My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

The sudden change was terrifying. Corpses long dead rose from the ground, their withered bones like wood under tattered Daoist robes, while their Purple Gold Crowns were as fragile as paper. They emitted not a trace of decay. Chen Yi knew this was not because of some fairy tale aura or absence of odor.

Rather, it was due to countless years of aging,

for even a piece of preserved vegetable, if aged two thousand years, would eventually dry out.

The so-called incorruptible body is hardly ever truly incorruptible, only mummified into dried meat or dried vegetables, wrapped with the name of an incorruptible body, to mystify those unaware of the truth.

Under the astonished gazes of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Daoists, the eight corpses were already lifted by red threads, instantly forming a familiar Sword Array, and then with a guiding sword, the sword momentum surged in an instant.

"Why aren't you taking action?!"

Seeing the Dragon Tiger Mountain people still dumbfounded, the Violet Compassion Sage loudly rebuked.

Swish!

A sharp sound broke through the gloom, an ancient Money Sword thrust straight with orchestra of ancient sword momentum.

In the nick of time, everyone's faces turned pale. In panic, they rose to meet the sword and formed an array,

leaving only one word:

Fight.

This sword came, and that side instantly formed a sword array.

Suddenly faced with change, Zhao Tong remained calm amid the chaos; the Dragon Tiger Sword Formation had already lined up with his steps. Eight Money Swords instantly came killing, and the two sword arrays clashed in a flash, sparks from sword edges intertwined like a fire net.

Before the Dragon Tiger Mountain Daoists had a chance to contend with it,

the three masters in the front row suddenly switched formations, three swords simultaneously pierced the death node of the array, instantly disrupting it, making the flow of Primordial Qi from points to surfaces, the backlash left a sweet taste in the crowd's throats.

Just as the array was about to collapse and shatter.

The Violet Compassion Sage and other White Lotus Sect individuals boldly struck, a strange and indescribable Buddhist chant echoed beside the ears, then chain spear in hand tore through the air, its blade drawing into the sword array of Dragon Tiger ancestors with a sudden pull.

As the sound of metal twisting accompanied the waves of Buddhist chants, they broke open the Sword Array, the spearhead hooked and pierced through the Evil Corpse's Scapula!

If not for the long-dried Dragon Tiger ancestors, even their evil aura dissipated nearly to nothing, being manipulated by those corpse-wrapping red threads, even with the seamless cooperation of the White Lotus Sect and the Daoists, they would still be defeated like a collapsing dam.

Fortunately, time has changed, and these corpses long lacked their former heaven-reaching cultivation.

The sword array was instantly held, giving the Dragon Tiger Mountain people a moment to breathe,

"Kanli Exchange!" Amid shouts, the sword array suddenly changed.

Daoist robes fluttering, a cluster of sword light twisted open, sharp edges like flying snakes, crisscrossing and roaming, Dragon Tiger ancestors shook off White Lotus Sect individuals, forming an array again, rust-stained Money Swords pursued and killed the flying snakes.

Sword Qi ran rampant, attacking each other.

Fight, fight, fight!

On the outermost side, a disciple struck by Sword Qi on the cheekbone, blood smeared his right eye.

"Wind Position Restoration!"

Zhao Tong yelled as he filled the gap in the formation.

Sword Qi turned into silver pythons and stirred into the array, the sword tip targeted the weak points of the array to strike, when the sixth sword pierced the array gap, the Evil Corpse suddenly erupted, the intact right arm swept a Gang Wind, hurling three disciples.

One of them hit the Demon Suppression Stele, blood blossoming from the back of his head onto the stone.

Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight!

A long string of sparks flashed in the dim space.

Swords clashed, and the ground was cut by Sword Qi into cracks, occasional bursts of sparks crackling, vibrating in response to the gusts.

Endlessly, it seemed as though one side had to be overpowered by the other.

And the Dragon Tiger Mountain was steadily retreating.

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Yi suddenly cut into the battle, cold Sword Intent points swiftly, enveloping the eight ancestral corpses in an instant. The previously unstoppable sword momentum felt like a bull into mud, covered by endless clouds, momentarily as aimless as a headless fly, unable to find direction.

Taking advantage of the pause of the corpses, Dragon Tiger Mountain Daoists roared with force, sword tips counter-stabbing the enemy's formation, creating a dazzling explosion of sparks.

Fight!

...…

"It's all gone! I ate it all!"

After a hearty meal, Donggong Ruoshu wanted to instinctively pat her stomach, but when she reached emptiness, she belatedly remembered she was a soul.

She scratched her head, helplessly thinking how this meal was too satisfying, utterly delightful, leaving her with no time for much else.

In the private room, the accompanying palace maids were all dumbfounded. The round table, previously laden with delicacies, was swept clean in no time.

The Holy Emperor's palace had hosted many distinguished guests, but this was the first one who could eat so much.

Several palace maids secretly felt pity for the Holy Emperor, quietly discussing this uninhibited Miss Donggong.

Naturally, the Holy Emperor didn't mind, not only did he not mind, he even greeted Miss Donggong with a gentle and appreciative look.

Donggong Ruoshu felt embarrassed by his gaze, pondered for a moment, then burped, adding a final touch of ceremony to the fine feast, as a token of thanks.

After a while, she glanced around, then asked, "Holy Emperor, what did I eat?"

In her earlier enjoyment, she forgot to ask. Now she belatedly recalled and finally spoke.

"Miss is a mere soul," the Holy Emperor paused, "what you ate... was Qi."

"Qi?" Donggong Ruoshu was shocked, "... I really feel as if I ate it for real."

She's been a soul for a while now. Normally, Chen Yi would let her absorb Qi too, usually by inserting chopsticks into the food, absorbing its spiritual energy. Every day was more or less the same.

Though Chen Yi didn't seem easy to approach, he was meticulous. Occasionally, in the dead of night, he would silently prepare a midnight snack. Donggong Ruoshu would see the sheets rise from time to time and know it had arrived, not bothering with false politeness, she'd inhale Qi heartily.

Getting back to the point, no matter when, Qi was always invisible and intangible.

But just now, the table was full of delicacies, and Donggong Ruoshu was truly eating bite by bite.

"The world is vast, full of all kinds of things, and Qi also comes in various forms. There is a kind of Qi called Dream Qi."

Dream Qi?

Donggong Ruoshu didn't understand.

The Holy Emperor didn't explain it all at once, but asked, "Have you ever had a dream?"

"Of course, I have."

"Have you ever had a feast in a dream?"

"Of course, I have."

After saying this, Donggong Ruoshu suddenly realized.

The Holy Emperor smiled and said, "This Dream Qi is the Qi that makes people dream. You just ate and drank; did you really eat and drink? You were just dreaming. You consumed Dream Qi, half-dreaming, half-awake, and dreamed that you were eating and drinking.

Qi cannot be seen or touched, but it's different in dreams.

Similarly, divine beings can't be seen or touched, but it's different in dreams too."

After pondering over it, Donggong Ruoshu nodded. The Holy Emperor had taught her many things over these days. Even if she didn't understand, she tried her best to remember it all.

The Holy Emperor was indeed a gentleman, but his demeanor made it a bit difficult to get close to him. So Donggong Ruoshu sometimes regretted that Chen Yi was not by her side.

She patted her head.

Then again, where had Chen Yi gone?

"Do you have doubts?" the Holy Emperor asked, noticing the expression on Miss Donggong's face.

Donggong Ruoshu did not hide it. She said directly, "I just remembered, I have two friends whom I've been separated from and haven't reunited with. I don't know where they went."

"Do you know their names?"

"One is named Chen Yi, the other is Yin Tingxue. Have you heard of them?" Donggong Ruoshu asked and then stared directly at the Holy Emperor.

The Holy Emperor first shook his head, hesitated, and then nodded.

Had he heard of them or not? Donggong Ruoshu was very puzzled.

"In dreams." The Holy Emperor's eyes slightly lowered, "I heard of them in dreams."

"In dreams?" Donggong Ruoshu was astonished.

"Since in dreams you can eat and drink, it's also not difficult to inquire about a few names. Are there not stories in the world about traveling thousands of miles in dreams?" The Holy Emperor said calmly, "It's not even difficult to kill in dreams."

Donggong Ruoshu listened, and her eyes gleamed brightly.

Noticing this, the Holy Emperor smiled and asked, "Miss Donggong, do you want to learn this magic skill?"

"Certainly." She nodded emphatically.

"Since we have this fate, I am willing to teach you. However, there is one condition—find one person."

"Who?"

The Holy Emperor stood up immediately, his sleeves billowing like clouds, and slowly uttered three words:

"The Hidden Crown Prince."

......

Just as the battle was raging,

It was as if the puppet on stage had its strings tightened.

One moment, the sword momentum was as majestic as a collision of a surging flood, but in the next instant, the eight ancestors' corpses of Dragon and Tiger Mountain were unexpectedly frozen in place.

Zhao Tong hurriedly stopped his sword. The long sword pierced through the corpse and remained there. The Daoists of Dragon Tiger Mountain exchanged glances, maintaining their sword-drawing postures, afraid to move.

Who knew if it was a trick?

The sudden stalemate arrived, causing some to inappropriately wonder if this slaughter was disrespecting the ancestors' corpses.

Silence spread, and no one dared to act recklessly. The situation before their eyes was indeed bizarre, as if time had suddenly stopped.

A soft breeze gently brushed by.

The deep shadow complemented the pervasive silence, and from a deeper place, the sound of footsteps echoed.

Someone was walking out.

Everyone turned their heads, and within the shadow deeper than the altar, a figure stepped out, with a high collar and wide sleeves, dressed in dark robes and vermilion attire, adorned with twelve chapter patterns, and a pale face topped with a nine-stringed crown.

He merely waved his hand.

The eight corpses obeyed as if receiving a heavenly decree, shedding the sword momentum. The leader, pierced through, grasped the sword, forcefully pulling it from the dried bones, then collectively retreated, offering tribute behind that man.

Everyone's expressions were filled with doubt and uncertainty.

The enigmatic man faced everyone with a slight smile: "Nice to meet you all today. You may address me as... the Hidden Crown Prince."

That face was extraordinarily kind.

Chen Yi's cold gaze swept over, and within his Heart Lake, he heard the Old Saintess's voice. Silently, his hand gripping the sword instantly tightened.

"Boy, remember I just mentioned those corpses were suppressing the evil?"

"What needs to be suppressed... is him!"

At this moment, the man slowly turned his head, the surrounding eerie wind suddenly halted. His eyes, vaguely revealing a sickly appearance, glanced at Chen Yi, then firmly locked onto Donggong Ruoshu behind.

Chen Yi's gaze slightly narrowed,

Within the shadow, the Hidden Crown Prince's lips unconsciously moved, forming two words,

Taiyi....