A powerful fireball, filled with intense magical energy, hit Luo Jinxi directly. The Demon Lord, surrounded and under attack, fell before her, bloodied and as fragile as a candle in the wind. Yet, her eyes remained fierce and astoundingly beautiful. As Luo Jinxi’s consciousness began to fade, she caught a glimpse of the Demon Lord reaching out and pulling her forcefully toward herself. Then, another heavy blow landed, and Luo Jinxi let out a muffled groan before losing consciousness.
When she awoke, it was pitch black, not a trace of light to be seen. Luo Jinxi groaned softly as she felt around for her wounds, wincing in pain. She wasn’t dead, but where was she? Gritting her teeth, Luo Jinxi sat up, trying to harness her inner strength. She guided her spiritual energy through her meridians, slowly healing her battered body.
Her internal organs were in tatters, yet she was still alive-a miracle indeed. After an unknown length of time, Luo Jinxi finally managed to move. She looked up and saw what seemed like a natural underground cave opening, covered with lush greenery. It appeared to be sealed with a barrier, glowing faintly in the dark, preventing her aura from escaping.
“Who set up this barrier?” she wondered, glancing to her side. Suddenly, she gasped. A woman lay nearby, her features obscured by the darkness. Her clothes were torn, revealing a slender arm. Was it the Demon Lord? Alarmed, Luo Jinxi’s heart raced, but the Demon Lord lay motionless, her fate uncertain.
After a moment of hesitation, Luo Jinxi decided it was best to prioritize her own safety and attempted to leave. Unbeknownst to her, the woman suddenly opened her eyes, her fiery phoenix-like gaze flickering with a cold light.
A sudden rush of wind swept over her, and although Luo Jinxi instinctively tried to dodge, icy fingers clamped around her throat, rendering her immobile. In the darkness, she was so close to the woman that she could faintly detect a sweet floral scent, though there was no time to dwell on it. Her mind was consumed with dread.
“Don’t move,” the Demon Lord commanded, her voice as cold as her expression, sending shivers down Luo Jinxi’s spine. Luo Jinxi instinctively raised her hands in surrender. It wasn’t cowardice; everyone feared Qu Weiyin, the infamous demoness known for her ruthlessness and decisiveness, who had claimed countless lives.
At that moment, the legendary Crescent Star Sword glowed red, pressed against Luo Jinxi’s abdomen, threatening to cleave her in two with the slightest pressure. “Stay silent, don’t even think of escaping, or I’ll kill you!” Qu Weiyin added, her hand exerting a force that brought Luo Jinxi to her knees.
“Okay, okay, I won’t move,” Luo Jinxi promised, clutching her head. Dying in an explosion seemed more dignified, but being sliced in half was far too gruesome, she mused. Seeing that Luo Jinxi had no intention of resisting, Qu Weiyin released her grip and collapsed onto the ground, seemingly struggling to endure her pain with labored breaths.
There was a tearing sound as Qu Weiyin ripped her clothes, using her dwindling magic to staunch the bleeding. The metallic scent of blood filled the cramped cave, making Luo Jinxi lightheaded. She realized that Qu Weiyin’s injuries were no less severe than her own.
Should she attempt to fight back? She might have a chance to survive. As Luo Jinxi raised her eyes, she noticed the cave illuminated by a red glow. Qu Weiyin was tearing her clothing to reveal a long, deep wound on her chest, a cut so severe that it exposed bone. It seemed to have been inflicted by a divine weapon and was bleeding uncontrollably.
Growing impatient, Qu Weiyin tied the shredded cloth around her shoulder tightly, the scent of blood intensifying. She gritted her teeth, sweat dripping from her defined jawline. “Forget it,” Luo Jinxi thought. “Even now, she’s too formidable for me to handle.” She lowered her head again.
With a stifled groan, Qu Weiyin finally fell silent, save for her labored breathing. “Come here,” Qu Weiyin suddenly demanded, her voice hoarse. Startled, Luo Jinxi shuffled forward. “Take off your clothes,” Qu Weiyin ordered.
Shocked, Luo Jinxi instinctively clutched her collar, looking up in panic with wide, blinking eyes. Irritated, Qu Weiyin snapped, “Stop dawdling.”
Luo Jinxi shivered in fear and quickly removed her outer garment, tossing it over to Qu Weiyin. Qu Weiyin caught it and, with some difficulty, draped it over her shoulders. She seemed unsteady, leaning against the wall, her phoenix eyes slightly raised. Despite her injuries, her gaze remained intimidating. Luo Jinxi felt cold sweat trickling down as she avoided eye contact, focusing her gaze elsewhere.
“I’ll rest until morning. During this time, don’t even think about escaping,” Qu Weiyin warned. She raised her hand, tracing a circle around Luo Jinxi with her slender finger, and a flame ignited, illuminating the cave. The flickering light cast shadows and highlights across the surroundings.
“If you try to leave, you’ll be torn to pieces,” Qu Weiyin’s voice was low and ruthless, as if she would relish seeing Luo Jinxi reduced to dust. Luo Jinxi cursed silently in her heart at the demoness’s cunning nature.
Exhausted, Qu Weiyin leaned against the cave wall and soon drifted into a deep sleep. Luo Jinxi, too afraid to leave, closed her eyes in frustration. The night seemed endlessly long as she awoke several times to complete darkness, only to shut her eyes again. Finally, on the fifth awakening, daylight broke.
Though the cave remained dim, a beam of light struck Luo Jinxi. Shielding her eyes, she glanced at Qu Weiyin, only to find herself meeting her gaze, causing her heart to skip a beat. Qu Weiyin’s eyes were probing, as if she had been watching her for some time.
“You’re finally awake,” Qu Weiyin said coldly. She waved her hand, dissolving the barrier, and steadied herself against the cave wall, visibly unsteady. Her disheveled hair fell across her forehead, partially obscuring her red eyes, and her lips were tightly sealed, adding a sharp edge to her beauty. She still wore Luo Jinxi’s green outer garment.
“Thinking of leaving?” Qu Weiyin suddenly asked. Luo Jinxi hesitated, unsure if she should respond. Qu Weiyin continued without waiting for an answer, “I won’t kill you, as long as you take me back to the Demon Realm.”
Her injuries were too severe; forget flying on a sword, even walking would take considerable effort. “You don’t need to worry about anything. Just go where I tell you to go,” Qu Weiyin instructed. “You can refuse.”
Hearing this, Luo Jinxi’s eyes brightened. “Your cultivation may not be high, but draining your spiritual energy could still serve a purpose,” Qu Weiyin added with a smirk, her tongue lightly brushing her lips. Luo Jinxi involuntarily stepped back, thinking to herself that it was coercion, yet it sounded so reasonable.
Qu Weiyin assessed the girl before her. Despite her youthful appearance, she was tall and slender, with a decent level of cultivation that could be useful. Qu Weiyin had intended to grab a dead body to shield herself during the crisis but accidentally caught a living person, causing them both to tumble down the hill into this cave.
The girl, with bright, almond-shaped eyes, didn’t seem dim-witted, so Qu Weiyin needed to remain cautious, not showing too much weakness. If the girl realized her magical energy was scattered, she might escape or even attack her, which would be disastrous.
Clearing her thoughts, Qu Weiyin grasped Luo Jinxi’s shoulder and leaped to the ground. The exertion, though brief, left her dizzy and nearly caused her to topple, forcing her to steady herself.
They found themselves at the forest’s edge at the foot of a mountain, with no one in sight. However, the people from the immortal sects would soon detect her demonic aura, so they couldn’t linger. Qu Weiyin pulled Luo Jinxi, bending her over, and climbed onto her back, wrapping her arms around Luo Jinxi’s neck.
“Fly,” Qu Weiyin instructed in her ear. Luo Jinxi shivered, unsure if it was fear, but dared not resist. She summoned her spiritual sword, shooting into the sky. The aftermath of the previous night’s battle between immortals and demons left the land devastated, with fallen trees charred and scattered.
Qu Weiyin observed the destruction with a cold snort. Following Qu Weiyin’s directions, Luo Jinxi headed south at great speed. It wasn’t her choice, but Qu Weiyin’s forceful grip on her vital points compelled her to go faster.
Having been hit by Qu Weiyin’s fireball and taking another blow for her, Luo Jinxi’s injuries were significant. The rapid pace was increasingly taxing. After a day’s journey, Luo Jinxi’s vision flickered between light and dark, as if shifting between day and night, her mind in a daze.
Trouble often comes in pairs. Just then, several presences appeared behind them. Qu Weiyin turned, tightening her grip on the Crescent Star Sword. The people from the immortal sects were pursuing them again.
Cursing their persistence, Qu Weiyin spoke ominously to Luo Jinxi, “Fall from here-it’s a valley.” The valley’s complex terrain would prevent them from being surrounded in mid-air.
Luo Jinxi’s mind was already muddled, and upon hearing this, she released her energy, plummeting downward. Realizing the danger, Qu Weiyin tossed the Crescent Star Sword before landing, cushioning their fall.
“Useless,” Qu Weiyin muttered through gritted teeth. She dragged Luo Jinxi to a large rock, standing firm as her heavy sword began to glow with fire and dark energy. Several elegantly dressed individuals descended before them, both men and women, from an unknown sect.
“Demoness, we meet again. Quite the fate,” a woman with a Daoist hairstyle remarked with a sly smile. Qu Weiyin didn’t respond, only letting out a chilling laugh before attacking. Her sword left her hand, doubling in size mid-air as it shot forward, causing them to dodge hastily.
The sword’s light brushed against one person’s clothing, enveloping him in black energy. He screamed before turning to ash, prompting the others to retreat in terror, cursing loudly. Qu Weiyin retrieved her sword with a flick of her wrist, her slender, pale fingers wiping away the grime as her red lips curled slightly.
Suddenly, her expression froze, blood surging up her throat as she almost collapsed, forcing herself to remain upright. Using her powers had only further disrupted her chaotic magical energy, nearly causing an internal explosion.
The group noticed her condition and began advancing cautiously. Qu Weiyin stood her ground, striving to calm her energy and restore balance. Her wounds began to bleed again, each twinge of pain a reminder of her precarious state.
As the group closed in, a sudden cough emanated from behind the large rock-Luo Jinxi had awakened. The group’s expressions changed, believing there was another ally, and they all attacked the rock together. Their combined spiritual power, shining like lightning, split the rock into pieces, shattering it completely.
Luo Jinxi, caught off guard, was hit by the shockwave, stumbling backward. Instinctively, she summoned her spiritual energy to shield herself. “I’m not a demon; I’m a disciple of the Wuhui Sect!” Luo Jinxi shouted against the wind, trying to hold her ground.
Hearing this, the Daoist woman hesitated, but her companion yelled, “Don’t listen to her lies! I saw her carrying that demoness on her back. Even if she’s not a demon, she’s definitely not on our side!” With that, the group resumed their attack, determined to eliminate both Luo Jinxi and Qu Weiyin. Several waves of spiritual energy struck Luo Jinxi, forcing her to retreat and struggle to maintain her defense.
Unable to clear up the misunderstanding, Luo Jinxi grew increasingly frustrated, her chest tightening with pain. Just as all seemed lost, a golden light flashed, cutting through the group’s spiritual attacks. Qu Weiyin appeared in front of Luo Jinxi, seemingly having regained her strength. Her hair flowed, and her demonic aura was palpable.
“Annoying,” Qu Weiyin remarked coldly. The golden light, infused with demonic energy, transformed into a flurry of sword petals from her Crescent Star Sword, relentlessly striking the attackers and quickly gaining the upper hand.
Seeing Qu Weiyin’s back, Luo Jinxi finally breathed a sigh of relief. She lowered her hands, clutching her chest as she gasped for air, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment, her emotions swirling with confusion and irony.
Qu Weiyin showed no hesitation in her lethal actions. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, only a few bodies lay before her. With a wave of her hand, the corpses were incinerated to ash.
Exhaling deeply, Qu Weiyin turned to look at Luo Jinxi, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. “See, little fool? This is what your so-called righteous sects are truly like.”
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