Chapter 450: The Master's Secret and the Soul's Fury
While Shen Anyu was sizing up Immortal Doctor Lu Ran, Immortal Doctor Lu Ran was also sizing up Shen Anyu.
'An intriguing vessel,' Immortal Doctor Lu Ran mused, his ancient gaze, sharper than any surgeon's scalpel, meticulously dissecting Shen Anyu's very essence. His form, that of a serene white-robed youth, belied the millennia of predatory experience within. 'I originally wanted to possess that boy with the same name, as his Luck and root bone were quite good, but it wasn't meant to be, and I didn't encounter him.' A flicker of irritation crossed his ethereal features, a brief shadow of annoyance at the missed opportunity. But then, his eyes, like deep pools of starlight and shadow, widened almost imperceptibly as they locked onto Shen Anyu. 'However, this boy is also good, his Luck and root bone are far superior in all aspects, which is a pleasant surprise. He's the one.' The words resonated with the finality of a decree, a hungry satisfaction blossoming in the depths of his being. He didn't just see potential; he saw a golden chalice brimming with pure, untainted destiny.
Looking at Shen Anyu's handsome, jade-like appearance – a face that could charm mortals and devils alike, imbued with a subtle, dangerous aura that even this ancient spirit could sense – Immortal Doctor Lu Ran nodded in satisfaction. His lips, thin and bloodless, curved into a faint, self-assured smile. In an instant, within this eerie, suffocating soul space, the myriad of kneeling men, women, young, and old, who had been silently suffering, suddenly convulsed. A horrifying, collective Shriek! that wasn't quite a sound but a raw tear in the fabric of existence ripped through the mental landscape. Their forms rippled, shimmered, and then exploded in a sickening display of cosmic decay, turning into swirling black mist that surged towards Shen Anyu, a vortex of tormented souls eager to consume him.
At the same moment, Immortal Doctor Lu Ran instantly transformed from a white-robed youth, the imposing Immortal Doctor, into a black and white intertwined current. It coiled and writhed like a Yin-Yang Taiji fish, a living symbol of conflicting cosmic forces, rapidly attacking Shen Anyu, intent on merging and seizing control. The air in the soul space grew heavy, thick with the stench of ozone and ancient death.
Eerie, dream-like voices, layered upon each other like whispers from a thousand forgotten tombs, echoed in haunting unison within the Soul space. The promises of power, the veiled threats of appropriation, wrapped around Shen Anyu like a shroud, seeking to erode his will.
"Come… come… and merge with me… become one… become indivisible… This is your greatest honor as a Mortal ant… to step into the Immortal Path… become an Immortal Doctor… Master the life and death of Yin and Yang… Your family… your woman… everything about you… I will take good care of them for you…"
'Take care of my family and woman for me?' Shen Anyu's inner thoughts were a cold, calculated sneer. 'An empty promise from a fossil who thinks he can claim what is mine.' His handsome face, usually a mask of calm confidence, now held a faint, chilling smile. He looked at the attacking Immortal Doctor Lu Ran, not flustered at all, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light that matched, perhaps even surpassed, the ancient cultivator's own. He suddenly laughed, a low, resonant chuckle that seemed to mock the solemnity of the soul space. "Song Hongyan, I've taken care of her for you."
The black and white Yin-Yang Taiji fish that Immortal Doctor Lu Ran had transformed into, clearly paused its fierce advance. It wasn't just a physical halt; it was a sudden, violent jolt that ran through its very essence. The serpentine coils faltered, the twin currents of black and white flickering as if struck by an invisible force. Immortal Doctor Lu Ran, ancient and unyielding, was utterly shocked, unable to believe that Shen Anyu had dared to speak those three words: Song Hongyan. The name ripped through his composure, tearing a gaping hole in his centuries-old facade. His predatory intent evaporated, replaced by a raw, disbelieving fury.
At the same time, Shen Anyu pushed the Tian Yuan Secret Technique to its limit. Every ounce of his mental energy, every atom of his invisible will, surged and compressed. It coalesced into a tangible force, gathering into a three-inch long crimson dagger, shimmering with an unholy inner light. It pulsed with pure, concentrated destructive intent, a miniature spear forged from his very soul.
"Soul Destruction!"
With a roar from Shen Anyu, a sound that reverberated not through the air but directly within Lu Ran's consciousness, this wondrous mental secret technique unleashed terrifying power. It was a skill forged in betrayal and desperation, originating from the Master and disciple, Ye Yan and Tian Yunzi – the Child of Destiny who descended from the mountain – and Shen Anyu wielded it with an innate malice that surpassed its original creators.
In an instant, this three-inch crimson flying dagger became a streak of pure, malevolent energy, drawing a long crimson rainbow through the oppressive black mist. It didn't just pass through the mist; it tore it apart, shredding the tormented souls into nothingness with terrifying ease. Then, with unyielding trajectory, it shot towards the black and white Yin-Yang Taiji fish. The ancient entity, still reeling from the shock of Song Hongyan's name, was too slow to react.
Even a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator, who had been severely wounded and had only remnants left after countless eons, without much power, was directly pierced by the crimson flying dagger. The impact wasn't a physical one, but a spiritual laceration, a tearing of his very being that manifested as a huge, gaping wound in his ethereal form.
"Ah…" The single, drawn-out cry was one of excruciating agony, ripping through the mental space. It was the sound of an ancient spirit, long impervious to pain, being brutally wounded at its core.
\[Ding! Child of Destiny Lu Ran has been severely wounded, plundering +66666 destiny value!]
\[Ding! Child of Destiny Lu Ran's mind is agitated, plundering +19999 destiny value!]
Immortal Doctor Lu Ran cried out in pain, the scream echoing across the psychic void. His form, previously the fluid Taiji fish, solidified momentarily, revealing the white-robed youth, his hands clutching his chest where an invisible wound festered. His face was drenched in cold sweat, but he didn't care about the severe wound; his first action was to snap his head up, his eyes wide with a mix of fury and disbelief, staring at Shen Anyu. "Who are you? Why do you know the name of my Master, Song Hongyan?" The words were rasped out, laced with a venom that betrayed his profound agitation.
At this moment, Immortal Doctor Lu Ran, who had been calm and feigning divinity earlier, was completely flustered. His composure, honed over centuries, had been utterly shattered by three simple words. Could it be that Shen Anyu, in front of him, was not merely a Mortal ant, but also a Cultivator from the Xuanhuang World? Otherwise, how would he know the three words, Song Hongyan? The thought gnawed at his ancient mind, sowing seeds of fear.
If it were ordinary words, any threats or pleas for mercy would not have shaken the mind of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Immortal Doctor Lu Ran, who had lived for over a hundred years. His consciousness was a fortress, his will a diamond.
But Song Hongyan was simply too special.
Not only was she the most special existence in his heart, the forbidden object of his desire and obsession, but her name should also be completely unknown in the Mortal world; no one should know it. It was a secret he had guarded with his very existence, a sacred wound he kept hidden even from himself. For it to be casually uttered by this mortal ant was an existential horror.
\[Ding! Child of Destiny Lu Ran is terrified, plundering +9999 destiny value!]
\[Ding! Child of Destiny Lu Ran's mind is shaken, plundering +9999 destiny value!]
Shen Anyu's handsome face was wreathed in a smile as he leisurely said, his voice dripping with an almost theatrical amusement, "Why wouldn't I know?" He paused, letting the question hang in the air, a barb meant to sink deeper into Lu Ran's already frayed nerves. "Song Hongyan, the Sect Master of the Purple Spirit Sect, with her ethereal immortal grace, beauty surpassing an immortal, and unparalleled charm, is one of the Xuanhuang World's foremost beautiful immortals. How many people admire her greatly."
At this point, Shen Anyu paused, his gaze sharp and calculating, observing Immortal Doctor Lu Ran's reaction. These words were half-true, half-false, cunningly extended from the appraisal background information he'd received. Although Shen Anyu had never met Song Hongyan, he knew enough. The number one female lead in a male-oriented novel couldn't possibly be ugly, and as a stunning Master, she would certainly possess unparalleled charm and garner immense admiration. He was merely painting a picture that would resonate with Lu Ran's deepest, most forbidden desires and fears.
Indeed, Immortal Doctor Lu Ran's expression grew increasingly uncertain, a turbulent storm brewing in his eyes. His breathing, though spiritual, seemed to grow ragged as his ancient heart hammered in his chest. Shen Anyu was satisfied to receive the notification for plundering destiny value, confirming the accuracy of his psychological assault.
\[Ding! Child of Destiny Lu Ran is uncertain, plundering +9999 destiny value!]
Shen Anyu was also stalling for time now. That single strike of the Tian Yuan Secret Technique, Soul Destruction, had almost exhausted all his mental strength, leaving a dull ache throbbing behind his eyes. He had even shamelessly used Song Hongyan to shake Immortal Doctor Lu Ran, yet it still failed to extinguish Immortal Doctor Lu Ran's remnant thought. It was a proof of the sheer resilience of a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator, even in this diminished state. The remnant thought of such a powerful being was already so terrifying, it was hard to imagine how powerful he would have been at his Peak; even a Land Immortal would likely be far inferior.
'Indeed,' Shen Anyu thought, a bitter taste in his mouth, 'compared to cultivation, martial arts were truly incomparable.' His head throbbed slightly, a clear sign of excessive Mental Energy depletion. He needed to rest, to gather his strength, and prepare his second, decisive move. In the meantime, he was more than happy to strike at Immortal Doctor Lu Ran's mind, enjoying the visible disarray.
"Who exactly are you?" Immortal Doctor Lu Ran's face darkened, his ancient eyes glinting with a cold, desperate light, as he coldly demanded, trying to reassert some semblance of control. His voice, though regaining some of its former authority, still held a tremor of residual fear.
"Who I am is not important, but—" Shen Anyu smiled slightly, his expression playful, almost mischievous, as he looked at Immortal Doctor Lu Ran. He drew out his words, savoring each syllable, twisting the knife slowly. "I know that you, Lu Ran, are a despicable traitor to your Master, who actually coveted your immensely benevolent Master, Song Hongyan, and harbored romantic feelings for her!" The words were a venomous whisper, aimed with surgical precision at Lu Ran's most guarded and shameful secret.
\[Ding! Child of Destiny Lu Ran is in disarray, plundering +50000 destiny value!]
A secret that no one had ever known, a profound betrayal and taboo desire buried for centuries, was exposed by a Mortal ant whom he considered a fish on a chopping board and utterly looked down upon. Immortal Doctor Lu Ran was thrown into absolute disarray, his mind greatly shaken. This wasn't just a mental blow; it was a soul-shattering revelation that stripped him bare, leaving him vulnerable and utterly humiliated. His ancient wisdom, his carefully constructed persona, all crumbled under the weight of Shen Anyu's words. A choked gasp escaped his lips, his eyes wide with a combination of rage, shame, and sheer terror.
And at the same time, Shen Anyu's second strike of the Tian Yuan Secret Technique, Soul Destruction, followed, without a shred of hesitation. The Soul Destruction flying dagger, a crimson rainbow of deadly mental force, tore through the air once more, a swift and ruthless execution of his plan. When dealing with an old man nearly 180 years old, Shen Anyu completely disregarded any notion of martial ethics or fairness. This was war, and he was a villain who fought dirty.
However, at this moment, Immortal Doctor Lu Ran merely sneered, a sound that was more a desperate hiss than true contempt. His form, even while reeling from the psychological assault, instantly transformed into black and white currents, dissolving into pure energy. It collapsed and reformed with a terrifying speed, directly avoiding the Soul Destruction flying dagger's attack, which passed harmlessly through the space he had just occupied.
Then, his form instantly re-condensed to the side, once more manifesting as the white-robed youth. He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes shining with a chilling, divine light, looking at Shen Anyu with a cold, mocking expression. "Heh, the same trick? Will this Seat fall for it a second time?" His voice was harsh, brimming with renewed malice, attempting to mask the lingering tremor of his shattered composure.
The first time he heard Shen Anyu speak the three words, Song Hongyan, he was indeed caught off guard and couldn't react, too shocked and caught in the grip of disbelief. But now, though still in disarray from the exposure of his deepest secret, he was mentally prepared for any physical assault. The 178-year-old man hadn't lived for nothing. He might be psychologically crippled, but his instincts and abilities as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator remained.
Immortal Doctor Lu Ran looked at Shen Anyu contemptuously, his gaze now sharp and predatory once more, saying coldly, "This Seat doesn't know why you, a Mortal ant, know so much, but it doesn't matter. I'll just search your Soul and know everything!" His words were a direct threat, promising a violation far worse than physical harm. "Mortal, you have underestimated the power and divine abilities of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"
As Immortal Doctor Lu Ran's words fell, strange black mists surged towards Shen Anyu from all directions, with black claws reaching out, accompanied by the wails of demons and ghosts, unsettling the mind…
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