42: Chapter 42 True Water Bursts Forth, Chaos

Refine? There's no time! The Shadow Envoy's roar was already right above, at most three breaths away, and the opponent would be able to track the explosion and the aura of the mystic yin true water to this location!

Flee? The state of the incomplete escape talisman is unknown, the success rate is slim, and carrying two burdens (Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming), it would be extremely easy to be intercepted in the escape light.

The only way is to create chaos again, and it must be a larger-scale chaos, one sufficient to startle both sides of the battle, to win a chance of survival for himself!

Inside his body, the pure yin cold power of the mystic yin true water and the star silver energy transformed after being devoured by the ancient ring yuan sha were clashing and undergoing Fusion crazily, stretching his Meridians to the point of tearing, alternating between freezing cold and scorching heat. But at this moment, this uncontrolled power had instead become the best "bomb"!

A flash of madness crossed Lin Ye's eyes. He no longer attempted to suppress the rampaging energy within his body, but instead forcibly urged the Ice Soul Sword Art and the ancient ring yuan sha, crazily gathering and compressing this violent energy, mixed with the coldness of the mystic yin true water and the sharpness of the star silver, toward his left arm, especially the ancient ring on his left hand!

At the same time, his right hand grabbed the terrified Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming, and he roared in a low voice: "Close your eyes! Cover your ears!"

Then, he raised his left arm, aiming the ancient ring on his left hand—which was shining brilliantly and seemed ready to drip starlight—at the dome of the cave, toward the direction where intense combat fluctuations were coming from above!

"Give me—explode!!!"

He roared hoarsely, unleashing the compressed and uncontrolled energy, along with the portion of the mystic yin true water Origin aura that the ancient ring could not fully absorb and was leaking out, like opening a floodgate, slamming it fiercely toward the dome!

This was not a Spell, nor was it a Martial Skill; it was a pure release of energy, a directional explosion of the small Universe within his body!

Rumble—!!!

A thick beam of light, mixed with dark blue frost and brilliant starlight, shot out from Lin Ye's left hand, slamming fiercely into the cave dome!

The dome shook violently, and countless stalactites broke and fell!

But it wasn't over yet!

The moment Lin Ye blasted out the beam of light, he forcibly reversed his Cultivation Technique, guiding a wisp of the purest mystic yin true water aura to travel backward along the beam of light, simulating the unique, tyrannical Sword Intent fluctuations of the demon abyss sword breaking its seal that he had sensed earlier!

He wanted to make this beam of light look like—the power of the demon abyss sword, or at least a more pure power of mystic yin true water of the same Origin, erupting here!

The effect was immediate!

Above the cave, the "Shadow Envoy"—a figure shrouded in black mist with only two scarlet glints exposed, who was fighting fiercely with a white-haired Elder of the Qingyun Sect—shuddered violently, and his offensive slowed!

"The power of the Holy Sword?! No... it's the purer Origin of Gui Water! There is another change below?!" The Shadow Envoy's hoarse voice was full of suspicion.

The white-haired Elder of the Qingyun Sect also changed his expression: "Such pure mystic yin true water! And another... strange, sharp aura? There really is something strange about this place!"

The spiritual sense of both people, simultaneously, surged toward the bottom of the cave like a tide!

As for Lin Ye, after blasting out this strike, most of the energy in his body was released. Although his Meridians were damaged and he was in extreme pain, he had at least temporarily escaped the danger of exploding and dying, and his cultivation had stabilized at the Early Stage of Qi Refining Stage 5.

He dared not pause for even a moment. Taking advantage of the dome collapsing, falling rocks like rain, and the energy disorder caused by the spiritual sense probing of the two experts above, he grabbed Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming, one in each hand, and ran for his life toward the depths of the cave, in the direction of the upper reaches of the underground river!

"Where are you going!" The Shadow Envoy's angry shout exploded in the cave like thunder. A black phantom of a ghost claw pierced through layers of falling rocks and grabbed at the three of them!

But at the same time, the white-haired Elder of the Qingyun Sect also made a move! A brilliant sword light struck the ghost claw first!

"Yinkui Sect evildoer, you still want to hurt people?!"

Boom!

The sword light collided with the ghost claw, erupting with astonishing air waves that shook the already crumbling cave, making it even more unbearable.

Lin Ye and the others were blown away by the air waves, but they took advantage of the force to rush further away, falling into the shadows of a corner in the upper reaches of the underground river.

"Chase!" The Shadow Envoy roared, about to pursue.

"Your opponent is me!" The white-haired Elder's sword light was like a rainbow, tightly entangling the Shadow Envoy.

The two Foundation Establishment (or even higher) Cultivators fought fiercely above the cave again, and the aftermath of the Spells blew the cave apart.

As for Lin Ye, he took Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming and ran desperately along the upper reaches of the underground river.

The upper reaches of the underground river became increasingly narrow and tortuous, and the current became increasingly turbulent.

Lin Ye's old injury on his left shoulder burst open, the Meridians in his body were damaged, and his spiritual power was disordered. But his will to survive supported him as he dragged Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming through the waist-deep, freezing river water.

Behind them, the roar of the cave collapsing and the fluctuations of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators fighting gradually faded away, but the vibration of the earth could still be felt.

After running for an unknown amount of time, a fork appeared ahead. One path continued upward with a slower current; the other slanted downward with a turbulent current, leading to an unknown destination.

Lin Ye hesitated slightly and chose the one slanting downward. The upward path might lead to the surface, but it was also easier to be tracked. Downward, although unknown, might allow them to shake off the pursuers by using the complex underground river System.

The waterway became deeper and deeper, gradually submerging them. The three had to swim.

The freezing, bone-chilling river water made Lin Ye's spirit stir and slightly relieved the scorching pain in his body. Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming had lower cultivation, and their lips were purple from the cold, but they both gritted their teeth and persisted.

After swimming for another stretch, light vaguely appeared ahead, along with... the loud sound of rushing water?

Lin Ye's heart stirred, and he accelerated.

Passing through a narrow cave entrance, the view suddenly opened up!

They had actually arrived above a huge underground waterfall! The waterfall was dozens of zhang high, and the water poured down into a bottomless deep pool below, making a deafening roar.

On both sides of the waterfall were steep rock walls; there was no path.

There were pursuers behind (possibly), and a dead end ahead.

"Senior Brother Lin, what should we do?" Zhao Ming's voice trembled.

Xiao Yun also gripped Lin Ye's sleeve tightly, her face pale.

Lin Ye scanned the area and suddenly discovered a narrow crack on the rock wall on the left side of the waterfall, about two or three zhang above the water surface, which was obscured by water vapor and difficult to see if one did not look carefully.

The crack was very narrow but seemed very deep.

"Go there!" Lin Ye decided decisively and led the two to swim toward the bottom of the crack.

He first lifted Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming up, letting them grab the edge of the crack and climb in. Then he took a deep breath, endured the severe pain, jumped up violently, grabbed the edge of the crack, and climbed in as well.

The inside of the crack was indeed a world of its own; it was a naturally formed, dry stone chamber. It was not big, but it was enough to accommodate the three of them. In the deepest part, there was even a small spring with clear water.

Finally, they were temporarily safe.

Lin Ye collapsed on the ground, gasping for air, and checked his own condition.

Cultivation: Early Stage of Qi Refining Stage 5 (unstable, needs consolidation).

Injuries: The wound on the left shoulder burst open again, causing significant blood loss; the Meridians in the body were damaged in many places due to the forced release of energy, causing faint pain; spiritual power was exhausted.

Gains: The ancient ring yuan sha devoured a small portion of the mystic yin true water, and its quality seemed to have improved again. The ring's surface shimmered with starlight, the nourishing power it fed back was stronger, and its affinity for Evil Qi and water-attribute Spiritual Qi greatly increased; successfully destroyed the Yinkui Sect's "Blood Guidance Return Origin Array", disrupting the situation; rescued Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming.

He took out the Medicinal Pill of Rejuvenation (only three left), took one himself, and gave one each to Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming.

"Hurry up and heal your injuries, recover your spiritual power. This place may not be absolutely safe." Lin Ye said in a deep voice.

Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming nodded gratefully and sat cross-legged to regulate their breathing.

Lin Ye also closed his eyes, operating the Ice Soul Sword Art to guide the power of the Medicinal Pill to repair his injuries while consolidating his soaring cultivation.

Time passed in silence, with only the roar of the waterfall outside vaguely heard.

After an unknown amount of time, the injuries in Lin Ye's body stabilized, and his cultivation was barely consolidated at Qi Refining Stage 5.

He opened his eyes and looked at Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming. Both had recovered some strength, but the fear in their eyes had not yet dissipated.

"Senior Brother Lin, those people in black... and the explosion and fighting just now... what exactly is going on?" Zhao Ming couldn't help but ask.

Lin Ye pondered for a moment and briefly explained the Yinkui Sect's plot for the mystic yin true water, the introduction of the power of the demon abyss sword (Holy Sword), and the matter of blood sacrifice, omitting the specific details of how he obtained the ancient ring, the bone ring, and the Xuanyuan Cave Abode.

Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming turned pale as they listened, feeling lingering fear.

"Many thanks to Senior Brother for saving our lives. This kindness will never be forgotten!" The two thanked him solemnly again.

Lin Ye waved his hand and walked to the crack entrance to observe the outside world.

The waterfall was still roaring, and there was no movement from the direction of the cave. It was unknown whether the battle was over or if it was too far away to hear.

But the black token with the word "Shadow" in his arms was slightly heating up again.

He took out the token and probed it with his spiritual sense.

A disjointed message, full of resentment and determination, came through:

"...The plan failed... The 'Eye of True Water' was destroyed... The Shadow Envoy was seriously injured and fled... The old dog of the Qingyun Sect was also injured..."

"All Shadow Guards... start the 'Tail-Cutting' plan... explode all hidden posts... create chaos..."

"The Holy Sword... has completely awakened... choosing its own master... great chaos is about to begin..."

"The Sect Master... has ordered... to withdraw from the Qingyun Sect's sphere of influence... lie low and wait for the opportunity..."

The message stopped abruptly here.

Lin Ye felt a chill in his heart.

The Yinkui Sect is withdrawing? Exploding hidden posts to create chaos? The demon abyss sword (Holy Sword) has completely awakened and is choosing its own master?

These messages were more shocking than the last.

It is foreseeable that within the scope of the Qingyun Sect, a disturbance caused by the Yinkui Sect's hidden posts is about to arrive. And the demon abyss sword, which has completely awakened and is choosing its own master, is the biggest variable. What kind of bloody storm will it stir up in the Qingyun Sect?

What should he do next?

Return to the Qingyun Sect? Although the Yinkui Sect has temporarily retreated, in the chaos caused by the explosion of the hidden posts, he, a Utility Disciple of "unknown Origin" who also harbors secrets (double rings, knowing the inside story), is very likely to be involved in greater trouble, or even be investigated and suspected by the Sect.

Continue hiding? Although this underground river can provide temporary shelter, it is not a long-term solution. Cultivation resources are scarce, and once the matter of the demon abyss sword breaks out, the entire back mountain may become a place of trouble.

Perhaps... he could take this opportunity to leave the Qingyun Sect?

As soon as this thought appeared, it hovered in Lin Ye's mind.

With his current cultivation (Qi Refining Stage 5), the Cultivation Technique he has mastered (Ice Soul Sword Art, Mystic Jade Body), the items on his person (double rings, token, Medicinal Pill, Materials), and the secrets he knows (Xuanyuan Cave Abode, Yinkui Sect conspiracy), perhaps it is enough to gain a foothold in the world of Loose Cultivators outside the Sect.

Moreover, the demon abyss sword choosing its own master... could it be related to his ancient ring yuan sha? After all, the ancient ring absorbed a wisp of the demon abyss sword's Origin Evil Qi and mystic yin true water.

Just as he was deep in thought.

Suddenly, in the roar of the waterfall outside, there were some other sounds vaguely mixed in.

It seemed... to be the shouting of people? And the sound of weapons clashing?

And the sound was getting closer and closer, heading toward the waterfall!

Lin Ye immediately signaled Xiao Yun and Zhao Ming to be quiet, while he quietly approached the crack entrance and listened intently.

"Stop him! Don't let him run!"

"Senior Brother! Be careful!"

"Traitor! You actually dared to collude with external enemies and steal the Sect's treasure!"

Amidst the shouts, a dishevelled figure was fleeing for his life from the lower reaches of the underground river toward the waterfall. Behind him, several escape lights were in hot pursuit.

When Lin Ye saw the face of the fleeing person clearly, his pupils shrank suddenly!

That person, he knew!

It was actually the one who had met him once in the Miscellaneous Chores Courtyard, and even secretly helped Black Evil make things difficult for him... the outer Sect Disciple in charge, Li Changfeng?!

How could he be here? And being hunted by his fellow Disciples? Stealing the Sect's treasure?