Chapter 103: Demon Realm Entrance

Shi Ran lay light as a fallen leaf in Gu Yusheng's arms; likely because she was overly quiet now, her lovely face was as pale as snow, arousing pity.

Gu Yusheng unconsciously tightened his arms, raised his head to see Mei Ruoxue's gaze, and regretted his momentary distraction; he felt somewhat ashamed and lowered his head: "Senior Brother... what's wrong with Shi Ran?"

Luo Changfeng reached out to feel Shi Ran's pulse; the throbbing at his fingertips was chaotic like a startled bird: "Spiritual power overdrawn, soul shaken!" Luo Changfeng's complexion was not much rosier than Shi Ran's; under the moonlight it was as pale as paper; he was truly frightened—if something really happened, what would the master do?

"If what Shi Ran said is true, we must set out immediately!"

Mei Ruoxue sighed: "But Senior Brother, you're probably overthinking because you care; since Shi Ran woke up, she hasn't spoken like that! Given how she spoke, I think we can only trust her seventy percent!"

"Better to believe it exists than not!" Gu Yusheng had regained his composure, gesturing for Luo Changfeng and Mei Ruoxue to look at his slightly trembling Chasing Moon Sword, he analyzed: "See how my sword resonates? This Chasing Moon Sword and the master's Dragon Chant Sword were originally a pair forged from black iron; in danger they sense each other!"

The last river lantern on the water went out just now; in the darkness the three of us could clearly hear our breathing, while in the distance the officials' torches were moving this way, amidst the people's cries mixed with words like 'monsters' and 'immortal envoys'.

Luo Changfeng decisively hoisted Shi Ran onto his back: "No matter what, let's leave this place first!"

The four took to their swords under the night sky, heading west along the river; west lay Xiao Hua Mountain, they were fortunate to find an Earth Shrine at its base; Shi Ran urgently needed to regulate her breath and meditate, so the four settled there.

After a night's rest, Shi Ran was basically fine, but extremely weak.

"We should rest another day!" Seeing Shi Ran pushing herself, Luo Changfeng had to say: "Otherwise, even if we find the master, I couldn't answer for it!"

Shi Ran, however, was terrifyingly calm: "Even if I went to the Demon Realm now I'd just be a burden; better you go find the Demon Realm entrance first, I'll catch up after I recover."

"No!" Luo Changfeng was the first to object: "Before leaving, the master repeatedly urged us to protect you fully; I can't leave you alone here!"

"But what about the master?" Shi Ran almost cried, desperately holding back tears: "Believe the junior brother also sensed it; otherwise why would the Dragon Chant Sword cry for help?"

The named Gu Yusheng nodded: "I think we should do this: near Xiao Hua Mountain there is an Immortal Sect outpost, currently staffed by the Tianxuan Sect; let Shi Ran rest there first, and we can inform the Seven Sects to help us find the master."

Luo Changfeng let out a long sigh: "Then we have no choice."

The three settled Shi Ran without delay; the Tianxuan Sect also sent several capable disciples to follow them in searching around Xiao Hua Mountain; their efforts paid off, and they were finally stopped by an invisible barrier on the outskirts of Luoping Town.

This place is the north side of Xiao Hua Mountain, with Greater and Lesser Hua Mountains on either side; to the town's exact south lies a natural lake, Luoping Lake; the town has only one road leading out, and Luo Changfeng's group is blocked by the barrier on that narrow road.

Luo Changfeng flung three Boundary-breaking Talismans, but the papers turned to ash naturally in midair.

"Could this be the Demon Realm?" Gu Yusheng frowned, lightly tapping the air with his Chasing Moon Sword; instantly a spiderweb-like purple pattern appeared in the air: "Looks like at least the work of a Yuan Stage cultivator!"

Luo Changfeng, Gu Yusheng, and Mei Ruoxue flew to midair, formed seals and cast spells; spiritual power surged like a tide, and only with all their strength could they barely open a small opening just wide enough for one person to pass. "Hurry—if it takes too long the Demon Realm will notice!"

The crowd filed in one after another, never expecting the barrier's interior to be another scene entirely.

It was still the narrow path between the two Hua Mountains, dense with undergrowth; from deep within came occasional bone‑chilling chewing sounds, and stepping on the grass felt as if something were being sliced, also emitting infant‑like wailing cries.

The heavens and earth suddenly changed color; though it had been daylight, here only darkness remained, a blood moon hung high in the sky, and on the distant rugged cliffs a palace of white bones loomed faintly in the moonlight.

Along with Luo Changfeng's trio came three disciples of the Tianxuan Sect; they never imagined the Demon Realm would appear so close to the Immortal Sect's outpost—a blatant provocation.

The few moved with extreme caution, not daring to breathe heavily for fear of attracting the Demon Realm's attention; yet despite all this care, horn blasts still came from the cliffside, and masses of dark dots came rushing toward them.

"I'll scout the route; you find a place to hide!" Mei Ruoxue said and was about to fly on her sword.

Luo Changfeng grabbed her wrist: "Nonsense, your all‑element spiritual root is a disadvantage in the Demon Realm! Let me go; you and Yusheng flee elsewhere—right now the priority is to find the master! Get out of here quickly!"

Having said that, he didn't wait for their reaction, took out a Biomimic Talisman, stuck it on himself, and turned into a cute, clever white fox; he glanced at Mei Ruoxue and Gu Yusheng, then darted into the thick forest.

Mei Ruoxue clutched her chest; for some reason she felt this parting might be forever, but she quickly dismissed herself, thinking her intuition was nowhere near as accurate as Shi Ran's, so she said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother, this trip will surely go smoothly!"

Gu Yusheng pulled Mei Ruoxue up: "Senior Brother goes east, we'll go west!"

"What about us...?" The several Tianxuan Sect disciples who had followed them panicked, seeing the demon troops about to catch up, yet these few seemed utterly unconcerned.

"Please trouble a few senior brothers for this trip!" Gu Yusheng bowed: "Kindly send one back to the Immortal Sect to report the situation, as a precaution; also let our little junior sister know to wait patiently; the other two should first follow me and Ah Xue!"

This arrangement was indeed proper; the two left behind were named Tian Zimo and Yan Zhizhou, who followed Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue into the western woods and vanished in an instant.

The disciple sent to petition the Immortal Sect was Zhou Yu; he took a deep breath, did not return the same way, but kept a wary eye, heading north on a detour, feeling the route they'd taken was no longer safe—and sure enough, having gone just a short distance, he heard the footsteps of demon soldiers behind him.

Zhou Yu quickened his pace, his heart pounding like a drum; suddenly the ground gave way beneath him and he fell into a hidden cavern; he scrambled up, only to discover spiritual light flickering deep inside the cave.

"Who's in there!" Zhou Yu warily drew his sidearm; in the Demon Realm there actually was spiritual light—who could it be!

"It's me!" a cold voice rang out; then a person in a moon‑white robe drew nearer; Zhou Yu focused his gaze and saw that the one they had been seeking, the sect master of the Floating Dream Sect, Lingxiao, had appeared!