Chapter 32: The Azure Mystic Ancestor’s Arrival

An Ancestor?

The Southern Border, the Azure Mystic Sect, the early stages of the game… an ancestor… there simply wasn’t a suitable game character for such a role.

As a seasoned player, he distinctly recalled that the early game’s primary focus revolved around the Son of Destiny, who, by assuming various identities, ignited the great war between righteous and demonic factions in the Southern Border, ultimately seizing the opportunity to conquer a region weary from a century of cultivation.

Even during the Azure Mystic Sect’s impending annihilation, no ancestor had ever manifested. How, then, could such a character materialize out of thin air?

No, no, these details were utterly irrelevant at this moment.

What truly mattered was the sudden arrival of the Azure Mystic Sect’s ancestor, against whom he possessed no combat intelligence, nor even a shred of knowledge regarding their cultivation level.

Fighting them would be utterly futile.

In less than half a second after the voice echoed, Su Qin swiftly assessed the precarious situation, transforming into a Blood Bat and rocketing like a cannonball towards the two young disciples.

Run away!

Within the vast array’s central expanse, an immortal lady slowly materialized, clad in a somewhat faded, dark-green daoist robe adorned with cloud patterns. Her figure was gracefully slender, her pale, unblemished hands cradling the generous swell of her chest.

Yet, for reasons unknown, while her body boasted youthful, vibrant curves, her face appeared somewhat pallid, and her hair, bereft of luster, was streaked with gray.

Were it not for her remarkably pure and captivating features, she might easily have been mistaken for an old crone, for her entire being emanated an unmistakable aura of death.

Only her bright, limpid eyes, like autumn waters, betrayed a formidable pressure coupled with an inexplicable sense of nonchalance.

Qi Ning glanced upward at the ethereal gray shadow hovering above, a flicker of disappointment crossing her eyes before she redirected her piercing gaze squarely onto Su Qin.

“Was it you who activated this grand array?” she scorned. “Hmph, demonic scum are truly as vicious as they come.”

Even after years spent in secluded cultivation, Qi Ning’s abhorrence for demonic cultivators remained as potent as ever.

Su Qin, without a moment to spare for a backward glance, instantly surged forward, accelerating his flight.

Through the senses of the Blood Bat, he meticulously tracked his opponent’s every movement, observing that the female cultivator’s immediate priority was to rescue Qi He.

There was no time for jest; she wouldn’t even have a chance to pursue him. A mere half-second’s delay would spell Qi He’s demise.

Such was the demon’s ingrained combat philosophy: on a battlefield fraught with uncertainty, if an enemy could be crippled, they would not be outright killed.

Wounded foes, after all, served far greater utility than mere corpses.

Su Qin rapidly beat his wings, putting distance between himself and the scene. In the distance, Gu Yuhe remained on standby, while Bai Jiaojiao, mesmerized, found herself staring blankly, replaying the demon’s imposing presence in her mind.

“Run! Run! You imbeciles!” Su Qin roared, his voice laced with exasperation.

With a tone bordering on outright scolding, Su Qin’s urgency jolted Gu Yuhe into action. She immediately grabbed Zhao Shuyun, attempting to flee, but found herself swaying precariously, struggling under the weight of her companion.

Bai Jiaojiao slapped her forehead in realization, rushing over to lend a hand. Only then, with their combined effort, did they manage to hoist Zhao Shuyun and take flight.

Having stabilized Qi He, Qi Ning subtly lifted her hand. Instantly, a concentrated surge of sword intent descended from the heavens, hurtling directly towards the two young disciples. Su Qin’s expression turned grim.

‘No, you also possess the ability to use substance to overcome emptiness (TL Note: A concept in martial arts and cultivation where a solid, tangible attack is used to counter an ethereal, intangible, or deceptive one)?’

Bai Jiaojiao’s eyes sharpened with resolve. She unleashed several spirit treasures, which, upon contact with the sword light, immediately detonated.

This was the core of her combat style: the self-detonating artifact cultivation path, which frequently allowed her to exert power far exceeding her current realm.

Yet, Qi Ning’s serene countenance remained utterly devoid of expression.

The sword intent sliced through the explosive energy with a mere ‘swish,’ dimming only marginally, yet it continued its relentless, lightning-fast assault on the two. Unfazed, Qi Ning struck again, manifesting several more streaks of lethal sword intent.

Su Qin inwardly cursed, realizing the enemy possessed a far superior grasp of timing than he had anticipated, coupled with an exceptionally rich combat history.

The explosive force of the Golden Core treasures already matched that of an early Nascent Soul cultivator, yet even that failed to impede her. This ancestor, he deduced, must be at least a late Nascent Soul stage expert.

The Blood Bat, possessing wood and fire spirit roots, proved too sluggish. Su Qin simply could not reach them in time to interpose himself and shield them.

Ultimately, all the advanced equipment he possessed were purely functional divine abilities. Much like the Little Old Emperor, his presence amplified any partnership, turning a simple sum into something far greater than its parts.

Suspended in mid-air, the two young disciples exchanged a swift glance, a silent nod passing between them as they instantly reached a shared understanding.

Bai Jiaojiao’s entire form blazed with brilliant light as a torrent of magic treasures, covering the sky, flew from her grasp, exploding in a cacophony of ‘bangs,’ painting half the heavens crimson.

Sensing the chaotic, discordant aura emanating from these magic treasures, Qi Ning’s brows furrowed in evident displeasure.

“Demonic sect vixen,” Qi Ning spat, “how many innocent lives did you claim to amass such an arsenal of magic treasures?”

Even with half the sky ablaze, she relentlessly wielded her sword intent, pursuing the two disciples without a moment’s diversion towards Su Qin.

By targeting the weakest link first, she reasoned, if Su Qin grew desperate to save them and revealed more of his hidden techniques, she would secure a significant advantage in the ensuing confrontation.

Evidently, despite possessing an overwhelming advantage in cultivation, she maintained an exceptional degree of caution.

“Hmph, a mere mantis trying to stop a chariot,” she scoffed.

Qi Ning clenched her pristine hand, and several streams of sword qi coalesced, their speed multiplying severalfold as they instantly materialized before the three fleeing figures.

This was bad!

Bai Jiaojiao gritted her teeth, her eyes flaring with intense light. A corner of a pagoda-shaped magic treasure shattered within her grasp, unleashing a terrifying burst of energy. Crucially, she possessed the rare ability to control the direction of the ensuing explosion.

—Whoosh!

Propelled by the explosive energy, the two young disciples and the single adult were flung backward like cannonballs. The sheer force of the impact left Gu Yuhe almost buried within Zhao Shuyun’s soft embrace.

Enveloped tightly, those two wildly swaying ‘hao ru’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term for large breasts) playfully slapped against her own comparatively modest chest, causing the young girl’s face to darken with a blush.

“Hmph, merely a petty trick,” Qi Ning scoffed.

Qi Ning appeared entirely unfazed by this outcome, continuing to unleash several more streams of sword qi. Meanwhile, Su Qin was still frantically making his way towards them.

“It’s your turn now, don’t just stand there watching!”

Bai Jiaojiao urged, her voice strained. Sixty percent of her magic treasures had already been expended; continuing this fight would genuinely cripple her.

Gu Yuhe’s expression remained remarkably calm. From the very outset, she had been meticulously observing the sword qi wielded by this elder woman.

Her Master had always taught that no matter how formidable an offensive technique, it would invariably possess both a fatal flaw and a point of vulnerability.

Gu Yuhe, in her cultivation, had always faithfully adhered to Su Qin’s philosophy. Embracing a reactive counter-strategy, she believed that by observing an enemy’s attacks a few times, she could discern their weaknesses and neutralize them with minimal cost.

“I’ve found it!”

A triumphant smile blossomed on Gu Yuhe’s face. With a swift flick of her skirt, several fangs shot forth like lightning, simultaneously latching onto critical points of the incoming sword qi. With a series of sharp ‘cracking’ sounds, the sword qi violently disintegrated.

“Excellent work!”

Bai Jiaojiao, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, exclaimed in admiration.

Only Su Qin’s face remained grim, and he almost shouted at the top of his lungs to warn them:

“Children, watch out!”

A flicker of smug satisfaction, mingled with disdain, crossed Qi Ning’s eyes.

Before Su Qin’s warning could fully register, the sword qi, which had seemingly dissipated, unexpectedly re-coalesced, then fragmented into several smaller sword qi, forming a perilous pincer formation.

It proved indissoluble; even when dispersed, it would relentlessly re-form, haunting them like an unyielding spectral pursuer.

Bai Jiaojiao’s pupils constricted sharply. Though someone was secretly observing her, she had never before engaged in such a perilous battle, and her arsenal of techniques was now almost entirely depleted.

Her spatial techniques, neglected due to her usual indolence, remained largely unpracticed, rendering them impossible to activate in time.

The sharp sword of death hung menacingly above her head. In the end, despite her bravado, she was still merely a child.

Gu Yuhe, however, was an entirely different matter.

Having been forcibly matured by the demon’s formidable influence, her mental fortitude granted her an immense advantage.

The debt of gratitude owed for the demon’s tutelage was boundless, seemingly unrepayable.

Even without extensive experience in battles of this caliber, Gu Yuhe had forged for herself a discerning, almost venomous eye, coupled with an unwavering inner resolve.

Her diminutive form unleashed astonishing power. Crushing a talisman, she achieved temporary suspension, then executed a swift ‘Rabbit Kicks Eagle’ maneuver, striking Zhao Shuyun squarely in the lower abdomen.

Zhao Shuyun let out a soft groan, propelled backward directly into the path of the sword light, and the dynamics of the situation shifted in an instant.

Behold, this was the caliber of warrior forged by the demon!