At Wufang Immortal Mountain.
Above the forbidden grounds, the entrance to the Desolate City had revealed itself to the world. For days, forces from all directions had fixed their attention on Wufang. Some demons with ill intentions had gathered at the foot of Wufang Immortal Mountain, though they dared not act rashly due to Wufang’s historic prestige.
The world knew that the Desolate City imprisoned those who had committed grave crimes—people who were either once-powerful officials or martial arts masters, none of them harmless. If the city gates were to open wide and release all its prisoners, the world would be flooded with evil qi, a joyous occasion for demons but undoubtedly a catastrophe for humankind.
All Wufang disciples had no choice but to remain vigilant.
Jiling hadn’t slept for days. She was responsible for monitoring the demons gathering in the northeast of Wufang Immortal Mountain. Though they were merely a disorganized rabble, the current situation was delicate—any rash movement from any side would force Wufang into a difficult battle against overwhelming odds.
Still recovering from serious injuries and lacking proper rest these past days, her complexion was frighteningly pale. Shen Zui stood leaning against a tree with folded arms, expressionlessly watching her busy figure. After holding back for a long while, he finally said, “You should go rest.”
Just hearing his leisurely tone made Jiling angry. She turned and gave Shen Zui a cold glare: “Even if Master isn’t worried about Wufang, shouldn’t you be worried about your junior disciple? Er Sheng has been missing for days, why haven’t you gone to search for her?”
Jiling was truly someone cold on the outside but warm-hearted within. Despite maintaining a cold exterior toward Er Sheng through years of interaction, she genuinely treated her as a sister. Since Er Sheng’s disappearance, she hadn’t had a peaceful day, but having been assigned this duty by the Senior Uncle, she couldn’t leave to search, worrying herself sick every day.
Yet the other person who had both free time and ability acted as if he had no heart or lungs—showing no concern for either Wufang or searching for Er Sheng, seemingly bored as he followed behind her all day.
Shen Zui picked at his ear and said, “That girl Er Sheng may seem foolish, but she’s far more practical than you. When it comes to cultivation precepts and such, she knows when to let go rather than stubbornly holding on and hurting herself. Therefore, your Master is more worried about a wounded patient like you stubbornly persisting with these meaningless tasks.”
Jiling’s face darkened: “The Desolate City’s entrance has appeared at Wufang, demons from all realms have gathered, surrounding Wufang, and the disciples are united in defense—yet Master considers these… meaningless tasks?”
Faced with Jiling’s serious accusation, Shen Zui waved his hand and smiled: “You call these minor demons ‘surrounding’ Wufang? Jiling, you underestimate our sect too much. Your Senior Uncles love to exaggerate, and you believed them?” He gazed toward the forbidden grounds, where two powerful auras—one immortal, one demonic—could be sensed from afar, quietly opposing each other. Shen Zui said, “If the situation were truly as dire as your Senior Uncles claim, why would the Immortal Lord be so calm and still have the mood to duel?”
Jiling followed Shen Zui’s gaze.
The Immortal Lord and the peacock demon called Concubine Kong had been quietly battling for days. Though they hadn’t openly fought, they never spared their spiritual power in their subtle contest. All of Wufang was shrouded under the tension of their powerful spiritual forces clashing. This was one reason why the demons at the mountain’s foot hadn’t dared to act rashly these past days.
Shen Zui continued: “Or do you think the Immortal Lord lacks judgment as well?”
Jiling froze, falling silent.
Shen Zui stepped forward and ruffled Jiling’s hair, messing up her neatly arranged strands as he touched her forehead: “Go rest. Your Master may not be much, but he can still keep you safe.”
Jiling instinctively moved to swat away Shen Zui’s hand, but hearing his words, her eyes lowered, allowing him to mess with her hair as he had done in her childhood. Shen Zui patted her head and walked forward with a yawn: “But since you’re so worried, how about your Master stands guard for you?”
Jiling watched Shen Zui’s retreating figure as he walked while shaking his wine gourd, muttering to himself, “Just happened to need some neutral medicinal ingredients for wine brewing, might as well catch a couple of minor demons and try using their parts…”
She touched her hair, still warm from his palm, as a blush crept up to her ears. The words “Master” that had unconsciously slipped from her lips suddenly stung her nerves, jolting her awake and draining the color from her face.
Because Master could only ever be Master…
Jiling stood there for a moment before suddenly raising her hand and giving herself a hard slap, the crisp sound disappearing before it could echo. She turned and left, not seeing the figure that had remained hidden behind a tree rather than walking away.
Shen Zui tilted his head back for a drink of wine and gave a bitter laugh: “What fate is this, two disciples—one simple-minded, one foolishly stubborn. Star-Lord of Destiny, are you playing with me?”
He swayed with his wine gourd as he walked downhill, muttering: “Explicitly told them not to mind cultivation precepts, yet how can they be so foolish, so foolish…”
While Jiling had obediently gone to rest after Shen Zui’s words, the Immortal Lord dueling with Concubine Kong couldn’t simply wave and walk away.
No matter how powerful the Wufang Immortal Lord was, such prolonged spiritual power battles had taken a considerable toll on his body. Compared to usual, the Immortal Lord’s complexion had grown notably pale.
Of course, Concubine Kong wasn’t faring well either. His power had always been evenly matched with the Immortal Lord’s, and he’d been ambushed while capturing Er Sheng earlier. Fighting until now had pushed him to his limits. Though his lips were snow-white and cold sweat beaded his forehead, his tongue remained sharp: “Immortal Lord, this king has no attachments and enjoys our intense battle. If I lose, I can simply leave. However, you bear the burden of all Wufang. Having consumed so much spiritual power now, what will you do if others with ill intentions attack Wufang? The Desolate City’s appearance is a matter concerning the entire world—Immortal Lord, don’t let your anger with this king interfere with the greater good.”
The Immortal Lord’s expression remained unchanged as he replied coolly: “Others will protect the Desolate City; Wufang need not expend effort. And if you lose, you certainly won’t leave Wufang.” Though the Immortal Lord didn’t know this person’s true identity, hearing him refer to himself as ‘this king’ and sensing his demonic power base, he guessed the man must have deep connections to demon royalty, which was why he’d gone to such lengths to capture him.
Hearing these words, Concubine Kong raised an eyebrow slightly, a mocking smile curving his lips: “Let’s set aside whether I can leave Wufang or not. Speaking of the Desolate City, who will come to protect it? Wufang sect has grown powerful over many years, and other cultivation sects harbor dissatisfaction openly and secretly. Could the Immortal Lord have failed to notice that those surrounding Wufang now are all demons?”
As his words fell, a commotion suddenly erupted from the west as waves of demonic energy repeatedly struck the barrier in the sky, making it fluctuate unstably. It seemed the demons in that direction had grown restless and taken action.
Seeing this, Concubine Kong’s smile grew wider: “With this development, Wufang is truly isolated now.”
The Immortal Lord looked west at the clusters of demonic energy crashing against the barrier, his expression still cold: “Ignorant of death.”
Suddenly, a white light shot across the sky. Concubine Kong only saw thick smoke rise in that direction before all demonic energy dissipated. All the demons had turned to ash, scattering in the wind.
Concubine Kong’s expression instantly darkened as he narrowed his eyes at the figure approaching through the air—wearing a standing-collar blue robe, with a solemn and composed expression.
That person quietly said: “Those who dare approach the Wuji Desolate City shall die.”
These words resonated throughout Wufang, and the previously restless atmosphere around them quickly settled. Concubine Kong slowly shifted his gaze from that person back to the Immortal Lord’s face, sneering: “This king didn’t know Wufang maintained such deep friendship with a fallen immortal turned demon.”
The Immortal Lord lowered his eyes in silence. In the distance, the blue-robed man paused in mid-air, his gaze falling on the dried-up lake. His calm expression changed slightly, murderous intent growing in his eyes: “Who dares disturb the Desolate City’s peace?”
His words were strange—the Wuji Desolate City was a prison for those who had committed grave crimes, a place of evil. What peace was there to speak of…
Just then, the stone tablet inscribed with “Wuji Desolate City” suddenly trembled, followed by a deep rumbling from beneath the earth. The Immortal Lord’s brows furrowed, while Concubine Kong watched below with puzzled excitement.
The blue-robed man stared at the stone tablet, great waves seeming to surge in his dark eyes…
At this moment, Er Sheng and Chang Yuan had just entered the black mist.
The scenery before them suddenly transformed, accompanied by massive rumbling sounds of collapse, as if the entire world was about to shatter. Er Sheng nervously halted her steps, gripping Chang Yuan’s hand even tighter.
Sensing Er Sheng’s unease, Chang Yuan gently comforted her: “Don’t be afraid, reality follows the heart.”
The black mist they had seen earlier was the barrier outside the Desolate City, containing a natural maze formation. Even an ancient dragon couldn’t forcefully penetrate this naturally formed barrier, and Chang Yuan could only barely glimpse some of its secrets.
This was originally a chaos where north and south were indistinguishable, without reference points—how could one know if they were truly walking straight?
The city gate had been opened by Nu Yuan. As the Desolate City’s master, if she truly meant them harm, she wouldn’t have let them out, much less gone to such lengths to trap them. Chang Yuan thought that Nu Yuan’s instruction to “keep walking straight” might simply mean the “straight” in each person’s heart. As long as they didn’t turn back and walked forward with calm hearts, this barrier would naturally break.
He led Er Sheng steadily forward, each step landing on what appeared to be cracks about to split open.
At first, Er Sheng grew more anxious with each step, gripping Chang Yuan tighter with every move. She looked up at Chang Yuan’s straight back, seeing how he seemed to have absolute faith in his direction. Er Sheng stared blankly for a moment before her steps gradually became more confident as she followed Chang Yuan.
She thought, with Chang Yuan here, she should believe in what he believed in.
After walking a short distance, she discovered that although the scenery around them still appeared heart-wrenchingly fragmented, it caused them no actual harm.
Er Sheng had always been someone who took miles when given inches. Knowing they were safe, she began hopping and playing around. She deliberately stepped on seemingly dangerous cracks, listening to their “crack crack” breaking sounds, then tugged at Chang Yuan while giggling: “Chang Yuan doesn’t this seem like that saying… um, laughing together as we face life and death…”
Chang Yuan quietly completed Er Sheng’s words, a faint smile on his lips: “Let us face it with composure.”
Hand in hand, they walked forward step by step, unaware that behind them, each step they took sprouted a lotus flower, swaying in the darkness, beautiful as a dream.
After walking for an unknown time, Er Sheng suddenly noticed a flash of light overhead. This point of light was particularly eye-catching in the pitch-black environment. Er Sheng looked up curiously: “Eh?” She tugged at Chang Yuan’s hand, “That light is getting bigger…”
Before she could finish speaking, Chang Yuan’s expression suddenly grew serious. He drew the One-Scale Sword that had been at Er Sheng’s waist, and as he raised his hand, the dazzling white light had already reached them, another frost-cold sword violently clashing with the One-Scale Sword. The jarring clash of metal made Er Sheng’s chest tighten with nausea.
Chang Yuan gave a low shout and directly repelled the attacker.
Er Sheng quickly protected her heart meridian and adjusted her internal breath before looking up, puzzled: “How can there be someone in the Desolate City’s barrier?” Just as she finished speaking, the white light around that person dispersed, and Er Sheng saw their face, freezing slightly. That fire-red mark between the brows was as bright as burning flames—how could Er Sheng forget this fallen immortal who had harbored killing intent toward her from their first meeting—
Chang An.