Going to Wuyue Yan! Bai Ligelin didn’t know whether to be happy or worried.
This collaboration between the mountain and sea sects to combat the Hai Yun was indeed not just talk. They had taken action without hesitation. With no more worries, the sea sect elders could now fight with all their might. Mr. Zuoqu had pulled this string exceptionally well.
Ajiao was still chattering, “Wuyue Yan is a great place. I heard there are many powerful immortals there. The other day, that Qiongqi beast was subdued by Immortal Cuixuan using the long-lost Shengluo Dafa. Oh right, didn’t you say your good friend is also in Wuyue Yan? You must be happy now.”
Although she tried her best to make her tone and demeanor seem light and lively, Bai Ligelin could still sense the fear and sorrow hidden deep within her. She gently held Ajiao’s hand and said softly, “Senior Sister Ajiao, don’t worry. Master is so powerful, he’ll be fine. We’ll see him again after the Hai Yun passes.”
Ajiao forced a smile, “Of course, I’m not worried about my father. You little rascal don’t need to worry about that.”
Disciples arrived at Luxin Hall in an endless stream, each being assigned ribbons and letters according to their cultivation level. The atmosphere of farewell grew heavier. Even the disciples who were initially excited about going to the mountain sect gradually stopped joking around. Although the elders and Mr. Shen said nothing, they all knew that the chances of the elders and Mr. Shen who stayed behind surviving were very slim.
Slowly, low sobs enveloped the entire Luxin Hall. Even the elders distributing ribbons to the disciples began to lose composure, their eyes turning red.
After tying the ribbon for the last disciple, Mr. Shen straightened up and slowly scanned the densely packed disciples in Luxin Hall. This time, he didn’t reprimand the disciples for crying. Taking a deep breath, he said solemnly, “In the face of natural disasters, all we can do is fight with our lives to protect peace. Life and death are destined; there’s no need for excessive sorrow. In five hundred years, it will be your shoulder turn this responsibility. As guests in the mountain sect, remember not to conflict with any mountain sect disciples. Being tolerant and magnanimous is the true nature of the Eastern Sea. Don’t let others look down on our sea sect disciples.”
His speech was always crisp and decisive, without any hint of indecisiveness or fussiness. With a wave of his hand, he said loudly, “Go now!”
The elders led the sobbing disciples out of Luxin Hall in waves. Ajiao remained standing by Mr. Shen’s side, not moving an inch. Mr. Shen sighed, “You go too.”
Ajiao choked up, clutching his robe, “Father, let me stay with you.”
Mr. Shen said calmly, “With me alone, there’s still a chance of survival. If you stay, it’s both of us dying together. This is no time to be willful. Go quickly.”
He gently brushed off her hand and gave her shoulder a light push. Ajiao involuntarily flew backward, caught by an elder who had been waiting. Despite her struggles and cries, she was forcibly taken out of Luxin Hall.
Amidst the suffocating cries, the disciples of the Eastern Sea Wanxian Hui were evacuated in batches. Over three hundred disciples who had reached the third bottleneck silently followed ten elders flying towards Yangxi City. Everyone was crying, and all ten elders looked gloomy. No one spoke.
Separation always comes as expected yet sudden, without preparation. Even if they returned to the Eastern Sea after the Hai Yun, things would never be the same. How could they not be sad?
A few days ago, because of the Qiongqi’s rampage, almost all the forests and small towns along the way had been turned upside down. However, Yangxi City suffered the most. Nearly half of the city’s houses were shattered by the lightning clouds above the Qiongqi’s head. Countless people died. As soon as they landed in the city, they heard crying throughout, breaking their hearts.
Several elders who had been waiting at Wuyue Yan came forward to greet them. Neither side was in the mood for small talk. After a long silence, an elder from Wuyue Yan sighed with a bitter smile, “The Hai Yun hasn’t truly arrived yet, but it’s already so heartbreaking. We have an unpleasant request. We hope you won’t mention these tragic situations to our sect’s disciples, to avoid causing panic.”
An elder from the sea sect frowned, “Natural disasters are cyclical. Even if we don’t mention it, how can it be hidden? We might hide it for now, but not forever. It’s precisely because the disciples are young that they should experience these hardships.”
The Wuyue Yan elder sighed, “It’s because disasters are endless that even we elders are frightened, let alone those disciples with unstable minds. Now some are already causing trouble amidst the chaos. Elder Xuanshan from Xingzheng Hall has died under mysterious circumstances. If we add the fear and panic of the disciples, how can we handle both internal and external troubles?”
When Bai Ligelin heard the words “Elder Xuanshan from Xingzheng Hall died under mysterious circumstances,” she was shocked. Xuanshan Zi was dead? If she remembered correctly, wasn’t this immortal the guardian of the rear of Yue Country? If he’s dead, wouldn’t Ji Tongzhou go crazy?!
Just as she was in shock, she suddenly felt someone staring at her from nearby. She looked over and saw it was an elder immortal from Wuyue Yan. He looked to be in his forties, with an ordinary face, but his eyes were clear and gentle, shining like those of a deity.
Why was he looking at her? Bai Ligelin glanced around and was surprised to find that this immortal was indeed looking at her. Did he know her?
This Wuyue Yan immortal looked at her for a moment, then suddenly nodded slightly and turned to walk away—was he signaling her to follow?
Bai Ligelin was both curious and surprised. She quickly took advantage of everyone’s distraction to quietly walk over. This immortal looked down at her, smiled slightly, and spoke in a voice that felt like a spring breeze, “I am Immortal Chongyi, Jiang Lifei’s master.”
Bai Ligelin couldn’t help but let out a soft “Ah” and quickly bowed, “Elder Chongyi.”
Immortal Chongyi held her arm and shook his head, saying in a low voice, “I often hear Lifei mention you… There’s a trace of Lifei’s spiritual energy on you. Have you seen her recently?”
Bai Ligelin was somewhat surprised, “Yes, I have.”
Immortal Chongyi’s expression slowly became serious. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, as if making some decision, then said softly, “If you see her again, please tell her on my behalf not to return to Wuyue Yan shortly, no matter what summons she receives.”
Bai Ligelin was shocked and quickly asked, “Elder Chongyi, what do you mean? Are you driving her away?”
Immortal Chongyi sighed slightly, “It’s not like that. Just pass on the message for me.”
Bai Ligelin watched him turn and leave, full of confusion. She had always been clever, and although Lifei hadn’t said anything, she could still sense something different about Lifei. For example, there was no spiritual energy fluctuation from breaking through bottlenecks in her body, and she could kill Zhen Yunzi alone.
She would certainly never reveal what happened in the Eastern Sea, but she couldn’t prevent others from doing so. If Lifei’s master was telling her not to return to the sect, could something bad be happening?
The more she thought about it, the more she had an ominous feeling. Looking back, she saw that the few elders from Wanxian Hui were still talking quietly with the Wuyue Yan elders. The more than three hundred disciples were still in low spirits after their emotional departure. No one was paying attention to her, so she simply turned and left, walking to a secluded place before summoning her centipede spirit to speed away.
She needed to find Ye Ye and the others to ask who had revealed Lifei’s situation.
Her sister and Ye Ye would never do such a thing, Su Wan didn’t seem like someone who would talk carelessly, and Lei Xiuyuan was even less likely. Ji Tongzhou? Zhen Yunzi had taken him and Lifei away at that time, so he should have witnessed everything. But this young prince had a deep obsession with Lifei, how could he harm her? Could it be that love had turned to hate?
Bai Ligelin was so anxious her head ached. To make matters worse, that girl Lifei had left without saying goodbye, and no one could find her. What if she returned to Wuyue Yan? Killing Qin Yangling and Elder Zhengxu—these two crimes alone were enough to warrant her death, let alone the accusation of killing the elder of Xingzheng Hall.
As if sensing its master’s anxious emotions, the centipede spirit exerted all its strength to fly swiftly through the clouds. Suddenly, another snake spirit emerged from the cloud clusters behind, neither approaching nor distancing itself, just following her step by step. Bai Ligelin looked back and saw the golden belt intertwined with the light green ribbon around Lu Li’s waist.
He’s still causing trouble at a time like this! Bai Ligelin angrily said, “Why are you following me?!”
Didn’t she say she wanted to be alone?
Lu Li still didn’t speak. He seemed to have reverted to his former self as a silent bottle gourd, not saying a word, just persistently and firmly following not far behind her.
Bai Ligelin was full of anger. She really couldn’t spare any more energy to be bothered with this person. If he wanted to follow, then let him follow!
The mountains are undulated below. They should have reached the border of Yue Country. Bai Ligelin casually glanced down and noticed that there seemed to be many people below, densely packed. She quickly ordered the centipede spirit to fly lower. She saw smoke rolling below, flags in disarray, and incessant shouts and roars. Two armies were battling each other.
The battlefield at the border of Yue Country? Her heart was even more shocked. Remembering what the Wuyue Yan elder had said about Xuanshan Zi’s death, she realized it had only been a few days. How could the army have already reached the border of Yue Country? Could the enemy country have been prepared in advance?
Bai Ligelin flew even lower. Suddenly, she saw the enemy’s flags planted in the rear. She felt her breath stop—that flag, black with yellow edges, embroidered with two dragons baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, a pattern she could never forget even in her dreams—it was Wu Gou!
Years ago, these flags had rushed into the capital of Gaul like a surging tide, turning the once prosperous capital into a scene from hell with flames and cries. She remembered the weeping and wailing of her parents as they died, and her sister carrying her on her young arms, fleeing everywhere. All she could see was fire everywhere, blood and corpses all over the ground.
She never thought that after so many years, she would see this flag again. All those hellish memories sealed in the depths of her heart instantly flooded back into her mind. She hadn’t forgotten a single detail.
In an instant, she immediately understood what had happened with Xuanshan Zi’s sudden death, and why Wu Gou had invaded Yue Country just days after his death. Years ago, the immortal guarding Gaul had also died mysteriously during a demon hunt. Now, Long Mingzuo Zongquan was using the same tactic on Xuanshan Zi.
Bai Ligelin’s face was frosty as she stared intently at that flag. Suddenly, she raised her hand, and raging flames descended from the sky, instantly engulfing the densely packed Wu Gou flags ahead. Countless giant vines burst from the ground, tightly entangling those shouting and yelling Wu Gou soldiers.
Years ago, she had no power and could only be trampled under Wu Gou’s might. Today, she would burn every Wu Gou flag in sight to ashes.