Mu Yunjin maintained her cold expression, not even glancing at Lengyuan.

Lengyuan, however, was unfazed. Her smile remained as she opened her mouth and said word by word, “Didn’t you say that in this life I can only exist within the Divine Continent?”

“What if I were to take over your physical form?”

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, her eyes revealing intense mockery, “That would depend on whether you have the ability.”

“Heh…”

Standing to the side, Jiang Qingxue had been closely watching Mu Yunjin and Lengyuan. For some reason, Lengyuan’s words gave her a deeply unsettling feeling.

Especially since she had noticed Lengyuan deliberately looking at the celestial phenomenon before speaking.

These blood-red seven stars were already an ill omen in her eyes. Now, with Lengyuan intentionally saying these things, could there be a connection between them?

With Chu Li absent and Daoist Wind Xuan gone, Yunjin’s hot temper might lead her to unwittingly fall into this woman’s trap.

Jiang Qingxue grew increasingly uneasy and transmitted a secret message to Mu Yunjin, “Yunjin, let’s return to the snow mountain first. We can decide what to do after Chu Li and the others arrive.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin nodded slightly, deciding not to continue engaging with Lengyuan. She glanced at the distance to the snow mountain, then swept her sleeve and flew toward it.

Jiang Qingxue and the others also turned and headed toward the snow mountain together.

Seeing Mu Yunjin leaving without a word, Lengyuan’s brow furrowed. Her eyes revealed a bloodthirsty, murderous gleam as she curled her lips, flicked her wrist, and suddenly a glowing, soft sword appeared in her palm. She then thrust it swiftly toward Mu Yunjin’s back…

Mu Yunjin sensed the cold light sweeping from behind and was about to dodge when several thunderclaps suddenly sounded in the night sky.

The seven red stars, neatly arranged in the night sky, gradually converged together with the rolling thunder, transforming into a single red dot.

Simultaneously, Mu Yunjin, who was about to evade the sword light, suddenly froze. She found her body turning rigid, unable to move.

Lengyuan seized this precise moment to thrust her glowing sword into Mu Yunjin’s body…

“Puff…”

Blood splattered in all directions.

Inside Ping Feng Cliff.

“Grandmother, it’s already the fifth watch, and the celestial phenomenon outside still hasn’t returned to normal. Brother Li has been fighting those people outside for two days and two nights. He definitely can’t hold out much longer.”

Little Yuer, dragging her sickly body, ran to Murong Rusu’s bedside, worriedly holding Murong Rusu’s hand.

Murong Rusu had transferred too much true energy to Little Yuer two days ago, nearly depleting her lifelong cultivation. She had been lying in bed for the past two days, lacking even the strength to get up and walk.

“What should we do, Grandmother?” Little Yuer frowned, her face showing self-reproach. If she hadn’t been careless, Grandmother wouldn’t be in this state.

Now with so many people outside, if Brother Li couldn’t hold out, those people would surely break in.

On the bed, Murong Rusu lay motionless, staring at the ceiling. After a long while, she sighed, “Yuer, help Grandmother up.”

“Grandmother, your body…” Little Yuer hesitated.

“It’s fine. Help Grandmother up first.” Murong Rusu’s voice was hoarse.

Little Yuer nodded and carefully helped Murong Rusu sit up from the bed, assisting her with putting on her shoes.

Murong Rusu picked up the cane by the bed and slowly got off the bed.

Little Yuer supported Murong Rusu as they slowly walked toward the door.

Murong Rusu’s steps were extremely slow. Each step seemed as if she were walking on cotton, as though she might collapse at any moment.

After reaching the door, Little Yuer opened it first.

What greeted their eyes was complete darkness.

The sounds of fighting could be heard.

In the darkness, Murong Rusu’s gaze fell on Chu Li.

Chu Li’s eyes were hollow, devoid of any vitality. Surrounded by a group of black-clad men in the center, he was relying entirely on his hearing to determine his opponents’ positions.

Although fighting was extremely difficult and his robes had been slashed several times, Chu Li was not at a disadvantage and showed no signs of being in a desperate situation.

Ding Xian, who had come with Chu Li, was also exhausted to the limit, fighting desperately against those black-clad men.

The Ink Qilin was nowhere to be seen at this moment.

After watching for a while, Murong Rusu noticed something that had fallen to the ground.

“Yuer, bring that object over for a look,” Murong Rusu said to Yuer beside her.

Understanding, Little Yuer reached out, using her true energy to draw the fallen object toward her and grasp it in her hand.

“Grandmother, it’s a jade pendant,” Little Yuer said, handing the pendant to Murong Rusu.

Murong Rusu looked down at the pendant and frowned, “It’s Mu Yunjin’s jade pendant.”

This pendant usually emitted a white light. Why was it without any luster today?

“Grandmother, what should we do now?”

“Go to the secret chamber.”

Shortly after, Little Yuer supported Murong Rusu to the secret chamber.

Upon arriving, they found Huang Yan lying on an ice bed inside. Due to the dark spirit energy in his body, when Chu Li brought him here, Murong Rusu had sealed his energy, letting him temporarily sleep here.

Murong Rusu merely glanced at Huang Yan before walking toward another stone chamber nearby.

After entering the stone chamber, Murong Rusu gently tapped the ground three times with her cane.

The ground beneath suddenly split open, and a box rose from within.

“Yuer, open the box and swallow the medicinal pill inside,” Murong Rusu spoke softly.

Little Yuer reached out to open the box and saw only a white pearl inside, no medicinal pill.

“Grandmother, this pearl?”

“Yes, that’s it. Swallow it,” Murong Rusu’s tone carried a hint of urgency.

Little Yuer was startled but still obediently followed Murong Rusu’s instructions. She took out the pearl and swallowed it in one gulp.

After she had swallowed it, Murong Rusu sat down and closed her eyes to meditate. “Yuer, go now and unseal Huang Yan’s sealed energy. Take Huang Yan out with you.”

“Then go outside and tell your Senior Brother Chu that Mu Yunjin is in danger, and he must leave here immediately.”

“Do you understand?”

Hearing this, Little Yuer looked at Murong Rusu, “What about you, Grandmother?”

“Grandmother will remain in this secret chamber. They won’t find me. You go and do as Grandmother has instructed,” Murong Rusu said with determination.

“Yes, Grandmother.”

With that, Little Yuer immediately turned and ran out.

After Little Yuer left, Murong Rusu opened her eyes. In those eyes, weathered by time, was nothing but resolution and determination.

After running out of the stone chamber, Little Yuer came to Huang Yan’s side. She touched him with her fingertip, activating her true energy.

Then, not waiting for Huang Yan to wake up, she directly used her internal power to lift him and quickly ran outside.

Outside, the fighting was still intense.

Seeing so many black-clad men gathered together, Little Yuer felt a bit fearful, but remembering Grandmother’s instructions, she disregarded everything else and flew toward Chu Li.

As she approached the black-clad men, just as she was about to attack, she saw that those men were repelled by the energy emanating from her body before they could even get close.

Little Yuer was momentarily stunned, but in the next second, upon seeing Chu Li, she immediately spoke, “Brother Li, quickly go find Sister! Grandmother says Sister is in danger!”

In danger…

Chu Li froze, his brow furrowing tightly. His expression changed instantly.

Earlier, when the moonlight jade pendant suddenly lost its luster, he had a foreboding feeling and had already sent the Ink Qilin to provide support. Could they still be too late?

With this thought, Chu Li didn’t say another word. He immediately waved his hand, dispersing the black-clad men blocking his way, and headed toward the exit of Ping Feng Cliff…

Just as the large group of black-clad men was about to chase after him, Yuer had already struck several palm strikes toward them.

Then, still carrying Huang Yan, she followed behind Chu Li.

Ding Xian also hurriedly followed.

After the group swiftly retreated, those black-clad men hastily tried to chase after them. At that moment, a barrier suddenly appeared above Ping Feng Cliff, locking them inside.

“What… what’s happening?” A black-clad man expressed astonishment.

The others were equally clueless.

Little Yuer, who had already flown halfway up the cliff, saw the scene of the Blue Peak Island below and showed a hint of joy. The formation had been restored—had Grandmother’s injury healed?

But just as this thought emerged, raging fires suddenly ignited in every corner of the Blue Peak Island. The flames shot skyward, instantly engulfing the island.

“Grandmother…!” Little Yuer cried out in anguish, never imagining that Grandmother would use such a resolute method to perish together with those black-clad men.

Flying at the forefront, Chu Li noticed the red glow below and paused. Upon seeing the flames, his body tensed, “Master…”

“Cough cough… cough cough cough…”

“Ouch, I’m choking to death, cough cough cough…”

Daoist Wind Xuan sat by a small lake, wiping his smoke-blackened face with water while coughing breathlessly.

Beside him, Hua Ying was also carefully wiping her face with a silk handkerchief. Her usually fair face was blackened by the thick smoke.

Next to them, Murong Rusu sat calmly on the grass, motionless.

“You old woman, how could you be so useless at such a critical moment, thinking of setting fire to perish together with those bastards?”

“If not for girl Hua Ying bringing me there in time, you would have been burned to ashes by now!”

Daoist Wind Xuan still felt lingering fear thinking about the scene.

Earlier, just as he and Hua Ying entered Blue Peak Island through the formless space, they saw the outside engulfed in flames. Fortunately, he was familiar with the island and quickly found Murong Rusu, allowing Hua Ying to rapidly activate the formless space to escape from Blue Peak Island.

Otherwise…

Daoist Wind Xuan sighed heavily.

“Mind your own business,” Murong Rusu said indifferently.

“You…” Daoist Wind Xuan was furious.

Hua Ying looked helpless as she stood between the two, “Please don’t argue, Seniors. Let’s think about where we should go next.”

Daoist Wind Xuan suppressed his anger and looked at Murong Rusu sitting on the ground, “Your true energy is now depleted. You should find a place to rest first.”

“Hua Ying and I still need to go to the Divine Continent.”

Murong Rusu made a sound of acknowledgment.

Finally, Murong Rusu lifted her eyelids and slowly spoke, “The red seven stars are an omen of evil spirits. To break this spell, one must find all three Soul-Avoiding Pearls. I have given one of them to Yuer.”