Chapter 68: Retribution

When Qi Yalan came here last time, although she didn't really delve into it, she basically figured out the situation of the formation and restrictions on the outskirts of Yaoshan. It wasn't difficult for her to find the entrance again.

However, the information about this place has already spread, so the number of cultivators who rushed over far exceeded expectations. Qi Yalan now only hopes that these guys haven't been able to break into the core area of Yaoshan, otherwise she and her junior brother would have been busy for nothing.

Sword radiance filled the sky, dazzling and containing a chilling killing intent. Within ten steps, everything became blurry. Flames and clouds surged, and countless thunderbolts fell like raindrops, accompanied by the desperate screams of the cultivators and various threats and curses that filled the air.

The destructive power of high-level sword cultivators was already terrifying, and with Qin Muling's guidance, Qi Yalan's attacks were precise and ruthless, mostly killing with a single strike. There were few who could confront her head-on.

After Qi Yalan killed three waves of intercepting cultivators, the scene was filled with corpses, a gruesome sight. Those who hadn't made a move retreated one after another, no longer daring to obstruct her.

In just a few breaths, all the bodies turned into light rain and dissipated in the air, leaving only Law Weapon clothing scattered on the ground.

When cultivators died in the Illusory Mist Secret Realm, they would all look like this, unable to take anything with them, only their damaged souls returning to their bodies. As for the special Law Weapons that could be taken out of the secret realm, there was a considerable chance of losing them.

When the surroundings quieted down, Qin Muling scanned the area and found that the environment had completely changed from when they first entered. Hazy mist filled the field of vision. Hundreds of steps away, a winding and rugged path with a milky white glow extended from the ground to a thousand zhang high.

At the end of the path was a small glowing portal. Five-colored radiance flowed, and within the door, one could vaguely see a stretch of mountains, with an unusually vast space, like a separate Grotto-Heaven world.

Qin Muling withdrew his gaze and waved his hand, taking in the Law Weapon clothing and spatial bracelets of the dead cultivators one by one to examine them. However, with his current perspective, most of the things could only be considered ordinary goods, and he didn't feel any regret in discarding them. Less than one-fifth of what he saw was worth his attention.

However, there were quite a few resources in those spatial bracelets, which added up to a decent harvest that could be kept.

"Alright, let's go in first."

After Qin Muling finished looting the spoils, he sensed that there were no restrictions or traps around the path and portal. However, he couldn't be sure what the situation was inside, so they could only deal with it when the time came.

Qi Yalan agreed and took her junior brother's hand, stepping onto the path, her clothes fluttering as they left behind a trail of dust.

After the two of them disappeared into the portal for a long time, the surviving cultivators dared to cautiously emerge from their hiding places and gathered around the path, discussing in fear.

"...That female devil is finally gone!"

"...I seem to remember, that should be Fairy Qi Yalan from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace? It's been a few years, and her cultivation has reached such a terrifying level?"

"Senior Brother Tao is also a powerful expert at the peak of the Immortal Transformation stage, but he couldn't withstand her attacks just now. Her level should be no worse than the young master of Bright Moon Sword Sect, right?"

"How is that possible? Young Master Lin is one of the most outstanding geniuses in the Extreme Void Starry Sky, the future helm of Bright Moon Sword Sect. Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace has long since declined, so how could there be a genius of this level?"

"It's hard to say. Even a skinny elephant is bigger than a camel. Regardless of what level of genius she is, we ordinary disciples can't compare."

"Well, just now she was accompanied by a young man. Could he also be from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace? His cultivation seems weak, and I haven't heard that Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace accepts male disciples?"

"Your information is a bit outdated. I remember that Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace's higher-ups released news not long ago that they planned to recruit male disciples. But that's not our concern. Let's hurry up and go in! This portal only opens for fifteen minutes, and if we miss it, we'll have to wait another three days and nights!"

"Alright, ah..."

The sound of screams suddenly rang out, and these lucky surviving cultivators didn't even have time to react before they were all killed by the terrifying shadows that appeared out of nowhere.

"Hurry up and go in, kill all those annoying outsiders. The opportunities inside belong to us, and no one else should even think about touching them!"

A sinister voice spoke, and although it had a humanoid appearance, its aura was filled with a ferocious and brutal beast-like nature, revealing its identity as a Great Monster.

More than ten companions around nodded in agreement and turned into streaks of light as they rushed towards the path.

...

Just as the two of them walked out of the gate, two dark thunderbolts struck from the left and right, filled with killing intent.

They were two huge flying swords shining with cold light, covered in runes and radiant with treasure light, obviously belonging to two decent special Law Weapons.

However, Qi Yalan had already reacted. With a slight movement of her mind, a golden defense barrier formed, blocking the sneak attack of the flying swords. Ripples spread across the surface of the barrier, and circles of black flowing light spread out on the surface of the barrier.

The two cultivators who launched the sneak attack froze. They were specifically instructed by their senior brother to guard the gate, and they themselves had cultivation at the peak of the Immortal Transformation realm, wielding high-level Law Weapons. Yet, they couldn't even handle a female cultivator under a sneak attack?

"Why is your strength so weak? Did you not eat?" Qi Yalan mocked. Sword qi, several feet long and clear as water, appeared around her, instantly hitting the two individuals, shattering their protective barriers without any surprises.

Feeling the imminent danger of the sword qi, the two individuals let out angry roars. Two faint black lights suddenly spread out, narrowly blocking the fatal blow.

"So, you're from the Jade Pearl Star Palace?" Qin Muling laughed. Without any visible action, dozens of sparkling and translucent thick vines emerged from the ground, entwining around the lower bodies of the two individuals. The sharp bone spikes on the vines pierced through their bodies, firmly embedding themselves in their flesh.

Compared to the cultivation level of the two individuals, this sneak attack by the vines couldn't be considered a substantial threat. With a slight counterattack, they could easily deal with it. However, the two of them were currently being held down and beaten by Qi Yalan, leaving them unable to free themselves.

The relentless onslaught of sword qi quickly shattered their defensive measures, and with the imminent life-or-death crisis, the two individuals were stimulated to roar continuously.

"Wait, Fairy Qi, we have something to say. It's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"

However, what they said and what they did were two different things. The two individuals continued their counterattacks, their flying swords transforming into countless sword shadows, crashing down like furious waves, attempting to block Qi Yalan's attacks.

However, it was all in vain. The two individuals were horrified to discover that Qi Yalan's cultivation was truly extraordinary, even more terrifying than the combined strength of the two brothers. Perhaps only their senior brother personally taking action could contend with her?

But it was too late for regrets at this moment. After barely withstanding for a few moments, as their last few protective Law Weapons shattered, the sound of heart-wrenching screams filled the air, and the two cultivators were completely dismembered by the sharp sword qi, blood splattering on the spot.

Soon, the shattered bodies turned into streaks of light and dissipated in the air.

Qin Muling waved her hand and absorbed the spatial bracelet and the two flying swords left behind.

"The Jade Pearl Star Palace... It seems that a big fish has come in."

Qin Muling said with certainty. To arrange for two peak Immortal Transformation realm experts to guard the gate, this was not something an ordinary person could do. It was possible that a monstrous genius had arrived.

Qi Yalan's eyes were cold: "Definitely, let's go find them quickly. As long as we encounter them inside, we absolutely cannot let them leave alive!"

The grudge between the two lineages has a long history. It can be said that they are the main culprits behind the decline of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. The precious treasure, Celestial Melody Palace, is still occupied by Jade Pearl Star Palace. Naturally, there is no goodwill between them. The disciples of the two lineages would not interact with each other outside, otherwise it would definitely result in a fight to the death.

Looking around, as Qin Muling expected, the interior of this gate is a separate Grotto-Heaven world, and the area is much larger than imagined.

"Let me handle it!" Qin Muling silently used the divination technique to calculate a hexagram, and following a sudden inspiration, flew towards the north.

Qi Yalan had no doubts about this. With the terrifying luck of his junior martial brother, the chosen route would not pose much danger.

...

Jade Pearl Star Palace main hall.

Inside the bronze hall, nearly two hundred cultivators sat quietly. However, there were three thousand elder disciples guarding around, all holding their breath and not daring to make a sound.

After all, these cultivators who entered the Illusory Mist Secret Realm have the most prestigious status. They can be said to be the core decision-makers of the sect's next generation. The next Supreme Sect Master will also emerge from this group. Naturally, they cannot be treated lightly.

With the sound of a miserable scream, two young cultivators who were originally sitting still suddenly jumped up, their faces covered in blood, struggling and convulsing uncontrollably.

Sensing their condition, the bronze hall trembled slightly, and two magnificent light pillars, about a foot thick, descended from the dome and enveloped their bodies, instantly alleviating the excruciating pain of near-death.

A group of disciples rushed over and supported the two of them, immediately pouring various healing pills down their throats as if they were free, stabilizing their injuries further.

By the time the two fully recovered their breath, the Sect Master Yan Qinyang had already arrived upon hearing the news.

"What happened?" he asked in a deep voice. "Weren't you part of Yan Lingji's team? Why did you encounter an accident? What is the situation inside? Is Yan Lingji in danger?"

Yan Qinyang indeed had reason to worry. Yan Lingji was one of the four Great Monster-level geniuses with the best aptitude and the most promising future among the new generation disciples of the sect. His safety could not afford any mistakes.

The two guys who had just returned belonged to Yan Lingji's trusted team, and they were also elite individuals who received special attention from the sect. Their cultivation and destiny were outstanding, and it was unlikely that anyone could harm them easily.

"It... it was people from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace," one of them whispered. "We followed Senior Martial Brother to the depths of the Eastern Ocean to search for the trace of Heavenly Medicine on the Bladed Leaf Island. Senior Martial Brother ordered the two of us to stay behind and guard the gate, and then..."

He recounted the events, and Sect Master Yan Qinyang breathed a sigh of relief. "So it was that Qi Yalan? But it's fine. With just her alone, Yan Lingji has nothing to fear."

Due to his low cultivation level, Qin Muling was not taken seriously by the Supreme Sect Master. Yan Lingji, his senior martial brother, had several followers and protectors by his side. It was impossible for them to be unable to deal with just one Qi Yalan.

An elder beside him spoke, "The information about that Medicine Mountain is already recorded in the sect. The natural restrictions inside are very powerful. Any cultivator inside can only display the cultivation level at the peak of the Immortal Transformation realm. Any power beyond this level will be directly suppressed. Therefore, I think we should not be careless about this matter."

Just as Yan Qinyang was about to speak, several screams rang out again. Three cultivators who were sitting still suddenly jumped up, convulsing and struggling uncontrollably.

"How did three more die again?"

The elders were filled with astonishment and uncertainty, and the disciples waiting on the side hurriedly rushed over to provide treatment. After a busy period, they finally stabilized their injuries.

Yan Qinyang asked with a cold and solemn expression, "What happened this time? Weren't you following the team led by Yin Xuemei? What trouble has she encountered now?"

A cultivator reported cautiously, "It's the people from the Nine Spirits Clear Origin Gate. They have gathered a large group of disciples from affiliated forces and are competing with us for the ownership of a high-level spirit beast. Sister Yin Xuemei is still fighting against them, and they have already killed over a hundred people..."

After hearing the account of the incident, Yan Qinyang furrowed his brows and remained silent for a long time.

If there was not much to worry about regarding Yan Lingji's team, Yin Xuemei's situation was somewhat precarious. As one of the four great monster-level geniuses of the same sect, if she were to encounter an unexpected mishap and return, even with the protection of the Celestial Melody Palace, her aptitude and fortune would suffer a certain degree of damage, which the sect absolutely could not afford.

However, even if they knew the reason, there was nothing they could do now, or rather, they were too late.

The Illusory Mist Secret Realm was vast and expansive, and it would take more than just a day or two for the supporting forces to join them. By then, it would be too late.

"Should... everything be alright?"

In the end, Yan Qinyang could only console himself in this way.

However, as if the heavens were deliberately against him, not long after, from the second floor of the hall below, there were heart-wrenching screams one after another, roughly estimating that at least dozens of people had suffered.

A panicked elder ran up and, after bowing, reported, "Headmaster, it's not good. Just now, forty-one core elite disciples were attacked. They were all from Yan Lingji's team. What should we do now?"

The expression on Yan Qinyang's face froze.

...

In the Grotto-Heaven world.

Layers of fiery clouds filled the field of vision. Amidst the raging hurricanes, countless clusters of golden flames, the size of human heads and shaped like lingzhi mushrooms, appeared out of thin air and danced in the sky with spiritual vitality.

Once they sensed the breath of living beings, they would pounce on them like festering sores, relentlessly burning their targets to ashes.

Several hundred steps away, a towering tree, tens of zhang tall, emitted flowing radiance and rising precious qi. Among its dense and lush branches and leaves, more than ten fist-sized, blood-red fruits shimmered brightly, dazzling like brilliant stars.

"...Hold on! We must hold on!"

Yan Lingji, the senior brother of the Jade Pearl Star Palace, gritted his teeth and shouted. There were less than thirty disciples and elders around him. A giant umbrella, radiating a clear light, hung above his head, emitting layers of light and shadows, desperately resisting the continuous onslaught of flames.

A guardian disciple sternly rebuked, "You despicable people from the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, how dare you ambush us and snatch the Divine Medicine? Aren't you afraid that the headmaster will declare war on you again?"

After a moment, Qin Muling's cold laughter echoed from afar, "Let the war begin if it must. It's nothing serious. You have taken too many undeserved benefits, and it's time for you to face some retribution!"

To be continued at night, please vote for monthly tickets and recommendations.

(End of this chapter)

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