After the human figure disappeared into the massive vortex, it suddenly contracted and finally returned to that stone disc with a green leaf carved at its center, flashing once before vanishing from the Crimson Kill Minor Realm.
Ye Pianpian, standing in mid-air, only withdrew her gaze after a long while.
Since Laozu’s ascension, how many years had it been since she’d seen such an appealing female cultivator in the Jiushijiu Zhou?
The outside world was still quite exciting.
She smiled slightly.
However, her lifelong mission was merely to guard this place.
Looking back, Gu Qingmei was still buried in the stone pit.
Ye Pianpian waved her hand, sending a gust of wind to carry her into the expanded vortex.
The two people standing below were still gazing in the direction where that female cultivator had disappeared.
The massive jade-green leaf stretched endlessly.
The originally gloomy sky had cleared. Though there was no sun or moon, there were bright blue skies and white clouds.
Wind blew over.
Meng Xizhou felt a sense of loss in his heart: “The senior has left…”
“There is no banquet under heaven that does not end. If fate permits, we shall surely meet again.”
Liao Kong was someone who practiced Buddhist dharma. He took these partings and reunions rather lightly. Though he couldn’t see Meng Xizhou, he could sense the emotions in Meng Xizhou’s heart.
This journey through the Crimson Kill Minor Realm could truly be called surviving a great calamity.
Liao Kong also had his special insights.
He had meant well in offering comfort, but unexpectedly, after hearing this, Meng Xizhou turned toward the stone disc and muttered: “What do you understand? This is a hero, do you understand heroes? My peerless hero…”
“…”
For a moment, Liao Kong didn’t know what to say.
Seeing the vortex ahead growing smaller and smaller, he quickly bowed: “Benefactor Meng, you and I must also bid farewell.”
“Sigh, may we meet again if mountains and waters permit.”
It was unclear whether these words referred to Liao Kong or that mysterious senior. Meng Xizhou also cupped his hands toward the stone disc as a gesture of courtesy.
The two separated, each throwing themselves into that massive vortex.
Deep red light immediately swallowed their shadows.
The Crimson Kill Minor Realm became quiet once more.
The clouds in the sky no longer moved, and there were no more rivers and mountain ranges on the ground.
Ye Pianpian, standing in her original position, beckoned toward the ground from afar. The leaf as vast as the earth suddenly flew upward, growing higher and smaller until it transformed into a crystalline lotus leaf that Ye Pianpian held in her hand.
After the vast leaf departed, the scenery hidden beneath the ground finally emerged.
It was an endless expanse of lake water, rippling with waves. Lotus leaves identical to the one in Ye Pianpian’s hand floated across the surface.
This was precisely the lotus lake that Jian Chou and the others had seen when they first entered the third trial.
Heh…
She wondered what interesting people would enter the Crimson Kill Minor Realm next time?
Ye Pianpian sighed deeply in her heart. With a turn, her ink-green long hair fluttered as she transformed into a green wisp of smoke and disappeared without a trace.
…
Western Sea.
“This cost me dearly…”
Crouched on the reef, Qian Que repeatedly worked his abacus, his face wooden.
Being in the Crimson Kill Minor Realm for so many days without much cultivation, missing business opportunities, losing many major clients, and suffering so many losses within the minor realm.
Just this alone was enough to depress someone to death.
Every time he thought of those spirit stones, Qian Que gnashed his teeth in hatred.
Working his golden abacus over and over, Qian Que counted repeatedly: “One hundred, two hundred, two hundred forty-two…”
“Junior Sister, let’s go look over there.”
On the sea surface, several streaks of light approached from afar.
Qian Que paused, looked up, and immediately his eyes lit up: “Business has come!”
He immediately put away his abacus and was about to stand up.
At this moment, several people in the distance had also drawn near. Qian Que looked carefully and immediately frowned: “Kunwu disciples?”
In the past, mentioning Kunwu would make Qian Que think of the supremely cultivated Hengxu Daoist, of Kunwu’s countless cultivators, of the recent formidable genius Xie Buchen…
But now, only Gu Qingmei’s sharp voice floated through his mind!
Kunwu?
Qian Que’s small eyes flickered as he stroked his chin and chuckled maliciously.
In the Crimson Kill Minor Realm, you Kunwu people cheated me, but here on the Western Sea…
However much you cost Qian, Qian will make you spit back ten times over!
Thinking this, Qian Que flew up without hesitation, enthusiastically greeting those Kunwu cultivators: “Oh my, fellow Daoists, are you seeking treasures or going on adventures? Qian here has…”
Immortal Path, Zhanye Island.
Qin Ruoxu lingered by the seaside like a dream for a long time.
An immortal opportunity had thus departed from him?
That feeling was like a cooked duck flying away!
The fishy, salty sea breeze arose. His lips were cracked and dry. Thinking of encountering Meng Xizhou in the Crimson Kill Minor Realm, he was filled with burning hatred!
“Despicable villain, despicable villain!”
If one day he had the chance to join an immortal sect and ascend above ten thousand people, he would dismember this person to avenge today’s great grievance!
Kunwu, behind the wooden house.
“Senior Brother…”
Opening her eyes weakly, Gu Qingmei felt severe pain throughout her meridians, as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at her. Chaotic spiritual energy continuously crashed through every corner of her body, causing such pain that her body curled up—she couldn’t even support herself to stand.
Xie Buchen’s eyes flashed. After previously sending messages to Gu Qingmei with no further response, he had assumed she had fallen into battle.
With the formation present, whatever happened could be blocked somewhat, not to mention that mutual attacks were impossible within the Crimson Kill Minor Realm.
How could Gu Qingmei, with her late Foundation Establishment cultivation, be in such a state?
“Is Junior Sister well?”
“Cough cough cough…”
Gu Qingmei couldn’t help coughing several times, frowning.
When Ye Pianpian sent her back, she had already awakened.
Slowly supporting herself on the table surface, sitting in the chair by the window, Gu Qingmei’s face was deathly pale without a trace of color. Thinking of everything she had encountered, hatred immediately floated in her eyes.
However, when she spoke, there was an inexplicable sense of loss and sorrow.
“Well? How could I be well… Senior Brother, I lost…”
First, she hadn’t calculated that someone would open the killing disc before she opened the crimson disc, drawing more people into the Crimson Kill Minor Realm; second, she hadn’t calculated that among those entering the Crimson Kill Minor Realm, there would be so many strange and supremely powerful individuals; furthermore, she hadn’t calculated that Kunwu’s reputation didn’t seem so effective in situations where identities were unknown; she also hadn’t thought that someone could escape the coverage of the formation Xie Buchen had given her—
Most unexpected of all was that Dijiang Guyu!
It had been grasped in her hands!
That final turn of events—who could be willing to accept it!
Scene after scene from the Crimson Kill Minor Realm surfaced again in Gu Qingmei’s heart, making her blood surge. In a fit of anger, she couldn’t help but spit out another mouthful of fresh blood!
“Poof!”
Dots of bright red stained her clothing.
Xie Buchen frowned at the sight. His finger moved, producing a small purple jade box.
He opened the lid and handed it to Gu Qingmei: “Junior Sister’s internal breath is unstable. Please first take a Peiyuan Pill. Other matters can wait.”
Gu Qingmei’s face was pale as she raised her head. Tears appeared in her eyes—partly shame, partly distress.
She finally reached out to take the purple jade box. The Peiyuan Pill inside was golden. Gu Qingmei’s slender fingers pinched the pill as tears finally couldn’t help but roll down: “Senior Brother, why… why are there still people stronger than me…”
Cultivators entering the Crimson Kill Minor Realm must all be below the Golden Core.
Xie Buchen was absolutely clear on this point.
He stood by the window, gentle wind stirring his robes. Dozens of jade slips were still arranged on the long table, and several books had been closed and placed to one side. The entire mountain dwelling was extremely elegant with a faint scholarly atmosphere.
Looking into the distance, Xie Buchen could see layers of green trees below the mountain, already tinged with a slight yellow.
This autumn would deepen.
“The world is vast with endless wonders. There are mountains beyond mountains, heavens beyond heavens… It’s not strange for someone to be stronger than us.”
Xie Buchen’s voice was ethereally faint.
He was the strongest among cultivators of his generation, so he had sufficient confidence to say these words.
But in his distant gaze, there was indeed a trace of contemplation.
Gu Qingmei was already late Foundation Establishment. That mysterious person who opposed her in the Crimson Kill Minor Realm could not only match late Foundation Establishment but had even broken his Earth Binding Formation—their strength was terrifyingly formidable.
However…
Being able to enter the Crimson Kill Minor Realm meant they were merely Foundation Establishment cultivators.
How long could a Foundation Establishment cultivator have been cultivating?
No matter how one calculated, there must be someone who had only entered cultivation for less than a century.
For a moment, Xie Buchen couldn’t help but show a trace of interest and indescribable appreciation.
Looking around the world for worthy opponents ultimately wasn’t very entertaining.
Perhaps in the future, this mysterious adversary would eventually meet him face to face?
Xie Buchen slowly withdrew his gaze. With a slight smile on his lips, he paced back and saw Gu Qingmei’s red-rimmed eyes, finally sighing: “I will keep this matter secret for Junior Sister, but please don’t be dejected. The Left Three Thousand Minor Assembly is in two years—why worry about not being able to make your name known?”
“…Left Three Thousand Minor Assembly?”
Her sobbing voice paused. Gu Qingmei looked up with red eyes, showing some expectation.
“Will Senior Brother also go?”
“…”
Xie Buchen lowered his eyes slightly, was silent for a moment, then said: “Perhaps.”
That meant it was uncertain.
Gu Qingmei lowered her head, looking at the pill in her hand, dispirited: “I finally found traces of Dijiang Guyu, but now I don’t know whose hands this bone jade has fallen into…”
“It doesn’t matter without Dijiang Guyu.” Xie Buchen shook his head, not particularly concerned. “Tiger jiao has bones that can substitute for Dijiang Guyu in cultivation. We can search for it again in the future—no need to worry.”
Gu Qingmei slowly nodded, placing the pill Xie Buchen had personally handed her into her mouth.
Her gaze inadvertently fell back on that sword hanging on the wall—
Seven-Parts Soul.
Why had this sword appeared in her illusion?
Mortal Island, Great Xia.
“Creak.”
Someone pushed open a door in the courtyard.
“Caw caw caw…”
Crows perched in the courtyard trees immediately flapped their wings, cawing as they flew away.
Zhang Tang changed into casual clothes with a jade pendant at his waist, emerging from the house.
Walking down the steps one by one, his face showed no emotion whatsoever, still like the former Court Attendant Zhang Tang—watertight.
This was his courtyard in the capital. Walking straight out the door, outside was a bustling, prosperous street with constant foot traffic and occasional vendors’ calls from one end of the street to the other.
The atmosphere of mortal life.
This was the atmosphere of mortal life that hadn’t existed in the Crimson Kill Minor Realm he’d stayed in previously.
Zhang Tang felt this current scene looked more comfortable and natural, but what he had seen those few days had already carved eternal marks in his mind.
Everyone thought he had been taken by immortals to receive teachings and returned to continue assisting the sovereign.
Only he knew that everything wasn’t so simple.
“My lord, my lord!”
A series of footsteps sounded behind him.
Several bailiffs saw Zhang Tang’s figure from afar and chased after him.
Zhang Tang didn’t turn his head or stop, only continuing forward.
When the bailiff reached his side, he finally spoke: “What matter causes such panic?”
“It’s that damned State Uncle Zhao coming to appeal his grievances again. Should you hurry over?” The Court Attendant’s office had plenty of business, too—the two quickly wiped their sweat.
Zhang Tang’s eyelids drooped as he only said: “Let him wait.”
Not the least bit polite.
Famously inflexible, hard as iron.
The bailiff couldn’t help but sigh, only following behind Zhang Tang, racking his brain for ways to solve this problem.
Ahead, countless people suddenly raised their heads.
“Oh my, why did the sky suddenly turn dark?”
“Could it be going to rain? So black.”
“Unlucky…”
…
Zhang Tang looked up to see what seemed like a massive shadow flying above the high clouds, immediately covering the bright sun and making it impossible to see any light.
Clouds churned.
Over the endless earth, only thick darkness remained.
The sky had darkened.
Countless people began frantically gathering their things. Only a young man in a faded light blue ancient robe slowly walked from the far end of the long street. His steps were neither hurried nor slow, as if strolling, as if leisurely, as if savoring the myriad aspects of mortal life.
He stood at the very center of that shadow. His features were faint—at a glance, it was surprisingly difficult to remember what he looked like.
The only memorable thing was that light blue robe with its weathered patterns…
Step by step.
Closer.
Zhang Tang couldn’t help but look over.
That young man approached with measured steps. Seeming to sense something strange, he couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Tang.
That gaze paused at his brow for an instant, seemingly somewhat confused.
However, he had no intention of investigating deeply. Like someone who cared about nothing, he merely smiled slightly. In response to Zhang Tang’s overly direct and cold stare, he returned a faint smile and slowly walked past on the street.
The thick shadow in the sky slowly moved.
Mountains and rivers very far from the capital were all covered by a heavy shadow, like a massive cloud shadow, or like the shadow of some other enormous creature.
It moved across the entire plain.
No one could capture its movement because it was too large, far too large.
Zhang Tang’s footsteps had stopped at some point.
That young man’s gaze was too strange, too demonic.
Clearly just calm, yet it gave one an unforgettable feeling.
That young man slowly disappeared at the end of the street.
Long after his figure vanished, the boundary between light and dark finally slowly moved from somewhere very far from the capital to Zhang Tang’s feet, flickering past.
The sun in the sky finally blazed brightly.
“Something supernatural is happening…”
Zhang Tang’s brow slowly furrowed. That originally indistinct vertical line also deepened with this frown.
The bailiff walking beside him was puzzled: “Supernatural? What supernatural thing?”
“Arrest him and bring him back!”
Turning around abruptly, Zhang Tang looked toward where the young man had disappeared and ordered without hesitation!
Hearing this, the bailiff nearly collapsed in fear.
Originally he wanted to argue a few words, but seeing the solemn coldness on Zhang Tang’s face, he couldn’t even fart.
Court Attendant Zhang Tang had one great hobby—randomly arresting people!
This had been criticized by countless people, but Zhang Tang also had incredibly keen intuition.
Arresting people? He got it right every time—they were all people who had committed crimes!
The bailiff quickly charged toward the front of the street: “Stop, don’t run!”
The person had long since disappeared.
Zhang Tang stood in place for a long time, watching the bailiffs causing chaos all along the way, then slowly turned around and walked toward the Court Attendant’s office.
Upon entering the main hall, a cold and solemn atmosphere immediately enveloped him.
Countless case files were piled on his desk, and a cup of hot tea had been prepared. Zhang Tang walked over, lifted his heavy and solemn official robe, and sat down properly.
The case file: The Xie Family Case.
Zhang Tang’s fingertips rubbed the already frayed page corner, lifting it. Lines of text he had read countless times appeared before his eyes.
He turned page after page without his gaze pausing anywhere.
Until the very end.
The last few pages were completely new.
These contained the latest information sent back from Chen County’s county office.
Zhang Tang’s gaze was calm and deep as he read bit by bit.
Chen County scholar Xie Wuming, confirmed to be a Xie family descendant, using his courtesy name as his given name; residing peacefully in Chen County, married to Xie family’s Jian Chou…
Xie family, Jian Chou.
…
His moving gaze finally stopped completely.
The face in his mind—seen years ago at the Xie family, seen recently in the Crimson Kill Minor Realm—gradually merged with this name.
Jiushijiu Zhou.
Yashan.
Thousand Cultivators’ Graves.
A massive vortex suddenly appeared in mid-air. Jian Chou stepped out from the vortex, her entire body covered in blood that had dried to a dark color.
Blue sky and white clouds, sunlight illuminating the Thousand Cultivators’ Graves on the riverbank—there was even a rare sense of tranquility.
Jian Chou could hear birds singing in the mountain forest and the rushing sound of the Nine-Head River.
The Yashan cable bridge stretched across the river like a treacherous heavenly ladder.
“Aowuwuwu!”
The little marten cried out excitedly, exerting force with its hind legs and jumping down from Jian Chou’s shoulder.
That small mountain of broken things was still in its original place. Like seeing its lost treasure, it immediately bounded up and stood on this small mountain like a king with his territory!
It had already thrown Dijiang Guyu to the ground, where it rolled around covered in mud.
In that instant, Dijiang Guyu burst into tears without hesitation, its two thin white short legs standing in the mud, crying earth-shakingly.
Jian Chou was looking at Yashan’s towering, cloud-reaching peak and the Yashan path that encircled it like a belt.
Suddenly hearing this wailing, Jian Chou immediately sighed.
Helplessly turning back, she grabbed Dijiang Guyu from the mud. Seeing its pitiful appearance like a wronged young wife, she felt both annoyed and amused. Softening her tone, she coaxed: “Alright, stop crying. I don’t plan to kill you yet—don’t be afraid.”
“…”
Silence for a moment, then its legs kicked.
“Wu wah wah wah wah!”
Wailing!
The little marten stood on that small mountain, watched for a long while, then hugged its belly with its short paws and directly tumbled to the ground, making all sorts of strange laughing sounds.
In that instant, Jian Chou’s face darkened.
One crying, one laughing.
Casually comforting someone—no, a bone—had this effect.
Jian Chou felt that next time she shouldn’t tell the truth. She slowly patted Dijiang Guyu’s head repeatedly, saying, “I guess you’re a bone that’s become sentient. This is Yashan ahead—you’d better stop crying. I’m really afraid you’ll be eaten in one bite the moment you go in.”
“Wu wu wu—”
Abrupt silence.
Dijiang Guyu shivered violently in Jian Chou’s palm, as if finally frightened.
The world finally became quiet.
Jian Chou suddenly grasped a principle: if comfort doesn’t work, that’s fine—there are still threats; if threats don’t work, then your threats aren’t big enough.
She breathed in the moist air from the river and directly beckoned: “Little marten, let’s go!”
The little marten, which had been laughing and rolling around, finally heard and was quite straightforward. With some excitement, it immediately bounded back to Jian Chou’s shoulder, proud and spirited.
Jian Chou smiled slightly, holding the no-longer-crying Dijiang Guyu in one hand and swinging out Ghost Axe with the other. She directly stepped onto it and rose into mid-air.
The Yashan cable bridge was before her eyes.
She swept across from the center of the cable bridge, her floating form trailing remnants of fresh blood as she flew to the bridge’s end.
A young disciple in a blue Daoist robe ran over from the Star-Plucking Platform, extremely excited.
This was Yashan!
He was now a Yashan disciple!
Standing before the Yashan path and looking out, the view was expansive.
He felt like shouting…
Suddenly, a blood-red human figure entered his vision.
In that instant, boundless fear arose in his mind, along with righteous energy—
“Fiend, halt! This is Yashan’s forbidden territory—how dare you trespass?!”
“…”
Jian Chou was about to ascend the Yashan path when she suddenly heard this voice. She saw a young man like a small Daoist boy appear before her—heroic and spirited, three parts fear, three parts righteousness, four parts solemnity. He drew his long sword and pointed it straight at her.
Had she…
Heard something wrong?
Fiend?
The little marten nearly fell off her shoulder laughing again.
Jian Chou lowered her head and slowly looked at herself—
Covered in blood stains all from the Jade-Green Tilting City trial, mostly her blood; carrying Ghost Axe with ten thousand ghosts’ ferocity, looking like filthy creatures crawling from underground…
She did seem somewhat like a fiend.
“Cough…”
Jian Chou coughed and, knowing this was a Yashan disciple, instinctively wanted to explain her identity.
At this moment, a blue light swept past from behind—this was Pills Hall’s executive disciple, “Little Radish,” real name Luo Xiaobo.
New disciples entering the sect only knew how to run around—he’d spank them when caught!
Getting a taste of being a senior brother!
Luo Xiaobo angrily chased after that new disciple, but unexpectedly looked up to see a blood-colored human figure!
Ah! Where did this fiend come from?
Luo Xiaobo immediately rushed up, about to draw his sword, but immediately stopped!
The moment he saw that person’s appearance, Luo Xiaobo’s legs nearly went weak, and he almost knelt!
“G-g-g-great respect to Great Master Uncle!”
He stuttered for a long time before loudly giving a proper greeting.
Pills Hall’s Little Radish?
Jian Chou still remembered him. Now she didn’t need to introduce her identity herself.
For a moment, Jian Chou felt somewhat embarrassed. She hadn’t seen Yashan in so long and hadn’t expected there would be quite a few new disciples—
Great, that day she impulsively went to the Crimson Kill Minor Realm. She didn’t know who ended up taking responsibility for recruiting new disciples.
Thinking of what she’d have to face next, Jian Chou couldn’t help twitching her lips.
The newly arrived Yashan disciple stared wide-eyed, hardly believing what he saw and heard.
G-Great Master Uncle?
This was that legendary, mysteriously disappeared “Great Master Uncle,” actually covered in blood and carrying a large axe!
This, this, this, this, this was Yashan!
So terrifying, so cool!
“Smack!”
A slap suddenly landed on his head.
Luo Xiaobo gritted his teeth: “Quickly pay respects to Great Master Uncle!”
The new blockhead immediately scrambled to bow to Jian Chou: “Paying respects to Great Master Uncle.”
Jian Chou smiled and nodded slightly.
Seeing this, the young blockhead was stunned for a moment. Looking at Jian Chou’s pale face, his face somehow reddened as he quickly lowered his head.
Luo Xiaobo thought he’d settle accounts with this little brat later. He waved his hand to clear the path: “Great Master Uncle disappeared for several days, and Master Grand Uncle was worried. Please, please proceed.”
Jian Chou walked up.
Behind her, that young blockhead quietly raised his head again, watching that back figure, covered in blood, walking on the Yashan path with a straight spine and natural bearing: Great… Master Uncle?
Here at Luo Xiaobo’s side, he was extremely excited.
While walking ahead, he shouted: “Great Master Uncle has returned! Great Master Uncle has returned!!! Great Master Uncle has returned alive!”
Returned!
The clouds shook with the loud voice that immediately spread throughout Yashan.
The smile on Jian Chou’s face instantly stiffened.
What did he mean by…
Returned alive…
On Yashan’s back mountain.
Fudao Shanren and his disciples, who were currently staring at Jian Chou’s life tablet, pondering the profound question of “why hasn’t big sister’s life tablet shattered yet,” suddenly heard this earth-shaking shout from outside and all shivered together!
Big Sister Jian Chou had returned?!
Fudao Shanren was so startled he swallowed a chicken bone, glaring: “That little rascal knows to come back—watch me not beat her to death!”
“Whoosh!”
The moment his words ended, he had disappeared.
The disciples left behind were momentarily speechless.
Soon after, Fudao Shanren’s extremely affected voice came from outside: “Little Jian Chou, you’re back—”
In that instant, from Kou Qianzhi to Jianghe, they all cursed in unison: shameless old bastard!