What is surging in the North Sea is more like a world with clear and turbid water than water.

A boat can still float when it is on the water, but once a person is in it, it feels like a hand is pressing on the top of the head and cannot be freed.

Even a powerful monk is not a fool, he can endure it for ten days or half a month. But if he is really pressed in the water for three to five years, let alone his flesh and blood body, even if he is made of gold and jade, it will be soaked.

The sound of water all around was as silent as death, and it seemed to be motionless. Only when those who tried to challenge the might of the North Sea overestimated their own capabilities would they be subjected to a lesson that was as severe as a mountain falling on their heads.

Yan Zhengming tried several times to use his sword energy to break through the heavy pressure on his head, but he felt like an ant trying to shake a tree.

A mere mortal - even a mortal who has entered the Sword God Realm, in front of the North Sea, he is still an ant.

Cheng Qian's previous confrontation with Tang Zhen seemed to have consumed all his energy. At this moment, there was a bit of confusion in his eyes. Although he could do whatever he was told and go wherever he was pulled, Yan Zhengming always had a feeling - as if as long as he let go, Cheng Qian would be able to dissolve in the sea water forever, and he would not mind even if he was soaked into a floating corpse.

Yan Zhengming was scared to death by him before, and he didn't know whether the painting soul was clean now. He didn't dare to provoke him again, let alone expect him to have any useful suggestions. However, the surroundings were too quiet. He couldn't help but break the silence. He cautiously teased Cheng Qian and said, "Although dying for love sounds quite honorable, I have been wise and brave all my life, and I can't die so quietly!"

After hearing what he said, Cheng Qian finally reacted. His eyeballs moved slightly and the corners of his mouth raised stiffly.

Yan Zhengming caught his tiny reaction and quickly continued, "Hey, if Tang Zhen is the Soul Devouring Lamp, then all the ghosts in the world are under his control. He can attach himself to anyone he wants and travel thousands of miles in the blink of an eye?"

Yan Zhengming was just sighing casually, but when he got to this point, he suddenly realized the seriousness of the matter.

He frowned, and without waiting for Cheng Qian to answer, he said, "I remember now. That's why he kept instigating Han Yuan to be imprisoned on Mount Fuyao in front of the Ten Directions Formation. He didn't do it to save my face, but because he was worried that Han Yuan would really turn back and clean up the chaos of the Nightmare Walkers in Southern Xinjiang, right? He just said that he was going after the millions of resentful souls. There will be deaths only when there is chaos. He just wants to avoid chaos in the world."

As he spoke, Cheng Qian's scattered eyes focused slightly.

Yan Zhengming: "You said he failed to get the golden lotus leaves from here. Will he go to trouble Han Yuan and the others next? Tongqian, what's wrong with you? Can't you pay attention to me? I feel anxious when I see you!"

Cheng Qian closed his eyes slightly, lowered his head and rested his forehead on his shoulder, and hugged him tightly with both hands, like a frozen beast, trying to absorb a little bit of body temperature from him.

Cheng Qian was of aloof disposition and did not like to mingle with others. Occasionally, Yan Zhengming would try to "rub shoulders with him", but he would get annoyed after less than three sentences, and this rarely happened.

Yan Zhengming was a little flattered at first, then he carefully softened his voice and asked, "What's wrong? Are you... because Tang Zhen is upset? Or is it the sequelae of the painting soul..."

"It's not because of him - Senior Brother, do you know Ting Qiankun?" Cheng Qian buried his head in his shoulder, his voice sounding muffled, "The Third Prince said in front of the Ten Directions Formation, 'You have all been deceived by Ting Qiankun', that thing he said... is in my possession now."

That ear mark?

Yan Zhengming was stunned for a moment and asked, "What is Ting Qiankun?"

"It's a heritage, a..." Cheng Qian's subsequent words were automatically muted. He opened his mouth several times and tried to reveal some clues with different words, but there was an irresistible force binding him, preventing him from uttering a word. Cheng Qian's fingers dug into Yan Zhengming's clothes, and he felt that those words were about to burst his chest.

When your soul has recovered and you have accepted the inheritance I sealed here, you will understand that there are restrictions in the inheritance, and no one can tell the secret of Ting Qiankun - including the dead.

Cheng Qian wanted to roar. He finally figured out how the major sects were controlled by Tian Yan's Demon-Slaying Seal. He finally knew what the so-called "Ten Directions Pledge" was. He finally understood why Shang Wannian insisted that he accept the inheritance only after his soul was fully restored. He also finally understood why the owner of the White Tiger Villa had been hiding from the world and turned himself into an old madman...

However, along with Ting Qiankun's restriction, all these secrets were trapped in his heart, and he had to guard this secret in loneliness and fear for the rest of his life.

Yan Zhengming didn't understand at first, but suddenly, he seemed to sense something, and stretched out a hand to press against Cheng Qian's chest. Then he frowned and asked softly, "Is this... a ban on speaking?"

What exactly is that ear-shaped mark? Why can it unlock the painting soul? And why can it allow Cheng Qian to pick the golden lotus leaves without restriction?

Yan Zhengming had countless doubts in his mind, but seeing that Cheng Qian couldn't say it, he had to swallow all the questions back into his stomach and patted his back gently, fearing that he would cause him more trouble.

Cheng Qian took a deep breath, managed to calm himself, and pretended to be relaxed: "Since you don't let me talk about it, then let's not talk about it for now - Tang Zhen... I don't think he will give up. Since he said 'millions of resentful souls should be with him', he must have made arrangements. Although Han Yuan may not be unable to defeat him, he may not be able to fight him."

Yan Zhengming: "No matter what, we have to get out of here first. This North Sea is like a dead sea. If we continue to sink like this, we might really sink to the eighteenth level of hell."

"Dead Sea..." Cheng Qian repeated in a low voice, and suddenly thought of something. He held the frost blade on his waist, closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, let go of Yan Zhengming, and waved his hand to send out a sword intent.

Yan Zhengming's eyes lit up. This was exactly the move of returning to nature in the Fuyao Wooden Sword, "a dead tree coming back to life with spring."

The coming back of spring to a dead tree is a sign of life in a desperate situation. This saying is very appropriate here. However, before Yan Zhengming could praise him by saying "this response is very insightful", he saw a faint sword energy floating out from the frosty blade, slowly and smoothly. Unfortunately, the sword holder's state of mind was unstable, and the sword intent could not be integrated. It quickly melted into the sea water, and soon disappeared without a trace.

Cheng Qian made a "tsk" sound and frowned slightly. He was about to try again, but Yan Zhengming held down his wrist.

Yan Zhengming: "The rebirth of a dead tree is a move that means that the way of heaven leaves a ray of hope for all things. With this one, two can be born, two will then give birth to three, and three will give birth to all things."

Even though Cheng Qian couldn't explain it, the depression and stagnation in his sword intent could not deceive anyone, especially a sword cultivator.

Yan Zhengming looked at him sternly for a moment: "But why is there only a sense of killing in your sword? What were you thinking just now?"

Cheng Qian was stunned and speechless.

Yan Zhengming looked solemn. Suddenly, he grabbed Cheng Qian's hand holding the frost blade and whispered, "Watch."

The unfamiliar sword energy flowed into the frost blade through the overlapping hands of the two people. Yan Zhengming's completely different true energy instantly eliminated the thin frost that had never melted on the fierce sword all year round, revealing the originally shiny sword body.

Then, a long sword energy rolled out from the Frost Blade, stirring the sea water in front of the two people in circles. The Frost Blade vibrated with a loud "hum", and a huge splash of water instantly bloomed in the originally stagnant water of the North Sea. It was first a line, and then it exploded on the spot and radiated in all directions.

The surrounding sea water was constantly stirred, and then it began to boil. This group of dead wood flowers that appeared out of nothing seemed to be born from the cracks, with extremely strong vitality, and soon spread to the entire sea area.

The next moment, the buoyancy that had been lost under the entire North Sea condensed again, and the two soon stopped sinking.

Yan Zhengming did not let go of Cheng Qian's sword-holding hand. He looked him straight in the eye and said, "This is the true revival of a dead tree. Do you want me to teach you again on behalf of the master? If you keep on being stubborn, you'll be punished!"

Before Cheng Qian could admit his mistake, he shouted, "Be careful!"

There was a loud bang, and the stirred sea water rushed over with great force, as if it was going to crush the two people to death. In the face of the crisis, the weakness between Cheng Qian's brows finally dissipated, and he released the protective true energy at the fastest speed. Even so, the two people were still knocked unconscious.

The two of them were rising at an abnormal speed, faster and faster. The sea water around them had become a mess. For a moment, no one dared to open their eyes.

They didn't know how long they had been "flying" in the water. Suddenly, they felt lighter all over. After a sharp "buzz" sound, Cheng Qian and Yan Zhengming pierced through the surface of the Beiming Sea with a sword energy and emerged from the water.

Yan Zhengming had suffered enough in the North Sea. As soon as he escaped, he took out the wooden sword. He didn't dare to stay in this evil sea at all. He pulled Cheng Qian and flew out like a flash of lightning: "Let's go! Leave here first!"

The abyss and the wall of sea water on the sea surface that had been raised up because of the secret realm of the Great Snow Mountain had been blown flat. The two no longer dared to sit in the boat leisurely like they did when they came, and flew away thousands of miles in one breath on their swords.

Cheng Qian finally found an opportunity to speak: "You should wait until this matter is over before you deal with me - do you think Tang Zhen will go to find Han Yuan immediately?"

Yan Zhengming: "When I first entered the secret realm of the Great Snow Mountain, I felt that the Yuanshen Sword I left for Li Yun before leaving was touched. You also know that Li Yun will never touch these life-saving things unless he is about to die... I can probably feel the direction of the Yuanshen Sword after leaving this sea. How about coming with me to look for it?"

After this stimulation, Cheng Qian seemed to have just left the ice pond, and finally and slowly regained his lost vitality.

"How long will it take to find him?" Cheng Qian said, "You can't be like Tang Zhen. As long as there are ghosts, his soul can flow from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sea at any time. By the time we fly over on our swords, I'm afraid the opportunity will be gone. Besides, even if we kill a bunch of ghosts, he can create new ones. It's useless."

Yan Zhengming: "You mean we should cut off the source of the trouble and go directly to find his original body, the Soul Devouring Lamp? Do you have any idea?"

Cheng Qian: "I'm thinking, don't rush me."

"Wait, be careful!" Yan Zhengming suddenly made the wooden sword turn sharply in the air without any warning, raised his hand to grab Cheng Qian's shoulder, and the frost blade made a sharp sound, and the two of them stopped at the same time.

Cheng Qian followed his gaze and saw a gray ghost floating not far from them. The ghost was holding a milky white halo in its hand, hanging in the air waiting for them.

Yan Zhengming: "Is that Tang Zhen's ghost? Waiting here, is it trying to observe whether the two of us are dead or not for his master?"

Cheng Qian said nothing and followed the halo of light as he flew forward on his sword.

Yan Zhengming hurriedly chased after him: "Slow down, slow down, the self-destruction of these ghosts is not much cheaper than the self-destruction of ordinary cultivators' souls... Hey, why is it him?"

Cheng Qian looked solemn: "Liu Lang?"

This ghost figure turned out to be the young man Liu Lang who had always been following Tang Zhen!

When Liu Lang was possessed by Jiang Peng and was about to die, Cheng Qian used his own true energy to nail his three souls and seven spirits into his body, and entrusted Nian Dada to take Liu Lang to Tang Zhen, who was proficient in the way of souls and spirits, for help.

Tang Zhen gave him a chance to survive, and Liu Lang was grateful for his life-saving grace, so he always followed Tang Zhen, served him diligently, and became his Taoist boy, even though he actually had the opportunity to stay in Fuyao Mountain like Nian Dada.

Yan Zhengming cried out in amazement: "This kid is just... Tang Zhen is too crazy!"

Cheng Qian reached out and tore off a piece of cloth from his body, used the frost blade as a knife, and drew a precise heart-clearing talisman in a few strokes, then raised his hand and slapped Ghost Shadow Liu Lang on the chest.

This Qingxin Talisman was completely different from the half-finished product that Cheng Qian had accidentally created a hundred years ago. As soon as it entered Liu Lang's body, Liu Lang's eyes suddenly became clear, and even the grayness on his face faded a lot. He seemed to have woken up from a nightmare and stared at Cheng Qian for a moment: "Senior Cheng."

Cheng Qian said quickly: "Tang Zhen didn't even let you go? Do you know where the Soul Devouring Lamp is? Your soul should not have been completely refined yet. If you take us there quickly, you may still be free. It's still in time..."

Liu Lang smiled slightly: "Senior, it's too late."

He held up the light in his hands, and the ball of white light flew towards Cheng Qian like a tired bird returning to its nest. Before it got close, Cheng Qian could feel that this was the true energy that he had injected into Liu Lang's body that year.

Liu Lang said, "It was only thanks to the nail that you nailed into my soul that I was able to escape. It was this nail that led me here. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to wait for you. Fortunately, God has mercy on me and has allowed me to hold on until now to return it to its original owner."

The true energy went straight into Cheng Qian's palm. At the same time, Liu Lang's soul became darker and lighter, and it looked as if he was about to die.

"The lamp's true form is hidden in a piece of Ice Heart Fire on Mount Fuyao. The Ice Heart Fire that Senior Cheng took was split into two by him. One part was taken to the snow mountain, and the other part was left in Fuyao. The Ice Heart Fire can block all spiritual consciousness. Even if the entire Mount Fuyao is under the eyes of Sect Leader Yan, you may not be able to sense its existence."

After Liu Lang finished saying this, he had turned into a shadow. Cheng Qian instinctively reached out to grab him, but he only grabbed a handful of air mixed with sea breeze. The young man disappeared silently, soaring away between heaven and earth, and was no longer seen.

The two looked at each other, and flew towards Fuyao Mountain on their swords like meteors.

"I even sealed the mountain for him." Yan Zhengming thought, "I really served him well."

The two men traveled to the Arctic ice field and passed by Xuanwu Hall again, startling the bells flying in the sky above it. However, this time, no one came out to check.

The Xuanwu Hall, which is located in the extreme north, is like a huge shadow, sitting like a dead object on the endless white snow. It is so silent that it seems as if there is no human habitation. A tattered Xuanwu flag is fluttering alone in the air, stiff with cold.

Yan Zhengming: "What's going on?"

Cheng Qian glanced over and said, "Bian Xu is dead."

Before Cheng Qian finished speaking, he suddenly drew out the Frost Blade, and a "Sea Tide" fell from the sky straight into the Xuanwu Hall. A black gas rose up into the sky, but was cut in half by the Frost Blade. It twisted and struggled in the air, as if it let out a scream, and then unwillingly disappeared into thin air.

Yan Zhengming was stunned: "Is this the inner demon that has become a physical entity?"

Cheng Qian: "I guess he was either killed by Han Yuan, or he was possessed and did something stupid... Either situation would be very troublesome."

The two of them almost turned into two meteors in the snow and ice.

At the same time, Tang Zhen, who had transferred his soul to Shuzhong with the help of a ghost, took a deep breath. The arrogant dragon's scales, which seemed invulnerable to swords and spears, were extremely fragile under his palms, as if they could not withstand a single blow.

Tang Zhen's eyes were filled with blood, and his vision was blurred for a moment.

The moment he saw the blood, all the calculations in his mind were shattered into thin air. Tang Zhen had the illusion that he held supreme power. He felt the incomparable power.

This is the devil. He can go anywhere in heaven and on earth. There are no rules to restrain him. All living beings are like ants crawling at his feet.

He is the master of ghost ways. All ghosts are his clones. He alone is as powerful as thousands of troops.

The golden lotus leaves are ruined, can't we wait until next time?

Who in the world can be his opponent now?

Tang Zhen's heart was swelling with excitement, and he finally fell into the devil's instinct. Seeing blood, not only Tang Zhen, but also Han Yuan, Tong Ru... all of them were unable to control themselves.

The demon dragon Han Yuan was covered in blood mist. He endured heavy blows from both sides, but refused to retreat. Tang Zhen looked down at him and said, "Don't you think you are ridiculous? The consequences of millions of resentful souls have now come to me. It is fate. Even if you stand in the way, you will only seek death in vain. Why bother?"

Even at this point, Han Yuan still had a mean mouth that would make him unhappy when he saw others being proud. He grinned and said, "I often hear people from famous and upright families talking about 'acting justice on behalf of heaven'. I feel ashamed for them just by hearing it occasionally. I never thought that there would be a weirdo like you, Brother Tang, in my Great Heavenly Demon Sect who talks about heaven's will all the time. Who on earth are you sitting on the same bench with?"

Tang Zhen's giant claws had already sunk halfway into his body. Han Yuan took a few quick breaths and managed to keep his dragon form. He was still nagging, "You... uh... are you new here? Then I have to tell you, for those of us who are evil and unorthodox, if we keep saying this kind of thing all day long, we will be laughed at!"

Tang Zhen smiled helplessly: "You really won't cry until you see the coffin."

Han Yuan roared angrily, and his entire dragon body stretched to the extreme, and his flesh and blood seemed to be boiling.

He let out a painful roar, but still gritted his teeth and held it in. His life seemed to be full of ups and downs, but in fact he was just drifting with the flow, and he had no control over it at all.

When he should move forward, he retreats; when he should hold back, he can't help but advance.

Over the years, he has either been moving forward painfully on the wrong path or regretting painfully on the wrong path.

Perhaps some people only realize how much understanding and persistence are needed to "advance and retreat appropriately" when they are on the verge of death.

"Heaven's Way..." Han Yuan said in a low voice, "My Fuyao sect has always been a humane sect. What does this damn heaven have to do with us?"

The puddle suddenly turned into a red crane, which rushed towards Tang Zhen recklessly. She opened her mouth, not knowing how to call Tang Zhen. If she called him "son of a bastard", it seemed like she was scolding herself as well. If she called him "dad", she felt that this man was not worthy of it.

So she simply spit out a breath of Samadhi True Fire, burning directly at the ghost that had grabbed Han Yuan's body.

Li Yun: "Shuikeng, get back here!"

Han Yuan said angrily: "Go away. What does the grudge between us demons have to do with you, a fat mynah bird!"

Shuikeng cried, "You are fat, everyone in your family is fat!"

Tang Zhen turned towards the puddle expressionlessly, and the ghost shadow once again condensed into a lifeless hand, grabbing towards the wings of the puddle.

Shuikeng glided in the air deftly, covered in flames, like a flying phoenix, the dancing flames ignited countless hovering ghosts. Shuikeng shouted to Tang Zhen: "I was not born in a bloody disaster. One day I will become the most powerful demon king in the world! I was born of Tonghe, without a father!"

The corner of Tang Zhen's eyes twitched suddenly, and the huge claws condensed by the ghost shadow suddenly dispersed, and then condensed again behind the puddle without anyone noticing.

Li Yun: "Be careful!"

The giant hand grabbed Tonghe's slender neck. Shuikeng struggled desperately, and the fiery red feathers fluttered down. Tang Zhen saw it, and a flash of hesitation flashed across his cold face for a moment, but soon it was covered up by the cold murderous intent.

At this moment, a mixed-feathered bird of unknown species rushed over fearlessly, opened its mouth and spit out a wooden sign in its mouth, and put it on the puddle. The wooden sign instantly burst out with a dazzling white light, and bounced Tang Zhen out. It was the puppet talisman that Tang Zhen had drawn two hundred years ago. The Queen Demon was reluctant to use it until her death, but now it turned to its original owner.

A mixed-feathered bird fluttered by, chirping, "Queen's egg, run, run... chirp!"

It was nailed to the ground in the chest by a ghostly shadow that had turned into a cone. It struggled pitifully a few times and then died.