As soon as the words fell, Jiang Zhaoxue heard wails of anguish rising outside. Glowing lights floated up from various places, drifting toward the sky.

Ye Tianjiao instinctively turned back, seeing the lights floating in the sky, and said strangely, “What is this?”

“This is the power of people’s primordial spirits.” Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart sank. A moment later, she saw a beam of magical light shoot up from Xuecang Mountain, and these lights quickly fell back down.

Then Ye Wenzhi was seen being supported by Chen Zhao and others, hurrying from outside, gasping as he called out loudly, “Immortal Jiang! Young Dao Lord Pei!”

As he spoke, Ye Wenzhi rushed into the room. His face was pale, yet he didn’t pause for a word, urgently saying, “Xinluoyi has emerged.”

These words stunned Ye Tianjiao. After reacting, he couldn’t help crying out in shock, “How could it emerge?! Doesn’t it need Pure Yin blood…”

“Mu Jinyue went.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she walked forward. She pointed her fingers together and swept across Ye Tianjiao’s body, seeing a faint blood thread light up. She pressed her lips tight and said coldly, “This is a trace left by a Fate Master’s technique. She must have contacted Song Wulan. She’s already at Xuecang Mountain now, having dripped her blood into the Sacred Pool.”

Once Pure Yin blood fell into the Sacred Pool, Xinluoyi would be summoned and awakened, beginning to devour the lives of those two million people as nourishment. In at most half a shichen, a fierce creature rarely seen in a thousand years could be birthed.

Everything had stopped temporarily only because of the formation Ye Wenzhi and the others had set up in advance, isolating Xinluoyi from absorbing external power.

But this formation—

Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at Ye Wenzhi and saw him with a pale face, clenched fists, nervously saying, “Only one quarter-hour.”

They could only seal Xinluoyi for one quarter-hour. After that quarter-hour, no one could stop Xinluoyi.

Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes to calm herself, then turned to look at Shen Yuqing. After thinking for a moment, she gritted her teeth. “I can release you, but you must swear—”

“I won’t save them.”

Shen Yuqing knew what she wanted to say and immediately replied, “The lives of these two million people are decreed by fate. What you need to do now is release me. We’ll immediately go to Xuecang Mountain. I’ll force out the Fire Qilin demon core for you. Using Jinyue’s Pure Yin blood, when the Divine Slaying Sword emerges, have Jinyue’s heart blood drip onto the demon core and Divine Slaying Sword. Only this way can we ensure extreme yin and extreme yang touch each other. Combined with a formation to absorb the power of all things in heaven and earth, we can nurture the Tianyan Vine seed!”

“Shen Yuqing!”

Seeing him so obstinate, Jiang Zhaoxue opened her mouth to scold him. However, knowing there was no time left, she could only bite her teeth and say to Pei Zichen, “We’re going.”

“My Lady.”

Pei Zichen grabbed Jiang Zhaoxue’s elbow. After thinking for a moment, he raised his eyes to look at Jiang Zhaoxue and said calmly, “We can’t kill Xinluoyi.”

Jiang Zhaoxue suppressed her anger and breathed lowly. Pei Zichen seriously reminded her, “We’ve killed her three times already. All three times she was able to come back from the dead in dire straits because vengeful spirits are condensed from mortal resentment. Back then, she cultivated a ghost immortal body on Zhuang Yan and has gained sentience. As long as any resentful energy worships her, she can immediately revive. Song Wulan can keep killing people beside her. As long as people die within the barrier, she’ll continue to exist. After enduring until the formation ends, if we haven’t completely annihilated her, she’ll borrow the blood pool to absorb everyone’s lives. Our chances of winning aren’t high.”

“I know!” Jiang Zhaoxue suppressed the chaos in her heart, trying to stay calm. “But now there’s no time…”

“Lingjian Immortal Pavilion has a Spirit-Locking Formation,” Pei Zichen interrupted Jiang Zhaoxue, his speech both steady and rapid. “Lock spirits with one’s body—I can lock it.”

At these words, both Shen Yuqing and Jiang Zhaoxue froze.

The Spirit-Locking Formation connected one’s life to the formation, locking down evil creatures. The effect was similar to the formation Ye Tianjiao and the others were using now to isolate Xinluoyi. The only difference was that once spiritual power was exhausted, this Spirit-Locking Formation would draw upon the caster’s primordial spirit power. It couldn’t be interrupted until death.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes trembled. She heard Pei Zichen continue, “Right now, I’ll go kill Xinluoyi. If one strike doesn’t succeed, My Lady should immediately gamble fate with Heaven and have this disciple use the Spirit-Locking Formation to trap Xinluoyi. Once the Spirit-Locking Formation is established, Song Wulan will definitely do everything to kill this disciple. Then you’ll have the opportunity to infiltrate the Sacred Pool and find a way to destroy the Sacred Pool’s formation.”

Listening to Pei Zichen’s words, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart beat rapidly. She looked at the youth before her calmly arranging everything, feeling his unmasked edge for the first time. Like a sharp blade wrapped in white silk—clearly a sword that could shatter mountains, yet it stopped gently before everyone, slowly comforting them all as he planned, “The reason Xinluoyi can devour millions of lives in an instant is because of the formation beneath it. As long as the formation is destroyed, this disciple can lock Xinluoyi within a salvation formation and bring it back to the True Immortal Realm for salvation until it dissipates completely. This is the safest method.”

At these words, everyone fell silent, knowing there was no other way. Pei Zichen didn’t delay either, immediately raising his hand. “Now please, everyone go out. I need to request a sword from Master.”

Hearing this, Ye Wenzhi immediately stood and headed out, urging, “Go prepare protective formations for Dao Lord Pei!”

Everyone stood at his words. Jiang Zhaoxue bit her teeth but still turned to leave.

She knew the so-called “requesting the sword” was just an excuse. She suppressed the stuffiness in her heart and followed everyone out of the room, immediately beginning to draw formations.

Something churned in her heart. She didn’t even know what she was angry about.

After Jiang Zhaoxue left, Pei Zichen turned and stepped forward, kneeling on one knee before Shen Yuqing, saying calmly, “How do you plant the Tianyan Vine?”

At these words, Shen Yuqing raised his eyes. He looked into Pei Zichen’s eyes, stared for a long while, but still told the truth. “At the junction of extreme yin and extreme yang, nourished by all living things—that is, when the Divine Slaying Sword emerges, use Jinyue’s heart blood to drip onto the Divine Slaying Sword and Fire Qilin demon core. The process cannot fail. Heart blood must drip onto both objects. If other things are mixed in, it won’t be Pure Yin blood and you won’t obtain the Tianyan Vine.”

“Where is the demon core?”

“In her consciousness sea. But the demon core fears water and will normally avoid you and me.”

“So you used her as a container to store the demon core?”

“How could I possibly use her as a container?!” Hearing this, Shen Yuqing’s face showed anger, urgently saying, “I had prepared a magical artifact to store the demon core in advance. When I opened it, she crashed into it. After the artifact shattered, the demon core could only remain in her body. After taking it out and placing it in anyone else’s body, it can last at most one day, otherwise it becomes useless.”

At these words, Pei Zichen fell silent. Shen Yuqing stared at him intently, saying through gritted teeth, “I’m not as despicable as you all think, Pei Zichen…”

He wanted to say something but ultimately couldn’t.

Yet Pei Zichen clearly understood his unfinished words.

This master of his habitually showed weakness through strength, never bowing his head. Shen Yuqing saying all this was simply trying to tell him that he cared about Jiang Zhaoxue. If it was for Jiang Zhaoxue’s good, let him act.

Realizing this, the emotions he had been suppressing since entering the room and seeing the two of them began boiling uncontrollably. But he also knew now wasn’t the time for entanglement. He directly changed the subject, saying calmly, “I haven’t learned the Spirit-Locking Formation. This formation requires Master’s direct transmission. Teach me now. I’ll go find Junior Sister and help her plant the Tianyan Vine.”

Listening, Shen Yuqing stared at Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen said calmly, “You’re uncontrollable. She won’t trust you. If you truly want what’s good for her, then trust me.”

At these words, Shen Yuqing stared at him intently, but knowing there was no other option now, he took a deep breath, extended his hand, and quickly drew a formation before Pei Zichen. The formation fell onto Pei Zichen’s sword hilt. Shen Yuqing said impatiently, “Go.”

Pei Zichen nodded in salute, stood to leave, and just reached the door when Shen Yuqing suddenly called out to him. “Remember,” he emphasized, “you’re saving your shimu.”

Pei Zichen’s movements paused slightly. After a moment, he said softly, “She was in the past.”

Having said this, Pei Zichen opened the door and strode out.

The moment he stepped out, everyone came forward. Pei Zichen’s eyes immediately found Jiang Zhaoxue in the crowd. Jiang Zhaoxue was holding talismans Ye Tianjiao had given him and stepped forward. Just as she was about to speak, Pei Zichen grabbed her elbow, pushed others aside, and without a word dragged her toward the bamboo grove in the distance.

Seeing he clearly didn’t want to talk with others, no one dared approach. Jiang Zhaoxue held the talismans Ye Tianjiao had given her, being pulled by him toward a corner.

Thinking of his decision, fire burned in her heart. She couldn’t help scolding as she walked, “At such a young age, not knowing the heights of heaven and depths of earth. Your master and I are both here—is it your turn to play hero… mmph!!”

Before she could finish, Pei Zichen yanked her violently into the deep shade of the trees and kissed her abruptly!

Shock rolled over her. But in just a moment, Jiang Zhaoxue instantly reacted, urgently pushing him. However, Pei Zichen had anticipated this and grabbed her wrist, pressing her into the corner.

“Let go… mmph… Pei Zichen…”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice was muffled. Pei Zichen closed his eyes and didn’t respond.

Tree shadows swayed, lingering on them both. His divine consciousness invaded her consciousness sea without obstruction, sensing the spiritual root aura where he had hidden his ice spiritual root, carefully searching every inch of her consciousness sea.

Jiang Zhaoxue gasped and softened, both shocked and angry. She knew he was doing serious business, but what kind of serious business required doing it like this, and in this kind of place!

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heartbeat raced uncontrollably, her breathing growing more rapid. In less than a moment, she felt severe pain in her consciousness sea. Something was uprooted by him, wrapped in spiritual power, and sent from lips and teeth all the way into her mouth.

The demon core!

Jiang Zhaoxue instantly realized—he was searching for the Fire Qilin demon core!

“Frightened?”

Pei Zichen swallowed the demon core, stepped back, and seeing her stunned appearance, smiled as he spoke.

Jiang Zhaoxue breathed lowly. Just beyond the wall, people were coming and going. Shocked by his audacity, she didn’t dare say much. Pei Zichen stared at her forced composure and said in a low voice, “Just now I kept thinking, Master isn’t heartless—how could I take advantage of someone’s crisis? But I don’t know why. Listening to you two talk, I just wanted to do this. Since you’ve promised me, then I have no reason to retreat, do I?”

“Just go already.”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned her head away, not daring to say more.

Pei Zichen suppressed his breathing and laughed. Knowing he couldn’t delay, he only said, “I’m leaving.”

With that, he took the package Ye Tianjiao had given from Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand and turned to cleave open space with one sword strike.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoxue finally couldn’t help calling out, “Pei Zichen!”

At these words, Pei Zichen turned back, immediately knowing what Jiang Zhaoxue wanted to say.

He smiled gently and said seriously, “My Lady, rest assured. This disciple has Penglai’s True Martial Prime Lady’s protection.” As he spoke, he nodded slightly, his tone carrying youthful spirit. “I will certainly forge ahead without retreat, safe and sound.”

Having said this, he turned and proceeded forward, instantly disappearing into the moonlight.

Jiang Zhaoxue stood in place. Tree shadows swayed like the strings of her heart.

She leaned back to catch her breath. A’Nan hesitated, “Master… are… are you alright?”

“Fine.” Jiang Zhaoxue gritted her teeth. “Just fine.”

Having said this, she forced herself to stand, quickly acting as if nothing had happened, returning to the formation she had drawn and raising her hand to open a water mirror.

As she moved, sounds of slashing came from outside the courtyard. Ye Tianjiao rushed back in panic, urgently saying, “Sis! The Blissful Longevity Sect’s people are attacking!”

“If they’re attacking, they’re attacking!” Jiang Zhaoxue swept her sleeve coldly. “Have you never fought before?”

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao froze, his gaze falling on Jiang Zhaoxue’s lips. “Why are your lips so red? Did someone bite them?”

These words made Jiang Zhaoxue panic. She said urgently, “Shut up. Form the array.”

As she spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue’s hands flew through gestures, watching in the water mirror as Pei Zichen broke through space all the way, one person one sword, rushing rapidly toward Xuecang Mountain.

Xuecang Mountain was already crowded with believers. Clearly cultivators were opening paths for ordinary followers. Cult members wearing red cloaks emerged one after another from teleportation arrays, like red waves winding all the way to the summit of Xuecang Mountain.

The summit of Xuecang Mountain had already been breached. A barrier shot up into the sky, surrounding a bloody opening. Countless magical lights desperately attacked the barrier, which remained unmoved.

The youth in black robes with bound hair, a long sword hanging at his waist—the moment he appeared at Xuecang Mountain, everyone around cried out in alarm, shouting loudly, “The God-Slayer! The God-Slaying person has come!”

The instant the words fell, countless magical lights shot toward Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen stepped on a gangster formation, his body like a meteor, dodging magical lights all the way as he rushed toward the Sacred Pool’s peak.

As soon as he arrived, everyone immediately became agitated. The Xinluoyi in the Sacred Pool seemed to sense danger and roared with a muffled sound. In that moment, over a hundred people suddenly rushed forward one after another, jumping into the Sacred Pool as if possessed.

This seemed to give power to the thing in the Sacred Pool. A serpent tail struck the barrier with a “bang”!

Cracks immediately appeared in the barrier. Pei Zichen raised his hand and swept. The Nine Revolution Immortal Life Bell circled his body. He flipped in midair, grabbed with one hand from the void, withdrew the Yuan Luogong bow, and grasped the Lingxu Fan with the other hand. The Lingxu Fan instantly transformed into arrows, densely forming into a huge net. The moment Pei Zichen turned, arrows fell like dense rain. As bloody plasma churned in the Sacred Pool, arrows that attacked divine souls and broke through space fell densely, accompanied by a loud shout from above: “Who goes there?!”

As the shout fell, ten red-robed cultivators appeared above. Magical light descended from the sky. Pei Zichen quickly formed arrays with his hands. Yuan Luogong shrieked, “Master, dodge—”

Pei Zichen neither dodged nor avoided. He stood in place. Only after his rain of arrows sealed Xinluoyi did he rapidly form arrays.

Light swords wove nets before him. The blue formation beneath his feet grew larger and larger. Wide sleeves fluttered like a dance beneath the moon. From above, red light struck down at him together. Yuan Luogong’s cries shook heaven and earth.

Jiang Zhaoxue watched from the water mirror, her heart racing, her palms rapidly forming seals. The Qiankun Divination Sticks shook with loud clanging.

At the critical moment, Jiang Zhaoxue’s palms came together. From above came a violent shout: “The Heavenly Dao is impermanent—gambling fate with Heaven! Supreme Great Fortune, Invincible Golden Body—open!”

In an instant, golden light and red light collided. The moment Pei Zichen was protected by golden light, he couldn’t help revealing a smile.

Then the barrier above suddenly shattered. Pei Zichen’s palms urgently came together, striking downward with one palm!

Ten thousand swords like needles, densely woven into a net rushing toward the heights, falling sharply in an instant, sealing the entire blood pool.

Xinluoyi rolled and shrieked. Everyone was shocked. Only Pei Zichen knelt on one knee on the formation, raising a pair of calm, sharp eyes. Gentle yet carrying chilling killing intent, he responded to the previous question—

“Penglai’s Pei Zichen greets all of you.”