127 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

Chapter 127 - The Rampaging Dragon Maiden As the rift completely healed, the sky shed its blood-red hue, leaving only the spiraling evil aura lingering in the sky over the Southern Continent. Ming Zhu opened her eyes, watching the bone finger in her palm gradually turn to dust and dissipate. Her expression turned solemn. "What are these Nascent Souls trying to do? Do they really want to watch Yuan Chen Realm turn into another Demon Realm?" With the demonic power repelled, the other gathered cultivators erupted in cheers. "The demon's been driven back!" The demon clans, their fangs once bared, began to cower when they saw the celestial demon forcefully sent back to the abyss. Some demons fled in panic, unable to find an escape route. Upon seeing some individuals flying toward her, Ming Zhu quickly retreated into her golden bracelet. Once the people landed where she had stood, they looked around in confusion. "There was someone here just a moment ago. How could they disappear so suddenly?" "Probably one of those hidden masters who don't show their faces. To repel a celestial demon in one blow, it had to be a Nascent Soul master." "It’s a pity though. If only that individual could help us, perhaps the situation in the Southern Continent wouldn't be so dire." After speaking, the group’s expressions grew grim. Though the celestial demon had been repelled, many other lesser demons remained. Over the past several months, all cultivators in the Southern Continent were caught in continuous battles, leaving no time for cultivation. At this moment, those advancing in prowess likely belonged to the sword cultivators, honing their blades through battles, becoming sharper with each clash. Hiding in the golden bracelet, Ming Zhu had no choice but to wait for them to leave because her identity was too sensitive. If she attracted the attention of a Nascent Soul, there would be no explaining it then. Once everyone had left, Ming Zhu cautiously emerged from the bracelet and turned to walk towards the mortal encampment. Due to the invasion of the demonic clans, the once-peaceful human world was now engulfed in war, causing many commoners to be displaced, forcing emperors and bandits to join forces. In a small village on the Southern Continent, a plain-faced youth stood on a cliff, gazing at the distant swirling demonic aura, gripping a spear in his hand. "In a chaotic world, heroes rise. It shall be us who shine." With this declaration, he let out a roar and turned to dash down the cliff towards the battlefield. This was the young man who had once met Bai Fan in a mortal city. After bidding farewell to his father, the youth ventured out alone in search of divine destiny. However, the path of cultivation was not so easily traversed. Presently, he couldn’t even find a sect, let alone practice cultivation. Upon witnessing the sky's anomaly, he quickly climbed the cliff for a better view. In his eyes, places of unusual phenomena signaled the presence of immortals. Once he learned from an immortal, he planned to bring peace to the world and usher in an era of prosperity for its people. Cutting through brambles and thorns, he ran towards the distant demon-slaying battlefield. After a night passed, Bai Fan finally awakened, stretching languidly, only to find Xiao Tong standing before her, his dumpling-faced expression fixed on her. "Dan Master Bai, you’re awake." Bai Fan nodded awkwardly, rising to ask Xiao Tong where the alchemy goddess had gone. Before she could, Xiao Tong said, "Yuan Jun said once you awaken, you should deliver these Ling Dan to the Southern Continent." Bai Fan was suddenly taken aback, returning to the Southern Continent? "Am I to go alone?" "Little Tong will accompany Dan Master." Bai Fan acknowledged with a simple "oh," then rubbed her sore arms. "Very well, let’s depart now." She hadn’t returned to the Southern Continent in half a year. Although chaos reigned at present, she wasn’t entirely sure of the extent. She had left because of Elder Sun. Now, returning with the identity of a Heaven's Path Alliance member likely wouldn’t pose any trouble. Nevertheless, she hadn’t encountered Shimei Zhimei since arriving in the Eastern Continent and didn’t know if she had returned to the Southern Continent. Accompanied by Xiao Tong, Bai Fan exited the grand hall and took a jade vessel to the previous teleportation site. There, twelve large teleportation arrays stood, each capable of traveling to different parts of the four continents. Bai Fan and her group stepped onto the array leading to the Southern Continent, and in a blink, they vanished from the teleportation site. This teleportation array was more stable than any Bai Fan had used before—no dizziness, only a momentary blink and they arrived at a new place. Before them lay a mountain cave with the array standing alone, unguarded, likely meant for emergencies. Xiao Tong, with his low cultivation and limited combat ability, immediately sensed the demonic aura upon arriving in the Southern Continent. His little dumpling face grew tense, and he timidly hid behind Bai Fan. "Dan Master Bai, where are we to deliver the Ling Dan?" "Didn’t Yuan Jun inform you?" Hearing this, Bai Fan was also taken aback. Because Xiao Tong mentioned delivering Ling Dan to the Southern Continent, she had come directly, but upon his query about the destination, she too was baffled. Xiao Tong shook his head and hugged the Ling Dan tighter to his chest. "This is Little Tong’s first time in the Southern Continent." "In that case, I guess we are to take them directly to the battlefield. With the demonic aura this intense, once we leave the cave and follow the aura, we should find the battlefield." With that, Bai Fan took Xiao Tong and flew out of the cave. Outside, they were met with a dense forest, the occasional cry of an old crow echoing through the air. Xiao Tong was frightened and clung to Bai Fan’s side. Having always served at Yuan Jun’s side, he had never been to places like this, and being just a child, his face immediately showed fear. Looking at Xiao Tong’s demeanor, Bai Fan couldn’t help but sigh. No matter how composed, he was still a child. After wandering for a while, they finally emerged. The familiar scenery reminded Bai Fan of everything past. In the distance stood a small temple where she had once sheltered from the cold. Arriving at the temple and knocking, she discovered it was long deserted. The door was unlocked, the courtyard overgrown with wild grass, and the Buddha statues cloaked in cobwebs—a place uninhabited for a long time. "Dan Master Bai, what are you looking at?" "Nothing much. Let’s move on." "Okay." With that, the two of them soared into the sky, overlooking the withered vegetation below. It gave the illusion of having reached the abyss. The density of demonic aura matched that of spiritual energy, causing the plants to easily become contaminated. The mountain range stretched far, yet there was no sign of life—only a deathly silence. The heavy demonic aura hovered above as Bai Fan and Xiao Tong covered their noses. "It seems things are quite dire. We must hurry." After flying thousands of kilometers, they eventually caught sight of a fierce battlefield in the distance, where spiritual light clashed with demonic aura. Countless beams of brilliance flew back and forth. Bai Fan even spotted a disciple of Xuanming, a familiar warmth instantly emerged. Bai Fan hurried forward to stop a disciple and inquired, "Might that ahead be the battlefield?" The ordinary Xuanming disciple glanced at Bai Fan, his expression bizarre, but he still answered her query, "Indeed, ahead is the battlefield where good and evil clash. Who might you be?" Hearing the question, Bai Fan initially thought to reveal her identity as a Xuanming disciple, but given her current appearance, no one might believe it. "I am a wandering cultivator from the Eastern Continent." "Ah, an Eastern Continent cultivator. However, with demonic beasts surging, I cannot linger." With these words, he cupped his fists and turned away. Bai Fan, adorned in a white gauzy dress, transformed into a streak of white light and swiftly followed. Reaching the battlefield, she was confronted by a wilderness littered with corpses, countless demonic creatures tireless in their assault. Before Bai Fan could see who had joined her, a demonic creature was swiftly dealt with before her eyes. The warrior's robe fluttered in the wind, sword like a rainbow. The sight of that silhouette seemed familiar to Bai Fan. Xiao Tong clung to her robe, shivering as he witnessed the scene before them. "Dan Master Bai." The swordsman turned slightly, revealing a comical mask with rosy cheeks and visible eyes. Recognizing those eyes, Bai Fan immediately knew who it was. "Er Chun." "Old Leader." Hearing the familiar voice, Bai Fan was overwhelmed with emotion, her eyes welling up. She had expected Er Chun to diligently cultivate at the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, never envisioning him battling on the front lines. Witnessing his skill just then surged a wave of excitement in her. "You’ve certainly done me proud." With those words, she playfully smacked his back with considerable force, nearly knocking Er Chun down. Er Chun staggered a few steps, then coughed lightly. "You're still the best, Old Leader." "Naturally, otherwise how could I be the Old Leader?" After a brief sigh, she gazed around the battlefield once more. "Why are you here, Old Leader? I've been searching for news of you all these years, and thought you..." "And what did you think? What nonsense is running through your mind? My fate is far from over." She patted her chest for emphasis, then remembered her current purpose and continued, "Er Chun, who is in command here?" "Yan Yang Shang Zhen." "Take me to see him." "Alright." Er Chun led the way, and as they passed by other cultivators, their faces showed reverence when they saw him. He was no longer the thief he once was, but a direct disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect known as Chun Sheng. When they reached the encampment, they saw a young Daoist with white eyebrows surrounded by people. Bai Fan recognized his Daoist robe, the attire of a direct disciple of the Pure Yang Palace. "Yan Yang Shang Zhen," Er Chun called out. The young Daoist with white eyebrows immediately looked over. Upon seeing Er Chun's mask, his face lit up with joy. "Chun Sheng, it's you! Why did you return so soon after leaving?" As he spoke, his gaze drifted to Bai Fan, who stood in front of Er Chun. Acting as if he had only just noticed her presence, Bai Fan felt a wave of awkwardness. Standing right in front, he saw through the feigned oblivion. However, Bai Fan thought the matter at hand was more pressing. She took a step forward and offered a formal greeting. Xiao Tong, standing behind her, also half-bowed, holding the Ling Dan with an air of grandeur, quite unlike his earlier trembling self. "Greetings, Yan Yang Shang Zhen. I am Bai Fan, a Dan Master under Yuan Jun of the Heaven's Path Alliance. I have come to deliver tens of thousands of Nine-Turn Return Soul Pills." Her demeanor was poised and respectful, nearly startling Er Chun, who had never seen his Old Leader so serious before. Upon hearing that she was part of the Heaven's Path Alliance, he was utterly bewildered. ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ Is there no one else? (/≧ω＼)