Chapter 121: Now It’s My Turn to Save You, Ah Chou
The four beings, standing at the peak of this world, silently watched Luo Xue, pondering why she also possessed the Gatekeeper’s inheritance.
In this cage-like world, all beings were exiled here, whether from the Immortal Domain or the Demon Abyss.
Only… the Ancient Demon Lands were an exception.
It was a legendary place, completely sealed off and isolated from the world.
No one had ever been to the Ancient Demon Lands, including the ancient beings and the forbidden area lords, but occasionally, powerful demons would escape.
The Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss, through certain means, learned some information about the Ancient Demon Lands from these demons.
It was through this information that the forbidden area lords learned about the concept of the “Gatekeeper Inheritance.”
Since it was a cage, there must be a gatekeeper, but the gatekeeper wasn’t a person or a clan, but an inheritance.
In this world, only the possessor of this inheritance could cultivate to the Ascension Realm and open the gate of this cage.
But what was the Gatekeeper Inheritance?
Even the most powerful demons were vague about it, seemingly afraid to mention it.
The forbidden area lords, choosing to break the cage, began searching for the Gatekeeper Inheritance.
After several cycles of reincarnation, they finally determined that the Gatekeeper Inheritance should be in the depths of the Blood Sea.
However, several attempts to explore the depths of the Blood Sea had all failed, even costing the lives of several Nascent Soul cultivators.
—Until Su Yiyao appeared.
A talent like Su Yiyao’s was rare, appearing only once in a thousand years, but the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss had existed for far longer than a few thousand years.
The Sword Saint of the Peerless Summit Sect three thousand years ago, and the Spirit Master of the Temple of the Nether Spirit two thousand years ago, were peerless prodigies like Su Yiyao, but they still couldn’t reach the level of the forbidden area lords and the ancient beings.
The most important thing was Su Yiyao’s inheritance.
The Temple of the Nether Spirit claimed it was the Underworld Phoenix Inheritance, but the Holy Master knew that this was impossible.
Although the Underworld Phoenix Inheritance had the word “phoenix” in it, it was still an ordinary evil cultivation technique, created by a deceased demonic cultivator who had some insights into the Blood Sea.
Although powerful, in the eyes of the Holy Master, who was close to the Ascension Realm, it was insignificant.
And Su Yiyao…
She possessed the power of a true ancient divine beast, the “Phoenix.” Just sensing its bloodline slightly would make one tremble with fear.
This was definitely an Ascension Realm inheritance!
And in this caged world, the only Ascension Realm inheritance… was the Gatekeeper Inheritance.
Logically, there should be only one such ancient inheritance.
But the four beings sensed a slightly different Gatekeeper Inheritance on Luo Xue.
Not the same, but very similar.
They couldn’t understand why Luo Xue, with her mediocre aptitude, could possess such a terrifying inheritance.
Ancient inheritances weren’t something just anyone could inherit. Only a peerless prodigy like Su Yiyao, who surpassed all her peers, fit the image of a true inheritor of a supreme inheritance.
Just as the forbidden area lords were hesitating whether to stop Luo Xue and prevent her from going deeper into the Blood Sea—
It was clear that the Blood Sea was very harmful to Luo Xue. She was already on the verge of death, only her will keeping her moving forward.
The forbidden area lords weren’t being kind. They were just worried that this newly appeared Gatekeeper Inheritance would be lost.
But just then, Luo Xue suddenly fell backward, her aura disappearing in an instant.
“What!”
The Primordial Mother was the first to react. Her law was life, and she instantly sensed Luo Xue’s life force rapidly fading.
She immediately wanted to retrieve Luo Xue from the Blood Sea, but before she could take a step, the Holy Master raised her hand and stopped her.
“Wait,” the Holy Master’s voice was soft. She looked at Luo Xue and whispered, “She’s… fine.”
“We were wrong.”
The Ghost King crossed his arms, his expression dark.
“Yes,” the Fallen Immortal looked at Luo Xue with apprehension. “I didn’t expect her to be… the Eternal Withering Body.”
The Calamity Poison Body was already a disaster that the mortal world could hardly resist, and a high-level Calamity Poison Body was a nightmare for all low-level cultivators. But in terms of fighting against those of the same level, it couldn’t compare to other Dao Bodies of the same rank.
After all, the greatest advantage of the Calamity Poison Body was its ability to absorb poison and enhance its cultivation without any side effects. As long as there was enough poisonous spiritual power, it could advance rapidly.
But the Eternal Withering Body was a different level of talent, comparable to the laws comprehended only at the Nascent Soul Realm.
The existence of the Eternal Withering Body was a crisis in itself. Wherever they went, life withered, turning the land into a forbidden zone.
This was a true disaster.
In Luo Xue’s current state, let alone the Immortal Domain, even the Demon Abyss wouldn’t dare to let her roam freely.
The forbidden area lords didn’t suspect anything about the sudden manifestation of Luo Xue’s physique, because this was the place where all the decay of the world converged.
Perhaps the previous Calamity Poison Body was just an unawakened Eternal Withering Body, awakened by the Blood Sea.
“If it’s the Eternal Withering Body, she is indeed qualified to inherit the Gatekeeper Inheritance.” The Ghost King said in a low voice. “But are you sure that after she becomes the Gatekeeper, this cage… won’t become a land of withering?”
The forbidden area lords were worried that if Luo Xue became the Gatekeeper, would the Blood Sea maintain its current size?
Although the four domains of the Demon Abyss were much larger than the nine provinces of the Immortal Domain, because of the Blood Sea’s existence, the actual territory they controlled was smaller than the Immortal Domain’s.
Therefore, the Immortal-Demon War, besides gathering decay, was also a war for resources.
“So what if it becomes a land of withering?”
The Primordial Mother said indifferently.
The other three were slightly startled, then their expressions turned serious.
Indeed… so what if it became a land of withering?
Even if the Eternal Withering Body destroyed the entire cage, what did it have to do with them?
The four forbidden area lords weren’t interested in the war within the cage, but they couldn’t ignore the possibility of ascension.
All they wanted was to open the gate of this cage.
“So, what exactly is in the depths of the Blood Sea? Is the gate of the cage really there?”
The forbidden area lords were silent. Even they couldn’t enter the depths of the Blood Sea.
The will of withering acted indiscriminately on everyone. Even the forbidden area lords and the ancient beings, who were just a step away from the Ascension Realm, couldn’t escape it.
They could only exist in this world through special means, and the price was that besides them, even the most talented prodigies could only reach the early stage of Soul Transformation, unable to advance further.
Therefore, these beings feared withering even more than ordinary cultivators. They didn’t dare to enter the depths of the Blood Sea, only lingering at its edges.
The ancient beings, who were trying to refine the entire cage, were even more extreme. They didn’t even dare to enter the Demon Abyss. Even the most reckless Master Wumu would only appear in the borderlands.
They feared withering, and the Gatekeeper, even more than the forbidden area lords, after all, they were trying to steal the entire world.
“Let’s seal her first. There’s only one Gatekeeper, and one key is enough.”
The Primordial Mother said indifferently. She was the oldest and the most ruthless of the four forbidden area lords.
Even with special means, in her current condition, it would be difficult for her to survive until the next great tribulation.
At that time, the Primordial Mother would completely dissipate, and more importantly, the resulting “whale fall” would benefit the entire caged world, not just the Primordial Mother Cult.
Without the Primordial Mother, the Primordial Mother Cult would completely collapse, and the four domains of the Demon Abyss would become three.
Therefore, the Primordial Mother would do anything to escape this cage and ascend before her deadline arrived.
The other three forbidden area lords didn’t speak, their eyes flickering.
They tacitly agreed to the Primordial Mother’s plan. This was the safest option.
Who knew if Su Yiyao would ultimately succeed?
If she failed, this Peerless Summit Sect disciple named “Luo Xue” would be their backup plan.
Seeing that the others didn’t object, the Primordial Mother raised her hand, about to suppress Luo Xue.
Countless tentacles, formed from twisted flesh and blood, extended from behind her, their ferocious teeth embedded within the formless flesh, a foul-smelling liquid oozing out.
The Primordial Mother Cult worshipped the Primordial Mother, offering flesh and blood as sacrifices, using themselves as cauldrons, refining their bodies.
They specialized in body refinement techniques, but they weren’t body cultivators. They took the flesh and limbs of other cultivators or ferocious beasts and refined them into their own bodies.
Especially the corpses of Immortal Domain prodigies, which were the favorites of the Primordial Mother Cult cultivators.
The Primordial Mother had refined a Soul Transformation great demon that escaped from the ancient demon lands, then fused some vicious beasts into herself, resulting in her current form.
Although she still maintained the appearance of an old woman, once she used her techniques and abilities, she would transform into a monstrous, twisted creature that blotted out the sky.
The tentacles reaching towards Luo Xue were just a part of her avatar, but their aura was something even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t resist.
Luo Xue lay on her back on the Blood Sea, drifting aimlessly.
Her eyes seemed to be looking at the sky, but they were dark and lifeless.
As if she were dead.
But… for the Eternal Withering Body, death was life.
The extending tentacles surrounded Luo Xue, forming a sealing formation.
Several tentacles reached out from the formation, trying to bind Luo Xue within.
However, before these tentacles could reach her, a slender hand grabbed them, crushing them effortlessly.
“Who?”
The Primordial Mother was startled.
“Me.”
A young, childish voice rang out, and a beautiful, slightly childish face appeared.
Behind her was a phoenix formed from the will of withering, its purple-red wings spread, as if enveloping the entire Blood Sea.
“Su Yiyao…?”
The forbidden area lords’ faces were filled with shock, the Holy Master the most astonished.
“How is this possible…”
The Holy Master naturally knew that after leaving the Temple of the Nether Spirit, the Holy Maiden had headed towards the Blood Sea.
But she had made preparations in advance, trapping Su Yiyao in a certain area of the Blood Sea, making it impossible for her to leave, no matter which direction she went.
With her Soul Transformation cultivation, even some minor techniques were beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator could resist.
And although the Primordial Mother, due to certain limitations, could only use a partial avatar, it wasn’t something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily destroy.
What was going on?
“Sister Qin… no, you’re not Sister Qin.” Su Yiyao looked at the Holy Master, who looked exactly like the Zither Witch, and said softly, “Where do you think… this is?”
She turned to look at Luo Xue, a tender look on her face.
“I finally see you again… Ah Chou.”
The face that had haunted her dreams for so long, the face that had gradually become blurred, finally became clear again.
The once gray and dark world seemed to regain its light at this moment.
No matter what happens… this time, I won’t let you go.
It’s my turn to save you, Ah Chou.
Su Yiyao placed the coffin she carried on her back onto the surface of the Blood Sea, gently lifted Luo Xue’s limp body, and placed her inside.
Then, she turned to face the four forbidden area lords, the most powerful enemies in this world, like the ferocious beasts in the swamp back then, and raised her broken dagger.
“If you want to take Ah Chou… you’ll have to go through me first.”
“Heh, how ridiculous,” the Primordial Mother sneered. “A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator… dares to face me? If not for the other forbidden area lords, I would have already refined you into flesh and blood!”
“Now that another Gatekeeper Inheritance has appeared… hehehe…”
The Primordial Mother leaned on her staff, a sinister smile appearing on her wrinkled face, the tentacles behind her twitching.
When Su Yiyao emerged from the depths of the Blood Sea before, the forbidden area lords had discussed some plans, and the Primordial Mother’s was the most radical.
The Primordial Mother could refine flesh and blood into her body, obtaining their inheritances or special talents.
She already possessed ten ancient inheritances, and countless talents and Dao Bodies.
She had over twenty types of Calamity Poison Bodies alone.
Therefore, after confirming that Su Yiyao possessed the Gatekeeper Inheritance, the Primordial Mother had considered refining Su Yiyao, but she was stopped by the other forbidden area lords.
Firstly, they didn’t want the Gatekeeper Inheritance to be completely controlled by the Primordial Mother alone, and secondly, they were worried about any unexpected consequences.
After all, there was only one Gatekeeper Inheritance. What if it was destroyed after being refined?
If that happened… the hope of escaping this cage would be completely extinguished.
They could only wait for the ancient beings of the Immortal Domain to successfully refine this world and become the masters of the cage.
At that time, neither the Demon Abyss nor the forbidden area lords would exist.
But in this situation…
Facing the Primordial Mother’s proposal again, the forbidden area lords remained silent.
“I think… it’s inappropriate…”
The Holy Master said with a complicated expression. For some reason, looking at the resolute little girl before them, her attitude softened slightly.
But soon, the Ghost King and the Fallen Immortal nodded.
“Primordial Mother, give it a try.”
“It’s about time. This old woman can’t wait any longer…”
The Primordial Mother let out a sinister laugh, her hunched body suddenly swelling, her bloodshot eyes bulging, hanging on this indescribable monster of flesh and blood.
The law she controlled was called life, but it should be called… twisted life.
“Merge with me… beautiful little girl…”
“This old woman will… caress your entire body…”
A hoarse and strange voice echoed from the twisted monster, like a chorus.
Countless tentacles slowly appeared around Su Yiyao, the pressure of a Soul Transformation cultivator making it difficult for her to breathe, let alone move a finger.
But her gaze remained unchanged.
As always.
“I said…”
“Where do you think… this is…?”
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