Translator: CinderTL
Outside, Elder Ren led his forces in a desperate defense. Their numerical advantage allowed them to hold their own for a time, but signs of defeat were beginning to show.
Huan Xi'er pulled Lin Fan aside, keeping him out of the fray. They stood at a distance, watching the battle unfold, and no one paid them any attention.
Lin Fan's face was etched with anxiety. He repeatedly tried to join the fight, but Huan Xi'er held him back. "Stay here and be sensible," Huan Xi'er insisted. "With your mere Foundation Establishment cultivation level, you'd be throwing your life away!"
Lin Fan shook off Huan Xi'er's arm, his gaze unwavering. "Brother Huan, by repeatedly stopping me, aren't you forcing me into a position of ingratitude and dishonor?"
Huan Xi'er looked puzzled, a hint of resentment creeping into his heart—like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, failing to recognize a kind soul. "I'm doing this for your own good."
Lin Fan drew his longsword, his eyes resolute. "Since I began cultivating, I've faced countless hardships. Yet, only the holy son has extended a helping hand. He not only appointed me as the leader of the Outer Sect Disciples but also provided me with cultivation methods, mystical arts, spirit stones, medicinal pills, and the resources I needed to reach Foundation Establishment. How can I possibly repay such a profound debt of gratitude?"
Huan Xi'er fell silent, pursing his lips, unsure how to dissuade him. He hadn't realized Xu Sanyan had done so much for Lin Fan.
"Now that the holy son is in danger, surrounded by enemies, I may be weak, but I cannot stand idly by. To hide in the shadows like a rat would be no different from death itself!"
"This course of action, though painful, is far more bearable than a blade through the heart!" Lin Fan declared, his voice ringing with conviction. The dark, gleaming blade in his hand seemed to flash with a faint light, reflecting the unwavering resolve in his eyes.
"Hahahaha..." Huan Xi'er threw his head back and laughed heartily, clapping his hands repeatedly. "I misjudged you, Brother Lin. I nearly stooped to petty schemes and risked placing you in a position of dishonor. Since that's the case, I've never liked Mo Xianxian anyway. Let's fight side by side as brothers!"
Despite his words, Huan Xi'er remained deeply concerned for Lin Fan's safety. Knowing he couldn't dissuade him, he resolved to support him from the sidelines.
"This junior brother thanks Brother Huan on behalf of the holy son," Lin Fan said, bowing respectfully.
Huan Xi'er helped him up, shaking his head. "I'm not doing this for him. Hurry, they're about to collapse!"
Lin Fan turned to see numerous corpses littering the ground. Elder Ren was leading his men in a desperate retreat, fighting every step of the way. Their numbers had dwindled from over sixty to barely thirty, with more fleeing or falling in battle.
This was the inherent weakness of the demonic sect: when disaster struck, everyone scattered, lacking any sense of unity or loyalty. If Elder Ren hadn't feared Xu Sanyan's wrath afterward, he would have fled long ago.
"Kill!"
Lin Fan roared, his longsword hovering beside him, rising and falling at his will. The man and his blade seemed to share a single mind, their movements perfectly synchronized.
Huan Xi'er gazed at the sword, envy flickering in his eyes. He had never felt such a connection when the blade was in his own hands.
The newcomers had little impact on the battle's outcome, but they boosted morale. Elder Ren felt a surge of renewed vigor, halting his retreat and bellowing, "Mere ghosts dare to defy us! Kill them all!"
Mo Xianxian glared at Huan Xi'er as he charged forward, her voice sharp as she snapped, "Huan Xi'er, what chaos are you adding? Get out of here now, or I'll tell Godmother!"
"Hahaha, Mo Xianxian, don't think you can scare me with Godmother anymore! I'm not afraid! Ever since we were kids, you've always worn two faces. In public, you treated me like your beloved little brother, showering me with affection. But behind closed doors, you looked at me like a maggot, constantly tormenting me."
"Your endless bullying since childhood is beyond counting! Everyone praises Godmother for taking in such a fine disciple—bah!"
Huan Xi'er's anger grew with each word, his eyes turning fierce. He yanked off the large golden hoop from his ear, drawing a streak of blood.
"This damn thing! You tricked me into wearing it for twenty years, saying it looked good! If it's so 'good-looking,' why don't you wear it yourself?!"
With that, he hurled the golden ring at Mo Xianxian, who casually shattered it with a flick of her hand. She stared at Huan Xi'er in astonishment, exclaiming, "You're not stupid anymore?"
"Hmph, what? Disappointed? Now that her own son is here, do you think Mother will treat you the same as before?" Huan Xi'er sneered, his face twisted with mockery.
Mo Xianxian's expression darkened instantly. The truth dawned on her: because Huan Xi'er had been a fool, their master had always treated her like a daughter. But now that her son was no longer stupid...
Steel in her eyes, Mo Xianxian pointed at Huan Xi'er. "Seize him!"
Immediately, one of her followers lunged at Huan Xi'er.
She dared not kill him. With so many witnesses present, any leak of information would make Shangyin Mountain uninhabitable for her. Moreover, their master would never forgive her. After all, Huan Xi'er was her own flesh and blood, carried for ten months and born from her womb.
She needed to understand what had happened to Huan Xi'er before making a decision. If possible, she'd prefer to revert him to his former state of idiocy.
"Hahahaha! Mo Xianxian, the old saying is true: the more beautiful a woman, the more deceitful she is. With your looks, you must be an expert liar!"
Even though Huan Xi'er loathed Mo Xianxian, he couldn't deny her beauty. She was as stunning as his Godmother, perhaps even more so.
Mo Xianxian ignored him and immediately joined the battle. Time was slipping away, and she didn't know what Xu Sanyan was doing inside. She needed to secure the jade slip as quickly as possible to feel at ease.
The loss of one combatant on the front lines had little impact; Elder Ren and the others were still outmatched.
Lin Fan and Huan Xi'er fought together against a ghost general. Despite Lin Fan's mere Foundation Establishment cultivation level, his longsword was an extraordinary treasure. It moved silently and with blinding speed, causing considerable trouble for their opponent.
Huan Xi'er faced the ghost general head-on, while Lin Fan provided flanking support. Together, they barely managed to hold the creature at bay, their lives hanging by a thread.
"Finish this quickly!" Mo Xianxian snorted coldly, pressed two fingers to her forehead, and suddenly pointed at one of the combatants. "Chaos!" she murmured.
The man's face twisted in terror as his senses went haywire. His limbs refused to obey him, and he could only watch helplessly as the approaching ghost energy enveloped him. Unable to resist, he let out a bloodcurdling scream: "Ah~! Save me!"
The man's agonizing cries sent shivers down everyone's spines, filling their hearts with dread. Some glanced nervously around before turning to flee.
Mo Xianxian paid them no mind. Let them flee if they wished; that was precisely the effect she wanted.
In an instant, the army's morale crumbled, and soldiers began deserting in droves. Elder Ren tried to stop them, but his efforts were futile. In the end, only a dozen or so remained by his side, all Dao Seeking Realm elders except for Xiang Tan.
Elder Ren chuckled bitterly, turning to gaze into the depths of the passage. He sighed inwardly, Holy Son, I've done my part. We're not related by blood; I can't risk my life for you.
As he pondered, his eyes met those of the other elders. They understood each other's thoughts perfectly.
Without a word, the elders tacitly retreated to either side, clearing the central passage.
Before the passage stood a lone, frail figure.
Xiang Tan trembled uncontrollably, tears of fear streaming down her face. Yet despite her terror, she stood firm, guarding the passage and refusing to let anyone pass.
The holy son had forbidden anyone from entering.
"Move aside," Mo Xianxian said coldly.
"No!" Xiang Tan shook her head vehemently, her heart filled with despair.
"Heh, a loyal one after all. Very well, I'll grant your wish!" Mo Xianxian raised her hand, then slowly lowered it, her gaze shifting past Xiang Tan's shoulder to focus on the figure behind her.
"Step aside. You've done enough."
A gentle voice echoed through the passage. Xiang Tan felt a warm, reassuring hand settle on her shoulder. The familiar voice filled her with a sense of peace.
"Senior Brother..."
(End of the Chapter)
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