"Aunt Youji, are you alright?"
The girl's cautious voice echoed in her ears.
Youji snapped back to reality.
She silently donned the black veil in her hand, her tone steady as she replied, "Yao'er, I'm fine."
Though she said that, her gaze lingered on the white-robed figure's retreating back, even long after he had vanished from sight…
Bi Yao stood cautiously nearby, unsure of what to say.
She knew Youji's background well—Youji wasn't just one of the Ghost King Sect's Four Holy Envoys; she had once been a saintess of a certain Demonic Sect tribe…
According to the tribe's rules, a woman serving as saintess must veil her face from childhood, devoting herself wholly to worshiping the Holy Mother Ming Wang. If her appearance was ever seen by another man, she must either kill him or marry him—no exceptions.
So…
Youji slowly calmed the turmoil in her heart. She turned quietly, her voice soft as she said, "Yao'er, give the order. We leave Heyang City tonight."
"Yes, Aunt Youji."
Bi Yao nodded obediently.
_
The next day, bright and early.
Ji Changfeng rose at dawn.
Creak—
He pushed open his door just as a white-robed girl emerged from the room across the hall. She seemed to have just finished washing up— a stray strand of hair clung to her flawless, delicate face, and her watery eyes still held a trace of drowsiness…
"Morning, Xueqi," Ji Changfeng greeted with a smile.
"Ji… Senior Brother Ji, morning," Lu Xueqi replied, her head lowered, cheeks faintly flushed.
"What did you call me? I didn't quite catch that—could you say it again?" Ji Changfeng blinked playfully.
Lu Xueqi pursed her lips, shooting him an exasperated glance before turning to head downstairs.
"Hey, Xueqi, wait for me…"
Hearing his voice behind her, Lu Xueqi subtly slowed her pace.
The two walked side by side down to the lower floor.
Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan joined them shortly after.
After a simple breakfast at Shanhai Courtyard, they left Heyang City directly, planning to fly on their swords to Kongsang Mountain.
Whoosh—
Outside Heyang City, Qi Hao and the others summoned their immortal swords.
Lu Xueqi called forth her Tianya Divine Sword. Her gaze flicked subtly toward Ji Changfeng, noticing he showed no intention of summoning his own sword. She shifted forward discreetly…
Leaving plenty of space behind her—enough for two people with room to spare.
Ji Changfeng chuckled softly at the sight.
Without hesitation, he stepped onto the sword behind Lu Xueqi. A faint, fresh fragrance wafted to his nose—likely the natural scent of the young woman.
Whoosh—
The sword light flashed.
The four set off on their journey to Kongsang Mountain.
Kongsang Mountain was about three thousand li from Heyang City.
Flying on their swords, it took them roughly half a day, arriving at their destination just before dusk.
Gazing at Kongsang Mountain ahead, Qi Hao turned to Ji Changfeng and asked, "Junior Brother Ji, what's our next move? Head straight to find the Myriad Bats Ancient Cave, or meet up with the disciples from Tianyin Temple and Fenxiang Valley first?"
Ji Changfeng pondered briefly before replying, "Let's find a spot to wait until nightfall."
"Wait until nightfall? Why?" Qi Hao asked, puzzled.
Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi also looked over curiously.
Ji Changfeng explained, "The Blood Refining Hall keeps a massive swarm of blood-sucking bats in the Myriad Bats Ancient Cave. These bats become extremely active at night."
"We just need to wait for dark, then track the blood-sucking bats—they'll lead us right to the cave…"
"As for the people from Tianyin Temple and Fenxiang Valley? I'm sure they've thought of the same thing."
Ji Changfeng held no fondness for those from Tianyin Temple or Fenxiang Valley. With his strength, he could solo the Myriad Bats Ancient Cave instance with ease.
Whether they joined forces or not made no difference.
Qi Hao nodded. "Alright, let's rest up then."
The four found an open clearing, sitting down to meditate and quietly await nightfall.
Soon, the sky darkened completely.
Exchanging glances, Ji Changfeng and the others rose and headed into Kongsang Mountain, searching for traces of the blood-sucking bats…
Swish—
They hadn't ventured far into Kongsang Mountain when they spotted a massive black shadow in the distance—a swarm blotting out the sky, flying toward a certain direction.
"What is that…?" Zhang Xiaofan's eyes widened.
Ji Changfeng glanced casually. "Those are the blood-sucking bats. Come on, follow them."
With that, he drew his Moxue Divine Sword first, channeling his sword control technique. Merging with the sword, he transformed into a streak of sword rainbow, racing after the bats.
Qi Hao and the others were stunned.
They quickly summoned their swords and followed, but they couldn't match Ji Changfeng's speed.
So that's why he didn't bother flying on his own sword? Qi Hao and the rest realized inwardly.
The reason Ji Changfeng had been too lazy to fly independently all this time?
It was because his sword flight was simply too fast—they couldn't keep up…
Whoosh—
Ji Changfeng halted over a certain area.
Ahead, on an open patch of ground, three men and one woman were besieged by an endless horde of blood-sucking bats.
"They're…" Zhang Xiaofan and the others caught up, peering curiously at the four below under attack.
Ji Changfeng said offhandedly, "They must be the disciples from Tianyin Temple and Fenxiang Valley."
Though he wasn't keen on teaming up with them, now that he'd encountered them, it wouldn't sit right to let them die.
With those words, Ji Changfeng stepped forward.
In the next instant, his Dragon-Slaying Sword unsheathed from his waist.
Swish—
A dazzling sword light flashed and vanished in an instant.
The countless blood-sucking bats below were utterly annihilated by that single, brilliant strike!
Boom—
The bats' corpses piled up like a small mountain, completely burying the disciples from Tianyin Temple and Fenxiang Valley.
Ji Changfeng and his group descended on their swords.
The Tianyin Temple disciples struggled out from the heap of bat corpses, their bodies smeared with the creatures' blood, reeking of a thick, foul stench…
Ji Changfeng and the others subtly stepped back.
Lu Xueqi quietly hid behind Ji Changfeng, her brow furrowing slightly as she covered her nose and mouth, a hint of disgust flickering across her lovely face…
"Amitabha!"
A young monk, covered in grimy blood, chanted a Buddhist invocation. He bowed toward Ji Changfeng's group. "May I ask if you benefactors are esteemed disciples of Qingyun Sect?"
Qi Hao glanced at Ji Changfeng, who showed no interest in speaking, so he stepped forward. "Indeed. I am Qi Hao of Qingyun Sect, and these are…"
Qi Hao introduced Ji Changfeng and the others to them.
"Amitabha!" The young monk bowed slightly to Ji Changfeng. "Many thanks to Senior Brother Ji for your aid. This humble monk is Faxiang of Tianyin Temple, and this is my junior brother Fashan…"
"Beside us are Li Xun and Yan Hong from Fenxiang Valley."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Ji, for your assistance," Yan Hong said, her face pale as she brushed off the bloodstains on her clothes.
Li Xun had intended to express his gratitude as well.
After all, Ji Changfeng's feat of slaying ten thousand bats with one sword was impressively formidable—he didn't seem like someone to cross lightly…
But as he looked up, his eyes landed on the ethereal beauty standing behind Ji Changfeng. Her features were flawless, like a celestial fairy, and her slight frown evoked an urge to protect her…
In that moment, Li Xun was utterly entranced.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, an immense sword intent materialized out of nowhere, crushing down on Li Xun without mercy.
"Ugh…" Li Xun grunted, his face paling as he staggered back several steps.
"Put away your lecherous eyes."
An indifferent voice rang out.
All eyes turned to Ji Changfeng, who stared coldly at Li Xun—the sword intent had come from him.
___
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