Chapter 0608: The Shadowfiend Codex

This too contained a portion of his true self's negative emotions.

Though Yi Tianxing didn't say anything about the evil methods Yi Tianxie used on Shadowthorn, it wasn't without purpose. Desire is part of human nature—it's simply another side of himself. Moreover, everything was done with a goal in mind. For the sake of achieving his objective, the shadow incarnation Yi Tianxie could do anything. His methods would always be more extreme and more ruthless than Yi Tianxing's.

Of course, though Yi Tianxie was his shadow incarnation—his second nascent spirit—he had an independent will. Some things couldn't be constrained. Each went their own way without interfering in the other's matters. With Yi Tianxie's nature, he wouldn't indulge too far. Rather, it was his highest pursuit to manipulate human hearts and ascend the great path through it. The sensation of drawing in the world's endless evil energies and rapidly growing stronger was more intoxicating than anything else.

He could control the seven emotions and six desires of all things. If he wished, he could experience any feeling or desire that existed in the world. The joy of intercourse—if he really wanted to feel it—he could easily sense it from thousands or even millions of others. That made it lose any meaning.

Yi Tianxing quietly resumed his cultivation.

...

Outside the city, deep in the shadows, the intense "battle" slowly came to an end after a long time.

"You're a demon," Shadowthorn said, her voice full of shame and fury.

"So what if I am?" Yi Tianxie laughed wickedly. "As long as it helps me reach my goal, I'm willing to use any means. Besides, you're just a captive. An enemy."

"Don't even think about it. You'll never obtain the Shadowfiend Codex. I won't tell you a single word," Shadowthorn said coldly. After suffering such humiliation, everything else had become meaningless.

"I don't need you to say anything. The Shadowfiend Codex is already in my mind. It's my trophy," Yi Tianxie said dismissively.

"Impossible! There's no way you could've learned the Shadowfiend Codex! You're lying!" Her expression changed drastically. She didn't believe him at all. The Shadowfiend Codex had a heart-devil oath bound to it during cultivation—no one could leak even a single word.

"Believe what you want. As long as I've got it, that's enough," Yi Tianxie said with a half-smile. "As for you, simply killing you would be too kind. Let's do it this way—into the Sky Prison you go. If you can escape, that means your fate isn't over. If you can't survive, then you'll die to atone for the people you've killed."

As he spoke, he grabbed Shadowthorn and flung her into the air.

A rift opened in the void, and the Sky Prison appeared. It devoured her completely. She vanished.

Once inside the Sky Prison, escape was nearly impossible.

It was practically a life sentence—if not outright death. Unless one's sins were wiped clean, there was no way out. Acting rashly inside was just asking to die. Death came easily in that place.

"My path is finally beginning."

Yi Tianxie revealed a trace of joy.

In the City!

Inside the meditation chamber, Yi Tianxing suddenly opened his eyes. "You're back."

"Yes, I'm back. That assassin has been dealt with," Yi Tianxie said with a smile.

"You violated her, then threw her into the Sky Prison. Wasn't that a bit too heartless? After all, she was your woman," Yi Tianxing said meaningfully.

"A woman? Just a tool to break her mental defenses. Women mean nothing to me. Love comes only after emotion, and only with love does physical union bring spiritual pleasure. You should know this better than anyone. I was born attuned to the seven emotions and six desires—all dark and evil thoughts. Falling in love is no longer possible for me. The physical act of copulation is dull. I'd rather feel it secondhand through others. This time, I only did it to crack her mind so I could use the Myriad Demonic Codex to extract the Shadowfiend Codex. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered with such a boring act."

Yi Tianxie shook his head with a touch of melancholy.

Life was dull. Cultivation was more fulfilling.

Manipulating hearts—that brought true pleasure.

"You got the Shadowfiend Codex?" Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed with excitement and joy.

Obtaining this technique would bring unimaginable change to Yi Tianxie. His cultivation would soar at an astonishing pace.

"Heh, that's nothing. That girl didn't say a word, but I have ways to directly probe her mind. Whatever she thought, I saw clearly. Unfortunately, she only knew the first four realms of the Shadowfiend Codex: Spirit Sea, Life Apertures, Life Diagram, and Dharma Aspect. But that's more than enough. All I want is to extract insights into the Way of Shadows. What I'll cultivate is a supreme technique of my own making."

Yi Tianxie's expression was filled with confidence and pride.

Now that everything was ready, all that remained was to complete the deduction, fuse the essence, and tailor it to his own physique. Then he could create a supreme cultivation method.

"How long will it take to create the new technique?" Yi Tianxing asked.

"Not long. My physique is compatible with both Shadow and Myriad Evil. I just need to find their points of resonance and fuse the essence of several techniques together. Creating the initial realms won't be difficult."

Yi Tianxie had the knowledge and memories of the former Evil Emperor. In terms of insight, he was second to none. Standing atop an extraordinary foundation, creating a method that naturally suited him was half the work with twice the results.

"Good. Go into seclusion then. But in a few days, I might need you to guard Xuanhuang City," Yi Tianxing nodded.

"Don't worry. You and I are one. Your business is mine."

Yi Tianxie grinned evilly, his body shimmering before turning back into a shadow and merging beneath Yi Tianxing, disappearing from sight.

"Hmph. Let's see how many tricks you alien races can pull. I'll take them all," Yi Tianxing murmured to himself. "Still, it's clear that Six Doors alone can't handle every sudden threat. I need to establish a confidential agency—something like the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

This series of events stirred a strong desire in him to form a covert agency. Six Doors were good at handling law and order and capturing criminals, but they were lacking when it came to dealing with alien assassins and infiltration.

Such an agency was essential.

He had planned to do it later, but now it had to be moved up.

But even with the will to act, there was a problem—he lacked people. He needed talent. A lot of it.

To establish a secret organization, the question of who would lead it became crucial. Such a group would always be a double-edged sword. If misused, it could harm its creator. It had to be led by someone he could completely trust—someone with both loyalty and ability.

The next day arrived as expected.

Xuanhuang City quickly emerged from its silence.

Many citizens still carried faint expressions of worry.

"This is the second day. Will the assassin hidden in the shadows strike again? Three assassinations in three days—that's three lives."

"Damn it. I slept with a blade in my arms last night. If that assassin shows up, even if I die, I'll take a piece of him with me."

"Yeah! Xuanhuang City isn't full of cowards. Even in death, we won't shame our city. But I believe the City Lord won't let the assassin run wild like that."

Despite their fears, the fighting spirit that had been roused yesterday hadn't vanished.

Eyes were alight with determination.

Xuanhuang City wasn't built easily. Its name was worth defending with their lives.

DONG DONG DONG!!

At that moment, Six Doors constables could be seen moving through streets and alleys, striking gongs and shouting:

"Citizens, please go about your business freely. The assassin who struck last night has been captured and sent to the Sky Prison. There is no need for fear!"

"The assassin has been imprisoned! Citizens, do not panic. Continue your daily lives with peace of mind."

"The City Lord has declared: Xuanhuang City fears no alien race, no schemes. Any alien who dares enter will find a place waiting for them in the Sky Prison!"

At daybreak, a large number of constables spread the news throughout the city.

Xuanhuang City erupted in cheers.

The threat of an assassin, no matter who it was, had cast a heavy shadow over their hearts. Now that they had been captured and imprisoned, the pressure was instantly relieved. There was no more fear.

Pride surged in every heart.

This was Xuanhuang City. Any alien who dared to commit evil here—there would never be a good end.

That pride came from the blood in their veins.

Outside the city, in a hidden area, a werewolf and a demon scorpion were flying into a rage.

"Damn it! I can't believe Ratscourge and Shadowthorn were both so useless! They got taken out just like that! They didn't even make a dent in Xuanhuang City. Instead, they made those weak humans even more united, even more resilient!" the werewolf snarled, practically foaming at the mouth.

He never expected their first two allies to fail so miserably—and so quickly.