Chapter 147 Is she a flag that wants to call me the sect leader's wife?
Li Shoumo and the others were dumbfounded. Even though they had just witnessed Zhong Jiuli's power to wipe out a million demons with a single move, they were still shocked by her precise strike that covered the entire continent.
Li Chengfeng quietly approached Bai Ye and asked in a low voice, "Little Tiger, what is Senior Zhong's cultivation level now?"
"Immortal King Realm".
Immortal King Realm? I've never heard of it.
The group was somewhat bewildered, as the ultimate realm of cultivation they knew was the legendary Realm of True Immortals.
Reaching this realm allows one to ascend to immortality, transcending the mortal world. This Immortal King realm sounds like it's above the True Immortal realm?
"Stop daydreaming." Bai patted her friends on the shoulders, snapping them out of their shock. Her tone softened as she changed the subject, "How are my aunts? Are they settling in comfortably in the capital?"
Ayu quickly replied, "That's great. The aunties have cultivated a vegetable garden in the city. The vegetables are already up to our calves. Auntie Pang was just saying the other day that she wanted to dry some vegetables so she could steam meat for you when you come back."
"Young clan leader, do you want to go back and see your aunts?" Dayue asked as well.
Bai shook his head. "I have important matters to attend to. Now that I'm back, it's time to settle accounts with those people."
After she finished speaking, she summoned Jiaojiao and Taihuo.
"This time, I really have a mission for you."
Jiaojiao patted her little chest and said, "I know, I will definitely stay in the capital and protect my aunts."
"Too much heat will also cause this."
Bai nodded, then looked at his friends with a solemn expression: "Enough of the small talk. You all need to seize every opportunity to cultivate and improve your cultivation. The real enemies have not yet arrived, and they are far more terrifying than you imagine."
"It was so terrifying that neither Zhong Jiuli nor I could get involved; when we encountered it, we could only turn around and run for our lives."
"Just how strong is this enemy?" Li Shoumo couldn't help but ask.
Bai also took a deep breath, his voice heavy: "Immortal Emperor, we only have one, while the other side has three Demon Emperors."
Seeing everyone's faces turn pale instantly, Bai then encouraged them, "I'm telling you this not to discourage you. Right now, someone is risking their life to buy us time. The only thing we can do is grow up as quickly as possible."
"Understood!" Li Chengfeng replied solemnly.
Everyone noticed that after returning from the demon realm, both the little tiger and Senior Zhong had changed; they carried something heavy on their shoulders.
Bai Ye and Zhong Jiuli did not linger here. The Wilderness State was safe, but other states were still suffering from the invasion of the Void Demon Clan.
The two tore through the void and headed towards Zhongzhou. With Zhong Jiuli's current cultivation level, even traveling across states would only take her a short while to arrive.
......
The once prosperous Central Plains is now engulfed in flames of war, with thick black smoke shrouding many major cities. Clearly, the situation is far worse and more tragic than Li Shoumo and the others had guessed.
The two stepped out of the void and saw the scene before them, both feeling a little heavy-hearted.
"Doesn't Zhongzhou have many great sects? How can they allow the demon race to rampage in the city?" Bai was speechless.
“In chaotic times, those who are truly willing to sacrifice their lives for righteousness are ultimately few and far between,” Zhong Jiuli sighed softly. “Let’s return to the Sanqing Sect first.”
Bai was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, and secretly glanced at the woman beside him, "I thought you were going to deal with those demons first."
"In your eyes, am I the kind of person who repays evil with good?" Zhong Jiuli looked up at her, a helpless smile on her lips.
“In my heart, you are radiant with holy light, the kind of god who saves all living beings!” Bai also put his hands together in a gesture of worship.
"Nonsense," Zhong Jiuli said lightly. "I have my own selfish motives too. When those people kicked the Three Pure Ones Sect when it was down, did they ever think about today? Why should I rush to save them?"
"I like you like this." Bai also looked at her vivid eyebrows and eyes. "Too much divinity is not a good thing. Like that senior, she was a bit too selfless, which is why she chose to sacrifice herself to save the world."
Zhong Jiuli reached out and pinched her cheek, twisting her small face out of shape as a warning: "Isn't the person you're talking about me? Or are you making things up about me?"
"No, no, um... I was wrong." Bai hurriedly begged for forgiveness, his words slurred.
In the midst of their conversation, the two had already traversed thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.
At the horizon, the outline of Sanqing City came into view.
Outside the city, countless demons, like bloodthirsty ants, frantically assaulted the crumbling city walls. On the walls, many disciples of the Sanqing Sect fought a bloody battle, while some cultivators from within the city also fought back against the demon army.
Zhong Jiuli's eyes turned slightly cold as she pointed her fingers like a sword and slashed through the air.
A sword beam that stretched across the heavens and earth fell like a galaxy, sweeping across the surging demon tide outside the city. Wherever the sword light passed, tens of thousands of demons turned to ashes like burning dry grass, amidst their mournful howls.
Bai also made his move at the same time, forming a palm print and striking directly at the several ferocious demon kings below.
The demon kings who were fighting Liu Xianyue, Ming Wushuang, and Jiang Lian let out a miserable howl and exploded into blood mist in the midst of this magnificent divine power, splattering them all over.
"you!!!"
Liu Xianyue wiped the demon blood off her face, her eyebrows furrowing in anger. "You've been gone for so long, and all you do when you come back is give me this big gift, huh?"
"Hehe, Boss Liu, don't be angry, I'll help you." Bai Ye grinned, showing his white teeth, and rushed into the center of the battlefield like lightning.
Her fists radiated divine light, each punch transforming into countless divine weapons. Swords, spears, and halberds tore through the demon army, and wherever the golden light passed, the demon army fell in swathes like waves of wheat.
In the blink of an eye, the massive demon army outside the city was wiped out.
The disciples of the Sanqing Sect, who were fighting fiercely atop the city wall, stared in stunned silence at this scene, then erupted in thunderous cheers:
"Sect Master, our Sect Master has returned!"
"And the troublemakers are back! They're back!"
"The Nine Provinces are saved!"
The young disciples roared with excitement, tears welling in their eyes. Zhong Jiuli's return represented far more than just a top-tier combatant.
She herself is a banner, a spiritual totem that supports everyone in moving forward in desperate situations.
Previously, countless cultivators had secretly predicted that Zhong Jiuli, who had ventured alone into the Void Demon Realm, would surely not return. Various sects were eyeing the Sanqing Sect covetously; even in the face of this great calamity, some were still thinking of tearing a piece of fat from the Sanqing Sect.
Now, Zhong Jiuli has returned, breaking through the void, and sweeping away the demon army with such overwhelming force, undoubtedly making a message to the world.
As long as Zhong Jiuli is still alive, the Sanqing Sect will always be that unyielding pillar of strength.
On this day, throughout the Nine Provinces, numerous major sects and schools were shrouded in gloom. Countless sects awakened their reclusive patriarchs to discuss how to deal with the Three Pure Ones Sect's purge.
......
The Three Pure Ones Sect, Cloud and Mist Peak.
In that familiar fenced courtyard, old friends gathered together for once.
Bai Ye, Zhong Jiuli, Liu Xianyue, Jiang Zhiming, and others sat around the stone table. Old friends reunited, so naturally they couldn't resist having a few drinks.
On the stone table were some spirit wine and roasted meat, their aroma filling the air. Bai, who hadn't eaten in a long time, also had a hearty appetite and ate without even lifting his head.
"Hey little tiger, how long have you been starving?" Liu Xianyue asked, amused. Despite her words, she pushed all the sizzling, oily spirit beast meat in front of Bai Ye.
Bai swallowed the roasted meat in his mouth and replied, "It's been a long time. The creatures in the Void Demon Realm look so strange that I wouldn't dare to eat them even if I killed them."
"Yes, you should eat more. This spirit chicken is all for you." Jiang Lian smiled and placed a whole roasted spirit chicken in front of Bai Ye.
"Then I won't be polite." Bai tore off a chicken leg and took a big bite, the whole tiger was overwhelmed by the aroma of the roasted meat.
Everyone at the table watched Bai Ye eat with her head down. Only after she stopped did they begin to talk about serious matters.
Liu Xianyue gave a general account of what had happened in Kyushu in recent days. Her information was much more comprehensive than Li Shoumo's.
Zhong Jiuli also briefly recounted what had happened in the Void Demon Realm. When they heard that there were three Demon Emperors outside the Nine Provinces who were eyeing them covetously, everyone's expressions became much more solemn.
During the meal, only Ming Wushuang's expression was somewhat strange, her gaze shifting back and forth between Bai Ye and Zhong Jiuli. By now, she had realized the unusual relationship between the two.
He also figured out why Bai had gone to find his sect leader on the spirit boat and stayed for most of the day; that guy must have been up to no good.
She silently gritted her teeth, feeling sorry for her sect leader.
Our sect leader is so upright and noble, and this shameless brat is simply not a good match for him!
Bai noticed her gaze, raised an eyebrow, and smiled, revealing a set of small white teeth: "What's wrong, Ming Lao Er? Why are you staring at me like that? Don't you want to call me Boss anymore? Do you want to call me Sect Master's Wife instead?"
Ming Wushuang's face darkened, and he silently gritted his teeth, wishing he could rush up and beat her up. This girl's skin was still so thick.
Zhong Jiuli felt her ears burning slightly at her words, and gently pinched Bai Ye's soft waist to signal her not to be too presumptuous.
Bai didn't care at all, and his smile became even brighter.
She raised her glass, looked around at the people present, and smiled, "Friends, a catastrophe is coming, and the building is about to collapse. But there is always a way out. We must all live well, because we will drink my and Sect Leader Zhong's wedding wine in the future."
“Alright! I must drink this toast!” Jiang Zhizhi was the first to raise his glass in response, his eyes full of smiles.
Ah Lian smiled gently and raised her wine glass: "For the sake of this wedding wine, we must live as long as possible."
"cheers!"
Everyone responded in unison, and the crisp sound of clinking glasses echoed throughout the small courtyard.
The gloom that had been hanging over everyone's hearts was dispelled considerably by Bai Ye's words.
Even if the sky were to fall, they would always be there to shoulder the burden. What is there to be afraid of? At worst, it's just death.
......
The next day, in Youzhou.
The sky over Youzhou always hangs low, with thick, leaden-gray clouds pressing down and obscuring the sunlight, making the Lost Souls Mountain Range appear even more eerie.
The headquarters of the Ghost Control Sect is located atop the Lost Souls Mountain Range. A swirling ghostly mist shrouds the entire mountain range, with countless vengeful spirits wailing and weaving through it. This eerie and ominous aura is so potent that even the Void Demon Clan avoids approaching, thus ensuring the area's relative tranquility.
Today, all the disciples of the Ghost Control Sect looked uneasy. Everyone held a Soul Banner in their hands and looked up at the sky from time to time, fearing that a great enemy might suddenly descend.
Perhaps it was because these people missed him so much, but sure enough, two streaks of light rapidly approached from the sky above, tearing through the ghostly mist and landing above the gate of the Ghost Gate.
Zhong Jiuli was still dressed in white, her robes fluttering in the wind. Bai stood beside her, his body radiating intense, fiery energy that seemed out of place in this gloomy world.
"Yu Gui Sect! The grudge of besieging the Sanqing Sect in the past should be settled today." Zhong Jiuli's voice was calm, without any killing intent. "But I am not here for revenge. If any disciple is willing to come out of the mountains to wipe out the Void Demon Clan and atone for their sins, they may be spared."
The disciples of the Ghost Control Sect, who had originally been united in their hatred and prepared to fight the Sanqing Sect to the death, became restless upon hearing this. Several elders exchanged glances, clearly already tempted.
The newly appointed leader of the Ghost Control Sect had a livid face and shouted sternly, "Don't listen to her instigation! The Three Pure Ones Sect and my Ghost Control Sect have a deep-seated hatred for each other. How could they truly let us go? She's just trying to send us to our deaths on the battlefield!"
These words made the disciples, who had been wavering, much more determined. This is what it means to have a petty mind!
There are hardly any good people in the Ghost Gate, and good people can't survive here, so they naturally don't believe that anyone could be so magnanimous.
Everyone gripped the soul banners tightly, and with each wave, ghostly energy surged, and countless ghostly figures flew out from the banners, roaring and howling at the two people in the sky.
"Kill! Fight them to the death!" the sect leader roared, leaping into the air. Ghostly energy surged behind him, transforming into a giant skull that opened its maw to bite Bai Ye.
"What? Do you think I'm an easy target?" Bai Ye laughed, his fists radiating brilliant golden light.
She swung her fists repeatedly, each punch carrying the blazing fire of the sun, colliding with the skull.
Fists rained down, and in just a few punches, the eerie skull exploded in mid-air. The sect leader didn't even get close to Bai Ye before being blasted backward and crashing into the mountain below.
"Protect the sect leader!" a roar came from the crowd.
Dozens of elite disciples simultaneously activated the Soul Banner in their hands, and thousands of ghostly figures converged into a torrent, rushing towards Bai Ye.
"Overestimating yourselves! You didn't even appreciate the opportunity I gave you. You deserve to be beaten to death!" Bai Ye's eyes turned cold, and he no longer held back.
She took a deep breath and let out a deafening tiger roar.
"Awoo~ Roar!"
The golden sound waves seemed to have a tangible quality, spreading out like ripples. Wherever they passed, the ghostly figures dissipated, and the yin energy vanished instantly.
Those disciples with lower cultivation levels were so shocked that they bled from all seven orifices and collapsed to the ground. Ghosts all over the mountains and fields wailed, turning into yin energy and dissipating into the world before this magnificent heavenly might.
At the same time, Zhong Jiuli, who had remained silent until now, finally made her move. She simply raised her hand slightly and pressed it lightly against the mountain range below.
A massive hand of law, covering the entire mountain range, appeared, its palm lines shimmering with starlight, and slowly descended amidst the despairing gazes of the Ghost Control Sect members.
Boom!
The mountain range collapsed, and the entire Lost Souls Mountain Range was reduced to rubble under this single palm strike.
Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, plunging the area into a deathly silence.
The entire Ghost Control Sect was almost completely wiped out by this single palm strike. Only a few young disciples who had hidden to the side and dared not attack escaped the calamity.
Zhong Jiuli glanced at the group of people but ignored them. She waved to Bai Ye and said, "Let's go."
Bai immediately followed suit, and the two flew away, leaving behind only the Ghost Mountain Range, which had been flattened into the ground.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, news of the destruction of the Ghost Gate spread throughout Youzhou.
"Have you heard? The Ghost Control Sect... has disappeared from Youzhou."
"That one from the Three Pure Ones Sect has really returned; she's come to seek revenge on us."
"Does she have any humanity... killing innocent people so needlessly? Isn't she afraid of divine retribution?"
Various rumors spread wildly within Youzhou, and soon the rumors became that Zhong Jiuli's body had been possessed by a Void Demon, and that what had returned was not her, but a bloodthirsty demon.
This news terrified many people.
The Blood Fiend Sect was wiped out overnight, from the sect leader to the disciples, not a single one remained. If it weren't for the fact that the houses couldn't be moved, they probably would have even tried to dig up the sect's main gate as well.
Not to mention the Xuan Yin Sect, whose founding site was a gigantic warship, which has long since disappeared.
When Zhong Jiuli and Bai arrived at these cult strongholds, they found them deserted.
"No, when those people spread rumors, couldn't they at least tell the whole story?" Bai said speechlessly. "We clearly persuaded them to surrender first, and then killed them."
"It's alright. These heretical cultivators are hardly of any use in guarding the city. Let them run away as long as they don't cause any trouble."
Zhong Jiuli didn't care much about this. She and Bai Ye came to Youzhou mainly to clean up the Void Demon Clan. Settling scores was just something Bai Ye insisted on doing, and it was done incidentally. She still harbored some resentment about the siege of the Sanqing Sect by various sects back then, and couldn't swallow that anger.
"Alright, I know you're magnanimous and won't hold it against them." Bai sighed, and she and Zhong Jiuli flew away to continue their cleanup mission.
“It’s not that I’m being magnanimous, it’s just that I don’t want to waste time on them.” Zhong Jiuli sighed. “Our top priority is to finish these trivial matters as soon as possible, and then we will go into seclusion to cultivate.”
"Understood," Bai replied.
The two roamed freely across the land of Youzhou, eliminating dozens of major sects and wiping out countless Void Demon Clan members in just two days.
After dealing with matters here, the two went to Jianzhou, Xizhou, Nanjiangzhou and other states to assist the major sects in purging the rebellious Void Demon Clan.
Bai also met with her friends and confirmed that Shi Manman and the others were still alive and had made progress in their cultivation. She also made a special trip to Baidi City to see her mother. Everything in Baidi City was fine, the people were living in peace and contentment, and even the restaurants in the city were still operating as usual, so she was relieved.
After Zhong Jiuli's thorough cleanup, the situation in each state gradually improved, and the chaotic situation was brought under control.
Moreover, with Zhong Jiuli's return as a pillar of stability, the various sects no longer fought independently; they began to cooperate and were willing to obey orders.
Now, with the Three Pure Ones Sect issuing an order, cultivators from all sects obeyed without question. Some guarded the cities, others patrolled, and the entire Nine Provinces united to fight the enemy. In the blink of an eye, the Nine Provinces were once again thriving.
After finishing all that, Zhong Jiuli took Bai Ye to Dongzhou.
......
In the waters off Dongzhou, a strange blood moon hangs in the sky, and turbid waves surge for thousands of miles.
When Zhong Jiuli and Bai Ye arrived at the scene, even though they had been to the Void Demon Realm and witnessed the brutal battlefield, they were somewhat stunned.
This area is completely different from when they last came. The once vast expanse of blue water has now turned into pitch black.
The ink-black seawater churned, exuding a nauseating stench of decay and blood. Tens of millions of sea monsters tore at and devoured each other in the waves.
Their scales gleamed eerily under the blood moon, and their eyes were pitch black, making them look extremely abnormal.
In the sky, flocks of birds, darkening the sky, were also fighting each other, their sharp claws tearing apart the bodies of their own kind, hot blood mixed with chunks of flesh splashing into the seawater, attracting a group of sea beasts to fight over it.
There are also some giant fish with the bloodline of Kunpeng. Their huge bodies are like mountains. Every time they leap out of the sea, they will cause tsunami-like waves. They can swallow hundreds of birds with their mouths.
Deeper underwater, terrifying shadows could be vaguely seen lurking on the seabed. Occasionally, horrifying tentacles would burst from the water, dragging the sea monsters battling on the surface back to the bottom.
The entire sea area has been transformed into a meat grinder, where all the monsters are fighting and devouring each other.
"Many of them... have been possessed by shadow demons," Bai murmured softly, a look of regret in his eyes.
Dongzhou held a special place in her heart. She and Zhong Jiuli had experienced many things together there. They had explored the underwater wonderland together, and had also been stranded on a deserted island, where they spent an unforgettable time.
“This place is indeed the best hunting ground for the Void Demon Clan.” Zhong Jiuli’s eyes turned slightly cold, and she felt a little regretful.
Before the two could finish their sentence, the previously turbulent sea suddenly calmed down.
Sea monsters hunting each other in the sea, flocks of birds flying in the sky, and countless pairs of dark eyes, including flying dragons and Kun fish that blot out the sky, all stared intently at the two people who appeared in the air.
"roar!"
The roars were deafening, and the entire sea went mad. But this time, the sea monsters no longer hunted each other; instead, they attacked the two who had suddenly intruded.
The Kun fish, possessing the bloodline of the Kunpeng, were the first to attack. Their enormous bodies stirred up waves that stretched for thousands of miles. Countless sea monsters rode on the towering waves, their densely packed figures obscuring the sky.
Countless thick tentacles emerged from the deep sea, each as large as a mountain.
Faced with such a terrifying offensive, Bai remained unfazed. Her body radiated golden light, and she formed a fist seal. With a single punch, the force of her fist transformed into a phantom of a white tiger ten thousand feet tall, which opened its massive maw and tore tens of thousands of sea monsters to shreds.
Before she could finish her punch, she struck out with her palm, sending a giant Kun that was attacking her flying into a bloody mess, turning the sea black and red with a rain of blood.
Silver light emanated from Zhong Jiuli's palm, creating a barrier in front of the two of them, blocking the splattering blood and flesh.
She took Bai Ye's hand and said, "Don't get entangled with them. These demons have lost their minds. Wasting your energy here is just a waste of time."
Bai obediently withdrew his fist and, together with Zhong Jiuli, took to the air and fled into the distance.
Their speed was so fast that even if the crazed monsters wanted to chase them, they couldn't keep up with their speed and were quickly left behind.
However, this sea area has become a den of demons, and no matter where you fly, you can see countless sea beasts fighting each other.
"I want to go see Su Lan. She insisted on returning to Dongzhou back then. I wonder how she is now," Bai said in a low voice.
Zhong Jiuli had a deep impression of the girl with extraordinary illusion magic, and nodded upon hearing this, saying, "Do you know where she is?"
Bai thought for a moment, and realized that Su Lan seemed to have mentioned the location of her sect before she left. "They seem to be in the depths of the Endless Sea, on a secluded island."
"That's quite a coincidence. The place I'm taking you to is also deep in the Endless Sea."
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