Chapter 80 - A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life

"What a fool you are, Nam Gong," Luo Xue murmured, as she lifted her gaze to Si Ma Ye, gazing at him with an unruffled calm. "Might as well just let me die... "After all, it's all just waking from a long, big dream." But, is this truly a dream? Could it really be a dream? Is it really...just a dream... If it truly is a dream, then does it matter if someone in the dream dies? This question, this notion, repeatedly surfaced in Luo Xue’s mind. Especially strong at this very moment. Even though Namgong Mengxiang saved her, Si Ma Ye was unwilling to give up. Heavenly Sea Sect and Medicinal Sect elders were arriving soon; if he couldn't force the Qinyin enchantress to act again now, he and Shangguan Lengyan wouldn't make it out. "Heh... To think, I, the heir of the formidable 'Si Ma' clan, would be cornered by an innate Immortal Domain cultivator to such a degree. How disgraceful..." Si Ma Ye muttered coldly, as a ghostly presence slowly emerged behind him, reaching out towards Luo Xue. "This... isn't a dream." Luo Xue closed her eyes, and as they reopened, they were awash in purple and red hues. "Nam Gong can't die, and neither can I. "No one can die here!" At this moment, the music of the qin snapped. A pair of white eyes looked with shock towards the direction of the pavilion. A purple phoenix chirped gently, intercepting the ghostly hand. "How... is this possible..." Si Ma Ye's eyes widened. Even though he had exhausted all his strength by using the Soul Severing Art, an effortless strike from his Foundation Establishment realm should not be something an innate child could withstand. Meanwhile, Shangguan Lengyan also understood Si Ma Ye's intentions. Her mysterious dark pupils lit up again, preparing to unleash soul-wrenching power upon Luo Xue. Her pupil art, the Ghost Eye, could scrutinize information in a way difficult to detect, and even focus its gaze to pierce the soul. Although slightly lacking compared to Si Ma Ye's Soul Severing Art, its destructive power was equally terrifying, rarely withstood by anyone below Foundation Establishment. But not unheard of. "Ugh... feeling a bit dizzy..." Amidst their shocked expressions, Namgong Mengxiang opened her eyes slowly, rubbing her temples as she mumbled, "Who knocked on my head... it's drowsy..." She struggled to stand, only to be met with the soul-piercing gaze of the Ghost Eye once again, driving her back into Luo Xue's arms. "Nam Gong isn't dead?" Luo Xue witnessed this scene, and beyond her shock, the shadow of the purple phoenix dissipated. She checked Namgong Mengxiang's breath—it was steady; she'd just fainted. Astonishingly, she had endured two soul-targeted killer moves at the peak of the Foundation Establishment level, only to faint? It's known that the soul is not a forte of physical cultivators—some might even call it their weakness... "This woman... why is she still alive?" Shangguan Lengyan was already speechless as she used her pupil art to observe Namgong Mengxiang's soul. That glimpse left her silent. "Among her three souls and seven spirits, one soul and three spirits are missing... Without the Soul of Life, Woe Spirit, Fear Spirit, and Malice Spirit, how is she even alive until now?" Even more terrifying is why, with the missing souls and spirits, soul-targeting techniques scarcely affect her? Shangguan Lengyan suddenly thought of a possibility but dismissed it quickly. Upon further reflection, aside from that possibility, no other reasonable explanation seemed viable. "The Supreme Emotionless Art severs three souls and breaks seven spirits to achieve a saintly physical body." "Such a reckless cultivation technique—who could possibly practice it... who would dare...?" "And indeed, who could even succeed in practicing it..." Chapter 93: Three-way Melee, One Party Stands Aside Meanwhile, Si Ma Ye had no room for such considerations; he was nearly frantic. If he didn't draw the Qinyin enchantress into this right away, both he and Shangguan Lengyan's lives would be at risk. Seeing Luo Xue's phoenix dissipate, Si Ma Ye leaped forward, employing the Ghost Possession Technique to wield his swordsmanship talents. The sword move aimed directly at Luo Xue. Luo Xue was startled but quickly regained her composure. She glanced at the unconscious Namgong Mengxiang and whispered apologetically, "Sorry, Nam Gong..." Luo Xue picked up Namgong Mengxiang's body, raising her overhead. Clang! The sword light fell and was cut off. A sword tip flew to the ground, leaving Si Ma Ye holding just the broken blade, his eyes filled with shock. Are you kidding? Namgong Mengxiang was, after all, a Foundation Establishment peak physical cultivator. Si Ma Ye's half-hearted sword move, together with his weakened strength post-technique, stood no chance of harming Namgong Mengxiang's body. Having blocked the strike, Luo Xue wasted no words, cradling Namgong Mengxiang while pulling the Sha sisters, sprinting towards the western Quiet Spring Pavilion's exit. Escaping swiftly while Si Ma Ye was bewildered was the key to survival. All they needed was for Namgong Mengxiang to wake again, at which point retreat or counterattack would be well within reach. But Si Ma Ye wouldn't let it be; surprising as Luo Xue's actions were in thwarting him, it didn't mean he would cease his struggle. "Blood Soul!" This time, Si Ma Ye used his lifeblood technique, sacrificing a few drops of essential blood to stimulate the sword specter possessing him. In an instant, demonic blood light enveloped Si Ma Ye, and a fierce sword light once again swept through with brutal crimson flashes. "Stop, Si Ma..." But just then, Shangguan Lengyan suddenly shouted, her voice filled with urgency, as though she had perceived something. However, the cleaved sword move was beyond retraction. Still, the fleeing Luo Xue had no opportunity to evade the blade. Si Ma Ye's mouth twisted into a sinister smile. Yet in the next instant, his smile vanished abruptly. Namgong Mengxiang opened her eyes suddenly. At the approach of fatal peril, her instinct as a physical cultivator awakened. Her eyes devoid of spirit, yet her movements were seamless. Against the lethal strike, Namgong Mengxiang shielded Luo Xue with one hand, grasping the terrified, frozen Sha sisters with the other. Finally, with nearly inconceivable speed and angle, she whisked everyone safely out of harm's way. The sword light fell, striking only the doors of the western Quiet Spring Pavilion. ...and the Core Formation elder behind it. This Baiyu wine pavilion was indeed vast, the path encircling the elegant rooms was quite intricate, requiring Wu Hai to constantly watch for the Qinyin enchantress's movements. Just as Si Ma Ye had anticipated, if the Qinyin enchantress acted again, regardless of intent, Wu Hai would have no choice but to pause his pursuit. Faced with an old Nascent Soul monster notorious for her prowess, treating every step cautiously was mere common sense. Yet upon their human-like arrival at the western Quiet Spring Pavilion, they found a combat of several rounds had already transpired within. Before Wu Hai could even push open the door, a terrifying sword light came slashing. "Hmph!" Wu Hai snorted, dispersing the sword intent before it even neared him. Every sword cultivator has their own sword intent, and though Wu Hai's sword intent may not match up to Peers from Juexiao sect, it was more than sufficient to handle a Foundation Establishment peak non-sword specialist. Wu Hai looked into the Quiet Spring Pavilion, his expression shifting subtly. The first sight was the bandit the Heavenly Sea Sect had been pursuing, accompanied by three low-cultivation girls, slightly sidestepping at the door as if welcoming guests. Further inside, a sinister yet graceful young lord faced the door, the broken sword in his hand gently ensnared by blood light. It seemed, indeed, that he had unleashed the earlier sword strike. Beside him stood a cold, aloof woman, their auras eerily similar. They were indeed the prodigies of Demonic Ghost City. "So, you found us after all..." Si Ma Ye spoke with a menacing tone, a grim smile hinting at malice. And frustration. Despite having hidden within Ghost Magic Pass for such a long time, they were exposed thanks to a Juexiao sect disciple, drawing the attention of both the Heavenly Sea Sect and Medicinal Sect. The reason they sought out Luo Xue was all because of Master Wumu. Could this all have been foreseen by Master Wumu? "Hmm? Why did he mention being discovered? Hang on a second..." Wu Hai's expression flickered slightly at these words, then darkened. Presumably, "being discovered" refers to the looting of the alchemy shop. It appeared the matter indeed involved the demonic Ghost City, and likely these two genius figures were the masterminds behind the scenes. Deliberately using the alchemy shop theft to provoke a burgeoning conflict between the Heavenly Sea Sect and Medicinal Sect. Perhaps even using it as a fuse to rekindle a clash akin to the one from centuries ago, reshaping the entire Ghost Magic Pass dynamics. But what could Demonic Ghost City possibly gain from such chaos? ...The only one to benefit would be the Ghost Cult Sect and the Ghost Cult Sect's Dark Spirit Shrine behind them. This was a premeditated, full-fledged conspiracy! Wu Hai couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that the plot's executor, the small-time thief who robbed the alchemy shop, had somewhat of a muddled mind. Otherwise, once this conspiracy came to fruition, both the Heavenly Sea Sect and the Medicinal Sect would suffer significant setbacks. In a moment of reflection, Wu Hai understood the true stakes involved. At this very moment... capturing the petty thief from the alchemy shop held little significance. The real focus should be on unmasking and capturing the demonic manipulators behind the scenes. "You, kid from the Ghost City... give up quietly!" Wu Hai immediately advanced with his sword aimed at Si Ma Ye, dismissing the gradually awakening Namgong Mengxiang and Luo Xue. Elder Li, though somewhat oblivious to the current situation, followed suit as Elder Wu gave the directive, unleashing his magical abilities targeted directly at Si Ma Ye. The world-shaping power created by the combined efforts of two Core Formation elders began to suppress and confine Si Ma Ye and Shangguan Lengyan. Facing Core Formation cultivators, their chances of escape were already nullified; they had no choice but to confront the threat head-on. To most Foundation Establishment cultivators, a Core Formation expert with their world-shaping power means facing inevitable defeat. Yet, Si Ma Ye was unwilling to yield to fate, unwilling to fall prey to Master Wumu's scheming. So what if they were Core Formation? Could mere Core Formation cultivators who relied on years of accumulation possibly rival the noble bloodline of the ghostly clan?