Chapter 403: Nie Jun Leaves the Mountain

It seemed as if a wild wind had swept through, scattering the crimson sky.

The great sun hung high, and the sky was clear.

Beneath that overwhelming spear thrust just now, not a single bit of this mountain forest had been damaged; everything remained as before, with only the lingering scent of demon blood slowly spreading.

The mountain breeze brushed past.

Miao Qinghui suddenly shivered, staring blankly at the horizon—that was the power she had longed for.

With the departure of the black-robed youth, it was as if a great dream had entirely vanished.

"How did that palace just now compare to Zhu Shixiong Nie?" she asked hesitantly.

"I don't know."

Tong Xinchuan adjusted his breathing; this was a realm beyond his ability to judge.

"So it really was Father after all." Yu Chaoan wiped a layer of cold sweat. No wonder Zhu Shixiong and Senior Sister trusted each other so much; it turned out only he had been worrying in vain.

He shook off the sweat and said somewhat guiltily, "Shall we still go find the other two Demon Emperors?"

Could it be that the others were also hiding deadly moves like this white horse?

"No need. Let's return."

Tong Xinchuan spoke concisely and turned around.

Their goal was to conceal Zhu Shixiong Nie's cultivation, but Shen Yi's strength was equally terrifying now, and he was so ostentatious.

If the Thousand Demon Cave wanted to free their hands to deal with Zhu Shixiong, they would first have to get past Shen Yi.

He carried the two of them on clouds toward Mount Wutong.

Several days and nights later, just as night was first falling.

Tong Xinchuan took out the golden arrow, landed at the foot of Mount Wutong, and walked toward the secluded path.

Just then, his eyelid suddenly twitched.

He saw that at the corner ahead, a figure in a green robe lay straight out on the path; if not for the faint snoring, he might have thought the other was already dead.

"Jin Gang Rope?"

Tong Xinchuan glanced at the tightly bound golden rope on the other's body, and a chill rose in his eyes.

Miao Qinghui quietly tugged at the corner of his sleeve and glared at him.

If one were to ask who on Mount Wutong had the most rebellious spirit, it was none other than Yan Shidi Tong before them.

Due to experiences in his youth, he was naturally suspicious and lacked a sense of security; yet his master never gave his disciples any warmth.

In comparison, although Yan Shidi Tong never spoke of it and even occasionally tried to ambush from behind, it was Nie Jun, who had risked his life to retrieve the Heaven-Spanning Divine Silk for him back then, who was the person he relied on most.

"Let's go see Master first."

Miao Qinghui pulled Tong Xinchuan, glanced again at the dazed Yu Chaoan, and led the two of them forward.

"Master, we have returned."

She stood outside the Water Curtain Immortal Cave and called softly.

Tong Xinchuan's face darkened slightly as he raised both palms; the Golden Arrow of Demon Decree in his palms turned into a streak of light and darted into the cave.

Looking at the silent cave dwelling.

He did not leave tactfully as he usually would but instead asked, "What happened to Zhu Shixiong? Why does he need the Jin Gang Rope bound upon him?"

Such a direct accusation made Yu Chaoan break out in another cold sweat.

He had thought Master would not pay any attention to Zhu Shixiong Tong at all, but unexpectedly, after a moment, a faint voice came from within the cave.

"He committed a fault and still refuses to admit it, contradicts his master, and is arrogant due to favor; he should be replaced."

Hearing these words, Miao Qinghui's face changed abruptly, while Tong Xinchuan gritted his teeth in anger: "I do not know who Master wishes to replace."

"Great Qian, Shen Yi."

These four simple words echoed in the secluded path.

Upon hearing this, Tong Xinchuan sneered with resentment: "Then I'm afraid you will be disappointed. The disciple happened to see Shen Yi; he does not look like someone coming to Mount Wutong."

Having said that, he was still not satisfied: "Even if he did come, given Shen Yi's character, he would not lie on the ground like Zhu Shixiong Nie to be mocked by you. If he were here instead, it would be far more likely that he would draw his sword and slay you."

"Do you not value your life?"

Miao Qinghui suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, saying in terror.

However, the cave dwelling remained silent for a long time.

Finally, the woman let out a clear laugh and said faintly, "Is that so?"

Along with her words, the golden ropes suddenly fell from Nie Jun's body and swiftly flew back into the cave.

"Stay quiet; you will not understand them."

The woman's voice was full of arrogance; she stopped laughing: "You will see how that proud cultivator you speak of will come to bow before this one of his own accord."

When she takes disciples, why would she need ropes to bind them?

The paths of this group, who are capable of returning to the Void, are all held in her palm.

"..."

Feeling the bindings on his body fade away, the snoring slowly stopped. The desolate figure lying on the ground reached toward his waist, only to slap at empty air.

He smacked his lips, stumbled to his feet from the ground.

Without even bothering to turn his head, he walked shakily toward the exit of the secluded path.

"Heh."

Seeing this, Tong Xinchuan sneered toward the cave and turned to leave as well.

The remaining two stood there, somewhat at a loss.

Over these many years, although Master was not as considerate as a biological parent, the atmosphere on the mountain had been acceptable; how had it suddenly deteriorated into such an irreconcilable state?

After a long while, Miao Qinghui let out a heavy sigh.

Senior brother and master seemed to have each touched the other's bottom line; neither would retreat even a single step.

Atop Mount Wutong.

Nie Jun walked back to his wooden hut, dug out several wine jars from under the bed, poured back and forth a few times, and finally scraped together a mouthful of dregs.

He drank it down in one satisfied gulp.

He had intended to turn and leave, but thinking that all his savings had been taken, he frowned slightly and helplessly picked up that Profound Sword.

"Where are you going?"

Tong Xinquan blocked the doorway.

"Staying here is boring. I'm leaving."

Nie Jun slapped the other aside with the blade and strode straight out of the wooden hut.

He was about to walk down the mountain.

"Then I'll tell you something interesting!"

Tong Xinquan thrust out both palms; the Forging-Deity Heaven Silk covered the entire area. He exerted his full strength to set up a sound-blocking formation and said casually, "Whoever eavesdrops is a dog."

As the words fell, a strand of divine sense was cleanly and decisively withdrawn, returning carelessly to within the Water Curtain Immortal Cave.

"What exactly do you want?" Nie Jun suppressed his temper slightly and frowned, asking.

"I ask you: why didn't you win against that lion?" Tong Xinquan looked at him seriously.

"It ran too fast. The sword art, separated from the Dao Palace, lost most of its power, and it was eaten by it." Nie Jun replied casually, seeming to feel there was nothing major about it.

He was different from Ling Xi.

Since Nie Jun began cultivation, he had been beaten up all the way because he ignored the hierarchy of realms.

Jade Essence fought Condensed Golden Core; Embracing the Core fought Slain Hunyuan.

Not dying was purely due to great fortune.

Losing a duel of spells was, for him, the most normal thing in the world.

"What method of travel did it use?" Tong Xinquan asked next.

Hearing this, Nie Jun pondered for a moment: "It transformed into a purple-white long rainbow..."

"Stop." Tong Xinquan glanced warily at the foot of the mountain, leaned close to Nie Jun's ear, and said, "That lion is Shen Yi transformed. He is currently the Demon Emperor in the Thousand Demon Cave; how could he possibly come to Mount Wutong to snatch your direct disciple?"

"I might as well tell you: his current strength is no less than yours. He didn't fight you last time simply because he was too lazy to pay attention to you."

"Do you still think it's boring now?"

Tong Xinquan's words seemed to carry some kind of bewitching power.

He understood this senior brother better than any of the other fellow disciples.

"..."

The despondency in Nie Jun's eyes slowly faded, and a bit of vitality finally appeared in his pitch-black pupils.

He strode forward, waved the hand holding the Profound Sword casually, and smashed the sky-full of Forging-Deity Heaven Silk to pieces.

Amidst the scattered, shimmering light.

Nie Jun threw out the Profound Sword, then stepped onto it and fled far away.

"Bai Chi."

Tong Xinquan's divine soul gave a dull thud; he hurriedly retracted the Forging-Deity Heaven Silk.

Looking in the direction where his senior brother had vanished.

The worry in his eyes lessened slightly, then he turned puzzledly to look at the other wooden huts.

If he guessed correctly, the junior sister and the others should have gone to invite Shen Yi.

But since Shen Yi went to slaughter the Bai Ma, why haven't these few returned yet?

(End of this chapter)