Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

Chapter 128 The Storm Pauses

Outside the main hall's secret chamber, light and shadow flickered.

Ning Hanchuan carried the unconscious Ning Qingxue, his figure moving like lightning, passing through the last corridor and stopping in front of the tightly closed stone door.

He suppressed his turbulent emotions and tapped a specific rhythm on the door with his fingers.

"Father, your son requests an audience."

"Enter."

A moment later, the stone door slid open silently.

Inside, Ning Wuyai remained seated cross-legged on the futon, his face appearing even paler in the dim light, his aura unstable and unsteady.

The light from the black communication jade talisman in front of him had stabilized, but he did not open his eyes immediately.

"Father." Ning Hanchuan entered the room and carefully placed Ning Qingxue on the soft couch beside him. His voice was deep. "I have important matters to report."

Ning Wuyai slowly opened his eyes, his gaze first falling on his daughter on the soft couch, her face pale and her breath weak. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, then he turned to Ning Hanchuan: "Speak."

"That Daoist disciple, Lu Ming, was rescued by his fellow disciples who infiltrated the sect and has already escaped."

Ning Hanchuan spoke calmly, his eyes lowered, "Qingxue noticed something amiss and went to stop them, but she was no match for the combined attack of several elites from the academy and was seriously injured. By the time I arrived, the thieves had already fled with Lu Ming, and I only managed to save Qingxue."

He paused slightly, then added, "The leaders of the other side seem to be Chu Tianyi and Mo Yuan from the Tianyan Peak lineage of the Dao Academy. They are quite strong and had made prior arrangements to provide backup. I was worried about Qingxue's injuries, so I didn't dare to pursue them too far."

A brief silence fell over the secret chamber, with only the faint echoes of battle in the distance, humming like background noise.

Ning Wuyai's gaze lingered on Ning Hanchuan's lowered face for a moment before slowly shifting to the unconscious Ning Qingxue.

His eyes were deep, as if they could penetrate the skin and look directly into the soul.

The disordered traces of demonic energy depletion within the daughter's body, along with several hidden injuries clearly imbued with Xuanbing demonic energy... were completely different from the damage characteristics of the Daoist academy's techniques.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Ning Hanchuan's forehead, but his posture remained upright and his breathing was steady.

After a long while, Ning Wuyai slowly withdrew his gaze, without exposing the obviously flawed lie.

His face was expressionless, but a hint of apprehension flickered deep in his eyes.

He recalled the mysterious being from the Zhenwu Sect not long ago; the backlash from that being across time and memory still caused him a dull ache in his soul.

That was not merely an attack, but a warning. Behind this young man stood an ancient being whom even the Palace Master of the Lihentian Palace had to treat with utmost respect.

He had no doubt that if that being wanted to kill him, it would be as simple as raising a hand.

The True Martial Sect, the Martial Ancestor is about to return... This pool is too deep, it is no longer something that Ning Wuya and the Heavenly Palace alone can easily stir up.

The news that Li Tiansheng brought back about Lu Ming's whereabouts in the Immortal Ruins, along with the Palace Master's decision at this moment, subtly confirms this point.

"Get up." Ning Wuyai's voice was unreadable. "How is Qingxue's injury?"

Ning Hanchuan breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, saying, "Your soul was shaken and your demonic energy backfired, but it didn't damage your foundation. With careful recuperation, you should be able to recover."

"Hmm." Ning Wuyai nodded, no longer asking for details, as if Ning Hanchuan's report just now was the whole truth.

His gaze shifted to the jet-black jade talisman: "Pass on my order: all disciples at the front lines, retreat and cease fire."

Ning Hanchuan was taken aback: "Father, what about the True Martial Sect..."

Ning Wuyai interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Take out the Divine Continent Cauldron and hand it over to Lie Xiushan."

Ning Hanchuan's pupils contracted slightly, and he abruptly looked up: "Father! The Divine Cauldron was built upon the sacrifices of many in our palace..."

"This is the Palace Master's decree." Ning Wuyai's voice was not loud, but it carried immense power, suppressing all of Ning Hanchuan's resentment and doubts.

"The Martial Ancestor is about to return; we must not make an enemy of the True Martial Sect. The karmic consequences of the Divine Cauldron are too great for our sect to bear at this moment. Inform Qiu Xiaochi to give them the Divine Cauldron and let them leave."

Ning Hanchuan's chest heaved violently a few times. Looking at his father's face, which was calm yet exuded an unquestionable authority, he finally suppressed all his emotions and lowered his head: "Your son obeys."

He turned to leave.

"Han Chuan." Ning Wuyai suddenly called out to him again.

Ning Hanchuan stopped.

"Keep an eye on Qingxue. This matter... ends here. Don't provoke Lu Ming anymore." Ning Wuyai's voice carried a hint of complexity.

Ning Hanchuan, with his back to his father, stiffened slightly before whispering, "Yes."

"Oh, right, have Qiu Xiaochi ask the Zhenwu Sect for ten million top-grade spirit stones, and then hand over the Divine Continent Cauldron!" Ning Wuyai added.

"Yes, sir," Ning Hanchuan said, striding away to make arrangements.

Ning Wuyai sat alone in the secret room, his gaze falling once more on his daughter's pale face. After a long while, he slowly closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh.

That sigh contained helplessness in the face of the situation, awe of power, and perhaps also a touch of the unspeakable melancholy of a father.

"When you were born, I consulted the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets for a divination. He only said four words: 'Deep affection is short-lived.' Therefore, I have been harsh and cold towards you since childhood, wanting to raise you into a heartless person who is devoid of feelings and love," Ning Wuyai murmured.

"But I, on the path of demonic cultivation, can never attain the supreme state of detachment from emotions. Alas..." Ning Wuyai sighed wearily.

Thousands of miles away from Tianya, in a temporarily opened, hidden cave.

Inside the cave, the array of lights flickered, illuminating several tired and blood-stained faces.

The nine elite disciples from the Taoist academy who infiltrated to provide support, along with Lu Ming who was seriously injured and rescued, are all temporarily staying here.

They were all wounded and breathing heavily; the cave was filled with a strong smell of medicine and blood.

Chu Tianyi was treating the wound on Lu Ming's body left by the Xuanbing demonic energy. The demonic energy was stubborn and extremely difficult to remove.

Mo Yuan stood guard at the cave entrance, sword in hand, watching for any outside movement. The others meditated and regulated their breathing.

The most eye-catching figure was Li Jingyun, who was leaning against the innermost rock wall.

His white clothes were stained with blood, especially his left shoulder, where a dark finger hole was clearly visible, the flesh around the edge showing an eerie gray-black color, a trace of the entanglement and erosion of the Annihilation Finger Force and the Separation Hatred Qi.

His face was as pale as paper, and his breath was weak. He even needed to lean slightly against the rock wall to sit up on his own.

However, his back remained straight, and his clear eyes, illuminated by the array's light, seemed even brighter than before.

The familiar, ambiguous smile at the corner of his mouth still lingered on his face, exuding a natural confidence and nonchalance that brought peace of mind to those who looked at him.

People's eyes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, always fall on him.

In those eyes, there was worry, admiration, and even an almost fervent worship.

"Senior Brother Li..." a disciple couldn't help but whisper, his eyes filled with excitement and lingering fear, "You fought alone against the four guardians of the Li Tian Palace, withstood Qiu Xiaochi's sneak attack head-on, and even managed to leave such verses on the cliff, it's simply..."

He stammered for a long time, unable to find the right words to describe it, his face flushed with excitement.