The First Signs of a Sage's Trail

Three sword rainbows, peerlessly sharp and containing pure, righteous Jade Clarity Celestial Light, forcibly severed most of the Golden Immortal-level demonic claw!

A pained roar of shock and fury rang out from the Demon Realm. The remaining half of the demonic claw abruptly withdrew into the demonic clouds, which churned endlessly. It had clearly been badly injured.

Li Su took this chance to steady himself, suppressing his surging blood and qi as he looked toward the three reinforcements who had suddenly appeared.

The three female immortals all wore moon-white Daoist robes, their sleeves fluttering gracefully. Their immortal bearing was extraordinary.

The leader was beautiful, yet her brows carried a trace of killing intent. She held an immortal sword glowing with circulating azure light, and fierce sword qi surrounded her. She was astonishingly a late-stage True Immortal!

Behind her stood two others. One held a yao qin in her arms, while the other supported a golden lamp in her hand. Both were mid-stage True Immortal experts.

This aura, these garments, this style of attack... Li Su instantly recalled the records of elite Jie Sect cultivators in Kunlun's Scripture Repository, especially its female experts...

"Could you be the Three Xiao Ladies of Three Immortal Islands?"

Suppressing his delight, Li Su hurriedly bowed with respect. "This junior is Mo Xing, a nominal disciple of Jade Void Palace. Many thanks to the three ladies for saving me!"

The sword-wielding female immortal at the forefront was none other than the foremost of the Three Xiao Ladies—Yunxiao Niangniang!

Her gaze swept over Li Su. Though he was a bamboo demon, his foundation was deep and his Dao aura pure. He also bore the aura of a Jade Void Palace token, and he had just withstood a Golden Immortal demonic claw without dying. Surprise flashed through her eyes as she gave a slight nod. "So you are from Jade Void Palace.

No need for such formalities. Slaying demons and eliminating evil is simply our duty."

The one behind her holding the yao qin was Bixiao Niangniang. Somewhat impatient by nature, she said, "Big Sister, why waste words with this bamboo spirit!

Quickly ask about Junior Brother Yang Jian and Junior Sister Long Ji! Their soul lamps in Kunlun have grown terribly dim!"

Qiongxiao Niangniang, holding the golden lamp, also frowned. "Indeed!

We came under Master Tongtian's orders to investigate and provide aid, but we never expected the demonic calamity here to have become so severe! Could it be that Junior Brother Yang Jian and Junior Sister Long Ji..."

Master Tongtian? Li Su's heart shook. So they were masters of the Jie Sect! And they had actually been sent by Master Tongtian?

It seemed this matter had already alarmed a Sage!

Yunxiao Niangniang waved a hand, stopping her two sisters. She stared solemnly at the roiling Demon Realm ahead and said in a deep voice, "This Demon Realm has already taken shape and connects to the Netherworld. It is far from ordinary.

That demon who attacked just now was likely Beng Tu, the Demon General Li Mo, one of the four great demon generals under the Blood Sea Old Ancestor!

His strength rivals that of a peak Golden Immortal, and he is exceedingly vicious. Junior Brother Yang Jian and Junior Sister Long Ji are trapped within. Their situation must be extremely dire."

She looked at Li Su. "Friend Mo Xing, it seemed you intended to enter the Demon Realm just now. Do you know what lies within?"

Li Su quickly recounted what Ming Xin had told him, along with everything he had discovered.

"The soul transmission was cut off, and their auras vanished... They may have been dragged into the core of the Demon Realm, perhaps even..." Bixiao's face turned pale, and she did not dare continue.

The golden lamp in Qiongxiao's hand flickered as it shone toward the Demon Realm, but the dense demonic qi blocked its light completely, making it impossible to probe deeper.

"Big Sister, this Demon Realm's barrier is too formidable. If we force our way in, we may be trapped inside as well!"

Yunxiao Niangniang's beautiful brows knitted tightly. She clearly found the situation difficult.

Though the three sisters were powerful, faced with a Demon Realm of this scale—especially one that might be guarded by a Demon Venerable-level existence—they did not dare claim they could retreat unscathed.

At that moment, Beng Tu's roar rang out from within the Demon Realm once more, filled with fury and murderous intent. "Three Xiao! You three women dare come here to die? Perfect! This old ancestor will capture you all and offer you to the Demon Ancestor!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The demonic clouds churned violently. This time, they directly condensed into three equally massive demonic claws, which grabbed respectively at the Three Xiao Ladies and Li Su! Their power was even greater than before!

"Presumptuous demon!" Yunxiao Niangniang's phoenix eyes blazed with killing intent. The Azure Phoenix Sword gave a clear cry, and its sword light split into thousands, forming a profound sword formation that met the incoming claws!

Bixiao Niangniang sat cross-legged, placing the yao qin across her knees. Her ten fingers plucked the strings, and clear, resonant music rang through heaven and earth, transforming into countless tangible sound blades that sliced through demonic qi and disrupted the mind!

Qiongxiao Niangniang raised the golden lamp high. Its flame surged, radiating golden light that shattered evil as it attempted to disperse the demonic clouds and illuminate the path ahead!

The three sisters worked in perfect coordination, instantly clashing with the three demonic claws. Immortal light and demonic qi collided fiercely, explosions ringing without end. For a time, neither side could gain the upper hand!

As for the claw reaching for Li Su, he once again withstood it with his newly comprehended Buzhou Mountain Suppression divine ability combined with Profound Star Swirl Body Protection. Though the impact still made his blood and qi churn, he was far more composed than before. His strength had clearly increased greatly.

"Huh? This bamboo spirit has some tricks!

His body is actually this powerful? Once this old ancestor catches you, I'll make sure to properly refine you!" Beng Tu, the Demon General Li Mo, seemed even more interested in Li Su now, and his attacks became increasingly fierce.

The pressure on Li Su increased sharply. He could only rely on his formidable defenses to maneuver around the attacks, repeatedly finding himself in danger.

Seeing this, Yunxiao Niangniang swept her sword light aside, forcing back the demonic claw before her. She shouted to Li Su, "Friend, this is no place to remain!

This Demon Realm has already grown formidable. None of us can destroy it alone! We must quickly report back to our sect and ask Master or Martial Uncle Yuanshi to decide! We will hold this demon back. Leave now!"

Though unwilling, Li Su knew Yunxiao spoke the truth. Forcing his way in would only mean death.

However, just as he prepared to withdraw, another change occurred!

From the deepest part of the violently churning Demon Realm came a strange fluctuation, utterly incompatible with the surrounding demonic qi!

The fluctuation was exceedingly faint, yet it carried a trace of purity and loftiness, as though it transcended the mortal world... the aura of a Sage's Dao?!

Though it flashed by in an instant, everyone present sensed it clearly!

Beng Tu's offensive abruptly stalled as he stared uncertainly into the depths of the Demon Realm.

The Three Xiao sisters' expressions also changed. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"What was that...?" Bixiao blurted out.

"Impossible! How could there be a Sage's Dao aura in the depths of the Demon Realm?" Qiongxiao cried out as well.

Yunxiao Niangniang's gaze flickered rapidly, as though she had thought of something. Her tone became incomparably grave. "Unless... a Sage-level existence had already infiltrated it long ago, or... the formation of this Demon Realm itself is a trap targeting a Sage?!"

At those words, everyone felt a chill run down their spines!

A trap targeting a Sage?! Who could possess such immense power? Demon Ancestor Luo Hou? Or...

And that trace of Sage's Dao aura... who did it belong to? Someone trapped inside? Or... the one who set the trap?

Li Su's heart was thrown into a raging storm. Could the disappearance of Yang Jian and Long Ji really involve a game between Sage-level beings?

Just as everyone's minds reeled from this sudden development, and their attacks slowed for an instant—

Whoosh!

An exceedingly faint yet incomparably familiar strand of Jade Clarity Celestial Light suddenly shot out from an inconspicuous crack at the edge of the Demon Realm, like a candle flame in the wind. It barely gathered in midair into two incomplete words:

"Retreat... quickly..."

Immediately afterward, a hand clad in silver armor yet covered in purple demonic blood thrust out from the crack. It violently pushed out a white-clad figure who was unconscious and barely breathing, then the crack instantly sealed shut beneath powerful demonic force!

The figure pushed out was none other than—Princess Long Ji! Her face was pale as paper, and she remained unconscious. The immortal light around her had dimmed, showing that she had suffered grievous wounds, but at least she was alive!

And that hand... that silver armor... Li Su and the Three Xiao sisters all recognized it. It was Yang Jian's armor!

"Junior Brother Yang Jian!" they all cried out at once!

Yang Jian was actually still alive! And he was at the edge of the Demon Realm! He had risked his life to send Long Ji out!

"Seeking death!" Beng Tu, the Demon General Li Mo, roared in rage. One demonic claw lunged toward the unconscious Long Ji, while another viciously struck at the crack that had just sealed, clearly intending to leave Yang Jian trapped within forever!

"Don't even think about it!" Yunxiao Niangniang reacted with incredible speed. The Azure Phoenix Sword became a heaven-piercing rainbow, slashing directly at the demonic claw reaching for Long Ji! Bixiao and Qiongxiao acted at the same time, their qin music and golden light surging as they attacked Beng Tu!

Li Su's eyes reddened with fury. Disregarding everything else, he charged toward Long Ji while fully activating Buzhou Mountain Suppression, smashing it toward the demonic claw striking the crack!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several deafening explosions erupted almost simultaneously! An energy storm swept in every direction!

Yunxiao's sword forced back the demonic claw reaching for Long Ji. Li Su's Buzhou Mountain Suppression also perished together with the other claw, but the recoil injured him badly as well, and more cracks appeared across his bamboo body.

Though Bixiao and Qiongxiao disrupted the claw striking the crack and prevented it from fully succeeding, its terrifying power still passed through the nearly sealed crack and blasted into the Demon Realm!

Faintly, it seemed as if a suppressed groan came from the other side of the crack...

The crack disappeared completely.

"Junior Brother Yang Jian!" The Three Xiao sisters' faces turned deathly pale.

Li Su caught the unconscious Long Ji. Feeling the chaotic demonic qi within her body and her faint life force, he was frantic with worry. He hurriedly pressed the willow leaf bestowed by Cihang Daoren to her forehead, using its life force to protect her heart meridian and primordial spirit.

"Go!" Yunxiao Niangniang made an immediate decision. Her sword light swept out, shielding Li Su and Long Ji. "We cannot remain here! Back to Kunlun!"

The three sisters unleashed their full strength, forcing back Beng Tu, the Demon General Li Mo. They transformed into three heaven-shaking rainbows and fled thousands of miles in an instant with Li Su and Long Ji.

Behind them came Beng Tu's unwilling roar and the violent churning of demonic clouds, yet he did not give chase. It seemed something more important within the depths of the Demon Realm was restraining him.

They raced onward until they could no longer sense the terrifying aura of the Demon Realm. Only then did Yunxiao slow slightly, though her expression remained exceedingly grave.

She glanced at the unconscious Long Ji and Li Su, then said in a deep voice, "Return to Kunlun immediately! This matter must be reported at once to Master Tongtian and Martial Uncle Yuanshi! Something major is about to happen in the Primordial World!"