Reverend Insanity Chapter 2331 -‌ ‌Pitiful‌ ‌Survivors

Chapter 2331: Pitiful Survivors

Old Lord Can Yang stood as a renowned pillar of the Central Continent Gu Immortal world, his influence deeply cemented by years of history.

As Zhao Lian Yun observed him, pertinent details bubbled up in her memory. Since ascending to the position of the current generation's fairy of Spirit Affinity House, she had been unable to progress in her cultivation because she could not face her tribulations. With her path forward blocked, she had poured her energy into studying the profiles of various figures, granting her a comprehensive understanding of most individuals within the Central Continent Gu Immortal community.

Zhao Lian Yun was well aware that Old Lord Can Yang possessed the Immortal Gu Flickering Flame. He had famously engineered an exquisite immortal killer move known as life chasing fire, which held a prestigious reputation throughout the Central Continent.

In recent times, however, Old Lord Can Yang had largely vanished from public view, remaining deep within his secluded cultivation.

His most notable recent endeavor involved an investigation into the collapse of the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building in the Northern Plains alongside Feng Jiu Ge, which had led them into direct conflict with Shadow Sect.

More recently, he had triumphed in a confrontation against Zhang Ji.

Zhang Ji, while a relatively obscure practitioner from Black Heaven Temple, possessed specialized techniques specifically designed to neutralize fire-based assaults. Ultimately, he was still overwhelmed by the fire path expertise of Old Lord Can Yang.

Although the lantern held by Old Lord Can Yang flickered with a dim light, its presence sparked an immediate sense of comfort within Zhao Lian Yun’s chest.

Many people shared this disposition; they often felt fragile and isolated when left to their own devices.

Yet, the mere presence of an ally, even one who might be currently powerless, was enough to foster a profound sense of security and warmth.

Zhao Lian Yun was precisely such a person.

As an otherworldly demon who did not originate from these lands, her disposition had been formed long before her arrival. This inherent vulnerability was partially why she had clung so fiercely to Ma Hong Yun after having received his kindness and support.

Zhao Lian Yun steadied her breathing, the dejection vanishing from her features as she turned to request assistance from Old Lord Can Yang, detailing the precarious state of Bu Zhen Zi.

Old Lord Can Yang slowly shook his head in response: “My cultivation is rooted entirely in fire path; I have a very limited grasp of phantom path and possess no aptitude for healing. I am truly unable to provide any aid.”

Hardly had he finished speaking when his own body began to tremor visibly.

His complexion drained to the color of paper.

Simultaneously, a shroud of white Qi manifested around him, clustering most heavily near the mangled, severed wound on his arm.

“Cough, cough.”

Old Lord Can Yang continued to hack, each violent bout forcing blood from his lips.

The blood struck the earth and instantly transmuted into white Qi, vanishing into thin air.

Gritting his teeth, Old Lord Can Yang forced his body to activate a secret method. This struggle persisted for over ten breaths before he succeeded in stabilizing his wounds, the natural color returning to his face as the coughing subsided.

His techniques were only applicable to himself—or at best, other fire path Gu Immortals—and would have proven disastrous if attempted on Bu Zhen Zi. In truth, such methods would have likely accelerated his decline.

Subsequently, Old Lord Can Yang and Zhao Lian Yun traveled together.

Along their trajectory, they encountered several immortal aperture entrances, all of which remained wide open, greedily absorbing the pervasive white Qi.

They also came upon other survivors.

A gargantuan monkey lay sprawled across the landscape, resembling a fallen mountain.

Once, its hide had been cloaked in golden fur, acting like a sturdy suit of armor. Now, half of its body was charred black, echoing the image of a defeated general stripped of his livery.

Where its muscles should have appeared dense and powerful, his frame was now marred by shredded flesh and exposed bone. He lay motionless on the ground, entirely unable to rise.

The monkey’s golden eyes had once shimmered with an imposing, authoritative brilliance, yet now his gaze was fragmented and listless. He only managed to regain a glimmer of spirit upon noticing Zhao Lian Yun and Old Lord Can Yang.

“What? That is the Combat Immortal Sect’s Immortal Monkey King, Shi Lei. He is a master of earth path and transformation path, and he is clearly utilizing his signature killer move—Rock Mountain Immortal Monkey King Transformation!” Zhao Lian Yun expressed, stunned, as she instantly identified the beast.

Shi Lei was widely recognized as the preeminent rank seven Gu Immortal in the Central Continent, boasting battle strength that surpassed even that of Old Lord Can Yang.

However, he had been positioned far closer to the epicentre of the explosion, and evidently, he had lacked the necessary time to fully deploy his rock mountain immortal monkey king transformation.

Because the compound killer move blended two distinct paths, it required a massive expenditure of mental focus.

Lacking a deep foundation in wisdom path, Shi Lei required extensive preparation to execute such a maneuver.

Having utilized alternative methods to endure the initial shock, he had eventually resorted to this transformation out of necessity, forcing himself into the form of an ancient desolate beast. By leveraging the durability associated with that physiology, he had triggered the creature's inherent self-healing properties, allowing him to survive.

Recognizing the duo, Shi Lei blinked his golden eyes in a silent greeting.

He dared not even draw a deep breath, fearing that the strain would push his deteriorating condition over the edge.

Evidently, Shi Lei was focused solely on self-preservation and lacked the means to offer help to others.

“Cough, cough.” Old Lord Can Yang sputtered again, fresh blood staining his attire. After a short interval, he managed to suppress his internal damage once more.

Zhao Lian Yun and Old Lord Can Yang persevered on their path.

Shortly thereafter, they encountered Yang Feng.

As a rank seven Gu Immortal from the Ancient Soul Sect, he specialized in transformation path. Like Shi Lei, he had reverted to the form of an ancient desolate beast to survive.

The once majestic giant wolf lay in the dirt, pathetic as a wounded cur.

Yet, his injuries were marginally less critical than those of Shi Lei, and he retained the ability to converse with Zhao Lian Yun.

Though he possessed less raw strength than Shi Lei, the moment the explosion occurred, his instincts had triggered the transformation move he practiced most frequently.

His sole focus was transformation path, and the giant wolf form was second nature to him—a reflex that allowed him to activate it almost instantaneously.

“My primary injury is to my spine; even the slightest exertion will cause me to snap in two,” Yang Feng explained before joining the ranks of Zhao Lian Yun and Old Lord Can Yang.

The trio continued their search and eventually located Vicious Lightning Fiend.

A rank seven Gu Immortal in his own right, Vicious Lightning Fiend floated through the air, his body wreathed in crackling electricity, while three Lightning Deities orbited him to assist in his recuperation.

As he healed, sparks flew in every direction, creating quite a disturbance.

“I was fortunate,” he muttered.

“Just before the blast, I had maintained my Lightning Deities in a constant revolve around me, attempting to project a favorable image for Lord Primordial Origin Immortal Venerable.”

While he had initially commanded over ten such deities, only four had remained after the cataclysm. To secure his own survival, Vicious Lightning Fiend had been forced to sacrifice one of the remaining deities to fuel his recovery. Consequently, only three were left.

The loss was monumental.

“The Lightning Deity killer move was developed by Vicious Lightning Fiend using the shattered remnants of the Blood Deity’s Immortal Gu recipe. When the qi tides engulfed the world and reunited the five regions, the influx of rare immortal materials provided him with immense funding from Myriad Dragon Dock, allowing him to rapidly stockpile his Lightning Deities. With over ten deities—each boasting the combat prowess of a rank seven Gu Immortal—he was ranked among the elite experts of the Central Continent, second only to Shi Lei,” Zhao Lian Yun recalled as she greeted him.

Though Vicious Lightning Fiend was notorious for his volatile temper, he was uncharacteristically polite toward Zhao Lian Yun.

Observing that she had emerged with the least severe injuries, he offered her a silent acknowledgment of her capabilities.

The explosion had claimed the lives of most Central Continent Gu Immortals; those remaining were either incredibly blessed by fate or possessed enough raw power to weather the storm.

However, an awkward realization remained. The Gu Immortals possessing the highest battle strength were rarely adept at healing others, even if they could bolster themselves. Thus, despite the growing numbers within their group, they still possessed no effective way to stabilize Bu Zhen Zi or Shi Lei.

As time stretched onward, the white Qi fog that hindered their vision began to thin.

The white mist was composed of high-quality qi path immortal materials, but in their current state, no one felt any inclination to gather them.

The blessed lands and even grotto-heavens belonging to the fallen Gu Immortals were aggressively consuming the surrounding white Qi. Simultaneously, that same white energy was venting from the gapping wounds exposed in the Heavenly Court. Regardless, the sight...