Line after line of Elders of the Corpse God Sect sat upon coffins in ascetic practice, inhaling and exhaling the strange energy wafting out from within.

Yin Hai was uneasy; his deeply wrinkled face betrayed a look of disquiet.

“Yin Hai, go immediately to Burial Ground Ninety-Three. Your two Heavenly Corpses, without any summons, have started slaughtering our disciples,” a hoarse voice suddenly issued from the deep subterranean recesses of the Corpse God Temple.

Throughout the vast Corpse God Temple, all the seated Elders jolted awake, each looking toward Yin Hai with confusion.

Yin Hai, his face grim, knelt upon his coffin and replied, “Your subordinate departs immediately…”

“Jingsong, you will accompany Yin Hai to see exactly what has transpired,” the Sect Master of the Corpse God Sect commanded again.

An Elder on the coffin next to Yin Hai immediately prostrated himself upon hearing this, bowing his head in assent, “Your subordinate accepts the order…”

“Go, ascertain the anomaly with those two Heavenly Corpses, and remember to report back immediately…”

“As you command…”

On the Iron Ship.

Shi Yan lay sprawled on his back, limbs flung wide, looking utterly weak. His hands and feet possessed no strength, only a dull ache throbbing along his meridians.

His mental power was depleted, the backlash from the berserk surge having left both his physical body and spirit utterly exhausted. Only his acupoints continued their relentless task of purifying the surging jing qi.

This iron vessel, belonging to the Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven, had slowly sailed away from the Burial Ground. Even a thousand meters distant, Shi Yan could still hear the screams of terror echoing from the place.

Under the moonlight, the Burial Ground remained shrouded in dread.

After boarding the ship, Shi Yan had poured his final vestiges of mental power into the Blood-Patterned Ring, issuing the command to the two Heavenly Corpses: Massacre the island.

Shi Yan had no idea how long his command could restrain those two Corpses; as long as this ship could safely depart the Burial Ground, he would be content.

Xia Xinyan had vanished the moment she boarded the iron ship, presumably busy navigating the vessel.

With his limbs spread wide, Shi Yan gazed up at the endless tapestry of stars. Pinpricks of starlight rained down upon him, collecting specifically at the locus of his heart.

If only I could activate the Star Martial Soul! Shi Yan sighed inwardly, a sense of helplessness washing over him.

For this entire period, the Star Martial Soul had ceaselessly absorbed stellar power, day and night. Every moment, he could sense the myriad points of starlight within his heart, feeling the unique strength they contained.

It was a tragedy that he still could not discover the method to utilize the Star Martial Soul.

“Are you alright…” Xia Xinyan suddenly appeared beside him, her tone laced with concern.

“Temporarily sound…” Shi Yan managed a wry smile, pausing for a moment before continuing, “Go and use the iron chains connected to the anchor to bind my body. Bind me several times over…”

“Ah?” Xia Xinyan gasped softly, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment. “What are you planning to do?”

“The martial art I employed previously carries an extremely severe backlash afterward. It might even—it might even cause me to lose my sanity and descend into an unconscious frenzy. You must bind me! Otherwise, I fear I might do something that would cause you to resent me for the rest of your life…” Shi Yan looked deeply at her, his expression grave.

“What might you do…” Xia Xinyan’s face shifted slightly.

“Do you remember how we first met?” Shi Yan took a breath. “I was nearly driven mad then, and had to rush to the Misty Rain Tower immediately. If those two brothel madams hadn't allowed me to vent… I don't know what might have happened.”

“I’ll bind you right now…”

Xia Xinyan acted decisively. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she hurried to the side of the ship and dragged over the heavy iron chains used for the anchor.

Several minutes later.

Shi Yan’s entire body was shackled by iron ropes. The arm-thick chains bound him tightly, as if wrapping a zongzi.

The iron chains were dark and gleaming, immensely heavy, and a strange, biting cold seemed to emanate from the metal.

“These chains are forged from a special metal; they are incredibly tenacious. Even a martial artist at the Nirvana Nest Realm would likely struggle to break them. Rest assured…” Xia Xinyan wiped the sweat from her brow; she, too, seemed slightly weakened. She knelt down in meditation five meters from Shi Yan, her clear eyes fixed directly on him.

Within Shi Yan’s body, all sorts of negative emotions began to seep from his acupoints. Waves of violent, bloodthirsty thoughts began to corrode his willpower like poison.

His eyes were filled with murderous intent, his expression contorted, breathing heavily. Shi Yan still retained a measure of calm, stating deeply, “This is excellent…”

“Last time at the Misty Rain Tower, it was due to the martial art’s backlash that you acted that way? And at the Ling Family as well?” Xia Xinyan’s gaze held a peculiar nuance as she spoke calmly. “Could it be that I misunderstood you earlier?”

“Half and half, perhaps,” Shi Yan grinned, showing his teeth. “The backlash within me certainly destroys my resolve, infinitely amplifying the negative aspects of my inner self. However, those negative emotions are also rooted in my true intentions, merely suppressed by reason during normal times. So, all in all, I am still a villain…”

Xia Xinyan was taken aback.

“When I regain consciousness shortly, remember to come close to me immediately…” Shi Yan suddenly roared, his body beginning to tremble lightly.

The purification rate of the jing essence within his acupoints accelerated, and all manner of negative emotions started to flow out uncontrollably, drilling into the core of his mind.

—He was gradually losing control of himself.

“Why…”

“I will help you recover your Martial Soul…”

“Ah? How is that possible…”

“Remember what I told you…”

Shi Yan bellowed, rising abruptly like a bloodthirsty beast. The chains around his body clanged with tremendous metallic sound.

At this moment, Shi Yan’s eyes held not a trace of human emotion; he was like a bloodthirsty demon crawling up from the deepest hells, his body overflowing with boundless killing aura, as if intending to shatter this world and clear away every obstacle bearing life.

Xia Xinyan’s expression tightened, and she retreated a few steps, putting distance between herself and Shi Yan.

Shi Yan, who had been perfectly lucid moments before, had transformed instantly into a raging flood. Such a drastic reversal was difficult for her to process. Watching him now, his body radiating murderous aura toward the heavens, his face ferociously savage, Xia Xinyan finally realized Shi Yan had not been exaggerating.

It appeared… the backlash from this fellow’s body could indeed obliterate his sanity, turning him into a known instrument of slaughter.

On the deck, bound by iron chains, Shi Yan howled at the sky, his killing intent soaring upward. He struggled with all his might, seemingly intent on wringing out every ounce of strength within his body to break free from the chains’ restraint.

Howls echoed across the silent sea, terrifying in their intensity.

Xia Xinyan’s eyes shimmered with a strange light as she watched him, this frantic Shi Yan, her expression complex.

After a long, long while.

Shi Yan’s howls gradually subsided. It seemed the strength in his body was slowly being exhausted. He collapsed weakly onto the deck, twitching sporadically, his voice hoarse.

The torrent of bloodlust and crazed killing intent, unable to be satisfied or released, began to consume and corrupt his body. His flesh tore and split, blood staining him, rendering a scene of utter misery.

A flood of brutal, violent power, capable of harming others or himself, if unable to escape the body, must harm the host.

Following the rampage, the already weakened Shi Yan suffered an even heavier backlash, becoming a mere mess of flesh and blood, his very bones seemingly fractured.

The blood-soaked Shi Yan’s eyes remained clouded; his murderous aura still blazed toward the heavens.

Xia Xinyan felt a chill of horror.

The vitality Shi Yan displayed was too fierce, too tenacious! After such a violent, maddened exertion, his body was a bloody ruin, yet his violent, warlike intent remained utterly undiminished!

What martial art could possibly carry such a terrifying side effect?

Xia Xinyan was utterly astonished, realizing Shi Yan was shrouded in ever-deepening mystery, like a profound pool whose depths revealed no end to its secrets.

Shi Yan’s voice grew faint, lacking any real strength.

Gradually, he could no longer manage a shout. The madness in his eyes slowly receded, and his clarity began to return.

“C-come here…” Shi Yan gasped, his voice barely a mosquito’s whine, yet he forced himself to look toward Xia Xinyan.

At this moment, Shi Yan was like a man sculpted from blood, his expression distorted in agony, but he kept his gaze fixed on her, determined to fulfill his promise to help her heal.

Waves suddenly stirred in Xia Xinyan’s heart; an indescribably strange light flickered in her beautiful eyes. She slowly approached Shi Yan and said gently, “Rest well. I’m not in a hurry now. From this moment on, I will be responsible for protecting you! It’s alright, just rest, don’t worry about me, okay?” Xia Xinyan had never sounded so tender.

“No, if I miss this opportunity, I can’t help you…” Shi Yan struggled, skin tearing further on his shoulder. One hand trembled violently as he reached out, commanding, “Grasp my hand! Quickly…”

Xia Xinyan froze, instinctively wrapping her fingers around Shi Yan’s bloody hand.

A wisp of strange power, like liquid nectar, slowly began to flow out from the center of Shi Yan’s lacerated palm…

The miraculous energy injected itself into Xia Xinyan’s arm, traveling along it and sinking into her chest, converging at the core where her Reincarnation Martial Soul operated, nourishing that area like the most gentle elixir.

Xia Xinyan’s delicate frame shuddered; unbelievable radiance shot from her eyes.

She distinctly sensed that under the nourishment of this strange power, her injured Reincarnation Martial Soul was recovering at an incredible speed!

This peculiar energy was more miraculous than the effects of a Heaven Mending Pill!

The blood-drenched Shi Yan managed an awkward smile. “How is it? I didn't lie to you, did I…”

“N-no, you didn’t lie to me…” Xia Xinyan’s voice was soft and tranquil, her eyes shimmering with subtle light, gazing blankly at the blood-soaked figure of Shi Yan, lost in a trance.

“Good, regulate your breath slowly. Before dawn, you should be fully recovered,” Shi Yan withdrew his hand and smiled faintly. “From now on, I’m counting on you.”

“As long as I live, no one will hurt you,” Xia Xinyan nodded lightly, saying softly, “You should rest well too.”

Shi Yan slowly closed his eyes, collapsing onto the deck as if he had fainted.

Within his torn and bleeding body, the Undying Martial Soul had begun to stir, quietly mending his frame…

Soon, the bleeding ceased. The deep gashes across his body began to heal visibly, cells splitting and reassembling. Injuries that had been severe quickly diminished to minor wounds…

Xia Xinyan did not immediately rest but watched him with concerned eyes, a strange emotion clouding her features.

About ten minutes later, only when she observed Shi Yan’s body gradually stabilizing and felt the flow of vital energy within him did Xia Xinyan finally relax. She leaned against Shi Yan, sitting down on the deck beside him, closing her beautiful eyes to meditate and recover her strength.