Chapter 63

No one knew the tension Sheng Ningyu was feeling at that moment.

She crossed her hands, her left hand constantly rubbing the scar on her right hand, almost tearing the wound open again.

She never imagined that the first person she would see would not be her senior brother, but Han Yuyi.

Han Yuyi... Yu Hanyi... this senior sister whose peaceful life was almost destroyed by her.

The fingertips had already torn through the flesh, but at that moment, a cold glint flashed before my eyes.

The silver mask was removed.

The withered hand touched her face, and the face covered with poisonous patterns on Han Yuyi's face showed the same gentle smile as before.

Han Yuyi: "I'm sorry, Mingyue, I'm so sorry."

She owes someone an apology.

She was desperately waiting for someone to come back.

Others say that Han Yuyi is delusional, and some even say that the sect leader of the Thousand Poison Cave is pushing and shoving and hiding, and that he and the Ghost Canglou Master are only superficially together and have no intention of becoming Daoist partners at all.

Han Yuyi didn't care what they said.

At that time, everyone said that Sheng Ningyu was dead, and everyone said that she would not be able to wait any longer.

But Han Yuyi never believed it.

She appeared frail and helpless, but possessed a resolute and proud spirit within. Han Yuyi had been plotting for a long time, secretly planning to expose everything to the world.

Even though she knew this matter would cause countless waves, even though she knew that such actions would inevitably arouse suspicion, and might even stir up unnecessary turmoil in the already turbulent cultivation world, and might even attract the demon race to seize the opportunity to invade...

Han Yuyi found out, and after thinking about it for a long time, she still decided to do it.

Because of these great principles, no one had ever taught her them.

She had only seen it in one person.

Han Yuyi's trembling hand moved from Sheng Ningyu's cheek to her shoulder.

The leader of the Thousand Poison Cave tried hard to put on a smile as usual, but no matter what she did, her expression remained sorrowful.

Sheng Ningyu was taken aback; she hadn't expected Han Yuyi to apologize to her.

“What wrong did Senior Sister do?” Sheng Ningyu turned her face to the side, rubbed her palm against Han Yuyi’s, and whispered, “Back then… I acted rashly.”

Han Yuyi shook her head desperately, her voice slightly hoarse: "Junior sister, there's no need to worry." She looked past the disciples behind Sheng Ningyu, who were already in a daze, and looked at the crisscrossing spiritual energy outside the house, and slowly smiled.

"This matter will soon be brought to light."

Sheng Ningyu frowned slightly. She followed Han Yuyi's gaze to the scene outside the railing, and in a flash, she suddenly understood what Han Yuyi wanted to do!

By drawing upon the spiritual power of the direct descendants of eleven sects, the Thousand Mountains Trial will begin ahead of schedule at the Ghost Cang Tower!

Sheng Ningyu suddenly grabbed Han Yuyi's hand: "Did Senior Sister send someone to lure the two disciples behind me here?"

Han Yuyi, puzzled, shook her head: "I have never plotted against the disciples of Qingyi Academy."

Qingyi Academy was the place she had always dreamed of.

No matter which sect he attacks, even if he personally destroys the Nine Heavens Pavilion, Han Yuyi will not lay a hand on the disciples of Qingyi Academy.

"Senior Sister! Stop!" Sheng Ningyu suddenly exerted force and gripped Han Yuyi's hand tightly.

She witnessed everything below the railing: the spiritual energies of the eleven sects intertwined, some guests who had not yet left were accidentally injured, and the dimly lit auction house was occasionally flashed with such dazzling light, which, instead of making people feel bright, deepened the eerie and sinister atmosphere.

It's like a gladiatorial arena.

In a daze, Sheng Ningyu felt as if she had seen such a scene somewhere before.

She emphasized her words and said quickly, "Someone is secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes to start the Thousand Mountains Trial!"

Regardless of that person's purpose, Sheng Ningyu was determined not to let him succeed.

Therefore, the formation must be stopped!

...

Yan Ruchao was outside the Gui Cang Tower.

This was something he had agreed upon with Han Yuyi. Once the Thousand Mountains Trial Formation was completed, all those who tried to seize the Sheng Ningyu Spirit Bone would be trapped inside the trial grounds.

Perhaps his strength alone is not enough, but what if... the Sword Sovereign's Spirit Bone is added?

Yan Ruchao had had enough of the current cultivation world.

Fools, born fools, acquired fools, and a bunch of fools who just parrot what others say.

The place that brought these people together was a huge warehouse of idiots.

Yan Ruchao often found it strange that these people could live on as if it were their right after killing Sheng Mingyue.

It is probably because their stupidity has blinded them that they cannot see how their own existence makes this already terrible world so disgusting.

"The banquet was as grand as the morning."

A phantom image, as green as a pine tree, appeared behind him.

Yan Ruchao moved swiftly, his black robes billowing out to conceal the talisman array he had just cast, and faced the approaching figure.

He made no attempt to hide his weariness and sarcasm: "Why is the former Palace Master not teaching properly at Qingyi Academy, but instead coming to this gloomy, ghostly place of mine?"

Yuan Bushu: "I'm here to find someone."

Yan Ruchao laughed, making no attempt to hide the sarcasm in his laughter: "Is Yunwang Palace also interested in the Sword Venerable's Spirit Bone?"

Yuan Bushu ignored him, looked around, and his gaze fell on the Ghost Cang Tower where spiritual energy was flowing. He felt the surging spiritual energy within, and the scene of the battle between various sects appeared in his mind. Unconsciously, his brows furrowed.

"Where is Mingyue? She messaged me earlier, saying she was with those two disciples."

Yan Ruchao's expression became even more sarcastic: "What, you don't believe in reincarnation either?"

Yuan Bushu was merely a fragment of a spirit. Although he could approach the Ghost Cang Tower, he could not conceal himself and was no match for the siege of the eleven sects. He was calculating his route when he heard Yan Ruchao's words. After a brief moment of disbelief, he suddenly turned around.

“It’s not a reincarnation.” Yuan Bushu walked to Yan Ruchao’s side and said quickly, “It’s Mingyue! She was in the coffin for sixty years, and someone stole her spiritual bones. She just woke up!”

Sixty years.

I just woke up.

Yan Ruchao's pupils suddenly contracted. He only saw a dark shadow flash by, and the dark clouds in the sky suddenly rolled, instantly obscuring the last ray of light.

The people who were fighting fiercely inside the building suddenly heard a thunderous roar. Then, the inner walls of the Ghost Cang Tower suddenly contracted, and something seemed to shine brightly overhead, emitting a light so dazzling that it brought tears to their eyes.

In the chaos, someone shouted, "It's Genting Highlands!"

High above the clouds, a solitary structure now stands out, hovering above everyone's heads, resembling a bright moon in the sky.

Yu Wusheng was thrown outside. He slowly woke up and was blinded by the light above his head. In his daze, he seemed to see a sharp sword falling vertically towards him.

The interior of Gui Cang Tower suddenly darkened!

The inner walls were constantly crowding, as if squeezing their space and driving the people inside. At the same time, a gust of wind swept through, not even allowing them to raise their heads, and directly swept many people out of the building!

The elder of Qingniao Yiyehua, supporting himself with his staff, knelt on one knee and shouted in extreme resentment, "Is this how Guicanglou treats its guests?!"

In the blink of an eye, everyone was sent outside the building. At that moment, a ghostly voice rang in everyone's ears, carrying an eerie atmosphere and the usual mockery.

"Since you are all fighting fiercely inside the Ghost Cang Tower, I will not accompany you."

The wind howled, and the faint groans and howls of countless ghosts echoed, sending chills down the spines of those below. A sinister aura swept through the air, and the black banners atop Ghost Cang Tower fluttered wildly, seemingly mocking the resentment of everyone present.

They had all come for the legendary "Sword Master's Spirit Bone," but now it seemed their efforts had been in vain.

The Chu family retainers were even more furious: "Master! This Gui Canglou is going too far!"

This time, however, Chu Jiye only glanced at the black banner before turning around to look at the person beside him, and said tenderly, "Sister Mingyue, were you frightened?"

Sheng Ningyu shook her head.

Chu Jiye's eyes dimmed slightly, but he still smiled and said, "Now, Sister Mingyue, shall we go home together?"

Sheng Ningyu seemed to pause for a moment, then quietly repeated, "Home?"

Chu Jiye: "It's the Bright Moon Pavilion on the Sea."

Sheng Ningyu nodded: "Okay."

Upon receiving these words, Chu Jiye acted as if he had received some imperial decree. He turned around and calmly ordered, "Return."

The Chu family retainers were filled with resentment, but the Chu family head's orders were paramount, so they still bowed their heads and said, "Yes."

The cultivators below watched helplessly as the Chu family patriarch, holding the reincarnation of the Sword Venerable, rode away in a palanquin and spirit boat. However, just as the spirit boat was halfway there, an unexpected event occurred!

No one could have imagined that someone would dare to make a move so close to the Bright Moon Pavilion on the sea!

The Chu family retainers were the first to react, shouting, "Protect the patriarch!"

Chu Jiye touched the Sword Venerable Spirit Bone in his arms and let out a cold laugh.

He took advantage of the chaos to steal the black jade box. Chu Jiye knew that if he could do something like that, then naturally someone else would have thought of it too.

"A swift and decisive victory."

Having received the patriarch's orders, the retainers became even more unscrupulous.

Chu Jiye thought the fight would end quickly, but the man's movements were strange. He moved like a snake lurking in the grass, and for a time, the Chu family retainers were helpless.

Chu Jiye frowned, a hint of irritation appearing on his usually unreadable face.

He took the hand of the person beside him and said softly, "Sister Mingyue, I'll be right back."

Having received approval, he summoned the Yin-Yang Mirror, instantly illuminating the battleground as if it were daytime. Those people seemed somewhat wary, yet still refused to retreat.

Chu Jiye grew impatient and used the Yin-Yang Mirror to unleash a burst of spiritual energy that swiftly attacked the leader of the group. The man seemed somewhat frightened and leaped up, trying to dodge, but he was still struck and fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

This move, named "Chasing the Moon," is a signature move created by Chu Jiye.

However, this time, when he used this move, he didn't feel the same cat-and-rabbit feeling as before; instead, he felt a vague unease.

how……

"Sword Master!!!"

Chu Jiye turned around abruptly, disregarding the fact that the black jade box in his arms had been snatched away in an instant. He looked at the scene before him with eyes wide with rage!

The palanquin and spirit boat were swallowed up by a black mist. Around the black mist, there was a pink floral mist that emitted an alluring fragrance, but no one present dared to approach.

Chu Jiye grabbed at nothing with his bare hands, only to have the red mist coil around him like vines.

"Master, you mustn't!" A retainer sacrificed himself to block Chu Jiye's actions, kneeling down and saying, "The poison of Su Qingfeng is incurable in the world. Only the Bluebird One-Leaf Flower can provide an antidote. Master, you must consider your own safety!"

Behind him, the retainers of the Chu family knelt down in a row: "Please, Master, consider your own safety."

The mountains roared and the sea surged, yet it was like a lonely soul standing alone.

Chu Jiye's expression was initially almost furious, but then he gradually calmed down and became blank.

Yes.

It was his fault.

So much time has passed, yet he still hasn't given Sister Mingyue a sword.

Even a master swordsman needs a good sword.

He gazed at the vast, desolate mountains and seas, as if he had traversed countless mountains and rivers, and spoke almost word by word.

"Return to the Moonlit Pavilion on the Sea."

...

The Ghost Tower was almost instantly plunged into complete darkness.

At the height of the light atop the clouds, a large patch of black mist suddenly enveloped all the mermaid candles and jeweled artifacts embedded in the walls, which were emitting light.

An endless darkness suddenly descended, and the once bright cloud top instantly became pitch black, causing Sheng Ningyu's heart to skip a beat.

For a moment, she thought she had returned to her coffin.

It is without light, invisible, inaudible, and ineffable.

The fingers of his left hand bent unnaturally, and his right hand, which was resting on the wooden sword at his waist, began to ache slightly and trembled faintly.

There seemed to be movement behind me.

It was barely audible, but he seemed anxious and made a faint sound.

Sheng Ningyu thought casually as she gripped the hilt of her sword, lowered her eyes, and calculated the speed at which the man was moving forward.

No.

Two steps.

Suddenly, the wooden sword was drawn!

This move was originally intended by Sheng Ningyu to be "Clear Breeze Breaking Dawn" from the seventh level of swordsmanship she had just learned. However, for some reason, as the wooden sword was drawn, she inexplicably felt a similar feeling in her heart. With a light flick of her wrist, the sword's momentum shifted, and the situation suddenly changed.

This move became her favorite "Joyful Reunion," and at the same time, dawn broke!

In a flash, Sheng Ningyu saw clearly where she was and the face of the person opposite her, and she suddenly opened her eyes wide!

She was no longer in the Cloud Peak, but below the Ghost Cang Tower, and the person opposite her was no longer Senior Sister Jade Robe.

With ink-black hair and a black robe, his face was as white as paper, and his expression naturally carried an air of arrogance and mockery.

Sheng Ningyu dared not go any further. She understood that she had moved the sword force away, but with only a quarter of the spiritual bone, her control over the sword force was far inferior to her former self. In the midst of the flying sword strikes, she could not control her strength and once again cleaved the pillar of the Ghost Cang Tower in half!

I want to die!

Regardless of what happened before, and whether the senior brother has calmed down, no one can accept such a "grand gift" upon meeting him.

With time running out, Sheng Ningyu didn't even have time to ask Han Yuyi for help. She stood in a vortex of residual spiritual energy, watching Yan Ruchao walk towards her step by step, and closed her eyes tightly, pretending to be dead.

Ha ha.

We're doomed.

Not only did she not immediately acknowledge her senior brother, but she also infiltrated his Ghost Cang Tower. But can she really be entirely blamed for this? After all, this was Yan Ruchao's own Ghost Cang Tower, and he himself hadn't been vigilant enough...

Sheng Ningyu's mind was in a jumble of thoughts, but in a short while, she thought of the dragon head on the Panlong Pillar as she stepped into the Ghost Market.

Instead, it was a hug.

There was no rich fragrance, no gentle words, just a cold, hard embrace devoid of any warmth.

Yan Ruchao, her senior brother, stiffly embraced her.

Sheng Ningyu was very uncomfortable with this situation. Her heart was in a state of near panic, and she dared not move her hands, but her mouth began to ramble incoherently: "Haha, Master of Guicang Tower, it's been a long time. No offense intended..."

“Sheng Mingyue.” A voice interrupted Sheng Ningyu’s rambling, “Don’t call me Master of Gui Canglou.”

The man released her, and Sheng Ningyu looked up in a daze.

In the darkness of the surrounding blackness, the eyes of the person before me shone like the brightest stars.

After a long silence, Sheng Ningyu opened her mouth and said stiffly, as if she had just crawled out of a coffin, "...Senior Brother."

Her voice was dry, and she seemed extremely unfamiliar with the title, but she repeated it again, "Senior Brother."

She hadn't called him that in a very, very long time.

Perhaps for a long, long time, no one called him that anymore.

Even Yan Ruchao, the seemingly cold and ruthless master of Guicanglou in the eyes of the world, was momentarily stunned.

Not for anything else, but for these three simple words.

For a long time, Yan Ruchao forbade Sheng Ningyu from calling him "Senior Brother".

He was a traitor who broke away from the Sword Pavilion, and he was the master of the Ghost Canglou who had entered the Ghost Path.

Even with his profound cultivation and a place to call home, he was still seen as a heretic in the eyes of the world.

Yan Ruchao never cared about these things, but he knew that his junior sister shouldn't be implicated by him.

Everyone says that Sheng Ningyu, a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, is a real "devil incarnate," but Yan Ruchao knows that there is no one in the world more soft-hearted than his junior sister.

She would cherish a fallen flower, listen to a bird's song, play with a gentle breeze, and see those mortals as insignificant as ants.

The world is full of wonders, but the great path is ruthless.

But his junior sister's sword was the most affectionate.

This feeling is like spring, summer, autumn, and winter; it is like the sky and water gathering their essence; it is like the full sun radiating pride.

Indeed, the bright moon is gentle.

Therefore, after betraying Jian Ge, Yan Ruchao forbade anyone to mention his previous identity and would punish them at the slightest provocation, which really frightened a lot of people.

At that time, he thought that his junior sister, Sheng Ningyu, was destined to be a bright moon, and she had her own path. She should not be implicated or involved by him.

But Yan Ruchao never expected that this eccentric and reckless little girl would fall into the Mitian Realm.

"What 'Miantian Realm'?" Yan Ruchao smirked. "It's just a piece of incomprehensible wasteland."

Yet, this very wasteland, while he was unconscious, swallowed up his junior sister.

...

Sixty years.

Suddenly, a force pulled her into his arms before she could react.

Sheng Ningyu tugged at the corners of her mouth, trying hard to force a smile, but she failed.

For no apparent reason, Sheng Ningyu's eyes welled up with tears.

She had to appear omnipotent in front of her juniors, and nonchalant in front of her friends, even her former teachers and friends, who seemed untrustworthy.

But only.

Only in front of this person who had long since betrayed the sect, who had once erected a sign saying "Sheng Ningyu and He are not allowed to enter," and who had once forbidden her from calling him "Senior Brother" again, could Sheng Ningyu be the simplest and most genuine "Sheng Ningyu."

She closed her eyes slightly, leaned on her brother's shoulder, feeling a little sad, and her eyes stung.

"Senior Brother, many people bully me when you're not around."

"Senior Brother! They bullied me first! I was just retaliating."

[Senior Brother, with you gone, many people have come to provoke us, but... hey, they can't beat me!]

[Senior Brother! Their elders are bullying people! You can't just scold me, go and scold them for me!]

Years have passed, yet things remain exactly the same as they were back then.

They are resentful, love to complain, and when they get into a fuss, they wish they could blow up other sects.

Yan Ruchao chuckled, raised his hand to shield Sheng Ningyu's head, and whispered the words he had never uttered to his junior sister back then.

"Don't worry." He patted Sheng Ningyu's head and gave a smile.

If this smile had been given by the former senior disciple of the Sword Pavilion, it would have been nothing more than contempt and arrogance. However, when given by the current master of the Ghost Canglou, it was filled with bloodlust.

"Senior Brother, we'll help you return it."

In the dark corner of Guicang Tower, a figure stands quietly.

Shang Shuang was terrified and held her breath, fearing that the Venerable One might start a fight with the Lord of Gui Cang Lou at the slightest disagreement.

She wasn't worried that the Venerable One couldn't win, but the Sword Venerable was still around! What if the Sword Venerable sided with her senior brother...

But unexpectedly, Xie Qianjing did not make a move until Shang Shuang withdrew.

He certainly knew what was going to happen.

From the moment he agreed to bring her to the Ghost Cang Tower, from the moment he agreed to let her enter the Ghost Cang Tower alone.

He knew this was against the nature of demons, but strangely enough, he still chose to do it.

The long-lost dull pain from the broken bones felt like something was breaking through the soil within his body, but Xie Qianjing still stood in the darkness, quietly watching Sheng Ningyu embrace another.

The shadows covered his entire body.

...

On the shores of the East China Sea, in the Bright Moon Pavilion.

Chu Le looked at the ruins that had been ravaged and at his trembling retainers below, feeling extremely anxious.

After seeing his uncle's hands covered in blood once again, and his uncle turning a blind eye to it, Chu Le finally couldn't hold back anymore.

He stopped Chu Qing and asked the reason. Chu Qing sighed deeply: "It is probably related to the reincarnation of the Sword Master being kidnapped by the people of Qingniao Yiyehua."

"What?! A reincarnation of a Sword Master?!"

Chu Le paced anxiously, muttering to himself, "It's a complete fake! How could a fake fool anyone..."

Why is it considered a counterfeit?

Chu Le suddenly realized what was happening. He turned around abruptly, but was immediately overwhelmed by a tremendous spiritual force and knocked to the ground.

At this moment, Chu Jiye exuded a powerful aura, which was so strong that it compressed the surrounding air, causing it to emit a sound that was almost like a wail.

The surrounding disciples knelt on the ground, and Chu Qing exclaimed in terror, "Patriarch!"

Chu Jiye remained unmoved. He used his spiritual power to bind Chu Le, but his expression showed no urgency, only calmness.

Only those eyes, which had been so tender just a few days ago, were now bloodshot, staring intently at Chu Le like a wounded beast.

“Speak,” he said. “Chu Le, don’t lie to me.”

Enveloped by spiritual energy, Chu Le was suspended in mid-air, the air constantly compressing his chest, and the taste of blood filled his mouth. When he met Chu Jiye's gaze, it was as if his mind was being manipulated, and all the excuses he had prepared vanished like a receding tide in an instant, leaving only the true answer on the shore.

"Because the Sword Master will not live in the Moonlit Pavilion on the sea."

Chu Le stared blankly into the void, uttering a mechanical reply.

"Sword Master, all he wants is to demolish the Bright Moon Pavilion on the Sea."

...

At the same time, not far away, Feng Xiaosheng, who was handling important matters in the Phoenix Clan, suddenly turned his finger and looked towards the East Sea.

The constraints she had imposed upon herself have been broken.

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Almost fully recovered! But there is indeed a flu outbreak recently, so please take precautions!

This chapter is a combined edition for today and tomorrow! And it still has 24-hour commenting!