Chapter 64: Peerless Beauty, Torrential Killing Intent
Mu Xueyi stood silently at the cave entrance, her ice-blue gauze dress fluttering faintly in the wind, like the sole still lotus at the heart of a storm.
In her hand, Minglan gleamed with chilling light flowing along its blade, merging seamlessly with the frigid aura emanating from her entire body.
Beneath her veil, those captivating peach-blossom eyes were clearly visible, a flicker of gravity flashing in their clear, cold depths.
Clearly, she had endured immense pressure when the formation shattered.
Su Rui had said it would take seven days, but this was only the sixth...
This final day, she would have to buy him time with the sword in her hand alone.
“She's Mu Xueyi?” A demon cultivator eyed her intently. Even through the veil, that aloof, lofty demeanor and graceful figure were enough to stir the soul.
“Kill her! Eliminate future threats!” an aggressive voice snarled with murderous intent.
“Hold on!”
An old man with a sinister face and lecherous green glint in his eyes cackled. “I've long heard Fairy Mu's beauty is unmatched in the Cultivation World. I wonder what lies beneath that veil—a face to topple empires? Such a fine woman would be a pity to kill. Why not let this old man take her as a cauldron, to harvest day and night? Heh heh heh...”
He was the Nascent Soul mid-stage "Hundred Ghosts Elder," a specialist in harvesting techniques.
“Hundred Ghosts freak, you're not the only one thinking that, are you?”
Beside him, a burly man shrouded in blood-red mist licked his lips. “By our demonic path's rules, whoever takes her down gets to keep her!”
“In that case, may the best man win!”
“Hahaha, well said! Such a premium cauldron—why kill her outright?”
In an instant, a chorus of lecherous agreement rose from the lustful ones, their depraved gazes raking over Mu Xueyi like she was a prized toy.
High in the sky, Yan Mingli looked down imperiously, her voice devoid of emotion. “Fairy Mu, this palace once considered letting you grow. But you've chosen the path to death, allying with that little thief to abduct my daughter, slay my grand elder, and harm Feng Xi! Today, this place will be your grave—or, as they desire, some man's plaything cauldron.”
Mu Xueyi's slender hand gripped Minglan tightly, the blade humming with a clear, resonant chime like an icy spring, matching her voice perfectly. “Thanks for the appreciation, Palace Lord Yan, but Xueyi's path needs no one's indulgence. The road lies beneath my feet; I will walk it myself. Whether I die here today or carve a path to survival—battle will tell.”
Yan Mingli nodded slightly, genuine admiration flickering in her eyes. “Impressive bearing. Even surrounded on all sides, your sword heart remains clear and unyielding, its edge undulled. Mu Xueyi, you truly deserve this palace's special regard.”
Yet that admiration was swiftly overtaken by icy chill, her voice thick with killing intent. “Unfortunately... our positions are set. We are mortal foes. No matter your role in this—puppet or fool deceived by that thief—since you've chosen to walk with him, bear the consequences.”
With those words, Yan Mingli pointed her jade hand at Mu Xueyi, her voice calm yet carrying undeniable authority, resounding clearly in every demon cultivator's ears. “Take her. Dead or alive.”
At her command, over half the impatient demon cultivators surged forth as streaks of multicolored escape lights, like wolves pouncing on prey, swarming Mu Xueyi from all directions!
Flying swords, demonic banners, venomous gu, ghostly shadows— they blanketed the sky!
Mu Xueyi had long been poised. Her Sword Heart Unity erupted to its limit, her opening move her strongest kill stroke—
A single sword, without earth-shaking fanfare—only a subtle, refined beam of sword light, intangible yet swift beyond thought, erupted from Minglan's tip!
This sword light traced a bizarre arc, ignoring spatial distance to pierce straight through the frontline demon cultivators' body shields and defensive treasures!
“Pfft!”
“Ah!!”
“No—!!”
“How... possible!!”
A series of soft bursts and screams followed. Several Nascent Soul early- and mid-stage cultivators stiffened mid-charge, light fading from their eyes, spiritual shields shattering, treasures losing their spirit. Their bodies plummeted from the sky!
Their life force—severed clean by this one sword!
One strike, instantly slaying several peers!
The field fell deathly silent!
Every demon cultivator—even late-stage Nascent Soul experts—had their pupils contract in shocked disbelief.
“This... what sword art is that?!”
“Such terrifying sword intent! It directly eradicates life force!”
Panic spread among the lower Nascent Souls; none dared advance rashly.
“Hmph! Useless trash!”
A black-robed, withered-faced late Nascent Soul elder snorted. He was "Withered Bone Demon Lord," top ten in strength here.
“Scared by one freak sword beam? She's clearly at her limit—that strike drained her massively! If you're afraid, this premium cauldron's mine!”
With that, Withered Bone Demon Lord blurred into black smoke, ghosting toward Mu Xueyi. His claw-like hand extended, nails elongating over a foot with eerie blue poison glow, aiming straight for her crown!
Three or four more escape lights followed, striking from multiple angles!
Mu Xueyi's eyes grew grave. Minglan danced, sword light weaving layered phoenix shadows—
Countless sword gleams like phoenix feathers—dazzling and lethal—met the onslaught from all sides.
Sword light clashed fiercely with demonic claws and treasures, spiritual explosions ringing endlessly.
Mu Xueyi's swordsmanship was transcendent, holding off several peers and superiors for the moment.
Yet she was only one, at early Nascent Soul...
Yan Mingli hovered in the air, not striking personally. Her phoenix eyes fixed intently on the cave interior.
That thief hadn't emerged—preparing some trump card, no doubt.
“You, go check.” Yan Mingli pointed casually at a nearby early Nascent Soul cultivator.
“As you command, Palace Lord Yan!” Flattered, he streaked as light, bypassing the fray toward the cave mouth!
“Not a chance!”
Mu Xueyi had been watching the entrance. She abandoned some defense without hesitation, wielding Minglan in—
Phoenix wing sword light overtook from behind, catching the early Nascent Soul cultivator instantly!
“Pfft—!”
He had no time to react; his shield tore like paper, body bisected by phoenix wing light. Only his nascent soul barely escaped.
But in that split-second distraction—
“Bang!”
Withered Bone Demon Lord seized the opening. A solid dark palm print shattered her sword light, slamming her back remotely!
“Urgh...!”
Mu Xueyi reeled from the heavy blow, body shuddering as blood sprayed, staining her chest and veil.
The veil fluttered away on the palm wind and her own blood mist, revealing a peerlessly stunning face—now deathly pale.
Her brows arched like distant mountains with a hint of blue, eyes like autumn ripples, nose pert and exquisite, lips pale from blood loss, adding a pitiable fragility.
That cold allure blended with devastating beauty silenced the chaos around her.
“Hiss... truly... a matchless temptress!”
“To taste those lips once—worth dying for!”
After stunned silence, greed and lust erupted fiercer.
More demon cultivators, inflamed by her beauty, surged like beasts scenting blood.
Mu Xueyi endured the searing pain and numbing poison from her back, twisting mid-air. Minglan swept back, a fierce sword beam repelling a cultivator lunging to seize her.
Her breathing grew chaotic, but her sword light stayed sharp. Jade Phoenix Sword Art flowed divinely from her hands—now phoenix wings unfurling, now starry rivers reversing—each strike resolute and unyielding. Demon cultivators fell to her blade or fled wounded.
Yet enemies overwhelmed. Her spiritual power drained rapidly, wounds mounting.
Her shoulder gashed by a remote blood blade's aftershock; left leg corroded by poison mist, slowing her; abdomen crushed by a heavy hammer shadow, organs displaced.
Her ice-blue dress was blood-soaked—hers and foes'—face ever paler, breaths ragged. Only those peach-blossom eyes remained clear and firm, blazing with defiance.
Like a lone phoenix soaring in a storm, she beat her wings stubbornly against endless malice, refusing to fall.
Finally, parrying three treasures and piercing a mid Nascent Soul's dantian, her old strength spent and new not born—a stealthy demon appeared sideways, poisoned dagger flashing toward her ribs!
She twisted desperately, grazing evasion—but not fully. The dagger nicked her side.
Poison surged, spreading through her body.
Mu Xueyi stiffened, her sword momentum lagging an instant.
That instant!
“Haha! Got her!”
Withered Bone Demon Lord, circling for his chance, eyes flashed. He blurred forward, a full-power ghost claw phantom howling with wails, lunging remotely for her heart meridian!
If it hit, she'd lose all resistance—captured.
Mu Xueyi seemed unable to defend, plummeting like a cut kite.
Her beautiful peach-blossom eyes reflected the nearing ghost claw—a trace of weary fatigue... and regret for not waiting for someone.
“You're mine!!”
Withered Bone Demon Lord's face twisted in triumphant glee, claw brushing her ice-blue hem.
In this hair's-breadth crisis—
“Boom!!!”
A black-red blaze roared from the cave depths like an apocalyptic demon dragon breaking Nine Nethers' chains!
Where it passed, space warped and blurred, exuding aura of incinerating all creation.
This crimson-black flame overtook, too swift for reaction. Just as the claw neared Mu Xueyi, it struck Withered Bone Demon Lord precisely!
“No—!!!”
He managed only a shrill yelp. His treasure-hardening demonic shield melted like nothing before the blaze.
Then flesh, bones, nascent soul! Even his hastily summoned defenses— all annihilated on contact!
A late Nascent Soul great cultivator, rampant in demonic paths for centuries—gone in one breath, body and soul destroyed!
This sudden turn stunned all demon cultivators, faces etched with horror and disbelief.
A figure ghosted from the cave, so fast it left only a faint afterimage.
Next instant, he was mid-air, arm steadily catching the gracefully falling ice-blue form, cradling her gently.
It was Su Rui.
He looked down at the limp, blood-drenched, unconscious Mu Xueyi in his arms, eyes flickering with complex pain—but his tone stayed flippantly his own. “Holding off so many peers... how the hell did you last this long? Dumb woman.”
Mu Xueyi seemed to sense that familiar presence. Her lashes fluttered; she cracked her eyes, hazy peach-blossom gaze meeting his. Deep within, unspeakable relief. In faint transmission: “Treasure... refined?”
Su Rui's lips curved wickedly. One arm secure around her, the other casually thrust aside—
“Pfft!”
A hidden mid Nascent Soul assassin pierced through the brow by the suddenly appearing two-meter-two dark-red spear wreathed in crimson-black flames—man and soul devoured instantly, no scream, following Withered Bone's fate.
Casually dusting the ant, Su Rui held Robbery Flame before Mu Xueyi. “Here, done. This thing's called Robbery Flame.”
Mu Xueyi gazed at the demonic spear, sensing its vast, eerie power. Her eyes swirled faintly, words on her lips—but wounds and exhaustion won. Her head lolled; she fainted fully, secure in Su Rui's solid embrace.
Su Rui's finger pressed her wrist lightly. Pure black flame slipped in like a thread, threading her meridians to burn away the poison.
When he looked up again, the last flippant smile vanished, replaced by bone-chilling cold.
His profound eyes swept the field. Every demon cultivator touched by his gaze shuddered soul-deep—though he was merely early Nascent Soul!
Su Rui's icy voice rang out:
“So, just now...”
“Who... hurt laozi's wife.”
In the heavy pause, he slowly raised three fingers, each motion suffocatingly oppressive.
“Three breaths.”
“Don't step up yourselves...”
Robbery Flame wailed in response, crimson-black flames surging skyward, dyeing the heavens apocalyptic!
“All of you—die!”