?
Xiao Yifeng’s face twisted with feigned heartache as he summoned a shield to cover his body.
"Explode!" he roared with decisive fury.
He had detonated Falling Rainbow, the Middle Grade Immortal Artifact currently held in the eccentric's grasp.
The self-destruction of a Middle Grade Immortal Artifact was a cataclysmic event, far surpassing the detonation of ordinary Dharma Treasures. Falling Rainbow erupted into a blinding sphere of flames. The explosion was deafening, sending countless metal fragments shooting out like shrapnel, shredding the air with lethal force.
Holding the artifact, the eccentric bore the brunt of the blast. He was launched backward like a ragdoll, his body charred black and riddled with deep sword wounds.
Since he had been standing directly in front of a Celestial Ladder, the force of the explosion blasted him straight into the formation. He crashed heavily onto the steps.
Buzz!
A beam of light from the palace gate locked onto him. The Reincarnation Stone Stele in his possession floated up, and a pillar of light shot into the sky, activating the seal.
Like Mo Shuiyao before him, the eccentric was stunned for a moment. He tried to charge out, but a formidable barrier of light slammed down, trapping him inside.
Blasted in the opposite direction, Xiao Yifeng hit the ground hard and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Yet, a triumphant smile played on his lips.
"Idiot! You fell for it!"
Xiao Yifeng's goal had never been to step onto that specific ladder himself. If he had, he would be safe, but Su Miaoqing—who would arrive later—would be left defenseless against this monster.
His plan from the start was to lure the creature to the ladder’s entrance and use the detonation of his own Immortal Artifact to force it inside, sealing the threat away.
The monster roared in incoherent rage, slamming his fists against the barrier. He had never expected Xiao Yifeng to be so ruthless—to detonate a Middle Grade Immortal Artifact without a second thought. That was a treasure countless cultivators would kill for!
Because he was the master of Falling Rainbow and had prepared defenses, Xiao Yifeng suffered only minor backlash. Wiping the blood from his chin, he flew over to the ladder where the eccentric was trapped and landed just outside the light barrier.
"The grudge of destroying my Immortal Artifact ends only with death," Xiao Yifeng said coldly, staring into the monster’s eyes. "Wait for your end."
The eccentric smashed against the barrier, screaming in impotent fury, but the formation held firm.
Seeing Xiao Yifeng safe, Mo Shuiyao finally relaxed. She couldn't help but admire his decisiveness. In that split second, any hesitation would have resulted in his capture.
Moreover, he was willing to sacrifice a priceless treasure to achieve his goal. Mo Shuiyao asked herself if she could have done the same and found the answer lacking.
What shocked her most was his motive. He hadn't done this just to save himself; he had designed this trap to neutralize the threat for his Junior Sister.
She felt a deep respect for his intellect and courage, but also a faint, bitter jealousy toward Su Miaoqing.
Why is there no one willing to go to such lengths for me?
Having dealt with the monster, Xiao Yifeng found an adjacent Celestial Ladder and stepped onto it. Immediately, he froze, falling into an illusion just as Mo Shuiyao had.
A moment later, he jolted awake, breaking free from the trance. Just as he prepared to ascend the first step, a commotion erupted from the wasteland.
Three figures burst into view—one chasing, two fleeing.
The fugitives were none other than Luo Yun and Liu Yue. They looked wretched, their robes torn and bloodied. Behind them, Wang Laoxie pursued relentlessly, wielding his deadly twin hooks.
Liu Yue, brandishing a golden saber, fought a desperate rearguard action to cover Luo Yun. Now that the Immortal Abode was in sight, Wang Laoxie had stopped concealing his cultivation. His Golden Core Peak power surged, utterly suppressing the pair.
It turned out that while tailing Wang Laoxie, the duo had accidentally exposed themselves. They had been hunted like dogs ever since.
The group quickly reached the vicinity of the palace. They saw Xiao Yifeng and Mo Shuiyao standing safely on their respective ladders, and they also noticed the charred, monstrous figure glaring at them from behind a barrier.
The unsettling, predatory gaze of the eccentric made their skin crawl, causing them to pause their flight.
"I didn't expect another mature beauty to arrive," the eccentric rasped, his eyes locking onto Luo Yun. "This seat is truly blessed. The next fifty years won't be boring."
Unable to identify the monster or understand why he was trapped on the ladder, the trio looked to Xiao Yifeng for answers.
"That is a survivor from a previous opening of the Abode," Xiao Yifeng called out gravely. "A Nascent Soul expert who never left. Fellow Daoists, I suggest you stop your infighting. If he escapes, none of us will survive."
The expressions of the three newcomers changed drastically. A Nascent Soul monster surviving from decades ago?
Wang Laoxie hesitated, glancing at the trapped monster. Seeing an opening, Liu Yue tried to escort Luo Yun toward a free ladder.
But Wang Laoxie recovered quickly. "Both of you stay right here!"
"Wang Laoxie! Don't push us too far!" Liu Yue roared, his golden saber trembling. "Didn't you hear him? There's a Nascent Soul expert here! If we keep fighting, we'll all end up as food for that thing!"
"Nascent Soul? Bah! It's clearly just a filthy ghost!" Wang Laoxie scoffed, his greed and bloodlust overpowering his caution. "If it were really a Nascent Soul, those two brats would be dead already! I don't believe that nonsense. Die!"
Wang Laoxie went berserk, his twin hooks extending and retracting with lethal unpredictability.
Luo Yun and Liu Yue were already exhausted. Lacking Reincarnation Stone Steles, their cultivation was suppressed by the Abode’s laws. Combined with Wang Laoxie’s higher realm, they were being crushed.
"Fairy Luo, go! I'll hold him back!"
Liu Yue roared, his eyes burning with resolve. He halted, turning to face the oncoming storm. Igniting his essence blood, he swung his saber with suicidal abandon, entangling Wang Laoxie.
"Fellow Daoist Liu?" Luo Yun hesitated, looking back.
"GO!" Liu Yue screamed, slashing wildly. He abandoned all defense, trading wounds for time. His terrifying saber light threatened to split the earth, forcing Wang Laoxie to momentarily retreat from the sheer ferocity of a man seeking death.
Luo Yun glanced at him one last time, her eyes shimmering. Then, without further hesitation, she turned and flew toward the nearest Celestial Ladder with all her might.
Although Liu Yue was only at the Mid-Golden Core stage, his reckless assault made even Wang Laoxie wary. However, without a stone stele to mitigate the suppression, Liu Yue was fighting a losing battle. He was being ground into dust.
Seeing that Luo Yun was still some distance from safety and realizing his own strength was fading, a flash of brutal determination crossed Liu Yue’s face.
He swung his long saber—not at his enemy, but at himself.
Swish!
Blood sprayed into the air. His right arm was severed at the shoulder, falling to the ground with a wet thud.
Wang Laoxie froze, stunned by the incomprehensible act. What is he doing?