Skull Mountain, outside the White Bone Cave Market.
A streak of light concealed itself within the mountain forest, revealing three figures. Two were Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan, who had previously attacked the market and fled in defeat. The third was a white-haired old man.
"Elder Ouyang," Wu Zhichong spoke cautiously, wary that this elder, a master at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, might act recklessly. Ahead lay a den of dragons and tigers.
"Rest assured, this old man understands what's at stake," Ouyang Feng said coldly. Though his eyes burned with deep hatred as he looked toward the market, his tone remained icy and resolute.
"That demon is a ninth-grade formation master. He has set up two layers of formations, inner and outer, around this market. It's not something ordinary people can break. No wonder he's been able to act so boldly, even earning the title 'Blood-Clad Lord.' However, he's not a true Great Perfection Qi Refining cultivator. In the end, it's all built on sand."
"But Elder Ouyang, the Taixiao Mirror has also fallen into that man's hands," Wu Zhichong quickly added, then whispered, "The Taixiao Mirror is mysterious and powerful. If that demon can control it, his strength is likely no less than a Great Perfection Qi Refining cultivator."
"I've considered that," Ouyang Feng sneered. "The Taixiao Mirror is, after all, a treasure of our Divine Martial Sect. How could a demon simply take and use it? If he dares to use it, all the better!"
"I have already invited Master Yang Yezi, the forger of the Taixiao Mirror. He is furious that the mirror has fallen into demonic hands and has agreed to come to Skull Mountain to retrieve the treasure and uphold justice. With him here, if that demon dares to use the Taixiao Mirror against me, he will be seeking his own death!"
Though filled with rage, Ouyang Feng had not lost his mind. Moreover, with Ouyang Haoze's example before him, he could not recklessly attempt to break the formation again. After consideration, it was better to lure Lü Yang out of the formation.
"When does this person usually leave the market?"
"Um..."
Faced with Ouyang Feng's question, Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan glanced at each other, speechless.
Seeing this, Ouyang Feng immediately frowned, displeased. "Weren't you two waiting outside the market for a long time? How could you not know such a basic thing?"
"Reporting to the elder, this person... has never left the market."
"...Never?"
Ouyang Feng was stunned. "Didn't you leak the news about the Witch Ghost Secret Realm? Doesn't he know Skull Mountain is now full of opportunities?"
The two looked aggrieved. "We leaked it long ago."
"So, the reinforcements from the First Holy Demon Sect haven't arrived yet, and the demonic path is weak, so he doesn't dare to leave?"
"Actually, the Demon Sect's reinforcements arrived three months ago and are still active on Skull Mountain. But this person... has never left from beginning to end."
"Ah?"
After hearing this report, Ouyang Feng was left utterly speechless.
"I'm not going out."
Inside the Blood-Clad Tower, Lü Yang and Fairy Feixia sat facing each other. As he politely declined her invitation, he handed her a cup of spiritual tea.
"Junior Brother, you really..."
Fairy Feixia looked at Lü Yang, her beautiful face showing a trace of bewilderment.
Once, she had been deeply disappointed by her junior brother's timidity, yet he had steadily advanced, earning the formidable reputation of the Blood-Clad Lord.
Every cultivator was in a constant struggle against fate; a single misstep could mean death. Even with reincarnation, there was no guarantee of future immortality, and reincarnation might not preserve one's true self, making it unreliable.
Yet this time, Lü Yang remained as before—indifferent, calm, seemingly unconcerned with worldly matters.
Such a temperament was rare among cultivators. It suddenly reminded Fairy Feixia of a saying: "Water benefits all things without contention, and thus nothing can contend with it."
But in this life, if one did not strive, how could they seek the Dao? In the next life?
Thinking of this, Fairy Feixia couldn't help but sigh. "I am ashamed to admit, Junior Brother, I fear I will never attain your level of spiritual cultivation."
"Senior Sister, you flatter me."
Lü Yang smiled faintly. "Didn't we agree before coming that we wouldn't discuss serious matters, only the Dao? I will teach you formations, and you will teach me talisman techniques."
"I will impart all I know without reservation."
Fairy Feixia pursed her red lips, lifted her veil with a delicate hand, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. Beneath her thin, flowing robes, her curves were alluring, and even her voice unconsciously softened. "Speaking of which, I have yet to thank you for saving my life, Junior Brother."
The next day, the sun was high.
In the market, a disheveled young man paced anxiously in his cave dwelling, his face a mask of struggle. It was none other than Lü Yang's old acquaintance, Zhao Xuhe.
"How could this be? How could this be?"
Zhao Xuhe was now at his most desperate. "Everyone knows about the Witch Ghost Secret Realm now. If I don't act, I'll miss my chance!" With this thought, his aura suddenly surged.
He was no longer at the sixth level of Qi Refining as when he first arrived at the market. He had broken through to the seventh level, the late stage of Qi Refining. It was precisely this breakthrough past the bottleneck that had plagued him for years that gave him the idea to explore the secret realm and try his luck.
But having the idea didn't mean having the strength.
Without the opportunity from Panlong Island, he could only cultivate the Yin-Yang Great Joy Ode from Butian Peak. His True Qi was only fifth-grade, and his magical abilities and treasures were inferior in every way.
Under these circumstances, competing for opportunities was tantamount to suicide.
After much deliberation, Zhao Xuhe finally gritted his teeth, took out a long-sealed jade slip, infused it with magic power, and contacted someone he hadn't seen in years.
A halo of light emanated from the jade slip. After a long while, a voice finally sounded: "Who is it?"
The voice was languid and slightly hoarse, yet it stirred a deep sense of nostalgia in Zhao Xuhe. He couldn't help but whisper, "Feixia... it's me, Xuhe."
Indeed, he and Fairy Feixia had a past.
However, it was merely a past acquaintance. After he was chosen as the son-in-law of Butian Peak's Master, they had severed ties to avoid suspicion.
He had thought they would never cross paths again, yet now he was seeking her help.
Zhao Xuhe gritted his teeth and whispered, "Feixia, I want to ask you for a favor. My path to enlightenment is now hopeless, and I plan to leave the market for one final gamble."
He knew Fairy Feixia most admired those who dared to risk everything for the sake of the Dao.
Thus, only by saying this could he move her.
"But I have no contribution points now and cannot afford magical weapons or techniques. In this state, even with the will to burn my bridges, I'm afraid it would be a futile death."
"So... so... for the sake of our past connection, could you lend me some?"
As he spoke, Zhao Xuhe couldn't help but recall the moments he had shared with Fairy Feixia, and a faint, unspoken hope stirred in his heart.
However, the next second, a bucket of cold water was poured over him.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."
The once gentle voice turned icy cold as she replied indifferently, "Also, please do not contact me again in the future."
"I was discussing the Dao with Junior Brother Lü just now. I wouldn't want him to misunderstand."
Crack!
The next moment, the jade slip shattered.
Zhao Xuhe stood there blankly, unable to recover for a long time. After what felt like an eternity, his face gradually twisted, and he let out a roar:
"NO—!!!"