Chapter 456: The Truth
This is definitely not some kind of illusion!
Just now, a black light shot down from the sky, almost brushing past the white silhouette. If Chen Xuan hadn’t been watching intently, it would have been nearly impossible to notice in the blink of an eye—the silhouette deflected the fatal strike at the last moment with the sword blade, losing half an arm that turned to ashes as the cost. The momentum of the black light didn’t diminish as it pierced the earth like a hot knife into butter, blasting out a bottomless "sky well" on the surface.
Soon, the bottom of the sky well was lit by lava, followed by fiery flames erupting from the entrance, forming a jet stream several kilometers long. Under the intense eruption, the ground around the sky well bulged from within at a visible speed, forming a small hill.
If placed on Earth, this fire-spewing hill... could already be called an active volcano.
Chen Xuan gazed at the distant sky briefly dyed red, involuntarily swallowing.
Such an unremarkable strike could penetrate the crust and create a miniature volcano; this was simply too defying of heaven!
Yet... that wasn’t the most exaggerated part. That graceful silhouette managed to deflect the black light with just one hand and a sword; what kind of level is that?
But losing an arm, she should have fallen at a disadvantage and wouldn’t be able to last much longer.
When Chen Xuan found the silhouette again, he was surprised to see her arm had regenerated, and the fight between the two sides remained intense, with no sign of ending.
The only cost of the battle seemed to be borne by the ground beneath their feet.
However, Chen Xuan gradually saw some clues.
The white silhouette was extremely agile, able to traverse thousands of miles in the blink of an eye, yet after each retreat in combat, she returned to this area. Some black lights descending from the sky, though far from her, she actively moved forward to block or intercept them.
Almost as if... she was guarding something below.
What could it be?
Chen Xuan gazed towards the ridges, becoming somewhat curious.
Amidst the roaring Spiritual Qi waves, he climbed to the peak for an unobstructed view. Just then, his jade token trembled twice, escaping from his hand and flying straight towards the white silhouette!
She seemed to sense this change, her body pausing slightly as her gaze swept downward.
Uh-oh, Chen Xuan’s heart sank.
He just wanted to quietly be a spectator, with no desire to be caught up in the battle of these powerful beings, but that wish was clearly already shattered.
A black eye opened in the pitch-black sky.
Instantly, Chen Xuan felt a dramatic increase in pressure, an inexplicable fear exploded in his heart, his body hair stood on end, and even breathing became incredibly difficult!
He realized the situation was not good.
His right hand instinctively reached for his spectacles, yet his joints felt as if filled with lead, unable to move!
Just a glance, and he’s immobilized?
The sky twisted, darkness gathering into a hand-like shape, pointing at him from afar. Then several beams of black light pierced the sky, shooting straight at him!
A single strike like this can penetrate the crust, not to mention being simultaneously hit by multiple beams of black light, reducing even a steel body to powder, let alone mortal flesh?
Surprisingly for Chen Xuan, the white silhouette moved faster, arriving before him, exceeding even the speed of light.
In an instant, she stood before him.
Yet he hadn’t even seen her move.
Chen Xuan only then realized her face was a pure white, as if merely a three-dimensional silhouette. Facing him, she seemed unfazed by the rapidly approaching black light.
"Watch out... behind you..."
Chen Xuan instinctively shouted.
Wait... he can move?
But given the speed of the black light, his position should’ve been pierced by now.
He blinked, just realizing, at some point, the external world had frozen. Not only was the black light suspended in mid-air, but the rippling dark sky and the torrential waves of Spiritual Qi had all halted.
This effect is beyond what the Divine Eye Technique can achieve.
The silhouette raised her hand, pointing a jade finger at his forehead, the fragmented world faded instantly, pure white emerged from beneath their feet, engulfing everything in an instant.
The harrowing battleground seemed to have receded far from them.
In this empty white world, only he and the silhouette remained.
Alongside the jade token emitting emerald green light.
"May I ask, are you... an Immortal of the Lotus Cloud Sect?" Chen Xuan tentatively asked.
No details could be seen on her, but judging from her silhouette’s outline, she wore an ancient long dress, her hair coiled at the back and cascading like a waterfall, almost longer than her waist, attire unfit for a modern person.
She shook her head slowly.
Chen Xuan was stunned, she’s not?
That answer was rather unexpected.
"I am Chen Xuan, thank you for saving me earlier." He decided to be courteous, "May I know your surname, venerable immortal?"
"I’m not human, so I have no name." She replied quickly, as if anticipating his question, "You’re the jade token’s bearer, so I brought you here. Finding me means my time is running out."
Not human? Who says that about themselves? And where is this? Why is time running out?
A surge of questions rose in Chen Xuan’s mind.
"Don’t worry, here we have time to talk slowly." She seemed to see through his confusion, saying softly, "Don’t feel guilty, this world’s fate is predetermined."
Her attitude... unexpectedly approachable.
Chen Xuan felt slightly surprised, assuming beings capable of such destruction would be lofty, yet she seemed different...
He contemplated before asking, "Who were you fighting earlier?"
"Ji Yun." She replied.
Chen Xuan was thunderstruck, even thought he misheard, "What? Are you sure!?"
"Calling him Ji Yun isn’t entirely accurate, but saying this helps you quickly understand the truth." She sighed softly, "He’s been devoured by his Inner Demon, fully spiritualized, not the Ji Yun you know."
Inner Demon.
The term left Chen Xuan dazed, recalling what he once heard from Liu Shuyue about Inner Demons, yet only as a concept. None of Lotus Cloud Sect’s Mountain Disciples seemed troubled by Inner Demons after years of Cultivation.
"Is it due to too rapid cultivation?" He asked instinctively.
"You could say that. He was a rare talent among cultivators, aided by Gemini powers, making his Inner Demon’s backlash exceptionally strong. Ji Yun wasn’t unaware of this outcome, preparing meticulously, yet proving humanity cannot overcome an Inner Demon on their own."
She even knew about the "Gemini" abilities?
Clearly, she’s not lying, the looming darkness must be Ji Yun...
"What about Ji Lian?"
Destined twins, with Ji Yun consumed by an Inner Demon, her fate seemed bleak too.
"No longer in the world." She answered in a low voice, and though her blank face showed no expression, Chen Xuan sensed a trace of sorrow.
So that’s the case...
Wait!
Suddenly, Chen Xuan felt something was off. If her opponent was Ji Yun, then the cratered land beneath their feet should be in the same world as the Six Kingdoms, fighting destructively yet without causing a stir, impossible!
"Where is the Lotus Cloud Sect now?"
"It is right before you."
"No, I mean the Lotus Cloud Sect governing the Six Kingdoms!" Chen Xuan was sure she knew about them, "Where is it in this world?"
"It is right before you."
"No, I mean—" Chen Xuan suddenly froze, looking at her and recalling her earlier words.
"I’m not human, so I have no name."
Not human, but the Lotus Cloud Sect itself!?