Chapter 37: The Abyss of Wraiths

Zhang Xiaofan watched in horror as the two of them were being cornered, and without a second thought, he rushed forward. The burly man, witnessing this, turned his head slightly, and another crimson beam shot out, hurtling towards Zhang Xiaofan.

With no place to retreat, Zhang Xiaofan, though he had seen the state of Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu, found himself at a loss for any other recourse. He braced himself and summoned the black rod, rushing forward to meet the challenge.

In mid-air, the crimson beam clashed with the dark greenish-black radiance of the black rod, and instantly dissipated. Zhang Xiaofan felt a tremendous force surge through the air, causing him to shudder, but otherwise, he felt no significant harm.

He quickly examined the black rod, which, much to his surprise, remained unchanged, not a trace of crimson damage visible.

Despite its unappealing appearance, Zhang Xiaofan was overjoyed. He took a step forward, emboldened by the discovery.

However, the demonic sect members in the distance were startled, turning their attention to him. The burly man let out a surprised “eh,” and another crimson beam shot from his gigantic eye.

The black rod met the crimson beam in mid-air, and the clash of red and greenish-black light filled the space. Moments later, the red light faded, and the black rod, though it quivered, remained unharmed.

Zhang Xiaofan’s heart eased, and he mused that although his black rod was ugly, it seemed to be as resilient as the saying goes: “A lowly tool is hard to break.” The divine swords of his seniors, though beautiful and noble, were not as sturdy as his humble implement.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, he continued to advance, closing the distance between him and the burly man.

The burly man, who had initially appeared relaxed (though his hideous giant eye made even relaxation seem revolting), now focused all his attention on the seemingly weakest Zhang Xiaofan. He intermittently shot crimson beams to block Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu, but directed a relentless barrage of attacks at Zhang Xiaofan.

Each crimson beam, while making Zhang Xiaofan visibly struggle, did not harm the black rod. The sinister aura of the crimson beams seemed to have no effect on the young disciple.

Under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, Zhang Xiaofan inched closer.

The burly man’s forehead began to bead with sweat. In his mind, he could not comprehend how his “Crimson Demon Eye,” the result of three centuries of cultivation, which had proved effective against many treasured weapons, could be ineffective against this seemingly ordinary black rod.

Unknown to him, the Crimson Demon Eye, while powerful, could taint the divine swords of Qi Hao and others, slowly forcing the malevolent energy into their bodies. However, Zhang Xiaofan’s black rod was no ordinary weapon; it was forged from the Bloodthirsty Pearl and an unknown black rod, both tempered with Zhang Xiaofan’s blood.

In terms of malevolent energy, the Bloodthirsty Pearl alone far surpassed the Crimson Demon Eye, and the nameless black rod matched it in sinister power.

These two evil artifacts, fused together and mutually restraining each other, kept the malevolent energy contained. Only Zhang Xiaofan, whose blood was within the black rod, could wield it. This allowed him to deceive the elders of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, and escape the clutches of death.

Now, the burly man’s attempts to use the Crimson Demon Eye against the black rod were futile.

This was only because Zhang Xiaofan, still naive, was unaware of the treasure he possessed. If it had been the Blackheart Ancestor, who had once wielded the Bloodthirsty Pearl, he would have effortlessly drained the burly man, leaving only the Crimson Demon Eye to roll around on the corpse.

None of the onlookers could fathom these incredible circumstances. As the burly man, despite his concentration, could not stop Zhang Xiaofan’s advance, the young man standing silently to the side, with a sinister countenance, sneered, “Elder Year, your Crimson Demon Eye is all show and no substance. Can’t even handle a few Azure Ethereal whelps? And you dared to scold Wild Dog? I think it’s time you stepped down and gave me the position of leader.”

The faces of the burly man and the elegant woman beside him changed. The beautiful woman frowned and said, “Friend Lin Feng, we are facing a formidable enemy. How can you speak such words?”

Lin Feng, with his sinister face, cast a glance at the Azure Ethereal disciples, pausing to stare at Lu Xueqi before sneering, “If these yellow-haired brats are considered a great threat, then what place does our Blood Refining Hall have among the holy sects? How can we restore the great legacy of the Blackheart Ancestor?”

The burly man, Elder Year, shot another crimson beam at Zhang Xiaofan, temporarily halting his advance, and snarled at Lin Feng, “You’re all talk. Why don’t you try yourself?”

Lin Feng’s pale face twisted into a sinister smile, “Very well, I’ll make you see sense.”

He drew a gold-trimmed fan from his robes and fanned himself casually.

The Azure Ethereal disciples heard the exchange and grew more wary of the sinister young man.

But after a while, they saw that Lin Feng was simply waving his fan, looking nonchalant and motionless. They were perplexed. Was Lin Feng just a big talker?

Elder Year, on the other hand, was furious. “Lin Feng, if you have no skills, step aside. I can handle these Azure Ethereal whelps. Your cold remarks won’t help. Show some skill!”

Lin Feng’s face hardened, and he snorted, “I didn’t want to fight alongside you, but now I must show my prowess, or you’ll think I’m lying.”

He tossed the fan into the air, and it glowed with a faint golden light, unfolding to reveal a meticulously painted scene of a mountain, a river, and a roc. The artistry was lifelike and detailed.

Suddenly, the wind rose, clouds gathered, thunder roared, and lightning flashed.

This deep underground cavern should not experience such phenomena, but the Azure Ethereal disciples saw and heard it all.

Amidst their shock, a thunderous roar shook the air. The fan, vibrating in mid-air, suddenly extruded a massive mountain from its painting. The mountain, growing upon contact with the wind, soared to a height of a hundred feet, almost filling the vast space, and descended upon the four Azure Ethereal disciples like a mountain peak.

Zhang Xiaofan paled, seeing the colossal object descending, unable to resist. He pushed off with all his might, flying backward, but the mountain was still pressing down, and he was half-crushed. Suddenly, someone grabbed his collar, pulling him out.

Turning, Zhang Xiaofan saw Qi Hao, who had saved him. In this life-or-death moment, he felt a strange bitterness but still managed to say, “Thank you, Senior Qi.”

Qi Hao, too preoccupied to consider Zhang Xiaofan’s thoughts, merely nodded. He had stood back slightly and retreated quickly, noticing Zhang Xiaofan nearby and pulling him to safety.

The massive mountain, however, presented a daunting challenge. It rumbled downward, causing the ground to shake, the walls to tremble, and even the rock ceiling above to crumble, showering them with stones.

Zeng Shushu also retreated, but with a look of astonishment. “The Mountain and River Fan! This is the signature treasure of the old ancestor Fengyue of Jieshi Mountain. How did it end up in this person’s hands?”

Everyone was shocked. Qi Hao, with his extensive knowledge, knew that Old Ancestor Fengyue, who resided on the Eastern Jieshi Mountain, was a renowned cultivator, known for walking the line between good and evil, and was left alone by both the righteous and the demonic. No one expected this young man to possess such a treasure among these demonic beings.

As the mountain rose again, its immensity was overwhelming. The group was backed against a wall, with rocks raining down and thunder rumbling. In this critical moment, Qi Hao gritted his teeth and prepared to shield everyone with the Hexi Mirror, intending to resist the mountain’s weight.

Suddenly, a blue figure flashed, and Lu Xueqi appeared before them, letting out a clear cry. A brilliant blue light surged, and the Divine Sword Tianya, with a dragon’s roar, emerged from its sheath, sending myriad divine lights upward.

Thunder roared, and the mountain, with an unstoppable force, descended, threatening to crush the four. Lu Xueqi’s face was as pale as frost, her long hair whipping in the wind, making her appear like a celestial maiden.

Tianya trembled, sensing its master’s resolve, and leaped into the air, emitting a blinding blue light that illuminated the entire cavern. The sword struck the mountain, and a resonant sound echoed.

Dust and stones flew, and the winds howled. Everyone watched in awe as immense currents of energy surged outward. Lu Xueqi, in mid-air, lost her color, and the rebound force sent her crashing into the stone wall.

The mountain, struck by the blue light, halted its descent, trembling in the air before shrinking back into the Mountain and River Fan.

Lin Feng, with his sinister face, looked at the fan, his brows furrowing. The once majestic mountain now had a large crack running from its peak to its waist, marred and awkward.

Tianya returned to Lu Xueqi, who slid down the stone wall, almost falling to the ground. Zhang Xiaofan, seeing this, quickly supported her.

Lu Xueqi gasped, but, being strong-willed, tried to push him away. Halfway, she felt a warm trickle at her lips and realized she was bleeding.

The crimson blood trickled down her alabaster skin, a stark and beautiful contrast.

Zhang Xiaofan, stunned, heard Lin Feng’s angry shout, “You wretched woman, dare to damage my treasure? Even a thousand deaths would not be enough!” Enraged, Lin Feng rose into the air, the Mountain and River Fan glowing with a mismatched golden light, and he charged at the Azure Ethereal disciples.

Elder Year, who had stopped emitting the crimson beams, and the elegant woman beside him, watched intently. She stepped forward, looked at Lu Xueqi, and whispered, “Do you see it?”

Elder Year, with a serious expression, replied, “It’s Tianya!”

The woman snorted, “I never imagined such a divine weapon would fall into the hands of a junior!”

Elder Year, watching Lin Feng battle the Azure Ethereal disciples, said, “Tianya is a divine weapon of the heavens. Our founder, the Blackheart Ancestor, was defeated by this sword. Today, we must seize it!”

The woman nodded, “What about Lin Feng?”

Elder Year sneered, “That boy, relying on his kinship with Old Ancestor Fengyue, always looks down on others. If it weren’t for our current need, I would have dealt with him long ago. Let him take the lead, and we will seize the opportunity to take the sword.”

The woman nodded, focusing on the battle.

Every wave of the Mountain and River Fan unleashed a storm, sending rocks and debris at the four Azure Ethereal disciples. Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu deflected the attacks, showcasing their exceptional skills. When the mountain had unexpectedly risen, they had been caught off guard, but now they demonstrated their formidable abilities.

Qi Hao, wielding his ice-cold divine sword, withstood the fierce winds, while Zeng Shushu, with his purple-glowing Xuanyuan sword, darted through the gaps, nearly striking Lin Feng, who had to be cautious. The three were evenly matched.

Zhang Xiaofan, still supporting Lu Xueqi, watched Qi Hao’s skillful combat with admiration. He had only practiced the basic Taiji Xuanqing Dao, and the limited techniques he learned from Su Ru were no match for Qi Hao’s.

As he observed, he felt Lu Xueqi’s arm relax, and she stood up, regaining some of her strength.

“Are you alright, Senior Lu?” Zhang Xiaofan asked, noticing her pale face.

Lu Xueqi glanced at him, wiped the blood from her lip, and shook her head, saying nothing.

Familiar with her reserved nature, Zhang Xiaofan did not press further. He turned back to the battle, but a sudden cry from Lu Xueqi startled him. A black rope had ensnared her, and the elegant woman, who had teleported, chuckled, “Such a beauty, truly a pity. This ‘Binding Immortal Rope’ is specially prepared for you righteous cultivators!”

Zhang Xiaofan, seeing Lu Xueqi in pain, was enraged. Before he could react, Elder Year swooped down, reaching for Tianya. Zhang Xiaofan’s black rod shot up, and Elder Year, wary of the peculiar weapon, halted and landed.

Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu, hearing the commotion, turned to help, but Lin Feng, not wanting to lose face, intensified his attack with the Mountain and River Fan, preventing them from assisting.

Zhang Xiaofan, having momentarily repelled Elder Year, moved to confront the elegant woman. But she, with a laugh, used the Binding Immortal Rope to swing Lu Xueqi in front of her, blocking Zhang Xiaofan’s path.

Horrified, Zhang Xiaofan stopped, nearly harming Lu Xueqi. He barely managed to halt, and before he could catch his breath, two more assailants attacked from behind—Wild Dog and the tall Liu Hao, seizing the opportunity, along with Elder Year, eager to claim the treasure.

Zhang Xiaofan, outnumbered, fought fiercely, but his enemies, wary of the black rod, were hesitant to attack aggressively. Yet, despite their caution, the situation was dire. The elegant woman, using Lu Xueqi as a shield, prevented Zhang Xiaofan from countering effectively.

Struggling against the Binding Immortal Rope, Lu Xueqi, watching the desperate Zhang Xiaofan, felt her heart ache. She spat out a mouthful of blood, staining her garments with crimson spots.

Zhang Xiaofan, thinking she was injured, became frantic. The black rod emitted a burst of dark energy, shooting towards the elegant woman, who, caught off guard, narrowly avoided it.

Seizing the moment, Elder Year, Wild Dog, and Liu Hao, with a crimson beam, fangs, and a yellow flying sword, respectively, struck Zhang Xiaofan. He felt a searing pain, and his vision darkened. His body went numb, and he flew forward, blood gushing from his mouth.

Lu Xueqi, seeing this, bit her lip, and the Binding Immortal Rope loosened, allowing her to move. With a clear cry, she formed a hand seal, and Tianya, glowing with blue light, cut the rope.

The elegant woman, distressed by the damage to her treasure, retrieved the rope. Lu Xueqi, free, rose to catch Zhang Xiaofan, though she was still in pain.

Before they could catch their breath, Elder Year, Wild Dog, and Liu Hao closed in.

Tianya, with its blue glow, returned to Lu Xueqi, protecting her, but her pale face and shaking body showed her weakness.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed, and Lin Feng, furious, shouted, “How dare you, you Azure Ethereal whelp! See my power!”

The ground shook, and the River within the Mountain and River Fan vanished.

A deafening roar split the air, and the ground cracked open, spewing a massive water column. Large rocks were hurled into the air, but the stone engraved with “Dead Spirit Abyss” remained steadfast.

The four Azure Ethereal disciples were thrown in different directions. Lu Xueqi, losing her grip on Zhang Xiaofan, felt her heart sink.

Zhang Xiaofan, covered in blood, floated outward, heading towards the dark, mysterious abyss.

In mid-air, Lu Xueqi, recalling past moments, saw the young man who had blushed during the lottery on Mount Qingyun, the compassionate look in the midst of the lightning, and the one who had risked everything to save her.

A large boulder descended, and Lu Xueqi, gritting her teeth, used her last strength to alter her course, flying towards Zhang Xiaofan.

Avoiding the falling rocks, Lu Xueqi caught Zhang Xiaofan, but she was exhausted. She felt herself losing strength, and the two of them passed the radiant stone marked “Dead Spirit Abyss,” falling into the abyss.

Closing her eyes, Lu Xueqi’s face seemed to express a sense of relief.

Zhang Xiaofan, as he fell into the eternal darkness, heard a distant chant, and a golden light flickered.

The next moment, he was enveloped in boundless darkness. In his final moments of consciousness, he knew that his and Lu Xueqi’s hands were still tightly clasped, feeling the cold and icy touch of her hand as the darkness swallowed them whole.