Then, without any warning, an indescribable aura simply descended.
At first, this aura did not feel overbearing or ferocious. It even carried a hint of languid nonchalance, utterly different from the heaven-covering, all-destroying demonic majesty of Soul-Devouring Venerable.
Yet it arrived so abruptly and yet so naturally, as though it had always belonged there, as though it had existed in every corner of this world all along and only now chose to reveal itself.
In the sky, the churning clouds of resentful souls rippled outward like a pond disturbed by a pebble.
The howling yin winds fell suddenly silent, as if gently pressed down by an invisible hand.
A slightly aged figure appeared without a sound at the edge of the crater where Chen Ping lay, standing directly in front of Liu Xue.
The newcomer wore ordinary, even somewhat worn clothes, his hair hanging loose. Who else could it be but Shen Zhiyin?
His arrival involved no tearing of space, no heaven-shaking phenomenon. He looked like nothing more than a passer-by who happened to stroll past.
Yet this seemingly ordinary appearance forcibly halted the heaven-blotting demonic palm that could crush even peak Heavenly Immortals. It froze in mid-air, unable to descend a single fraction further, as though an invisible barrier now separated it from the crater.
For the first time, the mockery and lazy arrogance vanished completely from Soul-Devouring Venerable’s face, replaced by utmost gravity and scrutiny.
He narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at the suddenly appeared Shen Zhiyin. From this man, he sensed an aura of the same level, no, something even more profound and unfathomable.
“At last, someone who looks the part has arrived.”
Soul-Devouring Venerable spoke slowly, his voice deep and icy.
Shen Zhiyin did not answer him immediately. First, he glanced down at Chen Ping in the crater, covered in blood, barely breathing, yet still stubbornly refusing to fall. A trace of almost imperceptible approval flashed through his eyes.
Then he crouched, checked Liu Xue’s injuries, frowned slightly, and gently pressed two fingers to the centre of her brow.
A warm, gentle power containing unimaginable vitality surged into her body, swiftly protecting her heart meridians, stabilising her disintegrating aura, and even beginning to repair her gravely damaged channels.
The deathly pallor on Liu Xue’s face finally regained a trace of colour. She opened her eyes with difficulty, saw Shen Zhiyin, and revealed surprise and relief.
“Senior…” she called weakly.
Shen Zhiyin waved his hand, signalling her not to speak.
Only then did he slowly stand, his gaze sweeping across the devastated, apocalyptic ruins of Yama Heaven Sect before finally settling on Soul-Devouring Venerable, wreathed in towering demonic qi high in the sky.
“Tsk, you’ve made quite a mess.”
Shen Zhiyin scratched his ear, his tone utterly relaxed. “Tell me, is bullying children really that much fun?”
Soul-Devouring Venerable’s gaze was frigid. “Who are you? Do you intend to interfere in this Venerable’s affairs?”
“Me?”
Shen Zhiyin pointed at his own nose and grinned, showing a mouth of white teeth. “Just a passer-by. But since you touched Mr Chen, this matter can’t be considered settled.”
As he spoke, his eyes fell on Chen Ping again. His tone grew serious. “Mr Chen, you’ve come out of the Heaven Gate Mountain ruins. How did it go? Did you gain anything?”
In the crater, the moment Chen Ping saw Shen Zhiyin appear, the boulder crushing his heart finally dropped. The breath he had been holding loosened, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood. Still, he struggled to speak. “Senior… we met the remnant soul of Heaven Gate’s final sect leader. Miss Liu… received the orthodox inheritance of Heaven Gate…”
“Oh?”
Shen Zhiyin raised an eyebrow. Genuine surprise and reminiscence flickered in his eyes, quickly turning into gratification. “The Heaven Gate inheritance… has finally found its successor. Good, very good…”
