Chapter 818: Yun Taizhen’s Choice, Immortal Descendant Level 5
A revolutionary Immortal Dao technology, known as Artificial Flesh and Artificial Soul Essence, was born in the hands of the Myriad Laws Sect.
Through mass-produced Artificial Flesh and Artificial Soul Essence, all the casting materials required for Demonic cultivation arts and Demonic magical artifacts could be replaced with harmless, mass-produced substitutes.
This groundbreaking innovation was first deployed on the front lines of the Great Righteous-Demonic War, enabling the Myriad Laws Sect to secure a string of decisive victories and advance relentlessly.
The Righteous Sects rejoiced, all rushing to purchase large quantities of Artificial Flesh and Artificial Soul Essence from the Myriad Laws Sect to counter the Demonic Path’s pressure.
For a time, the Righteous Path’s brilliance blazed brightly. They steadily gained the upper hand in the war, completely suppressing the once-rampant Demonic Sects.
Against this backdrop, the caseload of the Myriad Laws Sect’s Demon Supervision Hall plummeted. Righteous cultivators could now use artificial materials for their needs, no longer needing to sacrifice mortals.
But just as Li Feng felt a sense of relief, seeing a glimmer of hope for victory, a case emerged that would completely change his life.
Li Feng initially dismissed it as an ordinary case of missing mortals. But when it became linked to the disappearance of a cultivator, he realized something was terribly wrong.
“Why would a missing mortal lead to a cultivator’s disappearance?”
“Could the cultivator have discovered something and been silenced?”
Li Feng pressed on with his investigation, only to find the case growing increasingly complex. It was connected to numerous previous incidents of mortals being blood-sacrificed, their souls extracted, abducted, and vanished.
His investigation led him to an underground factory. There, he watched batch after batch of mortals — stripped naked like pigs, cattle, and sheep — being fed onto a production line.
Their screams, cries, and struggles filled the air as they were hoisted onto hooks, slaughtered, dismembered, and had their souls extracted amidst a sea of blood.
Flesh, organs, bones, tendons — every part harvested from their bodies was processed like raw materials into various Immortal Dao components.
In that moment, Li Feng finally understood. There had been no technological breakthrough in Artificial Flesh or Artificial Soul Essence.
The breakthrough was merely a rapid breeding technology, where humans were born and raised like livestock to become raw materials for the Immortal Dao.
Watching living people being ground into meat paste, Li Feng roared furiously and moved to stop it all. But goosebumps erupted across his skin as arcs of electricity flickered around his body.
The familiar sensation sent a jolt of shock through Li Feng. He turned to face the newcomer and said, “Senior Sister? You tracked the case here too? Listen to me…”
As Li Feng explained the case, he noticed that Yun Taizhen’s expression remained utterly calm, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
Li Feng’s heart sank. His voice turned hoarse as he said, “Senior Sister, you already knew?”
A flash of insight struck him, and details from past cases flooded his mind. “All those missing people, those mortals who were blood-sacrificed and abducted… they were all herded here, becoming the source for this rapid breeding operation.”
“Senior Sister, you’ve been covering this up. Only you, the Hall Master of the Demon Supervision Hall, could have done it!”
In response to Li Feng’s accusation, Yun Taizhen said nothing. She simply formed a Dao Seal, and with a flash of thunder and lightning, the factory before them expanded further, revealing the scene deeper within.
It was a sea of countless human bodies, all resembling Yun Taizhen, being dismembered amidst agonizing screams and wails, their parts manufactured into different products.
Yun Taizhen spoke calmly, “I was the first batch of test subjects. But my own breeding rate was too slow, and the variety too limited. That’s why the sacrifice of more people was necessary.”
Watching those familiar figures being dismembered — limbs severed, organs carved out, souls extracted — amidst despair and cries, Li Feng felt a bone-deep chill spread through him.
He turned to look at Yun Taizhen beside him. In that moment, she seemed utterly demonic, her presence radiating an eerie, unsettling aura.
But Yun Taizhen continued in her detached tone, “Junior Brother Feng, all the Righteous Sects now use the artificial flesh and soul essence I produce.”
“Whether it’s medicinal pills, cultivation resources, materials for refining treasures, blood sacrifices for casting spells… even the food they consume daily has been infused with these.”
“The entire sect, from top to bottom, is eating my flesh and drinking my blood.”
Li Feng roared, “You’re insane!”
Yun Taizhen smiled faintly. “Junior Brother Feng, do you remember what I told you? Whether something is the Demonic Path or not depends entirely on one’s heart.”
“As long as the world doesn’t know what’s happening here, as long as they don’t know the origin of the flesh and blood they eat, drink, and use, as long as they don’t know about the existence of these rapidly bred humans, then they will remain on the Righteous Path.”
“Conversely, if they were to learn the truth, then the Righteous Sects would become the Demonic Path.”
Hearing this, Li Feng began to tremble. “What are you trying to do? Have you already fallen to the Demonic Path? Are you trying to drag the Myriad Laws Sect, and all the Righteous Sects, down with you?”
Yun Taizhen shook her head. In a flash of lightning, she appeared before him.
Just like the senior sister he once knew, she gently stroked his head and said softly, “The Demonic Path… it arises from the heart and follows its whims. As long as no one knows what’s happening here, as long as I bear this burden alone, the Righteous Path will always remain righteous.”
Li Feng stared intently at the gentle senior sister before him, forcing out each word, “You can’t hide this forever. It will be exposed eventually, and you’ll drag every sect into the abyss.”
“I don’t need to hide it forever.”
Yun Taizhen smiled at him. “I only need to hide it for a while… When technology advances further, when true artificial flesh and blood and artificial spiritual essence are created, when the Demonic Path is defeated, everything I’ve done will no longer need to be hidden.”
“During this time, all these actions… this Demonic Heart… I alone will bear it.”
“In the future, when the dust settles and the truth is revealed… it will all be attributed to my actions alone. I will be the only one who fell to the Demonic Path.”
Yun Taizhen spoke each word with conviction: “This is my decision. I will suppress the Demonic Path in this world.”
Li Feng listened, stunned by Taizhen’s words, utterly unsure how to respond.
With that, Yun Taizhen extended her hand, slowly presenting a faint glimmer of light to Li Feng.
“This is my Natal Soulfire. If you see that I can no longer control myself, if I stray from the path… then kill me.”
“Li Feng, from this day forward, you will be the one to watch over me.”
Li Feng’s hand trembled as he tightly gripped the Natal Soulfire she offered, his eyes filled with intense conflict.
“If I reveal everything, countless Righteous Path cultivators will have their Dao Hearts shattered. Many will simply embrace the corruption and fall directly into the Demonic Path.”
“But if I don’t reveal it, I’d be condoning Yun Taizhen’s practice of the Demonic Path, watching the Righteous Sects do things no different from the Demonic Sect.”
Gazing at the endless batches of humans being slaughtered on the production line, listening to the ceaseless wails echoing in his ears, and smelling the thick, cloying stench of blood in the air, Li Feng’s eyes gradually filled with confusion.
“If I reveal it, the Righteous Path will fall to the Demonic Sects. If I don’t, the Righteous Path will turn into Demonic Sects…”
“What should I do? How do I choose? How do I choose?!”
In the end, the news of the underground factory never spread.
Li Feng watched as the Righteous Path won victory after victory, as the world changed step by step, and as Yun Taizhen climbed to the pinnacle, becoming utterly unrecognizable. All that remained in his heart was a sea of regret.
“The secret became a weapon in Yun Taizhen’s hands.”
“Using this secret, she climbed higher and higher, dragging more and more people down with her, becoming a demon among Immortals, a demon among demons…”
“The Righteous and Demonic paths cannot coexist. Once tainted by the Demonic Path, even by the slightest trace… you can never go back.”
“If I had another chance, if I just had another chance… I would never…”
In the very next moment, a flash of clarity passed through “Li Feng’s” eyes.
He remembered: he wasn’t Li Feng, he was Zhang Yu.
At the same time, Li Feng’s voice echoed in his ears.
“Remember this moment of regret. Remember this remorse. Remember… never tolerate the Demonic Path. Eradicate it from the world.”
As the dream gradually dissipated, Fu Ji commented, “Ultimately, the difference between the Demonic Path and the Righteous Path… on the surface, it appears to be a disparity in Immortal technologies, but in reality, it is a difference of philosophy — a difference of perception. When the philosophies of the Righteous Path fail to keep pace with the times, it is only natural for them to be phased out by the more efficient Demonic Path.”
Desolate Ox said, “Ideology can’t overcome reality. Whether Righteous or Demonic, victory requires strength.”
Immortal Slayer remained silent, seemingly contemplating what he would have done in Li Feng’s position.
Just then, the dream reversed, starting over from the beginning.
Immortal Slayer was slightly startled. “The dream is repeating?”
Fu Ji frowned. “That Li Feng… he wants Zhang Yu to experience the dream again and again, to thoroughly marinate his own essence into Zhang Yu’s mind.”
Desolate Ox said, “It’s more than that… If Zhang Yu repeatedly makes Li Feng’s choice, he might eventually sink completely into the dream and never wake up. This must be the trial Li Feng has set for him.”
The dream cycled again and again, forcing him to repeatedly face the final choice.
Beside them, lines of text materialized.
Fu Ji said, “Is this a message from Ying Xintian? Hmm? So that guy…”
Immortal Slayer said, “His real choice was completely different from the one in the dream.”
Ying Xintian’s message detailed Li Feng’s true experience.
At the same time, Zhang Yu’s mind wavered within the dream, and a sliver of clarity suddenly returned.
This was because his clones had seen Ying Xintian’s message and transmitted that bit of information to him.
In fact, thanks to the effects of the Immeasurable Heart Inner Dharma Body and the Myriad Transformations Self-Sovereign Profound Art, Zhang Yu maintained a constant connection with his clones.
Furthermore, the distinctly different perspectives of clones like Desolate Ox, Immortal Slayer, and the Sect Examination Clone provided Zhang Yu with a third-party viewpoint, preventing him from completely sinking into the dream.
At this moment, with his clarity restored, Zhang Yu suddenly spoke, “Senior, in the end… you never actually yielded to Yun Taizhen.”
Li Feng snorted coldly. “If you think flattering me will get you through this trial, you’re a fool.”
Zhang Yu shook his head and looked at him. “Senior, I personally experienced your dream, your memories… I can feel that your dream and your true memories are not the same.”
“Senior, you’re too self-reproachful, too filled with regret… so much so that you’ve greatly exaggerated your mistakes within the dream.”
At that moment, Ying Xintian’s message flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind.
In that instant, Li Feng’s mind seemed to echo once more with his master’s voice.
“The Righteous and Demonic Paths cannot coexist.”
Li Feng looked at Yun Taizhen before him and said, “One wrong step leads to a cascade of errors. The moment I began using Demonic cultivation arts, it was a mistake. I cannot continue down this wrong path.”
With that, he stood up.
“Even if I’ve been abandoned by this era, even if this era no longer needs us, I will never align myself with the Demonic Path.”
Looking at Yun Taizhen blocking his path, Li Feng said, “Senior Sister, I must report everything here to the Sect Leader. Will you still try to stop me?”
“I know I’m no match for you. If you wish to stop me, then kill me.”
“Unless you kill me, I will expose everything here to the world.”
With a sigh, Yun Taizhen gently placed her palm on Li Feng’s face.
“Sleep, Junior Brother.”
“Sleep until the new era arrives. Sleep until a time comes when people like you can live in peace, free from torment. Then, I will be the one to awaken you.”
Zhang Yu continued, “Senior, you were unwilling to compromise, yet you also refused to become Yun Taizhen’s enemy at that time. You didn’t want to disrupt the Righteous Path’s momentum toward victory, and even less did you want to see the Righteous Sects destroyed by your actions.”
“So you chose death. You intended to force Yun Taizhen to kill you by threatening to expose the factory.”
“When you awoke and saw the light of day again… when you saw the future Kunxu and the Yun Taizhen of today… you were filled with regret, believing you had been too cowardly back then for not fighting her to the end.”
Hearing Zhang Yu’s explanation, a flash of understanding crossed Fu Ji’s eyes. “So that’s how it is… This guy didn’t beautify himself in the dream. Instead, overwhelmed by self-blame and guilt, he vilified himself, shouldering far too much of the blame?”
As Zhang Yu spoke, Li Feng’s True Spirit seemed to fluctuate for a moment, but it quickly settled back into stillness.
Li Feng said calmly, “My cowardice led to the situation worsening further. My choice back then was no different from directly helping Taizhen conceal the truth.”
“Worse… I feared seeing the sect change, feared being left behind by the times, and ultimately chose self-destruction, abandoning the responsibility I should have borne.”
With that, Li Feng looked at Zhang Yu and prepared to resume operating the dream. “Now, let me see your choice.”
Zhang Yu said, “Senior, I can tell you my choice right now.”
After hearing Zhang Yu’s response, Li Feng sighed deeply after a long silence. “So this is your choice?”
“You, Yun Taizhen, Ying Xintian, the Sect Leader, Master… and those traitors. Each of you believes your choice is the right one, each wanting the world to move forward according to your will.”
“But in the end…”
He shook his head and looked at Zhang Yu, continuing, “Although I don’t agree with your choice…”
“I won’t stand in its way either.”
Hearing Li Feng’s words, Fu Ji exclaimed in surprise, “Huh? Did Zhang Yu say something? Why didn’t I hear anything?”
Immortal Slayer said, “Zhang Yu’s final answer was communicated telepathically. What was said… only the two of them know.”
The next moment, Li Feng’s True Spirit stepped forward, and a surging torrent of Grotto-Heaven force poured violently into Zhang Yu’s body.
“Remember what you said today. Not just me, but those traitors in the heavens and the surrender faction, they all heard it too.”
“Since you’ve chosen this path, don’t become a second Yun Taizhen.”
With that, Li Feng’s True Spirit shattered inch by inch. Under the infusion of the immense Grotto-Heaven force, Zhang Yu’s Immortal Grotto-Heaven began to expand rapidly, growing from its original 500 meters in length, width, and height to 600 meters… 800 meters… and finally 1000 meters!
At the same time, lines of text left by Ying Xintian continued to appear before Zhang Yu.
As he read the information, a flash of understanding crossed Zhang Yu’s eyes.
“Inherit… Ying Xintian’s legacy?”
“Not secretly, but openly and publicly.”
“Openly… let everyone know I’ve received Ying Xintian’s legacy. Then, my Immortal Grotto-Heaven and the power of my Immortal Descendant bloodline will be completely legitimized.”
“Leverage connections, legitimize my power and legacy… so that’s the true purpose of this labyrinth.”
Hearing Zhang Yu’s words, Fu Ji gasped in shock. “Openly accept Ying Xintian’s legacy? Won’t you be captured?”
Zhang Yu replied, “According to the message, even becoming Ying Xintian’s successor doesn’t necessarily mean suppression. As long as you have a powerful backer and remain loyal to the sect, you can still be highly valued.”
Fu Ji’s eyes lit up. “So, Great Immortal Ying wants to help us find his old connections to act as our patrons? To help us legitimize the Immortal Grotto-Heaven? The Berserk Corpse Components?”
“Yes! Legitimacy plus a Network of Immortals — this is the true inheritance of an Immortal! It’s far more incredible than any magical artifact or cultivation art.”
Immortal Slayer sighed softly. He knew all too well the greed of the sects and Immortals. “As long as someone vouches for you and is willing to take responsibility, neither the sects nor the Immortals will refuse a disciple who has inherited Ying Xintian’s legacy. Even with the risks, as long as those risks are manageable and the profits are high enough, they will accept it…”
Zhang Yu nodded. He had long known that in Kunxu… almost anything could be bought and sold. As long as it generated profit, provided Immortal Dao resources, or expanded one’s Immortal Dao Potential — even rebelling against Kunxu itself… could be seen as a business opportunity.
But now, knowing he might debut as the successor to Ying Xintian, a Kunxu rebel, he still felt a strange sense of pressure.
While Zhang Yu and the others were contemplating and discussing, his Immortal Descendant power was also advancing, reaching Level 5.
At Level 5, the Immortal Descendant power not only caused Zhang Yu’s Immortal Grotto-Heaven to surge in size — its length, width, and height all exceeding 1000 meters — but also granted him a special ability.
“The maximum number of Grotto-Heaven Bridges has reached eight.”
“And…”
Zhang Yu sensed the Immortal Descendant power, a flicker of surprise in his heart. “Grotto-Heaven Bridges can be opened on other people?”
If Zhang Yu had to describe this feeling… it was like being able to directly open a portal on someone else’s body.
The moment he mastered this ability, countless novel ideas flooded his mind.
“With this ability, I can use the Immortal Grotto-Heaven as a transit point to instantly appear beside anyone.”
“And they… can also enter the Immortal Grotto-Heaven through a Grotto-Heaven Bridge at any time to reach my side…”
Zhang Yu could already imagine that in the future, once he established Grotto-Heaven Bridges on Bai Zhenzhen, Yu Xinghan, and Le Mulan, the four of them could enter the Immortal Grotto-Heaven at any time to study together.
If anything came up, any three of them could instantly appear beside the fourth to work together.
“Even supplies on hand could be instantly transferred from one person’s side to another’s.”
The more Zhang Yu thought about it, the more he realized the endless possibilities of this ability.
Just then, he felt a summons from the depths of the labyrinth.
With a flicker, Zhang Yu stepped through a Grotto-Heaven Bridge and returned to the labyrinth.
His senses told him that a violent change was erupting in the Laboratory District, and the final Ancestor’s Corpse within the labyrinth was calling out to him with intense urgency.
“I wonder what the origin of this final Ancestor’s Corpse is.”
“And what effects will the Level 6 Immortal Descendant bring…”
“As for clearing my name… I have no idea how that’s supposed to work…”
At that moment, a voice echoed from the deepest part of the labyrinth. It swept through the Laboratory District, Factory District, and Office District in an instant, exploding within the chaotic spatial structure and reaching everyone’s ears from all directions.
“I am Ying Xintian.”
“I have left my legacy in the deepest part of the labyrinth, within the corpse of a former sect leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect.”
“My descendant… come and claim this legacy.”
Hearing the voice echo through the labyrinth, Ying Aikun was first startled, then overjoyed. He laughed heartily and said, “Am I not the only descendant of that old geezer in this Secret Realm right now?”
Considering his current status in the Heavenly Demon Sect, he nodded and mused, “A descendant, and the corpse of a Heavenly Demon Sect leader… Could it be that the old geezer foresaw this day and prepared this legacy specifically for me?”