Zhao Chun traveled day and night, rushing back to the True Spirit Sect at top speed. However, before she even entered the Secluded Valley, she was shaken by the heaven-piercing blood qi in the sky above. She immediately leaped off the Smoke Boat.
When she landed, the surroundings were littered with corpses. Zhao Chun was greatly alarmed. This was still the sect's outer perimeter, she had not even entered the valley, yet it was already such a tragic scene.
She couldn't imagine what the situation was like inside! Amidst the mountain of bodies, there was a disciple with a breath of life still remaining, moaning painfully. Zhao Chun found him and fed him a pill.
However, his dantian and meridians were completely destroyed. This pill could only allow him to cling to life for a few more hours; it was of no use in saving him.
"Are... are you a senior sister from the inner sect?"
Half of his eye was pasted over with blood and flesh. He could only force open his other eye and said urgently, "Don't enter the sect. A group calling themselves the Yang Water Sect has attacked.
They have slaughtered countless disciples. They are already inside the valley now. You should leave quickly, don't let them find you."
Zhao Chun helped him stop the blood that was continuously pouring from his abdomen and asked, "The Sect Master and the elders, how could they have let these thieves into the valley!" Although the disciple's face was contorted in pain, he still forced himself to reply, "The Sect Master has already passed away.
Elder Wu and Elder Ge died in battle when the Secluded Valley was breached. Elder Li Su and Elder Qiu have retreated to the Upper Strict Hall. I don't know how long they can hold on..."
"Is there a Profound Division cultivator in the sect right now? And where is Elder Qiu? Is she still alive?"
Hearing this question, a wave of sorrow and anger suddenly arose in him. He gnashed his teeth and said, "After she used the Sect Master's power to break through to the Profound Division, she already betrayed the True Spirit Sect! She is unworthy of being an elder of this sect!"
Because of this emotional outburst, the wound on his abdomen split open, and his breathing ceased in an instant. Beside Zhao Chun, the Return-Kill Sword angrily emerged, scolding, "What a treacherous disciple, to dare to disregard the sect! She must be killed, as a warning to others!"
When the True Spirit Sect was breached, the Return-Kill Sword had not shown such rage. But upon hearing of Qiu Jianying's betrayal, its emotions became uncontrollable, and killing intent overflowed. Zhao Chun's heart was a tangled mess of shock, doubt, anger, and sorrow—a hundred flavors mixed within.
"Carry me and charge in. There is no need for so many worries. We must find out today what has happened to the sect!"
The Return-Kill Sword was the personal sword of Master Duanyi, incomparably arrogant and unwilling to bow to others. Today, it was merely letting Zhao Chun borrow its power to investigate inside the valley. Zhao Chun had the same intention.
With a thousand doubts trapped in her heart, even if the Return-Kill Sword hadn't said it, she would have charged into the valley to demand an answer! Just as she entered the sect proper, the tragic sight within made Zhao Chun's killing intent surge.
The once quiet and secluded valley could now be described as a mountain of corpses in a sea of blood. The rolling Heaven-Piercing River was almost entirely dyed red! There were still over a hundred Yang Water disciples commanding Gu-worms, continuously attacking the outer sect disciples and menial laborers.
The Daylily Garden and Green Bamboo Garden that Zhao Chun was familiar with, along with the Disciple Residence, were all engulfed in a sea of fire.
Most of those Yang Water disciples were at the late stage of Qi Refining, or even at its peak, yet they were even attacking menial laborers at the first or second layer of Qi Refining. Zhao Chun was furious, shouting, "Such wanton and bloodthirsty people, what's the difference between you and evil demons!
Today, I will exterminate all of you to console the innocent!" When an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator killed a Qi Refining cultivator, it was like slaughtering chickens and dogs. What's more for a sword cultivator like Zhao Chun?
Someone saw a female cultivator approaching with a sword, attacking the Yang Water disciples. Before he could even cry out in alarm, he felt a glint of cold light flash before his eyes, and half of his head was instantly sliced off!
"A Foundation Establishment sword cultivator! Flee this place quickly!"
The leader wore a golden crown. Seeing the situation turn against them with a Foundation Establishment cultivator joining the battle, he immediately shouted loudly, calling for his disciples to retreat. How could Zhao Chun let him have his way?
She charged straight toward the Yang Water disciples. Wherever she passed, a blood mist filled the air, yet her sword was like a swimming dragon, weaving through the blood mist, shattering everything around. The clear cry of the sword was occasionally accompanied by the sound of startling thunder.
In just a few breaths, the hundred or so Yang Water disciples were almost completely wiped out. The man with the golden crown retreated in terror. Seeing her was like seeing an evil demon or a Rakshasa.
Words of begging were already on his lips, but a ray of sword light pierced through his glabella. Even in death, his face was filled with utter terror. But in the eyes of the True Spirit disciples, she was like a divine weapon sent from the heavens, making everyone's heart leap with wild joy.
Zhao Chun stared at the Daylily Garden for a moment, tightened her grip on the sword hilt, and finally turned to head towards the Upper Strict Hall first. Just as she turned her head, a hair-raising feeling suddenly overcame her. She immediately swung her sword back to defend!
It was this defense that forced her to retreat more than ten meters. The Return-Kill Sword was incomparably sharp and difficult to break, but Zhao Chun's arm was made of flesh. Under the immense impact, she could almost hear the sound of her bones grinding.
Zhao Chun looked up. Before her was a two-headed green snake, three men tall and as thick as an adult man's embrace. What had struck her just now was its snake tail, as hard as iron!
How could she not know the master of this snake gu? At the Hundred Sects Assembly, the person who looked at Xiang Liuxuan with covetous eyes was none other than Liang Qi, who commanded this very snake!
The only thing she should be thankful for was that this Liang Qi had not yet reached the Core Formation stage, otherwise that single blow would have been enough to kill her. And in Liang Qi's eyes, Zhao Chun was merely at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
To be swept by his snake tail and not have blood splash on the spot, but only be sent flying back more than ten meters without even spitting out a mouthful of blood, was an unheard-of situation. It immediately made him extremely ashamed and furious, and he roared, "Surrender your life!"
The two of them stood in an extremely open area of the outer sect. Zhao Chun had almost nowhere to hide and could only face the attack head-on! At this moment, she suddenly heard the Return-Kill Sword say, "Go to the stone forest!"
Zhao Chun dared not delay and rushed towards the Threefold Stone Forest. Her mind immediately cleared. The snake gu's body was enormous, and the gaps in the stone forest were narrow.
In addition, she was already familiar with the stone forest herself. It might be a way to defend herself! How could Liang Qi let his prey escape?
With a wave of his hand, he leaped onto one of the snake heads. The giant snake's long tongue flickered as it lowered its body and slithered forward. As a sect trial danger zone, and one formed from an ancestral artifact, the Threefold Stone Forest had not yet been destroyed by the Yang Water Sect.
However, the small pavilion on top was already mottled with bloodstains, and no one was in sight.
"When the time comes, I will break the stone forest's formation. You just need to enter. But that scoundrel will also follow you in. Are you confident you can fight him?"
The voice of the Return-Kill Sword seemed to be gradually weakening.
"The sword wielder has been gone for a long time. For more than two thousand years, I have been without sword intent. Now, after using all my strength to break the formation, I can only assist you with three strikes. If you cannot kill this person within three strikes, you will have no choice but to face death and have your Dao dissolve."
Zhao Chun's thumb stroked the hilt of the sword. She looked up, showing no intention of retreating.
"Today's crisis can only be resolved by battle. It is a situation of life or death, so why hesitate!"
The Return-Kill Sword instantly let out a sword cry, as if it too felt the exhilaration of casting aside its life. A curved brilliance suddenly floated out from the sword's body. After it left the blade, Zhao Chun immediately felt the body of the Return-Kill Sword dim slightly.
She knew that this arc of light had already greatly damaged its vitality! The arc of light, like a crescent moon, instantly slashed at the entrance of the stone forest. Guided by the Return-Kill Sword, Zhao Chun knew the formation was broken and immediately rushed inside.
A furious roar came from behind, "Don't even think about running!" The two-headed giant snake slammed viciously into the stone forest, instantly kicking up a cloud of dust and sending shattered rocks flying! Seeing how narrow this place was, Liang Qi knew what Zhao Chun was planning.
He sneered at her shallow knowledge and mocked, "Thinking of using this chance to escape?" However, as Zhao Chun leaped about within the stone forest, she never moved far from Liang Qi. Then, her gaze shifted.
Seizing the opportunity when the giant snake swept away a stone pillar, she shot forward. With a loud shout, she actually managed to chop off one of the snake heads (End of this chapter)