"Good, it is with me, and I am with it. If I die, it will be destroyed," Xue Zining said without hesitation.
"I believe you," Elder Yu said.
Xue Zining turned to leave, but Elder Yu suddenly said, "Your corpse is a scourge. If you can, destroy it!"
Xue Zining trembled all over, but she did not hesitate. "Good."
Elder Yu turned back and said, "Fan Min, you will not be able to leave here today. Will you be destroyed with Miao Jiang?"
Fan Min sneered upon hearing this, "Do you think you can trap this old man? It's simply wishful thinking."
Xue Zining headed in the direction Wen Yuxi had left.
At the valley entrance, she saw Wen Yuxi and the others.
"Wen Yuxi." She flew forward, only to find Wen Yuxi standing there, not having left.
Wen Nuan saw her and said, "Louzhu, it's Miss Xue."
Wen Yuxi looked at her and said, "Is it resolved?"
Xue Zining said, "The three elders have arrived. Why didn't you leave the valley?"
Wen Yuxi said, "Can you see a way out?"
Xue Zining looked outside and saw an army blocking the way.
The leader was Xue Chang'an.
Xue Chang'an saw her and sneered, "As expected, it's my sister who has returned."
Xue Zining walked forward, and Wen Yuxi stopped her, "Don't go, it's dangerous."
Xue Zining pushed Wen Yuxi's hand away and said, "I will be careful."
She walked out of the valley and stopped, saying, "Long time no see, elder sister."
"Indeed, we haven't seen each other. I didn't expect you to be alive," Xue Chang'an's gaze became much colder.
"I didn't expect it either. I suppose this is destiny, heaven doesn't want to take me yet."
Xue Chang'an sneered, "Wrong, this is not destiny. I am here to take you."
"Xue Chang'an, why?" Why did she have such hatred for her?
"There's no need for so many nonsensical words. Next year on this day, it will be your death anniversary, Xue Zining," Xue Chang'an said coldly.
With a wave of her hand, the army advanced into the valley.
Xue Zining retreated back into the valley. Wen Yuxi said, "It seems we can't leave today."
Looking at the army, Xue Zining continued, "There will always be a way."
"I know a way out," Liu'er suddenly said.
Xue Zining looked at Liu'er upon hearing this and said, "Liu'er, you take them through that way."
"And you? Aren't you leaving?" Wen Yuxi asked.
"If I leave, Xue Chang'an will notice. Then none of us will be able to leave."
"No, I disagree," Wen Yuxi refused.
With such a large army, it was impossible for Xue Zining to leave.
"Wen Yuxi, this is not the time to be impetuous. It's better to save one than none. I'm still waiting for you to get reinforcements," Xue Zining said.
Wen Yuxi looked up at her and said, "Are you sure?"
Xue Zining nodded, "I promise you, I will be safe. Besides..."
Her gaze softened as she looked at Xue Jingyun on his back, "He is still here."
Wen Yuxi nodded, "I'll trust you this time. Xue Zining, if you go back on your word, I won't treat him well."
"Go..." Wen Yuxi said coldly.
Wen Yuxi and the others left. Xue Zining took out the box given to her by Elder Yu and opened it. Inside was a book. The first page stated that those who consumed the sacred medicine would return to life, repeating the actions they performed in life from sunrise to sunset, becoming immortal.
The second page was about the soul-crossing technique.
It involved transferring the soul to a suitable corpse, with the drawback of discomfort, eventually leading to the destruction of the corpse and the scattering of the soul.
The third page explained how to control those who had consumed the sacred medicine.
Xue Zining read a few lines, closed the book, and uttered a few words. Suddenly, she heard footsteps. Turning around, she saw the villagers walking towards her.
Xue Chang'an, leading the army, had just entered the cave entrance when she saw countless villagers walking out. The soldiers pushed them, but found they couldn't move them.
Xue Chang'an frowned, pushed a soldier aside, and thrust her sword into a man's body. The man disappeared.
"Kill them."
The order was given, and soon these people were killed.
Xue Chang'an sneered, "Xue Zining, you made them rush to their deaths."
"Death? How could that be possible? They are immortal."
Xue Chang'an was stunned, then heard some soldiers exclaim in shock, "How... how are they alive?"
She turned to see the man she had just run through with her sword appearing behind her.
She cut off his head with a sword, and the man quickly resurrected, as if he were unkillable.
Xue Chang'an looked up at Xue Zining and said angrily, "Xue Zining, what have you done?"
"Nothing much. Xue Chang'an, you can play with them slowly." Xue Zining said as she retreated back into the valley. These people should be able to block them for some time. By nightfall, it might not be the case.
The sky, she looked up at the fiery clouds on the horizon. It was almost dark.
She had to evacuate quickly.
Xue Zining quickly retreated, following the markers left by Wen Yuxi.
She arrived at the stone chamber. The mechanism was left beneath the ice coffin. She entered the ice coffin and restored it to its original state.
Finally, darkness fell, and the villagers who were unkillable and indestructible finally disappeared.
Xue Chang'an almost collapsed on the ground, "Xue Yu, where is Xue Zining?"
Xue Yu said, "Your Majesty, Xue Zining has escaped."
Xue Chang'an gritted her teeth and said angrily, "How cunning, she actually managed to escape."
"Enter the valley. They couldn't have gone far," Xue Chang'an ordered.
As soon as they entered the valley, they saw Han Xiwen, covered in wounds, being entangled by Wen Ling.
Xue Chang'an said, "Go and help him."
Xue Yu stepped forward, subdued Wen Ling in a few moves, and handed him over to the soldiers. He then brought Han Xiwen over. Han Xiwen had seen Xue Chang'an before and stepped forward to bow, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Xue Chang'an nodded, "You were careless. How did you let Xue Zining discover you?"
Han Xiwen said, "I didn't expect Xue Zining to be so cunning."
When things were peaceful, he hadn't noticed anything unusual about her.
"Xue Zining is smart and cunning. You would have been exposed sooner or later. Now that she has escaped, there are no clues. Do you have any?" Xue Chang'an asked.
Han Xiwen couldn't help but feel regret. He never expected Liu'er to betray him.
"There is only one path leading outside from the valley. Your Majesty, please follow me," Han Xiwen said.
Xue Chang'an, along with a small contingent of soldiers, followed Han Xiwen to the stone chamber.
Han Xiwen moved aside the ice coffin and pointed to a passage within it, saying, "It's here."
"Let's go," Xue Chang'an said.
Han Xiwen entered the passage, followed closely by Xue Chang'an. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a faint light appeared ahead.
They emerged and found themselves outside the valley.
Han Xiwen crouched down and looked at the slightly tilted grass on the ground, saying, "They came out from here."
"Chase," Xue Chang'an dispatched the small contingent she had brought.
She also ordered the army to converge here.
Xue Zining and the others walked into the woods and stopped. Wen Yuxi looked around and said, "We probably haven't gone too far."
"Let's rest tonight and set off early tomorrow," Xue Zining said.