Realizing this, everyone panicked.

Pei Zichen turned his hand, opening his sword formation. His swords flew out, engaging in battle with the massive vines outside the barrier!

However, although he held back these vines, he couldn’t completely annihilate the Life-Devouring Beasts. Despite his sword rain being extremely dense, the Life-Devouring Beasts still surged forward one after another, crashing against the barrier at any cost, making it crack and snap loudly.

Pei Shulan rushed out anxiously. Seeing this terrifying scene, her face turned deathly pale. She couldn’t help saying, “Didn’t they say one hour? How is it that after only half an hour, these things are here? Immortal Shen and Immortal Jiang can’t be disturbed right now…”

Before she finished speaking, a swarm of Life-Devouring Beasts crashed against Pei Zichen’s swords. A massive vine struck heavily against the barrier with a “bang,” making the entire temple tremble.

Pei Shulan was frightened into shocked stillness. Mu Jinyue’s expression turned cold.

“Senior Brother, this won’t work.” Seeing the situation, Mu Jinyue immediately said, “If we continue like this, the barrier won’t hold.”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He only raised his hand in a turn, suspending the Spirit Void Fan in mid-air. Pei Zichen gripped the fan and chanted, then raised his hand to fan.

In an instant, all the Life-Devouring Beasts became frenzied, beginning to charge about wildly.

The Spirit Void Fan attacked divine souls. Although these Life-Devouring Beasts weren’t human, they also possessed divine souls.

They screamed loudly, their impact force varying with no pattern—sometimes strong, sometimes weak.

Pei Zichen then took the Yuan Luogong and instantly fired over a dozen arrows, splitting open a dozen spaces. He called out to Ming and Mu Jinyue, “Drive these Life-Devouring Beasts inside!”

As he spoke, he took the lead, bringing Mu Jinyue forward to quickly herd these divine soul-damaged Life-Devouring Beasts into the spaces.

The spaces were like sacks, filling up and closing before disappearing from the surroundings.

After filling up over a dozen spaces, Pei Zichen repeated his old trick.

However, he soon discovered that these Life-Devouring Beasts were endless, as if they had no upper limit at all. No matter how many he contained, more would come.

Under the impact of these Life-Devouring Beasts, the barrier was obviously becoming increasingly unstable. These spirit beasts were already difficult to confine with barriers. Once there was any crack, they would flow in like water.

“This won’t work.”

After a long while, watching the barrier’s light weaken and a Yin-Yang Banner fall, Ming immediately said, “The barrier can’t hold. When it breaks later, you won’t be able to protect anyone.”

“Then what do we do?”

Pei Shulan’s face showed terror. “I still have two children…”

“Go out.”

Ming spoke with certainty. Pei Zichen turned to look and saw Ming raise his hand to smash a jade pendant outside.

The moment the jade pendant went out, all the Life-Devouring Beasts and vines followed closely. When the jade pendant fell among the Life-Devouring Beasts, they all swarmed over.

Pei Zichen suddenly understood. Ming raised his eyes. “I tested it once earlier. They’re more interested in people who go out than those in the barrier. The two of us will go out and lure these ghost things away. It’s simpler for you to protect just me than to protect them.”

Hearing this, Mu Jinyue looked at Pei Zichen. Pei Shulan was terrified yet hopeful.

If the two of them went out, they would be in the greatest danger.

She didn’t dare ask them to die, yet out of fear, she hoped they would leave.

Pei Zichen stared at Ming without speaking. Ming urged, “There’s no time. Make a decision quickly.”

“Junior Sister.”

Pei Zichen suddenly spoke, dropping to one knee and crouching down.

One hand formed sword seals to maintain the sword formation protecting the barrier, while the other hand took a tree branch to draw a formation on the ground. At the same time, he instructed, “I’m drawing a formation here now. After I leave with Ming, once we’re outside the barrier, we may not be able to communicate. You calculate the time—after a quarter hour, pour your spiritual power into this formation. I’ll draw another formation on the other side. When we both activate the formations simultaneously, this formation will annihilate all living things.”

Hearing this, Mu Jinyue couldn’t help showing some terror. “I… can I do it? I’m just a sword cultivator. I can’t activate formations, can I?”

Pei Zichen’s movement paused. He looked at her coldly.

Mu Jinyue immediately nodded. “Since Senior Brother trusts me so much, Jinyue will certainly do her best!”

Pei Zichen responded with a sound, his tone indifferent as he explained, “You only need to respond with a bit of spiritual power. My spiritual power will penetrate between the two formations then. How many we kill depends on me, not you.”

Sword cultivators from the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion couldn’t activate this type of spell-based annihilation formations. They could only open some enhancement formations based on their internal cultivation to assist their swordplay. This formation was from the Jiuyou Realm.

Mu Jinyue was worried about exposing her Jiuyou Realm techniques. With these words, Mu Jinyue felt relieved.

If she only needed a bit of spiritual power, she could think of a way to squeeze some out.

After Pei Zichen finished drawing the formation, he stood up, turned to look at Ming beside him, and instructed, “When we charge out in a moment, follow me closely.”

“All right.”

With that, Pei Zichen raised his hand to summon his sword. Gripping it, he charged out with Ming!

The moment they rushed out of the barrier, the Life-Devouring Beasts truly stopped caring about the people in the barrier and turned to pounce on them. Pei Zichen recalled his sword formation. Light swords “clanged” protectively at his side. Ming was even more quick with his hands and eyes, stabbing sword after sword into the Life-Devouring Beasts that flew at them.

Although he was a mortal, his sword intent was extraordinary and his movements extremely fast. With just a mortal body, his speed actually matched Pei Zichen’s light swords. He followed behind Pei Zichen, finishing off the Life-Devouring Beasts that broke into the barrier.

The Life-Devouring Beasts were so numerous they completely covered the two of them, overwhelming and airtight, like a cocoon completely wrapping them.

The massive vine struck down again and again, using tremendous force each time.

After Ming followed Pei Zichen in jumping twice, he immediately said, “Go cut down that vine.”

That vine was the greatest threat to the barrier.

Pei Zichen responded, then condensed spiritual power in his hand. Stepping on a speed-enhancing formation beneath his feet, he leaped upward with Ming, heading toward the vine!

The vine also noticed them and struck down like a giant palm!

Ming followed behind Pei Zichen. Watching the massive vine fall, his heart trembled, but he could only follow regardless. Just as the vine was about to fall and crush them both, Pei Zichen spun his sword open, charging straight toward the vine’s center. His spiritual power instantly exploded. Pei Zichen’s entire being, sword and all, pierced through the vine. Ming followed closely through the central opening. He watched as Pei Zichen’s sword and the dozen light swords behind formed a net. The moment Pei Zichen penetrated through, over a dozen light swords immediately followed, cutting and carving the vine.

Everything happened in a flash. The colossal thing from moments ago crashed thunderously to the ground. Ming looked back in shock and admiration, then heard Pei Zichen shout, “Keep up!”

With that, Pei Zichen raised his hand and pulled. Spiritual power passed through Ming’s waist, suspended in air, pulling the youth back to his side as they leaped out of the Life-Devouring Beasts’ encirclement.

The Life-Devouring Beasts immediately surged toward them like ocean waves. The two fled into the distance at full speed.

The Life-Devouring Beasts pursued relentlessly behind them. Before long, Pei Zichen discovered that earlier in the temple, he could only see clearly for less than ten zhang around them. But after coming out, he found that as long as they moved forward, there was endless land.

He ran farther and farther with Ming, calculating the time. Seeing that most of a quarter hour had passed, Ming calculated the time it had taken him to draw the formation earlier and reminded him, “You need to draw the formation now.”

“I know.”

Pei Zichen turned around. A row of Yin-Yang Banners squeezed out from his hand, arraying themselves like soldiers in front, instantly forming a transparent light wall.

At the same time, thousands of paper figures flew from his sleeve, transforming into ghostly soldiers. After rushing into the barrier, they began slaughtering the Life-Devouring Beasts.

The pressure suddenly decreased. Pei Zichen dropped to one knee, pressing his hand on the ground to halt his momentum, then lowered his head to begin drawing the formation.

Ming stood to one side, one hand behind his back, one hand holding his sword as he watched him draw the formation.

The barrier separated those Life-Devouring Beasts. Sound was also suppressed within the barrier, making the forest extraordinarily quiet with only the sound of wind rustling through leaves.

Pei Zichen finished drawing the formation, condensing magical light in his hand.

The magical light was originally white, but after Pei Zichen remained silent for a moment, he suddenly said, “Actually, I understand what you said earlier.”

These words startled Ming. He couldn’t help saying, “What?”

“People wanting to live is never wrong.” As Pei Zichen spoke, the magical light turned purple-black. At the same time, as if deliberately showing him, he made his entire body transparent. The purple-black aura traveling through his meridians formed a complete picture, fully displaying on his body the state of all demonic essence circulation.

Ming stared blankly at the scene before him, feeling the wind around them gradually intensify. He heard Pei Zichen continue, “The only error lies in a lost heart, a fate that harms others. If one only seeks to defy heavenly fate, to contend with heaven for life—what wrong is there in that? Ming.”

He raised his eyes to look at Ming, saying calmly, “When Master’s wife and I obtain the God-Slaying Sword and leave, I’ll teach you my techniques. You have no spirit roots and can’t cultivate immortal methods, but you can try my techniques.”

Hearing this, Ming’s expression didn’t change. He coldly asked in return, “What conditions?”

“Don’t commit evil, don’t harm people.”

At these words, Ming was stunned. He couldn’t help asking, “Why?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen fell silent. After a moment, he said softly, “Actually, I envy you too.”

“Envy me?” Ming was puzzled. “Envy me for what?”

“Five years ago, the Female Lord promised to save someone. She failed to save them and has regretted it ever since.”

Pei Zichen spoke, looking at the formation beneath his palm, saying slowly, “Although she hasn’t said it explicitly, I know that when she saw you, she thought of that child. So she wants to save you. No matter what, she will save you. But whether it’s you or Li Xiuji, I don’t want her to save anyone else. I only wish for her to save me alone in this life. For this, I can save all people under heaven.”

Ming didn’t speak.

Pei Zichen turned his palm over, condensing magical light. Recalling old matters, his gaze softened. “What remains of my life is not much. She is my only one. Whatever she wishes and seeks, I will help her achieve. You need do nothing else. Wait well, and I will naturally grant you a future.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand downward, pressing the condensed magical light toward the formation. Just as it was about to fall, Ming suddenly asked, “If she failed to save that person, would she be sad?”

This question was strange. Pei Zichen paused. He looked up suspiciously but still said, “Naturally.”

“She wants to save me?” Ming asked again.

“That’s right.”

Hearing this answer, Ming closed his eyes.

Pei Zichen looked at him in confusion. After a long while, he saw him seem to make a decision and remind him hoarsely, “Go back.”

Pei Zichen paused, then heard him say, “These are all illusions meant to consume your spiritual power. This isn’t the Twelve Crossbow Formation.”

Pei Zichen was stunned. Ming raised his eyes to look at him, saying calmly, “It’s thirteen crossbows.”

The Twelve Crossbow Formation—each crossbow represented one attack.

Jiang Zhaoxue had always thought it was twelve crossbows, but if it was thirteen, that meant there was one more attack beyond Jiang Zhaoxue’s calculations!

And that attack was obviously their true killing move!

The moment he understood, Pei Zichen didn’t hesitate. He turned and fled madly toward the temple!

The very moment he turned, he saw Shen Yuqing’s sword light fly first through the entire dense forest, directly striking the formation’s eye. Then twelve light formations precisely fell, bombarding twelve positions.

He ran wildly through the thunderous sword light and earth-shaking tremors.

Faster, even faster!

There was still one formation, still one formation waiting for Jiang Zhaoxue, targeting Jiang Zhaoxue!

The Yuan Luogong Life Attendant Contract transmission formation—Pei Zichen used every method he could think of, exhausting all his strength, flying on his sword at full speed.

Meanwhile, in the temple, after the spell formations were deployed, Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing emerged from the inner hall.

Both Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing looked extraordinarily relaxed, showing not half a sign of spiritual power exhaustion. They walked to the entrance, looking up at the ten thousand zhang of thunder as if admiring a beautiful fireworks display.

Seeing the two, Pei Shulan couldn’t help but freeze, asking somewhat hesitantly, “Immortal Jiang?”

As she spoke, Pei Shulan frowned in confusion. “Did you open the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp?”

“No.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was quite frank.

Pei Shulan glanced at the inner hall, shocked and uncertain. “Then… then how did you come out? Weren’t you not supposed to be interrupted?”

“Because,” Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at her and smiled, “I never started.”

Pei Shulan was stunned. Jiang Zhaoxue leaned against the doorframe, admiring the grand spectacle of her deployed formation destroying the twelve attack formations at twelve positions, patiently explaining. “Actually, for cultivators like Shen Yuqing and me, a maze formation is merely an obstruction—it can’t really do anything. After we were forced into the formation, the opponent didn’t make a move but instead let us stay in a temple. This shows the opponent’s intention wasn’t to kill, but to delay our time. Since they wanted to delay my time, naturally I had to do the opposite. So I deliberately took out the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp and told everyone I had a solution, precisely to make the person controlling the formation anxious.”

“And the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp requires A’Xue and me to completely exhaust our spiritual power as a married couple before it can open. After the opponent learned this, in their urgency, they would definitely feel this was an opportunity and couldn’t help moving ahead of schedule.” Shen Yuqing followed with an explanation.

“So I deliberately pretended to go open the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp with Yuqing, but actually I was laying down a formation to find the formation’s eye. For maze formations, if you want to launch a fatal attack from within the formation, you must involve the formation’s eye together to gather power. So I had Pei Zichen pretend to leave, constantly giving the opponent opportunities to think they could kill us, forcing and luring them to launch their final strike. Once they acted, I discovered the formation’s eye and had Shen Yuqing destroy it.”

“After destroying the formation’s eye, the twelve crossbow formation positions had nowhere to hide.” Shen Yuqing’s eyes softened somewhat. He secretly glanced at Jiang Zhaoxue and said softly, “For my wife to wager her fortune with heaven again and destroy these twelve crossbow formations was naturally not difficult.”

The two explained everything in turns. Pei Shulan listened in stunned amazement.

After the thunder slowly disappeared, mist rose around them. Then under the moonlight, the mist gradually dispersed, revealing vast open fields. The broken temple behind them also slowly transformed into a massive cave. Only then did they discover that this temple had actually been a cave all along.

Seeing the maze formation broken, Jiang Zhaoxue thought of Pei Zichen. She turned to look at Mu Jinyue beside her. “Where’s Zichen?”

“Senior Brother just went out with Ming.” Mu Jinyue told the truth, frowning. “Just now…”

Before she finished speaking, the ground suddenly split open in a huge crack. Vine covered with pus and thorns shot out like lightning, heading straight for Jiang Zhaoxue!

Quick as a flash, Shen Yuqing grabbed for Jiang Zhaoxue. However, just as he grasped Jiang Zhaoxue, a black shadow suddenly burst through the air, fiercely crashing into Jiang Zhaoxue!

Jiang Zhaoxue was embraced by the newcomer and heavily pushed forward. Shen Yuqing’s pupils contracted sharply. In that split second, knowing there were poisonous thorns ahead, knowing Jiang Zhaoxue had already been rescued, knowing he should let go—he still instinctively held onto Jiang Zhaoxue!

In that moment of hesitation, the vine full of poisonous thorns instantly pierced through Pei Zichen’s chest. Pei Zichen heavily pushed Jiang Zhaoxue forward. Only then did Shen Yuqing react. Turning back, he slashed down the vine behind Pei Zichen in an instant, crushing the vine that had ambushed from behind him. Then spiritual power instantly poured into the vine, exploding it from within with a “boom”!

The vine split into pieces and fell like rain. Shen Yuqing urgently turned around to see Pei Zichen had already collapsed in Jiang Zhaoxue’s arms, leaning against her shoulder.

He was covered in blood, his face deathly pale. Jiang Zhaoxue gripped his pulse, frantically channeling spiritual power into him.

Mu Jinyue stood beside them with an anxious face. Pei Shulan had fallen to the ground in panic.

Everyone surrounded him, and Jiang Zhaoxue, in an almost protective posture, had nearly completely enclosed him in her embrace.

Her face showed no emotion, but her complexion was obviously more ashen than usual. Her fingertips holding Pei Zichen trembled slightly—this was precisely how she looked when restraining her anger and panic with all her might.

He had seen this appearance of hers countless times.

In the past when he was injured, she always protected him like this.

Using this completely defensive posture to protect important people, especially dao companions, was the instinct of demon cultivators.

And at this moment, she held Pei Zichen like this, continuously pouring spiritual power into his body.

Shen Yuqing felt a stabbing pain spreading through his heart, yet he knew he was thinking too much.

At this critical moment of life and death, Pei Zichen was a disciple Jiang Zhaoxue had raised with her own hands. How could she not panic?

He forced himself not to overthink, curling his injured left hand into his sleeve, and hurried forward wanting to help.

However, he had only taken one step forward when he heard Jiang Zhaoxue shout sternly, “Stop!”

Shen Yuqing’s footsteps halted. He looked up blankly and saw Jiang Zhaoxue staring intently at him, coldly asking, “Why didn’t you save him just now?”

Hearing these words, Shen Yuqing was stunned. When he came to his senses, he discovered that the panic and pain he had been desperately restraining had spread throughout his entire body without his notice.

His breathing became somewhat uncontrollably chaotic. Forcing himself not to conflict, he explained, “I wanted to save you just now.”

“But he already saved me.”

“I still wanted to save you!” Shen Yuqing finally couldn’t hold back somewhat. He felt the wound on his hand trembling with pain. He couldn’t help saying, “He charged over and snatched you away. Why should I yield?”

“Did you do it on purpose?” Feeling the poisonous essence dispersing through Pei Zichen’s meridians, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t restrain her anger. Her tone was exceptionally cold. “Did you want him to die?”

“Yes, that’s right!” Hearing her defend this person, Shen Yuqing lost control and cursed angrily, “I deliberately let him die. What of it?!”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak.

Shen Yuqing clenched his fists, staring intently at her. He didn’t know why he was saying these words against his heart, but he couldn’t stop. He wanted to say them, wanted to know—if he really wanted to kill Pei Zichen, if he had done it deliberately—

What would she do?

She should unconditionally support him. She should be sad but still stand on his side. Or she simply shouldn’t have this question at all. She should trust him, should always firmly believe that her husband wouldn’t do wrong. Even if he was wrong—

She would still love him.

Shen Yuqing didn’t know why he would have such absurd thoughts, but he had completely lost his composure. He didn’t care about dignity or propriety. He only felt that everything accumulated since their meeting seemed to explode at this moment, forcing him to test, to probe.

He waited for her response—arguing or cursing, anything would do. Just some response.

However, Jiang Zhaoxue only held Pei Zichen. Her entire heart and mind were on him. After a moment of silence, she stood up holding him and walked toward the cave.

Seeing her leave, Shen Yuqing urgently stepped forward, grabbing her arm and angrily demanding, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“He’s been poisoned with Heart-Eroding Powder, a poison that restrains water-element spirit roots. After poisoning, spiritual power cannot circulate and cannot expel the poison. Someone with other spirit roots must use spiritual power to help guide the poison into their own body to dilute it before expelling it. Otherwise, he will die within half an hour.”

Jiang Zhaoxue explained calmly, then said coldly, “Let go.”

“Absolutely not!” Shen Yuqing shouted sternly. He gripped her tightly, not caring about dignity at all, saying through gritted teeth, “He is my disciple. There are proprieties between men and women. How can you do something so intimate?”

“Then what did you say back then?!”

Seeing him entangle her relentlessly, Jiang Zhaoxue grew anxious and couldn’t help raising her voice. “When I tried to stop you from going to Mu Jinyue’s room in the middle of the night, you said in matters of life and death, there are no barriers between men and women. Mu Jinyue’s life is a life—is Pei Zichen’s not?!”

These words stunned Shen Yuqing. Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath, knowing arguing was pointless. She lowered her voice, trying to reason with him properly. “Shen Yuqing, just now you said you deliberately wanted to kill him. I won’t argue with you precisely because I know you were speaking in anger. I said countless such angry words back then too.”

Shen Yuqing stared at her blankly. In his mind flashed their countless arguments. Back then, she had spoken without restraint again and again, and each time, he had righteously used grand principles to constrain her.

“Put yourself in my shoes. I can understand your state of mind at this moment. Can’t you understand mine? I only want to save someone. You are the pavilion master of the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. This is your disciple. At this critical moment of life and death, don’t you understand what’s more important?”

“That’s right, Master.”

Beside them, Mu Jinyue had listened for a long time. Finally, she stepped forward to persuade Shen Yuqing. “Please let Master’s wife save him.”

“Saving him is what matters.” Pei Shulan came to her senses and also quickly stepped forward, pulling at Shen Yuqing. “Pavilion Master Shen, at a time like this, don’t worry about proprieties between men and women. Please let Immortal Jiang go.”

Everyone persuaded him, pressing down on him with one grand principle after another until he couldn’t breathe.

Seeing it was about right, Jiang Zhaoxue carried Pei Zichen horizontally in her arms and strode toward the cave.

Shen Yuqing felt her slip bit by bit from his hands like sand he couldn’t hold, even her sleeve being pulled away.

His heart began to tremble lightly, yet he couldn’t say a single word.

After struggling for a long time, he could only say softly, “A’Xue.”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned back to look at him and saw him raise his bloody hand. A pair of eyes looked at her somewhat bewildered, carrying some pain, saying hoarsely, “But I’m also poisoned.”

That hand had been pierced by the vine. Blood congealed on it, looking especially horrifying.

If it were in the past, even with someone else’s life or death before her, she would probably have immediately cried out and rushed over.

He didn’t know what he was waiting for in making himself look so pathetic. He only quietly watched Jiang Zhaoxue.

And Jiang Zhaoxue looked at that hand. After a moment of silence, she said calmly, “You are a Great Vehicle stage cultivator. Zichen cannot compare to you. Moreover, your injury is on your hand and not severe. Let Jinyue help you.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue turned around holding Pei Zichen.

Shen Yuqing stood in place, staring blankly at Jiang Zhaoxue’s back. In an instant, he felt as if he had returned to the past.

Only this time, he had become Jiang Zhaoxue.

He watched himself hurrying away, rushing to Luo Xia Peak to save someone.

Back then, Jiang Zhaoxue could at least curse, could cry out, could roar and shout, “Shen Yuqing, if you dare go tonight, I’ll sever all ties with you! I’ll never like you again! Do you understand?!”

But now, now Shen Yuqing—he was like someone with their throat tightly strangled.

He wanted to shout too, wanted to curse, but he couldn’t.

He was the pavilion master of the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. He was Pei Zichen’s master. He had already failed to save him in time first—he absolutely couldn’t cut off his chance at life afterward.

Moreover, he didn’t dare.

Shen Yuqing would never leave Jiang Zhaoxue, regardless of whether she liked him or not. He would never leave.

But Jiang Zhaoxue was different.

She would let him go.

Demon cultivators were willful and unrestrained. For her, it was never—it never had to be—him.