After Zhao Heng, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei traversed a narrow mountain trail. The vegetation lining the path, either jet-black or deep green, was similarly shrouded in a faint Buddhist radiance. The pure and solemn luster of colored glaze intertwined with an aura of filth and decay, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
At the end of the road was a valley, where Ruan Yushu silently sat atop a large rock. Dressed in snow-white robes, cool and serene like the moon, she now and then exuded swirling immortal aura accompanied by celestial music, and at other times was surrounded by dark halos, emitting piercing and terrifying sounds.
Her exquisite and flawless visage mirrored this duality—at times icy and regal, at others eerie and alluring—stirring hearts and igniting desire.
(Note: “妖异 (yao yi)” is translated as “eerie” to capture its supernatural yet seductive nuance, while “bewitching” conveys “魅惑.” The phrasing maintains poetic rhythm and the original’s evocative contrast.)
“She has a protective artifact that’s resisting the Yuanmo consciousness. We must hurry and help her!” Meng Qi quickly said to Jiang Zhiwei and Zhao Heng.
He quickened his pace, like a gust of wind, charging straight toward Ruan Yushu.
Jiang Zhiwei and Zhao Heng flanked him closely from both sides. They did not attempt to encircle him from other directions, as they understood that Meng Qi would attract attention while they stealthily closed in for a fatal strike. However, Ruan Yushu’s zither sound attacks covered a wide range, leaving them no choice but to endure the assault in order to get close!
—The Ruan Clan possessed secret techniques allowing them to selectively target listeners while playing most melodies. Thus, if allies, there was no worry about friendly fire. But now, with Ruan Yushu nearly succumbing to demonic influence, she would definitely unleash indiscriminate harm.
Ruan Yushu’s aura condensed, suppressing the immortal aura. Her hands rested on the zither, gently strumming.
Upon hearing the zither sound, Meng Qi immediately felt panic. His feet felt as if bound by thousand-pound stones, movements slowing. Jiang Zhiwei and Zhao Heng experienced the same.
Meng Qi actively closed off his hearing, temporarily freeing himself from the zither’s influence, and rapidly closed the distance.
Zheng!
The soft plucking suddenly turned urgent, erupting into violent sounds. The zither notes seemed to resonate directly within Meng Qi’s primordial spirit, striking his soul like hammers, leaving him dizzy and unable to endure.
Then his steps slowed, as if stuck, body swaying from side to side, with abnormal air currents around.
Pounding, sticking, pulling, spinning—the Eight Notes of the Heavenly Dragon (Tianlong Bayin). After the eighth note, breath ceases and death follows!
His forehead grew warm, his spirit projecting outward. Meng Qi activated the “Heaven-Changing, Earth-Shaking Great Method.” His entire being seemed to transform into the heavens themselves, overlooking the vicissitudes of the human world, the endless cycle of joy and sorrow, love and loss, imbued with a vast, indifferent majesty. The Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps no longer effectively affected him.
Using secret spiritual techniques to counter the soul-perturbing melodies!
Jiang Zhiwei, whose Yuan Shen was not as powerful as Meng Qi’s, pressed forward with unwavering sword intent, as if slicing through layers of zither sound bindings.
Zhao Heng initially experienced slight bleeding from the seven orifices under the Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps. Then, his expression turned solemn as a golden spot emerged on his forehead. From it, a mysterious yellow glow slowly radiated, making him appear like a deity descending to the mortal world, impervious to the eight sounds.
This was not some profound spiritual secret. Meng Qi had heard of it before—it was the “Xuan Huang Soul-Stabilizing Seal” recorded in the *Book of World-Shaking Wonders*, a technique that fortified the mind and safeguarded the Primordial Spirit through cultivating sincerity and inner tranquility.
The distance between them narrowed to a dangerous level. Ruan Yushu’s zither sound changed again, like a bright lake under the moon reflecting radiant light, shimmering with serene coldness, diffusing a subtle sadness and sweetness, bringing forth an inner tranquility, a chilling, icy calm.
The heavens seemed frozen. Meng Qi’s thoughts slowed slightly, sensing a cold, serene chill rising from his heart, his Yuan Shen nearly turning into an “ice sculpture.”
Guang Han Mantra (Moon-Cold Mantra)? Meng Qi suddenly recalled the external scene zither score Ruan Yushu had exchanged for. He had never expected she would test it on him first!
Jiang Zhiwei’s steps slowed, her sword seemingly piercing through layers of ice, but ultimately lacking the Yuan Shen strength Meng Qi possessed from cultivating multiple spiritual secret arts, falling behind.
Still, she pressed on. Facing such an enemy was terribly frustrating—neither being able to strike nor counter with external techniques, relying solely on Yuan Shen and true qi to endure. If it were an enemy, she would have already unleashed her treasure weapon, sword qi rippling for dozens of miles, injuring from afar. But doing so would be uncontrollable, likely killing Ruan Yushu outright. Such a dangerous move could not be used unless absolutely necessary.
Zhao Heng also slowed, the golden spot on his forehead becoming “crystal-clear,” as if frozen.
The qi dragon behind him condensed, reaching the range for long-range attacks, hoping to affect Ruan Yushu this way.
He struck with one fist, force like a dragon, raising a gale, rushing toward the opponent.
Ruan Yushu continued playing, each finger flicking out a sword qi after plucking—some ancient and simple, some mighty and vigorous, some bold and unrestrained, some light and brisk, some nimble, some unpredictable—clashing midair, shooting toward the qi dragon, weaving into a net.
Whizzing sounds continued, the zither music unceasing, the coldness in their hearts intensifying. The qi dragon disintegrated, but the gale reached Ruan Yushu, blowing her hair flying, robes fluttering like a celestial maiden.
Ruan Yushu paused her hands briefly, as if about to play the Langhuan Twelve Divine Sounds.
Meng Qi still had some distance to cover and could not stop her, so he tried to activate “Heaven’s Wound”!
At that moment, her aura changed. Immortal energy surged again, suppressing the demonic intent. A glimmer of clarity appeared in her eyes, her hands stopping momentarily, though the dark halos remained stubbornly, poised to regain dominance.
Seeing this, Meng Qi’s heart stirred, a sudden inspiration striking. He shouted loudly: “Dragon fish dried!”
Ruan Yushu was startled, her hand pausing slightly on the zither, the immortal energy rising halfway, clarity increasing.
It worked! Meng Qi sprinted forward, shouting as he ran:
“Steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roasted flower duck, roasted young chicken, roasted goose, braised salted duck, soy chicken, cured pork, steamed freshwater crab, sausage, mixed cold dishes, smoked chicken, pork belly, steamed eight-treasure pig, sticky rice-stuffed duck, braised wild chicken, braised quail, braised assortment, braised goose, braised shrimp, sautéed shrimp, marinated shrimp, pheasant, rabbit slices, silver fish, sautéed duck kidney, sautéed duck strips, clear-mixed duck shreds…”
The immortal energy surged higher, and Ruan Yushu’s eyes grew clearer, her hand pausing on the zither.
At a certain distance, Meng Qi activated the Buddha’s Lamp Before, its light spreading, illuminating all directions and corners, enveloping Ruan Yushu, halting the dark halos and gradually dispersing them. He then quickly closed in, unleashing the Heaven-Changing, Earth-Shaking Great Method.
This time, Meng Qi saw vivid images of all the foods he had shouted out, drooling at the sight, and finally seeing himself, responsible for paying the bill…
With the protective treasure and the Buddha’s Lamp Before working together, Meng Qi easily helped Ruan Yushu defeat the Yuanmo consciousness, then had her take the Purification Pill to expel the tainted energy from her body.
Seeing Ruan Yushu saved, Jiang Zhiwei was quite happy and teased: “Little monk, just now you really looked like… like…”
As she spoke, she burst into laughter.
“A waiter reciting the menu,” Ruan Yushu, spitting out the filth, solemnly helped Jiang Zhiwei finish.
Meng Qi chuckled, not minding, and changed the topic: “Quickly find Senior Brother Qi. No time to waste.”
With saving lives as the priority, Ruan Yushu swiftly rose to her feet, clutching the Qifeng Qin (Phoenix Resting Zither) as she followed them. A jade pendant on her body split in two with a crack.
As they just rushed out of the valley, someone approached from ahead, dressed in a green robe, steady in demeanor, expressionless—clearly Senior Brother Qi Zhengyan.
“Senior Brother Qi, stop!” Meng Qi first felt joy, then shouted.
Then he noticed Qi Zhengyan’s eyes were clear, with no trace of filth on him, so he asked in confusion: “Senior Brother Qi, you weren’t possessed by the Yuanmo consciousness?”
Seeing that Meng Qi and the others were also not possessed, Qi Zhengyan replied solemnly, “The Hun Tian Treasure Mirror begins cultivating exotic energies (yizhong nengliang) from the Gathering Qi stage, using them to bridge the inner and outer worlds. My Yuan Shen possesses unique characteristics. Previously, when the Yuanmo consciousness attempted to possess me, it was incinerated by the Mei Xia Ripple.”
Mei Xia Ripple was fire-elemental.
“I see…” Meng Qi hadn’t cultivated the Hun Tian Treasure Mirror and didn’t know if it was true, so he cautiously added: “Senior Brother Qi, I’m worried there might be residual Yuanmo consciousness. So please let us shine the Buddha’s Lamp Before on you. We’ll all do it together, so you can feel reassured.”
Qi Zhengyan hesitated slightly and said: “Alright!”
The lamp grew larger, its light radiant, warm and serene, showering their hearts. Qi Zhengyan was enveloped in a layer of fire glow, with no trace of dark or filthy energy, just like Meng Qi and the others.
Truly no problem! With all his companions saved, Meng Qi relaxed, joy rising, his face turning serious: “Senior Brother Qi, smile a bit.”
Qi Zhengyan was puzzled, but seeing Meng Qi’s solemn expression, he thought it might be a test to detect Yuanmo possession, and managed a stiff smile.
“Still such a stiff smile. Definitely the real Senior Brother Qi, not possessed!” Meng Qi suddenly smiled brightly, his eight teeth dazzling white.
Pu Ci! Jiang Zhiwei, who had been puzzled before, burst into laughter. Ruan Yushu’s lips subtly curled, and Zhao Heng’s face twitched slightly—if the situation were reversed, he would surely beat Su Meng severely!
Qi Zhengyan’s eyelid twitched. Meng Qi took a step back and shouted loudly: “The Demon World Fragment has mutated! We must hurry back to the entrance. Let’s try to kill another Evil Demon along the way to collect some Demon Crystals so we can leave this place as soon as possible!”
This was a prudent suggestion. Qi Zhengyan composed his emotions and, together with Jiang Zhiwei and the others, determined their direction based on the terrain of mountains and rivers. They then hurried urgently toward the edge illuminated by the pure radiance of liuli jing guang.
…
Outside the Extreme Heaven Hall, Wu Qu Star Lord and Queen Mother Xi Wangmu quietly descended, not rashly entering, fearing ambushes inside.
Deep within the demon world fragment, after the terrifying monster moved away, Bi Xia Yuanjun finally exited the cave, stealthily heading toward the entrance.
Suddenly, she noticed the faint Buddhist glow around her was disappearing!
No, not disappearing! It was contracting toward a single point. The glow nearly solidified into glass-like clarity, with the center thick with demonic energy so alive it seemed to be “gnashing its teeth and brandishing its claws.”
The terrifying aura of that monster faintly emerged from within.
“What’s happening?” Bi Xia Yuanjun was puzzled in her heart, suspecting the demon world fragment incident had reached a critical moment. She gritted her teeth, considering she still had one life-saving artifact, and thus moved closer, wanting to understand what was happening, to avoid missing any chance of remedy afterward!
…
Meng Qi and the others stopped, their expressions grave, unable to suppress their inner fear.
Standing before them was a monster!
It was a mummified corpse, not decayed, but devoid of all moisture, wearing a yellow Buddhist robe and a crimson kasaya. Half its body was pitch-black like ink, while the other half radiated a glazed light.
The two forces were not entirely distinct, but rather intertwined—sometimes the glazed radiance prevailed, while at other times, demonic energy surged skyward, exuding an utterly terrifying aura.
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