Chapter 164: Undercurrents
In the dark, secluded chamber of the Murong Manor in the Eastern Continent, Murong Hanchan had been meditating for many days. Since her defeat at the hands of Shen Qianying, her former arrogance had melted away like ice and snow, vanishing completely. The truth that there are always mountains beyond mountains, and people beyond people, was now deeply etched in her heart. She discarded all distractions, focusing her mind solely on breaking through to the peak of the Transformation Realm, and even glimpsing the profound mysteries of Sainthood.
She slowly opened her eyes, her sharp eyebrows slightly raised, and murmured to herself, "I have cultivated the Frost Qi since childhood, and this body has long since become an extremely cold body, with deep-rooted cold poison. Fortunately, during my trip to Longyang City, I unexpectedly obtained that crimson dragon soul into my body..." She sensed the powerful and scorching dragon soul power in her dantian, "This extremely yang and intense dragon soul is the natural nemesis to suppress the cold poison in my body."
With this thought in mind, her mind raced, and her body suddenly spun! An overwhelming and unstoppable force surged forth from within her, instantly enveloping her layer by layer, forming a visible energy vortex. "Now that the hidden danger within my body has been eliminated, and there are no more worries, I must completely fuse this body of extreme cold and extreme heat into one! Breaking through to the Transcendent Realm is just around the corner!"
Her eyes flashed with a sharp light, and a surge of heroic spirit burst forth as she shouted in a fierce voice, "Shen Qianying! Just you wait and see, the title of number one in the world will ultimately belong to me, Murong Hanchan!" Her final roar was filled with determination and arrogance, and the sound waves rolled so loudly that the foundation of the entire Murong Mansion trembled slightly!
Meanwhile, at the main altar of the Innate Sect, Fu Xiuming, dressed in a long black robe, casually leaned against a black wooden throne, one hand supporting his forehead, seemingly in a light sleep. He exuded an unfathomable aura, displaying the majesty of a king.
Upon hearing that his beloved disciple Shangguan Qinghuan had been defeated by Murong Hanchan, he no longer cared about the ethereal "worldly tribulation" and resolutely chose to enter the mortal realm.
A question lingered in his mind: how could a seventeen-year-old girl have cultivated to such a high level at such a young age? He himself had already reached the Saintly Realm, and to advance further and ascend to the Immortal Path, the first priority was to break the barrier that had plagued this world for millions of years. And Murong Hanchan… this prodigy who had appeared out of nowhere might just be the perfect help he needed to break through this impasse…
“Senior,” a respectful voice sounded from the side, it was Shangguan Yanxin, “everything is ready. When shall we launch a thunderous attack on the Murong family?”
Fu Xiuming slightly raised his eyelids, his deep gaze sweeping over Shangguan Yanxin indifferently: "Oh? What have you prepared?"
Shangguan Yanxin smiled confidently: "Naturally, we will use the full strength of our sect's elite forces, with the overwhelming force of Mount Tai, to completely raze the Murong family to the ground, leaving not a single tile behind!"
"Heh..." Upon hearing this, Fu Xiuming's lips curled into an undisguised mockery, and he let out a cold snort. He sat up straight, his gaze disdainful, "Is a mere Murong family worth all this fuss and trouble?"
Hearing this, Shangguan Qinghuan's heart tightened. She quickly stepped forward and said urgently, "Master! You must not underestimate the Murong family! Especially that Murong Hanchan, she is simply an unparalleled martial arts monster! She... she is very good at fighting!"
Fu Xiuming, however, was unimpressed, his lazy demeanor revealing absolute confidence: "So what? She's just a greenhorn girl, even with her Transcendent Realm cultivation, how much trouble can she cause? You and your son can come with me, that's enough." His words were casual, but his eyes were as deep as the sea, containing an undeniable power.
Shangguan Yanxin frowned, still uneasy as he recalled how Murong Hanchan had once humiliated him. He advised again, "Senior, is it... is it a bit presumptuous of us to rely on just the three of us? To be on the safe side, why don't we bring two envoys and twelve generals to reinforce us?"
Fu Xiuming frowned slightly, showing a hint of impatience: "Do as you please!" After saying that, he suddenly stood up, his five fingers slowly closing as if he had already grasped the vast land in his palm. His deep and powerful voice echoed in the hall: "Murong Mansion? Ha, it is nothing but something in my hands, I can take it with a snap of my fingers."
As Tianji Peak soared into the clouds, Zhu Huiqing carried someone on her back, her figure as swift as lightning, darting across the suspended iron chain connecting the earthly peaks. Her steps were light, her figure appearing and disappearing amidst the churning clouds and mist, and in a few leaps, she landed steadily on the windward platform.
The moment she stood still, Zhu Huiqing frowned. An invisible barrier had suddenly appeared before her, formed by countless incredibly sharp wind blades spinning and coalescing at high speed, emitting a mournful "whoosh," cutting through the air and blocking her path. "When did such a powerful barrier appear?" she thought inwardly, shocked. "To be able to gather wind into blades, condensing them without dissipating… this skill… could it be that my junior sister's cultivation… has already reached the Saint level?!"
With a swift thought, she didn't hesitate. She channeled her powerful inner energy into her right palm and tentatively pressed it against the wind blade barrier. A sudden, loud "whoosh" of air being torn apart erupted. The barrier seemed enraged, countless wind blades converging instantly, crashing towards her palm like a raging torrent! Zhu Huiqing felt a tremendous force rebound against her, her feet sinking slightly, and she was forced back a step. "Such powerful strength!" She steadied herself, a hint of surprise and admiration flashing in her eyes.
"It's Senior Sister!" A clear and joyful voice called out from within the barrier. Dongxue's figure, like a ghost, followed a specific footwork pattern, gracefully stepping out from the raging wind blade barrier. "Senior Sister! What brings you here?!" She hurried forward, her face beaming with the excitement of a long-awaited reunion.
Zhu Huiqing smiled and said, "I came here last time, but unfortunately you weren't in the palace. What's with this barrier?"
Dongxue immediately explained, "This barrier was set up by the Palace Master himself to prevent trespassers from entering Tianji Peak! Senior Sister, come with me and follow my steps to avoid the wind blades." As she spoke, she gestured for Zhu Huiqing to follow her peculiar footwork.
"Indeed ingenious, it's an excellent safety barrier." Zhu Huiqing did as she was told, praising it. Her gaze then fell on Dongxue, and then swept over the figure on her back, barely breathing and with snow-white hair.
Dongxue followed her gaze and then noticed the person on her back. She asked in surprise, "Senior Sister, who is the person you are carrying on your back...? They look extremely injured!"
Zhu Huiqing said in a deep voice, "She is Chunxiang."
"What?!" Dongxue was struck dumb, her eyes widening in disbelief. She hurriedly leaned closer to examine the withered, haggard face draped in white gauze. Upon recognizing the vaguely familiar outline, her eyes instantly reddened, her voice choked with sobs, and she trembled as she grasped the bloodless, brittle hand: "...Sister Chunxiang? She...how could she...how could she have become like this?!" Tears welled in her eyes.
Zhu Huiqing sighed softly, "We'll discuss the details later. First, take me to see Junior Sister Linglong. Chunxiang's condition... can't be delayed any longer."
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