Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation Chapter 2376 Epilogue 1 : Son of the Flood Dragon Humans, Part One

Countless stars dotted the boundless Starry Heavens, radiating dazzling brilliance.

Yet, utter darkness enveloped travelers in the immense cosmos. The reason lay in the enormous gaps between stars, which stopped their glow from lighting up the entire Starry Heavens.

A battered corpse drifted silently in the absolute blackness of space.

From time to time, meteors and asteroids crashed into the body, creating a pitiful spectacle.

Alone in the endless universe, the corpse floated onward, battered by fragments of rock.

Should no one notice it, who could say where this body might end up drifting?

“Whoosh!”

A figure suddenly materialized amid the Starry Heavens, scanning the pitch-black void.

Gazing far off, the figure's sight pierced through innumerable stars until it spotted that isolated, frigid corpse.

After several swift flickers, the figure morphed into a streak of rainbow light, chasing after it relentlessly.

Roughly fifteen minutes afterward, the figure reached the corpse.

The arrival pulled back the hood, exposing a solemn and severe visage. Gradually, the dragon scales across the face faded away.

This was Yan Cangming, the Flood Dragon Humans' leader.

This corpse belonged to Zhen Yuan. More precisely, it was Zhen Yuan fused with the Black Dragon King’s demonic nature.

“Brother Yan, if I die one day, please send me back to the Grave Sea Cluster’s Profound Light Temple.”

Long before, they had crossed paths in the Abyssal Underworld’s Asura Hell. They bonded instantly, shared countless brushes with death, and Zhen Yuan pledged to stand by Yan Cangming, voicing his sole wish.

Now, Yan Cangming fulfilled that pact by arriving.

For nearly a year, Yan Cangming had roamed the vast Starry Heavens seeking Zhen Yuan’s remains.

Buried deep within, Yan Cangming resisted believing the Black Dragon King was truly slain.

Even confronting Zhen Yuan’s corpse, disbelief lingered in him.

The very Xiao Chen had felled the Black Dragon King, who once struck terror into the entire Martial Epoch. With the Black Dragon King’s fall, Yan Cangming’s numerous aspirations crumbled to dust.

Silent, Yan Cangming hoisted Zhen Yuan’s corpse and departed.

---

Half a month afterward, beyond the Grave Sea Cluster’s blessed lands:

Three blessed lands existed in the Grave Sea Cluster. Potala Mountain housed the Profound Light Temple, a domain of the Buddhist sects.

Yan Cangming, bearing Zhen Yuan’s corpse, stood atop the starry sea, gazing silently ahead.

Misty ocean haze shrouded hazy peaks, while Buddhist radiance gleamed overhead.

At intervals, the solemn chants of Buddhist sect luminaries pierced the endless mist, echoing far and wide.

A slight frown creased Yan Cangming’s brow. The scene irked him. The Buddhist scriptures grated on his restless mind, fueling greater agitation.

His right hand lifted, drawing together pure Death Dao’s Great Dao Energy bit by bit.

Fierce gales whipped around him, stirring massive waves across the waters. Eerie gusts shrieked like tormented souls of the departed.

One upward flick of his hand, and the Death Dao Domain’s erupting power could shatter this blessed land’s barriers in a flash.

“Whoosh!”

Yan Cangming drew a deep breath, dropping his right hand to soothe his turbulent emotions.

Then, facing the Profound Light Temple, he bellowed, “Is Venerable Xuan Bei present? I bear an entrusted item to deliver. Come forth and meet me.”

“Rumble...!”

Yan Cangming’s shout pierced through the formations. Sound waves rattled the blessed land’s mountains, threatening imminent collapse.

Buddha statues quivered everywhere, sparking massive uproar.

Quarter of an hour elapsed with no one emerging from the blessed land. Yan Cangming failed to encounter his desired figure.

His face abruptly grew deathly frigid.

“Stop!”

Right as Yan Cangming geared to force entry, dazzling Buddhist light flared within the blessed land.

Enveloped in that radiant Buddhist glow, a figure sped over from the distance, materializing before Yan Cangming amid the shining light.

“Yan Chen?”

A faint scowl crossed Yan Cangming’s features. He knew this individual: Yan Chen, the freshly risen Buddhist sect leader, titled the Salvation Buddha.

Yet, this was merely Yan Chen’s clone.

Yan Cangming pondered briefly, grasping the cause. Likely terrified by his Demonic Qi and baleful aura, the Buddhist sect folk had hastily invoked a Secret Technique to call forth Yan Chen’s clone.

Legends held Yan Chen as the Buddhist sect’s genius. Following the Kāśyapa Buddha statue’s ruin, he attained profound insight and achieved extraordinary feats.

He stood poised to claim the mantle of Lord Buddha in the coming era.

Yan Chen fixed a brilliant gaze on Yan Cangming and questioned, “Benefactor, why do you insist on forcing your way into this sacred Buddhist ground?”

Yan Cangming had no interest in offering explanations. He replied coldly, “Get out of my way. You're merely a clone, no match for me at all.”

A faint gloom crossed Yan Chen’s face as he spoke gently, “If you have matters to attend to here, just say them outright. The Flood Dragon Human Race is facing tough times right now. Why antagonize the Buddhist sects?”

“Do I have to account for all my actions to you?”

Chill filled Yan Cangming’s eyes; he refused to justify himself to Yan Chen. His surging murderous aura intensified further.

“Whoosh!”

Right then, a streak of light flashed over and materialized into an elderly figure.

The elder first paid respects to Yan Chen with a bow. Then, stepping ahead, he faced Yan Cangming and stated, “This benefactor, I am Xuan Bei. My junior brothers held me back before, delaying my arrival. I offer my apologies for the discourtesy.”

Yan Cangming arched his brows and responded coolly, “No matter. Now that you've shown up, it's all settled. This is my companion. Before his death, he expressed a final wish to rest in the Profound Light Temple. Kindly grant it.”

Once Yan Cangming finished speaking, he lowered the body from his back.

“Zhen Yuan!”

Venerable Xuan Bei’s eyes widened in shock upon recognizing the corpse’s features, and he hurried forward at once.

Venerable Xuan Bei examined the body closely, confirming it belonged to Zhen Yuan. A wave of grief washed over his face. He clasped his palms and murmured, “May the Lord Buddha preserve us.”

Yan Chen fell into contemplation. He knew this body too. Zhen Yuan had once hosted the Black Dragon King.

Thoughts swirled rapidly in Yan Chen’s mind. Big Brother Xiao Chen’s indifference toward this corpse indicated the Black Dragon King was completely eradicated. Yet, interring the Black Dragon King’s remains in Buddhist territory—might that invite complications?

Should word spread, opportunists could exploit it.

“Zhen Yuan betrayed the Buddhist sects. He even absorbed the Black Dragon King’s demonic nature. How can we permit a traitor like him to be laid to rest in the Profound Light Temple?!”

Before Xuan Bei or Yan Chen could respond, a crowd of elderly Profound Light Temple monks charged from behind, voicing furious protests.

“Is that so?”

A icy smirk crept across Yan Cangming’s lips. In that case, I’ll have to slay you all and plant Zhen Yuan here afterward.

“I agree.”

Yan Chen shot a look his way. Noting the lethal intent in Yan Cangming’s gaze, he grasped the man’s intentions clearly.

This foe mastered the Death Great Dao with bottomless power. He regarded life and death as trivial; unmet wishes would drive him to merciless action.

“I consent to burying Zhen Yuan’s body here,” Yan Chen declared to Yan Cangming, emphasizing each word while meeting his eyes.

“Revered One, we cannot allow this!” the elderly Profound Light Temple monks behind urged in haste, their faces etched with bewilderment.

“My decision stands. Say no more.”

“Goodbye.”

As the freshly appointed head of the Buddhist sects, Yan Chen’s authority held weight. Yan Cangming promptly deposited Zhen Yuan’s corpse and departed without delay.

Yan Chen let out a soft sigh. Turning around, he instructed, “Prepare accordingly and gather the blessed land’s scriptures for relocating the temples. Once Zhen Yuan is interred, I’ll seal this area to avoid any needless issues.”

“Revered One, permit me to stay and guard his tomb. He was my disciple, after all. My guidance failed, leading to his grievous error. Let this be my path to redemption,” Venerable Xuan Bei whispered, cradling Zhen Yuan’s body.

Yan Chen sighed again, “Xuan Bei, the Buddhist sects face pressing tasks now, with few eminent monks left. This emerging era offers a chance to shine. Are you certain you wish to pass your remaining days here?”

“I’m sure.”

“Very well, follow your heart.”

With everyone from the Profound Light Temple relocated, Yan Chen sealed the whole blessed land. Yan Cangming materialized quietly afar.

Yan Cangming hadn’t strayed far, observing from nearby. Only after confirming Zhen Yuan’s burial in the Profound Light Temple did he exhale in relief.

For the Flood Dragon Human Race’s sake, Yan Cangming had devoted his existence to currying favor and serving others, all to secure a foothold for his kind. He had endured ceaselessly through it all.

Just two could claim his true friendship: his old senior brother Lin Feng...and Zhen Yuan, who stood by him to the very end.