189: Fairy Qingyao

This was the intersection of two worlds.

With the Ink Jade Qilin's submission and the retreat of the giant silver eye, the void at the summit of Tongtian Demon Peak began to twist violently.

The crystalline key in Su Lin's hand, formed by the Fusion of three world cores, was now emitting a light that guided the way home.

"Going home."

Su Lin spoke softly, lightly slicing the key through the void.

*Tear.*

A massive space crack was torn open, revealing the familiar azure sky filled with Spiritual Qi on the other side. That was the world where the Daochu Sect was located, the mortal realm he had been away from for so long.

"Finally, we can go back!"

Su Hongling, carrying the crack-covered giant sword no edge, was the first to rush to the edge of the crack and take a deep breath.

"The air here might not smell like meat, but at least it doesn't stink!"

Luo Ximei smoothed out her slightly disheveled black-gold flowing cloud dress. The demonic light in her heterochromatic eyes slowly receded, turning her back into that elegant and noble Empress of the Demonic Path.

"This trip wasn't for nothing."

She pointedly glanced at Su Lin's neck, where the bite mark left by Su Hongling and the vines drawn by Chu Weiwei had faded slightly but were still clearly visible.

Chu Weiwei, on the other hand, looked back at the desolate foreign realm behind her with reluctance.

"What a pity... I haven't caught enough of those mutated poisonous insects yet..."

"We'll have a chance to come back in the future."

Su Lin didn't want to stay in this hellhole for a second longer. With a wave of his sleeve, he swept up his three disciple and turned into a streak of light, rushing into the space crack... Meanwhile, at the Daochu Sect.

In the few short days since Su Lin and the others had left, the Daochu Sect, which had originally deterred all sides due to "Su Lin's return," was now plunged into an unprecedented crisis.

The Mountain Protecting Grand Array was teetering, its light screen covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

Outside the mountain gate, a dense crowd of people had gathered.

They weren't from the foreign races, but the Human Race.

It was an allied army from several top Sects in the Central Province. Under the banner of "crusading against the Devil Head and upholding justice," they were actually taking advantage of the absence of Su Lin and his strongest disciple to divide the Daochu Sect's resources and test whether Su Lin was dead or alive.

"Gu Qiuyue! Give up your resistance!"

An Old Man in a golden robe, holding a horsetail whisk and at the Late Stage of Body Integration, hovered in mid-air, his voice rolling like thunder.

He was the Grand Elder of Jinguang Cave, Jin Xuanzi.

"We have received definite news that the world barrier at Juejian Pass has shattered. Your so-called Revered Master took those Female Demon Lords into the foreign realm—that is a death zone from which no one returns!"

"Now, Su Lin no longer exists in this world!"

"Hand over the Daochu Sect treasury and disband the Sect, and perhaps I can still leave you a path to live!"

Inside the Mountain Protecting Grand Array.

Gu Qiuyue was dressed in purple martial attire, standing at the array core. The usually socially adept and smiling business queen now had a face as cold as frost.

She held a large handful of Top-Grade Spirit Stones, stuffing them into the array core as if they cost nothing.

"Bullshit!"

Gu Qiuyue was also pushed to her limit and directly cursed.

"My Revered Master is invincible under heaven! What is a mere foreign realm? Even if the King of Hell came, he'd have to serve tea and water to the Old Man!"

"You want to steal my Daochu Sect's money? Only over my dead body!"

"Stubborn!"

Jin Xuanzi snorted coldly. "In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless! Fellow Daoists, let us strike together and shatter this turtle shell!"

"Good!"

Dozens of Body Integration Stage experts simultaneously summoned their Magic Treasures.

Multicolored spiritual light converged into a destructive torrent, carrying an Aura that seemed intent on leveling the entire mountain Peak as it crashed down.

*Crack—!*

The Mountain Protecting Grand Array let out a mournful cry.

That layer of light screen finally reached its limit and shattered like fragile glass.

"It's over..."

Gu Qiuyue's face was pale, but she did not retreat.

She tightly gripped a golden abacus—it was her Lifebound Treasure, the Heavenly Mystery Abacus.

"Even if I die, I'll break a few of your teeth!"

Just as the destructive torrent was about to submerge the Daochu Sect's main hall, and just as Gu Qiuyue was prepared to burn her Origin in a desperate final struggle.

The world suddenly went still.

It wasn't a freezing of time.

But a sudden drop in temperature.

That kind of cold wasn't a winter wind, but an absolute zero that could freeze spiritual power, thoughts, and even Laws.

The originally noisy battlefield instantly became deathly silent.

In the sky, despite the bright sun, snowflakes suddenly began to drift.

The snowflakes were a crystal-clear ice blue, each flake containing a sharp Qi sufficient to cut through metal and stone.

"This is..."

Jin Xuanzi's descending horsetail whisk froze in mid-air. He discovered to his horror that the spiritual power in his body would no longer circulate, and a thin layer of frost had formed within his Meridians.

"Who?!"

He turned his head with difficulty, looking toward the horizon.

High up in that cloudless sky, a white figure was treading upon the wind and snow, walking forward slowly, step by step.

With every step, the void beneath her feet froze into steps of ice.

She wore a dustless wide-sleeved flowing immortal dress, her long black hair casually pinned up with a withered wooden hairpin.

That face was breathtakingly beautiful, yet so cold that one didn't dare look directly at it.

She was like the profound ice of the far north that hadn't melted for ten thousand years, or the cold moon hanging high in the Nine Heavens without a trace of warmth.

Mu Qingxue.

She was back.

Furthermore, at this moment, the Aura on her body was no longer at the Peak of Void Refining as before.

That terrifying pressure of being perfectly fused with the Laws of heaven and earth, even able to rewrite the weather with a single thought... the Mahayana Stage!

And it was... the Middle Stage of Mahayana!

"That's... Fairy Qingyao?!"

Someone in the crowd recognized her and let out a terrified scream.

"Wasn't she in secluded meditation? How could she... how could she have made a Breakthrough to the Mahayana Stage?!"

Mu Qingxue ignored the clamor of those ants.

Her pale blue eyes swept over the mess below, over the Cultivators attacking the Daochu Sect, and finally landed on the teetering main hall.

That was Revered Master's place.

"Dirtied."

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice cold and clear, like ice beads hitting the ground.

"Revered Master's mountain gate—is it something trash like you can touch?"

As her words fell.

She slowly raised her right hand and pressed down lightly toward the dozens of Body Integration Stage experts and thousands of allied Cultivators below.

"Frozen... Tomb."

There was no sound of explosion.

Only a series of tooth-aching *crack-crack* sounds.

With Mu Qingxue's palm as the center, a visible white cold wave instantly swept across the entire world.

Jin Xuanzi still maintained his terrified expression, his mouth open to beg for mercy.

But he could no longer make a sound.

A thick layer of hard ice instantly covered his entire body, freezing that terrified expression forever in this moment.

It wasn't just him.

Those dozens of Body Integration Stage experts, those thousands of Cultivators, and even the Magic Treasures they had summoned and the attacks they had launched, all turned into crystal-clear ice sculptures in this instant.

For a hundred miles around, the land turned to permafrost.

The battlefield that had been filled with battle cries turned into a silent and beautiful giant ice tomb.

This was the Mahayana Stage.

This was Mu Qingxue's Dao of Ice.

Having done all this, Mu Qingxue acted as if she had performed a trivial task.

She slowly descended and stood before Gu Qiuyue.

That cold Qi capable of freezing heaven and earth instantly receded, as if the god of death who had just casually wiped out thousands of people wasn't her.

"Seven... Seventh Junior Sister?"

Gu Qiuyue swallowed hard, looking at this familiar yet strange Junior Sister, feeling her legs go weak.

Too strong.

Absurdly strong.

"You... how did you..."

"I have come out of seclusion."

Mu Qingxue's voice remained cold, but it held a hint more warmth when facing Gu Qiuyue.

"I sensed it... Revered Master's Aura was very chaotic, very dangerous."

She raised her head and looked in the direction of Juejian Pass, an undisguisable anxiety flashing in her eyes.

"Where is he?"

"Revered Master, he..."

Gu Qiuyue was about to speak.

Suddenly.

*BOOM!!!*

The void above the Daochu Sect violently burst open.

A massive space crack appeared out of thin air.

Following that, four figures tumbled out of the crack, carrying a wild, bloody, and chaotic Aura, heavily crashing onto the plaza in front of the main hall.

"Ouch! Old Man, can't you fly more steadily!"

Su Hongling's loud voice was the first to ring out.

"We're here! We're finally back!"

Su Lin steadied himself and looked at the familiar scenery around him, letting out a long sigh of relief.

The black robe on his body was somewhat damaged, a mark left by that world-shaking battle, but it didn't affect his transcendent temperament as a Cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Body Integration Stage.

"Revered Master!"

Gu Qiuyue shouted in surprise.

And Mu Qingxue.

The moment she saw that figure, a crack finally appeared on that eternal iceberg of a face.

It was extreme longing, the wild joy of recovery, and the grievance suppressed for so long.

"Revered Master..."

She murmured, her figure flashing as she turned into a white light, instantly appearing before Su Lin.

Su Lin had just steadied himself and hadn't had time to assess the situation before he felt a familiar cold fragrance wafting toward him.

Immediately after, a cool yet soft body tightly embraced him.

"You... are finally back."

Mu Qingxue buried her face in Su Lin's chest, her voice trembling slightly.

Su Lin was stunned for a moment, then a soft smile appeared on his face.

He reached out his hand, wanting to pat this seventh disciple on the back.

"Qingxue, I..."

However.

Before his hand could descend.

Mu Qingxue suddenly raised her head.

Those eyes that were originally full of longing were now staring fixedly at Su Lin's neck.

There.

His collar was slightly open.

The deep bite mark left by Su Hongling was still flushed red.

The purple vines drawn by Chu Weiwei were eerily entwined.

And there was the mandarava flower mark left by Luo Ximei; although covered by the vines, that domineering Devilish Qi was still clearly discernible.

Three marks.

The scent of three women.

Mu Qingxue's body froze.

The air in front of the hall, in this instant, dropped to absolute zero.

The iceberg Fairy who hadn't wavered even when facing an army of thousands just now was experiencing a violent collapse of emotions in her eyes.

It was shock, then confusion, and then... it turned into a sky-high jealousy and Killing Intent sufficient to freeze the Soul!

"What... is this?"

Her fingers trembled as she touched the bite mark.

"Who bit you?"

Her voice was no longer cold, but carried a spine-chilling calmness.

"Who... dares to leave such filthy marks on Revered Master?"

*Cough cough...*

Su Lin felt the Killing Intent.

A Killing Intent even more terrifying than when he faced the Eye of the Heavenly Dao.

He subconsciously wanted to retreat, but Mu Qingxue's arms holding him tightened even more, almost breaking his waist.

"Um... Qingxue, listen to my explanation..."

"No need to explain!"

A shout interrupted Su Lin's words.

Su Hongling strode over, carrying her giant sword, looking at Mu Qingxue with a face full of displeasure.

"Number Seven, what are you doing getting all touchy-feely as soon as you get back?

I bit that mark! So what?

You got a problem?

If you have a problem, you bite one too!"

"You..."

Mu Qingxue snapped her head around to look at Su Hongling.

In that instant, ice-blue eyes and crimson pupils collided in the air, as if striking countless sparks.

"Second Senior Sister."

Mu Qingxue spoke coldly, "Are you... provoking me?"

"What if I am?"

Su Hongling puffed out her chest. "I'm a Mahayana Stage Body Cultivator who can rub your ice-block face into the ground!

Don't think you're all that just because you broke through to the Mahayana Stage. You want to fight?!"

"Heh."

On the other side, Luo Ximei also walked over.

She tidied her slightly messy hair, her platinum-gold right eye full of playfulness.

"Seventh Junior Sister, long time no see. Your temper is still so big."

She deliberately reached out and helped Su Lin straighten his collar, but in reality, she was showing off that mandarava flower mark.

"Revered Master has been exhausted this whole journey, so stop your shouting.

If you want to catch up, there's plenty of time later.

Now, let go of Revered Master.

He is mine."

"Yours?"

Mu Qingxue watched Luo Ximei's action, the coldness in her eyes deepening.

"Fifth Senior Sister, have you been on the Demonic Path too long? Has your brain rotted?"

"Revered Master is everyone's Revered Master."

"But his body..."

Mu Qingxue's finger slowly traced across Su Lin's chest. Wherever her fingertip passed, a thin layer of frost condensed, attempting to cover up the marks that were driving her mad.

"Can only be clean."

"I won't allow... such filthy things to remain on him."

"Who are you calling filthy?!"

Chu Weiwei also exploded.

She rushed up, holding a poison needle, and pointed at Mu Qingxue, cursing:

"I drew that with my heart's blood! It's the most sacred bond!

What does an ice block like you who only knows how to release cold air know!

Do you want to freeze Revered Master into an ice sculpture?!"

"If that would make him belong only to me..."

Mu Qingxue looked at Su Lin, a heart-stopping obsession showing in her eyes.

"Freezing him into an ice sculpture... wouldn't be bad."

"At least that way... he would never run away, and he wouldn't be touched by other women."

"Madwoman!" Su Hongling cursed.

"Pervert!" Luo Ximei sneered.

"Psycho!" Chu Weiwei ground her teeth.

These three who couldn't stand each other just a moment ago actually reached a unified front when facing the strongly returned Mu Qingxue.

"You want to touch Revered Master? You'll have to get through us first!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Su Hongling's Vajra Divine Power, Luo Ximei's Divine and Demonic Qi, and Chu Weiwei's Myriad Poison Domain erupted.

And opposite them.

Mu Qingxue stood alone.

Behind her, a massive Ice and Snow Goddess Dharma Image slowly rose—it was the Lifebound Divine Ability she had comprehended after breaking through to the Mahayana Stage.

"Since you're looking for death..."

Mu Qingxue condensed a crystal-clear ice sword in her hand.

"Then I will... clean out the Sect for Revered Master!"

"Clean out your grandpa!"

Su Hongling swung her giant sword and smashed it down.

A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

The entire Daochu Sect trembled under the collision of these four terrifying Auras.

The newly repaired main hall looked like it was about to collapse again.

"All of you... STOP!!!"

A roar, mixed with the pressure of Space Law and the Star Power, exploded between the four of them.