When Song Qian Ji’s “person-finding spirit pearl” flashed, his sword light had already been released.

The sword light moved extremely fast, so fast that no one had time to react, only enough time for a thought to flash through their minds:

What kind of sword is this? If I were facing it, I could never dodge such a strike.

In that brief moment, the female cultivator turned her head, the red light in her eyes surging as she waved her sleeve, unexpectedly releasing a beam of red light.

Only when it collided with the sword light did everyone see clearly that it was a dark red jade pearl.

The sword light was deflected, cutting off only a piece of her sleeve. Her movements were light and strange; using the remaining force of the impact, she moved even faster, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Liao Hua exclaimed in shock: “You’re not Bai E! Who are you?!”

Miao Yan’s heart trembled with boundless fear.

Bai E was likely in grave danger. They had been together daily, yet no one noticed when a sect member had been replaced.

They wore specially made veils, so even if someone discovered that Miao Yan was false, they couldn’t easily distinguish which one was the real Miao Yan.

This was Wang Shu’s arrangement and instruction: “The situation is unpredictable. A precious child shouldn’t sit beneath a dangerous ledge. After entering the secret realm, don’t easily expose your identity. If my uprising fails, you will be our last hope!”

This concealment strategy allowed intruders to infiltrate the Celestial Sound Sect’s ranks.

The dark red spirit pearl hit the cave ceiling and exploded with a rumbling sound.

The already unstable ice cave couldn’t withstand the explosion’s impact and seemed ready to collapse. Huge ice stones fell like a violent rainstorm.

“Fall back!” Song Qian Ji shouted, swinging his sword again to strike the heavy ice stones toward the cave entrance where the spirits were.

Seeing this, others rapidly retreated to avoid falling rocks while following his example.

Defensive spiritual tools and talismans from various cultivators were attached to the ice stones, instantly forming an ice wall.

The spirits were blocked outside by the ice wall, howling shrilly. Their sharp long fingernails rapidly dug into the ice surface, making a grating noise.

The exit was sealed off, leaving only one path forward.

“Go!” Song Qian Ji led the way and then noticed Zi Ye Wen Shu was missing. Looking back, he saw him covering the rear, his wounds reopening and bleeding as he protected those with weaker cultivation.

The deeper they went, the darker it became. In the pitch blackness, the falling ice blocks became increasingly solid, mixed with penetrating cold air.

The cultivators were dodging awkwardly when suddenly the ice beneath their feet cracked, revealing an ice-paved corridor that seemed to lead underground.

Song Qian Ji called out: “If you trust me, follow this path downward. It leads to the underground palace of Blood River Valley.”

The frenzied spirits and the earthquake were indeed terrifying. But due to their seamless cooperation, no one was injured. The independent cultivators even had the mood to joke:

“We’ve come this far. Even if what’s below isn’t an underground palace but the eighteenth level of hell, we have no choice but to trust you!”

As everyone rushed into the corridor, they suddenly saw a white figure flash ahead.

Mu Xia shouted: “It’s that evil cultivator disguised as Bai E again! She’s gone in ahead of us!”

She reacted extremely quickly. This person had been hiding among the Celestial Sound Sect’s ranks; her words were to disassociate herself, indicating that the Celestial Sound Sect was also a victim.

The female cultivator Bai E turned back with a smile and struck a mechanism on the wall forcefully.

An ice door covered with inscriptions descended, seemingly about to close the corridor.

Song Qian Ji sent his sword flying out. The slender Invisible Sword propped up the heavy ice door, allowing everyone to enter.

“Running? Still running?” Seeing that person about to speed up again, Song Qian Ji was generous, releasing thirty wind talismans at once.

These talismans were of his own making. Individually, they were quite ineffective, merely like a gentle breeze brushing against a cultivator’s robe.

Now, densely packed talismans flew like chaotic butterflies, with hurricane-like airflow engulfing that silhouette, quickly flying out beyond the ice door toward Song Qian Ji.

In the darkness, confused footsteps and heavy roars constantly approached.

The spirits had broken through the ice wall blocking the cave entrance, and the “evil cultivator” of unknown background was about to break free from the talismans.

Just as Zi Ye Wen Shu was about to draw his blade, he heard Song Qian Ji’s lighthearted voice transmission: “I can handle this matter myself and have a foolproof plan. Take everyone and leave quickly. Without concerns, I’ll feel lighter. When things in the secret realm are finished, I’ll come to Green Cliff to drink with you.”

Zi Ye Wen Shu replied: “If you’re lying, may the potatoes you plant never bloom.”

Song Qian Ji was shocked—this was too harsh. Who taught him such ruthless words? Isn’t this threatening my life?

Yet he could only grit his teeth and agree: “Fine!”

Hearing his agreement, Zi Ye Wen Shu said to the Green Cliff crowd: “Follow me.”

Song Qian Ji’s Invisible Sword was bent under pressure, emitting reluctant hums.

Though this sword was a treasure, it was an uncompromising killing sword. Forcing it to support heaven and earth, to save people from disaster, was truly asking too much of the sword.

Song Qian Ji spread his five fingers, withdrew the sword into his hand, and the ice door descended once more.

After his rebirth, this was the first time he felt he should have a truly suitable personal sword.

The situation was tense but still under control. Seeing Zi Ye Wen Shu’s departing figure, Song Qian Ji felt at ease.

But the female cultivator called He Yun suddenly stopped, gripping the corner of his robe, her eyes red as she stared at him:

“Will we meet again?”

As if she would refuse to leave if he said no.

Song Qian Ji thought that for ordinary cultivators, today’s events were indeed perilous. This girl had also been hit on the back of her head earlier, so it was understandable that she was frightened and confused now.

“If fate wills it, we will meet again.” He wanted to offer more comforting words, but the falling door wouldn’t wait. Song Qian Ji used a sword energy to cut off that section of his robe.

At the same time, he lightly struck He Yun’s shoulder with his sword hilt, pushing her through the door.

Miao Yan only heard him speak in a gentle, smiling tone, seemingly comforting her. The next moment, her shoulder felt a slight pain, and the ice door inscribed with runes closed with a thunderous sound before her eyes.

She could no longer see his figure, left with only a tattered corner of his black Daoist robe.

Gatherings and partings happen hastily; life and death are uncertain. Fate is unpredictable, like flowers and moon falling into clouds.

The corridor was deep and narrow. Miao Yan, dispirited, clutched the torn fabric as she was escorted forward by her sect members on both sides. Just as she opened her mouth, she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Senior Sister!” Mu Xia cried out in alarm, quickly taking out medicinal pills.

“It’s just blood congested in my heart; spitting it out is a good thing.” Miao Yan wiped away the blood from her lips and straightened her back. When she raised her head again, the vulnerable, painful expression had vanished from her face.

Her gaze swept across her fellow sect members, becoming resolute once more: “No need to take turns pretending to be me, and you don’t need to wear veils anymore.”

Everyone was greatly alarmed and unwilling to agree.

Liao Hua anxiously said: “Elder Wang Shu made these arrangements with great care, all to protect Senior Sister. If Jiang Yun and He Qing Qing win, they’ll surely find a way to enter the secret realm to hunt you down…”

Miao Yan interrupted: “I will deal with Master’s arrangements. Regardless of who wins or loses outside, what is meant to come cannot be avoided, so let it come!”

…

Song Qian Ji heaved a long sigh of relief, holding his sword as he turned toward the figure wrapped in wind talismans.

Since arriving at the ice cave, he had friends and teammates, was respected by others, and had smoothly solved problems along the way. Now he had also successfully captured the person he needed to kill.

He thought the dust had settled.

He had won this round.

The wind talismans shattered, turning into yellow paper scraps, revealing the figure within.

“Wu Xiang, you disguise yourself as a female cultivator quite convincingly,” Song Qian Ji said with a smile.

“Disguise? Look more carefully.” The female cultivator pulled off her veil, revealing a beautiful face.

With black hair and a white dress, her expression was lively, and she wasn’t nervous at all.

Song Qian Ji frowned.

This person’s tone, actions, demeanor, and aura were undoubtedly those of a genuine female cultivator.

She giggled: “I am inherently formless, naturally can be male or female. Man, woman, old, young, tall, short, beautiful, ugly—all are external appearances. The more you try to see my ‘true form,’ the more you are confused by ‘external appearances.’ Do you still dare to look?”

Song Qian Ji still looked at her: “I didn’t know such cultivation methods existed in this world. I must be ignorant. Is it wandering souls possessing bodies, severed limbs regenerating, or some other avatar technique?”

The last time he killed Wu Xiang, to prevent regeneration, he had scattered even the ashes.

By timing, when Wu Xiang died, Wu Xiang was already in the ice cave.

If Song Qian Ji had left immediately after the killing, he wouldn’t have discovered this person.

Female Wu Xiang said: “You’re a tree planter. When a branch is broken off a tree and planted in the soil, with spring wind the next year, a new tree grows. What’s strange about that?”

Song Qian Ji: “Trees indeed don’t distinguish between male and female, beautiful or ugly. Broken branches can sprout anew, but trees are much more lovable than people. No matter what heaven-defying secret method you use, there must be limitations. Each time you’re killed, your power must weaken somewhat. Previously, you could injure Xian Jian Chen, but later even I could kill you. With insufficient power, you had to resort to schemes. This avatar of yours has been hiding until now. If not for everyone’s unwillingness to leave tonight, you would have mixed into the underground palace with them.”

“Well said. But alas,” the female cultivator sighed.

“Alas, what?”

“Alas, you’ve only guessed half correctly.”

Song Qian Ji met her gaze, his eyebrow twitching.

“If I wanted to enter the underground palace, I had many paths available. Why go to such trouble?” she said softly. “Song Qian Ji, I can let you choose once more.”