My mother is the white moonlight of the cultivation world.

Just as Hua Yue was concentrating on sensing her surroundings, the originally bright sky was covered by a thick dark cloud, the sunlight disappeared instantly, and the light in the secret realm suddenly dimmed.

Almost simultaneously, a strong, pungent stench mixed with the smell of death assaulted our senses.

"laugh!"

A gigantic, pitch-black claw-like shadow tore through the air, accompanied by a howling wind, and with lightning speed, it slashed down from above Hua Yue's head. Before the claw even arrived, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and her skin stung.

Hua Yue reacted swiftly, her left hand slapping her waist, and a heavy sword, dark red in color, with an ancient design yet exuding a subtle air of majesty, instantly appeared in her hand. The sword's blade was ancient, and in the dim light, fine, blood-red runes seemed to flow deep within it—it was the Phoenix Eye Sword she had obtained from the Sword Tomb.

Instead of retreating, she advanced, sweeping her Phoenix Eye Sword upwards with a wind like a dragon, directly meeting the black claw.

"Clang!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal clashing echoed through the valley, sparks flying everywhere. Hua Yue felt a tremendous force coming from the sword, making her arm numb. She stared intently and saw two tall figures appearing and disappearing in the dissipating black mist.

A familiar, cold, and decaying atmosphere.

They were enveloped in dense demonic energy, their scarlet pupils gleaming in the darkness—they were shadow demons.

"Heh, your flesh looks delicious." One of the Shadow Demons let out a hoarse, low laugh, the sound waves mixed with demonic energy, making one's eardrums ache. The other silently spread out, blending into the surrounding darkness, clearly preparing to launch a sneak attack.

Hua Yue's gaze remained calm, without the slightest hint of panic.

Seven years have passed, and she is no longer the weak person she once was. The helplessness and despair of the past have now transformed into the determination to hone her skills.

A smile appeared on her lips, and the Phoenix Eye Sword pointed straight ahead, its tip emitting a sharp sword light.

Over the past seven years, she has practiced swordsmanship every day without fail. Under Jun Yuan's guidance, her swordsmanship has become far superior to what it used to be.

Today, facing the Shadow Demon at the Nascent Soul stage, she showed no fear whatsoever; on the contrary, she was somewhat excited.

"Need any help? I can handle them." Xi Ming stepped forward and asked calmly, a wisp of pure white light swirling between his fingers. "You should hide first."

Hua Yue chuckled lightly, "No need." She twirled the Phoenix Eye Sword in her hand, the blade rubbing against the air and emitting a soft hum. "Seven years have passed, and I haven't had a proper fight yet." Her eyes gleamed with eager anticipation; this was the first time she would truly face a challenge with her current strength.

Xi Ming's brow twitched slightly, but he didn't insist. He simply looked around and said, "If these two Shadow Demons merge into one, their power will be even greater. I'll lure one away; you wait for me here, and we'll meet up again after I've dealt with it."

Hua Yue nodded, agreeing that this allocation method was more reasonable. Although Shadow Demons were strong in individual combat, their strength would increase exponentially once they fused. Even if she could fight beyond her level, she might not be able to deal with two fused Shadow Demons at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage at the same time.

"Okay," she replied without the slightest hesitation.

With a light tap of his feet, Xi Ming's figure moved as swiftly as a breeze, instantly closing in on the shadow demon that had merged into the darkness.

Just as the shadow demon was about to launch a sneak attack, Xi Ming unexpectedly delivered himself to its doorstep. Xi Ming immediately let out a sinister laugh, its demonic energy surging and condensing into a gigantic demonic claw that reached for Xi Ming. Xi Ming dodged easily with a flash, leaving behind a faint trace of his presence, leading the shadow demon deeper into the dense forest.

In the blink of an eye, only Hua Yue and another Shadow Demon remained at the bottom of the cliff.

"Arrogant brat, do you really think you can defy fate and change your destiny just because you've learned a few sword techniques?" The Shadow Demon roared, his voice shaking the valley. Demonic energy condensed behind him into a ferocious phantom, like a demon from the abyss, exuding immense pressure.

Hua Yue took a deep breath, her Phoenix Eye Sword trembling slightly. Without further ado, she launched her attack. Her figure was like a phantom, her sword wielding like the wind.

With a flick of the sword tip, a streak of emerald green sword energy burst forth, its momentum like a new sprout breaking through the soil, seemingly weak, yet containing an invincible vitality.

The sword energy shot straight at the Shadow Demon's body. The Shadow Demon reacted extremely quickly, condensing its demonic energy into a thick shield in an attempt to block the attack.

"boom!"

The sword energy collided with the demonic energy shield, producing a tremendous roar. The demonic energy shield shattered inch by inch after only half a breath, and the emerald green sword energy, undiminished in its momentum, pierced straight at the Shadow Demon!

The Shadow Demon let out a roar of shock and rage, its massive demonic claws flashing across its front in a split second.

"Sizzle!"

The Phoenix Eye Sword pierced through the demonic claw's skin, producing a teeth-grinding tearing sound. Black blood splattered out, and the Shadow Demon's massive body shuddered violently, followed by a painful scream. Its once incredibly tough demonic claw had been sliced ​​off in large chunks by Hua Yue's sword, the cut surface smooth and clean, as if it had been cut by a sharp blade.

The immense pain made the Shadow Demon's attacks even more ferocious and chaotic. It roared repeatedly, its demonic energy boiling, and countless black energy balls poured down like a torrential rain.

Hua Yue moved with agility, like a gust of wind in the forest, weaving through the dense barrage of demonic energy projectiles. Each step she took was perfectly timed, avoiding fatal attacks while simultaneously seeking opportunities to counterattack. The Phoenix Eye Sword in her hand moved like a dragon, its flashing light accompanied by crisscrossing sword energy; every swing carried an aura of both intense vitality and destructive power.

"The second technique: The Circulation of Life and Energy!"

Her attack was not merely a simple assault; it focused more on the stripping and transformation of life force. The sword energy swirled with two distinctly different hues: emerald green and withered yellow, intertwining with each other.

This power touched the Shadow Demon's demonic energy like oil being poured onto a hot flame; the demonic energy was instantly purified, decomposed, and even devoured by the sword energy, transforming into nourishment for itself. The Shadow Demon felt its demonic energy being stripped away and was terrified. It tried to retreat, but found its movements sluggish, as if countless vines were wrapped around it, draining its power.

Meanwhile, deep in the dense forest.

Xi Ming's figure moved with incredible speed, like a white lightning bolt, darting through the dark forest. He led the Shadow Demon to a canyon where the light was even dimmer.

"Foolish mortal!" The pursuing Shadow Demon laughed arrogantly. Darkness was its breeding ground, and the shadows here were even thicker, which only made it more powerful. "What can you do to me in this pitch-black place?" It was full of confidence, thinking that Xi Ming's actions were tantamount to walking into a trap.

Xi Ming did not respond. His face was as cold as frost, and the brilliant light in his eyes stood out starkly in the darkness. He ignored the Shadow Demon's taunts, showing no fear or emotional fluctuation. He simply stood there quietly, raised his hand, and then gently waved his sleeve.

There was no sword light, no dazzling spell effects, and not even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

It was merely the white sleeves that brushed past.

As if an invisible rule had instantly enveloped the Shadow Demon. Its arrogant smile froze on its face, and its massive body began to disintegrate and dissipate from the inside out. It didn't even have time to scream; it only managed a hoarse, broken voice filled with extreme resentment and shock: "You're not human at all..."

Before he finished speaking, Shadow Fiend turned to ashes and vanished into the shadows of the canyon without leaving a trace.

Xi Ming stared blankly at the spot where the Shadow Demon had vanished, a complex emotion flickering deep within his eyes. He withdrew his hand.

"...We can't let her find out yet."

Just as Xi Ming returned to the edge of the cliff, Hua Yue had just finished off another Shadow Demon.

The Shadow Demon's massive body was torn into withered fragments by Hua Yue's sword energy, and was finally completely disintegrated by the inexhaustible sword intent, disappearing into the air.

Hua Yue sheathed her sword and stood there. The Phoenix Eye Sword was completely free of demonic energy, its tip gleaming with a lustrous sheen. Her breathing was slightly rapid, yet also filled with the exhilaration of victory. It had been a thoroughly satisfying battle, giving her a clearer understanding of her own power.

"It's resolved." Hua Yue turned to look at Xi Ming, her tone relaxed.

Xi Ming nodded, his gaze sweeping over the now empty ground, seemingly unsurprised by Hua Yue's strength.

The two began searching along the cliff for the stone cave where the Shaoguang Sacrifice to the Year Orchid was located. As they walked, Hua Yue couldn't help but ask, "How did these Shadow Demons end up in the secret realm? There are clearly so many cultivators guarding the outer perimeter of the secret realm."

Xi Ming strode forward with steady steps, answering without turning his head, "It's simple. Someone brought them in." He stopped and looked at Hua Yue, "You've probably offended someone from the Demon Realm."

Hua Yue frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and suddenly remembered something: "I encountered the Gluttonous Demon Lord's subordinates in Linshan City."

Upon hearing this, Xi Ming gently shook his head: "The Gluttonous Demon Lord, for him, nothing is more important than delicious food. He only likes to devour living people. He will only try to capture you and eat you, he won't send Shadow Demons to kill you."

"Then..." Hua Yue had a bad feeling.

Xi Ming's voice was calm, yet it sent a chill down Hua Yue's spine: "The appearance of these shadow demons means that someone is colluding with demons."

Upon hearing this, Hua Yue's heart skipped a beat, and a thought flashed through her mind. She remembered the attitude of certain people within the sect towards her, and the scheming of the Ye family…

Who is collaborating with the monsters?

She may have sensed something.