The yin wind rose, carrying with it traces of Nether River Water. Her mentor, the former Sect Leader of the Chenxiang Sect, had underestimated this yin wind and had his Golden Core contaminated by the Nether River Water. This caused his already failing health to deteriorate entirely, and not long after returning, he passed away while meditating in the hall.
Mu Hongchen deeply understood that things near her but not within her grasp could never belong to her. Decisively, she said, "My Heart Protecting Lamp still has oil to burn for two more days. Daoist Zhang, my two Junior Sisters, if we act quickly and head there in time to claim the Demon Storage, we can still make it back safely."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yelan’s face turned pale. From the Sixth Realm onward, her safety depended entirely on that Heart Protecting Lamp. If any accident occurred, she wouldn’t even have the chance to escape. She forced a smile and said, "Senior Sister, my cultivation is insufficient. Perhaps I should stay here to provide backup for you all."
Mu Hongchen seemed to perceive her inner fear but did not reproach her. She sighed softly and said, "Junior Sister Qi, I’ve come here no less than twenty times, and seven of those times, I’ve been forced back by a formidable devil. This devil is extremely powerful, with cultivation nearly on par with a Xuan Guang Realm cultivator. We can only ensure our safety working together as sisters. If you’re left alone here, how would you handle such an encounter?"
Qi Yelan hesitated briefly before finally nodding. Mu Hongchen clasped her hand reassuringly, signaling her not to worry.
By comparison, Hu Jue was straightforward in thought, never dwelling on matters too deeply. She merely listened half-understandingly, believing wholeheartedly in following Senior Sister’s lead.
Zhang Yan naturally had no objections. With the Dharma Treasure protecting him, coupled with the abundant and long-lasting Lan Yun Xuan Guang enveloping him, he could easily endure in this place for months. However, curiosity stirred within him—if he relied solely on Xuan Guang for protection, how far into the Nine Qi could he descend?
Just as he prepared to set off, the sword ball located at the center of his brow pulsed slightly. This was a warning sign. His gaze sharpened, and he said, "Fellow Daoists, be cautious."
Mu Hongchen and the others quickly backed up into a defensive circle, prepared for combat. Yet, after waiting for some time, there was no movement. Qi Yelan furrowed her brows slightly and hesitantly said, "Daoist Zhang..."
At the very instant she spoke, a long spear radiating icy chills silently descended from above, aimed directly at the crown of her head. However, just as it was about to make contact, it seemed to strike an invisible barrier. A burst of red light erupted from the spear’s tip, narrowly deflecting the weapon.
Mu Hongchen felt a tremor across the veil she wore, startling her. She called out, "Above us! Junior Sisters, be cautious!"
At this moment, fear gripped her heart. Thankfully, her veil—the "Red Cloud Incense Cover," the Chenxiang Sect’s sect treasure—had just shielded all three of them. Otherwise, that earlier spear strike may very well have killed the distracted Qi Yelan.
As the spear recoiled, the surrounding black fog stirred as if churned by an enormous hand. Within it slowly emerged a devil over two zhang tall, armored and helmeted, with a face obscured in shadow. His fingers, exposed outside the armor, were gnarled like the roots of ancient trees. With every step forward, his armor collided with itself, producing the sharp clangs of metal.
Hu Jue let out a delicate shout, forming a spell with her hand seals. Over ten silver rings flew off her arm, hurtling toward the devil like torrential rain. As they struck his armor, they clanged loudly, forcing him to retreat step by step. However, their impact proved insufficient to inflict serious harm. At last, the shadowed helm produced a muffled roar, and the devil swept his spear outward, creating a wheel of spear shadows that deflected the incoming silver rings one by one.
Hu Jue hastily recalled her rings, but she had heard the faint sound of cracks. Bringing them before her eyes for inspection, she found that at least five had sustained fractures. The spiritual energy they once brimmed with had dimmed completely. While they could be repaired and refined again, the sight still brought tears to her eyes.
Mu Hongchen’s expression grew heavy as she solemnly warned, "Be careful. The devil wields a Divine Weapon in his hand."
Having narrowly escaped death, Qi Yelan was both furious and terrified. She retrieved a handful of colorful flower petals, scattering them toward the devil.
These petals were not Dharma Treasures but Magic Artifacts refined from spirit water, a secret technique of the Chenxiang Sect. If crafted properly, their power could be great. However, in pursuit of visual splendor, she had chosen seven colors for their variety, weakening their effectiveness by over thirty percent despite the dazzling appearance.
As the petals approached, the devil let out a sinister laugh and blew a breath that caused the petals to wilt and disintegrate into ash midair. Then, taking a large stride, he crossed several zhang in an instant and arrived before Qi Yelan. It seemed as though he’d singled her out deliberately, thrusting his spear toward her chest.
Yet, just before the spear could reach her, the devil suddenly sensed something amiss. He roared and shifted his weapon to parry, but before he could react fully, a streak of sword light flashed across his neck.
The devil’s body froze momentarily before collapsing with a loud crash. His spear fell from his grip as wisps of smoke emanated from his armor, which soon emptied completely, leaving behind only a hollow shell.
Meanwhile, amidst the murky Netherworld Qi of the Seventh Realm, a peculiar ferry drifted aimlessly. Seated aboard was a middle-aged Daoist, about forty years old, his lips thick and his earlobes drooping to his shoulders.
The Daoist appeared lifeless, with his eyes shut and no discernible breath as though deceased. However, at the precise moment the devil was slain, his eyes snapped open. Stretching out his hand, he retrieved a copper mirror and examined it intently for a moment before setting it down. He stroked his fine beard and chuckled, "I’ve waited a long time, and now I’ve caught another fish on the hook? Excellent. Those three women will be easy enough to handle, but that young Daoist turns out to be a Sword Cultivator. Could he be a Shaoqing Disciple? No harm in testing him further."
He reached into his sleeve and retrieved a row of command tokens divided into three colors—gold, silver, and copper. Each color contained seven tokens. After briefly inspecting them, he recited a spell. In an instant, three silver tokens shot through the air.
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)