Baili Weisheng’s smile was strikingly handsome, but beside him Meng Duo’er was gasping for breath, her heart pounding with fright. They hadn’t found this place by sensing the barrier master’s aura at all.

By the time they’d reached the mountaintop, they still hadn’t detected any trace of a barrier master’s presence — the insufferable scholar had simply gone half-mad searching cave after cave.

In the end, heaven rewards those who persevere.

But Meng Wanyue’s barrier arts had completely surpassed her own. If the barrier a moment ago hadn’t still been mid-formation, she would never have been able to break it at all.

Meng Duo’er looked at Baili Weisheng, still joking with ease, then at Xuanyuan Lige sprawled miserably on the ground — and yet this fellow could still manage to smile.

She truly could not understand it. How could people like them exist?

Even now, at a moment like this, they could still be so calm, so composed — no, to be precise, so utterly nonchalant.

Their situation was dangerous, extremely dangerous.

If they made even the slightest mistake today, they might very well die right here.

And yet these two men were like flowers that could bloom pure and untainted even after being trampled into the mud.

By now Meng Wanyue had recovered from her momentary shock. She stamped down hard on Xuanyuan Lige and sneered, “Meng Duo’er, my dear niece, what are you doing here? Come looking to die?”

Before this, she had indeed been wary of Meng Duo’er, which was why she’d deceived Mi’er and used her to lure Meng Duo’er away.

But things were different now. She had found a treasure in Xuanyuan Lige — over the past half month or so, her barrier arts had advanced at astonishing speed, long since surpassing Meng Duo’er’s level.

Today, she feared no one. If Meng Duo’er wanted to die, she was welcome to try.

Meng Duo’er didn’t even know how to respond — judging purely by the gap in strength, they really had come here looking to die.

Barrier arts were unlike ordinary martial skills. Their special nature gave a barrier master an absolute, overwhelming advantage even when facing an opponent of equal skill.

To put it plainly, Baili Weisheng’s martial skill was roughly equal to Meng Wanyue’s. But Meng Wanyue’s instant sealing technique could not only protect her from harm — it could simultaneously seal Baili Weisheng away, leaving him utterly unable to fight.

This was the terrifying power of instant sealing, the highest realm of barrier arts.

All her rage and worry condensed into a single demand: “Where exactly have you trapped my father and grandfather?”

The instant those words left her mouth, Baili Weisheng beside her wished he could kick her clean out of the cave just to save her the embarrassment of staying.

The moment you saw this old hag, you should just start cursing her outright — what was the point of asking so much? As if she’d actually answer.

If she’d actually answer, the sun would rise in the west.

Baili Weisheng opened his mouth and started cursing right away. “You old, ugly hag — a son who won’t acknowledge you, a daughter-in-law you don’t respect, and grandchildren you’ve thrown away!”

“So what?” Meng Wanyue, having been on the receiving end of his insults before, didn’t rise to the bait, retorting coldly instead.

But to her surprise, Baili Weisheng didn’t continue cursing — instead, dozens of hidden weapons burst forth from him in an instant, and he barked coldly, “Take this!”

The sudden strike caught Meng Wanyue completely off guard, leaving her no time to dodge. Just as the hidden weapons shot straight toward her, she finally snapped back to her senses and instantly clasped her hands into a seal.

At that very moment, Baili Weisheng stamped hard on Meng Duo’er’s foot. Meng Duo’er, only just snapping out of her own shock, cried out urgently, “Break!”

Meng Wanyue’s barrier arts were far stronger than hers, but no matter how powerful they were, as long as the barrier hadn’t fully formed yet, she could still break it.

This was a weakness that no barrier master, however powerful, could avoid.

In that split second, Meng Duo’er’s cry of “Break!” left Meng Wanyue utterly stunned.

With no time to retreat and no time to block, several dart-like weapons plunged straight toward her, forcing her to stumble backward several steps.

“Baili Weisheng, you’re despicable!” Meng Wanyue roared in fury — clearly, she’d been outmaneuvered.

“So what?” Baili Weisheng snorted arrogantly, giving Meng Wanyue not a moment to catch her breath as he loosed another volley of hidden darts. At the same time, Meng Duo’er hid behind him, focusing intently, watching Meng Wanyue’s every move.

That strike a moment ago had cleverly reminded her: though she couldn’t match Meng Wanyue in strength, she could still guard against her.

The instant Meng Wanyue’s barrier began to form, she would seize the moment to break it.

Having just suffered a heavy loss, Meng Wanyue grew sharper too, dodging while issuing a cold warning. “Baili Weisheng, do you think that without my barrier arts, I’d actually lose?”

“Would you actually win, then?” Baili Weisheng’s expression was one of pure disbelief — an expression truly infuriating enough to make Meng Wanyue want to scream.

“You insolent brat — there was a wide, open road out there for you to walk, and instead you chose to come knocking on death’s door. Today, this old lady will grant your wish!”

Meng Wanyue spoke coldly, no longer retreating. She drew her longsword with commanding force, and in the very instant the blade left its sheath, an intensely sharp blade of wind burst forth.

That fierce, cutting aura instantly made Baili Weisheng think of Jun Beiyue.

After all, setting the barrier arts aside, Meng Wanyue’s raw ability was at least eighty percent of Jun Beiyue’s.

Though Baili Weisheng had never actually crossed swords with Jun Beiyue, he knew perfectly well that even at eighty percent — let alone a full hundred — such strength was terrifying.

This was a brutal fight, one he had little chance of winning, and winning wasn’t why he’d come. His purpose was to stall for time — to ensure the Jade Water Nectar Gathering proceeded smoothly, and that Jun Beiyue and Ziqing could find that last missing note.

The moment Meng Wanyue’s wind blade struck out, Baili Weisheng shifted from offense to defense. His gaze swept over Xuanyuan Lige on the ground, as though some idea had struck him.

But just as he moved to step forward, Meng Wanyue suddenly sent another wind blade slashing straight at him, forcing him to retreat.

The instant Baili Weisheng fell back, Meng Wanyue lunged straight toward Xuanyuan Lige.

“Not good!”

Baili Weisheng cried out inwardly, instantly summoning a full body of Golden Scale Phantom armor and charging straight into the path of the wind blade.

He had to save Xuanyuan Lige — otherwise, they would be at an even greater disadvantage.

Meng Wanyue had clearly seen through Baili Weisheng’s intentions. A cold smile curled at her lips as she slashed with her sword, sending out a wind blade while simultaneously carving a sealing rune into the air.

Meng Duo’er, hands already poised and ready, broke the seal the instant it appeared.

“You little wretch — dare to ruin my plans again and I’ll kill your father for certain!” Meng Wanyue snarled, immediately casting another seal.

Meng Duo’er faltered slightly, but she didn’t let Meng Wanyue’s threat distract her. Without answering, she kept her focus fixed on Meng Wanyue’s every movement, breaking her seal with a single strike.

She had no idea where her father actually was. All she knew was that her task right now was critical — one moment of distraction, one instant’s slip, was all it would take for Meng Wanyue to take Baili Weisheng’s life.

While holding her own against Baili Weisheng, Meng Wanyue kept watching Meng Duo’er, and suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “You insolent girl, and here I thought you were such a dutiful daughter. Lucky for your father he’s already dead — otherwise, if he knew how unfilial you’ve become…”

Meng Wanyue didn’t finish the sentence, because right at that moment, Meng Duo’er’s focus slipped.

Ignoring Baili Weisheng’s attack entirely, Meng Wanyue seized the split-second opportunity, clasping her hands into a seal. “Seal!”