Chapter 107: Falling into the Trap

“Good girl, I’ll take you home!” Long Yun spoke softly, his sword intent gently brushing over the immortal embryo, his divine sense conveying his intention. Sensing Long Yun’s will, the immortal embryo grew bolder. The icy and fiery body, once rigid and bar-like, softened under his palm, seeming to caress affectionately.

Long Yun smiled faintly and glanced at Yan Qingqing, who was nothing short of stunning at this moment, her delicate figure enveloped entirely in a swirl of crimson flames. The flames shaped into a phoenix form, emitting piercing cries. Tongues of fire shot from the phoenix’s beak, valiantly fending off the encirclement by the six elders of the Qing Sect, without yielding an inch.

His heart steadied slightly. Now that the immortal embryo was successfully obtained, all that remained was to withstand the six elders’ assault and summon the Heavenly Demon Mirror—also known as the Reincarnation Mirror.

Suddenly, the immortal embryo coiled around Long Yun’s wrist, transforming into an exquisitely crafted bracelet. Long Yun couldn’t help but smile slightly; the aura of reincarnation emanated from it. The immortal embryo had been created by Zhong Xuan and could naturally sense such an aura, so its closeness was understandable.

What Long Yun hadn’t anticipated was that the embryo’s intimacy was not only due to the reincarnation aura within him but also because he had broken the evil sect’s seal and rescued it. The immortal embryo possessed a certain sentience; it could perceive Long Yun’s intentions and even understand his thoughts and knew everything he intended to do.

“Bastard! How dare you snatch the pillar of the Qing Sect! Die for it!” One of the six elders’ faces twisted in fury upon seeing the pillar vanish beneath Long Yun’s feet. The pillar was rumored to be an inheritance left by the Qing Sect’s founding ancestor, one of their most sacred secrets, not to be lost. Its disappearance shook them profoundly.

One of the six elders abandoned the siege of Yan Qingqing and shot forward like a streak of lightning, aiming directly at Long Yun. Long Yun nimbly evaded the attack with his Rising Dragon Step technique. Taking advantage of the steep terrain and his sword intent’s ability to break through spiritual surveillance, he managed to hold his ground for the moment.

Though now at the Innate Convergence Qi realm, he was still no match for those at the Innate Heavenly Cycle realm, so he dared not engage in a head-on fight.

Yan Qingqing, seeing one pursuer break free from her control and corner Long Yun perilously, recalled her earlier confident claims to her brother that she could handle the six elders alone, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

A flash of murderous intent ignited instantly. Under Yan Qingqing’s fierce wrath, the flames erupted anew. The fiery phoenix danced against the wind, its clarion cry resounding across the heavens, causing Long Yun’s body to shudder. That voice was all too familiar—it was the same sound he had heard when he was in the Underworld with Yan Ruoqing.

Back then, Yan Ruoqing summoned an ice-element phoenix, whereas now, Yan Qingqing wielded a fire-element phoenix. Though their auras were similar, the two belonged to completely opposing elements.

With a hum, the flames spread rapidly, engulfing the surroundings within a hundred yards in a blazing inferno. The intense heat scorched all the plants and trees into ash.

Even the blue stone slabs beneath their feet could not withstand the terrifying heat of the Nine-Turn Heavenly Fire and began to melt away.

The five elders besieging Yan Qingqing had not expected such overwhelming power from a mere fusion-stage girl, and caught off guard, they were all flung away, suffering varying degrees of burns, though none fatal.

The elder pursuing Long Yun’s face turned pale as he suddenly saw a crimson beam of light hurtling toward his chest. Attempting to evade, he was horrified to find his body enveloped in an unmatched majesty befitting a sovereign, helplessly watching as the beam pierced his heart.

The scorching heat overwhelmed his body, causing it to collapse utterly.

“Qingqing, run!” Long Yun hadn’t expected Yan Qingqing’s combat prowess to be so fierce. He shouted urgently at her.

Her face pale, Yan Qingqing was greatly drained by the attack, weakly fluttering to Long Yun’s side.

Sensing her frailty, Long Yun wrapped one arm around her slender waist. Unleashing his Wind Riding Technique, his form blurred into a streak of light, heading straight for the Qing Sect’s main peak.

“Third Elder!” The five elders watched in horror as the third elder among them was reduced to ashes by the girl’s ferocious assault. Their centuries-old bonds deepened their pain; all five pairs of eyes turned bloodshot.

“No matter which sect or school they come from, tear them limb from limb!” The five elder gritted their teeth and, after adjusting their true qi, gave chase toward Long Yun and Yan Qingqing.

Nestled in Long Yun’s embrace, feeling the heartbeat that stirred her soul, Yan Qingqing’s cheeks deepened in blush. At some point, this aura had become a part of her very life.

Long Yun, oblivious to her subtle change, pushed his speed to the limit. Once they reached the main peak, he could rely on the power of reincarnation to activate the Reincarnation Mirror and enter its internal realm.

The five elders were incredibly swift, and their pursuit significantly impeded Long Yun’s speed, steadily closing the gap.

Still, Long Yun was confident he could reach the Qing Sect’s summit before they caught up.

But as often happens, reality proved disappointing.

Ahead of him, three Qing Sect disciples appeared, all at the Innate Second Realm’s Fusion Spirit stage. Seeing Long Yun, they drew their weapons without hesitation, launching fierce sword strikes at him.

“Hold me tight!” Long Yun released his grip, the Azure Grain Sword flashing unsheathed.

Yan Qingqing obediently clasped his waist tightly. Despite her weakened state, Long Yun remained unaware; he could not afford to let them fall into the hands of the five elders again.

With a mighty roar, he unleashed all his Heaven-Seizing True Qi, channeling it through the Azure Grain Sword, summoning a roaring tide of sword energy that shimmered with dazzling light.

With a brutal slash, he struck with nearly 120% of his strength, sparing no reserve. He believed that even a Heaven-Penetrating Realm master could not withstand such a blow.

The three Fusion Spirit disciples’ sword auras shattered simultaneously under the onslaught, as if engulfed by a tidal wave of sword intent.

Before they could react, their bodies were torn asunder by Long Yun’s sword energy. His form passed through, blood splattering around but not a drop touched him.

“Bastard!” The five elders raged with fury. The death of one elder and three outstanding disciples was an immense humiliation to the Qing Sect.

Unwilling to accept this, they vowed that Long Yun and Yan Qingqing must die today. Gritting their teeth, they surged forth again.

Long Yun frowned. Although he had slain three disciples in one move, his speed was inevitably hampered, dropping once more within moments.

Clenching his teeth, he pushed himself to move further and could finally see the Qing Sect’s main peak in the distance. Glancing back, he saw the five elders still within attack range.

A breath of relief filled his heart. Once inside the main peak, he had a good chance to activate the Reincarnation Mirror.

At last, they reached the summit. Long Yun vaguely recalled that at the southern end of the martial arena stood a stone platform. The Qing Sect elder who once activated the Reincarnation Mirror had done so from that very platform, summoning the Reincarnation Realm.

He had to reach that platform.

Though the five elders were closing in, they had not yet entered attack range. Long Yun’s true qi surged again, his speed skyrocketing. With several bounds, he was mere dozens of yards from the stone platform.

The five elders’ faces shifted in realization. Though unsure why Long Yun aimed for the platform, they guessed it must be related to the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

As founding elders of the Qing Sect, they knew the secret of the Heavenly Demon Mirror—a peerless treasure requiring dozens of elders working in unison to activate.

Thus, as Long Yun rushed toward the platform, the five elders abruptly ceased pursuit, standing firm with eyes fixed on him.

Sensing their halt, Long Yun glanced back and firmly planted his foot upon the stone platform.

Suddenly, from the once peaceful platform came a tremendous suction force. The stone slabs beneath his feet became hollow, like a bottomless abyss, and both Long Yun and Yan Qingqing were instantly drawn into its depths.