Translator: CinderTL
"Is it that powerful?" Lin Fan asked, unable to sense the oppressive aura but guessing from Xu Sanyan's grave expression.
"Ah..." Huan Xi'er shook his head with a bitter smile. "Powerful doesn't even begin to describe it. This technique contains a trace of the heavenly dao, invisible to the naked eye, making it impossible to defend against. It's incredibly troublesome."
Meanwhile, Xu Sanyan stared intently at the coffin, then grinned and murmured, "A coffin?"
Mo Xianxian's pupils dilated violently, her shock even greater than when Xu Sanyan had single-handedly slain five ghost generals.
Her voice trembled with disbelief. "You can actually see it?"
"I'm not blind, am I?" Xu Sanyan retorted, raising one hand. The Crimson Mist swirling around him seemed to respond to his command, surging wildly toward the coffin and completely enveloping it.
"This is impossible!" Mo Xianxian shrieked. Her connection to the coffin's phantom image was weakening, and the coffin was gradually losing its form, slowly dissipating.
She refused to believe that anyone could break Shangyin Mountain's mystical arts. Even if someone could, it certainly wouldn't be Xu Sanyan, a mere Soul Refining Realm cultivator.
Moreover, he appeared so effortless, as if Shangyin Mountain's mystical arts were utterly insignificant to him. This made her disbelief even more profound.
"Hah, the rules of the heavenly dao..." Xu Sanyan sneered, his fangs bared in mockery. Ironically, his blood mist was itself a part of those very rules.
The blood mist had evolved from the heavenly earth treasure known as the Blood-Red Dagger.
Heavenly earth treasures were manifestations of the heavenly dao's principles, born in accordance with its will. They inherently contained a fragment of the dao's power—otherwise, how could they be called heavenly earth treasures?
By using the heavenly dao to counter the heavenly dao, Xu Sanyan could effortlessly dissolve its influence.
Huan Xi'er's shock was no less profound than Mo Xianxian's. He understood the significance of the Five-Character Heaven-Concealing Art far better. In all the centuries since its creation, this was the first time he had ever heard of it being broken by a Soul Refining Realm cultivator.
He could have accepted it if Xu Sanyan were in the Void Harmony Realm, as that realm marked the initial comprehension of the heavenly dao's principles, making it logical for someone at that level to unravel the art. But a mere Soul Refining Realm cultivator...
What right did he have?!
Elder Ren and the others didn't fully grasp what had happened, but they knew they were about to win. Their spirits soared with anticipation.
This victory might secure Elder Ren a position as a trusted aide to the holy son, forever altering the course of his life.
The remaining four ghost generals, though clueless about the specifics, recognized their defeat. Abandoning Mo Xianxian, they turned and fled.
Xu Sanyan didn't bother chasing after the fleeing ghost generals. He strode slowly toward Mo Xianxian, instantly retracting his dao body and storing his great halberd within himself. His clothes, strained beyond their limits, tore apart, leaving him completely naked.
Mo Xianxian offered no further resistance. She lacked the strength to fight back. The Burial Word Art had completely drained her spiritual power, leaving her too weak to even stand. Her body went limp, collapsing to the ground.
"Look up," Xu Sanyan commanded, standing naked before her. The scars on his body slowly began to heal themselves, fading into faint marks within moments. This was the unparalleled physical resilience granted by the heavenly earth treasure within him.
Mo Xianxian's eyes were lifeless, as if she hadn't heard his words, still lost in despair.
Who could have imagined that she, who had brought nine ghost generals—nine beings comparable to Soul Refining Realm cultivators—would be defeated by a single man?
Xu Sanyan crouched down, reaching out to lift Mo Xianxian's chin and examine her closely. Her beautiful face was unnaturally pale, and the bloodstain at the corner of her lips only accentuated her vulnerability, stirring a protective instinct in his heart.
Mo Xianxian seemed to have lost all spirit, allowing him to manipulate her without struggle or resistance.
"How did your parents even make you? How can someone be so beautiful?" Xu Sanyan murmured, his gaze lingering on Mo Xianxian.
"Hmph, kill me if you must. Words are useless," Mo Xianxian retorted, her voice steely despite her resignation.
"Holy Son, spare her!" Huan Xi'er suddenly interjected.
A flicker of life returned to Mo Xianxian's deathly still eyes as she turned to Huan Xi'er, her face etched with confusion. "You're actually pleading for me?"
Huan Xi'er ignored her, focusing instead on explaining his reasoning to Xu Sanyan.
"Though I hate to admit it, Mo Xianxian is still my Senior Sister and the current Holy Daughter of Shangyin Mountain. Killing her would undoubtedly provoke their wrath. Moreover, there's no benefit to her death. Weighing the consequences, the risks far outweigh the rewards. I urge you to reconsider, Holy Son."
Xu Sanyan tilted his head thoughtfully, then slowly nodded.
Huan Xi'er was right. Killing Mo Xianxian would indeed bring no advantages while needlessly antagonizing Shangyin Mountain. He wasn't afraid of provoking them, but without any gain, it seemed pointless.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to simply release her. Xu Sanyan tightened his grip on Mo Xianxian's throat, lifting her into the air. He leaned close, his lips brushing her cheek.
"Do you want to live or die?"
Mo Xianxian closed her eyes and remained silent. As the Holy Daughter, she possessed her own pride. Though she didn't want to die, she would never stoop to begging for mercy.
"Looks like you want to live," Xu Sanyan said with a soft smile, turning her around to lead her into the underground stone chamber. As they walked, he instructed, "No one disturb me. I want Immortal Maiden Mo to appraise my great halberd."
Huan Xi'er wanted to say something more but couldn't find the words, and could only let out a deep sigh.
After a long while, Xu Sanyan emerged from the passage, feeling refreshed after changing his clothes. He straightened his robes and addressed Elder Ren, Xiang Tan, and the others:
"This holy son rewards merit without fail. I have duly noted your contributions and will ensure you are properly compensated."
"Serving the holy son is our duty, and we dare not claim any credit," Elder Ren replied humbly, his face beaming with a practiced smile.
Xu Sanyan inwardly scoffed, What a load of empty flattery.
"Let's go," he said, leading his entourage into the city.
Huan Xi'er sighed and followed the passage to the stone chamber. His eyes immediately fell upon Mo Xianxian lying on the ground, her clothes disheveled, revealing her pale, pristine skin.
Gone was her usual composure. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, like those of a helpless girl abandoned by a scoundrel. Had she not still been breathing, she would have appeared no different from a corpse.
"Ah..."
Huan Xi'er shook his head, a hint of pity on his face. He silently stepped forward, dressed her properly, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and carried her out of the stone chamber.
Mo Xianxian remained completely silent throughout the ordeal, not even blinking, letting Huan Xi'er handle her like a doll.
Suddenly, Huan Xi'er spoke,
"Senior Sister, do you remember when we were little? I always loved following you around. The other kids thought I was stupid, but you never looked down on me..."
"But then, I don't know when it started, you changed. You stopped wanting to play with me and started chasing after Senior Brother Feng instead. You always looked so happy whenever you mentioned him."
Mo Xianxian's pupils seemed to flicker, but she showed no other reaction.
Huan Xi'er brushed the dust from her hair. "I understand now. You were getting older, at that age when feelings start to bloom. Senior Brother Feng had a high cultivation level, was handsome, and naturally attracted girls. It's only natural you liked him too."
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (HB) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c300.🎉 [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
💥Translated (6) Series, (4.6K+) Chapters, (6.7M+) Words.