He naturally knew that Lu Zhixing was searching for something that could help him activate the Extermination Formation.
But it was far too difficult, and he would help Xiyu return to the Heavenly Realm as quickly as possible.
“Lanxing has already retrieved the first divine artifact. Guess—will you be the first to activate the Extermination Formation and sever the demonic bloodline, or will he be the first to return to the Heavenly Realm?”
“When he returns to the Heavenly Realm and discovers that his beloved little disciple has become the demon he hates most, do you think he’ll regret saving you?”
Huaixi’s every move was lethal, leaving no room for mercy, and he continued provoking Lu Zhixing with his words.
He wanted to see an expression of pain on Lu Zhixing’s face.
But there was none.
Lu Zhixing kicked Huaixi squarely in the chest and sneered. “Don’t worry. When that day comes, I’ll be the first to expose you. Didn’t you see what I looked like in my master’s heart in the second layer of the illusion? I’m innocent and pitiful in his eyes. By then, he’ll hate me—but what good will that do you?”
Huaixi had naturally seen the second layer of the illusion as well.
The person reflected from Lanxing’s mind within it was Zhiyi.
That was the realm of pleasure.
Lanxing believed that whenever he was happy, it was because he was together with Zhiyi.
Huaixi said viciously, “To harbor such filthy thoughts toward your own master. You really are disgusting.”
Huaixi kept provoking him, but Lu Zhixing remained unmoved. The two of them each had something on the other, and neither would openly expose the other.
So Lu Zhixing wasn’t worried about what Huaixi might say.
But now Huaixi had called him disgusting…
The demonic aura around Lu Zhixing went into a frenzy. He sneered, fully unleashing the demonic energy surrounding his body. A sword materialized in his hand, and he charged straight at Huaixi.
“Then what about you? Imitating my words and mannerisms just to stay by my master’s side—aren’t you disgusting too? Lord Heavenly Lord.”
Lu Zhixing sensed Xiyu and no longer wanted to continue fighting with Huaixi. His sword qi was fierce, and with one strike, he knocked the mask from Huaixi’s face.
“Or should I call you—” Lu Zhixing said mockingly, each word deliberate.
“Luo Cheng’an.”
………………………..
Forty-six hours had passed since the livestream was supposed to have been shut down. Yet the livestream showing the mass of fog was still going, and the number of viewers had only continued to increase. The number of comments was rising as well.
【There can’t be some kind of danger, right? No one has come out for this long.】
【This place is seriously creepy. Even though our Yubao has those stone pellets, this place is way too strange. With all those wild animals and this thick fog, what if they run into danger and can’t even see what’s happening?】
【Haven’t you noticed? The fog itself is dangerous. Where in the world does fog like this exist? It’s so thick it’s almost black. It’s terrifying.】
【I’m worried about Brother Lu. Where’s the production crew?! How can there be no news at all? Don’t they have communication devices?!】
【They should at least give regular updates on the guests’ conditions. Beauty Yu is still a girl. She must be terrified in a place like this!】
【Hey~ The Luo family released a statement yesterday saying that the entire Luo Shujing family had been arrested.】
【How were they sentenced?】
【They haven’t been sentenced yet, but they did uncover quite a few things. Hint: Luo Shan had more than just those two lives on his hands.】
【That whole family is a bunch of poisonous pests. Death penalty for every single one of them!】
【The livestream is about to end. Security has already been sent to the exit, and the fans are all gathered there. If I didn’t live so far away, I’d want to go too. I want to get a close-up look at Yubao’s beauty.】
【That ten million yuan prize is definitely going to be unclaimed.】
【Eighty percent of the viewers are voting for Xiyu. I suspect this is a livestream accident caused by the production crew. Could it be that the fog is too thick to film, so they announced a ten-million-yuan reward to keep the ratings from dropping? Then, once the time is up and nobody comes out, the reward simply disappears.】
【I think so too. With fog this thick, there really could be a livestream accident. They’re probably dangling ten million yuan in front of everyone just to keep the ratings up.】
【It’s not about the money anymore. No news whatsoever from any of the guests for this long. Did something really happen? The longer I watch this show, the creepier it feels.】
【Not a single person has come out. Damn, if something happened, just watch me—holy crap, holy crap!】
【Yubao is out! Damn it, when he came out, all the fog around him completely dispersed!】
【That thing on his arm… Is that the Golden Jade Bracelet?!】
The instant Xiyu broke through the illusion, Liuyun transformed back into the shape of a bracelet and settled around his arm.
When Liuyun was dormant, it took the form of a bracelet, though it was somewhat larger than an ordinary bracelet. Xiyu wore it around his arm almost like a cuff.
As the fog dispersed, the livestream finally resumed.
However, only the hidden surveillance cameras around Xiyu continued filming. The screens showing the other contestants remained completely shrouded in fog.
【Aaaaaah! Ten million in cash!!!】
【I’m shocked. The money actually got transferred in real time.】
【Holy crap, hahaha! Damn, good thing it wasn’t a livestream accident.】
【The Lost Forest really is creepy. The fog around Xiyu suddenly dispersed completely—in one second.】
【Yubao is out, so what about everyone else? Why haven’t they appeared yet?】
【Exactly! Isn’t the Golden Jade Bracelet the key to opening the passage out? There isn’t much time left. Where are the others?】
Xiyu was looking for them too, moving quickly. The fog had completely cleared from the area where he stood.
This didn’t make sense. Everyone should have been inside the illusion. The illusion demon had been driven back, so logically, the others should have come out as well.
Xiyu had been able to leave, but that didn’t mean the others could. Especially Yu Qian and Shen Linchuan. They were genuine mortals, and neither possessed Luo Cheng’an’s fate. It was almost impossible for them to get out.
Luo Cheng’an had the protection of his accumulated merit, but even he would have to put in considerable effort to escape.
As for Lu Zhixing…
Xiyu originally didn’t need to attack the illusion demon, but he was worried that Lu Zhixing might lose control of himself inside the illusion. If he went berserk, the illusion demon would not be his opponent.
But that would also injure Lu Zhixing.
Still, Xiyu had ultimately been the one to disperse the illusion demon, which proved that Lu Zhixing hadn’t gone berserk. So there shouldn’t have been any problem.
Taking all of this into consideration, Xiyu had beaten most of the illusion demon’s cultivation away.
Once the illusion demon was injured, it could no longer maintain the illusion.
Then where were they?
Where were they?!
Xiyu pinched his fingers and calculated.
They were right around here.
“Help!”
Yu Qian’s voice came from above his head.
【Damn, hahaha! Just now everyone was worried about the others, and now they’ve all come out.】
【It’s like there are ghosts! Xiyu had only just started calculating with his fingers, and suddenly everyone’s screens lit up.】
【Why are they all sprawled around, while Xiyu is the only one who’s perfectly fine?】
【What the hell happened during those forty-seven hours? Can someone tell me what happened?! Why does Shen Linchuan look so terrified?】
Hearing the voice, Xiyu looked up.
Yu Qian was hanging from a tree, weakly calling for help.
Xiyu was silent for a moment before lowering his head.
Several people he had spent so long searching for were lying scattered around him in every direction.
Xiyu sighed and snapped his fingers.
Yu Qian instantly appeared on the ground.
【…Magic… magic?!】
【No, wait. The others look like Xiyu knocked them out with drugs.】
【Forget this place being creepy. I seriously think Xiyu is the creepy one now. Even TV dramas wouldn’t dare film something like this.】
【Great. I snapped my fingers and cramped my hand.】
Xiyu’s spiritual power was now abundant. After bringing Yu Qian down from the tree, he hadn’t even lowered his hand before looking at the drone and saying seriously,
“Believe in science.”
With that, Xiyu stepped over Luo Cheng’an and Shen Linchuan, who were closest to him, and helped Lu Zhixing up.
He placed his hand against Lu Zhixing’s wrist. After sensing that the energy inside his body was stable, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ge!”
The cry came with a hint of tears.
Xiyu was just about to turn around when his wrist was suddenly caught.
Lu Zhixing slowly regained consciousness, his entire body pale and fragile.
“Xiyu, my chest hurts so much.”
【What the hell, “believe in science.” Does Yubao not feel guilty saying that himself?】
【One second: casting a spell to save someone. Next second: believe in science.】
【The hand that performed the spell is trembling slightly, hahahahaha.】
【Everyone upstairs, stop laughing. The Shura field is here!】
【Brother Lu, I’m your fan. Answer me honestly: does it really hurt or are you faking it?】
【Luo Cheng’an thought Yubao was going to help him just now. He even reached his hand out, and Yubao stepped right over him. Hahahahaha!】
【Enough! Stop laughing! I’m actually heartbroken for Luo Cheng’an!】
【When a metaphysical master enters a variety show, his happy life of keeping everyone equally satisfied turns into an illusion. The innocent and pure little brother, the beautiful and fragile husband—the balance he painstakingly maintained is completely shattered by the intervention of the livestream. Coming up next, please enjoy the urban drama “Temptation of the Lost Forest”~】
【The person above… damn, you really know how to write. More, please.】
Behind them, Luo Cheng’an was still calling out, his voice growing increasingly tearful. It seemed he had been frightened.
Xiyu thought that if Luo Cheng’an had never really had anything to fear before, that might not be the case anymore. After all, what Luo Shujing had done was enough to frighten any normal person.
Xiyu frowned slightly.
After hesitating for a moment, he wanted to go check on Luo Cheng’an first.
But the moment he moved, Lu Zhixing suddenly let out a muffled groan, as if he had fallen into immense pain.
Xiyu instinctively placed his hand against Lu Zhixing’s chest, sensing his heartbeat.
Luo Cheng’an bit his lip.
When Xiyu didn’t turn around, a flash of darkness passed through his eyes.
Lu Zhixing was weak and powerless, leaning against Xiyu’s embrace as he lifted his eyes and glanced at him.
The look was faint, carrying both triumph and mockery.
………………………………….
Brothel style!
Luo Cheng’an took a deep breath and pressed his hand against the ground. He was just about to speak again when someone suddenly grabbed him and hauled him up.
As the only person besides Xiyu who was still standing, Yu Qian very responsibly helped Luo Cheng’an to his feet.
Xiyu’s entire attention was on Lu Zhixing. Seeing him frown in pain, he pressed down on his chest, spiritual power flowing from his hand into his body.
“Feeling better?”
Lu Zhixing sensed the warmth and gradually relaxed. He gently shook his head.
“I’m much better now.”
Xiyu couldn’t determine the cause. Lu Zhixing’s demonic aura and spiritual power were both very stable.
He estimated that Lu Zhixing had only just come out of the illusion and was physically weak. The pain caused by the clash between his spiritual power and demonic aura was probably something he was unable to resist.
Seeing that Lu Zhixing was feeling better, Xiyu finally helped him up from the ground.
Yu Qian was busy running back and forth. After helping Lu Zhixing steady himself, she hurried over to help Shen Linchuan.