“You’re not considering your junior brother Fusheng’s injuries, where are you taking him?” Fang Rui’s emotions had stabilized considerably. Her eyes and nose were slightly red, and her gentle gaze fell on Gu Yi with displeasure.
Upon seeing Gu Yi, Fang Rui was instantly angered by her past betrayal, specifically how Gu Yi had tricked her out of over ten high-grade spirit stones.
This matter was so humiliating that she could only swallow her anger, unable to speak of it to anyone.
Having been doted upon at home and in her sect, Fang Rui, despite appearing approachable and gentle in public, was inherently proud and willful, unable to tolerate being looked down upon or defied.
Of course, she was not someone unintelligent or slow-witted.
Her earlier haste had clouded her judgment and reason due to Junior Brother Fusheng’s injuries, but Ziying’s remark had instantly brought her back to her senses.
She wasn’t brought back to her senses about the impropriety of her current actions, but rather about how her junior sister, with whom she had no deep connection, was using ambiguous words to make her a target. She was reading a book.
At a time when everyone was worried about Liu Jiang Fusheng, who had collapsed from exhaustion, her emotions and actions might have been a bit excessive. However, at that moment, no one would have deliberately thought in that direction. Even if they had realized it, it would have been an unspoken understanding, and they wouldn’t have exposed it in public. www.kanshuwu.net
But here she was, exposing everything with a single sentence, forcing her into direct confrontation with Gu Yi.
A well-intentioned reminder?
Hmph, this was merely the kind of tactic used by women in the inner chambers.
However, Fang Rui couldn’t understand why Ziying, with whom she had only recently become acquainted and shared no favors or animosity, would act this way.
Gu Junshi showed Fang Rui more patience than others. This patience stemmed from the “funds” she had selflessly contributed, which had helped her out of a dire situation.
It was also because Gu Junshi, seeing through Fang Rui’s superficial nature, recognized her as an indispensable part of her future husband’s success. Fang Rui held significant importance and could be useful.
Her gaze swept over Fang Rui with a meaningful glint. "That flying zombie is nowhere to be found, and its fate is unknown. Are you planning to stay here and fight it again after resting?"
Her lighthearted rhetorical question left Fang Rui speechless and also fuming.
She felt as if she had asked a foolish question, and in front of Gu Yi, she felt like she was constantly being played.
Elder Jiu Li also snapped back to reality. He frowned and said sternly, "That's right, we mustn't delay. We must leave quickly."
The other disciples couldn't bear to hear the word "flying zombie" now; it was like post-traumatic stress disorder. They all readily agreed.
At this moment, Ziying suddenly interjected from the side, "But Junior Nephew Gui Ying hasn't arrived yet."
Unexpectedly, a hoarse, ethereal voice in the wind sounded from behind, "I'm here."
They turned their heads and saw Gui Ying already more than halfway across the "Heart Questioning" bridge. His sturdy, solitary, and sharp frame was shrouded in a perpetual, deep, and gloomy aura. He was steadily walking towards them.
Gui Ying?!
His timely appearance made one suspect he had been hiding in the shadows, only revealing himself after everything had calmed down.
An elite disciple asked suspiciously, "Where were you?"
Gui Ying landed. His complexion was always unhealthy, his gray eyes half-closed, and his sleeves fluttered in the wind.
He ignored their strange glances. The moment he sensed Gu Yi's presence, his heart strings suddenly tensed.
She had returned?
How had she returned?
Many thoughts raced through his mind, but he maintained a stiff expression, showing no outward change. He only said to Elder Jiu Li, "I accidentally touched a mechanism and fell into a secret passage. It took some effort to get out."
Ziying quickly went over. "Junior Nephew, are you alright?"
Gui Ying shook his head.
Elder Jiu Li didn't know whether to believe his explanation. He dismissively said, "We'll discuss this later. Since everyone is here, let's first..."
"—Take me with you!"
Chen Daoshan, covered in blood and mud, suddenly moaned weakly. His drawn-out, sharp wail, like a crow's cry in the cold wind, sent shivers down their spines.
They looked over at the sound and remembered that he was still there.
This flying zombie was truly inhuman, having tormented a living person to such an extent. Although Chen Daoshan's fate could be considered karmic retribution, it had nothing to do with them. It was better to give him a swift end by delivering him in this bloody state, allowing everyone to find release.
"Wh-what should we do now?"
Danyao walked over, her clear and melodious voice carrying an unusual hint of solemnity. "In this state, if he returns to the Void Gate, what do you think the Void Gate will think?"
Her words implied that they would naturally think… why was it that only their Void Gate disciples suffered encountering the flying zombie, resulting in their complete annihilation, while the disciples of the Great Evolution Sect emerged unscathed and retreated whole.
Even though Chen Daoshan and his group had brought this upon themselves, they knew the nature of people from grand sects; they only cared about strength and not reason. Furthermore, they had indeed retreated to protect themselves mid-way. If they brought Chen Daoshan back like this, and he, along with the Void Gate disciples, embellished the story, wouldn't they be bringing immense trouble upon the Great Evolution Sect?
For a moment, they all fell into despair.
They couldn't kill him, nor could they save him…
Just then, a wind blade from who knows where directly slit Chen Daoshan's throat. Blood sprayed out thinly, and after a few choked gasps, he died.
The disciples of the Great Evolution Sect stared blankly at the sudden turn of events.
Only Gu Junshi seemed to have anticipated this. She glanced at an elite disciple.
From his initial dazed and hollow-eyed state, when he regained his senses in an extremely short period, his nine tails had already departed.
Their sect leader had remained a cold observer throughout the unfolding events. The only thing he had done for them was to take away Chen Daoshan, this troublesome burden.
In the cultivation world, if a disciple was highly valued within their sect, their master would light a longevity lamp for them. When the person died, the lamp would extinguish, and they could trace back the scene before the disciple's death through the lamp to exact revenge.
With this, their group had completely severed their ties. Bringing him back alive might have been troublesome, but bringing his corpse to the Void Gate would be a favor.
Who did this?!
Elder Jiu Li looked around but found nothing. He could only silently thank the protection of the Three Gods Ancestor; when he was sleepy, someone brought a pillow.
With no further issues, they picked up Chen Daoshan's corpse. The group, as if chased by a ghost, quickly entered the teleportation light portal.
Upon emerging from the teleportation portal, it was as if they had been deep underground and were now seeing daylight again. They were somewhat unaccustomed to the bright daylight outside the array.
This was an open expanse of ruins. Ancient, intricately carved walls stood tall, and a long stele pierced the sky, defiantly facing the azure sky. In the majestic stone-paved plaza, an astonishing grand array was drawn.
Judging by the size and scale of this teleportation array, which differed from previous ones, it was clearly built with immense investment.
After all, it led directly to the Twenty-Eight Heavens.
However, not everyone could use it to reach the Twenty-Eight Heavens.
"This old man will go and place the transit spiritual token. Once the Twenty-Eight Heavens grant permission, the teleportation array can be activated," Elder Jiu Li said, familiar with the procedure as he walked to the center of the teleportation array.
Indeed, those visiting for the first time entered the array with some trepidation. Gu Junshi followed, carrying her little darling. The celestial sword would not stray too far from its owner, so once they left, the sword was automatically absorbed into the contract mark on Liu Jiang Fusheng's brow.
"Alright, there’s a response from the Twenty-Eight Heavens. Hurry and stand in formation within the array. Once the array is activated, you must not move casually, or you will be cast out of the array," Elder Jiu Li reminded them.
Soon, the teleportation array was activated, and a strong white light erupted from within. At this moment, Gu Yi's brows furrowed, suddenly feeling an unprecedented wave of weakness wash over her.