“Awakened?” Fu Ronghua was taken aback.
“It’s the Soul Binding Technique…” Rong Shuang’s expression changed drastically as she suddenly looked at Shaoyang Zhenren, her gaze filled with anger. “Someone actually used the Soul Binding Technique on her!”
Tian Fangfang, bewildered, asked, “What is the Soul Binding Technique?”
“The Soul Binding Technique is a spell from the cultivation world where one’s primordial soul is split off and bound to an object. Only those with a cultivation of Astral Projection or higher can perform it. Since the primordial soul is precious, it is rare for cultivators to bind it elsewhere. This hairpin of Zanxing’s…” Meng Ying, usually calm, couldn’t hide her astonishment. “It has someone else’s primordial soul bound to it, which blocked the lethal attack just now.”
If the substitute talisman Mu Cengxiao gave Zanxing earlier could only block one attack and was already very precious, then this hairpin was even more valuable. Unless the primordial soul bound to it perishes, it would always bear the brunt of the most severe attack on behalf of Zanxing.
It used its own primordial soul to protect the owner of the hairpin.
“Damn it!” Daoist Lingxin’s face turned ashen as he picked up the Demon-Subduing Pestle. “If the Ten Thousand Kill Formation can’t kill her, I’ll do it myself! How dare a demoness be so arrogant!”
Before he finished speaking, the Divine Fire Pillars in the Ten Thousand Kill Formation suddenly trembled, as if something was about to break free from the earth. Then, with a loud boom, the divine fire in the center suddenly spread, and a silver light appeared in the night sky. This silver light, with the force to crush thousands of troops, surged into the Divine Fire Pillar.
“Who’s there!” Rong Shuang’s aunt shouted angrily.
Countless silver-white snowflakes scattered from the heart of the formation.
The moonlight was cold, the snowflakes were cool, and the wind and snow extinguished the divine fire in the columns. Meanwhile, the silver shards of moonlight gently caressed the faces of those within the formation.
All was silent.
“Nine Paths of Flowing Snow?” Xuan Lingzi was taken aback. “Seventh Junior Brother?”
As the ice and fire gradually dissipated, the young man standing in the formation, dressed in pearl-colored robes, gleamed in the night. His crimson headband was even hotter than the fire. His features were like a painting, coldly sweeping over everyone before finally landing on the people in the formation, where his gaze suddenly softened.
“…Gu Baiying?” Pu Tao murmured. “Wasn’t he in seclusion?”
Others didn’t know about Gu Baiying’s spiritual pulse but were aware that he had reached a crucial stage of cultivation and was in seclusion. They never expected him to suddenly appear here and breach the formation.
Zanxing felt as if the fiery torment had ceased, and someone had helped her up. A cool, refreshing aura enveloped her. It was like the first drop of rain to a dying traveler in the desert, the cool snow melting into spring rain, soaking the parched earth and reviving the withered saplings.
She had found a chance to survive against all odds.
She slightly moved her fingers, her eyes slowly opening, and her ears began to pick up faint sounds. She hesitantly parted her lips and tentatively called out, “Martial Uncle?”
The young man looked down at the person in his arms.
She always smiled.
Happy or unhappy, she quickly came to terms with it and smiled. This serene smile made her look vibrant, different from the lifeless and monotonous disciples in the sect.
When in Li’er Country. in Wufan City, at the treasure trove, every time it seemed like she was in a dire situation, she was indeed in a desperate state. But her eyes always remained bright, like stars shining eternally in the pitch-black night sky.
Now, however, her entire body was marked by burns, and her eyes seemed shrouded in a layer of gray mist, obscuring the emotions within.
Her spine, pierced by the Dragon Bind Spike, was oozing blood, wetting his hands. She was still wearing the emerald-green dress from her birthday, now scorched and tattered, no longer possessing its former brilliance.
She had become a different person altogether.
The young man held her, lowering his gaze. After a long while, he said, “As I thought, you idiot, you’re only capable of taking a beating, unable to fight back even in death.”
“Martial Uncle?” Zanxing couldn’t clearly hear what he was saying but felt the coolness of his embrace, which made her burnt body instinctively want to lean in.
“Gu Baiying!” Daoist Lingxin finally snapped back to his senses and shouted angrily, “What are you trying to do? Are you siding with this demoness?” He raised the Demon-Subduing Pestel, attempting to enter the Ten Thousand Kill Formation, but was repelled by the formation as soon as he approached.
The myriad of killing moves hadn’t ended, and the formation hadn’t closed, so he couldn’t enter.
“Damn it!” Daoist Lingxin was furious.
Fu Ronghua pondered and asked, “Why can’t Lingxin enter the Ten Thousand Kill Formation, but Gu Baiying can?”
“Don’t forget, he is the son of Qinghua,” Rong Shuang replied. “The Demon King was personally slain by Qinghua, and the heart blood was also taken by Qinghua. As a descendant of Qinghua, he must possess some extraordinary abilities. It’s likely that the Soul Binding Hairpin was also given to this demoness by him.” She took a step forward, her gaze compelling. “Gu Baiying, you used the Soul Binding Technique to save this demoness. Did you already know about her demon identity?”
Gu Baiying coldly responded, “Whether I knew or not, what does it matter?”
“If you didn’t know, considering your youth and lack of understanding of the situation, I won’t pursue the charge of harboring demons. Erase the Soul Binding Technique, and once the Ten Thousand Kill Formation ends, this matter will be forgiven.” Rong Shuang fixed her gaze on him. Since they couldn’t enter the Ten Thousand Kill Formation for now, they needed to resolve Zanxing’s situation first before discussing anything else.
The young man chuckled softly, his gaze filled with disdain. “What if I say no?”
“You!” Rong Shuang was infuriated.
Gu Baiying gently set Zanxing down and lifted the Xiu Gu Spear. Just as Zanxing had once stood in front of him in Li’er Country, he now positioned himself in front of her.
The silver-white shaft of the Xiu Gu Spear was suddenly adorned with crimson streaks, like exquisite embroidery on bone, with each thread piercing deeply and glowing scarlet. The primordial power emanating from it shocked everyone present.
They all knew that Qinghua’s son must have exceptional cultivation, but they hadn’t expected it to be so outstanding. Just by raising his spear, one could feel the immense spiritual energy, rivaling even the so-called sect masters.
“Junior Brother…” Xuan Lingzi was also astonished. Gu Baiying had never shown his true cultivation due to his spiritual vein issues. Now that his spiritual veins had fully recovered, he was even more formidable than imagined.
“Yang Zanxing, I’ve already told you,” Gu Baiying lifted his chin slightly, his gaze as arrogant as ever. His crimson headband fluttered in the wind, like a blazing fire, scorching in its intensity. “In this world, if someone bullies you, you fight back. Otherwise, it’s embarrassing to say you’re my, Gu Baiying’s, disciple.”
“Gu Baiying!” Daoist Lingxin shouted angrily. “Are you trying to rebel? You’re openly opposing the cultivation world for the sake of this demoness!”
“That’s not quite right,” Gu Baiying smirked, his gaze devoid of warmth. “Isn’t it natural for elders to take care of juniors?”