Chapter 237: Truly? (Revised)

Hoo-hoo~

The towering flames continued to blaze across the mountains and wilds, yet they gradually moved farther away.

Inside the cramped tree hollow, Xie Jinhuan used medicinal pills to hurriedly regulate his physique. Discovering that Lu Yan had searched in the wrong direction, a slight knot formed in his heart.

Lu Yan is in the sky; poking his head out at this distance would likely still get him spotted. But at a distance of over twenty li, slipping away quietly isn't without a chance of success. If he waits until Lu Yan returns, escape will be impossible even with wings.

Bu Yuehua leaned against his chest. After resting for a moment, her spiritual fatigue had eased somewhat, and the external wounds on her chest had stopped bleeding and were numbed by the medicine's effect. Now, gazing calmly at the flames outside the window, she thought for a moment and said:

"Why don't we split up? I'll flee south with all my might. Once Lu Yan chases after me, you can run?"

"Nonsense."

Xie Jinhuan knew this method could let him escape danger, but Bu Yuehua's cultivation level would inevitably lead to her being caught. He patted the shoulder of the person beside him to signal her not to rush, and his gaze turned toward the Ghost Wife.

The tree hollow was too small for Ye Hongshang to manifest; she merely whispered in his ear:

"Lu Yan appears to have suffered heavily in the Zhu Que Mausoleum and is holding back his fire techniques. Otherwise, with his cultivation, burning down these tens of li of forest would be nothing but a few fire spells. There's a chance to win."

Xie Jinhuan knew Lu Yan had been blocked and besieged by two Super-Grade martial artists, so he couldn't be unharmed. But Bu Yuehua's spirit was also injured, making a prolonged hard battle difficult. He alone could not shake Lu Yan. At that moment, his eyes asked how to fight.

Ye Hongshang replied by his ear: "Her spirit is injured, but her shell only has minor external wounds; it's insignificant. Sister, possess her body and teach her how to fight."

Xie Jinhuan blinked, thinking that made sense. Fairy Bu's spirit was weak, but the Ghost Wife was not. Combining the two would be nearly full strength. Relying on the Ghost Wife's supernatural driving skills to have Bu Yuehua beat up little Lu Yan, even if they couldn't win, escaping should be no problem.

Thinking thus, Xie Jinhuan leaned close to the ear of the person in his arms:

"Since things have come to this, I can't hide anymore. My master once taught me a technique called 'Summoning the Gods,' which allows an ancestor to possess a body. I'll try casting it on you."

"Hmm?"

Bu Yuehua was somewhat puzzled. Just as she was about to ask what this 'Summoning the Gods' technique was, she felt the butterfly hairpin at the back of her head being removed, and the voice of a man performing a shamanistic ritual came to her ear:

"The Immortal Hall urgently burns a stick of incense; the incense carries the message to all four directions. Today, an event arises to summon; Immortals of the Dao, quickly descend to the hall..."

As the words entered her ear, Bu Yuehua felt her mind grow dizzy, and then it was as if a deity had possessed her. Through the tree hollow, she saw the Five Elements Qi drifting in the outside world, and that distant fire point radiating red light far away. From afar, it looked like a blazing sun hanging above the mountain ranges!

Bu Yuehua had not used any spiritual power, yet she found her perception had directly 'ascended dimensions.' Moreover, vast spiritual power lay hidden within her body, even showing signs of becoming uncontrollable and turning the host into the guest. Her peach-blossom eyes could not help but widen in shock:

"What god have you summoned? So domineering..."

Xie Jinhuan was not surprised by this and warned:

"Do not act on your own initiative later. Follow your heart completely; we will definitely win."

Bu Yuehua had originally been studying what kind of divine art this was, but looking at the cold, handsome face so close, a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind:

This battle is nine deaths and one life. If we lose, both of us will die and share the same grave...

I have gained so many opportunities, all granted by this child. This journey was even because I sought to avenge my father's death, which caused this child to fall into such a desperate situation...

Now that we are both preparing to risk our lives in a desperate gamble, how can I not show some sign...

Bu Yuehua didn't know why these thoughts arose, but felt they held some logic. Just as she was pondering how to show some sign, an impulse surged in her heart. Then, looking at the face so close, somehow, as if by ghostly magic, she blurted out:

"Be careful too. If we can survive and get out today, I'll let you have a kiss..."

The words had barely left her lips when Bu Yuehua realized it was inappropriate. She quickly pressed her red lips shut, but it was too late. Her eyes widened, and her face visibly flushed red.

Xie Jinhuan looked at the quiet little Master's Wife so close and was stunned for a moment. At first, he thought Fairy Bu had lost her composure under the crisis, but he soon realized the Ghost Wife might be instigating. To confirm, he replied:

"Truly?"

"?! "

Bu Yuehua was completely dazed. She thought inwardly:

Have I lost my mind?!

If I were to show a sign, it should be to offer some encouragement. How could I say such nonsense? This is Wan Yi and that lecherous Daoist nun's man. Isn't this digging into the wall and stealing the roof tiles...

But the words are already out. Looking at this child's appearance, he seems quite flattered...

Bu Yuehua wanted to take the words back, but since we are both trapped in a desperate situation, her nonsense has stirred up the child's fighting spirit. To immediately pour cold water on it now would be sheer madness.

But if she doesn't take back this nonsense, and we truly survive and get out...

That would be a good thing. It's far better than dying here...

Bu Yuehua felt she had lost her mind, but after holding back for a moment, she still put on the appearance of a gentle Master's Wife:

"Let's talk about it after we get out. What should we do next?"

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan found it slightly amusing, but the situation was a bit too grim to laugh. He turned his gaze outside: "Lu Yan isn't at full strength either. Let's try fighting him together. If we can't win, we run."

Bu Yuehua felt that even injured, the two of them had no way to break the deadlock. Just as she was pondering how to fight, as if aided by a god, she 'thought' of a countermeasure:

Use incantations to disrupt the power of heaven and earth, thereby resisting the fire techniques, then rush in for a close-range assault...

But I don't know such incantations...

Oh, do this first, then that, and the fire techniques can be disrupted...

?

Bu Yuehua truly felt as if an ancestor had possessed her. Not only could she see the entire situation, but she could also, based on current information and resources, think of many brilliant countermeasures. Confidence surged within her, and she quickly slid out of the tree hollow...

—

Hoo-hoo~

The prairie fire raged in the wind and snow. Vast stretches of mountains, wilds, and even Jianchuan had turned into a sea of crimson fire.

Lu Yan's Daoist robe fluttered in the wind. He scanned every inch of land scorched by the mountain fire and paid attention to every slightest rustle in the surrounding heaven and earth. After searching for a long time, a faint disturbance came from far behind him.

Lu Yan immediately turned his gaze and saw two figures appearing in the wind-swept, snowy forest. He immediately formed the Ten-Thousand-Li Divine Travel Spell to pursue, but halfway through, he discovered the two had not fled.

Among them, the cunning brat who made him grind his teeth held a nine-foot Minglong Spear slanted toward the snow. His cloak billowed in the strong wind behind him. His cold spring eyes gazed at this place through the sky-full of wind, snow, and fire, his demeanor like the Northern Spear God looking at a bristling, yellow-haired old man.

The blue-robed woman beside him had an aura reaching five meters high. Even through the sky-full of wind and snow, one could feel the hint of contempt in her eyes. Combined with the crimson bloodstains on her dress, she looked like a blood-bathed Valkyrie who had just fought her way out of a fiery hell!

?!

Although Lu Yan ground his teeth at this cunning brat, he had never underestimated this child's strength. Discovering the opponent dared to turn back and fight, he immediately braked in mid-air, then slowly drifted toward Jianchuan with the wind, speaking from afar:

"You have quite the courage. This time, are you planning to concoct another excuse to trick this Daoist elsewhere, or to drive the tiger to swallow the wolf, dragging another batch of rotten fish and shrimp to block this old man and seek a way out?"

Xie Jinhuan stood with spear in hand amid the white snow, gazing at the figure approaching.

"A demonic Daoist set a trap to kill me. I came here to investigate the demon bandits; Li Huachuan ambushed me at his own home and was slain by my hand. Lao Lü arrived shortly after—he too must have fallen for the scheme of driving the tiger to devour the wolf. If you believe me, we still have room to talk. If you don't, I won't entrust my safety to others. If you insist on blocking me, then I will bear the consequences of life and death myself."

Lü Yan had come here only because his Sect Leader had given him vague information and asked nothing of him—Xie Jinhuan had simply clashed with someone here, prompting Lü Yan to arrive. Hearing this, he let out a cold laugh:

"You're a man of the Southern Court. You killed their Sect Master in the back garden of Lishan Sword Cottage. I was patrolling Lizhoucheng for demonic threats, drawn here by the commotion. And now you claim Li Huachuan was manipulated by a demonic Daoist to ambush you at his own home—and that I, too, was manipulated by the same 'drive-the-tiger-to-devour-the-wolf' scheme?"

Xie Jinhuan raised his spear, pointing it at Lü Yan as he descended through the air.

"When things defy logic, there's always a demon behind them. The Northern Zhou has countless heroes—but only you arrived so conveniently. There's something wrong behind this. I've warned you already. Whether you disbelieve me, pretend ignorance, or seek to settle personal grudges under the guise of duty—I'm not surprised. If you wish to court death, I won't stop you."

Huhuh…

Blizzard raged across the mountains and fields; roaring mountain fires turned the earth into daylight, yet plunged it into a tense, silent stillness.

Lü Yan knew, given Xie Jinhuan's nature, he would never recklessly appear to offer himself up for death.

But even wounded, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse.

With Xie Jinhuan's cultivation, he couldn't withstand even a casual strike from Lü Yan—nor could the supreme poison shaman beside him.

Lü Yan simply couldn't fathom what this youth could possibly rely on to dare court death!

So this youth was bluffing—trapped and unable to flee, trying to scare him off with an empty-city ruse…

Lü Yan had been fooled two or three times already; one more wouldn't hurt. He now hardened his resolve, suddenly accelerating toward the mountains and fields, fingers forming a fire incantation:

"Bǐng Dīng Yínhuò…"

As the fire command glowed with blinding red light, the heavens immediately grew scorching hot; the snowflakes in the sky instantly melted into rain, then vaporized into mist before touching the ground.

Even half a li away, Xie Jinhuan felt the searing heat rushing toward him. Without the Yin-Yang Ruler, no artifact could withstand this fire technique—he glanced involuntarily toward the nearby He Ti wife.

Bu Yuehua, standing in the boundless wilderness free of heavenly or earthly constraints, finally understood the true level of cultivation of the Northern Zhou Dao Sect's second-in-command. Normally, she had no idea how to counter it—but at this moment, it was as if her Ancestral Master had possessed her; her meridians began flowing spontaneously, and deep within her soul, a low chant echoed like a celestial goddess:

"Hong Shang Chi Ling…"

Bu Yuehua didn't know if this voice was illusion or real—but she felt, in some ineffable way, the presence of something. Instantly, she formed the hand seals; her utmost yin energy flowed through her body along a path she'd never imagined, following the voice in her mind, her crimson lips parting:

"Hong Shang Chi Ling, Wu Lao Feng Xuan, Qian Kun Gui Ji, Wan Qi Ning Yuan, Xian Mo Gong Yang, Sheng Ling Zhao Xuan, Tian Di Tong Ying, Fa Zhou Heng Chuan…"

The ethereal incantation rang out—soft in volume, yet echoing across the entire heavens and earth. Even He Can and others dozens of li away faintly heard this utterly unclassifiable chant, as if randomly fabricated by a goddess.

Lü Yan's motion halted. He had just been wondering who "Hong Shang" was—when he suddenly realized, in shock, that some celestial deity beyond the heavens had indeed opened its eyes from the depths of Jiuyou!

Then, an ancient, primordial force—originating from the primordial chaos of antiquity—descended upon this land of snow and fire.

The raging flames and blizzards across the mountains and fields all fell into chaos at once; from afar, it looked as if east, west, south, and north winds were blowing simultaneously, turning the surrounding area into an intractable, unpredictable maelstrom.

Lü Yan couldn't fathom the incantation's origin—but he clearly felt that the heavenly and earthly forces, once easily controlled and predictable, had now turned chaotic, like being suspended in a swirling vortex. Even if he stood still, he was helplessly swept and spun by the currents, unable to discern any trajectory.

Sensing danger, Lü Yan swiftly descended, planting his feet on solid ground, his eyes filled with astonishment:

"What kind of incantation is this?!"

(End of Chapter)