him, you'll continue to suffer this torment. Now shoot!" the woman commanded.

"Master!" Nian Youyou cried out in pain.

"As soon as he shows himself again, shoot him dead with this arrow," the woman said, handing her an identical breaking arrow.

It looked identical, but in her emotional turmoil, Nian Youyou couldn't tell the difference.

"Master, he won't come out. He'll definitely leave from the black world," Nian Youyou argued.

"Then follow him out of Elysium and kill him," the woman said, her eyes fierce.

In the distance.

"Your Majesty, are you all right?" Mr. Corpse caught the flying Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan sat on the ground, looking at the breaking arrow lodged in his thigh with a wry smile. Someone had actually ambushed him, but fortunately, it only hit his leg.

He reached out, broke the arrow, and pulled it out. His true energy quickly healed his thigh. The wound on his leg healed rapidly, but his pants were soaked with blood.

"I'm fine. I'll recover fully in a couple of days," Zhong Shan said, shaking his head as he stood up with some difficulty.

Though not seriously injured, having an arrow pierce his leg made movement inconvenient.

"Good to hear," Mr. Corpse sighed in relief.

"How's the digging of the Buddha's tombs going?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Just one more Buddha corpse to go," Mr. Corpse replied.

"Good, time is of the essence. Hurry up. As soon as you're done, we'll leave immediately," Zhong Shan said.

"Understood," Mr. Corpse responded promptly.

Zhong Shan stood up with some difficulty, looking at his blood-stained pants. He decided to ignore it for now; there would be time to change after they left Elysium. He continued to heal his wound with true energy while surveying the surroundings. In the distance, the battles of powerful figures were drawing closer, making it urgent for them to leave quickly.

As for the arrow earlier, Zhong Shan knew it had come from somewhere in the black world; there were no visible signs from the outside.

Zhong Shan frowned, looking at Piaoxiang Courtyard in the white world, where Bodhisattva Piaoxiang had lived. He seemed deep in thought.

Finally, as if making a decision, Zhong Shan's pupils contracted, and he dashed into the white world, heading straight for Piaoxiang Courtyard.

Seeing Zhong Shan rush out, Mr. Corpse's eyebrows twitched. What was His Majesty doing? With someone out there trying to kill him, why would he rush out?

"He's out! Shoot, shoot now!" Nian Youyou's master commanded.

Nian Youyou watched Zhong Shan rush out, her eyes widening with resentment. Why? Why did you have to come out? Stay hidden, don't come out.

"Shoot him! One clean shot and it's over. Do you want to prolong this torment?" her master shouted, grabbing Nian Youyou's hands and aiming the bow at Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan had already dashed into Piaoxiang Courtyard. The moment he entered, he immediately rushed back out, sprinting towards the black world where Mr. Corpse was.

"Shoot—!" the woman yelled.

Nian Youyou's tears burst forth as she released the breaking arrow, which sped towards Zhong Shan with a loud whoosh. The unparalleled bow's power was extraordinary, and the arrow reached Zhong Shan in an instant.

Seeing the arrow, Zhong Shan had been on guard, but the arrow was too fast, faster than he could react with his Integration stage cultivation. He barely had time to put up a protective barrier and tense his muscles.

He watched helplessly as the arrow shot towards his chest, aiming for his Purple Palace.

"Boom—!"

Just as the arrow struck his Purple Palace, Zhong Shan fell into the black world.

In the Purple Palace, the arrow had hit its mark. Nian Youyou stood there, stunned, her eyes filled with despair.

"Yes, Youyou, you finally killed him. A Scatter Soul Arrow, piercing the Purple Palace. Even a true Emperor Realm cultivator would have their primordial spirit scattered and soul dispersed. He is dead, no doubt about it," the woman exclaimed with delight.

"Scatter Soul Arrow? What did you say? Scatter Soul Arrow? No, it can't be, you said Scatter Soul Arrow?" Nian Youyou's eyes flashed with rage as she looked at the woman.

A Scatter Soul Arrow meant Zhong Shan was doomed. He was dead, no question.

Nian Youyou's eyes filled with resentment as she stared at the woman. The woman was unfazed, believing that as long as Nian Youyou could become an immortal, it didn't matter if she hated her.

"Yes, it's a Scatter Soul Arrow. You killed Zhong Shan. You shot him dead," the woman said with a seductive smile.

"I killed Zhong Shan? I killed Zhong Shan?" Nian Youyou's tears had dried up, now replaced by streams of blood. Her expression was a mix of indescribable emotions.

Suddenly, her pupils contracted to the extreme, then expanded, turning a brilliant gold.

"Ah—!" Nian Youyou let out a frenzied scream. The ancestral beast on her shoulder was thrown off, caught by the woman. Nian Youyou's entire body turned golden, her hair transforming to a golden hue, fluttering wildly. A terrifying aura erupted from her, generating a fierce wind.

The woman was unaffected by the wind.

"Emperor Realm! The descendants of immortals truly are extraordinary. To break through in such a short moment. Emperor Realm! Haha, Emperor Realm! Soon you'll reach the Celestial Realm. Youyou, you did it. Emperor Realm," the woman exclaimed excitedly.

Emperor Realm? After her scream, Nian Youyou calmed down, the ancestral beast jumping back onto her shoulder. However, she showed no joy at her increased cultivation; she was now cold and distant.

Emperor Realm. Nian Youyou would rather not have reached this realm.

"Youyou!" the woman said with satisfaction.

Nian Youyou looked at the woman, now devoid of any master-disciple affection. She glanced coldly at her, then turned and left quickly.

Seeing Nian Youyou's sudden change, the woman smiled contentedly, picking up the unparalleled bow and sighing with relief. The Supreme Emotionless Technique—Nian Youyou had finally embarked on this path. Her emotions were unstable now, but that would improve over time.