Chapter 140: A New Divine Power [Please Subscribe]

“This butterfly spirit beast is truly troublesome. It seems the dangers within the beast sea are indeed quite significant. From now on, I must proceed with greater caution. As for why Lin Ling didn’t inform me about this pink butterfly, it’s likely because she herself was unaware of this spirit beast’s existence. Otherwise, she would have warned me earlier. After all, Lin Ling’s cultivation level is still low; she couldn’t have ventured this deep into the beast sea, so it makes sense that she wouldn’t know about the pink butterfly.”

Yang Xiao contemplated everything clearly. There was no way Lin Ling had deliberately withheld information; the only reasonable explanation was that she was unaware of some of the deeper dangers lurking within the beast sea.

Since there were still so many hazards ahead, Yang Xiao naturally resolved to be extremely cautious going forward.

However, he had expended a considerable amount of spiritual energy while dispelling the illusionary array and needed to meditate to replenish it. Without sufficient energy, he wouldn’t be able to unleash powerful techniques if confronted by further threats.

He chose a secluded spot, where no spirit beasts seemed to wander. Yang Xiao descended here, intending to meditate and rest for a while.

To be safe, he set up two protective light shields around himself. The outer layer was the shield of the Giant Spirit Technique. Having mastered this technique to its peak, Yang Xiao’s shield could extend hundreds of yards around him. This allowed him to calmly face even the gravest dangers. The Giant Spirit shield emitted a milky white hue—somewhat blurred when viewed from outside, yet remarkably clear from within—a truly wondrous form of protection.

Inside the Giant Spirit shield was another light shield, a faint golden barrier representing the Ninefold Golden Body’s protection. This shield was dense and solid, reinforced to near tangibility by Yang Xiao’s cultivation. Even low-grade spiritual treasures would have little effect against it. Such a defensive technique was exceedingly rare.

With these two layers of protection, Yang Xiao could meditate without worry. After about the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, his spiritual energy fully restored to its peak, he opened his eyes and withdrew the protective shields.

Just as he prepared to depart, Yang Xiao noticed several wolf-shaped spirit beasts lingering outside the Giant Spirit shield. They had evidently detected his presence nearby and were now gathering, intent on attacking. However, they were repelled by the shield, unable to break through even a single layer.

Though these wolf spirit beasts could breathe fire, their attacks proved utterly ineffective against the Giant Spirit shield. The shimmering barrier effortlessly deflected every assault.

Yang Xiao had noticed these wolves during his meditation and used his divine sense to confirm they could not penetrate the shield. At that time, he had ignored them.

But now that he had removed the protective light shields, the wolves, as if freed, charged desperately toward him, baring savage, bloodthirsty fangs. Such a scene would have terrified a cultivator of low rank, such as one in the early Qi Condensation stage.

Yet these beasts posed no real threat to Yang Xiao. With a wave of his hand, several sword lights flashed forth, cutting down the wolves effortlessly. These proud creatures stood no chance against his strike.

“Fools courting death,” Yang Xiao cursed. The wolves’ intelligence, of course, was no match for humans; they could not gauge his cultivation level. A human encountering a stronger opponent would naturally seek to evade, but these beasts charged headlong, sealing their own fate.

After dispatching the wolves, Yang Xiao rose once more into the air, continuing his exploration deeper into the beast sea.

During his flight, he avoided obviously dangerous areas and pondered a new idea sparked by the pink butterfly’s illusionary technique.

If thousands of these pink butterflies could combine their illusionary powers to create a layered effect, could a single cultivator’s multiple illusions also be stacked to produce a more powerful technique?

Intrigued, Yang Xiao decided to experiment. He had obtained the Thousand Illusions Transformation technique from Murong Ba and had successfully cultivated it over the past two years. However, since this technique only worked on opponents of lower cultivation, it had been somewhat useless in battles against equals or superiors.

Using Thousand Illusions Transformation against weaker foes was easy, but it was ineffective against those of equal or higher level. Since the opponents he faced were at least on par with him, possibly even stronger, this technique had been largely a dead weight.

Yet, the concept of stacking illusions might change that, potentially creating a new kind of divine ability.

Excited by this possibility, Yang Xiao quickly unleashed one Thousand Illusions Transformation spell, then another, stacking the two. Like the gentle flapping of butterfly wings, the two illusions gradually fused into a single, more powerful illusionary technique.

Based on his understanding, stacking two such illusions could trap a cultivator of equal rank within the illusion. If multiple illusions were layered, it might even ensnare someone stronger.

Encouraged, Yang Xiao continued the experiment, casting seven or eight Thousand Illusions Transformation spells in succession. However, he reached a limit—his spiritual power was finite, and pushing further risked harming his body. Beyond this, the cost would outweigh the benefit.

Still, with seven or eight illusions stacked, he was confident he could now confront cultivators a full rank above his own. As his spiritual power grew, this limit would surely be broken.

Yang Xiao believed this new combined divine ability would prove invaluable in future battles. (To be continued.)