In the southern reaches, within the treacherous expanse of Ten Thousand Great Mountains, a group of over a dozen figures stood in stark contrast against the foreboding backdrop of a vast, dark forest. Most of these were elite disciples from the Incense Valley, led by Li Xun, with only two outsiders among them—Lu Xueqi and Zeng Shushu of the Azure Ethereal Conclave. Wen Min, who had been with Lu Xueqi and Zeng Shushu earlier, was conspicuously absent.
Many in the party showed signs of weariness, indicating the perilous and eerie journey through the mountains, despite their adeptness in the ways of cultivation. Only Li Xun, Lu Xueqi, and Zeng Shushu, with their profound cultivation, maintained a calm and composed demeanor.
Gazing at the sinister, dark forest before them, no one felt a sense of joy.
Poisonous miasma hung thickly over the black forest, making an aerial passage impossible, and the forest’s extensive reach made bypassing it difficult. Li Xun, their guide, had clearly stated that according to local legends, the Beast Demon’s lair lay within the Ancient Demon Cave beyond this forest. It seemed they had no choice but to traverse this ominous woodland.
The divine sword Tianya emitted a soft blue glow, gently shimmering beside Lu Xueqi, illuminating her solitary, white figure. In Wen Min’s absence, she seldom spoke to Li Xun or the other Incense Valley disciples, and even her fellow Azure Ethereal Conclave member, Zeng Shushu, received little attention. The dangerous landscapes and creatures around them, which would terrify most, often went unnoticed or fell to her sword without a second thought. What thoughts occupied her mind remained a mystery to all.
Li Xun, curious, turned to Zeng Shushu and whispered, “Zeng Brother, what do you think is on Lu Sister’s mind? She remains so quiet.”
Zeng Shushu gave a wry smile, “Li Brother, I fear you are asking the wrong person.”
Li Xun looked at him for a moment, then shook his head, sharing a similar bitter smile.
As the group rested after a day’s toil, Lu Xueqi stood alone by a rock, gazing at the distant mountains. Many eyes lingered on her graceful silhouette, both intentionally and unintentionally.
Li Xun and Zeng Shushu, after a moment’s contemplation, decided to approach Lu Xueqi. Li Xun, serious, said, “Zeng Brother, let us invite Lu Sister over to discuss our next steps, shall we?”
Zeng Shushu nodded and, approaching Lu Xueqi, quietly relayed the message. Lu Xueqi, expressionless, glanced at Li Xun, who chuckled nervously.
Eventually, Lu Xueqi returned with Zeng Shushu. Li Xun cleared his throat, “After passing this dark forest, we will be close to the Beast Demon’s lair. We must…”
“Li Brother!” Lu Xueqi interrupted, catching everyone off guard. It was the first time since entering the mountains that she had spoken to Li Xun directly. “I have a question. These days, I have found something perplexing. May I ask about it?”
Li Xun nodded, “Please, Lu Sister.”
Lu Xueqi, maintaining her cool tone, asked, “We heard from the Incense Valley that this place is extremely perilous, and even you rarely venture here. Yet, it seems you know this area well. Have you been here before? Also, the Beast God’s whereabouts are enigmatic. How did the Incense Valley discover such information?”
Li Xun, unperturbed, smiled, “Lu Sister, I told you before. While we didn’t pay much attention to this place, the emergence of the Beast Demons has changed that. Our disciples tracked the remaining Beast Demons and discovered the lair, though it cost us some of our best.”
Lu Xueqi and Zeng Shushu frowned, skeptical but unable to refute his confident words. They remained silent. Li Xun, noticing this, continued, “By the way, why did your Wen Min Sister return to Azure Ethereal Conclave so suddenly before we entered the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?”
Zeng Shushu, taken aback, replied, “Wen Min Sister had an urgent matter and had to leave.”
Lu Xueqi, her gaze lowered, remained silent. The reason for Wen Min’s departure, unbeknownst to Zeng Shushu, was to inform their seniors about the potential destruction of the Heaven-Slayer Sword, a critical secret mentioned by Yun Yilan in the Hall of River and Mountain.
Though important, they could not abandon the mission to confront the Beast Gods. After deliberation, Wen Min left for Azure Ethereal Conclave, while Lu Xueqi and Zeng Shushu stayed. The strange behavior of the Incense Valley, especially Yun Yilan, raised suspicions.
Li Xun and Zeng Shushu discussed the necessary precautions for entering the forest, enlightening Zeng Shushu with previously unknown information. Lu Xueqi, however, grew weary of the conversation and stepped away, lost in her thoughts.
Who knew what awaited them in the forest?
—
On Bamboo Peak, a new dawn broke as the disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave were still asleep. Unusually, Tian Yiyi emerged early, fully dressed, from the Tranquil Hall. His face, usually round and cheerful, now bore a grave expression. Su Ru, his wife, followed, both looking as if they had not slept.
Su Ru, worried, suggested, “Yiyi, I feel uneasy about this. Let’s reconsider.”
Tian Yiyi, unyielding, said, “This cannot wait. Daoxuan’s condition worsens, and he even attacked Fan Elder and Xiao Yicai yesterday.”
Su Ru, shocked, inquired, “What? Why? Are they hurt?”
Tian Yiyi, grim, recounted, “They tried to reason with him. Daoxuan, behaving oddly, attacked Fan Elder, while Xiao Yicai, clever as always, escaped.”
Su Ru, puzzled, asked, “Why risk seeing him?”
Tian Yiyi, taking a deep breath, explained, “You know the secret of the Heaven-Slayer Sword. If Daoxuan, influenced by demonic energies, wields it, it will be disastrous. He has always done well, but now, I must check on him.”
With reluctance, Su Ru agreed, “If you insist, I’ll accompany you.”
Tian Yiyi, shaking his head, declined, “No, it’s better if I go alone. I hope he can awaken from this darkness. Otherwise…” His voice trailed off, filled with worry.
Finally, he summoned his Scarlet Flame Sword, its red light piercing the clouds. As he departed, Su Ru, tearful, called out, “Yiyi…” Her voice carried all her love and sorrow.
Tian Yiyi, smiling, turned and waved, leaving her standing, gazing at the sky, tears like pearls on her hair, slowly falling.
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