Flame Evil

The Xuan Yuan Sect had long known intruders were inside.

Desire had been the first sent to stop them.

Her defeat meant the sect’s operation had already failed.

Just how strong was Jiang Yuyao?

As far as Gong Ning knew, in a hundred years, she had never lost.

Among cultivators of the same realm, none could match her.

Perhaps only their shared master could surpass her—but that person had long vanished without a trace.

And in this secret realm, there was only one Nascent Soul cultivator guarding it.

If they hadn’t dared to cross the righteous sects’ most sacred line, would they really be facing such a gathering of Nascent Soul experts?

Jiang Yuyao hadn’t engaged in slaughter for a long time.

After the great war that toppled Great Yuan, many had grown weary of killing.

Yet her sword had not dulled in the slightest.

Every Xuan Yuan Sect cultivator who dared approach fell before her in a single strike.

She cut from the top to the bottom, giving her enemies no chance to fight back.

Gong Ning followed behind the group, her heart heavy.

Desire—the demoness—could have become an ally.

But such things required opportunity.

Sadly, she hadn’t waited long enough.

If there was a chance, she would build her a tomb.

Even in death, she deserved dignity.

As these thoughts passed through her mind, Gong Ning felt a sudden, violent palpitation.

In this freezing place, sweat beaded on her forehead.

“What’s wrong?”

Tang Qiaohuan asked.

“Nothing. Most likely, we’re getting closer to Yan Sha.

I can feel its hostility toward me.”

“The disciples haven’t been sacrificed yet.

Yan Sha can’t have awakened.”

As Tang Qiaohuan spoke, a powerful Nascent Soul aura surged forward.

The sect’s guardian—the high-level protector—had finally appeared.

Jiang Yuyao wasn’t one for words.

She raised her sword and stepped forward.

Then, in an instant, the biting cold vanished.

Scorching heat rolled in, suffocating and oppressive.

A deafening roar tore through their minds, making even the strongest tremble.

Master Jichen turned pale.
“In the end… we were too late…”

Gong Ning would never withhold intelligence for personal gain.

When she reunited with the group, she shared everything she knew about Yan Sha—only omitting the source.

Behind the protector, heavy thuds echoed—like boulders crashing down.

A colossal beast emerged into view.

Three meters tall.

Four limbs. Scales covering its body.

Molten lava oozed from the gaps between scales, radiating evil energy.

Sharp fangs. A hideous face.

Tang Xuanchen said, “Master Jichen, don’t grieve too much.

Defeating this evil beast and resealing it is our priority now.”

Xugu Zi said, “Yan Sha has just awakened—it’s at its weakest.

It should be easy to handle.”

But to everyone’s shock, the protector suddenly thrust his hand through his own chest.

“For Great Yuan!”

“What is he doing?! Self-detonation?!”

No one expected this.

Self-destruction was only done when cornered.

Leaving aside Jiang Yuyao’s freakish strength—didn’t everyone spend centuries, even millennia, to reach Nascent Soul?

Who would blow themselves up right at the start?

A Nascent Soul explosion would obliterate the entire secret realm.

Even if they survived, they’d be severely wounded.

Gong Ning quickly retreated, making space.

The Nascent Soul cultivators swiftly formed a defensive formation.

But the expected cataclysm never came.

Instead, behind Yan Sha, a group of Xuan Yuan Sect cultivators stood.

One by one, they exploded like bursting balloons.

Gong Ning instantly realized, “No! Not self-destruction—it’s blood sacrifice!”

As she spoke, Yan Sha’s body swelled again.

The protector, who seemed to have self-destructed, had his spiritual energy and cultivation forcibly drained—flowing into Yan Sha.

Finally, it condensed into a core of essence and merged into the beast.

It was a reverse version of the same soul-siphoning heretical art.

Evil beasts didn’t fear karmic retribution.

They were born of heaven and earth.

Even if shattered, they’d reform over time.

If Tang Qiaohuan had another chance, she’d swear on the heavens—no more tricks, no more schemes.

Because now, this Yan Sha was giving multiple Nascent Soul cultivators trouble.

She clearly remembered—in her past life, the Sword Immortal had cleared this realm quickly.

Yan Sha hadn’t grown larger or stronger.

She crept to Gong Ning’s side and whispered, “What now? Can we win?”

Gong Ning shook her head.
“Not really.

Yan Sha’s earlier weakness was clearly due to the realm’s suppression.

Now, after absorbing so much energy, it’s exceeded that suppression.

The realm itself is now feeding it.”

Gong Ning stared at Yan Sha.

She felt its blood-red eyes locked onto her.

It had been a long time since she’d felt such fear.

“The Xuan Yuan Sect’s ruthlessness knows no bottom.

They’re even using their lives as stakes.”

Jiang Yuyao replied, “On the contrary—for these madmen, life is the least valuable thing.

Gong Ning, you go call for reinforcements.

We’ll stay and hold it back.”

At this point, there was no other choice.

Gong Ning took one step back.

Yan Sha took one forward—its front hoof slamming down, making hearts skip.

She stepped back again.

Yan Sha advanced once more.

Another cold drop of sweat slid down her temple.

It’s over.

Yan Sha had locked onto her.

Before Gong Ning could retreat again, Yan Sha took a third step.

Tang Qiaohuan suddenly understood.

“Elder, I have good news and bad news.”

“Not now. Just say it.”

“Good news: the disciples might still be alive.

Bad news: your arrival startled it awake, so it skipped the formation ritual.

Just as you can inherit Su’e’s legacy and seal it, you carry the same aura as Su’e.

So…”

Then what was there to say?

Run!

Gong Ning once again demonstrated her poor-student, over-equipped trait.

She pulled out a Swift Movement Talisman and a Instant Shift Artifact.

Tang Qiaohuan grabbed her leg and activated the fox spirit treasure—Dust-Hiding Pearl—again.

But just as Desire had seen through it before, how could Yan Sha—bearing a blood feud with Su’e—let its enemy go?

Gong Ning shouted, “Everyone! This beast is after me!

If anyone can run fast, you should—”

Before she could finish, Yan Sha crouched slightly—coiled its power—then leapt.

It soared over the group and landed squarely in front of the exit!

“It’s over. This thing has intelligence…”

It had instantly assessed their strength.

It knew its enemy was trying to escape—so it blocked the way first.

Jiang Yuyao gritted her teeth.

In any other place, she’d have slashed open the mountain and sent Gong Ning out.

But above this secret realm—was a city of ten thousand homes…

“Staying in is fine. Better not cause a bigger disaster.

Gong Ning, go deeper—find any surviving disciples.

We’ll keep this beast occupied here.”

“Understood.”

Please… let the disciples still be alive.