Chapter 133: Backlash

The Corpse God Palace.

Elders of the Corpse God Sect sat upon their respective coffins, practicing in bitter seclusion, inhaling and exhaling the strange energy seeping from within the caskets. Yin Hai felt restless, his wrinkled face contorted with unease.

"Yin Hai, hurry to Burial Ground Number Ninety-Three. Your two Heavenly Corpses are slaughtering our sect members without being summoned," the hoarse voice of the Corpse God Sect Master suddenly echoed from deep beneath the palace.

The elders in the vast hall awoke one after another, casting suspicious glances at Yin Hai. With a somber face, Yin Hai knelt on his coffin and replied, "This subordinate will go at once..."

"Jing Song, go with Yin Hai and see what has happened," the Sect Master commanded again.

An elder on a neighboring coffin knelt down, bowed his head, and said, "I obey..."

"Go. Find out the cause of the Heavenly Corpses' abnormality and report back immediately."

"As you command..."

***

On the iron ship.

Shi Yan lay with his limbs splayed, his expression weak and his body drained of strength, save for the faint, throbbing pain in his meridians. His mental energy was spent, and the backlash of his rampage had left both his body and mind in a state of exhaustion. Only his acupuncture points continued to purify the influx of vital energy.

The iron ship of the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had slowly sailed out of the burial grounds. Even from a distance of a thousand meters, Shi Yan could still hear the terrified screams echoing from the site. Under the moonlight, the burial grounds remained shrouded in fear.

After boarding, Shi Yan had used his final reserves of mental energy to channel a command into the Blood-Vein Ring, ordering the two Heavenly Corpses to slaughter the island. He did not know how long his command would bind them, but as long as the ship could safely clear the burial grounds, he was satisfied.

Xia Xinyan had disappeared the moment she stepped onto the ship; she was likely busy steering.

Stretched out, Shi Yan gazed up at the myriad stars. The starlight cascaded down, gathering around his heart. *If only I could wield the Star Martial Spirit!* Shi Yan sighed inwardly, feeling helpless. For days, the Star Martial Spirit had not ceased its absorption of starlight, day or night. He could feel the points of starlight within his heart at every moment, sensing the unique power hidden within them. Yet, he could never find the method to unleash it.

"Are you alright?" Xia Xinyan suddenly appeared beside him, her voice filled with concern.

"I'm fine for the moment," Shi Yan replied with a bitter smile. He hesitated, then added, "Go and use the iron chain connected to the anchor to bind my body. Bind me several times over..."

"What?" Xia Xinyan gasped, her beautiful eyes wide with surprise. "What are you doing?"

"The martial technique I used earlier is extremely bizarre and carries a heavy backlash. It might even cause me to lose my sanity and fall into a state of mindless frenzy. You must bind me! Otherwise, I fear I might do something that would make you hate me for a lifetime," Shi Yan said, looking at her with deep, solemn eyes.

"What would you do?" Her expression shifted.

"Do you remember our first meeting?" Shi Yan took a breath. "I was on the verge of madness then and had no choice but to head to the Misty Rain Pavilion. If those two courtesans hadn't been there for me to vent upon, I don't know what would have happened."

"I will bind you now." Xia Xinyan was decisive. Once she realized the severity of the situation, she hurried to the side of the ship and dragged over the heavy iron anchor chain.

***

Minutes later, Shi Yan was swaddled in iron chains as thick as an arm, wrapped tightly from head to toe like a mummy. The chains were black, gleaming, and impossibly heavy, emitting a strange, freezing chill.

"These chains are forged from special metals and are incredibly tough. Even a warrior at the Nirvana Realm would struggle to break them. You can rest easy," Xia Xinyan said, wiping sweat from her brow. She looked somewhat weakened herself. She sat cross-legged five meters away, her clear eyes fixed on him.

Within Shi Yan’s body, various negative emotions surged from his acupuncture points. Violent, bloodthirsty urges began to corrode his will like a toxin. His eyes brimmed with malice, his expression savage, and his breathing grew heavy. Yet, he remained somewhat composed. "That is good..."

"Was it because of this backlash that you acted that way at the Misty Rain Pavilion? And at the Ling family estate as well?" Xia Xinyan asked, her expression flickering. "Could it be that I misunderstood you?"

"Half and half," Shi Yan grinned. "The backlash does indeed shatter my will and amplifies my inner darkness infinitely. However, those negative emotions are still a part of me; they are merely suppressed by my reason in daily life. So, all in all, I am still a villain."

Xia Xinyan was stunned.

"When I regain my senses, remember to come to my side immediately," Shi Yan suddenly growled, his body beginning to tremble. Within his meridians, the purification of vital essence accelerated, and the negative emotions spilled over, flooding his mind and heart. He was losing control.

"Why?"

"I will help you restore your Martial Spirit."

"How is that possible?"

"Remember what I said..."

Shi Yan let out a roar like a bloodthirsty beast and suddenly stood up, the chains rattling with a deafening metallic clang. At that moment, his eyes held no trace of human emotion; he looked like a demonic beast crawled out from the depths of hell. His body was saturated with endless malice, as if he meant to destroy the world and clear away every living obstacle.

Xia Xinyan’s expression changed, and she retreated a few steps, putting distance between them. The contrast between the clear-headed man from moments ago and this rampaging monster was hard to accept. Watching the murderous aura surging from him, she finally realized he hadn't been exaggerating.

So, the backlash really could destroy his mind, turning him into a monster that knew only slaughter.

On the deck, wrapped in chains, Shi Yan howled at the sky. He struggled with all his might, as if trying to squeeze out every ounce of his strength to break free from his bindings. The screams echoed across the silent sea, terrifying in their intensity. Xia Xinyan watched him, her eyes flickering, her expression complex.

A long time passed.

Shi Yan's howling grew weaker, his strength seemingly spent. He collapsed to the deck, his body twitching feebly. The bloodthirsty, killing intent that found no release began to tear at his own body, leaving his skin split and blood-soaked—a truly miserable sight.

After the rampage, the already weak Shi Yan suffered a heavy backlash, becoming a mass of torn flesh and bone. Even as a bloodied mess, his eyes remained devoid of clarity, still radiating a monstrous, murderous aura.

Xia Xinyan was horrified. The vitality Shi Yan displayed was far too tenacious and fierce! After such a frantic display, his body was a wreck, yet his bloodthirsty, warlike intent remained unyielding. What kind of martial technique could have such terrifying side effects? She was astonished, feeling more and more that Shi Yan was a bottomless pool of secrets, impossible to fathom.

Shi Yan’s voice grew faint and breathless. Gradually, the howling stopped, and the madness in his eyes slowly ebbed away, replaced by returning clarity.

"Co-come here..." Shi Yan opened his mouth. His voice was as faint as a buzzing fly, yet he insisted on looking at Xia Xinyan. Even now, a bloody, agonizing mess, he was focused on helping her heal.

Xia Xinyan’s heart surged with waves of emotion. A strange light flickered in her eyes as she walked toward him. "Rest well. There is no rush. From now on, I am responsible for protecting you! It’s all right, just rest. Don't worry about me, okay?" She had never been so gentle.

"No, if we miss this moment, I cannot help you..." Shi Yan struggled, his shoulder splitting further as he shakily extended a hand. "Take my hand! Quickly..."

Xia Xinyan paused, then instinctively grasped his bloodied hand.

Strands of strange power, like liquid jade, flowed from his bleeding palm... The energy entered her arm, traveling up to her chest, where it gathered at the core of her Samsara Martial Spirit, nourishing it like the gentlest nectar.

Xia Xinyan’s body trembled, her eyes erupting with an incredulous brilliance. She could clearly feel her wounded Samsara Martial Spirit recovering at an impossible speed under the nourishment of that strange power! It was more miraculous than the medicinal effects of a Heaven-Mending Pill.

Shi Yan, covered in blood, offered an ugly smile. "Well? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

"No, you didn't..." Her voice was soft and tranquil, her eyes fixed on him as if entranced.

"Good. Meditate slowly. Before dawn, you should be fully recovered." Shi Yan pulled his hand back and smiled. "I'll be counting on you from here on out."

"As long as I live, I won't let anyone hurt you," Xia Xinyan nodded gently. "You should rest too."

Shi Yan slowly closed his eyes and slumped to the deck, appearing to fall into a dead faint. Within his torn body, the Undying Martial Spirit had already begun its work, silently knitting him back together. Soon, the bleeding stopped, and the deep gashes began to close at a visible rate as his cells divided and reorganized. His severe injuries quickly faded into minor wounds.

Xia Xinyan did not rest immediately; she watched him with concern, a strange sentiment growing within her. Ten minutes later, seeing his body recover and sensing the strange power flowing within him, she finally eased her mind. She sat down on the deck beside him, closed her eyes, and began to meditate and recover herself.