Embers of Sword

Chapter 554 That Time and That Moment
The fire in the furnace was blazing and flickering.

Lu Yuzhen slowly took out a precious pearl.

Refined by the intense heat of the fire, this precious pearl has acquired a perfect golden hue.

"This is……"

Xie Xuanyi's brow furrowed.

"Fetal light".

Lu Yuzhen uttered two words softly.

Humans have three souls and seven spirits, and Tai Guang is the life soul among the three souls!
Xie Xuanyi's suspicions were confirmed at this moment.

The reason why she felt hostile towards Lu Yuzhen from the very first meeting was because her "pregnancy light" was in Lu Yuzhen's hands.

laugh!
A thick wisp of sword energy surged out, instantly piercing through Lu Yuzhen's palm and the furnace.

However, there was no explosion of fire or splattering of blood.

Because all of this... is just an illusion!

Lu Yuzhen was not on Pure White Mountain. The image of him holding the fetal light at this moment was just a picture he deliberately created with his soul before leaving.

"Don't get angry."

Lu Yuzhen's illusory figure, pierced by the flying sword, gradually recovered. He said gently but firmly, "This embryonic light is the most precious thing in the world to me. I will not easily destroy it... After all, if it is damaged, you may never be able to advance to the Yang God realm in this lifetime. You are the 'Dao Fruit' that I have nurtured with all my heart and soul. How can I watch you fall at the most crucial step?"

Xie Xuanyi's expression turned completely gloomy.

"I know you must be very angry right now."

Lu Yuzhen sighed softly, "Yinshan, I've already sent it away. But since you and I are here on this mirror, the Heavenly Puppet Sect and the Joyful Union Sect must have been wiped out..."

Outside the pure white mountain.

The rain of burning flowers and swords continued.

Xie Xuanyi knew that Yinshan, Tiankui Sect, and Hehuan Sect were all just pawns of Lu Yuzhen. The truly important figures all condensed their bodies into "blank paper avatars," and even if he really killed them, they would be reborn in another unknown secret realm.

For example, Chu Man just now.

For example, there are the Immaculate Venerables under Lu Yuzhen's command.

"The people who remain in Pure White Mountain now are all gifts I have given to you."

Lu Yuzhen said calmly, "If you're still not satisfied and want to kill them, then kill them all..."

The Paper Doll Sect has always looked down on the three major sects.

Whether these people live or die is none of Lu Yuzhen's business.

"There's something I still need to remind you of."

Lu Yuzhen said softly, "The turmoil has already begun in Da Chu. Even if all these people in the Southern Frontier are killed, you will still have to face those troubles."

Having said this, he paused.

Lu Yuzhen held the "fetal light" in her palm and said with a smile, "I'll keep this fetal light for you. I'll give it to you next time we meet."

The words fell.

A sound of collapse came from above Xie Xuanyi's head. The cave began to collapse, along with the pure white mountain that had appeared out of nowhere.

Rumble!
The heavens and earth collapsed, and billowing dust fell from the sky.

Although Lu Yuzhen has left, the many secret patterns and formations set up in this cave are now activated!
The snow-white waterfall that enveloped the pure white mountain range suddenly expanded at this moment—

Above the mountain boundary.

The Vimalakirti family members reunited.

"Third brother."

Mo Si helped the seriously injured Jing San to his feet and asked worriedly, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Jing San shook his head and looked into the distance with a complicated expression.

The mountain area where the Daoist Master often sat in leisure began to collapse, and billowing dust spread and swept across like a tide.

"Miss Chu Man just sent a message."

Chi Wu whispered, "Xie Xuanyi has entered the Chenglu Cave... The Dao Master wants you to hurry up and take back the mountain boundary."

"So... Lord Dao actually anticipated that Xie Xuanyi would come..."

Jing San chuckled self-deprecatingly.

He looked at his empty sleeves and murmured, "It's just a pity about those two cultivators from the Paper Doll Path who were just recruited..."

The Oneness Zen Master died and his teachings vanished.

It seems the Taoist priest is also not going to make it.

These are two great cultivators who are just one step away from entering the Yang God Realm.

"Don't hesitate."

Mo Si said in a low voice, "The Dao Master has his own plans."

Jing San nodded.

Under the divine guidance of several Immaculate Venerables, he returned to the foot of the snow-white waterfall and re-formed the great array.

After counting the interest.

A wisp of pitch-black sword energy pierced through the pure white mountain belly.

Xie Xuanyi emerged from the scattering of rubble, the towering snow waterfall nearing its end. The entire pure white mountain range began to evaporate like a bubble, and a thick, ethereal mist rose from the surrounding mountains. The heads that had grown in the muddy mountain paths closed their eyes, as if falling into a peaceful sleep.

However, those evil cultivators who were enveloped by his Burning Flower Sword Rain were mercilessly abandoned by the great formation.

A very small number of disciples from the Heavenly Puppet Sect and the Joyful Union Sect were fortunate enough to escape into the Snow Waterfall Formation.

Ultimately, Lu Yuzhen did take back the mountain gate... but for Xie Xuanyi, the takeback of the mountain gate was no longer important.

The two most crucial cultivators were killed, and for the rest of the cultivators who escaped, even if they lived, it was meaningless.

Southern Xinjiang is a breeding ground for Gu poison. The surviving cultivators are generally weak in cultivation level. Even if they fight and kill each other within the white paper barrier, it is impossible for pseudo-saints like "White Daoist" and "Master of Unity" to be born again.

"...My talisman is still in Lu Yuzhen's hands."

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath.

He recalled the scene from their previous meeting.

The fire flickered and the flames danced.

If I'm not mistaken... the bronze furnace in Pure White Mountain enshrines more than just my own soul.

Dao Jiu's possession of Qian Yuan Daoist of the Hehuan Sect was related to this bronze furnace.

These past ten years.

The Paper Doll Path has set up many hidden traps.

Lu Yu had no idea how many cultivators' vital souls he held in his hands.

"The battle of the White Paper Barrier has ended, and Lu Yuzhen has left Southern Xinjiang... This is really unreasonable..."

Xie Xuanyi calmed his thoughts.

In his view, this move was not very wise.

On the surface, Lu Yuzhen's escape from the southern border meant she had escaped her own reckoning.

But in reality, are other places safer than southern Xinjiang?

Given the extent of Lu Yuzhen's injuries... how could she possibly recover completely in less than a year or two? While the Undying Spring is indeed incredibly effective, it can only treat the skin, flesh, and bones. The "Great Dao Soul Wounds" that Lu Yuzhen suffered in the great battle could not be quickly repaired by the Undying Spring.

The Paper Doll Path has made countless enemies; given the chance, everyone in the world would want to kill it.

This way.

Southern Xinjiang is actually the safest place.

Given Lu Yuzhen's meticulous and thorough nature, she wouldn't take any risky actions...

His departure from the southern border so quickly must mean that there was a perfectly peaceful place to take him over.

"I still feel like we're missing some clues."

Xie Xuanyi rubbed his temples.

He shook off these distracting thoughts, his gaze piercing through the wisps of smoke and dust as he looked into the distance.

Pure White Mountain has gone into seclusion.

Today... only one majestic mountain gate remains in this southern border region.

It is also the mountain gate that I need to focus on clearing up.

……

……

The battle at Pure White Mountain didn't actually last very long.

Thanks to the fog array that Lu Yuzhen had set up in advance, by the time the Yinshan side saw the increasingly thick snow waterfall descending, the battle at Pure White Mountain had already come to an end.

Just as Chi Xian and Qing Xiao stepped into the sect's cave, they learned of Bai Gui's death, and a deafening sound immediately rang out from the outer gate!
Immediately following were cries of agony, which, through the signal, reached the hearts of the two.

"Master!"

"Master!!"

"Someone's attacking!!" Chi Xian and Qing Xiao hurriedly stepped out of the cave.

The mountain gate collapsed, black smoke billowed, and more than ten peaks of Yinshan were destroyed by the sword light. The mountains and fields were covered with shattered soul banners, and countless ghosts roared and howled. The cries of Yinshan disciples were cacophonous and intertwined.

The two exchanged a glance, and a sense of despair unconsciously welled up in their hearts.

"Da Chu attacked so quickly?"

In their view... the Paper Doll Path's Snowfall Formation was clearly a defeated and fleeing defeat. The only ones who could cause Lu Yuzhen to suffer such a great loss were the top-tier Yang God Realm cultivators of the Great Chu Imperial City.

Just the next moment.

After they saw the figure hanging in the sky, their expressions became even more shocked.

Someone did call.

but……

There was only one person!
A golden sword pierced the sky, wreaking havoc.

The man in black robes sat suspended in the sky, unleashing a barrage of swords and a devastating attack from the Dao Domain of Annihilation, a massacre that was almost an overwhelming massacre.

This scene was not unfamiliar to the evil cultivators of Yinshan.

Several years ago, when they left the territory to massacre cities on the southern border, they often did the same thing.

The Soul Banner suppresses the heavens, unleashing malevolent spirits to wreak havoc.

only……

Now, the black-clad figure has replaced the Soul Banner with the Dao Domain and the Yin Soul with a flying sword.

"Master, Master... save me!"

A disciple in tattered clothes knelt before Chi Xian, his chest pierced by sword energy. Logically, the Dao of Annihilation should have instantly destroyed his soul... But Xie Xuanyi did not do so. Today, he came to Yinshan, not only to carry out a massacre, but also to turn this evil cultivation sect that refining mortals for pleasure into a red earth hell.

Let those Yinshan cultivators who enjoy refining souls and tormenting living beings die slowly under the torment of sword energy.

"This is... a chronic illness..."

Chi Xian's face turned ashen.

"The Dao of Annihilation..."

Qingxiao also recognized the sword wound.

The two knew that the disciple kneeling on the ground was beyond saving.

Although only a wisp of the sword intent of annihilation pierced through the flesh and bones.

However, this wisp of sword intent will continue to spread and erode.

In this world, there is only one person who can wield this flying sword and cultivate this sword intent...

That man should have died in Beihai ten years ago!
That person is still alive!
"...Xie Xuanyi?!"

Chi Xian Qing Xiao's expression was extremely grim.

The two of them looked up at the same time, gazing at the sky.

"it's me."

The two words, spoken lightly, echoed above the sky.

The black-clad figure, shrouded in the lacquer light of the Dao Domain, descended slowly, its sleeves billowing, revealing its true form.

Under the backdrop of the majestic sword energy, Xie Xuanyi looked like a true immortal, or even more like a demon lord!
"You...are still alive?!"

Chi Xian couldn't believe it.

Ten years ago.

Although the Battle of Beihai was led by the White Ghost.

However, Yinshan had poured all its resources into this battle, and Chi Xian and Qing Xiao had also contributed significantly, both unleashing their Soul Banner Divine Thought Avatars… The risks Yinshan would face in this battle were immense. The Three Saints, as lackeys of Renshou Palace, were acutely aware of their opponent. On the surface, it was Xie Xuanyi, a peak Yin God, but in reality, it was the transcendent Zhao Chunyang, surpassing even the Ten Heroes of the World!
Once Zhao Chunyang makes his move, the deadly situation in Beihai will escalate!

By then.

Not to mention Yinshan, even the three major sects of the entire Southern Xinjiang region combined wouldn't be enough to overwhelm it.

The Holy Empress sent a messenger to request that one of the three saints appear in the world in his true form to hunt down Xie Xuanyi… Such a huge risk was something neither Chi Xian nor Qing Xiao dared to take. However, they knew that if all three refused, the North Sea assassination plot would continue, and Renshou Palace could find another "white glove." But after the plot ended, Yinshan, which dared to defy the Holy Will, would surely face a purge by Renshou Palace… So Bai Gui finally stepped forward and entered the game himself.

It's a big gamble.

Fortunately, the white ghost won the bet.

Zhao Chunyang did not appear until Xie Xuanyi committed suicide by jumping into the sea.

The Yinshan Mountains brought ten years of peace and prosperity.

In Chi Xian Qing Xiao's view... it was obvious that the Great Sui Sword Palace had bowed down and compromised with the Imperial City.

They never imagined that their suicide by jumping into the sea ten years ago was not the end.

Xie Xuanyi is still alive.

And... he even dared to show his face alive!

etc--

This way.

Could Xie Xuanyi have been responsible for Bai Gui's death?
So, was the defeat of Pure White Mountain also because of Xie Xuanyi?!
For a moment, Chi Xian and Qing Xiao were completely stunned.

They had many questions about today's events, but the moment they saw Xie Xuanyi in person, many mysteries were solved.

"I see……"

Chi Xian chuckled hoarsely, "Xie Xuanyi, as expected of you... You've come to kill us?"

no respond.

No response is needed.

Xie Xuanyi looked at the two pseudo-saints as if they were dead men.

“I…should have thought of that…”

Chi Xian lowered his eyes, revealing a self-deprecating expression.

He once used the Soul Banner to brush past Xie Zhen in the Qujiang River with his remaining soul.

At that time, he vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

Xie Zhen... is Xie Xuanyi!

If he were to descend in his true form on that day and personally take action, would he have a chance to directly crush the life soul of this proud disciple of the Great Eagle Sword Palace?
pity.

There are no "what ifs" in this world.

"Formation!"

"All disciples, listen to my command! Form the battle formation!!!"

Akashi took a deep breath.

He suddenly shouted, his voice echoing throughout the entire mountain range.

The shattered soul banners covering the mountains and fields trembled and swayed at this moment.

Tens of thousands of souls swirled through the mountains and fields. The disciples under the Three Saints, who had been slaughtered by the flying swords, screamed and cried out in agony. Now, guided by the Crimson Immortal's divine sense, they all sat cross-legged on the spot, pouring their divine sense into the soul banners they had refined. This was the main sect of Yin Mountain, the home ground of the two pseudo-saints.

Crimson Immortal and Azure Owl joined forces, personally casting the Myriad Souls Formation.

An immense pressure descended upon this mountain range, causing inch by inch of red earth to rise and grains of dust to shatter.

Many of these disciples showed signs of pain and struggle.

They were pierced by the sword energy of annihilation and were about to die, but due to the powerful divine control of the Crimson Immortal, they were forced to sit down and join the Myriad Souls Formation...

For Chi Xian Qing Xiao, the lives and deaths of these disciples were of no importance.

Sooner or later, they will all be refined into the ghosts within the Soul Banner.

If I die at this moment, then I can continue to fight as a wisp of soul in the Ten Thousand Souls Formation.

The half of the sky that had been torn apart by the sword energy recovered at a rapid pace, and the dark clouds pressed down.

One after another, the faces of evil spirits appeared under the guidance of the soul banner.

A gigantic vortex appeared above the sky—

Xie Xuanyi calmly watched the evil spirits raging in the world.

He beckoned.

The flying sword, which had been traversing the mountains and fields a hundred feet away, emitted a fierce clang and instantly returned to its master.

Ten years ago.

He was trapped in the Ten Thousand Souls Formation in the North Sea and was forced to jump into the sea.

today.

He then entered the Ten Thousand Souls Formation.

This moment is just like that moment back then.

But... everything has changed.

"This time."

Xie Xuanyi said softly, "Let me see you off on your way."

(End of this chapter)