over
Bai Liqu paused briefly, then continued, "When I went to Bi'an Gorge, I found that the wind and snow there were gradually stopping and the accumulated snow was gradually melting."
Yu Zhu lowered her eyes, "The Demon God... no, Baili Changsheng is about to emerge."
Seeing that Yu Zhu had no reaction, Baili Qu frowned slightly. "In that case, we should strengthen the seal or just kill him directly."
"Young Master Baili makes it sound simple. Most of the immortal sects are hoping that he can successfully ascend, both to become a pawn for the powerful and to leave and bring peace to the cultivation world," Jing Xu said indifferently.
After a moment of silence, Baili Qu said dejectedly, "Baili Changsheng has been in seclusion for many years. Although my eldest sister has no title as clan leader, she performs the duties of one. Now that she has taken over as clan leader, she should be leading the Baili clan to clean up its own treasury. I never expected..."
"Does Young Master Baili really think that no one in the Baili clan knows about this?" Jing Xu asked.
Bailiqu let out a long sigh.
Yu Zhu, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly looked up and asked, "Did you see the Demon God or Baili Changsheng when you went to Bi'an Gorge?"
"No, I was stopped by those demons outside the palace and didn't see anyone."
Yu Zhu curled her fingers.
"What's wrong, Senior Sister?"
"I was just wondering, Shao Zaihuan hasn't come to find us for so long, could it be that we've completely taken over his body?"
Bai Liqu asked, puzzled, "Who is Shao Zaihuan?"
Jing Xu: "Shao Zaihuan is a clone of the demon god who escaped from Bi'an Gorge... He came to us before, hoping that we could help him get rid of Baili Changsheng."
He briefly told Bailiqu about Shao Zaihuan.
"Compared to the Demon God, is Baili Changsheng stronger? To be honest, I still don't understand why he would be willing to give up his Spirit Clan bloodline and ascend to the heavens as a Demon God." Doubt appeared in Baili Qu's eyes.
"When did he go into seclusion?" Yu Zhu asked.
Bai Liqu was taken aback, then replied, "About two hundred years ago."
"The Emperor said that two hundred years ago, Baili Changsheng thought the Divine Path had been opened, so he tested him. He went into seclusion two hundred years ago, and perhaps he was injured at that time. Do you still remember what happened then? Why did he go into seclusion?" Yuzhu asked Baili Qu.
Bailiqu frowned. "At that time, he suddenly went into seclusion, only sending a message to inform us, without explaining the reason."
"Perhaps he has completely taken over the demon god's body, or perhaps he has reached some kind of cooperation with the demon god," Jing Xu speculated.
Yu Zhu relayed their speculations to Jing Shu, saying, "I don't want to think about it anymore, it's giving me a headache. With our meager resources, we can only wait and see."
Five days have passed in the blink of an eye.
Yingtian Sect announced to the cultivation world that Baili Changsheng had established the Immortal Peak Pavilion and possessed the body of a demon god.
Baili Changsheng and the Baili clan were immediately subjected to a barrage of curses. If spittle could really drown people, Baili Changsheng would have been finished long ago.
Of course, there are many in the cultivation world who want to attack Baili Changsheng.
However, very few powerful figures in the immortal sects share this idea; they turn a blind eye to it and focus solely on preparing for ascension.
The momentum of the campaign did not diminish. Many independent cultivators who were willing to participate formed a team and headed to Bi'an Gorge. Those from the immortal sects who were also willing joined them.
As the representative of Yingtian Sect, Jing Shu also rushed to Bi'an Gorge, taking Bailiqu with her before leaving.
Upon hearing this news, many cultivators in the capital city also left.
Two days later, news came that the Shinto Pond would be full the next day, and the Shinto would reopen immediately.
That night, Changyou came to the inn to see Yuzhu, and the two faced each other.
Changyou stared at the clear tea in his cup, remaining silent for a long time.
"Senior brother, just say what you want to say," Yu Zhu said helplessly.
"Actually, it was Master who sent me."
Yu Zhu paused, took a sip of tea, and said, "Senior brother, please speak freely."
"Master said that all of these things are part of the cultivation world, and if possible, he hopes that you can be present tomorrow as well."
Yu Zhu chuckled, "Sect Leader, you are truly righteous."
She meant what she said. She did resent the sect leader for giving Jing Xu such an order, but if she really went mad and lost her mind, it wouldn't be so bad to kill her before she killed innocent people.
“I will consider it,” Yu Zhu replied.
“Alright.” Changyou stood up. “I also need to take Jingxu to the palace to meet the sect leader.”
Yu Zhu's expression froze instantly.
She waited all night, but Jingxu did not return.
As dawn broke in the east, Yuzhu headed towards the sacred path.
The cultivators had already gathered in the Divine Path Square, surrounding the Divine Path.
Yu Zhu walked into the Yingtian Sect's ranks and stood next to Chang You.
"Senior brother, where is Jingxu?"
"He went to the inn to look for you as soon as he left the palace, but he probably missed you."
Where is Zhao Xun?
"Her cultivation level is too low, so I didn't let her come."
Yu Zhu then looked at the Divine Path Pool, which seemed to be just a hair's breadth away from being full.
A moment later, Jingxu came to her side and took her hand. Yuzhu looked at him, her expression unchanged. She wanted to ask him what he had said last night, but then she saw the sect leader right in front of her.
As he pondered this, suddenly the Divine Pool shone brightly. Yu Zhu covered his face and looked over. Several beams of golden light emerged from the pool and shot straight into the sky, forming an intricate, rotating totem in the clouds, containing flowers, trees, insects, fish, birds, and beasts.
Many powerful beings standing at the front had tears in their eyes. They had witnessed the ascension before, a scene of dazzling golden light. They never expected to see it again after eight or nine hundred years.
They might even ascend to the divine realm beyond the heavens through divine means.
However, despite the dazzling divine light, no one present made a move; the entire area remained silent. News had recently traveled back from Bi'an Gorge that the Demon God was still within the gorge.
It seems that even these powerful beings are not confident unless Baili Changsheng comes to test the divine path with his own body, Yu Zhu thought to herself.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Suddenly, four arrows pierced the air and embedded themselves in the ground. The arrows instantly transformed into thorns, forming a circle that continued to tighten.
The cultivators quickly leaped out of the thorns, only to be surprised to find that the powerful figures were unable to escape the thorns and were instead bound by them.
The disciples immediately used their skills to deal with the thorns, when suddenly they heard footsteps behind them.
"It's the Immortal Peak Pavilion!" Yu Zhu shouted immediately, and Qing Shuang waved at the newcomer.
In an instant, chaos erupted in the divine arena, with shouts of fighting filling the air as disciples of the Immortal Sect confronted the people of the Immortal Peak Pavilion, and powerful figures battled against the dark thorns.
It was unclear what the thorns were made of, but even powerful cultivators found it difficult to break free.
"What on earth is this thing?" someone asked angrily.
"These are ascension items specially crafted for you using magic crystals," the emperor beside him suddenly spoke up.
"What is Your Majesty doing...?"
Bang! The Emperor broke free from the thorns and struck the man into the Divine Path with a palm. After entering the Divine Path, the man's limbs twisted a few times, and his figure disappeared a moment later.
Yu Zhu cleaved through the Immortal Peak Pavilion figure before him with a single sword stroke, then looked at Shen Dao and asked, "He... ascended to immortality?"
Suddenly a dark shadow flew by and landed inside the circle of thorns. It was Wu Jun. "Today, I will use your blood to sacrifice to the divine path."
After speaking, he and the Emperor attempted to force several powerful beings into the divine path, but the powerful beings were bound by thorns and struggled to cope.
Outside the thorns, the disciples and the immortal sects were engaged in a fierce battle.
With magical artifacts in hand, Wu Jun and the Emperor were able to move freely again, and the thorn circle continued to shrink, forcing several more powerful beings into the divine path.
Like the first people to enter the Shinto path, they twitched for a while and then disappeared.
Now, no one harbored any illusions anymore; the reactivation of the divine path was Baili Changsheng's conspiracy.
Those powerful beings who have already reached the stage of ascension find themselves increasingly drawn to the divine path the closer they get to it.
Wu Jun and the Emperor had already broken free of the thorny circle and launched a long-range attack. The powerful beings had to resist both their attacks and the attraction of the divine path.
Yu Zhu and the others fought bravely against the enemy. Although they were not defeated, they could not continue in this stalemate.
Changyou moved to Yuzhu's side, "Azhu, cover me."
While Yu Zhu was still wondering, Chang You sat down cross-legged on the spot and began to circulate his spiritual power.
"Senior brother, you..."
Before he could finish speaking, a man from the Immortal Peak Pavilion lunged at him with a sword, but Yu Zhu slashed it away with her sword.
After dealing with several people from the Immortal Pavilion, Yu Zhu turned around and saw golden spiritual energy flowing around Chang You's body. The ground beneath him seemed to be lit up by something, and golden lines as thick as a wrist slowly extended outwards.
He is activating the city's protective formation!
"Senior brother! Stop it quickly!" Yu Zhu said urgently.
"A-Zhu, Jing-Xu, cover me well," Chang-You said calmly.
Jing Xu also came to his side and repelled the people from the Immortal Pavilion who were besieging him.
Yu Zhu said while brandishing her sword, "Senior brother, stop! You'll die!"
"The Emperor has long been colluding with Baili Changsheng, and at this moment, I am the only one capable of activating the city's protective formation."
Yu Zhu kicked away a member of the Immortal Peak Pavilion, saying, "Bai Li Changsheng is just about to ascend to immortality. Now it's just a matter of sacrificing those powerful figures. What does it have to do with you? Who told them not to try to deal with Bai Li Changsheng in the first place!"
Changyou shook his head, "We haven't figured out Baili Changsheng's scheme yet. Who knows if he has any backup plans? The cultivation world still needs Master and the others."
"And what about your life?"
Yu Zhu turned to face Chang You and reached out to interrupt Chang You's performance.
"A-Zhu, stop!" Changyou stared at her with a rare sharp look. "I should have performed the ritual hundreds of years ago. I'm just following my predetermined fate. Besides, I saved everyone here by myself. It's worth it."
"But……"
"Ah Zhu! I have been cultivating for many years, and this is the day I have been preparing. There is no need to persuade me any further!"
The two locked eyes, and Changyou's hands continued to move, the golden patterns already illuminating the circle of thorns.
Yu Zhu focused on covering for Chang You with Jing Xu, but her expression was extremely unpleasant.
Sigh—
A high-pitched, loud whistle rang out from within the circle of thorns.
A moment later, a black arrow shot through the air toward Changyou.
Yu Zhu dodged the arrow with her Green Frost and looked in the direction from which it came.
On the eaves, Zheng Qi was drawing her bow and arrow, the arrowhead pointing directly at Chang You.
Whoosh! The whistle blew again, Zheng Qi released the bowstring, drew the bow again, and several arrows rushed towards Chang You. Yu Zhu and Jing Xu quickly drew their swords to defend themselves.
At this moment, the city's protective formation was fully activated. Changyou manipulated the formation, and golden blades slashed at the thorns that trapped the powerful beings. Upon seeing this, the Emperor and Wu Jun immediately urged the thorns to shrink further.
The closer they got to the Divine Path, the more attracted they became to it, and they couldn't help but want to join it. They used their spiritual power to resist the temptation of the Divine Path, and they also had to resist the attacks of the Emperor and others. They were besieged on all sides.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Two urgent whistles sounded.
Zheng Qi's eyes changed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she shot three arrows. The arrows flew off the bowstring and turned into a rain of arrows, falling towards the crowd.
The arrow rain came fiercely. Yu Zhu swung her sword to defend herself while taking out the array beads and talismans she had stored up. Before the arrow rain ended, Zheng Qi fired a second wave.
A barrage of arrows rained down like meteors, overwhelming everyone.
*Thud!* An arrow pierced Changyou's abdomen.
Changyou pressed down with both hands, pouring spiritual power into the formation. Golden light, like a sword, slashed towards the people of Xianding Pavilion, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Senior brother!"
Yu Zhu looked into the circle of thorns. Although the thorns were damaged by the attack, the powerful beings were already too close to the divine path, and there were faint signs that they were being absorbed by the divine path.
Changyou controlled the city's protective array, which shot out beams of golden light that shot straight at the Emperor and Wu Jun. Within a few breaths, the two coughed up blood, looked at each other, and clapped their hands in unison to applaud the powerful beings.
The powerful beings closest to the divine path were blasted into it by the two and vanished into nothingness.
Zheng Qi seemed unable to fire a third arrow, and most of the disciples of the Immortal Sect were injured, but the Immortal Peak Pavilion's fighting strength remained undiminished. Yu Zhu transmitted her voice to Jing Xu: Cover your senior brother, don't look at me.
The sect leader was just one step away from entering the Divine Path. Yu Zhu flew to the edge of the Divine Path, because her cultivation was not yet sufficient for ascension, so the Divine Path had no effect on her.
She reached out her palm towards the Divine Pool and absorbed its power into her body.
Since opening the Divine Path attracts powerful beings, wouldn't absorbing some of the accumulated power of the Divine Path allow her to close it?
"Senior brother! Stop the Emperor and the others!"
Seeing that Yuzhu was making a move, the Emperor and his companion launched an attack on her, but fortunately Changyou used an array to hold them off.
The power of the Divine Pool came from a chaotic source, and when it entered Yu Zhu's body, it stirred within her meridians, causing blood to spill from her lips.
The city's protective formation severely hampered the people of the Immortal Pavilion, causing them to show signs of weakness. Wu Jun, enraged, let out another sharp whistle.
A mysterious sword, imbued with black spiritual energy, rode the wind and pierced Changyou's heart accurately.
"Senior brother!"
Seeing this, Yu Zhu absorbed the power of the Divine Pool to the maximum extent. A large amount of power surged in, and her meridians could not bear the weight. She suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Suddenly, the power in the Divine Path Pool erupted like magma, but instead of spreading, it flowed along the Divine Path towards the sky.
The shockwaves from the eruption of power reached the powerful beings around the divine path who were still bound by thorns. Some of these beings had most of their thorns broken, allowing them to break free from their confinement.
Yu Zhu was also thrown back by this force. After she landed, the turbulence in the Divine Path Pool subsided, and the golden light that opened the Divine Path disappeared.
What's going on?
The powerful beings still by the Divine Path Pool exclaimed in surprise that the power within the pool was only slightly more than half of what it used to be.
While they were stunned, the Emperor and Wu Jun clapped their hands repeatedly, and those powerful beings fell directly into the Divine Path Pool, becoming part of the pool's accumulated power.
The people on the field immediately resumed their battle, and every time someone was injured or died, the power in the Divine Pool increased by one point.
Changyou frowned. He had felt that the array in the sacred ground was somewhat sluggish to operate, and it turned out that the array had been modified.
His chest and abdomen were covered in red, his face was deathly pale, and his fingers were stained with blood. He drew a formation in the air, changing the city's protective formation back to its original state. Jing Xu and the other disciples covered him from the side.
Changyou stopped and said to the people around him, "Stay away."
Despite being injured, Jingxu still stood guard over Changyou alongside the other disciples.
"Jingxu, Azhu can't hold her off anymore, go and help her."
Jingxu glanced up and saw a man from the Immortal Pavilion wielding a sword and slashing at her. Yuzhu seemed to be losing strength and about to collapse. Jingxu quickly leaped up, the tip of her sword piercing through the man, and caught Yuzhu.
"Why are you here, Senior Brother..."
Before he could finish speaking, golden flames suddenly burst into flames in the arena.
Yu Zhu looked over and saw Chang You sitting right in the middle of the flames.
She rushed over and raised her hand to cast a spell to extinguish the flames, but was stopped by a force.
"Sect Master?" Yu Zhu exclaimed in shock.
"Changyou sacrifices himself to the formation. Once this method is used, it cannot be reversed regardless of success or failure."
Yu Zhu forcefully pulled her hand away. "It's irreversible. What will happen then?"
"A-Zhu, please use the Mirage Array to trap the people in the arena in a moment," Changyou said.
Yu Zhu looked at him, and Chang You continued, "I can use the city's protective formation to annihilate them in one fell swoop."
Seeing that Changyou had his own plan, the sect leader leaped into battle with the Emperor.
Yu Zhu clenched her fist. "Okay."
Whoosh! The flames rose two or three zhang high, as if blown by the wind.
"Ah Zhu!"
Yu Zhu pressed down with both hands, pouring all her power into the ground. The crystal-blue spiritual and magical power intertwined, spreading out like ripples and instantly covering the entire ground.
Except for a few people, it was as if time stood still. Everyone else paused, and the next second, the people of the Immortal Peak Pavilion were all enveloped in flames.
Upon seeing this, the disciples of the immortal sect hurriedly moved away.
Despite being engulfed in flames, Changyou remained calm and composed, as if seated on a lotus throne. However, Yuzhu knew that he would soon perish.
Tears were already streaming down her cheeks. Yu Zhu opened her mouth and breathed softly, trying to calm herself as she asked, "Senior Brother, is there anything you haven't finished wishing for?"
Changyou shook his head and smiled, "No, take care of yourselves from now on."
"Senior Sister." Jing Xu approached Yu Zhu from behind.
Yu Zhu wiped away her tears, turned and walked away, leaping to where her disciples were gathered.
Changyou closed his eyes, and the flames on the people of Xianding Pavilion suddenly surged, disappearing into the flames along with Changyou.
At this moment, the only two people in the field who are related to the Immortal Peak Pavilion are the Emperor and Wu Jun. The Emperor has been captured by the sect leader and other powerful figures, leaving only Wu Jun, who is barely clinging to life.
Wu Jun hurriedly blew his whistle, and a black arrow immediately flew towards him. The moment it hit him, it turned into an iron chain and dragged him away.
"it's over?"
In a daze, Yuzhu heard someone asking a question.
Boom! A thunderclap suddenly exploded in the sky. Everyone looked up, and dark clouds instantly enveloped the world.
"This is... a tribulation of lightning!"
"Who is about to undergo tribulation?"
Soon, everyone discovered the person who was about to undergo tribulation—Yu Zhu.
There was no other reason than that Yu Zhu's body was already manifesting spiritual power, with blue-green spiritual power swirling around her. Not only spiritual power, but also magical power, the two forces moving in different directions.
Yu Zhu herself felt it and couldn't help but frown. She looked at her meridians and realized that she had just absorbed the power of the Divine Pool. Now, the spiritual and magical power in her meridians was extremely abundant, and it looked like her meridians were about to expand. The array in the middle of her meridians that blocked the spiritual and magical power was also loosening slightly.
The sect leader approached Yu Zhu and said, "You must first undergo the tribulation of lightning; I will protect you."
Yu Zhu immediately sat down cross-legged and circulated her own power. It was the second day by the time she had survived the tribulation.
"Senior sister, how are you?"
As soon as Yuzhu opened her eyes, Jingxu asked her with concern.
"I'm fine."
As Yu Zhu spoke, her gaze fell upon the spot where Chang You had been sitting cross-legged.
"Sacrifices are never uncommon in the Yingtian Sect," the sect leader said.
"Was his sacrifice worthwhile? A truly righteous person died, leaving behind a group of selfish people to live on."
The sect leader was silent for a moment, then said, "It was worth it. Changyou not only saved us, but also everyone in the entire capital."
Yu Zhu tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
“Our people interrogated the Emperor and learned that there were other secrets behind the divine ascension.”
Yu Zhu: "What's the hidden story?"
The sect leader shook his head. "The Emperor said that Baili Changsheng told him that the power required to open the Divine Path far exceeds what the Divine Path Pool has accumulated, and the Immortal Peak Pavilion plans to massacre the Divine Capital to restart the Divine Path."
Yu Zhu's lips parted slightly, "Then...didn't the Divine Path already restart before?"
She quickly realized that the reactivated divine path was problematic; cultivators who entered it were absorbed by the divine path.
"Bai Li Changsheng may have been hiding something from the Emperor. Since you have successfully transcended the tribulation, I will take my leave."
Yu Zhu pursed her lips. "Thank you, Sect Master."
The sect leader waved his sleeve and vanished instantly.
Yu Zhu stared down at the ground, her mind a complete mess.
"Senior Sister, would you like to go and see the Divine Pool?" Jing Xu suddenly asked.
Yu Zhu looked up, a look of confusion in her eyes. She followed Jing Xu to the edge of the Divine Pool, glanced at it, and then her eyes widened.
The Divine Path Pool was just a hand's width away from being full again.
"Is this a real restart, or just another illusion?"
"have no idea,"
"Hmph!" Yu Zhu scoffed. "Discuss? What can they possibly come up with? They're probably just glad they weren't the ones who died, and they're still dreaming of ascending to immortality."
Jing Xu sighed, "After this experience, they won't think that the divine path will be easily restarted."
"And then, after ten days or half a month, whose life will we test it on?"
When Jingxu met Yuzhu's gaze, his eyelashes trembled slightly, and he lowered his eyelids.
"Didn't my senior sister say before that Shao Zaihuan hadn't come to see us? Now it seems he's probably already reached a cooperation agreement with Baili Changsheng."
Yu Zhu looked back at the Divine Pool, where colorful power swirled.
"It's also possible that Baili Changsheng completely took over the demon god's body."
Jing Xu pondered for a moment and said, "The Baili clan is a descendant of the Spirit Clan, and the entire clan is proud of their Spirit Clan bloodline. Baili Changsheng, as the clan leader, actually gave up his original body. Not long ago, the Baili clan was even forming an alliance with another clan through marriage."
As Yu Zhu's eyes deepened, she said, "Let's go check on the Baili clan's hideout in the capital. I wonder if the Empress's child, who is said to have a strong lineage of the Spirit Clan, has come to the capital."
Jing Xu's brow twitched.
Yu Zhu: "Let's not delay, let's go take a look first."
Yu Zhu found out Bai Li's whereabouts from Zhao Xun.
The Emperor colluded with Baili Changsheng to harm many people. The surviving powerful beings had their cultivation levels partially absorbed by the divine path, resulting in a decline in their cultivation.
The Zhao family is in complete chaos, and Zhao Xun has no time to ask any further questions.
Bailifu and her people booked a small inn, which was quite far from the palace and the sacred path.
Yesterday, apart from a few people who were expected to ascend to immortality, no one else from the Baili clan attended.
"Senior sister, what are you planning to do?"
Upon arriving at the inn, Jingxu asked.
Yu Zhu didn't stop walking. "I need people directly."
Jingxu reached out and grabbed her hand, "What if they hide the person if you just ask for them directly, Senior Sister?"
"Then let's make our move. Now that I've reached the Nascent Soul stage, I'm not afraid of losing to them."
Jingxu grabbed Yuzhu's shoulders and turned her around. "Senior sister, calm down. Let's find someone to scout out the Baili family first. If they really bring people here, wouldn't that alert them?"
Yu Zhu let out a heavy sigh. "It was my oversight. Try to get some information out of Baili Qu from your senior sister."
Jingxu found a small teahouse where he could see the inn where Baili was staying, and pulled Yuzhu inside.
Jingxu used the communication jade token to contact Jingshu.
Fortunately, Jing Shu had time to reply.
The forces tasked with defeating Baili Changsheng had been locked in a stalemate outside the Demon Palace in Bi'an Gorge for quite some time.
In the past few days, they have been fighting against the endless stream of demons, without even entering the Demon Palace, let alone seeing the Demon God or Baili Changsheng.
Jingxu told Jingshu about their situation, and Jingshu said she would wait for her news.
After putting down the jade pendant, Jingxu told Yuzhu about Jingshu's situation.
“A demon god must use his own power to create demonic creatures. If Baili Changsheng really intends to ascend in the body of a demon god, he shouldn’t waste his power,” Yu Zhu said solemnly, clenching his fist.
Jingxu held her hand. "Senior sister, everything will be alright."
Yu Zhu raised her eyes and looked into Jing Xu's eyes. "When you went to the palace earlier, what did the sect leader say to you?"
Jingxu loosened his grip on Yuzhu's hand. Yuzhu glanced at his hand as it was about to leave, then grabbed it back. "You're not going to eliminate me if I go berserk, are you?"
Jing Xu pursed his lips into a straight line. "No."
What is that?
"The sect leader brought the Wind and Snow Sword with him on this trip," Jing Xu said in a low voice.
Yu Zhu frowned deeply. The Wind and Snow Sword?
"The sect leader wouldn't want to use you to cultivate the sword, would he?" Yu Zhu smiled slightly, as if joking.
Jingxu stared at the tea table without saying a word.
Yu Zhu's lips curled into a straight line. "Are you really going to throw your life away like that? What were you thinking?"
"I have no idea."
Yu Zhu snorted coldly, "Is the sect leader morally blackmailing you?"
A look of doubt flashed in Jing Xu's eyes, "Moral blackmail?"
"It means you should think of the cultivation world and be willing to sacrifice yourself for righteousness."
Jing Xu smiled and said, "No, the sect leader only took my spiritual power; it hasn't come to that yet."
Yu Zhu glanced at him sideways, "How far do we have to go! No matter how far we go, don't agree. At this critical moment, if the sky falls, those with higher cultivation will hold it up. You, a Golden Core cultivator, don't need to do anything."
Jingxu chuckled softly, and the communication jade tablet on the table suddenly flashed, revealing Jingshu's reply.
"That child's name is Baili Hua, and he is not from the Baili clan's territory."
Yu Zhu jumped up. "Go arrest them!"
As soon as they stepped inside, a young man stopped them, saying, "Sorry, sir, our shop has already been booked."
“We’re here to find the people living here,” Yu Zhu said calmly.
Yu Zhu and his companion exuded an extraordinary aura, and the young man immediately ran into the main hall upon seeing them.
Just then, Bailifu heard the sound and came out of the room.
"Is there something you need, Fairy Jade?"
"I heard that Baili took away the emperor's son seventeen years ago. I wonder if he has come to the capital this time?" Yuzhu asked bluntly.
Baili Fu's expression hardened. Before she could speak, the other members of the Baili clan came out and looked at Yuzhu.
Baili Fu came downstairs. "What does Fairy Yu mean by this?"
Yu Zhu looked directly at Bai Li Fu and said, "I suspect that young master is part of your former clan leader's plan, so I would like to ask about his whereabouts."
Bailifu opened her lips and said, "Please follow me, both of you."
Yu Zhu and Jing Xu followed Bai Li Fu into a room. On the bed, a man in white robes lay with his eyes closed, while two members of the Bai Li clan were bound hand and foot and gagged.
What's going on?
“Bai Lihua has been disguised and has been following the group. Last night, these two tried to sneak him away, but they were discovered and tied him up here. As for Bai Lihua, I found that his soul and cultivation level were not matched, so I managed to put him to sleep. You two may take these three people with you.”
Baili Fu turned around and continued, "No one in the Baili clan knows anything about what Baili Changsheng did. The Baili clan is willing to have his soul searched to verify it. Please ask Fairy Yu to convey this matter to the sect leader."
Yu Zhu carefully examined Baili Fu and, seeing her calm expression, said, "I will pass on the message."
Yu Zhu only took Baili Hua with her; the other two were infected with Gu worms. Baili Fu had interrogated them once before, but couldn't get any information out of them.
"Young Master, are you just going to let them take the person away like this?"
After Yu Zhu and the other two left, someone from the Baili clan said...
Even if we successfully ascend, there are still many members of the Baili clan who need to remain in the cultivation world.
Yu Zhu and Jing Xu brought Baili Hua to the palace. The Emperor had been captured, and the palace had now been taken over by the Immortal Sect.
Baili Hua handed it over to the sect leader, who examined it and found that its meridians were wide and its spiritual power was profound, but its soul had not been tempered, like a container that held cultivation.
In this light, it seems that Baili Hua was the body that Baili Changsheng prepared for himself.
"Bai Li Changsheng will soon find out that Bai Li Hua is in our hands. What are your plans, Sect Master?" Yu Zhu asked.
The sect leader subconsciously looked at Jing Xu, and Yu Zhu stepped in front of him to block him.
"We cannot retain Baili Hua's cultivation. Yu Zhu should try to refine it to thwart Baili Changsheng's idea of possessing Baili Hua. At that time, whether it is the Demon God or Baili Changsheng, they will come to the capital. We will capture him here."
Yu Zhu: "Will other sects cooperate with us?"
"Yes, most of them suffered damage to their cultivation yesterday. I told them that Baili Changsheng wanted to use them to fill the Divine Path Pool, so they have to cooperate."
"Heh!" Yu Zhu let out a sneer, then grabbed Jing Xu's wrist. "Since the sect leader has already made his plans, we'll be leaving now."
"Wait, we still need your help with this plan."
Yu Zhu looked at the sect leader and continued, "After all, he is a demon god. None of us know his current cultivation level."
He paused, and seeing that Yuzhu did not react, said, "I designed an array that can suppress the cultivation of a demon god. If Jingxu and the Wind and Snow Sword are added to it, its power will be even stronger."
Yu Zhu frowned. "How do I apply the blessing?"
“Jing Xu’s soul comes from Ji Feng Ling. Not only does it share the same origin as the Feng Xue Sword, but it also has the ability to exorcise evil spirits and calm the mind. Together, the two can enhance the operation of the formation. Furthermore, if Baili Changsheng were to forcibly seize his body, Ji Feng Ling could also stop him.”
"Will this have any impact on Jingxu?"
The sect leader met Yu Zhu's eyes. "It depends on the situation. If Baili Changsheng doesn't attempt to seize the body, he just needs to cooperate with the formation."
After leaving the palace, Yu Zhu and Jing Xu remained silent, with Yu Zhu deep in thought.
The sect leader said he would persuade other powerful figures to activate the formation together. If Yuzhu could refine Baili Hua's cultivation and greatly increase her cultivation, he would ask her to face the demon god head-on.
Yu Zhu replied that she needed to think about it, and the sect leader gave her one night.
Back at the inn, Yuzhu entered the room, where a bronze lamp was placed on the table.
Yu Zhu stepped forward and picked it up.
"What is this?" Jing Xu asked, puzzled.
"Soul Gathering Lamp".
There was also a letter on the table that read: Wu Jun is dead.
"Is it Zheng Qi?"
Yu Zhu nodded. Who else could it be but her?
"What do you think of the sect leader's plan?" Yu Zhu asked Jing Xu.
"I'll listen to my senior sister."
Yu Zhu chuckled, "Then let's do as the sect leader says and go to the palace."
So, Yu Zhu and the other person took the Soul Gathering Lamp back to the palace. After reporting to the sect leader, Yu Zhu went to absorb the spiritual power in Baili Hua's body.
Three days later, the Jade Bamboo had been almost completely refined.
As soon as they stepped outside, the Emperor and Consort Zhao Xun came to greet them.
The Empress bowed slightly, "Thank you, Fairy Jade, for saving this child's life."
"Your Majesty and Consort, there's no need for such formalities. It's merely a matter of taking advantage of the situation."
"Uncle-Master, the Sect Master is waiting for you," Zhao Xun reminded him.
Yu Zhu saw a familiar figure at the sect leader's place. "Senior Sister, you've returned from Bi'an Gorge?"
Jing Shu forced a smile, then let it fade. "The seal on Bi'an Gorge has been broken."
"That Baili Changsheng?"
"He left Bi'an Gorge two days ago, announcing to the cultivation world that he demanded we return Baili Hua. In return, he revealed all the secrets of the Divine Path. After discussion, all sects decided to negotiate with him outside the Divine Capital," the sect leader said.
Yu Zhu's brow furrowed. "Then what about the previous plan..."
The sect leader's eyes flickered. "The plan remains the same; we cannot let the tiger return to the mountain."
Yu Zhu paused for a moment, then said, "Okay. Where's Jing Xu?"
"Jing Xu is familiarizing himself with the formation. He and Feng Xuejian will both serve as the core of the formation."
Yu Zhu arrived at Jing Xu's room where he was resting. When he entered, Jing Xu was holding a scroll of array diagrams. When he saw Yu Zhu come in, his eyes lit up.
"Senior sister, how are you? How's the power refinement going?"
"I'm fine." Yu Zhu sat down beside him. "Does the lingering resentment in your soul still have any effect?"
Jing Xu paused for a moment, then said, "I told the sect leader about the lingering resentment the day before yesterday, and he has already removed it for me."
Yu Zhu's eyes widened. "Removed?"
"Yes, it wouldn't be good if the lingering resentment interfered with the formation's execution."
Yu Zhu gave a soft "oh," then lowered her head and said nothing more.
"Does Senior Sister have something to say?" Jing Xu asked with a slight smile.
Yu Zhu's eyes flickered slightly as she took out the Soul Gathering Lamp. "Use the Soul-Trapping Thread to separate a strand of your soul and place it into the Soul Gathering Lamp."
Jing Xu raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Why would Senior Sister want to do this?"
"Bai Li Changsheng has been planning this for many years. It's hard to say whether we can capture him successfully tomorrow. It would be good for you to release a wisp of your divine soul in case of emergency."
Jing Xu was slightly taken aback, "I thought the Soul Gathering Lamp could be given to Senior Brother Changyou..."
Yu Zhu pursed her lips and said, "For a ritual formation to succeed, both the spirit and the soul must be complete."
After a moment of silence, Jing Xu asked, "Did Senior Sister have any backup plans for herself?"
Yu Zhu smiled and said, "Of course, I've already reached the Nascent Soul stage, so of course I'll leave myself a way out. You, a Golden Core cultivator, need to rely on the Soul Gathering Lamp. Hurry up and make your move."
Jingxu curled his fingers but didn't move.
Yu Zhu's smile froze. "Jing Xu, you were fine before because you lost a wisp of your soul, so losing a wisp won't have any impact."
“Senior sister…” Jing Xu said with difficulty, “I will be fine. At most, I will meet you again in a few hundred years.”
"Several hundred years? What if I ascend to immortality? Where will we meet again? Don't worry, with my abilities and the sect leader's formation, we will definitely succeed tomorrow."
Yu Zhu stared intently at Jing Xu without blinking.
She took out the Soul-Trapping Silk, watched as Jingxu used it to guide a wisp of his soul into the Soul-Gathering Lamp, smiled, and put the lamp away.
The next day, the members of the Immortal Sect prepared early in the open space outside the capital.
This time, unlike last time, they were not calm and collected. Everyone, including the powerful ones, had their weapons in hand and had prepared defensive formations.
Upon seeing this, Yu Zhu let out a cold sneer.
She stood at the very front of the crowd, while Jing Xu, as the core of the formation that would later suppress the demon god's cultivation, stood at the back, holding the Wind and Snow Sword.
Yu Zhu looked back and met Jing Xu's worried gaze, then smiled slightly.
An hour later, thick black smoke billowed in, and the demon god, or perhaps Baili Changsheng, arrived.
He stood in front, with a dark mass behind him, including demons and the remaining members of the Immortal Peak Pavilion.
Yu Zhu saw the Demon God's face, which was the same as Shao Zaihuan's, only with a more sinister look. She didn't know if it was the Demon God's original temperament or because he had Baili Changsheng's divine soul.
The sect leader waved his hand, and Baili Hua was led to the front by Jing Shu. His face was pale and his lips were tightly pursed.
With a flick of his finger, Baili Changsheng unleashed a burst of magical power that instantly reached Baili Hua, only to be blocked by the defensive array.
“Let him come over here. I need to see if he’s the Baili Hua I’m looking for.”
Hearing what Baili Shengsheng said, the sect leader's expression remained unchanged. "You must first reveal the secret of divine ascension."
"Besides Baili Hua, I need someone else."
The sudden increase in the stakes surprised everyone, and they began to whisper among themselves.
"who?"
"she."
Baili Changsheng pointed at Yuzhu, and all eyes turned to her.
Yu Zhu took a step forward, but did not step out of the defensive formation. Her gaze was fixed on the area behind Baili Changsheng.
"Shao Zaihuan, I don't know what deal you made with Baili Changsheng, but are you sure you can succeed in trying to get something from a tiger?"
Behind Baili Changsheng, a person's appearance changed, becoming identical to that of the demon god.
"Whether it succeeds or not, we must try first and see."
Yu Zhu: "The ascension to the divine path is extraordinary. Baili Changsheng was able to receive the divine decree from the Spirit Clan, so he must have known the secret of the closure of the divine path long ago. Aren't you afraid of becoming his stepping stone?"
"Hmph, there is no one in this world who can be my stepping stone. Baili Changsheng, that Baili Hua is probably no good. Quickly grab her and get her out of my body."
Yu Zhu's eyes widened involuntarily; she had also become Baili Changsheng's backup for possession.
Baili Changsheng glared at Shao Zaihuan secretly, "Hand her over, and I'll tell you everything I know."
"This..." The members of the Immortal Sect hesitated for a moment.
"Activate the formation."
Suddenly, a deep voice reached the ears of everyone present.
Upon hearing this, Jingxu planted the Wind and Snow Sword straight into the ground and sat down cross-legged on the spot.
At the same time, the sect leader and several other powerful figures formed hand seals and circulated their spiritual power, creating a transparent shield in the air that enveloped everyone.
Before the others could figure out what was happening, they saw people from the Immortal Pavilion rushing towards them with weapons. In an instant, the two groups were locked in a fierce battle.
Yu Zhu, wielding Qing Shuang, leaped into the air and engaged Baili Changsheng in battle.
The formation indeed suppressed his cultivation level. In addition, since this was the body of a demon god and he cultivated demonic power, Baili Changsheng found it rather difficult to use.
The two fought, and Yu Zhu was gradually gaining the upper hand.
Qing Shuang and Baili Changsheng's palms touched with magical power. He gritted his teeth and said, "Don't you want to know the secret of opening the Divine Path?"
Yu Zhu, wielding Qing Shuang, unleashed several streaks of dark blue sword light. "I don't want to know."
Yu Zhu's attacks were fierce and deadly, and Baili Changsheng was gradually losing ground.
"Demon God, you hold her off, I'll possess her!" Baili Changsheng said urgently.
Baili Changsheng paused for a moment, and Yuzhu took the opportunity to slash his right arm.
Shao Zaihuan, who was fighting with Jing Shu below, disappeared.
He clutched his wound, stretched his neck, and muttered, "Useless."
Yu Zhu thrust her sword forward, but the demon god waved his hand, and three or five demons rolled out of his sleeve and pounced on Yu Zhu.
In a few moves, the demon god released more than a dozen demons to join him in attacking Yuzhu.
Yu Zhu unleashed the Wind and Snow Technique, frost and snow imbued with spiritual or magical power, striking the demon and freezing it instantly.
"The Divine Path Pool is only half a palm's width away from being full. Aren't you afraid that Baili Changsheng will use you to fill the Divine Path Pool?"
While fighting the demon god, Yu Zhu still tried to provoke him and direct his anger towards Baili Changsheng.
"With you all here, why would we need me?"
"Who knows how much power is needed to activate the divine path? What if we don't have enough?"
The demon god chuckled, "You are enough."
Suddenly, Yu Zhu felt a sharp pain in her head, her forehead veins bulged, and she was sweating profusely. The demon god struck her with a palm, and she was unable to dodge in time and was knocked to the ground.
A sharp pain kept shooting through her head, like nails drilling into her brain. The pain made her roll on the ground. Yu Zhu focused her mind and the pain subsided.
The demon god unleashed blades formed from condensed demonic power. Yu Zhu flipped over to avoid them, and as she straightened up, another sharp pain shot through her, as if someone were about to cut open her skull and rip her brain out.
Qing Shuang stood on the ground, while Yu Zhu pressed her head with one hand. Suddenly, she heard a tinkling sound, and Yu Zhu's spirits lifted. She looked behind the crowd, but Jing Xu and Feng Xuejian were nowhere to be seen.
Ding-a-ling—
A light blue wind chime came into Yu Zhu's view, and the pain in her mind subsided by more than half, leaving only a slight pricking sensation.
The demon god frowned. Baili Changsheng's attempt to possess another body had failed, and his soul returned to Baili's body. He was furious and said, "That bell stopped me from possessing another body! Destroy it!"
With a wave of his hand, the demon god unleashed a wind blade that flew from his palm and slashed at the bell.
Yu Zhu swiftly grabbed the wind chime and tucked it into her bosom, while Qing Shuang's sword light shattered the wind blades.
She glanced at the sect leader with a frosty expression, then attacked the demon god.
Gradually, after bloody battles, the people and demons of the Immortal Pavilion have been subdued by the disciples of the Immortal Sect.
Those with remaining strength stepped forward to join Yu Zhu in attacking the demon god.
Baili Changsheng still did not give up on possessing Yuzhu, but with the sound of bells to ward off evil, Yuzhu did not feel too uncomfortable.
Boom! The demon god was knocked to the ground.
Someone smiled and said, "Great, we finally caught him."
Several people stepped forward to capture the demon god, but the demon god had a trick up his sleeve. He waved his sleeve and released more than a dozen demons before leaping into the air.
But Yu Zhu also had a backup plan. Thick ice chains emerged from the ground and tightly bound the demon god. Yu Zhu flew behind the demon god, stabbing Qing Shuang into its chest and abdomen with her right hand, while forming a hand seal with her left hand to shatter its soul.
"You can't kill me! How will you know the secrets of the divine path if you kill me?" Baili Changsheng, possessing the body of the demon god, said ferociously.
"There are other people in this world with the surname Baili besides you," Yu Zhu said indifferently.
A few breaths later, both the demon god and Baili Changsheng vanished into nothingness.
As the jade bamboo fell to the ground, a burst of golden light suddenly shone throughout the capital city.
The Shinto path has been reopened...
But none of this mattered to Yuzhu anymore. Yuzhu returned to the inn, lit the Soul Gathering Lamp, and placed the light golden bell aside.
That night, Yu Zhu stood by the window. The night was dark and the stars were twinkling. The bloody battle of the day seemed to have never happened.
The Divine Path opened briefly and then closed again, leaving the Divine Path Pool with only half its power remaining.
A month later, Jing Shu came to visit Yu Zhu.
Of course, she visited several times during this period.
During this month, Baili Fu used the secret technique of the Baili clan chief, expending half of her cultivation, and finally obtained a divine decree.
It turns out that after the gods of the cultivation world went to the God Realm, they discovered that gods from other worlds already existed there. They were building their own territories in the God Realm and gradually faced the problem of resource shortages.
Therefore, they turned their attention to their home cultivation world, intercepting the power accumulated in the Divine Path Pool from the God Realm. Now they have enough power, and when the Divine Path restarts next time, it will remain open, allowing all cultivators to ascend normally.
We must wait patiently; the divine path will eventually reopen. However, Baili Changsheng learned of this matter two hundred years ago when he communicated with the divine realm. He was severely injured and could not rely on the divine path, which was reopening at an unknown date. Thus, all these events occurred.
Upon hearing this, Yu Zhu smiled coolly, "Those things were none of my business to begin with. Now I'm just waiting for the Soul Gathering Lamp to reunite Jing Xu's soul as soon as possible."
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