Chapter 0: 106. Illusory World Cloud Marsh
After Jia Ren was subdued by Zhao Xinting, Qin Gou, Ye Qishuang, and Yi Chengying also arrived at extremely high speed.
Qin Gou first motioned for Ye Qishuang to retrieve the broken stone pillar where the white-haired old man was, and said with a faint smile, “Does Jia Ren still think meeting me here is a stroke of luck?”
“Zhenyu, this wisp of Realm Lord Realm remnant soul is very important to me,” Jia Ren said, her dark eyebrows slightly furrowed, gritting her silver teeth. “Back then, Ren Su helped you a lot. Hand this remnant soul over to me, and the spirit charm will be yours. From then on, we’ll be even.”
“You also said that Ren Su, not you Jia Ren, was the one who owed me a favor!”
Qin Gou’s gaze instantly turned cold, and he said in a chilly tone, “And if I remember correctly, the reason Ren Su’s Dao Body perished and she ended up like this is all thanks to you. She was barely over ten years old at the time! What’s most incomprehensible to me is that even after being hurt so badly, Ren Su still respected you so much!”
Upon hearing this, Jia Ren’s eyes trembled, her rare fair face turned pale, and she said agitatedly, “I also didn’t expect that Ren Su’s special constitution, which hadn’t awakened yet, would be exactly the same as mine, which led to that accident. I never intended to harm her life from the very beginning!”
“Jia Ren, the Demon Lord who, when Lu Zhili was the Abyss Holy Queen, could unscrupulously dispatch her subordinates to attempt assassination and murder her, stating these words now holds absolutely no credibility.” Qin Gou’s eyes were cold. If he were to meticulously calculate, he and Jia Ren had already accumulated quite a few grudges.
“I have heard of this matter, and it is indeed my clan member who gave the order. I can take responsibility for that, but Ren Su is different. She also hails from the Ren Clan and is a child under my command.”
Jia Ren suddenly stopped midway, her eyes scanning everyone present, and she shook her head. “It seems I’ve said too much today. It’s all because Ren Su always manages to get me talking.”
Qin Gou said with a hint of doubt, “Regardless, I advise you to dispel your thoughts of making a move against Fellow Daoist Shen Hao as soon as possible. He and I have already reached an agreement, and I will definitely protect him.”
Upon hearing this, Jia Ren’s pretty face suddenly turned cold, and she nodded lightly. “I guessed as much. It seems my fate with Zhenyu is not to get along well. If that’s the case, the next time we meet, even if it’s on account of both of us being Demon Lords, and I can’t take your life, I will still utterly defeat you, make you weep like a coward, and avenge today’s humiliation!”
Qin Gou raised an eyebrow and spoke eloquently, “Then I also guarantee that I will make Jia Ren weep like a child. However, do you truly believe you can easily escape now?”
“Guess for yourself.”
As soon as the words fell, Jia Ren glanced thoughtfully at Zhao Xinting, who was close at hand, arrogantly raised her chin, and her whole being instantly transformed into a ball of blood mist.
“Boom!”
At the same time, Zhao Xinting pointed his sword finger, easily shattering a large expanse of white clouds in the sky, leaving behind only a wisp of Jia Ren’s broken hair.
“Xinting, don’t panic. This should be Jia Ren’s racial talent technique, and she can’t use it many times in a short period. Moreover, that blunt fellow probably doesn’t know yet that the secret realm’s exit has been sealed again by Shen Hao’s malevolent thought. How can she escape?” Qin Gou analyzed calmly.
“The seal has already loosened. I might be able to determine her position,” the white-haired old man mused for a moment, his eyes lighting up. “Is this what they call retribution? That demon woman has accidentally stumbled into the most fatal Illusory World Cloud Marsh within my Little Profound Realm!”
“Illusory World Cloud Marsh?”
“Indeed, it was originally a naturally formed land of great miasma, where the laws were constantly changing and the fortune was unpredictable. Once trapped, it was extremely difficult to escape. Back then, there were rumors of several Dharma Aspect True Persons perishing there. I couldn’t bear to see any more innocent people die, so I went to great lengths to move the entire Illusory World Cloud Marsh into my Little Profound Realm.”
The white-haired old man snorted coldly. “Now, unless I regain control of the secret realm and actively open a way out of the Illusory World Cloud Marsh for her, this scoundrel is bound to face nine deaths and one survival!”
Hearing this, Qin Gou was stunned. “Xinting, how much longer will it take you to help Fellow Daoist Shen Hao achieve complete liberation?”
“Fellow Daoist Shen Hao has been imprisoned for too long, and his soul body is too weak. Xinting must be extremely careful, so it will still take about half an hour.”
“That’s good. With that little time, Jia Ren’s abilities should be enough to save her life.”
“Not necessarily,” the white-haired old man shook his head. “As I said earlier, the fortune within the Illusory World Cloud Marsh is unpredictable. If her luck is shallow, that demon woman might not even last the duration of one incense stick. That’s why I designated it as a forbidden zone for all trial-goers.”
“If that’s the case, I will have to enter the Illusory World Cloud Marsh myself,” Qin Gou sighed helplessly.
“Why is that?!”
For a moment, everyone present showed expressions of utter bewilderment.
“Fellow Daoist Qin, you were clearly confronting that demon woman just now. Why are you risking yourself for her now?”
“That’s what I dislike most about that wretched woman!”
Qin Gou gritted his teeth in anger, helpless. “Every thirty days, she only has control for a day or two. At other times, the true controller of that body is Ren Su! That child’s background is already tragic enough, and she has always been obedient and greatly indebted to me. How can I ignore her!”
“Master, I’ll go with you,” Ye Qishuang understood Qin Gou, knowing that at this time, her esteemed master had surely made up his mind.
Little Chair also said without hesitation, “Lord Qin, I’ll go too.”
“Xinting, you will immediately continue to release Shen Hao’s seal… You two can come along, but you will need to do so in a different manner.”
Qin Gou felt touched and nodded slightly. “I also possess the Demon Lord’s token, so Jia Ren cannot truly harm me. However, she might act out of hatred for you two and target you. Therefore, when it’s truly necessary, I will inform Little Chair to come via the soul spirit in my dreams, and I will summon you, Qishuang, for remote assistance through the Spirit Blood Seal.”
Seeing this, the white-haired old man fell silent for a moment, then his face again showed a struggle. “Fellow Daoist Qin, this place is extremely dangerous, are you truly…”
“Fellow Daoist, no need to say more. I have my own means of protection,” Qin Gou immediately smiled warmly. After all, for him, it would at most be another sacrifice of his Celestial Master’s Soul.
Although, this statement was indeed rather strange, as in the end, by repeatedly sacrificing his Celestial Master’s Soul, wouldn’t only… the Bad Seed System be left? It must be intentional!
…
Illusory World Cloud Marsh, surrounded by dense mist.
“Fellow Daoist Shen Hao mentioned before that the laws here are constantly changing. Could it be that right now, all spiritual power of cultivators is completely sealed off?”
Qin Gou looked at his hands, which were unable to gather any spiritual power, and muttered to himself, “If it’s only this, then Jia Ren and I are considered quite lucky?”
Immediately after, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly reached Qin Gou’s ears.
“Jia Ren, there is no one else here besides you and me. Why are you hiding? I haven’t settled the score with you for endangering Ren Su, that girl!”
In an instant, Qin Gou easily determined the direction. Relying on his still strong and agile physique, he strode forward, thrusting out his sword, which lightning-fast stopped above the other party’s… head?
“Who are you?”
Before his eyes was a demon girl with a small, tender face, teary eyes, clearly small and slender, and not yet out of childhood, yet wearing a long, ill-fitting dress.
From the charm in her eyes, one could still see many of Jia Ren’s features. Furthermore, the familiar dress and the specially shaped Nas ring on her finger silently indicated her true identity.
“Plop, plop…”
Suddenly, the little demon dot in front of him trembled with fear. She quickly took out several plump wild fruits from her bosom. In her flustered state, many fell to the ground and shattered. Suppressing her fear and timidity, she said with teary eyes, “Brother, big brother, these are all for you. Can you please tell me what place this is? I haven’t gone back for so many days, and Miss… she will surely kill me.”
