Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Indestructible Evil Spirit

The laughter grew more and more indistinct, dissipating into the air, while the black flames that had once gathered together now split into countless smaller fireballs, scattering in all directions to form an encirclement around You Xiyue and her two companions.

Jun Yang, with a sweep of his wide black sleeve, summoned an ancient Azure Dragon Sword into his hand.

“Be careful, little ancestor,” he cautioned.

“I know,” came the reply.

At that moment, Yun Xiling also flew out from the crook of You Xiyue’s arm, wrapping herself around the drifting black fireballs as they scattered throughout the room.

No matter how fiercely the fireballs struggled and burned within Yun Xiling’s grasp, their efforts were futile.

“Which of these flames is the demon’s true form?” Jun Yang, wielding the ancient Azure Dragon Sword, stabbed at the fireballs one by one; some were easily extinguished, while others resisted fiercely, lingering in battle against him.

Yet even after the laughter faded, countless black fireballs still floated through the air.

Some of the black flames tried to escape the room, but the protective barrier You Xiyue had set up earlier blocked their path, leaving them with no way out.

As each fireball was extinguished, one by one, the elders and disciples of the Heavenly Fire Sect collapsed to the ground.

It took the two of them half an hour to eliminate all the black fireballs from the room, which was now saturated with a lingering, inescapable demonic aura.

Jun Yang circled the room twice with caution, and only after confirming that not a single black fireball remained did he sheathe the ancient Azure Dragon Sword.

Yun Xiling, imitating Jun Yang, flew around the room a few more times before reluctantly returning to the crook of You Xiyue’s arm.

You Xiyue turned her head slightly, eyes closed, unleashing her powerful divine sense. She searched for a long while, but aside from the pervasive demonic aura, she detected no sign of the Myriad Demons Fire Evil Spirit.

Green Sandalwood struggled to his feet, looking at the two of them with excitement. “You two are extraordinary indeed! The Myriad Demons Fire Evil Spirit didn’t even dare fight and fled in terror.”

“Fled?” Jun Yang walked up to Green Sandalwood, grabbing him by the collar. “What do you mean by that? There’s a barrier outside, set by the little ancestor. He couldn’t possibly have escaped.”

Green Sandalwood paid no mind to Jun Yang’s grip and explained cheerfully, “The Myriad Demons Fire Evil Spirit’s true form has yet to materialize. Any wisp of demonic aura in the air could be him—it’s impossible to seize.”

“Impossible to seize?” You Xiyue’s tone was somber. “Is there nothing we can do?”

Green Sandalwood shook his head regretfully. “Unless you can trap him in his entirety and purify him with the Phoenix Clan’s Red Lotus Karma Fire—but even that would be difficult, as he disperses too quickly. However, each time he’s scattered like this, it takes him several centuries to re-form.”

“So we’ll have to fight him again in a few centuries? What if we wait for him to materialize his true form and destroy him then?” Jun Yang frowned slightly.

“That won’t do either. If he takes shape, there may be no one in this world who can defeat him.” Green Sandalwood twisted his bound body. “Senior, could you loosen these ropes for me?”

Jun Yang, exasperated, raised his hand and made a slicing motion at the ropes binding Green Sandalwood, causing them to fall to the ground.

Green Sandalwood rubbed his sore, battered limbs and hurriedly dressed himself. “The demonic aura is too thick here. Seniors, we’d best leave this room. We don’t have the Red Lotus Karma Fire, after all.”

Jun Yang glanced at You Xiyue for her opinion. You Xiyue cast Green Sandalwood a cool look, then walked out of the room and dispelled the protective barrier.

Green Sandalwood hurried after them, taking great gulps of air. “I was nearly suffocated—every visit here, I’m tormented by this foul demonic stench.”

“You come here often?” You Xiyue fixed him with a penetrating stare.

Under that gaze, Green Sandalwood felt uneasy. He avoided her eyes and scratched his head. “I came to investigate the mysterious disappearances of the demon clans in Red Flame City.”

“You?” Jun Yang looked Green Sandalwood up and down with a trace of disdain. “What could someone of your cultivation possibly accomplish?”

But Green Sandalwood was unbothered by Jun Yang’s scorn. “I’m investigating on my master’s behalf. My own abilities may be limited, but my master is powerful. After a lengthy investigation, I discovered that the missing demon clans were all brought here, to the Heavenly Fire Sect. That’s why I found an excuse to visit from time to time.”

“Your master? Is that the person who set up the strange formation in Red Flame City?” You Xiyue asked.

Green Sandalwood’s eyes lit up in surprise. “Senior, you actually discovered that formation?”

Jun Yang strode forward and gave Green Sandalwood a hard knock on the head. “Who do you think you’re underestimating?”

Green Sandalwood waved his hands quickly. “No, no, I wouldn’t dare.”

“What kind of formation is it?” You Xiyue pressed on.

“My master hates the animosity between the demon clans and cultivators, so he set up a formation in the city. Paired with the wine in taverns and food at inns, it allows both sides to coexist peacefully, free from any ill intent.” As Green Sandalwood spoke, pride and deep reverence shone in his eyes.

“Oh? Your master is Xun Yu?” Though phrased as a question, You Xiyue’s tone left little doubt; after all, only that half-demon—detested by both sides—would have conceived such an idea.

“What??” Green Sandalwood was astonished. “How did you know?”

“Xun Yu?” Jun Yang searched his memory. “That half-demon?”

“You two know my master?” Green Sandalwood looked at them expectantly.

“Is your master in the Immortal Realm?” You Xiyue asked.

Green Sandalwood shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know where my master is. He shows up whenever he wants to find me.”

“Oh.”

Receiving no further answers, You Xiyue turned and descended the mountain, heading toward another town.

Jun Yang caught up in a hurry. “Little ancestor, aren’t you going to ask him about Xue Yu?”

You Xiyue pressed her lips together, her tone tinged with annoyance. “I was wrong. He doesn’t have Xue Yu’s scent—he smells like Xun Yu.”

“Wrong…?”

Not wanting to say more, You Xiyue fell silent. No wonder she had felt something odd—the faint aura of “Spring Snow” was interlaced with a nearly undetectable hint of immortal energy.

As the two of them moved further away, Green Sandalwood hesitated only briefly before giving chase.

“Wait for me, seniors!”

Intent on catching up with You Xiyue and Jun Yang, Green Sandalwood failed to notice a nearly invisible wisp of black demonic aura clinging to his collar.

You Xiyue and Jun Yang had no intention of waiting for Green Sandalwood, but he was relentless in his pursuit, soon panting for breath.

Unable to bear it any longer, Jun Yang stopped, turned, and asked the breathless Green Sandalwood, “Why are you following us?”

Green Sandalwood chuckled sheepishly. “I’m afraid the Myriad Demons Fire Evil Spirit might come after me. It’s safer to stay with you seniors.”

“But didn’t you say it was scattered, and won’t re-form for centuries? What are you afraid of?” Jun Yang studied him closely.

“Even as a single wisp of demonic aura, it can invade my dreams and gradually erode my mind—just like the people from the Heavenly Fire Sect.” Green Sandalwood pressed a hand to his chest and caught his breath. “That group may have escaped the evil spirit’s control, but I fear they’re already beyond saving. I don’t want to end up like them.”

Finishing his explanation, Green Sandalwood looked hopefully at You Xiyue and called out, “Senior, the Xue Yu you’re searching for is my master’s heart demon, isn’t it? I know a way to find it.”

You Xiyue stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. “How do you know?”

Green Sandalwood hurried over, smiling as he explained, “I heard my master mention it once. Someone gave his heart demon a name—Xue Yu.”

“Oh? And what’s your method?” You Xiyue asked.