Chapter 129: The Grand Showdown (6)
Illivarra Feralheart stood before Flesh Puppet Yifang Huang, not understanding the sequence of events that had just transpired. It was her that stood before the Flesh Puppet, with her slender body, warm caramel skin, pointed ears and slightly wavy white hair but it did not feel like her soul had been separated from Yifang Huangs.
She tried again, to detonate her soul for a second time, only to once again be confronted by the realization that she could not sense her own soul any longer.
How was such a thing possible?
Her gaze turned to face where she last recalled Yao Shen, only for her to take two hesitant steps backwards.
Before her stood Yifang Huang, or at least an iteration of him. A healthy color had returned to his flesh, though it served to only make his physical form more bizarrely intimidating. His left eye along with a good chunk of face had been gouged away by a deep, flickering void that trailed wisps of ethereal blackness.
As Illivarras gaze took in the rest of him, she noticed that Yifang Huangs visage seemed to be only the beginning. Parts of his flesh, from his abdomen, arms and legs, had been carved out by the same ruthless void, making for a horrifying sight.
Finally, she took in Yao Shen, who stood kneeling before the actual physical body of Flesh Puppet Yifang Huang.
What have you done? Illivarra snarled the question, her form already moving towards Yao Shen with a vehement desire to do him harm. She clawed at his neck with her razor sharp, pointed nails, only for her blow to harmlessly pass through his flesh.
There is no need to shout, Yao Shen chided, his expression unmoved by the protestation. For I intend on showing you, He declared, before turning the key embedded in Yifeng Huangs heart the physical crystallization of his Domain, clockwise by ninety degrees.
A click sounded out and the door that had materialized before all three of them gently swung inwards.
Follow me if you wish to find out, Yao Shen declared as he took unhurried steps towards the now open doorway. Though, of course, it is not like you have any choice in the matter, He explained with a mirthful chuckle, before pushing open the door further and stepping into the light.
Illivarra could not resist as her surroundings shifted.
She found herself in a four walled room, its boundaries clearly defined. She was silent as she tried to make sense of the most unusual attack she had borne witness to, taking in the clashing decor of the study room she found herself in.
A chill crawled up her back as she noticed a familiar diwan hugging the wall, boasting an upholstery of the finest Opaline Spirit Worm silk, a spiritual beast primarily found in certain frigid parts of the Bloodsoul Forest.
That chill bloomed into fear as she recognized more and more of the items placed in the room, her gaze focused on a Twisted Oak table that she frequently used to study reports sent by her network of spies. Then, it shifted to Yao Shen, who stood behind the table and studied the collection of scrolls, tomes and sheafs of paper on a bookshelf fashioned out of Water Bamboo.
Illivarra recognized the bookshelf, but the tomes, scrolls and sheafs of paper didnt seem like they belonged to her
Until she looked closer.
No! She shrieked out loudly as a true, visceral terror gripped her heart and lunged towards Yao Shen.
Stop, Yao Shen commanded in turn, his expression unmoved by the outburst of emotion.
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Illivarra found her form suspended mid-air, her strength and will failing her as no amount of struggle could make her budge in the slightest.
The Heart-Key is a crystallization of my Human Dao Domain, Yao Shen explained, his expression serene as he shelved the tome he was holding and began to flip through another. I must truly thank you. If it were not for your own willingness to invade a humans soul, then the Heart-Key would have had no effect on you. You see, my understanding of sapient creatures is largely and equally unsurprisingly limited to the human race. In your case, the Soul-Fragment you, considered a separate being unto yourself, have been human since near your inception.
Noting that the restriction over her mouth had been loosened, Illivarra snarled, There is no such thing as an impregnable Domain.
Impregnable? Yao Shen rhetorically repeated, before shaking his head. Hardly so. To use the Heart-Key, I first had to incapacitate you in both body and soul. Had the real you been here instead of a Flesh Puppet, I would not dare claim to be capable of such a feat. Even then, the effects of the Heart-Key only last for as long as you remain incapacitated.
Illivarra glared at Yao Shen, knowing that the fact that such precious information was being revealed to her meant that there was no scope of any negotiation. Yao Shen intended to shatter her soul after he was done.
Of course, even in this realm, or should I say, your perception of your own heart is not indefatigable. You merely do not possess the tools to fight me.
Human Dao, Illivarra coldly stated.
Indeed, Yao Shen confirmed, before his gaze turned back to the small library of books arrayed before him. Even as a Soul Fragment, the knowledge you possess is quite extraordinary, He praised as he reached for a tome titled Dark Elven History, Culture and Heritage.
I have never heard of such an absurd Dao, Illivarra muttered under her breath, straining to keep the dejection out of her tone.
This is the first time I have used it against an enemy, Yao Shen replied with a nonchalant shrug. It is the most powerful technique in my arsenal and yet I cannot use it unless I am absolutely sure I can kill my target.
Yao Shen reached for another tome that was almost double the size of the last, titled The Eclavian Language.
As much as the rest of these subjects interest me, particularly your lectures on spycraft, most of the knowledge you possess is incomplete. The spymaster of the Ancient Codex is quite shrewd, to place countermeasures even when she had no expectations to lose. Naturally, however, Yao Shens lips curled upwards as he walked over to the study table and began to flung open one drawer after the next.
The first one was empty.
As was the second.
A loud, rattling sound echoed out as Yao Shens forceful pull clashed against a locking mechanism.
Yao Shen willed his reserves of Human Dao as he had earlier, to translate the gist of the memory-book titles for him. He roared as wisps of multi-coloured smoke coalesced around his hands before the drawer lock finally relented with a soft whimper.
His gaze angled downwards towards a small, hardbound tome bound in chains.
Illivarra instinctively knew in that moment what Yao Shen had discovered.
Stop now, or your entire territory will be razed to
Silence! Yao Shen roared, his voice amplified by the human emotion of rage, causing Illivarra to let out a pained wince. You invade my territory, conspire to kill my people and then threaten to raze my land. Let me see then, what you guard so protectively!
Yao Shens hands wrapped around the tome and he found them trembling as he tried to hoist the incredibly dense tome. Naturally, the density he spoke of was not in a physical nature, but rather an emotional one.
The less a memory-text was valued, the lighter it weighed and the easier it was to carry. Conversely, the more the individual valued a memory-text, the less they wanted to part with it, the heavier it got. Even with his Human Dao reserves aiding him, Yao Shen knew that he had reached his limit with the third tome.
Exhausted, he allowed the chained tome to slam onto the table, next to the other two stacked tomes. With a somber expression, he studied its spine for the title.
Demon Gate Azlak Location and Rituals.
Yao Shens expression froze.
He had, of course, known that the army of elders had arrived in the vicinity, whether that was in the Azlak Plains or in the Eastern Region of Ionea, via a demon gate. However, to actually receive confirmation that there was a threat as large as a Demon Gate placed within his territory?
Not even Wujing Yang or the Tower of Radiance could confirm such a thing unless they spent decades, if not centuries on the mission. And even then, not once had any of them managed to reverse a Demon Gate to its source- Wujing Yang would not have destroyed the one he found if there were a way to do such a thing.
Could he?
Could Yao Shen do it?
There was only one way he knew to confirm it.
Steeling his expression, Yao Shen channeled his Human Qi and lifted the tome. Then, without further ado, he pressed it towards his chest and watched as the tome sunk in, leaving behind nary a trace.
His eyes went wide as he collapsed down to one knee.
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