The situation on the platform was vastly different now. The disciples of the Tianchen Sect, the Ji family, and Yuling Palace had formed a tight circle around the second tier of the wooden stage, completely repelled and kept at bay by two opposing torrents of powerful magical energy swirling in the center like a fierce vortex. The vortex was generated by Ji Yinsang and Gu Huaixiu. Both figures moved with such blinding speed that their hunting gales made it impossible to capture their forms. Immortal spiritual energy and demonic power intertwined fiercely, locked in a dead heat. As a result, the Zhutian Jue remained suspended atop the central pillar. The outsiders could not push their way in, while the two combatants inside were too occupied to spare a hand to retrieve it. Immortal Sovereign Quanheng and Ji Huaishan, standing along the outer perimeter, were so anxious they were practically jumping up and down. Amidst the chaos, Wutong clenched his teeth and charged toward the second tier of the wooden stage. The moment his foot stepped onto the wooden stairs, he heard a cracking sound beneath his soles, like thin ice shattering. As frost swept across, a thin layer of ice spread rapidly, mimicking water overflowing the steps. Wutong was hit by a biting, bone-chilling cold that slowed his steps and made his teeth chatter uncontrollably. ‘Frost Chill Freeze!’ On the stage, Ji Huaishan, feeling the effects even more acutely, wore an expression of extreme shock. ‘It is Frost Chill Freeze! This fiend has already reached the Asura Realm!’ He hastily rushed toward the blurred mass in the center of the stage while shouting, ‘Yinsang, watch out for the fiend’s cold poison!’ A jolt ran through Wutong’s heart. Among the four realms of demonic cultivation, Gu Huaixiu had actually reached the third stage, the Asura Realm! That meant even his second brother, who was at peak Golden Core, might not be his match! Hearing the family head’s warning, the crowd grew even more panicked. Whispers of ‘The Frost Chill Freeze is lethally cold; everyone, quickly channel your spiritual energy to protect your heart’ and ‘If the cold poison invades your body, you will be doomed for eternity’ spread like a plague. People sat down right where they stood, hurriedly channeling their internal energy to resist the biting frost, entirely abandoning the fight on the stage. Wutong raised his nearly frozen hand, trembling as he managed to fish a medicinal pill from his pouch and force it down to protect his heart. Then, with a sudden stomp of his foot, he grabbed the wooden railing along the upper steps. The railing, already iced over, nearly froze his hand to its surface; Wutong hurriedly jerked his hand away, blew warm air onto his fingertips over and over, and stubbornly resumed his arduous climb. On the stage, the two combatants reached their fever pitch. With a sudden metallic clang, Ji Yinsang’s sword was knocked out of his hand, and he tumbled backward two zhang before barely managing to dodge Gu Huaixiu’s fatal strike. His wretched state alarmed Wutong deeply: his hair was disheveled, his lips were tinted blue, and his formerly graceful, wide robes were shredded into several long tears. Staggering as if about to collapse, he was caught just in time by Ji Huaishan, who had broken into the inner circle. Opposite them, Gu Huaixiu wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, withdrew his hands, and glanced indifferently at his opponent before leaping up to make a second attempt at seizing the Zhutian Jue. ‘Audacious fiend!’ Ji Huaishan shoved his son into the arms of Ji Longbai, who had followed closely behind, and struck out simultaneously. Wutong had never seen his father display such unbridled fury, nor had he ever witnessed his pristine, ethereal second brother in such a disheveled state. While consumed with worry, Wutong felt a growing wave of regret for inviting this wolf into their home, alongside a deepening hatred for Gu Huaixiu. Ji Huaishan poured nearly all of his magical power into this single strike. The wooden stage shattered amidst violent tremors, instantly disintegrating into countless wood chips that mingled with pulverized ice shards, sweeping toward Gu Huaixiu’s back like a howling tornado! Wutong, who had just managed to crawl onto the second tier, suddenly found the ground vanishing beneath him. Before he could steady his stance, a massive torrent of shattered wood and ice swept him upward, hurling his entire body directly toward Gu Huaixiu. Gu Huaixiu completely ignored the incoming attack from behind, clearly determined to claim the Zhutian Jue today at all costs. As long as he secured the treasure, he was willing to suffer a heavy blow. Seeing the fiend adopt such a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble, Ji Huaishan and Immortal Sovereign Quanheng’s expressions shifted drastically in unison as they grasped Gu Huaixiu’s true intent: he meant to put on the Zhutian Jue! Once successful, his magical power would surge instantaneously, allowing him to recover rapidly from any injuries he had just sustained! ‘Disciples of the Tianchen Sect, hear my order! Thunder Light Annihilation Array!’ Quanheng roared hoarsely, forming hand seals first. Feng Yuanchi and the other disciples immediately moved into formation. Within moments, a brilliant beam of light surged from Quanheng’s fingertips into the sky, bursting like fireworks as millions of electrical sparks diffused across the air and merged with the existing grand barrier protecting the mountain. They outlined a massive glowing net whose brightest focal point locked directly onto the Upper Immortal Terrace, while its outer edges stretched toward the invisible horizon. Countless beams of light converged toward the center, growing brighter and brighter as a terrifyingly powerful bolt of lightning rapidly took shape. At the exact moment he slammed into Gu Huaixiu’s back, Wutong heard the sound of his own ribs snapping in unison, the excruciating pain nearly causing him to faint. Yet a fleeting glimpse of the scene before him unlocked an inexplicable surge of strength from deep within. He suddenly twisted his body and hooked his arms around Gu Huaixiu’s neck. Just as Gu Huaixiu’s fingertips brushed against the Zhutian Jue, a frantic pulling force around his neck yanked him backward. Stumbling forward with a violent lunge, Gu Huaixiu threw his head back and angrily hoisted and tossed the person clinging to him. Wutong spun head over heels right over Gu Huaixiu’s head, hurtling straight toward the central pillar! ‘Wutong!’ ‘It is Wutong!’ ‘Young Master Wutong!’ Seeing the person being hurled away clearly, the members of the Ji family cried out in alarm. Simultaneously, a bolt of lightning carrying destructive, splitting energy struck down from the sky, aimed directly at the pillar and Wutong! A fraction of a second later, Wutong would have been struck by the lightning and reduced to ashes! Gu Huaixiu’s pupils dilated abruptly. The fingertips that had grazed the Zhutian Jue suddenly elongated by several inches, catching Wutong’s wrist at the very last moment. In a flash of lightning, Wutong flung his five fingers wide, managing to grab the edge of the Zhutian Jue as well. At the exact same time, that pillar of lightning, crackling with energy capable of tearing everything apart, shattered the central pillar into dust and pierced straight through half of Wutong’s body! Wutong felt his body tear apart as his soul instantly separated, drifting up into the air before witnessing an unbelievable sight below: The Zhutian Jue melted like liquid, writhing like a blood-red snake around the wrists of both him and Gu Huaixiu, moving faster and faster… Suddenly, the shattered flesh and broken bones of his mangled wrist snapped back together, pulled by a massive force. Much like a drowning person breaking the surface, Wutong’s soul was yanked powerfully backward and slammed back into his physical body. That single instant felt like reversing time, restoring everything to the exact moment before the lightning strike! The writhing of the red snake came to an abrupt halt, tightening like a red cord that bound his wrist and Gu Huaixiu’s together before vanishing beneath the surface of their skin. All of this transpired in the blink of an eye. Staring in astonishment at his wrist, Wutong was still surrounded by the lingering echoes of gasps and shouts. Even more miraculously, his ribs, which should have been completely shattered, felt entirely restored. His breathing grew smooth, and his movements felt unhindered. Raising his head, he locked eyes with the bewildered expressions of his father and brother across the platform and immediately shouted, ‘Father! Second Brother!’ Without a second thought, he bolted toward them. His wrist was yanked backward. Wutong whipped his head around and saw Gu Huaixiu standing with his head bowed and his torso slumped, supported solely by the right arm being dragged along. He was motionless, making it impossible to tell if he was dead or alive. Lingering terror mixed with intense disgust and resentment welled up in Wutong’s chest. He jerked his hand violently, attempting to break free from his binding with Gu Huaixiu. He could not shake him off. At that moment, Gu Huaixiu lifted his head. His face was distorted, his collar soaked entirely in fresh blood, and thick streams continued to overflow from his mouth and eyes, rendering him utterly terrifying. Paralyzed by shock, Wutong forgot to move. Witnessing the excruciating pain that caused Gu Huaixiu’s bones to crack audibly, alongside an exquisite face now pale as snow where the contrast of crimson and white delivered an extreme, shattering visual impact, Wutong froze. Before he could react or figure out his next move, Gu Huaixiu suddenly smiled at him. His gaze instantly sharpened, his arm swept out, and with a swift gust of wind, he pulled Wutong behind him. The right arm linked to Wutong wrenched his left arm behind his back, while his free left hand clamped down on Wutong’s throat, its fingertips razor-sharp. With a single forward thrust, he could pierce straight through Wutong’s windpipe. ‘Wutong!’ ‘Third Brother!’ Ji Huaishan and Ji Yinsang cried out in horror. ‘Thunder Light Annihilation Array!’ Immortal Sovereign Quanheng roared. ‘The fiend has been struck by the lightning! Do it again, and he will never escape!’ ‘If anyone moves an inch, I will splatter his blood right here.’ Gu Huaixiu’s icy gaze swept across the crowd as his sharp claws pierced into Wutong’s skin, a single droplet of blood seeping out. He whispered into Wutong’s ear, his voice extremely weak, ‘Do not scream.’ With his wrist tightly twisted and unable to move, feeling the sharp sting against his skin, Wutong could only grit his teeth in bitter resentment. ‘Let go of my brother!’ Ji Yinsang roared. Although the fiend currently looked severely injured, he had not yet recovered either, and with Wutong being held hostage, they were afraid of hurting the captive and dared not act rashly. ‘Immortal Sovereign, you cannot!’ Ji Huaishan also waved his arms, blocking Quanheng’s path. ‘That is my youngest son, Wutong! You cannot use the annihilation array!’ Blinded by a desire to kill, Quanheng refused to relent. ‘Immortal Sovereign, my brother has no cultivation whatsoever; he can never withstand the Thunder Light Annihilation Array!’ Ji Yinsang leaped directly in front of Quanheng. ‘Clan Head Ji, the fiend has seized the sacred treasure. If we miss this chance to eliminate him, not only will the sacred artifact be lost forever, but his demonic powers will surge, leaving us with endless troubles.’ Eager not to let slip this golden opportunity to eradicate the fiend, Quanheng formed hand seals, standing primed to strike. Apart from Feng Yuanchi, who looked deeply hesitant, the rest of the Tianchen Sect disciples raised their weapons into formation. Seeing this, the Ji family guards similarly pivoted their weapons, creating an instant stalemate between both sides. Amidst a burst of chilling laughter, the crowd watched as Gu Huaixiu, coughing up blood while holding Wutong hostage, slowly retreated down the stage while wisps of black demonic energy began to billow from his body. ‘The fiend is recovering!’ ‘We cannot let him escape!’ Gu Huaixiu’s severe injuries had significantly weakened the effect of the Frost Chill Freeze. Relieved of their binding cold, the crowd immediately redirected their hostility toward the demon. Yet, despite raising their weapons, none of the people on the stage dared to charge forward rashly, maintaining a tight encirclement that shifted slowly as Gu Huaixiu retreated. ‘Gu Huaixiu! Just release my brother, and Yuling Palace will let you go today!’ Ji Yinsang shouted anxiously, his sword trained intently on Gu Huaixiu’s movements. Gu Huaixiu let out a grim, wretched laugh. ‘Ji Young Master, do you take me for a fool?’ Half of his face was now shrouded in demonic mist as he suddenly barked, ‘Step aside, all of you!’ His voice was already full of vital energy, lacking any trace of its previous weakness. With that, massive billows of pitch-black demonic fog erupted, instantly enveloping both him and Wutong. The fog spread outward with astonishing speed, swallowing everyone present in darkness within moments. ‘Thunder Light Annihilation Array! Do not let that fiend escape!’ Ignoring Ji Huaishan’s protests, Quanheng raised his hand to point toward the sky. A brilliant beam of light suddenly flared up, dispersing the dark fog. Turning toward the source, the crowd saw Ji family Young Head Ji Longbai holding a luminous night pearl. As everyone rushed to locate Gu Huaixiu and Wutong, they found them entirely gone, leaving behind nothing but a scattering of crushed stones and wood chips. ‘Immortal Sovereign, please hear me out!’ Ji Longbai lowered the pearl. ‘The fiend managed to evade the grand lightning array and appear right on the Upper Immortal Terrace; it must have been meticulously planned, perhaps even aided by an internal traitor. Since our first strike failed, we must not rashly trigger the annihilation array again, nor should we instigate internal conflicts within the Immortal Alliance at this moment and fall right into the demonic faction’s trap.’ ‘Your words are well taken, Eldest Young Master.’ Hearing this, Ji Yinsang stepped forward as well. ‘Due to the urgency earlier, I had no time to explain in detail. The reason Yuling Palace arrived late was that we were ambushed along the way by an unknown faction whose identities were never revealed. My master suspects it was the work of the demonic faction. Fearing a crisis at Yuling Palace, we doubled back halfway, and she ordered me to come ahead immediately and inform my father and the Immortal Sovereign. Who would have thought we would clash with the fiend the moment we arrived?’ ‘Such a thing actually happened!’ Ji Huaishan coughed repeatedly, his face filled with shock. He turned to Quanheng, ‘Immortal Sovereign, Longbai’s warning is correct.’ He broke into another fit of violent coughing, prompting Longbai and Yinsang to support him on either side. Hearing these revelations, coupled with Gu Huaixiu’s disappearance, Immortal Sovereign Quanheng sighed and lowered his hand, his brow deeply furrowed. ‘In your view, what should we do?’ As Ji Huaishan gasped for breath, unable to speak, Ji Longbai took over. ‘The fiend suffered a direct lightning strike and severe injuries; he surely cannot flee far from the Tianchen Sect anytime soon. With the grand lightning array monitoring constantly, his tracks will be exposed the moment he reappears. We simply need to wait him out, await the appearance of his accomplices, and then annihilate them in one stroke to reclaim the sacred treasure.’ Having served as the Ji family’s young head for over half a year, Ji Longbai no longer retained his former caution, speaking now with the calm authority of a true leader. Hearing this reasoning, Immortal Sovereign Quanheng’s expression relaxed slightly. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, his body swaying before collapsing toward the ground! ‘Master!’ Feng Yuanchi, standing closest to him, caught him in a panic. Checking the Immortal Sovereign’s pulse, his expression darkened abruptly. ‘My master’s pulse is completely chaotic! He must have taken a direct blow from the fiend earlier, and then forced the Thunder Light Annihilation Array, severely damaging his foundational vitality!’ ‘Quickly help your master inside for quiet recuperation,’ Ji Huaishan said with deep concern. Before his voice faded, he collapsed headfirst as well! ‘Father!’ Ji Yinsang caught him in a panic. With both elders unconscious, the crowd fell into disarray. Ji Longbai took charge decisively. ‘Everyone, maintain your composure! Yuanchi, Yinsang, quickly help the Immortal Sovereign and my father inside the hall and tend to them properly! Leave matters here to me.’ With that, he turned to the leaderless assembly of immortal sect guests. ‘Fellow practitioners, although this grand ceremony was disrupted by the demonic faction, the handover of the Immortal Alliance Leadership is complete. With the Immortal Sovereign and my father currently indisposed, I, as the young head of the Ji family, shall temporarily assume the duties of the Alliance Leader. The demonic faction’s desire to destroy us remains unquenched. Everyone, dispatch messengers back to your respective sects without delay and make immediate preparations for a demonic assault!’ Having witnessed the chaos firsthand and lacking any other anchor, the assembly found Ji Longbai’s words both rational and responsible. With two sect elders injured and the fiend displaying terrifying ferocity, he was undeniably the most qualified person present to temporarily shoulder the responsibilities of the Alliance Leader. Thus, convinced and largely suffering from Frost Chill Freeze injuries themselves that required urgent treatment, they readily agreed to follow his orders on behalf of the Alliance Leader. Feng Yuanchi, supporting the unconscious Immortal Sovereign Quanheng and focused entirely on his master’s safety, instructed a portion of the remaining Tianchen Sect disciples to stay behind and assist the acting Alliance Leader before hurrying away with the rest. Ji Yinsang, anxiously lifting his father into his arms, warned Ji Longbai, ‘Big Brother, be careful!’ At the same time, he ordered the Yuling Palace disciples to remain behind and follow Ji Longbai’s orders. Pausing for a moment, he added, ‘Rescue Third Brother.’ Ji Longbai nodded solemnly, signaling that he understood. Once both groups departed, Ji Longbai divided those who remained into several search parties and prepared to dispatch them across the grounds when someone suddenly shouted, ‘Young Family Head, there is a large cavern over here!’ Everyone rushed over to find that near the location of the former central pillar, amidst scattered wooden chips, a yawning, pitch-black opening had suddenly appeared in the bedrock below. It was exceptionally deep, and stones dropped inside yielded no echoes for a long time. ‘Could the fiend have fallen down that hole?’ someone suggested. ‘Indeed, could the Third Young Master have fallen down with him?’ With a tightened brow, Ji Longbai squatted down to inspect the edge of the cavern before standing up and ordering, ‘Lower the ropes. Send a few men down to investigate.’ Just as he spoke, a crackling burst of lightning erupted overhead. Looking up, the crowd saw arcs of electricity leaping across the aerial thunder net. As a fresh bolt of lightning reassembled, startling everyone into scattering, the bolt struck down directly onto the bedrock beside the cavern. A ring of boulders shattered entirely, collapsing into a heap of large and small stones that sealed the entrance shut completely! When someone attempted to step closer again, the crackling thunder began to sound once more, forcing everyone to retreat and preventing them from daring to approach another step. ‘Young Master, this… what should we do?’ Ji Longbai gazed up at the sky, his expression growing steadily gloomier. ‘That must be heaven’s will.’ * While the dark fog completely enveloped their surroundings, Wutong felt his footing vanish. The black mist surged upward instantly as cliff faces of rock blurred past him in a rapid upward rush. Wutong cried out in panic, only realizing after a long moment that he was plummeting at high speed down a deep cavern measuring roughly three feet in diameter. Bound to his wrist directly below him was Gu Huaixiu. As they descended deeper, the light grew increasingly dim, making it impossible to discern the other’s expression; he appeared to have lost consciousness entirely. Striking a protruding rocky outcrop halfway down sent them spinning before they plunged straight down again, as though the tunnel curved slightly at an angle before plunging vertically once more. After hurtling downward for an unknown duration, a loud crash echoed as a heavy weight struck the ground. Wutong slammed violently into the body beneath him, nearly fainting from the impact. It took Wutong a long time to regain his senses. Pitch-black darkness surrounded him, rendering everything invisible. Trying to push himself up, he pressed down hard with his palm, only to hear a sharp crunch. Startled, Wutong hurriedly lifted his hand as his body dropped straight down once more, accompanied by another crisp crunch. Terrified into immobility, Wutong waited a moment before cautiously feeling around beneath him. He suddenly touched a face. Snatching his hand back instantly, Wutong realized with a jolt that he was sprawled directly on top of someone, and that someone was undoubtedly Gu Huaixiu. Those two crunching sounds he had just heard sounded precisely like the sound of ribs fracturing in the chest? At that moment, the person beneath him emitted a low groan, prompting Wutong to scramble in a frantic roll off his body.
Chapter 8 - Wrists Bound Together
After The Demon Lord Became A Beautiful, Useless Accessory