Chapter 247: Shared Life and Death
Chapter 247: Shared Life and Death
Xiao Lingfeng fought through the chaos with his fellow disciples, but Ding Zimo and Xu Shaohong remained persistent in their pursuit.
When Cheng Lingyu reached Water Moon Palace, the ground was littered with corpses, and rivers of blood flowed. Most surviving cultivators had rushed to Xuan Star Palace, leaving only the blood-soaked palace standing in the lake.
The formation beneath Cheng Lingyu’s feet shimmered, lifting nearby corpses into the air. Storage rings materialized in his hands while bodies were neatly arranged along the lakeshore.
“That’s an elder brother from Lou Ri City!”
Tian Feng cried out, recognizing the face, his voice heavy with grief.
Cheng Lingyu silently continued cataloging the dead—two to three hundred bodies lay scattered, including three Lou Ri City disciples.
Nie Jiaolong stared at Water Moon Palace and murmured, “Did we arrive too late?”
Cheng Lingyu narrowed his eyes, sensing strange hostility emanating from the palace. After brief analysis, he traced this repulsion to the scroll from the outer castle he carried—its energy clashed fiercely with the palace’s aura.
Tian Feng proposed, “Should I investigate?”
“Only the fated may enter this cursed place,” Cheng Lingyu countered.
“How unsatisfying to leave without exploring,” Tian Feng sighed.
“Countless fates exist,” Cheng Lingyu replied calmly. “Claim only what’s truly yours.”
“Where to now?”
Nie Jiaolong surveyed the carnage, her voice subdued.
Cheng Lingyu closed his eyes, expanding his awareness through Nine Heavens and the earth. Behind him, the sky rippled and transformed into starry night—a celestial tapestry swirling around his motionless figure.
Nie Jiaolong and Tian Feng exchanged stunned glances, unable to comprehend this display. This was Cheng Lingyu’s transformed power after reaching Soul Martial Sixth Realm and merging the Ten Immortal Souls’ ultimate skills.
“Danger! Move!”
Cheng Lingyu’s sudden shout preceded the Cloud Boat’s appearance. The trio vanished instantly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Elder Brother Mu’s in peril!”
Their voices echoed through the void as they fled.
Moments later, the lake erupted. A shimmering gigantic beast rose mid-air, devouring shoreline corpses before vanishing beneath the waves—its form blurred, origins unknown.
Across treacherous miles they journeyed, staining earth with blood and sorrow. Dreams of ancient ruin’s treasures ended in death’s embrace, leaving only skyward-crying regrets.
Such was Lou Ri City disciples’ fate—seeking fortune in the ancient ruin, finding only graves.
When fleeing the Water Moon Palace, fifteen disciples from Lou Ri City remained. Coming from different Western Fallen Nine Ridges, they maintained some distance among themselves. Those who were familiar clustered together, while solitary individuals trailed behind alone.
Mu Hua and Pan Hong approached Han Zhen, forming a trio under his leadership – advancing and retreating as one, sharing both glory and disgrace.
The Divine Martial Sect’s disciples not only outnumbered Lou Ri City’s but also surpassed them in strength, making the battle’s outcome inevitable.
Lou Ri City’s disciples fled desperately while their pursuers gave relentless chase. Had other sect experts been present, the Divine Martial Sect might have hesitated, wary of becoming targets themselves. But with all cultivators rushing toward Xuan Star Palace, nobody cared about Lou Ri City’s fate.
Xiao Lingfeng led the desperate retreat, yet Divine Martial experts kept harassing them. Blood stained the earth as comrades fell during their fighting retreat. Trapped in a valley with escape routes sealed, the fifteen disciples faced their doom.
Ye Xinyi, the weakest in cultivation level, had already been captured in Long Jiang’s magical artifact from Feixing Ridge. The remaining fourteen from Lou Ri City were all Blood Martial Realm experts, while their enemies numbered nearly twice as many.
“Eliminate all!” Ding Zimo commanded, joining Xu Shaohong to assault Xiao Lingfeng first. Most Divine Martial disciples attacked two-against-one, abandoning all pretense of fairness.
Han Zhen told Mu Hua urgently, “Take her and flee straight to the exit. Survive at all costs.”
“What about you?” Mu Hua asked.
“I’ll cover your retreat. Go carve out a living path!” Han Zhen’s weathered voice held finality.
“Elder brother…” Pan Hong’s voice trembled.
“NOW!”
Forming a V-shaped charge, Han Zhen spearheaded their desperate breakout attempt. Mu Hua shielded Pan Hong through the bloodshed, both tasting bitter despair. Survival alone mattered now.
“GO! LIVE!” Han Zhen’s furious roar shook the valley as he unleashed his deadly maneuver. Terrifying energy erupted, tearing through enemy lines to create an escape route.
“Stay safe, elder brother…” Pan Hong cried, her usual vigor gone.
“Unless I die, none shall harm Sister Pan!” Mu Hua vowed with blood-red eyes, dragging her through the breach.
“Escape? Never!” Five Divine Martial disciples gave chase. Outnumbered two against five, Mu Hua and Pan Hong ignored enemy jeers, their fury burning silent.
The two sides engaged in a life-and-death chase through the desolate ancient ruin.
Both injured, Mu Hua and Pan Hong employed their fastest Movement Techniques, streaking like arrows. Yet the experts from the Divine Martial Sect matched their speed, their pursuit growing ever closer.
“You go first! I’ll stop them!”
Seeing escape impossible, Mu Hua suddenly shoved Pan Hong forward before turning to charge at the five pursuers.
Pan Hong cried out, “Don’t—!”
Mu Hua laughed bitterly, roaring, “Since ancient times, who can escape death? To die where one belongs is worthwhile. Take care, junior sister!”
His furious roar shook the sky as brilliance erupted from his body, unleashing powerful energy for a final battle.
Pan Hong declared hoarsely, “Well spoken! Since ancient times, none avoid death. I’ll walk this last road with you!”
She wheeled mid-air, abandoning escape.
Mu Hua gasped, “Junior sister, you—”
Pan Hong laughed. “What’s there to fear? After I die, my junior sister will avenge us by eliminating them all.”
“Brave words for ones at death’s door. Die now!”
The five Divine Martial Sect experts swiftly encircled them.
Back-to-back, Mu Hua and Pan Hong fought. Both were Blood Weapon Second Level cultivators, but hopelessly outnumbered.
Mu Hua shielded Pan Hong desperately, seeking any chance to break through. Yet their foes excelled in attack arts—the Divine Martial Sect’s reputation among the Three Saints and Four Peerless was well-earned.
“Junior sister… would you regret dying here?”
Pan Hong chuckled. “How could I regret having you beside me?”
Mu Hua’s pale face twisted with anguish. Survival might have united them, but fate arrived too late.
“If we can’t share life, let us share death! We’ll perish together!”
Their combined brilliance summoned power from the Nine Heavens and the earth, birthing a cataclysmic storm.
“Thousand Strikes!”
The sect experts redoubled their assault, crushing the pair’s last resistance.
The mid-air battle shook the Nine Provinces. Thunderous clashes stained the autumn wind with blood.
Mu Hua was blasted hundreds of feet, spinning wildly as crimson rained down. Pan Hong fared marginally better before being hurled away by shockwaves.
Two sect experts fell gravely wounded in the exchange. The remaining three lunged mercilessly—two at Mu Hua, one at Pan Hong.
Mu Hua roared, mustering final strength to evade, only to be struck by residual energy. Pan Hong took a direct hit, coughing blood as her aura dimmed.
“Junior sister…” Mu Hua crawled toward her, clothes shredded, veins ruptured.
Pale and fading, Pan Hong whispered, “Elder Brother Mu…”
“Kill the man. Play with the woman before finishing her.”
“Let’s move!”
“You DARE?!” Mu Hua’s mangled body surged with desperate energy as he staggered to shield Pan Hong.
“Still playing hero?” A disciple’s kick sent Mu Hua flying, bones cracking audibly.