Even for someone of Xu Qing’s caliber, completely shaking off an attack from a Great Awakening stage entity required a significant amount of focus and energy.
Bai Muyao… dammit!
Xu Qing was anxious, but she had to first concentrate on dealing with the black hand directly in front of her.
Meanwhile, on Bai Muyao’s side:
Ji Rao asked in a panic, “Bai Muyao, what is going on…”
Through the Youlan Spirit Jade, Bai Muyao sensed a powerful demonic aura surging toward them. She feared that within mere breaths, this aura would tear them to shreds. It was already too late to hide!
A deep sense of despair welled up in Bai Muyao’s heart. She had expected to face her “calamity” a hundred years from now; she never imagined she might die a tragic death here today.
“Little cutie, come here!” “I won’t let you escape!”
A woman’s voice rang in her ears, laced with a touch of playfulness and madness. Who was calling her? Bai Muyao realized that the demonic aura was specifically targeting her. Though she didn’t understand why, she knew she couldn’t hesitate. She quickly gathered her spiritual energy and sprinted toward the depths of the cave!
“Bai Muyao, where are you going?!”
Bai Muyao understood that if she stayed by Ji Rao’s side, she would only lead them both into a dead end. The ground shattered with a roar, and a black hand—like a demon’s claw—erupted from beneath her feet, grabbing her in a death grip!
Xu Qing witnessed this scene, and her heart clenched. Although she had done her utmost to clear all obstacles, she was ultimately a step too late. At the spot where Bai Muyao had vanished, she condensed a sharp burst of spiritual energy in her hand, tore open the earth, and pursued them downward.
When Xu Qing reached the deeper subterranean levels, she was suddenly repelled by a powerful barrier, her spiritual energy scattered by the impact.
“A barrier?”
Xu Qing frowned, her eyes flashing with gravity. If it were a standard barrier set by a Great Awakening stage cultivator, she could break it in a few breaths. But the defensive strength of the barrier before her was far beyond what a Great Awakening stage could manage.
She understood instantly. A person of even higher cultivation had trapped the Demon General here and set this barrier. If she attacked it recklessly, she would suffer a massive backlash—one even she might not be able to avoid.
But she took a deep breath, a look of resolve flashing in her eyes.
“I will never allow anything to happen to Bai Muyao!”
She unsheathed her sword and slashed at the barrier without hesitation!
Inside the barrier:
A woman with long black hair was excitedly admiring her prize. She reached out and caressed Bai Muyao’s cheek.
“What a lovely little thing.”
Bai Muyao gradually regained consciousness. She was bound by a powerful demonic aura, her body unable to move; her limbs were tightly entwined by an invisible force, as if imprisoned by countless icy chains.
The black-haired woman extended a finger. Her long nails were razor-sharp, capable of shredding a person in an instant. Her finger slid across Bai Muyao’s cheek, leaving behind shocking trails of blood. Bai Muyao felt a tearing pain, and blood flowed down her face. She grit her teeth, forcing herself not to cry out.
The black-haired woman let out a raspy laugh. “Tens of thousands of years have passed… I never thought I would see the day hope returned to me!” Her eyes glittered with a fanatical light. “This must be a treasure bestowed upon me by the God Lord!”
Her long hair was draped messily over her shoulders, and her withered lips parted to reveal a hideous smile. As she laughed, the cracks on her lips burst open, and blood sprayed out.
The woman’s finger slowly moved downward, flicking open the collar of Bai Muyao’s robe to reveal her fair collarbones and shoulder.
“Perfect… absolutely perfect!” “Why would such a perfect creature exist in this world!” “As long as I have this treasure, I can leave this place and unify the Demon Realm… No! I can conquer the Three Realms!”
Bai Muyao summoned a sliver of strength and spoke with difficulty, “You… what kind of madness are you spouting!” The demonic aura was frantically siphoning her spiritual energy, making even speech an agonizing struggle.
Am I really going to perish here today? Senior Sister… Xu Qing…
The black-haired woman pinched Bai Muyao’s chin, carefully admiring her face. “Cherish your final moments. Next, I will turn you into my puppet. For the rest of your life, you shall exist only to serve me!”
Bai Muyao was in disbelief.
‘That Demon Sovereign General possesses a forbidden technique that can control the minds of others and turn them into slaves!’ ‘Once controlled, one’s life and death are in their hands, serving them for all eternity!’
Was all of it true?
The black-haired woman laughed maniacally. “Become my slave! Serve me and help me conquer the Three Realms!”
Her demonic aura transformed into countless fine threads, surging into Bai Muyao’s sea of consciousness like venomous snakes, corroding her fragile soul. The soul is the foundation of a cultivator; once controlled, Bai Muyao would forever be a puppet. If the controller wished, even her self-awareness could be wiped clean.
Bai Muyao’s consciousness began to fade, as if being dragged into an endless dark abyss. Her thoughts splintered under the corrosion of the demonic aura. Only the woman’s crazed laughter remained in her ears, and the entire world seemed to collapse in that moment.
No…!! NEVER!!!!!
‘Remember this incantation, Sister Bai.’
Just as she was about to be completely consumed, a weak but clear voice rang in her heart.
‘Quickly, use it!’
“By my blood, I call thy name; by my soul, I forge thy shape. Let Heaven and Earth be my witness, and all laws be my proof!”
Bai Muyao’s lips trembled as she exerted every ounce of her strength to spit out that incantation.
The moment the words were spoken, the air within the barrier seemed to freeze. The black-haired woman’s expression changed drastically; she could tell that this was an incantation known only to the ancient clans of the Demon Race!
“The Heaven-Devouring Demon-Breaking Incantation?” she screamed in disbelief. “How is that possible! Just how do you know it!”
She then sensed that Bai Muyao’s mastery of the incantation was unpolished. There was still a chance! As long as she steadied her mind, she could still bring Bai Muyao under her control!
But just as she was making her secret calculations, the entire barrier suddenly vibrated violently. The black-haired woman’s eyes widened. The barrier… had developed fine cracks!
Someone was trying to break the barrier!
How was this possible? She had spent ten thousand years of her life’s blood and had failed to move the barrier that bound her by even a fraction. Yet now, someone was actually breaking it? A person so powerful that, once they breached the barrier, they could likely kill her in an instant!
Even if she truly controlled Bai Muyao, she would still need time to cultivate her into a useful tool. Now, she feared she would die right here!
“Who is it!?” “AAAAAAAAAH!!!” “Why!”
She had only just gained hope! She was unwilling!
And in that moment of distraction, she lost her final chance to control Bai Muyao. Bai Muyao had already finished the incantation, and golden runes instantly condensed into a dazzling pillar of light.
“NO!”
The black-haired woman let out a howl of despair. The massive energy backlash caused her to collapse instantly, her body turning into countless black fragments that vanished into nothingness.
At that same moment, the barrier shattered with a roar.
Xu Qing was severely injured by the barrier’s backlash, but she ignored it, lunging toward Bai Muyao and catching her just as she fell. She held Bai Muyao tightly, quickly checking her condition.
Everything seemed fine.
“Thank goodness…” Xu Qing murmured to herself, clutching her close. While breaking the barrier, she had imagined countless terrible outcomes; fortunately, none had come to pass. She had actually allowed Bai Muyao to fall into such a dangerous predicament. How could she even deserve to be called her Senior Sister!
Bai Muyao had fallen into a coma. Xu Qing intended to take her away from this place first, but an abnormality made her alert. The spiritual energy she was using to probe Bai Muyao’s condition was being absorbed by something.
Xu Qing detected that a wisp of demonic aura remained within Bai Muyao’s consciousness. This aura was absorbing her spiritual energy, attempting to alter Bai Muyao’s sea of consciousness.
Xu Qing had never seen such a situation. But she understood that if this continued, the demonic aura might completely take over Bai Muyao’s mind. This was… control? As long as this aura became strong enough, the person who provided the spiritual energy could control her mind.
And the demonic aura was absorbing her spiritual energy.
In other words, if she funneled enough spiritual energy into her, she would be able to control Bai Muyao.
This…
If she was willing right now, she could control Bai Muyao—she could have mastery over everything she was.
Xu Qing could now take Bai Muyao as her slave!