Chapter 118 – When the Maiden Opened Her Eyes, All Was Bone and Ash

Northern Province, Mount Buzhou.Blood stained the bluestone. A Daoist in a blood-splattered azure robe stood tall before the cave, wielding a wooden sword dripping with crimson. He stood like an unsheathed blade forged by unwavering conviction.Corpses of Northern soldiers lay strewn at his feet. With a sweep of his wooden sword infused with spiritual energy, Li Sansi felled swathes of enemies as though the humble weapon were the sharpest of blades, capable of cutting through all.His gaunt figure stood like a solitary warrior of myth, barring the pass—one man guarding the gate, ten thousand unable to advance.Within the pitch-black cave, a faint white spiritual pressure formed into an "eggshell." A pair of eyes—one black, one white—gazed steadily at the lone man who refused to yield even in the face of legions.In those eyes, a memory seemed to stir—Soft moonlight like gauze bathed the earth. On the bluestone, the azure-robed Daoist sat cross-legged, playing a flute.A young girl sat nearby, knees drawn together, clutching a wine gourd, her eyes closed, listening quietly, swaying her head ever so slightly to the tune.But Li Sansi was no Overlord. When the spiritual energy within his core was exhausted, an overwhelming tide of fatigue surged into his body.He switched to martial techniques, striking enemies down the mountain one by one. He began to pant, to sweat. His robe soaked through, his limbs heavy.Dantai Xuan, clad in armor, narrowed his eyes.So… even cultivators feel exhaustion. Not all are monsters like the Overlord.In that moment, he felt he'd found the chink in a cultivator's armor."Kill!"His gaze passed over Li Sansi and locked onto the shadowed cave behind him. There, he saw the familiar "eggshell"—the same as the one in Wolong Ridge.Beneath the eggshell… was immortal fate.Li Sansi had long lost count of the blows he'd struck or the foes he'd slain. His body wavered, barely supported by his sword.In this life, Li Sansi lived only to act with a clear conscience.He had vowed to protect Zhu Long—and so he would, with all his might. He refused to live with regret.For regret… was the hardest thing to mend.When a soldier in armor rammed into his frail body like a leaf caught in a gale, Li Sansi felt even raising his arm was beyond him.With one final strike, he knocked the soldier away, then collapsed, blood splashing three feet high."He's done for! Kill him!""Seize the Dragon-Rearing Land! Grasp immortal fate!""The Prefect's orders—kill!"Battle cries shook the silence of Mount Buzhou.Suddenly—A young voice rang out from the cave, at first a girl's shriek, then twisting into the roar of a demon dragon.Many soldiers clutched their ears, blood seeping from ruptured eardrums.A vast spiritual pressure surged from the cave.Dantai Xuan and his soldiers turned toward it—From the darkness emerged a young girl, eyes still closed.Behind her, a white "eggshell" shattered, and a "Dragon Gate" unfurled, spiritual energy pouring forth.Li Sansi, his chest racked with pain, turned to see Zhu Long standing at the cave's mouth, hair billowing, a roar erupting from her lips.Her long lashes fluttered—Then, beneath his gaze, Zhu Long, who had never once opened her eyes since they met, finally did.One black, one white.In that instant, Li Sansi saw the sun and moon shift.An unseen force rippled outward."Lord Prefect, beware!"A personal guard screamed, leaping to shield Dantai Xuan, both tumbling down the mountainside.Light of black and white blazed atop the peak.As the brilliance faded, Dantai Xuan staggered to his feet, dust-covered and trembling.At that moment when the girl opened her eyes… he had felt death.Death had never been so close.Climbing back up Mount Buzhou with his guard, they took one glance—And their hearts clenched as if seized by an iron hand.The peak was littered with corpses.Every one knelt.Armor still adorned them, but all flesh had melted away, leaving only stark white bone.Sweat poured down Dantai Xuan's back.Immortal realms… were they all cursed against him?In the secret realm of Wolong Ridge, fifty thousand troops were reduced to ash by a single immortal's move, blood splattering his face.Now, in this second secret realm—A single glance from the girl, and everything became bone.Dantai Xuan shivered.He saw her gently lift the bloodied Li Sansi and carry him into the Dragon Gate.She turned—And looked straight at him.Terror gripped him. He scrambled down Mount Buzhou, tripping over himself.Immortal fate…Perhaps it was never meant for him.

Southern Province.South River City.Nie Changqing, burdened with a travel pack and a butcher's blade, rode into the city atop a fine steed.Tiandang Mountain lay not far from here—barely fifty or sixty li.On the open road, he traveled at a steady pace in white robes, bearing his pack and blade.Though the distance to Tiandang Mountain was short, though the day he would reunite with his wife drew near, Nie Changqing's heart grew only calmer.These years had tempered him—he was no longer the brash youth he once was.His face now bore the gravity of age, the calm of experience.News of the Dragon-Rearing Land secret realm in the Southern Province had spread like wildfire.Though Tang Xiansheng had forbidden the circulation of such information, the tongues of martial artists could not be silenced."The Dragon-Rearing Land secret realm…"Nie Changqing's lips curled slightly as he entered an inn and sought a room on the second floor."Waiter, bring me paper, brush, and envelopes," he said, tossing a piece of silver to the attendant who was tidying the room.The boy's grin nearly split his face."Right away, good sir!"He returned swiftly with the requested items.Nie Changqing offered thanks and seated himself by the window.He rolled up his sleeves, dipped the brush in ink, and, after a moment's thought, began to write.The first letter was for his wife—In five years, this was the first letter he'd written to her.Before, he had neither the right nor the courage—he could not risk exposing his trail.But now, the Young Master and Baiyu Capital had given him confidence.The second letter was for Dao Sect.He did not intend to storm in without warning—The Young Master had told him to carry himself with grace, as a true disciple of Baiyu Capital.So even if he was to confront them, a letter must come first.He had once been a disciple of Dao Sect—Yet had fled like a mangy dog into a stormy night, cradling the wailing infant Nie Shuang in his arms.That night… he would never forget.At last, he set down his brush and signed—"Disciple of Baiyu Capital, Nie Changqing."He folded the letter, slid it into an envelope, and leaned back in his chair, dazed.The errand boy balked at first, but when Nie Changqing produced a silver ingot, he accepted, carrying the letter like sacred writ as he left the city for Tiandang Mountain.As the letter departed, Nie Changqing returned to his room and lay upon the bed.That night, he did not cultivate.He pulled the quilt over himself, closed his eyes—And slept a peaceful sleep.

Eastern Yan River.The Overlord, carrying his battle axe, led an elite force through the Dragon Gate.The iron cavalry of Xiliang blocked the path, keeping martial artists at bay, ten li from the shore.Thus, the secret realm of the Dragon-Rearing Land at Eastern Yan River fell firmly under the Overlord's control.Though many martial experts fumed, none dared act.The Dragon Gate creaked as it opened—And he took a step forward, as though crossing into a new world…