Chapter 119: Nine Abyss

Shi Ran knelt beside Ling Xiao, her trembling fingertips brushing his pale face. His breath grew ever weaker, the demonic mark on his brow growing more ferocious, as if it would devour his last vestige of life at any moment.

"I can't delay any longer..." she gritted her teeth and stood up, the Ice Stream Sword in her hand flashing with cold light, "I'm going to find the antidote."

Yan Zizhou helplessly grabbed her again, "Shi Ran, right? The depths of the Demon Realm are fraught with danger; those demon cultivators are all treacherous and deceitful—going alone, what is that if not suicide?!"

Shi Ran shook off his hand, her voice trembling: "Are you expecting me to just watch my master die? I can't do that!"

Gu Yusheng fell silent for a moment, then said: "I'll go with you."

Mei Ruoxue frowned and quickly objected: "No, it's too dangerous for both of you to go."

"I can go alone!" Shi Ran gently wiped away her tears, her tone firm: "You take Master to find the grand-uncle; you need to secure both ends."

Tian Zimo let out a soft sigh, taking out a jade slip from his sleeve: "This is a map of the Demon Realm. I and Zizhou slew a tracking demon and obtained this from it. The Demon Realm is divided into twelve provinces, three in each of the four directions. We have already passed through the three northern provinces, and the Demon Sovereign's palace lies at the center of the Twelve Provinces, called the Nine Abyss. However, the entrance is sealed by a barrier that ordinary cultivators cannot penetrate."

Luo Changfeng weakly opened his eyes, his voice hoarse: "I... will accompany you."

Everyone started, turning to look at him. He barely propped himself up, his face as pale as paper, yet his eyes were unusually resolute.

"Senior brother, your wound..." Shi Ran worried.

Luo Changfeng shook his head: "The wound looks frightening, but actually Si Tong isn't willing to take my life; a trace of her demonic energy remains in my body, which might help you infiltrate the Demon Realm."

Actually, Luo Changfeng's injury wasn't serious; Si Tong had captured him and hadn't drawn blood right away, as if she only sensed their arrival later, then bound him to take blood, merely to provoke them into entering an illusion.

As for why he had demonic energy in his body, Luo Changfeng's eyes dimmed, his fingertip lightly touching the corner of his mouth, then pulling away.

After discussion, the group decided to split into two groups—

Gu Yusheng, Mei Ruoxue, Tian Zimo, and Yan Zizhou escorted Ling Xiao back to the sect to seek a cure.

Shi Ran and Luo Changfeng then infiltrated the Demon Realm to seek the Demon Sovereign.

Before departure, Shi Ran knelt beside the unconscious Ling Xiao, gently clasping his hand and whispering: "Master, wait for my return."

She dared not linger, fearing she would waver, and turned to stride into the deep demon forest with Luo Changfeng.

The sky of the Demon Realm was forever shrouded in dark purple clouds, the air reeking of decay and blood. Shi Ran and Luo Changfeng concealed their forms, advancing along the map provided by Tian Zimo.

"The entrance to the Nine Abyss is right ahead," Luo Changfeng whispered, "It is said that the Demon Sovereign's palace floats above the abyss, and only those bearing a demon seal can enter."

Shi Ran frowned: "We don't have a demon seal—how are we to get in?"

Luo Changfeng pondered for a moment, then said: "Perhaps... we can use Si Tong."

"Si Tong?" Shi Ran startled, "Wasn't she supposed to have fled?"

Luo Changfeng shook his head: "She's seriously injured; she will surely return to the Nine Abyss to heal. We only need..."

Before his words finished, a rustling sound came from the bushes ahead.

The two instantly became alert, gripping their weapons.

However, what emerged from the bushes was a snow-white little rabbit, its hind legs stained with blood, hobbling toward them.

Shi Ran: "……?"

Luo Changfeng: "……?"

The little rabbit opened its wet red eyes, looking at them pitifully, as if pleading for help.

Shi Ran hesitated for a moment, then crouched: "It's injured..."

Luo Changfeng frowned: "Demon Realm beasts cannot be trusted; a sudden appearance before us must be abnormal!"

The little rabbit seemed to understand his words, its ears drooping as it curled up in a wronged ball.

Its wronged look reminded her a little of Master when he was young… Shi Ran hesitated a moment, then reached out and picked it up: "Senior brother, it doesn't look threatening; can we just heal it and then leave it be?"

Luo Changfeng had no choice but to acquiesce.

However, the instant Shi Ran picked up the rabbit, its red eyes flashed with a strange purple light.

As night deepened, the two found a cave to temporarily rest.

Shi Ran bandaged the little rabbit's wound; it obediently curled up in her arms, motionless.

Luo Changfeng sat at the cave mouth, vigilantly watching the surroundings, then suddenly whispered: "Shi Ran, do you feel... this rabbit is a bit odd?"

Shi Ran lowered her head to look at the little lump in her arms, seeing nothing amiss, and asked puzzled: "What's strange about it?"

Luo Changfeng narrowed his eyes: "Its eyes... just now seemed to have turned purple."

Shi Ran startled, about to look closer, when the rabbit in her arms suddenly kicked hard and leapt out of her embrace!

"Watch out!" Luo Changfeng bellowed, the Breaking Cloud Sword flashing forth!

However, the instant the rabbit landed, its form twisted sharply, turning into a slender human figure—

Purple robes fluttering, strange eyes bewitching—it was unmistakably Si Tong!

"We really are... fated to meet," she licked the blood from the corner of her lips, her gaze meaningfully fixed on Luo Changfeng.

Luo Changfeng frowned, pointing the Breaking Cloud Sword at Si Tong: "How do we neutralize the demon poison? Speak!"

Thinking of Ling Xiao, Shi Ran's pupils contracted, the Ice Stream Sword flashing from its sheath: "Si Tong, if you don't dispel the poison, don't blame us for being rude!"

Si Tong looked at Luo Changfeng and Shi Ran; the wind in the cave fluttered, lifting their lapels, making their robes flutter, their paired silhouettes. She felt a sour pang, gave a contemptuous smile: "Just the two of you think you can catch me?"

Luo Changfeng said coldly: "You're seriously injured; you can't escape."

Si Tong narrowed her eyes, then gave an eerie smile: "Escape? Who said I need to flee?"

She suddenly raised her hand; a blood-red sigil exploded in midair!

"Not good!" Shi Ran's face changed drastically, "She's summoning her kin!"

The ground shook violently; countless black shadows crawled up from the earth, ferocious demon beasts howling as they lunged at the two!

Luo Changfeng swept his longsword sideways, lightning exploding, and growled low: "Shi Ran, go!"

Shi Ran gritted her teeth; the Ice Stream Sword's cold light surged, she cleaved the oncoming demon beast with a single slash, then turned to break out.

However, Si Tong's figure flickered like a ghost, blocking her path, her violet eyes deep: "Want to save Ling Xiao? Then... come with me."

A flash of demonic light from her fingertip, and Shi Ran felt her vision go black, instantly losing consciousness...

When Shi Ran awoke again, she found herself locked in a pitch-black cage, thick demonic energy permeating the surroundings.

"Awake?" Si Tong's voice came from the darkness.

Shi Ran raised her head, only to see her lazily leaning on the throne, her fingertips toying with a blood-colored jade pendant.

"What do you want to do?" Shi Ran asked coldly.

Si Tong chuckled: "You don't want to see the Demon Lord, do you? You want to know how to resolve the demon poison? I'll grant you that."

She rose slowly, her purple skirt trailing the ground, walked up to Shi Ran, bent down, pinched her chin, and whispered.

"But... you must first tell me, who exactly is Ling Xiao?"

Shi Ran's heart jolted, she forced herself to stay calm: "He is my Master, who else could he be?"

Si Tong narrowed her eyes, a flicker of doubt crossing her heterochromatic pupils: "No, his aura... is off."

She released her grip, turned and walked toward the prison door, saying lightly: "The Demon Lord takes great interest in you; he hopes you can live to see him."

Having said that, her figure vanished into the darkness, leaving only Shi Ran alone.

Shi Ran clenched her fists, her heart filled with anxiety—

Master, wait for me...