The Everpath Voyage continued; the untimely deaths of figures such as Qiao Shulin and Lin Ming were unable to cause any form of pause, nor was it noticed by those who actively participated in challenging the walls. The only event that instigated a solemn, heart-pounding pause was the sound that whispered through the depths of space.
"CARNAGE!" It contained. The voice seemed to originate from the depths of hell that contained ghoulish, bloody beasts, savage and bloodthirsty to an utterly unthinkable extreme. The Black Path of Bitterness grasped the attention of those idle in the Docking Stage, strategizing or observing the Ascendants' rapidly competitive pace of progression.
"What in the heavens was that?!" Several voices meshed together, quivering with lingering fear and hesitancy. The question hung in the air, increasing the unease in everyone's hearts.
Suddenly, two figures exited the Black Path of Bitterness.
"Sister Xinyi, do you think he killed her?" Lin Ziyan asked through Spiritual transmission. The matter of Tang Xingyun bothered her, especially since her situation inspired some sympathy. To be hunted by your fiancé due to your infidelity with another; normally, this wouldn't be unexpected by anyone let alone her, but in an unmatched, forced upon marriage situation, she couldn't help but feel pity. Tang Xingyun, from birth, was forced to be with someone she didn't love. However, upon finding her true love, she was hunted instead.
If this was one of the stories of the Myriad Yore Continent, then this would end up with Tian Yinwu's defeat or death and the two lovers living happily ever after. But this was reality-the world simply didn't work that way. Her own situation of being with Long Chen initially and realizing her mistake, choosing Wei Wuyin in the end, only showed that the world was not so simple.
Na Xinyi swept her gaze across the Docking Stage, her eyes neutral and apathetic. She flatly said, "The Tang Clan are Bai Lin's servants. I could feel her presence on Tang Xingyun's body, so it's unlikely for her to be dead." Despite saying that, she was fully aware that Tian Yinwu was unfathomably capable, so he definitely wouldn't be so easily deterred by Bai Lin's interference from countless miles and folds of space away. However, if Bai Lin couldn't stop him, then it was extremely unlikely that she could've in the end. Protecting someone was a difficult task to do.
Regardless, none of it had anything to do with her any longer. Their fates were their own. She sensed the Spirit Core in her possession as elation flowed through her heart. The Divine Origin within was a great boon, and the Spirit Core itself was a great heavenly treasure. She would have to find some time to refine it entirely. She ignored everyone else and brought Lin Ziyan further away.
The sight of the two astoundingly breathtaking beautiful women with unique bearings caused the hearts of a few to settle down after the bestial whisperings. The topic naturally shifted as Na Xinyi became the focus of discussion.
"Isn't that the Extreme Yin Saintess?" A few pointed out.
"She's as gorgeous as rumored. No, even more so!" It was as if they were finding any topic to ease their tense emotions. "I heard that not even the Imperial Clan could force her to submit!"
Eventually, the topic shifted again to different topics throughout the Docking Stage, with the Ascendants avidly discussing their wager choices and who would eventually make it to the Blue Path of Bitterness first, while the others either kept discussing Na Xinyi's stellar feats and reputation, some young women staring in admiration or jealousy and young men looking either respectfully or with heated desire.
While lives had ended, theirs had not. Death had never stopped the living world from moving forward.
Ming Yuling soon trudged out of the Black Path of Bitterness. Her eyes were glazed with charged emotions, her expression was abnormally pale as if she saw a ghost. She didn't know why, but her heart felt as if it was being ripped in two. When she left the path finally, she looked for that familiar visage.
Where was that half-elf? Yi Yun! She cried out in her heart. The sound of carnage caused her to feel incredibly terrified. All sorts of negative thoughts imbued themselves into her mind, forcing her mental condition to decline.
Quietly, Tian Yinwu left the Black Path of Bitterness under an Environmental Integration spell. To most who didn't focus on the wall, he was practically invisible. He shuffled through the crowd, catching a glance toward Na Xinyi who met his gaze back with her grey eyes. He lifted his lips in a slight smile as he moved further away.
This woman kept proving to be unordinary.
Suddenly, the air began to develop a taste of blood. The Eyes of countless experts, especially the Ascendants, looked toward the Black Path of Bitterness. A bare-footed, loose-robed, white-haired young man walked out.
Zuhei!
As he did, it was as if those of weak-willed hearts unanimously agreed to pause, stifling their movement as if unwilling to be caught in the sights of an apex predator.
The Ascendants were all trained individuals that often practiced in environments of heavy suppression aura stimulation by Wei Wuyin's orders, such as the Imperial Heaven Aura, Mystic Ascendant Aura, and apex-level Intent, but this feeling exuding from Zuhei was on a whole 'nother level!
Despite the seemingly ravenous aura, Zuhei himself looked extremely calm, almost at peace as he calmly and neutrally looked around. The intensity of self that one might have expected to accompany his aura was absent entirely. While Zuhei couldn't control his currently pervading Law Aura very well, he did know how to pose as an unassuming character, but the dynamic had caused his entire existence to stand out even greater than before!
To many, Zuhei was an unknown existence. Only the Ascendants of an older generation were fully aware of Zuhei's existence, recognizing him immediately as a Prime Ascendant on equal status as Shui Fengbao and Yao Houyi. The others needed to use their innate Ascendant Marks to gain an understanding of his status and position, with many giving him respectful gazes as they retracted their weariness.
Other Ascendants were not to be feared, especially Prime Ascendants. Wei Wuyin allowed infighting in the form of competition, healthy and expected, but strictly forbade unregulated death battles. That was one easy way to be removed from the Ascendants, and this has happened a few times before as egos clashed. Unfortunately, being kicked out of the Ascendants was a fate worse than death.
Zuhei soon found an empty spot on the Docking Stage as he took a sitting position and proceeded to begin cultivating. After a while, the bloody taste in the air began to recede. Within his mind was a series of spiritual scrolls infused with the knowledge of Laws from Wei Wuyin. It was clear to the Claws and the Fangs of the Ascendants that Wei Wuyin had expected him to achieve this level. Before, he didn't understand anything on this scroll, but now it was as if the words were written in basic letters.
Wu Baozhai and Xue Yifei observed Zuhei from their positions and then found each other's gazes. The surprise in their eyes was hardly hidden, but they fully understood what had likely happened. Neither of them was familiar with the Archaic Chosen, so they didn't have any opinion on the matter of his death.
The others soon began to enter into a stage of competition and rest as the Ascendants either quietly or loudly cheered on certain individuals. The Ascendants' bet on which Chosen made it to the Blue Path of Bitterness was ongoing and exciting!
To them, at least.
After a long while, a black and platinum-haired young man walked out of Black Path of Bitterness. He had a bleak aura.
"Junior Brother Yun!" Ming Yuling saw him immediately, her heart beating wildly as she rushed toward him. Unfortunately, she was met with a stiff reply as Yi Yun seemed to have suffered a type of devastating mental blow.
"Junior...Brother...Yun?" Ming Yuling called out softly, emotionally, and hopefully.
"..." Yi Yun's eyes darted up to see Ming Yuling's egg-like face adorned with worried eyes and sincere emotions. The sight of her beauty calmed his fallen heart. This action, however, caused his peripheral vision to catch sight of a bare-footed figure.
His eyes moved to the seated Zuhei.
Zuhei's cultivation suddenly halted as his eyes opened, reflecting Yi Yun's image through the crowd of numerous Chosen. He sensed killing intent.
When he saw Yi Yun and noticed his aura that carried the Mark of the Ascendants, he dismissed the feeling instantly and no longer bothered. If it was anyone else, this person would've been marked and hunted without fail. Returning to cultivating, he sought to seize greater control over this newly excavated power of his.
Yi Yun's entire body, from head to toe, was suddenly drenched in a cold sweat as his complexion paled to a limit. The sudden change caused Ming Yuling to jump with fright. Her words were drowned out by Yi Yun's ears as he felt his entire soul tingle.
It was as if death itself had pardoned him.
The feeling was...unbearable!!
"Senior Sister Qiao..." Yi Yun softly spoke her name to regain some semblance of courage. This caused Ming Yuling to pause. Where was Senior Sister Qiao? Or that Lin Ming fellow!
"Is she...?" The thought caused Ming Yuling to grow ashen also. Was she dead? Were they dead? What happened in the Black Path?!
Unknowingly, two women arrived by Yi Yun's side similarly filled with questions. They were Ye Zhi and Duan Yu!
While the trio of beautiful women sought answers from Yi Yun, granting him a form of support and showing care for his mental condition, Chen Yangzi hobbled out of the Black Path of Bitterness, seemingly forgotten.
