Chapter 44: The Unveiling and the Blasphemy

The cloaked figure, their face hidden beneath the hood, wore a playful expression as they gazed at Yu Menghua.

“So, who do you suppose is connected to me?”

“You…”

This was something obvious enough to deduce. Considering the individual was an ally, rather than an enemy, and had both the time and opportunity to inscribe a spell on her, only one possibility remained.

“What have you done?”

“Nothing much, merely a slight chastisement. We do have a history, after all.”

“A history? Wait, could you be!?”

Yu Menghua, having seized upon the crucial information in their words, questioned them with utter disbelief.

Having seemingly tired of their game, the cloaked figure decided to reveal their hand, tearing the hood from their head.

“It seems your relationship with her runs quite deep, for her to have even divulged such matters to you. Or perhaps this is merely a characteristic level of information transparency on your side?”

The individual possessed green hair, a shade akin to Qing Lan’s azure, yet their aura diverged significantly. Only in their combat stance and certain techniques did a faint resemblance linger.

“One of the ninety-second generation disciples of the Clear Wind Sword Art, belonging to the same generation as Qing Lan. Her prowess was second only to Qing Lan’s, and she was bestowed the name ‘Qing Na’.”

Yu Menghua slowly articulated the individual’s identity; from every discernible feature, it was undeniably her.

“However, for reasons unknown, she began to research matters contrary to her master’s teachings, even descending into inhumane experiments. This led to a cultivation deviation (TL Note: A state where one’s cultivation goes awry, often leading to mental or physical harm), resulting in her expulsion and subsequent erasure from this world. Such were the official investigation reports of that era.”

“Of that time? While I have little interest, do tell.”

“Do you have the right to utter such words?”

Qing Na’s inquiry was met with Yu Menghua’s merciless rejection. Indeed, to Yu Menghua, the very existence of this individual, still alive and present, was nothing short of blasphemy.

Although the investigation reports of that period stated as such, that era was hardly a time of complete trustworthiness, a sentiment that, truthfully, held true even in the present day.

After all, there would always be those who chose to conceal parts of the truth for the sake of their own reputation or that of their collective, and that particular sect was no exception.

In truth, Qing Na had not died. Not only that, but after severely wounding numerous sect disciples, she had vanished without a trace. Qing Lan, the head disciple who regarded her as a beloved sister, had been relentlessly pursuing her ever since.

It was beyond expectation that Qing Lan, who should have been the stronger of the two, would actually fall to Qing Na’s hand.

“You must be wondering why she was defeated, aren’t you? After all, even with these thorns, she should have been able to cope. However, if there were other adversaries involved, that would be an entirely different story.”

“What?”

Before anyone could fully react, the ground, already rent by thorns, split open once more, and from its depths, countless grotesque beasts surged forth.

No, to call them monstrous beasts wouldn’t be accurate, for they were fundamentally not normal life forms.

“What in the world have you done…”

Upon seeing those stitched-together abominations, whose very existence was a blasphemy against life, both Yu Menghua and the other ability users involuntarily clenched their fists.

Yet, Qing Na, the architect of this horror, maintained a joyful expression, as if she regarded these lives as utterly insignificant.

This, naturally, only further inflamed the wrath of the others.

“You bastard!”

One of the more hot-blooded ability users was the first to lose their composure, abandoning their position in the formation and charging at Qing Na, swinging a baseball bat.

“Idiot! The array cannot have a vacancy; get back here!”

The nearby ability users frantically called out to them, but it was already too late. With one of the array’s crucial anchor points now missing, a critical flaw had developed within the formation itself.

Concurrently, as if seizing the opportune moment, some of the monsters’ bodies split open, revealing cannon barrels fashioned from living tissue that extended outwards, firing upon the array suspended in the sky.

The projectiles, composed of biomass, possessed a rudimentary sentience, nimbly evading the immediate attacks launched by the nearby ability users, before finally detonating against the array.

In the next moment, the constellation-like array began to crumble, and with its dissolution, the aura that had suppressed the monsters’ strength vanished.

“Oh dear, your teammate certainly knows how to be a hindrance, don’t they?”

“Shut up!”

Yu Menghua swung her sword at Qing Na, cleaving the monster behind her in two. Yet, Qing Na herself remained utterly unaffected.

Yu Menghua, witnessing this outcome, couldn’t help but click her tongue. Simultaneously, she pondered why that individual had abandoned their post. By her understanding of the Weichangzhe members engaged in battle, they were all high-level ability users with considerable experience. Even in their anger, such an act should not have been enough to jeopardize the situation.

Reality, however, afforded her no such leisure for contemplation. From beneath the monster she had bisected, even more numerous and powerful creatures surged forth. Even those already slain began to stir, either reattaching their own dismembered parts or those of other grotesque beings, or else dragging their mangled forms forward.

What was more, some of the severed fragments began to coalesce, forming an even more colossal mountain of flesh.

If this continued, everyone would be swallowed by the monstrous, pulsating mass.

This, however, was merely the beginning.

“Well then, it’s about time I made my move as well.”

So declared Qing Na, even as bone spurs erupted from her arms, reshaping themselves into razor-sharp blades.

Just as she had twisted and modified other life forms, she had likewise performed extensive alterations upon her own body, rendering her no longer a mere human.

For instance, she fought with an output powerful enough to inflict self-harm.

In an instant, Qing Na lunged before Yu Menghua, who only just managed to react.

A sharp *clang* resounded as their blades intersected, sending sparks flying.

“To have managed to parry in time… it seems the Weichangzhe branch head still possesses some skill.”

“Enough talk!”

Yu Menghua let out a fierce cry, forcefully parrying her opponent’s blade with a swing of her own, while simultaneously activating her inherent ability with all her might.

She, known by the epithet ‘Menghua,’ had earned renown for the dreamlike, ephemeral flowers that bloomed around her during combat.

Now, the scenery around her began to peel away, revealing a fantastical, dream-like vista.

Petals drifted upward on the breeze, only to wither in an an instant. Yu Menghua’s slash, like a fleeting whisper of flower and wind, passed through Qing Na’s body in a blink, and then Yu Menghua herself vanished from sight.

[Epiphyllum One Sword] – such was the true name of Yu Menghua’s inherent ability. Building upon her foundation as a cultivator, she could unleash a single strike that manifested and vanished in an instant, rendering it imperceptible.

“…This should be the second time, shouldn’t it?”

“!?”

Yu Menghua spun around, only to see Qing Na, her body reattached by writhing tentacles, her clothes miraculously restored as if nothing had happened.

“I recall my upper body being severed in a similar fashion last night. However, such tactics are utterly useless against me now.”

Qing Na flicked the sword in her hand, then turned her gaze back to Yu Menghua.

“Then, shall we continue?”