Chapter 696

“The demons have fled?”

“It was Fairy Lu’s flying sword that drove them away!”

“Fairy Lu is invincible!”

“We survived!”

…

When they saw the four demon cultivators forced to flee in disgrace, bloodied and dragging their wounded bodies under the relentless pursuit of that peerlessly sharp flying sword, every citizen of the Sacred City was filled with boundless excitement.

Especially the young cultivators who already admired Xiao Yan—they now revered her even more deeply.

The same excitement erupted atop the Sacred Mountain.

The disciples there were even more stirred.

For years now, Xiao Yan had been the goddess in the hearts of every young disciple of the Sacred Mountain.

And today, witnessing her unleash such divine might—slaying demons with her sword and saving countless lives from peril—many disciples could barely contain their emotions. The entire Sacred Mountain resounded with thunderous cheers.

Yet, in stark contrast, the very summit of the Sacred Mountain remained eerily quiet.

“Fairy Lu, you can stop now. Those demons have already escaped. You should cease the formation,” the First Holy Lord urged cautiously.

“Yes, Xiao Yan, if you keep forcing the array like this, it will consume your essence.” Han Lingshuang also voiced her concern.

At this moment, Xiao Yan stood wreathed in overwhelming waves of formation power, her expression cold as ice.

The reason her flying sword’s power had surged to such heights—so much that even four late-stage Golden Core demons couldn’t withstand it—was because the First Holy Lord had handed her control of the grand array left behind by Lu Qing.

With the formation’s blessing, her flying sword had transcended its limits. Even across such a vast distance, it nearly severed the Eagle Demon in a single stroke.

But activating the Sacred Mountain’s grand formation was no simple matter. The strain was immense.

The Three Holy Lords could manage only because they had been acknowledged by the mountain’s spirit itself.

Thus, the First Holy Lord grew increasingly anxious about Xiao Yan’s condition.

Hearing Han Lingshuang’s plea, Xiao Yan’s icy expression softened ever so slightly.

At last, she nodded faintly and withdrew her control of the array.

When the formation’s violent ripples finally subsided, Xiao Yan’s aura plummeted sharply. Her complexion turned pale.

Her figure flickered, vanishing on the spot.

“I’m returning to cultivate. The rest is in your hands.”

As her departing silhouette flew toward her cave dwelling, the First Holy Lord could only sigh helplessly.

He could sense it clearly—after this battle, Xiao Yan’s nature had grown even colder.

“Holy Lord, will Xiao Yan be alright?” Han Lingshuang asked anxiously.

“With Fairy Lu’s cultivation, such injuries should not be serious,” the First Holy Lord sighed. “But these years, she has tempered her path through slaughter, roaming the world to cut down demons. Her strength has soared, yes, but it has left scars.

Her temperament is being corroded by killing intent, turning ever more indifferent.

I fear that, if this continues, the consequences may be irreversible.”

Han Lingshuang fell silent before whispering, “All these years I tried to advise her, but to little effect. If only I had come earlier to accompany her…”

“Yes. It may already be too late. Now, perhaps only Lu Qing can bring Fairy Lu back from this path of slaughter. Even that old Doctor Chen likely cannot dissuade her.”

At the mention of that figure, Han Lingshuang’s gaze turned wistful. After a pause, she asked softly, “Holy Lord, when exactly will Lord Lu Qing return?”

“I do not know.” The First Holy Lord shook his head. “Fairy Lu said before, when Lu Qing left, that he promised to return within fifty years. But that fifty-year mark passed long ago, and he has yet to appear. Perhaps this too is why Fairy Lu has grown colder year by year.”

“Fifty years?” Han Lingshuang trembled. “Lord Lu Qing is not one to break his word. If fifty years have passed and he has not returned… could it be…”

She dared not finish, but fear flickered in her eyes. She did not dare imagine the answer.

The First Holy Lord comforted her. “Palace Master Han, do not be alarmed. Though Lu Qing has not returned, Fairy Lu does not seem overly worried for his safety.

Perhaps before leaving, he left her some miraculous means, so she can always know whether he is safe.”

“Is that so? Then I feel reassured.”

Han Lingshuang breathed a sigh of relief. But then, as if struck by a thought, she blurted,

“Wait—Xiao Yan is pushing her cultivation so desperately… could it be she wishes to reach the Nascent Soul Realm quickly and then venture into the starry void to seek Lord Lu Qing?”

“This…”

The First Holy Lord’s heart jolted. If it had been anyone else, he would have dismissed it outright.

But Xiao Yan…

No—Han Lingshuang’s words had opened his eyes. Yes, Xiao Yan truly might be planning such a thing.

“Perhaps Palace Master Han is correct. Fairy Lu likely harbors such intentions.”

“But the starry void is vast and perilous. Even Lord Lu Qing has not returned on time. If Xiao Yan goes alone, how could she possibly endure it?”

“If she has truly resolved to do so, there is no stopping her. Let us only hope Lu Qing returns before Fairy Lu breaks through to the Nascent Soul Realm.”

The First Holy Lord gazed toward Xiao Yan’s cave dwelling, his eyes filled with worry.

While the First Holy Lord and Han Lingshuang fretted over Xiao Yan’s fate…

Far away, the three demons who had fled regrouped.

“Damn it! How could that slut’s flying sword grow so powerful all of a sudden?”

One shadowy demon cursed, his body scored with deep sword scars. The others bore wounds as well—marks left when Xiao Yan’s sword struck them during their escape.

“There is only one explanation,” said the alluring, sinister-looking man. “That so-called Holy Lord must have given Fairy Lu control of the formation. With the array’s blessing, her flying sword’s power suddenly skyrocketed, beyond our ability to resist.”

“That must be it. To think that formation is so formidable—it allowed a mere mid-stage Golden Core sword cultivator to force us into such misery. Truly, worthy of being the work of the former number one under heaven, the child of great fortune.”

“Fortunately, he has left this world. Otherwise, with him here, we would never dare show our faces.”

The other demons fell silent.

Once, they had scoffed at that youth who was revered and feared by all sects.

Now, they felt dread.

He had only left behind two formations, and even that was enough to leave them so wretched.

Had he never departed, with his cultivation speed as the child of great fortune, they might have been suppressed for eternity, forced to remain hidden in the shadows.

“What now? The Eagle Demon has fled, badly wounded. He fears we’ll devour him, so he won’t appear anytime soon.”

“We proceed with the original plan. We must refine the Blood Fiend Soul Banner. Otherwise, we’ll never break the array and seize the mountain’s spirit.

You’ve seen how terrifying Fairy Lu’s sword is. With just the array’s aid, she nearly destroyed us. If she reaches late-stage Golden Core, which of us could possibly stop her?”

The sinister man’s words left the others grim-faced.

“That slut’s talent is terrifying. She is this era’s child of great fortune. Her cultivation speed is monstrous. If we delay, once she breaks through, she’ll be our greatest disaster.”

“Then it’s settled. We split up to gather the materials for the Blood Fiend Soul Banner. As for the Eagle Demon, he must contribute his share as well. Otherwise, when we seize the mountain’s spirit, he’ll get nothing!”

“Don’t worry. The Eagle Demon knows what’s at stake. If he wants a share, once he recovers, he’ll crawl back.”

Their pact made, the three demons dispersed in different directions.

From that day, the world plunged into a great calamity.

…

Meanwhile, Lu Qing remained unaware of the turmoil in his homeland.

Ever since downloading and studying the countless Dao marks within the stone chamber, he had thrown himself into the deepest seclusion.

In his state of ability-fueled comprehension, inspiration surged endlessly in his mind, guiding him as he deduced the Perfect Nascent Soul Technique best suited for himself.

Even so, it took him a full year before he emerged from meditation.

“At last, the framework of the first tribulation of the Perfect Nascent Soul Technique is complete.”

Lu Qing’s eyes shone with a sigh of awe.

He knew well that cultivation at the Nascent Soul Realm was far more profound than the Golden Core Realm.

Thus, deducing the Perfect Nascent Soul Technique was no easy task.

Even with so many inheritances at his disposal, and guided by the Great Dao Chapter, it still cost him an entire year just to form the framework of the first tribulation.

After stepping into the Nascent Soul Realm, even his abilities had undergone transformation.

Yet still, progress had been arduous.

It was proof enough of just how difficult this path was.

“The first step is always the hardest. With the framework set, the rest should flow more smoothly.”

After briefly resting his weary mind, Lu Qing prepared to re-enter meditation.

But suddenly, a faint ripple stirred within his heart.

“Hmm? Why do I feel a sudden premonition?”

His brows knitted. When he tried to probe deeper, he found nothing.

But at his level, such stirrings could never be baseless.

Something—someone—closely tied to him was about to experience a great upheaval.

“Those tied to me are few… Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, my master.

Xiao Li is in the secret realm, under a senior’s care—nothing should happen there.

Then… could it be something has happened back home?”

He tried to divine it, but perhaps his divination skill was lacking, or the distance too vast. No answer came.

“It seems I must learn a stronger divination technique once I leave this place,” he sighed.

Though nothing concrete surfaced, that premonition gnawed at him.

He had intended to linger here, in this perfectly safe secret realm, to continue deducing his technique.

Now, his resolve shifted.

“Once the first tribulation of the Perfect Nascent Soul Technique is fully deduced, I’ll return to the homeland.”

Decision made, he resumed meditation.

Driven by that pressing sense of urgency, his progress quickened.

In just three months, he fully deduced the first tribulation.

But there was no time to practice it.

He left the stone chamber and summoned the mysterious existence.

“You’re out so soon, little one?”

The being transported him to the blood pool space, visibly surprised.

It had expected Lu Qing to remain secluded for a decade at least.

“Senior, where is Xiao Li?”

Lu Qing scanned the space, but did not see his companions.

“They? They absorbed enough Essence Blood Liquid, so I sent them for actual combat training,” the being replied casually.

At once, a light screen appeared, showing Xiao Li and Wuxing locked in battle against a horde of exotic beasts.

Lu Qing instantly recognized them—they were the Golden Core–realm beasts from outside the trial tower.

Thirty-three of the thirty-six beasts had surrounded his companions, pressing them hard.

The three spirit beasts were battered and cornered.

And yet, they survived.

Each of them displayed a profound movement technique, slipping past killing blows at the last instant, even striking back.

Xiao Li in particular was uncanny, weaving his innate spatial divine ability together with the exquisite footwork. He darted in and out of existence, leaving savage wounds upon the beasts with every counterattack.

Though the battle looked dire, Lu Qing could see they were not in mortal peril.

“Senior, you’re tempering their combat skills?”

“Indeed. These three are talented, but apart from Xiao Li, the others were hopeless in actual battle. I’m just helping polish them.”

Lu Qing felt a sweatdrop.

The being was right.

Xiao Li had fought by his side since childhood, steeped in blood and battle.

But Wuxing and Xiaobai were different.

One was born in a secret realm, innocent and inexperienced, often slumbering within artifacts.

The other, the white flood dragon, had secluded itself at the bottom of a spirit pool, with no contact even with its own kind. It was a blank slate.

Their combat instincts were naturally lacking.

“Thank you, Senior, for tempering them. But… I fear I must prepare to leave the secret realm. Could you recall Xiao Li and the others for me?”

“You’re leaving already?”

The mysterious being looked at him in surprise.

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