Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 23

The low roar, filled with savagery and a killing aura, exploded like thunder in the secret chamber!

A-Mu, previously chained to the stone platform, now had blood-red eyes and radiated a terrifying dark golden demonic qi that made one’s heart pound. He struggled violently, and the previously unbreakable iron chains “crashed, crashed” as they snapped!

He easily broke free from his former restraints and slowly rose from the stone platform. His figure seemed to have grown taller, his muscles more coiled and powerful, and his sharp fingernails gleamed with a chilling cold light in the dim candlelight.

At this moment, A-Mu was less like a human and more like a primordial beast that had just awakened!

The old Daoist was shaken, retreating several steps from the terrifying aura erupting from A-Mu. The ecstasy on his face was replaced by a look of terror. But he was, after all, the abbot of Qingyun Temple, having cultivated for many years, and his knowledge was extraordinary. He suppressed the shock in his heart, staring intently at A-Mu, his eyes flickering with greed and seriousness.

“Good! What strong demonic power!” The old Daoist, instead of being afraid, was delighted, his voice somewhat hoarse with excitement. “Has his mind been eroded by demonic power? No matter! Let this humble Daoist help you regain consciousness, and by the way… let this humble Daoist also take a good look at the source of your ageless immortality!”

He originally thought that with his newly regained youthful body and decades of Daoist cultivation, he could easily subdue this young man who had just “resurrected.” However, when he truly engaged with the demonized A-Mu, he was horrified to discover that he was terribly mistaken!

The old Daoist chanted incantations, his hands forming seals. Streaks of green talismans appeared out of thin air, shooting towards A-Mu like arrows. These talismans were his meticulously refined demon-suppressing talismans, which were usually effective against ordinary demons. But now, these talismans, striking the dark golden demonic qi around A-Mu, were like mud oxen entering the sea; they merely caused a ripple before vanishing without a trace!

“How is this possible?!” The old Daoist was greatly alarmed.

A-Mu, however, gave him no time to think. He let out a low roar, his figure shifting, and like a black bolt of lightning, he instantly charged in front of the old Daoist! His sharp claws, shimmering with a cold light, carried a tearing wind as they fiercely clawed at the old Daoist’s head!

The old Daoist’s face turned pale with fright. He quickly retreated, simultaneously pulling a palm-sized bronze Bagua mirror from his embrace. He hastily chanted an incantation, and the Bagua mirror suddenly burst with green light, shielding him.

“Bang!”

A-Mu’s sharp claws viciously struck the bronze Bagua mirror, producing a dull thud! The green light on the Bagua mirror violently flickered a few times, and then a crack appeared! The old Daoist was further shaken by the immense force, stumbling back seven or eight steps before barely stabilizing himself, an incredulous expression on his face.

This boy’s strength… it was several times stronger than the full-powered wolf demon from before! This was no longer a mortal whose mind was eroded by demonic power; this was clearly an unparalleled ferocious demon in human skin! This ignited even more terrifying imagination and greed in the old Daoist’s heart! If he could turn this power to his own use, he would not only be ageless but could also dominate the world, becoming a true earthly immortal!

“Vile creature! Don’t be so arrogant!” A hint of madness flashed in the old Daoist’s eyes. He no longer held back, unleashing all his hidden demon-catching techniques one by one. He sometimes threw binding ropes, trying to restrain A-Mu’s figure; sometimes he brought out a soul-鎮壓 bell, emitting piercing sound waves to disturb A-Mu’s mind; and sometimes he wielded a peach wood sword, moving with profound footwork, engaging in close combat with A-Mu.

For a time, within the small secret chamber, demonic qi surged and Daoist magic flew, creating a chaotic scene of obscured heaven and earth (though there was no actual sun or moon in the secret chamber).

The demonized A-Mu, though his mind was unclear and only primal bloodlust remained, possessed exceptionally keen combat instincts and astonishing strength. Although the old Daoist’s Daoist magic was profound and his experience rich, facing such a fierce A-Mu, he gradually began to feel outmatched. His newly transplanted “young” heart was also pounding violently in his chest, each beat giving him abundant strength, but also an inexplicable… unease.

After dozens of rounds of combat, as the old Daoist gradually fell into a disadvantage, a cunning glint suddenly flashed in his eyes. He deliberately exposed a weakness, enticing A-Mu to attack him up close. Just as A-Mu’s sharp claws were about to grab his chest, the old Daoist suddenly leaned back, and at the same time, his hands flashed like lightning, pulling out two pre-prepared long nails glowing with a dark light from his sleeves! The nails were densely covered with blood-red runes, emitting an eerie, evil aura that made one’s heart pound!

“Take this!”

The old Daoist roared. Taking advantage of A-Mu’s missed attack and his strength being spent, he fiercely plunged the two rune-embedded long nails in his hands into A-Mu’s wrists!

“Thud! Thud!”

Two dull thuds! The rune-embedded nails easily pierced A-Mu’s tough skin and muscles, deeply embedding themselves into his wrist bones, firmly nailing his hands to the stone wall behind him!

“Roar—!!!”

A-Mu let out an excruciating roar of pain. He struggled wildly, trying to break free from the two nails’ restraints, but the runes on the nails emitted a powerful binding force. The more he struggled, the deeper the nails dug in, and the more intensely he hurt!

“Hahahaha! Vile creature! No matter how fierce you are, you can’t escape this humble Daoist’s grasp!” The old Daoist, seeing his attack succeed, immediately burst into triumphant laughter. He panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his eyes venomous as he looked at A-Mu, who was pinned to the stone wall, unable to move.

“This humble Daoist wants to see what other secrets are hidden in your body!”

With that, he walked step by step towards A-Mu, his hands quickly forming a more complex and bizarre hand seal. As he formed the seal, he also began to chant a low and evil incantation. An invisible, spine-chilling power began to gather at his fingertips.

“Soul-locking, spirit-refining, memory-snatching! By Imperial Decree!”

The old Daoist suddenly opened his eyes, which glowed with an eerie red light. He forcefully pressed the formed hand seal onto A-Mu’s brow!

The moment the old Daoist’s fingertips touched A-Mu’s brow—

Modern Su Mingyue, far away in A-Mu’s spiritual world, suddenly felt an indescribable, excruciating pain, as if her soul was being torn apart! Her consciousness, under the impact of this strange power, began to dissipate, as if it could vanish at any moment!

“This… what kind of spell is this?!” Su Mingyue was greatly alarmed. She could feel that what this old Daoist was performing was not an ordinary offensive Daoist spell, but a malicious evil art specifically targeting the divine soul! He not only wanted to probe A-Mu’s memories but also… refine his divine soul! And she, as a wisp of consciousness residing in A-Mu’s spiritual world, was also affected by this evil spell!

Intense pain, like a tidal wave, spread through A-Mu’s spiritual world. A-Mu, pinned to the stone wall, trembled violently. Black blood slowly began to flow from his seven orifices! His eyes, which had initially been savage and frenzied, gradually transformed into an indescribable pain and… despair. His wolf demon heart, which had just begun to pound violently, also beat more and more weakly under the impact of this evil spell, as if it could stop again at any moment.

“No… no…”

Su Mingyue’s consciousness struggled in the excruciating pain. She wanted to resist, wanted to escape this feeling of her soul being torn apart, but she found herself utterly powerless. She felt her consciousness being slowly swallowed and dissolved by that evil power…

Chapter 22: Deep Memory’s Guardian and a Desperate Roar
The soul-ripping agony, like a bone-deep parasite, raged wildly in A-Mu’s spiritual world. The old Daoist’s withered fingers, pressed against his brow, were like two red-hot brands, ceaselessly drawing out his memories and eroding his divine soul.

Modern Su Mingyue’s consciousness, under the impact of this evil power, had become incredibly dim, like a flickering candle in the wind, capable of being extinguished at any moment. She could feel her consciousness being peeled away, disintegrating bit by bit…

However, just as Su Mingyue thought she was about to completely dissipate, another unexpected change occurred!

Perhaps the old Daoist’s evil spell touched the deepest, most inviolable part of A-Mu’s memory; or perhaps A-Mu’s peculiar heart, fused with demonic power and Su Mingyue’s blood essence, erupted with an unimaginable potential under the stimulus of being pushed to its limit; more likely, it was the purest, most stubborn desire to protect his “fairy sister,” deeply buried in his soul, that burst forth with its final light in despair!

“Buzz—”

A power even more violent, more primal, yet tinged with an inexpressible sorrow, suddenly erupted from the depths of A-Mu’s body! This power was no longer simply demonic power, nor merely the power of Su Mingyue’s blood essence, but the result of their complete fusion in extreme pain and despair, in an almost destructive manner… a brand new, terrifying power filled with destructive and protective will!

“Ugh—!”

A-Mu, pinned to the stone wall, suddenly let out an agonizing roar that shook the heavens! That roar was filled with endless pain, endless rage, and… endless despair! His eyes were instantly filled with a thick, blood-red glow! The black blood flowing from his seven orifices, as if summoned, flowed back into him, re-entering his body! His wolf demon heart, under the impetus of this power, pounded wildly as if mad, at a speed beyond its limits! Every beat unleashed destructive power!

“What?!”

The old Daoist, who was performing the “Soul-Locking Spirit-Refining” evil spell, was the first to feel the eruption of this terrifying power! He felt an irresistible force surge from A-Mu’s brow, violently striking his divine soul!

“Pfft—!”

The old Daoist was struck as if by lightning, violently spitting out a mouthful of blood. His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily against the stone wall behind him with a dull thud! His fingers, which had been pressed against A-Mu’s brow, were also shattered to a bloody pulp by the backlash, revealing white bones!

“Cough cough… How… how is this possible?!” The old Daoist struggled to crawl up from the ground, his face filled with incredulous horror. The “Soul-Locking Spirit-Refining” evil spell he had cast was forcibly interrupted! And he had suffered such a severe backlash! What terrifying thing was truly hidden deep within this boy’s divine soul?!

However, as the old Daoist stood there in shock and uncertainty, a series of fragmented yet crucial memory snippets, captured during the soul-searching process, clearly appeared in his mind—

That heart-stopping carriage accident…
That mysterious young girl who suffered severe injuries to save the little boy, yet instantly healed…
Those eyes, identical to this young man’s, yet colder and more beautiful…
And that soft whisper, “Just treat it as a dream…”

“So that’s it… So that’s it! Hahahaha!” The old Daoist suddenly laughed like a madman, tilting his head back, his laughter filled with a sudden realization and an even more pathological ecstasy.

“So the secret of your eternal life, boy, is her! It’s that woman who also possesses an immortal body! She gave you the power of eternal life! Hahahaha! It truly takes much searching to find something, only to discover it without effort!”

He had always thought A-Mu himself possessed some special constitution or cultivated some peculiar technique, but he never expected that the source of his ageless immortality actually came from another equally mysterious existence! As long as he found that woman, he could achieve true, perfect eternal life! Perhaps even… obtain greater power!

And at this moment, A-Mu, pinned to the stone wall, after erupting with that terrifying power, his consciousness also regained a sliver of clarity from the soul-ripping agony. He heard the old Daoist’s mad and triumphant laughter, and his words filled with greed.

“She…”

This word, like the sharpest blade, cruelly pierced his already ravaged heart! He knew that the “she” the old Daoist spoke of referred to the “fairy sister” who had given him warmth and hope during the most desperate and helpless moments of his life! The only belief he had tirelessly sought and protected his entire life!

A wave of anger and fear, stronger than ever before, instantly overwhelmed A-Mu’s reason! He could endure any pain, any torment, but he would absolutely not tolerate anyone harming her! Not even a single thought!

“No… can’t…”

A-Mu’s throat produced hoarse and difficult sounds. This was the first time he had spoken since being captured by Qingyun Temple! His voice, due to long periods of silence and intense pain, was extremely dry and distorted, but the determination it contained was as firm as steel!

“You… can’t… harm… her!”

Every word was squeezed out as if from between clenched teeth, filled with the will of blood and bone!

The old Daoist was slightly startled by A-Mu’s sudden words, then a more cruel and disdainful smile appeared on his face.

“Oh? So you’re not mute after all?”

He grinned, walking step by step towards A-Mu, his eyes filled with the mockery of a cat playing with a mouse. “Boy, you can barely take care of yourself right now, yet you have the leisure to worry about others’ lives and deaths? Do you think you’re still in a position to bargain with me?”

He extended his hand and fiercely grabbed A-Mu’s neck, brutally pressing his head, which had just regained a hint of vitality, against the cold stone wall.

“But don’t worry.”

The old Daoist leaned close to A-Mu’s ear, speaking in a voice like a venomous snake’s hiss, chillingly. “This humble Daoist won’t let you die so easily. This humble Daoist will refine you into an immortal puppet, making you follow this humble Daoist forever, becoming the best tool for this humble Daoist to find that woman! Hahahaha!”

The old Daoist’s mad and triumphant laughter echoed incessantly in the secret chamber. A-Mu was almost suffocating from his grip, but his eyes, burning with dark red flames of resentment, stared fixedly at the old Daoist, filled with endless hatred and… a hint of deep despair. He knew he was beyond help. The only thing he could do was use his broken body to protect the secret buried deep in his heart, preventing this demon from defiling the only pure place in his soul.

And deep within A-Mu’s spiritual world, modern Su Mingyue’s fading consciousness, at the moment A-Mu’s consciousness regained clarity, miraculously stabilized. She heard A-Mu’s hoarse yet firm vow, and felt his determination to protect his “fairy sister” at all costs. Her heart was a swirl of mixed emotions, both touched and pained, filled with endless self-reproach and… a faint, inexplicable flutter.

This foolish child…

Chapter 23: Refining the Soul into a Slave and Coffin-Locking Dragon Imprisonment
The old Daoist, though suffering internal injuries and with blood staining his mouth from A-Mu’s sudden power backlash, found his madness and greed intensified rather than diminished. He wiped a streak of blood from his lips, looking at A-Mu, who was pinned to the stone wall, his eyes blood-red and radiating a savage aura. A more grotesque smile spread across his face.

“Good! Excellent! I didn’t expect such immense power to be hidden within your small body! It seems what that woman left behind in you is far more valuable than this humble Daoist imagined!” The old Daoist’s voice was hoarse, tinged with a morbid excitement. “However, the stronger you are, the more I like it! Refining you into an immortal puppet will surely become this humble Daoist’s greatest aid in traversing the world!”

With that, he no longer hesitated. His hands again formed more bizarre and complex seals, and he began to chant chillingly sinister incantations. His hand, which had been reduced to bone, actually regrew flesh! This time, he was no longer merely searching for or seizing a soul; he intended to completely erase A-Mu’s autonomous consciousness, refine his divine soul, and turn him into a mindless puppet that would only obey his commands!

“By the Fire of Nine Netherworlds, refine the soul into a slave! By Imperial Decree!”

As the old Daoist let out a fierce roar, a ghostly green flame appeared out of thin air at his fingertips, then violently pressed towards A-Mu’s brow!

“Ah—!!!”

An indescribable agony, like a parasitic worm burrowing into bone, instantly spread through A-Mu’s limbs and body, directly scorching his divine soul! He let out agonizing screams that were almost inhuman. His body, pinned to the stone wall, trembled and twitched violently, as if undergoing the tortures of the eighteen layers of hell!

Modern Su Mingyue’s consciousness, under the searing of this soul-refining evil fire, also felt an unprecedented pain and weakness. She could clearly feel her consciousness being eroded and dissolved by the ghostly green flame, bit by bit, as if it could completely vanish at any moment.

“No… A-Mu… hold on…” Su Mingyue used her last shred of strength to utter a faint plea within A-Mu’s spiritual world.

However, A-Mu’s mind was already submerged by the boundless pain. Before his eyes, various bizarre images flashed incessantly: the desolation of his childhood wandering the streets, the loneliness of being ostracized as a monster, and the numerous inhuman tortures he endured in Qingyun Temple… These negative emotions, like venomous snakes, gnawed at his already broken heart. He wanted to give up, to sink, to be free of it all…

But just at the last moment, when his consciousness was about to be swallowed by darkness, a clear and incomparably beautiful figure, like a ray of dawn in the darkness, suddenly appeared in his mind. It was the face of his “fairy sister.” She was still as young and beautiful as when he first saw her, her eyes cold with a hint of imperceptible gentleness. She was looking at him anxiously, seemingly calling his name.

“Fairy sister…”

A-Mu unconsciously murmured this title. This title, like a spark thrown into his nearly extinguished flame of life, ignited it! An unimaginably powerful will suddenly erupted from the deepest part of his soul!

No! He couldn’t give up! He couldn’t let that malicious old Daoist succeed! He couldn’t let his “fairy sister” suffer any harm because of him! He had to live! He had to protect her!

“Roar—!!!”

A-Mu let out another earth-shattering roar! That roar was no longer just simple pain and anger; it was also mixed with an unyielding will and… the determination to protect! His blood-red eyes, which had been somewhat unfocused due to pain, once again gathered terrifying light! His wolf demon heart, and the peculiar power fused with demonic qi and Su Mingyue’s blood, also began to wildly churn again under the impetus of this powerful will! He actually… actually resisted the erosion of the soul-refining evil fire with his powerful willpower!

“What?! This… how is this possible?!” The old Daoist felt the powerful resistance coming from A-Mu, and the ghostly green flame’s inability to advance an inch. An incredulous look of horror appeared on his face. This “refining the soul into a slave” evil spell was a forbidden secret art of Qingyun Temple, incredibly malicious. Once cast, even the most resolute Daoist cultivators found it hard to resist, let alone a “half-demon” whose mind was already unclear? This boy… this boy’s willpower, was it truly this strong?!

The old Daoist was both shocked and enraged. He constantly urged his magic, increasing the power of the soul-refining evil fire, trying to completely destroy A-Mu’s will to resist. A-Mu, however, bit down hard, allowing the soul-refining evil fire to burn his divine soul, enduring the agonizing pain in his body. He steadfastly held onto his obsession in his heart, refusing to yield an inch. In his mind, he constantly recalled the “fairy sister’s” face, her gentleness when she saved him, her sadness when she was called a demon… These memories became his only source of strength to fight against the pain.

“I want you to die! Old demon Daoist! I want you to die! You’re not allowed to harm her!”

A-Mu roared madly in his heart. Although his body was pinned to the stone wall, unable to move, his eyes were like the sharpest blades, fiercely piercing the old Daoist!

And so, one man and one “demon” engaged in an incredibly fierce tug-of-war on the spiritual level.

Time passed, minute by minute. Sixty days… eighty-one days… ninety-nine days…

A full eighty-one days! During these eighty-one days, A-Mu endured the burning of the soul-refining evil fire day and night. His screams, from initially shrill to later hoarse, and finally to faint, almost echoed throughout the entire Qingyun Temple. The old Daoist, too, due to continuously casting such a malicious forbidden art, expended a vast amount of magic power and mental energy. His once somewhat youthful appearance again became gaunt and withered, and his eyes grew even more sinister.

Finally, on the evening of the eighty-first day, A-Mu’s screams completely ceased. His head hung low, covered in blood, his aura extremely weak, as if he had completely lost all life. His eyes, which had burned with dark red flames, also lost all their light, becoming utterly dead.

“Hmph! Finally… finally done?”

The old Daoist looked at the motionless A-Mu, letting out a long sigh of relief, a weary and grotesque smile on his face. He thought that after these eighty-one days of refinement, A-Mu’s divine soul should have been completely destroyed, leaving only a puppet body that he could manipulate at will. He carefully withdrew his fingers from A-Mu’s brow, and the ghostly green soul-refining evil fire also extinguished.

The old Daoist panted a few times, then cautiously took a few steps towards A-Mu. He wanted to confirm whether this stubborn “experimental subject” had truly been completely refined by him.

However, just as he approached A-Mu, preparing to examine him closely—

The A-Mu who had been hanging his head, seemingly dead, suddenly lifted his head! His previously dead eyes suddenly erupted with dark red malevolent light, stronger and more savage than ever before!

“Roar—!!!”

A roar filled with endless killing intent burst from his mouth! He… he hadn’t been completely refined after all!

“How could this be?!” The old Daoist was greatly alarmed, his soul leaping into his throat! He never dreamed that this boy’s willpower could be so tenacious! Enduring eighty-one days of soul-refining torment, he could still retain a trace of autonomous consciousness, and even erupt with such powerful strength!

He hastily dodged backward!

“Pfft!”

Despite his quick reaction, he was still a step too slow! A-Mu’s right hand, which had been nailed to the stone wall by the rune-embedded nail, actually broke free from the nail with brute force! Although his wrist was a bloody mess, bone-deep, he seemed to feel no pain whatsoever. That re-freed sharp claw, carrying a force that tore through everything, fiercely clawed towards the old Daoist’s chest!

Although the old Daoist avoided a fatal blow, his left shoulder was still caught by A-Mu’s sharp claw, leaving a bone-deep wound. Blood instantly stained his Daoist robe!

“Madman! You madman!”

The old Daoist was both shocked and enraged. He knew that completely refining this boy was probably impossible. He tangled with the completely demonized A-Mu for a while. Although, thanks to his rich experience and endless array of magical artifacts, he was temporarily out of mortal danger, he was in a wretched state, having accumulated several new wounds on his body. He knew clearly that if this continued, he would eventually be exhausted to death by this tireless monster that knew only slaughter!

“It seems… I can only completely seal you!” A hint of unwillingness and ferocity flashed in the old Daoist’s eyes. He suddenly bit the tip of his tongue, spraying a mouthful of vital blood onto his peach wood sword. Then, his hands quickly pulled out dozens of yellow talismans he had already prepared from his embrace, and he rapidly chanted an incantation!

“Heaven and Earth without limits, Qian Kun borrow power! Tai Shang Laojun, by urgent decree! Seal!”

As he gave the command, the dozens of yellow talismans, as if alive, transformed into streaks of golden light, overwhelming the sky and earth as they wrapped around A-Mu! Although A-Mu was fierce, his mind was unclear. Faced with this sudden array of talismans, he was momentarily flustered. He was quickly enveloped by layers of yellow talismans, forming a huge talisman cage that temporarily trapped him in place!

“Hoo… hoo…” The old Daoist looked at A-Mu, temporarily trapped by the talismans, letting out a long sigh of relief, but his face showed no trace of relaxation. He knew that these talismans could only temporarily hold him; they wouldn’t last long. He had to devise a foolproof plan to completely seal this monster, eliminating future troubles forever!

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He suddenly thought of something and roared towards the secret chamber entrance: “Come! Soul-locking Coffin! Quickly bring the Soul-locking Coffin to this humble Daoist!”

Soon, several Daoists carried in a gigantic, pitch-black coffin, radiating an icy chill, stumbling in. The coffin, made of an unknown material, was covered with dense soul-鎮壓 runes; clearly, it was no ordinary item.

“Quick! Get him inside!” The old Daoist pointed at A-Mu, trapped by the talismans, and roared fiercely. Although the Daoists were afraid, they dared not disobey. They worked together to forcefully push A-Mu, who was still struggling and roaring, into the Soul-locking Coffin.

“Bang!”

The heavy coffin lid was slammed shut! Immediately after, the old Daoist ordered his men to bring dozens of pre-prepared black chains, also covered with runes. He bound the entire Soul-locking Coffin, from inside out, from top to bottom, tightly and securely, like a giant iron zongzi!

“Thump! Thump! Thump!”

Inside the coffin, A-Mu’s frantic pounding and furious roars continued. The entire Soul-locking Coffin shook violently, as if it could be burst open from within at any moment. But the Soul-locking Coffin and the rune-covered chains were evidently extraordinary; no matter how A-Mu struggled, he couldn’t budge them an inch.

Gradually, the commotion inside the coffin grew fainter. Finally, it completely subsided.

The old Daoist looked at the heavily sealed Soul-locking Coffin, letting out a long breath, an expression of relief on his face. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and snorted: “Hmph! Once you’re in this Soul-locking Coffin, even if you have heaven-shattering abilities, don’t dream of getting out! Just stay put inside!”

Although he couldn’t refine A-Mu into a puppet, he had completely figured out the secret of his longevity. The old Daoist calculated that once his injuries healed, he would go search for that woman. He turned, dragging his exhausted body, preparing to leave this secret chamber that had drained his heart and mind.

However, just as the old Daoist’s foot stepped out of the secret chamber entrance—

A sudden change, once again, occurred!