Piaomiao Sect.
Looking at Wu Yan’s cultivation base, which had already reached the Mahayana Realm, Xia Lingshuang’s expression was extremely grim.
According to the report from the last time Wu Yan’s group of nine left the Cangwu Secret Realm, Wu Yan had used a secret technique within the secret realm that temporarily boosted her cultivation base.
What was the consequence of that?
Wu Yan had been unconscious for nearly half a month, and her Soul Origin was nearly depleted.
If they hadn’t obtained the Soul Shaping Grass within the secret realm, Wu Yan would have died.
And now…
“Wu Yan.”
Xia Lingshuang ignored the ice-sealed Xue Zun and walked quickly toward Wu Yan.
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I know, Master.”
Wu Yan nodded.
Just such a simple motion caused moonlight essence to gather and disperse around her.
Wu Yan hadn’t only used that secret technique of hers; she had even stacked the final move of the Cold Moon Art on top of it.
“Wu Yan, stop while you still can.”
Xia Lingshuang rushed to Wu Yan’s side, as if trying to stop her.
“There has to be another way!”
Wu Yan dodged the hand Xia Lingshuang extended and said in a calm tone:
“Master, this is the best way.”
“Some things can only be understood after stepping into the Mahayana Realm.”
At this moment, Wu Yan could clearly see the shock on Shen Qingzhou and the others’ faces far above Qingshan City, could hear the relieved heartbeats of Xuanjizi and the others who had narrowly escaped death, and could even hear, in an instant, all the activity within a thousand li of the entire Piaomiao Sect.
This was the power of the Mahayana Realm.
It was precisely for this reason that Wu Yan said—this was the best way at the moment.
The Mahayana Realm cultivators still alive in the Righteous Path numbered fewer than the fingers on one hand, and all of them were people nearing the end of their lifespans.
Unless their sects faced annihilation, they would never act.
Seeing that Xia Lingshuang still intended to stop her, Wu Yan extended her index finger and gently pointed toward her.
Xia Lingshuang froze in place.
Her spiritual power was blocked in an instant, completely unable to circulate through her body, and her body lost all ability to move.
“This is…”
“The Soul-Locking Seal.”
Wu Yan said softly.
“I originally hadn’t intended to use this move, Master.”
Although Wu Yan (Inner) thought she had hidden it well, in reality, Wu Yan had long known this technique.
Wu Yan just hadn’t expected to use the Soul-Locking Seal under these circumstances.
Holding Wu Nian, Wu Yan walked past Xia Lingshuang, who couldn’t move.
As she brushed past Xia Lingshuang, Xia Lingshuang clearly saw the smile quietly blooming at the corner of Wu Yan’s lips, and heard her softly spoken voice.
“Master, don’t let my feelings go to waste.”
“Xue Zun must be killed by your own hands.”
Wu Nian continuously absorbed the moonlight essence scattered in every corner, and the dazzling silver light emitted by its blade was like a moon fallen into water.
Wu Nian carved a flawless circle in midair, and the gathered moonlight essence poured out.
As the Moon Wheel turned, heaven and earth lost all their luster in that moment.
This single strike was meant only for the kill.
In the end, the Moon Wheel slashed toward Xue Zun.
The high-speed spinning full moon sliced through space, stirring up violent spatial turbulence.
Finally, it landed on Xue Zun’s body.
The next moment, Xue Zun’s body split in two from the middle.
Afterward, his split body gradually crumbled, until in the end, not a single trace remained.
His physique that he prided himself on, the cultivation base he relied on to survive—everything, all of it, turned to nothing under the full-force strike of the Mahayana Realm.
The very moment Xue Zun died, the demon beasts battling the Piaomiao Sect also underwent a change.
Mo Wentian took a fierce gulp of wine into his mouth, then with a single sword stroke, slew all nine late Nascent Soul Stage demon beasts beside him.
“Hmm? Why did these bastards suddenly get so much weaker?”
This situation was not an isolated case.
From Peak Masters to Elders, to the outer sect disciples fighting desperately, no one failed to notice that the demon beasts they were fighting had become pathetically fragile from a certain point onward.
And so, the horn of counterattack was sounded.
Taking advantage of the chaotic battlefield situation, she also finally obtained the purpose of this trip.
“Heh, after all that effort, I finally got my hands on it.”
She looked at the Blood Coagulation Bead pinched between her fingers, a smile brimming in her eyes.
“Good thing you were here. You didn’t disappoint me, Miss Wu~”
With that, she left.
When she sensed that the woman’s aura had disappeared from the Piaomiao Sect, the final boulder pressing on Wu Yan’s heart finally fell.
Immediately after, an overwhelming exhaustion crashed over her.
Not just physical, but mental as well.
Wu Yan only felt the world in her mind suddenly spin, then blur.
But before her consciousness faded completely, she still had some things to do.
Wu Yan walked step by step to stand before Xia Lingshuang.
Since Xia Lingshuang was a bit taller than her, Wu Yan tilted her head up slightly so she could meet Xia Lingshuang’s gaze.
“Master.”
Wu Yan looked at Xia Lingshuang.
“Being able to become your disciple…”
Then, she turned her gaze toward Yu Qingyao, who was still lying unconscious on the ground.
“Qingyao, being able to become your Senior Sister…”
“Is my greatest honor.”
Before Xia Lingshuang could react, Wu Yan, as if fleeing, sank into the Sea of Consciousness.
Now, Wu Yan’s Sea of Consciousness was already in complete disarray.
As the cold white storm swept through, most places were already unsightly to behold.
Of course, there was still a small exception.
Wu Yan quietly floated over to Wu Yan (Inner), whose shoulders were still trembling.
Her eye sockets were completely red, and the side of her face still bore tear tracks that hadn’t dried.
Her pale crimson hair was in complete disarray, making her look especially disheveled.
No one knew how long she had been crying before Wu Yan returned.
Hearing the commotion beside her, Wu Yan (Inner) directly grabbed Wu Yan’s collar and dragged her in front of herself.
Wu Yan (Inner)’s strength was considerable—so great that Wu Yan could feel a sense of suffocation.
“Dead wood! Big liar!”
Wu Yan (Inner) shouted at Wu Yan with a crying voice, her voice filled with grievance and anger.
“You clearly promised me you wouldn’t use the Soul Governance Art!”
“Did you forget what you said? You promised you would never lie to me! You promised you would always stay by my side! Stay by my side until I completely turned over a new leaf!”
This was the first time Wu Yan had seen Wu Yan (Inner) cry.
Looking at her eyes, which were swollen from crying, Wu Yan subconsciously reached out a hand to rub them for her, only to have it slapped away by Wu Yan (Inner) the next second.
“Now you know to be nice to me?!”
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“You only have this half of your Soul Origin left. Once it burns out, do you know what fate awaits you?”
Wu Yan opened her mouth, but said nothing.
“You’ll be completely obliterated—soul and all—do you know that?!”
“Why can’t you rely on me a little more?”
Wu Yan (Inner)’s power couldn’t be used lightly.
She might have been able to kill Xue Zun, but what would happen afterward, no one knew.
Wu Yan had always been wary of the Ouroboros Serpent lurking deep within Wu Yan (Inner)’s memories.
Only now did she finally understand what it truly was.
“I’m sorry… But this was the only option at the time.”
“There you go with that same excuse again!”
Wu Yan (Inner) pulled her even closer.
Their delicate noses gently touched, and the warm breath they exhaled intertwined.
“It’s that ingrate!”
“You’re always thinking about this one and that one—if it’s not that old woman, it’s someone else.”
“You’ve considered so many people, but have you ever, even once, considered yourself? Considered me?”
“Once I’m gone, you’ll be able to take back your body and completely regain your freedom.”
“You can do whatever you want, no longer bound to stay by my side.”
“At least, you’ll be able to…”
“Do you think I want this broken body?”
“Do you think I want this damn freedom?”
“Do you think I want that crappy Demon Venerable title?!”
Wu Yan (Inner)’s emotions grew more intense with each sentence, and her voice grew louder.
She pulled Wu Yan closer with even more force, then wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Wu Yan (Inner)’s soul form was a bit taller than Wu Yan’s.
Therefore, her next action could only be described as fierce.
She lowered her head and slammed her lips hard against Wu Yan’s.
Wu Yan’s eyes instantly widened.
She could feel the warmth between Wu Yan (Inner)’s lips and teeth, could smell the faint fragrance on her body, and could even taste the salty tears.
Wu Yan tried to break free.
But she was held tightly by Wu Yan (Inner), and in the end, she could only let her kiss her.
This kiss lasted a very long time.
Only when her tears ran dry did Wu Yan (Inner) reluctantly let her go.
“Idiot.”
Wu Yan (Inner) sobbed, pressing her forehead against Wu Yan’s.
“What I want is to go on adventures with you.”
“I want to watch you practice your sword, admire the moon with you, and have you always stay by my side.”
Wu Yan (Inner)’s hand pressed against Wu Yan’s back, pulling her fiercely into her embrace.
“How can you be so stupid!”
“All I want is you!”