The Ten Thousand Demons Cave was shrouded in thick dark clouds. The clouds churned, and the wind howled ominously. Vengeful spirits and ghosts flickered in and out of the clouds, as if ready to drag any intruder into the abyss.
Bao Gu caught sight of a banner fluttering within the clouds. The banner exuded a sinister aura, surrounded by a swarm of vengeful spirits, making it appear extremely menacing. She pondered for a moment and asked, “Senior Sister, what’s the mystery behind that banner in the clouds?”
Yu Mi replied coldly, “That’s not a banner, but a flag, known as the Heavenly Demon Flag or Ghost Flag. It’s a magical artifact crafted by evil practitioners to imprison vengeful spirits and ghosts for their use. Creating such a flag requires a large number of vengeful spirits, the more resentment and malice, the better. Thus, the flag often contains those who died unjustly, or even those tortured to death by evil methods. Some spirits are captured from battlefields or graveyards.”
She gazed into the sea of clouds and said, “There are thirty-six flags here, forming the Thirty-Six Flags Heavenly Demon Array.” She looked at the dragon and said, “Did I get it wrong?” Her tone was icy, clearly expressing her dissatisfaction with the dragon for setting up this array.
Bao Gu said nothing, following the dragon into a spacious stone hall deep within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave.
The stone hall was carved into the mountain, grand and majestic, like an emperor’s palace.
Above the hall’s entrance were three words: Dragon Hall.
The golden characters were written in a demonic script, resembling a lifelike dragon soaring through the sky.
Bao Gu stood at the entrance, studying the characters for a while.
Yu Mi noticed Bao Gu standing still and asked, “What are you looking at?”
Bao Gu sighed softly, “Nothing,” and stepped inside.
Though the Dragon Hall was large, it was empty, making it feel desolate.
The dragon, dressed in a black robe with a cold expression, stood tall in the hall, silently watching Bao Gu enter.
The dragon did not invite Bao Gu to sit, nor did Bao Gu intend to. She glanced around, then fixed her gaze on the dragon, before turning to Yu Mi and softly saying, “Senior Sister, let’s go back.”
Yu Mi, puzzled, asked, “Go back?” Weren’t they here to take over the Ten Thousand Demons Cave? Why leave so soon?
Bao Gu nodded, “Yes, let’s go!” She summoned her flying sword and flew out of the Dragon Hall without looking back. Outside, the scene had changed. Black clouds loomed, the wind howled, and countless vengeful spirits roamed, as if one wrong step would lead to an abyss of no return. She realized the dragon had altered the array.
Yu Mi joined Bao Gu, frowning at the sight, and asked quietly, “What’s going on?”
Bao Gu turned to Yu Mi with a playful smile, “Nothing.” She then glared at the dragon and asked, “What? Do you think I can’t leave now?”
The dragon said, “Since you’re here, why rush to leave?” He then sat on the throne, his cold eyes fixed on Bao Gu, and said, “Bao Gu, you’re smart. I believe I don’t need to spell it out.”
Bao Gu stood proudly, a faint smile on her lips, and said, “Times have changed. With the demon alliance in the Two Realms Mountain, your value has naturally increased.” Her gaze turned cold, “But, dragon, let me remind you, I have limited patience and despise fickle people.”
Yu Mi tensed, preparing for action.
Bao Gu smiled gently at Yu Mi, “Don’t worry. He won’t dare harm you; he can’t afford the consequences.” She knew the dragon’s intentions and that he dared act this way because Yu Mi was with her, intending to use Yu Mi as leverage.
The dragon sneered, “Oh? And why is that?” He coldly laughed, “My Heavenly Demon Flag wouldn’t mind another vengeful spirit.”
Bao Gu laughed! Her gaze turned icy, “Dragon, repeat what you just said.” She faced the dragon, her expression unusually sharp.
The dragon said, “Bao Gu, this is the Ten Thousand Demons Cave. With layers of arrays and restrictions, even using a teleportation domain gate won’t get you out. I won’t make things difficult for you. Break the blood oath contract, leave the Nascent Soul fruit and Nirvana Pill, and I’ll ensure your safe departure.”
Yu Mi, furious, shouted, “Dragon, don’t forget Bao Gu holds your blood oath token.”
The dragon sneered, “With her here, you wouldn’t dare risk everything.” His cold eyes fixed on Bao Gu, “You think you’re clever, but you’re foolish, exposing your weakness to me. How could I not take advantage?”
Yu Mi, having been through so much with Bao Gu, understood her well. Bao Gu was always meticulous, and she must have a plan to retreat safely. If there was danger, Bao Gu wouldn’t have brought her along. She looked at Bao Gu and said quietly, “I trust you.”
Those three words, “I trust you,” melted Bao Gu’s heart, and she smiled warmly, “Yes!” She playfully winked at Yu Mi and whispered, “Hide for a moment.” Then she used a large storage bag to cover Yu Mi.
Yu Mi understood and entered the large storage bag without resistance, being sent to a medicinal field filled with treasures.
The dragon, having seen Bao Gu empty his medicinal field in the ancient ruins, knew she possessed a treasure capable of containing a world. Seeing her use a storage artifact to collect Yu Mi didn’t surprise him. He squinted with interest, “Bao Gu, you’re trapped here. Do you think putting your senior sister in a treasure will keep her safe?”
Bao Gu was truly annoyed by the dragon’s betrayal and lack of integrity, and angered by his ruthless use of the Heavenly Demon Flag, causing countless innocent deaths. She didn’t want to waste words on him, “Dragon, heaven may forgive sins, but self-inflicted ones are unforgivable. Today, you brought this upon yourself!” She took out the blood oath token, connecting with the dragon’s soul fragment within, ready to detonate it. The soul fragment was linked to the dragon’s soul, and its destruction would mean his death.
The dragon felt a sharp pain in his head, realizing Bao Gu had control over the soul fragment and was about to kill him. He shouted, “Stop!” He gritted his teeth, “Bao Gu, think carefully. If I die, my followers won’t spare you or Yu Mi. You and your precious senior sister won’t survive. How will the Xuantian Sect stand against the Jade Stone Qilin? How will you compete with the demon alliance?”
Bao Gu asked, “Is this your confidence in betrayal? Using my senior sister’s safety to threaten me? Using the Xuantian Sect to threaten me? Dragon, you broke your word and used my senior sister against me. Do you think I can forgive you?”
The dragon saw Bao Gu’s murderous intent, clearly aiming to kill him. He stood and shouted, “Bao Gu, think carefully. Would you risk your senior sister’s safety? Aren’t you afraid of something happening to her?”
Bao Gu said, “Don’t worry, even if I die, my senior sister won’t be harmed. If you die, I can still take over your Ten Thousand Demons Cave and leave safely!” She once again connected with the soul fragment in the blood oath token.
The dragon shouted, “Stop!” Bao Gu dared to gamble, but he couldn’t risk his life. He shouted, “Fine, Bao Gu, you win! I submit! I am willing to serve you!” He knelt down.
Bao Gu coldly stared at the dragon, caught in a dilemma. The dragon was evil, and reforming him was difficult. She didn’t have the time to persuade him to change. The dragon was untrustworthy, and even if spared, he might betray her again. However, killing the dragon meant dealing with the Jade Stone Qilin alone, which was challenging. His followers and the Thirty-Six Flags Heavenly Demon Array outside were also troublesome, and her chances of escaping unscathed were slim. If she killed the dragon, they wouldn’t let her leave alive. This was the dragon’s confidence in acting this way.
The dragon guessed Bao Gu was gambling, and kneeling made him regret it. If he persisted, maybe Bao Gu would relent. He knelt, seeing Bao Gu’s hesitation, but her killing intent remained, indicating she truly intended to kill him, leaving him uncertain.
Bao Gu stood coldly, “Dragon, you betrayed me once, you can do it again. You knew I wouldn’t allow anyone to harm my senior sister, yet you used her against me. Can I spare you?”
The dragon said, “Bao Gu, if I die, you won’t survive either. Mutual destruction benefits neither of us. Let’s compromise.”
Bao Gu said, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you once I leave?”
The dragon chuckled, “Aren’t you known for keeping your word? You won’t. Master, let’s compromise.”
Bao Gu was furious. Even now, the dragon was bargaining. If she agreed, how could she control him in the future? She wanted to spare the dragon, as it ensured her safety here. But today’s actions and the Heavenly Demon Flag showed the dragon didn’t respect her or the Xuantian Sect. Sparing him would lead to more deaths, and dealing with him was like negotiating with a tiger.
The dragon said, “Master, you have the blood oath token. There’s no need to risk your life to kill me today, right?”
Bao Gu glanced at the dragon, “Dragon, if I don’t kill you today, leaving here will cost me. I’m straightforward. If you want me to spare you, hand over the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, destroy the Jade Stone Qilin, and make no demands. Then this matter is settled.”
The dragon said, “Master, killing me at this distance means your death too. We’re both holding each other’s lives. Isn’t this unwise?”
Bao Gu laughed, “Why didn’t you think it was unwise before the blood oath? Back then, the Jade Stone Qilin hadn’t appeared, and you didn’t think it was unwise. Now that it has, you want to raise the stakes? I’m the master, you’re the servant. Should I beg you for benefits every time I face an enemy or need you to act?” Her gaze turned cold, and she activated the Xuantian Sword Qi in her dantian, using the sword’s intent to protect herself, while detonating the dragon’s soul fragment in the blood oath token.
The dragon screamed, “How dare you—” His words were cut off as his form exploded into black mist, destroying the grand hall. The pillars, floor tiles, and throne were reduced to dust, and the hall collapsed, with rocks falling from above.
In the black mist, Bao Gu’s protective jade pendant, given by her Grandmaster, activated, releasing powerful energy to shield her from the explosion. Bao Gu felt a strong energy impact blocked by the pendant, then was thrown back. As she landed, rocks rained down, and her pendant shattered, activating another protective artifact.
The protective artifact shielded her from the falling rocks but couldn’t prevent her from being buried. She was engulfed in darkness, the stench of decay overwhelming her, making her dizzy.
She wondered if killing the dragon was reckless, as it wasted her previous efforts. The remaining forces of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave might join the demon alliance, strengthening it. But she couldn’t tolerate the dragon’s cruel methods or his threat to her senior sister. Her father taught her to be forgiving, but could she forgive someone so evil and unrepentant? Could she forgive someone who threatened her sister?
Bao Gu felt a metallic taste in her throat and spat out blood. The rocks pinned her down, preventing movement.
She communicated with Yu Mi in the storage bag, “Senior Sister, I killed the dragon.”
Yu Mi was stunned, “How did this happen?” She instinctively thought Bao Gu did it because the dragon threatened her. She asked, “Was it because of me?”
Bao Gu replied, “Not entirely.”
Yu Mi was at a loss for words. She suddenly remembered something and asked urgently, “Are you okay? The dragon’s cultivation was deep. His energy explosion—” She was terrified, “Are you hurt? Where? Let me out!”
Bao Gu reassured, “Don’t come out. I’m not hurt. The Grandmaster’s jade pendant protected me. The stench here is strong; I don’t want it to affect you.”
Yu Mi sighed in relief, “Weren’t we here to take over the Ten Thousand Demons Cave? Why did you kill the dragon?”
Bao Gu explained, “I intended to recruit the cave’s demon cultivators and leave, but the dragon pulled this stunt.” She channeled her true energy to shatter the rocks pinning her. Though it left her dusty, she could move.
Bao Gu drew her sword to cut through the rocks, planning to carve a path out. As she worked, the stench intensified, and a foul liquid dripped on her. Her clothes sizzled, rapidly losing spiritual energy.
Bao Gu remembered the dragon was a corpse demon, and his death released unknown filth. Her protective gear might be ruined! She couldn’t stay in the filth long, fearing the consequences. Bao Gu hurriedly cut through the rocks. As she did, the rocks became sticky, affected by the dragon’s filth. She was alarmed and recalled Yu Mi had a teleportation platform. Ignoring whether the cave’s arrays were destroyed, she quickly inscribed coordinates outside the Xuantian Peak’s protective treasure and teleported out.
The short distance made the spatial energy flicker, and Bao Gu found herself in light, the stench dissipating. She exhaled in relief, turning to the cave but seeing nothing from afar. She released Yu Mi, “Senior Sister, it’s over!”
Yu Mi emerged, smelling the stench, and quickly covered her nose. Seeing Bao Gu’s clothes stained, she stripped off Bao Gu’s outer robe, relieved to find her inner garments intact. She scolded, “Why so reckless!” and handed Bao Gu a similar white robe embroidered with plum blossoms.
Bao Gu, delighted by the perfect fit, asked, “Did you prepare this robe for me too?”
Yu Mi, expressionless, nodded.
Bao Gu adjusted the robe, “I wasn’t reckless. That dragon was unreliable. If he kept his word, I’d honor mine. But who could predict the Jade Stone Qilin’s appearance would change his mind?” She realized her true reason for killing the dragon was Yu Mi’s safety. She could have kept the dragon, used him against the Jade Stone Qilin, and dealt with him later. But she didn’t want Yu Mi in danger or the dragon plotting against her, so she had to kill him.
Yu Mi, worried, asked, “With the dragon gone, how will you face the Jade Stone Qilin?”
