Mountain and sea lantern

Chapter 609 Borrowing Light
If those people were just staring and scrutinizing, that wouldn't be a problem. The key issue is that their facial expressions and reactions related to their eyes are all wrong.

Li Hongjiu suddenly sensed something was wrong, because he felt a strong killing intent. It seemed that not just one person in this group intended to kill him, but several.

He was about to leave quickly when he suddenly stopped in mid-air, without needing to use the wind or any magical artifacts, proving his current level of cultivation.

He remained suspended in mid-air, watching those people, and slowly looked towards Shi Chun's side, somewhat doubting whether he had fallen into Shi Chun's trap.

Those who blocked Shi Chun did not seem to have any murderous intent towards him, so why did they seem to have murderous intent towards him?
Given his consistent wariness of Shi Chun, it would be difficult for him not to suspect that Shi Chun was behind it all.

Of course, based on rational judgment, I also maintained a certain degree of denial regarding my own doubts.

First of all, it seems that my relationship with Shi Chun has not yet reached the point of life and death.

Furthermore, even if they wanted to harm themselves, there was no need to sneak around all this way, having already traveled from one end of Jukuzhou to the other.

Finally, judging from the situation at least, Shi Chun didn't seem to recognize these people either.

If Shi Chun really was setting him up, he felt there was only one possibility: Shi Chun was not the mastermind. Just as his master had repeatedly told him before he left the mountain, he must leave quietly. In short, those in the same trade are enemies.

Anyway, some people may not want to see the Yanbao Sect produce someone who can surpass them, and want to nip it in the bud.

It's possible that Shi Chun was using him as bait to lure him out for some benefit; otherwise, he couldn't think of any other reason Shi Chun could have for doing this.

Of course, maybe it was all just his imagination, or maybe he was overthinking things, so he stopped and stopped to verify.

The logic is simple: some formations are recognizable. These people are highly skilled, and if they really want to kill you, running away is pointless; you'll still be caught.

Those who harbored murderous intent also watched him silently and coldly.

They were waiting, waiting for Li Hongjiu to leave, wanting to make their move only after Li Hongjiu was out of everyone's sight.

After all, he is the closed-door disciple of the Sect Master of the Yanbao Sect, so it's inappropriate for him to be too unrestrained.

As a result, Li Hongjiu's behavior put them in a bit of a predicament. What is this bitch looking at? We didn't even get a bruise on our faces, so why don't we leave?

The group confronting Shi Chun also noticed that something was amiss with the group outside and Li Hongjiu.

But they couldn't figure out what kind of people this group was, and they didn't know if it would be detrimental to their side.

Unsure of their true strength, they hesitated to act rashly. After all, this wasn't Dongsheng's territory, and those people all possessed demonic energy and were clearly quite powerful.

Shi Chun saw it all clearly. His right eye ability allowed him to see the faint blood-red killing intent emanating from those people. Looking at how they were staring at Li Hongjiu, even a fool could tell that they wanted to kill her.

He didn't know who Li Hongjiu had offended, since all the people who came were demon cultivators, clearly different from the group he was facing. He even suspected that they were rivals.

He couldn't just stand by and watch; if something happened to Li Hongjiu, it would affect his cultivation progress and, consequently, his future.

So he suddenly cast a spell and shouted, "Brother Jiu, those people are trying to kill you! Come back quickly, come here, we can protect you."

He can barely take care of himself, let alone us.

Li Hongjiu turned her head and glanced at him, quickly understanding the deeper meaning in his words: the two groups were not allies, and he was trying to use someone else's power to mislead those who were watching him.

Despite understanding Shi Chun's good intentions, Li Hongjiu couldn't help but curse him inwardly, calling him a sly and slippery fellow who was trying to squeeze some oil out of a rock.

Sure enough, many of the demon cultivators turned around and stared at Dong Sheng's men. The leader, an old man with white hair reaching his waist, looked wary.

One of them quickly took out a talisman and made contact to report the situation on the scene.

As the whirlwind disintegrated, the sea breeze quickly dispersed the water vapor, and people in front of the mirror could basically see the people in the picture.

They saw Li Hongjiu withdraw, and they also saw the coachman who had taken off his straw hat confronting their men.

However, the coachman did not look like the Shi Chun they were looking for, but their eyesight still allowed them to see the disguise on Shi Chun's face.

Wei Mo said in a deep voice, "What's wrong with them? Is it so difficult to verify their true identity? Or have they encountered a powerful expert and dare not act rashly?"

Before the words were even finished, and before they could even make a confirmation call, the group's expressions suddenly tightened, their eyes fixed on the mirror image.

Some even exclaimed in surprise, "This..."

Seeing that someone had attacked Li Hongjiu, one of the newly arrived people suddenly struck down with a palm strike from a distance, as if it were a knife. The force of the strike caused the water vapor that had been scattered to be wiped away, as if dust had been wiped off a mirror.

Even the water vapor vanished instantly; anyone with a discerning eye would immediately recognize it as a deadly move.

Killing the closed-door disciple of the Yanbao Sect Master in front of so many people not only surprised the people in front of the mirror, but also greatly surprised the Dongsheng people present.

The reason for resorting to the deadly move was because Li Hongjiu made a move.

Li Hongjiu suddenly slipped away. Although he cursed Shi Chun for being treacherous in his heart, his body unconsciously agreed with Shi Chun's words.

The demon cultivator who had consulted with his superiors received a reply from Alan: "You were made to disguise yourselves so that it would be easier to carry out your plan. You must not let anyone escape. Kill them!"

Before replying, Alan asked the woman in red beside him, who was adamant in her stance.

As soon as Li Hongjiu made a move, the demon cultivator who was still holding the Mother-Child Talisman immediately attacked, raising his hand to deliver a fatal slash.

The Dong Sheng troops immediately realized that a Celestial Immortal realm expert had made a move, and the opposing force was likely no weaker than their own.

They had no intention of saving Li Hongjiu. They even wanted to draw a clear line because of Shi Chun's nonsense and declare to those demon cultivators that they would only take Shi Chun and the others were free to do as they pleased.

Who would have thought that they would take action without even confirming the details?

So naturally, they showed their indifference through their actions, watching Li Hongjiu die. Even if the Yanbao Sect investigated, it wouldn't be because they killed her.

That single strike possessed the terrifying power to wipe away the water vapor, and its power could be clearly seen through the changes in the surrounding water vapor as it instantly struck Li Hongjiu.

Given Li Hongjiu's speed, there wasn't even time to escape. Both the onlookers inside and outside the mirror image were on edge.

Unable to dodge in time, Li Hongjiu slightly turned his head and took in the changes around him. However, he showed no panic. Instead, his eyes turned slightly cold, and at the same time, a hint of surprise appeared. Someone had actually made a move for him.

It's Shi Chun!
Startled, Shi Chun casually flung out his magical weapon, the Flying Dragon Sword. The sword instantly transformed into a streak of light, hurtling towards the attack at full speed, intending to shield Li Hongjiu from it. This momentary change in expression and panic didn't seem feigned; it showed genuine concern.

If it weren't for the critical and urgent moment when he needed to keep his mind steady, he would have almost lost his composure.

Anyway, one deep question remained firmly in his mind: Is it true or not, that this bastard actually cares about me?

It's absolutely true. Shi Chun was extremely unwilling for Li Hongjiu to lose his life, as it affected his own future. How could he sit idly by? How could he not panic if his future was at stake?

However, the speed of a Celestial Immortal's attack was so fast that Shi Chun's meager abilities had no chance to intervene. Even a fifth-grade magic weapon would be no match for it.

He watched helplessly as the terrifying power struck Li Hongjiu directly, blasting her to pieces.

Actually, it didn't explode; it was just a momentary illusion. It was just that the wide sleeves of Li Hongjiu's robe swayed violently, as if it were about to burst open.

In an instant, Li Hongjiu, wielding two swords, soared through the air, blocking the incoming divine power with a single sword strike. There wasn't much of a sound as she spun around and swung her sword back, the force of which instantly wiped away the water vapor in her path.

The sheer power of this sword strike can only be truly appreciated by onlookers.

Wei Mo, who was sitting at the front of the mirror image, was so shocked that he stood up instantly and exclaimed in disbelief, "Truly a celestial being..."

Young Master Nan was no exception.

Everyone says that Li Hongjiu is the number one rising star of the new generation, and today they have finally witnessed firsthand just how dazzling and brilliant the so-called number one is.

The mere Human Immortal realm actually blocked an attack from a Celestial Immortal realm cultivator and even retaliated. A grain of rice can rival the brilliance of the moon. How could one believe it without seeing it with their own eyes?

However, Young Master Nan noticed something else: what's wrong with Shi Chun? How could he stand steadily in the air without any leverage, and could his cultivation have broken through to the Human Immortal realm?

At that moment, he was truly the only one who noticed this unusual detail.

boom!
The demon cultivators swiftly intervened and blocked Li Hongjiu's counterattack, the force of which was so great that it could be said to shake the heavens and the earth.

Shi Chun unleashed the Black Lotus magic weapon, releasing its power, which barely managed to shield him from the aftershocks of the explosion.

The Flying Dragon Sword missed its target and quickly returned to its rightful owner.

"Brother Jiu, over here!" Shi Chun shouted hoarsely amidst the booming explosions, as if afraid the other party wouldn't hear him.

Li Hongjiu glanced sideways, "Is it really safe to get too close to those people who are arresting you?"

Although he didn't know why Shi Chun was in such a hurry, he, who had never trusted Shi Chun before, actually believed him this time based on his intuition, and actually flashed in front of Shi Chun after the attack.

The moment the two drew near, Shi Chun glared behind him and saw the demon cultivators' starting stances, clearly preparing to attack again. He hurriedly shouted, "Go, take me away!"

He grabbed Li Hongjiu's arm, discarded the Black Lotus magic weapon, allowing it to manifest its own form to assist him, and then hastily summoned the Boundless Banner to protect himself.

When he grabbed Li Hongjiu's arm, he was also pushing Li Hongjiu away.

Seeing those magical treasures in the mirror, there was bound to be one he had heard of. Young Master Nan was already in a toothache, and Wei Mo slammed his fist on the table, "Shi Chun, it's him!"

The men he sent were no pushovers either. Seeing that Shi Chun was trying to run away in front of him, the square-faced leader couldn't help but let out a mocking snort, and flashed over, reaching out to grab him. But as soon as he stretched out his hand, his expression changed drastically.

At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but then I realized I couldn't move at all.

Immobilization talisman? The thought immediately flashed through his mind. He had been warned that Shi Chun had a fifth-grade immobilization talisman, but he still couldn't guard against it and fell for it.

However, on the other hand, a mere fifth-grade immobilization talisman was like a thin thread binding him; it couldn't hold him back.

But the next moment, he stared wide-eyed in terror, straining his arms to break free of his restraints. But because of this hesitation, he was unable to avoid the scene that filled him with horror.

A few demon cultivators unleashed a barrage of attacks, some of their techniques striking him. He endured it with all his might, but blood was spurting from his mouth and nose as he glared at the demon cultivators with trembling, blood-stained lips.

His own men behind him were also stunned. What was going on? Was it really that hard to dodge? It couldn't be that bad. Even those two guys knew how to dodge. What was the meaning of you stubbornly taking the hit instead of dodging?
Wei Mo and the others who were watching in front of the mirror also widened their eyes. What did that mean? Had they been beaten by those demon cultivators?
Someone rushed over to support the square-faced leader and check his injuries. They found that the leader was seriously injured. Immediately, someone glared coldly at the demon cultivators. What kind of beasts were these, daring to attack the people of the Eastern Victory Royal Court!

The demon cultivators were also stunned. They didn't understand either. They weren't familiar with each other, so what did it mean for you to take the beating and endure it?

However, they didn't care about those people. So what if they were Li Hongjiu's accomplices? The order to kill them had already been issued from above.

Their eyes were mostly fixed on the black banner that Shi Chun was waving around. This black banner had actually blocked the attack that they hadn't managed to dodge earlier. Several powerful attacks hit the black banner and disappeared without a trace, without even a sound.

"Could it be the Boundless Banner?" a demon cultivator exclaimed in surprise.

Li Hongjiu, who had escaped with Shi Chun, also looked back at the black banner fluttering beside her in surprise, and clicked her tongue in admiration, "What a treasure!"

Shi Chun glanced back at the Black Lotus Dharma Image that was protecting him, only to find that the two groups of people had not been provoked into fighting, but instead had made them their primary target and were chasing after them again. He immediately cried out in despair, "It's over. It seems that you and I are doomed this time."

Li Hongjiu glanced back, then suddenly held her sword upside down in her hand, gathered a drop of water between her two fingers, pointed it at the gradually brightening dawn, and with a flick of her finger, whispered, "Borrow some light!"

Suddenly, the water droplet brightened and grew brighter and brighter until it burst forth with a dazzling light.

Shi Chun, whose eyes were stinging, quickly closed them. The last thing he remembered was a white blur before his eyes, and he could see nothing. He only felt himself being carried away by Li Hongjiu.

He wasn't the only one who couldn't open his eyes; those who had chased after him also instantly became blind and stood on guard.

Wei Mo and the others in front of the mirror screamed in disbelief.

Suddenly, a brilliant light shone from an inn in Dazhi City, attracting many people to turn their heads to look. Some people quickly flew over to investigate, and even the woman in red stuck her head out of the window of the pavilion.

As Shi Chun flew at high speed, he quickly sensed a lot of magical energy fluctuations sweeping towards him. Suddenly, he felt himself being swooped down. When he opened his eyes, he found himself being carried by Li Hongjiu onto the turbulent sea.

Li Hongjiu pushed away the arm that was linked with his, sheathed his two swords but didn't put them away, instead attaching them to his left and right hips. He then took out his wine gourd, took a few big gulps facing the distant figures searching for him, and said, "The difference in cultivation level is too great, there's no way to escape. Damn it, who did you mess with?"

Shi Chun, carrying the black banner, yelled, "The person who tried to kill me wasn't after me, but you! I was implicated because of you, okay? No, I mean, you still have time to argue about this? Think of a way to escape!" He then buried his head and pulled out magical artifacts like the Three Corpse Mirror.

Li Hongjiu didn't have time to argue with him. Seeing that the figures in the distance had locked onto the direction and were rushing towards them, she knew that those people would use killing moves as soon as they made their move. She immediately put away her wine gourd, stepped forward, and faced them calmly.

His clothes fluttered in the wind, making him appear ethereal. A magical power began to emanate from him, spreading outwards. He stretched out his arms as if embracing the surging sea, and proclaimed in a resounding voice, as if offering a sacrifice: "Heaven and earth unite their power, the tides rise and fall, let us borrow a tide!"

(End of this chapter)