Vol 5 Chapter 28: Slaughtered Beneath the Steed
Near the Origin Source, new cultivators arrived every few minutes. Yet no matter how many came, the sea spirits paid them no heed. The grand formation powered by the vast ocean's energy was absolutely unbreakable.
However, the latest arrival made the sea spirits suddenly tense. "This person... Could it be that legendary Longevity Body wielder who controls immortal beast corpses?"
Lin Jing rode forth on horseback, drawing attention from other factions too. Yan Yunshuang, leader of the Administration Hall from the Cultivation Alliance, had arrived with numerous alliance members to seize the Origin Source. Dozens of Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators were also scattered about, though Lin Jing sensed none carried true demonic bloodlines - the strongest being merely a few Demon Stars.
The gathering included those with Postnatal Immortal Physiques, descendants of the Heavenly Demon lineage, and extraterrestrial spirits. All were stymied by the Absolute Sea Formation just as the Origin Source was about to emerge. Seeing Lin Jing, Yan Yunshuang brightened. "Brother Lin! Perfect timing. None of us can breach this formation, but with your immortal corpse's power..."
Murmurs erupted through the crowd. "So it's really him - the Longevity Body user who controlled an immortal corpse to oppose the Sacred Son!"
"Tch... Only early Nascent Soul Transformation stage? Is he truly that formidable?"
"Don't underestimate him. See that dragon-horse he rides? Those flames are Immortal Fire!"
After his confrontation with the Sacred Son, Lin Jing had faded from public view. His appearance here was expected - newcomers to the Origin Realm always craved the Origin Source, believing themselves chosen. Only veterans understood it depended more on luck, like these sea spirits fortunate enough to be near its birth site. Most cultivators wisely conserved strength for better opportunities after several failed attempts.
"I can only manipulate the corpse briefly - breaking the formation would be my limit. I'd have no energy left to escape if attacked." He considered the many alliance members present, his avatar en route, and prearranged preparations. "Perhaps there's still a chance."
Lin Jing acted decisively. The Origin Source Li Tianyi had given him before had proven invaluable - its two strands of immortal energy greatly benefited his Pine Leaf Mouse and Dragon Carp. "Bull Demon King, charge!" he shouted as the massive celestial ox corpse materialized with world-shaking might, barreling toward the Absolute Sea Heaven-Crossing Formation.
The corpse Lin Jing had named Bull Demon King charged from low altitude, capturing everyone's attention. "Hold fast! It's just a corpse!" The sea spirits maintaining the formation trembled violently but resisted stubbornly. Yet how could fireflies contend with the moon? When the ox impacted the barrier—CRACK—a black dot appeared, spiderweb cracks radiating outward instantly.
PFFT! Sea spirits were sent flying, faces contorted in agony. Watching cultivators cheered, but the ox pressed forward relentlessly. None dared approach the beast that had so easily shattered the formation, leaving it to bulldoze through the remaining sea spirits toward the Origin Source.
"AVOID!!!" The ox bellowed as Lin Jing spurred his dragon-horse forward. Time seemed to freeze amidst a web of frantic mental transmissions:
"Wait! At early Nascent Soul stage, even burning his lifespan won't sustain corpse control long."
"When he exhausts himself, even with Yan Yunshuang's help, he won't keep the Origin Source."
Just as everyone prepared to snatch the prize from Lin Jing, disaster struck. A spatial rift tore open within the formation. A colossal arm wielding a quasi-immortal artifact sword swung at Lin Jing!
"Heavenly Demon Sect?!" The crowd was stunned. Lin Jing still had energy to control the ox, and the Origin Source wasn't fully formed yet. Which reckless demonic cultivator would strike now?!
"Who?!" Even other demonic cultivators and Demon Stars gaped at the blade. Both the void-tearing Heavenly Demon Crossing technique and the terrifying demonic arm surpassed their own arts! The attack crossed stellar distances instantaneously—too fast for Lin Jing to command the ox to block.
"So you're Lin Jing?" A hoarse voice echoed from the void. The blade's radiance eclipsed the sky. Lin Jing's expression twisted violently as his quicker dragon-horse hurled him toward the Origin Source, half-transforming into a qilin to intercept. But the blade fell—SHING—bisecting the steed in an explosion of blood and fire, its death wail piercing the heavens.
The backlash from his familiar's death made Lin Jing vomit blood, his life force severely damaged. The shock severed his connection to the immortal corpse. The crowd reeled—who was this terrifying newcomer who'd slain one of Lin Jing's beasts so easily? The backlash conveniently robbed Lin Jing of corpse control!
"So the Longevity Body's link was unstable—just serious injury broke it!"
"Such boldness, precision... and power! Who is he?!"
As shock rippled through the onlookers, the Origin Source fully manifested. Lin Jing's face darkened as he seized it, swiftly recalling the ox and Dragon Carp's corpses. His shoulder-mounted Pine Leaf Mouse produced a space-warping leaf, whisking them away from the chaos. En route, the mouse scattered spatial markers for rapid retreat after securing the prize.
"Escape?" The demonic cultivator's true form emerged—a black-robed figure standing atop the demonic arm, icy gaze tracking Lin Jing's flight. "No prey escapes Mo Yu's grasp."