Chapter 1355: Hunter and Prey

Yun Jianyue snorted coldly, immediately summoning her Changxin Palace Lantern. The raging sea of White Lotus Flame was instantly drawn into it, shrinking into a bean-sized flicker that violently pulsed within the lamp. It seemed to struggle with all its might but could not escape the Changxin Palace Lantern's hold.

Baka was greatly alarmed. He had never imagined his trump card would be so easily countered.

By this point, he knew he had messed with the wrong person. Without hesitation, he turned and fled.

The Hyena clan was known for their exceptional endurance. In a long-distance chase, even the Lion clan couldn't match them.

But Yun Jianyue gave him no chance. Her figure was like lightning, appearing behind him almost instantly. She grabbed his head and effortlessly detached it.

Indeed, "detached" was the most fitting word; it was hard to find a more appropriate description.

Baka, still unaware of what was happening, fled with all his might, only to suddenly feel his entire body lighten.

Then he saw a figure suddenly appear ahead. "How is this person running wildly without a head?"

As this question formed, a chilling realization dawned on him, and his consciousness plunged into complete darkness.

The headless body continued to run for a moment longer before collapsing to the ground. Blood gushed from its neck, and it twitched uncontrollably on the ground.

Witnessing this horrifying scene, Heichigu was terrified and frantically fled in another direction. His legs were like jelly as he ran, nearly stumbling several times.

Yun Jianyue, like a grim reaper, swiftly harvested the lives of the remaining subordinates on the periphery.

Sensing death approaching, Heichigu yelled as he ran, "You can't kill me! I'm from the Heichi family! My great-uncle is the current Imperial Uncle and Grand Minister of Works! My elder brother is..."

Before he could finish, he heard a whoosh behind him. Fearing he would suffer Baka's fate, Heichigu quickly turned around and lunged, opening his cavernous mouth to bite his attacker.

His black teeth gleamed ominously. This was his family's innate ability; their teeth were incredibly hard, capable of easily shattering metal and jade, and also carried venom. Once bitten, even a powerful cultivator would die instantly.

Unfortunately, he had encountered the Demonic Sect Master, a warrior forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood. She wouldn't be caught off guard by his ambush. A sharp stream of qi from her finger struck his forehead first, and a mist of blood immediately burst from the back of his head.

His once menacing open mouth instantly drooped limply. Heichigu himself collapsed backward, his eyes wide open, as if he couldn't believe someone dared to kill him within the Royal Court.

In the blink of an eye, the hunters became the hunted. Not a single one of the vicious individuals who had just been there was left breathing.

Yu Yanluo was secretly startled. She was used to seeing Yun Jianyue bicker with Yan Xuehen, making her seem like a mischievous young girl. But now she remembered, Yun Jianyue was the notorious Demonic Sect Master!

Yan Xuehen's face was frosty. "Fiendess, you are too ruthless! How could you kill so many people?!"

"Womanly compassion, spare me your lectures." Perhaps due to the recent slaughter, a hint of ruthlessness still lingered in Yun Jianyue's eyes. "If you're unconvinced, then let's spar."

Seeing that the two were genuinely about to fight, Zu An quickly intervened to mediate. "Actually, Sister Yun did this for our group's safety. If we let them go, it would invite even stronger retaliation. Furthermore, our information would be leaked, various forces would begin to notice and investigate us. Even the Demon Emperor would pay closer attention. By then, none of us would likely survive. Sister Yun knows all this, but you know her personality; she would disdain to explain it to us."

Yun Jianyue's eyes flickered slightly. *This guy really understands me.* But she wouldn't admit it aloud. "Why be so long-winded? I simply felt like killing; there's no need for so many reasons."

Yan Xuehen had actually mostly guessed the reasons. However, as a long-standing leader of the righteous path, she found it difficult to accept such drastic measures.

What angered her more was that Zu An had actually chosen to side with Yun Jianyue. *Our relationship is clearly more intimate!*

Yan Xuehen's Rage value +333333333...

Zu An was startled, not understanding what he had done to provoke her.

Just then, the Changxin Palace Lantern in Yun Jianyue's hand began to tremble incessantly. Its intensity suggested it might explode at any moment.

"What's wrong?" Zu An asked anxiously.

Yun Jianyue said gravely, "I took advantage of Baka's low cultivation and his unfamiliarity with controlling the White Lotus True Flame to seize it. However, the White Lotus True Flame is a rare and unique spiritual fire in this world. As the saying goes, 'one mountain cannot hold two tigers.' Although I managed to absorb it into the Changxin Palace Lantern for a short time, the two true flames inside are incompatible. If they remain together, it's highly likely to result in a massive explosion."

At this point, Yan Xuehen no longer cared about being angry with her. She quickly said, "We need a container to store this true flame. But ordinary objects won't be able to hold it; they would be instantly incinerated."

"It's a pity Baka's brazier was damaged during the fight," Yu Yanluo said. She picked up the brazier next to Baka's corpse. It was completely deformed and shattered, seemingly destroyed by the destructive force when the Changxin Palace Lantern extracted the White Lotus True Flame.

"Some people are just too ruthless with their attacks," Yan Xuehen muttered, glaring pointedly at Yun Jianyue.

Yun Jianyue's phoenix eyes narrowed, ready for a retort. Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Zu An hastily interjected, "I actually have something here; I wonder if it can contain this White Lotus True Flame."

As he spoke, he retrieved the Nine Cauldrons he had obtained from the National Academy's back mountain, from Shen Xuzi's courtyard. After initially using it to refine some Gathering Yuan Pills, he hadn't used it for a long time.

In his opinion, this item was used for refining pills with fire, so it naturally had extremely high fire resistance.

Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen both let out exclamations of surprise. "At first glance, your cauldron seems unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, it's truly extraordinary. Even we can't fully discern its depth. Perhaps it really can work."

Yun Jianyue instructed Zu An on how to store the flame. The Changxin Palace Lantern's trembling had reached its limit, and fearing damage to the lantern, she released the White Lotus True Flame. The flame instantly incinerated the remaining Hyena clan members and Heichi family assassins, leaving not even a speck of ash.

Zu An, seizing the opportunity, followed Yun Jianyue's method and successfully absorbed the White Lotus True Flame into the Nine Cauldrons. Yun Jianyue, observing from the side, couldn't help but praise him. "You truly are gifted, young man; you learn things so quickly."

Yan Xuehen rolled her eyes, thinking, *Did you forget his transcendent talent?*

She suddenly recalled how his essence blood had previously invigorated her, restoring her from her severely injured and weakened state to her current combat strength...

A faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks.

At this moment, Zu An had successfully concentrated on containing the White Lotus True Flame.

The White Lotus True Flame, initially unruly, immediately became docile once it entered the Nine Cauldrons.

Yan Xuehen marveled, "This cauldron is quite interesting."

"Let's head back first," Yu Yanluo said. "It seems the Golden Crow Guards are approaching." She anxiously warned, looking at the dust cloud in the distance.

Clearly, the commotion that just erupted was significant. It had already alarmed higher-ranking officials, and Heichigu's influence alone could no longer prevent them from coming to investigate.

The others naturally had no objections and quickly withdrew.

Shortly after they left, a team of Golden Crow Guards arrived, led by none other than General Ma Tian of the Left Guard.

Because he had previously allowed an assassin into the palace, he had been assigned to track down assassins outside. Upon sensing the unusual energy fluctuations here, he had rushed over with his men.

Seeing the scorched scene, he couldn't help but frown.

He had many capable subordinates. Soon, someone reported that a fierce battle must have just occurred there, but all clues had been destroyed by a great fire. Such immense destructive power in such a short time could only be achieved by legendary true flames.

"True flames?" Ma Tian frowned slightly. "Why does it feel like the Royal Court is so restless lately?"

"Send men to investigate the soldiers who just blocked us and ask whose orders they were following to seal off the streets."

Soon, someone returned with a report. Ma Tian's expression darkened. "Huh, the Heichi family again?"

"I was terribly set up by them before!"