The mirror flipped in the air, instantly releasing a beam of light that fixed on Shui Tianji.
"The Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror! How is this possible!"
Bathed in the light of the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror, Shui Tianjiâs face filled with despair!
Not only was the Blood Escape she was moments from activating strangely interrupted, but Shui Tianji couldnât even move a single finger...
How could a King Martial Realm Fifth Heaven like Shui Tianji possibly resist the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror, an artifact that could even restrain an Emperor Martial Realm expert like Shangguan Feiyue?
Even if Hong Yuâs current cultivation only allowed her to control it for a short timeâjust this onceâit was more than enough.
While the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror held Shui Tianji in place, the first sword of the Netherworld Kingâs Three Extremes Sword descended!
With a deafening BOOM, the shield formed by the Seven Evils Celestial Net was sliced into countless pieces. An endless tide of sword lights surged forward. An Energy Shield erupted around Shui Tianjiâs body as countless purple scales manifested, blocking the myriad sword lights at the very last second.
However, the sword lights were endless, surging forward wave after wave to blot out the sky. As the foremost lights dissipated, others immediately took their place!
The stalemate lasted less than five seconds before the myriad sword lights pierced through Shui Tianjiâs body... like a thousand arrows through the heart!
"AH!"
A bloodcurdling scream rang through the air, so powerful that blood trickled from the distant Luo Xingchenâs mouth and nose, and he nearly plummeted from the sky!
"THUD!"
High in the sky, Shui Tianjiâs corpse, riddled with countless sword wounds, suddenly transformed into a giant Flood Dragon before crashing amidst the rubble below.
This Shui Tianji wasnât a Martial Artist of the Human Race, but a transformed Demon Beast!
Her face pale, Hong Yu gasped for breath and recalled the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror.
Unleashing the complete first sword of the Netherworld Kingâs Three Extremes Sword had nearly exhausted her Spiritual Power.
Using the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror afterward drained what little she had left and completely depleted her Divine Sense.
Just two seemingly easy actions had already overloaded her body, leaving her more exhausted than if she had fought Shui Tianji for three days and three nights.
However, just as Hong Yu recalled the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror, and just as the Blood Evil Qi from the Netherworld Kingâs Three Extremes Swordâs first strike completely dissipated...
From within the billowing dust, a small snake, its body flickering between light and shadow, suddenly shot out. In an instant, it was already several miles away!
"Bitch, I wonât let you get away with this! Just you wait!"
Shui Tianjiâs voice drifted from the distant horizon, laced with boundless resentment and heaven-piercing malice.
âDamn it, that womanâs body was an Outer Path Demon Body! Her Nascent Soul was hidden within that illusory Flood Dragon she conjured!â
Anger flared on Hong Yuâs face, but the strain of controlling the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror had sent her inner qi and blood into turmoil. She wanted to give chase, but she no longer had the strength.
She shot a hateful glance in the direction the small snake had fled, caught her breath, and stored the Flood Dragonâs corpse in her Sumeru Ring. Then, she floated cross-legged in the void and began to meditate and recover.
The distant Luo Xingchen was both relieved and worried, muttering to himself, âDamn, these Demon Martial Artists truly have an endless supply of tricks! So that imposing Flood Dragon was just an illusion she conjured! The woman hid her Nascent Soul within that phantom Flood Dragon, while her actual body was just an Outer Path Demon Body, a Puppet controlled by her Nascent Soul!â
âNo wonder her Nascent Soul wasnât annihilated by those myriad swords... That strike was too powerful, too terrifying! The body of a King Martial Realm Fifth Heaven Demon Beast is incredibly tough, yet it couldnât resist at all and was pierced through!â
âI canât believe Shen Lang actually gave the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror to Miss Hong Yu. It looks like sheâs truly one of the people he holds most dear.â
Luo Xingchen was still stroking his beard and muttering in amazement when a clear voice suddenly spoke from behind him, "Where did Shen Lang go?"
"I donât know. You should ask Hong Yu..." Luo Xingchen replied instinctively.
The moment the words left his mouth, Luo Xingchen broke out in a cold sweat...
âSomeone snuck up behind me without a sound, and I, a master at the Peak of Xuanwu Realm Ninth Heaven, didnât sense a thing!â
âBesides Hong Yu, who else in Celestial Phoenix City could have such a powerful cultivation?â
With a woeful expression, Luo Xingchen slowly turned around, trembling. He instantly let out a sigh of relief. "Dingdang, donât play tricks like that. You scared me to death..."
The words had barely left his mouth when Luo Xingchen froze again.
The young woman standing behind him wasnât Xue Dangdang, though she bore a strong resemblance.
Xue Dangdang liked to wear red, was elfin and mischievous, with spirited eyes;
The young woman before him, however, wore a dark-green gauze dress. Her eyes were impossibly deep, possessing a magnetic pull so strong that once your gaze met hers, it was impossible to look away!
This young woman was bewitchingly beautiful and had a delicate bearing. Although not a single trace of Spirit Light emanated from her body, countless flower petals swirled around her, spiraling up and down in a spectacular display.
A moment after his initial shock, a name suddenly surfaced in Luo Xingchenâs mind, and a cold sweat instantly drenched his entire body!
âXue Shiyin, sheâs the Xue Familyâs Elder Ancestor, Xue Shiyin!â
Luo Xingchen had been present that day when Shen Lang berated the Emperor Martial Realm expert Xue Hongluan, and he had overheard quite a bit.
So, connecting the dots, he instinctively guessed this was Xue Shiyin.
The corners of Xue Shiyinâs lips curled up. "Are you hot?" she asked.
"Yes, yes... No, no... This junior greets you, Elder Xue!" Luo Xingchen said, wiping away a bead of sweat as he bowed.
"What âElderâ?! Am I that old? Youâre the one with the big beard, youâre the elder! Your whole family are elders!" Xue Shiyinâs reaction was surprisingly fierce.
Immediately, she seemed to realize her overreaction and rolled her eyes. "I already searched Celestial Phoenix City, but I couldnât find Shen Lang. Where did he go?"
Luo Xingchen started sweating again. âIt seems it really runs in the family,â he thought. âXue Dangdang definitely takes after her.â
âIf it werenât for the major difference in their auras, it would be impossible to tell them apart. Even their way of speaking is identical.â
âI canât believe sheâs already been to Celestial Phoenix City. The protective Grand Array set up by the Three Sect Ancestors... only an expert of her level could come and go as she pleases!â
"Um... I honestly donât know. Shen Lang left to travel more than seven months ago," Luo Xingchen said respectfully. "However, Miss Hong Yu and Shen Langâs parents would certainly know. Please, letâs go to Celestial Phoenix City. I can help you ask them."
Luo Xingchen didnât dare to call her "Elder" again.
Meanwhile, Hong Yu still hadnât noticed that someone else had inexplicably appeared...
"PFT!"
With a flick of her finger, Xue Shiyin sent a streak of light flying into the meditating Hong Yu.
Hong Yu, who had been pale, immediately regained a healthy, rosy complexion. Her eyes snapped open, and she stared in astonishment toward Luo Xingchen and Xue Shiyin!
Xue Shiyin took a single step forward, and in that instant, the great distance between them seemed to simply vanish.
With that one simple step, she was already standing before Hong Yu.
"Who might you be, Elder?"
Tense, Hong Yu shot to her feet, gripping the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror in her left hand and holding her longsword horizontally across her chest with her right.
âSheâs clearly standing right in front of me, I can see her with my eyes, but my Divine Thought canât sense her presence at all! Where did such a peerless expert come from?â
The sudden appearance of such an expert made Hong Yuâs heart jump, and her aura sharpened.
âThe people from Blood Evil Island just left, and now an even more powerful person shows up. What if sheâs also from Blood Evil Island...â
But when she saw the womanâs face, which bore a strong resemblance to Xue Dangdangâs, a thought struck Hong Yu, and much of her tension dissipated.
"Miss Hong Yu, she is one of Dingdangâs elders! Sheâs here looking for Young Master Shen Lang!" the distant Luo Xingchen yelled, rushing over as fast as he could.
Although Hong Yu had never met Xue Dangdang directly, she had been secretly watching over and taking care of Shen Lang all these years, so she naturally knew of Xue Dangdang, who was closest to Shen Lang.
Hearing Luo Xingchen say this, she finally relaxed completely.
At this, Xue Shiyinâs face broke into a radiant smile. "Could you tell me where Shen Lang has gone? Donât worry, I only need to confirm a few things with him. I mean him no harm."
If she was beautiful before, her smile was something else entirelyâethereal and transcendent, as if she were a celestial fairy.
The countless petals around her scattered in an instant, creating a dreamlike, illusory scene. It felt as if she might ride the wind and ascend to the Nine Heavens Palace at any moment.
Hong Yu was silent for a good while before she said, "LangâEr went to the Profound Dao Sect."
"What?" Luo Xingchen, who had just arrived, looked utterly perplexed.
âWhat is this all about? The Three Sect Ancestors were on sworn-brother terms with Shen Lang. Why wouldnât he go to the Imperial Dragon Sect or the Li Hen Sect, but instead go to a Profound Iron Level Influence like the Profound Dao Sect?â
âAnd the Profound Dao Sect has a serious grudge against the Imperial Dragon Sect and the other major Sects!â
âYears ago, when the Profound Dao Sect was knocked down from a Spirit Copper Level Influence to a Profound Iron Level one, anyone with eyes could see it was the Imperial Dragon Sect and the other two of the Three Sects pulling the strings.â
âWhy would he run off to the Profound Dao Sect?â
âThis wonât do. I have to get this information back to the Sect immediately, before those guys stir up trouble!â
âIf they decide to make a move against the Profound Dao Sect and end up running into Shen Lang, itâll be a disaster...â
While Luo Xingchen stood there with a strange expression, lost in his own calculations, Xue Shiyin nodded slightly. "Miss Hong Yu, do you know anything about Shen Langâs master?"
"Master?" Hong Yu blinked, taken aback. "LangâEr has always studied at Tayun Academy. As far as I know, he has never formally taken a master."
Luo Xingchen, who was standing nearby, also nodded. "Miss Hong Yu is telling the truth. In fact, some of the elders in our Sect suspected Shen Lang might have a powerful expert backing him, but we never found any trace of such a person... Of course, an expert of that caliber, with heaven-defying abilities, isnât someone weâd be able to perceive anyway."
Xue Shiyin turned her head and looked towards the distant mountain range shrouded in the dark night.
Her eyes held an unreadable, indescribable emotion...
Nervousness, joy, worry... a myriad of emotions swirled within them.
After a moment, she sighed softly. "I understand. Iâll make a trip to the Profound Dao Sect, then."
With those words, Xue Shiyinâs figure vanished into thin air. Only a cascade of flower petals, fluttering down through the empty void, proved she had ever been there.