Chapter 77

Shan Heyuan felt a sense of relief and looked in the direction where the spatial fluctuations had occurred.

He thought the spatial fluctuations were someone coming for revenge, but to his surprise, after the fluctuations subsided, Lin Ji, covered in blood, rolled out of it.

This young and handsome disciple usually wore white robes, but now his white robes were stained bright red with blood, and his dark eyes were filled with hatred, which he did not hide even when he saw Shan Heyuan and the others.

"Lin Ji?!" Shan Heyuan exclaimed in surprise, rushing forward. "What happened?"

"We were ambushed by Ji Li at Chongshan City on Changlin Island," Lin Ji said, his voice thick with the stench of bloodshed. "Sheng Chao covered my delivery of the message."

Shan Heyuan: "Ji Li Leaving the Mountain?!"

Ji Li has gone mad? Why would she ambush them? This thought flashed through Shan Heyuan's mind, but he quickly realized that it was true; Lin Ji would never lie about something like this.

That Sheng Chao —most likely brings misfortune than good fortune.

Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng exchanged a subtle glance, both seeing the shock and worry in each other's eyes.

Shan Heyuan: "Where is Ji Li? Shen Duheng and I are going over there to check!"

Lin Ji grabbed Shan Heyuan's arm and said with difficulty, "No, Instructor Shan, you can't go. Ji Li's cultivation has increased again. If you go, you'll only be throwing your lives away. You must protect yourselves."

Shan Heyuan said, "Lin Ji, you're injured. Heal your wounds first. We'll handle this matter. We need to inform Palace Master Yun and the others first."

As he spoke, Shan Heyuan took out a bottle of pills and poured out one for Lin Ji.

Lin Ji was also unable to hold on, and fell asleep after taking the pill.

Ji Li's intervention was a major event, Shan Heyuan immediately contacted Yun Junping.

Yun Junping quickly arrived with Realm Spirit, and his first words to Shan Heyuan were. "We just received news that Ji Li killed fourteen Nascent Spirit Transformation cultivators on Changlin Island; they were all cultivators who went to help."

Shan Heyuan: "Has he gone mad?! Or has he cultivated some kind of Devil Cultivation Method?"

Yun Junping: "It's unclear for now, but all the high-level cultivators on Changlin Island are in a state of panic and are fleeing the island. Sword Reverence Sect sealed off the mountain and is not doing anything about it. We sent people to inquire, but we didn't find out anything. However, Guangping Continent has already descended into chaos."

Shen Duheng calmly interjected, "I'm going to find him."

Everyone knew that "he" referred to Ji Li.

Shan Heyuan said seriously, "I disagree! This is not a good time."

Yun Junping immediately added, "Sect Master Shen, please calm down. It's not too late to go after we've ascertained the situation."

Shan Heyuan: "Ji Li certainly wouldn't have gone mad for no reason. We're short-handed, so we ask Palace Master Yun to help us find out what's happening at the Sword Reverence Sect and whether Ji Li has recently been practicing any special Cultivation Method that can absorb other people's cultivation."

Yun Junping nodded. "Senior Shan, rest assured, we have already sent people to investigate."

Shan Heyuan took a deep breath and turned to look at everyone. "The most important thing for us now is to stay calm and not lose our composure."

Whether they were still in shock or had other thoughts, no one answered.

Shan Heyuan's mind was in turmoil, and he didn't care about the other people's answers.

At this moment, Shan Heyuan was certain that they couldn't escape this time.

They simply didn't have time to slowly come up with a solution.

Even if the circumstances give them some time, their enemies don't give them much time left.

Suppressing his turbulent emotions, Shan Heyuan quickly arranged the tasks one by one.

He originally thought that he and Shen Duheng would be the first two to set off to find Ji Li.

Unexpectedly, two hours later, Jiang Zhi, who was in charge of guarding Lin Ji, rushed over to report, "Lin Ji has disappeared; he may have gone to seek revenge on Ji Li!"

Chapter 77

Jiang Zhi felt quite guilty about Lin Ji's disappearance. "If only I had kept a closer eye on him."

Li Jian put his arm around his shoulder and said in a deep voice, "It's not your fault. Given Lin Ji's relationship with Sheng Chao, he would have gone no matter what. Now we have to see if there's any way to salvage the situation."

Shan Heyuan: "We've already asked the people from the Spirit Jade Palace to go look for him. Lin Ji no longer has a space talisman, so it will take him at least several days to get from here to Changlin Island. The people from the Spirit Jade Palace should be able to stop him in time."

Jiang Zhi: "I hope so."

Shan Heyuan: "Even if something unexpected happens and he fails to stop Ji Li, Ji Li won't stay in the same place. By the time he gets there, Ji Li will have already left. With his abilities, he probably won't be able to catch up with Ji Li for the time being."

Jiang Zhi murmured, "Now, not having enough strength has actually become a lucky thing."

Li Jian patted him on the shoulder, offering silent comfort.

The news of Ji Li's mass killings quickly caused a huge uproar in the cultivation world.

Most high-level cultivators were terrified.

Ji Li's character is questionable, but his strength is truly formidable. He's even fallen out with the Sword Reverence Sect, so he has no scruples now. If he wants to kill someone, he might actually come looking for trouble.

Things turned out exactly as everyone had guessed.

On the fifth day, another message arrived: forty-three cultivators from the Proliferation Sect in Wei Province had been killed, including their sect leader Mao Jingbai and twenty-eight cultivators at the Nascent Soul or above.

Ji Li killed the Proliferation Sect, and there is ample evidence and witness testimony.

According to surviving disciples, Ji Li did indeed cultivate Devil Cultivation Method, and after killing someone, she would drain the cultivator's cultivation to strengthen herself.

Ji Li actually used high-level disciples from the cultivation world as elixirs!

After confirmation, the cultivation world raised its level of vigilance against him, with major sects sparing no Spirit Stone to activate their mountain-protecting formations to prevent Ji Li's sneak attacks.

I just don't know if it will work.

That evening, Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng shared a room.

Shen Duheng wiped his sword.

This silver-white sword was made by Yang Ji. After years of refinement, it is completely different from the original sword blank.

Shan Heyuan loved watching Shen Duheng hold this sharp sword. The long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles gripped the delicate hilt, creating a striking contrast. Every time he saw it, he couldn't take his eyes off it.

Shan Heyuan sat down next to Shen Duheng.

Shen Duheng stopped wiping his sword. The light from the Spirit Artifact lamp shone on their faces, revealing the gentle look in Shen Duheng's eyes.

Shan Heyuan: "I know I can't persuade you anymore."

Shen Duheng reached out and grasped Shan Heyuan by the back of the neck, pulling him close and kissing him. "If our jobs were switched, you would be the same choice I made."

Shan Heyuan was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to go with you. If you agree, anything else is fine."

Shen Duheng: "Alright, we'll share the same bed in life and the same coffin in death."

Shan Heyuan chuckled, "Perhaps we'll be reduced to ashes, so how could we possibly share a coffin?"

Shen Duheng: "Then let's die together in this world."

"That works." Shan Heyuan leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I wonder what happens after death. If I can be reincarnated, I'd like to go back to my hometown. You'll come with me this time."

Shen Duheng: "Alright. We'll get married again in our next life."

Shan Heyuan laughed, "Then you'll have to work hard to pursue me. But don't worry, my taste is pretty consistent. If we meet again in the next life, I think I'll like you too, so it won't be hard to win you over."

Shen Duheng turned and kissed him again. "Okay."

It all started with this kiss.

Their clothes were thrown under the bed, piled together, indistinguishable from each other.

The two of them didn't distinguish between "you" and "me".

The atmosphere of despair made Shan Heyuan instinctively want to grab onto something, and then grab onto something more.

If we can't be born together, then let's die together.

Shan Heyuan left Jade Slip for Jiang Zhi and Li Jian, asking them to continue managing the Wunuo Grain.

Not knowing if he would ever return after this departure, Shan Heyuan didn't say it to his face, lest it cause him unnecessary sadness.

Finally, they were given the Realm Spirit.

The two sides parted ways outside Fujiang City.

Shan Heyuan said to Realm Spirit, "That's enough for now. Farewell."

Realm Spirit gripped the sword at her waist, paused for a moment, and said, "If you haven't returned in a few days..."