Chapter 281: Chapter 281 My Name is Jiang Ni’er
"Divine Prohibition." In the Heavenly Phoenix, a male figure stepped out, his appearance dignified, his hands forming seals as he cast a Divine Skill.
In a flash, Divine Brilliance blossomed, enveloping Lan Xiuzhi within it.
Unfortunately, the descending Undying bird was too strong. Even with the protection of Divine Skills, it was to no avail. In just a breath’s time, the Divine Skills shattered.
Flames illuminated the surroundings, as if a sun had ignited the whole world.
The distance was closing fast.
Everyone’s expressions changed drastically.
If Lan Xiuzhi were to be killed, what situation would arise when the Phoenix Cauldron lost its dwelling? Nobody knew.
They dared not think about it.
The Earth Chicken imprisoned it, suppressing the fluctuations of the Phoenix Cauldron’s aura, and then quickly took Lan Xiuzhi away from the spot.
BOOM! The Undying bird missed its target. The raging fire kept burning, its Power of Destruction truly dreadful, even corroding the land.
"It has not appeared yet," said the Heavenly Dragon powerhouse.
"Yes!" Taigu was also responding.
However, the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty’s contingent looked pale. They realized the terrifying power of the Undying Furnace, which was completely different from what they had imagined.
Even without being fully revived, the Undying Furnace seemed to possess its own consciousness. Perhaps it had even developed Spiritual Intelligence, transforming into a new life form.
In such a situation, the plan clearly could not continue.
Forcibly using the Phoenix Cauldron to draw out the Undying Furnace might result in everyone dying together.
Of course, the first person to die would definitely be Lan Xiuzhi.
Chen Pingping took a deep breath and said, "Something’s not right. This Undying Furnace is too powerful. If this continues, we will all die."
The atmosphere inevitably grew heavy.
The powerhouses of the three great Imperial Dynasties were obviously aware of the gravity of the situation.
Not far away, Wen Yuqing narrowed her gaze, a smile curving the corners of her mouth. "Is it finally time for me to take action?"
Just now, when the Phoenix Cauldron’s aura fluctuations were released, the Undying Furnace’s location was also exposed. She had pinpointed that spot. It was in the Ancient City, to the left. Knowing the location made it easier to deal with.
She immediately charged out, slashing with a beam of sword light.
She was strong and her cultivation realm was high, standing at the latter stages of the Imperial Path. Her Sword Dao was extraordinary, with the Saint’s Tao hidden within it.
As the sword light fell, a thunderous boom resounded.
The whole Ancient City shook.
Everyone was stunned, raising their heads.
Chen Pingping widened his eyes and exclaimed, "Master, what are you doing?"
What the hell?
She couldn’t be intending to break through the Ancient City by force, could she?
This is terrible!
I just used the Undying Furnace’s eruption to make the three great Imperial Dynasties consider retreating, and now *she* decides to act at this critical moment?
Wen Yuqing’s Sword Dao was exceedingly forceful and Yang-aligned, overwhelmingly powerful. Each sword strike was stronger than the last, the sheer Power Path making even the Void tremble.
However, after several strikes, she still couldn’t budge the Ancient City. So, she abandoned her sword, raised her hand, and swung down her fist.
Everyone gaped in shock.
What was terrifying was that under her fist, cracks appeared in the Ancient City’s array.
Chen Pingping was dumbfounded.
This...?
The watching powerhouses were breathless.
How could a woman, seemingly ethereal with immortal energy, be so fierce?
Her moves were bold and powerful, with an imposing momentum.
The Saintess couldn’t help but glance sideways at Chen Pingping. "Is she really your Master?"
His face was dark.
BOOM! Another punch landed.
The Ancient City vibrated. A crack quickly spread, and countless ancient auras exploded, surging in all directions.
The powerhouses were horrified and quickly retreated.
"Master, please stop!" Chen Pingping shouted. "The Undying Furnace is too powerful! If this goes on, you will die!"
However, Wen Yuqing remained unmoved, as if she hadn’t heard him. Chen Pingping had his reasons and his methods, true, but she had hers as well.
She had come from the Heaven Martial Continent, traversing the Wasteland to reach the Spirit Realm, all for the Undying Furnace.
Her gaze became ever more resolute.
Finally, the cracks grew larger. She took a few steps forward, and her entire figure disappeared right there, having entered the Ancient City.
Chen Pingping also wanted to follow, but unfortunately, the aura of the Heaven Tao Divine Weapon surged, blocking him outside and making it impossible to approach. His face turned ashen.
"Emperor Scripture!" the Saintess calmly sent him a telepathic message.
Right! Chen Pingping remembered he possessed the Emperor Scripture and promptly activated it.
Several ancient characters emerged, unleashing an immortal power. They unfolded layer upon layer of light screens, enveloping his entire being. Then, he stepped towards the Ancient City.
"Master?" he called out.
The Ancient City was devoid of life, filled with ruins everywhere.
Only a sparse number of buildings remained, but they had faded, presenting a greyish-brown hue, like a bizarre painting.
To the left side of the Ancient City stood an altar.
Above it hovered a furnace, flames still burning fiercely within, terrifyingly peerless.
When Chen Pingping arrived, Wen Yuqing was drawing closer to the furnace. The flames of the Heaven Tao Divine Weapon burned upon her, but she, undaunted by it all, continued forward.
"Master!" Chen Pingping was anxious.
"Don’t come over," Wen Yuqing said, looking back.
"You’ll die."
"I won’t die." She smiled. "Master has something to do, an arduous task that might take a very long time."
"Master!"
"Don’t cry. You’ve grown up," she said. "You are Qingfeng’s eldest disciple, and you have two younger junior martial sisters who need you to look after them."
Chen Pingping choked up.
They had just reunited, only to part ways again, without even having a single night alone together!
In the dead of night, with no one else around, he wanted to join his Master in admiring the moon, watching the stars, then sharing with each other the hardships experienced over the years.
Just the thought of it was beautiful.
Wen Yuqing smiled. "Will you forgive me?"
This time, she didn’t call herself "Master" but used "I."
Chen Pingping was struck to the core but did not speak.
"I brought you into the sect but never truly guided your cultivation. I left Qingfeng behind, making you live by yourself and leaving your two junior martial sisters for you to care for," Wen Yuqing said helplessly. The smile slowly faded from her face, her clear eyes becoming somewhat clouded.
She looked weary.
Chen Pingping shook his head. "I can cultivate on my own, and my junior martial sisters can take care of themselves..."
He wanted to say that they had all grown up, that he could follow her.
But before he could finish, Wen Yuqing interrupted, "The place I am going to is very frightening, a slim chance of survival. If one day you become strong enough, perhaps we’ll meet again."
"Is it the Nine Heavens?" Chen Pingping asked.
She smiled and did not speak, leaving behind only three words: "I’ll wait for you."
The flames gradually engulfed her whole figure.
Chen Pingping witnessed this scene. What took his breath away even more was that Wen Yuqing possessed the complete Emperor Scripture. As it activated, scriptures swirled around her entire being, utterly divine and saintly.
Damn it!
She had such a treasure and didn’t pass it on to me!
Chen Pingping’s face twitched, his earlier concern instantly transforming. He cursed under his breath, "Was I picked out from a trash heap?"
If Wen Yuqing heard this, she would surely reply, "Weren’t you in a trash heap when I found you?"
The blazing fires burned down to nothing.
Wen Yuqing, carrying the Undying Furnace, traversed the Void and disappeared from sight. She left only him behind in the vast Ancient City, his gaze hollow.
Without the Undying Furnace’s presence, the Ancient City also completely fell into ruin.
The forces of the three great Imperial Dynasties and the ancient families, along with the two from the Spirit Palace, rushed into the Ancient City...
They saw Chen Pingping but not Wen Yuqing or the Undying Furnace.
"It’s all gone," Chen Pingping murmured to himself, like a madman.
"The furnace?" a Heavenly Phoenix powerhouse asked.
"Gone!"
"How can that be?"
"I don’t know," Chen Pingping shook his head, his face pale. "Just a moment ago, a crack appeared and swallowed the undying flames and my Master. I..."
He hesitated, his voice choking up, his expression filled with grief.
This expression, this sorrow, cut deep.
Apart from the Saintess, they nearly all believed him.
Chen Pingping collapsed to the ground. "It’s gone, all gone. My Master, the furnace." He wanted to squeeze out a few tears but worried it would be too embarrassing.
Forget it.
The powerhouses from the three great Imperial Dynasties were petrified.
Just like that, it was gone?
They found it hard to accept.
The Spirit Palace girl walked towards Chen Pingping. "Hello, my name is Jiang Ni’er."