Chapter 140 - Arc 10: The Affairs of Sword Cave | Chapter 140: Yun Lie Kills Pan Hong

Chapter 140 - Arc 10: The Affairs of Sword Cave | Chapter 140: Yun Lie Kills Pan Hong

Translator: Lynn

Thank you to Dolly for the ko-fi! Here’s your bonus chapter

Sponsored chapter (1/1)

Pan Hong’s immediate response was to adopt a defensive posture. Concealing the malicious intent in his eyes, he averted his gaze, seemingly avoiding direct eye contact with the Golden Core stage cultivator. However, tumultuous waves of emotions surged within him.

Pan Hong had ascertained that even though Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing were due to leave the seclusion of the Sword Cave together after three days to convene, he had seized this opportunity to eliminate Xu Ziqing.

Yet, Yun Lie’s abrupt arrival, coupled with his breakthrough... Though he speculated that Xu Ziqing’s death might upset Yun Lie, he never anticipated that Yun Lie would forsake his cultivation to rescue Xu Ziqing!

Could this really be the same Yun Lie who dwelled in isolation and once enjoyed a sterling reputation?

Pan Hong struggled to believe it, a deep malevolence festering within him. Regret gnawed at him—why hadn’t he killed Xu Ziqing earlier?

Yet, no matter how intense Pan Hong’s murderous intent or sinister musings were, another frigid voice echoed in the cavern.

It was Yun Lie who spoke, his tone chilling: “Where is Xu Ziqing?”

Pan Hong was jolted, his head drooping. “I genuinely don’t know who Xu Ziqing is,” he muttered. His heart swelled with cruelty, for he believed Xu Ziqing’s plunge into the Heavenly Demon Cave spelled certain doom.

No matter how anguished Yun Lie might be, Pan Hong was convinced Yun Lie wouldn’t rush to rescue him. However, this thought barely had time to take root before a frigid sensation coursed through his brow. Subsequently, he sensed a cavity perforating his mind, from which all knowledge and spirit poured forth – even his life slipped away like a grain of sand...

At that moment, he heard a voice.

“You harbored the intent to slay my fellow disciple, yet you now feigned innocence. If you’re culpable, you won’t regret it. You should be executed!” The words were Yun Lie’s, but the sentiment imbued in them was icy.

Before Pan Hong could react, he toppled backward, crashing heavily to the ground. Gradually, his pupils dilated, and blood trickled from a small crevice between his brows. In his final moments of fading awareness, a sense of dissatisfaction lingered. Alas, he had already succumbed to death.

Yun Lie withdrew his hand, his countenance unmoving, and advanced. No visible motion accompanied him, yet Pan Hong’s wide-eyed cadaver suddenly ascended and tumbled into the Heavenly Demon Gate. In the ensuing instant, Yun Lie also stepped forward, plummeting straight downward.

Within the Heavenly Demon Cave, darkness enveloped everything, rendering it devoid of light.

Yet as Yun Lie treaded through its depths, it seemed as if daylight accompanied his every step, no hindrance impeding his path.

His Jindanqi spiritual awareness could span a thousand miles in every direction, yet within that range, there was no trace of the green-shirted youth he sought. Discover new chapters at novelbin(.)com

This wasn’t unexpected.

The Heavenly Demon Cave spanned vast expanses, its labyrinthine underground caverns intertwining like a web. Stretching from its outer layers to its core, it covered an expanse of tens of thousands of hectares. Moreover, the diverse Heavenly Demon Gates, established by various great powers in the past, imposed different constraints. Due to the teleportation mechanisms in place, the teleportation locations significantly differed between the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Golden Core Stage.

Despite being only at the early Golden Core stage, Yun Lie’s cultivation was formidable, causing him to naturally descend into a deep inner region during teleportation.

Yet, while Xu Ziqing lay beyond this radius, numerous formidable entities resided within it.

The fire emitted a pale red hue, casting a gentle illumination that allowed them to clearly discern the features of their surroundings.

Wu Anyi’s actions were also partially motivated by his concern for his junior sister. While one could utilize their spiritual sense to project various scenes into their consciousness, the darkness pervading the cave’s depths could still be disconcerting. Xu Ziqing, in particular, had experienced a traumatic past with darkness, so it was likely that vision would provide him with a greater sense of security. Wu Anyi speculated that his junior sister’s pleasing appearance might have been overlooked by Xu Ziqing due to his broader reliance on spiritual perception. If his junior sister were to be nearer to him now, would he still be able to maintain his detachment?

Recognizing her senior brother’s intentions, Ji Rui calmly took her seat beside Xu Ziqing. Their proximity was noticeable but not excessive.

While Xu Ziqing furrowed his brows slightly, he refrained from voicing his concern.

Wu Anyi, ever straightforward, promptly took a seat across from Xu Ziqing, positioned next to Ji Rui. He reassured them, “Having expended a significant amount of true energy during our demon hunt, I’ll let you and my shimei recover first. I’ll keep watch to prevent any potential demon ambushes.”

Upon seeing his friendly expression, Xu Ziqing nodded appreciatively, “Thank you.”

Ji Rui, displaying restraint, joined Xu Ziqing in meditation to regain their strength. After a while, Xu Ziqing was the first to open his eyes. As a wood elemental cultivator with a single spiritual root, the Wood Qi within his blood had yet to completely dissipate. This innate advantage allowed him to recover faster than Ji Rui, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.

Observing his speedy recovery, Wu Anyi was taken aback, reinforcing his belief in the extraordinary capabilities of disciples from larger sects. He began to estimate Xu Ziqing’s status within the Wuling Immortal Sect.

Half an hour later, Ji Rui paused her meditation. Xu Ziqing’s rapid revival surprised her and her senior brother. Wu Anyi exchanged a glance with Ji Rui, who subtly nodded in understanding. After pondering for a moment, Ji Rui offered a brighter flicker to the talisman fire and then produced two prepared second-order monster beast legs from her storage bag. She arranged the legs on a makeshift frame and began roasting them. As she did so, she suggested with a warm smile, “Fellow Daoist, it’s possible you’re not fully prepared for your first visit to the Heavenly Demon Cave. Why don’t we share this meal to rejuvenate ourselves?”

Xu Ziqing hesitated. He hadn’t made any prior arrangements. Although he had brought some Bigu Pill along during his time in the Sword Cave, those had been consumed when he was practicing swords. While alone, he could pluck herbs from his storage ring to satiate his hunger, accommodating outsiders required greater discretion.

Observing Xu Ziqing’s momentary indecision, Wu Anyi sensed his vulnerability and added with a friendly grin, “Shimei speaks the truth. Fellow Daoist Xu, though we may have encountered each other by chance, you are now our companion in this venture. Give my shimei’s cooking a try; it’s just a simple beast leg. It’s nothing significant. I hope you don’t find it distasteful.”

Having deliberated, Xu Ziqing recognized that while he didn’t particularly wish to establish close ties with these dao siblings, they had indeed extended their assistance. He couldn’t afford to be ungrateful. Thus, with a courteous smile, he responded, “I appreciate your kindness.”

Ji Rui maintained her affable expression, yet a subtle note of disappointment resonated within her.

Wu Anyi felt a similar sentiment of resignation.

Xu Ziqing, though seemingly inexperienced, displayed an unyielding reserve in his words. Was he truly oblivious to the unspoken intentions of the two seniors, or was he deliberately feigning ignorance?

The circumstances were shrouded in ambiguity. Nonetheless, their sect’s survival had been a struggle, and regardless of the emotional toll, they couldn’t squander this rare opportunity that had finally come their way.

At this juncture, Ji Rui appeared to possess greater composure than her senior brother.

Their strategy was clear—enticing Xu Ziqing through an overnight encounter. She understood that this gentleman’s temperament was quite accommodating. If she were to engage intimately with him during the night, she was confident that she could wield control over him the following day. Contemplating this plan, a rosy hue began to color Ji Rui’s cheeks. Amidst these musings, she found her attention inexplicably drawn to Xu Ziqing’s handsome countenance. Despite his youth, his appearance was remarkably captivating. Such thoughts only solidified her determination. Turning her arm gracefully, she repositioned the roasted animal’s leg.

The once pallid surface of the animal leg had turned a rich, golden brown, and as the fat dripped onto the open flame, a sizzling melody filled the air.

Fixing her gaze on the roasted meat, Ji Rui felt a surge of fervor.

This delicacy was the leg of a Juyang Red Bull—a creature born under the sun’s gaze, galloping beneath its blazing rays daily. Infused with the fiery essence of the sun, its flesh and hide exuded a potent yang energy. This inherent warmth rendered the meat a favorite among female cultivators.

Given that most female cultivators had a yin constitution, characterized by a significant accumulation of yin energy within their bodies, the balance of these energies was vital. They often partook of creatures like the Juyang Red Bull to harmonize their systems by neutralizing excessive yin and fostering bodily vitality.

However, the consumption of such meat by men bore a different implication. The abundant influx of yang energy might engender an overwhelming surge of desire, potentially leading to an unbridled ardor...

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

Support me on ko-fi for faster releases ^^