Only after the figure of the black-robed demon completely vanished into the depths of the cave did Ning Yin finally exhale in relief.
Although she didn’t understand why the demon seemed to have a mistaken sense of familiarity with her, at least she had managed to survive.
She bent over, supporting herself against the ground as she coughed violently a few times.
Then, steadying herself on the stone bed, she stood up and looked around. There was not a single exit in the cave.
Her eyes landed on the brilliant glow deeply embedded in the stone wall, trembling incessantly. Gripping the sword hilt, she yanked it free in one swift motion.
Recalling the moment the glow slipped from her hand, she remembered the demon had merely waved its sleeve, giving her no chance to react.
Such overwhelming strength made Ning Yin break out in a cold sweat thinking about Yan Hanzhou—could he even stand a chance?
After all, when the main party tackled this dungeon, it was led by Nascent Soul elders Si Huyu and Shi Yunzhao. Even so, the team suffered heavy losses.
But the rewards were plentiful.
The Jiuyi Mountain dungeon had provided the main party with equipment that enhanced their strength, enabling them to claim first place in the Seven Great Sect Competition a year later, bringing glory to the Soaring Cloud Sect and basking in unprecedented honor.
Ning Yin strained to recall any weaknesses or origins of this demon from the novel but drew a blank.
All she knew was that this demon had appeared in Jiuyi Mountain a thousand years ago, immensely powerful, commanding all demons and monsters in the mountain.
It fiercely guarded the treasures of Jiuyi Mountain, mercilessly killing any cultivator who found them.
So much so that the treasures left by Immortal Lord Lingxiao in Jiuyi Mountain had remained untouched for a millennium, only to be swept up by the main party through sheer strength.
Was the treasure in Jiuyi Mountain simply destined for the main party?
Anyone who dared touch it before them was doomed to die?
Ning Yin felt a bit disheartened.
The feeling of being like fish on a chopping board, awaiting death, was unbearably agonizing.
Yan Hanzhou must be searching for her, but she had no idea where he was, whether he’d confronted the demon, if he could defeat it, or if he had suffered losses.
Just as Ning Yin had expected, Yan Hanzhou was indeed on his way to find her.
The demons and monsters had dispersed too quickly in all directions, leaving no trace for tracking.
Ye Shangqiu followed closely behind Yan Hanzhou as they crossed hills and valleys in Jiuyi Mountain, nearly scouring the entire range.
Their spiritual power was nearly drained, but Yan Hanzhou’s eyes were as cold as blades, his face covered by a chilling frost that sent shivers down one’s spine.
Ye Shangqiu swallowed hard, forcing back his ragged breaths and the burning ache inside, gritting his teeth as he stumbled forward without uttering a single complaint.
Suddenly, a Liuli Featherfinch flew down from high above and perched on Yan Hanzhou’s shoulder, chirping twice before leading them toward a certain direction.
After an unknown duration, the Liuli Featherfinch landed on a tree branch, gazing at a cave nestled between two peaks.
Yan Hanzhou was about to dash out from the forest without hesitation when Ye Shangqiu gripped his sleeve tightly, lowering his voice urgently, “Brother Yan, listen to me for once. This demon is unlike any we’ve ever encountered in Jiuyi Mountain. Its power is overwhelming—even disciples from the Heavenly Evolution Sect are no match for it. You must not act rashly. The wisest course is to use strategy…”
Before he could finish, Yan Hanzhou gathered his energy into a blade.
A fierce sword aura instantly solidified into a frigid blade, held before his chest as he looked toward the cave, his expression as cold and dark as ice. “I can’t wait for strategy. She won’t.”
Seeing Yan Hanzhou’s resolute stance, Ye Shangqiu gritted his teeth, drew his sword, and followed without hesitation.
They scanned their surroundings; all was eerily silent.
“This demon certainly knows how to choose its battleground,” Ye Shangqiu said, focusing his senses.
“This is the place where Jiuyi Mountain’s spiritual energy is most abundant. Training here yields twice the results for half the effort.”
Yan Hanzhou’s sharp eyes swept across the area, suddenly stopping at an empty space.
A chill gleam appeared out of nowhere—a huge Forbidden Spell separating the mountain cave from the outside world shimmered clearly before them like rippling water.
Yan Hanzhou furrowed his brow and raised his hand slowly, pressing his palm against the cold, invisible barrier. A strange feeling of familiarity surged in his heart.
At the same time, sensing the spiritual energy fluctuation outside the cave, the black-robed figure sneered coldly and vanished like a teleportation spell. In the next moment, he reappeared before Yan Hanzhou.
Seeing the demon appear, Yan Hanzhou asked sharply, “Where is the person?”
The black-robed demon sized up these two who dared challenge him. Mere Foundation Establishment cultivators—how audacious. He sneered mockingly, “You’re too late. The person has already been killed.”
Yan Hanzhou tightened his grip on the sword and wasted no words. Spiritual energy surged, the sword light transforming into a thunderbolt that struck down.
The demon’s body erupted with demonic energy, forming a gigantic demonic blade. Without dodging, he met the thunderbolt sword light head-on.
“Clang—” A deafening sound roared. The surrounding cave walls shattered under the clash of spiritual and demonic energy, instantly cracking with massive fissures. Dust and rubble filled the air, blocking out the sky.
“Pff—” Under the brutal collision, Yan Hanzhou spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face turning pale in an instant.
Seeing Yan Hanzhou’s ashen complexion, the black-robed demon’s eyes flashed with mockery—using a sledgehammer to kill a chicken.
He suddenly withdrew, demonic energy surging wildly beneath his hood. Fingers forming hand seals, he chanted quietly.
Countless demons and monsters around flickered with eerie light in their eyes. Their savage instincts swallowed reason as they howled and surged toward this place from all directions.
Behind them, a low, chilling voice thundered, “Intruders—kill without mercy! Leave no one alive!”
Roars came from all sides, shaking the earth itself.
Yan Hanzhou and Ye Shangqiu faced the oncoming horde of demons and monsters, far more numerous and ferocious than before.
Ye Shangqiu’s palms were sweaty around his sword hilt.
His mind was overwhelmed by the terrifying beasts, causing him to retreat step by step until he bumped into Yan Hanzhou.
“So many demons and monsters… and it’s just the two of us. What… what are we going to do?”
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Yan Hanzhou said grimly, “Stand behind me.”
“…Huh?”
Yan Hanzhou’s gaze sharpened. Spiritual energy surged wildly, and an immense Soul Power erupted from within him with a thunderous roar.
The long sword in his hand burst with unprecedented dazzling light. Within that glow was an aura of majestic authority that made the soul tremble.
He no longer used any refined sword techniques but poured all his Soul Power into one sword strike, swinging forward without reservation.
“Boom—”
A vast sword energy swept forward, crushing all in its path.
The demons and monsters at the forefront didn’t even have time to scream as they were pulverized by the raging sword energy in an instant.
Ye Shangqiu was forced back by the residual force, staring fixedly at Yan Hanzhou’s back with eyes full of astonishment that shattered all his previous understanding. “Brother Yan, how is your power…”
Not only Ye Shangqiu but the black-robed figure also froze, staring incredulously at Yan Hanzhou.
This aura… this Soul Power…
The black-robed demon looked at the invincible figure shrouded in sword light beyond the Forbidden Spell.
It slowly aligned with the towering figure from his memories, the one to whom the sword’s edge was always pointed.
That devastating sword strike not only completely wiped out the charging demons and monsters but also shattered the impenetrable Forbidden Spell inch by inch with its unique Origin of the Soul aura.
The demonic energy swirling beneath the hood froze instantly.
The millennium of accumulated rage, hatred, and restless waiting all shattered at this moment.
It couldn’t be wrong!
It was him!
Absolutely him!
“Ma… Master…” a dry, trembling voice, filled with disbelief and grievance, struggled out from beneath the black hood, faint almost beyond hearing.
“Brother Yan! Brother Yan, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Nearby, Ye Shangqiu supported what seemed to be an exhausted Yan Hanzhou.
The black-robed demon took an instinctive step forward but retreated when his gaze landed on his black robe.
Seeing the two outside the cave quickly annihilate the demons, the demon seemed to make a decision and turned without hesitation, retreating deeper into the cave.
He passed through a gloomy corridor and entered the treasure chamber hidden within.
Looking at the golden runes flowing on the jagged stone walls, the demon formed a complex hand seal.
Suddenly, the countless runes lit up brightly, then transformed into countless golden starlights that dispersed completely without a trace.
Without hesitation, the demon took out all the magic treasures sealed behind those golden runes, walked back to the cave where Ning Yin was imprisoned, and threw the treasures onto the stone bed.
His expression cold and voice sharp, he said, “Take these treasures and leave.”
Ning Yin, still pressed against the stone wall searching for an exit, was startled to turn around at the sudden appearance of the black-robed demon near the stone bed.
Seeing the dazzling array of treasures before her, a flicker of caution rose in her heart. “You mean all these are for me? And you’re going to let me go?”
The black robe swept his sleeve abruptly.
A hidden door appeared in the stone wall behind him. “I’m giving you magic treasures to let you go. If you don’t leave now, don’t expect to ever leave this place again!”
Ning Yin dared not hesitate for even a moment. Regardless of what plots or schemes he had, the Cangming Ring gleamed faintly.
The treasures on the stone bed were instantly gathered up, and she dashed through the secret door like a flash.
As Ning Yin left, the secret door closed behind her.
She didn’t dare linger. Passing through the long corridor inside the cave, she exited just as two familiar figures hurried toward the cave entrance—Yan Hanzhou and Ye Shangqiu.
Yan Hanzhou sprinted to her side, eyes anxiously scanning her from head to toe. “Are you alright?”
Ning Yin suppressed her rapid breaths and shook her head, “I’m fine.”
Ye Shangqiu glanced cautiously at the cave, then looked at Ning Yin in disbelief. “Daoist Ning actually survived this demon unharmed? Then what exactly does this demon want?”
“I have no idea what tricks it’s playing. It captured me, took away the magic treasures we obtained from the snake demon, and then gave me countless treasures just now and let me go.”
Ning Yin took a deep breath. “It’s insane!”
“That’s strange…”
Before Yan Hanzhou could speak, his deep gaze darkened as he stared toward the pitch-black cave depths.
Silently, he took a few steps forward, almost swallowed by the shadows flowing from the entrance, lost in thought.
“Forget it. It’s good you’re safe, Daoist Ning,” Ye Shangqiu suppressed his doubts and said decisively, “This place is too dangerous. I think we should leave first.”
Yan Hanzhou’s eyes darkened with deeper suspicion. A vague thought rooted in his heart. He turned back and said solemnly, “You all leave first. I’ll go in and take a look.”
With that, he stepped into the cave entrance.
“Yan Hanzhou—!”
Ignoring their worried shouts, Yan Hanzhou walked steadily along the corridor until he stopped before a stone wall.
On the other side, the black-robed demon’s gaze was fixed on the secret door. In the next moment, a rumbling sound exploded as the entire door shattered into pieces, flying outward.
Facing the expressionless Yan Hanzhou outside the door, the black-robed demon’s heart trembled but he forced himself to stay calm.
With a cold, menacing voice, he said, “You refuse to leave after all this? Are you looking for death?!”
Yan Hanzhou walked in slowly, looking at the figure shrouded in demonic energy beneath the large hood. “Take off your hood.”
“…How dare you! I gave you a chance to leave alive and you don’t cherish it…” The black robe thickened, the demonic energy condensing into a blade.
Yan Hanzhou’s brow furrowed. “You still want to fight me?”
“If you leave Jiuyi Mountain today, I won’t bother you again.”
Yan Hanzhou ignored the threat and pulled out the rusty sword he had bought from Ye Shangqiu’s stall. “Do you know what sword this is?”
Seeing the corroded long sword, the black-robed demon trembled, eyes bloodshot. “A… rusty sword.”
“Yes, a rusty sword. But this sword was my original sword a thousand years ago. Unfortunately, the sword spirit left long ago, and the sword has been corroded and rusted. If the sword spirit can’t be found to return, when the sword breaks and vanishes, the sword spirit will also dissipate into the world.”
“Tell me, have you seen my sword spirit?”
The black robe gritted his teeth and said slowly, word by word, “Never.”
Yan Hanzhou’s expression darkened. “I’ll give you one more chance. Have you seen my sword spirit or not?”
The black robe staggered back instinctively.
Yan Hanzhou’s gaze was heavy as he stared at him for a long moment, then sighed almost imperceptibly, “Jinghong, a thousand years gone. You’ve improved.”