Chapter 111
Compared to the grand ceremony held by Qi Baiya and Ning Jiao in the previous Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City, the marriage ceremony between Yan Ruchao and Han Yuyi was very simple.
There were no grand processions or a throng of guests; they were simply invited from both sects, and in their presence, they established a Daoist partnership contract.
"Wait!"
The moment that aged voice appeared, it drowned out all the noise, and the laughter of the cultivators instantly froze.
Yu Tanqiu strode over from the crowd, her face frosty.
"I have pondered this marriage repeatedly, but I still feel it is inappropriate. Although Han Yuyi has established his own sect and become the leader of the Thousand Poison Cave, he originates from the Nine Heavens and inherits my bloodline. In the end, we are still blood relatives. This marriage ceremony must be rushed, like child's play, which is not a prudent move! In my opinion, it would be best to postpone it!"
These words caused an uproar in the room!
These words sounded tactful and seemed reasonable, but everyone could tell that Yu Tanqiu was clearly using this as an excuse to cause trouble!
What do you mean by "postponing"? If it were truly "postponed," this marriage agreement would probably never happen!
Yan Ruchao stepped forward and shielded Han Yuyi behind him, saying, "The marriage is a matter between the two of us. Pavilion Master Yu was merely invited to have a drink at our wedding."
To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that Yu Tanqiu was the biological father of his Daoist partner, Yan Ruchao would have already struck him with a palm strike. Why would he be standing here wasting time talking nonsense with him?
Yu Tanqiu scrutinized Yan Ruchao, her gaze sharp as a knife.
He chuckled, but his words were anything but polite: "First, you allowed your junior sister to tarnish my reputation, and then you lured my daughter into a secret contract. Master Yan is truly cunning."
As soon as Yu Tanqiu finished speaking, Yan Ruchao's eyes suddenly turned cold!
In an instant, the chilling pressure belonging to the Ghost Canglou Master surged outwards, like an invisible tide spreading in layers.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and spiritual energy surged silently.
At that moment, Han Yuyi, who had been silent all along, stepped forward and gently grasped Yan Ruchao's taut wrist.
She raised her head and looked at Yu Tanqiu.
This is her father, Han Yuyi thought.
In her youth, before the truth was revealed, Han Yuyi believed that she had the best father in the world.
He was kind and loving, witty and humorous. He would travel 30,000 miles just because of a joke his mother made, just to compose a little tune that his mother had heard before.
At that time, Yu Hanyi, the eldest daughter of the Yu family before she changed her name, was the happiest girl in the world.
But later...
Then everything changed.
After her mother passed away, she gained a younger brother, while her father became obsessed with unacceptable things, making one mistake after another.
At this moment, when she thinks back to the past, Han Yuyi no longer feels heartache, but only feels that it all seems like a distant memory.
The family is happy, and the parents are laughing; it all feels like a past life.
"Pavilion Master of Nine Heavens Pavilion." Han Yuyi gently curled the corner of her lips.
Yu Tanqiu's expression remained unchanged, but her hands, which were plucking the strings, eventually became slightly disordered.
Han Yuyi also came from Jiuxiao. As a sound cultivator, she knew long ago that those ordinary sounds of the pentatonic scale that ordinary people consider commonplace are inaccurate to a sound cultivator, even if they are slightly off.
Are the strings tangled?
It's because my mind is in turmoil.
For example, her Daoist partner's junior brother, from the moment they met, acted calmly and inexplicably, it seemed that even the most discerning person in the world could not find anything wrong with "the First Young Master" Rong Que.
Han Yuyi had only met Rong Que a few times, but she had heard him play the zither.
The zither is like the person, gentle and elegant, like a jade hairpin standing out in a mountain stream, with unique character and integrity, yet also free from worldly dust.
But it's different when it comes to the bright moon.
Whenever the young swordsman came running towards him, chewing on "Second Senior Brother," even if Rong Que didn't turn around, the speed at which he strummed the bowstring would increase.
Han Yuyi didn't understand at first, thinking that people overestimated Rong Que's zither skills. It wasn't until she met Yan Ruchao that she suddenly realized.
The strings quicken, and when the piece ends, I can quickly see him and speak with him.
I wonder if this young master of the Sword Pavilion shares the same feelings as her?
Han Yuyi ultimately didn't utter those words as a joke.
Because the junior sister of the Sword Pavilion was replaced later, this flawless young master seems to have stopped playing the zither.
Ning Jiao, Ning Jiaojiao...
Han Yuyi recalled Ruan Shu's telepathic message to her, and her heart was finally stirred.
“Father,” she called out, her voice soft, yet it made Yu Qinqiu’s brow twitch almost imperceptibly, his no-longer-young face showing a mixture of astonishment and surprise.
Yu Tanqiu suddenly stopped talking.
Because he saw that on that pale and cold face, there was no shyness or fear of a new bride, but rather a very faint and very sad smile.
"The reason why I arranged this marriage ceremony so hastily is not only because I sincerely wish to become Daoist partners with A-Chao and accompany him for all eternity, but also to lure you out and ask you some questions."
Han Yuyi slowly took a step forward. Her bright red wedding dress fluttered silently in the vast wind that swept over the pavilion, the hem of her dress billowing like a cluster of flames burning fiercely in the silence.
Yu Tanqiu's expression shifted several times before finally settling into an indescribable mix of emotions. He stared intently into his daughter's clear, fearless eyes, and after a moment, he threw his head back and burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha...Good, good! As expected of my daughter, Yu Tanqiu!"
Yu Tanqiu's laughter gradually subsided, and his gaze fell deeply on Han Yuyi. He stood with his hands behind his back and said, "Since you are willing to call me 'Father' again, I will naturally answer your questions."
The bright yellow robes fluttered in the oppressive air currents, as if they had anticipated the question, or perhaps they were already indifferent to being questioned in public.
Yu Tanqiu's posture had a strange sense of relaxation, as if she had let go of her pretense.
Yu Tanqiu's expression remained unchanged, and he said indifferently, "So what if it is? At that time, your mother was poisoned by the Hehuan Sect's strange poison 'Mo Xiang Cui,' which required the pure resentment of a woman's soul as a catalyst, supplemented by the Bodhi Blood Lotus, to be cured. As your father, I merely used some insignificant things to save my beloved. What is wrong with that?"
He spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.
However, a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the area above and below the platform!
These old tragedies are widely circulated among cultivators, but as time goes by, many of the blame has been shifted onto the deceased.
Who would have thought that these things were done by the highly respected Master of the Nine Heavens Pavilion in the cultivation world!
Han Yuyi's fingertips trembled slightly, and the color drained from her face.
She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, the last glimmer of light in them had gone out.
"Although the Thousand Poison Cave and the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City are thousands of miles apart, if the Jade Pavilion Master were truly in a hurry to come and stop this marriage, he shouldn't have arrived so slowly."
"Unless you have other thoughts in mind, my marriage just happens to give you an opportunity to prove to the world that you are not in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City."
Yu Tanqiu said, "The sinner Ning Jiao used the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeping City as a pretext to set up the Yin-Yang Blood Array. This matter has already spread throughout the world, and I have heard about it even though I am far away in the Nine Heavens Pavilion. The reason I rushed over there that day was to prevent the same disaster from happening again."
"Is that so?"
Han Yuyi's voice suddenly turned cold, each word like an ice bead falling to the ground: "Could the calamity of the demonic seed secretly buried in the city, waiting for its chance to strike, also be something that Pavilion Master Yu deliberately set up in order to 'prevent the calamity of the past from happening again'?"
When Han Yuyi received the message from Ruan Shu, she sadly discovered that the first person she suspected was her own father.
Moreover, while others may not have guessed it, Han Yuyi was extremely certain that if Yu Tanqiu was indeed behind this, then he must have a backup plan.
Ironically, this could be considered a kind of bloodline guidance.
Han Yuyi: "Father, don't make the same mistake again."
Yu Tanqiu remained silent for a moment.
The high platform was eerily silent, with only the sound of the wind whistling past.
Suddenly, Yu Tanqiu chuckled softly. The laughter started off softly, gradually grew louder, and eventually turned into a wild, almost manic, unrestrained laugh!
"Hahahaha! As expected of my good daughter, Yu Tanqiu, you are indeed intelligent and understand me perfectly!"
There is appreciation, nostalgia, and a twisted kind of fanaticism.
“This time, it’s not about saving people.” Yu Tanqiu said slowly and deliberately, his voice carrying a chilling calmness. “This time, I want to see… if a person is strong enough, can they truly defy the laws of Heaven.”
Yu Tanqiu stood still, looking up at the sky, as if conversing with something invisible.
Spiritual energy flowed silently around him, giving him an air of otherworldly grace.
Yu Tanqiu said, "In the three thousand worlds, there are countless lives of Prajna. When a flower blooms in this life, it will wither in another. Perhaps in another life, the Milky Way will turn upside down, and spilled water can be recovered."
These outrageous words completely stunned everyone.
Han Yuyi listened quietly, her serene and beautiful face remaining expressionless. Only after he finished speaking did she let out a very soft sigh.
"Father, you're possessed."
Before she finished speaking, she exchanged a glance with Yan Ruchao beside her.
With their unspoken understanding, the two moved at the same time without saying a word!
With a flick of her wrist, Han Yuyi released a black jade-like flute from her crimson sleeve. The flute's end rested against Han Yuyi's lips without a sound, yet simultaneously, a barely perceptible ripple of transparent light emanated from the flute's hole, silently piercing Yu Tanqiu's brow and sea of consciousness!
Amidst the uproar, the two worked together seamlessly, clearly having been prepared in advance!
"laugh!"
The sound penetrated the flesh, but no blood splattered.
Instead, countless scarlet, eye-catching red threads, as if they were alive, surged wildly from Yu Tanqiu's wounds, his seven orifices, and even from every pore of his body!
The silk threads, dense and intertwined like a waterfall, radiated out from Yu Tanqiu's center, instantly wrapping her into a huge blood-red cocoon. Painful screams and hoarse, twisted sounds emanated from the cocoon, eventually merging into a muffled voice.
"Look closely! What is this?!"
The red threads grew wildly, spreading continuously through the air like venomous snakes towards the nearest cultivators below the stage. The moment those cultivators were touched by the red threads, they let out a shrill scream, but in less than a breath, their eyes were quickly covered with a chaotic blood-red color, and they fell silent.
"A puppet...a barrier to puppetry?!"
A cultivator cried out in alarm, his voice filled with terror: "How could Pavilion Master Yu have a puppet barrier on his body? And such a dense and enormous puppet barrier at that! How... how could a living person possibly withstand this?!"
The cultivators in the room retreated in panic, their faces filled with horror.
The evil, manipulative aura emanating from the scarlet threads sent shivers down everyone's spines.
"Hahaha... Not bad, it is indeed the 'Puppet Barrier'!"
Yu Tanqiu's maniacal laughter emanated from the red cocoon: "But this is no ordinary puppet barrier. This is a 'demon seed' that I, your father, personally cultivated over a hundred years, nourished by the resentment of countless living beings! It is far more effective than those puppet barriers that can be easily broken through!"
On the high platform, the scarlet threads spread out like a tide, and it looked like they were about to affect the guests below!
Han Yuyi and Yan Ruchao exchanged a glance, both seeing solemnity in each other's eyes.
The two men hadn't come unprepared. With their teamwork and cultivation levels, they were confident they could kill Yu Tanqiu together. But no one expected that Yu Tanqiu would harbor such a bizarre and terrifying thing within his body.
This is no longer simply a battle against an enemy, but a battle against a demonic seed that has accumulated a century's worth of resentment!
Han Yuyi's fingertips gripped the Cloud-Piercing Flute tightly.
The art of sonic attacks is subtle and refined, adept at breaking through the mind's spiritual level and disrupting mental defenses, proving remarkably effective against ordinary cultivators and even inner demons. However, facing this overwhelming expanse of scarlet threads, forcibly using sound waves to sweep over a large area would not only be extremely taxing on the mind, but might also fail to completely destroy this evil entity.
Yan Ruchao held the Peerless Sword, its dark blue sword intent swirling around him.
As the master of Gui Canglou, if he were to disregard everything and launch a full-force attack, he might be able to annihilate the scarlet thread along with Yu Tanqiu with absolute power.
But there will be a price to pay.
The power of the ghost cultivator was chilling and domineering, eroding life force. If Yan Ruchao were to strike with all his might, regardless of anything else, how many of the guests below the stage, whose cultivation levels varied, would survive? Not to mention the other mortals present.
The surrounding area will likely be transformed into a desolate ghost town, with withered vegetation and frozen lifeless creatures.
The two exchanged a glance, both hesitant to act rashly.
Just as the stalemate was at its peak, a clear light suddenly broke through the clouds.
The figure of Xin Zhuiwang, the master of Tianji Pavilion, appeared in the void. Ruan Shu followed behind him, her expression tense.
Xin Zhuiwang looked down at the tragic scene below and sighed, "Pavilion Master Yu, you have finally come to this."
The next second, a warm and majestic golden light descended from the sky, like an invisible barrier, temporarily stopping the scarlet threads from spreading further downwards.
However, it only prevented the puppet from being completely eliminated.
Xin Zhuiwang's gaze fell on Han Yuyi, whose face was pale.
He knew that Han Yuyi was on good terms with his apprentice, Ruan Shu.
Just moments before, Ruan Shu had been trying to send her a message.
Xin Zhuiwang sighed, "Pavilion Master Han, please be careful."
Han Yuyi's act of patricide was unexpected by Xin Zhuiwang.
However, this move, while causing a tremor in the lifeline, was not the way to break the deadlock.
Day after day, year after year, the pain of personally killing one's loved ones will turn Han Yuyi into an even more terrifying demonic seed.
Everything is still in the hands of fate.
Han Yuyi's hand, which was holding the Cloud-Piercing Flute, trembled almost imperceptibly.
But she just stared intently at the crimson cocoon, her lips pressed into a pale line.
She didn't turn around.
Han Yuyi said, "Thank you, Pavilion Master."
She knows.
This is Han Yuyi's worst-case scenario, but not the worst-case scenario in the world.
"But having chosen this path, I will see it through to the end."
Xin Zhuiwang sighed and pulled back the golden light: "Since Pavilion Master Han has made his decision, I will lend you a hand."
Han Yuyi brought the Cloud-Piercing Flute to her lips once more.
The invisible sound blades continued to condense, almost forming a cold, ghostly blue light like hellfire.
Yan Ruchao suddenly made his move!
He knew all too well what this posture meant.
The ghostly energy suddenly erupted, and Yan Ruchao no longer cared about affecting others. Xin Zhui saw this and sighed deeply.
Ruan Shu was equally quick. She unleashed her spiritual power, and golden light formed a net that enveloped the scarlet cocoon filled with puppet barriers the instant Xin Zhuiwang withdrew.
“Ah Shu,” Xin Zhuiwang said in a deep voice, “this matter is not your business.”
Ruan Shu bit her lip, somewhat hesitant.
A clear, sharp sword light, like a shooting star tearing through the eternal night, suddenly shone brightly!
Where the sword flashed, the rampant scarlet threads, like frost marks under the blazing sun, silently melted away and retreated.
A sword comes from the west, its light chilling fourteen continents.
Where the sword's clear light passed, the spreading crimson threads vanished silently.
"It's the Sword Master!"
Within the enhanced puppet barrier, the cultivators, who were nearly in despair, were suddenly invigorated, some even their voices trembling with excitement.
"The Sword Master of Bright Moon has arrived!"
"Please, Sword Master, save my life!"
Amidst the shouts, the figure in pure white stood like a pillar of stability in the center of the chaos.
"Senior Sister Han," Sheng Ningyu's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, "Want to come together?"
Such a nonchalant tone, even carrying a hint of casualness.
Xin Zhuiwang suddenly looked up, and for the first time, his usually calm and composed face showed a shock that was almost uncontrollable!
His fingertips suddenly quickened their calculations, golden runes on his forehead flashed continuously, and the flowing patterns of his destiny line swirled around him.
No...that's wrong!
As a "Sword Master" and a "Saint," how could Sheng Ningyu be here?!
However, what shocked Xin Zhuiwang even more was that Sheng Ningyu's sword strike caused a violent and fundamental distortion and shift in the lifeline!
Countless hidden threads that were originally just faint and unclear branches suddenly twisted and grew at this moment!
Completely unexpected!
Sheng Ningyu, however, did not care about what Xin Zhuiwang was thinking.
As the sword light landed, Sheng Ningyu stood steadily behind the scarlet puppet cocoon.
Without any unnecessary words, the three exchanged glances and simultaneously darted out!
The Cloud-Parting Flute bears the name of the Thousand Poison Cave, its timbre like a snake or spider meandering. The Peerless Sword's intent is domineering, its malevolent energy surging.
The Ninefold Sword technique practiced by Sheng Ningyu is an unparalleled swordsmanship in the world.
Each move, though seemingly simple, carries immense weight.
The three of them joined forces and transformed into an indestructible stream of light, piercing straight into the core of the red cocoon!
The scarlet threads suddenly froze, and the puppet barrier that had spread outwards receded and dissipated like a tide.
Yu Tanqiu's figure reappeared.
He lay on the ground, three bloody holes crisscrossing his chest, blood gushing out. The arrogance on his face had vanished, leaving only a deathly gray aura.
Han Yuyi closed her eyes, but stood still without moving forward.
However, to everyone's surprise, Yu Tanqiu did not even look at Han Yuyi.
Before he could finish speaking, Yu Tanqiu coughed up a mouthful of black blood, his body reeking of decay and stench.
Sheng Ningyu looked at Yu Tanqiu and said, "Senior Sister Han has taken great care of me and is also the Daoist partner of Master Yan. I would never hurt her, both out of courtesy and reason."
At that moment, the resentment in Yu Tanqiu's eyes suddenly vanished. His expression changed drastically, and his last words were a plea: "Junior Nephew Sheng, I have a good relationship with your master. For Gui Hai's sake, you must protect Han Yi... She is gentle and obedient, she has been since she was little..."
Before he could finish speaking, he breathed his last.
Yu Tanqiu has fallen.
The high platform was deathly silent.
After a long silence, a cultivator murmured, "Dead... Pavilion Master Yu is dead..."
Sheng Ningyu instinctively wanted to burn the person, but this time she finally thought it through before acting.
Sheng Ningyu raised her head and looked at Han Yuyi, silently putting down the incantation in her hand, and pursed her lips: "Senior Sister Han."
She couldn't say another word.
"Don't worry, I'm not as fragile as you think."
Han Yuyi smiled gently, "This is the best ending I could have imagined."
Yan Ruchao gripped Han Yuyi's hand tightly. He glanced at Sheng Ningyu a few times and suddenly asked, "Wasn't that Xie guy with you?"
Sheng Ningyu: "He drove me at breakneck speed, but we heard along the way that demonic seeds were emerging, causing many demonic cultivators to act madly. It was said that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was also alarmed, so he went to deal with the matter first."
At this point, Sheng Ningyu looked up and, sure enough, Xin Zhuiwang had disappeared from mid-air.
Sheng Ningyu: "Does the Master of the Banquet have something to discuss with him?"
Before Yan Ruchao could finish speaking, Sheng Ningyu had already caught the whispers of the cultivators.
After experiencing the brush with death and the extremes of joy and sorrow, one cultivator suddenly broke down: "Could it be that Yu Tanqiu and the Demon Lord have been colluding all along?!"
"Perhaps these demonic seeds and puppet barriers are actually part of a demonic conspiracy!"
"No way?" a cultivator hesitated. "I don't know what kind of person the Demon Lord is, but he is always by the Sword Lord's side... If that's true, the Sword Lord wouldn't just stand by and do nothing!"
Just as everyone was discussing it, another unexpected event occurred!
Around Yu Tanqiu's corpse, the scarlet threads that had previously disappeared suddenly reappeared out of thin air, almost forming a new cocoon!
"A demonic seed! A true demonic seed!"
In a flash, Sheng Ningyu's heart suddenly stirred.
Just now, out of the blue, Yu Tanqiu insisted on mentioning "your master," as if afraid she wouldn't understand, and even added "Guihai."
I see!
She used her sword to break through the red cocoon of demonic seeds, but then transformed into a streak of light and entered the cocoon!
...
Within the demonic cocoon lay another world.
When Sheng Ningyu entered, her expression vanished.
The terrain here is exactly the same as the Mitian Realm that trapped her back then.
At this moment, however, the mountains were engulfed in flames, lava flowed freely, the sky was a dark red like an eternal night, and countless twisted scarlet threads hung down from the void.
Terrified and wailing common people, low-level cultivators with stagnant spiritual energy, elders and disciples dressed in the robes of various sects...
The red light that descended from the void seeped into their brows.
Everyone was like a flying insect caught in a spider's web; the more they struggled, the tighter the puppet barrier became.
A sword light descended, severing the puppet's strings.
The unconscious woman fell from the sky, and the boy hugged his mother tightly. Then, overjoyed, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Thank you, immortal! Thank you, immortal!"
The cultivator he referred to as an "immortal" was dressed in blue robes and white gowns, with an elegant demeanor, yet he was not arrogant.
"No need." She pointed in a direction for the boy. "If you want to save your life, hurry to the formation."
This time, however, the boy did not dare to agree. He held his mother and looked at the immortal with wary eyes.
The sword cultivator was taken aback for a moment, then immediately said, "I am a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, the Sword Pavilion where the Bright Moon Sword Master resides."
"We, the disciples of Sword Pavilion, are forming an array. You should quickly take your mother into the array."
The boy looked in the direction the swordsman pointed.
A dozen or so disciples, all dressed in blue and white immortal robes, formed a circular formation in front, their swords intertwining like a net, struggling to resist the attack of the silk threads and protecting the mortals behind them.
However, all of these disciples were injured.
Without hesitation, the boy replied, "I was rude, but thank you for saving my life, Immortal Master!"
That's clever of them.
The sword cultivator smiled and flew down to the side of the person in the formation: "Elder Yang, this disciple has done his best to bring the person back."
Yang Xiuzhu: "Well done."
Since entering this world, Yang Xiuzhu's legs have been in excruciating pain, almost uncontrollable. Yet, even so, his posture shows no sign of weakness.
The sword moves with the heart; with each touch of the fingertip, a subtle sword intent shoots out, striking precisely the nodes of the silk thread.
Not far away, a burst of intense fire suddenly erupted, temporarily clearing out an area.
The Phoenix Clan's Phoenix King does not perch, standing alone before humans.
His feathered robes were dusty, and his figure was not as aloof as before. He was being protected by nearly a hundred cultivators and mortals.
The Phoenix King's Staff in his hand burned with an inextinguishable flame, confronting the puppet barrier that was lurking around him.
The third elder of the Phoenix Clan watched in terror: "Phoenix Lord, be careful!" Phoenix Buqi: "Ha, that was quick!"
This is the consequence of his past inaction, and he should naturally pay for it.
Therefore, Feng Buqi frequently sent Feng Xiaosheng back to the clan, precisely to guard against this day.
However, Feng Buqi never expected that there would be someone in his clan willing to die with him.
"Elder, protect those behind you!"
"boom!"
A dazzling, intense golden-red spiritual light burst forth from his body, like a blazing sun suddenly blooming in this dark red world!
Wherever the light passed, the persistent crimson puppet barrier quickly melted away, and even the suffocating chill in the air was cleared away.
Many cultivators and mortals who had been entangled in the silk threads and whose eyes were becoming increasingly clouded felt a sudden relief and regained their senses.
"Phoenix Lord!" A cultivator who had persisted in resisting recognized him and cried out in surprise.
However, they soon realized that Feng Jun alone could not break through this place.
No matter how strong Feng Jun is, there are places he cannot protect. Moreover, Feng Jun's cultivation has not progressed for many years, while this puppet barrier seems endless, constantly regenerating.
As more cultivators and mortals were dragged into the depths, desperate cries and roars mingled together.
A beam of clear light ripped down from the top of the charred sky!
The sword light was very simple, yet it enveloped everyone like moonlight. Wherever it passed, the scarlet threads binding everyone broke inch by inch, and those who were entangled fell to the ground, only to be caught by the cultivators below.
The moment that sword light appeared, nothing else could be seen.
Yang Xiuzhu noticed that the excruciating pain in his legs had lessened considerably, and he called out loudly, "Senior Sister!"
Senior sister?
The monks hesitated, turning their minds around.
"Sword Master! Sword Master Mingyue has arrived!" a cultivator shouted excitedly.
"Sword Master... Ah, I know, it's the Bright Moon Sword Master that Grandpa mentioned who's come to save us!" A murmur rippled through the mortals.
"Sword Master! We're saved!"
Sheng Ningyu's figure descended, her white robes standing out against the dark red world like a ray of moonlight, cool and dazzling.
As Sheng Ningyu tapped the tip of her sword repeatedly, more threads silently crumbled. Feng Buqi, relieved of the pressure, finally had a moment to catch her breath.
Amidst the raging flames, Feng Buqi looked at Sheng Ningyu with a complex expression: "...Thank you."
Sheng Ningyu shook her head slightly. She transferred a wisp of spiritual energy to the Sword Pavilion's magic array before turning to Feng Buqi: "May I ask if Lord Feng has ever seen Xie Qianjing?"
Feng Buqi sighed, raised the Phoenix King's Staff, and pointed the tip straight into the deeper part of this scorched earth world.
Sheng Ningyu looked in the direction Feng Buqi had pointed to, where the red light was strongest, yet there was no sound, only an eerie silence.
"As soon as you entered this place, you went straight to the very core."
Sheng Ningyu's eyes narrowed, and she turned to head deeper into the area.
"Sword Master! Sword Master, don't go!"
"Please save my child!"
"Immortal Master, Immortal Master! If you are leaving, please take us with you!"
The mournful cries came like a tidal wave. Sheng Ningyu subconsciously turned her head and saw countless eyes looking at her.
Their eyes, which were filled with despair, are now brimming with hope.
It's because of... her.
Sheng Ningyu paused in her steps.
These mortals and low-level cultivators are powerless to protect themselves here. If she leaves, even with Feng Buqi and the others present, Junior Brother Yang's magic array will hardly be able to protect everyone.
Even including those Phoenix Clan elders, we still need someone at the Heavenly Pivot Realm to form a complete encirclement!
Sheng Ningyu paused, a hint of struggle flashing between her brows.
Anyone else might have readily agreed, but Sheng Ningyu hesitated at this moment.
Hesitating between tens of thousands of people and one person.
Upon realizing this, Sheng Ningyu even found it somewhat amusing.
Just then, the space beside Sheng Ningyu rippled slightly.
A deep, aged voice, yet carrying an invisible pressure, rang out.
"Leave this place to me, you may go."
The old man had a long white beard and hair, and wore an ancient green robe. A powerful spiritual energy, as strong as the earth, emanated from his body, which dispersed and suppressed all the scarlet threads within a hundred feet!
Amidst cheers and excitement, Sheng Ningyu was utterly astonished: "Old man Yuan, what are you doing here!"
Yuan Daojun: "Go in your place."
Sheng Ningyu felt increasingly uneasy as she listened: "I don't need you to replace me!"
Yuan Daojun turned to look at her, and a smile suddenly appeared on his aged face.
The firelight reflected off his face, making the old man appear somewhat youthful and playful.
“Sheng Mingyue, I apologize for telling you before, but you always feel guilty towards others,” Yuan Daojun said. “This old man also feels guilty towards you.”
Sheng Ningyu gripped her sword, at a loss for what to do: "Old Yuan, what have you done to wrong me?" She paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, raising her eyebrows, "Wait, Old Yuan! Weren't you the one who stole the honey flower cake Xie Qianjing made for me back then?"
Yuan Daojun was so angry he jumped up and down: "Don't wrong me! It's clearly your own forgetfulness that you don't know where you put it!"
Sheng Ningyu: "Thank goodness, since it's not about this, then you haven't wronged me."
Flames erupted everywhere, the eerie laughter of the demonic creatures echoed continuously, and the wails of vengeful spirits filled the air. Those distorted faces floated around the demonic eye in the void, constantly changing and becoming ferocious.
The firelight reflected off Yuan Daojun's aged face. This time, Yuan Daojun did not laugh at Sheng Ningyu's joke.
He said, "As a teacher, it is a shame if I cannot protect my students."
The days and events of yesteryear.
He didn't even make a move, isn't he ashamed?
As Yuan Daojun finished speaking, the previously frenzied puppet threads suddenly shrank back.
Yuan Daojun looked at Sheng Ningyu, his eyes filled with a magnanimous look that suggested he had experienced many hardships.
“Mingyue,” he said, “this time, go do what you want to do.”
-----------------------
Author's Note: Yan Ruchao: Peerless Sword (Unparalleled in the world, except for its "clothing")
Cold Jade Robe: Cloud-Parting Flute (Parting the clouds to see the sun, gaining access to the court).
Seeing everyone's comments, sob sob, thank you all for your thoughtful comments [starfish bowing.jpg]
[Sunglasses] → [Burning with sobs]
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