Chapter 282: The Protagonist
“Sister!”
Fortunately, Su Xinghe’s timely shout pierced through Su Xiaoxiao’s chaos and fear, interrupting the ominous force that was creeping deep into her soul.
Even though Su Xinghe was tangled up in the surrounding complexities and couldn’t immediately comfort Su Xiaoxiao, her words reached Su Xiaoxiao’s heart: “Sister, Brother Yun is okay. He’s just temporarily in a state resembling d*ath.”
With that, Su Xiaoxiao’s shaky heart found a bit of stability.
That’s right, Yun Zhonghe was merely in a state of suspended animation, something Su Xinghe sensed upon first touching his body.
Su Xinghe guessed that Yun Zhonghe made this choice realizing that the Yin Energy gnawing at his body reacted more strongly to a living organism, craving it.
To resist this Yin Energy, Yun Zhonghe had no choice but to take extreme measures—he had to deliberately enter this state to lower his body’s vitality and halt further corrosion from the Yin Energy.
It could only be said that the Yin Energy was rather overwhelming, and its corrosive speed too fast for Yun Zhonghe to have any alternatives.
Indeed, Su Xiaoxiao noticed that the Yin Energy that previously rampaged in his body, spreading to his neck, became less active once Yun Zhonghe collapsed.
Brother Yun… really isn’t hurt?
After absorbing Su Xinghe’s words and understanding it was Yun Zhonghe’s choice, her highly unstable emotions finally began to calm.
The strange happenings surrounding Su Xiaoxiao also drew the attention of the hidden Chen Family Head.
“What was that just now…”
His voice was deep and filled with confusion as he hid amidst the encircling zombies, his dim, yellow eyes gleaming with cunning in the shadows, resembling an old fox lurking over its prey.
Just when the Chen Family Head was lost in thought, the anxiously restless Young Master Chen interrupted his musings: “Father, at this rate, our family’s zombies accumulated over the years will be completely depleted!”
These zombies were crucial to the Chen family’s strength, and depleting them would lead to catastrophic consequences.
These two seemingly young girls were unexpectedly powerful, far surpassing their expectations. Even with the first-stage zombies overwhelming in number, they couldn’t do a thing to her.
Su Xinghe’s fire magic was like a blazing storm, instantly scorching down batch after batch of zombies, while Mu Jixue utilized Extreme Cold to freeze the dismembered bits of zombies torn by flames, completely halting their self-healing abilities.
Such coordination was impeccable.
“Using one hundred maidens’ bl**d to refine a female corpse is still not enough, unless it’s a second-stage female corpse,” the Chen Family Head sighed inwardly.
First-stage zombies fell before Su Xinghe and Mu Jixue like ants trying to shake a tree; they were easily crushed.
However, refining a second-stage female corpse was fraught with difficulties. It required the refinement of another hundred first-stage zombies, and the success rate was miserably low.
The Chen family only had one second-stage female corpse left.
And ironically, that one had escaped.
The power of a second-stage female corpse was comparable to that of a peak Yuan Ying cultivator. Having such a corpse on hand would make dealing with Su Xinghe, Mu Jixue, and Su Xiaoxiao an absolute breeze.
Too bad they didn’t have one!
As the zombie numbers rapidly dwindled, the Chen Family Head felt the pressure building and began to retreat, but he couldn’t let these girls off the hook. The Chen family’s secrets absolutely couldn’t be exposed; otherwise, if the Immortal Alliance found out, it would lead to endless extermination disasters.
At that moment, Young Master Chen’s expression twisted into a devilish grin, and he spoke in a voice dripping with malice: “Father, we still have a hundred female corpses left at our disposal. Let’s refine them all right here and gamble on whether we can break through to the second stage!”
Hearing this, the Chen Family Head fell into hesitation.
His son had a point; compared to the pain of losing such precious female corpses, ensuring the Chen family’s secrets remained secure and the family’s safety were far more important.
Thus, the father and son understood each other, and the bl**d pool beneath them began to stir ominously, bl**d light bursting forth.
They were preparing to go all in, throwing every last female corpse into the sacrificial refinement.
Boom! Boom!
The entire barrier space seemed to tremble.
Using demon path methods to refine zombies produced extremely powerful resentment and Yin Energy, to the point that even the space could hardly bear it and began to become unstable.
This sacrificial method was utterly inhumane, brutally bloody, and placed no demands on cultivators’ levels or techniques; even Foundation Establishment could wield it.
The low threshold meant even more torment for the souls of the victims.
One hundred maidens refined into one female corpse, and then using one hundred female corpses to refine even stronger zombies…
This round of sacrificial refinement equated to the lives of thousands, all innocent children!
The air seemed filled with the wails and cries of countless children, the sounds piercingly sorrowful and desperate, making the entire scene dreadfully terrifying.
The actions of the Chen father and son were the utmost desecration and insult to life; they had completely degenerated into beings of the demon path, devoid of the most basic compassion and kindness.
Realizing this, Su Xinghe erupted in rage: “Beasts! How dare you trample on life like this!”
Her voice trembled with fury, each word squeezed through clenched teeth, filled with absolute disgust for the actions of the Chen family.
Mu Jixue’s eyes darkened, and she hurriedly wanted to rush in and stop them, but the horde of corpses in front of her was a significant hindrance.
“Beasts?” The Chen Family Head sneered at Su Xinghe’s outburst, a smirk dancing at the corners of his mouth, full of contempt for the weak. “What does that matter? This world respects strength, and the strong naturally have the right to dominate the weak. If it weren’t for those hypocritical dolts in the Immortal Alliance protecting so-called justice, why would our Chen family need to be so cautious, so secretive?”
His tone brimmed with dissatisfaction with the current state and nostalgia for his past glorious days.
In the old days, their ancestor was so mighty; he directly sacrificed a city. Now that was true madness!
Unlike now, when they had to spend substantial sums to buy little girls from various continents for sacrifices, it was intolerably frustrating.
If it weren’t for the Immortal Alliance, the Chen family would have long since ruled a domain, and they wouldn’t have to wait until now to see any progress.
“You’ll suffer divine retribution for this! You have utterly lost your humanity!”
Su Xinghe was so enraged she nearly choked.
Yet Young Master Chen laughed as if he had heard the best joke, his voice booming with arrogance: “Retribution? Hahaha! We will not only escape retribution but will also enslave the three of you to breed for our Chen family! We’ll raise female children for sacrifices while tossing male children directly into the corpse transformation pool to provide bl**d energy for our zombies. With your exceptional talents, I’m sure the children you give birth to will be extraordinary, and the zombies we refine from them will surely be even more powerful!”
As he spoke, Young Master Chen cast a greedy gaze at the bl**d-red pool that glowed fiercely, his eyes shining with anticipation.
He seemed to sense that a more terrifying and powerful force was slowly awakening in the depths of that bl**d pool.
Did it succeed? Hahaha! It actually succeeded!
The success rate of refining a second-stage female corpse was below ten percent, yet this time, a miracle had unexpectedly occurred in their Chen family. Could it be that these three women were the blessings sent to them by the heavens?
Whew~
It was settled!
They would become invincible!
Bow down to the Chen family and become eternal slaves!
The father and son, full of pride, believed they had the situation locked down.
Suddenly!
A bloody hand shot through Young Master Chen’s chest from behind.
Young Master Chen: ???
Mu Jixue and the others: ???
This scene unfolded so quickly that everyone present was left dumbfounded, including Mu Jixue, who only noticed the black shadow looming behind Young Master Chen after a moment of focus.
That bloody hand had emerged from the shadow.
In an instant, it obliterated Young Master Chen.
“My son…”
The Chen Family Head shouted in horror, completely unprepared for such a twist.
However, before he could finish speaking, the bloody hand descended like lightning, severing his head.
The previously arrogant and domineering father and son duo met their end on the spot, leaving behind not even a final word.
Mu Jixue’s pupils immediately constricted, and she instinctively felt an unprecedented fear washing over her, every hair on her body standing on end.
Her purple eyes fixed on the shadow, though she couldn’t see its features; it was clearly a person, but her perception was completely blocked, making it impossible to see through.
Not just Mu Jixue, even Su Xinghe felt an unprecedented fear; her lips turned pale from fright.
What is that thing?!
“Tsk tsk tsk, let me see, I’ve really struck unexpected fortune this time,” the shadow chuckled, unable to be identified as male or female, but brimming with aloofness and nonchalance.
It fixed its gaze directly on the bl**d pool created by the Chen family, then promptly extended a hand, easily pulling a female corpse from the depths!
The aura of this corpse was far more powerful than that of the recent batch just refined.
As soon as the corpse awakened from its slumber, it let out a piercing scream, reflexively lunging at the shadow. However, with just a light snap of its fingers, the shadow toyed with the corpse as if it were an insignificant bug and sent the corpse’s head flying with a resounding thud.
All it took was a single finger.
Immediately after, that shadow seemingly opened its mouth and voraciously devoured the entire female corpse, leaving not a single bone behind!
Mu Jixue, Su Xiaoxiao, and Su Xinghe all stared wide-eyed, stunned to the point that goosebumps broke out.
What on earth is that shadow?!
Run!
At this moment, the only thought in Mu Jixue’s mind was to flee.
She wanted to escape and had zero courage to fight back; her legs felt weak beneath her.
Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear!
Her mind had been entirely overtaken by this word, unable to think of anything else.
But there was nowhere to run.
Just as the three girls were firmly rooted in place, nearly paralyzed by fear, the shadow finally turned its gaze toward them with a slowly building sense of pressure.
It smiled, a chilling grin that sent shivers down their spines. Though they couldn’t see its face, the malice and cruelty emanating from that smile were crystal clear.
Then it began to leisurely step closer, each step seemingly echoing on their heartstrings.
We will d*e! We will d*e, d*e, d*e, d*e… Mu Jixue’s mind endlessly echoed this thought as she felt an invisible hand gripping her heart so tight she could barely breathe.
Don’t attack, or you will d*e; just stand still; it isn’t coming for me.
Mu Jixue’s instincts told her that this shadow was not targeting her; its goal was Su Xiaoxiao.
Perhaps the shadow’s intentions were too obvious. At this moment, even Su Xinghe realized this, her spiritual energy having reached the point where it granted her some foresight into her own fate.
She told herself that as long as she didn’t act rashly and let the shadow take Su Xiaoxiao, they might just survive.
But…
How could this be possible!
Su Xinghe watched the shadow drawing closer, filled with helplessness and despair.
She clenched her fists, wishing to fight back, but her body felt as though it had been frozen, unable to move.
Looking at the tightening shadow, Su Xiaoxiao also grew tense, instinctively gripping onto the fallen Yun Zhonghe’s hand.
Su Xinghe’s heart urged: Move! Move! Why can’t you move?!
If this continues, sister will…
Yet, just then, Mu Jixue stepped forward without hesitation, chanting an incantation, instantly freezing the shadow’s feet.
Su Xinghe was shocked.
There stood Mu Jixue, getting in between Su Xinghe and Su Xiaoxiao, her figure appeared diminutive against the shadow, fragile as if a gust could knock her over. Yet, at this moment, it was this seemingly weak girl who stood tall.
She broke through her fears.
“Don’t come any closer! I won’t let you take another step!”
At this moment, Mu Jixue exhibited the bravery and determination befitting of a protagonist!
Su Xinghe felt a surge of shock within her.
She didn’t understand; the sisters had never been close enough to sacrifice their lives for one another, especially with the long-running rivalry between Su Xinghe and Mu Jixue, their relationship was anything but harmonious.
But at this moment… why was she…
Mu Jixue herself didn’t fully comprehend, but her body had already shifted into motion.
Perhaps… she didn’t want Yun Zhonghe to feel pain because these two sisters were also important to him, even if they weren’t exactly on friendly terms with Mu Jixue.
But when Yun Zhonghe had fallen, she would unflinchingly step up to protect the ones he cherished!
“Tsk tsk, I thought you were clever enough to know what to do at a time like this, Mu girl,” the shadow taunted, voice laced with mockery and disdain. “Why act so foolish? If you simply did nothing, I would have let you go.”
The shadow lightly lifted its foot, shattering Mu Jixue’s ice as though it were fragile glass, effortlessly smashing it into pieces!
Even the freeze of Extreme Cold was ineffective against it!
This scene caused Mu Jixue’s heart to sink, a wave of unprecedented powerlessness sweeping through her, turning her pale as a sheet.
But no matter what, she absolutely could not allow the shadow to step forward any further!
Spiritual Root unleashed! Extreme Cold unleashed!
Mu Jixue’s spiritual energy surged through her meridians like a roaring tide. She concentrated all her strength into her fingertips, attempting to freeze the shadow once more. Regrettably, this attack still bore no effect.
The shadow appeared not to feel any threat, continuing to advance leisurely, suddenly raising a hand, releasing a devastating wave of demonic energy from its palm.
At this moment, a deathly threat loomed over Mu Jixue!
“Sister Xue!”
Su Xiaoxiao shouted in alarm, and at the same time, Su Xinghe finally broke free from her fear.
But a massive flood of black demonic energy surged down like an avalanche, crashing onto Mu Jixue!
That terrifying force was sufficient to obliterate Mu Jixue!
As dust enveloped the area, her figure vanished from everyone’s sight!
Su Xiaoxiao and Su Xinghe turned pale, a mix of fear and shock creasing their features.
Especially Su Xinghe, who felt a profound sense of remorse rising within her.
Mu Jixue died to protect them…
She didn’t understand; she couldn’t comprehend why Mu Jixue was being so foolish, sacrificing herself for them.
“Cough, cough, cough—!”
Just then, through the haze, a vague figure slowly emerged, accompanied by faint coughing sounds.
It was Mu Jixue! Though battered and tattered, she was still alive!
Su Xinghe’s eyes widened in disbelief, “This is impossible!”
Ice Shield!
Back in the Myriad Path Divine Tower, Yun Zhonghe had specifically chosen this spell for her, advising her that it could save her life in critical moments.
At the moment the shadow’s demonic energy came crashing down, Mu Jixue had decisively activated the ice shield, encasing herself in icy protection.
That torrent of demonic energy battered against the ice shield; though it shattered the ice into countless fragments, Mu Jixue had managed to evade d*ath due to the shield’s cover.
