Chapter 135

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Chapter 135: Falling into the Deep Abyss

“Ming He, hurry and leave! I’ll hold them back.”

Yóu Lìng suddenly stepped back and turned to Ming He, whispering urgently, her tone laced with a hint of panic.

The sea breeze stirred up dust, the wind howled as sharp as a knife, and the waves surged forward.

Canglang Island was not calm under the shadow of the Thousand Layers Spirit Mountain.

Yóu Lìng’s lips curved slightly, her voice low and hoarse as if she had said nothing, but everyone present was a cultivator and inherently more perceptive than ordinary people, so they certainly could not miss it.

For the Envoy of the Black Wind Alliance to protect her with her life, it seemed her true identity was on the verge of being revealed?

They stood still, casting sidelong glances at Ming He, their gazes filled with doubt, growing stronger with each passing moment.

This time, they witnessed it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears.

Ming He lifted her gaze against the doubting and disappointed looks around her and saw Yóu Lìng, clad in black clothes, standing tall in a protective stance before her. Her dark eyes held a playful and defiant glint as she turned.

She said nothing, but in an instant, Ming He understood her hidden intentions.

At this point, she seemed to have become the target of scorn, trapped in a predicament. They did not believe her, and her words could not prove her innocence.

This was likely the result of Liu Yu’s meticulous schemes.

She was indeed not of the demon race, but she was also not Su Ming He.

She was simply Ming He.

Yóu Lìng told her to go, assuring her she would block Liu Yu.

Ming He trusted that she would keep her word.

If Yóu Lìng wanted her life, she could have killed her in the dark room.

Her choice not to kill her was to drag her into the abyss.

Yóu Lìng, the Envoy of the Black Wind Alliance, once a favored child of heaven?

Ming He’s expression darkened as she thought about Yóu Lìng’s background. Although she didn’t know the full details, her previous experiences had given her enough insight.

Because of the young leader of the human race, Mu Chen, her entire clan was wiped out, leaving the Clan Ancestor of the Qin Clan filled with guilt. Then there was the Life and Death Soul Ring and the direct bloodline of the Soul Clan.

And the Star Lock.

She wanted to see her fall into darkness, to bring her down with her, to break her pride and dignity, hiding in the silent night, bidding farewell to light and the world.

How could she let her have her way?

Ming He let out a low, long laugh, a bright and resolute smile curving her lips. “Alright.”

Yóu Lìng insisted she go first, promising to hold back Liu Yu and the other powerful allies of the human race.

Ming He replied, “Alright.”

Of course, she needed to go first.

If she couldn’t clarify her innocence, there was no point in getting entangled in a war of words and sacrificing herself.

The first thing she had to do was ensure her survival.

Only by living could other possibilities arise.

Apart from my Senior Sister, life is the most important.

She is still young, and she has plenty of time ahead of her.

When she becomes strong enough—

Ming He cast a deep glance at Liu Yu, gripping the Jing Ying Sword tightly in her right hand as she turned and stepped out of Canglang Island. The Sword Domain converged at the tip of her sword, its cold light weaving a golden shadow with the flick of her wrist.

Even in this moment of fleeing, burdened by disgrace, Ming He stood tall and proud, like a pine tree that remains undefeated for a thousand years.

Though her back faced the starlight and sunlight, she still radiated brightness, vibrant as if she belonged to the light from the moment she was born.

Darkness was out of place with her.

Yóu Lìng watched her retreating figure with a hint of surprise in her eyes. She knew Ming He would eventually escape, pursued by her enemies.

But she didn’t expect Ming He to be so decisive—decisive to the point of not bothering to defend herself any longer.

Such quick decision-making and fearless composure, coupled with her clarity of understanding the world and a pure heart within herself.

It turned out she was far more extraordinary than Yóu Lìng had imagined.

Truly an extraordinary genius of the human race!

Ming He didn’t even seem to be fleeing; Yóu Lìng saw not a shred of disgrace or gloom upon her. Instead, she walked with vitality and youthfulness that still clung to her like brilliant colors.

She remained the master of the Star Lock, the brilliant light gathered at its core.

Yóu Lìng had not done enough.

She stared at Ming He’s back for a moment, momentarily lost in thought, then waved her hand to produce a fluttering black flag, planting it in the crevice of the rocks. The dark energy surged like a natural barrier, blocking the pursuit of the other human cultivators.

So she was also a formation master.

The cultivators present looked astonished, even the Old Man in Coarse Clothing, who hadn’t moved from his place in the clouds, felt some emotion stir within him.

Even after having her roots wasted, she still managed to be so stunning, a brilliance that rivaled Ming He’s extraordinary presence.

If only, back in those years—

He let out a deep sigh, spiritual energy surging and fluctuating around him, a backlash from his inner demons.

But Yóu Lìng didn’t care about others’ opinions.

She stepped into the air, stopping before Liu Yu with a grin, “Your opponent is me!”

“Ming He must die!” Liu Yu glared at Yóu Lìng with venomous eyes, her words measured and dripping with resentment, as she unleashed her spiritual energy with no mercy, embodying a reckless and frenzied rage as if she would kill anyone in her path.

Exactly! This was how a humble human should act after losing a son.

Yóu Lìng smiled with a hint of arrogance, her eyes filled with calculation and certainty. Her movements were somewhat strained under the force of Liu Yu’s palm, but the emotions within her pulsed with excitement, stronger than ever.

She would eventually get what she desired.

Ming He would be trapped by darkness, and her lord would soon have his wish fulfilled.

This was just perfect.

At the coastal edge of Canglang Island, a sharp voice filled with murderous intent rang out, blending with the sounds of waves crashing against the rocks: “Ming He, die!”

A woman clad in light green brocade emerged from behind the rocks, closely trailing Ming He, a dagger in her grasp, her eyes brimming with envy and malice.

This was Song Tian Rou, a direct descendant of the Song Clan, one of the Four Great Ancient Clans.

Her resentment towards Ming He had festered for a long time, and her obsession with Qin Chu Yi bordered on madness, her every thought consumed by the desire to eliminate Ming He.

Thus, the moment Ming He moved, Song Tian Rou followed without hesitation, narrowly avoiding the entrapment of Yóu Lìng’s black array flags.

Her cultivation had reached the fifth stage of the Wind Master realm, a marked improvement since her days in the wilderness of Tianwu City, yet she was still no match for Ming He.

Had Liu Yu not inflicted severe injuries upon her earlier, would Song Tian Rou have dared to speak so boldly in Ming He’s presence?

Even in her wounded state, her life was not so easily claimed.

Ming He’s lips pressed lightly together, a cold glint in her eyes. “So, this is the disparity among the scions of noble houses,” she mused.

“What a waste of such fervent blood!” she scoffed, her sword flashing with a brilliance that lit up the heavens, her spirit ablaze.

At that moment, Ming He stood at the edge of Canglang Island, where the sea met the land, yet her sword’s shadow stretched across the vast expanse of the sky, even momentarily eclipsing the grandeur of the Thousand Layers Spirit Mountain.

The sword light radiated in all directions, outshining even the stars.

It was as if the Sword Demon of Sword Demon Mountain himself had struck.

The mountains and rivers seemed to quake under the force of her blade, as though such a feat were entirely within her grasp.

All eyes on Canglang Island were fixed upon her—those of the royal side from Qin Huang Mountain, Liu Yu, and Yóu Lìng alike.

She seemed to seize the very essence of creation, summoning the brilliance of the sun and moon.

This was Ming He’s sword.

“Clang!”

The dagger Song Tian Rou thrust forward was no match for the overwhelming sword light. With a flick of her wrist, Ming He sent it flying, the blade clattering to the ground.

Ming He cast a fleeting, indifferent glance at Song Tian Rou, her expression unreadable, before sheathing her sword and turning to leave.

“You go too far!”

Song Tian Rou’s eyes burned with venom, each of Ming He’s glances feeling like a mockery. Consumed by rage, she recklessly activated the Song Clan’s secret techniques, her aura surging violently.

Her right hand clenched into a fist, her blood igniting to grant her a fleeting burst of power. She punched through the air, aiming directly for Ming He’s heart—the very spot where Liu Yu’s palm strike had breached her defenses earlier.

Ming He’s breath faltered, and as her focus sharpened, a faint smile tugged at her lips.

She found it almost amusing how deeply Song Tian Rou hated her, enough to unleash a secret technique reserved for the gravest of threats.

But it seemed there was no escaping this blow.

Was she truly destined to fall at the hands of such a pitiful foe?

Ming He’s arms hung limp, her strength spent, blood staining her lips, her face weary. Yet, she clung tightly to the Jing Ying Sword, unwilling to relinquish it, watching as Song Tian Rou closed the distance in an instant, appearing before her.

Song Tian Rou’s fist rose high.

“Boom!”

Ming He’s gaze remained steady, her eyes dark. Summoning the last vestiges of her strength, she pushed off the ground with her toes, her body lifting into the air just enough to evade the fatal strike. The fist grazed her heart, landing instead on her right side. The force of the blow surged through her, sending her flying off Canglang Island entirely.

Using the force of Song Tian Rou’s punch, Ming He drifted for dozens of miles, floating from the ground to the surface of the sea, her blue clothes billowing, swaying gently in the breeze. Behind her, the waves surged, mountains encircled her, the sky was crystal clear, and the flowing clouds stretched endlessly, making Ming He appear incredibly small. Bright red blood seeped from Ming He, dripping down and staining the blue fabric of her clothes, quickly turning that small patch of sea red.

“Splash!” In midair, Ming He lost all her strength and fell straight down into the deep sea, like a withered leaf, bobbing and sinking in the waves, until she completely vanished from everyone’s sight.

Song Tian Rou stood on the edge of Canglang Island, watching Ming He’s figure sink into the deep sea, frowning, seemingly hesitating whether to chase after her and deliver another punch, but she gave up upon seeing the pool of blood in the water. There was no way Ming He could survive. This was the deep sea, the most perilous part of the Tianwu Continent.

The fighting on Canglang Island continued. Yóu Lìng caught a glimpse of Ming He disappearing into the waves, her eyes showing a hint of complexity before breaking into a smile, “Since Ming He has left, I shall not linger any longer.” She stepped towards the black array flags, her black sleeves slightly lifting, and in an instant, she had retracted the flags, escaping Liu Yu’s palm wind. As she had said earlier, she could not kill Liu Yu. But among all the cultivators present, except for the royal side from Qin Huang Mountain, no one could defeat her. She had climbed out from a heap of corpses and knew better than anyone how to survive.

“If you don’t kill me, I shall take my leave.” Yóu Lìng raised her head to look at the Old Man in Coarse Clothing in the clouds. Seeing him still standing so calmly, a stiff smile appeared on her face, half mocking and half disdainful, “So this is the human race’s ruler.” “After hundreds of years, you truly haven’t changed at all.” She laughed to the sky, the sound filled with absurdity and familiarity, stepping into the air until she vanished. She did not see the Old Man in Coarse Clothing exchange glances with Liu Yu, their eyes reflecting a determined meaning.

The surrounding waters flowed quietly, the sound of droplets penetrating the vastness of the sky and reaching Ming He’s ears. She slowly opened her eyes, feeling a slight pain in her chest radiating throughout her body, sharp enough to shake her soul. But she was still alive. Ming He’s expression was cold, her starry eyes hiding a smile that reached deep within. After a moment, she let out a long breath, sat up, and looked around, finding herself in a palace with jade walls sparkling and gemstones shining. The glass-bright floor reflected her lowered face. Moreover, schools of fish gathered around her, swimming by, shimmering with a pearl-like glow. These fish… seemed to be goldfish? Ming He: “……” The water rippled, mysterious lights flickering, as waves of fish joyfully swam past her, their carefree demeanor as if they were at home. However, this place truly seemed to be their home. She was indeed inside the palace, but also beneath the deep sea.

Ming He rolled her eyes, recalling the cold gaze of Song Tian Rou before losing consciousness, then lowering her gaze, she indeed found a sparkling white orb at her waist. That was the Mermaid Pearl she had obtained from Bai Mengjiao earlier. If it weren’t for this Mermaid Pearl, she might not have woken up at all. But her injuries— Ming He looked around, seeing only the flowing water, nothing else in sight. Someone must have saved her. Deep-sea fish schools, an underwater palace, the central region’s deep sea, Mermaid Pearls—Ming He thought of these elements, her eyes narrowing as if pondering, the one who saved her must be a mermaid? As for the reason, Ming He clenched the Mermaid Pearl at her waist, her eyes brightening, a white figure vaguely surfacing in her mind. The next moment, that figure appeared before her.

“Ming He, long time no see.” The cold, clear voice flowed through the water, carrying an ethereal clarity. Ming He raised her eyes to see a woman in white gauzy clothes gliding steadily through the water, walking step by step until she stood right in front of her. Her sky-blue eyes were as clear as gemstones, and her long blue hair fell down, adorned with a crown resembling deep-sea waves, exuding an indescribable elegance and grandeur. She stood there without speaking, radiating boundless light, as if she were on a throne. This was the central region’s deep sea. Before her stood Bai Mengjiao, of the Royal Bloodline of the Mermaid Clan. She was still alive and had appeared here, which surely meant she was now the queen of the Mermaids. The Mermaid Queen!