Beneath the crimson orb of the setting sun, which hung far in the distance, the towering and perilous mountain ranges cast their last warmth upon the Southern Wastelands. The dim light fell upon the silent earth, painting a desolate, chilling scene.
After leaving the Incense Valley, Guli and Jin Ping’er stood before the vast and majestic mountains, like two insignificant mortals gazing at the immense expanse of nature. As the sun sank into the horizon, the sky gradually darkened, and the mountains seemed to swallow the last glimmer of light.
Amidst the ebb and flow of celestial bodies, who could outlast the relentless passage of time?
Guli had proposed leaving the Incense Valley. During his brief stay, he overheard a conversation between Cloud Yi Lan and two others, revealing that the valley might possess some arcane method to reawaken the “Eight Fierce Beasts Fire Formation.” This presented a golden opportunity for Guli and Jin Ping’er to observe and uncover more secrets.
Yet, despite his usually calm demeanor, Guli suggested they leave, and surprisingly, the shrewd Jin Ping’er agreed without hesitation.
As they journeyed, Guli and Jin Ping’er spoke little, but there was an unspoken understanding between them, leading them southward. They eventually arrived at the fabled “Ten Thousand Mountains,” standing beneath the somber shadows of the mountains and the fading sun.
The wind blew across the desolate land, carrying no scent of flowers, only the distant, unsettling odors and sounds. Even the air seemed to bristle with hostility.
Jin Ping’er’s hair fluttered gently in the wind, her delicate chin and pale neck exposed as she gazed at the distant peaks. The dark summits were shrouded in thick, swirling mists, concealing untold worlds beyond.
While others might wonder, Jin Ping’er’s eyes gleamed with a mysterious, complex light.
Unlike the silent, enchanting woman beside him, Guli’s mind was a tumultuous sea of thoughts. The blood sacrifice, in particular, deeply troubled him. Despite his own history of violence and the moniker “Blood Prince” within the cult, he found himself instinctively repelled by the idea. Later, a casual remark from Jin Ping’er awakened a long-ignored truth: even the cult, perhaps even the Demon King, might be planning something similar.
To sacrifice countless lives to summon malevolent deities, this was a grave transgression against the natural order. Yet, it was happening right around him.
What kind of world is this? Have all people lost their minds?
Or, as that peculiar, captivating youth once said, are humans merely another form of beasts, no different from the rest?
Guli took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains. After receiving his orders from the Ghost Master, Guli had deduced that the monstrous creature “Tao Tie” mentioned in the instructions was the Beast God, the same one who had spared him twice.
A faint, warm presence lingered in his chest, a constant companion for years. The jade token hidden there, perhaps, held the key to this journey.
From the conversation between Cloud Yi Lan and Shangguan Ce, it was clear that the Incense Valley had lost the Essence of Fire, rendering the Eight Fierce Beasts Fire Formation dormant. Could the possession of the Darkfire Mirror unlock its secrets?
As the last rays of sunlight vanished, the dense mists atop the mountains began to dissipate. Jin Ping’er smiled and turned to Guli, saying, “It’s time. Let’s go.”
Guli looked at her and asked, “How did you know about the toxic fog in the Ten Thousand Mountains?”
With a teasing smile, Jin Ping’er replied, “I won’t tell you. What can you do about it?”
Surprised, Guli noticed how, in the dimming light, Jin Ping’er radiated a bewitching, otherworldly beauty, offering a rare sense of comfort.
At least, in the darkness, they wouldn’t be alone.
Guli’s lips twitched, and he turned away, saying, “Let’s go.”
They walked, with Jin Ping’er following closely behind, her eyes sparkling with a knowing glint.
***
In the distant Azure Ethereal Conclave, on the Heavenly Peak, the Jade Purity Hall, the recent chaos brought by the beast demons had been swiftly contained, much like the aftermath of the great battle ten years ago. Most of the peak had returned to its serene, ethereal state, save for a few damaged structures.
The Jade Purity Hall, the grandest and most important building, had suffered minimal damage, a testament to the protection of the ancestors of the Azure Ethereal Vapors.
Meanwhile, as Guli and Jin Ping’er ventured into the mysterious Ten Thousand Mountains, a heated argument erupted in the sacred hall. The six faction leaders, not summoned by the Dao Xuan Master, had gathered, greeted by the awkward Xiao Yicai.
“Why hasn’t the sect leader come to see us after two hours?” demanded Dianyi, the leader of the Big Bamboo Peak, his voice booming.
Xiao Yicai, embarrassed, explained, “Dao Xuan Master has been in seclusion in the Illusory Moon Cave for ten days.”
Doubtful, the leaders pressed further. Water Moon Master, seated among them, coldly inquired, “Is it true that Dao Xuan Master has been acting strangely, even screaming madly on the roof of the Jade Purity Hall?”
Xiao Yicai firmly denied, but the leaders insisted on verifying the matter themselves. Xiao Yicai, caught in a dilemma, finally conceded, leading them to the Ancestral Shrine.
Outside the shrine, Lin Jingyu, startled by the gathering, confirmed that the sect leader was inside, but denied any knowledge of seclusion.
As the leaders approached the shrine, Tian Buxi questioned, “Are you inside, Dao Xuan? We’ve come to check on your health.”
A cold, bitter voice replied, “Do you think to usurp my position?”
The leaders were shocked. Dao Xuan’s voice, filled with malice, accused them of deceit and betrayal, even implicating Water Moon Master in the tragic fate of Wan Jianyi.
The room was left in stunned silence, and the laughter of the deranged Dao Xuan echoed through the halls, a chilling reminder of the unfolding crisis.
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