Chapter 18
As the barrier collapsed, Pill-Forming Peak returned to the mortal realm. External spiritual energy rushed in, creating howling spiritual mists, while the daylight-bright illumination from outside could be seen flowing in through the night.
The lights were blurred by the spiritual mist, but Nie Yinzhi could see countless figures standing ready outside with her naked eyes. To prevent the demon from wreaking havoc on the world, probably every cultivator of the Cloud Scripture Sect had armed themselves for battle.
It wasn't just the Cloud Scripture Sect, but other immortal sects as well.
The pressure from high-level cultivators surrounded them. From heaven to earth, the Cloud Scripture Sect was filled with a tense, murderous atmosphere that almost became tangible, like the final calm before a storm.
Divine consciousness surged in like waves from outside.
"Slay the demon and the witch, protect the peace of the world."
The divine consciousness of countless disciples merged into an unstoppable torrent, rushing towards them. Even Gu Jiang's movements became sluggish in this mass of fury, and he frowned in annoyance.
Nie Yinzhi clutched Gu Jiang's clothes, holding her breath as her heart pounded wildly, feeling both nervous and inexplicably excited. Finally, that destructive energy that yearned for chaos emerged from deep within her bones. Her eyes reflected the dragon-like lights within the Cloud Scripture Sect, gleaming with an almost wicked brightness.
Just kill them all, she thought. Kill every last one of them.
This uncontrollable thought arose in Nie Yinzhi's mind, making her blood boil. The controlling spell for Gu Jiang was already hovering in her mind, but just before she could activate it, she suddenly hesitated.
The Symbiotic Curse was a spell the Ruan Family used to control others. When the Head of Ruan Family had cast it on Gu Jiang, he must have wanted to turn him into a killing weapon.
But Gu Jiang wasn't a weapon; he was a person.
Nie Yinzhi didn't want to control him like this. To kill so many people across the mountain, to go against such mass fury - he was so lazy, he would surely find it troublesome.
Her heated mind cleared for a moment due to this hesitation, and Nie Yinzhi realized her excitement was somewhat abnormal - she wasn't usually such a bloodthirsty person.
Had she been influenced by Zhu Yan as well?
Nie Yinzhi bit her tongue hard, using the pain to pull herself out of that unusual emotional state, and said seriously, "Gu Jiang, I'm not quite right. If I try to force you to kill people, you can resist me."
While she was still clear-headed, Nie Yinzhi quickly recited a mental incantation that flowed into the curse mark on her wrist, "I give you the power to refuse my commands."
Gu Jiang lowered his gaze, his fingertips brushing her lips as he looked into her eyes with a complex expression, asking, "You don't want to control me?" He could feel Nie Yinzhi's body trembling with excitement, and had thought she would be happy to command him.
"It's impossible not to want to," Nie Yinzhi said helplessly. Being able to hold such a powerful person in the palm of her hand, to control him at will - just thinking about it created a psychological thrill that was hard to resist. "But I can hold back. I care more about how you feel; I don't want to force you."
Nie Yinzhi blinked and asked sincerely, "Are you touched?"
Gu Jiang silently stared at her for a while before his lips curled into a smile. "Deeply touched." He pried open Nie Yinzhi's mouth, letting his demonic energy slip inside to wrap around her soft tongue, tasting the bloody flavor in her mouth.
Nie Yinzhi: "???" Touched my foot, is this really appropriate right now?
Was something wrong with this person? Was her blood all he could think about? Nie Yinzhi felt quite wronged.
The cold demonic energy entangled her tongue, leaving her unable to either close or open her mouth, and she couldn't spit it out either. It felt like... like being forcefully kissed.
Nie Yinzhi frowned, grabbed his hair in annoyance and tugged at it, speaking unclearly, "You... stop being so... outrageous..." Her face flushed red, and her half-closed eyes gleamed with moisture.
Another strand of demonic energy wrapped around the white bead on Nie Yinzhi's wrist, absorbing a bit of Five-Colored Dew. The demonic energy in her mouth began to taste sweet - the flavor of the Five-Colored Dew.
So that's how the demon had been healing her wounds before - using Five-Colored Dew. She had wondered how demonic energy could have healing properties.
Seeing the murderous intent fade from her eyes, Gu Jiang healed the wound on her tongue before curling his fingers to withdraw the strand of demonic energy. "Your state of mind is so easily influenced by others. You're really too weak."
The urge to kill everyone had long since vanished from Nie Yinzhi's heart.
Surely the demon hadn't done this just to distract her? Trading his dignity to avoid a fight? That wasn't necessary.
Nie Yinzhi's gaze fell on the demonic energy retreating from her mouth, the ribbon-like darkness still containing suspicious moisture.
Her face burning red, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into, she glared at him fiercely before burying her face in his chest, refusing to make a sound.
[Can we be serious? There's a battle coming! I'm tired of all this sweetness, it's too much!]
[Help, I can't believe this move - kissed by demonic energy, so many feelings!]
[Demon, you're so weird!]
[No way, don't tell me Gu Jiang didn't realize this action was basically forcing a kiss? Is he actually kind of stupid?!]
[Wasn't Pill-Forming Peak already connected to the outside world? Why haven't the two sides met yet? Is time flowing differently for them?]
Nie Yinzhi quickly realized something was off about their surroundings, as if there was a spatial and temporal displacement between them and others. Gu Jiang led her out of Pill-Forming Peak, walking past the elders standing guard outside.
None of them noticed the pair. Everyone remained tense, staring at Pill-Forming Peak, their attention completely drawn by the sword Gu Jiang had left behind.
The waves of divine consciousness passing between the powerful cultivators swept past them as if they were merely flowers, rocks, or grass.
Behind the high-level cultivators were the disciples of Cloud Scripture Sect in battle formation. Their soaring sword intent resonated with the protective formation above the mountain. Walking through their battle-ready fury was like moving against a current.
Nie Yinzhi looked at Gu Jiang questioningly.
"Maintain a peaceful state of mind, think of yourself as tumbleweed in the wind," Gu Jiang explained leisurely, smiling. "In everyone's eyes, we're just a passing breeze or a falling leaf. At such a tense moment, no one pays attention to these insignificant things. The more focused they are, the more they overlook such ordinary occurrences."
Isn't this just a method of escape?
For a great demon who struck fear into the hearts of the entire cultivation world to be so proficient at stealth - Gu Jiang must have used this method to slip away many times before. He seemed quite happy to share, "This is what this master has comprehended through deep contemplation. Would you like to learn?"
Nie Yinzhi paused before asking: "What about your sword?"
Gu Jiang replied indifferently: "Let's leave it at Cloud Scripture Sect. If we need it later, we can always call it back."
And if they don't need it, they'll just abandon it? Nie Yinzhi suddenly felt a bit sorry for the little red sword.
Meanwhile, as demonic energy leaked from Pill-Forming Peak, the crowd's agitation became impossible to suppress. This must be what they meant by 'the fury of the masses is hard to resist' - even the high-level cultivators guarding the outskirts of Pill-Forming Peak began to waver.
Under these circumstances, negotiation was impossible.
At this critical moment, the protective formation above Cloud Scripture Sect began to hum. Countless streams of light gathered in the sky, and the swords in the hands of all Cloud Scripture Sect disciples trembled simultaneously.
There, at the convergence point of the light streams, a figure hung high in the sky, wearing the sect's cyan uniform and a silver mask, their clothes billowing in the spiritual energy - it was Meng Jin.
Yan Yi realized what he was about to do and shouted, his voice rolling like thunder past everyone's ears, "Not good, retreat quickly!"
The protective formation had been established by the sect's founding ancestor when Cloud Scripture Sect was first built, incorporating the sword energy of all the sect's cultivators. The sword formation that had previously sealed Pill-Forming Peak was merely a tiny fraction of the protective formation's power, barely one hair from nine oxen.
When this sword strike fell, it wouldn't just affect Pill-Forming Peak - several neighboring mountains would suffer collateral damage. The sword energy disturbance around Cloud Scripture Sect would take at least ten months to settle. This was an extremely wide-range attack method that should never be used lightly, let alone directed at the sect's own territory.
Even though Meng Jin was Sang Wumian's personal disciple and was being groomed as the next sect leader, he shouldn't have had the authority to use the protective formation before his succession.
"Sang Wumian, this is absolutely absurd!" Yan Yi was furious as he swiftly retreated while gathering nearby disciples in his sleeves.
For a moment, sword lights and human shadows churned into chaos like a boiling pot.
Meng Jin raised his sword high, its tip merging with the mountain-protecting formation. Within the formation, tens of thousands of sword lights emerged, pointing directly at the demonic energy spreading across Pill-Forming Peak.
He had originally planned to wait until the barrier at Pill-Forming Peak broke and the elders from various sects were locked in a life-and-death battle with the demon before stepping in. He hadn't expected these spineless cowards to watch the barrier break without making a move. Even at this point, they were still hesitating.
Meng Jin removed his mask, revealing a grotesque scar that started from his left eye corner, cut across his nose bridge, and stretched to his right temple – courtesy of Nie Yinzhi. Today, he was determined not to let her leave Cloud Scripture Sect alive.
Nie Yinzhi suddenly felt a terrifying force lock onto her. Her body trembled, and every hair stood on end.
"I..." she opened her mouth, wanting to say "I have a bad feeling about this," but before she could finish, Gu Jiang had already placed his hand on her neck and pulled her into his embrace.
High in the sky, Meng Jin tilted his head slightly toward a particular direction and whispered, "Junior Sister Nie, so that's where you've been hiding."
The sword intent from the mountain-protecting formation was too much for his cultivation level to bear. Blood began flowing from Meng Jin's seven apertures, and his sword-wielding right hand was already a bloody mess. His sword tip carried the momentum of thunder as it struck down heavily.
Gu Jiang appeared on a high tower, his left hand firmly holding Nie Yinzhi while his right hand reached into the void. "Red Leaf."
The demonic energy spreading across Pill-Forming Peak suddenly flowed back into the long blade. Red Leaf rose from the ground, pierced through space, and landed in his hand.
Gu Jiang's five fingers gripped the blade handle as he swung it to meet the thunderous sword light descending from above.
Aliali: 6748d4edc4f3f33ac47eb225Nie Yinzhi, completely blocked by his sleeve, couldn't see anything. After an earth-shattering boom, there was a moment of absolute silence before countless metallic sounds filled the air.
Cold, passionate, austere – numerous different sword sounds trickled past her ears like a torrent. Nie Yinzhi had once been one of them.
These sword intents scattered into the mountains of Cloud Scripture Sect. Those with masters automatically returned to their owners, while the masterless ones left only a sword cry before dissipating into heaven and earth.
Nie Yinzhi's ears were ringing. After what seemed like an eternity, she was dizzy when Gu Jiang pulled her out and placed a blade in her hands, its tip pointing at the still-bleeding Meng Jin.
Gu Jiang stood behind her and released her hand, "You decide whether you want to..."
Without hesitation, Nie Yinzhi thrust the blade through Meng Jin. Only after making sure he was completely dead did she turn to Gu Jiang with satisfaction, "Done. What were you saying earlier about wanting or not wanting?"
Gu Jiang: "..." After a moment of silence, he helplessly changed his words: "Whether you want to get something to eat?"
Nie Yinzhi glanced at Meng Jin, feeling completely nauseated. "No."
She pursed her lips and glared at him angrily: "Do you just get hungry whenever you see blood? Regardless of whether it's mine or not?" She pulled out the blade and returned it to him. "Go lick it yourself then."
Gu Jiang was completely bewildered, every inch of him from his hair to his heels screaming confusion.