Chapter 29: Taiyi Disciples Encounter Blazing Bone Sect

Chapter 29: Taiyi Disciple Meets the Blazing Bone Sect

Ling Xuance took the healing pill, steadied his breath for a moment, then raised his eyes and said in a low voice, "Xuanyue, return!"

A resonant sword hum answered, and a sharp sword light arced back, landing steadily in Ling Xuance's palm.

Ling Xuance and Lin Yu exchanged a glance, and the next instant, their figures shot forward simultaneously, launching another assault on the Ice Flood Dragon.

During the close-quarters struggle, Lin Yu summoned all his vines.

"Tuanzi! Tie it down with everything you've got!"

Green vines swept in from all directions, layering the massive Ice Flood Dragon into a huge green bundle, pinning it in place!

Then—BOOM—!!

The tough vines burst into countless green fragments!

The moment it broke free, the completely enraged Ice Flood Dragon cast aside all restraint, unleashing the full force of its seventh-level Nascent Soul demonic power, making the cave shake violently!

Ling Xuance brought Lin Yu out of harm's way, shielding against the raging demonic force.

Behind him, Lin Yu quickly raised his hands to form seals. The remaining vines gathered together, and Buddhist scriptures spread out into a shield, holding steady against the residual pressure and debris.

Once the residual pressure dissipated, both figures rose into the air at the same time.

The Ice Flood Dragon followed closely, cold light condensing at its jaws.

High above, cold energy and spiritual power clashed violently, until both sides were pushed back, staggering into a stalemate.

Ling Xuance was covered in blood, his aura weak. Lin Yu had used up most of his spiritual power, with shallow claw marks on his shoulder.

The Ice Flood Dragon opposite them was equally battered, its scales falling off, its cold aura in chaos.

The whole sky darkened. The secret realm, already dim, was now shrouded in black clouds, with thick thunderclouds rolling and churning.

Rumble—BOOM—!!

Heavenly thunder gathered faintly, the expulsion force of Heaven's Dao getting stronger and stronger, locking onto the Ice Flood Dragon's body, pulling it outward relentlessly!

The Ice Flood Dragon's body trembled violently, knowing it couldn't stay any longer. It glared at the two, its voice a mix of human speech and dragon roars.

"Humans... I'll remember you! I'll repay today's grudge a hundredfold!"

The moment it snarled its threat, the Ice Flood Dragon turned, spread its wings, and soared, breaking through the black clouds and the pressure of Heaven's Dao, vanishing over the horizon of the secret realm in an instant.

With the great enemy retreating, the killing intent dissipated completely.

Ling Xuance and Lin Yu both breathed a sigh of relief.

The next second, both heard faint sounds in the distance—someone was approaching.

Ling Xuance didn't hesitate any longer. He moved in a flash, diving back to the bottom of the pool and quickly retrieving the Demon Core.

"Let's go."

He returned, wrapped an arm around Lin Yu's waist, and vanished into thin air, disappearing into the dense forest in an instant.

The two stayed hidden, traveling for several days, until the spiritual energy around them calmed down. Only then did they stop to rest in a secluded valley.

The second they landed, Lin Yu immediately reached out to support Ling Xuance, pouring spiritual power into his meridians, then took out healing medicine to treat Ling Xuance's wounds and regulate his internal energy.

"It's nothing. I'll recover with rest. Don't worry."

Lin Yu lowered his head to apply the medicine, muttering softly in disagreement, "A wound is still a wound. Can't be careless."

The two sat quietly in the valley for days, their chaotic spiritual energy calming, their battle losses gradually recovering.

Once they were fully recovered, Ling Xuance raised his hand and produced the thousand-year Demon Core obtained from the cold pool.

The Demon Core floated in his palm, radiating a clear ice-blue glow, its spiritual energy thick and enduring—far stronger than an ordinary demon beast's core.

Lin Yu leaned in curiously, poking the cool, round core with a fingertip, his eyes lighting up.

"Is this a Demon Core? What kind of demon's core is this?"

Ling Xuance gazed at the Demon Core in his palm, sensing it with his spiritual power for a moment, then shook his head.

"I can't tell its exact origin either. It was probably left by an Ice-type Great Demon that happened to fall into the cold pool. The Ice Flood Dragon was most likely a mutant creature born from the secret realm, stumbling into the cold pool and using this core to nourish itself."

All in all, the two had already spent two months hiding here, recovering from their escape from the Ice Flood Dragon.

With rest complete, the journey ahead and training itinerary needed to be re-planned.

Lin Yu looked up at Ling Xuance and asked softly, "Brother Che, should we go find the Taiyi Sect disciples?"

Ling Xuance let out a turbid breath, softened his expression, and nodded slightly. "Mm, it's time."

As his words fell, another concern quietly rose in Lin Yu's heart, worry coloring his brows as he pressed on in a low voice.

"What about... Senior Sister Jinling? Will she be alright?"

Mentioning the two who were separated, Ling Xuance's eyes dimmed slightly as he truthfully shared what his investigations had revealed.

"Since entering the secret realm, I've spread my spiritual sense across wide areas several times, but I've never detected any trace of Senior Sister Jinling or Ming Qi's presence."

"The secret realm is vast beyond measure. They most likely fell into an ancient inheritance realm, or stumbled into a special place like the cold pool, which is why their connection has been completely cut off."

Lin Yu's heart tightened at the words, nervously clutching his sleeve.

"The Ice Flood Dragon was already so troublesome and terrifying—Senior Sister's cultivation can't withstand that!"

Ling Xuance raised a hand to gently smooth his furrowed brow, soothing him warmly.

"Don't worry. The Ice Flood Dragon in the cold pool only broke free of the rules by leveraging its terrain—it was a one-in-ten-thousand exception. There can't be a second demon beast like that in the secret realm."

Hearing this, the weight in Lin Yu's heart eased slightly.

"We'll first catch up with Yun Yan and the others," Ling Xuance set the itinerary.

"Once we confirm everyone is safe, we'll search for Senior Sister Jinling one by one, following the secret realm's forbidden zones."

"Alright."

With the itinerary settled, Lin Yu's form stirred, and he vanished back into his small world.

The secret realm training was set for three years. Two months had already passed, leaving only two years remaining.

Catching up to the disciple group, searching for the lost Senior Sister Jinling—every matter was urgent.

Following the Taiyi Sect's trail markers left behind earlier, Ling Xuance followed the trail deep into the secret realm.

For a full month, he followed the ever-clearer traces until he finally caught up to the disciple group.

But the moment he stepped into this forest, the lingering scent of battle and dried blood in the air brought Ling Xuance to an abrupt halt.

He quietly extended his spiritual sense, detecting several unfamiliar, formidable Peak Golden Core auras lingering in the air. The fierce, murderous intent was definitely not from Taiyi Sect disciples.

Lin Yu, sensing the disturbance from inside the small world, quickly spoke up.

"Brother Che, what's wrong? These signs of battle... were they ambushed?"

Ling Xuance hurried along the trail of battle, replying steadily, "Yes. The lingering murderous aura is the work of the Blazing Bone Sect."

"The Blazing Bone Sect?" Lin Yu immediately grew alert, filled with anxiety. "Then are they in danger? Their cultivation base is so weak!"

Ling Xuance reassured him calmly, "I've checked carefully—there are no traces of Taiyi Sect disciples' spiritual auras. Everyone is alive for now; they're probably just pinned down in a fight."

Meanwhile, deep in the forest ahead, the scene was dire.

All the Taiyi Sect disciples were wounded, falling back in disarray while desperately holding their formation.

Luo Fei lay unconscious, slung over Yun Yan's back, while Ming Qiuge, gritting her teeth, gripped her sword and shielded the group's outer edge, doing her best to fend off attacks.

Elder Duan was even more besieged, his spiritual energy in chaos, pinned down by two Peak Golden Core elders of the Blazing Bone Sect with no chance to fight back.

This time, the Blazing Bone Sect had prepared meticulously, deploying an extremely formidable lineup.

Two Nascent Soul elders held the rear. A Peak Golden Core main attacker pressed forward, while a Late Golden Core cultivator led the vanguard. Six Foundation Establishment disciples encircled them, sealing off all escape routes for the Taiyi Sect.

The two Peak Golden Core elders relentlessly pressed Elder Duan, while a young, purple-robed Peak Golden Core disciple clashed with Yun Yan.

The remaining Blazing Bone Sect disciples, along with the Late Golden Core cultivator, focused entirely on surrounding the Taiyi Foundation Establishment disciples, wearing them down.

Elder Duan, despite his spiritual energy being nearly depleted, still shielded the juniors behind him.

Above the forest, the purple-robed youth, clad in a luxurious robe, watched with an arrogant bearing as Elder Duan retreated step by step, then burst into loud laughter.

"Old Duan, you're at the end of your rope—why bother holding on? Surrender now, and you'll spare yourself some suffering!"

A green-robed, sinister-looking youth beside him smirked wickedly.

Elder Duan suppressed the blood churning in his chest, spat fiercely, and glared with righteous indignation.

"Old bastard! The Blazing Bone Sect gangs up on people—does such conduct befit a cultivation sect?!"

The purple-robed youth's smile didn't fade.

"How we act is none of the Taiyi Sect's business. Today's siege is to avenge our Grand Elder's humiliation!"

Elder Duan scoffed, spat again, his eyes full of contempt.

"Losers seeking revenge! You sniveling coward—you and your sect are cut from the same cloth!"

The purple-robed elder's playful smile vanished, his expression turning grim.

"Stubborn old fool. Since you insist, I will grant your wish!"

With that, he turned to the green-robed elder beside him and snapped, "Finish this quickly!"

The sinister green-robed youth responded and stopped idly watching.

Both Nascent Soul elders moved at once, closing in from both sides, bearing down on the exhausted Elder Duan!

BOOM—!!

Two torrents of spiritual energy struck simultaneously, the immense force erupting outward!

Elder Duan's body froze, then a gush of hot blood burst from his throat, staining his robes crimson.

He couldn't even cast a defensive technique before crashing hard to the ground.

"Elder Duan!!"

The purple-robed youth locked in combat with Yun Yan saw Yun Yan's attention waver and struck with a palm, sending him staggering back, badly wounded.

The youth sneered, "Yun Yan, you dare to lose focus? Years ago, your sect's Lin Che used underhanded tricks to defeat my master and torment him with inner demons—that debt will be repaid by your Taiyi Sect one by one!"

"That's nonsense!"

Ming Qiuge gritted her teeth and fired back fiercely.

"It was your Blazing Bone Sect that provoked the fight back then! Elder Lin merely competed—losing and then seeking revenge is exactly the kind of petty, narrow-minded behavior your Blazing Bone Sect is known for!"

This retort enraged the youth she was facing.

"I spared you because you're a woman, but you don't know your place!"

Before the words faded, he vanished and charged straight at Ming Qiuge with murderous intent!

Seeing this, Yun Yan rushed forward with his sword to intercept, but after a few exchanges, he was struck hard and sent sprawling, coughing up blood.

The young purple-robed disciple, Bai Yinggui, looked down at the fallen Yun Yan with a mocking sneer.

"Yun Yan, you can't even save yourself, let alone protect others—how laughably overconfident."

Yun Yan wiped the blood from his lips and retorted coldly, "The Blazing Bone Sect only bullies the weak—a bunch of petty scum unworthy of being called righteous cultivators!"

Bai Yinggui sneered, resentment blazing in his eyes.

"Righteous? When your sect's Lin Che destroyed my master's path, where was this talk of righteousness? Today we settle blood debts—it's only fair!"

With that, he gathered his power and launched another attack, his sword qi fierce, aimed straight at Yun Yan's vital points, intent on teaching this Taiyi prodigy a harsh lesson!

As the blade was about to strike, Ming Qiuge darted out and raised her sword to block the fatal blow!

"Junior sister!" Yun Yan's eyes widened as he shouted in alarm.

Though Bai Yinggui pulled back in time, the leftover force of his Peak Golden Core strike was still overwhelming.

With a dull thud, Ming Qiuge's petite frame was sent stumbling back several steps before blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, staining her robes.

She dropped to one knee, driving her sword into the ground to steady herself.

Bai Yinggui looked down at the stubborn girl kneeling before him and said coldly, "Move aside. Your cultivation is too weak—you're no match for me."

Ming Qiuge wiped the blood from her lips, gritting her teeth as she pushed herself to her feet.

"If you want to hurt my senior brother, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"