After Sheng Jun Chapter 45 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 45 Mask Falls Off (part 2)
The entire Demon Realm was in chaos.
Night Crossing River flooded from the Demon Realm entrance, submerging cities and shops. The distant sky seemed to have holes punched through it, with river water pouring down like waterfalls from the heavens.
Splash! Countless water columns broke through the clouds and fell, revealing the bright and dim souls throughout the city.
The city was in complete chaos.
No one knew where to run because no one knew where the Night Crossing River would pour down next.
......
Jiang Xingzhi was dragged along by Zhong Ming, flying frantically under the sky.
The fierce wind hit them head-on, stinging their faces.
He felt like a kite about to break free from its string, swaying precariously as he was pulled along through the air.
Jiang Xingzhi's voice was scattered by the fierce wind. "Bai... Mu..."
This lamp was about to be blown out.
The man blazing a trail ahead seemed to have lost all ability to speak, using all his cultivation to detect where Night Crossing River was flooding below and where water columns were about to fall from the sky above.
Jiang Xingzhi: "......"
He wondered what secrets Bai Mu's soul was hiding to make him this afraid. This was probably the first time since the creation of the world that someone could be scared to this extent.
As they flew forward, the surging water suddenly broke through city walls in the distance, turning and rushing straight toward them------
Zhong Ming's figure suddenly stopped mid-air!
He quickly took Jiang Xingzhi in a sharp turn, whooshing away from the water and circling far around to the other side. Jiang Xingzhi stared at the black-robed figure ahead, sighing softly. "Bai Mu, we're running away in quite an undignified manner."
He was answered with a series of perfunctory "mm-hmm-hmms."
RUMBLE! Another water column fell without warning.
Not far away, close enough to illuminate their figures. Just as Jiang Xingzhi turned to look...
Zhong Ming's pupils contracted! He yanked Jiang Xingzhi into a spin on the spot------ Whoosh, robes fluttering. He positioned the person with his back to the water column and swept him away horizontally.
Jiang Xingzhi's vision blurred as he felt his entire soul spinning in his head. Looking at their face-to-face horizontal movement, he said, "Bai Mu, don't you think you're manhandling me a bit too much?"
The person opposite was so nervous he seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. "Mm."
His deep eyes scanned everywhere like alert searchlights. "I can apologize."
"......"
Fortunately, the Demon Realm's exit was directly opposite to its entrance, south to north.
Heaven seemed to favor Zhong Ming. They had moved away from the Demon Realm entrance where Night Crossing River was falling, and the flood below hadn't swept over yet. The sky above was stable, showing no signs of rivers falling.
Zhong Ming breathed a sigh of relief, turning to look at Jiang Xingzhi, whom he had been dragging along. "Deng Deng, let's go..."
A profound gaze cut off his words.
Jiang Xingzhi looked at him as if wanting to skin him alive. "Heh, I no longer have lamp rights with you."
"......" Zhong Ming coaxed him nervously and guiltily, "Whatever accounts need settling, let's wait until we leave the Demon Realm."
If they chatted any longer, Night Crossing River would catch up!
Jiang Xingzhi's gaze seemed able to penetrate souls. He stared at the person for several breaths until the other's throat moved, nervously swallowing. Gulp.
"Let's go." Only then did he relent.
A long breath slowly escaped. Zhong Ming turned toward the exit direction. "Mm, let's go."
The two flew off. Jiang Xingzhi fell half a step behind him, looking back regretfully at the distant rolling Night Crossing River.
What a pity.
He felt that leaving like this, he would definitely miss something important...
"Stop!" A voice suddenly rang out ahead.
Jiang Xingzhi turned back to see a team of demonic cultivator guards blocking their path with halberds. The lead demonic cultivator looked unfamiliar - they hadn't seen him before. He must be a guard specifically stationed at the exit.
"Human cultivators?" The lead guard frowned. "Human cultivators of suspicious identity are all forbidden from leaving the Demon Realm!"
Zhong Ming was anxious and couldn't be bothered with lengthy explanations. His overwhelming pressure burst forth. "Stand aside."
"Ugh!" The team of demonic cultivators instantly couldn't bear it, several even falling from mid-air with thuds.
The lead guard's expression changed drastically. "Such profound cultivation - your identity is indeed suspicious! Quickly report to the Demon Lord!"
The look in Zhong Ming's eyes grew even darker.
Jiang Xingzhi rubbed his temples with a headache: Fine, he wasn't in a hurry to leave anyway. When Su You arrived, they could explain everything clearly.
The two sides had been in standoff for several breaths when Zhong Ming was about to force his way through, and a familiar voice suddenly rang out from above.
"Tsk... Alright, everyone stand down."
"Demon Lord!"
A blood-red robe gracefully appeared between the two parties. Su You turned to dismiss the guards. "They have nothing to do with this matter."
Then he turned to Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming. "Don't get excited. Even if you pass through here, you won't be able to get out."
"Why!" Zhong Ming's expression tightened.
"Heh." Su You's face showed some coldness. "Naturally because those damned... they've sealed the Demon Realm's exit. I don't know what tricks they've pulled, but I just tried - forcing it open would likely cause the entire Demon Realm's sky to collapse instantly."
Zhong Ming asked through gritted teeth, "Then what do we do now?"
Su You glanced at them. "The Demon Realm has a protective grand formation that requires cultivation above late Nascent Soul stage to activate. My Demon Realm commanders are busy evacuating the masses and we're short-handed. Since you can't leave anyway, why not help out?"
Jiang Xingzhi was happy to help demons. "Sure."
Zhong Ming whipped his head around: Sure what sure! This place is not suitable for staying long - shouldn't we leave quickly!
Su You smiled. "Xingzhi is truly beautiful and kind-hearted ."
"No, we..." Zhong Ming frowned.
Just as he was about to refuse, Su You had already continued on his own. "Four formation corners - east, west, south, north. We'll each take one position. Once the protective formation is activated, we might be able to try opening the Demon Realm's exit."
Zhong Ming's heart suddenly stirred.
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, nudging Zhong Ming with his elbow persuasively. "It's just a small effort that could save many demons. Bai Mu, you..."
"Fine." Zhong Ming agreed readily.
Jiang Xingzhi: ?
Zhong Ming said, "I'll take this formation corner. You go elsewhere." After speaking, he instructed Jiang Xingzhi, "Come back and meet up with me as soon as you're done."
His attitude changed quite rapidly. Jiang Xingzhi suspiciously looked him up and down. "Oh, alright."
Su You was already urging, "Let's go, Xingzhi."
"Mm."
Two figures turned and left, disappearing from view in the blink of an eye.
The stone in Zhong Ming's heart finally settled: He'd almost forgotten - there was another way to leave the Demon Realm, which was to use his life-bound sword with full force to split open the barrier and force his way out.
Perfect timing to send Jiang Xingzhi away, convenient for him to go all out.
His hand reached past the ancient evil sword at his waist into his storage pouch--- Stop!
......
Jiang Xingzhi flew out, but after going a distance, he felt something was increasingly wrong.
Bai Mu was so anxious to leave the Demon Realm, yet he was willing to stay and help Su You activate the protective formation, and suddenly agreed so readily!
It was simply as if... he had ulterior motives.
His figure paused, then he turned back without hesitation.
The surrounding scenery flew backward rapidly, and distant scenes continuously enlarged and clarified before his eyes. From afar, he could see that black-robed figure with his back turned, standing under the dim sky.
Suddenly stopping, whoosh------
A cold sword light split the blue sky, cutting through his vision.
Thump, his heartbeat stopped abruptly.
Jiang Xingzhi hung suspended in mid-air, his gaze falling on that incomparably familiar life-bound sword belonging to Xu Jian.