The demons were far away in the Demon Realm and rarely appeared before the world. But every time they did, they were bound to stir up a storm of blood and gore.
Hua Ying craned her neck curiously to look, but she could only see a patch of greyish-brown mist.
After a while, the mist gradually dispersed, and the figures within became clear.
They were not as ferocious as everyone had imagined; in fact, compared to the cultivators of the Demon Race, the demon cultivators leaned closer to human cultivators in appearance.
Most of them were slender and tall, with deep features that possessed a sort of trailing, bewitching beauty.
Only the faint, strange reddish patterns on their cheeks revealed the difference between them and human cultivators.
The demon cultivators did not pay much attention to the practitioners of the other two sides. Instead, they focused their energy and stared intently at the entrance of the Bailian Mountain Range.
There, a thin golden barrier blocked the cluttered gazes cast by the crowd.
That was the barrier formed by the Key. Only when the barrier opened could everyone enter the Bailian Mountain Range and begin the battle to seize the Key.
Not long after everyone had arrived, that pale golden barrier became visibly more translucent a sign that the Bailian Mountain Range was about to open.
Hua Ying said to Mo Lulu and Ci Jiujiu, “Stop fooling around, it’s about to start.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of both women turned much more serious.
Looking at Mo Lulu, who was rubbing her palms and hopping with excitement nearby, Ci Jiujiu asked curiously, “Why are you so excited? Aren’t you afraid at all?”
Her spiritual power cultivation was considered at the bottom tier among the group; she had only been selected because of her talent in formations.
Furthermore, this was her first time leaving the sect to participate in a trial. Coming across such a grand scene right away made Ci Jiujiu feel very uneasy and apprehensive.
“What is there to be afraid of?” Mo Lulu lifted her head, revealing an extremely bright smile. “Whoever dares to hit me, I’ll beat them to a pulp! Besides, even if I can’t win, Senior Sister will help me!”
Ci Jiujiu glanced at her, then at Hua Ying, and said sourly, “Fine, fine, fine, you both have a Senior Sister. Then there’s just me, a lonely soul. How pitiful.”
Hua Ying guaranteed her loyally, “Senior Sister Ci, if any misfortune occurs, I will definitely take you with me.”
Before Ci Jiujiu could show any emotion, Hua Ying slowly added the rest: “…Take you and your precious storybooks and flee for our lives.”
Ci Jiujiu gnashed her teeth: “Thank you, you really are my ‘good’ Junior Sister!”
“Senior Sister Ci,” Mo Lulu put her arm around Ci Jiujiu’s shoulder, smiling very kindly, “I’ll cover you once we’re inside. I am a descendant of the Demon Dragon, after all. Last time was just a moment of carelessness that led to my loss against Hua Ying.”
She waved her small fist. “Actually, I’m very strong. Taking on ten at once isn’t a problem; I can definitely protect you, Little Senior Sister. Hehe, as long as Senior Sister can share ten of those precious, uncensored storybooks with me when the time comes.”
Ci Jiujiu looked pained: “Five books! At most, only five!”
“Five is too few! Is our sisterly bond only worth a mere five storybooks?” Mo Lulu pouted, unwilling.
Ci Jiujiu really wanted to shake her head and scream, Wake up! We haven’t even known each other for a full morning!
Hua Ying couldn’t be bothered to watch these two idiots haggle any longer. Seeing that Yan Zhao seemed to have finished her discussions over there, she trotted over.
“Senior Sister, Senior Sister.” She grabbed Yan Zhao’s arm and shook it.
Yan Zhao tilted her head and cast an inquisitive look.
Hua Ying asked, “Actually, I’ve been wanting to ask, what does the key to the Longxu Secret Realm actually look like? How are we supposed to find it?”
Yan Zhao understood and said, “It was my oversight.”
The disciples who came this time were basically all inner sect legacy disciples, except for Hua Ying. With her former status as an outer sect disciple, she indeed wouldn’t have had access to such information.
Yan Zhao explained softly, “The Key does not have a fixed form. Every time it appears, it is different. It might even be a living thing.”
Hua Ying’s eyes widened in shock.
Good grief, it’s a blind box.
“But according to the records of predecessors, as long as you see it, you will definitely be able to recognize it,” Yan Zhao said.
Hua Ying immediately developed a strong interest: “That sounds quite interesting.”
“As for how we shall fight for it…” Yan Zhao curled her lips slightly. “Everyone relies on their own ability.”
The Secret Realm Key will exist for three days. At the same time three days later, whichever race steps out of the Bailian Mountain Range first while holding the Key, the Longxu Secret Realm will recognize them as its master.
“If we are lucky enough to find it first, we protect it. If it is snatched by the Demon Race or the Demon Realm first,” a sharp light flashed in Yan Zhao’s eyes, her words brimming with killing intent, “then we snatch it back.”
Hua Ying silently gave a thumbs up in her heart.
As expected of Senior Sister, always ruthless and concise.
“There aren’t many things to watch out for. First, be careful of sneak attacks from the other two races,” Yan Zhao continued to explain. “Second, due to the influence of the Key, the spirit beasts within the Bailian Mountain Range will be strengthened, becoming more restless and bloodthirsty. At the same time, many dangerous places will emerge.”
Hua Ying translated this in her mind: it was a buff for the mini-bosses while setting up traps to screw people over.
What a devious Secret Realm Key.
Yan Zhao urged uneasily, “After entering the Bailian Mountain Range, you must stay closely by my side.”
“Senior Sister, don’t always think about standing in front of me.” Hua Ying looked up at her, her watery eyes curving into beautiful crescents as she said seriously, “Senior Sister is also human. It hurts when Senior Sister gets injured too.”
“I know I am not strong yet, but I will work hard to not become a burden to Senior Sister.”
“I hope,” Hua Ying stared at Yan Zhao, emphasizing each word, “to be able to fight side-by-side with Senior Sister, so that Senior Sister never has to worry about her back.”
For a long time, Yan Zhao didn’t speak, only letting out a light, sigh-like chuckle.
She raised her hand and patted Hua Ying’s head very gently. “You…”
She always seemed to exceed expectations; the timid little cat was speaking so firmly about wanting to stand beside her.
And yet, it seemed it had always been this way. The little half-demon’s affection had always been this scorching like fire, wishing to burn an equally hot mark into the depths of her heart.
It always left Yan Zhao with no way to handle her.
“Buzz—” A clear chime echoed through heaven and earth.
The speck of gold in mid-air, which was so faint it was almost invisible, finally dissipated completely. the barrier at the entrance of the Bailian Mountain Range was about to open!
The atmosphere was like a tightened string; the expressions of everyone present suddenly became solemn and serious.
“Crack.” It was the sound of the barrier shattering.
In the next instant, countless shadows rushed toward it as fast as lightning.
The Demon Race moved first. Among the three races, their movement techniques were the most flexible and agile.
But Feng Jun did not move.
He raised his eyes to look at the entrance of the mountain range, his eyes showing a burgeoning ambition that suggested he was determined to win.
After withdrawing his gaze, Feng Jun actually walked toward the direction of the immortal sect cultivators at the end of the path stood Yan Zhao and Hua Ying.
“Yan Zhao,” Feng Jun sneered, “you’ve actually raised a demon pet.”
After sensing the half-demon bloodline on Hua Ying, Feng Jun gave a disdainful click of his tongue. “But a cat demon is too weak. I could crush it to death with a single finger.”
What’s wrong with a cat demon? Did a cat demon eat your family’s rice?
Hua Ying hid behind Yan Zhao and bared her teeth fiercely at this Demon Race young master, whose face was written all over with “Everyone move aside, I’m about to act cool.”
Feng Jun didn’t care about her small actions; his target was only Yan Zhao.
“I won’t lose to you this time,” Feng Jun said with a smile, his eyes filled with hostility. “You’d better pray that your Liuyun Sect disciples don’t fall into my hands, otherwise I will personally tear your bones out one by one.”
Yan Zhao sneered: “Just right. My Junior Sister is still lacking a set of winter furs. I think yours looks quite good.”
“We’ll see!” Feng Jun’s face turned ashen. After dropping his harsh words, he left.
“Senior Sister,” Hua Ying asked, “does this Demon Race young master have a grudge against our Liuyun Sect?”
Yan Zhao said nonchalantly, “A long time ago, he had some sort of mental breakdown and wanted to kidnap a disciple of our sect for dual cultivation. After I discovered him, I beat him back into his original form.”
“At that time, Master was in a bad mood, and the sect was covered in snow year-round. Feng Jun’s original form is a pure white wolf, so…”
So the disciples passing by almost stepped on him until he was as flat as a carpet.
Hiss.
Hua Ying took a sharp breath; that was indeed a massive grudge. No wonder he looked like he wanted to skin the Liuyun Sect disciples alive just now.
While letting everyone prepare to enter the Bailian Mountain Range, Yan Zhao instructed Hua Ying, “Remember, stay far away from the people of the Demon Race after we enter.”
“Wei Jun is a stupid dog. Feng Jun is different; he is a mad dog.”
Wei Jun, who hadn’t had time to leave and heard this sentence clearly: “?” Are you being polite?