Eternal Love Within A Smile - Chapter 38
Chapter 38
The moment Ning Xi realized the situation had turned dire, she immediately activated the protective spell array. Occupying the core array eye, her hands formed rapid seals. Countless pale-gold runes surged from the flat ground, wrapping the entire Shennong Temple in a majestic, imposing force. The exact same runes appeared within Ning Xi’s divine aperture; it was as if a heavenly eye was gazing down upon the earth, ensuring no anomaly could escape her sight.
Ning Xi barked a low command,”Sleep!”
A burst of golden light flashed across the divine temple, transmitting the decree straight into everyone’s hearts. Unable to withstand the weight of that single word, every mortal immediately closed their eyes and collapsed into a deep slumber.
Such was the power of a spell array—to hold the laws of the surrounding world is to be a deity for that brief moment.
Even so, cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm managed to resist the array’s force, regaining clarity after merely a moment’s daze.
Just as Ning Xi issued her decree, a subtle mutation occurred silently around the Altar of Heaven. The gushing blood seemed to come alive, squirming soundlessly as it trickled toward the blood runes. Glowing with a dark red light, the eight blood runes flew into the air and coalesced into a single entity, giving rise to a crimson silhouette.
Ning Xi’s complexion changed abruptly. She pointed at the bloody figure and shouted sharply, “Trap!”
A golden cage materialized out of thin air where she pointed, imprisoning the shadow within. As the cage continuously shrank into binding ropes, an unexpected turn occurred: the shadow abruptly dissolved into a cloud of blood mist, vanishing on the spot only to reappear several yards away.
“It’s not human…”
Xu Manman murmured, her expression grave as she stared at the bloody shadow gradually taking solid form.
Draped in a dark red robe, the pale face of the figure grew distinct, revealing its true, sinister, and vicious countenance. Being stared at by those scarlet eyes sent a chilling dread through the body, leaving one’s limbs stiff.
“Is he Blood Venerable?” Tuntun asked.
Looking down at Xu Manman and Tuntun from midair, the figure seemed to hear the question. He grinned, revealing razor-sharp teeth.
“You are fortunate to meet me. I am the Fate-Defying Envoy.”
The Fate-Defying Division was the most enigmatic location within the Blood Sect. Their blood curses were ever-changing and their evil artifacts unpredictable; even during her peak, Xu Manman had held deep apprehension toward them. No matter how clever one was, it was nearly impossible to prepare adequately while completely ignorant of the enemy. What Xu Manman had failed to foresee was that the spell array was entirely ineffective against the Fate-Defying Envoy.
The Fate-Defying Envoy, however, certainly knew this.
“What kind of creature are you?” Tuntun asked in confusion. “Your fortune is very strange.”
The Fate-Defying Envoy let out a raspy, cold laugh,”Does it feel quite similar to that of the Shenzun?”
Tuntun hesitated, then nodded.
Xu Manman’s expression shifted, and she blurted out.
“That bloody cage from earlier had a hidden trick… You stole Tuntian’s fortune!”
The Fate-Defying Envoy threw his head back and laughed aloud: “To be chosen by the Fortune-Stealing Talisman is the honor of Tuntian Shenzun.”
Only then did Xu Manman learn the name of those eight blood-red runes.
Fortune-Stealing Talisman—it truly fit the style of the Fate-Defying Division.
Ning Xi gathered her composure, refusing to be intimidated by the envoy’s sinister methods. Changing her hand seals to drive the spell array once more, she chanted, “Freeze!”
In an instant, the time and space around the Fate-Defying Envoy ground to a complete halt. Trapped in time, he was rendered utterly motionless. Seizing this golden opportunity, Li Ying drew back her longbow and fired an arrow burning with the Nine-Yang Li Fire directly at him.
The Nine-Yang Li Fire was the absolute bane of all evil spirits.
Yet, the fire-laden arrow passed right through the envoy’s figure and vanished into the horizon, as though it had struck nothing at all.
Li Ying’s expression froze as well.
“What in the world is that thing?”
Sustaining the power to freeze time and space consumed an immense amount of spirit energy; Ning Xi could only hold him for ten breaths. Once the ten breaths elapsed, the Fate-Defying Envoy resumed moving, laughing with arrogant triumph.
“Give up! No one can harm me!”
With that, he swooped downward toward Tuntian.
The tiny, adorable Tuntun stood her ground, staring at the envoy with a stern gaze. Letting out a loud shout, she hurled a punch toward him. A black-and-white phantom materialized behind her, exploding with the sheer power of ten thousand dragons and elephants. As that tiny fist struck out with full force, the surrounding spacetime trembled, producing a deafening sonic boom.
Yet, the Fate-Defying Envoy showed no fear at all. A look of delight even swept across his face as he charged straight into the blast of Tuntun’s fist. The mountain-shattering, rock-cleaving punch failed to hurt him in the slightest; passing right through the storm, his form grew even more solid. Just as he was about to lay hands on Tuntun, his grasp hit empty air. Astonishment flashed in his eyes, and he snapped his head up, glaring malevolently at Xu Manman, who had grabbed Tuntun and flown away.
The moment Xu Manman had caught the envoy’s expression, she realized something was terribly wrong. Without stopping to think, she had scooped up Tuntun and fled the Altar of Heaven, putting as much distance between them as possible.
The Fate-Defying Envoy moved to give chase immediately, but his vision suddenly blurred as a sea of vibrant blossoms surrounded him, blocking his sight. Flowers bloomed and withered in a single instant. Before he could react, the fragrant floral ocean decayed into countless blade-like petals, engulfing him in a storm of a thousand cuts.
Even a standard magical manifestation would be injured when caught in this “Ephemeral Youth.”
However, repeating his old trick, the Fate-Defying Envoy dissolved into a blood mist, escaped the floral killing array, and pounced toward Qunyu Fangzun.
Qianluo Yaozun appeared right on time, stepping in front of Qunyu Fangzun. Ruthless resolve flashed across his handsome, deep jade-green eyes. With a wave of his sleeve, a surge of spiritual energy transformed into ten thousand saw-toothed vines to strangle the envoy. Yet the envoy’s pace was merely stalled for a brief moment; shortly after, he slipped right out of the Sal tree vines’ stranglehold, his body growing visibly larger and more solid than before.
“Normal attacks won’t work on him—he isn’t human!” Xu Manman shouted at rapid speed.
“He must be something like a curse-resentment entity, an intangible evil creature born from thoughts. Those eight sacrifice-warriors likely used that method to summon his descent!”
Hearing her words, the Fate-Defying Envoy showed a look of shock, having not expected his true nature to be exposed so quickly. Though Xu Manman was only guessing, her assessment was spot on.
Despite his initial surprise at being seen through, the envoy remained completely fearless. He sneered,”So what if you figured it out? I possess an immortal body—what can any of you possibly do to me? Try whatever tricks you have!”
Xu Manman had deduced this by drawing parallels to how curse-resentments are generated. They were formless, colorless, soundless, and bodiless evil entities born from the heart, leveraging unknown forces to manipulate the laws of heaven and earth in ways impossible to guard against. Like a lethal poison, anything it touched would be eroded, and it could not be countered without a specific, targeted method. Yet, once its flaw was uncovered, it would become utterly fragile.
Qianluo looked grave and was about to attack again when Xu Manman yelled.
“Don’t fall for it! He stole Tuntian’s fortune—he can devour any force directed at him!”
Tuntian’s innate divine ability was the power to absorb all emotions targeted at her and convert them into her own strength. Whether it was the first-generation Tuntian devouring the power of fear or the current Tuntun absorbing the power of faith, both stemmed from the exact same origin.
Curse-resentments were evil entities created from extreme terror and malice, and the Fate-Defying Envoy was no different. No wonder he had stolen Tuntian’s fortune; her innate ability was a godsend to him. Now, the spell array could not control him, external forces could not harm him, and any attack carrying targeted emotion—be it anger, fear, or hatred—would only serve as fuel to make him stronger.
Xu Manman’s warning prompted everyone to halt their attacks. The Fate-Defying Envoy’s expression darkened as he suddenly realized who his true enemy was.
Abandoning Qianluo Yaozun, he turned and lunged directly at Xu Manman again.
Right then, the avatar silhouette of a magical manifestation appeared before him, blocking his path. A green-robed cultivator standing thirty feet tall appeared like a deity, holding a compass with eyes softly closed and a indistinct face.
Mingxiao’s Fazun manifestation was precisely that green-robed cultivator holding the compass. As he lifted the compass, the needle trembled lightly and hummed, unleashing a burst of astral qi straight at the envoy. The envoy’s eyes narrowed, and he actually dodged the attack.
Xu Manman’s eyes lit up.
Mingxiao’s Fazun avatar compass was named “Senluo Wanxiang,” signifying the containment of the entire universe. A single turn of its needle could shift a thousand celestial phenomena, countering all things between heaven and earth. Since the Fate-Defying Envoy existed within this world, he was naturally subject to the compass’s restraint as well.
Mingxiao Fazun tossed the compass into the sky. It spiraled upward and expanded endlessly, completely blotting out the sun and revealing celestial star patterns across its surface, instantly turning day into night.
Sensing grave danger under the shadow of the Wanxiang Compass, the envoy acted as if facing a formidable foe. The needle spun wildly, absorbing starlight to convert it into surging streams of astral qi that slashed toward him. Crisscrossing through the air, the astral qi forced the envoy to dodge frantically; wherever a ray grazed him, black smoke immediately erupted.
The envoy’s face turned pale. Yet before anyone could celebrate, his silhouette split from one into two, then two into four…
“He is formless and intangible—he can turn into blood mist or divide into countless avatars,” Xu Manman muttered with a deeply furrowed brow.
“Astral qi cannot truly destroy him… What on earth is his weakness?”
*Why is he so completely fearless?*
How is he so certain that the power capable of countering him isn’t present here?
A shock ran through Xu Manman’s mind, and she blurted out, “Ya Sheng Xingzun! The power that can counter the Fate-Defying Envoy belongs to Xuantian Temple’s arts!”
Xuantian Temple’s path of cultivation sought answers from the heart; their Prajna Sutra could cleanse evil thoughts and was the ultimate bane of the Demon Race. Evil entities like the envoy were remarkably similar to demons, as both originated from obsession. If the Prajna Sutra could suppress demons, it could suppress evil entities all the same!
No wonder they had targeted Ya Sheng Xingzun first—it was all to prepare for today’s battle!
Xu Manman’s voice echoed in everyone’s ears, including the envoy’s. His face twisted in rage, and malice flared in his bloodshot eyes. Intent on killing her, one of his avatars charged straight at Xu Manman.
Without a second thought, Xu Manman turned and ran.
Ning Xi frantically urged the spell array to intercept him, but it was to no avail.
Just at that moment, a emerald light flashed, wrapping securely around Xu Manman’s waist and pulling her clear of the attack.
Feeling her waist tighten and her body lighten, Xu Manman flew forward involuntarily, landing straight into a familiar embrace.
“Immortal Lord!” Xu Manman cried out in pleasant surprise.
Immortal Lord Langyin glanced down at her. Seeing that she was unharmed, he raised his eyes toward the envoy.
“Stand back,” he said softly.
Releasing her waist, he manifested the Jushuang Sword into his right hand out of thin air, shielding Xu Manman behind him.
Xu Manman hurriedly grabbed his arm.
“That won’t hurt him! He has no physical body and fears no physical wounds. Plus, he stole Tuntun’s fortune and can absorb other people’s power!”
Immortal Langyin replied, “I have my ways.”
As he spoke, he looked up at the massive compass blocking out the sun, which had turned daytime into night. Closing his eyes slightly, he let out a quiet breath and tightened his grip on the Jushuang Sword. The aura around him shifted dramatically—his ink-black hair fluttered without any wind, his broad sleeves billowed, and the space within inches of him warped slightly.
Xu Manman watched in shock as a flash of purple light flickered between his eyebrows. A chilling, terrifying aura surged from his divine aperture, slowly dyeing his white robes into an eerie, dark purple from top to bottom. Even the vibrant green of the Jushuang Sword was tainted by deep demon qi, taking on a gloomy dark-green hue.
It was Demon Lord Langyin!
Xu Manman held her breath, gazing at the tall, slender back of Demon Lord Langyin. Turning his head slightly, his long eyelashes half-shielded his dark, cold eyes. Catching a glimpse of the stunned Xu Manman with the corner of his eye, he spoke in a low, raspy voice.
“Stay further away.”
Xu Manman instinctively obeyed, taking half a step back. She then saw Demon Lord Langyin turn back around, raising his sword to charge toward the Fate-Defying Envoy.
The envoy, who had been completely fearless moments ago, clearly hadn’t anticipated the appearance of Demon Lord Langyin. Terror crept across his face.
If Mingxiao’s Wanxiang Astral Qi had merely made him wary, then Demon Lord Langyin had caught him entirely off guard.
The true nemesis of the envoy was supposed to be Ya Sheng Xingzun. To ensure today’s success, the Fate-Defying Division had dragged Ya Sheng Xingzun into a trap. At the Shennong Temple today, the envoy should have been invincible! But who could have guessed that the Daoist Alliance’s Seven Sects, who prided themselves on being righteous, would summon a Demon Lord to deal with him!
Who here is actually the evil demon?!
Gritting his teeth, the envoy’s eyes bulged blood-red, presenting a stark contrast to the calm, snow-faced Demon Lord Langyin. The Jushuang Sword, enveloped in purple-black mist, was far sharper than usual. Originally formed from a hibiscus stem, it could be rigid or flexible, bending and extending at will. Striking from unpredictable angles, it left the envoy defenseless, piercing his chest and abdomen time and again. Although the envoy could regenerate every single time, he discovered with growing horror that the Jushuang Sword was actually draining his power.
Demons, by nature, grew stronger by devouring their own kind.
Xu Manman looked up at the fierce battle in the sky. Seeing Demon Lord Langyin driving forward like an unstoppable force, beating back the once-arrogant envoy step by step, she finally snapped back to reality. Only one thought echoed in her mind:
—It’s broad daylight, how did he come out?
She glanced up at the sky, thinking again—Is it because the Wanxiang Compass blocked the sun?
Looking back at Demon Lord Langyin mid-battle, a dazed thought crossed her mind—It seems the Immortal Lord summoned the Demon Lord on his own accord.
She felt completely numb—Has the Immortal Lord known about the Demon Lord’s existence all along?
Her face turned ashen—Could it be that the Immortal Lord actually shares the Demon Lord’s memories…?
All those absurd things she had done to Demon Lord Langyin, along with every embarrassing memory, flashed through her mind, causing her heart to sink bit by bit.
Perhaps she had never truly known Immortal Lord Langyin. She used to think he was moody and sharp-tongued, but in truth, he was simply blunt and bad with words. She used to think he was emotionless and cold, but in truth, his love ran deep to the bone. She thought he was simple, authentic, and incapable of pretense, yet she—who prided herself on being clever—had been completely fooled by him!
That day at the Hall of No Return, when the Immortal Lord woke up and held a sword to her neck… he must have genuinely intended to kill her and stopped pretending…
Watching Demon Lord Langyin handle the fight with ease, she no longer cared about the outcome of the battle.
Because the one who wouldn’t escape death today wasn’t just the Fate-Defying Envoy—it was her, too.
