Chapter 438: Chapter 397: (Xiu) Strangers Upon Meeting (February Cumulative Reward Bonus Chapter 1)

Cang Huo paused, "Who knew that time when the three of us followed the alliance army responsible for the rear, charging into the Asura Domain to fend off the Ghost Tide, to buy time for the retreat in the back, we ended up in an ambush. The Ghost Clan’s War General Xue Lan was a Nascent Soul Stage even skilled expert. We were simply not her match."

"It was also my incompetence, getting surrounded. Ling Guanghan abandoned Miaoyin to save me, causing Miaoyin to be caught by Xue Lan. Miaoyin asked Ling Guanghan to take me away, self-destructed and took Xue Lan down with her. Ling Guanghan watched Miaoyin die right in front of him."

Cang Huo’s eyes turned a little red, "Isn’t it quite cliché? Mortal tales love writing stories like this. I also wish it was just a story, but unfortunately, it’s not. Miaoyin’s death had a great impact on Ling Guanghan. Later, his first and second disciples successively perished outside; since then, he never deepened his relationship with anyone and never laughed again."

"If it wasn’t for good fortune, meeting Buddha Venerable Wochen preparing to go set up the Sea Sealing Great Array, lending him a hand, he would never have become a Nascent Soul. Speaking of this, it was Xie Jingshan who joined Ling Guanghan’s sect, and only then did I occasionally see Ling Guanghan was provoked by Xie Jingshan to have normal human emotions."

"Ling Guanghan seems aloof, but he actually cares deeply for this disciple. This time Xie Jingshan got into trouble, no matter what, we must save him, before letting Ling Guanghan experience another life-and-death separation. I’m afraid he might only reach the Nascent Soul Stage in his lifetime."

Lii Jiuchuan patted Cang Huo’s shoulder, "Don’t worry, we’ll definitely bring them back safely."

The three hurried all the way, the Nascent Soul True Monarch’s escape speed is extremely fast, reaching the Fifth Layer within a day. Just as they were about to change their appearance to head for the Ghost Market, they suddenly saw a female cultivator being madly chased by five or six ghost cultivators in the depths of the Red Land.

The female cultivator was clearly seriously injured, struggling to both fight and flee.

Cang Huo recognized the female cultivator at a glance, "Isn’t that Yuebai girl?"

Before Cang Huo finished speaking, Lii Jiuchuan had already rushed out to assist.

Ling Guanghan’s sword light was swift, eliminating the five or six ghost cultivators at the back with just one strike, rendering them into ashes.

"Yuebai!"

Lii Jiuchuan went up to support the falling Jiang Yuebai, but her gaze first looked at Ling Guanghan in the air, wearing flowing white clothes, her eyes gleaming.

Lii Jiuchuan’s brow furrowed slightly, he closely examined Jiang Yuebai and exclaimed, shocked: "Where’s your physical body?"

At this time, Jiang Yuebai, with a head full of spider silk white hair, was indeed in a puppet body.

Jiang Yuebai withdrew her gaze, looking pitifully as she clasped Lii Jiuchuan’s sleeve, "Master, we were ambushed. I escaped desperately, maybe I can only..."

Jiang Yuebai’s gaze turned again to Ling Guanghan, "Only become a ghost cultivator. Would you dislike me?"

Lii Jiuchuan gave Ling Guanghan a sidelong glance, Ling Guanghan frowned under Jiang Yuebai’s gaze, then sheathed his sword and left.

"Where’s your physical body, is it intact?"

Lii Jiuchuan helped Jiang Yuebai up, Jiang Yuebai nodded and said: "It was Lu Nanzhi who protected me using the Ghost Escape Technique to get me out. Master, we’ve already found Xie Jingshan, quickly come with me to save him, there’s no time to delay."

"Within forty-nine days of a cultivator’s soul leaving the body there is still hope for saving. Lead the way, we’ll go over right now."

Lii Jiuchuan summoned his white jade bamboo scroll, took Jiang Yuebai aboard, told Cang Huo and Ling Guanghan, then immediately headed for the Blood Pool Prison as directed by Jiang Yuebai.

This time, Lii Jiuchuan was always in front, regardless of spiritual energy consumption, the escape speed was so fast that Ling Guanghan couldn’t keep up.

On the way, Jiang Yuebai sat behind Lii Jiuchuan, took out the Condensing Light Mirror to slowly wipe it clean, occasionally glancing at Ling Guanghan behind.

Lii Jiuchuan gave an occasional glance, seeing the Condensing Light Mirror, realizing her gaze towards Ling Guanghan was unusual, her hands in the sleeves repeatedly rubbing her knuckles.

Xue Lan, while wiping the mirror she could not use, spoke inwardly to Miaoyin: "How about it? Seeing your beloved safe and sound, is your wish fulfilled? Perhaps I should change into your appearance now and let him see?"

No response.

"Better not, I want to play a bit longer, then reveal your appearance when discovered to scare them to death. Hey, have you noticed the ghost cultivators we’ve encountered along the way? He strikes them down with no mercy, do you think he would do the same if he saw you?"

Still no response.

"All right, let’s verify now, see how your beloved deals with old acquaintances turned into ghost."

The group sped all the way, reaching the Sword Mountain Prison, where the terrifying blood qi under the blood moon was thick, hard to penetrate.

To hasten their journey, they could only lower their escape height, seeing in the midst of blade-covered mountains, a ghost cultivator frantically battling the surrounding evil corpses, swallowing evil qi for cultivation.

Ling Guanghan drew his sword, Cang Huo pressed it down.

"Wait, isn’t that...Master Xiushan of Vajra Platform?"

Upon hearing the words, Ling Guanghan and Lii Jiuchuan both took a look, and still remembered Master Xiushan, who was also one of those fallen during the Netherworld Sea Ghost Tide, especially because Master Xiushan saved many cultivators’ lives, always charging ahead in battle against Yin Ghost Evil Corpses.

Miaoyin and Cang Huo had received his help too, thus Cang Huo’s impression was deep.

They reunited an old acquaintance but never thought it would be under such circumstances; Ling Guanghan and Cang Huo were both shocked, unable to believe their eyes, watching Master Xiushan below tear evil corpses on Knife Mountain into pieces like a beast, greedily absorbing the spilling evil qi, looking utterly satisfied.

Ling Guanghan tightened his grip on the sword, Cang Huo muttered to himself: "Why would a Buddhist disciple become a ghost cultivator?"

Lii Jiuchuan had heard of Master Xiushan’s name but had never interacted, only lamenting inwardly without much feeling. He turned back, seeing ’Jiang Yuebai’ with a playful smile at the corner of her mouth, and couldn’t help but frown.

Xue Lan noticing Lii Jiuchuan’s gaze, immediately concealed her smile and lowered her head.

"Let it be, Ling Guanghan, spare him out of past sentiments," Cang Huo advised, truly unable to bring himself to harm Master Xiushan, knowing ghost cultivators in the Asura Domain are trapped and unable to get out.

Ling Guanghan coldly snorted, "Once fallen into Ghost Dao, he abandoned the principles he once held onto, he’s no longer the Xiushan we knew."

Clang!

Ling Guanghan swung his sword, bright sword aura sweeping from all directions, leveling the entire Sword Mountain with nothing left standing.

Cang Huo turned away unwilling to look, Ling Guanghan sheathed his sword.

"Do you think Miaoyin might also..." Cang Huo dared not finish the sentence.

Ling Guanghan turned his back toward Cang Huo, nobody could see his expression, only hearing his cold, resolute voice.

"She wouldn’t!"

Sitting behind Lii Jiuchuan, Xue Lan’s eyes glowed, inwardly laughing.

"Did you hear that, did you hear that, my Miaoyin? He said you wouldn’t become a ghost cultivator. Wouldn’t you like him to see now the ghost cultivator you’ve become? How splendid, truly splendid! Wanna see? If you want to see him, I’ll let you out right now, just come out for a bit, please~"

Still no response, but Xue Lan clearly felt the soul quivering with an indescribable sadness filled within her, making her uncontrollably excited.

The group continued their journey, Xue Lan continued pressing Miaoyin inside with her words.

"Or else, maybe you should leave, and if you’re willing, I can find a way to separate you out. Rest assured, I’ll absolutely not tell him you once became a ghost cultivator, thus remaining his unforgettable loved one in his heart~"

"Not leaving? Want to fight to the end? Fine then, why don’t you come out and let him see you? Not coming out? Then let me tell you a little secret, I purposely led them to the Blood Pool Prison."

"This journey consuming greatly their energy, and by the time they reach the Blood Pool Prison, they’ll be at least half spent. Under the Blood Sea, we’ve found a way to awaken the Blood Sea Ancestor, just waiting for them to arrive hum hum~"

Xue Lan’s body uncontrollably trembled, she felt Miaoyin’s anger and struggle.

"The Blood Sea Ancestor, oh, he’s the supreme soul vein of the Ghost Clan, leader among the nine king-level war generals. Although sealed beneath the Blood Sea close to four hundred years, his cultivation hasn’t diminished in the least bit. How many pieces do you think he’ll tear your beloved into?"

As soon as Xue Lan finished speaking, her expression suddenly changed, eyes revealing an insupportable despair, turning to scream at Ling Guanghan.

"Guanghan, escape, no....."

Words left unfinished, Xue Lan immediately suppressed, achieving her purpose, she no longer needed to stay with them, leaped from the white jade bamboo scroll, preparing to flee.

Ling Guanghan and Cang Huo were stunned by that unforgettable voice, unable to believe.

Back then, Miaoyin shouted to Ling Guanghan the same way, then...

Lii Jiuchuan, who was watching Xue Lan’s tricks closely, eyes turned sharp, a sudden five-colored treasure tower dropped heavily from above Xue Lan.

Because not knowing well how Jiang Yuebai had been dealt with, given she had acquired her puppet and the Condensing Light Mirror, Lii Jiuchuan had held back along the way. Now, seeing her trying to escape, he couldn’t let her pass!