On the city wall, the Earthly Camp cultivators were caught off guard by the attack. Even so, they were not, by any means, weak. Their cultivation might be at the peak of the Spirit Severing stage at the most, but they were the most talented disciples from the ten top sects throughout the four realms of the Three Thousand Worlds. They were the elite of their generation, and yet, Ling Ji and Qin Xiumo’s swords were simply too fast.
Especially Ling Ji’s sword, which was narrow, thin, and almost transparent. In the hands of the current sect leader of the Duankong Sect, the sword’s chilling aura and sword aura often arrived simultaneously, allowing the Earthly Camp cultivators no time to react.
“Aaah…!!” Soon, several screams sounded on the city wall, and white light enveloped three people, sending them away in an instant.
However, this brief moment of chaos allowed the Earthly Camp cultivators to regain their composure.
“Don’t panic!” someone shouted. “They are few in number; we must hold our ground.”
“Send two teams to check on the defensive array,” another voice commanded. “The rest, follow me.”
The Earthly Camp cultivators had pre-planned their response to an attack. Now, about ten cultivators turned and leaped off the wall, rushing toward the defensive array. Those who remained brandished their swords and weapons, aiming at Meng Qi’s group below the wall.
“Heh.” Ling Ji chuckled. Four or five Earthly Camp swords charged straight at his natal sword. Even though his cultivation was suppressed to the Spirit Severing stage like them, Ling Ji was Ling Ji, and he remained unfazed. His sword, moving like a swift, agile fish, easily slipped through the blockade of swords—
“Ah!!” Another scream echoed on the wall, and white light descended, sending away another Earthly Camp cultivator.
The remaining cultivators looked at the new leader of the Duankong Sect with growing fear and awe.
Too fast!
Too sharp!
Many of them had only heard of the Duankong Sect’s formidable sword arrays. Furthermore, they had also heard from their elders about the legendary exploit of Ling Ji, a genius sword cultivator who once dominated his peers. But that was all; none of them had ever seen Ling Ji in action, and they had never imagined a sword could be so swift and lethal.
The hesitating and flickering gazes of the Earthly Camp disciples gave Ling Ji a moment of pride as he glanced at Meng Qi. But then his expression darkened. The girl wasn’t looking at him at all; she was focused on her Five Spirits Cauldron while listening intently to Yun Qingyan, who was dispensing instructions next to her.
“Hmph.” Ling Ji snorted, and his natal sword suddenly swept across. What had been a swift, ghostly, and elusive blade now transformed into a mighty river of light, sweeping across the city wall.
“Aaaaahhhhh!!!” Amid the exclamations, the Earthly Camp cultivators tried to dodge while seizing any chance to counterattack.
But Ling Ji’s sword was not the only threat to the city wall. Another cold sword was looming in, accompanied by a bright crescent moon. Meanwhile, silver needles gracefully moved through the silvery moonlight, emitting a subtle medicinal fragrance.
…
Except for Yun Qingyan, who remained stationary with Meng Qi, all the members of the Heavenly Camp had already taken action. They were the best disciples of their respective sects, and although this was their first time working together, they displayed a natural synergy as if they had cooperated many times before. The Earthly Camp cultivators, despite their greater numbers, were somewhat disorganized and ended up falling behind.
At this moment, a loud “dong!” suddenly echoed from within the city. It was as if a bell from ancient times had sounded, its clear and grand tone carrying an ancient, ethereal aura that reverberated in all directions.
Yun Qingyan and Ling Ji’s expressions simultaneously changed, growing more serious.
“To think it would be here…” Yun Qingyan murmured. His voice was not loud, and a battle was currently raging fiercely around them, so only Meng Qi, who was standing close to him, heard it.
“What?” Meng Qi instinctively asked.
“The Thousand Emperor Bell,” The person who answered her was not Yun Qingyan but Ling Ji, who had floated back and landed beside them at one point.
Meng Qi was slightly taken aback and repeated in a low voice, “Thousand Emperor Bell?” This name was unfamiliar, so it must be something she had never heard of before.
“Yes,” Yun Qingyan nodded slightly and explained, “It is said that in ancient times, the first master of refinery failed in his ascension tribulation. At his last breath, he sacrificed his entire body to forge a supreme artifact.”
Ling Ji gave Yun Qingyan a glance. Then, as if to compete, he added, “The artifact the refinery master created was exactly this Thousand Emperor Bell. After his death, no cultivator could ring the Thousand Emperor Bell again. There is a legend in the Three Thousand Worlds that the Thousand Emperor Bell not only embodies the refinery master’s final masterpiece but also his immense resentment from failing the tribulation. When the Thousand Emperors Bell rings again, it heralds the rekindling of war in the Three Realms, turning the world into a purgatory.”
As Ling Ji spoke, his gaze fell on the interwoven sword lights and spells on the city wall. Those fighting now… were the most outstanding young disciples of the Three Thousand Worlds.
Although once they leave this place, no one will remember what happened…
But…
Meng Qi followed Ling Ji’s gaze and saw that many of the Earthly Camp cultivators on the wall now had ferocious expressions. Their eyes were bloodshot, and their attacks were increasingly ruthless and merciless.
At this very instant, the bell tolled again. The sound echoed leisurely over the small mountain city, carrying a somewhat ethereal and grand atmosphere. Yet under the bell’s toll, even Meng Qi felt a surge of bloodthirsty impulse rising within her.
Countless images flashed through her mind. In an instant, memories from her previous life surged forward, and scenes she had pushed to the back of her mind and had long seemed to forget were now rushing back to the forefront.
She had clearly saved someone, yet no one listened to her explanation and imprisoned her in a dungeon.
She had done nothing wrong, yet she was branded a criminal and accused of raising demon beasts to harm others.
She had…
Misunderstandings, false accusations, contemptuous gazes from above, cold distrust, skeptical looks… all of these, like vengeful ghosts, desperately surged into her mind.
Meng Qi felt a strange, violent force growing and burning within her…
Her eyes slowly turned blood red.
Kill!
Kill them all!
A voice echoed in her mind.
Don’t forget, they all wronged you…
Kill!
Kill them all!
You did nothing wrong!
Kill, kill, kill… kill those who wronged you!
No longer able to think clearly, Meng Qi flicked her fingers, and the green mist from her Five Spirits Cauldron surged into the sky, sweeping toward the Earthly Camp cultivators.
Not far from her, Yan Xuan’s eyes also turned blood red, with two crescents appearing in them. The crescents, like hooks, were stained with blood, turning into blood moons.
“Kill…” he murmured, his voice icy cold, “Kill them all!”
Beside them, Xue Chengxuan and Qin Xiumo’s eyes also turned crimson. Their attacks became increasingly ruthless and vicious, as if the cultivators on the city wall were their mortal enemies.
“Ah…!!!!” Amidst the screams on the wall, Xue Chengxuan suddenly stumbled. He groaned, his eyes still red, glaring fiercely at the wall. One hand clutched his lower abdomen, and he staggered backward. Blood seeped through his fingers, but Xue Chengxuan, as if forgetting he was a medical cultivator, did not stop to heal himself. He continued to manipulate his natal silver needles, attacking the Earthly Camp cultivators. “Kill… kill…” He muttered through gritted teeth.
Only Yun Qingyan and Ling Ji still retained some clarity. Their eyes were also a bit red, but they stood steadily. They exchanged glances. Ling Ji sighed softly and stepped towards Xue Chengxuan, who was already staggering but still madly launched attack after attack.
At that moment, Meng Qi suddenly moved. Her eyes were still blood red, seemingly unfocused. Yet, the blue-robed figure abruptly ignored her natal cauldron and turned, running towards Xue Chengxuan.
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