'Looks like Tang Cheng's identity is destined to end here,' Song Yan secretly sighed.

If he gets killed, he'll just sever the cause and effect and slip away swiftly.

Meanwhile, Tang Shen's face had already changed dramatically, and he suddenly turned around and ran; he had also used his Divine Sense to scan ahead to see He Yueran.

However, as soon as he moved, the blue light swept forward.

He Yueran appeared behind the two of them like a phantom, calmly saying, "Where are you two heading?"

Song Yan glanced at Tang Shen, who was already terrified beyond measure.

"Shen'er, escape."

Song Yan did not send a mental message but spoke directly.

His voice was trembling too.

Yet, his eyes bravely stared at He Yueran's...shadow across from him.

However, since he was ready to relinquish this identity, he naturally wanted to use it to save those around him, fulfill his duty of brotherhood, and take another look at He Yueran to add another general to his Shadow Puppet.

Hearing those three words, Tang Shen unexpectedly did not flee but instead gritted his teeth and said, "How do I escape?"

Song Yan laughed, "You've never even been with a woman; it'd be a shame to die. Let me handle it today.

If you survive, burn me a paper beauty someday.

If we die... then hurry on the path to the Underworld and catch up with me."

After saying this, he slowly summoned his Flying Sword, ready to hold off He Yueran for a bit once Tang Shen ran away, then quickly discard the cause and effect and seek a new identity.

He was skilled at doing such things.

The cause and effect between him and Tang Shen were limited to his identity as Tang Cheng.

But an unexpected event occurred.

Tang Shen did not run but instead breathed heavily, also summoned his Flying Sword and stood by his side, saying heartily, "We truly are brothers, not born together, but we can die together."

Two men, two Flying Swords, facing a cultivator seemingly impossible for them to defeat, yet... their eyes showed no hint of fear, only a heroic readiness to face death.

The next moment would be a farewell from life and death.

And they were ready to die.

However, He Yueran did not make a move; he looked at these two disciples of the Formless Ancient Race and suddenly said, "Go ahead."

After speaking, he pointed east and said, "Everyone knows you were headed northwest; why not change direction?"

Immediately, this swordsman in blue disappeared from the spot.

This was another unexpected turn for Song Yan, prompting him to think about the Nanwu Sword Sect and the brighter side of the world.

"Sect Leader He is truly a pure sword cultivator," Tang Shen remarked, "He must cultivate Red Dust Sword Dao, which values righteousness most; we really were lucky..."

"Don't dwell on luck, let's escape quickly," Song Yan headed east.

In the current situation, although he sensed something was amiss, he still couldn't discern what the Formless Ancestor was planning. The best course of action was to follow to a secluded place; after all, it was uncertain if the Formless Ancestor wanted to use this escape to eliminate potential crises or if this was merely a diversion.

Formless Ancestor might be fleeing with his clansmen, then seizing the opportunity to take away the Ancestral Vein.

Song Yan contemplated as he fled.

Following He Yueran's direction, they truly encountered no blockade, and after furiously fleeing, they hid in a small valley for two months. Seeing no disturbance in the vicinity, they then sneaked northwest to meet their clansmen.

...

...

The following year...

Mirage Creek.

This place still held sufficient Profound Qi, yet it was an area inhabited by demon beasts, mainly the Mirage Demon.

Mortals entering here might believe they've entered a deep mountain Immortal Palace, gradually stepping into the merriment of celestial maidens, only to sit at a dining table, contemplating their supposed luck, before becoming lunch.

Ordinary cultivators entering would fare no better.

However, the remaining disciples of the Formless Ancient Race had gathered here.

Only about six hundred people remained.

The barrier formed by the array had opened up a small village-sized area amidst the swirling mirage fog.

"From now on, cultivate here. When the outside settles down, we'll plan anew," Tang Ningxin looked at the remaining clanspeople, feeling uneasy, but upon thinking of the Primordial Ancestor and the survival of the clanspeople, she regained composure, silently affirming: 'I'm not wrong, I'm not wrong! The world is collapsing, making it difficult to cross; if the Primordial Ancestor can ultimately survive, then there's still hope for my Formless Ancient Race! For this goal, even more sacrifice is worthwhile!'

Finally, someone couldn't help but ask, "Old Ancestor, why has it come to this?"

Tang Ningxin lowered her gaze gloomily, not answering, only saying softly, "From now on, our clan will no longer be divided into separate branches; all cultivation techniques will be shared, and Secret Techniques will be mutually practiced. Once we are strong, we will leave this creek!"

After speaking, she waved her long sleeve, came to the edge of the Array Shield, and sat cross-legged, entering cultivation.

The remaining clan members, resigned, settled there.

...

...

Two years later.

Song Yan never did encounter that Formless Ancestor.

Although he had patience and time, he had realized by now that the other party might have other plans.

In his heart, he silently lamented: 'Just because of a baseless assumption, to abandon the Formless Ancient Race, truly a drastic measure, decisively brave.

Indeed, none of these old monsters are easy to deal with. I must be cautious, lest I capsize in the gutter, dying before crossing the Sea of Suffering.'

Song Yan observed for a bit longer; seeing Tang Ningxin truly assume a posture of cultivating here for several decades, he took the opportunity during an outing to search for cultivation resources in Mirage Creek to retrieve Tang Cheng's corpse from the Storage Space, threw it into the depths of the Mirage Realm, then severed the cause and effect and decisively left.

With cause and effect gone, Tang Cheng would cease to exist in this world.

...

...

In the coming days, Song Yan wandered around, searching for traces of the Formless Ancestor.

Suddenly, the entire 2nd-level Cultivation Profound Land became chaotic.

Numerous latent sources of turmoil began surfacing, one after another; Celestial Demon Enchantment, cultivators vying for fortunes, chaos everywhere.

Song Yan roamed for a full twenty years.

During those twenty years, he never found a single trace of the Formless Ancestor, not even witnessing any movement of the Ancestral Vein Secret Realm of the Formless Ancient Race.

However, he did not leave empty-handed.

In those two decades, he successfully transformed seven Late Stage of Divine Infant powerhouses into Shadow Puppets and stored them in his own shadow, thereby adding, along with He Yueran, Qiu Baiwei, and the Yin Yang Profound Dragon, ten powerhouses.

Though possessing only sixty to seventy percent of the original strength, Song Yan could still use "Hundred Forms Demon Shadow" to merge these nine shadows into one entity, and the resulting power... unimaginable.

Yet, he had never had the chance to attempt this.

One day, after witnessing another battle, and still finding no trace of the Formless Ancestor, Song Yan's mind stirred: If the Sea of Suffering Dragon Race wants to escape from the Sea of Suffering, it can only rely on sacrifice.

The Formless Ancestor must be urgently preparing to sacrifice, he couldn't have remained inert despite so many battles; the only explanation is... that he is no longer here.

Looks like he's not only brave, but has also overturned his own game board layout of many years.

Truly decisive.

This scourge must not remain!

Song Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.

His cause and effect with the Formless Ancestor grew deeper, and given the opponent's silence to this extent, his killing intent intensified.

...

A month later.

The Ancient Teleportation Array flashed.

Song Yan instantly appeared at the seabed.

This was a 1st-level Cultivation Profound Land, the old site of Wangjian City, now turned into a haven for Celestial Calamity Beasts.

Song Yan made a quick survey, concealed his aura, and took out an old map before flying west.

Heading west lay in sequence the Night King Ancient Race, Ice Mirror Soul Threshold, Barbaric Land, Formless Ancient Race...

He planned to first visit the former site of the Formless Ancient Race.

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