Chapter 41: The Desolate Expanse

The waves on the Merciless Sea gradually subsided, but the fear in everyone’s hearts remained unabated. The massive body of the Black Water Serpent coiled before them, towering like an ancient fiend.

The serpent’s colossal head swayed slightly, as if surprised to encounter living beings in the Dead Spirit Abyss. It regarded the group for a moment longer, but made no move just yet.

Lu Xueqi, ever calm and collected, was the first to react. She turned her head and noticed Zhang Xiaofan still staring up at the Black Water Serpent in awe. She gently tugged at his sleeve. Zhang Xiaofan’s body jolted, and he turned to face her. Lu Xueqi whispered softly, “We must fall back.”

Zhang Xiaofan instantly understood and nodded vigorously, assisting Lu Xueqi as they retreated. The masked woman standing beside Bi Yao, catching this out of the corner of her eye, exclaimed, “Don’t move…”

Both Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi were taken aback, but in the next instant, the green light in the Black Water Serpent’s eyes flared, seemingly startled by something. A deafening roar shook the heavens, and everyone covered their ears, yet still felt a ringing in them.

Amidst the chaos, Zhang Xiaofan saw the serpent’s massive body move. Its gigantic tail, which had been submerged in the sea, swept through the water, raising a wall of water several dozen feet high and wide. In the midst of the cascading water, the black tail surged forward, carrying with it a formidable force.

Even from a distance, the wind was already powerful enough to make one stagger. If hit by this tsunami-like wall of water and the massive tail, one would surely be crushed to pieces. Without further thought, Zhang Xiaofan scooped up Lu Xueqi and flew backward with all his might, using the burning stick as a catalyst.

But the wall of water moved like a tempest, faster than any flight. Before Zhang Xiaofan could fly more than a few feet, the wave caught up to them. The sound of the rushing water was like thunder, nearly deafening. Zhang Xiaofan’s entire body tensed, and in that moment of life and death, he shouted and flew upward with all his strength. But after ascending only a few feet, he felt an icy chill envelop him.

With a resounding “Boom!”

He was swept into the torrent, drenched in an instant. He heard Lu Xueqi’s cry of alarm, and the grip on her loosened. The overwhelming force separated them.

Zhang Xiaofan was struck with panic and tried to reach for Lu Xueqi, but the power of the wave pushed them apart. Watching the wave surge, and Lu Xueqi vanish into the churning darkness, Zhang Xiaofan shivered, his mind a jumble of confusion. The wave pushed him forward, tumbling and rolling.

Just as the crashing sounds reached a crescendo, and Zhang Xiaofan felt the crushing force, he caught a glimpse of a black shadow amidst the tumult. The Black Water Serpent’s enormous tail, like a mountain, rushed toward him.

As the black shadow passed, water and large rocks were flung about, creating a terrifying spectacle. Zhang Xiaofan knew that if he were hit by this tail, he would surely perish.

In that moment of life and death, Zhang Xiaofan mustered his remaining strength. Amidst the spray, a dark blue light flickered, and Zhang Xiaofan clung to it, fleeing upward. Miraculously, he managed to rise a few feet above the surging wave.

He felt a brief moment of relief, but then a tremendous force swept beneath him, causing him to tremble. Even though he was only grazed by the force, he felt dizzy and almost fainted. If not for the sheer will to survive, he would have lost consciousness.

Despite this, the force of the serpent’s tail was immense. Zhang Xiaofan’s body shook violently, and pain wracked every bone. He was thrown far away, hurtling through the air.

He flew forward, his body flipping, and saw the massive wave and the huge tail swallowing Bi Yao and the others. The yellow-clothed figures scattered, but were quickly overwhelmed by the wave.

The green-clothed woman leaped into the air, her hands forming a gesture. A white light emanated from the flower in her hand, transforming into six luminous flowers that surrounded the central one, each connected by pure white light, forming a radiant circle.

Bi Yao, pale-faced but calm, formed the white light circle, which shimmered and deflected the wave. The wave piled up like a mountain, the sound deafening. Taking advantage of this brief reprieve, Bi Yao flew up, but at that moment, the wave roared again, and the black tail swept toward her.

The white light circle shattered, unable to withstand the force. Just as the young woman was about to be hit, the masked woman appeared, holding a soft, pale yellow object that flashed and interposed itself, catching Bi Yao and pushing her away.

Bi Yao narrowly escaped, but was still hit by the residual force and floated back into the darkness. The masked woman was once again engulfed by the wave.

The Black Water Serpent’s tail was unimaginably powerful. Zhang Xiaofan, in midair, felt the wind howling past him, carrying him backward. If he hit anything, like a hard rock or cliff, his bones would shatter. Helpless, he could only let fate take its course.

Surprisingly, the Dead Spirit Abyss was vast. After flying for a while, he didn’t hit anything. Gradually, his speed slowed, and he began to descend. It seemed the force was waning.

Although landing would be painful, it was better than hitting a wall. Zhang Xiaofan felt a glimmer of hope, but suddenly, a dark mass loomed ahead, pressing down on him.

A towering cliff stood in front of him. Zhang Xiaofan huddled, bracing for impact.

“Crash!”

Rocks and debris flew, and Zhang Xiaofan’s body shook violently. He coughed up blood, splattering it on his clothes. In that moment, he felt as if his body was breaking apart. Only the protection of the Daoist and Buddhist teachings within him kept him alive.

Despite this, he was in great pain. He slid down the cliff, hitting the hard stone several times, groaning in agony. He felt as if not a single part of his body was intact.

After a short descent, he flipped over and, seeing a faint light, noticed a shadow below. It appeared to be an old tree growing on the cliff.

In desperation, he reached out and grabbed the tree. The impact was fierce, and the tree shook, dislodging earth and stones. Finally, both tree and man fell.

As he fell, Zhang Xiaofan’s heart sank, but the collision slowed him down. He landed heavily, losing consciousness.

When he awoke, he felt a sharp pain throughout his body. He opened his eyes and found himself in a damp, enclosed space, likely a cave. The ceiling was two persons high, and the walls were only three feet wide, made of cold, hard stone. However, the cave emitted a soft light from glowing stones, illuminating the area.

Zhang Xiaofan examined the cave. It seemed to be a narrow passage, one end blocked by rubble, the other extending inward, making a turn. He tried to get up, but the pain in his left hand made him cry out.

“Ah!”

“Ahem.” A cold voice came from the depths of the cave. Zhang Xiaofan turned to see a woman in green robes, none other than the demoness from the Evil Sect. Startled, he raised the burning stick, ready to defend himself, momentarily forgetting his pain.

The woman, Bi Yao, glared at him. “Look at you, so full of spirit despite having broken bones! You’re ridiculous!”

Zhang Xiaofan frowned but lowered the stick, only to feel the pain return. He cried out again.

Bi Yao, watching him, couldn’t help but laugh. The tension eased, but she then sighed, a hint of melancholy in her voice.

Zhang Xiaofan, annoyed, snapped, “What are you laughing at?”

“I’m laughing at you, of course,” she replied bluntly.

Zhang Xiaofan, frustrated, retorted, “What’s so funny? See if you can take a hit like that!”

Bi Yao’s expression changed, and she looked like she might strike him. But then she sighed, “We’re both doomed. What’s the point of arguing?”

Zhang Xiaofan, about to raise his guard, was stunned. “What do you mean?”

“We’re in a cave,” Bi Yao pointed to the blocked entrance. “That’s the only way out, and it’s buried under a mountain of rocks. Good luck digging your way out!”

Zhang Xiaofan’s mouth dropped open. The entrance was indeed blocked by a pile of massive boulders. He knew his skills were useful in combat but not in tunneling.

He thought for a moment, then asked, “How did I get here?”

Bi Yao, looking at him with a mix of disdain and pity, said, “I dragged you in. The Black Water Serpent was coming, and I saw the cave where the tree was. I brought you in too, fool!”

Zhang Xiaofan, wincing in pain, asked, “How did it get blocked?”

“The serpent, unable to enter, lashed its tail, causing the cliff to collapse. We were buried alive.”

Zhang Xiaofan, skeptical, was about to argue when Bi Yao threw a rock at him, “I’m lying? You should have died!”

The rock hit his injured hand, and he nearly fainted. Bi Yao, seeing his pained expression, stepped closer, “Your hand is broken.”

Zhang Xiaofan, stubborn, said, “It’s the serpent’s fault, not yours. Leave me alone.”

Bi Yao, with a sigh, walked away, watching him with a mixture of amusement and disdain.

Zhang Xiaofan, determined to keep his dignity, stood up, examining his injuries. He realized his arm needed to be set, but there were no suitable materials. Bi Yao, observing him, suggested, “Use your stick.”

Zhang Xiaofan, realizing she was right, reluctantly used the stick to immobilize his arm. He then checked the blocked entrance, hoping for a way out. He heard a waterfall in the distance.

He followed the sound and found a small pond at the end of the passage, a beautiful waterfall cascading into it. He inspected the area, finding no way out. The water dripped from the ceiling, and the ground was soaked.

Bi Yao, following him, broke the silence, “There’s no way out. We’re going to die here.”

Zhang Xiaofan, thinking of Lu Xueqi, sat down, lost in thought. Bi Yao, noticing his distress, said, “Rest. We’ll find a way out.”

In the cave, the two, once enemies, now shared a fragile truce. Zhang Xiaofan, reflecting on his situation, mused, “I never imagined my first trip off the mountain would end like this. If my master knew, he’d be furious.”

Bi Yao, watching him, asked, “What are you thinking?”

Zhang Xiaofan, startled, blushed, and changed the subject, “This place is full of strange things. Look at those red spots on the ceiling. The water looks like blood…”

Bi Yao, alarmed, jumped up, “What did you say?”