Chapter 432 - 216: My Long-cherished Wish Fulfilled
The blood-colored world created by the Beautiful Head had indeed formidable sealing and imprisonment capabilities.
However, this trick was already used once within the Gui Xu Grotto Heaven. Shangguan Wentian, having received intelligence, was on guard and had even conceived methods for the quickest escape should he be trapped.
Moreover, once the Beautiful Head distanced herself from the blood-colored world, it became like water without a source, causing its power to wane.
As a result, this individual’s speed in breaking out of the blood-colored world far exceeded Chu Xuan’s earlier expectations.
Although the painting scroll was destroyed, Shangguan Wentian was, after all, the one personally hosting the curse-killing ritual just now. An abundance of curse-killing power still lingered within Chu Xuan’s body, allowing Shangguan to maintain a residual sense of him.
After Chu Xuan and his companions had fled through the outer void for a while, the Beautiful Head frowned and looked back.
Qingqing, protected by a faint white light, saw nothing—a never-ending darkness and turbulent void before her—but knew the situation was dire.
Though she was panicking to the extreme at this moment, she managed to think. She patted the pouch at her waist, and immediately, a terrifying dragon roar resounded in the void: "Roar~!"
A horrifying pressure swept in all directions with the sound, and a deep black magic dragon emerged.
It exuded rolling black demonic qi, its scales vivid, claws and teeth chilling. Its heart pulsed with a rainbow glow, crowned by two dark green dragon horns, its aura incomparable to its past demonic fetus days.
It was precisely because Qingqing carried the "Abyss-devouring Magic Dragon" with her that Chu Xuan decided to escape with her earlier, keeping this card up their sleeve for a critical reversal.
Qingqing immediately commanded the magic dragon to eliminate the pursuer, or at least stall them.
The magic dragon obeyed her command without question, immediately turning to confront the pursuing figure...
Soon after, Qingqing faintly heard immense roars echoing, causing the entire void to shudder and tremble. The surrounding turbulent currents became even more violent. Without protection, an ordinary cultivator in this chaos would have no trace left.
Chu Xuan’s injuries were worsening, but even in his dazed state, he sensed that Shangguan’s pursuers seemed capable of sensing his location from afar.
Thus, before completely losing consciousness, he entrusted the Six Souls Banner to Qingqing, weakly murmuring, "Take...this, on me..."
Tears flowing, Qingqing nodded, taking the large banner and wrapping Chu Xuan with it like a blanket, soothing him as if comforting a child, "It’s okay, it’s okay, I will surely get you healed."
Both her hands and body were stained with blood, trickling down continuously, for Chu Xuan’s wounds refused to close. The blood-soaked gaping wound on his chest was desperately contracting, yet blocked by a force annihilating everything, barely maintained to prevent further expansion.
This force predominantly stemmed from the "Heart-devouring God-seizing Dagger," with the remainder from the ritual’s curse-killing, their entanglement posing an immense challenge beyond Chu Xuan’s power to expel.
If not for the Celestial Marrow and immortal qi staunchly obstructing, he would now be nothing but a pile of flesh.
...
Chu Xuan soon fell unconscious. The Beautiful Head initially flew northward with her allies, but acquiesced to Qingqing’s strong plea, heading instead toward the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace.
However, the Beautiful Head didn’t know the way, forcing them back to the mundane world, where Qingqing discerned the direction to guide her.
The more pressing issue was the considerable distance between Gui Xu and the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, taking over a month for Chu Xuan to traverse alone. Even at the Beautiful Head’s speed, it was impossible to reach in less than three to four days.
Finally, after only half a day of escape, they had no choice but to stop, finding refuge on an uninhabited, remote island amidst the sea, resting in a secluded cavern.
Chu Xuan’s injuries couldn’t sustain much longer; barring unexpected events, his departure for the netherworld was imminent today.
The Beautiful Head was powerless to help, worried about who could assist her in "growing" a body if Chu Xuan died. She believed she ought to possess a dignified body, not be a mere monster.
During this half day, Qingqing had calmed, though pallid-faced, her tears never ceased.
Now, as she cradled Chu Xuan deeper into the cave, she told the Beautiful Head floating quietly in the air, "Could you please watch over us outside? I’ll attempt to save Chu Xuan."
The Beautiful Head nodded and floated out.
Wiping her tears, Qingqing forced a smile as she gazed at Chu Xuan resting in her arms, brow furrowed, complexion bloodless. She softly said:
"Chu Xuan, did you know? Over the years, I’ve always thought of you every Lantern Festival, because you promised to take me to see the lanterns."
"That was a promise made long, long ago. Back then, you had just descended the mountain from the Daoist Palace, prepared to attend the Hundred Flowers Banquet when we fortuitously met by chance. You, carrying treasures, were marked by me as a fat sheep to be slaughtered..."
"...In front of that kindly noodle stall owner, I intended to appear very close to you, deliberately taking your arm."
"But you withdrew immediately, fearing my ulterior motives."
"So, I pretended to be aggrieved, almost tearing up, asking if you despised me?"
"Facing the shopkeeper’s puzzled gaze, you could only say, ’Go freshen up and change into new clothes, later I shall take you to see the lanterns.’"
"I eagerly replied, ’Really? Darling, you mustn’t deceive me.’"
"You nodded repeatedly, saying it was truer than pearls."