Chapter 990: Soul-Control Talisman

Yan Xirou's voice was soft, yet it made Han Wuxian blink slightly. He scratched his head and said, "Thanks for what? I should be thanking you for saving me."

The atmosphere between them suddenly became subtle. Just then, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

"Junior Sister Yan, we're here!" Zhou Yun's voice came from afar.

Yan Xirou's expression tightened, quickly returning to her usual aloof demeanor. Han Wuxian also restrained his smile and stood beside her.

Zhou Yun and Liu Hongying walked into the courtyard, and upon seeing the two, they visibly froze for a moment.

Liu Hongying's keen eyes immediately noticed the change in Yan Xirou's aura: "Junior Sister, did you break through?"

"Hmm, slight progress." Yan Xirou nodded lightly.

Zhou Yun's gaze swept back and forth between the two, then she suddenly revealed a meaningful smile: "Looks like quite a few things have happened these past two days..."

Han Wuxian gave a light cough: "Perfect timing, seniors. We were just about to look for you."

Liu Hongying gathered her mocking expression and said solemnly: "The time has come; the seal of Huang Song Mausoleum will be weakest at midnight tonight. We've gathered over a dozen fellow cultivators, preparing to go together."

"Over a dozen?" Yan Xirou frowned: "With that many people, won't the commotion be too big?"

Zhou Yun gave a mysterious smile: "Don't worry, they're all trustworthy fellow cultivators. Moreover..." she lowered her voice: "The Profound Gate and Profound Kun Dao side seems to have sensed something as well, already sending people over here. We must get ahead of them."

Han Wuxian and Yan Xirou exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

"Alright, we'll go with you." Yan Xirou nodded in agreement.

Night fell, and the group silently left Lin Shan Cheng, heading toward the mountains to the northwest. Under the moonlight, over a dozen figures moved like ghosts through the forest.

Han Wuxian followed behind Yan Xirou, sending a mental message: "Are those two senior sisters of yours really trustworthy?"

Yan Xirou slightly shook her head: "Not entirely trustworthy. But it's said that Huang Song Mausoleum hides a secret treasure capable of countering Profound Gate cultivation methods; we have to give it a try."

"How do you know that?"

"Then what do you think I came back for?"

Only then did Han Wuxian realize that Yan Xirou had long known there was a treasure in Venerable Huang Song's mausoleum; she merely happened to encounter her two senior sisters and casually agreed to their invitation.

Suddenly, Zhou Yun ahead raised her hand to signal everyone to stop. She pointed toward a mountain peak hidden in clouds and mist: "That's it; the entrance to Huang Song Mausoleum is at the mountainside."

As everyone was about to move forward, Han Wuxian suddenly grabbed Yan Xirou: "Wait! There's an ambush!"

Before his words faded, countless talisman lights suddenly flared around them, a massive formation instantly forming and trapping everyone inside.

"Hahaha, exactly as expected, they took the bait!" a cold laugh came from the darkness. Dozens of cultivators clad in Profound Gate attire emerged from all directions, led by none other than the purple-robed elder from before.

"Third Elder?!" Zhou Yun's face changed drastically: "How is that possible..."

The purple-robed elder sneered: "Do you think we don't know what you're plotting? Those two traitors have long been under our control!"

Yan Xirou snapped her head toward Zhou Yun and Liu Hongying, only to see pain on their faces, a bloody sigil having appeared on their necks at some point.

"Soul-Control Talisman!" Yan Xirou gritted her teeth: "You actually..."

"Knowing now is already too late." The purple-robed elder waved a hand: "Kill! Leave none alive!"

The battle erupted instantly.

Han Wuxian stood in front of Yan Xirou, forming seals with both hands, a golden light wheel appearing behind him.

"Radiance Illuminates Nine Heavens!"

Blinding golden light shot like a sword toward the surroundings, several Profound Gate cultivators screamed and fell. But the enemy was simply too many, and soon more cultivators swarmed in.

A cold gleam flashed in Yan Xirou's eyes; she suddenly bit her fingertip, drawing a bloody rune on her palm: "Since you're seeking death... let's all go to hell together!"

She fiercely slammed her bloody palm onto the ground: "Blood Sea Rampant Heaven!"

The earth violently trembled; countless blood threads surged from the ground, writhing like living things toward the Profound Gate cultivators. Those entangled instantly turned into desiccated corpses, the scene horrifying to the extreme.

"Blood Dao Demonic Art?!" the purple-robed elder exclaimed in shock and anger: "You damned wretch..."

Yan Xirou's hair flew wildly, her eyes glowing with an eerie red light: "Hmph, if you want to kill me, come try!"

Han Wuxian stared in shock at the seemingly different Yan Xirou, but quickly reacted, standing back-to-back with her: "No matter who you are, now we are comrades."

Yan Xirou glanced at him sideways, the corner of her mouth curling into a complex smile: "Idiot..."

The battle grew fiercer. Just as the sides reached a stalemate, a distant mountain peak suddenly emitted a tremendous roar, a blue light shooting straight into the clouds.

"The mausoleum has opened!" someone cried out.

The purple-robed elder's face changed drastically: "Not good! Stop them quickly!"

But it was already too late. Yan Xirou grabbed Han Wuxian's hand, turning into a bolt of blood light that shot toward the mountain peak: "Go!"

The two broke through the encirclement, and in an instant arrived at the mountainside. A deep cave mouth appeared before them, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

"Enter!" Yan Xirou shoved Han Wuxian: "I'll hold the rear!"

Han Wuxian, however, grabbed her hand in return: "Let's go together!"

Just as the two were arguing, the sky suddenly darkened. An oppressive, suffocating pressure descended from the heavens, an ancient voice booming like thunder:

"Wicked spawn, where do you think you're fleeing!"

"It's the Sect Leader of Profound Kun Dao!" Yan Xirou's face turned pale: "Peak of Spirit Transformation?!"

Since the Human Smoke Building was destroyed, it's no longer the case that a single Nascent Soul Stage cultivator could control the Eight Dao Realms as before. Now, with Nascent Soul cultivators emerging endlessly within the Eight Dao Realms, the forces within the Myriad Dao Mountain Range have realized that relying on old methods may no longer suppress the independent cultivators of the Eight Dao Realms, so the selection of sect leaders and clan heads across all paths has become extremely stringent.

Like the Profound Gate cultivators who previously pursued Han Wuxian and the others, they were actually Nascent Soul elders from several nearby sects, not sent by the Profound Gate itself.

A giant hand that blotted out the sky protruded from the clouds, reaching to grab them. At the critical moment, the cave mouth suddenly shot out a blue light, shattering the giant hand.

"Old Huang Song! You actually kept a trick up your sleeve!" the Profound Kun Dao Sect Leader's furious roar echoed across heaven and earth.

The blue light at the cave mouth formed a barrier; Han Wuxian and Yan Xirou exchanged a glance and, without hesitation, rushed inside.

As they entered, the cave mouth slammed shut with a boom, sealing off the outside world.

In the darkness, Han Wuxian felt Yan Xirou's hand trembling slightly. He gripped her hand tightly and whispered: "It's fine now; we're safe."

Yan Xirou fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Aren't you afraid I'll bring you harm?"

Han Wuxian chuckled: "Compared to those Profound Gate people, I actually find you more trustworthy."

A faint light glimmered ahead, illuminating Yan Xirou's blood-streaked yet still beautiful face. She looked at Han Wuxian, her eyes seeming to shimmer with tears:

For six hundred years... you are the first person to say that.