Chapter 65
Their eyes reflected the turbulent Canglan River. The river surged endlessly, and the hurricane blew the water slowly upwards to the sky. Above the Canglan River, dark clouds gathered, and at the center of the hurricane's vortex, a huge black hole was revealed, like a demon baring its enormous fangs.
A black hole has reappeared, and the Heavenly Lock floats above the Canglan River, spreading evil energy and allowing malevolent creatures to roam freely. Humanity is about to face an apocalyptic crisis.
Panic gripped the city; everyone screamed and fled blindly. The sky was so dark it seemed about to collapse, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring, and the wind and clouds churning. It was as if the end of the world had arrived.
Chu Xianyue looked up at the black hole and said, "The Netherworld is revealing its true form."
On the other side of that black hole lies the Netherworld. It is the most filthy and evil place in the world, where all evil creatures from ancient times to the present still linger. Evil and resentment permeate it, and they clamor within, long wanting to break free.
Xie Wen cast his gaze into the depths of the black hole, as if he could see through it to the other side, where something was roaring and screaming, trying to break free. The black hole was therefore restless and rumbling.
The cultivators from all sides drew their swords and fought against the evil creature that flew out. Among the four great immortal leaders, except for Wuxiang Temple, almost all of them rushed to Canglan River in Jianshui City.
Now, cultivators and evil beings fly freely above Jianshui City and the Canglan River, unimpeded and no one can stop them anymore.
The city lord of Jianshui City, along with his entourage, urgently evacuated the crowd and escorted ordinary people without spiritual power back home to hide. Amid the chaos, a young man was seen wielding a sword, slaying all the evil creatures. His attendant followed closely behind, shouting, "Young city lord, young city lord, you should go back. It's too chaotic outside. If the city lord sees you running out again, he will definitely not forgive me."
Without turning his head, Li Jingyuan drew his sword and killed the evil creature. He said, "How dare you stop me from going wherever I want? If my father blames me, you'll make sure he doesn't let me off the hook."
Just then, a voice came from behind. Li Zhun, holding a sword about the same size as Li Jingyuan in one hand and grabbing Li Jingyuan by the collar with the other, said, "Don't worry, I won't spare you either!"
"If you fail to protect everyone in the city, I will not let you off the hook."
Li Jingyuan was about to retort that his father had raised him like a sheltered young lady who was oblivious to the world around him, forbidding him from doing this or going to that, and that his ambitions had been completely nipped in the bud by his father.
Upon hearing the latter part of Li Zhun's sentence, Li Jingyuan took a few seconds to react before turning to look at Li Zhun. Li Zhun only gave him a glance before turning back to continue leading the guards to exorcise evil spirits and protect the defenseless civilians.
Li Jingyuan looked at the sword in his hand and suddenly felt even stronger. He raised his sword and stepped forward, slaying an evil creature with a single strike. He stood majestically below the Canglan River.
Pei Xuan and Yun Yan arrived at the banks of the Canglan River at almost the same time. Yun Yan first inspected Chu Xianyue and Xie Wen, but unexpectedly saw Pei Xuan first. Yun Yan snorted coldly and did not intend to have much interaction with Pei Xuan.
Below the Canglan River, all the boats moored on the shore and the houses on the bank were swept away, turning into rotten wood and swirling up into the sky with the river water.
Evil creatures lingered around the area. Yun Yan and several elders of the Sword Sect led a group of Sword Sect disciples to kill the evil creatures. Pei Xuan also led a team of Kunlun Ruins disciples to guard the area.
The people from Huangqi Palace arrived late, and it was the reclusive Palace Master Linghua who came in person.
The cultivators from other minor sects also arrived one after another. A group of them stood below the Canglan River, looking up at the huge black hole in neat rows.
This was the first time in their lives they had ever seen such a scene. They had only ever seen such things in ancient books before, such as the Lock of Fate, the Leak of Heaven, the Underworld, the Chaos of Evil Qi, and the Rampant Evil Things. They never imagined that one day they would be able to see these things with their own eyes.
Now, all that is needed is to unlock the Heavenly Lock once more. At that time, the Netherworld will open wide, and the human world will fall into the same state as it was thousands of years ago, with countless lives lost, nothing growing, and the world reduced to a living hell.
A fierce wind howled, whipping everyone's clothes through the air. Suddenly, they spotted two figures flying overhead. As they drew closer, they recognized them as Chu Xianyue and Xie Wen.
Yun Yan's eyes lit up, as if she had finally found a reliance in this vast world. She immediately stepped forward and called out, "Master, Senior Sister!"
The two landed smoothly. Chu Xianyue didn't say much, but Xie Wen calmly and methodically laid out everything she knew, "Everyone, our biggest enemy now is Jin Huaran. Be careful of him! He not only controls the dynasty but is also the sect leader of Wuxiang Temple. He broke through the barrier behind the mountain, released the Heavenly Destiny Lock, and went to great lengths to find the Spirit Transformation Pendant. He wants to unlock the Heavenly Destiny Lock, he wants to release the Netherworld. He wants to destroy the world! We must work together to deal with him!"
One astonishing statement after another followed, but Xie Wen calmly delivered them all in one breath, her eyes resolute and unwavering. However, the sheer volume of information was overwhelming; aside from Yun Yan, who blindly believed Xie Wen, and Pei Xuan, who already knew Jin Huaran's true nature, everyone else struggled to accept it.
Moreover, all of this came from Xie Wen's mouth. Who is Xie Wen? Having just experienced the Blood Demon Cauldron blood test and the siege by the Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect, everyone was still reeling from the revelation of Xie Wen's true identity. Now, this person, shrouded in such suspicion, stands here, confidently spouting a bunch of illogical and absurd things. No one would easily believe him.
If it weren't for Chu Xianyue's presence, he probably would have exclaimed, "Feather Clan demoness, what nonsense are you spouting? You yourself are the greatest threat now! Only you can unlock the Heavenly Lock and release the Netherworld!"
Xie Wen wasn't too disappointed to see that these people were unmoved. She knew that the only way for her to stand here innocently was to find a way to prove her origins and completely clear herself of suspicion as a member of the Feather Clan.
At this moment, Chu Xianyue stepped forward and said, "Everything she said is true."
Pei Xuan also stepped forward and said, "It's true, it's all true."
Chu Xianyue had consistently sided with Xie Wen, protecting his disciple from beginning to end—this was plain for all to see. Therefore, even Chu Xianyue's defense of Xie Wen couldn't sway them. Pei Xuan, however, was different. As the current head of Kunlun Ruins, his position was extraordinary, and his words carried immense weight. He alone represented the stance of the entire Kunlun Ruins. Only then did the crowd begin to waver.
Everyone has witnessed the antagonism between Kunlun Ruins and Tianyan Sword Sect, and Kunlun Ruins has no reason to speak up for Tianyan Sword Sect, unless they are forced to stand together at such a critical juncture.
Xie Wen stopped speaking. She simply looked up at the black hole and asked Chu Xianyue in a low voice, "Would it be difficult to seal this now?"
Chu Xianyue: "It's very difficult."
"This is a barrier that your Chu family has guarded for generations. You have spent so much effort on it, and now it has all been in vain."
Chu Xianyue remained silent. He knew this better than anyone else: the hard work and dedication that his Chu family had poured into protecting for generations had been destroyed by him.
Xie Wen realized she might have said something wrong. She only felt sorry for him, but she didn't want Chu Xianyue to blame himself; he had already done his best. In truth, everyone bore some responsibility for what happened. The first time, during the battle between Kunlun Ruins and the Dynasty against the Sword Sect, Chu Xianyue was seriously injured. The second time, during the siege of the Sword Sect by various sects, Chu Xianyue suffered heavy losses.
Chu Xianyue's strength is directly related to the strength of the barrier and the safety of the immortal sect. Every instance of harm done to him weakens the barrier.
Jin Huaran did not intend to bring down Chu Xianyue himself. Instead, he manipulated people's hearts and guided everyone to deliver a powerful blow to the barrier on the back mountain, causing them to bring about their own destruction.
Xie Wen suddenly said, "You said before that the Canglan River contains powerful spiritual energy, right? I see that neither evil things nor evil energy can erode the Canglan River at all."
As Xie Wen spoke, she squatted down and put her hand into the Canglan River, letting the surging water wash over her arm. Xie Wen could feel a warm and cool spiritual energy nourishing her, as if a gentle drizzle had fallen on her body.
Xie Wen suddenly raised his head and looked at Chu Xianyue with a surprised expression. "You said that the Canglan River has spiritual power and spirit, and contains plenty of oxygen, so people won't drown in it, right?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Xianyue already knew what Xie Wen wanted to do. He was shocked by Xie Wen's boldness and decisiveness. Chu Xianyue had thought of this before, but he had his own considerations. Too many concerns made it difficult for him to even express his thoughts.
Xie Wen spoke her mind directly, and the unwavering determination in her eyes when she looked at him was unyielding.
He believed that since she had already expressed this idea, it meant that she had made up her mind!
Since the Canglan River is believed to possess spiritual power, preventing drowning and susceptibility to evil spirits, they diverted its waters into every household. This allowed ordinary people to quickly enter the Canglan River and receive its protection when encountering evil spirits, thus avoiding harm from them.
This idea is too audacious; even if Chu Xianyue had thought of it, he wouldn't dare guarantee that it could be implemented.
This is an enormous project—to divert the entire waters of the Canglan River to every household!
However, looking at Xie Wen's spirited and youthful appearance now, he seemed to think that it might not be impossible.
If possible, he would do these things with her, even if it exhausted his spiritual power and all his cultivation.
As Xie Wen was pondering, her hand, which was hanging by her side, was grasped by another hand. She turned around and met Chu Xianyue's deep eyes. To everyone else, Chu Xianyue was simply standing behind Xie Wen. What no one saw was that, close to her, beneath their sleeves, their hands were clasped tightly. Chu Xianyue gently squeezed Xie Wen's thumb and forefinger and said, "Okay. Let's try it together."
Yun Yan had no time to care whether those people believed Xie Wen's words or not. He only knew that his master and senior sister seemed to be hiding something from him, and without him involved! Yun Yan stepped forward: "Master! What are you going to do?"
Yun Yan's single sentence drew everyone's attention.
Xie Wen said, "The Canglan River can protect ordinary people."
Yun Yan stared at her with wide eyes, and everyone looked surprised.
So? So what?
On the other side, when Li Jingyuan had overcome all obstacles and killed evil creatures to reach the border of the Canglan River, he saw Xie Wen, hand in hand with a man, leap up from above the Canglan River.
Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, Xie Wen and Chu Xianyue flew hand in hand down into the black hole. The two stood below, their cyan and blue robes fluttering and overlapping in the wind.
As everyone watched, they cast a spell, manipulating the surging Canglan River for their own use. Profound spiritual power erupted from their fingertips, and the two stood together on the other side of the Canglan River, using their spiritual power to cleave open channels in the river. The land of the twelve cities was split open by their spiritual power, and the river channels began to take shape. The cracks, like the branches of a giant tree, extended into almost every household.
The ground beneath the feet of the people in the city began to tremble and shake uncontrollably, accompanied by incessant rumbling. They did not know the reason for this and thought that they had suffered a great disaster. They all held their wives, children and relatives and waited for death.
Meanwhile, Xie Wen and Chu Xianyue used magic to activate the entire Canglan River, diverting the water into the waterways that flowed through every household. Xie Wen used magic to support the Canglan River, acting as a human-shaped bridge to guide the irrigation water.
After Chu Xianyue finished cultivating the last section of the river, he flew to Xie Wen's side and turned around to take on most of the pressure for Xie Wen.
In the midst of chaos, the weeping people waited in vain for a long time but did not receive news of death. Instead, they heard the sound of flowing water, its rushing sound soothing their hearts. The water slowly flowed into the waterways of each household, and the water vapor rose up, moistening everyone and dispelling the evil spirits that were spreading in the air.
At this moment, they heard a sound coming from above the Canglan River. The people stood at their windows or at their doorsteps, staring blankly as the water of the Canglan River kept pouring into the intricate waterways, gradually filling every waterway mouth.
Above the Canglan River, a tiny man and woman could be seen, seemingly watching this side. Their expressions were unclear, yet they resembled gods descended to earth.
The woman said loudly, "Everyone, the waters of the Canglan River can protect you from evil spirits and malevolent influences."
From now on, whenever evil spirits appear, everyone can immediately take their loved ones and hide beneath the waters of the Canglan River. There will be no need to worry or live in fear, nor to live in constant anxiety.
Upon hearing this, some people actually knelt down and bowed in gratitude, muttering, "A god has descended to earth! Thank you, goddess, for your protection!"
More and more people knelt in worship, their cries of "Thank you for the goddess's protection!" even drowning out the roar of the Canglan River, echoing across the entire continent. Deeply moving, Li Jingyuan, standing on the riverbank gazing upwards, was mesmerized. Wasn't this the person he had longed to become day and night? His eyes shone brightly as he looked at Xie Wen. Unconsciously, even the attendants behind him began to bow to Xie Wen, and Li Jingyuan almost knelt as well.
The next moment, they saw the woman who stood like a god above the Canglan River slowly drift down like a falling leaf, and was eventually caught by Chu Xianyue.
He helped her down to the riverbank amidst the complex gazes of everyone present. At the same time, behind Chu Xianyue, the dark clouds that had been gathering above the Canglan River gradually dispersed, and the river ceased its raging roar, finally finding a moment of tranquility amidst the turbulent waters.
With mixed feelings, Yun Yan stepped forward, his hands hovering in mid-air, unsure of what to do. His voice was slightly choked, "Senior Sister? Is she alright?"
Chu Xianyue's voice was somewhat weak, "He's just exhausted his spiritual energy. There's no danger to his life."
As he spoke, he turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood. His body swayed precariously, yet he still forced himself to stay upright. Xie Wen sensed a slight tremor, opened his dazed eyes, and saw countless gazes fixed on him. He saw Yun Yan anxiously supporting Chu Xianyue, crying out in a shrill voice, "Master, are you alright...?"
In a daze, she also saw a white-clad man standing on a rock on the riverbank not far away. He was thin and looked extremely weak, yet he stood like a statue in the howling wind, with his clothes still fluttering wildly.
Xie Wen instantly regained his senses, struggled to stand up, and while supporting Chu Xianyue, he looked warily at Jin Huaran not far away.
When did he stand here? What is he preparing to do here? He has already opened the barrier behind the mountain and obtained the Spirit Transformation Pendant. He only needs one more Feather Clan member to successfully unlock the Heavenly Destiny Lock and allow the Netherworld to reappear in the world!
But what was his purpose in doing this? What reasons did he have for doing it?
Who exactly was that winged race member who escaped from the Boundless Sea?
Xie Wen and Jin Huaran stood on opposite sides of the riverbank, gazing at each other across the distance. In the darkness, Xie Wen had a strong intuition that she could see how cold and resolute his eyes were, as if everything was already decided.
Jin Huaran must know who that Feather Clan member is.
Following Xie Wen and Chu Xianyue's gaze, the crowd on the riverbank also noticed Jin Huaran, who stood alone. It seemed that way, but who knew how many of his men were hidden in the shadows, or even among the crowd?
Now the entire dynasty and Wuxiang Temple have fallen under his control. The other major sects are still wavering. Xie Wen and her group are not only hostile to Jin Huaran.
Jin Huaran finally spoke, but it was to Xie Wen, "Awen, why bother doing all this for nothing? It would be better to rest and recuperate, and try to survive the upcoming hell on earth."
"That's what you should be thinking about," Jin Huaran said calmly.
In any case, it won't be long before the Netherworld opens wide, allowing all sorts of high-level evil creatures to enter the world. At that time, all of Xie Wen and Chu Xianyue's previous efforts will be in vain. The Canglan River can isolate low-level evil creatures, but it cannot stop high-level evil creatures.
Xie Wen said, "What do you want to do? You want to perform the ritual? You're the one from the Feather Clan, aren't you!" Xie Wen was just making a guess; she had no evidence, yet she still dared to say it.
As soon as Xie Wen spoke, the crowd began to stir.
Jin Huaran clicked his tongue, seemingly having a headache over Xie Wen. He had nothing to be attached to in this world, except for the person before him. She was his only bond in this world. Without Xie Wen, perhaps his plans wouldn't have progressed so smoothly.
Jin Huaran was helpless against her, and he didn't want her to die. He didn't know why he was standing there at this moment; he suddenly wanted to take her away. He didn't want her to do such foolish things again, always being his enemy. He didn't want her to protect those foolish common people anymore, even though they had never trusted her from beginning to end, even though they called her a witch and wanted to kill her.
She was still so foolish, so foolish that she would protect those who wanted her dead until her death.
Jin Huaran is going to take her away; she can't let her continue being so foolish!
Just then, Li Zhun, the city lord of Jianshui City, arrived. Facing the standoff between the two sides, he pointed his sword at Jin Huaran, his powerful voice echoing across the entire riverbank, "He is not Jin Huaran! He is not my nephew at all! He is an imposter!"
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