After the mist cleared, Li Jingyu’s face gradually became clear.
Her eyes held a gentle smile, seemingly unchanged from the past.
Ji Yutang gazed at her, unconsciously taking a step forward.
When she regained her senses, she abruptly stopped and said to Li Jingyu in a deep voice, “The paths of the Immortal and the Demon are different.” Even if Li Jingyu was different from others, so what? She was a demon seed and still unwilling to leave the Demon Sect.
“Yes, the paths of the Immortal and the Demon are different,” Li Jingyu sighed softly, a hint of melancholy and sorrow in her eyes.
She beckoned Ji Yutang over, saying, “Come here.”
Ji Yutang glared angrily at Li Jingyu.
As the dragon core in her abdomen circulated, her divine power dispersed the black water entwined around her wrist.
“Ji Yutang,” Li Jingyu said, her voice carrying an inexplicable rhythm and cadence, like a slender hand plucking at heartstrings.
Ji Yutang shuddered, her vigilance intensifying, and amidst her emotional turmoil, a trace of regret emerged.
“The Immortal and the Demon are not the same path, so why don’t you come and keep me company?” Li Jingyu spoke slowly.
This was destined not to be an easy path, and walking it alone was too lonely.
“I won’t fall into the demon path,” Ji Yutang said calmly.
Even though the Immortal Sect had its flaws, it was not like the current Demon Sect.
Did Li Jingyu truly believe the current demon path was correct? Ji Yutang’s thoughts fluctuated, but the words were swallowed back before they reached her lips.
“Is that so…” A trace of regret crossed Li Jingyu’s brows.
She slightly raised her head, and a thin stream of water, seemingly her embodiment, affectionately entwined around Ji Yutang, kissing her hem.
“In the Mind Palace, how do you think of me?” Ji Yutang’s breath caught at these words.
Until now, she hadn’t expelled that lingering presence from her Mind Palace, occasionally falling into illusions she constructed.
But in front of Li Jingyu, how could she admit this? Her eyes darted around, and she bluffed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Tsk,” Li Jingyu sighed, her eyes filled with teasing.
She gazed at Ji Yutang with interest, only retracting her gaze when she noticed the blush rising from her ears.
“Did you come here without resistance today to inform your Immortal Sect comrades, or because… you can’t bear to leave me?” The last four words were drawn out, the tone lingering, like intimate whispers between lovers.
Ji Yutang steadied herself and retorted, “Zhenluo Hall is committing heinous crimes!” Her overwhelming dragon might exploded with a “bang,” dispersing the entwining black water.
She looked at Li Jingyu, “About the matter of the human seeds, do you really not intend to explain, or is it truly related to you?”
“Do you want to know more?” Li Jingyu didn’t take Ji Yutang’s anger to heart.
She propped her chin, her tone leisurely and composed, “Come over, and I’ll tell you.”
Ji Yutang didn’t move.
She looked deeply at the person on the seat, convinced she was full of lies.
Having been teased many times before, she wouldn’t be fooled again.
Li Jingyu sighed again, visibly hurt and disappointed by Ji Yutang’s refusal.
The dragon might swept through the hall, the airwaves crashing against the stone pillars with a dull thud.
Li Jingyu stared fixedly, the water shooting out like chains, pulling Ji Yutang, trying to bring her closer.
When entering the hall, Ji Yutang had been on guard against Li Jingyu.
Seeing the water surge, she immediately used the “Heavenly Dragon Split” divine power to disperse the surrounding water, then used the force to retreat, her left hand gripping the Falling Moon Bow.
The green arrows fell like stars, colliding with the water tides in the hall, dragon roars emanating from the arrows, layers of fierce dragon shadows sweeping away obstacles ahead.
Li Jingyu stood up from her seat, her smile fading slightly, her aura rising and falling like layered waves.
After not seeing each other for a while, Ji Yutang’s dragon skills had advanced, and after learning the “Heavenly Dragon Immaculate” divine power, her physical strength had increased, not to mention the heavenly garment she wore outside, no wonder she had the courage to come to Zhenluo Hall.
“Do you really want to fight me?” Li Jingyu frowned and asked.
Ji Yutang said coldly, “If you don’t speak, I can only assume you’ve completely turned into a demon, and isn’t the struggle between the Immortal and the Demon a natural thing?” Li Jingyu chuckled, “You’re right.
In that case, those imprisoned cultivators should be killed directly.”
Ji Yutang’s expression changed, questioning, “What do you mean?” Li Jingyu countered, “What do you think?” Ji Yutang ground her back teeth, reluctantly putting away the Falling Moon Bow, facing Li Jingyu’s cold face, her expression also darkened.
Li Jingyu said again, “Come over.”
Ji Yutang cursed, “Shameless scoundrel!” She reluctantly moved her steps.
Li Jingyu looked at her, half-smiling, “I’m a demon cultivator, isn’t shamelessness a virtue?” She stared at Ji Yutang until the distance between them suddenly closed to less than a foot, then she was satisfied and curled her lips.
She reached out and hooked Ji Yutang’s collar, and as she sat back, Ji Yutang was pulled forward by a force, her body leaning forward involuntarily.
Ji Yutang’s expression changed, her hands pressing down on the armrests of the chair, her right leg kneeling on the chair, stabilizing her posture.
She said with a grim face, squeezing out a sentence through her teeth, “I’m here.”
Li Jingyu smiled, “Why not try transforming into a dragon?” Ji Yutang’s forehead veins throbbed, angrily saying, “Li Jingyu, don’t push your luck!” Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, “Can you only do this for them? Don’t you care about their lives?” Seeing Ji Yutang pursing her lips without answering, Li Jingyu’s gaze shifted, her tone as gentle as a breeze through the treetops, “Or is your heart cold, not for them, but for me that you came over? Are you sure I won’t harm you?” Ji Yutang’s tone rose, exasperated, “Don’t be so self-righteous!” She was half-leaning on Li Jingyu, their warm breaths mingling, Ji Yutang’s mind muddled, catching a familiar faint scent.
Li Jingyu’s tone was even gentler, “If you want to get closer, it’s okay, I won’t blame you.”
Ji Yutang snapped back to her senses, realizing she was almost buried in Li Jingyu’s chest, her heart jolting.
She leaned back, suspiciously asking, “What did you do to me?!” Just as she was about to withdraw, her leg kneeling on the chair was suddenly clamped by Li Jingyu.
Ji Yutang was stunned, a blush spreading uncontrollably from one side to the other.
Li Jingyu said softly, “I haven’t seen you for a long time.”
Ji Yutang frowned, “Why do you want to see me?” Now being held by Li Jingyu, she didn’t dare to move recklessly.
Li Jingyu looked at Ji Yutang with a hint of reproach, speaking slowly, “Naturally, because I like you.”
Ji Yutang’s face burned even more, but then she thought of something, and the heat gradually subsided.
She stared at Li Jingyu, “When will you release them? Do you really have no way? Are you willing to be under others?” Li Jingyu asked in surprise, “Release who?” Ji Yutang angrily said, “Are you playing with me?!” Li Jingyu rubbed her temples, sighing, “How could I? You have to understand my difficulties.
Even if I have the heart, I can’t do this.”
Ji Yutang: “Then are you here following the orders of those demon cultivators? You are now the various saintess, the demon seed of the Demon Sect, can’t you really decide this matter?” Li Jingyu avoided her gaze, speaking lightly, “Why are you so naive? In Jiuzhou, whether it’s the Demon Sect or the Immortal Sect, it’s all about strength.
What if you’re in a high position? Can you wield power? It’s said that the Three Supreme Palaces are led by their respective heirs, but can you see the Taishi Palace heir commanding the Taishi Palace head?” Ji Yutang was speechless, only speaking after a long pause, “How can it be the same?” Li Jingyu said, “What’s different?” She suddenly changed the subject, “But I can take you around Zhenluo Hall.”
Ji Yutang’s eyelid twitched, “Really?” Li Jingyu nodded, “Of course, but don’t do anything to make it difficult for me.
You know this place is not like Huoxin Palace.
Although the Tianhai Demon Sect people respect me because I came out of the Ancestral Source Demon Sea, it doesn’t mean they fear me.”
Ji Yutang pursed her lips.
The words “Ancestral Source Demon Sea” fell like a thunderclap, shattering the harmony between her and Li Jingyu.
She vaguely knew some things, the Tianhai Demon Sect regarded Li Jingyu as a demon seed, meaning that in the future, Li Jingyu would gradually manifest as the Demon Ancestor.
The disappearance of the Tai Shang mark on her body was a sign, wasn’t it? Although she had been cautious, sometimes she couldn’t help but trust Li Jingyu, but was the current Li Jingyu still the same as before? “What are you thinking?” Li Jingyu looked at Ji Yutang, speaking casually.
Ji Yutang frowned, only speaking after a long time, “It will only be a demon, right?” Li Jingyu looked deeply at Ji Yutang, “Understand my true nature, all laws return to one.”
The rear hall of Zhenluo Hall led to a small realm, a place for nurturing human seeds.
Compared to the outside bloodshed, the people inside seemed “harmonious,” without the sorrow and pain of being human seeds.
They lived in grand and beautiful palaces, with demon cultivators “offering” delicacies daily, not engaging in production, just being “wealthy idlers.” As for those human seeds taken out by demon cultivators, they thought the others went to enjoy a higher level of life, only feeling endless envy.
Seeing this scene, Ji Yutang felt nothing but endless resentment and anger.
Although she promised not to do anything extra, how could she endure it? She grabbed a human seed on the street, intending to take him out of the small realm, but she didn’t expect the human seed to look at her as if she were crazy, even calling others to drive her away.
“You, you—” Ji Yutang turned her head, seeing Li Jingyu just looking on expressionlessly, her heart sinking into an ice cave.
“Aren’t you going to see those Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace cultivators?” Li Jingyu seemed unable to read Ji Yutang’s emotions, speaking slowly, and without waiting for Ji Yutang to respond, she stepped forward, grasping her wrist, taking her out of the small realm.
To the Tianhai Demon Sect cultivators, Immortal Sect cultivators were more nourishing than ordinary human seeds.
In the past, they would consume captured Immortal Sect disciples, but this time they only imprisoned them in a certain place.
After all, these people were disciples of the Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace, marked with literary seals.
While the cultivators were alive, they could temporarily suppress the seals, but once they died, things would become uncontrollable.
Ji Yutang entered the cell alone, where seven Confucian Sect disciples were held, one of whom looked familiar.
After a while, Ji Yutang remembered that this person was Tu Danzhu, whom she had met before.
She had now cultivated into a Golden Core, but her bad luck seemed not to have dissipated.
“Daoist Friend Tu,” Ji Yutang called softly.
Tu Danzhu, who was meditating with closed eyes, suddenly opened her eyes upon hearing the sound.
She looked at Ji Yutang in surprise, exclaiming, “Daoist Friend Ji? How did you get captured too?”
Ji Yutang looked around, whispering, “It’s not good to say more, Daoist Friend Tu, just wait for a while.”
Tu Danzhu’s eyes flickered, understanding immediately.
She nodded, her lips moving silently, forming the words “take care.”
Perhaps knowing Ji Yutang was Li Jingyu’s “trophy,” even the Demon Sect cultivators only dared to glance at her with their eyes, not daring to actually touch her.
During this time, Li Jingyu was indeed generous, taking her around Zhenluo Hall, even explaining the formation matters to her in a few words.
In this situation, Ji Yutang couldn’t help but doubt Li Jingyu’s intentions, was it “secret assistance” or “bait”?
In the forest.
Yan Shouxia and Shen Zao had been patiently waiting for Ji Yutang’s message, while Shen Liaozhi, the Taishi disciple, had initially been persuaded to stay, but after a few days, he couldn’t hold back.
After all, his goal was different from Yan Shouxia and Shen Zao’s; he wanted to kill Li Jingyu.
The communication talisman flickered, and a trace of surprise flashed in Yan Shouxia’s eyes.
After all, in their plan, the “talisman” was unlikely to be used, but after careful inspection, it was indeed Ji Yutang’s mark.
She quickly read the message, saying, “Junior Sister Ji sent a message back, it seems there’s no one guarding Zhenluo Hall, at least the hall master isn’t there.
There’s also a blueprint, this pattern… looks like a formation diagram?”
“What about Li Jingyu? Is she there?” Shen Liaozhi asked.
Shen Zao raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shen Liaozhi, then leaned over to Yan Shouxia to take a look, replying, “She’s there.”
Shen Liaozhi breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good.” After a pause, he added, “I’ve contacted the senior brothers from the Palace of Supreme Mystery, they’ll arrive soon.
Then we’ll head straight to Zhenluo Hall!”
“But we can’t be sure if everything in Zhenluo Hall is a show for us,” Yan Shouxia pondered for a moment, then said, “In the records, there’s almost no mention of the hall master leaving.
But the hall master’s whereabouts are unknown, maybe they went back to the Demon Sect to ask for reinforcements.” The struggle between the Immortal and Demon paths had always been ongoing, but this “struggle” had its ebbs and flows.
Like before, it was gentle, but in this year, after the Taiyuan Palace master went to White Bone Mountain and had their incarnation scattered by the Demon Sect ancestor, the “confrontation” became more intense.
One reason was Taiyuan Palace’s reckless actions, and the other was the impending thousand-five-hundred-year great calamity.
To survive, they had to strike at their enemies.
Demon Sect cultivators bore the heavy burden of the world, and instead of trying to eliminate it, they sought to disperse the clear energy by killing Immortal cultivators, reducing the world’s pressure and increasing their own fortune.
Yan Shouxia added, “Regardless of whether it is or not, we must prepare for the worst.”
Shen Liaozhi nodded, understanding, “I understand.”
The light filtered through the clouds, casting a mirage-like mist over Zhenluo Hall, constantly shifting and changing, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact location of Zhenluo Hall.
A shadow of a White Dragon appeared in the clouds, serving as a marker in the mist.
This was the secret signal agreed upon by Ji Yutang and Yan Shouxia.
Upon seeing the White Dragon, Yan Shouxia and Shen Zao exchanged glances, both thinking of the same person.
However, they tacitly decided to suppress this realization and pretended not to notice.
In front of Zhenluo Hall, Wan Ji reached out and caught a mirage pearl in his hand.
He smirked with interest, saying, “Ji Yue even managed to get something related to the dragon clan.”
Gao Cang lifted his eyelids slightly, responding indifferently, “After all, she went to the North Sea.”
Wan Ji clicked his tongue, “With that dragon shadow leading the way, those people should be able to find this place, right? Speaking of which, returning to the sect this time cost me a lot of effort to get that ‘Yin Ming Wan Xiang Tu’.”
Gao Cang didn’t respond, but internally he was quite dismissive.
With Wan Ji’s status, there were plenty of people willing to run errands for him, and obtaining the ‘Yin Ming Wan Xiang Tu’ shouldn’t have required much effort, just some cost when asking for help.
A quarter of an hour later, three figures full of clear energy emerged from the mist.
Wan Ji raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, “Only three people? If that’s all, wasn’t my effort wasted?” Gao Cang tugged at the corner of his mouth, speaking in a calm voice, “Not necessarily.”
Wan Ji laughed heartily, replying, “That’s right, Immortal Sect always likes to be secretive.” As Yan Shouxia and the others’ faces became clearer, he curved his lips into an amused smile, shouted loudly, and summoned his white bone avatar, extending a ghastly skeletal hand towards Yan Shouxia and the others.
Seeing this, Gao Cang also shook his form, and a mass of ghostly fire slowly floated out.
Originally, with enough White Cang Yin Wood Seed, he could have advanced to the Three Yin Poison Fire, but unfortunately, the White Cang Yin Wood Seed was taken by Huoxin Palace, and after his mission failed, he couldn’t exchange for enough treasures, so the White Cang Yin Fire stopped at the “ghost fire” stage.
Inside the hall, a water mirror projected in front of Li Jingyu, who watched the battle with great interest, as if it had nothing to do with her.
Ji Yutang was eager to go out and support Yan Shouxia and her group, but the hall was sealed, and she couldn’t get out.
After a while, she looked at Li Jingyu and said, “Two against three, aren’t you going to help?”
“What does their life or death have to do with me?” Li Jingyu glanced at Ji Yutang, surprised.
Ji Yutang: “…” She forgot, there was no camaraderie among Demon Sect disciples, but should they just watch a Demon Sect stronghold fall? Perhaps Wan Ji had some demonic cultivators helping him.
After wandering around for a few days, she knew this Zhenluo Hall was unusually quiet.
Sure enough, before long, three more demonic shadows charged towards Yan Shouxia and the others.
“You think only you have reinforcements?” A mocking laugh rang out, followed by rolling thunder and a tremor in the ground.
It was the disciples of Taishi Palace arriving.
The numbers on both sides were about the same, and their cultivation levels were all Golden Core, making the fight evenly matched.
Whenever one side seemed to be losing, hidden people would reveal themselves—now both Demon Sect and Immortal Sect had gone through several rounds, and the initial five people had turned into nearly twenty.
Golden Core cultivators had already achieved the human-immortal fruit, and many chose to cultivate in seclusion, so the most common travelers on the Jiuzhou continent were Foundation Establishment cultivators.
But now, with twenty Golden Core cultivators suddenly appearing, it was a small peak of power collision between the mysterious and demonic.
“Taishi Palace really went all out.” Li Jingyu sighed as she watched the people in the water mirror.
Rather than targeting the demonic cultivators, it seemed they were coming for her.
Glancing at the heavy-faced Ji Yutang, she smiled, “Who do you think will win?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Of course, the Immortal Sect.” Ji Yutang snorted coldly, no matter the situation, she had only one answer.
Li Jingyu continued, “Want to go out?” Ji Yutang looked wary, “What are you planning?” Li Jingyu shrugged, showing an innocent smile, “I just saw you were worried.” She cast a spell, and the sealed hall immediately connected with the outside.
Ji Yutang stared at Li Jingyu, then flew out of Zhenluo Hall as if something terrifying was chasing her.
Li Jingyu watched her until her figure disappeared, then let out a faint sigh.
After leaving Zhenluo Hall, Ji Yutang didn’t head to the battle to help the Immortal Sect but instead followed her memory to find the prison holding the Immortal Sect cultivators.
Previously, following Li Jingyu, the path was smooth, but now alone, she encountered layers of formations.
She initially planned to forcibly break through the formations, but suddenly recalled Li Jingyu’s casual explanations of the formations.
Moments later, she tried using the spells Li Jingyu taught her, and the formation gates indeed broke open! A hint of joy flashed in Ji Yutang’s eyes, and she quickened her pace in breaking the formations.
Two quarters of an hour later, she finally reached the prison.
“Fellow Daoist Tu!” Ji Yutang called urgently.
Tu Danzhu looked at Ji Yutang, frowning, “What’s happening outside?” Ji Yutang nodded, “Senior Sister Yan, Sister Shen, and people from the Palace of Supreme Mystery have arrived.” Her eyes fixed on Tu Danzhu, noticing a complex formation in front of her.
This formation was more intricate than the ones outside, and after casting several spells, Ji Yutang felt her divine sense being continuously drained, as if it would be exhausted.
Ji Yutang didn’t want to give up now; the ‘Daode Heavenly Book’ had been refined into her life treasure, and it slowly manifested behind her, its clear light nourishing her like flowing water.
Her soul trembled, drawing more Dao rhythm from the ‘Mysterious Female Gate’.
Though it seemed a long time, it was only a few breaths.
Ji Yutang wiped the sweat from her forehead and exhaled deeply.
She looked at Tu Danzhu and the others, “Let’s go!” Just as they ran out of the prison, the world shook violently, and nine rivers of water fell from above, the splashing water turning into continuous sword energy, cutting away the turbid evil energy.
“This, this is—” Ji Yutang’s eyelids twitched.
“The Taishi Chongyuan Ninefold Sword Formation!” Shen Liaozhi, who was fighting Wan Ji, retreated with the airwaves, her face pale as she looked at the gradually forming formation.
Although the formation bore the name “Taishi,” everyone within the sword formation would be indiscriminately slaughtered! The abyss is the origin of all things, the manifestation of the Dao, and this formation, rooted in the water of the nine abysses, is a continuous and endless Dao portal, its manifested sword energy extremely difficult to resist.
But there were no Taishi Palace disciples here, and even if there were, they couldn’t possibly form the Taishi Chongyuan Formation! Could it be her?! But how could someone who fell into demonic cultivation do it?
