Ask the Mirror

Chapter 186: The Hunting Party

Boom!

The entire breach space trembled once, visible cracks appearing on the surrounding cliff faces. The vast sword baleful qi instantly located its target, converging from all directions.

The bloated demon’s mouth gaped wide, yet it could not utter a single sound. From its maw sprayed the powdered remains of the Heart-Binding Horn, along with the fire ignited by the now-uncontrolled Rakshasa Illusory Force.

Yu Ci stood opposite the demon, separated by the green-white flames born from the ghostly beast. He watched as the mountainous, fleshy demon body strained against the nearly solidified air, seemingly intending to charge towards him. But it managed only three steps before the indigestible Rakshasa Illusory Force exploded with a resounding boom, igniting from within and consuming that mountain of flesh entirely. Driven by the shift in energy, the sword hum vibrated, triggered by Gan Shizhen’s setup. It pierced through the demon’s back, shattering every bone in its body.

Bashi must have been unwilling. It could have calmly slain them both, then devoured and refined the Rakshasa Illusory Force. With the Heart-Binding Horn’s aid, its chances of success were high. But now, all had come to naught!

The blazing green-white flames ahead now resonated intensely with the fire consuming the demon, ultimately merging into one. Gaining ample fuel, the green-white fire blazed ever more fiercely, swiftly reducing the bloated demon to ashes.

Courting self-immolation—no more, no less.

Watching the raging inferno, Yu Ci felt a surge of emotion.

At that moment, the tremors within the breach space intensified, and the cracks that had just formed spread rapidly.

“Martial Aunt Gan?”

Yu Ci had expected the female cultivator to emerge earlier, but there was still no sign of her. His heart tightened. Circling the green-white flames, he moved deeper. After a few steps, illuminated by the firelight, he saw her collapsed form from afar.

Hurrying to her side, he checked her breath and pulse, confirming she had merely fallen unconscious after forcibly circulating her qi. Only then did he exhale in brief relief. But immediately after, a section of the cliff wall beside him crumbled, sending debris flying and stinging his skin. 

Yu Ci cast aside all else, lifting the female cultivator to make his exit. It was then he heard, amidst the noise of falling rocks, an abruptly clear and pleasant sound.

His gaze swept the area. A small, luminous object, probably dislodged from the rock layers, had landed directly in his path. He scooped it up without stopping and then broke into a desperate run.

The breach space could no longer hold.

With the foundation of information transmitted by the Black Tide, Yu Ci’s perception of this place was exceptionally sharp and clear. He knew the balance of power formed by the flames of the two-colored blood droplets had been completely shattered. The immense power accumulated within had spiraled into utter chaos, violently destroying the surrounding rock strata. This relic of a battle between experts was on the verge of collapse and destruction.

In a few quick strides, Yu Ci reached the vicinity of the platform. Hastily gathering his belongings, he headed out again. But what awaited him ahead was a wall of fire of unknown scale. Within the breach space, the Rakshasa Illusory Force, having twice been ‘fueled,’ had now completely gained the upper hand. It wantonly scorched the air, spewing its restless, ever-changing flames into every corner of the space.

The fierce wind from outside the breach blew in, pushing the flames forward.

Yu Ci’s gaze shifted. His forward momentum did not diminish one bit. Uncoiling the palace sash wound around his arm…

Hiss… crack!

He lashed out like a whip. Thousands of gold-green tassels instantly coalesced into a single force, striking the fire wall ahead with impact as if against a solid object. A violent shudder ran through him; he coughed up a mouthful of blood, but his body still surged forward. 

In a hoarse voice, he shouted: “Open!”

The massive wall of fire split open at his command, forming a gap. 

Yu Ci’s form rushed through, crossing in an instant.

Here, no one understood the workings of the Rakshasa Illusory Force better than he. Following his earlier method, he temporarily diverted a portion of the illusory force for his own use, then channeled the change through the palace sash—born from the same lineage—to drive the flames for a short time. It was perilous in the extreme; one slight misstep, and he and the female cultivator in his arms would likely share the bloated demon’s fate.

Breaking through the fire wall, the exit was in sight. With a long whistle, the great bird, having long received his command from the sky, dove straight down. Yu Ci leaped. As the great bird spread its wings, their forms merged. Dipping slightly, they finally gained lift and flew diagonally upward.

A searing pain came from his palm. Yu Ci then noticed a tendril of green-white flame creeping up through the palace sash, instantly engulfing his hand. His mind stirred. He shook his wrist violently; the palace sash undulated like waves, emitting a layer of exceedingly faint light that enveloped the green-white flames, absorbing them in an instant, leaving nothing behind.

Looking again, the ribbon felt ice-cold, its gold-green tassels swaying in the wind, as if the green-white flames had been mere illusion.

Smiling faintly, Yu Ci tied the palace sash around his waist. About to check on Gan Shizhen again, a sudden feeling stirred within him. Looking back, he saw the peak that had bloomed like a petal now sinking, then splitting apart with a thunderous rumble that spread the clouds and mist all around, startling the great bird beneath him into vigorously flapping its wings, ascending higher.

Yu Ci called out to stop the great bird. As far as his vision reached, no part of the mountain was spared; all was disintegrating. The force was so violent, it seemed far from any natural process.

In mere moments, the mountain within the clouds and mist had collapsed!

Dust and smoke billowed up, then settled, leaving no trace whatsoever.

*****

“…If you receive any news of Immortal Yu, please inform us promptly.”

“We will remember. Go in peace, Venerated Master.”

“No need to see me out.”

Walking out from the dock, Bi Chao bowed once more, bid farewell to the elders, and boarded the incense carriage. Without needing her command, the black-robed figure on the driver’s seat urged the Cloud-Stepping Beast forward at a slow pace.

The incense carriage traveled along the mountain path. Lush vegetation flourished on either side, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance. In just a few dozen days, the mountain was saturated with the intense arrival of spring. The fragrant, life-filled sounds seeped into the carriage, eliciting a sigh.

Bi Chao reclined sideways on the couch, propping her head with her hand. The entire carriage was remodeled from an exquisitely ornate, large canopied bed. Built without regard to cost, it could be described as the ultimate in luxury and comfort. This was the handiwork of the carriage’s previous owner, but after using it for some time, Bi Chao had grown rather fond of it.

The previous owner loved ostentation; the carriage often had several beautiful maids in attendance. Bi Chao preferred quiet, and aside from herself, there was no second person inside. Her soft, slow words seemed almost like talking to oneself:

“What a pity, that young man…”

There was no echo, but Bi Chao was certain that the intended listener had heard. So she continued: “To you, that young man was the best whetstone. If he dies, your cultivation will not advance a single inch for thirty years.”

Silence reigned both inside and outside the carriage for a long while. Finally, Bi Chao spoke again: “After returning, send people to the Heavens Rift Valley to investigate. From now on, send a message every five days to the dock and the Tranquil Heart Temple, inquiring for news. Half a month before the banquet, you and I will go to the dock and the Tranquil Heart Temple once more to inquire that person’s fate.”

“He must be dead. Why all this trouble?” A cold voice finally responded, like the resonant hum of a sword in the dead of night.

“To stop halfway is a great taboo in cultivation. These tasks require little effort; even if done in vain, it’s no loss. But if successful, nothing could be more effective. Then, no one will be able to question our sincerity. It merely requires a bit more patience. Why begrudge that?”

Inside and outside the carriage, silence fell once more.

*****

The spring sunlight spread across the wilderness, falling upon one with a comfortable, warm feeling. Basked in it too long, perhaps one might grow drowsy.

However, You Gongquan’s spirits were excellent. Perched high on a mountain peak, his gaze was sharp as he swept it across the forests on all sides. This was the highest point for dozens of li around. From his vantage point, any significant movement in the forests below could be seen, including signals from his companions, allowing for timely response.

Several tens of people from the hunting party were scattered throughout these forests, covering an area of several dozen li, diligently searching for their target.

You Gongquan was a loose cultivator without affiliation to any sect, possessing a cultivation base at the early stage of the Core Refinement realm. Among loose cultivators, this was a considerable achievement, and it was on this basis that he had become the leader of this temporary hunting party.

A ‘hunting party,’ as the name implies, is an organization formed by cultivators, either long-term or temporary, typically for entering dangerous areas to hunt fierce beasts, seek treasures, explore mineral veins, and the like. They are mostly seen among loose cultivator circles. In the current Heavens Rift Valley, overrun with fierce beasts and demons, it was naturally a prime location for such parties to operate.

You Gongquan’s party was a typical temporary hunting party, a team assembled in the Heavens Rift Valley under the leadership of its highest-cultivation cultivator. Through continuous attrition and recruitment, it now numbered nearly thirty people. Among such parties, its scale was already considered quite big.

You Gongquan had also organized such a large group for the first time and felt quite elated. The party included cultivators at the mid-stage and upper-stage of the Divine Connectivity realm, yet these people heeded his instructions with respect and did his bidding—an experience he had never had in his two hundred years of life.

A crashing sound drew You Gongquan’s attention.

In the forest to the southeast, a grey shadow soared up, briefly circled in the air, then descended again. You Gongquan’s eyes were sharp; he could tell it was a rather large bird. It appeared injured, its wing beats unsteady.

Immediately after, a signal from a companion emanated from that very spot.

You Gongquan frowned. An experienced traveler, he could see at a glance that the large bird was of an unusual form, not an ordinary species. It had never been seen before in the areas surrounding the Heavens Rift Valley. In terms of value, it likely surpassed the ‘Golden-Eyed Poison Ape’ that the party was currently searching for. Luckier still, the large bird seemed to be already injured, making it easier to capture. The person over there had probably taken advantage of this, temporarily changing targets and summoning help.

Just as he was considering how to handle the situation, another signal rose from that spot. This time, it was a call for help!

You Gongquan cursed under his breath. Two signals in quick succession—that person must have encountered a major trouble. Though he was annoyed at the individual for acting on his own initiative and creating complications, he could not fail to rescue him. He let out a low whistle. The Dragon Sparrow Sword, which had accompanied him for over a century, transformed into a beam of light, flying around him and carrying him towards that direction.

His sword flight was incredibly swift, covering over ten miles of forest in a flash. However, he wasn’t the first to arrive. High in the sky, he saw the Zhao brothers, the closest to the other side, transform into a whirlwind and dart into the forest.

These two brothers hailed from a small southern sect. Their cultivation was not inconsiderable, both at the mid-stage of Divine Connectivity. They cultivated a ‘Linked Minds Divine Ability,’ making their thoughts and energies one, and their combat techniques unconventional. Even in You Gongquan’s experienced eyes, they were quite commendable.

With the two brothers leading the charge, You Gongquan began to slow down, squinting as he assessed the situation.

Just then, a soft hissing sound reached his ears. An expert in swordsmanship, he immediately recognized it as the sound of sword qi breaking through the air, and a particularly sharp one at that. The thought had barely crossed his mind when two thuds rang out. Hidden by the forest, the Zhao brothers tumbled like gourds, crashing into trees before stopping.

You Gongquan’s heart chilled. Defeated in a single exchange?

He descended, guiding his sword over the treetops. He saw a young man, wrapped in animal hide, hair unbound, holding a short sword gleaming with green light, looking up at him.

As their eyes met, You Gongquan suddenly noticed a chilling light gleaming in the young man’s eyes, a light so sharp it seemed capable of piercing through the mind and heart.