Chapter 711

Chapter 711: Phantom Dream Sickle Light (Thank you, Niche Cat, for your pledge)

Inside the Zhaoye Palace’s headquarters, Lolan Hill gazed at the scene in her memories for a long while before gradually coming back to herself.

The two purple-clothed disciples in this canyon building tore each other apart in the same room, engaging in a cruel struggle with sword light and ghostly flames flowing. Unfortunately, the side led by True Immortal Crane Feather, who had been preparing for a long time, emerged victorious.

According to the remaining spirit of Zhaoye Palace, four years ago, True Immortal Crane Feather led a group of Zhaoye Palace disciples to eliminate another faction within the headquarters that opposed his views. They then refined their souls and dispersed them without a trace.

Afterward, this group separated from Zhaoye Palace. Even when new disciples occasionally arrived later, they were immediately controlled by these people. Some were convinced to join them, while those who resisted were directly eliminated.

When they killed True Immortal Jade Sword, they had no way out and naturally followed True Immortal Crane Feather to the end.

Under the tight control of True Immortal Crane Feather, the main faction of Zhaoye Palace remained unaware of what was happening here. Moreover, the older generation of the sect gradually passed away, and True Immortal Crane Feather’s seniority was very high. The newly promoted disciples were not yet established, and no one wanted to provoke this elder and investigate the situation.

Everyone merely thought that True Immortal Crane Feather’s temper had changed due to nearing the end of his lifespan, and True Immortal Jade Sword was in seclusion in the valley, avoiding outsiders as he neared a breakthrough.

If such a facade were only maintained by True Immortal Crane Feather alone, there would be many flaws. However, standing with him were hundreds of Zhaoye Palace disciples, all recounting this story, which also deceived the disciples from the main faction who occasionally came for exchanges, leaving them unaware.

After all, who could have imagined that everyone in the headquarters had already betrayed?

Now, the reason why this place was empty was because True Immortal Crane Feather and his followers had made significant breakthroughs in the subterranean realm and were on the verge of success, so he brought everyone there.

Since it was also hard to conceal things now, it was better to accelerate the process. Furthermore, no one wanted to stay behind to guard the door; everyone wanted to enter the hidden paradise first, unwilling to fall behind.

After understanding the course of events, Lolan Hill slowly sorted out everything.

Facing so many traitorous disciples, including Inner Sect disciples above Sequence 5, there were likely over 300 of them. Even Lolan Hill felt a bit troubled.

Unlike other factions or beasts, a single Inner Sect disciple of Sequence 5 could handle Sequence 6 beasts in the wild, let alone their other means like formations, extraordinary weapons, and props. When combined, their combat power was extremely high, far beyond the reach of those irrational demons.

It seemed she needed to seek reinforcements now.

Lolan Hill pondered the forces she could seek help from.

First was the main faction of the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace, who naturally had the duty to guard the Ximu Mountain Range. However, she was currently far from the main faction’s location on Mu Mountain Island, requiring three days and nights of high-speed flight to reach.

Second was the nearby prefecture, Xiyu Prefecture, which was right next to the Ximu Mountain Range and closest in distance. The prefecture contained border troops of the dynasty, whose strength was considerable. Unfortunately, these people might not be easily persuaded.

Third, and finally, was her own faction, the Scorching Sun Xiangyu Sect, which was the furthest away and would take about a week to arrive. However, this faction was the most certain to provide assistance. As long as she asked, Senior Sister Jin Hua would send people over.

Currently, the older generation of the Xiangyu Sect was gradually handing over affairs and power to the younger generation. Senior Sister Jin Hua was almost designated as the successor to the sect leader, holding great influence within the sect.

After some thought, Lolan Hill decided to return to the secluded valley first to inform Granny Ge Luo of the current situation. It wouldn’t take much time, and Granny Ge Luo, who had long resided there, might have her own ideas and decisions.

As for the three factions, she didn’t know the other two well, but she could send the two little creatures to deliver messages to the Xiangyu Sect, as they knew the way.

Having made her decision, Lolan Hill waved her hand, capturing the spirit into a necromancer gemstone and handing it to the Dark-Crowned Blue Raven nearby, asking it to hold onto it. She then called over the plump Dai Ju and placed another transmission gemstone, inscribed with information, into its claws.

“You will deliver this to the Xiangyu Sect and give it to Senior Sister Jin Hua or Senior Sister Su Ye,” the young lady solemnly instructed this small creature.

Chirp chirp—

Dai Ju, with its yellow feathers, puffed up proudly, indicating that it had no problem. But this appearance made Lolan Hill somewhat uneasy. She took off the blue ribbon from her wrist, wrapping the gemstone securely around Dai Ju’s leg to prevent it from accidentally dropping the gem if it forgot. This ribbon was actually given by Lady Rafeelika, red and blue, usually tied to her wrists.

“Alright, go now.” Lolan Hill supported the small creature with both hands, and it leaped up, flying toward the distant sky.

Next, she would first return to the secluded valley and ask Granny Ge Luo about the situation.

Lolan Hill walked out of the canyon, looking at the sunset gradually sinking over the wilderness, thinking that she would probably reach the divine shrine in the secluded valley by nightfall.

Then, her figure moved like a swallow, leaping lightly and flying eastward with the Dark-Crowned Blue Raven beside her.

—

On a low hill in the Ximu Mountain Range,

The surrounding wilderness was filled with various demons, including powerful entities like the Necromancer Sequence 6 Human-Face Patterned Ghost Snake and the Necromancer Sequence 6 Black-and-White Nightmare Tapir.

Several white-robed individuals stood back-to-back on top of the hill, with Li Yanchen among them. They held their knives tightly, staring down at the demons eyeing them hungrily, breaking out in cold sweat.

This time was different from last time; there were many more Sequence 6 demons. Usually, dealing with just one required the full effort of a patrol team, often resulting in casualties. Now, over ten appeared at once, making the terror and danger palpable.

The only hope they had now lay in the ‘Dragon Artifact’ in the hands of the woman behind them.

“Sir, are we ready now?” Li Yanchen uneasily loosened his grip on the knife hilt, avoiding getting his hand wet with sweat.

“It’s not that easy. Ugh.” The woman in green held a lantern staff, with dazzling golden patterns glowing, but she was somewhat unsteady, beads of sweat on her forehead.

Three black-and-white Nightmare Tapirs on the distant hilltop stared at the woman, their black pupils deeply sunken, as if they were bottomless abysses. With their gaze, she began to wobble, struggling to stand.

“Damn beast.” She rolled her golden dragon eyes, glaring at the three Nightmare Tapirs that were interfering with her. But there was no other way; she had to suppress her chaotic consciousness, summon the turbulent dragon’s magical power, and channel it into the ‘Dragon Artifact’ in her hand.

Compared to other extraordinary artifacts, the ‘Dragon Artifact’ required a concentrated infusion of dragon essence and had usage limits. Despite its drawbacks, it remained powerful, often serving as a crucial tool for officials on duty.

The lantern staff in her hand was granted by the Xuanhua Mansion, a creation of the Spring Office’s subordinate institution, the Ritual Dragon Workshop.

Crack—

As the green-robed woman focused entirely on activating the ‘Dragon Artifact,’ a group of demons attacked first. Li Yanchen swung his long knife, ready after waiting, slicing open the ghost ape in front of him.

A surge of blood sprayed out, exposing the ghost ape’s flesh and bones to the air, emitting a strong stench of blood, before it split into two halves and fell.

Then, several bone wolves rushed forward, their bodies burning with dark red flames, their eye sockets empty, only black smoke emerging.

Silver arcs clashed with the bones, cutting through several wolves, but afterward, they were trapped by the dense skeletons, unable to withdraw.

Taking advantage of this brief opening, a ghost crow swooped down, its sharp talons leaving three bone-deep gashes on Li Yanchen’s face.

“Damn!” He spat out blood, flashing his long knife, pulling it out, and swinging it again, severing several attacking demons.

But his teammates weren’t as fortunate.

A large black and red snake raised its head, with strange human-patterned markings on both sides. These markings flashed briefly, causing one of the white-robed individuals to suddenly stiffen. Other demons pounced, tearing him apart, and the ghost snake extended its head, swallowing the remains.

Seeing the squad on the verge of collapse, the woman behind finally activated the dragon essence in the octagonal lantern staff, causing golden flames to reappear on the base.

Brilliant lantern flames spread out, rising like a beacon on the ground, piercing the night sky.

In the dark wilderness, this scorching fire dome expanded in all directions, devouring numerous weak demons and spirits, reducing them to ashes and dispersing them across the wasteland.

But this time, it wasn’t as smooth as last time.

A lizard dragon with a surface covered in hollow black stones rapidly traversed the ground. Even the crimson flames passing over it only slightly reddened it, unable to harm it fundamentally.

With its impact, the originally complete circular fire dome broke open, allowing the crimson flames to spill out, weakening its power.

Many weaker low-level demons died, but a few Sequence 6 demons still survived.

Two human-patterned ghost snakes entwined, rushing forward to pin another white-robed individual, tearing him apart. A surviving nightmare tapir ran toward the green-robed woman, its black eye sockets staring at her, causing her to feel dizzy and her lantern staff to waver, nearly extinguishing.

Besides the green-robed woman, only Li Yanchen and another white-robed patrolman stood with their knives, guarding the last inch of territory. But on the opposite side, eight Sequence 6 demons still lived, advancing menacingly.

Suddenly, the black-stone lizard dragon opened its massive mouth, revealing rows of fine teeth, then spewed out a wave of freezing air, directly dispelling the flames in front of it and freezing the white-robed patrolman, before charging forward.

A ghost suddenly emerged from behind the green-robed woman, entering her body through her back. Soon, her body started trembling, her skin turning an abnormal gray-green, and the burning lantern staff fell, plunging into a pool of blood and mud, spinning a few times before rolling down the hill, disappearing into the night.

“No—” Her eyes welled up with tears, but her body couldn’t move freely, watching helplessly as the lantern staff disappeared.

At this moment, the only one still capable of movement was Li Yanchen.

“Cough, I never expected to meet my end here.” He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, splattering his white robe, adding another stain.

“In the end, it’s true that men die for wealth, birds perish for food. Our ancients were not lying. Ha ha.”

“At least I have nothing left to worry about, so I’ll go with the vast earth.” He rolled up his sleeves, wiping the blood off his long knife, restoring its gleam.

His body trembled as he turned, dodging the sudden attack of the ghost snake, then sheathed his knife.

The black stone lizard dragon approached, its tough tendons moving the black-blue stones on its back like a mountain, its massive mouth slightly open, revealing fine teeth illuminated by the remaining flames.

Exhausted, Li Yanchen placed his hand on the knife hilt, and his consciousness and extraordinary core instantly entered a momentary silence. This second felt like an eternity.

Though he hadn’t trained in a major sect, Li Yanchen had gained experience as a patrolman before returning to the borderlands. During one of his adventures, he learned his ultimate move.

Unfortunately, using this move would likely destroy all his cultivation, so he never used it.

But today was different; it was his last chance.

“Ten years of dreams, like a flash of lightning.”

On the dark land illuminated by dark red flames, a pale electric light exploded, piercing the air with an unstoppable momentum, slicing the rushing lizard dragon in half. The human-patterned ghost snake beside it was also hit, losing half its body and writhing on the ground, causing fear.

After executing this move, Li Yanchen could no longer stand, dropping his knife and kneeling, coughing up blood.

“Maybe this is enough for me.” He lay on his side, his hands weakly splayed, immersed in the sticky blood.

Shaken by the lightning, the demons regained their senses, looking at the fallen Li Yanchen, growling and charging again.

Suddenly, a silver bell rang, seemingly from a distant place, appearing abruptly amidst the clamor on the hill.

Just as Li Yanchen closed his eyes, waiting for death, the surroundings suddenly quieted. This made him open his eyes, and the scene before him resembled a chaotic spectacle, unfolding before him.

A girl with a ghost mask wielded a giant sickle, weaving through the demons. Her silver hair, snow-white skin, and black dress fluttered in the air. Her huge crescent-shaped sickle cut silently through the night, severing the darkness. With a swing, the heads of three human-patterned ghost snakes flew up, spraying blood like fountains.

Some of the blood trickled down Li Yanchen’s face, the heat and smell so real.

She continued forward, her massive sickle rotating in her hands, unaffected by the nightmare tapir, slicing it into smooth pieces of flesh that tumbled down the hill.

In an instant, only two demons remained on the field: one was a three-headed ghost owl in the sky, and the other was the ghost possessing the green-robed woman.

Caw—

The three-headed ghost owl in the night sky emitted a terrifying shriek, piercing the silence for a moment, then dived down, its form becoming a blur.

Facing this spirit-infused demon, the girl seemed unmoved, leaping lightly and gripping the giant sickle, swinging it like a streak of light, aiming straight for the rushing demon.

The demon had already become spirit-infused; ordinary strikes couldn’t stop it. Li Yanchen tried to warn her, but even if he opened his mouth, no sound came out, the surroundings still silent.

But the scene that followed was not what he expected. In that instant of contact, the girl’s figure blurred, disappearing into the night. Then, she suddenly appeared several meters away, while the three-headed ghost owl disintegrated into fragments of flesh and blood in mid-air.

Holding the brand-new giant sickle, the girl slowly approached the hill. The red ribbon on her wrist and the star-like blue eyes gradually came into Li Yanchen’s view.

So beautiful and dreamlike, it was like falling into a dream.

Perhaps this is what I see before I die, Li Yanchen thought, finally closing his weary eyes, his consciousness fading.