Chapter 196 - Arc 12: Ruyi Xianzhuang | Chapter 196: Immortal Artifact
Translator: Lynn
In the sky, two women stood facing each other, separated by a distance of hundreds of feet.
The woman on the left was adorned in simple yet elegant attire, her expression cold and dignified, exuding refinement. On the other hand, the woman on the right had disheveled hair cascading over her temples, a nonchalant demeanor, and an alluring aura.
This presented a striking contrast, one resembling a fairy and the other akin to a witch. Although their differences were evident, their presence was equally formidable.
At this moment, Mu Wuxin harbored an intense hatred. She had initially believed that Sunu faction was reluctant to reconcile and aimed to discreetly disrupt the marriage between Sunu faction at this Immortal Fruit Conference. Little did she anticipate that Yu Nongqing’s intentions were far more sinister. As if disregarding Xianzhuang entirely, he allowed his disciples to unleash malevolent entities from the malevolent path, inciting this blood-soaked turmoil!
Mu Wuxin, being well-informed, understood that integrating demon heads and demonic seeds seamlessly would take hundreds or even thousands of years of preparation. This indicated that Yu Nongqing had plotted this event thousands of years in advance!
Furthermore, after Mu Wuxin had bestowed the whirling fruit, many elders from the villa had taken on the responsibility of safeguarding the sacred grounds or monitoring the void’s rifts. Their intent was to preserve the villa’s reputation.
Unexpectedly, just as those men and women were on the cusp of communication, demonic energy suddenly erupted. Everyone following the Sunu group in this place had released Golden Core cultivators and even demon heads from their dantians. Caught off guard, blood soon flowed, and even those elders were assaulted, assassinated, and had their primordial souls plundered, rendering them unable to regain control of the situation.
Mu Wuxin hadn’t expected that Sunu faction would rebel, and those Sunu disciples displayed ruthless aggression towards their Yunu sisters. For a time, there was no assistance for the visitors. Even if she wanted to intervene personally, Yu Nongqing restrained her, preventing her from acting.
This dire situation filled Mu Wuxin with both anxiety and rage. In her fury, she wished she could devour the person standing before her!
For the immortal Fruit Conference, Mu Wuxin had invited numerous sects from the Eastern Region, and it was safe to say that all the reputable ones had sent their outstanding disciples. This, in itself, demonstrated the trust many sects had in Ruyi Xianzhuang.
However, she encountered Yu Nongqing, who had meticulously planned this for a long time. Those malevolent entities preyed on numerous talented individuals and heroes, nearly decimating the next generation of many sects. Golden Core Daoists met gruesome ends, and Master Mu’s heart grew heavy.
Even if Ruyi Xianzhuang narrowly escaped this calamity, their sect’s elders would undoubtedly bear a grudge. Once resentment took root… how could this esteemed sect, with its treasures, establish itself within the cultivation world? Not to mention, the jade girl disciples who, though slightly less powerful, represented the future strength of Xianzhuang and perished here, causing Mu Wuxin unimaginable anguish.
As the death toll mounted, Mu Wuxin’s anxiety intensified. Observing Yu Nongqing’s nonchalant demeanor and her taunting behavior, Mu Wuxin grew increasingly infuriated. In her rage, she yearned to defeat the woman before her.
In an act of desperation, Mu Wuxin wished to assert her authority and make a statement. She withdrew her right hand from her dantian, clutching something within, and slowly revealed it to the world.
Seeing this, Yu Nongqing raised an eyebrow and chuckled, “My dear senior sister, are you planning to employ the immortal artifact?”
Mu Wuxin’s eyes bore a murderous intent, and her voice resonated with authority, “Today, in front of me stand the demoness of Ruyi Xianzhuang, conspiring to undermine my Ruyi Xianzhuang. As the Xianzhuang’s steward, Mu Wuxin, I shall summon the immortal artifact to cleanse this place!” Her words were crystal clear, echoing across the Immortal Fruit Orchard instantly. With the situation deteriorating, she knew she had to show resolve.
Despite everything, Ruyi Xianzhuang was primarily overseen by the Yunu faction. At this critical juncture, she had to expel the Sunu faction and preserve the lineage of the Yunu disciples. How much she could save depended on her own efforts!
Numerous cultivators, whether from the righteous or malevolent paths, caught the phrase “immortal artifact” in their ears.
In ancient times, a few fairy artifacts remained in the cultivation world. However, only cultivators and immortals at the Mahayana stage or above could wield them. Their numbers were scarce, but their power was immense.
In the present day, only the largest sects with powerful leaders possessed one or two of these artifacts, which played a pivotal role in maintaining the sect’s foundation.
Ruyi Immortal Village dared to rely on the Immortal Sacred Tree, in addition to the Mahayana stage powerhouses that had been part of their village for generations. Their reliance on this immortal artifact was undeniable.
Certainly, otherwise, it wouldn’t be so straightforward!
However, immortal weapons are rarely wielded except in the direst of circumstances, typically when a sect’s survival is on the line.
Now, as Mu Wuxin prepared to unleash the immortal artifact, it was evident that she believed Ruyi Xianzhuang was in grave danger.
Yu Nongqing’s laughter grew more playful as she said, “Senior sister, your words are so righteous, they nearly brought tears to my eyes. But…” Her voice took on a sly tone as she whispered, “…it’s just that using the power of a fairy weapon to forcibly advance to the Mahayana stage, your life force should have been depleted long ago. If you employ the fairy weapon now, won’t it be your own undoing?”…
The revelation shocked the crowd. The Ruyi Xianzhuang sect leader, who had dwelled in the immortal realm for five thousand years, was not genuinely a Mahayana powerhouse?
The cultivators in attendance were incredulous.
However, in the following moment, they had no time to dwell on this revelation as they returned to combating the demon horde.
In the current life-and-death scenario, everyone had regained their composure, their determination unwavering. Amid the chaos, there was no room for further doubts or inquiries.
Mu Wuxin snorted with disdain but refrained from responding. The more she withheld her words, the more people suspected the accuracy of Yu Nongqing’s claim. Her remaining lifespan did indeed seem quite limited, and her true power had likely not reached the Mahayana stage.
At the same time, the sky underwent a tumultuous transformation, appearing as though it was being contorted by unseen hands. An immense force seemed to gnaw at it, as though it was about to rupture the barrier and burst forth.
This marked the commencement of Mu Wuxin and Yu Nongqing’s battle. However, one of them possessed a celestial weapon, and the other possessed Mahayana-level cultivation. Their conflict could not take place outside the void, as the residual power would decimate everything in its path. Ruyi Xianzhuang would become a pile of rubble, and the righteous and malevolent sect disciples below would be pulverized into oblivion.
Nevertheless, their inability to exit the void didn’t imply that no one could enter.
Suddenly, several blood shadows emerged and ascended into the void. In pursuit, a man dressed in white brocade followed closely, tracking the blood shadows.
Before long, the shadows were drawn towards the turbulent region, vanishing into its depths.
The battle within the void raged on, just as it did below.
The demon heads of the malevolent path were bloodthirsty, frequently replenishing their strength with the flesh and blood of others. With every cultivator they slew, their power increased dramatically. Moreover, they harbored no fear of death and felt no compassion for their fellow disciples. If one of their comrades was killed by a cultivator, the scent of blood only intensified their frenzy.
All the disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect had congregated, forming a defensive formation with their backs against one another. They wielded their magic weapons toward the outside world, while the five Nascent Soul cultivators guarded the perimeter. Their efforts managed to stave off the demon onslaught, leaving only a handful to breach their defenses and be confronted by over a dozen Golden Core cultivators.
This arrangement granted them a brief respite, but they were all young cultivators, regardless of their potential. They had never encountered such a large number of Golden Core stage demons, let alone Nascent Soul demons. The grim reality weighed heavily on them. The occasional screams of their peers, coupled with memories of the joyful and harmonious atmosphere from earlier, filled them with sorrow for the fallen.
Elder Qin continued to strike with relentless vigor, each blow rupturing a demon’s body and creating a gory spectacle. With his Nascent Soul-level cultivation, it was relatively simple to dispatch Golden Core cultivators. He also kept a watchful eye on the disciples behind him, ensuring their safety. Upon realizing Yun Lie’s absence, he inquired, “Why isn’t Yun Lie here?”
Ou Mubai, vigilant of his surroundings, replied, “Elder brother didn’t join us earlier; it seems he went with his junior brother.” A sense of worry crept over him.
While the eldest brother was undoubtedly formidable, under the present circumstances, no matter how skilled he was, he was still just a golden core cultivator. He would be utterly defenseless against a Nascent Soul demons. Moreover, he had to safeguard his junior brother, who is still in the Golden Core Formation stage. If they remained unprotected, their chances of survival would be slim.
Elder Qin furrowed his brow, instructing, “Quickly find him. Leave these demons to me for now.”
While these talented and arrogant disciples of the same generation possessed great skills and potential, their conceit often prevented them from inviting comparisons. Among these core disciples, there had been instances of both victories and losses in their interactions. Even if they achieved first place in some instances, they couldn’t guarantee the same outcome each time. The margins of difference among them were relatively small. However, that all changed when Yun Lie emerged.
Yun Lie had previously gained recognition among the lower-level disciples due to his exceptional swordsmanship. However, these top-tier core disciples hadn’t viewed him as a particularly formidable figure.
Unexpectedly, once he ventured into the Golden Core stage, he soared to new heights, leaving all other geniuses in his wake. He became an undeniable presence on the Tianlong list.
This sudden surge in his cultivation effectively suppressed them, dealing a blow to their pride.
However, despite their pride, Ou Mubai and the others were not willing to see Yun Lie perish due to this unfortunate disaster.
Thus, following Elder Qin’s directive, they exchanged glances and set out to locate Yun Lie within the chaotic bloodbath.
Suddenly, Ou Mu’s gaze shifted toward the southeast and he exclaimed, “Brother!”
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Yun Lie stood unwavering, his movements precise and controlled within a confined space. His sword techniques were as swift as lightning, ensuring the demise of a demon with each precise strike.
Behind him, Xu Ziqing maintained a vigilant watch, his eyes unwaveringly fixed on his brother, never letting his guard down.
The Golden Core stage demons transformed into numerous blood shadows, swirling around the two of them. They moved with incredible speed and elusive grace. The pungent scent of blood that surrounded them, along with the dark, coiled aura of malevolence, resembled a waking nightmare, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who beheld them.
Yun Lie, however, harbored no fear. Each of his movements and techniques was executed with utmost precision, conserving every bit of his vital energy, ensuring no energy was wasted in his strikes. Yet, despite his meticulous control, he remained, at his core, a Golden Core stage cultivator. What started as pristine white robes were now stained crimson, with increasing ferocity in his countenance, transforming him into a fearsome, blood-soaked deity. As the intensity of the battle escalated, so did the expenditure of his vital energy.
No one comprehended the immense pressure Yun Lie faced more acutely than Xu Ziqing. Dozens of Golden Core-level demon heads relentlessly descended upon them. Yun Lie’s responsibilities extended beyond merely defeating his adversaries; he also had to ensure the safety of Xu Ziqing. The challenge was formidable. Xu Ziqing knew full well that the current situation differed vastly from the previous competition.
These demons were relentless, refusing to surrender or retreat simply because they were momentarily repelled. Instead, they persisted in their relentless pursuit of their victims, driven by a relentless desire to claim lives and siphon the life essence from their prey.
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