The colossal might did indeed have an impact, and Yu Ci could no longer control his internal injuries. A mouthful of fresh blood choked him, but he clenched his teeth and forced the blood back. All his strength was burning in the instant when the old and new forces alternated, merging into the unique pulse of the Original Soul, and then transforming into the dazzling Flame Sword Blade.
At this moment, a force from the Nine Yang Talisman Sword also fed back, instantly merging into the all-encompassing pulse of the Original Soul. Yu Ci felt as if his palm was also burning. The sword he was holding was no longer a wooden hilt, but a long spear condensed from fierce flames!
The brilliance of the flames tore through the void, emitting a piercing shriek. Another "clang" sound echoed, and Yu Ci was startled, realizing that his aim had been off, missing the Ghost Beast's most vulnerable eyes.
"What did I hit then?"
In his confusion, his hand was empty again. The feel of the Nine Yang Talisman Sword in his palm disappeared, as if it had evaporated in the sudden high temperature.
All the surrounding sounds also disappeared simultaneously. The sudden silence filled the space, seemingly permeated with the Ghost Beast's incredulous emotions, so intense it was almost comical.
The next moment, a muffled thunder exploded beside Yu Ci's ear.
He finally realized who the culprit was that had caused the disturbance in the Sky Rift Valley the night before!
With a "hum" sound, Yu Ci was hit directly by such a roar, as if a massive hammer had struck his head. For a moment, he even thought his brain was about to splatter. His body was thrown back uncontrollably, flying until it crashed into the rock wall at the end of the slope before stopping.
Even in such a situation, Yu Ci forced his eyes open. Through his blurred vision, he saw that after blasting him away with a roar, the Ghost Beast slightly lowered its body, assuming a posture ready to charge again.
Yu Ci didn't want to end up like Hu Ke. He spat out the blood accumulated in his mouth, leaned against the cliff wall, and struggled to stand up. But now, unarmed and injured, what could he do against this monster from the underworld?
Right, what about Ye Tu... He hadn't been trampled to death by the Ghost Beast, had he?
As this thought emerged, the Ghost Beast jumped without any warning. It was still beyond Yu Ci's visual limit, but the next moment, it was as if it had been fiercely whipped. Its entire body moved backward amidst the violent shaking, and halfway through, its massive body sprung up, transforming into a thin wisp of smoke that merged into the pervasive fog.
Yu Ci was dumbfounded.
At this moment, the sky above suddenly lit up. Yu Ci swiftly turned his head, his vision blurred, and he saw a slender crack opening in the valley fog from high above, with a faint light passing through it. Astonishingly, it arrived first despite starting later, entering the fog at the same moment as the Ghost Beast. It wasn't until then that Yu Ci heard a faint humming sound, as if coming from beyond the heavens.
Amidst the swirling mist, an ear-piercing shriek echoed abruptly, followed by the parting of the fog as the Ghost Beast leapt out, and then plunged back in. In that fleeting moment, Yu Ci saw that the creature's facial features and orifices were awash with blood, contorted into an ugly semblance, and then it vanished without a trace.
Yu Ci finally understood that someone had attacked the Ghost Beast, and that someone was undoubtedly a formidable figure.
Naturally, he was curious about the identity of the newcomer, but that was not his priority. As soon as he regained his strength, he rushed over to check on Ye Tu. The outcome eased his anxiety. The boy's breathing was still robust, his internal organs were stable, but his left upper arm, shoulder blade, clavicle, and two ribs had been broken by the Ghost Beast. These were all treatable external injuries.
Judging by his state, it was more likely that the boy had fainted from pain.
He took several deep breaths, steadying his trembling hands due to exhaustion, preparing to set the boy's bones. As his fingers brushed against the clothing, his body stiffened. At that moment, a subtle fragrance permeated his senses, lingering and refusing to dissipate.
A moment later, a gentle voice whispered in his ear, "May I tend to the injuries of your young disciple?"
Young disciple?
Yu Ci steadied his mind and turned to look. His gaze fell on a light yellow silk skirt, from which hung a jade pendant, holding down the skirt's edge. The tassels of black silk swaying in the wind seemed to be the source of the fragrance.
Following the silk tassels upwards, Yu Ci's gaze unconsciously followed the natural curve, landing on a plain satin ribbon lightly tied around the waist. Over it, a layer of gauze-like fabric draped down, intricately woven with elegant and delicate patterns, too complex to discern in detail.
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Yu Ci didn't want to stare, so he let his gaze drift upwards, until he met a pair of eyes as serene as a placid lake.
His emotions were somewhat complex until he locked eyes with her. All inexplicable thoughts vanished, because he saw in her clear eyes, the occasional ripples were like the cold light of Sword Energy flowing on a sword, seemingly dazzling yet containing a heart-palpitating power.
This female cultivator had just referred to "young disciple", so was she Ye Tu's master?
Yu Ci realized that during their time together, apart from the seemingly talented "Ah Chi", Ye Tu had not mentioned anything about his sect or his master. This was his first time learning about her.
He didn't doubt the authenticity of the woman's words. In fact, given the power the female cultivator had just displayed, if she wanted to harm them, she could do so with a single stroke of her sword, without any effort.
Yu Ci stood up and turned around, his height immediately towering over the newcomer. However, he slightly bowed his head, raised his hand to his forehead, and made a bow to express his gratitude: "I am indebted to you for saving our lives. I am Wandering Cultivator Yu Ci. May I know your name, fellow cultivator?"
Using the term "fellow cultivator" was somewhat presumptuous, but the female cultivator didn't seem to mind, and simply replied:
"East Sea Ye Bin."
With Yu Ci's limited cultivation knowledge, it was naturally impossible for him to understand the reputation that the female cultivator before him held in the Cultivation World. He merely repeated this name twice in his heart, pondering on how to respond, when the female cultivator took the initiative to express her gratitude:
"My disciple acted rashly, deceiving her elders to journey afar, and subsequently encountered this calamity. I followed her trail here, yet I was still a step too late. If not for your selfless protection, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Ye Bin expresses her gratitude here!"
The tone of the female cultivator opposite him remained gentle, unaffected by the disparity in their statuses or the gap in their cultivation levels. She did not mention her own life-saving grace towards Yu Ci, instead thanking him for his care towards Ye Tu. At first glance, she appeared to be a very amiable person.
However, Yu Ci felt that such an attitude, much like the female cultivator's clear and bright eyes, was not as gentle and soft as it appeared on the surface.
This was indeed the legendary superior being.
Yu Ci knew that it was absurd to expect a similar or even a comparable impression from the female cultivator as he had of her disciple. He didn't pay much attention to it, and instead changed his communication approach, using the manner he would use with strangers: "I am ashamed, my abilities are lacking..."
"You are too modest, friend. To be able to sever the 'Heart-Tugging Horn' of the Rakshasa Ghost King's pet with your divine communication cultivation level, how can you speak of insufficient abilities?"
"Rakshasa Ghost King? Heart-Tugging Horn?"
Yu Ci was initially puzzled, then he noticed a broken horn lying on the devastated ground. It was only five inches long, with a light blue hue, appearing to be one of the "half" horns on the forehead of the Ghost Beasts. So, the blow that exhausted his Nine Yang Talisman Sword had caused such an aftermath. No wonder everyone was furious. But what was this Rakshasa Ghost King?
Ye Bin did not explain. She walked over to the unconscious Ye Tu and crouched down to examine him.
Yu Ci quickly made way, but from his higher position, he could also see the female cultivator's creamy neck and back muscles. The jade-colored skin beneath her thin gauze emitted a dazzling light. It was a captivating sight, but Yu Ci quickly averted his gaze, not wanting to offend the beauty before him in such a foolish manner.
However, it must be said that he had never seen a beauty like Ye Bin in his life. Even the astonishingly beautiful Red Yin Immortal from his past, due to her cruel and bloodthirsty nature, had lost much of her charm.
Ye Bin finished her inspection swiftly, murmuring softly, "There's nothing seriously wrong, but this Sky Rift Valley is not a place to linger. My presence here today may well incite dissatisfaction among many... Let's leave."
Before Yu Ci could respond, he felt a chill creeping over him, then a sensation of being weightless. His vision blurred from clarity to obscurity, accompanied by a slight dizziness. When all sensations faded, a warm radiance bathed him. Looking up, he saw the long-lost sun.
In a mere blink, he had arrived atop the Sky Rift Valley, leaping a vast distance of twenty miles, three thousand feet. Only then did the sound of the air explosion echo, causing the Cloud Sea to ripple, ebbing and flowing. Astonished by this divine power, he barely had time to marvel before a new scene caught his attention.
Before his eyes, a female cultivator stood, her robe and veil fluttering, her figure elegant. Her back was to the misty sea, and her apricot-yellow dress reflected the direct sunlight, casting a colorful halo around her, her cheeks glowing like jade. She was as ethereal as a celestial being. This scene would likely be etched in Yu Ci's memory for life.
A female immortal, the one before him, was indeed a true female immortal!
He lowered his gaze, using the skills of a seasoned deceiver to conceal his impolite thoughts, and asked, "Fairy Ye, has the Ghost Beast been subdued?"
Under the sunlight, Ye Bin's smile became even more enchanting, yet it was restrained, preventing it from being overly dazzling. It held a unique and profound beauty. She shook her head, the solitary golden hairpin in her jet-black hair swaying:
"Is it that easy? The beast was originally the pet of the Rakshasa Ghost King, known as the 'Number One in Illusion' in the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion, and was later abandoned, settling down here. That's not the issue, but it has spent years with the Rakshasa Ghost King, immersed in the Ghost King's divine power, and has innate illusionary powers that can bewilder one's divine soul. If it decided to exert its power intentionally, even a High-Level Earth Immortal could be deceived if not careful... If the Ghost Beast really wants to escape, I can't stop it."
This was the longest speech the female cultivator had made since her appearance. Of course, Yu Ci gained insight, but he also felt an inexplicable implication in her words. Just as he was pondering, his expression changed and he was about to speak when the female cultivator suddenly smiled, exclaiming:
"Hit!"
With a muffled "moo", Yu Ci's head spun, and he almost got blown away by the shockwave. He steadied himself, refusing to step back. When he opened his eyes, he saw the Cloud Sea at the edge of the cliff burning, churning out a dozen giant bubbles, heavy with the stench of blood.
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This marks the entrance of the first major female character in the book. Please give her a warm welcome with your applause, and support her with your favorites!
I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e