Chapter 56: Journey in the Mountains and Rivers (X)

Sui Ning was almost incredulous, the pain in her chest diminishing. She stared blankly at the void.

Thunderclouds flickered, and the blood-red cracks seemed like vertical pupils, tightly fixated on them.

The standoff between the immortal soldiers and the demon generals froze. The entire world appeared to have been paused.

Blood was suspended in midair, and the various postures of the immortal soldiers and demonic generals were frozen.

Everything stood still, frozen in time, except for Sui Ning, Xie Changzhou, and…..

The Beast.

The Beast’s blood-red, ice-cold vertical pupils emitted a deep red light as they fixed upon Xie Changzhou, who stood before it with his sword at the ready.

“Jianzun!”

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Fwk Lkdt pbswvle zswezu, bypvkzu tlvvkdt wr yde xshkdt vsoyaep bkx.

Mbl Jlypv’p zso yde nbkzzkdt hsknl lnbsle, “R alxlxcla dso; usw’al Dkl Ubydtgbsw.”

Rvp nakxpsd, knu tygl vwadle vsoyaep Fwk Lkdt clbkde bkx, pyukdt, “Gde usw’al Fwk Lkdt.”

“Rv’p vbl vos sq usw obs kdfwale xl kd vbl hske, yde dso usw eyal kdvawel kdvs xu ply sq nsdpnkswpdlpp.”

Mbl Jlypv’p hsknl oyp qaktke, zssjkdt esod sd vblx qasx y bktbla hydvytl rskdv, zkjl y czssevbkapvu clypv qkmyvle sd kvp ralu, kdvldv sd vlyakdt kv srld.

Ju vbkp vkxl, Fwk Lkdt bye yzps alynble Dkl Ubydtgbsw’p pkel. Mlya xyajp olal pvkzz hkpkczl sd bla qynl, yde bla lulp olal ale yde nsze yp pbl pvyale yv vbl kxrspkdt Jlypv clqsal bla.

Dkl Ubydtgbsw tzydnle yv bla yde pyke, “Lkdtdkdt, usw’al dsv qwzzu alnshlale. R nyd bydezl vbkp.”

Fwk Lkdt pbssj bla blye, pvydekdt vyzz yde alpszwvl. “R’x qkdl; R nyd bydezl kv.”

In the moment of temporal suspension, the pain within her body suddenly eased, as if sensing her danger and creating a breathing space by departing.

Xie Changzhou fell silent for a moment, then nodded gently, “Alright.”

Impatiently, the Beast exhaled a coarse breath, annoyance in its eyes, as it noticed the two mortals before paying them no heed. With a god-like presence, it took measured steps toward them, each step resonating with tremendous force that shook the ground around.

It spoke coldly, “Xie Changzhou, in my sea of consciousness, your abilities are suppressed beneath me.”

The barrier stood firmly before the Beast, halting its advance towards them.

The Beast came to a halt, a hint of a disdainful smile appearing in its eyes.

“With your current cultivation at the Mahayana Stage, how could you kill me? Moreover…”

The Beast lifted its gaze to the void, where dim red cracks carried surging lightning, crackling and flashing in the emptiness.

Excitement shimmered within its vertical pupils, and the black demonic patterns in its eyes began to emerge gradually. “Someone is aiding me.”

Xie Changzhou’s face darkened instantly. In silence, he stared at the void, his aura turning icy and somber.

Sui Ning’s heart sank. The Beast’s sea of consciousness undergoing such changes could mean that something had occurred outside.

Could it be that someone had come to save it within the Jing Chan Sect?

The Beast tilted its head, disdainfully looking down at them. Its bloodthirsty eyes were filled with cruelty, and a low, eerie laughter rumbled from its throat.

“Xie Changzhou, do you think you can kill me with your current cultivation at the Crossing Tribulation realm?”

“Dream on!”

It lunged towards him in an instant, a sharp and ear-piercing beastly roar echoing, bringing with it the pungent scent of blood.

Xie Changzhou’s voice boomed lowly, “Ningning, step aside!”

He leaped forward, his sword intent infused with vitality, directly aiming at the Beast and entwining it.

Frowning, Sui Ning swiftly summoned Ba Tian, joining the fray to assist.

Within the void, her gaze met Xie Changzhou’s, her expression calm. “Jianzun, you’re currently at the Mahayana stage. I’ll lend you a hand.”

Xie Changzhou’s gaze deepened, and he nodded gently. “Alright, Ningning, be careful.”

The Beast’s demonic aura surged, and the lightning within the void became even more menacing, snaking down directly towards Sui Ning.

“Ningning!” Xie Changzhou exclaimed in alarm.

Sui Ning quickly dodged, with Ba Tian shielding her from the descending lightning.

Xie Changzhou had also arrived by her side, his shallow pupils filled with concern.

“Don’t worry, Jianzun; there’s no need to be distracted. Let’s deal with the Beast first!”

Sui Ning wielded her sword and charged towards the Beast, focusing her spiritual energy into her fingers. Her formidable spiritual energy tore through the Beast’s demonic aura as she slashed at it.

The Beast roared in anger, meeting her attack head-on, while lightning bolts continued to strike down from the void. Sui Ning’s slender figure agilely evaded, and flashes of swordlight erupted around the Beast.

Xie Changzhou ascended with his sword, his billowing white robe dancing in the air. His fierce sword energy was grand and majestic as he forcefully cleaved through the air, determination in his killing intent as he tangled with the Beast.

The dense and ominous aura around the Beast enveloped Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou almost completely.

Amidst the thunderous roars of the sky, a familiar voice faintly reached them.

“Huai’an!”

It was Tang Tang!

Sui Ning was momentarily stunned, her phoenix-like eyes narrowing slightly. She quickly reacted in an instant, but the Beast still managed to exploit a vulnerability.

Roaring, the Beast charged towards her. They were too close, and Sui Ning only managed to partially evade. However, the Beast’s aura still struck her arm, ripping a hole in her pristine white clothes. Her delicate and fair skin was corroded by the demonic aura, causing fresh blood to flow.

“Ningning!”

Xie Changzhou’s refined face revealed panic as he silently recited the Limitless Sword Art. Sword Intent surged forth towards the Beast.

The Beast’s vertical pupils radiated scorn, and its demonic aura gathered before it, attempting to resist Xie Changzhou’s attack.

With an air of nonchalance, it lazily sneered at Xie Changzhou. Sui Ning could even detect a hint of amusement in its beastly face.

It seemed as if it wanted to see how a mere mortal could harm it.

In the next moment, its smile froze, disbelief filling its pupils.

Xie Changzhou’s resolute sword Intent pierced through its demonic aura, directly slashing into its body. It tore through its tough scales, and thick black blood oozed out. The Beast howled in pain, a ferocious roar laced with its demonic aura, charging straight at Xie Changzhou.

Xie Changzhou grabbed Sui Ning’s waist and stepped back, his eyes cold as if encased in ice.

The Limitless Sword Art was effective against demonic forces, leaving a deep wound visible on the Beast’s back. It extended from its neck all the way down its spine.

“Ningning, are you alright?”

Xie Changzhou lowered his gaze toward Sui Ning in his arms. Her already fair complexion turned even paler, with fresh blood flowing from her arm.

Quickly channeling his spiritual energy, he stopped the bleeding. The pearl on Suining’s wrist emitted a sparkling white light, and pure, warm, spiritual energy flowed into her body, healing her wounds.

Sui Ning shook her head, her expression calm and composed, not even a hint of a frown. “I’m fine.”

She pulled away from Xie Changzhou’s embrace, her gaze icy as she stared at the frenzied Beast.

The Beast’s crimson eyes locked onto them tightly. “You two mortals dare to mock me like this!”

Black blood continued to ooze from its body as it charged towards them, its eyes burning with murderous intent.

Suining lunged forward with her sword. “Jianzun!”

Xie Changzhou’s brows furrowed, moving to the Beast’s rear as he slashed at it.

Though Xie Changzhou’s cultivation was in the Mahayana stage, his swordsmanship was profound, and the Limitless Sword Art was exceptionally effective against demon forces.

Unable to approach the Beast physically, Sui Ning relied on the protection of the pearl, evading the Beast’s demonic aura while commanding Ba Tian.

The number of lightning bolts in the void increased, and the blood-red rift occasionally echoed with the sounds of battle and familiar voices.

“Master Dingyuan, quickly save Huai’an!”

Sui Ning heard Tang Tang’s voice again, accompanied by intense sounds of combat and a sinister, chilling voice.

“Just you all, think you can stop me?”

The voice was low, hoarse, and chillingly malevolent.

Gui Luan?

Sui Ning’s eyebrows furrowed as she exchanged a glance with Xie Changzhou nearby. Both of them held an icy determination in their eyes.

She telepathically transmitted to him, “Jianzun, Gui Luan has entered the Jing Chan Sect. Tang Tang and Master Dingyuan are in danger.”

So the turmoil in the Beast’s mind was due to Gui Luan’s intrusion into the Jing Chan Sect, attempting to take the Beast away and disrupting Master Dingyuan’s exorcism formation. This external disturbance had caused turmoil in the Beast’s body.

The entire sea of consciousness grew increasingly chaotic. Distant mountains began to crumble and collapse, and the Eternal Water abyss was even drawn upward into the void, forming a massive column of surging waves.

Xie Changzhou’s eyes turned cold, and he said icily, “Ningning, step back!”

As his words fell, Du Wang soared directly in front of him. Its translucent white blade continuously split apart, and in an instant, an uncountable number of long swords emerged in the void, their tips aimed straight at the Beast.

Xie Changzhou’s gaze chilled, a frigid intent emanating from his brows. His robes billowed as his spiritual energy surged.

“Limitless Sword Array, activate!”

Countless swords were unleashed, carrying resolute killing intent as they bore down on the Beast. They ruthlessly pierced through the Beast’s demonic aura, pinning it to the ground.

The overwhelming sword intent suppressed the Beast, and the myriad illusory swords produced by Du Wang pierced through its body. The Beast let out a mournful roar that reverberated through the entire void, and the turbulence within its sea of consciousness intensified.

Sui Ning was nearly stupefied, her gaze fixed on Xie Changzhou in the void, filled with disbelief.

His brows and eyes turned icy, his pitch-black pupils calm as a serene ancient well. He looked down coldly at the immobilized Beast, swirling sword intent surrounding him. The tousled hair at his waist fluttered behind him, appearing slightly disheveled.

With only Mahayana cultivation level, Xie Changzhou was able to wield the Limitless Sword Array, a technique normally reserved for cultivators crossing the tribulatian stage.

The beast seemed to be in disbelief. Anger and fear surged in its cold animal pupils. It kept roaring and struggling to get up, but was held down by an onslaught of icy swords piercing its body.

“Xie Changzhou, how dare you hurt me!” It kept cursing, and the ethereal sword kept stabbing at it.

“Xie Changzhou, you dream if you think you can kill me!”

“This is my sea of consciousness, and I am the master of it. Just with you…” Ah!!

Before it could finish speaking, Du Wang’s sword split into more sword shadows, and the long sword rushed towards it like a rainbow, carrying frost and snow.

Again and again, the sword pierced through its body, delaying it.

The system was amazed, and the mechanical voice was weak: “[Xie Changzhou… so ruthless.]”

But even with thousands of swords piercing its heart and bones, it still wasn’t enough.

Sui Ning looked at Xie Changzhou in astonishment, feeling that something was not right.

Xie Changzhou’s face didn’t look too good.

The beast’s roar gradually weakened, and the people outside seemed to sense its precarious situation, intensifying the fight.

From time to time, Tang Tang’s crying could be heard from the crack, and Master Dingyuan’s compassionate and gentle voice was also shrouded in frost.

Gui Luan angrily said, “Old bald donkey, you’re looking to die!”

Master Dingyuan’s voice was low: “Fellow, the beast will die today. If you want to save it, you have to kill all of our Jing Chan sect disciples!”

Then there was another sound of fighting, and the situation outside became more and more dangerous.

Sui Ning’s heart sank. After all, Gui Luan was a demon general who had been practicing for tens of thousands of years. Although his cultivation was suppressed in the mortal world,he must have already crossed the tribulation. Master Dingyuan had been tirelessly maintaining the demon-expelling formation day and night, and his cultivation may have been damaged.

If they couldn’t stop Gui luan…

She lifted her eyes and looked toward Xie Changzhou. His face was unusually pale, and the sword shadows that had been constantly attacking the beasts were becoming fewer and fewer. The beasts, on the other hand, had more energy to struggle.

Xie Changzhou was indeed injured!

Sui Ning’s heart sank, and the beast’s sea of consciousness was constantly disintegrating. They had to kill the beasts as soon as possible.

A surge of heat suddenly rose from her dantian, and the excitement that had disappeared before reappeared. Sui Ning felt that her meridians were boiling.

Her consciousness was unclear, but suddenly a familiar, clear voice came to her mind.

“Sui Ning, kill it; you can do it.”

“Sui Ning, only you can kill it.”

It was Yan Heng’s voice.

The sword, Ba Tian, hummed in her hand, and a bright and powerful aura emanated from the blade. Strong spiritual energy was rushing inside her dantian, and everything before her eyes turned blood red, and she could not see anything clearly.

Her eardrums seemed to be blocked, and she couldn’t hear anything, not even the cries of the beasts, Tang Tang’s weeping outside the beast’s sea of consciousness, Master Dingyuan’s compassionate voice, the eerie and cold voice, and Xie Changzhou’s clear cry.

She couldn’t hear anything.

She could hardly control the heat in her dantian.

“Sui Ning, hold your sword and kill it.”

Yan Heng’s voice rang out in her mind again.

“Sui Ning, kill it!”

“Sui Ning, don’t hesitate; there’s no time!”

“Sui Ning -” 

“Go die!” 

She could only see a red light; the overbearing sword intent came out coldly, roaring towards the beast, piercing through Xie Changzhou’s Limitless sword array, decisively slashing onto the beast’s body without any room for discussion. 

The beast’s roar suddenly disappeared, and the sword light burst, with the stench of black blood exploding and pieces of flesh flying everywhere. 

Sui Ning’s consciousness was unclear and filled with killing intent. 

Kill everything in front of her. 

The cool scent of pine drifted over, and she reflexively swung her sword, a low groan ringing in her ear and the thick smell of blood rushing in. She was embraced in a warm and familiar embrace. 

“Ningning, don’t be afraid.” 

A gentle voice poured into her ears. 

Sui Ning’s consciousness suddenly returned, and the blood red in front of her gradually dissipated. A powerful wave of energy swept over her, and the person in front of her held her tightly in his arms. 

The cool scent of pine drifted into her nostrils, carrying the bloody smell that made her heart tremble. 

“Xie Changzhou…” Her voice was dry and choked, trembling as she reached out to touch his chest, feeling the warmth. 

Xie Changzhou just held her tightly, his tall figure hugging her tightly, protecting her from the fragments that shattered the beast’s sea of consciousness. 

After a long time, the roaring waves gradually subsided, and the thunderous sound that had been ringing throughout her body disappeared. Tears had already streamed down Sui Ning’s face. 

“Xie Changzhou…” 

Trembling, she stepped out of his embrace. His raven-like long eyelashes covered his once gentle and soft pupils; his face was pale; his thin lips were tightly pursed; and sharp scratches oozed blood on his pale face. 

Sui Ning’s hand couldn’t stop shaking, her gaze dropping to his chest, where a deep wound crossed his chest, and the broken blood-colored jade beads slipped along the wound. His white robe had been soaked in blood. 

She was the one who hurt him. 

“Xie Changzhou… Xie Changzhou.”

Regardless of how she called out to him, he remained motionless with closed eyes and no reaction, his chest not moving at all, as if dead and silent.

Sui Ning could hardly control her tears, trembling as she hugged him and felt a warmth on his back. She quickly looked and saw his torn clothes, revealing deep wounds that exposed his bones and flesh, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Large tears fell from Sui Ning’s eyes, and her hands were covered in blood.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Xie Changzhou…” 

Her hands trembled so much that she quickly took out the medicine given by the system and tried to feed it to him.

He had already passed out, his pale lips tightly sealed, and Sui Ning couldn’t get the medicine into his mouth.

She cried out in desperation: “Xie Changzhou, you have to eat it, please eat it…”

A familiar voice came from behind: “Miss Sui Ning.”

Sui Ning didn’t pay attention, her heart was only focused on Xie Changzhou in front of her. She reached out to pry open his mouth and feed him the medicine, but he remained unconscious with closed lips.

“Xie Changzhou, please eat it…I’m begging you, please eat it…”

She cried out in despair, ignoring Master Dingyuan, who quickly stepped forward to stop her.

“Miss Sui Ning, you can’t do this.” Master Dingyuan restrained her hand and took the medicine from her. He looked at Sui Ning, whose face was covered in tears, with his clear and wise eyes.

Sui Ning was stunned, her tear-filled eyes barely able to see Master Dingyuan in front of her.

Master Dingyuan sighed softly and used his spiritual energy to force the medicine down Xie Changzhou’s throat while also speaking to Sui Ning.

“Miss Sui Ning, Jianzun used the Limitless Sword array to break many of his meridians forcibly. The injury on his back was caused by the impact of the shattering of the beast’s sea of consciousness, and as for the injury on his chest…”

His voice suddenly stopped, and his eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Sui Ning intently, looking at her incredulously for a long time.

“Miss Sui Ning?”

The wound was caused by the Ba Tian sword’s intent.

Sui Ning’s beautiful face was full of tear marks; her clear eyes were red, and she looked straight ahead at Xie Changzhou without saying a word.

Master Dingyuan was startled and shook his head helplessly.

Let these young people solve their own problems.

Sui Ning tightly clenched her hand, nervously looking at Xie Changzhou, feeling guilty and heartbroken. Her throat seemed to be choked by something, and her heart was sour and painful.

The system awkwardly comforted her: “[Host…you lost your sanity; there’s no need to blame yourself like this…]”

Sui Ning just wanted to give herself a hard cut. Why couldn’t she hold on to her sanity? Why was she bewitched? Why…couldn’t she recognize Xie Changzhou?

The spiritual pearl sensed her emotions and intimately rubbed against her with warm, spiritual energy, as if Xie Changzhou was comforting her.

Sui Ning gently rubbed the pearl, and tears fell down in big drops again.

Her spiritual energy was hitting Xie Changzhou’s body recklessly, cooperating with Master Dingyuan to slowly heal his injuries.

Her eyes were red, her face was pale and bloodless, and blood occasionally seeped out of the wound on her shoulder.

Master Dingyuan sighed helplessly and worked with her to heal Xie Changzhou’s injuries.

The hall of the Jing Chan Sect was silent for a while, with only a few bell sounds occasionally coming from nearby.

After an unknown amount of time, Sui Ning could feel the weakness of her spiritual energy, and Master Dingyuan slowly stopped her from continuing to heal Xie Changzhou’s wounds recklessly.

Master Dingyuan said slowly, “Miss Sui Ning, Jianzun is not seriously injured. Just rest and wait for him to wake up.”

Sui Ning looked bewilderedly at Xie Changzhou by her side. His head gently rested on her shoulder, and the pale wounds on his face had faded, while the bloody scent on his body had weakened slightly.

Her panicked heart gradually calmed, and her trembling hand gripped his hand, fingers interlocking softly.

Master Dingyuan fell silent for a moment before speaking softly, “Just now, a black-robed figure entered the Jing Chan Sect. He attempted to rescue the Beast and was intercepted by me. After the Beast died, he left. Young Master Mo is still asleep and hasn’t awakened yet, and many disciples of the Jing Chan Sect were injured.”

He paused briefly before continuing, “His cultivation is very high, comparable to the Jianzun’s. If it weren’t for the disciples’ desperate efforts just now, I might not have been able to stop him.”

However, he had never seen that person before, nor had he heard of another Crossing the Tribulation cultivator in this era.

His voice suddenly turned more serious. “Miss Sui Ning, do you know him?”

Sui Ning raised her gaze to look at him, her eyes calm as she spoke slowly, “That is one of the Four Guardians under the Demon God Gui Ba, from 80,000 years ago – Gui Luan.”

Master Dingyuan’s aged eyes widened suddenly, his expression changing dramatically. “What did you say? He is Gui Luan?”

Having lived for a thousand years, he had certainly heard of Gui Luan.

But wasn’t he supposed to be dead long ago?

In the great war between gods and demons 80,000 years ago, both Yanheng and Gui Ba perished, severely damaging the immortal realm and decimating the demon realm, causing all four of the demon clan’s Guardians to fall.

Sui Ning shook her head with a cold glint in her eyes. “He didn’t die. In fact, Gui Ba didn’t die either.”

Her words caused a sudden hush to fall over the entire Jing Chan Sect hall; even Tang Tang, who was embracing Mo Huai’an, looked at her in astonishment.

Master Dingyuan finally regained his senses, his throat tight and his voice trembling as he asked, “Are you saying… Demon God Gui Ba didn’t die?”

Sui Ning nodded. “Yes, he didn’t.”

“The memories in the Beast’s sea of consciousness show us that during that battle, the goddess Yanheng used up her cultivation to seal the Wanmo cavern, but her divine power was insufficient to kill Gui Ba. Instead, she sealed him along with the Wanmo Cavern.”

She looked straight into Master Dingyuan’s astonished eyes and continued with a cold tone, “He wasn’t killed by the goddess. In that battle, Yanheng and the War God Ji Hu were the ones who died.”

“Master Dingyuan, Gui Ba hasn’t died, and his subordinate Guardian Gui Luan hasn’t died either.”

“Furthermore,” Sui Ning whispered, “Gui Luan was the one who commanded Su Kou to massacre the entire city of Nanjing, all to resurrect that black-clothed individual known as the Liao Wu.”

Her words exploded like a bomb in the hearts of those present.

Of course, they understood the implications of her words.

It meant that the Demon God hadn’t perished and that his Guardian, Gui Luan, had descended to the mortal realm. Not only was he the mastermind behind the massacre in Nanjing, but tonight he had also come here to seize the Beast.

Lying dormant for thousands of years and orchestrating schemes for millennia, what was his intention?

A shiver ran down the spines of the crowd, and their scalps tingled.

Master Dingyuan’s voice turned hoarse. “Gui Luan, what did he intend to do?”

Suining embraced Xie Changzhou and raised her gaze to look at him, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

“To resurrect the Demon God.”