325: Disturbed again

Three days later, the situation on the outskirts of Nether Crow Ridge had completely spiraled out of control.

With the Shadow Guards secretly dispatched by Lu Chunchuan fueling the fire, those deluded Southern Border tribal Cultivators and Loose Cultivators began a mad slaughter outside the Immortal Cave.

Wielding low-grade Magical Artifacts, they fought over treasures dropped by Cultivators who had narrowly escaped from the cave. Blood stained the earth beneath their feet, and shrill screams echoed through the mountain forests.

“That's mine! Don't anyone dare touch it!” A Loose Cultivator clutched a glowing Jade Slip, fleeing frantically while several Cultivators chased closely behind, their eyes filled with greed.

“Kill him! The treasure will be ours!”

Someone shouted, and several attacks instantly landed on the Loose Cultivator. Blood splattered as the Jade Slip was snatched away, but a second later, the thief was slain by an even stronger Cultivator, and the treasure changed hands once more.

The chaos spread like a plague, and the Disciples of the Xuan Yin Sect and Ten Thousand Gu Sect remaining on the outskirts bore the brunt of it.

They were already unsettled by their Elders being trapped, and now, facing the frenzied attacks of the Loose Cultivators, they suffered heavy losses.

A Xuan Yin Sect Disciple was besieged by several Loose Cultivators; his Spiritual Qi exhausted, his throat was slashed open, and he let out a roar of resentment before dying.

The Disciples of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect tried to release poisonous Gu to counterattack, but they were burned by Loose Cultivators prepared with fire Talismans. The Gu were reduced to ashes, and the Disciples were hacked to death.

“These damned Loose Cultivators! Kill them all!”

The lead Deacon of the Xuan Yin Sect remaining outside was filled with rage. He waved his hand and summoned a black longsword; infused with Spiritual Qi, the sword erupted with dense black Qi, instantly slaying several Loose Cultivators.

But the Loose Cultivators were too numerous, surging forward like a tide. Even with his Mid Golden Core Stage Cultivation, he gradually felt overwhelmed.

Seeing this, the Deacon of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect gritted his teeth and ordered:

“Everyone, form a Formation! Fight your way out! Notify the other factions—if they don't act now, we'll all die here!”

The Cultivators of the two sects quickly formed a defensive Formation and engaged in a tragic struggle with the Loose Cultivators. For a time, spiritual light and blood intertwined as screams, angry shouts, and the clashing of weapons rose and fell, plunging the entire outskirts of Nether Crow Ridge into a bloody wind and rain.

The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, relying on its sturdy defensive Formation and numerous Guards, suffered relatively minor losses.

However, the several Elders Mo Chenggui had left outside also looked grave. Standing in the clearing of the Karst Cave, they kept a close eye on the chaotic situation, fearing these Loose Cultivators would lose themselves to bloodlust and attack the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce... at the Spirit Spring Karst Cave.

In stark contrast to the chaos outside, it was peaceful here, with only faint ripples of water Spiritual Qi flowing through the air.

Situ Jun sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by dense Spiritual Qi.

His aura was steady and powerful. Since his Breakthrough to the Early Stage Soul Transformation, his Spiritual Qi had become more refined and his gaze deeper, as if he could see through all things in the world.

Beside him, Luo Yu's pretty face was flushed as she leaned against his shoulder, her clothes somewhat disheveled and a satisfied smile hanging on her lips.

Over the past two days, Situ Jun had not only stabilized his own Cultivation but also helped Luo Yu stabilize her Middle Stage Nascent Soul Realm.

Under Situ Jun's gentle advances, this Elder of the Xihua Sect had completely surrendered, turning from her initial shy resistance into her current submissive dependence.

“Husband, your strength has grown again.”

Luo Yu looked up, her eyes full of admiration. Her fingers gently traced across Situ Jun's chest, feeling the surging Spiritual Qi within him.

Situ Jun opened his eyes, a flash of doting appearing within them as he reached out to stroke her long hair.

“That is thanks to you, Yu'er.”

Luo Yu smiled shyly and buried her head deeper, feeling his body heat.

She knew she was completely unable to leave this man; his strength, his dominance, and his tenderness were all irresistible to her... Just as the two were enjoying this rare moment of warmth, the mountain range where the Spirit Spring Karst Cave was located shook violently. Immediately after, a sinister voice echoed through the valley outside the spring:

“Bai Qingtian, you are heavily injured. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, you cannot hide! Stop obediently, and you might suffer a little less!”

“It's Village Elder Gongsun!”

Situ Jun and Luo Yu exchanged a look, their brows furrowing simultaneously.

The moment of tenderness was completely shattered, and a trace of imperceptible annoyance flashed in both their eyes—in this Secret Realm, there were always people without eyes who repeatedly disturbed their peace.

Village Elder Gongsun was dressed in a gray-black Daoist robe, the hem stained with dust and dark blood. His triangular eyes were fixed on the white-clad Cultivator before him, flashing with mockery and greed.

That white-clad Cultivator was none other than Bai Qingtian.

His originally snow-white robe was now covered in dust and dark red bloodstains. His hair clung messily to his pale cheeks, and dried blood remained at the corners of his mouth. Every breath agitated the wound on his chest, and his aura was so weak it seemed it could be extinguished at any moment.

Yet even so, the translucent white longsword in his hand remained steadily held before him. The spiritual light flowing on the blade was his final line of defense.

“Bai Qingtian, you certainly can run.”

Village Elder Gongsun licked his dry lips, his voice full of malice:

“I have been refining this ten thousand souls banner in the Southern Border for over three months. It only lacks one top-tier primary soul to reach Major Achievement. Your Nascent Soul Divine Soul is exactly what I desire!”

Before his voice had even faded, he abruptly raised his right hand, and a blackish-purple banner suddenly flew out from his sleeve.

The banner was only half a person tall, but the fabric seemed woven from solidified black mist, embroidered with dense blood-colored runes that vibrated slightly in the air.

As Village Elder Gongsun activated his Spiritual Qi, the banner unfurled with a 'whoosh,' and countless distorted soul shadows howled out from the surface.

Some of those soul shadows had hideous faces, while others still bore the agony of their final moments. They let out shrill shrieks and charged toward Bai Qingtian like hungry wolves, the air turning cold wherever they passed.

“Village Elder Gongsun!”

Bai Qingtian roared. Although the intense pain in his chest made his vision go dark, he still gritted his teeth. With a flick of his wrist, the longsword in his hand traced a translucent white arc.

Sharp sword light erupted from the blade like blooming ice crystals, accurately blocking the path of the soul shadows.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Violent collision sounds rang out in succession.

The moment the sword light and soul shadows collided, black mist and white spiritual light intertwined, exploding into fine ripples of energy in the air.

The rock walls shook violently from the impact, and larger rocks tumbled from above, crashing toward the depths of the valley along the ridge and kicking up clouds of dust.

Though Bai Qingtian's sword techniques were weak, they were exceptionally steady. Each sword light accurately dissipated a soul shadow, firmly holding back Village Elder Gongsun's assault.

Watching this, Village Elder Gongsun's expression grew increasingly grim.

His nails dug deep into his palms, and the anxiety in his heart grew like wild vines—to hunt down Bai Qingtian, he had been racing through the Secret Realm for a day and a night. He had thought the other party would be defenseless while heavily injured, but he hadn't expected Bai Qingtian to hold out until now.

“Refusing the toast only to drink the forfeit!”

Village Elder Gongsun cursed under his breath, his left hand quickly reaching into the Storage Pouch at his waist.