Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Doctrine of the Divine Soul

As the saying goes, there is always a greater sky, and always someone stronger.
Although the Ye clan can be considered a dominant force in the remote northwest borderlands of the Holy Dragon Dynasty, when compared to the vastness of the entire dynasty, their influence is but a drop in the ocean.
Even among the most prestigious families, there are countless examples of being annihilated by the imperial lineage.
Thus, whether among minor clans or great families, contingency plans are always in place—the secret passage within Cloudwater City of the Ye clan is one such measure.
This passage was constructed more than six centuries ago. Only the patriarch of each generation knows of its location and holds the jade token that unlocks it.
Without this jade token, even if one discovered the passage, entry would be impossible. Any attempt to force entry would instantly collapse the tunnel, erasing all traces.
Now, Ye Haiyi has handed the jade token to Ye Min, signifying his resolve to stay behind and face life and death alongside Cloudwater City.
Ye Min and the elders, having known Ye Haiyi for many years, understood his temperament. His decision was final; persuasion would be futile.
Ye Min and the elders began to select and gather the most outstanding inner disciples and core disciples.
"What about my parents?"
When Elder Ye Min came to Rain Pavilion to take Ye Yun and Lu Susu away, Ye Yun suddenly frowned and asked.
"Time is short; even the elders cannot take their families. Ye Yun, you must put the greater good above all else!" Elder Ye Min replied sternly.
"You take Susu and leave, elder. I cannot abandon my parents."
Without hesitation, Ye Yun shook his head and refused.
Years ago, when he trained under his master, Ye Yu once asked him what his purpose in cultivation was.
Ye Yun would never forget: he hoped that one day he could grant his parents long life, so that he might accompany them through all their days.
Though it was a childhood vow, so many years had passed, and never once had he dared forget.
If he simply left now, how would that differ from Ye Peng, cold of heart and indifferent to kinship? With Ye Peng's hatred for him, if he could not find Ye Yun, he would surely vent his fury upon his parents.
"Ye Yun, don’t act foolishly—this isn’t the time for stubbornness!" Elder Ye Min frowned. "I understand your feelings. Were it me, I too would not wish to abandon my parents and flee alone. But if you stay and die with them, have you considered that your parents would rather see you escape?"
"There's no need for more words, elder. My mind is made up." Ye Yun waved his hand, unwilling to waste breath on the matter.
Seeing Ye Yun’s unwavering resolve, Ye Min could only sigh, took Lu Susu’s hand, and in a flash of movement, headed toward the main house.

Ye Yun said nothing. Reason dictated that Elder Ye Min’s approach was correct, but if a man is ruled only by logic, is he truly human?
He paced through Rain Pavilion, entering the hall where his parents and servants were gathered, all anxious and troubled.
"Yun, what’s happened? Is someone attacking Cloudwater City?"
Seeing Ye Yun, Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun quickly asked.
Looking at their worried faces, Ye Yun smiled. "Father, Mother, don’t worry. The Ye clan and the Wu clan of Flying Dragon City have always been at odds. We’re merely at a temporary disadvantage, but it’s nothing serious."
He withheld the truth, not wanting them to worry.
"That’s a relief…" Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun breathed out in relief.
No one is unafraid of death: Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun feared it, the servants of Rain Pavilion feared it, and Ye Yun himself was no exception.
If there were a choice not to die, who would choose otherwise?
Facing the powerful, the weak have no right to choose. Though Ye Yun could choose, his parents were the ties that bound his heart, making it impossible to leave them.
He believed his parents’ greatest worry was for him, their son.
For them, Ye Yun was their everything.
To have such loving, protective parents, Ye Yun felt truly blessed and fortunate in his life.
No matter what was to come, Ye Yun resolved to accompany his parents, even if it meant shining with the last light of his life—he would fight to protect them, allowing no harm to touch them.
"If there’s a next life, I hope I can be your son again…"
Looking at the slight wrinkles at the corners of his parents’ eyes, a wave of sorrow welled up in Ye Yun’s heart.
"Hmm? Boy, why do I sense a surge of resolve to die in your heart?..."
Just then, a voice suddenly rang in Ye Yun’s mind.
Ye Yun was startled, then realized it must be the unscrupulous Demon Lord from the Infinite Divine Eye.
"I’m about to face three Golden Core cultivators. Why do you think I have such resolve?" Ye Yun smiled bitterly. "Weren’t you asleep? How come you’re awake now?"
Perhaps just woken, the Demon Lord seemed groggy, paused as he collected himself, then said, "I was sleeping quite soundly! Wasn’t it you who woke me up?"

"The Infinite Divine Eye is now fused with your body, and as I reside within it, I am linked to your mind. Normally, nothing happens, but whenever you experience something unusual, I sense it as well."
The Demon Lord grumbled, awakened by Ye Yun’s determination to die.
After all, Ye Yun was now the ninth successor of the Infinite Demon Palace, and the Demon Lord had no wish for him to die young. Sensing his resolve, he hurriedly awakened.
"Is there a way for me to contend with three Golden Core cultivators?"
This Demon Lord had no small reputation; his awakening sparked hope in Ye Yun.
"Little Ye, are you out of your mind? You’re only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and you want to take on three Golden Core cultivators? Are you trying to defy the heavens?"
The Demon Lord rolled his eyes. "Let me give you the best advice—run for your life!"
"You’re the one who’s crazy! That’s your so-called best advice?" Ye Yun couldn’t help but retort.
"Dammit, you dare question my authority? It’s not that I have no other ways, unless you possess the innate perfect soul. Then, I might have a good suggestion." The Demon Lord roared.
"I do have the innate perfect soul," Ye Yun replied.
"You?" The Demon Lord was stunned.
"As the eighth successor of the Infinite Demon Palace, didn’t you know that to cultivate the Scarlet Flame chapter of the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Demon Technique, one must have the innate perfect soul?" Ye Yun countered.
When he first interacted with the Demon Lord, neither mentioned the perfect soul.
"Damn! The Scarlet Flame chapter was lost in ancient times—how would I know?" The Demon Lord exclaimed, then laughed, "The innate perfect soul is an extraordinary talent rarely seen in ten thousand years!"
"The innate perfect soul brings immense benefits. First, the three souls and seven spirits are balanced, giving unrivaled stability. Second, this soul can grow stronger—as your cultivation deepens, your spiritual consciousness strengthens, and the rank of your souls and spirits will rise, from shining like a lamp to containing worlds within. That is no idle dream!"
Envy and admiration tinged the Demon Lord’s words. "But you must be careful—many cultivators practice soul-refining techniques. If word spreads that you possess the innate perfect soul, countless people will flock to kill you and refine your soul!"
Hearing this, Ye Yun was instantly alert, recalling how Lü Mengqiu had vowed to refine his soul.
Most likely, Lü Mengqiu had learned from Ye Peng that Ye Yun possessed the tenth-grade innate perfect soul.
According to the Demon Lord, if someone refined his three souls and seven spirits, though they could not transform their own soul into a perfect one, they could greatly enhance their talent and gain the rare ability for their soul to grow stronger!
The world is full of wonders; some techniques allow cultivators to elevate their souls and spirits, bringing them ever closer to perfection.