Thinking back on it later, Meng Xiaoting realized that it was purely a coincidence that she, Mo Xiaoyang, and Gu Mingzhao managed to arrive at the forest just in time to lend a helping hand at the critical moment.
Like other secret realms, the entrance teleportation of Langya was entirely random, scattering people far and wide. Even experienced explorers couldn't say for sure which corner they would appear in next.
This time upon entering the secret realm, she was sent to a gloomy little cave. It was pitch black all around, and she had to grope around for quite a while before finding the exit.
Ever since Xie Jingci had an accident here, as her good friend, Meng Xiaoting had specially come to Langya to search several times. Although she always returned empty-handed, after wandering blindly time and time again, she could finally barely recognize the way and wouldn't just spin in circles.
Everyone had agreed to meet at the foot of the highest snowy peak, and Meng Xiaoting never forgot it.
She had good luck. As soon as she walked out of the cave, she could see endless mountain peaks covered in white snow, looking as if she could touch them just by reaching out her hand.
That spiritual arrow piercing through the sky appeared just as Meng Xiaoting was about to reach her destination.
She was half a secret realm away from the person who shot the arrow, only catching a glimpse of a faint bright light. At that moment, many thoughts flashed through her mind.
The distance was too far. If she went over, it would definitely take a long time, and she might end up working for nothing if the matter had already been resolved.
She didn't know who shot the arrow or what their purpose was. Maybe they discovered rare treasures, maybe they were asking if there were companions around, or perhaps, it was a call for help.
But the Langya Secret Realm was full of little monsters with no real abilities. With their group's cultivation, how could they encounter danger? Wait... there seemed to be a mysterious monster that almost took Cici's life.
In a brief moment, she made countless assumptions. The unluckiest one was that Xie Jingci had reunited with the monster and had to fight it head-on in a life-and-death struggle.
Although this possibility was minimal, it still made Meng Xiaoting immediately turn around and rush toward the direction where the spiritual arrow was shot.
At that time, she never expected that what awaited her at the end would actually be this kind of life-and-death struggle scene.
She met Gu Mingzhao first.
The title of High Immortal Shuifeng sounded majestic, but he was being chased and beaten by a few little monsters. Catching a glimpse of Meng Xiaoting's figure, the young man was like seeing a savior, throwing himself at her repeatedly.
The reason he appeared in the outskirts was also because he saw that arrow and wondered if he could go help.
The closer they got to the place where the arrow was shot, the more they could feel layers of spiritual energy exploding, chaotic and disorganized.
This was a sign of battle, and both sides had high cultivation levels.
Between the two of them, one had no spiritual energy at all, and the other was used to slacking off. Together, they were a perfect combination of the weak and helpless. Nearing the entrance of the woods, they encountered a group of monsters huddled together.
Meng Xiaoting's strength was limited, and she couldn't handle it alone. Seeing that one of the wolf monsters was particularly fierce and pounced straight at Gu Mingzhao, she wanted to stop it but was too late.
The unbelievable thing started from that moment.
Gu Mingzhao looked panicked and subconsciously reached out to block. This was a completely normal reflex, but the moment he reached out, a natural and powerful palm wind unexpectedly generated out of nowhere.
Accompanied by a muffled boom, the palm wind struck like thunder, sending the evil monster flying into the air with a single blow!
What was this called? Using the most cowardly posture to be the fiercest person.
Meng Xiaoting was shocked on the spot.
Gu Mingzhao also didn't react, staring at his palm for a long time: "I... recovered?"
Was this... the Memory Spirit had been defeated? Could it be the doing of Miss Xie or Young Master Pei?
Before he could recover from his ecstasy, a bruised and battered evil spirit flew past his side, flapping awkwardly a few times before fleeing in a hurry as if it had met its natural enemy.
In the mottled shadows of the trees not far away, Mo Xiaoyang casually carried his sword and grinned: "What a coincidence, to actually meet here! Are you guys also here because of that spiritual arrow?"
Because of a suspected distress signal with unknown intentions and an unknown user, everyone actually gathered here, just because among thousands of different possibilities, there was a one-in-a-thousand chance of crisis.
And fortunately, they all gathered here.
Hearing the phrase "I won't change my name or hide my identity" coming out of Gu Mingzhao's mouth, even though her head was splitting, Xie Jingci couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter.
This High Immortal had lived in the mortal realm for hundreds of years, changing not only his name but also his appearance and identity countless times. Now, saying this sentence so seriously really felt a bit like a slap to his own face.
However... it could barely be considered handsome.
"Cici, where are you hurt?"
Seeing her pale face clutching her head, the pill she took having no effect at all, Meng Xiaoting was burning with anxiety: "Could it be the Sea of Consciousness..."
She spoke in a hurry, then suddenly froze.
As an orthodox blade cultivator, Xie Jingci could absolutely not be associated with demonic energy. At this time, a strong wind blew up, unexpectedly blowing up a cloud of black smoke from her body.
The black smoke grew heavier and heavier, continuously overflowing from her skin, like a beast about to break free from its cage, so violent that it was almost maddening.
Meng Xiaoting recognized at a glance that it was extremely dense demonic energy.
Pei Du didn't have time to take the medicine handed to him. He forced his last trace of consciousness to look up, his eyes as deep as an abyss, covered in scarlet blood.
The system fell silent in his Sea of Consciousness. Through its few words from not long ago, he could guess that it was the demonic energy causing trouble.
This should have been borne by him, and had nothing to do with Miss Xie.
[You are extremely weak right now, which is the best time for possession. It must have lost patience to continue waiting.]
The system's tone had never been so nervous, clicking its tongue in distress: [This guy is really acting recklessly. If we let it continue like this...]
It shut its mouth halfway through. When a cultivator's Sea of Consciousness is forcibly broken through, in minor cases they lose their minds, and in severe cases they die on the spot. Both it and Pei Du knew this clearly. Some things were better kept in the heart; once pointed out to the face, it was tantamount to a fatal blow.
The atmosphere was quiet for a moment.
Bai Wan had already started a tangled fight with Mo and Gu. Ice arrows shattered, spiritual energy overflowed, and chaos reigned in all directions. Yet Pei Du's voice was clearly distinguishable word by word: "Stop."
He was severely injured in the decisive battle with the Memory Spirit, and just now he had protected Xie Jingci, drawing his sword to block Bai Wan's strike.
If a comparison had to be made, it was like a piece of unpolished jade being shattered by an external force, cracking with long marks, and then, at its most fragile and unbearable moment, being smashed hard by a hammer, completely shattering.
With his current state, being able to maintain consciousness was already unbelievable.
"As long as you don't hurt her anymore," Pei Du coughed up another mouthful of blood, carelessly raising his hand to wipe it away, his voice frighteningly hoarse, "once the antidote for the Twin Flying Butterflies comes out, I will hand over this body on a silver platter."
The development of the situation completely exceeded imagination. Meng Xiaoting, who was taking care of them on the side, couldn't understand a single word and blinked blankly.
Xie Jingci gritted her teeth, forcibly enduring a wave of severe pain, and tried her best to make a sound: "Pei Du!"
Several wisps of demonic energy had already broken free from their restraints, floating lightly in mid-air.
After a long time, Pei Du finally heard that familiar voice again, as hoarse and indistinguishable as ever: "You say you will give it to me, so I just get it? What if this is merely a delaying tactic and you go back on your word halfway through? Wouldn't I suffer a huge loss then?"
The demonic energy was not stupid; it could not possibly believe his one-sided claim.
Furthermore, Xie Jingci knew all of its secrets. If it wanted to live openly and honorably as "Pei Du" in the days to come, it would absolutely never allow her to live.
Kill Xie Jingci first, then seize and possess Pei Du's body—this plan killed two birds with one stone and was the most advantageous for it.
The dense black energy ignored his words. As if to show off its might, it violently rammed into Xie Jingci's sea of consciousness again.
A tearing sensation rapidly spread. She tried hard not to make a sound, biting her lip so hard under the intense pain that she tasted the rust-like tang of blood.
Murderous intent surged around Pei Du. When he spoke in a deep voice, his throat carried an angry coldness: "If this body dies torn to pieces, Your Excellency's plan will be ruined, won't it?"
Xie Jingci suddenly widened her eyes.
Not only her, but the domineering demonic energy also froze.
If one wanted to seize a body, the most important thing was an intact, complete corpse that perfectly matched their divine sense.
Coming from another world, it was inherently incompatible with everyone in this world. The only target it could possess was Pei Du.
Once something went wrong with Pei Du's body, the black energy was destined to become a masterless wandering ghost.
Miss Xie's brows relaxed a little.
Seeing the black energy's hesitation, Pei Du's eyes darkened as he pressed step by step: "If Your Excellency causes trouble again, I will kill myself with the Ten Thousand Swords Mantra. If you can quietly wait until the Gu poison is lifted, I will certainly fulfill my promise."
If these words came from someone else's mouth, the demonic energy definitely would not believe them.
But it knew clearly and plainly that every word Pei Du said was true.
It had seen all of the youth's memories. He looked like he followed the rules, but deep down, he was a madman stubborn to the death. For Xie Jingci, he could do absolutely anything.
Furthermore, Pei Du never cherished his own life.
"...Words are no proof."
The demonic energy hesitated and seemed to smile, the end of its voice extremely gloomy and cold: "Why don't you destroy your own divine sense first, just barely hanging onto a single breath. This way, I will be able to smoothly enter your body when the time comes, and you will have no room to go back on your word. How about it?"
Destroying one's divine sense was no different from suicide.
Gu Mingzhao and Mo Xiaoyang were still fighting Bai Wan. The cultivation bases of Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation clashed with each other, shaking the mountains and vibrating the peaks, causing the earth to tremble all around.
Amidst the deafening noise, the youth's thin lips parted slightly: "No pro—"
Pei Du did not finish his sentence.
The moment the words barely left his mouth, another voice suddenly rang out, mercilessly interrupting him: [No problem my foot! It is just a stowaway, yet it really thinks it is something great. So arrogant, does it treat the Heavenly Dao as a mere decoration?]
He froze, his heart pounding hard.
[I said before, we will handle this demonic energy.]
The system's tone carried hidden displeasure, seemingly angered: [Unauthorized dimensional travel without permission is an act absolutely forbidden by the Heavenly Dao. The reason why it was still allowed to stay here is that time and space have been chaotic recently. If a passage were forcibly opened, it would likely cause an even stronger upheaval. According to our original plan, we were to wait for the turmoil to gradually subside before dealing with the matter of this mass of demonic energy.]
It paused as it spoke, smiling coldly: [If anything goes wrong, it is on me. This thing must roll back to its hometown today.]
The entire forest was filled with a chilling murderous aura, yet the demonic energy over there was still speaking on its own: "You agreed, right? Do not blame me for going too far, I just want to obtain a body. Everyone has their own ambitions, after all, one must always seek a way out for oneself."
It spoke excitedly, not expecting that just as its voice fell, it would actually hear a strange and unfamiliar voice: [Heh.]
It sounded like a cold sneer of disdain.
There were too many sounds by its ears, quickly swallowing it up. The demonic energy paused for a moment but did not pay much mind, continuing on its own: "Young Master Pei, destroying your divine sense, where do you plan to start?"
What responded to it was an even clearer and colder [Hehe.]
This time, it finally realized something was wrong.
Leaving no room for a buffer, that strange voice continued to sound: [Are you having fun playing in this world?]
If the demonic energy had a physical body, it would definitely feel a chill down its spine at this moment.
The voice by its ear did not come from anyone present, but rather overflowed from within its own body, following it like a shadow.
Furthermore... it even said "this world."
Xie Jingci also heard the system's voice and raised her eyes in some surprise. A moment later, she heard its mocking cold sneer again: [Once you have played enough, it is time to roll back.]
The demonic energy in her sea of consciousness visibly trembled.
It guessed the identity of the voice's owner. Those two words lingered in its heart like a crushing weight of a thousand catties, making it unconsciously lower its tone even when speaking: "You... the Heavenly Dao?"
Not far away, Bai Wan focused her mind and gathered her power, the Five Elements spells exploding one by one. Mo Xiaoyang drew his sword to block, the tip of his sword severing patches of cold light.
Pei Du used his sword to prop himself against the ground, barely supporting his posture: "Senior, but it is currently trapped in Miss Xie's sea of consciousness—"
The system still responded with a light snort: "Did you hear what it just called me?"
It was the will belonging to the Heavenly Dao.
Since it was the Heavenly Dao, naturally it did not need to follow the numerous rules and regulations.
Because it was the world's law itself, with no taboos, invincible and unstoppable.
"W-Wait!"
The demonic energy darted around everywhere, panicking endlessly: "Do not send me back! I do not want to die together with that guy!"
In an instant, the atmosphere suddenly froze.
The battle between Mo Xiaoyang and the others had yet to end, their auras monstrous. Yet, in the tiny square of land where Xie Jingci stood, it suddenly fell into a strange silence.
The thick air seemed to gain weight, constantly surging and swirling. For a moment, it was difficult to breathe, and no sound could be heard.
This passage was privately opened by the system, lacking any majestic momentum. However, dark currents surged on both sides, and a subtle distortion gradually appeared in the field of vision, quickly intensifying and deepening until it turned into a murky vortex.
And within Xie Jingci's sea of consciousness, an undeniable force suddenly broke in, driving straight in and violently pulling the demonic energy out of her body.
Everything it did now was accomplished in one breath, its style vigorous, resolute, and without the slightest hesitation. It looked completely awe-inspiring, but only Xie Jingci understood what kind of pressure the system was bearing.
It had told her that in the thousands upon thousands of small worlds, as systems, they could only spectate and were not allowed to interfere.
Its current actions clearly violated this principle, not to mention that it defied the will of the Heavenly Dao to open the dimensional passage ahead of time. Once the dust settled, there was no telling what kind of punishment it would receive.
Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. The words reached the edge of her lips, but ultimately she only said in a low voice: "Thank you."
[I just cannot stand the sight of it, I am not specifically helping you.]
The system coldly snorted: [...After all, we two have been colleagues for so long. At a time like this, I have to be of some use.]
It thought that everything had come to an end, and all that was left was to pray that Gu Mingzhao and the others could defeat Bai Wan. It did not expect that Xie Jingci would stay silent for a moment, then speak again in a deep voice: "Is this vortex the passage for dimensional travel?"
The system didn't think too much of it and asked in a joking tone: [Why do you ask? Don't tell me you actually want to go over there?]
Xie Jingci remained silent.
It was instantly shocked: [No way, you really want to go? You, you, you—are you doing this for the Pei Du of that world?!]
[You might not know this, but I forced this passage open. I can't guarantee how long it will last, and it is highly unstable.]
It weighed its words for a moment before emphasizing its tone: [Besides, you should know, right? The Pei Du of the parallel world succumbed to his inner demons a long time ago. He is completely different from the man you know. The Xie Jingci of that world never woke up. Once he sees you, there is no telling what he might do. The planes are currently in chaos; if he traps you there, you might never be able to return for the rest of your life.]
Xie Jingci simply shook her head. "He won't."
She knew the two worlds could not be treated as one and the same. Yet, even after succumbing to his demons, when the planar rift appeared, Pei Du still chose not to disturb anyone, silently waiting alone for an unnoticed death.
No matter what he had experienced, at his core, he was still Pei Du. Regardless of which world it was, Xie Jingci was completely willing to give him her absolute trust.
[I really don't understand what goes through your head... I'll try my best to hold the passage open, so make it quick.]
The system let out a sigh: [Are you absolutely sure you want to go?]
"Yes."
Xie Jingci wiped the trace of blood from the corner of her mouth. When she opened her eyes again, her gaze was completely clear and resolute: "There is something I absolutely must do."
