Chapter 127: Shangzhi's Death

"It's said that once inhaled, the Earth Spirit Mist instantly blends into the bloodstream, causing the body to rapidly stiffen until one can no longer move," Zuoqiu Lan Lan asked in horror after holding her breath. "Brother Che, you're so knowledgeable; is that really true?"

The five quickly retreated towards an area in the valley free of the Earth Spirit Mist.

Tian Che's face was grim. "Not only that, but if you inhale too much, your flesh will rapidly rot."

"Don't scare yourselves. We only inhaled a small amount. Quickly mobilize your arcane energy to refine it."

Upon reaching a flat area within the valley, Zuoqiu Baiming planted the azure Yin Banner into the ground and activated it by exhaling arcane energy.

"Whoosh!"

The Yin Banner unfurled, rapidly ascending and expanding, emanating a layer of azure light veil that enveloped an area several zhang around. Dozens of armored departed spirits appeared within the veil, each imposing and majestic, guarding all directions with drawn blades.

Given Zuoqiu Baiming's cultivation level, he could only activate this high-grade magical artifact, the Yin Banner, to this extent.

He stared at Shang Zhi and commanded, "You activate the Yin Banner."

"Me?"

Shang Zhi was well aware that the current situation was critical and that refining the Earth Spirit Mist within his body was the top priority.

"You are the weakest, so of course it's you. Don't worry, we won't abandon you. Once I've refined the Earth Spirit Mist and driven off these presumptuous fools, I'll personally come to your aid."

The sound of rushing wind grew louder in Zuoqiu Baiming's ears. Anxious and losing patience, he barked, "Hurry up! Don't make me cut you down right now!"

Zuoqiu Baiming had already decided, upon entering the mountain, to kill Li Weiyi and Shang Zhi after they had served their purpose, seizing their achievements and spoils. In his desperation, he inadvertently blurted out his true thoughts.

Faced with the Heavenly Flame Saber hanging over his head, Shang Zhi had no choice. He walked under the azure Yin Banner and continuously channeled arcane energy into it with both hands.

Although he was a prodigy of the Beast-Li Tribe, usually praised and revered by countless tribesmen, Shang Zhi could only yield in humiliation now. If he had possessed the cultivation of the second stage of the Five Seas Realm, he wouldn't have had to endure such indignity. Zuoqiu Baiming sat down cross-legged, already feeling a slight tingling in his skin. The Earth Spirit Mist was more terrifying than he had imagined, and his mood instantly grew incredibly somber.

Li Weiyi glanced at Zuoqiu Baiming, who was fully enveloped in arcane energy, feeling a strong sense of crisis. He secretly rejoiced that he had previously revealed some of his strength; otherwise, he would undoubtedly have been forced to activate the Yin Banner as well.

"Whoosh!"

The fox demon, cloaked in departed spirit human skin, charged into the valley.

It looked at the five people within the Yin Banner's protection, its pupils turning red. With a cold snort, it struck decisively, determined not to give its opponents time to refine the Earth Spirit Mist.

The white pendant around its neck, activated by arcane energy, emitted a dazzling light.

It launched a punch, and the sound of wind and thunder echoed throughout the valley as it heavily struck the azure light veil emanating from the Yin Banner.

"Boom!"

Inside the light veil, fifteen of the armored departed spirits instantly converged, collectively striking out with a blade to block the fox demon's earth-shattering punch.

Many rocks were shaken loose and tumbled down the steep cliffs surrounding them.

Ripple-like impact patterns appeared on the azure light veil, but inside, it remained calm.

Zuoqiu Baiming, while refining the Earth Spirit Mist, laughed, "My Azure Banner is a high-grade magical artifact! How could a creature like you possibly breach it?"

Although Li Weiyi's Night-Prowler Robe was also a high-grade magical artifact, its defensive power was far inferior to the Azure Banner. Its primary focus was on stealth and speed, making it most effective for assassination.

"Whoosh! Whoosh..."

Several more figures entered the valley.

Besides three Five Seas Realm demon cultivators, there was also a tall figure cloaked in departed spirit human skin, holding a white Yin Banner and with a battle saber at his waist.

His aura was formidable, his gaze like torches, and the arcane energy emanating from him filled the valley. He was a top-tier figure at the second stage of the Five Seas Realm.

Li Weiyi mobilized the immortal aura within his Divine Palace to quickly refine the Earth Spirit Mist in his body, and the numbness in his skin and flesh disappeared. He looked out beyond the light veil and recognized the figure in departed spirit human skin holding the white Yin Banner. "Xue Qi, how audacious of you! Have you considered the consequences of the Profound Sect making an enemy of the Zuoqiu Faction?"

From beneath the departed spirit human skin, Xue Qi's tone was calm as he addressed the powerful fox demon from Tianya Ridge: "Kill them all. Leave no survivors."

"The Zuoqiu Faction sending these three Pure Immortal Bodies into Thirty-Three Li Mountain was meant to be a trial for them. Their complete demise is entirely reasonable."

The powerful fox demon fully activated the high-grade magical artifact pendant on its neck, and the fluctuations of power from its body continuously intensified.

The third figure, also cloaked in departed spirit human skin, unfurled its feathered wings and flew above the valley. Four meters long, its voice echoed through the valley as it laughed, "The flesh and blood of Pure Immortal Bodies are incredibly delicious. It seems I can have a feast this time!"

He was the leader from Coffin Mountain, with the Dharma name "Diran." He was a human-hybrid who had consumed the blood of two ancient immortal beasts, possessing dual beastly characteristics: feathered wings on his back and arms covered in flame scales.

"Boom!"

"Rumble!"

Attacks rained down from all directions, shattering the armored departed spirits on the azure light veil one by one.

"Brother Baiming, this isn't good. Tianya Ridge has allied with multiple factions. If they dare to attack you in Thirty-Three Li Mountain today, who's to say they won't dare to attack Qiu State tomorrow?"

After saying this, Li Weiyi stood up, presenting a resolute back to the three members of the Zuoqiu Faction. "No matter what, someone must survive. You all continue refining; I'll go help Shang Zhi activate the Yin Banner."

He dared not use the immortal aura in front of Zuoqiu Baiming, fearing jealousy and a death omen, which was why he hadn't dared to refine the Earth Spirit Mist for them.

Zuoqiu Lan Lan and Tian Che successively opened their eyes and looked at Li Weiyi, who was activating the Yin Banner. Both were filled with emotion, and their previous suspicions about some of his actions naturally vanished.

This Sima Tan...

What unparalleled righteousness!

As Li Weiyi released arcane energy into the Yin Banner, more armored departed spirits flew out from within it.

"We can't wait any longer! Zuoqiu Baiming might be a good-for-nothing, but his martial arts talent and combat prowess are extremely strong. We cannot let him fully refine the Earth Spirit Mist."

Xue Qi retreated several zhang and took out a three-inch square jade box from his sleeve.

He unsealed the surface, and as the jade box opened, purple haze and lightning emanated from within.

He would not have used this immensely powerful treasure unless it was absolutely necessary.

Li Weiyi wished to drag the Zuoqiu Faction into this, forcing them to provide greater support to help the Nine Li Tribe confront the impending crisis of annihilation. And Xue Qi, too, wished to firmly bind forces like Tianya Ridge and Coffin Mountain to the Profound Sect's war chariot. From the Zuoqiu Faction's actions, the Profound Sect had discerned their stance.

It was clear that the Zuoqiu Faction still intended to support the Nine Li Tribe as the masters of Li State.

Thus, the Profound Sect could only deeply ally with forces like Tianya Ridge and Coffin Mountain to have a chance at destroying the Nine Li Tribe and forcing the Zuoqiu Faction to reconsider their choices. In the face of prevailing trends and the ebb and flow of gains and losses, even powerful factions could only compromise.

Therefore, when Tianya Ridge sought to deal with Zuoqiu Baiming, Xue Qi displayed great enthusiasm. He not only intended to help them reclaim the immortal soil but also to kill every single person from the Zuoqiu Faction!

As a member of the younger generation, this was as far as he could go. Perhaps his influence, in the grand scheme of things, was as light as a single straw, but it might just become the final straw that alters the decisions of the higher echelons.

A breeze begins at the tips of green duckweed; a wave forms from a subtle ripple.

The Cave Sect's current power was forged by countless individuals, like green duckweed and subtle ripples, striving forward together. The goals Xue Qi pursued were to emulate Commander Yao Qian and Sect Master Yang Shenjing.

"No, it's the Thunder Mystic Ice!"

Li Weiyi recognized the object in Xue Qi's hand, his expression suddenly changing. He immediately channeled all ten springs of energy to activate several defensive magical artifacts on his person.

"Boom!"

Xue Qi launched the Thunder Mystic Ice from the jade box. The ice crystals shattered, releasing bright purple electric beams.

Some of the electric beams flew dozens of meters, striking the cliff face, cracking rocks, and igniting trees.

The armored departed spirits shattered. The azure light veil emanating from the Yin Banner was torn open, creating a massive hole several meters long.

"Thump!"

Li Weiyi and Shang Zhi were successively struck by lightning and thrown backward.

The powerful fox demon and Xue Qi, with their profound and bizarre movement techniques, immediately charged into the area enveloped by the light veil, attacking the cross-legged Zuoqiu Baiming.

Li Weiyi quickly stood up, rubbed his chest, and checked his body.

He was uninjured.

Shang Zhi slowly sat up, the blood runes on his talisman robe flickering, having blocked this fatal blow. However, his flesh had stiffened, and his limbs were difficult to move; the peculiar power of the Earth Spirit Mist had already entered his heart.

Li Weiyi was not one to abandon someone in distress, and he was about to pull Shang Zhi up to escape together.

"Whoosh! Whoosh..."

Countless metallic feathers rained down from above, perforating Shang Zhi's body like a sieve of bloody holes.

Scattering the metallic feathers, Li Weiyi quickly rushed to Shang Zhi and helped him up. Shang Zhi had only one breath left. With wide, bulging eyes, he gripped Li Weiyi's sleeve tightly: "Escape quickly... down the mountain... Zuoqiu... Baiming... not reliable..."

Li Weiyi's emotions were incredibly complex. Although their acquaintance was not deep, he had a good impression of Shang Zhi. As a Nine Springs Paragon, Shang Zhi should have had a boundless future, yet he perished in an instant. Indeed, life's fortunes are unpredictable.

His fingers brushed against Shang Zhi's money pouch.

He ultimately took it; after all, Shang Zhi wouldn't be needing it anymore!

"Let's go, quickly get out of here! The valley entrance must be blocked by a large number of cultivators; we can't go that way. We'll escape via the valley cliffs."

Zuoqiu Baiming's combat prowess was extraordinary. He single-handedly repelled the combined efforts of the fox demon and Xue Qi, then, saber in hand, leaped towards the cliff on the left side of the valley. Each leap covered six or seven zhang in height.

The cliff face was not overly steep and was covered with hanging cypresses, allowing a Five Seas Realm cultivator to ascend it with the ease of an ape.

Zuoqiu Lan Lan and Tian Che released arcane energy, employing their movement techniques to quickly follow.

The fox demon and Xue Qi completely ignored Li Weiyi, focusing solely on Zuoqiu Baiming, who was fleeing at the front. They pursued him upwards, one on his left and one on his right.

Li Weiyi looked up at the massive human-hybrid figure with metallic wings hovering overhead. It was this being who had killed Shang Zhi, and its strength was truly formidable.

"The valley entrance is definitely dangerous, but would the people from Tianya Ridge, the Profound Sect, and Coffin Mountain not know that they could escape via the cliff face? If the enemy attacks from above, taking full advantage of the terrain, they would likely die even faster."

"Then we'll break through from the front."

Li Weiyi quickly made his decision. His gaze swept over the three Five Seas Realm demon creatures closing in to surround him. Unhurriedly, he hoisted Shang Zhi's corpse onto his back, tying it to himself, intending to take it back to the Nine Li Tribe for burial.

Having taken the money, he would fulfill his duty; he wouldn't let the deceased be disappointed.

Holding Shang Zhi's magical battle saber in one hand and grabbing the azure Yin Banner abandoned by the hastily fleeing Zuoqiu Baiming with the other, his eyes sharpened. "If you don't want to die, step aside."

With those words, Li Weiyi swiftly charged towards the valley entrance.

"He's just a First Stage Five Seas Realm cultivator. How strong can he possibly be?"

"Three against one, the advantage is ours."

The three Five Seas Realm demon creatures exchanged glances, then charged from three directions, combining their efforts to attack Li Weiyi. They knew Li Weiyi's formidable power, so they struck with all their might.