Chapter 47 Part 2

Once they reached a safe area, Lian Yunzhi’s steps lightened with excitement, as if treading on air. He turned to Mu Cheng with a grin. “Why are you walking so slowly? Hurry up!”

Mu Cheng smiled, took his hand, and walked beside him.

Then he stopped.

Both of them stopped.

—The formation they had set in their cave mansion had changed. Someone had destroyed their Jade Mountain.

.

Lian Yunzhi instantly summoned his flying sword, but Mu Cheng held him back and whispered, “More than one person.”

Lian Yunzhi froze. “…What do you mean?”

Mu Cheng explained, “The one who destroyed the Jade Mountain was just one of the two Evil Cultivators who appeared with Wu Ying before. But beyond him, many others have gathered around the Jade Mountain periphery—even Void Refining and Body Integration cultivators.”

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Lian Yunzhi’s back.

Was someone using that Evil Cultivator to lure them into a trap? If not for Mu Cheng still having fragments of his Primordial Spirit scattered in the winds of Xiaoze State, they would have fallen right into it!

And moreover…

Evil cultivation grew harder at higher realms. Void Refining ones existed, but no Body Integration Evil Cultivators had ever been known—which meant their pursuers included orthodox sects?! But hadn’t the righteous sects never coveted his Immortal Treasure? At least, not openly.

Thoughts raced through Lian Yunzhi’s mind as his grip on Mu Cheng’s hand grew sweaty. He rasped, “We head to the Blood Yin Secret Realm right now.”

The Blood Yin Secret Realm brimmed with peril, and only Access Token holders could enter. Those inside raced against time to boost their cultivation; murder and robbery were the rarest causes of death there.

But as soon as he spoke, a scoff echoed through the air.

Lian Yunzhi whipped his head around, but in the next instant, the formless pressure of a Body Integration cultivator crashed down. His spine felt crushed inch by inch, forcing him to his knees uncontrollably!

Cold sweat dripped from his brow into the soil, but he could not even lift his head.

Mu Cheng fared no better.

In that moment, Lian Yunzhi’s bones chilled to the point of chattering.

At the same time, a pair of unfamiliar legs stepped out from thin air. The man casually tossed Lian Yunzhi and Mu Cheng into a transparent cage with a wave of his hand. Another scoff came from above: “These mere brats aren’t worth my personal attention.”

The world spun, dust flew, and when they opened their eyes again, they were back in Xiaoze State.

Just as Mu Cheng had said, an uncountable throng had gathered before the destroyed Jade Mountain in Xiaoze State.

Some familiar, some not; righteous sects and several Evil Cultivators; Foundation Establishment cultivators and Body Integration powerhouses.

One Body Integration cultivator waved his hand, instantly dispelling the effects of the Butterfly Shadow Disguise Pills Lian Yunzhi and Mu Cheng had taken. Their true appearances were revealed.

“It’s him!”

A voice thick with hatred rang out from behind a Soul Transformation cultivator. A figure stepped forward—it was… Feng Yuan.

More precisely, Feng Yuan’s flickering soul.

Not all souls that escaped the Xiaoze State Illusion Realm had remained in the Pure Bottle. Some had scattered with the black mist at the start and vanished without trace. The Feng Xi and Feng Yuan brothers fell into this category.

“It’s him! That man is Mu Cheng—he’s finally emerged!” Feng Yuan gnashed his teeth. “I knew there was no way Lian Yunzhi would steal the Pregnant Body Lotus Root. It must be because this evil demon escaped too…”

Lian Yunzhi’s gaze shifted to the Soul Transformation cultivator in front of Feng Yuan. Sure enough, the man looked strikingly familiar—one of those who had fought him for the Pregnant Body Lotus Root at Lian Hua Wu last year.

Feng Yuan’s eyes held fear when meeting Mu Cheng’s, but burned with pure loathing toward Lian Yunzhi. “It was the same in the Illusion Realm. This Lian Yunzhi formed a dual cultivation bond with the evil demon, opposing us at every turn and preventing us from killing the evil demon to escape. He even killed my senior brother, damaging his soul… Last year, he stole my Pregnant Body Lotus Root too, leaving me unable to reshape my body even now…”

A Body Integration cultivator looked at Lian Yunzhi and asked, “Is what he says true? Is the one beside you the evil demon suppressed by the Immortal a myriad years ago?”

“It must be true!” another voice interjected preemptively. “The Immortal sent dreams—how could it be false!”

Lian Yunzhi followed the voice and saw a villager from the Middle Immortal Realm who had huddled behind the dilapidated temple statue, trembling in fear half a month ago. He still held the hands of those two children, who panicked and lowered their heads upon meeting Lian Yunzhi’s gaze.

The leading Body Integration cultivator stepped forward and intoned gravely, “Lian Yunzhi, colluding with an evil demon is a capital crime unforgivable. But considering you are a Guest Elder of Lin Xian Sect and escorted over a hundred cultivator souls out of the Xiaoze State Illusion Realm, we offer you a path to life. Hand over the Immortal Treasure you obtained there and personally slay this evil demon. We shall pursue past matters no further.”

Lian Yunzhi sneered coldly.

But the moment disdain showed on his face, a flying chain pierced straight through his shoulder blade, hoisting him high before slamming him to the ground!

“Urgh!”

Lian Yunzhi let out a pained grunt.

Mu Cheng rushed forward to catch him, his eyes nearly bloodshot with rage as he glared at the scene.

“Why make that one kill? Can’t we slay the evil demon ourselves?”

Someone murmured.

“The Immortal said Lian Yunzhi granted the evil demon a chance at life, so only he can sever it to make things complete,” another replied while eyeing Lian Yunzhi. He shouted loudly, “Don’t worry about your Dao Companion Contract. The Immortal says slaying him counts as purging evil and upholding the Dao, severing worldly ties—it might even lead to your ascension!”