Inside the resting room of Elder Liu in the Forging Heaven Workshop, the atmosphere was dense with tension. "Take care of your grief," he said after a moment's silence. "You should go attend to your own important matters, Sword Ancestor. I need to prepare the obituary... Please ensure that not a single one of these Earth Immortals escapes."
Suddenly, Elder Liu’s expression shifted dramatically. He grasped a sharp and strangely shaped black pillar, infusing his entire True Qi into it, and lunged towards the unprepared neck of Yue Qilian, who was sitting beside the bed.
Bai Qiuran briefly mentioned his agreement with Xue Ling before asking, "Can I take his soul?"
Huangfu Feng shot back with a question.
The Forging Body Technique, when practiced to its depths, allowed one to change their physical form at will. Bai Qiuran had used this to temporarily transform into the appearance of Yue Qilian, testing Elder Liu in the process.
Inside the Forging Heaven Workshop, a dull thud resounded as the pillar indeed struck Yue Qilian's neck, yet it shattered upon meeting the thin skin.
Bai Qiuran contemplated for a moment and then said, "Let’s take a look at the Abyss of Hell." His expression was fervent, as though he longed to rush in and study it immediately.
"How is that even possible?" someone questioned.
"Take care of your grief."
"Were you captured?" Powerful palm energy surged forth, instantly shattering Elder Liu’s Nascent Soul within his Purple Mansion. The uncontrolled True Qi rampaged through him, turning Elder Liu’s face red. He coughed up a large mouthful of blood, staining his chest.
Yue Qilian’s visage began to twist and morph, his dark hair turning white, ultimately transforming into a person Elder Liu least wanted to see at that moment.
"How is that even possible?"
"Uh..."
He pointed at his own face, breaking into a proud smile.
Elder Liu’s eyes widened in shock, gasping, "I can’t believe it!"
"I'm fine, Sword Ancestor," Elder Liu insisted.
Suddenly, his expression changed, and he, gripped by pain, held the black, sharp pillar tightly, injecting all his True Qi into it as he thrust it fiercely towards the unprepared Yue Qilian’s neck.
Bai Qiuran smiled gently, reaching out to lightly press his palm against Elder Liu's forehead.
Taking the Spirit Absorbing Blade from Bai Qiuran, he turned to Su Xiangxue and said, "I’ll step out for a bit."
"Surprise!"
"It’s within the Spirit Absorbing Blade."
Bai Qiuran quickly mentioned his agreement with Xue Ling once more and then asked, "Can I take his soul?"
Yue Qilian forced a smile. "Think about it, Elder Liu was never very skilled at fighting. Why could he escape the ancient city while my elder brother could not... Perhaps during the battle, he was inadvertently possessed by an Earth Immortal, ambushing my brother from behind."
"How is that even possible?"
Yue Qilian nodded, "I am no longer the brat that needed you to bring me out. Even if my brother and Elder Liu are gone, I will still lead the Forging Heaven Workshop well."
His expression was fervent, as if he were eager to rush in and study it immediately.
Elder Liu stared wide-eyed, at a loss for words. Suddenly, Yue Qilian reached out and grabbed his face, feeling an unresisting force. "Elder Liu" came to an sudden realization: "You are not Yue Qilian, you are—"
"Hold on! It’s dangerous. If something happens, I don’t want to hear our Academy Head lamenting again."
The Forging Body Technique, practiced to great depths, could change one's body at will. Bai Qiuran used this to temporarily become Yue Qilian, testing Elder Liu’s response.
As they spoke, True Qi surged into his body. The material form of “Elder Liu,” a cultivator at the Spirit Separation stage, was torn apart internally by Bai Qiuran’s True Qi, leading to his immediate demise.
Yue Qilian fixed his gaze on Bai Qiuran. "This is not your fault. You need not blame yourself. Earth Immortals have always existed in this world. Even if they didn't come this time, they would eventually. Cultivators face destinies full of misfortune throughout their lives, and Elder Liu and my brother merely stumbled along the way."
Huangfu Feng questioned back.
"Exactly!"
The Forging Body Technique, practiced to great depths, allowed Bai Qiuran to change his form at will, testing Elder Liu once more.
A gentle breeze stirred the willow branches, carrying an eerie chill as Xue Ling's figure appeared silently beside Bai Qiuran.
Inside the Forging Heaven Workshop, Elder Liu was resting and recovering. "I understand," Bai Qiuran said. Moments later, Li Jinyao and Tang Ruowei entered, one behind the other, followed by a particularly dejected Yue Qilian.
Huangfu Feng affirmed, "Elder Liu, you should rest well."
Yue Qilian maintained, "None of this is your fault, nor should you blame yourself.
Earth Immortals naturally dwell in this world. Even if they didn't come this time, they'd arrive sooner or later. A cultivator's life is riddled with misfortunes. Elder Liu and my brother simply fell along the way.”
"Look! Look! You've coughed up blood!"
"Take care of your grief."
"Elder Liu needs to rest and recuperate," Bai Qiuran reassured, looking at Tang Ruowei and Li Jinyao.
The dramatic transformation continued as Yue Qilian slowly morphed. His hair changed from black to white, resembling someone Elder Liu dreadfully wished to avoid.
Bai Qiuran urged, “Let’s familiarize ourselves with the depths of the abyss.”
Bai Qiuran continued to survey the ancient city, soon approaching the city gate where he found Su Xiangxue and others, rushing forth to ask, “What happened here?”
Xue Ling also arrived silently, and at that moment, Bai Qiuran questioned the purpose of Earth Immortals and what they planned.
Moments passed, and Bai Qiuran adjusted himself before Yang Jiayun and Tang Ruowei linked arms, urging Yue Qilian to continue on this path, to carry on.
As Bai Qiuran prepared to step out, a thundering crash echoed. The black pillar struck hard against Yue Qilian’s neck but shattered against the skin, leaving him unharmed.
Bai Qiuran’s contemplations on the curses of the Earth Immortals continued. "What is the condition of the spirit you conquered?”
"Exactly."
Once again, Bai Qiuran noted down the conversation with Xue Ling as Su Xiangxue stood beside him.
“Take caution. The calamity may be closer than we think!”
But even with this knowledge, Bai Qiuran simply observed the chaos around him, allowing "Elder Liu's" spirit to escape right under his nose.
“Well, let’s handle this in an orderly fashion. Our calamities shall be thus repayed,” Bai Qiuran decisively ordered.
“Did you catch them?”
Moments passed, with Liu Chuang once again resting and healing. "Let Elder Liu recuperate properly," Bai Qiuran insisted.
"Retrieve his body and continue with your work, please!"
Yue Qilian’s tired smile signaled a newfound resolve as he prepared to lead the Forging Heaven Workshop through this entire ordeal.
And so, today came to a conclusion, with resolutions forming in the hearts of those left behind, planning their next moves against the Earth Immortals’ impending threat.