.jpg)
While Hua Xiangwan was searching for the Demon Spirit in the Spirit Core with Xie Wushuang, at another time, in the Heavenly Sword Sect's Realm of Life and Death, a young man sitting cross-legged on the icy plain suddenly vomited blood.
Kun Xuzi, who was happily roasting chicken nearby, was startled. Seeing the young man wake up, he dropped the chicken and rushed forward. "How are you? Did you get the Demon Spirit?"
"I'm fine, but I haven't seen the Demon Spirit yet."
Xie Changji swallowed the blood from his lips and answered Kun Xuzi's question.
Kun Xuzi was surprised. "Then why did you come back?"
"I cleaved the Spirit Void Secret Realm in two."
This statement shocked Kun Xuzi.
If Xie Changji was using his own body, cleaving a secret realm would be no problem. But he was using Xie Wushuang's body...
"Is Wushuang alright?"
Kun Xuzi reacted and hurriedly asked.
Xie Changji shook his head. "His body couldn't withstand my sword intent and rejected me. I was afraid of damaging his sea of consciousness and meridians, so I withdrew first. But I left a memory bead; I'll go back in a while."
"What's the use of leaving a memory bead?" Kunxuzi frowned. "Wu Shuang is unconscious!"
One body cannot contain two souls. When he entered Xie Wushuang's body, Xie Wushuang's soul had already been dormant for a long time. If Xie Wushuang's soul awakened, he couldn't easily enter again from such a distance of thousands of miles.
So even if he withdrew from Xie Wushuang's body, Xie Wushuang would still remain unconscious.
"I'll have someone take him to chase after the Demon Spirit."
Xie Changji explained, and Kunxuzi felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this.
There were many disciples going, and Xie Changji shouldn't be entering the Spirit Void Secret Realm alone. Having others watching over things was better.
Even if they didn't manage to seize the Demon Spirit, at least they would know who took it.
The Demon Spirit had two layers of seals: the Heart-Questioning Sword and the Soul-Locking Lamp. They weren't so easy to break. Knowing who got it and taking it back in time wasn't impossible.
He nodded and said calmly, "Then take good care of yourself and go back quickly."
"Okay."
Xie Changji responded, then closed his eyes and began to meditate and rest.
Xie Changji rested for half the night, and sensing that Xie Wushuang's body had recovered somewhat, he immediately returned to Xie Wushuang's body.
As soon as he entered Xie Wushuang's body, he felt warmth coming from all around, and heard the pattering of rain, which seemed to be not far from him.
He opened his eyes groggily and found himself in a cave. Turning his head, he saw Hua Xiangwan sitting by the fire, resting her chin on her hand and dozing lightly.
She was covered with a white blanket embroidered with mimosa flowers, which carried a woman's unique fragrance that lingered at his nose.
This fragrance made him feel dizzy for a moment, and then he suddenly realized.
No sense!
Logically, he had already entered the core of the Lingxu Secret Realm, and Lu Ling was here. He should have been able to sense the presence of the Heart-Questioning Sword, but he had no sense at all!
Realizing this, Xie Changji immediately threw off the blanket and walked quickly out of the cave.
Startled by the noise, Hua Xiangwan looked up and saw Xie Wushuang hurrying out.
Hua Xiangwan knew what he was anxious about, so she quickly stepped forward. "Don't worry, the demon spirit is gone, take your time."
Hearing this, Xie Changji stopped and turned to look at Hua Xiangwan, repeating, "The demon spirit is gone?"
Hua Xiangwan felt a little guilty, but she still forced herself to explain: "Too many cultivators entered the secret realm this time. When I arrived at the location of the demon spirit, they were fighting fiercely, so I hid to the side and watched. After they fought for a long time, they finally opened the spirit core that contained the demon spirit. Then everyone saw that the demon spirit was gone, searched for it, and left."
Xie Changji didn't speak. He stared at Hua Xiangwan. Hua Xiangwan thought for a moment and quickly took out a recording bead. "Oh, I've written down the situation for you. Take a look for yourself."
With that, Hua Xiangwan tossed the recording bead over. Xie Changji raised his hand and caught it. He closed his eyes and poured his spiritual power into the recording bead, and the scene appeared before his eyes.
Hua Xiangwan didn't start recording from the beginning, but rather went back to where the demon spirit was. It was a towering tree, and many cultivators were fighting beneath it.
Xie Changji glanced around and realized that these cultivators were all from the Western Region, basically the same group as those who had ambushed him earlier.
After fighting for a while, one of them lunged forward, and a magic seal landed on the tree trunk. The ancient tree trembled, and then the trunk seemed to open like a gate, slowly opening to both sides. Inside was a lush garden, with a lotus stone platform in the center. The aura of the demon spirit still lingered on the platform, indicating that it was originally where the demon spirit was kept. However, the platform was now empty; nothing was there anymore.
Everyone was stunned for a moment upon seeing this scene. Someone exclaimed, "Where's the demon spirit?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone stopped fighting and rushed into the tree trunk, searching everywhere. After confirming that there was no trace of the demon spirit, they seemed to sense a spiritual force pressing down and quickly left.
Hua Xiangwan's record ended there. She scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed. "Qin Yunshang brought Mingluan and people from Qingle Palace. I wasn't confident I could hide under her nose, so I left first."
Xie Changji put away the recording bead, saying nothing more. He turned and walked out, coldly saying, "Lead the way."
Hua Xiangwan didn't dare to say anything more and quickly stepped forward. She was still injured, so she summoned her mount, mounted the white tiger, and turned to 'Xie Wushuang', extending her hand. "You're still injured, I'll take you."
"No need."
Xie Changji decisively refused, taking off on his sword. "Let's go."
Seeing his chaste appearance, Hua Xiangwan didn't insist and rode the white tiger into the dense forest.
The place where the demon spirit was stored wasn't far from here, and the two quickly arrived. Xie Changji landed on the ground, glanced at the place that had been fought to a mess, and identified how many people had been there based on the traces of moves and spiritual energy left behind.
After looking outside, he walked into the tree trunk and came to the lotus spirit platform.
Countless fingerprints and spiritual energy remained on the lotus-shaped spiritual platform, making it impossible to identify who had arrived first. He looked at the platform, took out his recording bead, and quickly reviewed it.
His recording bead had recorded everything from the beginning, exactly as Hua Xiangwan had described, but…
Xie Changji frowned as he looked at the recording bead showing Hua Xiangwan closely following several cultivators, constantly sensing spiritual energy fluctuations to determine their location, and the time it took her to reach the location of the demon spirit.
"Why did she arrive so slowly?"
He turned to look at Hua Xiangwan.
She was the owner of the Soul-Locking Lamp; logically, upon arriving at the core area of the Spirit Void Illusion, she should have been able to sense its presence. If she wished, she should have been the first to reach the spiritual core.
This place wasn't far from where they landed, yet Hua Xiangwan had wandered around for a long time before arriving, seemingly without any awareness.
Hua Xiangwan looked at him blankly, bewildered by his question. "I...I just followed others here, I don't know where the Demon Spirit is..."
"How could you not know?"
Hearing this, Xie Changji's heart skipped a beat. He stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and urgently asked, "You can't sense it?"
This question made Hua Xiangwan panic. She looked shocked and bewildered. "Why can I sense the Demon Spirit?"
Xie Changji didn't speak, he stared intently at her, and Hua Xiangwan's heart pounded.
What did he know?
How did he know she could sense the Demon Spirit?
The two remained locked in a tense standoff for a long time before Xie Changji spoke hoarsely, "Hua Xiangwan, don't lie to me."
"I can swear to the heavens," Hua Xiangwan raised her other hand, speaking earnestly, "I can't sense the demon spirit."
She couldn't sense it…
How could she not sense it…?
He gripped her hand, trembling. He had so many questions he wanted to ask, but he knew he couldn't ask anymore.
She was lying to him, she was definitely lying.
She was so much like Wanwan; her movements, her tone of voice in that dream, the slight smile in her eyes when she finally fell onto the ice.
She held her sword slightly higher, she would subtly curl her little finger when performing acupuncture, she knew he could break the Myriad Curses, she would secretly inquire about Xie Changji, who had spent so many years in the Realm of Life and Death.
How could she not sense the Soul-Locking Lamp?
But why… why was she lying?
How could she lie?
Xie Changji stared at Hua Xiangwan, the ground around them trembling. Hua Xiangwan sensed something was wrong and tried to calm "Xie Wushuang," saying, "Daoist Xie, the secret realm seems a bit unstable. Let's go out first."
"Come back with me," Xie Changji said coldly.
Hua Xiangwan was bewildered. "Where to?"
"Heavenly Sword Sect," "Xie Wushuang" said through gritted teeth, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, "The Realm of Life and Death."
As he spoke, the ground lit up with magical light, shocking Hua Xiangwan.
The Heavenly Sword Sect was nearly a thousand miles from the West Peak Forest. How could they just go there? Unless they were a Tribulation Transcending Great Power who could shrink the earth to an inch and travel a thousand miles in an instant, right now they...
Before Hua Xiangwan could finish her thought, a huge suction force suddenly came from the ground, and Xie Wushuang's hand, which was holding hers, fell down together. She cried out in surprise, and by the time she reacted, she was already on a small path.
Xie Changji grabbed her and hurried forward.
Hua Xiangwan stumbled, and as the breeze carrying the scent of peach blossoms filled her nostrils, she finally came to her senses. Looking up, she saw the mountains ablaze with peach blossoms, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
The Heavenly Sword Sect! It really was the Heavenly Sword Sect!
What kind of monster was Xie Wushuang? How could he have brought her to the Heavenly Sword Sect in an instant?!
"Let go!"
Realizing what had happened, and remembering Xie Wushuang's earlier words about the "Realm of Life and Death," Hua Xiangwan panicked instantly. She struggled desperately, crying out, "Xie Wushuang, let me go!"
Xie Changji ignored her, pulling her forward excitedly. Hua Xiangwan reached for her spiritual energy bead, but she had used it all up in the secret realm. Without spiritual power to sustain her, she was no different from an ordinary mortal, only able to punch and kick Xie Wushuang, crying, "Xie Wushuang, are you crazy? What are you doing? Let me go!"
Xie Changji wouldn't listen. The two climbed the steps of the path, the chill of the Realm of Life and Death washing over them. Hua Xiangwan grew increasingly panicked.
To reach the Realm of Life and Death, wouldn't she have to see Xie Changji?
Would Xie Changji recognize her? If he did, would he force her to stay?
She grew increasingly frightened. Fortunately, Xie Wushuang stopped after only a few steps.
Hua Xiangwan quickly looked up and saw Kunxuzi standing on the high steps with a disciple, holding a whisk and frowning at Xie Wushuang.
"What are you doing?"
Kunxuzi asked, his voice cold.
Xie Changji didn't speak. He gripped Hua Xiangwan's hand. Kunxuzi's gaze fell on Xie Changji's hand, and with a flick of his whisk, he struck Xie Changji's hand hard.
A sharp pain shot through Xie Changji's hand instantly. Kun Xuzi coldly said, "Let go."
"I want to take her," Xie Changji said hoarsely as blood dripped from the back of his hand, "into the Realm of Life and Death."
"The Realm of Life and Death is a forbidden area of the Heavenly Sword Sect. What right do you have to take her in?"
"Yes, yes," Hua Xiangwan nodded quickly upon hearing this, "I'm not worthy. I'll leave now."
Xie Changji didn't speak. He gripped Hua Xiangwan's hand tightly, lowered his head, and slowly knelt on the ground, repeating, "I want to take her into the Realm of Life and Death."
"Insolence!"
Kun Xuzi shouted sharply, "The Demon Spirit is lost. Are you still going to cause trouble?!"
These words made Xie Changji freeze. After a long while, he finally slowly let go.
Hua Xiangwan glanced at him and saw him kneeling blankly on the ground. Suddenly, she felt a pang of pity.
"Actually, this matter..."
"This young lady," Kunxuzi turned to Hua Xiangwan, "you should go and rest first. This is an internal matter of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Mingsong," Kunxuzi glanced at the disciple behind him, "take the young lady away."
Hearing this warning, Hua Xiangwan didn't say much. She glanced at Xie Wushuang and finally turned to leave.
Only Xie Changji and Kunxuzi remained on the long road. Kunxuzi looked down at him. "Why did you bring her into the Realm of Life and Death?"
"I want to... test my sword."
She and he had formed a dual cultivation blood pact. The Heart-Questioning Sword could sense her and wouldn't reject her.
If she could draw the Heart-Questioning Sword, then she must be Wanwan.
Understanding his plan, Kunxuzi instantly understood.
He had asked about Wanwan before, so now this girl...
His tone softened slightly, and he said firmly, "She can't sense the Soul-Locking Lamp."
Xie Changji lowered his head, his breath trembling slightly. "She's lying to me."
"Why aren't you lying to yourself?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Changji froze. He looked up, a look of bewilderment on his face.
Kunxuzi sighed, raised his hand, and a talisman flew from Xie Changji's hand, hovering in mid-air.
"Do you know what this is?" Kunxuzi pointed to the faintly glowing talisman.
Xie Changji looked at it and said dryly, "Dream Seal."
"More than that."
Kunxuzi shook his head, raised his hand, and the talisman split in the middle, turning into two talismans.
"These are two talismans. One is indeed the Dream Seal, but the other is the Mind-Bewitching Seal. It can silently disturb your mind, making you confuse the caster with the person you care about. The caster is a top expert, combining the two seals into one. Even you, who are not proficient in this art, would find it difficult to detect."
Xie Changji stared blankly at the talismans. Kunxuzi's expression held a hint of pity. "I didn't notice it before, but I discovered this talisman after carefully examining your body just now. Since you discovered it is the Dream Seal, why are you hesitating to remove it? Are you waiting for that girl to enter your dream again? But Changji, think about it, is your so-called recognition of her based on solid evidence or just on your guesses and clues?"
"Is she really alive, or do you wish she were alive?"
This question made his heart tremble.
He felt she was Wanwan the moment he saw her in his dream;
Knowing her tastes were completely opposite to Wanwan's, yet she still finished all the food, he thought she was deliberately hiding something;
Seeing the way she held her sword, he was certain;
When she mentioned the Myriad Mantra and asked about him in the Realm of Life and Death, entering the illusion constructed by his memories together without a trace of doubt…
He was convinced that she was Wanwan, and had come for him.
But all of this was just his feeling.
Could his feeling truly prove that one person was another?
Xie Changji knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the ground.
Seeing his expression, Kunxuzi sighed. "Wushuang's body needs rest, and your soul is unstable. Go back to the Realm of Life and Death for seclusion and recuperation to remove the effects of the Bewitching Heart Seal on you. As for the rest," Kunxuzi walked down the steps, brushing past him, "let the sect handle it."
Previous/Next
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)