CH 119 Fate Is Set, Hard To Escape From Its Grasp

Ji Yunlai spent several days carving the intricate demonic sealing wards. 

Naturally, it wasn't done in the pitch-black depths of the Nine Abysses but within his Dao Seed. After studying it, he realized this small world was rich in spiritual energy. However, that energy was being siphoned off to sustain the world itself, leaving no excess for cultivation or spirit demon entities. This significantly reduced the world's energy consumption, allowing for a self-sustaining cycle. Moreover, it powered the defensive wards on the Dao Seed with an immense energy reserve, making it impossible for even divine or celestial forces to breach the Dao Seed within a few months. 

To prevent any unexpected intrusions, Ji Yunlai sealed the Dao Seed's entrance and exit, brought Xiao Qing to the surface of the sun, and focused on crafting the seal.

Removing clothes was a necessity, as the complexity of the wards required carving it at the level of inscribing 20,000 characters onto a grain of rice. Essentially, Xiao Qing's skin was to be transformed into a demonic-sealing artifact, ensuring not a trace of demonic energy leaked out. The seal would also teach him to suppress and conceal his energy. Since his soul and body were legitimate reincarnations, this would prevent the Heavenly Dao from sensing the birth of a demonic entity, thereby averting a Heavenly Tribulation. 

For Ji Yunlai, the micro-carving itself wasn't difficult, but when his hand brushed against Xiao Qing's smooth, supple back, he couldn't resist touching it a few more times. 

He noticed that Xiao Qing's pale back trembled slightly and turned faintly red. 

Ji Yunlai felt guilty, slowing down his movements. When he moved to the area below the waist, his hands lingered too long in certain sensitive spots. Xiao Qing eventually grabbed his hand, firmly refusing further touches and insisting on doing it himself.

But how could that be allowed? 

Ji Yunlai lightly tapped his apprentice's forehead, transferring the ward diagram directly into his mind, letting him know just how high the heavens were. 

However, to his surprise, Xiao Qing closed his eyes and, within moments, directed the medicinal threads to intricately spread across his body. The ward seemed to grow naturally, quickly sinking beneath the skin and disappearing. The dense demonic energy surrounding Xiao Qing, almost tangible before, also dissipated completely, merging into the ward's lines.

Dressing himself meticulously and tying his long hair, Xiao Qing then knelt silently before Ji Yunlai. 

He had too many questions—about the shadow, the Xing Dao Master, and even himself. However, he knew it wasn't his place to question his master. He only hoped for an explanation, though he wouldn't force it if Ji Yunlai chose not to speak.

Ji Yunlai understood his apprentice's meaning, and it made his heart ache to see how considerate Xiao Qing was. 

"In your previous life, you were my celestial demon, infatuated with me. Later, you reincarnated as you are now. What you saw earlier were simply remnants of emotional attachments."

Even Ji Yunlai himself was unclear about many of these matters. The more he knew, the less he wanted to uncover what had happened. Whatever it was that had driven him—a naturally optimistic person—to seal away his own memories, it couldn't have been anything pleasant. 

Besides, the Xing Dao Master and Celestial Demon Qing were things of the past. Involving them now would only invite trouble. Ji Yunlai had no interest in playing a convoluted game of "you love me, I love you, but you don't love the current me, and I love the past you, not the present you." That would be too absurd.

"So... my earlier impropriety," Feng Qingxiu hesitantly began, his voice uncertain, his eyes avoiding his master's. "Was it influenced by my past life's obsessions?"

Ji Yunlai didn't know how to respond and felt a pang of sorrow. After a moment, he said expressionlessly, "Correct."

Feng Qingxiu bowed deeply. "I promise never to repeat such offenses in the future—"

"Shut up!" Ji Yunlai cut him off coldly. "This matter is over. Do not bring it up again."

Feng Qingxiu lowered his head. A strand of loose hair fell over his right cheek, and the mixture of grievance and slight relief in his expression made Ji Yunlai's heart skip a beat. 

But remembering his earlier words, Ji Yunlai sighed. My apprentice, I wouldn't mind if you repeated it. Do you know that?

After another sigh, Ji Yunlai realized he had been gone for too long. Anxious about Xiao Qing, he hadn't sent any messages, and the people outside were likely worried sick. 

No matter. There's plenty of time ahead—surely his apprentice wouldn't run away. For now, it was time to leave.

*

Beneath the Nine Abysses, in the dark lands of the Black Witchlands, Kun-Lai's members had already gathered.

There was the Sword Peak Master An Xian, Deputy Peak Master You Bazhua, Poison Peak Master Shui Wugou, First Elder Yan Zhao, Second Elder Bai Shuixian, and even Yang Fuyin. Among them were Kun-Lai's Seven Talents and the “treasure-hunting rodent” Luo Chi, who had merely come looking for treasures. Incidentally, Luo Chi had been startled into a daze after being teased by the Sect Leader. Distracted, he wandered off course, unintentionally led astray by the Wu clan's wards, and spent quite some time finding his way back.

The peak masters, upon receiving Yang Fuyin's call for help, quickly convened and decided to descend for a closer look. 

Nothing was more critical than a matter involving the Lord of Kun-Lai. They couldn’t allow their sect leader's spirit fragment to fall into the hands of outsiders under any circumstances. Upon arrival, they encountered Wu Zhan, the chieftain of the Wu clan.

Wu Zhan, a cultivator of considerable skill, claimed to have no idea what had transpired afterward. The distance was too great, he explained—what could he possibly do in a battle between Human Immortals? At the time, he could only retreat far away, using a Wu clan ward for protection. Later, he witnessed the Lord of Kun-Lai taking a young man into the Dao Seed, after which it sealed itself, rendering entry impossible.

This was just one side of the story. Kun-Lai’s people naturally didn’t believe him. More suspicious was that the Dao Seed, upon sealing itself, turned into an ordinary stone, a far cry from its previous radiant, holy appearance. An Xian took one look and outright refused to acknowledge it as Kun-Lai’s Dao Seed, accusing Wu Zhan of swapping it for something else like a thieving bear!

Yang Fuyin, an expert in wards, found the Human Immortal Dao Seed too profound to discern at a glance. Tilting his head slightly, he coyly asked the tall man beside him in a girlish tone, “Big brother, do you happen to have a way to get us inside? We’re in quite a hurry.”

Since this involved the sect leader, everyone temporarily ignored Senior Brother Yang’s strange behavior. Though some couldn’t help but glance at him curiously, no one exposed him.

“I cannot,” Wu Zhan shook his head. “This is a Human Immortal technique.”

“Then hand over the Dao Seed. We’ll study it back in Kun-Lai,” Bai Shuixian said coldly. “The rest of you, search the area thoroughly. Leave no stone unturned.”

Returning the Dao Seed was reasonable enough, but when Wu Zhan heard "search," his expression shifted slightly. He sternly said, “This is Wu territory. You cannot search here.”

“You don’t have a choice!” Yan Zhao, already impatient, raised his sword in a burst of fiery frustration. Though it wasn’t meant to harm, the attack aimed to clear the obstacle in their path.

Wu Zhan remained composed, but his firm grip on his staff slammed it heavily into the ground.

The strange bear-headed staff emitted a thick black fog.

The surrounding darkness deepened, making it impossible for the cultivators’ spiritual senses to penetrate. Meanwhile, water seeped ominously from the ground.

“Careful! This area is filled with Netherwater. Even touching it can corrupt a cultivator's soul,” Yang Fuyin warned. He had faced this ward before and knew its dangers.

The next moment, Wu Zhan appeared silently beside him, unaffected by the black fog. With a swift motion, he struck Yang Fuyin’s vital point on his shoulder. Yang Fuyin groaned lightly and collapsed.

Using the terrain, wards, and natural barriers to his advantage, Wu Zhan managed to fend off five opponents without faltering. His techniques were bizarre, and while they might have been less effective on open ground during daylight, they were amplified many times over in Wu territory.

An Xian, adept with blind sword techniques, was still hindered by her reliance on spiritual senses. Luo Chi had a lantern that could dispel fog and clarify the mind, but before he could light it, Wu Zhan entangled him with a straw rope imbued with ghostly energy, rendering him unable to move or even speak.

Thus, the Kun-Lai cultivators fought Wu Zhan for two days in his territory before Yang Fuyin finally exclaimed, “It’s done!”

Wu Zhan’s heart sank as he saw a sudden brightness pierce through the surrounding void.

The black fog receded entirely, and his instincts urged him to retreat to his clan. Gritting his teeth, he rushed to the altar, grabbed a glimmer of light, and fled toward the abyss.

The Kun-Lai cultivators would never let him escape; he was their best clue to the Sect Leader. 

However, Wu Zhan’s movements were eerily unpredictable, and he was far more familiar with the terrain. Bai Shuixian intercepted him but saw him take a sharp step back and reappear farther away, emerging from the fractured void near the waterfall.

The closer they got to the waterfall, the more fragmented and dangerous the space became. Like invisible blades, the spatial fractures could sever anyone not careful.

Just as Wu Zhan was about to leap into the waterfall, Yang Fuyin snorted coldly. The ward in his right eye locked onto Wu Zhan, flashing brilliantly.

At the same time, black light erupted from Wu Zhan, clashing with the ward. It seemed the ward would detach from him when Yang Fuyin suddenly lunged forward.

In the next instant, both Yang Fuyin and Wu Zhan vanished after the ward glowing on him flashed.

“Damn it!” An Xian shouted, “This cursed place connects to who knows which Nine Abyss opening! Xiao Yang, what’s the rush when you don’t even have a wife?!”

“What happened?” Yan Zhao, overwhelmed by the series of events, nearly had a breakdown.

“The Nine Abyss openings are scattered and fragmented, connecting to other Nine Abysses. Xiao Yang must have been too hasty and didn’t check if there were any cracks!” An Xian was panicked. “Last time—just a hundred years ago—I placed the Dao Seed here on the Sect Leader’s orders and accidentally stepped into a crevice. I ended up at the South Sea Nine Abyss opening and had to fight my way out!”

“Yang Fuyin is highly skilled and protected by artifacts. Don’t panic.” Bai Shuixian gritted her teeth. “The Sect Leader takes precedence. Search the area quickly for clues and figure out which Abyss Xiao Yang fell into. He’ll be fine.”

“Who won’t be fine?” A calm voice interrupted.

Everyone turned sharply to see a figure clad in dark robes standing quietly by the Dao Seed. His expression was serene, devoid of joy or sorrow.

“Sect Leader!”