54 - The Cannon Fodder is Prepared to Divorce

The demonic energy spread from a single point, instantly filling the space, turning the Guang Palace crimson and the sky like a red river. Yue Bai felt the changes and looked at the people around her. Ji Wunian was still standing in the shadows, head down, her expression unreadable. On Mingyun's side, someone stepped forward to fight, releasing a brilliant golden light upon appearing. The golden light streaked across the sky, transforming into arrows that rushed into the sea of clouds, piercing shadows, and shining dazzlingly through the clouds. White beams of light closely followed the golden light, clashing with the descending short red weapons, either stalemating or repelling them, creating a spectacular sight. However, the dark red light showed no fear and even made the night burn with shadows. The demonic energy heavily pressed down, piercing through points of white light, dissolving into nothingness in an instant and dispersing into the air. The Moon Palace bathed in fire, pushing back dawn sparrows. A figure flashed in the golden light, stepping on the breeze, heading straight for the densest red light. Elder Wu Xing brandished the Yin-Yang Mirror, determined to capture a demonic star. Yue Bai looked up, seeing the clash of gold and red for merely a moment before the Yin-Yang Array retreated, the black and white colors fading, revealing a point of red light. "Wu Xing!" It was someone Yue Bai didn't recognize, likely one of Mingyun's subordinates. He caught Wu Xing but was momentarily stunned in midair. A sword pierced his abdomen, blood freezing over instantly. "Ah!" He was kicked away by Wu Xing, his body falling hundreds of feet before he managed to stabilize himself. Looking up, he saw Elder Wu Xing engulfed in red energy, eyes filled with madness, even the Yin-Yang Array behind him darkened. "Senior brother!?" "Senior sister!" The sounds of shock spread through the night air, red light erupted from within the center of the white glow, fragmenting formations and quickly turning the battle into chaos. The red starlight grew brighter, pressing down and slaughtering everything in its path. Meteor showers illuminated the mirrors, flames burned the grounds. "…Yue Bai…" Jiu Yi stammered, "Is this the disaster?" Bringing demonic cultivation into Mingyun, slaughtering thousands. Yue Bai turned to see Ji Wunian leaning against a tree, her face hidden in shadows, but her voice was laughing, "Look, isn't it chaotic?" "…I thought she was a good person," Jiu Yi swallowed, "Is she really following the demonic undercover storyline?" The moonlight suddenly brightened, rivaling the sun, slashing through the night. From a high pavilion, a sword shadow was drawn. Sixty swords of the Ten Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, cutting yin and yang three times over. Yue Bai stared through the heightened moonlight, capturing its cold and profound meaning, all submerged in the watery glow. The red star exploded, flames licking the night sky, clashing mid-air with the celestial sword, painting a line across the heavens. Ji Wunian stood there, half in red, half in white, her tear-stained face smiling. Yue Bai walked over, raising her chin to examine her face. It was said that people with tear moles would have "a life of flowing water and floating halves," but Ji Wunian was supposed to have a fortunate life. Despite her smooth sailing fate, she chose to stir the chaos. Calculating each step, running everywhere, plotting against mortals, stealing celestial treasures, and even designing against the demon emperor and obstructing the demon generals—finally resulting in the chaos of Mingyun, while she had other plans in mind. This Mingyun, did she actually want it or not? "Murong Tian Wen, the Pavilion Master of Mingyun, her cultivation is at the peak, just one step away from ascension." Yue Bai saw her expression shift slightly, continuing, "And Demon General Ranyin, rumored to be at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage..." Yue Bai turned, the line in the air still struggling, confirming her guess, "Does Murong Tian Wen have demonic energy on her?" Not only Murong Tian Wen, there were probably many within Mingyun infected. Ji Wunian didn't struggle, just smiled, "Yue Bai is truly clever." "This place is sealed, disconnected from the outside world," Yue Bai continued, "No matter how strong the demonic energy, Murong Tian Wen won't be able to withstand it." Ji Wunian nodded, "Yes." "Do you bear a grudge against Murong Tian Wen?" Yue Bai's curiosity was piqued. "…No," Ji Wunian turned her head, her face entirely engulfed in red light, "Since we're all going to be demonic eventually, sooner is better than later." Yue Bai turned her face back, "Are you also planning to perish together with Ranyin?" Ji Wunian didn’t respond. "Do you want to make a name for yourself, aiming for the high ranks in the demonic realm?" Yue Bai leaned closer, finding her struggling expression quite endearing. Ji Wunian, however, did not like Yue Bai smiling at this moment, turning her glance away, "Yes." Yue Bai glanced at the reddening moon, asking, "If I help you, what's in it for me?" Ji Wunian was taken aback; it was the first time Yue Bai mentioned a reward. "What do you want?" Yue Bai leaned into Ji Wunian's ear, whispered a few words. "You…" Ji Wunian's face flushed from within, turning from shame to anger, "What are you thinking?" Yue Bai turned slightly, her face still directed at her, "Can't I think of you?" Jiu Yi wanted to cover his non-existent face; this was not the Yue Bai he knew. Naturally, the result of such provocation was being pulled into a fierce kiss. Yue Bai, remembering something, added, "No biting." As if Ji Wunian would listen. She bit Yue Bai’s neck, hard. Yue Bai’s expression changed, initially wanting to push her away. But Ji Wunian couldn’t bring herself to be cruel, only gently nibbling and licking, playing around. Ji Wunian held Yue Bai tightly, looking at her long hair cascading down, "Yue Bai, just like this is fine." Yue Bai didn't respond, still observing the struggling line in the air, lightly saying, "Rest well when we get back, running around is exhausting." "Mm," Ji Wunian agreed, "I was planning to…" "Boom." The heavenly line extended, exploding in waves of spiritual fluctuations, many disciples falling from the clouds. As the scene was filled with tenderness, the sky was aflame with war. "…The sky is a mess," Jiu Yi couldn’t stand it, "Can't you do something?" Yue Bai had intended to do so. She gently pushed Ji Wunian away, not looking back at her. Ji Wunian saw her bathed in firelight, dressed in red, her clothes stained with blood, a lotus flame mask covering her face, her true features obscured. Wielding a cold sword, its chilling glint reflecting the moonlight. In Yue Bai's hands, inscriptions flowed like streams of ice, rippling across the sword. Dressed in rare red, Yue Bai displayed an overwhelming, arrogant aura, her slightly raised lips revealing a mischievous side rarely shown, "Don't forget the reward." Ji Wunian nearly blushed again. Fortunately, Yue Bai left quickly, like a fiery comet shooting up, heading straight to the moon disk, far away from the battlefield. "Who dares!" The immense pressure was overwhelming; even a peak cultivator, while fighting, could still split focus to notice behind them. Some disciples responded to the Pavilion Master, flying swords emerging from the pavilion, only to be repelled by a cold light. "The Wuji Cold Sword…" an informed disciple recognized it, "That’s Lingzhou!" "Heh." The cold sword raised high, the red-clad woman faced the full moon. Her sword rose and fell, cold light cutting, even the moon disk bore marks of ice. The firelight seemed to rise higher, contrasting with the ice-bound moon disk, dragging this small world into purgatory. "Hahaha!" The demon general’s large blade wove through the wind, sending waves of heat, "Murong Tian Wen! Your Mingyun, is nothing more!" The tide had turned. Murong Tian Wen suppressed the frenzy in her heart, stepped out of the pavilion, firmly anchoring herself like the North Star. "Mingyun disciples, heed my command," her voice echoed through the sky, "Even if all of Mingyun were to fall today, let not the demonic energy escape!" "Yes!" Ji Wunian descended from the tree, hearing Murong Tian Wen's words and the subsequent silence followed by the disciples' response. Sometimes she thought, this night happened because of Murong Tian Wen's determination and the pride of Mingyun's disciples. She often wondered, was it worth it? In the end, whether it was worth or not was her own judgment. Witnessing the tragic grandeur of this night, she still felt sorrow. For the great youths who died, and for herself who watched them die. She lowered her head, coldly smiling, but heard a sound from above. "Murong Pavilion Master's words, will they fall short after all?" A crack sound drew everyone's attention, the ice-bound moon disk cracking! "What…" "What’s happening?" The red-clad woman swung the cold sword three times, inscribing three symbols onto the ice. The cold light was blinding, engulfing the golden and fiery light, turning the sky into daytime. People shielded their eyes, only hearing collapsing sounds from that direction. When the intense light faded, everyone slightly opened their eyes, seemingly only seeing red light. Could it be that the demonic cultivators had won in a moment, leaving no room for change? After a moment, everyone was awestruck, looking into the distance. Dawn's clouds spread colors, the sun's light breaking through. The red-clad woman bore a more brilliant demonic aura than the sunrise, her right hand holding the cold sword, her left palm illuminating with a jade radiance. "You…" Even Murong Tian Wen hadn’t seen such a scene, Mingyun Pavilion was still in the clouds, but the eternal night's barrier was gone. "Lingzhou" toyed with the jade pendant in her hand, smiling, "This long night has been with your Mingyun for years, time to let someone else enjoy it." Before anyone could react, "Lingzhou" pierced through the clouds with a sword, "Lingzhou bids farewell! Enjoy your battle, everyone!" …What was this? The fisherman benefits as the clams fight? Even Ji Wunian was stunned…what did Yue Bai come for? How did she know this eternal night of Mingyun was a jade pendant? How did Yue Bai manage to take it away? Too many questions left Ji Wunian momentarily frozen. "Pah, useless thief." Ranyin spat, swinging her long blade, charging at Murong Tian Wen. The barrier was gone, and the surrounding demonic energy dissipated slightly, causing the frantic energy within Murong Tian Wen to subside considerably. However, with the fierce onslaught, her unstable state only allowed her to barely fend off the attacks. Some disciples regained a bit of clarity, only to be immediately pushed back by the attacking demonic cultivators. The solitary fortress still stood, meteors continued to fall, but the eternal night had changed to the dawn, the jade plate switched for the fusang tree. Something had changed, yet it seemed as if nothing had changed. "Sigh..." Ji Wunian sighed softly, finally gripping the longbow in her hand, preparing to shoot the heavenly wolf. *** Yue Bai returned spitting blood, the golden barrier from her departure still intact, keeping all the bloodied energy confined within. Coughing and moving, Yue Bai barely managed to put away the puppets before collapsing onto her bed, lying on her side and gasping for breath, tormented by the intense cold. "...Yue Bai, what were you thinking?" Jiu Yi exasperatedly asked, unable to help her and growing increasingly anxious. "What was that thing? Was it worth showing off like that?” There wasn't even a mission... "...Heh," Yue Bai genuinely seemed happy, a trace of nostalgia flickering in her eyes. "That thing is incredibly powerful..." She mimicked Jiu Yi's manner of speech, likely influenced by him. "It's probably the world's ultimate cheat..." "...But you shouldn't push yourself to such an extent!" Jiu Yi was frustrated, but his anxiety couldn't change anything. The pills Yue Bai previously refined began to take effect. She swallowed several at once, forcefully suppressing the cold, "I'll recover soon with rest, it won't take long." Just a few minor spiritual energy outbursts were worth obtaining the "Eternal Night." "…What exactly was that…" Jiu Yi had numerous questions, "And what about that mission…" Yue Bai was utterly exhausted, her eyelids as heavy as a thousand pounds, unable even to respond in consciousness. "This is..." Before finishing her sentence, she lost consciousness and missed Jiu Yi's reminder. "Ding. 'Prevent the annihilation of Mingyun.' Mission accomplished. Main mission progress, forty percent."