Chapter 100

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Chapter 100: Slaying the Soaring Snake

Following the direction of the crimson fireworks, Ming He and Qin Chu Yi arrived at a deep forest, where the overlapping trees concealed the mountains. Moonlight filtered through the gaps, casting a mosaic of light and shadow. In this interplay, a massive soaring snake lashed its tail violently against the white-clothed disciples of the Floating Cloud Sect.

Ming He stood on her flying sword, gazing down with rising anger as she watched a familiar disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect being hurled through the air, bloodied and broken. The scales of the soaring snake glimmered coldly under the moonlight, and its wings stirred a hurricane, lifting the Floating Cloud disciples and tossing them into the nearby clear spring. The splashes of water were accompanied by the snake’s lofty mockery and disdain.

The dark green soaring snake was arrogant and proud, its vertical pupils icy. This was Mo She, one of the ten great guardians of the Demon Race and a key subordinate of the young leader Ji Wu Xu, who had nearly claimed the lives of Ming He and Qin Chu Yi beneath the Deep Sea.

“You dare show yourself before me?” Ming He’s voice was icy, brimming with boundless murderous intent. She knew Qin Chu Yi stood beside her and recognized Mo She’s injuries, so she felt no fear as she drew her sword. With a swift motion, she leaped from her flying sword, her blade aimed at the soaring snake’s head with the force of an eagle striking the sky, her eyes ablaze with unmasked hostility.

According to the treaty between their races, it was Mo She who had struck first this time. The human race, grounded in righteousness and justice, could no longer tolerate such provocations.

“Clang!”

The Blue Sea Sword pierced the scales at the side of the soaring snake’s head, sending sparks flying. The resistance from the snake’s innate defenses reverberated along the sword’s tip. With its noble and formidable demon race bloodline, the soaring snake would not yield easily, which was why Mo She remained so confident.

Yet, some things would always slip from her control. Ming He felt the resistance at the sword tip, her anger flaring. She had already endured the greatest failure of her life that day. Did a mere injured snake think it could obstruct her blade?

One who had tasted failure once would not wish to endure it again, especially after witnessing the youthful vigor of the Floating Cloud Sect disciples—comrades who had fought to protect her—being trampled like ants.

“Yang Light Sword.”

With starlight glimmering in her eyes, Ming He was calm yet furious. Her sword tip tore through the night sky, parting the dark clouds as she leaped and landed atop the soaring snake’s head, swinging her blade downward.

With steady footing, she gripped the scales tightly to avoid being thrown off. The sword tip shimmered with cold light, imbued with the Ninth Level Sword Intent, and struck the snake’s slightly raised neck. As she pulled back her sword, a crimson spray erupted, beautifully contrasting the bright moonlight.

“Hiss!”

Mo She had not expected the defenses of her demon race bloodline to be pierced by a mere cultivator in the Dust Dispersal stage. In agony, she howled toward the sky, her cry filled with endless suffering. In that moment, she could no longer maintain her form, reverting to her human shape and leaning against a tree. Blood flowed from her pale neck as she glared at Ming He and Qin Chu Yi with unmasked resentment.

“Senior Sister Chu, Senior Sister Ming He!” The other young disciples of the Floating Cloud Sect looked at Qin Chu Yi and Ming He with relief, despite their wounds, as they stumbled toward them.

“Are you injured?” Qin Chu Yi’s voice was clear as she assessed their wounds. Though severe, they were not life-threatening, and she felt a slight sense of reassurance. “How did you end up fighting Mo She?”

“Senior Sister Chu, we never provoked this soaring snake. My fellow disciples and I were returning from a sect mission when it suddenly attacked us. It struck first.”

One disciple spoke up, his voice tinged with nervousness. “Its strength far surpasses ours, yet it didn’t kill us immediately. It even allowed us to send out a rescue signal with the crimson fireworks. But the Senior Brothers and Sisters who came to our aid were no match for it. They could only be toyed with, unable to escape.”

“Toyed with?”

Qin Chu Yi scanned the surrounding disciples, then glanced at the injured Mo She leaning against the tree. Her brows furrowed slightly. Though Mo She was seriously wounded and weakened by Ming He’s wrathful strike, she was still a soaring snake. The methods of the Demon Race were not to be underestimated.

“You all return to the sect. Ming He and I will handle this,” Qin Chu Yi decided, addressing the nearby disciples. Their presence would only hinder her and Ming He.

“Understood.” The other disciples, aware of their limited cultivation, did not object. They quickly disappeared into the deep forest, their spiritual energy guiding their steps.

“I didn’t expect Yi Qing to be the Qin Clan’s Young Master. It caught me off guard,” Mo She said, not stopping the disciples from leaving. She glared at Qin Chu Yi and Ming He, who stood closely together, her teeth clenched in disdain. Her eyes burned with unrestrained malice. “You’re the one who pressured the young leader and the Demon Race to eliminate me, aren’t you? Truly a heartless woman.”

“It was I who did it,” Qin Chu Yi replied coldly, her eyes flickering with a trace of surprise. She did not deny it. “I simply didn’t expect you to cling to life, escaping to the Floating Cloud Sect’s territory and slaughtering its disciples. It seems you no longer wish to live.”

Her gaze hardened, murderous intent rising.

“Silence!” Mo She spat out blood, her anger mounting. “If it weren’t for your pressure on the Demon Race, I wouldn’t have met such a fate today!”

“Mo She, do you truly believe you can escape today?” Ming He tightened her grip on her long sword, her knuckles turning white as her fury peaked. She recalled the human genius who had sacrificed their life to buy time for her and Qin Chu Yi in the deep sea waves.

Yóu Lìng, the Envoy of the Black Wind Alliance, had orchestrated everything and deserved her fate. Mo She, who had stood by and pushed them into the abyss, also deserved punishment. Anyone who harmed the human race—whether alien, demon, or human race traitor—deserved to die.

“You dare kill me?” Mo She’s eyes sparkled with confidence and composure, but her answer came in the form of Ming He’s lethal sword strike, fierce as a whirlwind of blood and carnage. The long sword moved with grace, executing the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique under the shimmering moonlight. It cleaved straight down upon Mo She from a distance, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“What is there to fear?” Ming He’s expression was icy, her blue clothes drenched in blood, her face splattered with crimson. Standing under the moon, she embodied the ruthlessness and decisiveness of a sword cultivator.

“Do you think the human race today is the same as it was twenty years ago?” Qin Chu Yi’s eyes curved with a smile, filled with unwavering support for Ming He. “Ming He is not Qu Lingyun, and you are no longer the young leader of the demon race from back then. If Ji Wu Xu were to learn of today’s events, she would not shield you.”

“You…” Mo She’s expression shifted, her wounds throbbing with a numbing pain, yet she knew Qin Chu Yi spoke the truth. If the young leader discovered she had attacked Ming He, she would be the first to end Mo She’s life.

“Hmph. My life isn’t so easily taken. If you’re not afraid of death, then come after me,” Mo She sneered, transforming into her true form. She darted through the forest like a gust of wind, her scales blending into the darkness, leaving only faint traces of dark red blood under the moonlight.

“Senior Sister, should we pursue?” Ming He asked Qin Chu Yi in a steady voice. She didn’t want to let Mo She escape so easily, but she feared making another mistake. She hadn’t yet reached the Wind Master realm and lacked the strength to bear the consequences alone.

“We chase,” Qin Chu Yi replied, taking Ming He’s hand. Her voice was gentle, but her expression was proud and sharp. “The human race and the Floating Cloud Sect are not places she can come and go as she pleases. This time, if we take her life, the demon race won’t dare utter a word.”

Following the blood trail under the moonlight, Ming He and Qin Chu Yi pursued until the traces vanished before a dark, foreboding cave.

Another cave. Ming He’s gaze turned cold and solitary as she exchanged a glance with Qin Chu Yi. With a swift movement, they vanished into the shadows.

Inside, the cave was pitch black, the moonlight unable to penetrate. It was even darker than the waterfall cave where Ming He had once been trapped. While others couldn’t see, Ming He’s vision pierced through the gloom.

“Senior Sister,” she called softly, gripping Qin Chu Yi’s hand tightly. No words were needed; they understood each other perfectly. Qin Chu Yi knew that Ming He, as the master of the Star Lock, was naturally resistant to darkness and evil. She relaxed her body, allowing Ming He to lead her deeper into the cave.

With Star Power flowing through her, Ming He’s peach blossom eyes glinted coldly as she surveyed the winding paths ahead. She moved with Shadow Steps, her form ghostly as she guided Qin Chu Yi forward, following the faint traces of blood on the ground.

“Splash!”

A faint sound echoed in the distance. As Ming He advanced, it grew clearer. She paused, focusing, and faintly recognized the sound of ocean waves—vast, boundless, where sky met sea, waves crashing endlessly.

But how could there be waves here?

A flicker of doubt crossed Ming He’s mind. In the next moment, the dark scene before her shifted abruptly. She was still in the cave, yet it felt as though the world around her had transformed.

“Junior Sister Ming He, you must survive.” It was Lu Xiaoliang’s voice.

“Ming He, run!”

Young faces stained with blood, flames raging everywhere. The blades of slaughter were dark, like beasts from the abyss. Ming He stood in the void, watching Mu Qian in white, his expression twisted with ferocity as he swung his long sword, severing the heads of their fellow disciples. His chilling smile radiated a coldness that seemed to seep into her bones.

“Ha!”

Ming He let out a cold laugh, her expression fierce. The white Mermaid Pearl at her waist trembled, emitting a beam of light. In an instant, she broke free from the illusion, returning to reality. Her knuckles whitened as her murderous intent toward Mo She reached its peak. Her right hand gripped her sword tightly, her left hand clenched into a fist.

Left hand?

Ming He froze, her heart jolting. Where was Qin Chu Yi?

“Senior Sister,” she called out, her voice echoing through the cave, shattering the silence. But the surroundings remained as still as the deep sea; there was no sign of Qin Chu Yi. She had lost her.

Was it because of the illusion?

She had fallen into the trance, and though she had broken free quickly thanks to the Mermaid Pearl and her own resolve, Qin Chu Yi, who had been by her side, must have been pulled in as well.

Mo She was still in the cave. Compared to Ming He, Mo She likely harbored even greater hatred for Qin Chu Yi. From their earlier exchange, Ming He knew Mo She had lost her noble status in the demon race because of Qin Chu Yi.

The thought sent a wave of panic through Ming He. Qin Chu Yi’s cultivation far surpassed her own; logically, she shouldn’t be this worried. But the illusion’s power clearly didn’t originate from Mo She. There was something else in this cave.

An illusion?

Ming He frowned. If Qin Chu Yi had unresolved turmoil in her heart, or some other vulnerability, she might have fallen deeper into the illusion.

But how could Ming He find her?

In her panic, Ming He’s breath grew uneven. She couldn’t sense Qin Chu Yi’s presence. The cave was vast and winding, and her current cultivation level couldn’t encompass its entirety.

Calm down. There must be a way.

Ming He took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain composure. Her gaze fell on the Star Lock at her chest, and her eyes brightened. Of course—how could she have forgotten? She had the Star Lock. She and Qin Chu Yi were bound by a pact.

She had once asked Qin Chu Yi how she had managed to find her so precisely in Qingyun Tower at Ding Kang City, despite the tower’s towering height. Yet, Qin Chu Yi had been able to locate her among the countless floors and save her life in an instant.

At that time, Qin Chu Yi had mentioned the Spirit Contract, a bond that connected their hearts and essences. She hadn’t explained how she had found her, and Ming He hadn’t pressed further. But now, this was the only way.

Ming He held her breath, focusing all her energy on the Star Lock, searching for Qin Chu Yi’s presence among the boundless stars of the heavens. As the world spun around her, she felt as though she stood in a unique celestial realm, her spirit clear and emotions flowing freely. She had found it!

With clarity in her eyes, Ming He opened them, sensing an energy that intertwined with her own, like the North Star guiding her forward.

She navigated through the dark cave, crossed broken bridges, and climbed jagged cliffs, stopping when she felt the energy close by. Using Shadow Steps, she moved like a phantom, peering through the dense foliage. There, she spotted a secluded hollow where the rocks dipped downward, and a droplet of water echoed softly as it fell into a groove.

Inside the hollow, Qin Chu Yi, dressed in white as pure as snow, leaned against the stone seat with her eyes closed, her breathing steady but her consciousness faint. Ming He relaxed slightly and glanced to the side.

Mo She was there, her body drenched in blood, breathing heavily, her face pale and drenched in cold sweat. The other woman, clad in black and silent with furrowed brows, must have been the one creating the illusion.

Ming He couldn’t discern her identity or cultivation level, so she refrained from acting rashly. If it were only Mo She, she wouldn’t hesitate.

“Dream Sea, your illusion is truly formidable. Here stands the noble Young Master of the Qin Clan, with countless means at her disposal, yet she falls into your hands?” Mo She chuckled lightly, wincing slightly from her injuries as she glared at Qin Chu Yi, her eyes filled with venom.

“It’s not my skill that’s impressive; it’s her own deep emotions that ensnare her,” Dream Sea replied, shaking her head slightly. She couldn’t quite understand why the woman in white would prioritize others’ lives over her own safety.

With such profound cultivation and formidable strength, coupled with her extraordinary bloodline, how could she be trapped in an illusion?

Dream Sea looked at the frowning woman in white with curiosity, unable to comprehend why she would place others’ lives above her own.

“Deep emotions?” Mo She sneered as she approached Qin Chu Yi, grabbing her chin and swiftly forcing a pill into her mouth, her eyes filled with disdain. “Let’s see what the Young Master of the Qin Clan’s emotions and taste are like.”

“Mo She,” Dream Sea’s expression darkened, her voice cold, “I only agreed to help you escape. I did not permit you to harm the human race.” She stood, ready to intervene.

“Dream Sea, do you even know who she is?” Mo She’s gaze turned icy, “She is Qin Chu Yi, the Young Master of the Qin Clan. She pressured the demon race and the young leader, causing the young leader to suffer humiliation before the elder, resulting in punishment by heavenly thunder.

Since you are devoted to the young leader, don’t you want to avenge her?”

Seeing Dream Sea hesitate, Mo She pressed on, “Don’t worry, this is my doing alone. If the young leader punishes anyone, it will be me. You have no part in this.”

Watching Dream Sea sit back down in a daze, Mo She smirked, then shook Qin Chu Yi awake with a mocking tone, “Young Master Qin, wake up. The one sharing your affections isn’t Ming He, but your protector.”

As Mo She gazed at Qin Chu Yi, her eyes filled with desire, a wicked fire burned within her. She leaned in slowly, aiming to kiss her lips.

“Mo She, you dare!” Ming He’s rage erupted at the sight. She leapt into the air, gripping her long sword, using the force of her descent to strike Mo She’s back. The blade cut deep, the sword intent searing the wound black.

“Pfft!”

Caught off guard, Mo She crumpled under the blow, her insides torn apart, blood spraying as she screamed in agony.

“Senior Sister,” Ming He rushed to Qin Chu Yi’s side, checking her for injuries. Relieved to find none, she asked softly, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Qin Chu Yi breathed, recalling the events in the illusion, her ears tinged with red as she leaned weakly against the stone seat.

Ming He helped her sit upright, then turned to glare at Mo She, her eyes blazing with murderous intent. “Mo She, you won’t escape this time.”

“Dream Sea, save me! Please, save me! We’re both protectors of the demon race, serving the young leader. You can’t let me die!” Mo She shrieked, her eyes filled with terror as she looked to Dream Sea.

Dream Sea frowned and stepped in front of Ming He. “Friend, you cannot harm Mo She. She is a protector of the demon race, and only the young leader can deal with her. I cannot stand by and let you kill her.”

After a moment, she added, “You are at the Dust Dispersal stage, while I am above the Wind Master realm, and I am unharmed. You are no match for me. The two clans have a pact; I will not attack you. Take your Senior Sister and leave. As for Mo She’s actions today, I will report them to the young leader and ensure you and Young Master Qin receive an explanation.”

“Who are you to dictate to me?” Ming He’s voice was icy, her eyes filled with rage as she glared at Dream Sea. Seeing her unmoved expression, Ming He sneered and swung her sword, executing the Tian Quan technique with unwavering resolve.

Dream Sea sighed softly. With a graceful motion of her left hand, rocks shattered into dust. Both women stepped back, blood staining the corners of their lips.

Ming He smirked defiantly, meeting Dream Sea’s incredulous gaze with a faint smile. “Your young leader once swore a Blood Oath; no demon race can harm me. If you harm me, she will face the heavens’ retribution. If you don’t wish to collect her corpse, feel free to continue.”

“You…” Dream Sea hesitated, then finally stepped aside.

Ming He walked toward Mo She, who stared in despair. Slowly, she raised her sword, aiming it at Mo She’s heart with a mocking expression, much like Mu Qian had done earlier. Then, her eyes hardened as she thrust the blade down.

“Stop!” A commanding voice rang out from behind, followed by a fierce aura sweeping in, attempting to subdue Ming He and halt her actions.

Ignoring the command, Ming He pressed forward, the force overwhelming her. Blood trickled from her lips as the sword pierced Mo She’s body, delivering a fatal blow that ended her life.

With the deed done, Ming He sheathed her sword, wiping the blood from it with her sleeve. She turned to face the newcomer, a faint smile on her lips. “Long time no see, young leader.”