Chapter 778: The Overprotective Jin Xian

Sister Youyao's original plan was very simple.

Although she didn't know what method Shen Yi had used to make demons serve him as living puppets while even retaining a certain degree of consciousness.

But that pair of deer demon brothers appeared to have similar cultivation, yet in truth one was merely a wild demon from Beizhou, while the other had cultivated under her Master since childhood—no matter temperament or methods, the two were worlds apart.

The other side went without saying; judging by the strength Yun Miao had previously revealed, how could some unknown demon possibly stand against him.

In other words, she only needed to do as she had at Tashan earlier—hold off this insect demon's disciple for a short while—and the situation would return to its original shape.

But Sister Youyao had never imagined that, at the same third-rank realm, the disparity in tribulation power could reach a full hundred thousand tribulations.

Under such a vast difference in realm, it seemed all divine abilities and dharma treasures had lost their meaning.

"…"

She raised her head once more to look at the youth opposite, and for the first time a sliver of fear appeared in her narrow, elongated eyes.

How could a single person carry so many secrets? What had he experienced in Da Nanzhou to have accumulated such a foundation?

And a person like this, added to a mind so meticulous—even if you beat Sister Youyao to death, she would never believe anyone could have driven him out of Da Nanzhou.

"Why have you really come to Beizhou?"

Sister Youyao slowly gripped her own throat, forcing her entire being back into composure.

Within the violently churning horror in her heart, a sliver of heat quietly took root.

Her earlier guess, it seemed, had not been mere slander born of spite.

Sister Youyao strained to widen her eyes, as if she had seen hope anew…This was meant to be a vengeful act carried out for a private grudge, yet now it seemed to have become her own keen-eyed discernment—capturing a villain harboring vicious schemes for the Tida Sect.

And the prerequisite for all of this was to defeat this man!

A full hundred thousand tribulations' gap in cultivation—swap in the vast majority of Beizhou's disciples, and this would be an impassable chasm.

But Sister Youyao was one of the few who could cross it.

It was not because her talent was exceptional, but because not long ago she had still been the sole hope of Qingguang Cave; to hold onto this family inheritance, she naturally possessed things other disciples did not.

Fortunately, after her successive blunders, her Master had not taken this thing back.

"Now it's my turn…to step on you and stand back up."

Sister Youyao's fingers slowly slid down, then tightened forcefully around the blood-red jade pendant hanging at her neck.

The red within the jade rippled like water waves, then slowly overflowed, climbing over her entire body like threads of silk, leaving crimson patterns resembling lava upon her black dress.

The destructive power of a fifth-tempering spirit treasure was too terrifying; even renowned Jin Xian within the Jibianshi Sect would not lightly entrust one to a disciple's use—first, they were loath to part with it, for a treasure of this caliber was already a mainstay in their own hands; second, they feared it might harm the user.

Hence, this Xuan Shang Yan Tiao Robe, compared to slaying foes, was actually better suited to defending the body.

But a foundation of a full five hundred thousand tribulations—even if Sister Youyao could only bring out a small portion of it—was enough to reverse the battle.

The black dress swayed, its crimson patterns alternating between bright and dim, as the woman slowly rose into the air, causing the entire Taixu Realm to grow unbearably sweltering.

"…"

Shen Yi sensed the changes around him, pondered for an instant, then sheathed the Wuwei Sword in his hand.

As his right hand rose, a dark-gold monk's staff had already appeared in his palm.

Seeing this move, the unease that had lingered in Sister Youyao's heart even after she had summoned her fifth-tempering spirit treasure suddenly steadied.

She was truly a little afraid—after all, this kid in front of her always managed to deliver a "surprise."

But now…he had actually produced a Buddhist treasure, which rather smacked of having run out of tricks.

Sister Youyao had also been at Tashan back then, so she naturally knew of this fifth-tempering Buddhist treasure, but surely no one would think the tribulation power within that staff could be channeled through Sanxian Sect methods?

"Let me see—strip away these eyesores of shadow, and find out exactly what you are!"

Having regained the chance to vie for the position of overlord, Sister Youyao was now brimming with drive; with a fierce sweep of her sleeve, the heat suffusing the Taixu Realm transformed into near-solid waves of flame that ravaged outward like a gale, determined to melt away everything before her.

The gray fog vanished in an instant, and even the towering black-cloud silhouette behind Shen Yi was torn apart in ragged shreds.

Sister Youyao had finally torn away the shadows shrouding Shen Yi.

What was hidden within those black clouds was a Golden Body that blotted out the sky; it stood in silence, four arms extending from its back each gripping a ritual implement, while a massive halo of light hung behind it.

The scattered black clouds gathered once more, surging like dark flames coiling around its body, lending its face a darker hue; the once solemn visage of a Bodhisattva now carried several shades of a Wisdom King's baleful aura.

The black flames leapt upward, tinting the halo a dark gold.

At the same moment, Shen Yi flung the monk's staff; the staff, originally less than a zhang long, rapidly expanded after leaving his hand to match the height of the Golden Body, then settled firmly into the empty hands of the latter.

Clang—

The instant it gripped the staff, the Golden Body's dharma aspect turned its gaze indifferently toward Sister Youyao.

Within its flowing-gold eyes, a sudden flash of killing intent was born!

"…"

Sister Youyao's pupils contracted sharply; she had never imagined she would behold a Bodhisattva.

She instinctively stepped back half a pace, only to despairingly discover that within this Taixu Realm, facing such a dharma aspect, she had no room to maneuver whatsoever.

In an instant, the staff had already come crashing down like a pillar holding up the heavens; her entire body was swallowed by the descending shadow, while the rings upon the staff clinked and rang—the Buddhist sound that suppresses all dharma.

"Force it back!"

Sister Youyao thrust out both palms; the lava-like patterns across her body transformed into a skyful of crimson radiance that converged into a ferocious strange beast, which roared and hurled itself at the descending staff.

The Xuan Shang Yan Tiao Robe was clearly a spirit treasure no weaker than that staff.

But the disparity in their masters' strength was now displayed in the most vivid fashion.

The crimson beast had barely leapt up before it was blasted apart by a single blow of the staff.

Beneath the staff's tip.

Sister Youyao half-knelt on the ground, veins bulging between her palms, her ten fingers bracing desperately against the staff; the sheer disparity in size was like an ant trying to lift a mountain.

She had finally confirmed the thought in her heart, yet no longer had any chance to carry this secret out.

"You will die!"

"The elders of the Sect will never let you go!"

A shrill voice echoed all around; the red jade at Sister Youyao's neck had dimmed to its utmost.

Her gaze was scattered, her strength utterly spent; just as she thought she was about to be ground into powder, her palms suddenly met empty air, and she stumbled forward, collapsing to the ground.

At some unknown moment, that massive Golden Body had once again been wrapped in black clouds.

In Sister Youyao's blurred vision, a pair of long boots slowly came to a halt; summoning her last strength, she raised her head, only to see Shen Yi holding a long sword at an angle, gazing at her calmly.

"Let us discuss what comes later, later."

A clear voice sounded by Sister Youyao's ear; this rogue had not refuted her words, seeming to have long prepared for death, thus instead displaying a measure of composure.

Pfft!

She watched helplessly as the Wuwei Sword pierced her chest; vast calamity force instantly erupted, destroying the Dao-body she had painstakingly forged.

Sister Youyao could not comprehend why such an existence would still risk great danger to infiltrate Beizhou.

With such power, even the position of Lord of Heaven and Earth would hold a great chance of attainment, yet being in Beizhou meant the constant possibility of being discovered by the elders of the Sanxian Sect and struck down.

However, her already blurred vision was gradually being consumed by darkness.

And that slender figure, after casually snatching the jade pendant from her neck, had long since turned and departed; naturally, no one remained to answer her questions.

"..."

Contrary to Sister Youyao's expectations, the struggle between the two deer demons resulted in the one outside the Sanxian Sect gaining the upper hand.

After all, as the fight deepened, the Deer Boy felt more and more that his elder brother still lived; he strained to ask the reason, his hands and feet bound during the magical duel, while his brother thought only of quickly sending him to the Master's side to suffer less torment.

Although the Southern Emperor's strength was far inferior to Yun Miao's, under his broad, reckless, and fearless entanglement, Yun Miao, honored as the Great Disciple of Lingxu Cave, even while maintaining the upper hand, had still been unable to completely subdue him to this point.

The killing intent of this True Person Yun Miao seemed to exist only when fighting with numbers against a few; whenever the situation changed, the instinct to preserve his life began to take effect once more.

And this stalemate, after Shen Yi withdrew his hand, inevitably turned into a one-sided slaughter.

Sss! Sss!

The Realm of Purity descended; the Wuwei Sword transformed into white light, sweeping in four directions.

Yun Miao, who had just been waving his jade fan, suddenly stared blankly as that fan, along with his own hand, fell into the void.

Too late to scream, his face went numb, and he suddenly turned to look back.

Though his vision was blocked by gray mist, since the Wuwei Sword had arrived, it meant Sister Youyao had already been defeated.

How could it be so fast!

That damned woman, who usually carried an air of arrogance and superiority, when truly fighting, was actually wiped out as if chopping melons and vegetables.

I truly had blind eyes to think this person was a support worth clinging to.

"Yan Shidi, wait! I, I have words to speak!"

Yun Miao struggled to evade the white light, shouting out a defense, but no matter how he circled, the surroundings remained empty and desolate.

The opponent did not even wish to appear and be seen; the only response to him was the white light attacking once more.

Only when truly facing this Yan Shidi alone did Yun Miao finally understand the opponent's might; no matter what methods he employed, he could not escape the waves of sword light.

"Yan Shidi—"

In desperation, Yun Miao roared out the most sincere "Yan Shidi" he had ever uttered, but before the words had even faded, the Wuwei Sword cleanly and decisively severed his head.

Kaiyuan Prefecture, Tashan.

Apart from the initial disciples, in a short time, sect members who had heard the news already covered the sky.

Among them, Li Shan and Qixian were the two most conspicuous.

The righteous curses of the disciples had already made the full story clear.

Beneath Qixian's seemingly calm exterior, his heart was already overjoyed.

He had once advised that person on this mountain to bring the Kaiyuan Prefecture under his command, or else face death; now it seemed that although the disaster came a bit late, it had ultimately fallen upon the other's head.

Tsk, and he even took Sister Youyao with him; dying was at least of some value.

After this matter, that woman would likely be suppressed until the Great Calamity ended, and Beizhou, once divided into three, would become a standoff between two.

Thinking of this, Qixian quietly glanced at Li Shan opposite; upon seeing the other's face full of sorrow, he secretly sneered, "Not bad, the act is quite convincing."

Just then, the surroundings suddenly fell utterly silent.

Everyone looked up in unison, staring at the slender figure treading upon the clouds.

Immediately, the passionate accusations of the crowd broke the silence: "Elder Master Qingguang, your disciple Sister Youyao not only shows no remorse but has become increasingly tyrannical; before our very eyes, she openly killed a fellow disciple. We beg you to intervene and uphold justice!"

"..."

Master Qingguang acted as if he had not heard, simply directing his gaze toward another place.

Following his line of sight, another streak of light swiftly approached.

"Elder Brother, if you do not act now, what are you doing just watching here?"

Lingxu Zi arrived in a hurry; before so many sect members, it was not proper to speak too harshly, so he merely offered a mild reproach.

Though he and Shen Yi shared no master-disciple bond, where could one find a similarly capable person in such a short time? Now knowing the other was in peril, naturally, he was anxious beyond measure.

Moreover... this peril also involved his own eldest disciple.

If Shen Yi truly died, then Lingxu Cave would become the laughingstock of all Beizhou.

Having spoken, Lingxu Zi hesitated no more; he waved his fly-whisk, relying on his profound realm to forcibly tear open the Great Void realm.

Master Qingguang watched silently, calculating the time in his heart, and had no intention of intervening to stop him.

It was about time to end this.

He slowly descended from the clouds: "My disciple is violent by nature and has broken the sect's rules; once I take her back, I will surely punish her severely and give my Yan Shidi an explanation."

As the words fell, everyone around showed expressions of surprise, followed immediately by a surge of indignation.

After things had reached this point, this old rogue Master Qingguang still wanted to protect that madwoman, using such vague words to deceive people; it was simply too outrageous!

Unfortunately, Lingxu Junior Uncle heard these words as well, yet pretended not to hear; the other disciples, no matter how resentful, could only endure it.

No wonder Yun Miao ended up in such a wretched state — it turns out he could still find himself a master.

"Sigh."

Lingxu Zi silently tore at the Grand Void Realm, sighing in his heart.

If Shen Yi were still alive, he could naturally claim some compensation on his behalf, but if the man was already dead, then offending Zhu Shixiong Qingguang over this matter would be more loss than gain.

At last, he swung his horsetail whisk with a sudden sweep.

A stretch of Tianyan Siji, shrouded in grey mist, appeared out of thin air before everyone's eyes.

And at the same moment, the crowd that had been seething with fury just now all, as if by unspoken accord, widened their eyes slightly.

Only to see within that grey mist—

A handsome young man hovered in mid-air, his Bai Shan covered in burn marks, and even his Bai Xi skin was streaked with black scars everywhere.

Murder blazed in his eyes, carrying even a hint of savagery, utterly devoid of that earlier air of ease.

But what truly shocked people was not his current dishevelment.

Everyone stared at his hand — those five long, well-defined fingers tightly gripping the slender neck of the woman in the black dress, as if the next moment he would crush it entirely.

And beneath their feet lay the deer demon and Yun Miao, their bodies broken and scattered.

"Enough! Stop at once!"

The words, laden with wrath, echoed across the mountains and rivers, jolting the crowd awake.

They saw that Master Qingguang, who had been perfectly composed moments ago, now wore a dark, grim expression. With a sudden sweep of his sleeve, the aura of a Jin Xian rolled forth.

Lingxu Zi hurriedly shielded Shen Yi with his horsetail whisk, sparing him from grave injury, but did not stop Sister Youyao from being taken away by his senior brother.

Even though moments ago this had been a life-and-death duel, once it was laid bare before the crowd it could only be passed off as a bit of youthful hot-headedness among juniors — no more lives could be taken.

(End of chapter)