Translator: CinderTL
Using his spiritual power, Song Wen levitated the Mountain-Devouring Rat's corpse before him as he slowly approached the figure below. "I am Jiang Yushan," he called out. "May I inquire as to your esteemed name, fellow daoist?"
"Ji Lin," the man replied coolly.
"Ah, the renowned Sword Immortal Ji Lin of the Myriad Swords Pavilion! My deepest respects."
By the time Song Wen finished speaking, he had closed the distance to within ten meters of Ji Lin.
Just as he was about to make a move, a thunderous roar from the west drew his attention.
The sound seemed to originate from a great distance, its source indistinct.
Ji Lin, naturally, heard it too. His expression shifted, and without a second thought for the Mountain-Devouring Rat he had nearly secured, he turned and fled northward at full speed.
Watching Ji Lin's retreating figure, a glint of malice flashed in Song Wen's eyes. Yet he refrained from acting, dispersing the Focused Spirit Stab he had been preparing and retracting the Soul Cleaving Blade concealed in his sleeve.
Only after Ji Lin had completely vanished from his divine sense range did Song Wen transform into a fleeting shadow and pursue him in the direction he had fled.
The thunderous roars continued, growing increasingly frequent and distinct.
"Master!" Shadow Void's voice suddenly rang out. "Do not proceed any further. That person is less than 150 kilometers ahead. If you get any closer, you risk being discovered."
Song Wen, ever adaptable, immediately halted and asked, "What's the situation over there?"
"A dozen Mountain-Devouring Rats are besieging six human cultivators," Shadow Void replied.
"Six!" Song Wen's eyes lit up. "What's their strength?"
"Besides Ji Lin, whom we encountered earlier, there's a female cultivator at the mid-stage of Void Refinement. The remaining three men and one woman are all at the Divine Transformation Stage," Shadow Void reported.
Song Wen immediately concluded that these six must be the Myriad Swords Pavilion group the steward at Tancang Market had mentioned.
Although the steward had claimed only one Void Refinement Stage cultivator was among them, the steward himself was only at the Divine Transformation Stage. If any of the six were deliberately concealing their true cultivation level, the steward would likely be unable to detect it.
"What's the progress of the battle?" Song Wen pressed.
"The Mountain-Devouring Rats have an overwhelming advantage," Shadow Void stated. "Unless something unexpected occurs, only the two Void Refinement Stage cultivators stand a chance of escaping. The others will likely perish here."
It seems there's someone of great importance among the four Divine Transformation Stage cultivators, Song Wen thought to himself. Otherwise, even the shadow void, as an observer, could tell the human side was losing. The two Void Refinement Stage cultivators, Ji Lin and the other, couldn't possibly have missed it.
At that moment, the shadow void spoke again from within his Sea of Consciousness.
"Master, the six have broken through and scattered. The two Void Refinement Stage cultivators are fleeing south, taking an early-stage Divine Transformation Realm male cultivator with them. The remaining three are escaping in different directions. One Divine Transformation Stage female cultivator is heading your way."
They broke through!
This was unexpected. Song Wen had planned to ambush both sides, catching them off guard, then use the shadow void's divine sense attack to trap them all.
With a swift movement, Song Wen turned south, intending to pursue the trio fleeing in that direction. These three likely held the highest cultivation levels or status, making them the most likely to possess the True Yang Grass.
However, after flying only a hundred zhang, he abruptly changed course, veering toward the female cultivator approaching him.
For this woman was none other than an old acquaintance: Mo Yexue!
Mo Yexue was fortunate; she was only being pursued by three fifth-tier Mountain-Devouring Rats. Yet she was still fleeing desperately, her situation precarious.
Song Wen summoned the Soul Cleaving Blade, its cold light flashing as it sliced through the air.
Mo Yexue sensed the short blade hurtling toward her, her hair standing on end, her expression one of terror and despair.
But before she could react, the blade whizzed past her, missing her by several meters.
Three crimson flashes erupted as the three Mountain-Devouring Rats were simultaneously cleaved in two.
Mo Yexue, her emotions swinging wildly, finally exhaled in relief.
Then she saw a figure rushing toward her.
"Many thanks, Senior, for your timely assistance. This junior is eternally grateful," Mo Yexue said, clasping her hands in a formal greeting, though her eyes betrayed a hint of wariness.
In the Immortal Cultivation World, no one offered help without ulterior motives.
"Fellow Daoist Mo, it's been many years. Don't you recognize me?" Song Wen stopped a meter away from her, a warm smile spreading across his face, his mood buoyant.
"Senior is...?" Mo Yexue scrutinized him, her eyes filled with confusion.
Song Wen chuckled softly. His aura and appearance had changed drastically since his Ascension. It was understandable that Mo Yexue didn't recognize him.
With a thought, he guided the Soul Cleaving Blade, which had slain the rats, in a graceful arc through the air until it hovered above the palm of his outstretched right hand.
"Fellow Daoist Mo, do you recognize this blade?"
Mo Yexue stared intently at the Soul Cleaving Blade, its power deliberately suppressed by Song Wen. After a moment of scrutiny, shock flashed in her eyes.
"You... you're Ji Yin?"
Song Wen smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist Mo finally recognizes me."
"Are you truly Ji Yin?" Mo Yexue seemed unable to fully believe it, seeking confirmation once more.
Song Wen replied, "We explored the Divine Blood Hall together and jointly hunted Blood Sui. How could it be otherwise?"
A radiant smile immediately bloomed on Mo Yexue's face, a smile of pure relief, as if she had shed all her defenses.
"Ji Yin, it's really you! You've already reached the Void Refinement Stage!"
"Just some fortunate encounters," Song Wen said vaguely, not wanting to elaborate. He quickly changed the subject. "Fellow Daoist Mo, it's only been two hundred and forty years since your Ascension, yet you've already advanced to the mid-stage Divine Transformation Realm. Your cultivation progress has been equally remarkable. Moreover, you've become a disciple of the Myriad Swords Pavilion. To meet again after our parting in the Lower Realm is truly a joyous occasion."
Mo Yexue's expression suddenly darkened, as if a shadow had fallen across her face.
"Ji Yin, you're not the first old friend I've encountered in the mystic realm. Before you, I met Lan Chen. But..."
Song Wen's heart jolted, and he pressed her urgently.
"What happened to Lan Chen?"
"Lan Chen... she's dead," Mo Yexue said.
"How did she die?" Song Wen's voice rose sharply.
"Lan Chen ascended a few years after me, both of us near the Myriad Swords Pavilion. At the time, I hadn't yet joined the pavilion and happened to meet her. We agreed to join the Myriad Swords Pavilion together. However, after the pavilion tested us, they refused to accept her as an inner sect disciple, offering her only the position of outer sect steward. The outer sect steward's duties were exhausting, yet offered meager cultivation resources. Unwilling to settle for this, Lan Chen declined to join the Myriad Swords Pavilion."
"Later, Lan Chen took temporary residence in Thousand Blades City, not far from the Myriad Swords Pavilion. In the Lower Realm, she had ascended to the mystic realm immediately after breaking through to the Divine Transformation Realm. Her plan was to stabilize her realm before heading to Great Tan City to join the Spirit Jade Palace. But she never expected..."
(End of the Chapter)
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