Chapter 34

The three Daoists from Nine Abyss Sect emptied their minds, while Zhan Yujie fell silent.

Yan Zhichuan’s eyes darted around as she considered trying the same old trick again, but before she could open her mouth, Zhan Yujie preemptively told her to shut it.

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, “Wanqi Ling” furrowed her brows slightly. After a moment’s thought, she sighed and said, “This underground palace is no ordinary place. Finding an exit won’t be easy.”

“What information have you obtained, fellow Daoist?” Zhan Yujie asked lightly.

This was exactly what “Wanqi Ling” had been waiting for. She raised her brow and explained at length, “Fellow Daoists arrived here before me and even obtained a Demon-Luring Lamp, so you’re surely aware of the underground palace’s secrets. I won’t belabor the point. The Demon-Luring Lamps can restrain the Demon Shadows, and when their power gathers together, they can suppress the lingering demonic qi as well. Destroy the coffin in the underground palace, and we won’t have to worry about finding an exit anymore.”

“Our thoughts align with yours, fellow Daoist,” Zhan Yujie said warmly, watching “Wanqi Ling.” “But there are still fellow Daoists outside. We should wait for them to return before discussing further.”

“Wanqi Ling” nodded crisply in agreement. She sat cross-legged at a distance from Zhan Yujie and the others, as if truly waiting for the Daoists searching for an exit to return, making no further moves.

She’s not striking while we’re few in number because she doesn’t want to expose herself? Yan Zhichuan muttered inwardly.

Or maybe she wants to catch you all in one fell swoop, the Heavenly Dao System speculated, assuming the worst of “Wanqi Ling.”

“How’s her cultivation?” Yan Zhichuan asked.

The Heavenly Dao System hesitated. “Golden Core. Not fake—real Golden Core cultivation.”

Yan Zhichuan peeked toward “Wanqi Ling,” but how could Zhan Yujie miss her movements? She lowered her gaze and unobtrusively shoved Yan Zhichuan behind her. Her instincts told her this “Wanqi Ling” was anything but ordinary. For now, it was best if her junior sister stayed away.

She’s a demon cultivator, Yan Zhichuan sent to Zhan Yujie via transmission.

“Did the sect master tell you that? But she wasn’t among the ones you mentioned earlier,” Zhan Yujie replied with a frown. Fearing Yan Zhichuan might get ideas, she added, “Don’t use that Demon Disguise Pill recklessly.”

Yan Zhichuan drawled out an “Oh.”

What would Zhan Yujie think if she knew those people earlier hadn’t been named by their master, but that she’d just borrowed his name to wave a flag?

Xiao Tian, achieving the goal is what matters, right? Yan Zhichuan whispered.

The Heavenly Dao System felt exhausted. “You can’t do that.”

From its observations lately, Zhan Yujie was indeed wavering a bit, but if there was a problem—

The biggest problem was with Yan Zhichuan herself.

This person—no, this Demon Seed—had no sense of right and wrong, no morals at all!

She was far too capricious.

“What are you muttering about on your own?” Fuyu Sha glanced at Yan Zhichuan clinging to Zhan Yujie. The Snow Weasel in her arms grew restless and, now with backup, suddenly leaped onto Yan Zhichuan’s shoulder, raising its paw to swipe at Little Fat Chirp. Amid the Heavenly Dao System’s frantic cries, Yan Zhichuan grabbed the Snow Weasel and shook it.

The Snow Weasel glared viciously at Yan Zhichuan, wanting to bite her, but recalling its broken tooth from before, it didn’t dare act rashly.

It squeaked furiously.

Yan Zhichuan looked down at it and snorted. “After Senior Sister Zhan bit me last time, I got prepared and swallowed a bunch of pills to strengthen my body.”

Zhan Yujie ignored Yan Zhichuan playing with the Snow Weasel; her mind stayed taut, her sword in its sheath poised to strike.

As soon as Yan Zhichuan finished speaking, before she could react, an incredulous “Ah!” came from Fuyu Sha’s mouth, and a chill ran down her back!

“You—” Fuyu Sha exclaimed in shock.

Zhan Yujie took a deep breath. “Don’t listen to Yan Zhichuan’s nonsense.”

Yan Zhichuan: “I’m not talking nonsense. In that deserted cave in Luofu Immortal City, you—”

A flush crept over Zhan Yujie’s face. She knew it was true, but hearing it sounded so odd. Unwilling to let Yan Zhichuan continue, she clamped a hand over her mouth and looked outward, changing the subject. “Someone’s back.”

Fuyu Sha had already searched everywhere; with no exit in the underground palace, the unwilling Daoists could only return empty-handed.

Seeing an extra person upon their return, the Daoists jumped in fright at first, but seeing Nine Abyss Sect members react calmly, they relaxed.

“Wanqi Senior Sister?” Chang Zhi was among the returning group. Her eyes lit up at the sight of “Wanqi Ling,” but before she could greet her, Little Fat Chirp slapped her away.

Little Fat Chirp kicked Chang Zhi aside and flew toward Yan Zhichuan, who had her back to the crowd.

Chang Zhi rubbed her cheek and gave an awkward smile. She apologized to “Wanqi Ling” and hurried after her own Chang Buzhi.

Yan Zhichuan stared intently at Zhan Yujie, struggling with muffled “mmph mmph” sounds.

Zhan Yujie calmly released her hand, tucking her right palm—scalded hot from Yan Zhichuan’s breath—into her sleeve.

She said, “This fellow Daoist brought back the seventh lamp. What do you all think? Shall we give it a try?”

“Can it really work?” a soft voice asked, laced with worry.

“It’s our only way out,” “Wanqi Ling” replied, her eyes heavy with concern.

“Perhaps we can wait here? The Realms outside might notice we’ve been gone too long, realize something’s wrong, and come rescue us,” an optimistic voice suggested.

“The Three Ways River Ruins were cleared by the Realms themselves and turned into a training ground, yet they never found this Demon Palace. If they come now, they might still miss it. We can’t pin our hopes on others,” “Wanqi Ling” countered.

“Wanqi Senior Sister is right,” Chang Zhi nodded vigorously. With only two from Myriad Beasts Sect here, she had to back her senior sister.

“What do the Nine Abyss Sect Daoists plan?” someone else asked.

Fuyu Sha slammed her blade into the ground with a thud, then grinned. “The things in here must be destroyed.”

“We’ll follow the Nine Abyss Sect Daoists,” others quickly decided. They trusted that disciples from a major sect like Nine Abyss—true disciples of their peaks, future peak masters—wouldn’t court death. Better to follow them than blunder around alone.

With no exit found, those harboring faint hopes gave up, and scattered voices of agreement rose to proceed.

Zhan Yujie turned to “Wanqi Ling” and caught a flash of delight on her face. Thoughtfully, she said after a moment, “Fellow Daoist, you learned much from that demon cultivator. Do you know how to activate the seven lamps once linked?”

“I do!” “Wanqi Ling” said eagerly, pulling out the final Demon-Luring Lamp as if to place it on the ground.

But Yan Zhichuan suddenly darted from Zhan Yujie’s side and snatched the lamp from “Wanqi Ling’s” hand. “Let me take a look.”

The moment she touched the lamp, out of others’ sight, Yan Zhichuan took a big chomp.

Zhan Yujie said calmly, “Some fellow Daoists haven’t returned yet. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“Wanqi Ling’s” smile froze, a flicker of anger passing over her face. A breath later, she pressed her lips together and feigned calm. “Alright.”

Half a day later, the Daoists trickled back one by one.

Zhan Yujie quietly rubbed the Form-Concealing Leaf in her palm, unusual light flickering in her eyes.

“Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist.” Zhan Yujie nodded to “Wanqi Ling” and took the lamp from Yan Zhichuan, handing it over.

“Wanqi Ling” placed the final lamp in the empty “Tian Shu” position.

The seven lamps shone like stars, with the coffin precisely aligned toward the “Zi Wei Star.”

“Now, fellow Daoists, please channel your spiritual power into the Demon-Luring Lamps,” “Wanqi Ling” said with a smile, pausing before adding, “With the seven stars linked, the ritual elevates to a higher level. It’ll require considerable spiritual power.”

Zhan Yujie nodded. “Understood.”

Yan Zhichuan eyed “Wanqi Ling.” “And what will you do?”

“Open the coffin,” “Wanqi Ling” replied.

“If it’s a trap left by the Demon Sovereign, the demonic qi sealed inside must be terrifying. Can you withstand it?” a skeptical voice asked.

“Wanqi Ling” said solemnly, “As long as fellow Daoists activate the Demon-Luring Lamps, even if demonic qi invades, it can be directly purged. This risk is nothing.”

It was the truth; Xuanmen Daoists had witnessed the lamps’ ability to draw in demonic qi.

Even Youying had studied them with all her skill and found no issues with the lamps themselves.

“So dangerous,” Yan Zhichuan said with a rueful look. Righteously, she declared, “Nine Abyss Sect is the best in the world. Leave this to me!”

“Junior Sister!” Not just Zhan Yujie—the Nine Abyss Sect cultivators all frowned, knowing the danger and unwilling to let her do it.

“Junior Sister Yan, you’re a medical cultivator. Best stay in a safe spot,” Fuyu Sha said.

Yan Zhichuan glared at her, displeased. “I’m a sword cultivator!” She slapped her sword sheath and chanted, “Sword of Nine Abyss: Heaven Descends!“

Nameless Plainness whistled from its sheath, pointing straight at the advancing “Wanqi Ling.”

“Wanqi Ling” startled, nearly lashing out. Meeting Yan Zhichuan’s innocent eyes, she took a deep breath, retreated a few steps, and feigned helplessness. “Then I’ll trouble fellow Daoist.” Casually, she added, “Medical cultivators should understand demonic qi well. Fellow Daoist Yan seems so confident—you must have a way to counter it, right?”

Zhan Yujie watched helplessly as Yan Zhichuan fell for it, provoked into replying, “Naturally.”

No, it wasn’t provocation; she had that idea anyway.

“Yan Zhichuan!” Zhan Yujie gritted her teeth.

Her junior sister had read too many storybooks, fancying herself a savior with reckless heroism.

Yan Zhichuan blinked at Zhan Yujie. “Don’t worry, Senior Sister. I’m Golden Core too.”

Fuyu Sha, unscarred by Yan Zhichuan’s antics, stayed calmer. After a moment’s thought, she decided. “Junior Sister Zhan, you’re too worried. On a training expedition, we can’t keep your junior sister forever behind us.”

Nameless Plainness was an ancestral artifact, recognizing Yan Zhichuan, so she wasn’t purely a medical cultivator.

Her earlier display showed real attainment in the sword path.

But that stance and the suddenly blooming sword intent felt awfully familiar.

Fuyu Sha suddenly asked, “Junior Sister Zhan, did you teach her?”

Even personal instruction wouldn’t make their sword intents identical, right?

Unless… dual cultivation, merging their qi?

At the thought, Fuyu Sha’s expression turned peculiar.

Zhan Yujie denied it. “I didn’t.”

This wasn’t worry clouding her judgment—it was—

If she’d traveled with Yan Zhichuan instead of Fuyu Sha, she’d feel the same.

Yan Zhichuan carried an uncontrollable air, like a wild horse that had slipped its reins.

Neither good nor bad—it just left her heart swinging like a bucket in a well.

The flames on the Demon-Luring Lamps gradually brightened, like a blazing sun in the sky.

Yan Zhichuan stood before the coffin with sword in hand, clearly barring others from acting.

Zhan Yujie deflated, her lips moving. “Be careful.”

Yan Zhichuan nodded repeatedly. Under everyone’s gaze, she sheathed her sword, stowed her cauldron, and smashed the coffin open with her bare hands!