Chapter 31 Jiuyi City, No Return Mountain (15) You're a god of death...
The others were unaware of what had just transpired, but Fu Zhen knew perfectly well. As the gale gradually subsided, he left the formation and exchanged a glance with Fu Liuwan as they brushed past each other. Fu Liuwan nodded at him, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips. Looking at the crack covered by the Li Fire, she felt an immense sense of satisfaction. Turning back, she met a pair of clear yet questioning eyes.
She paused slightly, then raised an eyebrow at him nonchalantly.
Zhou Zheyue clenched her fists, drew her sword, and charged into the seal.
Fu Zhen jumped in surprise and stopped him: "Junior brother, are you out of your mind!"
Fu Liuwan turned to look at him in surprise, "Zhou Zheyue, what are you doing!"
Unlike the Nine Heavens Immortal Palace, which stood idly by, Song Qingshu and her companion were gathering their strength to launch an attack on the crack. The spiritual energy they were drawing in had quietly receded when the formation stopped, and they were now consuming their own spiritual energy to pour into the crack.
The seal of Mount No Return is unlike that of an ordinary Demon-Locking Tower. If Mount No Return is a prison specifically designed to trap demons, then the Sun and Moon Guidance is a massive lock. If one day this lock truly decays and becomes unusable, the Mountain-Protecting Fire will serve as the final barrier and play a crucial role.
This is precisely why the nine-tailed fox demon, despite successfully escaping through the crack, still couldn't escape having its tail burned off, its cultivation severely damaged, and nearly perished.
Their best efforts were like a mayfly trying to shake a tree; the flames that occasionally erupted and fell nearly burned their skin, but they seemed oblivious to it, continuing to channel their spiritual energy into the crack, trying to reopen the opening.
The Nine Heavens Immortal Palace was only ordered to repair the seal. Now that they have failed to repair the seal, they naturally will not expend their own spiritual power to save mere mortals.
Zhou Zheyue gripped the sword hilt tightly, his neck still bearing the cuts from the fight. He forced himself to swallow his emotions, but a faint blush of anger tinged his handsome face. "I'm going to save them."
"You? You think you can even get close to the seal?" Fu Liuwan sneered. "I'm afraid the protective fire will have burned you to ashes before you even get close to the seal. Zhou Zheyue, there's a limit to overestimating yourself. They were just unlucky to get involved. Are you going to risk your life for these irrelevant people?"
Her words were a double entendre, carrying a hidden warning.
Zhou Zheyue felt that her senior sister had become a complete stranger. She knew perfectly well how Shi Xianxue had been caught up in the seal, so how could she ask such a question so calmly: "How could they be unrelated people? They are my friends!"
Young Master Zhou was sent to the mountain to cultivate at a young age. He was physically weak and, although he was prone to crying, he was also very easy to talk to. He spoke softly and gently when interacting with others and never argued with anyone. He had the appearance of being very well-mannered.
Right now, however, he blushed with his senior sister who had been with him since childhood.
Fu Liuwan, suppressing her anger, retorted, "Zhou Zheyue! Falling into the seal is tantamount to a death sentence for them. Even if they manage to get through the Li Huo, the great demon deep within the seal will tear them to pieces. They are doomed!"
These few black words tugged at Zhou Zheyue's nerves, and his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears. He wiped his eyes hard, ignored Fu Liuwan's dissuasion, and joined Song Qingshu and the others without hesitation.
--
Shi Xianxue's body plummeted like a kite with a broken string. Unlike the Blood Moon Secret Realm, countless evil spirits passed by during her fall, tearing her delicate skin with their sharp claws. The evil spirits, attracted by the scent of human blood, gathered even more, creating a vicious cycle. She would probably die from excessive blood loss before even landing.
Just as a massive black demon was clawing at her face with its fingernails, an inexplicable force pulled her body backward. The long black fingernails narrowly grazed her eyelashes, and the demon, having missed its target, turned and gave chase.
Shi Xianxue was held tightly in the arms of the person behind her. The evil spirit's nails scratched across the boy's arm, leaving several deep, bone-revealing wounds in the blink of an eye.
Shi Xianxue knew without turning around who had come to save her. Her wounds were accumulating at a visible speed. The boy flew silently with her to the deepest part of the seal. Shi Xianxue turned her head to look. There was no natural light in the seal. The purple light from the demonic energy attacking him made his features even more outstanding. He had sword-like eyebrows, a high nose, and long, thick eyelashes that curled upwards.
Shi Xianxue lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on his hand resting on her waist, and strange emotions gushed out like a spring.
The evil spirit roared in my ear.
"They weren't burned to ashes by the fire!"
"Could it be that the fire has failed? Everyone, come with me to the crack and take a look!"
"No rush. Let me eat these two cultivators first to replenish my strength before we go."
"..."
Wu Xiutang was moving very fast. Shi Xianxue's senses were that she was falling, but in reality, she was constantly climbing upwards. The higher she went, the fewer aggressive demons there were, and the scenery at the top was much more colorful, with steep mountain walls, beaches full of coconut trees and a blue ocean, as well as babbling brooks and vibrant forests.
Clusters of vibrant flowers bloomed on the mountainside, where many naked demons engaged in sexual intercourse rolled around wantonly, trampling down large swathes of red blossoms. Shi Xianxue hadn't noticed them at first, but was abruptly drawn to them by their oblivious shouts. When her gaze swept over several pairs of white buttocks, the female demon's high-pitched cries of pleasure and the male demon's lewd laughter were like thunder and fire, burning Shi Xianxue's face bright red.
She mentally screamed "Holy crap!" and then dramatically recited "Don't look at what you shouldn't see or hear what you shouldn't hear." However, the essence of humanity is to be a gossipmonger, and as Wu Xiutang flew past with her, she couldn't help but secretly glance back.
The demons are so open-minded! Do they not do anything productive in broad daylight and all they think about is doing this? Although they seem really happy, aren't they a bit too happy compared to their brothers who are struggling and doing hard labor at the bottom?
Without turning his head, Wu Xiutang used his injured hand to pinch her face and turn it towards him.
"If you look at it again, I'll throw you in."
That's too exciting. Shi Xianxue thought to herself. She glanced down and saw something. Her eyelids trembled, and she bit her lip. For once, she didn't respond. She just hugged Wu Xiutang tighter.
After flying for an unknown amount of time, the two landed safely beside a white bone wall. The place was eerily sinister, and even the evil spirits did not pursue them, but instead circled a few times in the air before flying away.
Seeing that the danger was temporarily over, Wu Xiutang released her and, with a cold face, went to check the situation inside the seal. Blood flowed down his arm, and Shi Xianxue grabbed his sleeve, her eyes burning from the glaring red: "Doesn't your arm hurt...?"
Wu Xiutang was naturally in great pain. Since he could remember, his senses had always been much stronger than those of ordinary people. Even a wound the size of a pinhead was enough to bother him. He had a difficult life and was often injured and bleeding. But no matter how many times he experienced it, he could not get used to the pain. So much so that every time a new wound appeared, it was enough to make him hate it so much that he wanted to kill.
A malevolent dark aura surged within his eyes. He lowered his eyelashes, his dark pupils clearly reflecting a lithe figure: "Nonsense, why don't you try it yourself?"
Feeling guilty, Shi Xianxue said, "...Then let me bandage you up a bit."
Her wounds were far less shocking than Wu Xiutang's, but the sight of a cut on her flower-like face was still a pity.
Wu Xiutang stared at the wound in silence for a long while, then looked away awkwardly: "No need."
"Don't be so polite. Although I know you jumped down to save me only because our fates are now intertwined, if I hadn't been dragged into this, you wouldn't have suffered this undeserved disaster. Let me help you."
"Who's being polite with you?" Wu Xiutang said coldly, mocking her without any appreciation. "You're so clumsy, it's not like I don't want this hand anymore."
Such a sharp tongue made Shi Xianxue stare at him for a few seconds, then turn around expressionlessly and slap the dozing system: "Help me check if the love potion in my body is dead."
After receiving the system's reply, "How did I know?", Shi Xianxue finally retorted defiantly, "It's just bandaging, how is that clumsy? Don't judge a book by its cover, okay? I know that my good looks might give many people the illusion that I'm a silly beauty, but actually, I'm a professional when it comes to taking care of people."
Wu Xiutang: "Heh."
Shi Xianxue became stubborn and started tearing at her clothes. When she couldn't tear them, she shamelessly tried to pull Wu Xiutang. When he didn't cooperate, she got angry and said, "I'll let it go for now about you throwing my things, but don't be ungrateful."
"I said I don't need it. Can you behave yourself? This is the demon's lair."
"They're busy making little monsters, they don't have time to mess with us. Besides, we can just keep our voices down!"
"..."
"Tsk."
A gust of cold wind blew by, and the man's annoyed snort abruptly interrupted their argument.
As the two looked over at the same time, two overhead lights, like ever-burning lamps, shone directly above the man, completely covering his scantily clad body.
The man was trapped on what resembled an altar. His hair was as white as snow, and he was naked. Golden soul-locking chains pierced through his strong body, with both ends wrapped around and hanging from the stone wall. His bulging muscles appeared extremely smooth under the strong light, like a meticulously carved white stone statue in an exhibition hall. Shi Xianxue's blank gaze swept up and down his body, and she couldn't help but swallow.
Frog fun!!
His body is so sexy!!
"I mean, are you young couples always this noisy?"
Wu Xiutang clearly saw the infatuated look in someone's eyes. He was speechless. He took a few steps forward and pretended to inadvertently block Shi Xianxue's lecherous gaze.
He should have been more polite to this senior demon if he wanted to obtain the Sun and Moon Guide, and that was what he thought in his heart. However, the words he said involuntarily changed their meaning.
"I never imagined the demon race would fall to such a state. Senior, would you like me to bring you some clothes to wear?"
The sarcastic and cryptic Master Xianxue kept looking up at him, afraid that the handsome guy would get angry and strangle them both with chains.
Feng Yun lazily lifted his eyes, the iron chains making a slight swaying sound. Soft strands of hair brushed against his delicately defined collarbone. He looked handsome and had a good temper: "I'm really sorry, I've been stuck here for so long that I've even forgotten how to change clothes. Why don't you teach me?"
Shi Xianxue peeked out: "Handsome guy, I think you're handsome even without clothes on!"
Feng Yun was taken aback at first, then chuckled with pleasure. He completely ignored Wu Xiutang's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot, and winked at her seductively: "Then do you want to move closer to me? I can let you see more clearly."
"Great! Great!"
The two flirted and teased each other as if no one else was around, which made Wu Xiutang's face darken. When he saw that Shi Xianxue had actually fallen for the trap and stepped forward, he could no longer bear it. His calm tone was intentionally or unintentionally tinged with gritted teeth: "Shi Xianxue, this is Mount No Return. The shackles on his body are Soul-Locking Chains. Are you sure you still want to go forward?"
Soul-Locking Chains!
Demon General Fengyun, formerly the second-in-command of the Demon Realm and a capable subordinate of Zhu Ze, was a formidable warrior, decisive in killing. Thousands of years of warfare had left no survivors wherever his iron cavalry went. Bloodthirsty and cruel genes were etched into his bones, killing people and gods alike, and nearly wiping out the human race.
Shi Xianxue instantly became sober that she could do two sets of advanced mathematics exams on the spot: "Handsome guy, are you a killing machine?"
She remembered that Fengyun was sealed in the deepest part of Mount Bugui. The demons along the way were as numerous as mosquitoes and flies in the summer forest, but when they came in, they only encountered a few evil spirits following them. The other two were bastards who were only concerned with making love in broad daylight. She didn't see any of Zhu Ze's well-known subordinates, as if they had been eliminated in advance.
Feng Yun raised the corners of his eyes, and the strong overhead light made his smile look somewhat sinister: "There's no point in bringing up old grievances. I'm currently restrained by this Soul-Locking Chain, and if I have any murderous thoughts, I'll be punished with lightning."
The Thunder Punishment… then Shi Xianxue knew how his clothes had disappeared.
As the group was talking, a small, square flying seal flew out from between the man's eyebrows. Perhaps it had been asleep for a long time and had just woken up, not yet understanding the situation. It flew around in the air for a few moments in a daze before seeing the boy who had cleaved it out of its original form. It immediately bristled like a kitten.
Shi Xianxue saw a startled expression on its face when she saw two thick lines resembling crowns on its head.
Flying to Fengyun's ear, it whispered something, complaining while secretly adjusting its angle to peek at Wu Xiutang.
For some reason, although it had no facial features, Shi Xianxue felt that its expressions were much more vivid than those of the two men present.
Compared to Xiao Feiyin's panic, Feng Yun remained calm and composed, casually saying with a sidelong glance, "I know."
The chattering stopped abruptly.
Little Flying Seal: "?"
Shi Xianxue shuddered and hid behind Wu Xiutang again. Feng Yun noticed her movement: "Why are you so afraid of me? As you can see," he shook the Soul-Locking Chain, his expression mocking, "I can't do anything now, I'm just a piece of trash."
Shi Xianxue timidly peeked out and replied, "But you're handsome."
Feng Yun was amused again. Wu Xiutang coldly pressed Shi Xianxue's head back down, whispered a few warnings, and Shi Xianxue shrunk back listlessly.
Feng Yun squinted at the gloomy-faced boy and said softly, "Do you know why I let you in here?"
"The Demon Seal said that you have the aura of an ancient race. I originally thought that you inherited that guy's demon bones, but after seeing you today, I realize that you are just a pitiful worm with a broken soul and depleted meridians, who needs to cultivate through crooked methods."
An ancient race, with a fragmented soul? Or depleted meridians?
Shi Xianxue's eyelids twitched. She did know that the little villain's cultivation had stagnated, but that was entirely because he had not properly studied cultivation techniques and did not have a master by his side to teach him. As a result, he did not grasp the essentials in the early stages. As the saying goes, one wrong step leads to another. By the time he realized something was wrong and wanted to correct it, it was too late. In addition, he developed a demonic mind, which made his cultivation leak like a sieve. He must obtain the demonic bone to advance to the next level.
The author only mentions him briefly. In order to make the plot of seizing the Demon Bone reasonable, she portrays Wu Xiutang as a callous and ambitious tool.
She believed that his ambition was to seize the Demon Bone to gain supreme power, but was this actually Wu Xiutang's true intention in wanting to seize the Demon Bone?
Wu Xiutang retorted, "As a demon, how dare you call me a heretic? Besides, if we're talking about pitiful things, how can you compare to the thousands of years of darkness and suffering that you endured, senior?"
Feng Yun's smile faded, his eyes narrowing. "Since you've come to ask for a favor, you should at least be more polite. I'm trapped by these Soul-Locking Chains." A flash of crimson crossed Feng Yun's eyes. "But if you really think I can't kill you, you're being too naive."
As the last stressed syllable fell, the dark sky suddenly began to change rapidly. The purple demonic clouds on Mount No Return surged and purplish-blue lightning flashed through them, as if a thunderbolt could strike at any moment.
Xiao Feiyin was so frightened that he hid in the darkness. Shi Xianxue, fearing that he would get serious, silently tightened her grip on Wu Xiutang's arm.
Be humble, young man. It's normal for a great demon like him to have a temper. When you can't beat him, you need to know when to advance and retreat, and not to confront him head-on!
"Killing me is easy, of course. But you've been trapped here for too long. You probably don't know that many immortal sects are recruiting disciples from Wushan, who the Wushan people are descended from, and what their true purpose is. Senior probably knows better than I do."
Wu Xiutang said, "Although the aura of the Sun and Moon is weak, the Nine-Tailed Fox managed to escape, but it was still burned by the Mountain-Protecting Fire and almost lost its cultivation. I know you are not afraid of the Fire, but that does not mean that the other demons are not afraid. Moreover, you still have the Soul-Locking Chain on your body. Once they find the Goddess, you will have no chance to escape."
The goddess possesses powerful restorative abilities, so she can naturally restore the seal to its original state.
Shi Xianxue listened blankly. No wonder the Nine Heavens Immortal Mansion didn't care about one's background when accepting disciples, only about bloodline. It turned out that they were looking for the goddess.
The demonic clouds swarmed like bees, and the wind and clouds seemed to shift unpredictably in their eyes, but they said nothing.
“I never ask for favors. I came here only to make a deal with you.” Wu Xiutang raised his hand in mid-air. Shi Xianxue thought he was going to take out something big, so she craned her neck to look. Unexpectedly, he just snapped his fingers. Shi Xianxue’s consciousness seemed to be shut down, and she slumped limply into Wu Ying’s suddenly transformed soft fur.
Feng Yun saw clearly Wu Ying's form, which resembled a leopard, but was white-bodied and named Meng Ji. He found it laughable: "You killed the Meng Ji beast and destroyed its spirit, just to make a body for such an ordinary raccoon. It can't even unleash 50% of Meng Ji's demonic power. What a waste!"
Seeing that Wu Ying had caught her steadily, Wu Xiutang looked back at the altar. He didn't care about Feng Yun's opinion and said in a deep voice, "Tell me how to use the artifact, and I will help you obtain the Demon-Subduing Sword to break the seal."
Feng Yun's eyes were filled with undisguised sarcasm: "The Demon-Subduing Sword, along with the Sun and Moon Guide and the Chaos Pearl, are the three great ancient artifacts. If one's cultivation is not above the Mahayana stage, forcibly activating an artifact will inevitably result in a backlash. The power of the artifact will crush the user into a pulp. You, a piece of trash who can't even hold a sword, have the nerve to say you can help me."
Wu Xiutang calmly replied, "Although the demonic bone isn't on me—"
The platinum flames illuminated the boy's profile, the flame in his palm seemed to be imbued with life, its body entirely white, with a golden border appearing when it leaped. He met Feng Yun's suddenly opened eyes, his lips curving into a smile, revealing his white tiger teeth, looking quite innocent. "But I can mobilize the Mountain-Protecting Flame, and after obtaining the Demon-Subduing Sword, Senior can leave Mount No Return without losing a single soldier."
The shock on Feng Yun's face gradually faded, and his gaze became cold and deep, as if he were lost in some unpleasant memories. After a moment, he lifted his eyelids and said politely, "Come closer, I can't see very clearly."
Here we go again with this trick.
Wu Xiutang chuckled, "Why bother with all that?" He pushed his palm forward, and the ball of platinum flame flew into the Soul-Locking Chain, then burrowed into Feng Yun's body along the red-hot iron chain. Seeing Feng Yun's suddenly furrowed brows, Wu Xiutang's dark pupils revealed a playful smile, "Did you see it clearly enough?"
Just as the flame was about to burst into his spiritual abode, Wu Xiutang finally cut it off. Feng Yun let out a heavy sigh, his eyelids reddening, and he looked at Wu Xiutang with a complicated expression.
It was indeed a fire that protected the mountain, but compared to the one on Mount No Return, this fire was obviously much fresher, exuding the aura of its initial birth, brand new and bright. As the spiritual energy transformed from the fire traveled through the meridians, Feng Yun sensed a subtle difference.
This is not the fire of the Mountain of No Return; it is clearly a new fire created by the boy himself.
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