Chapter 322: Since There Isn't

Yang Chen's face still bore traces of blood as he stood there, his complexion deathly pale. Yet, his eyes were gradually clearing, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if he were in good spirits.

He glanced down at the golden silk poison dagger protruding from his chest and chuckled bitterly.

Grasping it firmly, he withdrew the dagger effortlessly and discarded it into a corner where the Nine-Tailed White Fox stood, the sound of metal meeting wood echoing through the room.

As the dagger was pulled out, there was no sign of blood spraying from Yang Chen's chest wound.

Shaking his head, Yang Chen removed his coat and shirt, exposing his bare upper body, and casually tossed the bloodstained clothes aside.

At that moment, everyone could see clearly that the wounds in Yang Chen's chest, pierced by two sharp blades, had completely healed.

"How is this possible!"

Judy and the others from the Blue Storm faction found it hard to believe. Their drugs were supposed to prevent Yang Chen's regeneration ability, yet it seemed his self-healing was even stronger than before!

Takugawa Zang II finally furrowed his brows, his expression alternating between darkness and light. The demonic blade Muramasa in his hand began to tremble slightly, emitting a menacing aura.

Banruo and Raccoon stood closely on either side of Takugawa, their gazes complex as they observed Yang Chen.

Under the various scrutinizing gazes, Yang Chen stretched his neck muscles as if oblivious to the group staring at him. He started muttering to himself.

"So this is the 'Life and Death' of the Eighth Layer. On the day of the Seventeen Deaths, I achieved the realm of perfection. 'Life and Death' breaks through the separation of life and death, comprehends the boundaries between yin and yang. That's how 'Life and Death' is cultivated. Why couldn't I achieve the final layer of 'Passing Away'? Passing away, isn't that just death? But suicide is too foolish. Who thinks that one can only succeed in cultivation after death? Heh, truly ingenious. No wonder the Ninth Layer seems so elusive. Hmm, no, wait. Even if one achieves perfection in the Eighth Layer, most people wouldn't even think about the techniques of the Ninth Layer after death. It seems the Ninth Layer is indeed extremely difficult to cultivate..."

Seeing that Yang Chen completely ignored their presence, Takugawa Zang II's eyes brimmed with hatred. "What are you muttering about?!"

Only then did Yang Chen raise his head, running his hand over his chest, and smiled, "Takugawa, your strike has left me both loving and hating it. What should I do? You're the one I want to kill, yet you're also half my benefactor."

Takugawa Zang II realized that Yang Chen seemed to have undergone some transformation through this "death," but he quickly dismissed such thoughts. What a joke! A guy who's been stabbed through the heart with a demonic blade becoming stronger?!

Little did anyone know, what was supposed to be a fatal trap had ultimately become Yang Chen's breakthrough in the "Reincarnation Derived Sutra," breaking through the shackles of the Eighth Layer and reaching the highest realm of the Ninth Layer, "Passing Away."

The death of seventeen-year-old years ago taught Yang Chen many lessons. He achieved complete mastery in the eighth level, "Life and Death," but for over a year, he struggled to grasp any understanding of the ninth level, "Transcendence." This left Yang Chen feeling both helpless and frustrated.

You see, Yang Chen desperately hoped to use the "Sutra of Transcendental Contemplation" to suppress, or even cure, his brain's stubborn illness. This condition was like a time bomb that triggered his rampage after killing multiple people, more terrifying than an actual bomb. Losing his sanity meant he could cause more devastation than any explosive device.

Recently weakened by radioactive medicinal elements, Yang Chen's self-healing abilities were compromised. His body, now fragile, barely survived deadly attacks from poisoned daggers and demonic swords like the Kogarasumaru piercing his heart. His life hung by a thread.

Yet, just as he teetered on the brink of death, Yang Chen's robust constitution and consciousness sparked a flicker of life. In that moment of impending death, he finally comprehended the true meaning of the ninth level of the "Sutra of Transcendental Contemplation."

To end others' life and death ultimately meant to end his own.

As Yang Chen once said, the world's two most fearsome types of people are madmen, who fear nothing, and those unafraid of death. Formerly, Yang Chen believed he wasn't afraid of death, merely restraining his instincts. Now, with the ninth level, "Transcendence," he truly understood what death entailed.

This realization was a mystical understanding that could only be sensed and not easily expressed. Like the drunk man in his memories often said, once you understand, you understand; trying to explain it otherwise is futile.

At the moment Yang Chen grasped the final level, the internal force of the "Sutra of Transcendental Contemplation," previously restrained, surged violently. It suppressed the radioactive elements hindering his self-recovery, rendering them ineffective. Yang Chen felt his physique and consciousness strengthen countless times over, enough to heal completely even with a dagger extracted from his heart, not a drop of blood spilled.

Yang Chen entertained a curious notion: it seemed his "Sutra of Transcendental Contemplation" qi had reached its peak state, yet beyond that peak lay an intangible barrier.

He had a premonition that the ninth level might not be the true apex, as its qi intensity now rivaled his abilities after "unsealing" himself. This suggested that internal cultivation, when taken to its heights, could potentially rival the powers of gods.

However, if ancient Eastern internal cultivation arts possessed such might, could there exist beings in the world who, through such cultivation, attained strength comparable to that of a deity?

Yang Chen's mind raced with myriad thoughts in an instant. The presence or absence of those around him now seemed insignificant, for he felt himself entering a completely new realm.

Just as Yang Chen pondered these unprecedented thoughts, the six members of the Blue Storm and the Church, who had been anxiously observing, exchanged glances. Seeing that Yang Chen showed no signs of aggression, they turned to flee as quickly as possible. Whatever transformation Yang Chen had undergone, they felt ill-equipped to deal with it.

Yet, even as Yang Chen entertained other thoughts, he remained acutely aware of the external environment, not missing a single drop of rain.

"If I tell you not to leave, then you shall never leave," Yang Chen's voice rang out. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his original position and reappeared, blocking the path of Judith and the other five.

Rain poured down relentlessly, but as drops reached Yang Chen, they were repelled by an invisible qi barrier—a natural defense manifesting from his perfected internal energy.

Looking at Judith and her comrades, who now had pale faces and dampened clothes and hair from the rain, Yang Chen smirked. "Judith, last time you escaped with the protection of Aphrodite's charm. I wonder, do you have another bubble talisman this time?"

"My lord of the Underworld, please spare us this once. It was Ieyasu Sokuzen and Takamagahara who sought revenge, not us. We merely provided some technological assistance..." Judith's words trailed off as she felt an aura more formidable than Ieyasu Sokuzen's killing intent moments ago, a force so overwhelming it silenced her.

This wasn't the mere killing intent Judith had sensed when facing Yang Chen before. This was a denser, weightier presence, more difficult to resist than killing intent, almost commanding one to kneel in supplication.

Not just her, but the other two members of the Blue Storm and the three from the Church almost forgot about fleeing or resisting.

Yang Chen's qi from the "Sutra of Transcendental Contemplation" flowed madly through his meridians. Having reached the "Transcendence" realm, concepts of aggression or mercy were no longer relevant to him—only a pure and resolute aura remained.

"I only ask you one thing—do you have the talisman? Since you don't, then all of you shall perish," Yang Chen stated calmly, as casually as if bargaining in a market. He walked slowly toward Judith and the others, who remained frozen in place, unable to move.

As Yang Chen passed by Judith and Cardinal Bruno, his steps were leisurely, resembling a casual stroll in a serene garden, nothing out of the ordinary. He continued back into the house.

Just as he crossed the threshold, behind him, Judith and the other six maintained their expressions of terror from moments ago and collapsed to the ground in a thunderous heap. In the cold rain, it seemed their lives were now at an end.

Inside the house, everyone, including the Tokugawa faction, was horrified. None of them could comprehend how Yang Chen had simply walked past those few individuals and caused their deaths, without even a drop of blood spilled.