"I didn't expect Fengdu to be so lively."
For a place where ghosts occasionally appeared, Daniel had assumed that, aside from the locals, most people wouldn't want to live there. However, upon arriving in Fengdu, he realized he was wrong.
Although Fengdu wasn't as bustling as the major cities, it was far more lively than most small towns. After some inquiries, Daniel finally understood why this was the case. Every year, a large number of people came here to offer sacrifices to their deceased relatives and ancestors.
Under certain conditions, it was even possible to meet one's departed loved ones. Han Lingsha's uncle, who rowed the bamboo raft on the River of the Dead, had one of his duties being to ferry spirits to meet their living relatives.
"The Sword and Arrow Duo—are these the ancestors of Lin Yueru? They're quite dashing." In Fengdu, Daniel encountered the young master of the Lin family, who had a significant reputation in the martial world. It seemed he was in Fengdu to handle some matters.
"Finally, we'll get to see Mengli." After burning the paper money, Yun Tianhe seemed excited at the thought of finally seeing Liu Mengli.
"I wonder what's happening in the sect now?" Murong Ziying's face showed a conflicted expression. After learning the truth about the Qionghua Sect's ascension plan, he wasn't sure how to face the sect anymore.
"I will definitely stop my brother." Yun Tianhe spoke with determination. Whether for Xuanxiao's sake or Liu Mengli's, Yun Tianhe had to prevent the conflict between the two sides.
"Wait, before we return to the Qionghua Sect, I want you to accompany me to a place." Just as the four were about to leave Fengdu, Han Lingsha stopped Yun Tianhe, who was eager to return to the sect.
"What place? Is it urgent?" Yun Tianhe looked at Han Lingsha in confusion.
"Why ask so many questions? Just come with me. It's very important."
"Lingsha, although I don't know where you want to go, if it's not urgent, it's more important to return to the Qionghua Sect and stop the war with the demon realm. The elders might not be able to stop Senior Xuanxiao."
After learning the truth, Murong Ziying's hostility toward demons had lessened significantly.
"Actually, while I was shopping earlier, I thought for a long time about what my uncle said. I've decided to fulfill a wish of mine, and after that, I'll never grave rob again." After some hesitation, Han Lingsha's expression grew resolute.
"Lingsha, you mean you're going to grave rob one more time?" Yun Tianhe's intelligence had clearly improved, as he managed to grasp the implication in Han Lingsha's words.
"Just this once, and then never again." Han Lingsha quickly assured him.
"No." Yun Tianhe firmly refused. "I may not fully understand what you're planning, but I know grave robbing isn't good for you. It shortens your lifespan, so you can't do it."
"It's not that serious. Just this once. After so many years of doing it, nothing major has happened. What's one more time?" Han Lingsha pretended to be nonchalant.
"No means no. Even if it shortens your life by a month or a day, it's not worth it." Yun Tianhe scratched his head and continued, "First, let's see Mengli and resolve the issue with my brother. After that, we'll figure out how to deal with your situation. Remember what the ghost soldier said about the Book of Life and Death? I don't know what that is, but we can look into it."
"Yun Tianhe, you're really bold. But unfortunately, you're not that monkey. Getting the Book of Life and Death won't be so easy." Yun Tianhe's words startled Daniel.
"Tianhe, don't talk nonsense." If it had been before their trip to the ghost realm, Han Lingsha wouldn't have cared about Yun Tianhe's words. But after visiting the ghost realm, she understood that the Book of Life and Death wasn't something they could covet.
"Tianhe, don't speak recklessly." Murong Ziying's expression also turned serious.
"Tianhe, I know you mean well, but this is very important to me. Once it's done, we'll return to the Qionghua Sect immediately. That way, even if I die, I'll have no regrets." Han Lingsha's voice grew softer until only she could hear her own words.
"Lingsha, what is it that's so important you're willing to risk your lifespan for it at this time? Why don't you tell us what's going on?"
"It's something very important, a very important wish. If my lifespan is truly short, I must fulfill it before I die. This time, when we return to the Qionghua Sect, I feel things might not go as we expect. Xuanxiao and the Qionghua Sect have been preparing for the ascension plan for so many years, sacrificing so much. Will they really give up?"
Han Lingsha's expression grew somber as she spoke.
Her words immediately silenced Murong Ziying. Of course, he had thought about this before, which was why he had earlier said the elders might not be able to stop Xuanxiao.
"Lingsha, why don't you tell us what this is about? Otherwise, they definitely won't agree." Daniel, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up.
"Fine, stop looking so grim. I'll tell you. The place I want to go is the Divine Mausoleum, north of Chenzhou. It floats in the air, so most people haven't even heard of it, let alone approached it. I only know about it because my great-grandfather once went there." Han Lingsha paused before continuing.
"After my great-grandfather returned to his hometown, he became silent, as if his soul had left his body. Some said he had gone mad, while others said he occasionally lost his mind. But some of our clansmen managed to learn about this place and the treasure from his fragmented words."
"Lingsha, you're going there for the treasure?" Murong Ziying frowned after hearing Han Lingsha's explanation. He had thought she had something important to do, but it turned out to be for a treasure.
"People die for wealth, birds die for food. Lingsha, listen to me. No treasure is worth more than your life. Just give up." Murong Ziying tried to persuade Han Lingsha to abandon her plan.
"I know you might think I'm being stubborn, but I've made up my mind. I must go there. If you don't want to come, I'll go alone." Han Lingsha turned and walked toward the outskirts of Fengdu.
There seemed to be an unspoken rule among the sword immortals of the cultivation world: they generally didn't use sword flight in public, especially in cities. They usually used it in secluded areas outside the city.
"Really, everyone's so stubborn." Yun Tianhe watched Han Lingsha's back, scratching his head in frustration.
"Let's go. You're not really going to let her go alone, are you?"
Although Yun Tianhe and Murong Ziying strongly disapproved of Han Lingsha's actions, since she was determined to go, they had no choice but to follow. Yun Tianhe and Murong Ziying didn't know why Han Lingsha was doing this, but Daniel did.
Han Lingsha wanted to give Yun Tianhe a gift—a token of her affection. The treasure in the Divine Mausoleum was the Houyi's Sun-Shooting Bow, which would ensure Yun Tianhe could destroy the falling Qionghua Sect with his final strike.
The Qionghua Sect was different from other sects. In other worlds, Daniel could handle a falling sect like the Qionghua Sect. With his current strength, even without using the Ope Ope no Mi, he could deal with something like Madara Uchiha's meteor strike. But if it were the Qionghua Sect, he wouldn't be able to do it.
Of course, using the Sling Ring would make solving this problem very simple. But using the Sling Ring under the watchful eyes of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden? He wasn't crazy, so he wouldn't do something so foolish.
Believing her time was short, Han Lingsha, despite her deep feelings for Yun Tianhe, wouldn't express them due to her limited lifespan. If it weren't for Yun Tianhe using the power of the divine artifact, which caused him to go blind, Han Lingsha might have left him.
"Lingsha, I need you to promise me this is the last time." The four arrived at the outskirts of Fengdu, and Yun Tianhe looked at Han Lingsha with a serious expression.
"Don't worry, I promise this will absolutely be the last time." Han Lingsha nodded firmly.
"Then let's go. The sooner, the better."
Just as Murong Ziying spoke and the four were about to fly to the Divine Mausoleum, a man and a woman, looking extremely panicked, rushed out from the side. To be precise, it was three people—the woman was holding a child in her arms.
When the two saw Yun Tianhe and the others, they were momentarily stunned, then immediately fled in another direction. But at that moment, over a dozen sword qi shot from the distance, cutting off their escape. A cold-faced, handsome young man descended from the sky on a flying sword.
"Dao Run, you've got some nerve. For the sake of a mere demoness, you've betrayed the sect. Today, I'll throw this demoness into the Demon Locking Pagoda and scatter her soul."
As he spoke, the flying sword hovering beside him shot toward the woman holding the child.
"Lingsha, Tianhe, don't act rashly." Just as Yun Tianhe and Han Lingsha were about to intervene, Murong Ziying stopped them.
"Ziying, what are you doing?" Han Lingsha looked at Murong Ziying in confusion. Saving someone was urgent, and with Murong Ziying's delay, the woman and child were doomed.
"That's a disciple of the Shu Mountain Sect."
"Elder brother, I beg you, spare my wife and child. I betrayed the sect, and I deserve to die! But they're innocent." Just as Murong Ziying revealed the man's identity, the flying sword stopped mid-air because the man had stepped in front of the woman, shielding her.
"Fool! Even at death's door, you're still thinking of this demoness."
"Elder brother, even if Fu Luo is a demon, she's still my wife."
"Husband, don't leave me and Rui'er. With our combined strength, we might stand a chance."
"Fu Luo, don't talk nonsense! Remember what you promised me. Even if I die, you must not harm my elder brother or any disciple of the Shu Mountain Sect. Elder brother, I stole the Red Snow Pearl Pill out of selfish desire. I know my crime is unforgivable, and I have no regrets dying by your hand. I only ask that you spare Fu Luo and Rui'er out of our past brotherhood."
The man knelt down as he spoke, and the woman holding the child also knelt.
"Elder brother, although Fu Luo is a flower demon, she's never harmed anyone. Rui'er is still young and innocent. Please show mercy."
"You worthless fool! How long have you been away from the mountain, and you're already bewitched by this demoness, even having a bastard child with her! You believe her every word! If demons don't harm people, then how did our parents die?"
"Elder brother, just as there are good and evil among humans, the same is true for demons. Fu Luo isn't the kind of demon you think she is. Since I was young, I've been taught by Master and you that we must never confuse right and wrong. If Fu Luo were truly evil, I would have already slain her with my own sword! Stealing the pill was entirely my idea. It's all my fault."
"You're beyond redemption." The cold-faced young man's flying sword began to move again, as if he was about to attack.
"Wait, he called you elder brother. You're brothers. How can brothers kill each other?" Yun Tianhe stepped forward, standing in front of the kneeling couple.
"Who are you?" The cold-faced young man retracted his flying sword when he saw someone blocking his path.
"I am Murong Ziying, a disciple of the Qionghua Sect. Greetings, fellow Daoist of the Shu Mountain Sect." Murong Ziying clasped his hands in greeting. As for Daniel and the others, he didn't introduce them, as strictly speaking, they were no longer Qionghua Sect disciples.
"The Qionghua Sect of Kunlun? I am Dao Zhen of the Shu Mountain Sect. Greetings, fellow Daoist."
"Other sects' affairs are none of our business, but he's your brother. How can a human life be worth less than a pill? Must he die to atone for his crime?" Han Lingsha walked up to Yun Tianhe's side.
"Love between humans and demons is a crime that cannot be tolerated." Dao Zhen said coldly.
"Who says humans and demons can't fall in love? Who made that rule? If they truly love each other, what's wrong with that? As long as they don't harm others, it's fine." Han Lingsha retorted loudly.
"This is an internal matter of the Shu Mountain Sect. Outsiders need not interfere." Faced with Han Lingsha's rebuttal, Dao Zhen was momentarily at a loss for words and could only respond coldly.
"Lingsha."
Just as Han Lingsha was about to say more, Murong Ziying called her.
"Get up." Dao Zhen then ignored Yun Tianhe and Han Lingsha, focusing on his kneeling brother.
"Elder brother."
"Stand up. You've always been stubborn since you were young, rarely bowing your head even when scolded by Master. Hmph, today you kneel for a demoness. Here, take this." Dao Zhen called his brother to his feet, then shook his head and tossed over an exquisite box.
"This is the Red Snow Pearl Pill." Dao Run was initially puzzled about what was in the box, but upon opening it and seeing the red pill glowing with spiritual energy, he was shocked and looked at his elder brother in confusion.
"You were so bold as to try to steal the Red Snow Pearl Pill because that bastard child was born with a poison that only this pill could cure. After failing to steal it and fleeing the sect, Master ordered me to come after you. But he also gave me a Red Snow Pearl Pill.
He said that if you resisted, I was to kill you without mercy. But if you showed remorse and admitted your mistake, then, out of our past master-disciple relationship, I was to give you the pill. However, you would be expelled from the sect and no longer a disciple of the Shu Mountain Sect." Dao Zhen explained softly.
"But the Red Snow Pearl Pill is such a precious item. How could Master decide on his own?"
"Enough! Master naturally informed the sect leader before obtaining the pill and then entrusted it to me. He went to great lengths for you, and you dare to doubt him? From now on, don't call me elder brother. I don't have a brother like you. If we meet again in the future, we'll act as strangers. Now, leave."
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