Chapter 126: ????

  Only a vast stone cave came into view, with an area of over a hundred miles in circumference. The high ceiling disappeared into darkness, and the depth was unfathomable at first glance. Inside the cave, ancient and heavy-looking spider webs were everywhere, with thick dust accumulating to several feet, indicating that no one had visited this place for a long time.

  In the center of the stone chamber, a gigantic wooden mechanical device stood quietly on top of a stone pedestal over ten yards long. The surface was adorned with rich colors - dark red like blood, deep green like bamboo, and deep blue like the ocean - all mixed together, emitting an aura reminiscent of ancient divine artifacts. Various hooks and chains crisscrossed, connecting massive mechanical components in a complex network that seemed to stretch on forever.

  Qing Xia and Xi Lin exclaimed almost simultaneously, staring at Chu Zheng who was lying on the ground, covered in blood.

  Looking at Chu Zhuang's chest still gently heaving, only then did they realize that he was not dead, but merely severely injured and unconscious. Just as they were about to breathe a sigh of relief, a cold, stern hum suddenly rang out, causing Qing Xia and Xi Lin Yu to simultaneously turn their heads towards the sound. They saw an old man with white hair and beard, clear eyes and eyebrows, wearing a black robe slowly emerge from behind the machinery. His gaze was sharp as a knife, his mouth curled into a cold smile as he said: "What kind of wind is blowing today? This Hong Tian Shui prison cave that no one has set foot in for decades actually has frequent visitors."

  His hoarse voice seemed a bit worn out, and it was surprisingly the mysterious old man who had just been entangled with Qing Xia!

  At this moment, a sudden loud noise came from under the machine, and in an instant, the ground shook violently, dust flew everywhere, and the standing ground was trembling slightly!

  Qing Xia's eyebrows furrowed, and he coldly gazed at the mechanical device that stretched over a dozen zhang. It was bound by iron chains, with each link interlocking, resembling a gigantic lock head. Beneath it, something seemed to be suppressed, like a wild beast, letting out ear-piercing roars, its momentum astonishing.

  Xilin's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he coldly glanced at Chu Zheng, who was not doing things in his favor. He chuckled and said loudly: "Since the old man knows the secret of the Heavenly Mechanism Index, isn't it a bit too hasty? The time has not yet come, and taking action now won't result in losing everything?"

  The old man's eyes were fixed on the mechanical device known as "Tianji Suo", his eyes a deep, bloody red. He raised his head and looked at Xilin Rong with a cold gaze, saying in a low voice: "What do you want?"

  Xilin smiled faintly and said in a low voice: "Don't you know what I want?"

  The old man sneered, a hint of mockery flashing across his face: "You demon clown, you dare to come to Penglai and be so presumptuous? You really don't know life from death. For a thousand years, anything that Penglai wants to protect, others can only dream of touching. I advise you to go back and tell your master to give up this wild idea!"

  Xilin raised an eyebrow, coldly smiling and saying: "It's really been washed away by Penglai, it seems that thirty years of imprisonment didn't teach you a lesson. Time is ruthless, the world is ever-changing, do you still think you're in the glorious days of being the head of Penglai's Ministry of Works thirty years ago?"

  Xilin's eyes turned cold, and he continued: "Moreover, for someone like you who was expelled from the sect, how dare you still call yourself a disciple of Penglai? In those years, Penglai Valley publicly announced to the seven departments that your name would be removed from the roster. You committed eighteen major crimes, including murder, adultery, deceiving your master and ancestors, and causing war... Now, in the eyes of the seven departments, you truly deserve the saying 'a stench that will last for ten thousand years'. What face do you have to return to the world?"

  The old man's face turned even paler, and he suddenly shouted loudly: "They're talking nonsense! I didn't do it! The master of the valley wasn't killed by me!"

  "Of course it wasn't you who killed him." Xi Lin Yu sneered, slightly curling his lip. "If you had such great abilities, how could you have been suppressed by the inexperienced Tan Mianzhi in the Hongtian Water Prison back then?"

  Suddenly, the old man exclaimed loudly: "You know! You actually know?!"

  Xilin sneered, "I know what you're thinking. Do you think the people of the Seventh Department will believe that Tan Bianyu, the respected and esteemed master, was the one who set up a conspiracy to harm the other six departments and wanted to deceive everyone into supporting his own son as the heir of Liang Sihai? And that Zhu Qinghe, who has been cursed for decades in the Seventh Department, is actually an innocent victim framed by others? Haha! What a ridiculous joke!"

  Chu Zhen, the only one who knew how to open it, fell to the ground like a dead person, without any signs of life. Suddenly, a soft laugh was heard, and Ouyang Ruolan walked in with a swaying gait, laughing loudly: "Xilin young master's move of 'draining the water from the bottom of the pot' is really good! We've been busy for many days, almost doing all the work for someone else. It's truly admirable, making Lan Ya prostrate herself in admiration."

  Qing Xia only then discovered that Ousen Ruya had somehow entered the stone room, and her face immediately changed. She shouted loudly: "Witch! Where is Yang Feng?"

  Xilin Yu smiled lightly and said, "I've been guessing who the person hiding in the dark was, I didn't expect it to be Lan Ya Sheng Nu of the Nanzang Wu Xian tribe. The Holy Maiden has been renowned for years, dominating the south, and I have admired her from afar. I didn't expect to meet the Holy Maiden's golden face today, it's truly a fortunate encounter in three lifetimes."

  Ou Si Lan Ya burst out laughing, and after a long time, she finally stopped and said: "Xi Lin young master is really good at joking. The south border is not far from the Five Cang Mountains, if you want to see me, it's not necessary to make my allies betray me just to meet me. If you have time, you can come to the south border for a visit, and I will definitely treat you with the warmest hospitality."

  Only Xi Lin heard the long laugh and said: "Chu Zheng Gongzi said that Sheng Nu and others are outside the secret room, they will never come in. It seems that Chu Gongzi obviously misunderstood Sheng Nu's character and underestimated her curiosity. They say women are the most curious creatures in this world, it seems the rumor is true."

  Ou Si looked at Chu Zhuang with a cold gaze and said disdainfully: "I had long seen that this man would not make it, but I didn't expect to meet Master Zhu Qinghe here. Master Zhu is from Penglai, and his beast-controlling poisonous technique is unparalleled in the world, making Ou Si truly admire him. This time, wanting to open the Tianji Index was also due to dissatisfaction with how Penglai treated Master Zhu back then. I didn't expect to see Master Zhu's true face here today, it's really wonderful. As long as the Tianji Index is opened, the elite of various countries on Bailu Yuan will be flooded. The people of the Seven Departments will surely think that it was caused by the collapse of Hongtian Water Prison, and when the time comes, Master Zhu can close the water gate and take charge of the Seven Departments in the name of Liang Si's descendants, what a wonderful thing!

  As soon as the words fell, Xi Lin suddenly laughed and said: "The so-called announcement of the seven departments by the Holy Girl, overthrowing the Tang family's rule, and letting the seniors enter the main Penglai is just a lie to deceive people. When the seniors open the heavenly mechanism, the water will flood Xichuan, and the two countries of North Qin and South Chu who are still stranded in Bailingyuan will immediately become the public enemy of the entire world again. At that time, they won't even have time to leave you behind, let alone stand up for you? Seniors have been talking about this for so many years, but can't even see such a simple truth?"

  Xilin smiled faintly and continued, "I come from Wucang Mountain. You should know the grudges between our master and the seven departments of Lianqingpeng. Cooperating with us is far more secure than cooperating with them. You were sealed for thirty years, suffered unjust treatment, and were ridiculed by the seven departments. Haven't you learned your lesson? What method do you think is most beneficial to yourself? I've said all I need to say. Consider it carefully."

  The old man's face changed suddenly, he took a deep breath and asked in a low voice: "Are you the descendant of Da Dao Mo?"

  Xilin Yulang smiled and said in a low voice: "Senior has good eyesight, that's right."

  Qing Xia's eyebrows rose slightly, and for a moment, the face of Zhuang Dianru, that crazy and passionate look, flashed before her eyes. She thought to herself, could it be that Xi Lin Yu had also become one of them? But hadn't Zhuang Dianru and others worked tirelessly for decades to pave the way for Chu Li to ascend to the throne? And yet, Xi Lin Yu and Chu Li were sworn enemies, how could he possibly submit to Chu Li's rule? Was it possible that even among the great Daoist sects, there was also open strife and secret struggle, with factions and divisions?

  But then Zhu Qinghe said in a deep voice, "Don't you want to untie the Heavenly Mechanism Rope, flood Penglai Valley, and destroy the million-strong allied army of Bailu Yuan?"

  Xilin couldn't help but admire the old man, who had been imprisoned for over thirty years, yet was able to roughly infer the overall situation and events with just a few words. Seeing the old man's relaxed expression, Xilin smiled faintly and said: "The procedure is almost correct, but the purpose is quite different. The heavenly mechanism must be activated, but it's not about destroying the White Deer Plain, rather it's about you adjusting the direction of the water gate slightly to this side." He then pointed gently towards the east.

  Qing Xia and Ouyang Yalan, Zhu Qinghe and others were shocked at the same time. The old man exclaimed: "You want to destroy the nine main rivers of Penglai and the sacred land of Xuantian Mingfu?"

  Xilin nodded and said, "Penglai Xian Island is not kind to you, why do you still have old feelings for them? Since they can imprison you in this desolate place for over 30 years, don't you have the guts to drown their Xuantian Mingfu? Where did Zhu Qinghe's domineering spirit that once swept across the seven seas go? Was it really worn away by these 30 years of time?"

  Xilin's voice was stern, and by the last sentence, it was almost a loud shout, his voice surging, causing a slight rumble that day.

  It has come to this, if Qing Xia still doesn't understand the identity and status of these people, then she would have lived in vain. The Clear Sky Seven Departments originated from a thousand years ago, when a highly talented individual named Liang Si Huan single-handedly established them, dividing them into departments such as grain, money, military, and engineering. He said that at an appropriate time in the future, he would send out the descendants of the Liang family to lead the seven departments, plot for world domination, and establish a utopian society. However, for unknown reasons, over the past thousand years, the descendants of the Liang family have never appeared, and the seven departments have been governing themselves, hiding in the markets or at the bottom of deep mountains and valleys, but still having underlying relationships with each other.

  Liang Sihai was also a thoughtful and extraordinary person. After thousands of years of development and foundation, each department had already become the best in its field, completing the monopoly of various commodities on the mainland. Until 300 years ago, this monopolistic pattern had been fully formed, driven by commodity economy, causing the Great Qin Empire to disintegrate, and afterwards, they relied on each other and tried to unify. The result was vastly different from Liang Sihai's original idea, and it is unknown whether he had not thought of it at the time or did it intentionally.

  However, the people of the Seven Departments were unaware of their position in this chaotic world. The Daemo Association, which had always been unified under heaven, overthrowing tyranny and establishing a free nation, was the first to realize this point. So, they sent out Xilin Rong, who used cunning schemes to destroy the Peng Lai Engineering Department, the sharpest blade among the Seven Departments.

  The Nanjiang Wu Xian tribe is a branch of the Du Bu, and over the past thousand years, they have been thinking of changing their allegiance. They no longer wanted to serve under the long-dead Liang Si Huan, so they defected to a powerful noble and revealed the secrets of the seven tribes. Now it seems that this noble was likely Qi An, the crown prince of Qi Guo. Ousilan Ya conspired with him to flood the White Deer Plain, making Chu Zheng become the leader of the seven tribes in order to eliminate dissenters and annex the military strength of the seven tribes, thereby expanding Qi Guo's power. Otherwise, given Qi An's personality, why would he lead the Qi soldiers out of the White Deer Plain first during such a turbulent situation? It was because he didn't want to be trapped and swallowed up by the floodwaters.

  It seems that Chu Zheng is indeed a two-faced double-headed snake. After he lost power in Southern Chu, he was rescued by Qi An and deliberately came to Penglai Valley to lure Tan Su Jing into giving him the method to open the Heavenly Mechanism Index, plotting to take over as the master of the valley. If Qing Xia hadn't arrived, he might have succeeded already. However, he's not a fool, knowing that if he destroyed the elite forces of Southern Chu on White Deer Plain, he would definitely be coerced by Qi An. So, in secret, he made contact with the Da Dao Mo Zhe Xing Hui faction led by Xi Lin Yu and reached some sort of agreement with them. With their help, he first eliminated the Qing Peng Seven Divisions, then, with their assistance, regained his throne as the Emperor of Southern Chu.

  It's also possible that he never thought of flooding any place, but wanted to create chaos and then take the opportunity to close the water gate, gain favor with the seven departments, pretend to be a descendant of the Liang family, and strengthen his own power. In short, this is still a despicable person who only thinks of himself.

  And now, out of nowhere, a Cheng Yaoguang appears. This old man named Zhu Qinghe suddenly turns out to be a clansman who was imprisoned here by Penglai thirty years ago and seems to have suffered an unjust grievance. He is filled with resentment towards the Seven Departments, Penglai, and the world. Moreover, he is the only one besides Chu Zheng and Miss Tan who knows how to open the Heavenly Mechanism Lock, making him a crucial figure in this matter.

  At present, whether he follows the Mo family or the meaning of Qi Guo, it will inevitably lead to a situation where lives are lost. Qing Xia naturally cannot let them flood Chu Li and Qin's army, nor can they destroy Zhu Yuan's home, but being surrounded by three powerful people, that old man is even more powerful, for the time being, he does not dare to make any rash moves, quietly retreating, hiding in a corner, watching the changes.

  Ou Si Lan Ya saw that he was still sowing discord at this time, and couldn't help but feel extremely angry. Seeing Zhu Qing He indeed had some emotional fluctuations, she thought to herself: If today I don't make a decisive move, the hardships of the past three years will all be for nothing. The corners of her mouth suddenly rose as she smiled lightly and said: "Xi Lin young master is truly skilled at making threatening remarks. Since that's the case, Lan Ya has some small tricks to show everyone, would you like to come and appraise them?"

  As soon as the words fell, a ray of light flashed on his hand and shot towards Xilin in a flash!

  Xilin hummed coldly, raised his long sword, and with a mighty aura, slashed down at Ouyang Yalan's head. Ouyang Yalan's body was agile and flexible, like a boneless turn, she dodged to one side with an impossible and eerie posture. The sword shadow crashed down, slashing into the ground of the secret room, instantly, countless years of accumulated dust flew into the air, making it almost impossible to see within a foot radius.

  Ou Si Lan took advantage of this opportunity, retreated her body, and with a flash of white sleeves, a cold, dark arrow shot towards Zhu Qinghe. Suddenly, a mournful cry echoed from behind, and Zhu Qinghe covered his head with both hands, crazily rushing towards Xi Lin Yu, completely blocking the latter's next attack.

  Xilin's martial arts skills were extraordinary, and he was already renowned in southern Chu from the beginning. After his family was destroyed and his people were scattered, it is unknown what kind of encounter he had, but he ended up under the tutelage of Wucheng Mountain, where he learned the Mo clan's swordsmanship and practiced day and night without rest. However, he never could have imagined that Ousilan Ya would actually be able to cast a curse on Zhu Qinghe. It is worth noting that in his heyday, Zhu Qinghe was known as the Poison Saint, and among the seven departments, he was even mentioned in the same breath as Nanjiang's poisonous woman, Qiu Chongya. If he hadn't died young, he would have already made a name for himself throughout the land, and his ability to control ferocious beasts and poisonous insects was unparalleled in the world. How could such a god of all living things possibly be cursed by a small saintess from the Wuchan tribe?

  It's not surprising that Zhu Qinghe was overconfident, after all, his fame in his younger years was too great and there were many rumors about him. However, as the saying goes, "art is refined through diligence", but he was imprisoned for thirty years, with hatred festering in his heart every day, and the years passed by in a daze. His poisonous skills not only didn't improve, but instead regressed, and this path was abandoned, it's no wonder that he was eventually defeated by Ouyang Yalan.

  Xilin's reputation was at stake, and with a loud shout, he unleashed his ultimate technique. A brilliant white light filled the sky, and years of bitter training and hatred were suddenly released. His hands moved swiftly, unleashing a flurry of knife-like attacks that shone brightly in the air. The sheer force of his blows was awe-inspiring, and the sound of his movements shook the heavens. In an instant, he seemed to embody the fury of a stormy sea, his presence electrifying the air. Thousands of sword shadows burst forth, and countless white pillars of light shot up towards the sky, spreading wildly through the air like living spirits. His power was like that of a dragon rising from the ocean, creating a dazzling display of color in the sky. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at Zhu Qinghe and Ouyang Lanyue, his attacks pressing down on them with unrelenting ferocity.

  A sweetness suddenly rose in her throat, making it hard to breathe. For a moment, she felt as if she was trapped in a huge whirlpool, tightly wrapped around, almost unable to breathe.

  Suddenly, there was a "plop" sound, and the old man's upper arm was struck by Xilin's knife energy. Fresh blood gushed out instantly. Qing Xia looked down and saw that amidst the pool of fresh blood, some small green insect eggs were crawling around, like tiny green worms rolling about, making one feel nauseous.

  Ou Si Lan Ya's face suddenly turned pale, a streak of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth, and the old man's mad roar seemed to feel no pain, still rushing towards Xi Lin Yue to kill him crazily.

  Xilin suddenly split open the old man's sword stance with a swift and powerful strike, his body moving like a dragon as he launched a sudden and fierce attack that struck the old man with the force of a thunderbolt!

  "Xiling, you! If you kill him, no one in this world will be able to open the Heavenly Mechanism Lock again. You and I won't have a chance to reunite, and it'll just benefit someone else!"

  Oslanya suddenly let out a loud, shrill scream. Xilin Yu's hand shook upon hearing this and he immediately withdrew it. Oslanya had been waiting for this moment, muttering incantations under her breath. Suddenly, the old man let out a loud roar, his eyes turned bright red, and fresh blood spurted from his wounds as the inner worms shot out like a green wave, crazily surging towards Xilin Yu.

  "How dare you, witch!"

  Xilin shouted loudly and suddenly thrust his sword out, striking at the countless poisonous insects that filled the sky.

  A fierce gust of wind suddenly rose in the air, a black tornado several feet long swept across the ground, swirling and dancing with dust and smoke, shrouding everything in mist. The wind howled and swirled, making it hard to see. Suddenly, Xi Lin Yu let out a loud roar and drew out a long, black knife from his waist. The blade was as long as a man's arm, black as coal, with iron armor flowing like a rainbow, reflecting the dazzling colors of the deep-sea whale oil lamp burning in the corner, which had been lit for thousands of years but never extinguished.

  Innumerable blue wasps shot out from the old man's body, Oslanya pulled out a pale green bamboo flute from her bosom, placed it across her mouth, and suddenly blew up a strange tune. Those wasps heard the sound as if they had gone mad, arranging themselves in an array in the air, launching a pincer attack on Xilin Ruo from all sides.

  Xilin's reputation was indeed impressive, and his sudden rise to fame was astonishing. His swordsmanship was breathtaking, and Qing Xia couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine as she watched him. She secretly calculated that if she were to face off against him, she would likely have less than a 10% chance of winning.

  The world is vast, and there are countless talented people. My past self was really narrow-minded.

  In the four directions, a green mist floated and danced, with dark shadows overlapping. Ousen Rensa's beautiful face was pale, the bamboo flute's sound became even more sharp and piercing, the countless green locusts that filled the sky suddenly grew wings in this short period of time, buzzing and chirping, surrounding and attacking Seiren Yū. The old man's eyes were bloodshot, his body covered in wounds, with countless poisonous insects crawling on him, holding a long sword with rust spots and the mark of Horai, sometimes thrusting, sometimes chopping, like a dragon entering the sea, soaring through the nine heavens, striking down at Seiren Yū.

  The red light was stirring, the bloody wind was splashing everywhere, and the ancient "Tianji Suo" suddenly emitted a fierce red glow. For a moment, the entire stone room was filled with a brilliant red light, countless crimson beams of light were flashing and moving around, casting on the walls, floor, and people's clothes, dark red and thick, like fresh blood, full of violent and evil aura, constantly swirling in this narrow stone room, as if the eyes of an ancient divine beast had opened, those red lights seemed to have a spiritual quality, reflecting the surroundings in a uniform crimson hue.

  "Ahhh!" A deafening roar suddenly filled the air, and everyone's eardrums almost burst from the sound. Xilin Yue and the others immediately stumbled, their feet unsteady, their blood vessels swelling, their hands involuntarily stopping in mid-air as they stared blankly at the ancient divine relic that had lain dormant for who-knew-how-many years.

  "Ah!" A shrill, mournful cry echoed through the entire stone chamber. The old man knelt on the ground, his hands clutching a head covered in blood, his face upturned to the sky as he let out a long, anguished wail. He looked like a madman, his disheveled hair dancing in the windless air. In an instant, even his eyebrows turned white as snow, and his face was twisted into a grotesque, terrifying grimace, full of madness.

  This thirty years ago, a brilliant and talented young man was unexpectedly imprisoned by his own master for thirty years in this desolate era. He endured immense loneliness and hatred, and had to bear the endless infamy. In the dark, his reputation was ruined, and the painful hatred hidden in his body accumulated layer upon layer in his heart, finally forming a majestic mountain peak that could destroy the sky and earth, fill up the seven seas, and overturn the lives of billions of people!

  The mournful howl echoed incessantly, Zhu Qinghe's eyes were bloodshot, his muscles knotted and bulged all over, his snow-white long hair danced in the wind, and he no longer had his original handsome appearance, completely transformed into a peerless mad devil born of hatred.

  Qing Xia's eyebrows were tightly locked, staring intently at the changing situation on the field. Seeing Ouyang Yalan's tense clenched fists, her eyes were filled with excitement, and she suddenly burst out laughing loudly, shouting: "Kill him!"

  Qinghe suddenly burst into a fit of rage, his hands gleaming with a fierce light, a hint of sinister intent flashing in his eyes. He turned his head abruptly and glared at Oslanya, his voice cold as ice: "Who did you say should be killed?"

  His voice was low and gloomy, filled with a chilling aura of malevolence, like a ghostly spirit that had walked out of hell, with an intense aura of evil.

  Oslanya's face changed greatly, and she hastily lowered her head and nodded, her lips opening and closing as she silently recited an incantation.

  "Who are you summoning?" The old man asked in a low voice, his right fist slowly raised in front of Oslanya's face, opening slowly, and said in a deep voice: "But this one?"

  Oslanya raised her head and was suddenly frightened, between the old man's palms, a blurry piece of flesh and blood was placed upright, in which a small red-black-striped worm crawled up and down, constantly raising its head and spitting out its stinger, an unusual horror.

  Ou Si Lan Ya's mouth was agape, looking at Zhu Qing He in disbelief as he emitted an aura of death all over his body. All she heard was his deep voice saying: "Heaven and earth are not benevolent to me, why must I be righteous towards them? These towering mountains, the endless Penglai, the vast seven seas, let's all bury me together!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, he let out a loud roar and struck Ophelia with a palm, instantly causing her face to change color, her eyes to bleed, and she fainted after rolling her eyes back.

  Xilin Yu laughed loudly on the side: "Penglai is a hypocrite, framing his predecessor. Now that his predecessor has escaped from danger, he must stir up trouble to vent his hatred!"

  The old man let out a long, hoarse laugh and suddenly took a step forward. His hands moved swiftly, striking the axle repeatedly, opening up the massive, complex machine that had been silent for ages. But in an instant, his face was covered in blood, his bones shattered, and his body was engulfed in darkness. It was as if the heavens themselves were splitting apart with a deafening crash. And then, the machine, which had slumbered for far too many years, slowly began to stir under his touch.

  "Boom!" A deafening crash, the stone seal suspended in mid-air suddenly emitted a brilliant light that filled the sky, countless colorful auroras rose into the air, and a massive airflow violently swept across. In an instant, Qing Xia only felt an enormous impact coming from above, striking her with a surge of blood and qi, leaving her throat sweet and numb.

  He stared intently, only to see the old man's entire body trembling with muscle contractions, as if the fierce gusts of wind were causing his skin to undulate like waves. His white hair danced in the wind, and his loose robes fluttered like a large bird taking flight. The seven orifices on his head were dripping with fresh blood, and the gaping hole on his chest was gushing out blood like a fountain.

  Xilin Yü Qiáng firmly stood up, raised his head to look around, his face turned paler and whiter, with bloodstains on his chest, like plum blossoms in the snow.

  A desperate and ferocious roar echoed in everyone's heart, as if the ancient fierce beasts had awakened together. The old machinery emitted a creaking sound, shocking and intimidating.

  A deafening explosion shook the sky, and a bloody flower bloomed in mid-air. The insects that had lost control of Oslanya suddenly flew up into the air, hovering above Zhu Qinghe's face. The old man's cheek, where the insects were flying towards, revealed a glimpse of white bone.

  A suffocating chewing sound kept echoing in the air, Zhu Qinghe let out a loud and fierce whistle, his expression was ferocious, yet he didn't show any fear at all. Suddenly, he looked up at the sky and let out a long howl, summoning his divine power. He opened his already mutilated bloody mouth wide and swallowed a swarm of flying poisonous insects in one gulp!

  A deafening scream shook the heavens, even the ferocious poisonous insects couldn't help but feel a chill. Endless blood suddenly shot up to the sky, creating a wave of blood that splashed onto the crimson-colored Heavenly Chain!

  Boom! Countless white rays instantly filled the sky and earth, countless camouflage lights instantly enveloped the entire stone room. Under the magnificent colors of the sky, only the strong iron-like walls were shaking violently for a moment, large pieces of dust fell off, revealing the original white stone wall. Under a golden light, those white stone walls transformed into dazzling colors, flashing five lights, like flowing clouds, and scorching heat filled the stone room. Qing Xia's hair ends curled up instantly, and when she looked closely, she saw that Zhu Qinghe's clothes were all on fire, with large pieces of charred skin, as if he was wearing a black robe.

  A kaleidoscope of colors burst forth, enveloping the entire stone chamber, as countless waves of energy surged out in an instant.

  "Hahaha!" A hoarse laughter suddenly came, Zhu Qinghe's crazy skyward howl, laughed so hard that tears gushed out like a spring, and his breath was like thunder. It seemed as if he had released the resentment of being trapped for thirty years. The former elegant young master, the proud disciple of Penglai, now looked like a bloodthirsty devil filled with eerie and sinister dead spirit energy.

  The old man's eyes turned blood red as he thundered: "Penglai! Seventh Sea! Go to hell together!"

  With a loud creak, a huge gear turned, Qing Xia shouted "No!" and was about to rush out to stop the madman blinded by hatred. Just as all hope seemed lost, a sudden whistling sound pierced the air, and a white light burst forth from the outer corridor, shooting towards Zhu Qinghe like lightning!

  "Ding!" A sharp, piercing sound suddenly exploded in the stone room. Qing Xia turned her head to look, and from the dark passageway, a white light flashed by. It was actually a silver-white curved bow. The man's eyebrows were stern, his sword-like brows reached his temples, his lips were tightly pursed, and he wore a black gold long robe, making him appear even more unruly and exceptional!

  "Imperial chess game, what guilt do the common people have? Even if you don't care about your fellow disciples, can't you also spare the lives of the innocent?"

  A firm, cold voice suddenly remembered, Qing Xia's whole body stiffened, and the entire person was stunned on the spot for a moment. The heart was filled with mixed emotions, bitter, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors intertwined, unsure of what taste it was. Such a thunderous and arrogant king-like aura, such a sharp and icy demeanor, if not Nan Chu's great emperor Chu Li, who else could it be?

  The pain of trudging through the darkness for three days, the fear of repeated setbacks, all turned into a scorching gaze in this moment. She had never known that Chu Li's appearance would make her so happy and excited, she had never known that Chu Li's presence would make her feel so warm, she had never known that Chu Li's voice would make her so stirred up. She stared blankly at Chu Li, who appeared before her like a god descending from heaven, suddenly disrupting the enemy's entire deployment in this eerie and terrifying environment with the force of thunder. Her voice was almost hoarse, and she said in a low tone: "Chu Li."

  A pale and slender woman in a plain green robe, with no luxurious decorations, her clothes were old and dirty, covered in dust, her long black hair fluttering behind her back, her autumn water-like eyes warm as jade, holy and quiet as a flower. Chu Li's icy face suddenly relaxed, and she smiled softly at Qing Xia: "I knew you'd be fine."

  Xi Lin's eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes instantly revealed a huge chill and hatred. He let out a cold laugh, stood up straight, and blocked Zhu Qinghe in front of him. With a cold smile, he said: "Senior was kicked out of the door by Penglai ten years ago, what kind of same-door friendship is this? The great emperor didn't invite you to come, isn't it just that you can't wait to come here and die?"

  Chu Lixiang snorted, his eyebrows raised in anger, and for a moment, his eyes flashed with rage. Just as he was about to step forward, Qing Xia suddenly furrowed her brow, reached out and grabbed his hand, shaking her head gently. She turned to face Zhu Qinghe and said: "Although Penglai indeed owes you an apology, Mr., but grievances have a beginning and debts have a master. How can we be swayed by the evil one's instigation and disregard the lives of all living beings?"

  The strong wind howled and the fierce fire raged on, but Zhu Qinghe seemed to be oblivious to it all, not even casting a glance in this direction.

  Xilin sneered and said coldly, "You didn't take the road to heaven, but instead you charged into hell where there is no door. Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, don't blame me for not showing mercy. Today, we'll settle both old and new grudges!"

  As soon as the words were spoken, a cluster of black knife shadows suddenly rose to the sky, and the whole person was like a giant eagle, with his body inverted, spinning up large swaths of whirlwind, rushing towards Chuli.

  Chu Li let out a cold laugh, and the moves in his hand were like a great river, swift and powerful, as he charged forward with a loud bellow.

  Xilin snorted coldly, and a black light of about ten feet suddenly appeared on his hand. The air churned and surged, changing direction mid-way, and incredibly, it carried an aura that could destroy the heavens and earth as it violently poured down towards Qing Xia's head!

  Qing Xia suddenly lifted her head, the fierce and ferocious hurricane blew her delicate face pale with pain, her long hair dancing wildly, her clothes fluttering, the massive gusts of wind seemed to be lifting her entire body up, her eyes almost unable to open, her face deathly pale, her whole body trembling, trying to dissipate the attack, but before she could even react, her body shook violently, her muscles and veins bursting with intense pain, her throat sweet, a mouthful of blood suddenly gushing out, her lips slightly parted, scattering a shower of bright red plum blossoms everywhere.

  Her footsteps stumbled as if she couldn't stand steadily, and her mind was just focused on how to stop Zhu Qinghe. Unexpectedly, Xi Lin Yu suddenly changed his move and attacked herself. Since they met, although the two had made it clear that their positions were different, Xi Lin Yu had never let himself take action against her. At this moment, she couldn't change her move in time, covering her chest with her hand, her heart burning anxiously like a raging fire.

  In the face of life and death, she didn't care about her own life at all, but was worried about the consequences after the heavenly mechanism was activated. The sacred land of Penglai would be reduced to ruins, the entire White Deer Plain would be flooded, countless civilians would die in the flood, the flames of Chu Li Tai would greatly diminish, and Qi An would inevitably take advantage of the opportunity to launch a sneak attack...

  In the blink of an eye, two clear faces suddenly appeared in front of her. She had been trained in the military since she was a child, with a strong mind and sharp tactics. Although she had been with many men, it was all for the sake of completing missions. She could laugh and talk while killing people, but when it came to understanding her own heart, she seemed like an inexperienced student. She desperately wanted to protect her emotions, but unfortunately, she was often caught up in turmoil. Time passed by like a fleeting wind, leaving her dazed and confused. One person bloomed, another withered, no one asked about her, her heart as still as stagnant water. To her, the entire world had been so empty and meaningless before. She only remembered her responsibilities, what she should do and shouldn't do, slowly passing through those long and lonely years.

  But now, she has completely lost that sense of transcendence and freedom. These days, she repeatedly asks herself in her heart, which one do you really like, or which one do you love, but can't find a definite answer. How could this be her? How could she be so weak and indecisive? Well, just die here then, no need to think about those entanglements anymore, no need to make any more difficult choices, just die under this small patch of land, no sorrow, no pain, it's also a kind of liberation.

  Xilin's reputation as a master of the horizontal and vertical knife techniques was once again put to the test as a massive black wave of energy came crashing down, its sharp aura enveloping Qing Xia in an instant! Just then, a loud, iron-like whistle pierced the air, and a figure suddenly shot up at high speed. In the blink of an eye, a bolt of lightning seemed to strike, and a dark iron spear materialized out of thin air, flashing with a dazzling light that sent snowflakes swirling in all directions!

  He moved with the speed of lightning, stepping on the wind and rising up. His hands made a series of astonishing moves, instantly flashing past Xilin Rong's side. The style of his hand movements was elegant and nimble, breaking through Xilin Rong's offensive.

  Behind him, Chu Li's bow and arrow shot out in a dense swarm, like a flying locust, rushing towards the direction of Xi Lin Yu. The offensive was as swift as the Yangtze River, with actions as fierce as a tiger or leopard, with tremendous explosive force all over his body. Being sandwiched by two great masters at the same time, Xi Lin Yu was shocked and quickly retreated backwards.

  A man in white robes lifted Qing Xia with one hand and retreated swiftly, the three great masters simultaneously withdrew their hands. The dust in the stone room slowly settled down, and countless wisps of smoke hung between the two, only clearing up after a while.

  The lights flickered in the four directions, and the whales in the East Sea emitted a rich fragrance. Suddenly, a man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes appeared, his spirit was like jade, and his body was as white as snow, running swiftly and freely. A warm smile played on his lips, and although his complexion was slightly pale, it did not detract from his extraordinary elegance. It was none other than the War God of Great Qin, Qin Zhiyan!