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Leaving the Red Lotus Sect's headquarters, the scorching desert once again reigned supreme. Though the vast desert could be disorienting, Canglang, with his crimson bronze compass, always managed to find his way through the endless yellow sand. The Faceless One followed closely beside Jinzhu, using his not-so-strong body to shield the princess from the sandstorm. Sometimes he would suddenly bend down to touch the scalding sand, and sometimes he would look into the distance where the hot wind blew, like a devout believer listening to divine pronouncements from the depths of the earth that only he could understand.
Or perhaps, he was simply listening to his companions crying.
Gentle demonic power kept the heat and sandstorms at bay. Yun Shu calmly led Jin Zhu by the hand, communicating with Yun Huashan telepathically about what his master and senior sister had learned, and that he was doing well. Meanwhile, the little girl, clutching her mother's belongings, kept her head down and remained silent.
Perhaps the atmosphere was too heavy, even the little black lump that always loved to nibble and rub against Yun Shu's chest was unusually quiet, only shaking its black fur comfortably when Yun Shu's fingertips brushed against it. Occasionally, it would also convey to Yun Shu the uneasy feelings of the child far away in the Demon Realm.
This lump of coal is not simply a magical creation. Yun Shu understood this the moment he saw it, but even now, he cannot say for sure what the little thing is made of.
The only thing that can be confirmed is that its formula must contain Mo Yiheng's...desire.
When he first brought Mo Yiheng back, the thin, silent child, like this lump of coal, loved to rub against his chest and grind his teeth. So much so that two tiny scars still remain on his fair, jade-like chest—scars Mo Yiheng accidentally inflicted when he couldn't control his demonic energy. He thought it was an unintentional mistake, and since the child was crying as if he were about to be abandoned, he didn't bother to treat the wounds, leaving those two holes until now.
But if he still likes to bite like this even now...
Yun Shu narrowed her eyes slightly, pinched the little black lump of coal between two fingers until it flattened into a sesame cake with a "squeak," and then released it under the little thing's aggrieved and puzzled gaze, pressed it into her chest, and patted it.
Oedipus complex... or something else...?
Perhaps he was just too reliant on him as his master, after all, it must have been hard for him to lead such a large demon realm while his child was away.
…I hope I haven't misunderstood anything. Yun Shu gently flicked her ear, nipping a budding guess in the bud.
After all, how could that be possible?
The two of them are too far apart in age, so even if Heng'er is immature, he can't follow along with her nonsense.
After two days of traveling with different thoughts, the surrounding scenery began to show some strange changes.
As far as the eye could see, the sand dunes were no longer flowing curves, but instead became angular like black iron, resembling countless fangs in the giant mouth of the desert, waiting for them to walk into their trap. The air was heavy with the mixture of rust and ash, and the wind, which could scald flesh and rot bones, grew increasingly viscous, almost like magma.
The compass began to slow down, the needle trembled, and it no longer pointed in the exact direction.
After several unsuccessful attempts to repair the equipment, Canglang wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his expression grave: "Immortal Master, the compass here is being disturbed, and there must be an extremely strong chaotic spiritual current hidden beneath the quicksand... Moreover, to my knowledge, we have already entered the territory of a ferocious beast. Therefore, we will have to be even more cautious on the road ahead."
He wasn't the only one who sensed something was amiss. The faceless man became restless upon seeing the black sand dunes. He pulled a strange stick from his tattered robe, spread his arms to block Jinzhu, and uttered a series of clearly logical, hoarse ancient words towards a particularly dark area of sand that seemed to swallow even sunlight.
Yun Shu cast his divine sense like a net, but this time, his perception found nothing. Everything was swallowed up and distorted at the edge of the sandy area, and he could not retrieve it.
“It doesn’t welcome us.” Jinzhu blurted out this sentence unconsciously at first, and then began to translate the Faceless One’s hurried and angry whispers, “He said that the 'false god’s' minions are close at hand, and that on the vast hem of Hasaran, there are many, many grains of sand patrolling… eating people…”
Before the words were even finished, the black sand ahead began to writhe as if alive. Dozens of figures rose from the sand—these were the smooth-faced "Faceless Ones" composed of jet-black quicksand. In an instant, the group was surrounded by a dense crowd. The "Faceless Ones" stared intently at these unwelcome guests, unleashing a tsunami of dense death energy and overwhelming malice that even managed to scatter some of the clear light shining through the clouds.
Before the enemy could make a move, the Fire Patrolman's instincts kicked in, and Canglang roared, drawing his longsword. The Crimson Lotus Flame instantly formed a protective circle, shielding the group within.
Before Jinzhu, the true survivor of the quicksand uttered a few sharp syllables and planted his long staff on the sand in front of him. The remaining yellow sand trembled and rose as if in response, ultimately creating a precarious safe zone for the last princess within the dark encirclement.
The girl was pale, but she bit her lower lip tightly and did not let out any scream of fear. Instead, she tugged at Yun Shu's clothes and silver hair and hugged the jade box tightly.
The fox spirit turned around, smiled gently, and patted the back of her hand.
The black sand puppet was rapidly approaching, yet it didn't receive a single glance from the White Fox Immortal Lord. He looked up at the distorted sky and sighed softly.
"Stubborn and obstinate".
Just as he had done in the temple, he did not make any earth-shattering move. He merely raised his hand slightly, and a point of pure, dazzling light gathered at his fingertips. The white light was not dazzling, but it seemed to have the power to cleanse all things, like the rising sun, gently yet undeniably dispelling the gloom.
As if sensing something, the little black lump of coal secretly peeked out from under Yun Shu's clothes and climbed onto her shoulder. Looking at the loving and compassionate gaze of the Immortal Lord, it first pressed its cheek hard against its master's, making a soft "pop" sound. Then, it raised its head and puffed out its chest, proudly squeezing into Yun Shu's collar, refusing to leave even when it was squeezed into a soft "wedge".
Yun Shu had no objection to this.
He flicked his finger.
The light floated gently, slowly drifting towards the area where the puppets were most densely packed.
May you sleep peacefully.
Where the light touched, countless grotesque puppets froze instantly. The black quicksand that formed their bodies rapidly shed away, losing its malevolent activity within breaths, collapsing and disintegrating into ordinary sand. The tormented remnants of souls imprisoned within were released from their trances under this pure light, unable even to utter a wail.
Without any unnecessary steps, and not even an attack, the encirclement was easily broken.
Even though he had seen it once before, Canglang was still shocked by this terrifying purification ability, standing there dumbfounded with his sword raised. He naturally knew that Yun Shu was very strong, but he never thought that without the help of the Demon Lord, she could still eliminate the crisis so effortlessly.
Is this... the power of a great demon whose day of ascension to immortality is imminent?
They didn't even have to use the magical artifacts that the cult leader had specially prepared for them.
The ancient survivor stood frozen in place, then, as if remembering something, immediately faced Yun Shu and prostrated himself in a solemn posture, expressing the utmost reverence.
“Hmm, he said…” Jinzhu listened intently, “He said that the Fox Spirit’s power reminded him of one of his benefactors from ten thousand years ago… That benefactor wielded a long spear, was brave and skilled in battle, and often fought alongside another benefactor… Although the two benefactors liked to quarrel. He also asked how that benefactor was doing, whether he was still alive?”
The benefactor wielding the long spear is undoubtedly Yun Hua. As for the one who fought alongside Yun Hua and argued fiercely with her... it must be the Demon Lord from back then.
Therefore, Yun Shu nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your concern. My master... has been doing relatively well recently."
The other person then spoke in classical Chinese. Jinzhu translated, "If given the opportunity, he hopes to personally visit his master."
The little black coal ball puffed out its chest even more, and excitedly rolled around inside Yun Shu's collar.
This child, I don't know what he's so proud of... Helpless, Yun Shu could only bring the little fur ball to her lips and touch it, and then put the black fur ball, which had turned into a strawberry flavor and was trembling all over, back to her chest.
"Yunhua Mountain welcomes everyone who has no ill intentions," Yun Shu said with a smile. "But for now, let's deal with the matter at hand first."
He turned and gazed into the distance, his gentle gaze instantly hardening. Leading everyone forward slowly, the moonlight once again filled the air, forcibly creating a haven of peace in this lifeless land.
"Please stay close to me."
The deeper they went, the darker and colder the sand beneath their feet became, even gleaming with a metallic chill. Beyond the moonlight, the dunes began to shift, the air began to distort, and countless chaotic illusions appeared before their eyes: the twisted body of the feathered serpent, the shattered shadow of the golden-haired empress, the dried-up riverbed, and countless hands reaching desperately towards the sky.
The resentment that had been brewing here for millennia, nourished by "false gods," has finally found another group of viewers, ready to spare no effort in telling newcomers everything they have endured.
Canglang guarded his heart with the fire of karma, veins bulging on his forehead. The survivor of the ancient civilization barely held on with his bloodline. Jinzhu leaned close to Yunshu, the jade box in her arms silently emitting a warm green light, blocking all the resentment that tried to corrupt her. The Nine Heavens Heart Bell vibrated silently, helping everyone stabilize their minds.
Only one person's steps remained unwavering. Wherever Yun Shu passed, the moonlight dissipated, causing the illusions to vanish, briefly creating a gap for passage. But he did not choose to immediately purify these resentments—the painful memories were proof that they had once lived, and also the footnote to the truth.
Finally, they passed through the smooth, mirror-like blackness, and the scenery before them suddenly changed.
It was not the magnificent temple one might imagine, but a deep, unfathomable chasm stretching for thousands of miles—according to Little Black Coal Ball, it was comparable to the Demon Abyss in the Demon Realm.
The edge of the rift valley was as if cleaved by a knife and axe. Looking down, there was only an impenetrable darkness and a chilling, soul-deep suction force emanating from it. It was like a decaying scar on the earth, greedily devouring all light, all life, and all that moved.
Hasaran?
No, that's obviously not the case.
The faceless one knelt on the ground, stretching its hands towards the dark depths, seemingly unable to accept the destruction of the sacred land. Jinzhu, however, stared blankly into the valley, then exclaimed in realization, "Fox Immortal... they are calling for me..."
Yun Shu stood above the rift valley, her silver hair and robes involuntarily drawn towards the abyss, but her body remained unmoved. She even reached out to pull Cang Lang back, preventing the Fire Patrol Envoy from being swept into it.
“‘He’ is not here,” Yun said softly, casting her gentle light upon the festering wounds of the earth, but there was no reply. “This is merely the wound ‘He’ left in the world. What we must do is go down and find ‘He’.”
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