Jing Zhan!
Xiao Lingyu and the Old Ghost Head never expected that the one blocking their path would actually be Jing Zhan. The shock was so great that both of them froze in place, staring blankly as the spatial rift slowly sealed shut.
Jing Zhan didn’t even bother turning around to acknowledge them. Instead, he calmly sized up Quan Wanjie across from him. The black qi that had been wildly surging moments ago became strangely docile upon reaching Jing Zhan, circling him carefully before slowly seeping into his body.
Quan Wanjie’s expression darkened. His cold gaze swept over Jing Zhan.
“Who are you?”
Jing Zhan ignored the question and instead asked, “What is your relationship with Leng Qin?”
The moment he heard the name Leng Qin, a flicker of vigilance flashed through Quan Wanjie’s eyes. His aura instantly sharpened. Jing Zhan gave him an impatient glance and snorted lightly. In that instant, an overwhelming pressure descended like a collapsing sky, crushing down on Quan Wanjie until he could barely breathe. Not daring to be careless, Quan Wanjie immediately mobilized all his spiritual energy to resist the pressure.
A trace of amusement flickered in Jing Zhan’s eyes as he gradually increased the pressure, watching Quan Wanjie go from composed to struggling, his spiritual power nearing exhaustion. Finding it dull, Jing Zhan was just about to act when Quan Wanjie suddenly shouted:
“Senior! I’ll talk—I’ll tell you everything!”
Jing Zhan sneered. “I’m no longer interested in hearing it.”
With that, he pointed a finger. A thin black line shot out like lightning toward Quan Wanjie. Caught off guard, Quan Wanjie could only watch helplessly as it pierced straight into his mind.
“Ah—!”
A blood-curdling scream rang out. Quan Wanjie’s face turned ashen as his body stiffened and collapsed to the ground—dead on the spot. The black line flew back out of his head and swiftly returned to Jing Zhan, winding carefully around his finger before gradually disappearing.
Xiao Lingyu saw clearly—the black line was thin and writhing, fading away bit by bit.
Beside the corpse, Xu Xuan knelt trembling uncontrollably. From the moment Jing Zhan appeared, he had recognized him as the ancient demon imprisoned in the forbidden grounds of the Yuntian Sect. How had he been released? Why did he know Xiao Lingyu and even stand in front of him protectively?
Countless questions flooded Xu Xuan’s mind, yet he didn’t dare voice a single one. He wanted to flee, but his body trembled so violently he couldn’t move. Watching Jing Zhan casually kill Quan Wanjie, Xu Xuan’s legs gave out completely. He dropped to his knees, his entire body pressed to the ground, curling up as small as possible in abject submission.
Jing Zhan glanced at him indifferently. He remembered this person—someone who had once been tricked into entering the forbidden grounds by Shi Ge. Sweeping his divine sense over him, Jing Zhan discovered, somewhat unexpectedly, that Xu Xuan’s spiritual energy was pitifully scarce—his cultivation completely crippled. His body was covered in wounds. Jing Zhan cast a thoughtful glance at the corpse nearby, a trace of disgust flashing across his face.
Xiao Lingyu also noticed Xu Xuan’s condition. Thinking of Quan Wanjie’s peculiar proclivities, he frowned.
Looking at the trembling figure on the ground, Xiao Lingyu suddenly recalled his previous life. Back then, Xu Xuan had carried himself like a pure white lotus—aloof and elegant. Even when supposedly mistreated, he remained graceful and pitifully charming. Never had he appeared as lowly as he did now, kneeling in the dirt.
In that past life, Xiao Lingyu had disliked Xu Xuan—but deep down, hadn’t he also envied him? Simply standing there, Xu Xuan could draw everyone’s attention. Who could have imagined that in this life, Xu Xuan would fall so low, into the dust?
His spiritual root was destroyed. He would never cultivate again—only live out his life as a mortal.
With that thought, Xiao Lingyu cast him a complicated glance before turning away. Their entanglement across two lifetimes would likely end here. They would have nothing more to do with each other.
Sensing the ambiguous gazes upon him, Xu Xuan pressed himself even lower. Alongside his fear, a deep resentment surged within him when he thought of Xiao Lingyu.
Just moments ago, he had watched Xiao Lingyu struggle desperately to escape Quan Wanjie. Yet now, their positions had reversed—he was the one groveling, begging for mercy.
Xu Xuan clenched his fists tightly.
He was unwilling. His cultivation was gone. He was no longer a lofty cultivator, only a lowly mortal. He refused to accept it!
But no one present cared what he thought.
Jing Zhan’s gaze swept over him, and he spoke coldly: “Scram.”
To Xu Xuan, that single word was like divine music. His limbs weak, he scrambled to his feet and staggered toward the marketplace. Xiao Lingyu did not miss the hatred in Xu Xuan’s final glance.
Meeting that look, Xiao Lingyu curled his lips into a faint, mocking smile.
The Old Ghost Head watched Xu Xuan flee and muttered, “You actually let him go? Since when did you become so soft-hearted? He stirred up that pervert against us—I thought you’d never let him off.”
Xiao Lingyu shot him a glance. “If someone dies, it’s over. But if they live—watching those they hate stand high above them, being tormented day after day by resentment and unwillingness—that’s the greatest suffering.”
The Old Ghost Head was about to argue when Jing Zhan slowly turned around. He immediately shut his mouth, staring at Jing Zhan warily.
Jing Zhan snorted and shifted his gaze to the Zhu Yurun in his arms.
Xiao Lingyu grew alert. Stepping forward subtly, he blocked Jing Zhan’s view and said respectfully, “Many thanks, Senior, for your help.”
Jing Zhan gave him a half-smile. “No need to thank me. Just remember to have Chu Mingwei repay the favor.”
Xiao Lingyu choked, momentarily speechless.
Jing Zhan walked past him toward the Old Ghost Head. The latter instinctively wanted to retreat but forced himself to stand firm, puffing out his chest and glaring at Jing Zhan.
Jing Zhan sneered, completely ignoring him, his gaze lingering on Zhu Yurun.
Uneasy, Xiao Lingyu tried to block his view again, but Jing Zhan shot him a sideways glance, lips curling slightly. Under that gaze, Xiao Lingyu awkwardly halted, grumbling inwardly: What exactly are you planning to do? At least say something clearly!
As if hearing his thoughts, Jing Zhan raised his hand and plunged it into his own chest. When he withdrew it, a faintly glowing fragment was held between his fingers.
The Heavenly Mechanism Disk!
Xiao Lingyu stared in shock, a bold thought flashing through his mind—yet he hardly dared believe it.
Jing Zhan glanced at the fragment, then casually stuffed it into Zhu Yurun’s mouth.
Xiao Lingyu was stunned. Of all the thoughts racing through his mind, the most immediate was—That’s not sanitary! It’s so big—what if he chokes?!
Only after the fragment vanished did Xiao Lingyu snap back. “Senior, you also heard that news?”
Jing Zhan smirked faintly. “Not only did I hear it—I also know that the Spirit Insight Pig likely won’t live much longer.”
Xiao Lingyu frowned. “Zhu Yurun won’t die.”
Jing Zhan’s mockery deepened.
Xiao Lingyu said coldly, “What’s needed to save the lower realm is only the spatial domain within him. When the time comes, I’ll find a way to give Zhu Yurun another body.”
“Another body?” Jing Zhan raised a brow. “Would it still be a Spirit Insight Pig?”
Xiao Lingyu answered firmly, “Regardless of the body, he is still Zhu Yurun.”
Jing Zhan studied him for a moment. “That’s one way. But even so, the original body is best for him.”
(What he didn’t say was: Zhu Yurun is already this foolish—if he has to start over, who knows how long it would take him to cultivate again.)
After glancing at the still-sleeping Zhu Yurun, Jing Zhan suddenly said, “What if I told you there’s a way to save him—without changing his body?”
“What?!” Xiao Lingyu and the Old Ghost Head exclaimed together.
Ignoring their shock, Jing Zhan continued, “My clan possesses a sacred artifact—the Creation Pearl. It embodies the endless vitality of creation. If the Spirit Insight Pig is protected by it when the spatial domain is stripped away, he will remain unharmed.”
Xiao Lingyu’s eyes lit up—then hesitated. Jing Zhan added, “It’s not with me. But I am about to retrieve it.”
“I’ll go with you,” Xiao Lingyu said immediately.
The Old Ghost Head hesitated, then added, “I’ll go too.”
Jing Zhan shot him a cold look. “Did I say I’d bring you?”
The Old Ghost Head was speechless. Though he wanted to retort, he thought of Qing Ming being caught between him and Jing Zhan. Gritting his teeth, he decided he had to follow—perhaps he could ease the tension between them.
With that resolve, as soon as Jing Zhan tore open a spatial rift, the Old Ghost Head was the first to jump in.
Remembering how he fared in the void before, Xiao Lingyu hurried after him. Jing Zhan frowned, then relaxed, letting out a cold laugh as he followed—If Chu Qingyi insists on courting trouble, that’s his own affair.
As the three disappeared, the rift slowly closed.
Moments later, another rift opened at the same spot. Qing Ming and Chu Mingwei stepped out, their expressions anxious. One glance was enough to know—they had missed each other again.
Sensing the lingering demonic aura, Qing Ming’s expression darkened. “Jing Zhan.”
Chu Mingwei’s face was equally grim. “Lingyu fought someone—his spiritual fluctuations are still here.”
They exchanged a look, the same thought rising in both their minds.
Qing Ming tore open another rift, extending his divine sense to track Jing Zhan’s trail. After a moment, he looked toward the far west in surprise.
Following him, Chu Mingwei chased after, worry gnawing at his heart.
Jing Zhan was heading toward Yuanxi Kingdom—why take his junior brother there?
Regret surged within him. This time, once he found his junior brother, no matter what Xiao Lingyu wanted, he would agree—so long as he could earn his forgiveness.