**Chapter Sixty: A d*ath, or a New Life**
The sounds of shouting and cursing echoed through the canyon.
Members of the illegal Spirit Energy Organization hunting Lu Yibei all displayed a bloodthirsty glint in their eyes.
The reasons for wanting to k*ll Lu Yibei varied wildly—some felt their beliefs had been offended, others had secrets exposed, and some were exposed for their covert actions against other factions when Lu Yibei accidentally revealed their tracks while scheming against him…
In short, during the process of narrowly escaping d*ath, Lu Yibei had inadvertently pressed the buttons of everyone involved.
That feeling was indescribable, much like knowing about someone’s weird XP while using your money to take your girlfriend for a hotel stay, even using your beloved figurines as props to spice things up.
Seeing Lu Yibei unresponsive, Bai Kai repeated his earlier words, “Xiao Bei, how about after this is over, we publicly sever our father-son relationship?”
He had encountered people who offended him, but he had never seen anyone offend Lu Yibei to this extent. Even if she managed to escape with Lu Yibei now, endless revenge would follow.
Bai Kai wasn’t afraid of d*ath, and he certainly wouldn’t mind dying for Lu Yibei.
However, the vengeful thoughts of those poisonous-minded dudes were incredibly bothersome, just like puncturing Li Xuan’s tires! The only difference was he was handsome and those guys were rat-like.
“……” Lu Yibei fell silent for a few seconds and said seriously, “Water Brother, do you know? Protecting oneself is one of the most disgusting expressions of ‘betrayal.’”
“Why not just be straightforward and cut ties completely? In the future, you’ll call me brother, and I’ll call you little brother. How about that?”
Bai Kai twitched his mouth slightly, forcing a smile, “No way! I was just joking.”
If I start calling Xiao Bei brother, doesn’t that just let that b*stard Lu Ming take advantage of me? Absolutely not! Bai Kai thought inwardly.
Lu Yibei, “……”
Hello, I’m touched again, but also disgusted.
While thinking inwardly, she glanced around at her surroundings, estimated Bai Kai’s speed, and whispered to him, “Water Brother, stop for three seconds after twelve seconds, then strike upward with all your might, and then leave the canyon as fast as possible.”
“What?” Bai Kai paused, “Why all out?”
“Your old flame is waiting ahead! Don’t you want her to see how you’ve changed over the years? Of course, if you want to embarrass yourself, you can hide it. I don’t mind, but your family status in the future will be…”
Just casually stabbing once wouldn’t send enough signal; what if others didn’t see it?
For safety, the bigger the sword energy, the better. Lu Yibei mused.
“Five, four…”
Listening to Lu Yibei count down, Bai Kai stopped asking questions, his gaze sharpened, he swiftly drew his sword, elegantly performing a flourish, unsheathing it, and softly reciting, “A single sword knows the worth of life over righteousness; a white rainbow traverses the sun for revenge,” raising his hand and sending a glint towards the sky.
With a single stab, a thunderous roar erupted, the flowing water beneath temporarily halted, and the sword energy swirled around the snowflakes in the air like a silver dragon, spreading a dazzling galaxy across the canyon’s sky.
Lu Yibei watched the magnificent silver light explode in the sky, her lips slightly parted, eyes wide open, momentarily speechless.
Water Brother has not only gone all out, but he’s definitely performing beyond his level, right?
Moreover, that poem he recited seemed like a revenge poem, Lu Yibei thought secretly.
She originally thought Water Brother was an agile assassin, but to her surprise, today he turned out to be a warrior with a rage gauge.
That stroke clearly revealed that he had accumulated quite a bit of anger over the years!
————
Moments earlier, near Golden Toad Rock.
Thirty-two members of the Siye Society, including Xing Yuan and Silver Horn, were divided into four groups, hiding in different positions, waiting for the “big fish” to take the bait.
“Report to the Inspector, the first group has completed the arrangement of the triggering spell.”
“Report to the Inspector, the second group has completed…”
“Report to the Inspector…”
After confirming the completion of the alchemical shell arrangements from the three groups, Xing Yuan glanced at Silver Horn, received an affirmative response from his subtle movements, and gently pressed the stopwatch timer.
The time froze at three minutes, fifty-four seconds, and seven, with more than a minute remaining until the five minutes Lu Yibei had instructed were up.
After pressing the stopwatch, Xing Yuan gently stroked the Grieving Gray Owl Badge on his chest and transmitted information to each group, “Very well, everyone activate the suppressors, enter silent mode, and wait for the opportunity.”
As Xing Yuan issued the order, all groups simultaneously activated their portable Spirit Energy Fluctuation Suppressors, diffusing the energy fluctuations of the operatives to an undetectable state.
Under the night, the rocks and vegetation returned to quiet, and the snowflakes fell silently.
The surging river crashed against the abrupt Golden Toad Rock, producing a roar and creating white waves.
Everything was as it had been for thousands of years, with no one suspecting that over thirty Spiritual Ability Users were hidden on the steep cliffs on both sides of the canyon.
The combination of equipment suppression and disciplined actions was always an advantage for the Siye Society members compared to illegal Spirit Energy Organizations.
Golden Toad Rock was located in the section of Peach Source Canyon where the water was the most turbulent, flanked by towering cliffs, with the narrowest part of the water surface being only thirty meters wide, its danger comparable to one of the most treacherous canyons in Z Country, Tiger Jump Gorge.
Such terrain pushed the advantages of equipment suppression and coordination to the extreme, turning a fight that would normally be fifty-fifty into an overwhelming massacre.
“They’re coming.”
Gazing at the pitch-black canyon, Xing Yuan suddenly furrowed his brow and muttered to himself in a low voice.
If she had to point out a Spirit Energy fluctuation she was most familiar with in this world, aside from that d*mn guy who forced her to leave Huacheng over twenty years ago, it would be Bai Kai.
At that moment, the faint Spirit Energy fluctuations faintly transmitted from the other end of the canyon were unmistakable; they absolutely belonged to Bai Kai.
No wonder Lu Yibei said to signal with white sword energy…
But why is Xiao Bai here?
Wasn’t he prohibited from participating? Xing Yuan wondered.
In the next moment, a piercing sound cut through the air, jolting everyone’s eardrums.
Before they could track the source of the scream, a silver glow coated the things before their eyes.
Following that, hidden in the dark, Xing Yuan quickly brushed the Grieving Gray Owl Badge on his chest and softly called, “Attack!”
At his command, members of the Siye Society lying in ambush at four different positions almost simultaneously detonated the triggering spells arranged around the canyon.
“Boom——!”
Accompanied by a deafening explosion, the rocks shattered, and the blinding flames from the violent explosions instantly filled the entire canyon; collapsing mountains crashed down, blocking the river and stirring up enormous waves.
————
Watching that astonishing silver sword energy soar to the sky.
The illegal Spirit Energy Organization members felt their hearts tighten, “……”
This is going to be bad.
In an instant, earth-shattering explosions erupted.
The illegal Spirit Energy Organization members froze, their faces shifting between pale and ashen, “!!!”
What the hell, this is terrible.
However, just as all members of the illegal Spirit Energy Organizations were thrown into shock by the sudden change, a figure lagged behind them, swiftly following Jiang Li and her group, breaking away from the team.
That person was Solang Pema.
The information about the ambush near Golden Toad Rock was deliberately leaked to him by Lu Yibei.
Letting him d*e in the Siye Society’s ambush would be too convenient for him.
Lu Yibei wanted to personally k*ll him; to be exact, she wanted to torture him to d*ath. Even decapitating him with a single sword would seem too merciful to her.
“Swish——!”
Amidst the sound of explosions, a faint sound of wind arose as Solang Pema’s figure quickly escaped toward a direction away from Golden Toad Rock.
Seeing this, Jiang Li and her group, who were hidden in the shadows, immediately pursued him.
From the moment Lu Yibei mentioned that Solang Pema might be involved in killing Lu Ming, Jiang Li placed Solang Pema on her k*ll list for life, just like Lu Yibei.
————
“Boom—— Boom—— Boom——!”
A series of intense explosions rang simultaneously, merging into a singular sound, stretching from Golden Toad Rock to either side, engulfing nearly a kilometer range of canyon in a sea of fire.
With severe tremors and impacts, fire and smoke billowed forth. Boiling bl**d mist spread, dancing with the dust, finally settling on the cliffs and in the river.
With intent and unforeseen consequences, during the first wave of explosions, several Urban Legends and Spirit Ability Users turned to dust, and the injured accounted for more than half.
But this did not mean that the members of these illegal Spirit Energy Organizations would give up their resistance and allow themselves to be slaughtered.
After a brief silence, the thick smoke in the canyon distorted and tore, revealing countless shadowy figures rising along the river like a stirred-up swarm of bees.
The Siye Society operatives, already in position, immediately sprang into action upon seeing this.
More than thirty prepared sealing spells of various attributes fell almost simultaneously, with pairs, trios, and even multiple combined sealing spells mixed in, interweaving into an impenetrable “net” above the canyon.
Where they passed, the figures of the illegal Spirit Energy Organization members immediately stalled.
In the brief moment of their actions being obstructed, a new wave of attacks descended.
Talismans, precise spells, Spirit Pattern gifted skills…
The Siye Society operatives unleashed all manner of techniques in a bombardment that seemed free of cost and energy, not pursuing quality but purely quantity, showering the air with colorful lights bearing considerable Spirit Energy fluctuations.
Thirty-two Siye Society operatives, divided into four groups, maintained a rhythm of outputting at maximum capacity every three minutes, while one group adjusted and replenished their Spirit Energy in orderly fashion.
Thus, while one round of bombardment hadn’t ended, the next round already began to erupt, leaving the illegal Spirit Energy Organization members without a moment’s respite or chance to devise countermeasures.
Artillery washed the ground.
One of the traditional arts of the Siye Society.
As a result, the smoke from the explosions hadn’t even begun to dissipate before it was pierced through and devastated.
Under the brutal and savage assault, countless figures, like thin sheets of paper, were either torn to shreds, burned black in high temperatures, or suddenly lost their lives, with corpses continuously falling into the dehydrated river.
————
Already withdrawn to a safe zone, Lu Yibei watched as the bodies of the illegal Spirit Energy Organization members gradually piled up into a small mountain in the river, her brow furrowed.
For some reason, watching those sinful existences lose their lives because of the trouble she had caused made her core, the essence of her witch-like Urban Legend, feel a twitching urge, as if excitedly trembling, with her Spirit Energy subtly increasing.
She had no doubt that if she lay down for a nap at that moment, she would surely dream up a new “dark fairy tale.”
Does “causing harm” then hold the key to mastering and enhancing the Spirit Energy fluctuations of a witch’s essence?
If that were the case, wouldn’t I…
On some day in the future, could I not lose control under the temptation of power and go on a killing spree? Lu Yibei thought anxiously.
Beside her, Bai Kai adjusted his Spirit Energy fluctuations and noticed Lu Yibei’s odd expression. He frowned slightly, walked over, and gently squeezed her shoulder.
As if trying to give her a strong sense of support through this action.
Bai Kai knew that with Lu Yibei’s temperament, watching so many lives disappear before her eyes, even if they were all sinful lives, would still cause her some tender discomfort.
“What’s on your mind, Xiao Bei? Is it the sight of this scene…”
Before Bai Kai could finish his sentence, Lu Yibei cut in, expressionless, “I’m thinking, with so many corpses in the river, will anyone come to finish them off later?”
“Existences like Urban Legends and Spirit Ability Users, if they only see corpses and don’t finish the job, the risk of resurrection would be very high, right?”
“If no one comes to finish them off, I’m willing to do it, but they must give me the core of the Urban Legend as labor costs.”
Having guessed Bai Kai’s intent, Lu Yibei didn’t want to worry him and spouted a few trashy words.
Of course, her need to finish them off was genuine.
Bai Kai, “……”
————
1:55 AM
Tangcheng, Lotus Seed Lake.
Beneath the lake’s surface, within a colossal underwater structure known by few, a silver spire towering over a hundred meters high stood, intricate spells swirling rapidly around it, emitting dazzling orange-red light.
There were a total of thirty-six such silver spires hidden in the secret corners of Tangcheng, wedged into the city’s earth like steel nails.
The spires were interconnected by alchemical tracks buried deep beneath subway lines, facilitating Spirit Energy conduction, weaving like a giant lotus between cities, forming a substantial defensive barrier.
Among these thirty-six silver spires, thirty-five stood forty-nine meters tall, while the one at the bottom of Lotus Seed Lake, used for the city barrier’s energy discharge, was unique at one hundred and eight meters high.
At this moment, three operatives of the Siye Society knelt on the ground at three different positions of the silver spire, one knee down, one hand gripping the Grieving Gray Owl Badge against their chest, while the other hand touched the orange-red spells extending from the base of the spire down to the ground.
“Siye Society Operative No. One, Xu Wentao, confirming city barrier can be activated.”
Old Xu’s slightly hoarse voice echoed in the empty space, and as his words fell, he infused his unique Spirit Energy into the spell he touched.
“Siye Society Operative No. Two, Shang Nanxing, confirming city barrier can be activated.”
“Siye Society Operative No. Three, Mao Sanyou…” Mao Sanyou glanced at the time, “I want to wait a minute.”
Old Xu and Shang Nanxing, “？？？”
Seeing this, Mao Sanyou grinned at the two, “This is the first time doing this, feeling a bit nervous. I’ll go to the restroom first to avoid any trouble in case I can’t hold it during the barrier activation.”
He had planned to activate the barrier at exactly two o’clock, and now it was two minutes early. What if his aunt wasn’t ready? Mao Sanyou thought.
————
2:00 AM, by the Lotus Seed Lake.
Lead-gray clouds loomed low over the sky, enveloping the entire lake in a gloomy snowstorm, freezing a thin layer of frost on the surface.
“Crack—— Crick——!”
In the deathly silence, a series of cringe-inducing cracking sounds rang out one after another.
Accompanied by the cracking noises, the thin ice on the lake shattered inch by inch, the water boiling vigorously as if it were churning, and through the deep blue water, the stern, cold spire at the lake’s bottom slowly rose, splashing waves that crashed powerfully against the lakebank with thunderous sounds.
That spire, radiating orange-red brilliance, seemed to be heating up, transitioning from orange-red to golden yellow to deep blue, ultimately emitting a deep purple light, while the surrounding water kept evaporating, rising in mist, with a certain piercing sound vibrating the air, like the shriek of an ultrasonic pulse.
As astounding Spirit Energy fluctuations converged, it felt as if all particles in the air were leaping wildly, creating various bizarre illusions.
Suddenly, the ear-piercing noise stopped, and the Lotus Seed Lake became dead calm, a deep purple beam of Spirit Energy quietly shot toward the sky.
Then, the turbulent air settled, and above the layers of clouds, the massive purple beam spanned across the sky, striking the city barrier imperceptibly established by the human eye.
Thus, the city barrier of Tangcheng was activated.
Incredible energy surged up from the different silver spires one after another, producing a sound akin to gravel rubbing together, with a “sasa” light sound in the air. Beneath the clouds, the purple light converged like a shooting star, blooming into a purple lotus.
Then, the lotus began to spin rapidly; its petals shattered, transforming into a torrent that surged toward the depths of Peach Source, towards the Fushang Sacred Tree.
————
Deep within Peach Source, at the peak of the Fushang Sacred Tree.
Having just finished suppressing a disturbance, Jumeng was still meditating when suddenly, as if sensing something, she opened her eyes and looked to the sky.
In that instant, countless purple lightning bolts shot up from the ground, extending for several kilometers, raining down destructive power towards her location, thousands of beams pouring down like meteors.
“Are they coming?” Jumeng murmured, a relieved smile appearing at the corners of her mouth as she opened her arms to the sky, abandoning any resistance.
She calmly awaited either a d*ath or a rebirth.
In the next moment, the light fell like rain.
