Chapter 33: All I Want is to Read Books in Peace

"Don't waste my time, Lin Yushua. I don't care about the feud between you two, just get me that Nine Treasure Lotus. You have made some big claims," Elder Zhao said as he descended on his flying sword, his presence imposing and undeniably dangerous.

"You have decent talent, Ning Jian, and the fact you comprehended the concept of water without a physique is already extremely remarkable, but it's a shame you were not able to understand core formation, or else today's battle would have been a lot more interesting."

"I don't know who you are, but don't count your dragons before they hatch," Ning Jian laughed at Elder Zhao, blood flooding his mouth.

"How about this: you give that lotus to me, and I can spare your clan in return?" Elder Zhao proposed, his tone calm but carrying an underlying threat.

"Elder, you can't go back on your words! You promised us," Elder Lin sputtered, a little flustered.

"You fool, he's from the Demon Gate. Do you think he cares about promises? Since he showed himself today, it means no one can escape," Ning Jian laughed, an irritated laugh escaping his bloody lips.

"What—?" Elder Lin stepped back subconsciously, dropping the half-dead Ning Jian. His eyes bulged as he seemed to recall something, but he was in denial because he knew what it would entail for the entire clan if this was true... destruction.

Elder Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his usually imperturbable features. "You're sharper than you look, Ning Jian," he said, a hint of respect coloring his tone. "Not many can recognize a Demon Gate operative so quickly. But it won't save you."

Elder Zhao moved closer to Ning Jian, his presence like a dark cloud descending upon the battlefield. He extended a hand, and dark tendrils of energy began to snake their way towards Ning Jian, wrapping around him and seeping into his very being. Ning Jian's body convulsed as the dark energy latched onto his soul, causing excruciating pain.

"Tell me where the Nine Treasure Lotus is," Elder Zhao demanded, his voice cold and commanding. "Or I will extract the information from your soul, piece by piece."

Ning Jian's eyes widened with pain, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to give in. "Go to hell," he spat, blood dribbling from his mouth.

Elder Zhao's face remained impassive as he increased the intensity of the dark tendrils, driving them deeper into Ning Jian's soul. The pain was unbearable, like white-hot knives slicing through his very essence. Ning Jian screamed, his body writhing in agony, but still, he refused to speak.

"Your resilience is commendable, but futile," Elder Zhao said. "You will tell me what I want to know, one way or another."

Ning Jian's vision blurred from the pain, but he managed to glare defiantly at Elder Zhao. "I... will never... betray my clan," he said through gritted teeth.

Elder Lin watched in horror, his mind reeling from the realization that they were dealing with a member of the Demon Gate. His body trembled with fear, knowing the sheer ruthlessness and power of such an opponent. He glanced at the other Lin clan members, who were equally shaken, their confidence shattered by the revelation.

Elder Zhao's patience was wearing thin. With a swift motion, he intensified the dark energy, causing Ning Jian to scream louder, his soul feeling like it was being torn apart. "Enough of this," Elder Zhao said, his voice now laced with frustration. "You will tell me what I want to know, or your soul will be destroyed."

Ning Jian's body convulsed violently as the dark energy threatened to tear his soul asunder. He knew he couldn't hold out much longer. The pain was unbearable, and his will was being pushed to its limit. Just as he was about to break, a sudden surge of qi burst from within him, momentarily pushing back the dark tendrils.

"Get away from him!" a voice shouted from the distance.

An ocean of green flames descended, engulfing both Ning Jian and Elder Zhao. A cultivator stood in mid-air, his white hair fluttering in the wind, his somewhat aged face showing hints of anger.

"Father!!" Ning Jian said hoarsely as the dark qi engulfing him evaporated and Elder Zhao emerged from the green flames unharmed.

"Demon!! You dare to show yourself in open, you think rats like you can escape Heaven Dao Territory after coming here uninvited?" The clan leader of the Ning Clan, Ning Wushuang, confronted the Demon Gate cultivator.

"Don't be too cocky. In front of me, you can't really do much with that level of strength," Elder Zhao said as he emerged from the ocean of flames unscathed, his body shining with purple qi, and a halo of solid purple qi rotating behind his back, a purple field surrounding him.

"Dao of Blood, interesting. This is my first time seeing someone using this," Ning Wushuang said. "But your assumptions are wrong. It won't be me who is going to face you."

The moment he said that, a massive pressure descended on the battlefield.

From the sky descended an ethereal figure, clad in flowing robes that seemed to shimmer with the essence of the forest itself. Leaves swirled around him, and the air grew thick with the scent of blooming flowers and rich earth. Elder Zhao's eyes widened in shock as he recognized the newcomer.

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"Elder Qian of the Heaven Dao Sect!" Elder Zhao spat, his expression a mix of fury and disbelief. "What is someone like you doing here?"

Elder Qian, his presence commanding and serene, landed gracefully beside Ning Wushuang. "The Ning Clan has offered the Heaven Dao Sect something irresistible," he said, his voice calm yet powerful. "It is simply your misfortune that you were here in the Ning Clan's territory this week."

Elder Zhao's mind raced. He knew that facing someone of Elder Qian's caliber was a death sentence. He had to escape, and fast. With a swift motion, he activated his blood qi, his body glowing a dark, ominous red. The halo behind him pulsed as he gathered his strength.

"You think you can stop me?" Elder Zhao sneered. "I will escape and return with reinforcements. The Demon Gate will not be denied!"

Elder Qian's eyes narrowed, his expression unyielding. "You can try," he said simply.

Elder Zhao unleashed a torrent of blood qi, the dark energy surging around him like a storm. He moved to escape, his form blurring with speed as he attempted to flee. But Elder Qian was prepared. With a wave of his hand, the forest responded.

Vines erupted from the ground, trees bent and twisted, forming an impenetrable barrier around the battlefield. The nature qi infused in the plants glowed with a vibrant green light, their energy pulsating with life and power.

Elder Zhao cursed under his breath as he tried to break through the barrier. His blood qi clashed with the nature qi, the dark red and vibrant green energies swirling and colliding. Each time he tried to force his way through, the plants seemed to grow stronger, feeding off his energy and reinforcing themselves.

Elder Zhao gritted his teeth and drew upon his blood essence, a desperate move that would weaken him significantly but might give him the power he needed to escape. His body glowed brighter, the dark red energy intensifying. He struck at the barrier with renewed force, the blood qi seeping into the plants and causing them to wither and die.

Elder Qian watched calmly, his hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. The forest responded to his will, regrowing faster than Elder Zhao could destroy it. The vines thickened, the trees grew taller, and the ground itself seemed to come alive, ensnaring Elder Zhao's feet and slowing his movements.

"You cannot escape, demon," Elder Qian said, his voice echoing with the power of nature itself. "Your blood qi is strong, but it cannot overcome the will of the forest."

Elder Zhao roared in frustration, his blood essence depleting rapidly. He knew he couldn't keep this up for long. With a final, desperate effort, he gathered all his remaining energy and unleashed a massive burst of blood qi, the dark energy exploding outward and shattering the barrier around him.

The force of the explosion sent shockwaves through the forest, the ground trembling and the trees swaying. Elder Zhao, now a shadow of his former self, used the last of his strength to flee, his form blurring as he disappeared into the distance.

Elder Qian watched him go, a hint of regret in his eyes. "He will be back," he said softly. "But he won't be as strong as he once was."

Ning Wushuang nodded, his expression grim. "We need to prepare for their return. The Demon Gate won't let this go."

"We need to strengthen our defenses," Ning Wushuang said, his voice firm. "The Demon Gate will not rest until they have what they want. We must be ready for their next move."

Elder Qian nodded in agreement. "I will inform the Heaven Dao Sect of what has transpired. They will look into the matter.

As the meeting adjourned, Ning Wushuang placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "You did well today,"

..............

In the depths of the forest, Elder Zhao staggered through the underbrush, his body weak and his qi depleted. He cursed under his breath, the taste of failure bitter in his mouth.

"They will pay for this," he vowed, his eyes burning with hatred. "The Demon Gate will not be denied."

"I hope you like my parting gift ." He said with a vicious grin on his face.

As he disappeared into the shadows, the forest seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. But the tranquility was short-lived. The battle had been won, but the war was far from over. He has set some other things in motion and the formation is almost ready. But where is that Jian wuji.

................

The aftermath of the battle with the silver basilisk left the forest in a state of eerie calm. As I walked through the debris, my steps heavy with exhaustion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that the fighting was over. The air was thick with the lingering scent of burnt qi, and the ground bore scars of the fierce struggle.

Picking up Lin Ji's spatial pouch from the ground, I felt a surge of curiosity as I opened it to inspect its contents. Among various treasures, my eyes fell upon a strange-looking flag adorned with mysterious symbols. The flag emitted an ominous aura, hinting at its potential significance.

"What secrets do you hold?" I mused aloud, examining the flag with keen interest. I tucked it away into my own spatial pouch, eager to delve deeper into its mysteries when I had the chance.

However, my excitement soon gave way to a wave of exhaustion. The events of the day had taken their toll on me, and I longed for the tranquility of my study where I could lose myself in books and experiments. The battle had sparked new ideas and insights, but now I craved the familiar comfort of my scholarly pursuits.

"I'm getting too old for this," I muttered to myself, rubbing my temples wearily. Glancing over at Wang Mie, I could see the admiration and curiosity in her eyes. She had learned of my ability to cast Grade 2 formations, a skill I had hoped to keep hidden.

"You promised not to tell anyone," I reminded her, my tone tinged with weariness.

Wang Mie nodded, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "I remember. But it’s hard not to be impressed."

I sighed, feeling a twinge of annoyance. I preferred the quiet solitude of my study, away from the scrutiny of others. "Just help me carry the others. We need to get back to the entrance."

Together, we lifted our fainted comrades, their bodies limp with exhaustion. The weight was heavy, and with each step, I could feel my muscles protesting. Despite my scholarly pursuits, I was not weak, but the day's events had left me drained.

As we made our way back toward the entrance, I couldn’t help but yearn for the peace and quiet that awaited me. I had experiments waiting to be conducted, and a stack of books waiting to be read. The battle had provided me with fresh insights and inspiration, but now I longed to return to my life of scholarly pursuits.

"All I want is to read books in peace," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I glanced at the unconscious bodies of my companions. "Is that too much to ask?"

Wang Mie chuckled softly beside me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "For someone with your talents, it might be."

Ning Rong was chuckling on the side, probably happy she was not only one forced to keep my secrets .

I sighed, adjusting my grip on one of the unconscious warriors. "Let’s just get back. I have experiments waiting for me."

Together, we trudged back to the entrance, the forest gradually giving way to the familiar paths leading home. Despite the exhaustion and the challenges ahead, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. My mind buzzed with ideas, and I couldn’t wait to dive back into my research.

But for now, all I wanted was a moment of rest, a quiet corner, and a good book.