"Boom!"
The entire cavernous space quivered with a tremor, visible fissures appearing on the cliff faces surrounding them. The majestic Sword Aura swiftly found its target, converging from all directions.
The monstrous Demon gaped, yet no sound could escape its maw. From its gaping mouth sprayed shards of the Heart-Tugging Horn, along with the uncontrollable fire ignited by the Illusion Power of Rakshasa.
Separated by the Ghost Beasts' Blue and White Flames, Yu Ci and the Demon stood in a distant standoff. The Demon, a mountain of flesh, seemed to charge against the nearly solid air, but after only three steps, the undigested Illusion Power of Rakshasa detonated with a roar. From within, it devoured the monstrous flesh. Under the pull of the Aura, the Sword Aura laid by Gan Shi Zhen pierced through the Demon's heart, crushing every bone in its body.
Ba Shi was certainly reluctant. It originally had the opportunity to calmly slay the two, then digest the Illusion Power of Rakshasa. With the help of the Heart-Tugging Horn, it had a great chance of success. But now, everything was in vain!
The blazing Blue and White Flames in front of it echoed tightly with the fire on its body, eventually merging together. With a more abundant supply of fuel, the burning momentum of the Blue and White Flames became even more fierce, instantly reducing the monstrous Demon to ashes.
This was the art of using fire against one's enemies.
Watching the raging fire, Yu Ci felt somewhat moved.
At this moment, the tremors in the cavernous space became more intense, and the fissures that had formed earlier were spreading rapidly.
"Master Gan?"
Yu Ci had assumed the female cultivator would have emerged by now, but there was no sign of her. A chill ran through his heart. Bypassing the Blue and White Flames, he ventured deeper. After a few steps, by the light of the fire, he saw the fallen figure of the female cultivator.
Rushing to her side, he checked her pulse and breathing, confirming that she had merely fainted due to overexertion. Yu Ci breathed a sigh of relief. But immediately after, the cliff beside them crumbled, sending debris flying and causing a faint pain when they struck his body. Without a second thought, Yu Ci picked up the female cultivator and began to retreat. But then, amidst the sound of falling rocks, a crisp and clear sound emerged.
Yu Ci glanced over and noticed a small glowing object, presumably dislodged from the rock layer, landing right in his path. He picked it up and immediately broke into a sprint.
The cavernous space truly couldn't hold up any longer.
With the information provided by the Black Tide, Yu Ci was extremely sensitive and clear about the situation. He knew that the equilibrium formed by the two-colored blood droplet flames had been utterly destroyed, and the immense power contained within had completely lost control, violently impacting the surrounding rock layers. This relic of a battle between powerful individuals was on the verge of collapse and destruction.
Yu Ci dashed a few steps to the vicinity of the platform, hastily gathered his belongings, and ran off again. However, what awaited him was a wall of fire of unknown scale. The Illusion Power of Rakshasa, having twice received "fuel" in the open space, was now completely dominant, brazenly scorching the air and spewing the restless and ever-changing flames into every corner of the space.
A strong wind blew in from the opening, pushing the flames forward.
Yu Ci's eyes were focused, his forward momentum did not falter, but the Palace Tassel wrapped around his arm was unwound.
"Hiss!"
Like a whip, thousands of Golden-Green Tassels instantly merged into one and struck heavily upon the wall of fire as if hitting a solid object. He gave a violent shake, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood, but his body still surged forward, simultaneously croaking out:
"Open!"
The massive wall of fire obediently opened a crack, and Yu Ci's figure darted in, rushing through.
No one here understood the workings of the Illusion Power of Rakshasa better than he did. Following the previous method, he temporarily harnessed a portion of the Illusionary Power for his own use, then transmitted changes through the Palace Tassel that originated from the same source. He could drive the flames for a short time, but this was extremely dangerous. A slight carelessness, and he and the female cultivator in his arms would likely meet the same fate as the infatuated Demons.
Breaking through the wall of fire, the exit was in sight. With a long howl, the large bird in the sky that had received his command earlier plunged down, and Yu Ci leaped up. Just as the bird spread its wings, the two figures merged, dipped slightly, and finally flew upward.
A scorching sensation came from his palm. Yu Ci then discovered that a stream of Blue and White Flames had spread through the Palace Tassel and instantly covered his palm. He had a sudden thought, and his wrist shook violently. The Palace Tassel trembled like a wave, a faint halo spread out, engulfing the Blue and White Flames, and in the blink of an eye, it was completely absorbed.
Upon looking again, the rope was cold to the touch, the Golden-Green Tassels swaying in the wind, as if the Blue and White Flames were just a figment of Yu Ci's imagination.
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With a faint smile, Yu Ci tied the Palace Tassel around his waist. Just as he was about to check on Gan Shi Zhen's situation, he had a sudden premonition. Turning to look behind him, he saw the peak blooming like a flower petal sinking down, then shattering into pieces. The rumbling sound rolled over the clouds and fog, startling the bird beneath him to flap its wings violently and fly higher.
Yu Ci halted the bird, scrutinizing the scene. Where his eyes reached, the entire mountain was collapsing, the intensity of which was by no means natural.
In just a few breaths of time, that mountain in the clouds and mist had collapsed!
Dust rose and fell, until there was no trace left.
***********
"If there is any news of Immortal Yu, please inform me in time."
"Take care, Master, as you depart!"
"There's no need for a grand send-off."
Stepping away from the pier, Bi Chao bowed in farewell to the elders and climbed into the fragrant carriage. Without a word from her, the figure in the black robe at the reins guided the Step Cloud Beast to start its slow journey.
As the carriage traveled along the mountain road, the lush vegetation on either side, the chirping of birds, and the scent of flowers were all vibrant signs of spring, which had arrived in full force in just a few dozen days. The fragrance and vitality of life permeated the carriage, prompting a sigh of appreciation.
Bi Chao propped her chin with one hand, reclining on the couch. The carriage itself was a luxurious palanquin, extravagantly modified to provide the utmost comfort and opulence. This was the style of the carriage's previous owner, which Bi Chao had grown to appreciate over time.
The previous owner loved to make a spectacle, with several beautiful maids always in attendance. Bi Chao, however, preferred solitude. Besides herself, there was no one else in the carriage. Her soft voice echoed as if she was talking to herself:
"What a pity, that young man..."
There was no echo in response, but Bi Chao was sure those who needed to hear had heard. So, she continued, "That young man was the perfect whetstone for you. If he dies, your cultivation level will hardly progress in the next thirty years."
The carriage fell silent, both inside and out. After a while, Bi Chao spoke again, "When we get back, send someone to investigate at Sky Rift Valley. Every five days, send a letter to the pier and Still Heart Temple to inquire about news. Half a month before the banquet, we should visit the pier and Still Heart Temple again to confirm any news about him."
"He must be dead. Why bother?" A cold voice finally responded, sounding like a sword humming in the dark of night.
"Halfway cultivation is a big taboo. These tasks are not difficult, and even if they prove fruitless, they are still worth doing. Once accomplished, they will be more effective than anything else, and no one will question our sincerity. All it takes is a little more patience, why skimp on this?"
Again, silence enveloped the carriage.
***********
The spring sun shone warmly, casting a pleasant glow on everything. It was so comforting that it could lull one into sleep.
However, You Gongquan was full of energy. He stood atop a peak, his eyes bright as he surveyed the surrounding forest. This was the highest point in the area, providing a clear view of any significant movement in the forest, including signals from his companions, so he could provide timely support.
The hunting party, consisting of dozens of people, was scattered throughout the forest, diligently searching for their target.
You Gongquan was a lone cultivator with no sect or school, and an initial stage of Golden Elixir cultivation level. This was a remarkable achievement among lone cultivators, and it made him the leader of this temporary hunting party.
The so-called "hunting party" was a group of cultivators who formed a long-term or temporary organization to enter dangerous areas to hunt fierce beasts, search for treasures, and explore for mineral veins. It was common among lone cultivators. The Sky Rift Valley, with its rampant demons, was naturally a treasure trove for these hunting parties.
You Gongquan's hunting party was a typical temporary group, formed under the calling of a cultivator with the highest cultivation level in the Sky Rift Valley. With a steady influx of new members to replace those lost, the group had grown to nearly thirty people, a considerable size for a temporary hunting party.
This was the first time You Gongquan had organized such a large group, and he was brimming with confidence and spirit. The hunting party was not short of Nature-Connecting Middle Stage and higher-level Cultivators, but all of them listened to his instructions with a respectful attitude and allowed him to command them, an experience he had not had in two hundred years.
A sudden "whoosh" sound caught You Gongquan's attention.
In the southeast woods, a gray shadow rose, made a brief circle in the sky, then descended. You Gongquan, with his sharp eyes, saw it was a rather large bird that seemed injured, its wing beats unnatural.
Immediately after, a signal from his companion came from that direction.
You Gongquan's brow furrowed. Being an old hand in the world, he quickly recognized that the large bird was unusual, unlike anything he had seen in the area around the Sky Rift Valley. In terms of value, it should be above the "Golden-Eyed Poisonous Ape" that the hunting party was currently searching for. Even more fortuitously, the bird seemed to be injured, making it easier to capture. The people over there probably saw this and temporarily changed their target, calling for help.
As he was considering how to respond, another signal came from that direction. This time, it was a call for help!
You Gongquan cursed under his breath. With two signals sent out in quick succession, something must have gone terribly wrong. Although he was annoyed at the person for acting on their own and complicating matters, he couldn't just ignore it. He let out a low roar, and his Dragon Sparrow Sword, which had been with him for over a hundred years, transformed into a beam of light, circling around him as he flew towards the source of the signal.
The speed of sword flight was incredibly fast, and he covered the ten-plus miles of forest in a flash. However, he was not the first to arrive. From high above, he saw the Zhao Brothers, who were closest to the location, transforming into a gust of wind and rushing into the forest.
These two came from a small southern sect. Their cultivation level was not bad, both at the Nature-Connecting Middle Stage. They practiced a "Heart-Linking Divine Technique", which allowed them to communicate intentions and connect their auras. Their unique combat style even earned You Gongquan's approval.
With the two of them leading the charge, You Gongquan began to slow down, squinting his eyes to assess the situation.
Just then, a soft whistle of "swoosh" reached his ears. Being a sword expert, he immediately recognized it as the sound of Sword Energy breaking through the air, and it was incredibly sharp. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, there were two loud bangs, and under the cover of the trees, the Zhao Brothers turned into rolling gourds, crashing into the trees in the forest before coming to a halt.
You Gongquan's heart chilled: How did they lose so quickly?
He lowered his altitude, flying over the treetops, and saw a young man. The man was wrapped in animal skins, his hair loose, holding a short sword with a green glow in his hand, looking up.
As their eyes met, You Gongquan suddenly found that the young man's eyes were filled with a rotating light, piercing and incredibly sharp.
**********