Chapter 158

"Bad!" Ling Xiao's expression shifted; he hadn't expected this residual will to be so crafty. He couldn't continue attacking the skeleton, forcibly twisted his body, instantly appearing before Luo Changfeng and Wei Yuzhu, thrusting his palms out—majestic spiritual power condensed into a heavy light shield!

Boom!

A golden light beam slammed hard into the shield, the shield shuddered violently, cracks appearing. Ling Xiao staggered, a sweet taste rose in his throat; blocking this strike made his qi and blood surge. And just as he was distracted rescuing, the surrounding vines and light swords surged again, encircling him, while the lawful giant palm condensed once more in the high sky.

The situation instantly became extremely unfavorable! Ling Xiao fell into passive defense, having to block the formation's relentless attacks, while also splitting his attention to protect his disciples and respond to the skeleton's deadly sneak attack, stretched thin, danger looming everywhere.

Luo Changfeng and Wei Yuzhu looked on anxiously, knowing they had become a burden to their master. Wei Yuzhu gritted her teeth and said to Luo Changfeng, "Senior Brother Luo, we can't keep hiding! The Venerable Sir said it's right—interfere with that golden flame!"

She fiercely pushed the jade ruyi's light to the extreme, temporarily opening a safe zone, while shouting to Luo Changfeng: "Use your sword to attack the skeleton's eye sockets! Even if you can only distract it a bit!"

Luo Changfeng nodded firmly, resolve flashing in his eyes. He understood that, with their cultivation, directly opposing this will was surely like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, but even if it were a moth flying into flame, he had to create a sliver of opportunity for his master! He took a deep breath, raised his sword intent to its peak, ignoring the meridian pain, body and sword as one, transforming into a forward‑rushing stream of light, straight stabbing the skeleton's eye sockets blazing with golden flame.

"Courting death!" the cold thought echoed again.

The skeleton didn't even glance at Luo Changfeng, merely waving a hand casually, an invisible force like a mountain smashed toward Luo Changfeng.

Bang!

Luo Changfeng flew backward like a broken‑string kite, heavily striking the light barrier wall, blood spurting wildly, his long sword almost slipping from his hand—clearly severely injured.

"Senior Brother Luo!" Wei Yuzhu exclaimed, but she had no time to check Luo Changfeng's injuries. Because the skeleton's attention locked onto her and the unconscious Shi Ran once more! Another golden light beam was condensing!

Just as tragedy seemed imminent, an abrupt change occurred!

Shi Ran, who had been shielded by Wei Yuzhu's spiritual power barrier, perhaps because she was near the Qingmu Source Fruit, stimulated by its pure vitality, or perhaps because she sensed the utmost danger, the gold‑black energy at her brow suddenly surged violently! Her tightly shut eyes flew open!

What eyes those were! Originally clear pupils, now a sheet of black, deep as a ten‑thousand‑foot abyss, with no white, filled with deathly stillness, coldness, and an indifferent gaze looking down on all beings.

"Ran‑ran?!" Wei Yuzhu sensed the abnormality, turned her head, and was frightened out of her wits.

"Shi Ran" slowly sat up, her gaze sweeping the scene, finally fixing on the white jade skeleton. The corner of her mouth curled into a strange arc, and she issued a voice utterly unlike her own—hoarse and ancient:

"A mere vestige of thought, dare to act wanton before this venerable self?"

Before the words faded, "Shi Ran" raised a hand and lightly pointed. No spiritual power fluctuation, no manifestation of law, yet the golden light beam aimed at Wei Yuzhu, as if wiped away by an invisible hand, vanished instantly in midair!

Immediately after, an aura far older, deeper, and more terrifying than the white jade skeleton's will emanated from "Shi Ran"'s petite frame! This pressure bore pure intent of death and extinction, standing in stark opposition to the vibrant life force of the entire Qingmu Ancestral Land, causing the valley's formation light shield to emit a groan of being overburdened!

The golden flames in the white jade skeleton's eye sockets flared violently, conveying intense fear: "You… you are… Netherworld…"

It couldn't finish its words.

"Shi Ran" raised her hand again, grasping at the white jade skeleton in empty air.

Crack!

That white jade skeleton, immortal through myriad ages, instantly cracked from head to toe! The golden flames in its eye sockets, like a candle in the wind, snuffed out suddenly! The half‑formed lawful giant palm also dissipated into nothing.

Bereft of the skeleton's will directing it, the protective formation's operation immediately grew sluggish, its light dimmed by more than half, and its attacks became chaotic and disordered.

This sudden, heaven‑shaking reversal left everyone stunned!

Ling Xiao's pupils contracted sharply, he stared fixedly at the transformed aura of "Shi Ran", his heart churning with shock: "This isn't Ran‑ran! It's the ancient consciousness contained within her body's extinction origin that has awakened! And this consciousness… is terrifying to the extreme!"

After "Shi Ran" disposed of the skeleton's will, her gaze turned to the source fruit, a flicker of greed flashing in her black eyes. She extended her pallid hand and reached straight for the source fruit!

"Stop!" Ling Xiao bellowed, instantly appearing between "Shi Ran" and the source fruit, his gaze fierce as he told her, "Leave my disciple's body!"

"Shi Ran" tilted her head, looking at Ling Xiao, a cat‑toying‑with‑a‑mouse smirk on her face: "Interesting ant. This body is quite good; I'll use it temporarily. This source fruit is just right to compensate for my loss. In consideration of your meritorious escort, scram, and you may avoid death."

Ling Xiao's face sank like water, his thoughts racing. The presence before him was absolutely a formidable foe he had scarcely encountered, its power unfathomable; even a mere thread of consciousness attached to Shi Ran gave him a deadly sense of threat. But to watch his disciple's flesh be possessed and the lifesaving source taken, he could not possibly allow it!

"No matter who you are, get out of my disciple's body!" Ling Xiao ceased talking and struck directly! He pointed his fingers like a sword; this time his sword qi not only contained unstoppable sword intent, but also carried a trace of pure‑yang Dao rhythm that suppresses souls and purifies evil! He sought to force out that ancient consciousness without harming Shi Ran's physical foundation.

"Obstinate and insensible!" "Shi Ran" snorted coldly, likewise pointing a finger. Her fingertip wrapped in thick deathly black aura clashed with Ling Xiao's pure‑yang sword qi.

Hiss——

There was no violent explosion; the two utterly opposite, extremely high‑level forces mutually annihilated, emitting a heart‑pounding sound. At the point of contact, space itself twisted.

Ling Xiao's body trembled slightly, he retreated half a step, while "Shi Ran" remained unmoved. The outcome was clear at a glance!

"Master!" the struggling‑to‑rise Luo Changfeng saw this scene, his heart leapt to his throat.

"Tsk, this body is still too weak, limiting my power." "Shi Ran" furrowed her brows, seemingly dissatisfied with the previous strike's effect. She ignored Ling Xiao, reaching again for the source fruit with ghost‑like speed.

How could Ling Xiao let her succeed? He flicked his sword‑finger repeatedly, weaving sword qi into a net that sealed all her advance routes. At the same time he unleashed the Falling Treasure Gold Coins, the coins spinning and scattering interference energy and lawful fluctuations, shrouding "Shi Ran".

"Annoying fly!" "Shi Ran" seemed truly angered. Her body surged with black aura, forming a black cloak that enveloped her. Ling Xiao's sword qi striking the cloak was like a mud cow entering the sea—rapidly eroded and dissolved by the extinction death aura. The disturbance from the Falling Treasure Gold Coins near the black cloak merely caused slight ripples, its effectiveness greatly reduced.

"Since you seek death, I shall grant it!" Killing intent blazed in "Shi Ran"'s eyes; she sealed both hands, a complex, eerie black rune coalescing in her palm. As the rune emerged, the valley's temperature plummeted, vitality swiftly waned, even the source fruit's light dimmed somewhat, as if trying to drag everything into the eternal abyss of extinction.

"Extinction… Abyss Seal!" the hoarse voice proclaimed death; the black rune slowly pushed forward, wherever it passed space seemed to freeze, then shatter, finally returning to nothing!

Ling Xiao sensed an unprecedented mortal danger! If he couldn't block this strike, not only would he lose body and spirit, but those behind him—Luo Changfeng, Wei Yuzhu—and even the entire valley could be utterly erased!

He drew a deep breath, his eyes turning resolutely fierce. At this moment there was no retreat! His internal cultivation method ran at unprecedented speed, frenzied; his dantian's nascent soul opened its eyes, tiny hands forming seals, invoking some forbidden power!

"With body as sword, heart‑of‑the‑Dao as edge—cut!"

Ling Xiao let out a long roar, his entire essence, qi, and spirit highly condensed; he seemed to transform into a heaven‑cleaving divine sword—person and sword as one! A supreme sword intent that cuts through falsehood, severs karma, and annihilates all surged skyward, forcibly breaking the valley's formation seal and even stirring the energy turbulence of the outside Sinking Star Sea.

This was Ling Xiao's bottom‑box secret art—a sword that burns the origin to the utmost, elevating it to the peak!

The sword light, brilliant to the extreme and dangerous to the extreme, fiercely collided with the all‑consuming black extinction seal!

No sound, no burst of light. At the collision's center a tiny black dot appeared, rapidly expanding to devour everything around—light, sound, spiritual energy, even space itself! It was a micro chaos abyss!

A terrifying suction came, seeking to drag everyone in!

Luo Changfeng and Wei Yuzhu struggled desperately, yet involuntarily slid toward the black dot. Wei Yuzhu clung tightly to the unconscious Shi Ran (the ancient consciousness seemed temporarily subdued by this clash), while Luo Changfeng plunged his sword into the ground, carving deep gullies.

Ling Xiao and "Shi Ran" were at the storm's very center, their forces constantly annihilating and opposing each other.

No knowing how long passed—it felt like an instant, yet also like eternity.

That micro abyss finally eased and sealed.

Light faded, revealing the scene on the field.

Ling Xiao half‑knelt on the ground, his face as white as paper, a trickle of golden blood at the corner of his mouth, his breath exhausted to the extreme—clearly he had paid a huge price.

While "Shi Ran" stood in place, her surrounding black aura had thinned considerably, her black eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"You… you actually… wounded my consciousness… this is impossible…"

Her voice grew fragmented, her body began to sway. The black energy at Shi Ran's brow surged violently, as if the ancient consciousness and her flesh were losing their stable link.

Finally, she gave Ling Xiao a deep look; her eyes were incredibly complex, filled with anger, apprehension, and a hint of… something indescribable. Immediately, the blackness in her eyes faded rapidly, her body went limp, and she fainted again. The black qi at her brow still existed, but seemed to be temporarily suppressed by some force, no longer as active as before.

The valley was deathly silent.

The protective formation had completely ceased operation due to the dispersal of the core will and the terrifying clash just now; the light barrier dissipated, the runes dimmed. The white jade skeleton also turned to powder. Only the clear spring and the Qingmu Source Fruit still exuded vibrant life, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding chaos.

"Shi… Master!" Luo Changfeng and Wei Yuzhu scrambled over, supporting the swaying Ling Xiao, and looked anxiously and fearfully at the unconscious Shi Ran.

Ling Xiao took a few rough breaths, swallowed several pills, barely suppressing his injuries. He looked at the Qingmu Source Fruit, his eyes resolute.

"Quick… take the fruit… delay invites change!"

Wei Yuzhu immediately understood, carefully stepping forward, using the specially made jade shovel and jade bottle, cautiously plucking the crystal-clear Qingmu Source Fruit together with a small segment of its root system and sealing it. The process encountered no further obstruction.

Having obtained the source fruit, Ling Xiao dared not linger. The commotion was too great; it likely alerted some existence deep within the Qingmu Ancestral Land, and the consciousness within Shi Ran's body might awaken again at any moment.

He rallied his spiritual power, leading the three away from the valley quickly, seeking a relatively safe and concealed ruin to set up a concealment formation, begin healing, and prepare to treat Shi Ran.

The key now is how to use this Qingmu Source Fruit to dispel the deathly qi of annihilation, awaken Shi Ran's true-self consciousness, while also guarding against a possible backlash from the ancient consciousness lurking within her. The road ahead remains fraught with thorns.

Not long after they left, in the ruins of the valley where the fierce battle had taken place, the void beside the spring flickered faintly; a hazy figure formed from condensed Qingmu spiritual energy silently appeared. It gazed in the direction Ling Xiao and the others had departed, then glanced at the now slightly withered Qingmu source plant that had lost its fruit, let out a barely audible sigh, and gradually dissipated.

The secrets of the Qingmu Ancestral Land are far from being revealed.

Inside the concealment formation, the atmosphere was heavy. Ling Xiao, disregarding his own severe injuries, immediately had Wei Yuzhu take out the Qingmu Source Fruit. The moment the fruit left the bottle, a pure and mighty surge of life force spread out, refreshing everyone; even Ling Xiao's pallid complexion seemed to gain a hint of color.

"Master, your injuries…" Wei Yuzhu said worriedly.

"It's fine; saving Ranran comes first." Ling Xiao waved his hand, his gaze solemn as he looked at the unconscious Shi Ran. The black qi at her brow, stimulated by the fruit's life force, twitched again, like a sleeping beast about to awaken—the situation was urgent.

"Yuzhu, use your spiritual power to form threads, guide the fruit's life force, slowly inject it into Ranran's mind sea; do not be hasty! Changfeng, guard me, and also monitor Shi Ran's overall aura; if anything changes, signal immediately!" Ling Xiao quickly commanded, then sat cross-legged behind Shi Ran, his palms hovering over her back, ready to use his own cultivation as a guide to suppress any possible backlash of the annihilation consciousness.

Wei Yuzhu held her breath, focusing; from her fingertip she drew a wisp of gentle spiritual power, carefully extracting a drop of emerald-green life essence from the Qingmu Source Fruit. This essence, seemingly sentient, turned into a thin stream that, under Wei Yuzhu's precise control, slowly approached Shi Ran's brow.

The moment the green life force met the black death qi, it was like a drop of water falling into hot oil— a sharp 'hiss' sounded! Shi Ran's body shuddered violently, pain appeared on her face, and the black qi at her brow surged even more violently.

"Hold steady!" Ling Xiao shouted, his abundant spiritual power surging into Shi Ran's meridians, helping her stabilize her foundation. A battle against external invasion and a race against time, this rescue unfolded silently in the quiet ruins. Success or failure hinged on this single move.