Category: A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life

Chapter 124: Su Yiyao, Luo Xue’s Foundation

“What is this…”

The Holy Master and the others finally turned their attention to Luo Xue, their expressions even more serious than before.

In their eyes, Su Yiyao being a descendant of an ancient divine beast was almost certain.

But… Luo Xue couldn’t be one too, could she?

The reason the forbidden area lords made such a deduction about Su Yiyao was because of her mysterious origins and the fact that she was the only one who had emerged from the depths of the Blood Sea.

If this desolate Blood Sea was formed from the remains of the divine beast Phoenix, the possibility of Su Yiyao being its descendant was very high.

But what about Luo Xue?

Her background was clear. She grew up in the Peerless Summit Sect and hadn’t shown any characteristics of a divine beast descendant.

The only special thing about her was the Calamity Poison Body, which had evolved into the Eternal Withering Body after entering the Blood Sea, but this had nothing to do with the divine beast Phoenix.

So how… did Luo Xue use the power of the Blood Sea?

The forbidden area lords’ deduction wasn’t wrong. Luo Xue indeed had no connection to the Blood Sea, her only link being the drop of True Phoenix blood essence within her body.

But she hadn’t even fully absorbed this True Phoenix blood essence, let alone use it to awaken the power of the Blood Sea.

The answer was simple.

“Xiao Yao is holding the sword with me.”

Luo Xue carried Su Yiyao on her back, her hand holding the sword steady.

The True Phoenix blood essence within her was unprecedentedly active, but this time, it didn’t make her feel heavy or exhausted, but instead protected her entire body.

Because this drop of True Phoenix blood essence came from Su Yiyao.

It was Su Yiyao’s blood essence.

After their final encounter in the previous life, Luo Xue had given Su Yiyao her True Phoenix blood essence and inheritance.

But what she didn’t know was that Su Yiyao… already possessed this inheritance.

Giving her these powers only awakened Su Yiyao’s bloodline inheritance, they weren’t truly consumed, so they remained within Luo Xue’s body.

And, driven by Su Yiyao’s strong desire, her inherited blood essence was transferred to Luo Xue, completing the exchange.

From then on, they each carried a part of each other within their lives.

It was this faint connection that made Su Yiyao firmly believe that her Ah Chou was still waiting for her somewhere in the world.

Even though it was a faint and ethereal hope, Su Yiyao still clung to it tightly.

Now, with each other’s lives, they controlled the power of the Blood Sea together.

The phoenix avatar controlled by Su Yiyao had collapsed from exhaustion, and now it was Luo Xue’s turn, wielding the sword intent of withering.

The comprehension of the Ascension Realm spread through Luo Xue’s consciousness, her senses heightened, as if she could touch the truth of the world, every second a great harvest.

She entered a rare state of enlightenment and, unknowingly, reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.

A purplish-red tower formed above her sea of consciousness, her foundation condensed from the power of the True Phoenix.

Su Yiyao was Luo Xue’s foundation.

The Primordial Mother’s collapsing body reformed, and she looked at Luo Xue with lingering fear.

This sword strike reminded her of the terror of the Peerless Summit Sect’s ancient being, a terror she hadn’t felt in thousands of years, but the instinctual fear remained.

Even among peak Soul Transformation cultivators, there were differences in strength. The ancient being of the Peerless Summit Sect was the strongest among them.

If not for that ancient being’s stubbornness, wanting to break the cage’s restrictions with his sword intent, ascend to the heavens, face the tribulation lightning, and achieve immortality, ultimately leading to his demise…

Perhaps the Demon Abyss’s attacks on the Immortal Domain wouldn’t be so unrestrained now.

The Primordial Mother had been struck by that ancient being’s sword once and had to go into seclusion for a thousand years to recover.

Now, seeing such a powerful sword intent of the Peerless Summit Sect again, the Primordial Mother finally calmed down slightly.

Her monstrous body slowly shrunk, the blood and flesh tentacles retracting, shedding much of the decaying flesh.

The Primordial Mother returned to her form as a hunched old woman, standing beside the other forbidden area lords, her face pale, her expression grave.

This battle had taken a heavy toll on her. Even in her impatience, the Primordial Mother knew that continuing would lead to her death.

“At this point, everyone, are you still just watching?”

The Primordial Mother said slowly, her voice weak.

“If we don’t take them down now… when they return from the Blood Sea, how… can we possibly be their match?”

If these words came from anyone else, it would be laughable.

The four forbidden area lords were already terrifying existences at the peak of cultivation. Other cultivators, even with all their efforts, could only reach the early stage of Soul Transformation at most.

The difference between early and peak Soul Transformation… was more than a hundredfold.

But if it was Luo Xue and Su Yiyao who reached the early stage of Soul Transformation, the forbidden area lords couldn’t say they were certain of victory. There was even a possibility of defeat.

The current Luo Xue and Su Yiyao were only at the Core Formation and Foundation Establishment Realms, respectively.

But with such strength, they could already manipulate the power of the Blood Sea to this extent…

If they reached Soul Transformation… no, perhaps even at Nascent Soul, they could awaken the entire will of the Blood Sea, wielding the full power of this Ascension Realm expert’s remains.

Even if they couldn’t fully utilize the power of the Ascension Realm, it would be enough.

Below the Ascension Realm, even peak Soul Transformation cultivators wouldn’t be a match for the power of the Blood Sea.

In this caged world, where ascension was impossible, half an Ascension Realm power could be considered absolutely invincible.

The forbidden area lords knew the Primordial Mother was right, but they still hesitated, because of the Holy Master’s earlier theory.

If the ancient demon lands were the true world, and this was just a cage, then what would be the status of Su Yiyao, a descendant of the divine Phoenix, in the ancient demon lands?

Would there be an Ascension Realm expert backing her?

Or… even someone above Ascension?

All of this was possible.

Previously, the forbidden area lords had underestimated Su Yiyao and Luo Xue, the two possessors of the Gatekeeper Inheritance, because they thought they had only obtained the inheritance from the depths of the Blood Sea, and there wasn’t a Gatekeeper stronger than them.

This judgment was based on their tens of thousands of years of attempts.

To break the cage, the forbidden area lords and the ancient beings had tried everything, even pushing this world to the brink of destruction.

Having gone this far, and the hypothetical Ascension Realm Gatekeeper hadn’t appeared, they could only conclude that the Gatekeeper Inheritance hadn’t been truly inherited yet.

But in this situation… coupled with the Holy Master’s theory, they couldn’t help but be wary of this hypothetical Ascension Realm Gatekeeper.

Those who could reach the peak of Soul Transformation weren’t arrogant or conceited.

Even the Primordial Mother, driven to the brink of madness, had calmed down before her impending destruction.

However, compared to the other three forbidden area lords, the Primordial Mother had no way out.

The other three could continue searching for other ways to break the cage, but she only had this one opportunity before her.

In her current state, the Primordial Mother couldn’t care less who was backing Su Yiyao. If she didn’t escape this cage and ascend, her approaching deadline would take everything from her.

“Fine, since you’re all so cowardly, don’t blame this old woman for taking it all… At that time, I won’t show any mercy.”

A sinister glint flashed through the Primordial Mother’s eyes. She gripped her staff, and a dark, evil aura surged.

Countless disciples of the Primordial Mother Cult, somewhere far away, instantly lost consciousness, even those fighting against Immortal Domain disciples on the battlefield.

A giant teleportation formation appeared beneath the Primordial Mother’s feet, as if she had been prepared all along.

Countless Primordial Mother Cult disciples emerged from the formation, most below Core Formation.

Their eyes were lifeless, and a grotesque tentacle of flesh and blood grew from somewhere on their bodies.

They were all avatars of the Primordial Mother.

Similar to the Bone-Eroding Demonic Flame of the Temple of the Nether Spirit, before joining the Primordial Mother Cult, every disciple would consume a piece of the Primordial Mother’s flesh, merging with her.

This flesh would greatly enhance their cultivation speed and grant them a portion of the Primordial Mother’s power.

In times of crisis, they could sacrifice their lives to activate this power, exerting strength far beyond their own realm.

After reaching Core Formation, they could choose to remove the Primordial Mother’s flesh, but most would keep it until Nascent Soul, discarding it only when they needed to comprehend the laws.

After all, this was the flesh and blood of a Soul Transformation cultivator!

Primordial Mother Cult disciples used merging with flesh and blood as their cultivation method, and Soul Transformation level flesh and blood was an invaluable treasure to them.

But now, this flesh, which had aided their cultivation, was controlling their bodies and minds.

The Primordial Mother had always been prepared, including this teleportation formation, intending to summon these flesh puppets at a critical moment.

In her previous plan, these flesh puppets were meant to be sacrifices, absorbed by her.

But in this situation… instead of absorbing them as nourishment, it was better to let them consume Luo Xue’s power.

“Go, my children…” A cold, sinister smile appeared on the Primordial Mother’s wrinkled face. “Little girl… let this old woman see how many more times you can swing that sword.”

After all, the power of the Blood Sea wasn’t truly Luo Xue’s. She couldn’t control how much power each sword strike consumed.

Even if these mindless flesh puppets couldn’t withstand a single withering sword strike, there was strength in numbers. Almost all the low-level disciples of the Primordial Mother Cult had gathered here.

The Primordial Mother had descended into madness. She was willing to abandon her own forbidden area to merge Luo Xue or Su Yiyao into her flesh and blood, becoming the Gatekeeper’s successor.

Countless Primordial Mother Cult disciples, like walking corpses, emerged from the teleportation formation, transforming into puppets of twisted flesh and blood, instinctively using various techniques and abilities, surging towards Luo Xue.

Luo Xue silently swung her sword again and again, countless Primordial Mother Cult disciples falling, like lumps of rotting flesh, sinking into the Blood Sea.

…Or rather, they were already dead the moment the Primordial Mother awakened the flesh within them.

What Luo Xue was severing were the consciousnesses trapped within the twisted life, allowing them to be released and return to the cycle of reincarnation.

With every swing, Luo Xue’s comprehension of the sword intent of withering deepened, but correspondingly, the power she could control weakened.

One sword.

Two swords.

She had already swung her sword countless times.

Finally, as her strength was about to be depleted, Luo Xue’s final sword strike pierced through the flesh puppets and struck the Primordial Mother’s consciousness.

“What!”

The Primordial Mother was shocked and tried to dodge.

But it was too late. Once the sword intent of withering descended, nothing could stop it.

In an instant, the Primordial Mother felt half of her remaining lifespan being severed.

The fear of her approaching deadline loomed over her, the heavy aura of death almost suffocating her.

It was at this moment that the sword intent of withering truly solidified, completely comprehended by Luo Xue.

Comprehending a law-level sword intent at the early stage of Foundation Establishment…

Even within the Peerless Summit Sect, such a genius was rare, appearing only once every few thousand years!

Under normal circumstances, only Nascent Soul cultivators could comprehend law-level sword intent.

If a Core Formation sword cultivator comprehended such sword intent, they could claim to be invincible at their level, let alone a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“This…”

Sensing her current state, the Primordial Mother was both shocked and furious.

Her body was swelling uncontrollably, about to transform into the monstrous beast again.

This also meant that the Primordial Mother could no longer control her power and was about to descend into madness.

She hadn’t expected that after paying such a price… she would be so humiliated by a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator…

“I’ve done everything I can, Xiao Yao. I’m sorry.”

Luo Xue leaned on her greatsword, looked up at the terrifying Primordial Mother beast, and sighed softly.

Su Yiyao hugged Luo Xue from behind and whispered,

“It’s okay… Ah Chou, A’Xue, we’re together, that’s enough.”

“You… are… all… mine…”

The Primordial Mother roared, the stench of decay filling the air.

The remaining Primordial Mother Cult disciples nearby, not yet slain by Luo Xue, were all absorbed as nourishment.

Her tentacles, blotting out the sky, extended towards the lone Luo Xue and Su Yiyao.

The expressions of the three forbidden area lords were uncertain, their gazes shifting between Luo Xue and the Primordial Mother.

They suddenly realized that the Primordial Mother seemed to be succeeding.

What should they do?

If the Primordial Mother succeeded and reached the Ascension Realm… she would be able to crush them all.

Moreover, in her final moments, the Primordial Mother had warned them.

She wouldn’t show any mercy…

The three of them wavered, but after a brief moment, they made their choices.

The Holy Master completely gave up, while the Ghost King and the Fallen Immortal attacked simultaneously, trying to capture Luo Xue and Su Yiyao before the Primordial Mother could.

“Sigh, Old Ancestor, even at the last moment, you still can’t control yourself…”

A faint sigh seemed to echo, and time froze. Two figures slowly appeared, standing beside Luo Xue and Su Yiyao.

Seeing one of the figures, the cold flames in the Ghost King’s eyes intensified.

“Xiao Yu…”

Chapter 123: I Have a Sword, Capable of Severing the Heavens 

“Ah Chou…”

Facing the four forbidden area lords, Su Yiyao couldn’t help but feel nervous.

She seemed to be back on Mount Fengyin, the little girl relying on Ah Chou.

But this time, she wasn’t facing Daoist Ziyang, but the most powerful beings in the world.

Facing such formidable foes, the first person Su Yiyao thought of wasn’t her omnipotent master, but Luo Xue, who was by her side.

“Don’t be afraid…”

Luo Xue’s consciousness gradually returned, the disorientation of dying and being reborn fading away.

More memories surfaced in her mind, about this life and the previous one.

And some fragmented, unfamiliar memories.

“We’re together…”

“Yes, this time… let’s face it together…”

Luo Xue held Su Yiyao’s hand, and together, they gripped the broken dagger, pointing it at the four forbidden area lords.

“No matter how desperate…”

Luo Xue’s eyes turned pitch black, and Su Yiyao’s were filled with a brilliant crimson.

“Ancient Phoenix… Transformation!”

The power of the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture and the Lunar Phoenix Descent Scripture merged, creating a spark of the ancient divine beast’s aura.

The power of the True Phoenix flowed through them, briefly awakening the Blood Sea, and the pressure of the Ascension Realm descended.

The entire Blood Sea churned violently, the will of withering emanating, sweeping across the center of the Demon Abyss and spreading outwards.

Death and silence spread through the Demon Abyss, everything near the Blood Sea devoured, becoming part of the will of withering.

The Blood Sea… was awakening.

The four forbidden area lords were forced to defend against the Blood Sea’s suppression. Their mid-stage Soul Transformation power could only maintain their current state, unable to attack.

“How… could they awaken the Blood Sea…”

The Primordial Mother gritted her teeth. She was in the worst condition, having been at a disadvantage in the earlier clash.

If she was forced to unleash her full power, her deadline would arrive much sooner.

The Holy Master stared intently at Su Yiyao and Luo Xue, a guess forming in her mind. As the one who had the most contact with Su Yiyao, she had a vague idea.

“Could it be that… Su Yiyao is…”

She didn’t dare to think further.

“Holy Master, do you have any thoughts?”

The Fallen Immortal, seeing the hesitation on the Holy Master’s face, asked in a deep voice.

“No… nothing, sorry, it was just a random thought.” The Holy Master shook her head.

“Speak your mind, it might be useful.”

The Ghost King said in a muffled voice.

The forbidden area lords, besides the Primordial Mother, could still withstand the half-awakened Blood Sea.

What made them apprehensive was that Luo Xue and Su Yiyao, at just Core Formation and Spirit Condensation, could already awaken a portion of the Blood Sea’s power.

What if they continued?

What if the Blood Sea was truly awakened?

This was the reason for their hesitation.

Their deadlines, like the Sword of Damocles hanging above their heads, made these beings at the peak of the world tremble.

“…You should have heard of a theory,” the Holy Master hesitated, then said slowly, “about the existence of the Blood Sea.”

There were no records about the origin of the Blood Sea, neither in the Immortal Domain nor the Demon Abyss.

They only knew that the Blood Sea had existed since ancient times, known as the Sea of Withering, the final destination of all things.

The decaying aura released by all living beings upon death would slowly converge into the Blood Sea, making it increasingly powerful over time.

But this didn’t mean that the Blood Sea was initially weak.

On the contrary, according to theories related to the Demon Abyss, the Blood Sea should be the remains of an Ascension Realm expert.

This wasn’t strange. The more powerful the cultivator, the grander the spectacle formed upon their death.

The forbidden area lords and the ancient beings weren’t the only ones who had predecessors who had died. Every Soul Transformation expert who died before reaching Ascension would form a secret realm, known as an “Immortal Tomb.”

…Like the Heavenly Cluster Sword Tomb.

This caged world had never had an Ascension Realm expert, so how could there be the remains of one?

The so-called Immortal Tombs were just self-deception, a consolation for those who couldn’t ascend.

However, the theory that the Blood Sea was the remains of an Ascension Realm expert hadn’t been confirmed. Instead, the “Gate of the Cage” was theorized to exist within it.

“You mean…”

The Ghost King frowned slightly.

“Perhaps the Blood Sea is truly the remains of an Ascension Realm expert, and one of the legendary… Phoenixes from the ancient demon lands.”

The Holy Master’s eyes flickered slightly, and she continued, “There’s the Underworld Phoenix Inheritance that emerged from the Blood Sea, and the Gatekeeper Inheritance before us… both related to the ‘Phoenix’.”

“And the awakened Blood Sea also takes the form of a phoenix. If that’s the case, Su Yiyao, who can awaken the Blood Sea, she might be…”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Su Yiyao and Luo Xue, their breathing gradually becoming heavier.

“She might be… a descendant of the ancient divine beast, the Phoenix.”

The legends of the ancient divine beast, the Phoenix, mostly came from ancient records and were considered by many to be just myths created by their ancestors.

Even the powerful demons who occasionally emerged from the ancient demon lands, when mentioning these ancient divine beasts, said they were just legends.

If Su Yiyao was truly a descendant of the Phoenix, everything seemed to make sense.

Even her identity as the Gatekeeper’s successor could finally be explained.

But this possibility almost overturned their understanding.

“Do you think… that the so-called sealed ancient demon lands,” the Ghost King suddenly said, “are actually… the real world, not a cage?”

The forbidden area lords were startled.

The so-called Gatekeeper was a powerful demon from the ancient demon lands, guarding them, the human cultivators.

The ancient demon lands weren’t sealed; it was this caged world that was sealed!

“I don’t care about any of that!” The Primordial Mother shrieked, her twisted tentacles filled with a vicious, violent aura. “Ancient divine beast or Phoenix descendant, as long as… as long as…”

“As long as they merge with me… they’re all mine…”

The other three forbidden area lords silently watched the crazed Primordial Mother.

They could understand her despair. If they were in her position, they wouldn’t be much better off.

The Primordial Mother was the oldest of the four, which meant her lifespan was nearing its end.

As her deadline approached, she had gradually become insane.

She was like someone standing on the edge of a cliff, facing the terror of death, and any action was possible.

If not for the other three forbidden area lords suppressing her with their strength, Su Yiyao would have already been devoured by the Primordial Mother when she emerged from the Blood Sea.

Now, the other three had their own concerns. Although they also faced the threat of their deadlines, as long as they didn’t awaken from their slumber, they still had plenty of time.

The Primordial Mother had barely been able to hold on, but after being severely injured by the Blood Phoenix, her slim chance of survival had vanished. What she faced… was her imminent death.

The aura of the monstrous creature continued to rise, a heavy deathly aura emanating from it. Finally, the Primordial Mother transformed into a terrifying beast, formed from various stitched-together limbs and flesh, blotting out the sky.

Eyes opened on every part of the beast’s body, some filled with sorrow, some with anger, some with despair. These were the wills of the lives devoured by the Primordial Mother, imprisoned within her.

The current Primordial Mother wasn’t so much a beast as a combination of various wills.

A muffled rumbling, like a war drum, echoed, and all the eyes stared at Luo Xue and Su Yiyao, emanating a terrifying malice.

The tentacles extending around them carried various powers, fighting against the purplish-red phoenix condensed from the Blood Sea.

Her peak Soul Transformation cultivation was unleashed without reservation, its near-Ascension level even triggering the heavenly tribulation above.

The beings at the peak of this world looked up at the tribulation lightning in the depths of the clouds.

As long as the tribulation descended, after being baptized by it, they could shed their Soul Transformation bodies and ascend.

But… before the tribulation lightning could even form, it was annihilated by some force, the hope of ascension extinguished.

This was the cage, the cage that trapped them.

Even though these peak Soul Transformation cultivators had witnessed this scene countless times, seeing it again still filled them with helplessness and rage.

Why…

Why were they born in this cage? They could have gone further, seen more, yet they were trapped in this small world.

This feeling was even stronger for the Primordial Mother, whose deadline was approaching. She had almost completely lost her mind, attacking frantically without regard for anything.

The Blood Phoenix cried out, and the forces of death and decay continuously eroded the Primordial Mother’s Law of Life, her twisted body decaying, yet strangely resilient.

And as the Primordial Mother unleashed her full power, the Blood Phoenix was gradually losing, barely maintaining its form, constantly retreating.

Although its body was condensed from Ascension Realm power, it was still too weak.

After all, it was summoned by just a Core Formation and a Spirit Condensation cultivator.

In other places, cultivators of this level were insignificant before a peak Soul Transformation expert, mere specks of dust.

But now… in the Blood Sea, they were fighting against the Primordial Mother, one of the four forbidden area lords.

“All… mine…”

The monstrous beast roared, its crazed will consuming its body.

With a mournful cry that pierced the heavens, the Blood Phoenix condensed from the Blood Sea dispersed, turning into blood rain.

The exhausted Su Yiyao almost collapsed into the Blood Sea, but Luo Xue caught her.

“Xiao Yao, are you alright?”

Luo Xue held Su Yiyao and carried her on her back.

“Ah Chou, Xiao Yao… is so useless…”

Su Yiyao leaned against Luo Xue’s shoulder, her expression dejected.

Every time… no matter what, she seemed to be useless.

“No, you’ve done very well.”

Luo Xue shook her head and looked up at the terrifying monster that blotted out the sky.

Whether it was cultivation or physical form, the difference between her and this monster was like that between the bright moon and a speck of dust.

She wasn’t even qualified to stand before such an existence.

The remaining power of the Blood Phoenix was quickly dissipating, and the Primordial Mother’s madness would soon be unleashed upon them without restraint.

But Luo Xue hadn’t given up yet.

She took out the Evil Ghost Subduing Pestle, released the Nascent Soul will, and activated both the Mystic Dark Eyes and her Double Pupils.

The blue flames in the Ghost King’s eyes flickered, and even his skeletal face showed a hint of seriousness.

“The Shangguan clan’s ability? Wait, this is Xiao Yu’s power…”

The Ghost King was naturally familiar with Shangguan Yu, the former Clan Leader of the Shangguan clan, and he knew that she had died on the battlefield of the Immortal-Demon War thousands of years ago. But why was her power here?

But even so, it wasn’t enough.

No matter how strong the Nascent Soul will was, in the hands of a mere Spirit Condensation cultivator, it couldn’t exert much power.

Contending with a Core Formation cultivator was already its limit. It could be ignored even by ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators, let alone the Primordial Mother, a peak Soul Transformation expert.

Then, Luo Xue took out a sword, which carried the distinct aura of the Peerless Summit Sect.

“A Peerless Summit Sect sword cultivator…”

The three forbidden area lords’ expressions turned strange.

How could someone use both demonic secret techniques and the Peerless Summit Sect’s swordsmanship…

Used to the sword fanatics who were obsessed with slaying demons and eliminating evil, this was the first time they had seen such a combination. Even the forbidden area lords found it novel.

But all of this…

Was just a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

The power of the Blood Phoenix completely dissipated, and the Primordial Mother continued her attack.

The twisted Law of Life enveloped the surroundings, and Luo Xue even felt like eyes were about to grow on her arms.

But she didn’t stop. After taking out the sword, she took out a gourd of immortal wine and drank it all in one gulp.

When Luo Xue looked up again, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, and her dark eyes shone brightly.

“I have a sword,” she said, holding up the sword, “capable of severing the heavens.”

The young girl slowly swung the sword, her movements as clumsy as a child playing with a wooden sword.

Her swordsmanship was laughably clumsy, hard to believe she was from the Peerless Summit Sect, known for its sword cultivation.

But this laughable swordsmanship…

Stirred the Blood Sea.

The Blood Sea awakened again, but it didn’t condense into a phoenix. Instead, it transformed into an imperceptible sword Qi, gently grazing the Primordial Mother’s avatar.

Then, silently, it was cut in half.

“Xiao Yao protected me just now, this time, it’s my turn.”

Luo Xue looked up at the Primordial Mother, her sword resting against the coffin.

The Blood Sea remained calm, but a sword intent, filled with death and decay, faintly emanated.

Any existence, before this sword intent, would crumble upon contact.

Su Yiyao, behind her, closed her eyes peacefully, a faint smile on her lips.

“That’s right, Ah Chou, no matter what happens, we’ll face it together…”

“Even… despair.”

Chapter 122: Luo Xue, Su Yiyao’s Core

Her memories began in a depressing, gray world.

She had no past, only vague, instinctual impressions in her mind, and a familiar name.

When she first opened her eyes, she saw only endless darkness, a silent fear enveloping her.

Around her were only a foul stench and peers who looked like corpses. Occasionally, rays of sunlight would penetrate the cracks of the carriage, but all she could see was despair.

These days continued for a long time, yet it also seemed like just a few days.

But it was the longest time she had ever experienced.

So long that it was terrifying.

Until… Ah Chou appeared.

From their first tentative contact, silently writing their names on each other’s skin…

Even a bleak future seemed less daunting.

“Where do you think… this is…”

Crimson flames ignited in Su Yiyao’s eyes, the same color as the surrounding Blood Sea. The surrounding decay condensed, transforming into a blood-red phoenix that never extinguished.

The Blood Phoenix cried out, and the surging Blood Sea rose, carrying a power that even Soul Transformation experts feared, blocking the Primordial Mother’s tentacles.

Countless tentacles were corroded by the Blood Sea, and under the influence of the will of withering, these twisted, diseased flesh creations gradually collapsed.

Each falling piece of flesh carried the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator, but they couldn’t struggle against the will of withering, only sinking into the depths.

“How… could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator… do this…”

The Primordial Mother was utterly shocked. She had never taken these “keys” seriously.

In her eyes, if the Gatekeeper was an expert of the same level as them, they could sit down and talk.

If it was a true Ascension Realm expert, they would pay any price, even their dignity and everything they had.

But just a Foundation Establishment cultivator… The Primordial Mother had always seen Su Yiyao as someone she could easily control. The only thing she was wary of was the will of the other forbidden area lords.

As fellow forbidden area lords, fellow seekers of the gate, they weren’t exactly allies.

Because no one knew what the conditions for opening the gate were, or how many people could leave the cage. It was all unknown.

Truly breaking through to the Ascension Realm, who would break through first, how far they could go after breaking through, these were all unknowns.

There were no eternal friends, only eternal interests. These unknowns meant that even the forbidden area lords hid many things from each other.

But the Primordial Mother hadn’t expected that the first stumbling block she encountered would be the Gatekeeper’s successor, whom she had always underestimated.

“Could she have already reached the Nascent Soul Realm, or even Soul Transformation? No… her bone age isn’t even half a jiazi…”

The Primordial Mother was apprehensive. As the master of the Law of Life, her judgment of Su Yiyao’s age was accurate.

She was indeed a very young cultivator, not a reincarnated one.

But if she were truly a Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation expert…

The Primordial Mother would have to awaken more of her power, otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to defeat Su Yiyao.

Su Yiyao was breathing heavily, exhaustion evident on her face.

She knew that although Luo Xue was currently in a state of “death,” she wasn’t truly dead, but comprehending the will of withering within the Blood Sea.

Luo Xue, possessing the Eternal Withering Body, had an even stronger affinity for the will of withering than Su Yiyao.

There was another reason why Su Yiyao could resonate with the will of withering and control the True Phoenix blood essence and inheritance.

And… the extra drop of True Phoenix blood essence in Luo Xue’s body didn’t appear out of thin air.

In short, knowing that Ah Chou was behind her, Su Yiyao wouldn’t retreat, even if she was facing the most powerful beings in this world.

“No, she’s indeed just a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

The Ghost King, observing from afar, said, his withered skeletal body with two faint blue flames burning in his empty eye sockets.

He had seen the brief clash and quickly saw through the essence of Su Yiyao’s strength.

“The one truly acting is the Blood Sea itself, and she’s just channeling its power.” The Ghost King said in a deep voice. “She’s like the favored child of this world, crying out, and the Blood Sea acts on her behalf… that’s all.”

This “crying out” naturally consumed a lot of energy, which was why Su Yiyao was already exhausted after such a short exchange.

The Fallen Immortal and the Holy Master looked down at the Blood Sea, apprehension in their eyes.

A mere cry from a Foundation Establishment cultivator was enough to mobilize power comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator…

What if she reached Nascent Soul?

No one in this world knew the power of the Blood Sea better than the forbidden area lords.

This was the true terror of the Ascension Realm, a deadly threat to all cultivators below Ascension, including the forbidden area lords and the ancient beings.

The commotion Su Yiyao had just caused was just a ripple in the Blood Sea.

The forbidden area lords finally realized that the Gatekeeper’s successor, whom they had thought they could easily control, possessed such astonishing power. They had to reconsider their hasty decision.

Perhaps…

Before she grew stronger, they should capture her first?

While the other three forbidden area lords were still pondering, the Primordial Mother couldn’t wait any longer. Her initial thought was to refine Su Yiyao into her own flesh and blood, controlling the inheritance herself.

“If… it’s just borrowing power, why be afraid? Hehehe…”

The monstrous creature let out a hoarse shriek, each word like a cacophony of voices.

All the lives devoured by the Primordial Mother were imprisoned within her body, forever a part of her.

In her eyes, the little girl before her, who controlled the Gatekeeper Inheritance, would also have everything taken from her, becoming a pitiful ghost, unable to enter reincarnation, never to rest in peace.

Before the other forbidden area lords could say anything, the Primordial Mother extended countless tentacles, wrapping them around Su Yiyao.

Countless wails and cries of pain echoed from the twisted flesh and blood, the will of devouring enveloping Su Yiyao and the coffin behind her.

The Primordial Mother was extremely aggressive. Risking her approaching deadline, she unleashed more of her power. Each tentacle now possessed power close to the Soul Transformation Realm.

Su Yiyao was still unafraid. The blood-red phoenix of the will of withering soared above the Blood Sea, battling the twisted tentacles.

The will of withering corroded the twisted flesh and blood, while the devouring will of the tentacles gnawed at the Blood Phoenix.

The Blood Phoenix was gradually losing, its incomplete wings battered, only its proud head remained unbowed.

Su Yiyao could control a portion of the Blood Sea’s power with the inheritance and the True Phoenix blood essence, but she couldn’t truly awaken the Blood Sea.

It was like the Blood Sea was a sleeping giant, and Su Yiyao could only trigger some of its reflexes, not fully awaken it.

And with Su Yiyao’s current strength, just doing this was already her limit.

The Blood Phoenix retreated, and blood trickled from the corner of Su Yiyao’s lips.

She was about to collapse.

Foundation Establishment… was still not enough…

If she could reach Core Formation, she could still resist.

But now, she didn’t have the conditions for Core Formation. She had neither Earth Vein energy nor Heavenly Vein energy, not even the chance to form a Human Core.

As for Enlightenment Core Formation, this legendary method wasn’t so easily achieved.

Nangong Mengxiang had reached it because she had been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment for hundreds of years, constantly searching for her master, constantly comprehending during the process.

Only when her obsession was fulfilled could she naturally step into Enlightenment Core Formation.

“I’m sorry, Ah Chou…” Su Yiyao’s eyes drooped with exhaustion. “Xiao Yao… is still… useless…”

This helplessness was like when she faced the crocodile beasts at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

She wanted to do it, but she couldn’t.

And this time, it seemed she would die here again.

The Primordial Mother sneered, the ugly flesh and blood emitting a jarring cacophony of sounds, like a demon from the abyss laughing maniacally.

The Blood Phoenix let out a mournful cry and completely dissipated, turning into drops of blood-red water.

The Primordial Mother’s tentacles finally reached Su Yiyao, countless terrifying tentacles reaching for the helpless little girl.

Su Yiyao leaned against the coffin, looked at the “dead” Luo Xue, and closed her eyes wearily.

“Ah Chou… I’m sorry…”

“Xiao… Yao…”

A hoarse, low voice, as always.

Su Yiyao abruptly looked up and saw Ah Chou, whom she had been longing for, finally opening her eyes, looking at her.

Ah… the same eyes as before…

They hadn’t changed, Ah Chou hadn’t changed… How wonderful…

Luo Xue opened her eyes and saw Su Yiyao leaning against the coffin, crying.

In a trance, she thought she was back in her first dream.

Luo Xue struggled to sit up, extended her hands, filled with the aura of desolation and decay, and gently cupped Su Yiyao’s face.

She leaned closer, their foreheads touching, and said softly,

“Don’t cry… you’re… not pretty… when you cry…”

Su Yiyao continued to cry.

The swamp back then, the Blood Sea today.

Their fates seemed to always be intertwined like this.

“Ah… you’ve… become so strong… Xiao Yao…”

Perhaps because she had been dormant, Luo Xue’s voice was hoarse, but to Su Yiyao, it was like the most beautiful melody.

“You’ve already… reached Core Formation…”

Core Formation?

Su Yiyao was stunned and immediately looked within her soul.

Indeed, she had formed her core…

Not a Heaven Core, nor an Earth or Human Core.

And definitely not the legendary Enlightenment Core.

It was a pitch-black core, emanating destruction and death, filled with the will of withering.

What had caused her to form her core was the will of withering.

…Such a thing had never happened before.

The will of withering was something no living being could casually touch. Even Su Yiyao, who could use it slightly before, could only use it.

Core Formation involved merging one’s sea of consciousness and spiritual aperture with the core, creating a small world within one’s body. The essence of the will of withering was uncontrollable destruction. How could it form a core, the symbol of a small world’s birth?

Unless…

The will of withering could be controlled.

Only one person could do that.

…Luo Xue, with her Eternal Withering Body.

Luo Xue was Su Yiyao’s core.

The calmed Blood Sea churned again, and the Blood Phoenix reformed, but this time, tinged with purple.

This was their power.

Destruction and decay surged, shattering the twisted tentacles attacking Luo Xue and Su Yiyao.

The Primordial Mother screamed, her monstrous body starting to collapse, forced to unleash more power to maintain her form.

“What… is this…”

The Primordial Mother stared at the Blood Phoenix, the pressure of the Ascension Realm growing heavier. She had already released her cultivation to the early stage of Soul Transformation, yet she could barely hold on.

If Su Yiyao had only been triggering the giant’s reflexes before, now she had partially awakened its consciousness.

The Blood Sea was awakening. This was a power capable of crushing even forbidden area lords, a power of the Ascension Realm. Even a sliver of it was enough to terrify the Primordial Mother.

The other three forbidden area lords looked at the two little girls embracing beneath the Blood Phoenix, their expressions turning serious.

“Such a Core Formation… unheard of…”

“The Eternal Withering Body is a Dao Body only recorded in the ancient demon lands. Any special occurrences are not surprising.”

“I see, I see, no wonder she kept looking for this Peerless Summit Sect disciple…”

They felt like they had been played by Su Yiyao. They hadn’t expected her to know so much, even that the Eternal Withering Body could enhance her control over the Blood Sea.

The forbidden area lords didn’t believe there were any feelings between Su Yiyao and Luo Xue. They had never met before. The only explanation was… this was all Su Yiyao’s plan.

The Gatekeeper’s successor… seemed to be quite extraordinary.

Su Yiyao carried the still-unconscious Luo Xue on her back, took out her broken dagger, and faced the four forbidden area lords again.

They were shocked to see… that she was smiling.

Su Yiyao looked happy, almost blissfully so.

Was all of this within her plan…

Even they, such powerful beings, had fallen for her scheme… The forbidden area lords couldn’t help but shudder.

“Are you not going to attack?” The Primordial Mother shrieked, her cultivation suddenly erupting to the mid-stage of Soul Transformation. “Do you want to wait until I exhaust all my power? Aren’t you afraid that this little girl will completely control the Blood Sea… and turn against us?”

The forbidden area lords’ eyes flickered. They knew the Primordial Mother was right. If the Blood Sea truly awakened, even if they joined forces, it would be difficult to resist the power of the Ascension Realm.

Now, even the Holy Master, who had been hesitant, became resolute. At least, they had to control the key, so they wouldn’t be controlled by others.

“Attack!”

The forbidden area lords reached a tacit understanding and unleashed their cultivation to the mid-stage of Soul Transformation. This was the limit of their power while maintaining their dormant state.

Once they made a decision, they would go all out, even if they were facing just a Core Formation and a Spirit Condensation cultivator.

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…?”

Chapter 120: The Eternal Withering Body 

Deep within the four domains of the Demon Abyss, in a place no cultivator had ever reached.

This place was like a forgotten corner of the world, a convergence of all the desolation and decay of the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss. No living creature could survive in this harsh environment.

Countless people had tried to explore the mysteries of the depths of the Blood Sea, but none had succeeded. Even Nascent Soul cultivators nearing the end of their lifespans entered the Blood Sea, never to return.

The Blood Sea never expanded, only passively absorbing the decay from all things in the world, seemingly having no impact on this world, but… no one dared to ignore its existence.

When Luo Xue stepped onto this blood-red soil, she didn’t feel any discomfort.

It wasn’t because of her Yin Poison Resistance or Calamity Poison Body. Besides the ubiquitous, dense Yin energy, there was also scorching air that almost burned her skin.

With every breath, the scorching air filled her body, but this heat only brought her… warmth.

It wasn’t even as uncomfortable as the temperature at the core of the Evil Spirit Sect’s refining formation, although the temperature here was definitely much higher.

This… shouldn’t be a matter of heat resistance.

Luo Xue slowly opened her eyes and wearily squatted down.

She looked within her soul and finally understood why she was so exhausted.

Her sea of consciousness and spiritual aperture were both dormant, only a drop of purplish-red blood was restlessly moving.

“True Phoenix blood essence…”

Luo Xue’s vision returned to the world, her pupils constricting.

She looked at the Blood Sea and vaguely sensed the connection between the True Phoenix blood essence and the Blood Sea. It was because of this that she wasn’t burned by the heat.

In a sense, Luo Xue, having absorbed a portion of the True Phoenix blood essence, was already half an ancient divine beast.

When a True Phoenix spread its wings, it could travel for thousands of miles!

Not to mention blood essence, even a drop of ordinary True Phoenix blood, if integrated into a human body, would bring about earth-shattering changes.

This subtle influence was especially obvious for Luo Xue, who was previously an ordinary human without any special bloodline.

Moreover, for a body that had just embarked on the path of immortality, the suppressive nature of the True Phoenix blood essence was too strong, not a good thing.

Previously, in the outside world, the True Phoenix blood essence was sealed, allowing Luo Xue to slowly absorb it and gradually transform her physique.

Now, having arrived at the Blood Sea, the True Phoenix blood essence was unprecedentedly active, making Luo Xue feel extremely exhausted.

She couldn’t withstand such an active True Phoenix blood essence. Even her silver hair was tinged with purple-red, and her delicate, youthful face showed a hint of strange allure.

Faint True Phoenix Dao patterns appeared on Luo Xue’s body, and a phantom of a True Phoenix enveloped her, displaying its magnificent form, a single glance enough to captivate one with its boundless Dao Aura.

“Have we arrived?”

Luo Xue couldn’t help but ask.

“Not yet.”

A voice echoed in her ears, seemingly True Person Fengyin’s, or perhaps another unfamiliar woman’s.

“Should we continue west?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

Luo Xue mustered her strength and continued walking forward.

She trudged through the heavy, blood-red water, which reached her knees.

Not far away, several figures silently watched her.

“A Spirit Condensation cultivator… actually reached this place?”

“When Su Yiyao emerged from the depths of the Blood Sea at the peak of Foundation Establishment, it was already shocking enough… Today’s events are not unexpected.”

“So, why are there two doors? The Gatekeeper’s inheritance… shouldn’t there be only one?”

“Perhaps… this great tribulation… is different…”

Four voices discussed calmly and indifferently, but no one else could hear their conversation.

Further away, a beautiful little girl, carrying a coffin, struggled to approach the Blood Sea.

From somewhere unknown, an imperceptible gaze fell on them, then looked at the four figures standing outside the Blood Sea.

“Liu Lian.”

“Your… servant is here.”

“Bring them back,” the crimson eyes slowly closed. “It’s time… to tell them some things.”

“…As you command.”

…

The war began.

The long-awaited battle between the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss finally erupted.

The Temple of the Nether Spirit attacked first, and You Province couldn’t hold on for long. Within a few days, more than half of it had fallen.

The Everspring Pavilion and the Iron Sea Sect, the sects controlling You Province, were forced to merge to resist the invasion.

On the other side, the alliance with the Peerless Summit Sect didn’t provide much help to the sects of You Province, because within a few days of the war’s outbreak, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect also launched an attack on Qing Province.

More than 70% of the Peerless Summit Sect’s disciples were thrown into this war, and the flames of war engulfed the entire border of Qing Province.

Although the situation in Qing Province was slightly better than in You Province, it wasn’t by much.

In addition, the other two forbidden areas, the Primordial Mother Cult and the Demonic Ghost City, also launched coordinated attacks on the Immortal Domain.

A thousand years of recuperation hadn’t brought much strength to the nine provinces of the Immortal Domain. In this war, just like a thousand years ago, the Demon Abyss cultivators had a significant advantage.

Countless prodigies shone brightly during the war, and many also perished.

At the same time, the Heaven-grade pill secret realm became the focal point of this war. Heaven-grade pill cultivators had an overwhelming advantage over Earth-grade pill cultivators.

Moreover, after reaching Nascent Soul, besides their increased combat power, Heaven-grade pill cultivators also had a higher chance of breaking through to Soul Transformation.

Based on the previous Immortal-Demon Wars, this war would last for at least a thousand years.

A thousand years was enough for an early Core Formation cultivator to reach Nascent Soul, and every Nascent Soul cultivator was a valuable asset to both the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss.

A fierce battle unfolded around the Heavenly Cluster Sword Tomb, the Heaven-grade pill secret realm.

Because only cultivators below Core Formation could enter the secret realm, it became a battlefield for the younger generation of prodigies, with countless peak Foundation Establishment cultivators entering.

And the Core Formation cultivators of the major sects guarded outside, while also defending against the enemy’s attacks.

After all, the appearance of every Heaven-grade pill cultivator could change the tide of the war.

However, because the Demon Abyss’s most powerful weapon, the Holy Maiden, didn’t participate in this secret realm, the Immortal Domain side breathed a sigh of relief.

The flow of time within the secret realm was different from the outside world. For every day that passed in the outside world, a hundred days passed within the secret realm.

When the secret realm reopened, they had already been fighting within the Heavenly Cluster Sword Tomb for half a year.

During this half-year of fighting, nearly two-thirds of the prodigies perished within the secret realm, and five successfully formed Heaven-grade pills.

One from the Immortal Domain, and four from the Demon Abyss.

Each of the four domains of the Demon Abyss had a Heaven-grade pill cultivator, while the Immortal Domain only had one, a disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect.

However… although he was from the Peerless Summit Sect, this disciple’s magical treasure was a compass, and he called himself a storyteller.

Indeed, after participating in the assassination of Blood Lord, the storyteller had survived, and so had the actor.

The farmer, the general, and the merchant had all died in that operation.

In this battle for the Heaven-grade pill secret realm, the storyteller, relying on his superb formation skills, protected most of the Peerless Summit Sect disciples within the secret realm and successfully obtained the most Heavenly Vein energy.

It could be said that although they were all Heaven-grade pill cultivators, the storyteller was stronger than the other four.

Because he had obtained the most Heavenly Vein energy, and the Heaven-grade pill he formed was the most complete.

But even so, the Immortal Domain was still at a disadvantage in this battle for the secret realm.

Similar to the situation in the secret realm, the overall situation on the battlefield wasn’t optimistic for the Immortal Domain, but it was also almost impossible for the Demon Abyss to completely conquer the Immortal Domain.

The foundations of the major sects were brought out one after another, hindering the Demon Abyss cultivators’ advance.

After the initial fierce attack subsided, the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss gradually reached a stalemate, and this situation would likely last for a thousand years.

Before the war, the rumors about the Holy Maiden and a certain Peerless Summit Sect disciple were gradually forgotten. When occasionally remembered, it was only considered a diversionary tactic by the Temple of the Nether Spirit, or just a nonsensical farce.

And the missing Holy Maiden was thought to be hidden by the Temple of the Nether Spirit, to protect her from being assassinated by Immortal Domain cultivators before she grew stronger.

This wasn’t a time of peace between the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss. If the Holy Maiden dared to appear in the Immortal Domain, she would definitely be hunted down by Nascent Soul cultivators.

As for the Peerless Summit Sect disciple with the huge bounty on her head, even her name was forgotten by most, only a few who were close to her still remembered her.

The formation master who mysteriously appeared during the Northern Zhou Dynasty incident and toyed with the various Demon Abyss sects had also vanished without a trace.

This incident had caused quite a stir at the time, but now, it seemed insignificant.

No one had seen that strange girl again. It was as if she had completely disappeared from this world.

Even within the Peerless Summit Sect, her master, Hei Pao, had lost contact with her.

Li Guijiao had been completely forgotten.

On the other side, the four forbidden areas of the Demon Abyss continued their silent advance, and their leaders hadn’t appeared at all.

The Holy Master of the Temple of the Nether Spirit, the Primordial Mother of the Primordial Mother Cult, the Ghost King of the Demonic Ghost City, and the Fallen Immortal of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, they seemed uninterested in this war initiated by the Demon Abyss.

The forbidden area lords were the most powerful beings in this world, the closest to the Ascension Realm.

Even in the Immortal Domain, only a few ancient beings could rival them.

These ancient beings, for various reasons, could only remain in slumber, unlike the four forbidden area lords, who could still occasionally appear in the world.

Everyone believed that when the forbidden area lords appeared, it would be the time for the ancient beings of the Immortal Domain to awaken.

At that time, it would be the final battle of this Immortal-Demon War.

…

But no one expected that the four forbidden area lords were actually in the same situation as the ancient beings of the Immortal Domain.

The reason the forbidden area lords occasionally appeared in the world was that they had representatives acting on their behalf.

Like the Holy Master and the Zither Witch.

The Zither Witch was originally Zither Fairy, a reincarnation of a wisp of the Holy Master’s consciousness, and an Immortal Domain cultivator.

It wasn’t until Zither Fairy’s death that the part of her that belonged to the Holy Master’s consciousness awakened, becoming the Zither Witch.

The forbidden area lords and the ancient beings all had their reasons for not appearing in the world, but the most important reason was the same.

This world… was a cage.

Especially for those close to the Ascension Realm. Only when they reached that seemingly insurmountable barrier did they realize that ascension… was impossible in this world.

Even if they stood at the peak of the world, they could only wait for their lifespan to run out, becoming part of the cycle of reincarnation.

But those who reached such heights, who would be willing to simply turn into dust?

The ancient beings of the Immortal Domain and the forbidden area lords of the Demon Abyss had been searching for ways to break through the Ascension Realm.

The ancient beings comprehended the Heavenly Dao, merging with heaven and earth, trying to break through by utilizing the power of the entire world.

The forbidden area lords started wars, causing decay and decline, searching for the true Blood Sea and River Styx, trying to find the door to this cage and escape.

Both plans had achieved some success.

The ancient beings grasped the laws of the great tribulation, accumulating cultivation through multiple reincarnations, trying to completely refine heaven and earth and become the masters of the cage.

Master Wumu was one of the reincarnations of an ancient being.

The forbidden area lords finally reached the depths of the Blood Sea, saw the door to this world. The depths of the Blood Sea held the answer.

But their plans hadn’t succeeded.

The reincarnations of the ancient beings were difficult to keep alive, most dying in the Immortal-Demon War. The forbidden area lords, although they found the door, couldn’t find the key.

Their game of using the world as a chessboard hadn’t ended yet.

Luo Xue slowly opened her eyes.

The churning Blood Sea seemed solid, only reaching her knees, even though it was bottomless.

The sky was a mix of blood-red and crimson, the surrounding air filled with desolation and decay, as if everything was dying.

She instinctively opened the panel. It was filled with garbled characters, and she could vaguely see some survival point records, rewards from escaping her pursuers.

Being hunted by countless Core Formation cultivators, her survival points had increased dramatically.

But the largest amount came from entering the Blood Sea.

Even the system panel considered entering the Blood Sea in her current state more dangerous than being hunted by Core Formation cultivators.

Being able to open her eyes again was already a miracle.

Luo Xue knew that her current condition was because her body couldn’t withstand the True Phoenix blood essence.

Using her remaining willpower, she put all her survival points into her cultivation aptitude, trying to improve this dire situation.

[Improving Cultivation Aptitude: -1000]
[Cultivation Aptitude Improved: Barely There => Extraordinary Talent]
[Calamity Poison Body Evolved: Eternal Withering Body]
[Eternal Withering Body: The body carries the will of all things withering, containing the laws of death and decay. Spiritual energy within the sea of consciousness and spiritual aperture is converted into withering Qi.]
[Note: For those with the Eternal Withering Body, death is life.]

Chapter 119: The Immortal-Demon War Begins

Within the Peerless Summit Sect.

When the news of Blood Lord’s assassination arrived, the first reaction of almost all the higher-ups was disbelief.

When they learned that it was true, they were astonished.

Even Zou Junxin, Blood Lord’s old rival, couldn’t understand why Blood Lord would be assassinated at this time.

Blood Lord was assassinated while in secluded cultivation, preparing to break through to Soul Transformation, with the entire Blood Lord lineage protecting him.

Launching an assassination at this time required a heavy price.

And it was true. Even with three Nascent Soul cultivators and many Core Formation cultivators, the assassins still paid a heavy price.

More than half of them died, and one Nascent Soul cultivator was almost killed by Blood Lord’s final counterattack.

During their escape, some weaker Core Formation cultivators were also killed.

Moreover, after the assassination, the entire Nether Spirit forbidden area was locked down.

All the cultivators involved in the assassination might be trapped within the Nether Spirit forbidden area, even the three Nascent Soul cultivators.

The Nether Spirit forbidden area was in chaos, with countless Nascent Soul old monsters awakened from their seclusion, forced to get involved.

Soon, the impact of this storm swept through the nine provinces and four domains, even the Mortal Realm was in a state of panic.

There was another suspicious point regarding Blood Lord’s death.

Blood Lord was a rare social butterfly. After the Immortal-Demon War, almost all external communications of the Temple of the Nether Spirit were handled by him personally, including contact with the Immortal Domain.

Not to mention the other Demon Abyss forbidden areas, he had friends everywhere, and every sect, except for the Peerless Summit Sect, had one or two cultivators who were on good terms with him.

The Peerless Summit Sect, whose founding principle was slaying demons and eliminating evil, was naturally at odds with the Demon Abyss, so no one there had any connections with Blood Lord.

But even so, Blood Lord was the most moderate demonic cultivator towards the Peerless Summit Sect. At least, he could enter their territory without being attacked by everyone.

Such a well-connected and amiable person… why would he be assassinated so brutally? No one could understand.

However…

Before the higher-ups of the Peerless Summit Sect could recover from the shock, the Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, overstepping his authority, declared that the Peerless Summit Sect was responsible for this and presented evidence.

The evidence showed that the Peerless Summit Sect… did have some spies involved in this operation, and they were among the most elite Core Formation cultivators.

Instantly, the nine provinces and four domains were in an uproar.

With this action, the Peerless Summit Sect had openly declared war on the Temple of the Nether Spirit!

Then, the lineage masters of the Temple of the Nether Spirit also responded, declaring that they were irreconcilably opposed to the Peerless Summit Sect and entering a state of war.

The Nether Spirit forbidden area cut off all communication and contact with the Immortal Domain, sealed off all border regions, and placed a bounty on all Immortal Domain cultivators within the forbidden area.

Because the Temple of the Nether Spirit’s forces had already withdrawn from the border regions, the blockade was swift.

At this critical moment, the nine provinces of the Immortal Domain were facing a fully operational war machine.

When the higher-ups of the Peerless Summit Sect tried to confront the Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, they found that he had already left the sect, taking all the Law Enforcement Hall disciples willing to fight to the front lines, building defenses against the Demon Abyss.

Only then did Zou Junxin realize that the Grand Elder had never intended to honestly obtain the position of Sect Master before starting this war.

Everything he had done was just to slightly undermine Zou Junxin’s authority and plant a seed in the hearts of the Peerless Summit Sect disciples.

This seed would ensure that when war came, the disciples wouldn’t be afraid.

And the Grand Elder, leading the remaining radicals, stood on the front lines of slaying demons and eliminating evil. He believed that only through war could the sharpest swords be forged, could one become a true disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect, and regain their reputation as the sword fanatics feared by the four domains of the Demon Abyss.

At this point, even if Zou Junxin wanted to avoid war, it was impossible. He could only declare that the Peerless Summit Sect was also entering a state of war, recalling all disciples outside the sect to defend against the Demon Abyss’s invasion.

Countless Peerless Summit Sect disciples, carrying their swords and filled with anxiety, rushed to the front lines, Bai Zhanying among them.

The other eight Immortal Domain sects were in a state of panic, especially the Everspring Pavilion, which bordered the Nether Spirit forbidden area.

They were the weakest of the nine major sects, struggling even against the Iron Sea Sect within their own province. Therefore, facing this situation, they could only send envoys to the Peerless Summit Sect to discuss an alliance.

The other three forbidden areas of the Demon Abyss, seeing this situation, remained strangely calm, without any movements or news, as if they had fallen silent.

But everyone knew that they were also actively preparing for this inevitable war.

The Immortal-Demon War, which had lasted for a thousand years, was about to reignite.

…

Within the sealed Nether Spirit forbidden area.

The lineage masters gathered, silently looking at a piece of information.

It wasn’t the news of Blood Lord’s successful assassination, but…

A decree from the Holy Master.

Delivered personally by the protector, the Zither Witch.

It had been delivered to them within half an hour of Blood Lord’s assassination.

“Our plan… has been discovered by the Holy Master?”

The Sha Master slowly spoke. He looked like a stern and composed middle-aged man, his face carrying an air of authority.

According to the rumors outside, the Sha Master was an extremely radical madman, his image almost demonic.

But now, he seemed to be the most normal-looking among the lineage masters.

“She knows everything.”

The Shaoze Master said lazily, tossing a small iron object in his hand.

But every time he caught the object, the ground trembled slightly.

It was conceivable how heavy this iron object was.

As the only body cultivator among the five lineages, the Shaoze Master looked like a carefree young man, his thin physique seemingly at odds with his chosen path.

This was a sign of returning to one’s original nature. Within his seemingly frail body, every drop of blood was as heavy as a mountain.

The Spirit Master was a delicate woman with a purple veil covering her face, her eyes closed.

She sat silently, seemingly deep in thought.

“What are you thinking about? If you want to know what the Holy Master means, just open it.”

The Demon Master said impatiently. He was a leopard demon who hadn’t fully transformed, with furry patches on his cheeks, and his sharp claws could easily tear through high-level magical treasures.

It was rumored that the Demon Master came from the sealed ancient demon lands, but he neither confirmed nor denied it.

“Yo, Demon Master, so impatient? Then why don’t you open it?”

The Shaoze Master said with a chuckle.

An embarrassed expression appeared on the Demon Master’s face, his claws extending then retracting. He was also hesitant.

…Because the assassination of Blood Lord… wasn’t actually planned by the Peerless Summit Sect.

It was a plan devised by the four lineage masters present.

The Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall had only learned about this through the information deliberately leaked by the lineage masters and had cooperated according to his own will.

However, the lineage masters weren’t sure if this plan would be approved by the Holy Master, but they still carried it out resolutely.

They had thought that the Holy Master would only reveal her attitude after the dust settled.

But unexpectedly…

The Holy Master’s decree arrived right after the plan was initiated.

Therefore, the lineage masters couldn’t determine the Holy Master’s thoughts on their plan and were hesitant to open the decree.

The Holy Master was a Soul Transformation cultivator. Although it would be difficult to kill all the lineage masters present with just a decree, it wouldn’t be difficult to injure them as a warning.

The Zither Witch, who had delivered the message, sat silently beside them, playing the zither, seemingly uninterested in the lineage masters.

“We have to face it eventually, don’t we?”

The Spirit Master said softly, her gentle voice evoking pity.

It was hard to imagine that among the four lineage masters present, she was the one with the most blood on her hands.

In the Immortal-Demon War a thousand years ago, she had personally annihilated half a province.

Unlike the Calamity Poison Body, who used the resentment of half a province to refine a deadly poison and enhance their cultivation, her technique didn’t require killing or the lives of mortals.

The Spirit Master did it simply because she enjoyed it, nothing more.

The other three, hearing the Spirit Master speak, showed a hint of apprehension.

In their eyes, the Spirit Master was the most dangerous woman in the world, a true lunatic and demon.

“In that case, please, Spirit Master…”

Before the Sha Master could finish, the Spirit Master reached out, took the decree, and opened it.

She glanced at it, then closed it and put it back.

“Uh…”

Seeing this, the Shaoze Master even forgot to catch the iron object he had tossed, and the falling object cracked the ground.

“What does it say?”

The Demon Master asked quickly.

“See for yourself.”

The Spirit Master said faintly.

“…”

The Sha Master was silent for a moment. He reached out, took the decree, opened it, glanced at it, and his expression turned strange.

“Well? Well?”

The Demon Master looked at the Sha Master, his eagerness evident.

“There’s no… information about this matter, it doesn’t even mention Blood Lord.” The Sha Master put down the decree, glanced at the Zither Witch, then continued, “It’s about the Holy Maiden.”

“What?”

The Shaoze Master and the Demon Master looked at each other in surprise. They hadn’t expected that this earth-shattering event, which shook the entire nine provinces and four domains, was less important than the Holy Maiden in the Holy Master’s eyes.

“The Holy Master said that from today onwards, Su Yiyao is no longer the Holy Maiden, and is no longer a member of the Temple of the Nether Spirit.” The Sha Master said. “Besides that, there’s no other information.”

“That’s it?”

The Shaoze Master snatched the decree from the Sha Master’s hand and examined it carefully.

The Demon Master also came over to look. The more they read, the stranger their expressions became.

“Is that all?”

The Demon Master looked at the Zither Witch, who was playing the zither.

The Zither Witch ignored him.

“Sister Qin,” the Spirit Master asked, “The Holy Maiden… or rather, Su Yiyao, who is she?”

The Zither Witch stopped playing. She hesitated for a moment, as if pondering how to answer.

“I don’t know.”

She said.

“The Holy Master specifically used a decree to inform us of this matter, is there some deeper meaning?”

The Sha Master said in a deep voice.

“I don’t know.”

“Could the Holy Master be implying that Su Yiyao betrayed the Temple of the Nether Spirit?” The Shaoze Master frowned slightly.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know this, you don’t know that,” the Demon Master almost jumped up. “Zither Witch, what do you know?”

The Zither Witch looked up at the Demon Master, her pure white eyes devoid of any emotion.

She looked down at her zither and said,

“I don’t know.”

“…”

The four lineage masters were silent.

They hadn’t interacted with the Zither Witch for long. They only knew that she was the Holy Master’s confidante, the most trusted by the Holy Master, and almost all of the Holy Master’s orders were relayed through her.

The Holy Master hadn’t appeared in a long time. Only her power remained in the Temple, a constant deterrent to everyone.

“Where did Su Yiyao go?”

The Spirit Master looked at the Zither Witch and asked.

Unexpectedly, the Zither Witch didn’t say “I don’t know” this time, but directly answered the Spirit Master’s question.

“The Blood Sea.”

“The Blood Sea?”

The lineage masters exclaimed in unison.

“She… is planning to go back?”

The Sha Master frowned slightly.

“Perhaps she has done what she wanted to do.” The Spirit Master said faintly.

“So, what exactly did she want to do…”

The Demon Master scratched his head, his brows furrowed.

The Shaoze Master also pondered, recalling the Holy Maiden’s actions since her appearance.

“Where did Luo Xue go?” The Spirit Master suddenly asked.

“Luo Xue?”

The lineage masters were stunned. The name was unfamiliar to them, but they quickly remembered.

Luo Xue was the target of the huge bounty issued by the Holy Maiden before she left the Temple of the Nether Spirit, that insignificant disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect.

Although the lineage masters knew about this, they were more concerned about why the Holy Maiden made such an absurd decision, not how special Luo Xue was.

Luo Xue’s background was too clean, too simple, without any noteworthy details.

Until the Spirit Master pointed this out, the lineage masters suddenly realized.

Perhaps… Luo Xue wasn’t as simple as they thought.

“The Blood Sea.”

The Zither Witch replied.

“Could it be… that she also came from the Blood Sea?” The Sha Master murmured.

The boundless Blood Sea, located in the center of the four domains of the Demon Abyss, was one of the greatest mysteries in this world.

In thousands of years, the only one who had emerged from the Blood Sea was Su Yiyao, and her ancient and profound inheritance further proved that a shocking secret was hidden within its depths.

Perhaps, the same was true for Luo Xue.

After pondering for a while without reaching a conclusion, the lineage masters could only leave.

Compared to the Holy Maiden, they had more important matters to attend to.

For this, they had used all their power to assassinate Blood Lord and had been preparing for a thousand years.

Only the Zither Witch remained, playing her zither.

“Holy Master, have… you met Luo Xue before?”

The Zither Witch asked softly, unsure who she was talking to.

But soon, she spoke again, her voice cold and indifferent.

“No.”

“And before?”

“Never.”

Chapter 118: Towards the Blood Sea and the Abyss 

“As for the specifics, I can’t tell you.”

Luo Huaxin said lazily, her demeanor carefree. “Anyway, this person… even I’m not sure I can defeat her, so I can only keep an eye on her.”

“Fortunately, she suddenly left for some reason, which was a relief.”

“Then… why didn’t you bring Little Junior Sister back?” Li Guijiao was still worried. “She’s still being hunted by so many people…”

“Pursued, not hunted.” Luo Huaxin corrected, her expression turning slightly serious. “She has her own things to do. Even if I’m her mother, I can’t interfere with her decisions.”

Then, a smile appeared on her lips.

“Besides, with those small fries, they think they can capture my daughter? Heh… Anyway, I’ve made arrangements. As long as that person doesn’t interfere, it will be fine.”

Luo Huaxin’s strength had always been a mystery in the Peerless Summit Sect. Many only knew that she was the rarely seen Peak Master of Falling Flower Peak, but they knew nothing else about her.

The sect’s higher-ups were also vague about this, as it involved the dark history from hundreds of years ago.

But one thing was certain: her strength was among the top ten of all known Nascent Soul cultivators.

“But…”

Li Guijiao wanted to say something, but was interrupted.

Luo Huaxin gently placed a finger on Li Guijiao’s lips and shook her head slightly, signaling her to stop.

“Little one, take my advice and leave the Demon Abyss as soon as possible.” A complicated expression appeared on Luo Huaxin’s face. “The Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss… are about to change.”

“The four domains of the Demon Abyss won’t give up on their goals, and the nine provinces of the Immortal Domain won’t abandon their responsibilities. This war will inevitably begin… it’s just a matter of time.”

“Leave this place of conflict, far away. It’s best… not to return to the Peerless Summit Sect either. That place is no longer your home.”

After saying this, Luo Huaxin chuckled self-deprecatingly and patted her head. “Oh dear, I’ve become muddled. Why am I telling you, a junior, about these things?”

“I… understand.” Li Guijiao nodded seriously. “There’s a great tribulation coming, right?”

“…You even know about this? How much did Hei Pao tell you?” Luo Huaxin was slightly surprised.

“Nothing, Master never told me about these things… I just guessed.”

Li Guijiao shrank back slightly. She couldn’t say it was from the stories, could she?

“Calling it a great tribulation isn’t quite right.” Luo Huaxin said faintly. “It’s just… a cycle restarting.”

Li Guijiao frowned slightly, pondering Luo Huaxin’s words.

But then Luo Huaxin said, “Alright, don’t ask any more questions, and I won’t say anything more. After you reach Nascent Soul… I don’t know if there will be a chance, but you’ll find out eventually.”

With that, to prevent Li Guijiao from asking three thousand more questions, Luo Huaxin flicked her finger, annihilating the crudely made puppet.

After erasing all traces of Li Guijiao’s aura, Luo Huaxin took her gourd and went outside the Evil Spirit Sect.

The surroundings were filled with low-level cultivators and mortals searching for treasures. In the distance, the tremors from the battle between cultivators could be felt, and the bright moonlight shone down from the sky. No one noticed the beautiful woman drinking alone under the moonlight.

“Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue, are you the door to ascension, the escape from this cycle?”

…

“It’s news about Ah Chou!”

Su Yiyao received the Zither Witch’s message, her face lighting up with excitement.

She immediately checked the message. There were no words, only a location marked.

Seeing the location, Su Yiyao’s expression turned to surprise.

Because she was very familiar with this place.

It was where she had emerged from the depths of the Blood Sea, returning to the world, carrying her coffin.

“Sister Qin sent me this location, what does it… mean?” Su Yiyao paused. “Could Ah Chou be in this place?”

Su Yiyao immediately tried to contact the Zither Witch, intending to ask for more details.

But the communication stone was like it had been disabled, unusable. It seemed that the only thing the Zither Witch could tell Su Yiyao was this location.

Su Yiyao paced back and forth in her room, holding the message, her heart filled with anxiety.

“What is Sister Qin doing? Didn’t she say she would help me bring Ah Chou back…”

“If I leave now, will they realize how important Ah Chou is to me…”

“But if I don’t go, what if I miss Ah Chou?”

After some deliberation, Su Yiyao’s eyes showed a hint of determination.

She would personally go to the marked location!

In the years since leaving the Blood Sea, Su Yiyao had never returned to this place.

She had never told anyone about what was in the depths of the Blood Sea.

As for why…

It was simple, no one had ever asked her.

Phoenix Venerable hadn’t told Su Yiyao not to reveal the secrets of the Blood Sea.

If the Zither Witch had asked, Su Yiyao might have told her.

But… the Zither Witch didn’t ask.

It was rather ironic. Many wanted to explore the mysteries of the Blood Sea, even the leaders of the Demon Abyss’ forbidden areas.

But no one had asked Su Yiyao, who had emerged from its depths. They even avoided her, trying to ignore her origins.

Now, Ah Chou was also in that place, standing before the Blood Sea.

Su Yiyao couldn’t help but think that the Lunar Phoenix Descent Scripture, which allowed her to enter the depths of the Blood Sea, was given to her by Ah Chou in her final moments.

Could it be that the reincarnated Ah Chou also possessed this inheritance and was also taken away by Sister Liu Lian?

If that was the case…

Su Yiyao’s guilt lessened slightly.

Since confirming that Ah Chou had reappeared in the world, Su Yiyao had always felt that she owed Ah Chou something, that she had stolen Ah Chou’s inheritance.

Su Yiyao had even thought that if she could see Ah Chou again, she would give her all her cultivation.

And now…

“Ah Chou, wait a little longer… Xiao Yao is coming for you…”

Su Yiyao changed out of her Holy Maiden attire and put on the same clothes she wore when she escaped Mount Fengyin with Ah Chou.

Then, she picked up her coffin, took the broken dagger, and headed towards the Blood Sea.

Just as she had arrived at the Temple of the Nether Spirit a few years ago, she now left, taking nothing with her, leaving no trace behind.

At the same time, many who had been secretly watching the Holy Maiden noticed her strange behavior and reported it to their respective lineages.

Information about the Holy Maiden was usually top priority, but as the lineage spies were still analyzing it, another shocking event occurred, instantly diverting everyone’s attention.

—Blood Lord, one of the four lineage masters of the Temple of the Nether Spirit, was assassinated.

Three Nascent Soul cultivators and over fifty Core Formation cultivators were involved.

They broke through the layers of defenses of the Sha Master lineage, sparing no effort, and killed Blood Lord, who was in secluded cultivation, attempting a breakthrough.

The Blood Lord lineage suffered heavy losses in this battle, even several other Nascent Soul elders were killed.

Soon, the Law Enforcement Hall of the Peerless Summit Sect issued a statement, claiming responsibility for this. The Peerless Summit Sect had sacrificed twenty-one elite Core Formation spies and one Nascent Soul cultivator was severely injured.

Then, as if coordinated, the Temple of the Nether Spirit immediately responded, cutting off all contact with the Immortal Domain and purging all Immortal Domain cultivators within the Nether Spirit forbidden area.

With this news, even the still-fleeing Luo Xue was no longer the focus of attention. The Holy Maiden’s whereabouts and strange actions were also put aside.

Because everyone knew that the Demon Abyss and the Immortal Domain… were truly on the verge of change.

…

After fleeing for an unknown amount of time, whether it was half a night or a whole night, the sky above remained perpetually dim, covered by unchanging, gloomy clouds, making it impossible to distinguish between day and night.

Luo Xue followed Nangong Mengxiang’s words, heading west, ever westward.

She was already deep within the Nether Spirit forbidden area, and going further would lead to places even Demon Abyss cultivators didn’t dare to tread.

The concentrated Yin Breath Poison, the endless poisonous miasma, and the thin spiritual energy were all obstacles.

But Luo Xue didn’t stop because even during her Enlightenment Core Formation, Nangong Mengxiang still faintly whispered “west.”

The destination in the west… hadn’t been reached yet.

The number of cultivators pursuing them had decreased significantly. Not everyone could endure such a harsh environment.

And those who could continue believed that Luo Xue was planning to commit suicide in a place where no one could reach.

Therefore, their pursuit intensified, and the competition between them became fiercer.

The remaining cultivators were all at Core Formation or above. They all believed they had a chance to obtain the huge bounty, and no difficulty could stop them.

Finally, when the last cultivator collapsed on the ground, unconscious, the final victor emerged.

A large, burly man slowly approached Luo Xue. Luo Xue struggled to open her eyes, wanting to see his appearance, but she couldn’t.

She was tired, very tired.

It wasn’t just from the long journey. The closer she got to her destination, the stronger the exhaustion she felt.

But the man didn’t approach Luo Xue. He stopped after a few steps.

“Give her to me, Luo Xue,” the man said. “Go and do what you need to do.”

“Hmm?”

Luo Xue looked up blankly. Since the man had gotten closer, she could finally see him clearly.

He was unfamiliar, yet somewhat familiar…

She seemed to have seen this face somewhere before…

Wait?

“Are you… Yu Haoqiang, the Gang Leader of the Tianhai Gang…?”

Luo Xue narrowed her eyes, recalling the scene she had witnessed at the Youxiang Restaurant.

The man before her matched the Gang Leader of the Tianhai Gang in her memory. It was the same person.

“Not anymore,” Yu Haoqiang said faintly. “Give her to me. I’m an old friend of Fengyin’s, I won’t harm her.”

“You mean… Nangong?”

Luo Xue looked at Nangong Mengxiang, who was still immersed in Enlightenment Core Formation, and asked in surprise.

“Yes, Nangong is her only disciple, the only one still alive.”

Yu Haoqiang nodded, took out a crescent moon-shaped necklace, and tossed it to Luo Xue.

“This is her token. You can take a closer look.”

Luo Xue caught the necklace and sensed it slightly, finding traces of Fengyin’s cultivation technique on it.

“Also, I was the one who gave Fengyin the Supreme Forgetfulness Scripture.”

Yu Haoqiang closed his eyes, and his three souls and seven spirits slowly appeared in Luo Xue’s vision.

He was missing two souls and five spirits!

If he continued cultivating this technique, he would probably have no soul or spirits left…

Completely becoming an emotionless killing machine.

“There’s one more token,” Yu Haoqiang took out a wine gourd and tossed it directly to Luo Xue. “Wine Immortal asked me to give this to you. Consider it repaying her favor.”

Luo Xue caught the wine gourd. Before even opening it, a familiar fragrance wafted out.

“It’s my convenient mother’s immortal wine…”

Luo Xue’s expression turned complicated.

Only Luo Huaxin could brew this wine, and it never circulated on the market. Even the most secretive black markets could only obtain her failed products.

Luo Xue had almost used up the immortal wine she had before. She hadn’t expected her mother to send another gourd.

“So? Have I earned your trust?”

Yu Haoqiang’s voice was deep and emotionless.

“I… trust you.” Luo Xue nodded and gently put down Nangong Mengxiang. “Please take care of her.”

Yu Haoqiang looked at Nangong Mengxiang, a rare look of love and heartache in his usually cold eyes, and said,

“I will, because… she is the last trace Fengyin left in this world.”

Luo Xue tossed the crescent moon necklace back, then turned and continued westward.

“And, Fengyin… died because she knew something she shouldn’t have known.” Yu Haoqiang suddenly said.

Luo Xue stopped.

“Remember, these are Wine Immortal’s words.” Yu Haoqiang continued. “Don’t investigate anything… about the Immortal-Demon War.”

“…Okay.”

Luo Xue’s voice came from her back.

“And… thank you.”

Yu Haoqiang suddenly smiled. Although a smile on his rugged face should have been terrifying, at this moment, it carried a sense of relief and ease.

“Thank you, for at least letting Fengyin’s soul find peace and comfort after her death.”

Luo Xue was stunned and turned around, wanting to ask something.

But Yu Haoqiang and Nangong Mengxiang were already gone.

“He must have heard it too, right?”

Luo Xue’s eyes flickered, and she sighed softly.

Yu Haoqiang had been listening to her conversation with Nangong Mengxiang along the way, and he had also overheard the secret Luo Xue had been keeping in her heart.

However… since it had come to this, there was no need to keep this secret anymore.

Finally, Luo Xue continued westward, a hellish scene unfolding before her.

Like walking into a bottomless abyss.

Chapter 117: A Lingering Obsession, Enlightenment and Core Formation 

“West?” Luo Xue looked westward, her expression turning serious. “But west is almost the opposite direction of the nameless swamp…”

“Not the nameless swamp, not Mount Fengyin…”

Nangong Mengxiang murmured with her eyes half-closed, her voice extremely weak, each word seeming to drain her energy.

“Nangong, tell me, what’s in the west?”

Luo Xue looked westward, a faint sense of familiarity, but she couldn’t place it.

“I… I don’t remember clearly. After I knew you were Little Martial Aunt, I felt like there was something I had to tell you, but I couldn’t remember.”

Nangong Mengxiang shook her head in confusion and whispered,

“Until just now… I fell asleep… I dreamed of Master, and I remembered. Master said before, if I found that successor, I should take her west…”

“…Okay.”

After a moment of silence, Luo Xue nodded.

She continued carrying Nangong Mengxiang and looked back.

The scrambling cultivators were still fighting, but because of the “do not harm” clause on the wanted notice, they didn’t dare to get too close to Luo Xue, afraid of injuring her.

After all, Luo Xue was a walking treasure trove.

Luo Xue exhaled, changed direction, and headed west.

Nangong Mengxiang leaned against Luo Xue’s back, her warm breath against Luo Xue’s face, a faint smile on her lips.

“Little Martial Aunt…”

“Yes.”

“Tell me, Little Martial Aunt, don’t lie to me… Is Master… already dead?”

“…Yes.”

“Were… you planning to tell me after we reached Mount Fengyin…”

“Yes…”

“Can you tell me about Master? I think you should know a lot…”

Nangong Mengxiang murmured softly, struggling to keep her eyes open.

“Tell me more, I think I’m about to fall asleep…”

She had faced a mid-stage Core Formation sword cultivator head-on. For a cultivator of the same level to take a direct hit, even if their soul wasn’t scattered, their spirit would be annihilated.

Being severely injured and near death was already her limit.

“…Okay.”

Luo Xue nodded without hesitation.

She told Nangong Mengxiang everything about the Mount Fengyin conspiracy, except for Su Yiyao’s existence.

This was the first time she had told anyone about these things.

To Luo Xue’s surprise, when Nangong Mengxiang learned that True Person Fengyin’s remains had been refined into a Gu Seed by a Foundation Establishment evil cultivator after her death, she was surprisingly calm.

But when she learned that Master’s soul had reappeared and helped Luo Xue kill that evil cultivator, she started to cry, as if she had experienced it herself.

Nangong Mengxiang didn’t ask how Luo Xue escaped after the Mount Fengyin incident, nor did she ask how she survived in the Yin Breath Poison.

She just muttered inaudible words, her spirit gradually calming down.

Then, Luo Xue noticed that Nangong Mengxiang’s body was slightly warm. After a moment of shock, she realized that Nangong Mengxiang’s aura was rapidly transforming.

“Enlightenment and Core Formation!”

Luo Xue’s pupils constricted, almost exclaiming.

Core Formation was the merging of the spiritual sea and the spiritual aperture, condensing a small world within one’s body.

Generally, the grade of the Core Formation determined the strength of the small world, the cultivator’s combat power, and their future potential.

Human, Earth, and Heaven were the three grades of Core Formation, condensed from ordinary spirit vein energy, deep earth vein energy, and heavenly vein energy, respectively.

Almost all Nascent Soul cultivators had at least an Earth Core. Human Core cultivators could only reach Nascent Soul with great fortune, and even then, they were considered weaker.

Although the Earth Core was the second choice for prodigies, it was still very precious, and not everyone could control deep earth vein energy.

Usually, only those from major sects had this opportunity, and only true prodigies could successfully form an Earth Core.

As for heavenly vein energy, it was even rarer, found only in ancient secret realms or immortal tombs.

The upcoming Heavenly Cluster Sword Tomb was an immortal tomb, rumored to be the burial place of a Sword Immortal above the Ascension Realm.

But… besides the three grades of Core Formation, there was another, more mysterious method: Enlightenment Core Formation.

Enlightenment Core Formation was extremely rare, so rare that even the Peerless Summit Sect only had a few records of it.

If Luo Xue hadn’t searched through most of the sect’s records, she wouldn’t have known about it.

According to the records, Enlightenment Core Formation involved comprehending the laws of heaven and earth, which only Nascent Soul cultivators could normally touch, before Core Formation, and using this comprehension to condense a small world and form a core.

As for whether it was stronger or weaker than a Heaven Core, there weren’t enough records to tell.

However, Nangong Mengxiang had simply let go of her centuries-old obsession and naturally formed her core through enlightenment.

This could only mean that Nangong Mengxiang had already met the requirements for Enlightenment Core Formation long ago, but a lingering obsession had kept her at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Knowing that Nangong Mengxiang was fine, Luo Xue was relieved.

She composed herself, looked westward again, and frowned slightly.

“Keep going west…”

“What exactly is in the west?”

…

The Zither Witch looked at Luo Xue changing direction, heading towards an unexpected location, with slight shock.

“Why would she go that way… Does she know something?”

After analyzing Luo Xue’s previous movements, all parties, including the Zither Witch, knew that her destination should be the nameless swamp.

The Zither Witch even knew more than the others.

Because she knew Nangong Mengxiang’s identity as True Person Fengyin’s disciple, and she also knew Luo Xue’s true purpose was likely to search for True Person Fengyin’s remains in the nameless swamp.

If so, her identity was almost certain.

Luo Xue was the person True Person Fengyin had been searching for.

But now… she had unexpectedly changed direction.

As if she had suddenly learned something.

But who told her?

Nangong Mengxiang?

No, that was unlikely…

The Zither Witch sighed softly, hesitating whether to reveal herself or report to the Holy Master first.

She looked at Luo Xue’s receding figure, her gaze extending into the distance.

A boundless blood sea churned, devouring everything, as if nothing could escape, only fear remained.

…Except for the Holy Maiden.

Luo Xue’s destination seemed to be the depths of this blood sea.

The place where the Holy Maiden had appeared.

“Perhaps… I now understand why the Holy Master agreed to bring her back.” The Zither Witch’s expression turned serious. “Holy Maiden, just how many things… haven’t you told anyone…”

After a moment of hesitation, she sent this information to Su Yiyao, but quickly cut off the communication, preventing Su Yiyao from asking any questions.

Then, the Zither Witch left, no longer paying attention to Luo Xue.

…

Outside the capital city of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, a beautiful young woman hurried towards the ruins of the Evil Spirit Sect. It was a new puppet Li Guijiao had hastily made.

After all her previous puppets were destroyed in the final battle at the Evil Spirit Sect, Li Guijiao immediately used some inferior materials to create this early Innate Realm puppet, intending to use it to check the situation on the battlefield.

Li Guijiao knew that with all the participants in that battle being Core Formation cultivators, even if she went there herself, it wouldn’t change the outcome much.

All she could do was pray, pray that when she arrived, she wouldn’t see Little Junior Sister’s corpse.

But strangely, Li Guijiao noticed many cultivators of varying levels along the way, all heading towards the Evil Spirit Sect.

“What’s going on…”

Li Guijiao sensed these auras, her heart pounding.

Not just cultivators from the Nether Spirit forbidden area, but also demonic cultivators from the other three domains, and Li Guijiao even sensed a few auras of Immortal Domain cultivators.

Everyone was in a hurry, and in a fleeting glance, Li Guijiao saw the greed and urgency in their eyes.

She suddenly had a bad feeling.

She continued towards the Evil Spirit Sect, and when she finally arrived at the ruins, she found the place deserted.

The more powerful cultivators were all hurrying past the ruins, not even glancing at them.

Only the collapsed formation and the still-burning fire remained, with a few low-level cultivators and mortals scavenging for treasures in the ruins.

Seeing Li Guijiao appear, many were scared and fled, mistaking her for a returning Evil Spirit Sect disciple.

Because Li Guijiao’s current aura was at the Innate Realm, comparable to a general in the mortal world, and she looked so young.

“What… is going on?”

Li Guijiao ignored these low-level cultivators and mortals and continued deeper into the Evil Spirit Sect, familiarly reaching the core of the formation.

The completely destroyed refining formation was empty. The pill she had refined was gone, and there weren’t many traces of battle, let alone Little Junior Sister’s corpse.

Seeing this, Li Guijiao was relieved.

She had placed some tricks within the refining formation. Without the specific technique, it was difficult to retrieve the pill, unless the formation was forcibly destroyed.

But the formation showed no signs of damage, which meant that Little Junior Sister had taken the pill.

This also meant that, at least for now, Little Junior Sister was safe.

But… where did Little Junior Sister go?

Li Guijiao took out her communication stone, intending to contact Luo Xue.

Just then, a slender hand reached out and took the communication stone.

“Yo.”

Li Guijiao was startled. She quickly retreated a few steps, looking at the newcomer with fear.

The other party had avoided her perception and silently appeared behind her.

If she had any ill intentions, and her real body was here, she would definitely die.

“Who… who are you?”

Li Guijiao looked at the newcomer warily, ready to self-destruct her puppet.

The newcomer was a very beautiful woman. She leaned against the destroyed formation, casually playing with the communication stone in her hand.

In her other hand, she held a gourd, her long hair tied up casually.

But this casualness added to her charm, a kind of carefree allure.

“Relax, I’m not a good person… oh no, I’m not a bad person, at least not to you.”

The woman smiled apologetically, tossing the communication stone back to Li Guijiao.

“Little one, use these communication stones less, they’re easily tracked.”

“And why are you so afraid of me? It’s just a crudely made puppet. Even if I destroy it, it’s not a big loss to you.”

“Who… exactly are you?”

Hearing this, Li Guijiao became truly nervous. She hadn’t expected her puppet body to be so easily seen through.

Even the Core Formation sword cultivator earlier hadn’t noticed…

Li Guijiao’s puppet crafting skills were quite exquisite. Ordinary cultivators, without special methods, couldn’t tell the difference between her puppets and real people.

“Who am I, hee hee… Little one, who do you think I am?”

The woman smiled slyly, her narrowed eyes showing a hint of mischief, making Li Guijiao shrink back even further.

Cou-, could she be a pervert?

She had heard that many high-level cultivators had strange hobbies, including same-sex relationships.

But she was just a puppet now, and one that looked like a minor…

“Alright, alright, you’re not as fun as Xiao Xue.” The woman saw Li Guijiao’s reaction and pouted. “I’m Luo Huaxin. You should have heard of me.”

“Luo Huaxin…” Li Guijiao repeated, her eyes widening. “Little Junior Sister’s mother?”

The fact that Luo Xue was Luo Huaxin’s illegitimate daughter had been a hot topic of gossip in the Peerless Summit Sect. Li Guijiao had naturally heard about it.

“Yes, yes…”

Hearing Li Guijiao’s words, Luo Huaxin immediately beamed.

She put her arm around Li Guijiao, the scent of alcohol assaulting her senses.

“Quite perceptive, Xiao Xue chose you well, you’re just a bit too timid.”

“Mmm…”

Li Guijiao couldn’t speak, her face buried in Luo Huaxin’s embrace, and could only blink, looking aggrieved.

“Sorry, sorry, it’s a habit. I didn’t expect you to be so short.” Luo Huaxin let go and patted Li Guijiao’s shoulder. Such bold actions made it easy to forget that Luo Huaxin was actually quite beautiful.

“Then why didn’t you save Little Junior Sister just now?” Li Guijiao asked anxiously. “You’re a Nascent Soul cultivator, right? Aren’t Core Formation cultivators easy to kill?”

“They are easy to kill, so I wasn’t worried that he could hurt Xiao Xue.” Luo Huaxin nodded. “But I had to keep an eye on someone else. That guy is much more dangerous.”

“Dangerous? Who…”

Li Guijiao was stunned. Someone considered dangerous by a Nascent Soul cultivator had to be another Nascent Soul expert…

Could there be another Nascent Soul cultivator in the Demon Abyss, secretly targeting Little Junior Sister?

Chapter 116: Westward, Ever Westward 

“Master Zou can’t hold on any longer. I have to use other puppets.”

Li Guijiao took out more puppets while focusing on the almost-complete refining formation.

Among the puppets she brought out were the Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, Peak Master Xi Xiaofeng of Cold Edge Cliff, and even her own master, Hei Pao, the Peak Master of Underworld Water Ravine.

If Li Guijiao had ever seen Luo Huaxin, Luo Xue suspected even her convenient mother wouldn’t escape the fate of being turned into a puppet.

The farmer was completely numb to this by now. He narrowed his eyes and looked deeply at Li Guijiao.

Then he turned to Luo Xue, a surprised expression on his face.

“You’re the traitor?”

“If my traitor status was designated by the Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, then yes.”

Luo Xue said, her calm and composed demeanor surprising the farmer.

Luo Xue’s cultivation was now at the late stage of Spirit Condensation, strong enough that even if she died here, it wouldn’t matter.

It would just be a pity that she couldn’t uncover the truth behind True Person Fengyin’s death, and she couldn’t see Xiao Yao again.

“The Grand Elder holds the authority of the Law Enforcement Hall. Designating traitors is within his purview.”

The farmer’s surprise was fleeting. He drew his sword again.

“Since this is a mission from above, we are the swords of the sword sect, weapons. Carrying out missions is our duty… I hope you understand.”

Whether she understood or not, dying in the line of duty seemed to be Luo Xue’s only fate.

Li Guijiao activated all her puppets, sending them to attack the farmer.

But the farmer was unmoved by these puppets with the appearances of the Peerless Summit Sect’s higher-ups. With a few sword strikes, the puppets were dismembered, their limbs scattered on the ground.

“Juniors should show respect to their elders. What you’re doing is wrong.” The farmer said patiently to Li Guijiao. “Even if you need to disguise your puppets, it’s better to use the appearance of enemies.”

As he spoke, he drew his sword, aiming at Luo Xue.

“Almost… almost there…”

Li Guijiao didn’t know what the farmer was saying. She was fully focused on the refining formation.

The formation was just a hair’s breadth away from condensing the pill, less than ten breaths.

But…

The farmer wouldn’t give Luo Xue ten breaths.

A sword beam flashed.

“No—”

With a heart-wrenching scream, Li Guijiao leaped forward, blocking the sword beam.

Seeing this, the farmer’s pupils constricted, and he tried to retract the sword beam.

He wanted to kill Luo Xue, not another prodigy of the Peerless Summit Sect.

But the spiritual power had already left his body, how could he retract it so easily?

The sword beam pierced directly through Li Guijiao’s body, and she fell into the refining formation like a broken kite, disappearing silently.

Like a withering flower.

“…It was my mistake, my carelessness.”

The farmer looked at the burning refining formation, his expression grave.

“I didn’t expect such a selfless junior among the current generation of Peerless Summit Sect disciples.”

“With such talent, she should have died on the battlefield of the Immortal-Demon War, not at the hands of a fellow disciple.”

The farmer performed a sword salute towards the refining formation, then sheathed his sword and said to Luo Xue,

“You can leave.”

Luo Xue stood there, stunned.

Wait, what was this Senior Brother saying…

What selflessness? This was possible for anyone, but Senior Sister Li would absolutely never do such a thing.

If Luo Xue died here, Senior Sister Li wouldn’t make a meaningless sacrifice. She would hide in the shadows and wait for the right opportunity to avenge Luo Xue.

This actually made Luo Xue feel a little relieved. She wasn’t afraid of death, but she was worried that those close to her would be endangered because of her.

Seeing Luo Xue’s silence, the farmer thought she didn’t understand and explained softly,

“I respect this junior’s wishes. She wanted to save you, even at the cost of her own life. I hope you remember this. She saved you.”

“The mission… has failed.”

Then, before Luo Xue could say anything, the farmer turned and left.

Leaving Luo Xue holding the unconscious Nangong Mengxiang, the pill beside them almost completely condensed.

Only after the farmer left did Luo Xue finally realize that he had truly let her go.

…Because he thought he had killed an innocent fellow disciple.

“The problem is, Senior Sister Li isn’t dead, just a puppet destroyed…”

Luo Xue scratched the back of her head, but didn’t say it out loud.

What if the farmer found out and came back to kill her?

“Fortunately, the pill is ready. Let’s wake up Nangong first.”

Luo Xue put away the Super Invincible Powerful Heaven-Shaking Tyrant Explosive Spiritual Pill. Li Guijiao had already told her how to use it, so she wouldn’t just treat it like a firecracker.

Although its maximum effect was probably similar to a firecracker.

Meanwhile, in the ruins outside the protective formation.

The Demon Abyss cultivators and the Peerless Summit Sect spies had been fighting fiercely for a long time. More than five Core Formation cultivators had already died at the hands of the Peerless Summit Sect’s swords.

And the spies weren’t unscathed either. Half of the actor’s mask was broken, revealing half of her delicate face.

The general, who had been fighting the most fiercely, was also seriously injured.

The weakest, the storyteller, had achieved the most. After breaking the protective formation, he used his compass to set up a formation, trapping the strongest among the Demon Abyss cultivators.

Shensuanzi was among them.

When the farmer reappeared, the Peerless Summit Sect spies instantly gathered around him.

The Demon Abyss cultivators finally had a chance to breathe, looking at them with unconcealed fear.

They finally understood why… the sword fanatics were considered the three most untouchable groups in the Immortal Domain.

They fought like madmen…

Trading injuries, even lives, without hesitation.

Fighting against such opponents was like walking on the edge of a cliff.

They didn’t even dare to run.

They were afraid that if they showed their backs, the sword fanatics would be like cheetahs smelling blood, relentlessly pursuing them until death.

“The mission has failed.”

The farmer said softly.

The others were surprised, but they quickly nodded, not asking further.

“Are we leaving?” The general asked.

The farmer glanced at the ruins of the protective formation and nodded.

“Storyteller, let’s go.”

The merchant wiped his short sword and said.

“Alright.”

The storyteller took out his compass again, and the already prepared teleportation formation appeared around them.

A moment later, the Peerless Summit Sect spies vanished in a flash of white light.

It all happened so fast that the Demon Abyss cultivators didn’t even react before the source of their fear disappeared.

“It’s… over?”

Jiao Nu’s chest heaved as she looked at the spot where the Peerless Summit Sect spies had disappeared, muttering in disbelief.

Shensuanzi, who had been trapped and disoriented by the formation, gradually recovered. This battle had sobered him up, his face filled with lingering fear.

Next time he encountered such opponents, he would definitely run…

If he ran, even if the mission failed, and he was stuck at the mid-stage of Core Formation for the rest of his life, he still had a hundred years left. If he didn’t run, he might die instantly.

However…

A question arose in Shensuanzi’s mind. What were these Peerless Summit Sect cultivators doing here?

If they were here to rescue the villainous trio, why didn’t they take anyone with them…

If they were here to slay demons and eliminate evil, why didn’t they kill everyone?

Just as the cultivators were still reeling from the fear, a sudden exclamation snapped them back to reality.

“They’re escaping!”

Shensuanzi was startled and looked forward.

He saw the petite Luo Xue, carrying Nangong Mengxiang on her back, trying to sneak away.

“They’re still here!”

Shensuanzi’s eyes lit up, his heart sinking slightly.

If that was the case… then the mission Blood Lord had given him hadn’t failed yet?

“Capture them!”

Shensuanzi shouted.

But no one responded, the cultivators all hesitating.

The fear from what had just happened was still too strong.

Seeing this, Shensuanzi could only charge forward himself, towards Luo Xue.

Only after Shensuanzi moved did the other cultivators’ hesitation lessen slightly, following him at a distance.

Luo Xue had already given Nangong Mengxiang emergency medicine and treated her wounds.

The Peerless Summit Sect’s sword intent was troublesome for ordinary cultivators. Once struck, the lingering sword intent would last for months, a constant torment.

But Luo Xue had a Falling Flower Peak technique and could easily dispel it.

However… Nangong Mengxiang’s injuries this time were indeed very serious, and it would take some time for her to wake up.

All the puppets Li Guijiao had placed outside were gone, only her real body, still in the capital, remained.

Looking at the approaching Shensuanzi, Luo Xue sighed softly.

“It seems… I have to use this pill…”

She hadn’t even warmed it in her hand yet, and she already had to use it.

As Luo Xue held the pill, ready to use it, Shensuanzi had also approached.

He was already condensing a divine ability, about to unleash it on Luo Xue.

But just then, a sharp sword beam flashed.

“Get out of the way!”

“What!”

Sensing the sword beam, Shensuanzi was shocked and immediately stopped, using all his strength to activate his protective spiritual energy.

Still traumatized from earlier, Shensuanzi was like a startled bird, instinctively wanting to flee upon encountering a sword cultivator.

But…

The sword beam struck, only shaving off a layer of his protective spiritual energy.

It hadn’t even broken through his defenses.

“Hmm?”

This power wasn’t right…

Shensuanzi looked up and saw a familiar Core Formation cultivator.

“Zhou Jieshi?” Shensuanzi frowned slightly. “Why are you here?”

The Zhou Jieshi he knew was indeed a sword cultivator, but he should be in the Demonic Ghost City’s territory…

Why was he in the Nether Spirit forbidden area?

“You, Shensuanzi,” Zhou Jieshi sneered, “You were trying to take all the loot for yourself?”

“What loot?”

Shensuanzi was dumbfounded. Hadn’t he already distributed the benefits?

Besides, this was a matter within the Northern Zhou Dynasty, in the Nether Spirit forbidden area. What was someone from the Demonic Ghost City doing here?

“Don’t tell me… you didn’t know?” Zhou Jieshi sneered, looking at Luo Xue in the distance, greed and desire flashing through his eyes. “I didn’t expect her to be here. I thought it was another false alarm…”

Shensuanzi was still confused, but when he looked at Luo Xue again, his eyes widened, finally understanding what Zhou Jieshi meant by “taking all the loot.”

“Luo… Luo Xue?”

Luo Xue had removed her disguise. Her waist-length white hair shimmered faintly in the dim light of the setting sun, her delicate profile looking youthful.

She looked exactly like the Luo Xue on the wanted notice!

“Capture Luo Xue!”

“The huge bounty…”

Countless cultivators, from Spirit Condensation to Core Formation, had appeared, all rushing towards Luo Xue.

They even attacked the cultivators in front of them, the scene turning chaotic.

Zhou Jieshi also ignored Shensuanzi and rushed towards Luo Xue with the other frenzied cultivators.

However, because of the chaos, and because no one wanted others to get there first, their pursuit wasn’t as aggressive as before.

Luo Xue was startled by this crazy scene, but she also knew that this was giving her a chance to breathe.

She had been wondering why so many cultivators had suddenly appeared, then she looked down and saw her current appearance.

“Exposed…”

Luo Xue felt a headache coming on. Why did her Thousand Faces Cultivation Art fail at this time? Was it because she wasn’t proficient enough?

But she didn’t have time to think about this now. She just had to hold on until Nangong Mengxiang woke up.

With Nangong Mengxiang’s exceptional escape skills, escaping this situation wouldn’t be a problem.

However…

As time passed, the news about Luo Xue spread, and more and more cultivators joined the hunt.

Luo Xue had already left the Northern Zhou Dynasty, heading straight for the nameless swamp.

Although these cultivators were still pursuing her relentlessly, they didn’t want others to succeed first, so they kept a certain distance from Luo Xue.

They had seen her strength and were confident in capturing her. The only problem was the other competitors.

Luo Xue knew this very well. If not for them hindering each other, they would have captured her long ago.

As night fell, Luo Xue had already reached the borderlands.

And at this moment, Nangong Mengxiang finally recovered slightly.

She slowly opened her eyes and said weakly,

“Little Martial Aunt, go west…”

“Nangong? Are you alright?”

Hearing Nangong Mengxiang’s voice, Luo Xue was worried.

She had taken a sword strike from Wu Hai before and had recovered after just a nap.

But now, she couldn’t even open her eyes.

It seemed that her injuries this time were very serious.

“Don’t worry about me… Little Martial Aunt, go west…”

“Keep going west…”

Chapter 115: Unsheathing!

Not many Peerless Summit Sect spies had come to the Evil Spirit Sect, only five.

Judging by their attire, they were a general, a farmer, a merchant, an actor, and a storyteller.

The strongest among them was the farmer, whose cultivation had reached the mid-stage of Core Formation, the same level as Shensuanzi.

The weakest, the storyteller, was only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, seemingly unremarkable among the Core Formation cultivators.

But… he was a sword cultivator of the Peerless Summit Sect.

This alone made him a force to be reckoned with.

Even though the Peerless Summit Sect was in decline, and their cultivators were weaker compared to those of other major sects at the same level, they were still one of the top sects in the nine provinces and four domains.

The storyteller glanced at the protective formation and exclaimed,

“This formation is truly ingenious. If not for the cultivator’s weak cultivation, even I would have difficulty breaking it. But… Underworld Water Ravine shouldn’t have any formation inheritance.”

“Storyteller, how long will it take to break the formation?” The actor asked coldly. “Our identities have been exposed. We can’t stay in the Nether Spirit forbidden area for too long.”

“A quarter of an hour.”

The storyteller smiled and immediately sat down cross-legged.

He held a compass in his hand, forming seals and circulating his energy, a mysterious aura surrounding him.

Soon, a reflection of the protective formation appeared on the compass, spiritual power flickering within, drawing another exclamation of admiration from the storyteller.

Of course, despite his admiration, the storyteller didn’t waste any time and immediately began analyzing the formation’s structure, gradually dismantling it.

The other Peerless Summit Sect spies stood around, their seemingly casual positions subtly surrounding the Demon Abyss cultivators.

Four Core Formation cultivators surrounding twenty cultivators of the same level. How… arrogant.

“So what if you’re from the Peerless Summit Sect? You’re only four Core Formation cultivators.” The hulking man snorted coldly, a battle intent appearing on his face. “There are over twenty of us. Five against one, and you think we’re afraid?”

With that, the hulking man charged forward, attacking the seemingly weakest merchant.

“Wait, Tashan!”

Shensuanzi quickly shouted, but it was too late.

Facing the charging hulking man, the merchant, knowing he was being underestimated, sneered, his short sword already unsheathed, a short beam of light flashing.

In an instant, the hulking man’s arm was severed cleanly.

“What!”

The hulking man was shocked. He only felt a slight tingling sensation when his arm was cut off.

Then came the intense pain, making him break out in a cold sweat, fear filling his heart.

Although the hulking man’s large physique made him look like a body cultivator, he was actually… just an ordinary cultivator.

His most prized fist technique was nothing before the sword of a Peerless Summit Sect disciple.

“Such vicious blood energy… How many lives have you taken, to refine your fist into a magical treasure?”

The merchant looked down at the severed arm on the ground, disgust on his face.

A nauseating aura emanated from the wound, the result of refining countless flesh and blood.

“My hand… my hand…”

The hulking man wailed in pain, his cries making the other demonic cultivators shudder.

Even among Core Formation cultivators, there were differences.

This was a Core Formation cultivator from a major sect, a sword cultivator of the Peerless Summit Sect…

Luo Xue and the others had already returned to the protection of the sect’s formation, quickly recovering, unaware of what was happening outside.

“Now… what should we do? Didn’t they say it was just an ordinary Innate Realm disciple from the Peerless Summit Sect?” Shensuanzi’s mind was in turmoil. “Why are there so many Core Formation cultivators? Could there be something else going on?”

Few people knew that Shensuanzi, the leader of the Thousand Machines Sect, actually belonged to the Blood Lord lineage of the Temple of the Nether Spirit.

However, Shensuanzi’s status within the Blood Lord lineage wasn’t high, and he had offended some people he shouldn’t have offended, which was why he was sent to the Northern Zhou Dynasty to secretly lead the smaller sects.

Being a sect leader seemed impressive, but the Northern Zhou Dynasty was resource-poor, and Shensuanzi didn’t receive any resources from his lineage, so this situation… was essentially exile.

But a few days ago, Blood Lord suddenly contacted Shensuanzi and secretly gave him a mission—to capture the infamous trio who had been causing trouble in the Northern Zhou Dynasty recently, making sure not to harm the two younger ones.

Blood Lord also promised that if Shensuanzi completed this mission, he would be allowed to return to his lineage.

Therefore, Shensuanzi had gone to great lengths to unite the leaders of the smaller sects, willing to pay any price to complete this mission.

Only by returning to his lineage could his cultivation have any hope of advancing further.

Shensuanzi’s lifespan was nearing its end. If he couldn’t break through to the late stage of Core Formation, he would die within a hundred years.

He had thought that with the situation having developed to this point, capturing the trio was just a matter of time, an easy task.

But unexpectedly, several Core Formation spies from the Peerless Summit Sect appeared midway, and after killing one and crippling another, the surrounding Core Formation cultivators were already hesitant.

Jiao Nu, the most cunning among them, was already showing signs of wanting to escape. If these Peerless Summit Sect spies took a few more steps forward, she would probably flee immediately.

Shensuanzi hesitated, still unsure what to do.

The general wanted to draw his sword and kill all these demonic cultivators, but due to the farmer’s instructions, he could only endure and protect the storyteller as he worked on breaking the formation.

They couldn’t waste too much time here, lest they delay the main mission.

The deployment of these Core Formation spies wasn’t just to kill the traitor on their mission list.

In fact, this was just a secondary objective.

The other spies responsible for reconnaissance had discovered Luo Xue’s whereabouts within the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and their gathering point was also in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, so they took on this mission as well.

After completing the mission to eliminate the traitor, the spies had more important things to do, matters concerning the future of the Peerless Summit Sect.

The two sides were in a stalemate. The Demon Abyss Core Formation cultivators within the encirclement didn’t dare to move, and the Peerless Summit Sect spies, not wanting to cause more trouble, also chose to wait.

Just then, Nangong Mengxiang charged out with Luo Xue and Li Guijiao, reaching the actor.

The actor was a young woman wearing a Peking opera mask, and unlike the other spies, her weapon was a spear.

The spear carried sword intent, adding to her imposing aura.

“Eh, new reinforcements?”

Luo Xue was stunned. There hadn’t been anyone like this among the Core Formation cultivators surrounding them earlier…

But soon, she noticed something was wrong.

Only this actor-dressed girl was blocking their path. The other Core Formation cultivators didn’t surround them but were watching from afar.

“Let’s do it.” The farmer said faintly from afar. “Be careful not to harm our people.”

“Our people” referred to Li Guijiao. Almost all the Peerless Summit Sect spies were from Underworld Water Ravine, and the unconcealed Underworld Water Ravine aura on Li Guijiao was very obvious to her fellow disciples.

The actor didn’t say a word, her spear moving, thrusting directly at Luo Xue.

“We can’t fail now!” Shensuanzi gritted his teeth, his heart filled with ruthlessness. “Even if they’re sword fanatics of the Peerless Summit Sect, so what? No one… can stop me!”

He didn’t know that the Peerless Summit Sect spies were here to kill Luo Xue, thinking they were here to protect the trio.

After all… they had mentioned “our people.”

“Are you all just going to sit here and wait for death?” Shensuanzi shouted. “Since these Immortal Domain thieves want to fight, we must resist! These sword fanatics won’t show us any mercy!”

“I’ll double the reward for everyone! Stop these Immortal Domain thieves!”

In less than two breaths, as the actor attacked Luo Xue, the other Peerless Summit Sect spies also moved, closing in on Luo Xue.

At this critical moment, the Demon Abyss cultivators finally realized that these were the infamous sword fanatics of the Peerless Summit Sect, who were ruthless in slaying demons and eliminating evil.

The reason they hadn’t attacked earlier was probably because they were waiting for Luo Xue and the others to create an opening, so they could strike and defeat them all at once.

“Damn it… let’s attack too!”

The Demon Abyss cultivators’ hearts filled with ruthlessness, and before the Peerless Summit Sect spies could reach Luo Xue, they unleashed their techniques and abilities.

Countless attacks bombarded the spies, forcing them back.

Although the swords of Underworld Water Ravine were sharp, they focused on offense and were easily broken.

They had an advantage in one-on-one combat, but in this kind of chaotic battle, they were at a disadvantage.

On the other side, Nangong Mengxiang narrowly dodged the actor’s spear thrust and punched the spear’s shaft, making the actor’s hand numb.

“A troublesome body cultivator…”

The actor’s eyes beneath the mask were cold.

Her attack failed, and countless techniques and abilities were coming from all directions. Nangong Mengxiang could withstand them directly, but the actor couldn’t, so she was forced to retreat.

“People from the Peerless Summit Sect…”

Luo Xue’s eyes narrowed, and she turned slightly to look at Li Guijiao beside her.

Li Guijiao also recognized the auras of these people’s techniques, her mouth opening wide enough to swallow an egg.

“They… seem to be our Senior Brothers and Sisters…”

“I know.”

Luo Xue said in a low voice.

“Little Junior Sister, I mean, they should be from Underworld Water Ravine…”

Li Guijiao looked at them one by one and listed their names.

“Zhou Ping, Yuan Li, He Buyi, Xu Keke… They are all Underworld Water Ravine disciples who were expelled from the sect hundreds of years ago.”

“Hundreds of years ago?”

Luo Xue’s pupils constricted. This time period seemed a bit sensitive…

“Yes, during that rebellion.” Li Guijiao’s eyes dimmed slightly.

“Let’s not worry about that for now. The important thing is that they’re here to kill me.” Luo Xue exhaled. “Let’s go back into the formation first. It’s just as well that they’re fighting.”

“We can’t go back.”

A familiar, deep voice rang out behind them, making Luo Xue instinctively tense up.

But she quickly relaxed.

She still wasn’t used to it. He looked and sounded exactly like the Sect Master…

Master Zou walked out and said gravely,

“Someone is breaking the formation. The protective formation is about to collapse. Only the core refining formation is still barely holding on.”

“How long until the refining is complete?” Luo Xue asked.

“About a hundred breaths, but it’s too late.” Master Zou pondered. “Unless… we sacrifice this puppet. When I was constructing the formation, the core was connected to this puppet, which can temporarily accelerate the refining process.”

“Accelerate it.” Luo Xue immediately decided. “We have to get that pill, otherwise, we can’t break through this situation.”

Master Zou nodded and returned to the formation.

“Success!”

The storyteller put away his compass and smiled faintly.

He looked at the collapsing protective formation and sighed.

“With the current state of the Peerless Summit Sect, they can still produce such a prodigy. If she could experience the trials of the Immortal-Demon War, even the peerless Sword Saint from thousands of years ago would be amazed.”

The collapsing protective formation completely crushed the Evil Spirit Sect’s residence, and the dissipating spiritual energy disrupted the surrounding area, temporarily creating a space where divine abilities and techniques couldn’t be used.

This was within the storyteller’s calculations. He had triggered the formation’s collapse to restrain everyone and complete the mission in one fell swoop.

Instantly, the barrage of techniques and abilities stopped, only the swords of the Peerless Summit Sect remained sharp.

Sword intent wasn’t affected by the environment.

“Draw your swords!”

The farmer, who had been fighting with his sword sheathed, finally unsheathed it, his aged body seeming to grow taller.

He took a step forward, following his intuition into the ruins of the formation.

At the same time, the other Peerless Summit Sect spies also recovered and, taking advantage of this moment when the Demon Abyss cultivators were silenced, charged forward.

“Draw your swords!”

“Draw your swords!”

Countless sword lights flashed, half of the Core Formation demonic cultivators were severely injured, and two weaker ones even died on the spot, their flesh and blood raining down on the ruins of the Evil Spirit Sect.

“Found you.”

The farmer murmured softly, his eyes closed.

His sword had already guided him.

He slowly opened his eyes, wanting to see clearly who this traitor, ordered to be killed by the Grand Elder, was.

But the next moment, the farmer’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Sect… Master?”

A middle-aged man stood within the refining formation, his figure gradually fading.

Beside him were Luo Xue, Nangong Mengxiang, and Li Guijiao, all staring at the farmer with wide eyes.

“They saw me… Will Master scold me when I get back…”

Li Guijiao whispered.

“We should worry about whether we can even get back first.”

Luo Xue twitched her lips.

While the farmer was stunned, Nangong Mengxiang didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward and punched.

But the farmer quickly recovered, casually raising his sword to block the blow, then sending Nangong Mengxiang flying with a casual swing.

Ordinary techniques and abilities couldn’t harm the current Nangong Mengxiang. Even Wu Hai, who had injured her before, wouldn’t be able to incapacitate her with a full-powered attack.

But the farmer had only used a casual sword strike, and Nangong Mengxiang instantly collapsed.

“Being able to withstand one of my sword strikes, not bad.” The farmer glanced at Nangong Mengxiang indifferently, then looked at the Zou Junxin puppet again. “So it’s just a puppet. A mischievous junior, actually daring to use the appearance of a sect elder…”

Before the farmer could finish, Li Guijiao took out the puppet of the Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall.