Volume 3, Chapter 194 – Be Careful, Everyone—She’s Coming Out

Within the tree’s memories, the Yuxiao Sect that day was bustling with activity, its yang energy soaring into the heavens. The sunlight poured down unhindered, casting no shadows upon the earth—as if the golden age before the Great Horror had returned.

Mu Ruoyi didn’t dare slack off in the slightest, meticulously combing through the tree’s recollections for any trace of clues.

Meanwhile, in the outside world—

Countless black dots suddenly appeared in the eastern sky, rapidly approaching.

Qi Huang narrowed her eyes and saw over twenty young men and women in uniform robes, riding atop enormous winged beasts. Leading them were four plainly dressed elders, soaring through the air with lightning speed—clearly all Incarnation Realm experts.

Qi Huang frowned, then concealed herself even deeper.

Elder Zhou, too, noticed the uninvited guests and immediately ordered the Huxiao Sect disciples to form a defensive perimeter around the tree.

Cheng Hongling glanced at Pangpang, her jade-like hand gradually tightening around her sword hilt. She knew full well that whoever these newcomers were, their target wouldn’t be limited to just the missing Nine Nether Demon Cat of the Yuxiao Sect.

In the blink of an eye, the group descended. The elder at the forefront stepped forward with a harmless smile, greeting them like an old friend:

“Elder Zhou! It’s been months—how have you been?”

“Ah, if it isn’t Guardian Ma of the Luotian Sect! What brings you here?”

Elder Zhou gave a perfunctory cupped-fist salute, his aged face darkening. Clearly, the situation he feared had come to pass.

‘Luotian Sect?’

Qi Huang sifted through her memories and quickly recalled some information—the Luotian Sect was a state-level faction from Haichuan Province in the eastern part of the Western Radiance Dynasty. Their strength surpassed even the Huxiao Sect by a fair margin.

But she wasn’t worried. As long as no Divine Realm experts showed up today, she was confident she could control the situation.

“Why else but the Yuxiao Sect’s Nine Nether Demon Cat? I heard Elder Zhou has been camped here for over ten days—found any leads yet?”

Guardian Ma inquired curiously.

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“None.”

Elder Zhou replied coldly.

“Then what’s this?”

Guardian Ma’s gaze landed on Pangpang in Cheng Hongling’s arms.

“That’s the Shuiyu Valley’s Nine Nether Demon Cat, not the one missing from the Yuxiao Sect.”

Elder Zhou explained.

Qi Huang’s brows furrowed in suspicion. She couldn’t understand why this Zhou would suddenly act so kindly, speaking up for the main body.

‘No—he’s clearly also eyeing Shuiyu Valley’s resources. He just doesn’t want another competitor.’

Realization dawned, and a cold smirk tugged at her lips.

“Is that so?”

Guardian Ma smiled meaningfully before shifting his attention to the towering tree.

“And what are you all doing here?”

“Nothing.”

Elder Zhou’s denial was as transparent as a thief declaring “I didn’t steal anything”.

“Nothing? I find it hard to believe Elder Zhou is the type to idle around.”

Guardian Ma clearly wasn’t buying it. After a moment of scrutiny, his expression cleared.

“Ah, so the Holy Maiden of Shuiyu Valley is here. You’ve established a Soul Tether with this tree—if I’m not mistaken, you’re using the Wood Exquisite Art, yes? What are you trying to do? Find clues about that Nine Nether Demon Cat?”

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The faces of Elder Zhou and his disciples grew even grimmer. The situation was slipping further out of his control.

But worse was yet to come.

Two more figures appeared on the distant horizon—the Left and Right Guardians of a major northern sect, each at least at the seventh level of the Incarnation Realm.

With that, the scene instantly became a three-way standoff. No faction dared act rashly.

As for Cheng Hongling and Mu Ruoyi?

They were beneath everyone’s notice.

Meanwhile, Mu Ruoyi was still immersed in the tree’s memories.

Under the blazing sun, endless yin energy suddenly converged from all directions, surging madly into the Yuxiao Sect’s dungeon. As temperatures plummeted, a thick mist blotted out the sunlight, plunging the earth into darkness—as if doomsday had arrived.

The ordinary residents of the Yuxiao Sect assumed it was just a sudden change in weather and didn’t panic. But the cultivators—especially the higher-ups—reacted very differently.

In a frenzy, they rushed toward the dungeon, quickly encircling its entrance.

“Sect Leader, I scanned with Divine Sense—something terrifying inside is rapidly absorbing yin energy. But I can’t see it clearly. It’s as if it can block Divine Sense detection.”

A trembling elder reported to Sect Leader Liu.

“Everyone, stay alert! No matter what’s happening inside, we cannot let a single evil entity escape!”

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Sect Leader Liu commanded gravely.

And so, they all stared fixedly at the entrance, nerves taut, cold sweat dripping—paralyzed by fear of the unknown.

Before long, agonized screams began echoing from the dungeon, rising and falling like the wails of the damned from the eighteen layers of hell.

Those at the entrance grew even more tense. Some trembled so violently they could barely stand.

“Today marks the fall of the Yuxiao Sect!”

Suddenly, a crisp, penetrating female voice rang out from the dungeon—clear as a nightingale’s song, reverberating across the entire sect.

BOOM!

The next instant, tangible yin energy erupted from the dungeon like a tidal wave, sweeping outward in all directions.

A few high-ranking elders with stronger cultivation hastily activated protective barriers. The disciples weren’t so lucky.

Those who failed to dodge in time were instantly engulfed.

“AHHH! IT BURNS! SAVE ME—!”

One disciple shrieked as his flesh rapidly decayed and sloughed off, as if scorched by invisible flames. Even his bones weren’t spared. In mere moments, a living person was reduced to ashes scattered by the wind.

The yin energy poured out in relentless waves, like a long-dormant volcano erupting. It spread across the entire sect, corrupting everything in its path—extinguishing all life.

Yet, despite the carnage, the ordinary mortals were left untouched.

It was as if the energy had eyes.

“S-Such… such potent yin energy! J-Just its area of effect… is already beyond our resistance! The Yuxiao Sect… is truly doomed today!”

An elder strained to maintain his barrier, his voice shaking.

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“W-What kind of horror lurks in that dungeon?! This aura… it must be a Fiendish Specter!”

Another high-ranking member stammered in terror.

Tap… tap…

Then, faint but unmistakable footsteps echoed from within the dungeon.

“Everyone, be on guard! That Fiendish Specter is coming out!”

Sect Leader Liu urgently warned.

The elders fell silent, focusing their Divine Sense and vision on the dungeon’s entrance. Their eyes bulged, their ragged breaths loud in the stillness.

Thud!

One weaker elder collapsed to his knees, unable to withstand the oppressive pressure. The yin energy swallowed him instantly. The others could only watch helplessly.

As the footsteps grew clearer, a petite figure emerged at the dungeon’s entrance.

Mu Ruoyi stared unblinkingly, terrified of missing a single detail.

Before the figure even fully appeared, an overwhelming Divine Sense pressure crashed down like a tsunami, forcing several elders to their knees. Their protective qi shattered under the onslaught.

“NO! I REFUSE TO DIE LIKE THIS—!”

Sect Leader Liu’s agonized howl was cut short as his body rapidly decayed into dust. The other elders met similar fates.

Mu Ruoyi never imagined the entire Yuxiao Sect’s leadership could be annihilated in mere breaths. Her soul trembled with terror—and yet, an insatiable curiosity burned within her.

Her gaze remained locked onto that gradually clarifying petite figure.