"Is it over?"

Looking at the now-quiet Demon Cave, the White Ape and the Cyan-Haired One-Horned Lion felt as if a lifetime had passed.

Just a few blinks of an eye ago, the Blood Spirit War General had displayed overwhelming ferocity. With power approaching the Heaven-Reaching Realm, it had even forced Ning Jiang onto the back foot.

But who would have thought that at the most critical moment, Ning Jiang would suddenly erupt in light, transform into a white rainbow, and then everything would be instantly annihilated.

"What was that technique just now? Just a single glance made my soul ache with excruciating pain."

The two Demon Beasts looked at each other, seeing the deep terror in the other’s eyes. That technique was too horrifying; it made them feel as if they were facing the boundless might of the heavens.

"With a technique that powerful... he can’t be unharmed, can he?"

The two Demon Beasts hurriedly rushed over. When they reached the center of the battle, they were utterly aghast.

A massive crater had been blasted into the ground, shaped like a large bowl, and its surface had crystallized.

"Look, he’s over there!"

The two Demon Beasts spotted Ning Jiang at the center at once. But to their surprise, his entire body was encased in a block of white crystal, slumbering within.

"Such severe injuries!"

As they drew closer and looked, they were stunned. Inside the white crystal, Ning Jiang’s body was covered in cracks. Lines of blood spread across his entire form, like a piece of exquisite porcelain on the verge of shattering.

And that Blood Demon King was also inside the crystal, enveloped by countless runes and compressed to the size of a human head.

"I think I understand. This is a life-preserving measure. He must have suffered a severe backlash after executing that final killing blow, so he immediately used this technique to seal himself. Otherwise, he would have disintegrated and died on the spot."

The White Ape surmised. It was clear that Ning Jiang was in a critical condition.

If this white crystal hadn’t encased Ning Jiang, he would have already been torn to pieces and died.

"Did he really risk his own life just to kill the Blood Demon King?"

Respect filled the eyes of the two Demon Beasts. In that situation, Ning Jiang clearly could have chosen to leave, but he didn’t. Instead, he chose the most dangerous path.

He insisted on staying. To kill the Blood Demon King, he unleashed that terrifying killing blow, causing his body to nearly disintegrate.

Without a doubt, the situation must have been extremely urgent, because after dealing with the Blood Demon King, Ning Jiang didn’t even have time to say a single word to them before ending up in this state.

"In his current state, what can we do to save him?"

The two Demon Beasts were at a loss. Ning Jiang’s injuries were far too severe. If they couldn’t find a way to help him recover, he would be sealed within the crystal for the rest of his life.

Right now, they didn’t dare open the crystal. The moment they did, Ning Jiang would probably die instantly.

"He took care of the Blood Demon King and avenged us. By all rights, we owe him a debt of gratitude. We must find a way to heal his injuries."

The two Demon Beasts made their decision. Having once followed an old Taoist, they possessed human-like temperaments and understood the importance of loyalty and repaying kindness.

"Let’s get him out of here first. It’ll be a huge hassle if people show up later."

A member of the Demon Race appearing in the Demon Cave was bound to attract experts from Qing Province, like that Earth Martial Realm master from the Star Sword Sect. This place would soon become the eye of the storm.

"Right, should we take that banner?" the White Ape asked, glancing at the banner nearby.

"That thing is extraordinary. If not for it, the Blood Demon King would have been defeated long ago. However, its final move also drained all of its power... Forget it, let’s take it with us."

"Let’s go."

They took the white crystal and the powerless Blood Soul Banner and left the area.

"To my place."

After leaving the Demon Cave, they saw no one else. When the battle between Earth Martial Realm experts broke out, everyone had fled for their lives. Who would dare linger in such a place?

"Why isn’t the Ninth Elder out yet?"

Outside the Death Mountain Range, Tang Lin, Zi Yunfei, and their companion had been waiting for a long time, but there was still no sign of Ning Jiang.

"Let’s wait another half a day."

The three of them waited anxiously as time ticked by. After night fell, Zi Yunfei couldn’t hold back any longer. "The Ninth Elder still hasn’t come out. I’m afraid something’s happened. I’m going in to look for him."

"Let’s go together. Our chances are better if the three of us stick together."

None of the three had any intention of abandoning Ning Jiang. Having made their decision, they charged back into the Death Mountain Range.

But when they cautiously entered the Demon Cave and found nothing after a thorough search, they froze.

"Why is there no trace of the Ninth Elder?"

"Let’s look again."

The three of them searched like madmen, nearly turning the entire Demon Cave upside down.

"There’s a piece of a sleeve here! I think... it’s from the Ninth Elder’s clothes!"

From beneath a layer of dirt, Zi Yunfei unearthed a blood-stained sleeve. In an instant, the faces of all three turned pale, a terrible premonition gripping their hearts.

’Is Ning Jiang dead?’

"Don’t panic. Maybe the Ninth Elder was just injured. He might be outside the Demon Cave. Regardless, we need to go back and inform the Sect. We’ll have them send more people to search for him." As expected of the senior disciple, Tang Lin quickly calmed himself down.

"Right, the Ninth Elder will definitely be okay."

The three comforted themselves with these words as they left the Demon Cave.

However, their hearts were incredibly heavy.

’Everyone else left, and only Ning Jiang stayed behind to face an Earth Martial Realm Blood Demon King. What could he possibly have done against that?’

...

Within a single day, news of the Demon Race’s emergence swept through all of Qing Province like a massive storm.

That same day, numerous experts converged on the location. The Sect Leaders from the major Sects all mobilized, especially a certain sword-bearing old man. Radiating a heavy, imposing majesty and a murderous aura that soared to the heavens, he charged into the Demon Cave.

SLASH!

Someone personally witnessed a pillar of sword light rise from within the Demon Cave, splitting the entire cavern in two with a single strike.

"Tsk tsk, the Star Sword Sect’s Old Sect Leader is truly enraged this time."

"Heh, I heard that member of the Demon Race showed him no respect whatsoever, directly obliterating one of his Primordial Spirits. For him, that’s a monumental humiliation. Of course he’s burning with rage."

"But where on earth did that Demon go? I heard someone named Meng Daoyi confronted him. Why have both of them disappeared now?"

Countless Martial Artists discussed the matter animatedly. All who had come to the Death Mountain Range this time were major figures from Qing Province, all at or above the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm.

If the name Meng Daoyi had been only somewhat famous in Qing Province before, due to the incident with the Fire Cloud Sect’s Celestial Tribulation...

...then now, it had thoroughly shaken the entirety of Qing Province.

"Regardless, we all owe Meng Daoyi a favor."

The Sect Leaders of some of the smaller Sects said. At the time, all of the younger generation had been trapped by the Demon Race member’s Domain Power. If Meng Daoyi hadn’t appeared, all of their Sects’ disciples would have been wiped out.

"Meng Daoyi is a hero of our Qing Province."

"If I have the chance, I would like to thank him personally." The Hall Master of the Floating Snow Hall was a beautiful woman, her figure graceful, her aura mature and charming. She was somewhat curious about Meng Daoyi.

"Hmph." In contrast, the Fire Cloud Sect was greatly displeased.

Meng Daoyi had stormed their Sect and inflicted heavy casualties. How could they ever forget such a grudge?

But now, Meng Daoyi’s actions had made him a hero of Qing Province. Under the circumstances, they didn’t dare risk universal condemnation by denouncing him.

"I wonder what the Yanyue Sect is looking for, having mobilized so many people."

"I heard their Ninth Elder went missing. It’s a matter of life and death, so they’re all looking for him now."

"The Yanyue Sect has really fallen. They can’t even produce a Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm expert. Their only one even damaged their Primordial Spirit while trying to break through to a higher realm."

The many Martial Artists continued their discussions as they left the Death Mountain Range one after another.

On this day, the name Meng Daoyi shook Qing Province.

Meanwhile, the Yanyue Sect’s decline was witnessed by many, giving rise to ambitions in quite a few other Sects.

"The Qing Province Assembly is approaching. We should go back and prepare. It’s about time the Yanyue Sect gave up its position as one of the Five Great Sects."

...

"It’s been seven days, and we still can’t find the Ninth Elder."

Within the Death Mountain Range, the many disciples of the Yanyue Sect looked exhausted. For seven consecutive days, they had not given up their search for Ning Jiang.

But Ning Jiang seemed to have vanished without a trace.

"Grand Elder, three more disciples have been injured."

Three figures were carried in, severely wounded.

The Death Mountain Range was fraught with danger. During this period of searching for Ning Jiang, disciples were injured daily, and a few had nearly lost their lives.

"We’ve already searched a radius of several hundred li. If we continue, the danger will be too great. I’m afraid some disciples will perish," many of the Elders sighed.

There were still some dangerous places within the Death Mountain Range that even they dared not enter.

"Grand Elder, the Fire Cloud Sect and Cyan Splendor Sect have been causing trouble at our Sect again these past few days," a disciple reported.

"Damn it! Those bastards, taking advantage of our absence to strike!"

Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng and the others were enraged. With them out here searching for Ning Jiang, the Yanyue Sect was without its core leadership and its strength was depleted.

"Grand Elder, you all should head back."

In the end, after conferring with the Elder Hall, Yue Lianxi dismissed everyone. The Yanyue Sect needed them to hold down the fort.

However, Yue Lianxi did not leave. She stayed behind alone, unwilling to go.

"Ning Jiang, where are you?"

After everyone had left, a trace of haggardness finally appeared on Yue Lianxi’s face, which had remained strong for seven days. In all that time, she hadn’t closed her eyes once.

A deep, heart-wrenching exhaustion settled over her.

’It’s all my fault. I brought you to Qing Province and got you entangled in this disaster...’

Yue Lianxi’s heart ached with self-reproach.

For the next ten-plus days, she searched for Ning Jiang relentlessly throughout the Death Mountain Range.

Day after day, her complexion grew paler, and her slender figure looked increasingly frail and helpless. She never gave up, not even when thunderstorms raged and torrential rain poured from the sky.

"Cough, cough..."

On the twentieth day, Yue Lianxi was lying on a tree branch, lightly coughing up blood. It was an injury she had sustained a short while ago after encountering danger.

She had faced such dangers more than a dozen times over these twenty days, and on several occasions, her very life had been in peril.

"Ning Jiang, I will find you."

Dragging her weak and injured body, Yue Lianxi set off once more.