Revolt against the Heavens

As the few dozens soldiers tightened their formation, a large shield appeared all around them. It had an elegant curved shape and seemed to be made of pure jade. On top of the shield was inserted a piece from a turtle shell. When the Azure Dragon fell on the shield, the sound of metal clashing against metal resounded all around. Some cracks appeared in the shield but it endured. Unfortunately, Cao Yun wasn't strong enough to break apart such a powerful formation. But it wasn't his goal either.

While Cao Yun's attack was still assaulting the shield, the violent winds born from the Azure Dragon were also causing a small tornado to rise around the soldiers. They were ready for a fierce attack from a powerful Accomplished Demon, but they soon realized that this attack was inferior to what they expected. However, they soon understood that the goal behind the attack was different as well. Indeed, along that small tornado, the Fire Qi rich sand of the Desolate Dune Desert formed a large cloud all around them. First of all, this wasn't pleasant at all but Golden Blood Children could endure. The real problem was that it completely messed around with their senses. After all, even spiritual senses had a hard time piercing through this sand.

On the other hand, the tribesmen were used to this sand and even to dangerous sandstorms. Although their senses were also affected, they knew how to deal with it by compensating with other senses. Besides, they were also used to navigating the currents within the sandstorms. Their skins were proof that they had suffered because of this burning sand. As much as it was causing them pain, it was also a great ally in many situations, like this one.

As Cao Yun's attack was ending, the tribesmen rushed toward the soldiers. In their very first approach, many screams echoed as mercenaries were killed mercilessly. From above, Cao Yun could see some of those mercenaries leave the battlefield using this cloud of sand. After all, they were simply here to get paid. If things went south, they had no real reason to risk their lives, especially if they could get away without anyone realizing their departure. Apart from Cao Yun, almost no one seemed to care about them as they were so engrossed in the battle for their survival.

With his martial arts, Cao Yun was still controlling the winds to make sure that the sandstorm would not stop. From this moment, the tribesmen had the advantage. But they had to press forward as fast as possible. Those disciplined soldiers wouldn't stay confused for too long. Soon, they would obviously adapt to the situation and things would change. Thus, General Sha Lang Hu used everything he had to take them down. They were their priority target!

Within the cloud of sand, the tribesmen unleashed their martial arts. Scythes made of sand, stings from scorpions, magical gourds and many more phenomenons appeared all over the place but were more or less hidden by the sand. Horses neighed as the soldiers were launching some form of counter-offensive. Those horses that were Qi Manifestation tried to trample their enemies, but it paradoxically increased the density of the cloud of sand. With his spiritual senses, Cao Yun might have been able to see everything clear. But he was more focused on the remaining 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Skin' array formation for now.

Indeed, Xin Zhe was still trapped in the last layer of the 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Skin'. And she wasn't alone. There were still some soldiers with her. Once again, Cao Yun wanted to keep them in there as long as he could. Since the fight seemed to be favorable to the Sand Wolves Tribe, Cao Yun sent all of his spiritual senses within the array formation. Then, he finally decided to attack Xin Zhe in her domain. Because she had exerted herself a lot and that he had nothing else to manage in this array formation, Cao Yun invaded her sea of consciousness.

Xin Zhe was still using her 'White Bone, Gold Blood' technique to try to pierce through the last golden membrane when she felt a tremendous pain in her head. Because of concentration, she had even failed to sense anything at all until it was too late. But it was now clear to her that someone was extending their soul in order to enter into her mind. To be fair, Cao Yun had used 'Ashen Feather Seal' to conceal his own spiritual senses until very moment of the attack. It would have been difficult for Xin Zhe who was a bit injured, tired and upset to notice it at all.

At first, she was about to resist, but she decided against it. If someone wanted to fight her on her turf, she was ready for it. Thus, she completely let herself be invaded while preparing herself for a fight in her very sea of consciousness. As she had trained along City Lord Sihe, she was used to those fights. 'Muddying the Sea, Bloodying the Mind' was a training method they had used often together. It simply consisting in a mock battle using seals within their seas of consciousness. While Cao Yun invaded hers, she could also attack his by damaging his very soul.

In front of her own soldiers, she sat cross-legged in the air. It was a very strange sight as her torso didn't move at all while her legs simply crossed as though there was an invisible ground under her hips. The soldiers knew exactly what was going on as some of them had already seen her fight a soul battle. Since she was out, they began to increase their efforts to get out of this golden membrane. After all, if the one responsible for the array formation was fighting Xin Zhe, the 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Skin' might get weaker.

-

In Xin Zhe's sea of consciousness, Cao Yun found almost no sea. As his Flying Poison appeared in her mind, Xin Zhe had remodeled it. What he found all around him was a vast ocean of bones hiding all the water. The sky above his head had turned into one giant black cloud crisscrossed with white flashes. As soon as he saw them, he realized what they were. Those white flashes were Death Energy. Xin Zhe had been playing around with white energy.

Indeed, because her technique relied on manipulating bones, Xin Zhe had ended up developing an affinity with Death Energy. Obviously, it wasn't as good as Cao Yun thanks to his 'Death Verses'. But her technique wasn't heavy on the use of Death Energy. In fact, the main reason why it focused on bones was because of the marrow within. After all, marrow and blood were two magical substances for demons. One of the main point of 'White Bone, Gold Blood' was to literally suck the marrow from bones in order to integrate it with one's body.

Before Cao Yun could fully analyze this strange and deathly sea of consciousness, a voice echoed.

"You dare invade my soul! Is it courage or stupidity? My name is Xin Zhe, direct assistant of City Lord Sihe. Let me guess... You are this Tie Po I've heard about, or rather, Mo Yun."

"That you know about me isn't surprising at all. To be honest, I had hoped to keep my identity secret for a while. But I knew that your master would learn of it sooner or later. Unfortunately, you're not the one who will tell him anything."

"Oh?! You are so confident. Stupidity it is then. You've entered my world, and you won't leave it unscathed."

What Xin Zhe failed to realize was that Cao Yun was much more comfortable with a soul battle. After all, his mind cultivation had allowed him to develop his soul faster than his blood or even Qi cultivation. In a real fight, he would have had a clear disadvantage. Besides, he didn't want to expose himself for now.

"Is that what you think? You do realize that I bested your own master several times. How do you think I got away from him?"

"You're lying! If you had anything to do with City Lord Sihe, I would have been made aware of it!"

"Do you really think so? This bastard used me as long as it was convenient for him. But he always kept me imprisoned, squeezing everything he could out of me, using my knowledge of seals and alchemy to improve his own business and build his influence. There wouldn't be any Slavery Brand without me."

Although Cao Yun was spewing utter nonsense, he could tell that it was having some kind of effect on her. That was until he mentioned the Slavery Brand.

"You've revealed your hand, liar. City Lord Sihe and I developed the Slavery Brand together."

"Of course, you did. But where do you think his great understanding of seals came from?"

In order to salvage his lie, the Flying Poison made several strange signs with his hands. In the air in front of him, a very complex rune appeared. there was no doubt in Xin Zhe's mind that it looked exactly like a seal used by her master. Of course, it was literally a rune Cao Yun had copied from him by studying both the Slavery Brand and the engravings within Xixue's bones.

"Then, it means that that girl is still alive. Our plan against that Gui failed then..."

For a few breaths, there was absolute silence in Xin Zhe's mind. Then, she realized why Cao Yun was engaging with her instead of attacking right away.

"You're simply stalling for those ruffians to kill my soldiers!"

"And you've just noticed now?! You're not the brightest, are you?"

In a battle of soul and mind, one's ability to control their emotions was paramount. So trying to piss her off was a good strategy. As much as Xin Zhe knew it, she had a hard time suppressing her anger. The tone in Cao Yun's voice was irritating beyond comprehension. But she wasn't an amateur either. Despite her physical and mental fatigue, she kept her emotions in check. And she used them in order to unleash her Turbid Demons.

While Cao Yun simply had the Flying Poison in her sea of consciousness, she had also the Unclean Evil. Even if it was not completely cultivated, it was still present there.

Breaking apart the sea of bones, a large figure really similar to Cao Yun's Flying Poison appeared. The main difference was that it had golden chains around him, still linking him to the center of Xin Zhe's sea of consciousness. At any moment, she could let it free, but she wasn't sure she could rein it in afterward. For now, she decided not to completely unleash it. However, she had pushed his wrath to the limit in order to tear apart Cao Yun's soul.

Unlike Cao Yun's Flying Poison, hers had two large wings and his bones were absolutely white with several runes in strategic locations. Clearly, this was a way for her to control it. Most likely, she had used her knowledge of seals to improve her chances of breaking through. Undoubtedly, City Lord Sihe had done the same thing as well.

Before the Turbid Demon could attack Cao Yun, the ocean of bones acted. Several spear like bones flew toward Cao Yun. He evaded them all, just for white thunder to fall on him. Cao Yun was now flying all over the place evading attacks from above and below at the same time. That was when the Flying Poison attacked him. He grabbed a few bones and slashed toward Cao Yun. The fight was extremely intense in the air.

Cao Yun evaded some spears from below just when the leashed Turbid Demon slashed at his neck. One of his tails grabbed the spear like bone from below and used it to block the attack. As soon as Cao Yun touched this white bone, he felt a searing sensation in his very soul, but he didn't let go. The bone and the Turbid Demon's makeshift weapon collided and literally exploded into fine powder. Immediately, white thunder fell. Cao Yun evaded it at the very last moment. He could feel some Death Energy within, but there was also something else. It was still connected to Xin Zhe's soul in some manner, it wasn't just wild Death Energy.

In fact, this white electricity reminded Cao Yun of 'Death Verses''s third verse, 'Living Death'. It was a way for someone to turn their own Po into Death Energy. Like that, they would always have a source of Death Energy at the ready. Of course, Xin Zhe had not achieved such a thing. But she had somehow combined external Death Energy, she had probably absorbed from some bones, and her own Po. And there was no apparent clash between those two forces. This was interesting. Unfortunately, Cao Yun had no time to admire her technique.

Right now, he was fighting with everything he had. Well, almost everything...

From his palms, the Flying Poison revealed two large and complex characters. As soon as she saw them, Xin Zhe understood what they were. They were both the Unclean Evil and the Stinking Lungs. That man was trying to cultivate two Turbid Demons at the same time?! She was barely managing to cultivate her own Unclean Evil while keeping her Flying Poison in check. Now that she thought about it, Cao Yun's Flying Poison didn't seem to be chained down in any way. And yet, it was obeying Cao Yun's every command. Without a conscious mind to guide it, the Flying Poison couldn't fight like he was right now.

As Cao Yun was intrigued by her technique, Xin Zhe was intrigued by his mind cultivation. He had to have a special technique to cultivate his Turbid Demons. If she could get it, she might be able to ascend all the way. Maybe she might even be able to become a 9th-grade Accomplished Demon. With her current progress, she wasn't sure she could cultivate more than four, maybe five, Turbid Demons. Obviously, this made her jealous. After breaking his soul apart, she would try to sift through it to find all his secrets.

For the time being, they both focused on the battle. After Cao Yun had revealed his palms, the two characters appeared in the black sky. The white energy floating around struck them and they reacted violently.