Chapter 52:Journey in the Mountains and Rivers (VI)

Her once soft voice was now completely cold, with a clear and penetrating tone that echoed outside the empty palace, just like the eaglewood plant.

The immortals stared at the demon-slaying sword hovering in front of her in disbelief.

That was… the demon-slaying sword?

They had only heard of the demon-slaying sword in legends. It was forged by a divine monarch using his divine heart tens of thousands of years ago to slay the then-demon lord.

Every god or goddess with a divine heart could forge a demon-slaying sword, including Yan Hong.

So, did Yan Heng, the goddess, dig out her divine heart?

The immortals looked at the woman on the platform. She was slender, with a clear and indifferent look in her eyes. Her pure and powerful divine power made it impossible to tell that she was seriously injured.

But there was only one god left in the world, Yan Heng, who must have dug out her divine heart to forge the demon-slaying sword.

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It was always because of these people. No matter what Yan Heng was doing or how badly she was injured, she had to lead them out of the palace to conquer the world every time they came to the palace.

Just because she was the goddess and the only god in the world.

“Enough.” Ji Hu spoke coldly, interrupting the immortals’ cheers.

The immortals fell silent immediately and looked up at the platform. Ji Hu stood tall and straight, holding his sword. His eyes, like glass, were cold and sharp as he looked at them, with a hint of killing intent.

The immortals: “…?”

How did they offend this killer god again?

Ji Hu walked slowly to Sui Ning’s side and whispered, “If you have nothing to do, please leave so that the goddess can rest.”

The immortals looked at each other hesitantly, unsure of what to do. Finally, the first one to speak prostrated himself on the ground and said, “Goddess, War God, the evil spirits in the Wanmo Cavern are likely to be uncontrollable. What should we do?”

Sui Ning’s eyes narrowed coldly under her veil, and she looked towards Ji Hu at her side. She, too, wanted to know what Ji Hu should do.

Ji Hu coldly glanced at the people below and noticed Sui Ning’s sidelong glance at her, meeting her with her complex eyes.

He looked at her calmly, then slightly raised the corner of his lips and casually said, “The goddess will soon resolve the problem of Wanmo Cavern.”

Sui Ning’s phoenix eyes slightly contracted as she looked at him in disbelief, her indifferent expression instantly crumbling.

What is he talking about?

Yan Heng fell into a deep sleep, not knowing when she would wake up. How could she quickly solve the problem of the Wanmo Cavern?

The ritual altar chuckled lightly, repeating each word slowly: “The goddess has long had a plan for the Wanmo Cavern.”

Sui Ning: “?”

The immortals were first stunned, then suddenly overjoyed. Excitement was written all over their faces.

They all prostrated themselves on the ground together, shouting in unison, “Great love of the goddess!”

“Great love of the goddess!”

“Great love of the goddess!”

The overwhelming cheers made Sui Ning’s heart tremble. She looked at Ji Hu, and her phoenix eyes were filled with coldness.

Ji Hu’s expression was calm, and he calmly met her gaze.

Upon returning to the palace, Sui Ning was greeted by Xie Changzhou, who had a gentle expression and a face full of tenderness.

“You did a great job, Ningning,” he said softly.

Sui Ning’s eyes curved, and her dark eyes shone brightly as she responded without modesty, “Of course.”

Xie Changzhou chuckled, and his face was filled with laughter between his eyebrows and eyes.

He looked at Sui Ning and then at the figure of Jihe behind her. His face turned cold, his eyes were frosty, and the smile in his eyes disappeared.

“God of War, what is your plan?” Xie Changzhou asked softly.

Ji Hu continued to hold his sword and look at him. Although there was a smile on his lips, there was no humor in his eyes.

Finally, he slightly opened his thin lips and said, “I have a way. You two can rest assured.”

Sui Ning’s eyes also turned cold, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xie Changzhou as they looked at Ji hu in front of them.

Ji hu tilted his head and met their gaze for a while, then lightly laughed and said, “Are you afraid that I will do something bad? Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Xie Changzhou’s expression remained indifferent, and his azure eyes glared coldly at Ji hu. “We can’t control what the God of War wants to do, but we believe that the God of War won’t disappoint us.”

Their eyes met, and Ji hu’s face grew colder and colder. Xie Changzhou met his gaze calmly, and the meaning behind their shallow pupils was complex.

In the end, Jihe turned his gaze away first and walked towards the inner hall, passing by them.

His cold and rigid voice came: “The inner palace is Ah Heng’s residence, and the palace has side rooms. Both of you should be light on your feet.”

His tall and slender figure disappeared at the end of the hall, leaving only Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou in the outer palace.

Sui Ning furrowed her eyebrows and said softly, “Sword Master, I always feel like there’s something that Ah Heng is hiding from us.”

She paused, and her long eyelashes drooped to cover the emotions in her eyes. “And, I have this inexplicable feeling towards Yan Heng… I feel sad and want to cry when I see her.”

That inexplicable sorrow hit her soul hard, and she was so sad that she almost cried.

Feeling wronged, unbearable, and sad.

What happened to her in the end?

Xie Changzhou lowered his eyes, saw her look of distress, and couldn’t help but want to smile. He gently took her hand, which was tightly clenched around her sleeve, and slowly opened her fist.

He had a warm and focused expression, and his clear voice was soothing. “Ningning, don’t worry, I’m here.”

Sui Ning looked at Xie Changzhou holding her hand; with distinct knuckles, slender and beautiful fingers, and neatly trimmed nails, it was a very handsome pair of hands.

Just like him as a person, it was pleasing to the eye.

Her heart softened, and she turned her hand to hold his; her eyes curled with a smile outside of her veil, and her jet-black pupils were filled with joy.

She said tenderly, “Jianzun, don’t worry; I will protect you too!”

Xie Changzhou was taken aback for a moment. After he regained his composure, he could only smile helplessly and lower his head. A shallow, low-pitched laughter spilled out from deep within his throat, his eyes soft and affectionate.

“Okay, Ningning.” He leaned down to meet her gaze, and a light mist wafted through his shallow pupils. He spoke softly, “Ningning, come protect me.”

Sui Ning’s smile grew even more pronounced in her eyes. The heaviness in her heart from before was swept away. As long as Xie Changzhou was with her, she didn’t have to be afraid of anything.

She lifted her veil and planted a kiss on Xie Changzhou’s face, her laughter clear and melodious. “Jianzun, you’re so handsome!”

Xie Changzhou’s eyes curled up, and the hand on her waist tightened slightly. A glimmer of starlight seemed to dance in his glassy eyes.

“Ningning is very beautiful too.”

He bent down to hug her, resting his chin on her fluffy head. The sweet fragrance emanating from her body filled his senses, and he felt his heart soften.

“Worry not, Ningning. I’ll protect you. Don’t be afraid,” he said in a gentle and soothing voice.

Sui Ning hugged him back, and all her worries and anxieties dissipated. She breathed in the light scent of pine from his body, feeling suddenly at ease.

“Mm, I’m not afraid,” she replied softly.

Even if Ji Hu had other plans, he would have to wait until Yan Heng woke up. Otherwise, there would be no one to take Yan Heng’s place, and the news of her fainting would leak out, which would surely alert Gui Ba. Ji Hu wasn’t foolish enough to let that happen.

The hall was quiet, and the flickering candlelight cast their slender figures on the walls.

***

Sui Ning didn’t expect to stay in the palace for almost a month. She lay lazily on a soft couch, her fair feet resting on Xie Changzhou’s knee, who was quietly meditating by her side.

Grapes were placed on the small table next to the couch, and Sui Ning would occasionally pick one up and eat it.

She was chewing on grapes, mumbling unclearly, “Yanheng has been in a coma and hasn’t woken up yet. It’s been a few days since we met Ji Hu, and we don’t know where he went. Until when do we have to wait?”

Xie Changzhou opened his eyes, and the spiritual energy that had been entwined around his body gradually subsided and disappeared. He lowered his gaze to the white and tender little feet on his knees.

Her feet looked about the same size as one of his hands, fair as jade, with neatly trimmed nails, lightly swaying on his knees.

Xie Changzhou sighed helplessly, raised his hand, took her foot, and took out a pair of socks from his Qiankun bag to put on her.

“Ningning, it’s cool; you can’t go barefoot.”

Sui Ning was speechless, resigned to waiting for him to put on her socks.

Although it was cool outside, the palace was warm like spring, and as a cultivator, her physique was naturally strong, so it was not so easy to catch a cold.

Xie Changzhou was really…overly concerned.

After he had put on her socks and tied the laces himself, Sui Ning continued to ask him, “Jianzun, how long do we have to wait?”

It had been too long, and she didn’t know if time passed the same way in this place as it did in the outside world or how many days had passed outside.

The longer they waited, the less favorable it was for stabilizing the situation. The beasts were so chaotic that they might break through the formation at any time.

And now they were in the beast’s sea of consciousness, but they hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the beast, completely unaware of its whereabouts.

Sui Ning was feeling a little overwhelmed, having wasted so much time in this Palace.

Xie Changzhou gently placed her foot back on his knee and looked at Sui Ning, who was slouching lazily beside him, a hint of a smile appearing in his shallow eyes.

“Ningning, don’t panic. Since we’re still in the beast’s sea of consciousness, it means it’s still suppressed.”

He straightened out the skirt that had been piled up, covering her exposed, delicate, and slender legs, his gaze focused and serious, as if he were doing something very important.

Suining smiled mischievously and stretched her foot to scratch his waist, her voice soft and playful: “Jianzun, do you want to leave? The palace is our own world.”

Xie Changzhou held down her mischievous foot, looking helpless: “Ningning, don’t cause trouble.”

Sui Ning’s eyes curled into a bright smile, two dimples appearing on her cheeks. “Okay, then I’ll be obedient.”

She said so, but the smile in her eyes didn’t diminish at all; she was mischievous like a little fox.

Xie Changzhou was momentarily stunned, his smile becoming deeper and warmer as his gentle, spiritual energy flowed into Sui Ning’s meridians, warming her body.

“Ningning, the beast will appear during the God-Demon War, so you don’t have to worry.”

He frowned slightly, looking gentle. “As for Yanheng, she’s seriously injured and may need to sleep for a while. As for Ji Hu…”

Xie Changzhou’s expression turned cold, and his eyes were deep and mysterious.

Sui Ning sensed that something was wrong with him and leaned closer to him: “What’s wrong with Ji Hu?”

Xie Changzhou shook his head and continued to send warm, spiritual energy into her body: “It’s nothing, Ningning; don’t worry.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a thick aura of demonic energy suddenly came from outside the palace, followed by the sound of the palace guards lining up.

“Get in formation!”

Someone was attacking!

Xie Changzhou’s expression became cold, and he said to Suining, “Stay here and don’t move.”

He picked up the nearby Du Wang sword, and a wicked aura of demonic energy rushed towards Sui Ning.

Xie Changzhou’s lips tightened, and his once cool temperament suddenly turned cold and merciless as he stood firmly in front of Sui Ning, wielding his sword to strike down the incoming demonic energy.

The demonic energy gradually dissipated, and a figure hidden within it gradually revealed itself.

A black robe drags on the ground, embroidered with intricate and beautiful patterns. The figure is slender and long, and the face is wickedly handsome. He chuckles lightly with a cold laugh. His eyes are crimson, flashing with the ferocity of a wild beast, as if he has set his sights on prey and is cruelly eager to kill. 

As Xie Changzhou sees him clearly, his eyes turn cold and freezing, and his hand tightly clenches the hilt of his sword. He speaks slowly and deliberately: “It’s you.” The man is momentarily startled, but then a more sinister smile spreads across his lips.

“You know me?” he asks, raising an eyebrow as he looks Xie Changzhou up and down. 

When his gaze sweeps behind Xie Changzhaou, he sidesteps to block Sui Ning, shielding her completely from view.

“How did two people who have not yet ascended to the Upper Realm make it up here? You seem to know me,” he says nonchalantly. His red eyes gleam with hidden meaning, and his smile is cruel and bloodthirsty. 

Xie remains silent, his expression still solemn and cold, with only his eyes revealing his anger. Sui Ning looks at Xie Changzhou, his back straight and his spiritual energy radiating strongly. Xie Changzhou… knows that person? 

She quietly pokes her head out from behind Xie Changzhou, and her gaze meets the man in black. His sinister gaze lingers on her features, causing Sui Ning’s hair to stand on end. She knows who this person is! 

The man chuckles again, his body shaking slightly with emotion. His demonic energy emanates from him sporadically as he speaks: “I’ve been in the Demon Realm for ten thousand years, and I’ve never left the Demon Palace. Yet, you two from the mortal world seem to know who I am.”

“Hehe.” His laughter suddenly became eerie, and he slowly stood up and stared at Sui Ning with blood-red eyes.

“The Demon-slaying Sword is in your hands?” The man chuckled, a mocking smile curling his lips.

The next second, his face suddenly turned dark. “Hand it over!”

The demonic energy surged towards Sui Ning, but the sparkling sword light blocked her. Xie Changzhou swung his sword, and the sword light suddenly broke open the sky, carrying a resolute momentum towards the man.

“Ningning, leave here!” 

Xie Changzhou’s clear voice carried a murderous intent, making Sui Ning’s heart sink as she looked towards the two people fighting in the void.

Xie Changzhou had not ascended yet, and his cultivation was suppressed in the Mahayana stage. He was clearly at a disadvantage in the fight against the man.

Sui Ning wanted to help him, but Xie Changzhou looked at her with a serious expression: “Ningning, go find the goddess, hurry!”

Her heart suddenly sank. The goddess was still in the inner hall!

Without thinking too much, Sui Ning took a deep look at Xie Changzhou in the void and quickly lifted her skirt to head towards the inner hall.

Xie Changzhou could still handle the situation for the time being, but Yan Heng was alone and still asleep. If something happened at this time…

Sui Ning’s expression darkened. The door to the inner hall was tightly closed, so she summoned Batian to chop it down. The central bed was where Yan Heng was sleeping with her eyes closed.

There was only Yan Heng inside the inner hall, and the demons had not yet appeared. Sui Ning quickly helped Yan Heng up and carried her on her back.

The curtain on the side fluttered slightly, and her pitch-black eyes suddenly appeared cold. Batian blocked her in front of her, cutting open the incoming demonic energy.

“Hehe, little girl has a good reaction speed.”

A charming and seductive female voice came .The curtain was lifted by a jade hand, and a graceful figure swayed lightly. The woman wore a black dress with a slit up to her thigh, revealing her fair and slender legs as she walked.

Her red lips were alluring, her eyes were alluring, and she was exceptionally tempting.

“Such a beautiful girl, even I, Hu Ji, am inferior.”

Hu Ji covered her mouth and smiled coquettishly, exhaling like an orchid, her eyes looking seductive and captivating towards Sui Ning.

[System online: “Hu Ji, one of the four guardians under the demon god Gui Ba’s command.”]

Sui Ning slowly put the Yanheng on her back, and the Batian responded to her call back into her hand. A hint of darkness slid across her clear eyes, and her gaze turned cold.

Hu Ji walked towards her with a graceful step, her alluring gaze sliding from Sui Ning’s body to the Yanheng on the bed, and after a while, she lightly sighed, “Tsk, so alike.”

She smiled charmingly and said, “If you weren’t just a mortal, I’d think Yanheng had a twin sister.”

Sui Ning frowned slightly, coldly sneering, “Are you here to chat?”

Hu Ji smiled lightly, her willow brows slightly raised, her eyes gleaming. “No.”

She paused, her lips curling up. “I’m here to kill you and Yanheng!”

She rushed towards Sui Ning, her black dress fluttering, and Sui Ning met her head-on, intentionally leading her away from Yanheng.

The beast’s sea of consciousness was too real, both in cultivation and damage, and Sui Ning could feel her wrists go numb as she faced Hu Ji’s millennium of cultivation.

After being smashed out again, Sui Ning staggered to her feet, blood surging in her body, and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Hu Ji deliberately played with her, not using her full strength, like teasing a cat, hitting her hard every time Sui Ning tried to hurt her.

[Host, hold on a little longer; Ji Hu should be coming soon!]

Sui Ning kept coughing, and small specks of blood sprayed from the corners of her mouth, trickling down.

[Host, are you okay?]

Seeing Sui Ning still not answering, the system spoke with concern.

Sui Ning gritted her teeth. “Do I look okay? My bones are going to break!”

She only hated that the beast’s sea of consciousness was so unique and so real that she had forgotten that she was in it. Everyone here—Yanheng, Jihu, Hu Ji, and the man just now—all their cultivations were real, crushing her and Xie Changzhou, two people who had not yet ascended.

She felt like she was here just to get beaten up, first by Jihu and then by Hu Ji.

The system faltered, explaining in a stuttering voice, “[The beast is the descendant of the space and time beast… Host, hold on a little longer.]”

Hu Ji covered her mouth and chuckled, “Oh my, how can such a beautiful young lady be beaten up like this?”

“Look at this delicate skin… all bruised…”

Hu Ji circled around her, her phoenix-like eyes filled with interest as she examined the wounds on her body as if appreciating a work of art.

A twitch formed at the corner of Sui Ning’s mouth as she suppressed the surging blood in her chest. She slowly stood up straight, and a faint smile appeared in her pitch-black eyes.

She said calmly, “Do you live in Dunhuang? There are so many murals on you?” (T/N: Dunhuang, a county-level city in Jiuquan- The more than 500 Buddhist caves dug out of the mountains centuries earlier near Dunhuang look ordinary from the outside. But housing more than 50,000 square meters of gorgeous murals, they are a rare gem in the world’s history of art.)~~~~~ Actually, I’m quite confused with this, so I just translated it as it is.. ~~~~

Hu Ji blinked, not understanding what she was saying; her phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly in confusion.

Sui Ning’s lips curled into a light smile. “Speak properly if you know how; otherwise, go talk with the dogs.”

Her eyes were cold and proud; despite her height being similar to Hu Ji’s, her aura was much higher. The mocking curve of her lips seemed to imply that Hu Ji wasn’t even worth a second look.

Hu Ji’s beautiful face instantly darkened; her gaze turned frosty, and her smile took on a sinister and mocking tone.

She said, word by word, “You’re seeking death!”

Hu Ji charged towards her with two knives in her hands, and Sui Ning quickly flew to meet her.

The blade cut across her body, and the broken droplets of blood slid along the wounds. The air inside the hall gradually became heavy with the scent of blood. Sui Ning’s face grew paler, but a surge of heat began to well up within her dantian.

That heat carried her spiritual energy, which began to churn. As Hu Ji swung at her once more, Sui Ning quickly sidestepped.

The two clashed in midair, and Hu Ji looked at her with a sneer, asking, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you tough?”

Sui Ning’s face was pale; her eyebrows knitted; the spiritual energy under her skin surged back and forth, and her dantian grew increasingly warm. The spiritual energy within it surged violently.

Her legs weakened, and just as she was about to collapse, she hastily used the Batian to prop herself up, swaying unsteadily but standing upright.

Hu Ji furrowed her brows, a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes, and an inexplicable sense of fear rose within her.

Sui Ning right now… gives her a dangerous feeling.

Hu Ji’s heart sank, and she quickly turned to go kill Yanheng.

Her master’s mission was to kill Yanheng. Sui Ning was just an incidental character. Killing her or not wouldn’t make a big difference.

Just as Hu Ji’s twin blades were about to reach Yanheng, a long sword stood arrogantly before her, its blade ancient and carved with strange runes.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed, and just as her twin blades were about to strike down the sword before her, a sudden numbness spread through her spine.

Hu Ji managed to dodge with the fastest speed she’d ever used in her life, but she was still struck by the sword’s intent from behind.

Intense pain spread, and she roared in agony, veins bulging on her forehead, her beautiful face devoid of the charm she had moments before, trembling in pain as she knelt to the ground.

Not far in front of her lay a severed arm with pale skin under the black veil, surrounded by a circle of dark red blood.

Hu Ji glared with anger, hate surging in her eyes, and a hint of fear.

Sui Ning slowly straightened her body, which had just trembled in pain. The sword in her hand was crystal white with a resolute sword light, exuding an overwhelming killing intent that made Hu Ji unable to look directly at her. The kind of fear that came from the depths of her soul made her struggle and retreat.

“No, no, how could you wield the Demon-Slaying Sword…”

Hu Ji shook her head and murmured to herself, her makeup already ruined by tears and her face dotted with bloodstains. She tried to get up and run away, holding her severed arm, but the pressure of the Demon-Slaying Sword made her unable to stand up.

Sui Ning’s face was emotionless, with a faint flower hairpin visible on her forehead. The candlelight in the inner hall flickered, accentuating her beautiful and icy face.

She raised the sword and headed towards Hu Ji, the tip of the sword scraping the ground and igniting a burst of flames. The piercing sound was like a knife stabbing into Hu Ji’s heart.

“No, no…” She struggled and retreated backward, her face filled with fear and disbelief.

Suining’s eyebrows and eyes slightly curved, and she lightly laughed, “Do you want to kill me?”

Her words were like a death sentence, and Hu Ji turned around in fear, wanting to climb towards the outside hall. Her sharp voice echoed in the inner hall.

“Gui Luan, help, help–“

She struggled and reached out towards the inner hall, but her cries for help disappeared amidst the overwhelming sword intent. Blood splattered everywhere, and her beautiful eyes gradually dimmed until they were completely lifeless.

Hu Ji fell to the ground, her eyes wide open and full of disbelief.

Figures rushed into the inner hall, led by Ji Hu in his battle armor, holding a long sword. His pale face was covered in blood and full of killing intent.

Xie Changzhou followed closely behind him, his white robe soaked in blood and his elegant face filled with panic. But when he saw Sui Ning, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He habitually raised the corner of his mouth, wanting to step forward, but the smile froze on his lips the next second.

Sui Ning glanced at him sideways, her once warm and clear black eyes now cold and ruthless. She was covered in blood, and her entire aura was one of killing intent that had never been seen before.

In her hand, she held the Demon-Slaying Sword, a weapon that only a god could control.

“Yanheng…”

A cold, hard voice trembled and dissipated in the inner hall.