Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang, who were preparing to return to the Cultivation Realm, halted mid-step. Both turned to look at Cao Yi, waiting for him to speak.
A cold glint flashed across Cao Yi's pale face. After sensing the surroundings with his eyes closed, he sneered. "Hmph! Quite bold. Let's meet this person."
In the next moment, the three of them vanished from the room.
When they reappeared above the formation, they saw waves of malicious spirits shrouded in resentment energy, ramming against the barrier of the protective array.
Zhang Lingrui's gaze was cold as she observed for a while, her brows knitting together. "Why are there so many evil spirits in the Mortal Realm? Where did they come from?"
Lin Keyang frowned. "This is not a good sign. The evil cultivators have had their eyes on the Mortal Realm before, but Ran Xi unintentionally foiled their plans. During the great war in the Central Region, many cultivators who were guarding the Mortal Realm were recalled. Perhaps they took advantage of that and started causing chaos again."
Cao Yi raised his hand and formed a seal, activating the outer protective array. The malicious spirits attacking the formation were instantly dispersed, and with a series of shrieks, they dissolved into nothingness.
When the last scream faded, the three spotted a woman lying motionless not far from the formation, clearly unconscious.
A quick sweep with their divine sense made all three frown. The woman was indeed a cultivator, but only at the early Golden Core stage.
"Which sect is she from? Why is she alone in the Mortal Realm?"
None of them saw a mission token on her, which was why they asked.
Zhang Lingrui opted for a direct approach. She flicked her finger, sending a ball of spiritual energy into the Golden Core cultivator's body. Then she waved her sleeve, drawing the woman onto their flying boat. They decided to question her when she woke up.
Ming Ya felt warmth coursing through her body, dispelling the bone-chilling cold she had endured. She forced her eyes open and, upon seeing the three cultivators before her, struggled to her feet.
"Senior cultivators, please, save Zhou Langchen and Zuo Die'er! They've been trapped by evil cultivators!"
Her plea immediately piqued their interest.
Cao Yi glanced at Ming Ya with a blank expression, speaking in a calm tone. "Tell us who you are and why you came to the Mortal Realm. We'll decide what to do."
One look was enough for Ming Ya to realize she couldn't deceive these seniors. Swallowing nervously, she lowered her gaze. "Zhou Langchen is a disciple of Mingjian Gate. A senior from the sect sealed his cultivation and memory so he could descend here to undergo an emotional tribulation. Zuo Die'er and I both admired him, so we secretly came from our families to accompany him through his trial.
At first, everything was fine. Both of us even married Zhou Langchen. But later, he was attacked by an evil cultivator attempting to seize his body. Fortunately, that evil cultivator's soul was weak, and Zhou Langchen devoured him instead, restoring his memories and cultivation.
Afterward, when he learned that we both married him, he became angry and tried to send us back to the Cultivation Realm so he could resume his trial elsewhere.
However, on our way back, we were ambushed by evil cultivators. Zhou Langchen and Zuo Die'er held them off while I fled to seek help. I was gravely injured by a Nascent Soul evil cultivator, and as I fled with my injuries, they sent an evil soul to possess me.
I managed to escape here and saw traces of a formation. Thinking cultivators might be training here, I sought help, but I accidentally drew evil spirits' attention to the array… then I lost consciousness."
The three cultivators listened without comment. Cao Yi simply gestured for her to lead them back to the place where Zhou Langchen and Zuo Die'er were fighting.
Zhang Lingrui smirked and transmitted her voice to Lin Keyang. "Do you believe her story?"
Lin Keyang cracked his neck. "Half and half."
Cao Yi's voice entered their minds. "She clearly provoked those evil spirits, but now she claims they were trying to possess her. Does she really think we're that easy to fool?"
Zhang Lingrui chuckled slyly. "We're wearing masks and suppressing our cultivation. Cao Yi used the formation to kill those spirits. She probably thinks we're just some higher-ranked cultivators who can solve her problem if she lures us back."
Lin Keyang shook his head. "She's most likely already possessed."
"Let's search her soul later to confirm."
Half an hour later, their flying boat hovered over a dark mountain hollow.
The moon hung high in the sky, but the land below was pitch black. The hollow resembled a monstrous mouth, silently waiting for prey to wander in. Not a single insect chirped, nor did any animal stir. It was unnatural.
Ming Ya's voice trembled. "Zhou Langchen tracked the evil soul's memories here, but we were ambushed. We couldn't even get close."
Zhang Lingrui rubbed her hands in anticipation. "No problem. Now we'll have the chance."
"Please, senior cultivators, you must save Zhou Langchen and Zuo Die'er!" Ming Ya begged urgently.
Before she could finish her plea, a cloud of black mist burst from the hollow, slamming into the flying boat. The moon vanished behind the haze, plunging everything into an oppressive silence.
The flying boat shuddered slightly under the impact. Cao Yi calmly cast a detection spell. Golden light spread, illuminating the entire hollow. All three cultivators frowned.
"This is a mass grave," Zhang Lingrui said coldly. "Those evil cultivators are breeding evil spirits here. Despicable."
Cao Yi's brows furrowed. "Not just that. There are some ancient ghosts mixed in."
"They escaped from the Underworld?" Zhang Lingrui blurted out. "No wonder we couldn't find them in the Cultivation Realm. Cao Yi!"
Before Zhang Lingrui even finished speaking, she swung her sword. A streak of sword light slashed at Ming Ya, cutting her down from the flying boat before she could react. Her head fell, and a black orb shot out of her body, darting away at lightning speed.
But nothing could outrun Zhang Lingrui's sword.
A scream echoed through the hollow. Lin Keyang's sharp eyes caught sight of the orb's true form as the black mist dispersed—a Nascent Soul. And not just any Nascent Soul, but a familiar face: Li Chang, the former City Lord of Twin Peaks City. This time, Li Chang was utterly destroyed, his Nascent Soul shredded by the sword light, leaving no chance of escape.
Cao Yi snorted coldly, tossing out a formation disk. The entire hollow became enveloped in a web of array lines. He formed seals, preparing to annihilate every evil spirit inside.
"Wait, Cao Yi. Don't activate it yet."
A familiar voice sounded. The three cultivators turned sharply toward the source.
In the sky above, a white-robed figure materialized.
In the next breath, a massive mirror appeared over the hollow. Cao Yi immediately retrieved his formation disk.
The mirror trembled and expanded, releasing a suction force that drew all the hiding evil spirits and souls into its depths.