Chapter 185: Shadow One

Ten days passed, and Su Yun did not waste a single moment.

He handed Shadow Four and those two black-clad women over to Fairy Biluo for interrogation.

They knew limited information, but as every piece of intelligence was pieced together, the outline of the Shadow Pavilion became much clearer.

Shadow Four confessed that Shadow One was a woman whose cultivation had reached the Peak Mahayana Stage, and she also Cultivated the Dark Thunder Art, but was far more powerful than her.

Shadow One never wore a mask, yet very few people had seen her true face because almost everyone who had seen it was dead.

Shadow Four had followed her for over a decade and had only seen her three times, each time speaking through a curtain.

Su Yun asked about Shadow One's weaknesses.

Shadow Four remained silent for a long time before revealing a habit: before Shadow One moved to kill someone, she would always smile first.

That smile was very gentle, as if she were seeing an old friend.

Su Yun firmly remembered this detail.

On the morning of the tenth day, a light rain began to fall outside Biluo City.

Su Yun stood on the highest tower in the city, the rainwater deflected by his protective spirit light.

He gazed toward the west, waiting quietly.

At the third quarter of the Si hour, a black dot appeared in the western sky.

The black dot approached rapidly, transforming into a human figure.

The newcomer wore a long black dress, her long hair loose, and she wore no mask, flying over with great composure.

The raindrops parted automatically around her, as if a layer of invisible barrier was protecting her.

She landed on the rocky mound north of the city, her pace steady, as if returning to her own backyard.

Su Yun leaped down from the tower and landed on the other end of the rocky mound, locking eyes with her from dozens of zhang away.

Shadow One turned her head.

She looked to be in her early thirties, with delicate features and a faint sense of weariness between her brows.

Her skin was as white as jade, and her lips were thin and pale.

The aura of the Peak Mahayana Stage merged with the surrounding rain, making it impossible to distinguish what was rain and what was her.

She looked at Su Yun and suddenly smiled.

The smile was as gentle as an old friend's reunion.

Su Yun's heart tightened slightly.

Shadow Four was right.

"You are Su Yun?" Her voice was soft.

"That's right. Are you Shadow One?"

Shadow One did not deny it, only looking him up and down.

"Late Mahayana Stage, with a very solid Foundation. No wonder Shadow Four fell into your hands. Where is she now?"

"She is with me," Su Yun said calmly.

Shadow One chuckled.

"You certainly know how to talk. Return her to me, and I can pretend nothing happened."

Su Yun shook his head.

"I cannot return her. And you cannot leave."

Shadow One's smile vanished instantly, her gaze turning icy.

"Do you think you can stop me with just the Late Mahayana Stage?"

She wasted no more words and attacked directly.

Purple-black lightning exploded from her palm, transforming into an electric Dragon that roared and lunged toward Su Yun.

Wherever the electric Dragon passed, the rain evaporated, the air cracked, and the ground was plowed into a deep trench.

Su Yun did not retreat but advanced instead, throwing a punch.

The Power of the Five Elements and the Thunder Spirit Power fused, and the punch force collided head-on with the electric Dragon.

Amidst a thunderous roar, gravel scattered across the rocky mound.

The electric Dragon shattered, Su Yun stumbled back three steps, while Shadow One did not move an inch.

"You have some skill," Shadow One raised an eyebrow slightly.

She attacked again, this time with nine electric Dragons swooping in simultaneously from nine directions, sealing off all of Su Yun's escape routes.

Su Yun took a deep breath, fully mobilizing the power within his body.

The Power of the Five Elements, the Thunder Spirit Power, the Ice Soul Power, and the Blood Fiend Power merged instantly.

Two phantoms appeared behind him, interwoven with icy blue and blood red.

True Monarch Bingpo and the Blood-colored Girl poured all their power into his body.

His aura instantly climbed to the Peak of the Late Mahayana Stage.

He threw a punch, and a golden beam of light pierced through the nine electric Dragons.

The electric Dragons shattered completely, turning into a sky full of purple-black light spots.

Shadow One finally stepped back, her expression changing slightly.

Su Yun did not give her a chance to catch her breath, pressing forward and launching a continuous barrage of punches and palms.

Shadow One struck back, and the two engaged in a fierce battle on the rocky mound.

Lightning and punch force collided repeatedly, air waves surged, and the ground cracked.

After fifty moves, Shadow One gradually began to feel the strain.

This young man's power was extremely strange, his spiritual energy seemingly endless, becoming braver the more he fought.

What was even more terrifying was that with the added power of the two ancient Nascent Souls within him, every strike carried both icy and blood-fiend attributes, making it difficult for her to parry.

In a moment of carelessness, Su Yun's palm struck before her.

Shadow One raised her hand to block, but was struck on the center of her brow by Su Yun's other hand.

A golden light flashed by.

[Enslavement successful]

[New slave acquired: Shadow One, Loyalty 33]

[Ding, congratulations to the host for receiving partial spiritual energy feedback, cultivation has greatly improved]

Shadow One's body stiffened, the coldness in her eyes rapidly turning into submission.

She lowered her head and said softly, "Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Shadow One's nine electric Dragons were extremely powerful; his internal organs had been shaken and injured, and he needed a few days to recover.

Shadow One stood before him with a respectful expression.

Her Peak Mahayana Stage cultivation still flowed within her, but at this moment, she seemed completely tamed and exceptionally obedient.

Su Yun asked directly, "Where is the Shadow Pavilion headquarters?"

Shadow One respectfully replied, "It is deep underground in the Taixu Mountains, where there is an ancient relic that the Shadow Master remodeled into the headquarters."

"Only the Shadow Master knows the specific location; every time we enter or leave, she leads the way personally, and we walk through secret passages blindfolded."

"Is the Shadow Master a man or a woman?"

"A woman. She is at the Peak Mahayana Stage and also Cultivates the Dark Thunder Art, but she is far stronger than me."

"The Shadow Master never shows her face; even I have never seen her true appearance. Every time we meet, she sits behind a curtain; I only hear her voice but do not see her person."

"What is her name?"

"I do not know. Everyone only calls her the Shadow Master."

Su Yun was silent for a moment, then said, "Then there is no rush. First, clear out the outer forces of the Shadow Pavilion and force her to come out herself."

Shadow One asked, "How does Master intend to clear them out?"

"Do you know how many strongholds the Shadow Pavilion has in the Immortal Realm?"

"Twelve, distributed throughout the Immortal Realm. Each stronghold is guarded by a Protector at the Mahayana Stage."

"Shadow Two is female, Mahayana Middle Stage, at Wanshou Mountain in the south of the Immortal Realm."

"Shadow Three is male, Late Mahayana Stage, in the northern Ice Snow Plains."

"Shadow Five is male, Mahayana Middle Stage, in the eastern Azure Wave Sea."

"Shadow Six is male, Mahayana Initial Stage, in the western desert."

"Including the already subdued Shadow Four, Shadow Seven, and myself, seven Protectors are on the register."

Su Yun continued to ask, "What is the situation with Shadow Two?"

"She is a young woman in her early twenties who Cultivates wood-attribute Cultivation Techniques and specializes in using poison."

"She does not like to kill people with her own hands, but more people have been poisoned to death by her than by me."

Su Yun nodded. "We will go to Wanshou Mountain first to subdue Shadow Two."

Shadow One shook her head.

"Master, Shadow Two will not see me. According to Shadow Pavilion rules, Protectors are strictly forbidden from meeting in private, and violators are executed."

"If I were to rush to find her, she would become suspicious instead."

Su Yun thought for a moment. "Then we will not use your name."

"Tell me the location of Wanshou Mountain and the physical characteristics of Shadow Two, and I will go myself."

Shadow One explained the location and details one by one: "Shadow Two is very beautiful, likes to wear long green dresses, and wears a silver-white earring on her left ear, with a green gemstone embedded in the earring."

"She usually lives in a bamboo building deep in Wanshou Mountain, raising many poisonous insects and snakes; no one dares to approach within a ten-mile radius."

Su Yun had Fairy Biluo settle Shadow One and Shadow Four, then immediately set off with Fairy Zixia.

The two flew south for three days, and the rolling Peaks of Wanshou Mountain finally appeared in their field of vision.

Su Yun landed deep in the mountain range, his Divine Sense sweeping across the area, and he quickly found the bamboo building.

The bamboo building was built in the center of a bamboo forest, with poisonous flowers planted in front of it.

A woman in a long green dress was sitting at the entrance reading a book.

The silver-white earring on her left ear flashed with green light in the sunlight; it was indeed Shadow Two.

Su Yun walked out of the bamboo forest and landed in front of the bamboo building.

Shadow Two looked up, and seeing a stranger, her brows furrowed slightly.

She put down her book and stood up: "Who are you?"

"Qinghe Sect, Su Yun," Su Yun said calmly.

Shadow Two's expression changed instantly.

She had clearly heard this name and turned to flee immediately.

Su Yun caught up in one step, a palm wrapped in the Power of the Five Elements striking toward her back.

Shadow Two's figure flashed urgently, narrowly avoiding it, while simultaneously scattering a handful of green powder from her sleeve.

The powder exploded in the air, turning into a cloud of green poisonous mist that lunged toward Su Yun.

Fairy Zixia rushed out from behind Su Yun, striking with a palm, flames gushing out and burning the poisonous mist to nothing.

Shadow Two's face turned pale, and she turned to run wildly.

Su Yun caught up instantly, his finger tapping the center of her brow.

A golden light flashed by.

[Enslavement successful]

[New slave acquired: Shadow Two, Loyalty 48]

[Ding, congratulations to the host for receiving partial spiritual energy feedback, cultivation has stabilized]

Shadow Two's body stiffened, the panic in her eyes turning to submission.

She lowered her head and called out softly, "Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand, looking at the poisonous flowers and herbs in front of the bamboo building, then looked at her: "Take what you can of these things, and destroy what you cannot. From today on, you will follow me."

Shadow Two nodded obediently and turned to pack her things.

Su Yun stood in front of the bamboo building, gazing at the distant Peaks.

Of the twelve strongholds of the Shadow Pavilion, he had now subdued three.

There were nine more; he was not in a rush, taking his time.