At this moment, the maiden also noticed Zhang Xiaofan and the still unconscious Lu Xueqi beside him. Clearly, she had not expected to find any living beings in this forsaken Dead Spirit Abyss, and her expression shifted, showing a mixture of surprise and shock.
Then, as she discerned Zhang Xiaofan’s face, she paused, a look of curiosity flitting across her features before a smile tugged at her lips.
“Indeed, it is a small world!” In the darkness, she was like a beautiful, blooming lily, gracefully approaching them.
Zhang Xiaofan stood up, inadvertently placing himself in front of Lu Xueqi. After all, anyone who dared to venture into this dark, eerie abyss of the Nether Spirits and fiendish beasts was no ordinary person.
As the maiden drew closer, Zhang Xiaofan finally saw that in her delicate, jade-like fingers, she held a small white flower, which emitted a faint, ethereal glow, illuminating the area around her. He wondered what kind of strange flower this could be.
But Zhang Xiaofan did not have the luxury of time to ponder over the flower. Though he felt a certain degree of wariness towards this peculiar maiden, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity in seeing her in this dark, lonely abyss.
“Hello,” Zhang Xiaofan began, intending to exchange pleasantries, but all that came out were those two simple words.
The maiden glanced at him, smiling, “Is this not Zhang Xiaofan, the young hero of Azure Ethereal Conclave? What brings you to this ghastly place? This is certainly not where your kind would usually be found.”
Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback, “How do you know I am from the Azure Ethereal Vapors?”
The maiden simply smiled without answering.
Frowning, Zhang Xiaofan sensed that this maiden was far from simple. As he pondered, she giggled lightly, “Young hero, how long have you been here, and have you found the Blood-Drip Cave yet?”
Stunned, Zhang Xiaofan replied, “What Blood-Drip Cave?”
The maiden huffed, her smile fading, but still maintaining a calm demeanor, “You are quite good at feigning ignorance. You so-called righteous heroes, if not for the treasures within the Blood-Drip Cave, why would you venture into this dark, filthy abyss?”
Confused by her words, Zhang Xiaofan realized that there was indeed a Blood-Drip Cave with something of great importance inside. But before coming down the mountain, his master and the elder had never mentioned anything about it. His thoughts, however, veered to the implications of the maiden’s words, and he asked sternly, “You speak of our righteousness as hypocrisy, then who are you?”
The maiden flicked her aqua-green robes, and the flower in her hand traced an arc in the air, leaving a lingering glow that seemed to linger in the darkness, slowly dissipating.
“I am none other than the hated and feared witch of the Immortalbane Nexus,” she said with a charming smile.
Zhang Xiaofan’s heart sank, feeling a pang of disappointment, but the feeling was fleeting. He then grunted and readied himself for any potential danger.
Since joining the Azure Ethereal Vapors, he had heard numerous teachings about the wicked ways of the Immortalbane witches, and their cruel, merciless nature. The precepts of the Azure Ethereal Vapors strictly forbade any association with the followers of the dark path, deeming them mortal enemies, with no common ground.
However, the maiden did not seem to harbor any immediate hostility. Her gaze instead fell behind Zhang Xiaofan, and she suddenly smiled, “It seems this sister is about to wake up.”
Turning, Zhang Xiaofan saw Lu Xueqi stirring, her lips moving, and her eyes slowly opening. Overjoyed, he turned back, “You’re awake!”
But Lu Xueqi’s face twisted in alarm, struggling to say, “Be careful…”
Before Zhang Xiaofan could react, a strange, fragrant scent filled the air, and a white flower appeared in a flash of light.
In the darkness of the Dead Spirit Abyss, where could such a flower come from? Shocked, Zhang Xiaofan stepped back, only to see the flower sway in mid-air, seemingly smiling at him, before it split into four, each petal glowing with a eerie green, flying towards him.
Even if he hadn’t known the maiden’s true identity, the strange flower alone would have alerted him. Caught off guard, Zhang Xiaofan stumbled back, hurriedly raising his staff to block the flying petals. Most were deflected, but a few narrowly missed, almost injuring him.
Still shaken, Zhang Xiaofan cursed the treacherous ways of the Immortalbane, confirming the wise words of his masters and elders. But his attention was drawn to the maiden, who now moved towards Lu Xueqi.
Alarmed, Zhang Xiaofan, seeing Lu Xueqi’s vulnerability, summoned his staff and rushed at the green-robed maiden.
The green-robed maiden smiled, and with a swift motion, all the petals flew back, gathering around the flower bud. The small, glowing white flower met the dark azure light of the staff, and the two forces clashed in mid-air, neither giving way, before they both retreated.
In the darkness, a voice tinged with surprise echoed.
Taking the opportunity, Zhang Xiaofan returned to Lu Xueqi’s side, shielding her from the wily and dangerous witch.
But the “wily and dangerous” witch suddenly stopped, allowing Zhang Xiaofan to return to Lu Xueqi, her eyes filled with surprise.
During their brief exchange, she had expected her “Heartache” flower to easily subdue Zhang Xiaofan. Yet, when it clashed with the staff, the fragrance that usually incapacitated its targets was repelled, and even showed signs of backlash, greatly surprising her.
Zhang Xiaofan, protecting Lu Xueqi, asked, “Are you alright, Senior Sister Lu?”
Lu Xueqi shook her head slightly, and Zhang Xiaofan, relieved, turned to glare at the witch, “Shameless! Attacking from behind!”
The maiden’s surprise vanished, replaced by a look of indignation. She huffed, “Fine, I will show you the true power of the Immortalbane!”
As she prepared to act, Zhang Xiaofan readied himself, but inwardly, he worried. Lu Xueqi, heavily injured and weak, leaned on him, and the mysterious, unpredictable witch posed a significant threat.
Unfortunately, things often do not go as planned. Zhang Xiaofan, frantically thinking, noticed the situation worsening.
In the darkness, another light appeared, different from the green-robed maiden’s. It was a deep, almost black light, revealing a tall, dark-robed woman, her face veiled. She was the companion who had traveled with the maiden in the Mountain Sea Pavilion.
Soon, more lights appeared, revealing five people in yellow robes, the same followers who had accompanied the maiden earlier, now all present.
Zhang Xiaofan felt a chill, surrounded by many hostile gazes. At that moment, he heard Lu Xueqi’s weak, desperate voice, “Leave quickly, these people are not to be underestimated. We cannot fight them!”
Turning, Zhang Xiaofan saw her pale, beautiful face, but with no sign of fear or worry, as if stating a simple fact. Shaken, he shook his head, clenched his lips, and turned back to face the ominous group.
“Be careful, Biyao,” the veiled woman, looking at the duo, fixed her gaze on Zhang Xiaofan’s staff, whispering, “That black rod is strange.”
Biyao, the green-robed maiden, asked, “Auntie You, what do you see?”
The veiled woman, called Auntie You, spoke with a hint of confusion, “It feels… similar to a fierce aura, but how can a righteous one wield such a thing? They cannot control this bead, and this is a short rod. Strange.”
Biyao huffed, “I shall see just how powerful it is!” She took a step forward, followed by the yellow-robed figures. Seeing the danger, Zhang Xiaofan, though determined to fight, was vastly outnumbered, and reluctantly, he helped Lu Xueqi retreat.
The dark-robed, veiled woman, with a ghostly aura, floated forward, her voice low, “That short rod exudes a fierce aura. Do you feel it?”
Biyao nodded, looking at the tense Zhang Xiaofan.
The veiled woman paused, “Though this is so, I sense the ferocity within the rod is not fully unleashed, as if suppressed. I suspect it has ties to our Holy Sect. This boy is suspicious; proceed with caution.”
Biyao frowned, “Auntie You, what should we do?”
The veiled woman spoke calmly, “Capture him and bring him to your father. The Lord will surely know more about this.”
Biyao agreed, “Very well.”
As they advanced, Zhang Xiaofan, holding Lu Xueqi, grew increasingly anxious. He could hear the sound of water, suggesting they were near the beginning of the abyss.
Biyao, pausing, asked, “Auntie You, is this the Fathomless Sea?”
The veiled woman, after a moment of silence, sighed, “Only heartbreak can be found in the Fathomless Sea. Yes, this is the most mysterious of the Five Seas, the Fathomless Sea.”
“Ah!” Biyao, excited, didn’t notice the bitterness in the veiled woman’s tone, “Father told me the Fathomless Sea is hidden beneath the earth, the ninth hell, and that the Blood-Drip Cave is nearby. We must be close after three days of searching.”
The veiled woman remained silent.
Biyao, curious, then dismissed her thoughts, turning, “I will capture you first, then find the Blood-Drip Cave!”
She gestured, and the yellow-robed figures moved forward. Zhang Xiaofan, with the boundless, cold Fathomless Sea behind and the menacing group ahead, found himself in a dire predicament.
Lu Xueqi, sensing the cold wind from the Fathomless Sea, felt her body weaken, her head spinning. She knew Zhang Xiaofan, burdened with caring for her, would likely meet the same fate.
She looked at Zhang Xiaofan, who, despite his tension and determination, showed no sign of retreat.
“Junior Brother Zhang,” she called softly. Zhang Xiaofan, hearing her, moved, but did not turn back.
“Senior Sister Lu, you saved me on the platform, and even now, I… I won’t leave.” Zhang Xiaofan, feeling a surge of emotion, wanted to say more, but only managed, “I won’t leave.”
Lu Xueqi said nothing.
Zhang Xiaofan felt uneasy, fearing he might have offended her. Since meeting Lu Xueqi, he had always been wary of this cold, enigmatic woman.
The cold wind from the Fathomless Sea blew, ruffling the hair of the silent woman, brushing against his neck and face.
The waves of the Fathomless Sea seemed to grow fiercer, and a gust of wind, like a mocking laugh, swept through the darkness, as if the Fathomless Sea itself was ridiculing the world.
Biyao, with a smile, led the yellow-robed figures in a circle.
Zhang Xiaofan, stepping back, felt a sudden chill, realizing he had stepped into the icy seawater.
Suddenly, a massive wave rose from the tumultuous Fathomless Sea, its roar deafening, towering several yards high, forcing everyone to struggle to stay on their feet.
The veiled woman, alarmed, shouted, “Biyao, retreat!”
Biyao, startled, knowing her aunt’s wisdom, quickly retreated, followed by the yellow-robed figures. Only Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi, closest to the shore, were caught off guard, drenched and chilled to the bone.
The others, observing the sudden change, saw two huge, green-glowing lights appear in the dark sea, strangely elongated, with a narrow, dark slit in the center, exuding a cold, malevolent aura.
“It, it’s that beast, it’s not dead!” The veiled woman, trembling, exclaimed.
Biyao, shocked, asked, “Auntie, what is that?”
The veiled woman, staring at the approaching lights, her voice tinged with fear, said, “This is the Black Water Serpent.”
Biyao, astounded, “Isn’t it said to have been slain by the holy bird in the Western Marshes a thousand years ago?”
The veiled woman, urgently, “So it is said, but it appears now. The Black Water Serpent is an ancient beast, invincible save for its natural enemy. We must retreat.”
Biyao, hesitant, “But the boy…”
The veiled woman, shaking her head, “We must go, quickly.”
Biyao, still hesitating, but Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi, drenched and shivering, held their breaths.
As the lights approached, they realized the two enormous orbs, nearly as tall as two men, were eyes. From the Red Demon Eye to the pig-headed beast, every eye Zhang Xiaofan had encountered paled in comparison to these.
The cold, salty, and overwhelming stench of the sea filled the air, as an impossibly large, black serpent emerged. Its lower half coiled, submerged in the sea, while its upper body and head towered several dozen yards above the ground, its green, glowing eyes peering down at the minuscule figures below.
Zhang Xiaofan, never having imagined such a colossal creature, realized that even the revered Water Kirin of the Azure Ethereal Vapors was like a small dog compared to this behemoth.
All, including Lu Xueqi and the Immortalbane witches, stood in awe, speechless before the monstrous serpent.
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