Chapter One Hundred and Three: Two Strange Figures

Yunchuxue felt a mix of emotions, guilt towards Yu Shi mingling with her determination. Everything she did was for the continent, for... him.

At dusk, Yuzi Xi peeked into the room and noticed Yunchuxue was absentmindedly staring out the window. She quietly walked in, looked around, and then sat beside Yunchuxue, hugging her arm and asking in a sweet voice, "Mother, what's wrong?"

Yunchuxue turned and smiled, "Nothing, just thinking about some things."

"Oh."

"By the way, Xi Xi, how many troops are currently stationed at Qingyun Pass?"

"About a million soldiers, but there are two million Spirit Masters at the Spirit King level. Why do you ask, Mother?"

Yunchuxue sighed, "Still less than half of what the Demon Sect has."

"I heard they retreated."

"Retreated?" Yunchuxue asked in surprise.

"Yes, though we don't know why. It's good news. Over the years, Father has been worried, trying to gather forces and recruit wandering cultivators to form this two-million-strong Spirit Master army. Uncle Yu Xun, who is the emperor of Xiyun Empire, has been responsible for the soldiers and hasn't rested properly in years."

Yuzi Xi's voice grew more sorrowful as she spoke. Yunchuxue patted her shoulder and asked, "Xi Xi, what level are you now? What spirit body did you awaken?"

"Early stage of the Spirit King level, Sacred Light Spirit Body."

"You're doing well in your cultivation. Keep it up!"

"Okay, Mother," Yuzi Xi replied, leaning affectionately against Yunchuxue.

"Spirit body? Yunchuxue, are you still using your spirit body for cultivation?" Mo Xi's voice echoed in Yunchuxue's mind.

"If I don't use my spirit body for cultivation, what should I use?" Yunchuxue replied through her consciousness.

"If you break the constraints of the spirit body, you'll advance to a higher level, vastly superior to your current self."

"Is there a way to break the constraints of the spirit body?"

"Destroy and then rebuild. Find your own way."

"Destroy and then rebuild?" Yunchuxue muttered aloud, catching Yuzi Xi's attention.

"Destroy and then rebuild? What are you talking about, Mother?"

"Nothing."

"Oh."

For the next month, Yunchuxue stayed with Yuzi Xi, who finally experienced what it was like to have a mother around.

One day, while patrolling the city walls with Yuzi Xi, a booming voice echoed through the sky, "Yunchuxue, come out here!"

Yunchuxue looked in the direction of the voice, her expression growing serious. From the sound of it, the person's power was at least above the peak of the Spirit God level.

"Mother, what's wrong?"

"Go back and tell your father that enemies are coming. Be on guard."

"Okay, but what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stop them."

Yuzi Xi looked worried, "Mother, be careful."

Seeing Yuzi Xi's concern, Yunchuxue reassured her, "Don't worry, no one can kill me."

"Alright."

With that, Yuzi Xi quickly left. Yunchuxue drew her Moon Chant Sword and soared into the sky towards the source of the voice.

Soon, Yunchuxue saw two elderly figures standing in the air. They were the Demon Sect's Fire Elder and Water Elder.

"Who are you?" Yunchuxue demanded.

"You must be Yunchuxue," they said, examining her closely.

"Yes, that's me. Why have you come here?"

"To kill you, of course," Fire Elder charged at her.

Yunchuxue met him head-on, and within a single breath, they had exchanged hundreds of blows.

Yunchuxue was astonished. Although he wielded no weapon, he could use his body as a weapon, enveloping himself in spiritual energy.

"What? Yunchuxue, are you afraid?"

"Afraid? If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come here. Moon Chant Dance of Heaven's Destruction!"

A vast, destructive beam of milky white light shot towards Fire Elder. He punched through it, scattering the light, but only retreated a few dozen steps, unscathed.

Yunchuxue realized this would be a tough battle.

Fire Elder dusted off his sleeves and said calmly, "Not bad. With your current strength, you're quite formidable. Without the constraints of your spirit body, you might be able to match me."

Match him? Yunchuxue felt these two were extraordinary. What puzzled her most was how to achieve the "destroy and rebuild" Mo Xi had mentioned.

Yun Chuxue continued to fiercely battle Huo Lao for hundreds of rounds. She noticed that he was not using his full strength, yet she was already struggling to keep up.

"Little girl, you should give up," Huo Lao taunted.

"Who are you calling little girl? I'm older than you," Yun Chuxue retorted.

Huo Lao laughed loudly. "You don't even have the lifespan of one of my fingers. Where do you get the confidence to say you're older than me?"

They clashed again, engaging in another hundred rounds. Yun Chuxue felt like her body was about to fall apart. She was panting heavily, her body trembling.

"Yun Chuxue, are you already at your limit?" Huo Lao sneered.

At this moment, Moxi took control of Yun Chuxue's body, and a powerful aura that could shake mountains began to emanate from her. Huo Lao and Shui Lao's expressions grew serious.

"Her aura is getting stronger," Huo Lao noted.

"I feel it too. It seems there's a power within her that's not her own. We should take this seriously," Shui Lao agreed.

"Alright, let's see just how strong this power is," Huo Lao said.

The two of them transformed their hands into claws and rushed forward. Moxi, wielding the Moonlit Sword, moved with lightning speed to meet them.

In an instant, the three of them exchanged hundreds of blows, faster than Yun Chuxue had moved before. They fought their way west of Luoshen Valley into the mountain range.

Yun Chuxue's back bore two deep claw marks, while Huo Lao had a deep sword wound on his arm, as did Shui Lao. Unwilling to be outdone, Huo Lao placed his left hand in front of them, and Shui Lao placed his right hand in front. Suddenly, their hands formed seals, and waves of dark energy surged forth.

"Raging Fiend's Light."

"Moonlit Dance of Heavenly Destruction."

A milky white beam of immense power clashed with the dark energy, resulting in an explosion that blasted a massive crater into the mountain range below.

All three were wounded to varying degrees. They landed on the ground, staring at each other.

"Yun Chuxue, what exactly is the power within you?" Huo Lao demanded.

"Why does it matter? Why are you so fixated on this?" Yun Chuxue shot back.

"This power doesn't belong to this world. Who are you really?" Huo Lao pressed.

"I am Yun Chuxue. That's all," she replied, exasperated.

Unperturbed, Shui Lao asked, "Do you know the origin of your name?"

"I don't. Are you two going to fight or not?" Yun Chuxue was getting angry. She was here to fight, not to be interrogated.

"Have you heard this poem?" Huo Lao recited:

"In the garden of Yun Xiang, she walked gracefully, First seen beneath the emerald silk by the window. Her bones of snow and muscles of ice filled the jade seat, She smiled and sang, wearing the Southern Crown."

Yun Chuxue was puzzled. Judging by their expressions, she thought the poem might be significant.

"When I was born, there was a note with this poem beside me. That's why my grandmother named me Yun Chuxue. Why?" she replied calmly.

The two elders were stunned. After a moment, they trembled and said, "Your Excellency, we did not intend to harm you. Please forgive us."

Yun Chuxue was even more confused but decided to go along with it. "It's fine. As long as you don't aid the evil forces, I won't hold it against you."

"This..." Huo Lao hesitated.

"Yes?" Yun Chuxue prompted, feigning anger.

Huo Lao's legs nearly buckled. "We will follow your orders."

Yun Chuxue nodded in satisfaction. "You may leave."

"Yes, ma'am," they responded.

As they turned to leave, Yun Chuxue chuckled lightly. She was about to leave herself when she slipped on a small stone and fell.

"Your Excellency, you..." Huo Lao and Shui Lao turned back to ask, only to find Yun Chuxue gone. They sighed in awe, marveling at her abilities.