Chapter 16

“Yuxiao?” Luo Jinghong raised her eyes in confusion, then finally asked the question that had been circling in her mind for a long time. “While we are entangled with the Demon Sect, what happens if someone else takes the Penglai Qi?”

Before she left the island, her master had not said much about Dengying Secret Realm, so she did not understand it very well.

As for Yuxiao Sect, she had heard of its reputation. It was the second sect of the Nine Provinces. However, after Changguan Sect’s previous sect leader ascended, the new sect leader was young and had a lower cultivation realm, so Yuxiao had faintly gained momentum, as though it intended to replace Changguan Sect.

“Fellow Daoist Luo, there is no need to worry about that,” You Pei said slowly, opening his eyes. “As long as the will to fight over the Penglai Qi has not disappeared within Dengying Secret Realm, the entry talismans cannot bring the Penglai Qi out. Even if Yuxiao Sect’s disciples find it, they will still have to fight those who are competing for it.”

Luo Jinghong nodded. “So that’s how it is.”

After thinking for a moment, You Pei added, “This time, the disciple leading Yuxiao Sect is named Wei Xingying. He is the direct disciple of Gao Jiying, the peak lord of Siming Peak, and he is also at the third level of Golden Core. I heard he has already mastered one of Yuxiao Sect’s supreme arts, the Cosmic Star-Sacrificing Art. If you encounter him, you must be careful.”

The grating sound of metal being ground down continued for a full day and night without any sign of weakening.

After Jun Bucheng failed to deduce the formation, he chose to use sword talismans to attack it head-on, continuously wearing down the spiritual mechanism stolen content of the formation. However, if things continued like this, it would still take far too long before he truly succeeded.

Pan Shaoqing, however, was extremely patient. He was certain these people would not hide inside the formation forever.

“Junior Sister Yuyan, stay inside the formation and do not go out,” You Pei said solemnly.

What came next would be a battle between Golden Core cultivators. If Yuyan went out, she would only be throwing her life away.

Yuyan nodded obediently.

You Pei nodded as well, then turned to Wei Hanzhen. “Fellow Daoist Wei, I will hold back Pan Shaoqing. As for Jun Bucheng—”

“I’ll handle him,” Wei Hanzhen said calmly.

Her gaze swept around once, and she said in a low voice, “Deal with the remaining Demon Sect cultivators as quickly as possible.”

Aside from Yuyan, there were only eight people on their side, while the Demon Sect had [stolen content]ten. Their cultivations ranged between the first and second levels of Golden Core.

Once the battle began, the second-level Golden Core cultivators would have to suppress the first-level cultivators first. In doing so, some disciples might be sacrificed, but there was no helping it.

Wei Hanzhen thought for a moment, then took a stack of talismans from her storage pouch and distributed them to Changguan Sect’s disciples.

The Changguan Sect disciples had already experienced many battles. The things they could rely on were almost depleted.

“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Wei,” You Pei said hoarsely to Wei Hanzhen. “Once this matter is over, we will leave. We will not take the slightest bit of Penglai Qi.”

“Senior Brother You—”

Several voices sounded at once, but under You Pei’s warning gaze, they immediately vanished.

After planning things out, each person selected an opponent, and Wei Hanzhen’s group walked out of the formation.

Pan Shaoqing had been watching coldly the whole time. Meeting You Pei’s gaze, he laughed loudly. “You are finally willing to come out? Since that is the case, let us fight to our hearts’ content!”

The only third-level Golden Core cultivator on Changguan Sect’s side was You Pei, so Pan Shaoqing naturally chose You Pei as his opponent.

A cold Yin wind swept past, and he had already exchanged blows with You Pei.

Wei Hanzhen looked calmly at Jun Bucheng.

Her cultivation had fallen from Nascent Soul to the second level of Golden Core. Now, her Nascent Soul was sealed by a Dao-protecting artifact, but that did not mean her cultivation could only stagnate at the second level. She still had the chance to climb upward to Golden Core great perfection. She simply could not form a Nascent Soul again.

The moment the Golden Sword Profound Shuttle appeared, it stirred up a burst of golden light and rushed swiftly toward Jun Bucheng.

Jun Bucheng’s eyelids drooped. He gave a cold laugh and slapped a talisman forward. It immediately transformed into sword light and collided with the Profound Shuttle.

This was a sword talisman he had created himself. It could transform into sword light and fight like a flying sword.

Seeing the Profound Shuttle and sword talisman clash together, producing an ear-grating sound of tearing friction, Jun Bucheng’s gaze turned astonished. “It’s actually a Profound Artifact?”

He threw his head back and laughed loudly. Smoke and mist surged around him. A stream of flying smoke swept out from his sleeve, intending to rely on its power to collect the Golden Sword Profound Shuttle.

Wei Hanzhen swept him a glance.

This was a Profound Artifact. How could it be so easily contained?

She gave a cold laugh, and behind her, waterlight surged with a rushing crash. Like rivers and seas flowing unhindered, it swept forward with grand, open force.

The waterlight almost occupied the entire sky. Within that endless tide, a strange black fish flicked its tail.

The moment the water tide appeared, Jun Bucheng’s expression turned solemn.

He had originally thought the person blocking him was a rogue cultivator with no background, but what she used was clearly Changguan Sect’s Northern Abyss Profound Water.

This person was a disciple of Changguan Sect!

Why had he never heard of her before?

He did not dare fall into the water tide. Spiritual light shook around him, immediately spreading rings of fire that blocked the Northern Abyss Profound Water outside.

But at that very moment, a dense sense of danger invaded him.

He focused his gaze and saw that the black fish within the water was about to reach him.

The Black Fish Spirit-Locking Diagram!

Another Profound Artifact!

Jun Bucheng could not remain there. His figure shot upward, breaking through the vast curtain of water that covered the sky.

What greeted him was sword light that seemed to split heaven and earth.

His spiritual mechanism was severed, and his own spiritual energy was continuously cut away by the sword light. Clearly, this was another profound art of Changguan Sect.

“Dual cultivation of two arts.” Jun Bucheng’s heart sank again.

Among Changguan Sect disciples, most specialized in one art and supplemented it with various divine abilities and Dao techniques. Those who could cultivate two arts were often extremely rare geniuses.

His previous opponent, You Pei, was outstanding among the younger generation and had reached the third level of Golden Core, but he had still only cultivated one earth-element technique.

Jun Bucheng’s response was still calm and experienced. His long sword left its sheath, leaving arcs of light behind as it slashed apart the hundreds and thousands of swords lingering in the air.

Jun Bucheng shouted, “Who are you?”

“The one here to take your life,” Wei Hanzhen said with a mocking smile.

The water tide suddenly surged upward.

With a crack, the sword talisman was smashed apart by the Golden Sword Profound Shuttle. The Profound Shuttle moved like flowing light, heading straight for Jun Bucheng.

“How dare a junior act so insolently!” Jun Bucheng shouted angrily, light dancing wildly over his robes.

The flames originally circling around him rose sharply, turning into tens of thousands of dancing tongues of fire and forming a ring untouched by the Northern Abyss Profound Water.

A small arrow flew toward Wei Hanzhen’s heart.

Wei Hanzhen raised her brows, and an inkstone flew out from her sleeve, striking the small arrow with a slap.

Another magical artifact!

Jun Bucheng’s face turned black.

Even as the leader of a sect, his wealth was not as abundant as the person opposite him.

She was clearly only a second-level Golden Core cultivator, but dealing with her was no less troublesome than dealing with a third-level Golden Core cultivator.

Jun Bucheng’s thoughts shifted. He decided to switch opponents and stop entangling himself with her.

Less than the time it took for one incense stick to burn had passed since the fighting began, but blood and flesh had already splattered everywhere. Clearly, several people had died.

The thick scent of blood spread outward, but no one spared attention for anything else. Everyone focused on the opponent before them.

Seeing that Jun Bucheng wanted to leave, Wei Hanzhen snorted coldly and turned her sword light, sending it once more to kill toward him.

The sword scripture she cultivated was extremely domineering and could devour spiritual energy. As time passed, the opponent’s spiritual energy would be seized, and the gap between them would slowly narrow.

Her sword force formed an array. Unless one forced through it, there was no hope of leaving.

Jun Bucheng truly intended to force his way out. Relying on the fact that he was already unauthorized copy at the third level and had deeper spiritual power, he wrapped himself in it and charged into the sword light that gleamed like starlight.

The sword light stripped away his spiritual mechanism. As long as his Golden Core could continuously wrap around his body, the sword intent would not be able to injure him!

Now!

A cold glint flashed through Wei Hanzhen’s eyes. A wisp of almost invisible smoke sank into the sword light.

Jun Bucheng’s escape speed was extremely fast, and for a moment, he failed to notice anything. He crashed hard into that patch of sword light.

But he did not break through as he wished.

Blood gushed from his forehead, and his brain burst apart.

A primordial spirit drifted out from his skull, only to be swept up by the Profound Water. In an instant, it made no sound.

At the place where he had crashed, a small spirit stele was flickering with light.

This object was called the Reflection Spirit Stele. It was only a spiritual artifact, and its function was to return the force of impact. Against Dao techniques like sword light, it was useless.

Jun Bucheng had slammed into the spirit stele headfirst and had been killed by the immense force he himself carried.

After dealing with Jun Bucheng, Wei Hanzhen immediately turned toward Yun Chiyue and joined forces with her to kill a second-level Golden Core Demon Sect disciple.

Inside the formation, Yuyan stared without blinking at the battle before her, her eyes flickering.

If seeing Northern Abyss Profound Water still left room for other guesses, then once she saw the Spirit-Seizing Sword Scripture, she was already certain.

This person had to be her master!

Could it be that Master was worried about her safety?

Joy appeared on Yuyan’s face. She could barely suppress the feelings [Read on BaiLianTales]in her heart and wanted to rush out of the formation. But seeing the dangerous scene outside, she quickly pressed that thought down.

Now was not the time.

Going out would only distract everyone.

Jun Bucheng’s death caused the Demon Sect’s advantage to vanish completely.

Wei Hanzhen could certainly help You Pei deal with Pan Shaoqing, but clearly, killing the remaining Demon Sect disciples first was more important.

With her intervention, the situation shifted. Soon, only three Demon Sect disciples remained.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred.

A silver pot flew out from some unknown place. Dense spiritual energy filled the surroundings, dispersing the bloody smell.

It was the silver pot containing the Penglai Qi!

Everyone present sensed it in their hearts.

Seeing that the Demon Sect was already showing signs of defeat, Yuyan felt overjoyed. After seeing the Penglai Qi, she could no longer restrain herself and darted out from the formation.

But the instant she reached for the silver pot, a terrifying sense of danger enveloped her.

Without hesitation, she summoned the True Stabilizing Divine Stele!

This was a Profound Artifact bestowed by her master, capable of suppressing and holding a person in place.

Sharp cracking sounds rang out one after another, but the sense of danger did not completely disappear.

Yuyan’s surrounding spiritual energy was suppressed, and her qi and blood immediately surged violently. Forget grabbing the silver pot—she could not even maintain her own balance.

Beneath the True Stabilizing Divine Stele, a determined-looking Read on BaiLianTalesyoung Daoist was crushed until blood poured from his whole body. The sound of bones cracking came from within him, yet he turned his profound art and forcibly endured it.

The True Stabilizing Divine Stele shook violently. Clearly, with Yuyan’s spiritual power, she could not bring out all of its strength.

With a thunderous boom, the True Stabilizing Divine Stele flew upward. The young Daoist reached one hand toward the silver pot, while his other hand struck fiercely toward Yuyan.

This sudden change happened too quickly. Wei Hanzhen had no time to protect Yuyan.

But right then, a flying ship appeared. A figure in white swept down from it, flicking three purple wooden seeds from her fingertips.

Crackling explosions rang out.

Lightning radiance wove together and all struck the young Daoist.

Those wooden seeds were extremely powerful. When they exploded, purple light shot everywhere like the nine heavenly thunder tribulations.

The young Daoist had no time to dodge and was directly crushed into dust.

The female cultivator in white, meanwhile, could no longer maintain her figure and fell straight down.

This person was Wuchen, who had been resting on the flying ship.

No.

She could not be called Wuchen now.

Wei Hanzhen’s eyelid jumped wildly. Shocked, she could not spare any attention for Yuyan, who had fallen to the ground. She flashed forward and caught Wuchen in her arms.

Those three wooden seeds were clearly the Biyang Treasure Gourd Seeds she had given her eldest disciple!

What Daoist Wuchen?

This was clearly Suwei!