Chapter 549: Mutiny

Zhao Wuji remained frozen, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He dared not move. His pupils trembled violently, as if in an earthquake.

The other elders reacted differently. Some, carefully dismounting from the backs of demon beasts, held their breath and slowly climbed down. Others, who had been poised to stab the beasts’ vital points with their swords, now found their hands shaking, unable to strike. Still others stumbled backward, tripped over rocks, and landed hard on the ground, their eyes wide with fear.

Moments ago, they had exuded the air of victors. Now, they were all overwhelmed by immense terror.

Concubine Yunxia's gaze was calm, though a hint of disgust flickered in her eyes. "Humans are as annoying as ever," she said. Her voice was incredibly gentle, like clouds drifting slowly across the sky. It was soft to the ear, like a heavenly melody, yet her actions were exceptionally ruthless.

With a grab, her sharp fingers dug into Fang Taiji's skull. The pain made Fang Taiji shriek for mercy. "Concubine Yunxia, spare my life!" he begged. "I was merely following orders. Please forgive me if I've offended you!"

"Ah!" His plea did not bring forgiveness. His shriveled head creaked ominously, on the verge of bursting. In terror, he cried out, "Concubine Yunxia, please spare me! I... I am willing to serve the demon race. I am a high-ranking human and know many human secrets. Keeping me alive would be immensely useful."

Disgust was evident in Concubine Yunxia's eyes. "When strong, you enjoy the Demon Emperor's blessings and vie for his concubine. When weak, you offer to serve the demon race. How could I ever use someone like you?" As she finished speaking, she exerted force with her five fingers, about to crush his head like a ripe tomato.

"No, no, no!" Fang Taiji shrieked. "Concubine Yunxia, I will give you crucial information right now! There is actually another team on this mission! I am willing to help you lure them in and capture them all!"

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji's pupils constricted, and he roared in anger, "Fang Taiji, you old scoundrel! If you're going to die, die with some backbone! Don't drag them down!" Jiang Fan and the others were still just children. Fang Taiji was an old man; how many more years did he have to live? Was it truly worth betraying those children just to cling to life for a few more years?

Fang Taiji frantically shouted back, "There are no disciples from my Giant Sect among them; why should I care about their lives?"

"Disciples?" Concubine Yunxia said indifferently. "Are you playing games with me?" A mere few disciples were not considered important information.

Fang Taiji quickly countered, "They are not ordinary disciples! This team includes Xia Chaoge, the top prodigy of the Nine Sects, and Liang Feiyan, a top elite. Oh, and Jiang Fan!"

Concubine Yunxia's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Which Jiang Fan?"

Seeing her expression, Fang Taiji knew he had found a chance. His life now depended entirely on Jiang Fan. "It's the Jiang Fan who repeatedly caused trouble for the demon priests on Mount Realm, leading to the demon race's great defeat!" he said fiercely.

"It's him?" A hint of anger appeared on Concubine Yunxia's usually calm, ethereal face. "He dares to come into my demon territory?" Because of Jiang Fan, the demon race had suffered an unprecedented defeat. The entire demon race had been disgraced. Everyone wanted to tear him to pieces.

"Where is he?" Concubine Yunxia said coldly.

Fang Taiji immediately replied, "He's at the mouth of the canyon! But that little rascal is extremely cunning and skilled at stealth and escape techniques. If Concubine Yunxia goes in person, it will surely alert him. To be absolutely sure, it's best to lure him into the canyon and catch him like a turtle in a jar. I'm happy to help with this. If I appear, they will trust me."

Concubine Yunxia mused for a moment. Jiang Fan's ability to cause so much trouble for the demon undead army meant he must be extraordinary. It would be wise to be cautious when trying to catch him. However, letting Fang Taiji go out to deceive them? That would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—he would never return. If given a chance to escape, Fang Taiji would run faster than anyone.

At that moment, Zhao Wuji and the other elders secretly exchanged glances. They understood each other perfectly! They could not sit and wait for death. The great war between the two races had already reached a point of no return. They could not expect Concubine Yunxia to spare their lives! Rather than waiting to die, it was better to rush out. If even one could escape, it would be a victory.

_Whoosh!_ An elder, from an unknown sect, was the first to move, shooting like an arrow toward the canyon exit. The other elders immediately followed suit! The figures of the nine elders created sharp whooshing sounds as they fled for their lives.

Concubine Yunxia looked on indifferently. Terrifying Nascent Soul energy ripples violently shook the air, causing everyone's spiritual energy to become chaotic. They either swayed unsteadily or stumbled, appearing disheveled.

Zhao Wuji was filled with despair. "Is this the Nascent Soul realm?" he thought. "Just a glance, and they lost even the right to escape!" Everyone would perish here. Even Jiang Fan... The Qingyun Sect had consistently ranked last among the Nine Sects for years, enduring a century of humiliation. Then, a Jiang Fan had unexpectedly emerged. Given time, he could allow the Qingyun Sect elders to no longer awkwardly shy away when other sect elders excitedly discussed their disciples' outstanding performances. He could allow the Qingyun Sect disciples to no longer just envy the achievements of elite disciples from other sects during gatherings. He could ensure that when the Nine Sects gathered, Qingyun Sect members would no longer be isolated onlookers in a corner.

Jiang Fan could not die here! He could not!!! Zhao Wuji had to do something for Jiang Fan. He had to preserve this spark of hope for the Qingyun Sect!

Suddenly, he thought of something. A moment of struggle flashed in his eyes, immediately replaced by determination! He immediately took out a broken, greyish-brown spiritual pill from deep within his robe. He had found it years ago in an ancient cave dwelling. It was called the "Falling Star Pill." The name was beautiful, like a streaking meteor. Its effects were also spectacular. It could cause one's cultivation to continuously surge, reaching a glorious peak. The price was that the user's Golden Core would burn out, their blood and qi would dry up. Their cultivation would completely dissipate. Their body would be utterly ruined. They would become a complete cripple. Like an extremely brilliant meteor, leaving a line of dazzling light in the starry sky, only to become ashes.

He did not hesitate. He unsealed it, opened the bottle, and swallowed it, all in one fluid motion. He gripped his sword with both hands, stood still, and shouted without looking back. "Go! All of you, go! I will cover your retreat!"

Someone was moved, pulled out their sword, and ran back. "If we die, we die together!"

Zhao Wuji's aura was already rapidly ascending. Golden Core sixth layer, Golden Core seventh layer, Golden Core eighth layer... These were realms he had once dared not even dream of. Now, he was breaking through them one after another.

"Hurry and go!" he shouted powerfully. "I need some of you to survive, to warn Jiang Fan, to tell him to run, run, run! If you're safe in the end, whoever sees Jiang Fan, tell him for me: there are no cowards on Qingyun Sect's Carefree Peak! Not coming to Carefree Peak was his loss! Hahaha! Please! Everyone! I, Zhao Wuji, am going first!"

He burst into laughter, carrying his continuously rising cultivation, and soared forward with his sword. Like a brilliant meteor, he streaked through the despairing canyon.