Chapter 37: Where’s your dignity?!

Having made up her mind, Xiao Hong ran back.

Gu Ran, who noticed her coming back, raised an eyebrow. ‘That was unexpectedly fast.’

Xiao Hong gave him an apologetic smile, “Forgive my rudeness, Senior Brother Gu. I was a little overwhelmed by the revelation.”

He merely shook his head, “It’s quite alright, Junior Sister. A cultivator must take care of their State of Mind.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother Gu.” 

 “Let us eat. The food is ready.”

Gu Ran watched as his companion ate quietly, seemingly lost in thought - which was quite different from usual where she had tons of questions. So, he felt slightly disoriented from the silence.

Soon, they had finished eating.

Xiao Hong, who had been quiet up to now, looked at Gu Ran, “Senior Brother. I wonder if you have any in-depth information on deformations that occur when cultivating beyond the limit?”

Gu Ran’s eyebrows shot up. He really did not expect that she would choose this! In his mind, he thought that Xiao Hong would decisively cut off the relationship with the person who caused her to inquire about Talent - he knew he would do the same! Thus, he was quite surprised.

‘This girl… Is she trying to look for ways to solve her friend’s lacking Talent?’ Gu Ran, for the first time in a very long time, felt admiration in his heart. ‘She is worth befriending!’ His initial misunderstanding of her Talent led him in a direction completely contrary to the actual truth. 

He couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the ‘person’ who had gained her friendship. 

But. 

“What do you have in exchange, Junior Sister? The information I have is quite precious,” Gu Ran smiled, “Even if it is not the most useful, it is still information that is not easily found.” 

Xiao Hong returned his smile, “Will this be enough?”

Gu Ran watched as his companion pulled something out of her storage bag. His smile froze. The moment he saw the Dark Abyss Stone in her hands, he knew it was time for him to cough up.

“Also, there are more things that I need…” Xiao Hong continued.

***

Nestled beneath the boundless blue sky of the Demon Beast Haven Realm was a forest of Purple-leaved Spirit Birch Trees. This forest was named, rather unoriginally, as the ‘Purple Spirit Forest’. Yes, the disciples of the Purple Spirit Sect’s disciples were very proud of that. It was to the point that every time they entered the Secret Realm, they set up camp there!

As such, every time the Secret Realm opened up, the Demon Beasts in the forest were slaughtered, leaving behind only the younger Demon Beasts that hadn’t grown up.

So when Xiao Hong heard the sounds of battle, she immediately changed her direction and made her way towards them. But she was stopped by Gu Ran.

She gave her companion a puzzled look. 

Gu Ran who was frowning simply gestured downwards while sending her a qi transmission, “{Junior Sister, I suspect there is something wrong.}”

Xiao Hong grew more confused, but she still decided it was better to be cautious, “{What is it?}” She had learnt in the past few days that Gu Ran was quite experienced. And his caution had never been wrong!

“{Listen carefully. There are no sounds of Demon Beasts at all!}”

Xiao Hong listened carefully and realised that he was right! She could hear explosions, shouts, screams, clangs and various other noises. But there was no sound that was possibly from a Demon Beast.

She frowned and turned to Gu Ran.

The duo looked at each other and a look of understanding was passed between them. They both activated the Heaven Concealing Method and dove underground using their Techniques and sneaked closer to the battlefield.

On the battlefield, Jun Meiling was locked in a deadly battle with her opponent who towered over her with his nearly 9-foot-tall body. The man was bare-chested, showing off the sinister tattoos all over his muscular chest and back. He exuded a horrendous reddish-black aura that could drive lesser cultivators to insanity in sheer terror. It was an aura that could make equals wish they could escape as soon as possible! 

The tattoos extended to his extremities and to his face like serpents, writhing ever so slightly as he flexed them, giving them a sense of life.

It was a Wind-Thunder Disaster Realm Demonic Cultivator!

Jun Meiling who was in combat with the Demonic Cultivator was currently being suppressed to the point that she could barely breathe. 

It wasn’t that she was too weak but that she had too many burdens with her!

Every time Jun Meiling tried to attack him, he attacked the weaker disciples she was protecting behind her, making her unable to launch a proper attack on the man!

Moreover, it was not like the disciples could move away! They too were locked in battle with other disciples of the Demonic Path!

“Dammit! Fight me one-on-one if you have guts, Ji Wuyan!” Jun Meiling cursed him, her face warped in wrath as tried her best to defend her Sectmates. 

“Hehe, little beauty, if you promise to spend a night with me, then I might consider it.” The massive Demonic Path Cultivator named Ji Wuyan leered at her. Jun Meiling’s face turned colder, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

On the other side, the disciples of the Purple Spirit Sect were locked in combat with the other Demonic Cultivators. But the Demonic Cultivators, despite being slightly lesser in number, had the upper hand. The reason was quite simple really, the Demonic Cultivators were much more used to battles. While the Outer Sect Disciples were not exactly flowers in a greenhouse, compared to the Cultivators of the Demonic Path who lived and breathed in constant danger, they were suppressed.

The battle forged on and the Purple Spirit Sect’s disciples were slowly losing ground. 

Jun Meiling was starting to tire, perspiration beaded her forehead and neck as she overexerted her Zhenqi. Suddenly, she winced in pain, and her aura suddenly fell to half its strength. Her Spirit Transformation Art had failed. Her meridians could not bear the load anymore!

‘Chance!’ Ji Wuyan’s eyes lit up! He clawed towards Jun Meiling with all his might! This moment, when Jun Meiling could not react because she was dazed from the aftershock of the Spirit Transformation Art’s release, was the best chance for him!

Jun Meiling watched on in despair as she saw the massive Demonic Claw slicing through the air towards her, intent on taking her life! She gritted her teeth and faced it head-on - even if she was to die she would die facing her death with her eyes open!

Ji Wuyan’s grin widened as he saw the look of determination on her face. However, it was also at this moment when he focused all his attention on offence rather than defence that he created a chance for others!

Schwiing!

A terrifying golden coloured Sword sliced towards Ji Wuyan! The golden Sword was radiating such a powerful Sword Intent it distorted the surroundings and caused them to suffer small cuts all over! The Sword tore apart the surrounding wind, the grass and the ground without even coming close to them! This was the true Sword Domain! 

Ji Wuyan who was already halfway through his attack widened his eyes in abject terror! In an attempt to defend, he retracted his attack at the cost of suffering a backlash. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth as he controlled a small shield to appear in the path of the Sword Strike and him. 

But… 

Crash! BOOM!

“Aaargh!” The shield was broken through and the Sword Qi struck Ji Wuyan regardless, severely injuring him and sending him flying! 

Crash!

Ji Wuyan, who had just barely gathered his wits from the strike, saw a massive Dark Flame Serpent appear out of nowhere, he couldn’t help but utter curses, “Fuck!” The Dark Flame Serpent slammed into him before exploding with such tremendous power that the trees around it were obliterated!

BOOOM!

The already severely injured Ji Wuyan could not defend and took the full brunt of the attack and was blown further away! If it weren’t for the fact that he cultivated his body, he’d have turned into ashes from the attack!

Jun Meiling who had just recovered from her despair was shocked for a breath before she too launched the strongest attack she could in her state!

Kraka-Thoom!!

Ji Wuyan groggily saw the purple lightning flashing in the Sky like the Wrath of Heavens and nearly cried! ‘I’m just one man! Why are all of you ganging up on me like this?! Where is your shame? Where is your pride?! Where are your so-called morals?! Morals my ass Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey! I spit on your-”

Boom! Boom! Boom!!

Several extremely powerful bolts of lightning slammed down on Ji Wuyan’s position!