It was late at night, and most people were snuggling up to sleep; the Auspicious Cave was completely silent.
"Something terrible has happened! Sect Master Qi is back!"
Several heart-wrenching screams suddenly exploded in the air above the cave and echoed for a long time, violently shattering the silence.
The group, awakened by the noise, looked at each other in bewilderment. Before they could even react, they saw a flustered and disoriented guard stumble and fall to the ground, his mouth full of dust.
You Su hadn't slept, only resting with her eyes closed, but upon hearing these words, she instantly opened her eyes, utterly shocked.
Ji Lingruo was also woken up. She hadn't expected to hear that name again. Her mouth opened slightly, and she quickly grabbed You Su's arm.
In the middle of the arena, a burly middle-aged man descended from the sky, landing beside the fallen guard, lifting him up with one hand, and angrily said:
"What are you yelling about!"
"Sect Master Qi is back! Sect Master Qi is back!"
"Then why didn't you say something important!"
"He's not Sect Master Qi, he's an evil spirit! He's already fighting with Sect Master Lu outside! Sect Master Bai, hurry and save Sect Master Lu!"
!
Sect Master Bai's pupils contracted, and he casually tossed the guard aside, flying straight towards the cave entrance. At the same time, several other sect masters also rushed out, followed closely by some others of higher status.
Only then did the people in the cave realize how terrifying the guard's words were... The Sect Master Qi, who was second in cultivation in the city, had actually transformed into an evil spirit!
Everyone gasped in shock, and many people immediately began to cry out, but soon the managing cultivators came out to control the situation.
You Su frowned. The story of Qi Daodong being possessed by an evil spirit was too horrifying, and he couldn't bear to wait here. He stood up to leave, but Ji Lingruo stopped him.
"Senior brother, I'm going too!"
You Su understood and nodded. Although Ji Lingruo's best option right now was to hide here, the two of them had been through so much together that they were now inseparable.
The two of them followed the cultivators who were about to leave the cave and slipped out. As soon as they came out, Ji Lingruo saw the dazzling firelight outside the wide-open side door. There were roars and shouts outside, clearly indicating that a fierce battle was taking place.
You Su couldn't hold back any longer. She shook her head, covered her eyes with her loose hair, and opened them to look at the battle outside the door.
In the midst of the battlefield, the monster surrounded by the sect leaders, no longer resembling a human, should be the so-called Evil Transformation Qi Daodong. In his hand, he was also holding a mangled corpse, which those familiar with him could vaguely recognize as Elder Qi, whose arm had been eaten.
"Fellow Daoists! He is no longer Sect Master Qi! He is Evil Demon! Let us join forces to kill him!"
Sect Master Bai's eyes flashed with a fierce light. Just now, he still held onto a sliver of hope, but this corrupted Qi Daodong actually strangled Elder Qi to death right in front of him and even spat the arm bone he had cleaned out of his mouth at his feet.
The other four sect leaders responded solemnly, but Wu Cheng, who was blocked outside the crowd, cried out desperately:
"Master isn't an evil spirit! Please stop fighting!"
He desperately wanted to rush over and protect his master, but he was seriously injured and had been suffering from hunger and cold for four days. He had no strength to break free from the swords and blades surrounding him and could only helplessly watch as the chaotic and complicated Technique Method rained down on Qi Daodong.
Qi Daodong was like a trapped beast, frantically dealing with the unpredictable Technique Method. No matter how strong his strange physical body's regenerative ability was, it gradually couldn't keep up with the rate of its depletion. The flesh that had suddenly bulged out of his body also calmed down a bit, as if it was about to be beaten back to its original form, turning back into that thin, white-haired old man.
He seemed to realize this as well, and stopped fighting desperately with these cultivators. He stared intently at Wu Cheng, who was in pain, and let out a mournful howl. Suddenly, the towering flames went out, and the battlefield returned to darkness.
The person who lit the fire reacted quickly and immediately rekindled it.
Suddenly, Qi Daodong's speed surged, and he charged straight towards Wu Cheng.
The sect leaders hurriedly used their swords and spells to try to stop him, but these attacks were too late and could not hinder him in the slightest. Qi Daodong was desperately trying to rush towards Wu Cheng.
The guards surrounding Wu Cheng were startled by the commotion and hurriedly made way. Wu Cheng looked at the old man covered in wounds with great distress, and the corners of his mouth were slightly cracked from the excessive force.
As if he had made up his mind, he also leaped towards Qi Daodong who was rushing towards him.
Everyone was astonished, believing that Wu Cheng was surely dead. But the scene that followed left them all speechless with surprise: the utterly deranged and bloodthirsty Qi Daodong actually grabbed Wu Cheng around the waist and held him protectively in his arms.
Qi Daodong's actions hadn't stopped; he looked at Wu Ping, who was huddled in the crowd, and rushed towards him like a madman.
When Wu Ping met Qi Daodong's scarlet eyes, his legs trembled and he tried to run away:
"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!"
The people around him scattered in panic. How could the sect leaders let Qi Daodong continue to have his way? They all rushed over.
With a single swing of his sword, Sect Master Bai left a cross-shaped wound on Qi Daodong's bare back, completely reducing him to the size of an old man.
Qi Daodong was sent flying backwards onto the ground, yet he still managed to lift Wu Cheng up to protect him. It was unclear what was supporting Qi Daodong, but he still had the strength to struggle to his feet.
Sect Master Bai was about to continue his attack when a beautiful woman in the crowd, weeping bitterly, cried out, causing him to hesitate:
"Don't hurt Wu Cheng!"
Wu Cheng looked up and was shocked to see that it was his birth mother. The two looked at each other, and Wu Cheng was filled with grief.
But this brief pause gave Qi Daodong an opportunity. The red light in his eyes rose like mist, as if he were burning the last flame of his life.
He rushed into the crowd, grabbed Wu Ping who was screaming in terror, and dashed into the thick fog behind the crowd.
Before anyone could react, only one sect leader managed to cast a Method Formula, catching up with the fleeing Qi Daodong lightning speed and striking him squarely in the back.
But this still couldn't bring Qi Daodong down; he staggered slightly but continued to leave at breakneck speed.
You Su, holding Ji Lingruo, hid in a corner, watching Qi Daodong fly past them with the two of them as hostages. In a flash, their eyes met Wu Cheng's.
Wu Cheng's eyes were extremely complex, a mixture of shock, sorrow, despair, and apology.
You Su didn't understand, but his heart was in his throat. If Wu Cheng shouted a few words before leaving, pointing out that he and Ji Lingruo were also possessed, then he would face an even more dangerous situation than Wu Cheng.
But Wu Cheng turned his gaze away, silently glaring at the crowd who seemed to be bathed in light under the firelight, while he himself was plunged into the pitch-black night along with Qi Daodong.
You Su suddenly clenched his fist, feeling a strange mix of emotions. He couldn't help but recall the scene four days ago when Qi Daodong led his men to attack them because his junior sister was possessed by an evil spirit.
At the time, each of them wore an expression of righteous indignation, appearing as self-righteous messengers, leaving no room for You Su to explain themselves.
At that time, just like now, only this time, those who are seen as evil are the ones who once considered themselves righteous.