Xiang Yushuang went after her seriously injured uncle from the Hehuan Sect, while Huo Chongjun returned to the fourth gate and began to use magic to attack, trying to break in.
Shi Yunxuan, who was peering through the door, heard the commotion outside. Her brows furrowed, deeply worried about her martial uncle and the two junior sisters. She paced back and forth at the doorway, helpless. In her severely injured state, she couldn't save anyone; she would only cause more trouble. She suddenly turned to look at the two people in the cage. If it weren't for them, none of this trouble would have happened.
This time, Shi Yunxuan didn't say anything more. She walked over and killed the two men with a single strike. Afterward, she set up a series of formations at the door. At this moment, she suddenly regretted not having studied formations properly. What she knew was only average and not profound enough. It could hinder Huo Chongjun for a while, but it couldn't stop him forever.
After using up all the items that could be used to set up the formation, Shi Yunxuan sat down near Xu Zifan, secretly hoping that he would finish receiving the inheritance soon so that they could leave to find their martial uncle.
Another day and night passed, and Huo Chongjun finally broke through the fourth gate. Shi Yunxuan saw Xiang Yushuang standing beside Huo Chongjun and was shocked. She stood up abruptly, "Xiang Yushuang! What have you done to my martial uncle and junior sister?!"
Xiang Yushuang didn't like her, and she felt very uncomfortable about killing someone for the first time. She didn't answer, but turned to Huo Chongjun and asked, "Chongjun, shall we go in?"
Huo Chongjun said with difficulty, "There must be a formation here. He has been receiving the inheritance for a long time. By the time we break the formation, he might already be gone. Shuang'er, I know nothing about formations. Do you have any good ideas?"
Xiang Yushuang only knew a little bit about the basics and couldn't see any formations, but she didn't want to put her lover in a difficult position, so she immediately stepped into the fourth gate. "I'll try. Chongjun, don't worry about me. Go and get the inheritance."
Xiang Yushuang was trapped in the first formation. Huo Chongjun's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. He hurriedly tried to bypass her to grab Xu Zifan, but ended up falling into the second formation and fighting against its attacks. Shi Yunxuan crossed her arms and looked at them with a sneer, "One is hypocritical, and the other is as stupid as a pig. I really don't know how the two of you could get together."
"Ah, perhaps you two are a perfect match. Xiang Yushuang, you said you were raised like a precious jewel by Sect Leader Xiang, how can you be so naive and ignorant of the world? Can't you see that the person you married is just using you? Or do you simply not want to see it? After all, you missed out on such a wonderful senior brother. If you admit you were wrong, how much you'll regret it!" Shi Yunxuan deliberately spoke to provoke them and distract them. She looked Huo Chongjun up and down, shaking her head with regret. "What a pity for the Xuantian Sect. I wonder if it can still retain its title as the number one sect now that it's in your hands. If the number one sect in the cultivation world falls into demonic ways, it will become a joke."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Xiang Yushuang shouted angrily. Seeing the two dead people in the cage next to her, she instantly found a reason to retaliate, "You even kill your own fellow disciples, who can be more shameless than you? You are the one who has fallen into the demonic path!"
Shi Yunxuan walked over and stood near her, deliberately feigning surprise. "Eh? So you can swear? I thought you were going to always put on that innocent and kind look. What's wrong? There's no one else here, so you're not pretending anymore?"
"You're talking nonsense!" Xiang Yushuang broke through the first formation and rushed towards Shi Yunxuan, only to find an illusion formation in Shi Yunxuan's direction, and she was immediately trapped in the illusion. Stimulated by Shi Yunxuan's words, her deepest fear was the scene of Huo Chongjun coldly pushing her down earlier, and for a moment she was immersed in the illusion, suffering greatly.
Huo Chongjun had already broken through three formations and entered the fourth one set by Shi Yunxuan. Breaking it again would allow him to capture Xu Zifan. Shi Yunxuan gripped her dagger and stepped forward, blocking Xu Zifan's path, carefully approaching Huo Chongjun. She always repaid kindness with kindness; Xu Zifan had not only saved her life that day but also rescued her from evil clutches and humiliation. She would never allow anyone to harm him!
Shi Yunxuan lunged forward, unleashing a full-force attack. Her dagger pierced Huo Chongjun's back, and instantly, demonic energy surged through the dagger into Shi Yunxuan's body. Simultaneously, Huo Chongjun struck back, sending Shi Yunxuan flying! Shi Yunxuan crashed into the altar, tumbling to the ground along with the offerings and incense burner, coughing violently. She looked up at Huo Chongjun in shock, "You're a demonic cultivator? You're a demonic cultivator?!"
Huo Chongjun broke through the formation, unleashing the dagger from his back. He looked at Shi Yunxuan with a grim expression, "Now that you know my secret, leave your life behind."
Huo Chongjun raised his hand, a cloud of black mist appearing in his palm, and fiercely attacked Shi Yunxuan. Shi Yunxuan's eyes widened. At this moment, Xu Zifan opened his eyes, waved his hand, and a bolt of lightning collided with Huo Chongjun's black mist, exploding with a loud bang and canceling out the attack. His face was also exposed to Huo Chongjun's view.
Huo Chongjun was taken aback. "Xu Zifan?! You've already reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage?" He glanced at Shi Yunxuan lying on the ground and sneered, "So that's how it is. No wonder the female cultivator from the Hehuan Sect is so protective of you. But judging from her appearance, she doesn't seem to have gained anything."
Xu Zifan helped Shi Yunxuan up, ignoring him. Huo Chongjun, seeing this, remembered the important matter. "You accepted Chu Duan's inheritance?" His eyes were filled with murderous intent. He blocked their way and said coldly, "Leave the inheritance behind, and I will spare your life."
Xu Zifan looked at him coldly, "Do you even believe that yourself? Huo Chongjun, those who do many evil deeds will surely perish. Enjoy the rest of your good days."
Xu Zifan feinted, drawing Huo Chongjun's attack to the right. He then swiftly opened the fifth door with Shi Yunxuan, slipped inside, and the stone door immediately closed. The phantom of Chu Duan on the wall smiled faintly at the door before gradually turning into specks of light and disappearing without a trace. Huo Chongjun rushed to the fifth door, but no matter how he attacked, it was useless. Enraged, he kicked the stone door hard.
In the fifth room, there was only a brocade box in the center of the floor, containing Chu Duan's immortal-grade storage ring, which held his life savings and could only be inherited by his direct disciples. Xu Zifan helped...
He ran over to Shi Yunxuan, who was already somewhat delirious, her face pale and covered in cold sweat, and she kept hugging him, saying she was in pain.
The corruption of demonic energy is an absolute disaster for righteous cultivators. Moreover, Huo Chongjun is at the Nascent Soul stage, while Shi Yunxuan is only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Xu Zifan put on his storage ring, transferred everything into the space, and asked Shaohua to help him find medicine.
[Master refined a single, divine-grade Rejuvenation Pill. There's only one; it's in a red porcelain bottle. Quick!]
Shao Hua's scanning speed was much faster than his searching speed. In just a few minutes, he pointed out the exact location of the red porcelain bottle. Xu Zifan immediately took out the pill and fed it to Shi Yunxuan's mouth, "Yunxuan, take it quickly!"
Shi Yunxuan could no longer hear him. She was already severely injured, and the fight with the eighth-tier demonic beast had exacerbated her injuries. She had just been knocked away by Huo Chongjun. Even without demonic energy, she would be on the verge of death; the demonic energy only intensified her pain. The excruciating pain made Shi Yunxuan grit her teeth. Xu Zifan pinched her cheeks, forcefully pried open her mouth, and placed the pill inside. He guided the pill from her mouth to her stomach with spiritual energy, dissolving it in his own power.
"Yunxuan, thank you for helping me. It's alright now. You must hang in there." Xu Zifan held one of her hands and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.
Huo Chongjun was still attacking the stone gate, but Xu Zifan wasn't worried. After receiving the inheritance, he knew this underground palace inside and out. This place truly was underground before; although an entrance was left, it was impossible for anyone to discover it. This was a dilemma set by Chu Duan—he didn't want the inheritance to be passed on so easily, nor did he want it to be left untapped, so he left it for a destined person. After a thousand years of wind, rain, and soil erosion, the entrance was finally revealed and discovered by Shi Yunxuan, who then bestowed this opportunity upon him.
This underground palace only has five rooms. A tunnel leads out through the back door of the fifth room, and once someone enters, the fifth door will be impossible to open again. Given Huo Chongjun's strength, it would take him at least three days to destroy that door; they are not in danger. There is a mechanism on the wall; turning it would cause the underground palace to collapse. Xu Zifan glanced at the mechanism a few times and regretfully gave up. His mission was to defeat Huo Chongjun honorably; killing him was out of the question.
The miraculous Rejuvenation Pill was remarkably effective; in just a short while, Shi Yunxuan's complexion returned to a rosy hue, and she opened her eyes, "Brother Xu..."
Xu Zifan smiled and said, "It's alright, let's go."
He picked up Shi Yunxuan and quickly walked out the back door, traversing the tunnel for half a day before finally reaching the outside. He released his divine sense to scan the surroundings and said, "Behind this mountain is the Misty Forest. Let's go out and find a place for you to heal your injuries. I also need some time to familiarize myself with the inheritance I just received."
Shi Yunxuan was already able to walk, and nodded upon hearing this. "You saved my life again, so I'll listen to you. But I want to find my uncle and junior sister first."
Xu Zifan waved his hand and shook his head, saying, "It's not considered a cure. The Rejuvenation Pill healed most of your injuries, but it's powerless against demonic energy. If we can't find a way to deal with the demonic energy, you'll have to endure that kind of pain again."
Shi Yunxuan immediately said, "We can go to the Hehuan Sect. It's very safe there. If my master comes out of seclusion, he might be able to draw out the demonic energy." She looked up at Xu Zifan, "Brother Xu, will you come with me to the Hehuan Sect? Huo Chongjun saw you, and he will definitely cause you trouble. The Hehuan Sect can protect you."
Xu Zifan instantly thought of the Hehuan Sect's dual cultivation. He, a pure Yang body, going to the Hehuan Sect, a sect primarily focused on dual cultivation and mostly populated by women? Wasn't that like throwing himself to the wolves? But Shi Yunxuan was currently possessed by demonic energy, and it might flare up at any time; he couldn't let her travel alone. He thought for a moment and said, "I like being free and unrestrained. Let's go find your martial aunt; she'll take you back."
Shi Yunxuan pursed her lips in disappointment and smiled slightly, "Let's find my martial uncle first."
The two carefully avoided the demonic beasts and other cultivators, using their divine sense to search for Shi Yunxuan's martial uncle. It didn't take long, as her martial uncle and two junior sisters were all dead, killed by Xiang Yushuang. Shi Yunxuan couldn't believe Xiang Yushuang could actually do such a thing. "I should have killed her! I should have killed her!"
Xu Zifan helped her collect the three corpses and pulled her away, saying, "A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. Let's find a way to draw out the demonic energy first."
With the map recorded by Shao Hua, Xu Zifan led Shi Yunxuan quickly through the Misty Forest. Shi Yunxuan narrowed her eyes. If she remembered correctly, Xu Zifan didn't know how to navigate the Misty Forest before she led him in, yet he remembered it after only one visit and was able to find his way out so quickly? It seemed Xu Zifan had other secrets. However, she didn't want to explore any secrets now; she only wanted to become stronger.