761 14.37 Last Violet Star – Outside the forest
Ancestral Mound of Luan City...
The battle was still ongoing above the graveyard of the Lu Clan. The three monster kings were defeated and the rest of the group gathered above the black snake Crown Prince Hong had said to have defeated.
Among Sect Master Lu Er, Sect Master Jin Baihua, and Crown Prince Hong, the first two were covered in injuries and their robes were wrinkled there, full of dust here, cut there, and soaked in blood. On the other hand, Crown Prince Hong was as clean as he is. As if he had never fought at all.
Sect Master Lu Er and Sect Master Jin Baihua were staring at Crown Prince Hong Longqing with disbelief. They couldn’t believe that this youngster was able to defeat a golden core monster on his own without suffering from any injuries like theirs.
Lu Er said, “His Highness is quite powerful. You were able to defeat a golden core monster without a hitch. The dynasty has a bright future. Hahaha~”
“Hmp! No one knows what kind of witchcraft this one had used. How can he immediately defeat something even though we Sect Masters had a hard time doing so!” said Jin Baihua.
Sect Master Lu Er responded sarcastically. He had always hated this two-faced bitch that dares to covet his second brother Yun.
“Just because one is stronger than you doesn’t mean they use tricks to overwhelm you! Does the lesson taught by Brother Bai still haven’t sunk in your brain!?” said Sect Master Lu Er.
Sect Master Jin Baihua snorted, “Strong ne?~ Didn’t that powerful Senior Brother Bai still die ten years ago?!”
.....
“Watch your tongue!!! Jin Huayu!! Do you think you can still be sitting here alive if not for the sacrifice of Brother Bai!? You’re proud so be it! But don’t be ungrateful!!!” said Sect Master Lu Er. His face had turned dark in anger and he was so close enough to strangling Jin Baihua who was in front of him.
Sect Master Jin Baihua knows that he had overstepped and shut his mouth but even his face was ugly to the point of distortion. Sitting beside them was Crown Prince Hong who was from the younger generation. He doesn’t know the details of that tragic event from more than ten years ago as he is from the younger generation.
Thoughts of the crown prince, ‘Brother Bai? Is it that same person from the tragedy ten years ago? I wanted to ask more but this atmosphere is too awkward. Forget it! I will just ask Imperial Father when I got home.’
The Crown Prince wanted to ask more about that event but the awkward atmosphere around them prevented him from doing so. He would only watch the others fight like the other two.
—
Meanwhile, just outside of the barrier, Lu Yi was looking gloomy as he looked towards the barrier surrounding the whole forest. When countless mutated monster bugs, snakes, and bats suddenly flew out from the forest, the sheer number of them frightened everyone outside the village. They didn’t expect such a huge number of monsters when what the scout had found were merely hundreds or more.
There were some young disciples who couldn’t help but tremble at the sight of the monsters but none of them had run away. Running away means that the ordinary people behind would be killed. That is a huge amount of karma. For cultivators who practice techniques of becoming immortal, karma and merits are the most important.
Thankfully the function of the black barrier has come to use. Those monsters immediately turned to ashes when they touched the black barrier.
Disciple Yun Fan commented, “Wow! This barrier is so powerful. Those monsters were all the Foundation Establishment’s strength. But they all turn to ashes once it touches the black barrier.”
“The number is too much. I heard only 100 or so monsters were found. How come that there seems to be more than a hundred,” said Yun Anjie.
Du Sang said, “Maybe... Instead of saying that the monsters were living underground, it’s most likely that there is some kind of passage underground. If that’s the case then it would be more dangerous for everyone in Luan City.”
“The zombie siege in that countryside was weird enough. Is someone controlling them?” mumbled Yun Anjie.
Lu Yi, who was standing not far from these children, overheard their conversation and commented.
“No. Both are true but different. What are your names?” asked Lu Yi.
Yun Anjie led his small group and cupped his hand and greeted them. The other two followed after him.
“Senior, I am Disciple Yun Anye from the (Blue Fleeting Cloud Sect) Lan Zhuayun Sect.”
“Disciple Yun Fan from the same sect.”
“Likewise, I am Disciple in name, Du Sang.”
Lu Yi cupped his hands to return their greetings and even introduce himself to them.
“Great Elder of the Lu Weifeng Sect (Green Wind Breeze Sect), Lu Wang (Courtesy name).”
Most cultivators introduced themselves using their courtesy names as only their family and Dao Companion is allowed to call their birth name. Calling one’s birth name is a show of intimacy. Unless you are family, only your dao companion can call you by your birth name. Otherwise, it would be considered ill-manners.
“Your ideas are plausible. There is indeed a passageway created underground. Your senior brothers and sisters were already working on it. We on the other remain here to guard the city if ever this black barrier falls.”
“You brats are quite smart as expected of the disciples of Chun Hongyun-Jun.”
“As for the siege of zombies in the southern countryside, we don’t know much details. You guys are the disciples saved by Chun Hongyun-Jun in that place right? Can you tell me what happened?” asked Lu Yi.
Hearing this Yun Anjie and Yun Fan looked at Du Sang who smiled and nodded in agreement. He is allowing them to tell everyone what happens after all it involves his maternal clan and his mother. The children didn’t hide anything from Lu Yi and told him what happened.
Lu Yi looked at Du Sang and gently rustled his head.
“Your mother would go to a nice place. Don’t worry, child.”
Listening to these kind words almost every day Du Sang who grew up with bullying and taunts couldn’t help but feel his eyes hot. This kindness was the first for him.
“Hm. Thank you, Senior,” said Du Sang.
Suddenly they felt coldness spreading in their surroundings. Everyone couldn’t help but hug their arms crossed.
Yun Fan said, “Hoo~ why did it suddenly feel so cold!?”
“There is no way for this temperature to happen. The season is for harvest. Even if it’s evening it shouldn’t be this freezing...” said Yun Anjie.
Du Sang, who felt an overwhelming presence coming over, turned around and saw the veiled figure of Hei Anjing approaching their direction. Zhi Yue as a faithful servant stood by the side holding a lantern to illuminate the path for his lord. His head was a bit lowered showing his position as Hei Anjing’s subordinate.
He pulled Yun Fan and Yun Anjie’s sleeves and whispered, “Senior Hei?” calls Du Sang.
Everyone near him followed the direction he was looking at and saw Hei Anjing wearing a black robe with a snowflake pattern. The only difference is that the snowflakes at the edges of his robes become alive creating an ice road for Hei Anjing to walk through.
The elders of the Lu Weifeng Sect (Green Wind Breeze Sect) lowered their backs and greeted this immortal in a polite manner.
“Greetings to the Divine Doctor Hei!”
Even Lu Yi who had the highest standing among everyone in the area cupped his hands and greeted him respectfully.
“Welcome Daoist Hei. Lu Wang is honored to be in your presence.”
Hei Anjing nodded his head at them and only returned the elders and Lu Yi’s greeting. The first one is politeness while the one with Lu Yi is due to closeness. Thanks to the memories he had digested he knew that Lu Yi was a good friend of his in his previous life.
“I cannot remember much about my previous life as a mortal but... I at least remembered your name, Brother Wang,” said Hei Anjing.
Though his face is still as expressionless as always since he was veiled, no one felt that his words are unsynchronized with his face. Lu Yi can see the friendliness within those silver eyes. Though it wasn’t as explicit as in the past. He knew that this person still treats him as a friend.
Lu Yi chuckled and said, “Then I will call you the same as before. A’Wuan would this be alright?”
“Hm. Do as you wish. Hand...” said Hei Anjing as he stretched out his hand towards Lu Yi.
The latter placed his open palm below Hei Anjing’s eyes and saw that he was given a small white jar that holds pills.
Lu Yi said, “Pills?”
Once he opened the jar cap a strong scent of herbs and medicine spread in the area. A refreshing scent entered Lu Yi’s nose and felt the lethargic qi in his body revitalized.
Hei Anjing spoke, “Qi Replenishing Pills. Eat one and come inside with me. There are devils who invaded the mortal realm.”
Everyone was startled by what he heard Lu Yi felt that things had gone seriously dangerous and ate a pill as Hei Anjing suggested. In just a few minutes he felt his body’s vital return to normal as his qi which he had lost had also come back in an increasing manner.
Lu Yi looked at the elders of his sect and the other sects.
“Seniors, I shall leave the protection of the city and disciples in your care. Lu Wang would definitely be most grateful and will return this favor in the future.”
The elders who heard Hei Anjing’s words instantly understood the situation. Now that the devil race had indeed appeared then this is a problem not only for the Luan City but the whole Mortal Realm.
“Go. Leave the things here to us.”
“We shall inform the others about the surfacing of the Devil race and warn the others about them.”
“You can leave without worries. We shall send all the young disciples back to the Lu Weifeng Sect (Green Wind Breeze Sect) until the other elders come out.”
Lu Yi cups his hands towards the elders. Hei Anjing only waited for Lu Yi to finish his conversation with the elders before walking inside the forest with Zhi Yue.
“Brother Wang, follow me.”
“Let’s go!”
Only then did these two enter the deprived forest and small mountains of ashes. As soon as Hei Anjing walked past the barrier those small mountains of ashes turned to ice and melted to nothingness. Only the backs of Hei Anjing and Lu Yi getting farther were watched by everyone.
—
On the other hand, back inside the forest, Yun Huaxia and Bai Qiyin were fighting the twin devils. They might not be high-ranking devils but they should be at lead mid-ranked ones. Most devils who were ranked at the middle of their hierarchy all have nascent soul stage strength. If not for the weakness of devils towards Ice elements, Bai Qiyin would be able to contend against a mid-ranked devil. Moreover, his physique is special. He had an overwhelming advantage towards ice elements; he was using them to weaken his opponent despite his golden core stage cultivation.
The twin devils, Gai Yin and Ya Bo couldn’t immediately defeat their enemies. They’ve just recently reached mid-ranked thanks to the help of his highness Tanlan. But their opponents are not easy to defeat. One is a step stronger than them. Sect Master Yun Huaxia had the strength of Mid Nascent Soul almost reaching his peak. While Bai Qiyin even though he only possesses the strength of Peak Golden Core Stage, his special physique, the Nine Yin Meridians, allows him to lord over the ice elements and his control over it was above anyone from his clan except for one. His Senior Brother was born with Primordial Yin Physique which is even rarer than Extreme Yin Physique.
The Devil race had always lived in an inferno where the land and sky itself were made of fire and lava. Because of this, fire elements had no effect on them but they are extremely weak against ice. This is the reason why Bai Qiyin is able to contend with a mid-rank devil because of his special physique.
Yun Huaxia said, “Darling, are you still okay?”
“Yes. I have enough qi. Let’s do that!” said Bai Qiyin.
Yun Huaxia nodded his head and said, “Since they are weak to ice. I will help you maximize your range of attack. Just focus on controlling it.”
Panting and covered in scratches, Yun Huaxia and Bai Qiyin step back for a moment.