Chapter 865: Not Tolerated

Within the Cloud Sea Cliff, in the meditation chamber.

In a pitch-black stone chamber filled with thick mist, clearly, Yan Shuangzi's advancement path had been relatively smooth.

Deng Yuxiang leaned against the stone wall, yet her expression was restless.

My close friend's progress is going well, but I wonder how things are outside.

【Nightmare, Soul Retrieval.】

【Yes.】 Deng Yuxiang responded immediately, her heart heavy—after all this time, hasn't the battle outside ended yet?

Sigh.

Navigating through the Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm is truly one step, one obstacle.

"Huu~" Amid a surge of energy, a full-length mirror appeared in the stone chamber.

【Now.】 Lu Ran dispersed the Soul Prison, releasing the souls within.

Then, a string of prayer beads and a heavy golden monk's staff were successively thrown in.

Several kilometers away, in the mountain forest, Lu Ran retracted the teleportation mirror.

He had no intention of absorbing the souls of Lie Tian's followers yet.

Because the divine statue of Lie Tian within the Sculpture Garden had already been activated and was currently at River Realm Stage Three; if Lu Ran directly absorbed the souls, Lie Tian's statue would very likely ascend on the spot!

That would cause Lu Ran's mind to buzz violently, impairing his combat readiness.

"Hah."

Lu Ran exhaled slowly, gazing far off, his figure vanishing in a flash.

When he reappeared, he stood at the battlefield's edge, hidden behind a massive tree.

The Ruan Gate trio was surrounding and cornering Shi Yali.

But Xun Yifei's positioning was highly unusual!

The ground-bound Divine General Xun, now stood atop the highest point—on the treetop of a towering tree.

It is well known that Yanqing disciples are all experts in water combat.

On land, Yanqing disciples can still manage, but cannot unleash their full power.

As for aerial combat—

How could ordinary Yanqing disciples possess aerial combat capability?

Only Yanqing disciples above River Realm possess flight ability!

But there is one major prerequisite:

The battlefield must be raining, and the rain must be heavy!

At this moment, Xun Yifei was entwined with fine streams of water, darting freely through layers of rain, utterly exhilarated!

Coupled with the aid of the Divine Weapon·Three-Pronged Blade, this warrior, naturally specialized in water combat, had become the fastest and most agile flyer among the Ruan Gate trio.

Xun Yifei held the high ground like a lone warrior blocking a pass, completely sealing off the skies, leaving Shi Yali with no way to escape upward.

Yet the followers of the Second-Rank Divine Bird, Tian Luan, were no pushovers!

Aside from slightly weaker offensive capabilities, Shi Yali's defensive, control, and healing techniques were all top-tier.

"Friends, let's talk this out!" Shi Yali cried out loudly.

She flew backward through the air, arms extended forward.

"Huu!!"

A violent gust of chaotic wind erupted from her palms.

Tian Luan Divine Art·Heavenly Wind Chaos!

Amid the terrifying windstorm, the momentum of countless arrows sharply diminished; some veered wildly, nearly falling from the sky.

By the time the arrow rain reached Shi Yali's face, it had lost all its force.

"Huu~"

Shi Yali manipulated her wide, pure-white Luan wings, slashing them fiercely before her.

The dense arrows were instantly scattered, falling in all directions.

Luo Divine General is a Sea Realm Stage Four artillery platform—her Sea-Grade Divine Art·Linked Heaven Beads had been so easily blocked, proving the Tian Luan disciple's capability.

Yet Shi Yali felt no sense of accomplishment; instead, her temples throbbed violently.

So strong!

So strong, these Asha disciples!

Her Heavenly Wind Chaos had failed to even blow the arrows away—she'd had to use her Luan wings to deflect them?

Shi Yali's mind churned, and a massive gust of wind erupted from within her.

Tian Luan Divine Art·Heavenly Wind Dispersal!

She sensed someone approaching from behind!

"Huu!!"

A powerful ring of wind expanded outward, resembling the wind surge emitted during a realm breakthrough.

Above and behind Shi Yali, Yu Changsheng held a fan before his face, being blown backward, while his other hand thrust forward, forcefully casting a technique!

Long Li Divine Art·Long Li Break!

A terrifying school of fish suddenly appeared, charging forward through the windstorm.

Though many small Long Li were overturned by the wind ring, far more leapt and darted through the rain, swimming toward Shi Yali.

"Friend, you jest," Yu Changsheng said, his body wrapped in a faint golden "delicate gauze," floating steadily in the night sky.

Lu Ran, hidden in the shadows, watching for an opening, felt a chill run through him.

Yu Changsheng was already the type of elegant, refined gentleman, as if stepped out of ancient times.

Now, with the faint golden gauze swirling around him, he radiated nobility and grace—purely a demon incarnate.

"If you intended to harm us, how can you speak of 'talking this out'?" Yu Changsheng's voice came again.

Shi Yali suddenly spun, swinging her wide wings fiercely, flinging countless small Long Li away.

Compared to Luo Ying's arrows, Yu Changsheng's summoned fish lacked not just in speed, but in destructive power by a wide margin.

Each has their specialty!

Yu Changsheng being slightly inferior in output was not shameful.

Likewise, this phrase suited Shi Yali perfectly.

The Tian Luan clan's offensive techniques were also severely lacking.

She hurriedly said: "I was blind and rash, offending your noble selves! I am willing to offer a divine weapon as compensation—please spare me!"

"Oh?" Yu Changsheng raised a hand, a plan forming in his mind.

Seeing Yu Changsheng's gesture, Xun Luo and his wife both halted their attacks.

Shi Yali's heart leapt with joy; she immediately drew her curved blade: "I beg your forgiveness for my rashness—I swear I will never set foot here again. This divine weapon, Cold Moon Blade, I offer with both hands."

Throughout, Shi Yali never once mentioned Shi Guangwei's name.

By now, the flames in the forest had long been extinguished by the rain, and there were no furious roars from Lie Tian's followers.

It seemed Shi Yali had already concluded Shi Guangwei was dead—that was why she sought peace?

Come to think of it, Lu Ran had seen not a trace of sorrow or grief on Shi Yali's face.

Was she that good at pretending?

Or had this so-called elder sister long suffered under Lie Tian's followers?

"Let me see it," Yu Changsheng gestured.

Amid golden rain, Shi Yali stared at the Asha disciples before her, then looked up at the Yanqing disciple standing high above.

She gritted her teeth, turned, and hurled the Cold Moon Blade toward Yu Changsheng.

Yu Changsheng sneered inwardly, caught the blade, and feigned inspection.

Under Shi Yali's silent hope, Yu Changsheng spoke: "Your life is valuable—this one blade is not enough."

Shi Yali's face turned icy.

When trapped in a hopeless situation, desperate people will grasp at any chance of survival!

Even if it's self-deception.

Yet Shi Yali was not that foolish.

Give up five cities today, ten tomorrow—eventually, Qin troops will return.

The Cold Moon Blade could be given, to test them. Since seizing it, its spirit had completely severed all contact with the outside world.

It did not recognize her as its master!

Held in hand, it was no different from an inanimate object.

But the Cold Moon Blade had shown signs of yielding!

When the group first attacked, it was the Cold Moon Blade that, out of mercy, warned Shi Yali.

"You are a Long Li follower, kind-hearted, and a Sea Realm master—you should keep your word," Shi Yali said to Yu Changsheng. "Breaking your promise would tarnish your status and damage your prestige!"

Shi Yali had weighed this decision carefully.

She had also realized that although Yu Changsheng was a disciple of a Third-Rank Divine, he was clearly the leader of the group.

And the "golden badge" of being a Long Li follower gave her a faint, unrealistic hope.

But no surprise came.

"Friend, you jest again," Yu Changsheng smiled. "You are a Tian Luan disciple—you should be gentle and benevolent too, no?"

"Hah." Shi Yali's lips curled, as if finally done pretending—neither side needed to feign anymore.

She ignored the topic outright and said sternly, "This time I was reckless—it's my fault. I'm at the Fourth Stage of Sea Realm, and I consider myself capable!"

"I wish to join your organization, serve you faithfully for the rest of my life, and atone for my sins. I beg you, Master, to accept me!"

Lu Ran: "."

There's such a move?

Failing to kill, then begging for mercy—though human nature, it's shameless enough coming from Yangyang of the Sea.

And when begging didn't work, she just bowed her head outright, trying to join your ranks?

Like a dagger to the ass.

Tonight, Lu Ran had truly seen it all.

Yu Changsheng spoke: "Hand over the sword. I'll consider it."

Shi Yali's face darkened: "I've already offered you a divine weapon, and now I'm willing to be your servant—why must you press me so hard? Do you want me to fight to the death?"

Yu Changsheng sighed inwardly.

This woman is clear-headed—can't be fooled.

Fine. If I can't disarm her, then I'll strike directly.

Yu Changsheng sneered: "We're not the same. We don't have room for your great Buddha."

As he spoke, Yu Changsheng moved instantly, releasing a flood of Long Li.

Shi Yali dropped the pretense, leaping upward and snarling: "You hypocrite!"

"We're both whores on the same road—why put up a facade?"

"Swoosh~ Swoosh~ Swoosh!"

Shi Yali shot straight upward, releasing countless white feathers from her wings.

Heavenly Luán Divine Art: Sky Feather Killing Array!

This was one of the few offensive techniques in the Heavenly Luán sect's divine art roster.

"Ten Thousand Dragon Serpent Arrows!" Yu Changsheng declared openly, releasing a dense swarm of Long Li to meet attack with attack.

To himself, Yu Changsheng was open.

To the leader he followed, Yu Changsheng was even more open!

Indeed, Ran Men was no soft-hearted organization, but neither was it a vile gang.

You came to my door with a cleaver and an army!

I defend myself, and you claim I'm no different from you?

No!

We're vastly different!

"Deng!"

The violent tremor of the bowstring made Shi Yali's heart leap to her throat.

"Swoosh!" As she flapped upward, she hurled the Cold Moon Sword with all her strength, unleashing a torrent of energy from her palm.

A furious wind surged!

The terrifying wind currents dramatically accelerated the divine weapon's speed and momentum, driving it straight toward Xun Yifei.

Shi Yali's Sky Feather Killing Array failed to harm Xun Yifei.

Because countless water whips erupted from within Xun Yifei, autonomously striking and flinging away the incoming white feathers.

Yan Qing Divine Art: Thousand Water Whips!

Truly, gods duel, each displaying their own miracles.

Xun Yifei skillfully used water whips to block the wildly flying feathers, but he remained deeply wary of Shi Yali's hidden moves.

That divine weapon, the Cold Moon Sword, carried the Heavenly Wind Chaos boost—its momentum was terrifying, nothing like delicate feathers.

Such a terrifying combo would surely pierce through my water whips… Huh?

Xun Yifei, on guard, dodged desperately—then suddenly noticed a floor-length mirror materializing out of thin air.

The violent wind currents surged, amplifying the divine sword's speed and force, determined to pierce through the enemy's head—then—

The divine sword plunged straight into the mirror and vanished completely.

Shi Yali:!!!

Thank you to patrons You Er Xi Pu, E Hao De Xiao Xiong Mao, Jiang Zhu Yu Qiao, Re_Frost, and others.

Thank you for your support, patrons—your generosity is immense! May you find joy every day and prosper every year!

(`) Sending love





(End of Chapter)