A dark, strangely deep void suddenly appeared above Compassion City, its interior filled with exploding spacetime fragments and distorted dimensions, or perhaps other content beyond mortal comprehension. To ordinary people, it simply appeared dark, deep, mysterious, and unfathomable.
As soon as it manifested, it was as if the "cabin" of a seafaring vessel had sprung a massive leak, with countless pressures squeezing in like the surging ocean. It was also as if the sky had been violently torn open, giving rise to the unusual, eerie, and heart-stopping spectacle now unfolding.
The force it stirred ignited a fierce wind, causing those standing below in anticipation to fall into extreme consternation. This was not a wilderness nor a coastline; the sweeping gales could only signify the arrival of unsettling danger. They believed this was the effect of the increasingly layered vortex of blood sea descending upon them.
While waiting for the Buddha Son and his companions to retrieve the "Demon-Breaking Arrow," perhaps not much time had passed. However, when one's life is constantly under threat, the concept of time becomes imprecise. It stretched and tightened, like a supple string pulled ever taut, poised to snap at any moment from the unbearable strain.
The scorching heat caused outside the barrier had not entirely dissipated, yet within the protected confines, it was like a blood furnace consuming its contents. A chill and a sense of sinister bloodlust grew heavier. The stifling pressure on their chests was a combination of environmental forces and the panic in their hearts. It was as they waited, trembling like sacrificial lambs, that they discovered the "black hole" that had abruptly appeared above them.
While others might be startled by any unusual phenomenon and leap to the worst-case scenarios, Abbess Huiming and others strove to maintain the composure of their leaders. Her discerning eyes and profound understanding allowed her to analyze the situation. Her eyelids, which had initially drooped slightly, now drew together, her pupils seemingly encompassing all her wisdom to decipher what was before her.
Finally, she reached a preliminary conclusion, exclaiming in shock, "It is—it is the power to tear through the void!"
It was said that upon reaching a certain level of cultivation and comprehending the power of space, one could break through the void, achieving short-distance, short-term temporal traversal. This offered an effect comparable to, or even more efficient than, teleportation arrays that required significant time and spirit stones to set up, but directly tearing through the void was an instantaneous act.
"Who possesses such cultivation? Could the affairs of our Compassion City have alerted a mighty immortal venerable?" Abbess Xianzhi was now filled with a mixture of pleasant surprise and disbelief. Her previously troubled face radiated new life.
Was it true?
Abbess Huiming and Abbess Xianzhi had by this time rejoined the others. Only Abbess Jingxu remained stationed by the teleportation gate of the Stone Tablet Gate, awaiting developments. Thus, their conversation and speculation were heard by everyone.
People who are lost in terrifying hopelessness become as startled as birds at the sight of a bow. Once hope appears, they cannot help but yearn for it. They all stared intently at the "black hole" until they saw the figure emerge from within, causing their expressions to freeze on their faces.
From the deep, mysterious, and eerie black hole, a leg stepped out first, its hem flowing. It was a movement of subtle grace, unlike the cold, howling winds surrounding them. Then followed the flowing hem of an attire more captivating than the night itself, like the fragmented gleam of moonlight on a tranquil lake, or perhaps ripples on water stirred by a forest night breeze, possessing a breathtaking beauty...
If the partial exposure of that figure within the black hole evoked a delicate, graceful beauty like bamboo swaying in a gentle mountain breeze, then when she truly appeared before them, she transformed into something akin to an inkstone, dense with the darkness of night, too profound to be diluted. All their focused, lost gazes seemed to fall into the unique silence of her mystery.
"...Who is she?"
With an unfamiliar face and an unparalleled aura, her existence instantly became the object of their urgent need to understand and focus upon. The black hole gradually shrank and finally dissipated, while the woman in black, ignoring the turbulent, demonic realm of the blood sea in the sky, descended into the air with serene composure.
She was even… holding a child?
Yes, in the crook of her arm, a child clung to her slender neck.
"Abbess Huiming, I will borrow the Demon-Breaking Arrow for a moment. In exchange, I will ensure your safe departure from this place."
The woman's leisurely and cool voice echoed from the sky. She was no longer the intentionally softened maiden's voice from before, but rather like sparse woods, like faint moonlight, possessing a detached tone that was unrestrained and capricious. It was as if she did not place them, these people, in her eyes, yet she did not treat their existence with contempt or indifference, brimming with an unfathomable, peculiar contradiction.
Abbess Huiming did not initially recognize the woman in black who could tear through the void. Even when she saw the child she carried, she only had a vague notion that this mysterious woman in black might be here to save them. She was powerful, and she even dared to bring a child to face all this…
But when she heard the familiar tone and the mention of the "Demon-Breaking Arrow," her mind suddenly exploded. A flash of inspiration cleared the fog from her vision. Her heart pounded a few times, and she blurted out, "Hua—Hua Mi?!"
The exclamation, due to her overwhelming surprise, lacked volume control, so everyone who should have heard it did.
Hua Mi?
Wasn't that the young girl from Hua City who entered the underground palace to retrieve the Demon-Breaking Arrow? She didn't look like this at all. But why was Abbess Huiming calling this woman in black "Hua Mi"? What was going on?
Gu Junshi knew Abbess Huiming had recognized her, and she was the only one who did. Her monastic name was Huiming, which indeed meant wise insight. If it weren't for Li Sheng's assurance and plea at the time, Abbess Huiming would likely not have allowed her into the underground palace, even though she had beforehand adopted a highly trustworthy and seemingly foolproof identity. However, this did not dispel Abbess Huiming's wariness. It seemed she had been particularly guarded against her from the start, as if she possessed something that made her apprehensive and avoidant.
Gu Junshi did not intend to correct her appellation. "Abbess Huiming, your Compassion City harbors nearly a city's worth of blood slave corpses. Are you aware of this?"
Abbess Huiming shuddered, staring at her in disbelief.
Gu Junshi retrieved the "Demon-Breaking Arrow" from her consciousness space. The "Demon-Breaking Arrow" now appeared as a golden, ancient bronze-colored bow. It had only a bow body and no string, resembling an incomplete longbow.
"It seems you are aware, and you permitted this action."
Because of the wisp of contaminated aura stolen from Cheng Hong's fiery dantian, she was not currently experiencing the strong repulsion of the "Demon-Breaking Arrow." However, when she attempted to activate its inherent power, the defiant, struggling holy power that backlashed burned her palm.
Gu Junshi's words were like a bombshell hurled from the sky, exploding and causing confusion in everyone's minds.
"What do you mean? Those blood slave corpses, the anomalies in the city, and the bloodthirsty frenzy that swept through the city were not accidental?!" Abbess Xianzhi's face changed drastically. She grabbed the somewhat dazed Abbess Huiming and questioned her with anger, "You know, how could you know?"
Abbess Huiming regained her senses. Her face, usually calm and composed in all situations, could no longer maintain its previous peace. Her expression was troubled and regretful, mixed with the shame of being exposed. She tried hard to explain but was momentarily speechless. Could she say that in her good intentions, she wanted to suppress the tormented, resentful souls of those who had died under Compassion City, allowing them to be appeased through incense and scripture, rather than being used and destroyed by the ill-intentioned individuals from Fengdu Ghost City? But she had never expected that this time, she would bring near-destruction upon the entire Compassion City.
"Why don't you explain? Huiming, oh Huiming, you were wise your entire life, but foolish in this moment." Abbess Xianzhi released her, shaking her head with a bitter smile. With a change of thought, she could also understand Abbess Huiming's reasons for acting as she did. However, the consequences had already been reaped, and she was undeniably responsible. Because of her stubbornness, look at the results she had caused.
"Abbess Huiming, now you understand. Sometimes, determining whether something is good or bad is not based on inner kindness or malice, but on the outcome it produces. Who incited you to accept these blood slave corpses? Was he good or evil, can you distinguish?"
Abbess Huiming felt as if struck by lightning, her pupils trembling violently.
"Rong City..."
"Rong City?!" Abbess Xianzhi, who had been closely observing Abbess Huiming's reaction, naturally did not miss her muttered whisper. Her mention of Rong City reminded her of an envoy from Rong City who had a private conversation with Abbess Huiming about a year ago. They knew about it but did not participate, as Abbess Huiming, who was more adept at interpersonal relations, always handled Compassion City's external affairs. They were more involved in managing Compassion City's internal affairs and focusing on Buddhist cultivation.
Could it have been then… The blood slaves were corpses discarded by Fengdu Ghost City, initially thrown in some hidden locations, but later discovered wantonly everywhere. They had discussed this matter with Rong City and Hua City. Initially, they sent people to investigate who manufactured these blood slaves, their origins, and their uses. But as the situation became increasingly uncontrollable, as if a vast, bloody conspiracy loomed over their heads, they sent urgent messages seeking assistance from the supervisory immortal sects.
However, they had not expected that just as they were preparing to thoroughly investigate the matter, Compassion City would suffer such terrible and horrific retaliation. If this matter was related to Rong City, no, this matter must have a significant connection to Rong City. Those blood slave corpses were inherently time bombs. Over many years, they would be infected by the dying energy and turn into cadavers, which was unavoidable. The best way to resolve them was to burn them.
But Rong City, with malicious intent, had somehow persuaded Huiming, making her believe that they could be transcended through ordinary means. Subsequently, they were continuously transported and arranged into Compassion City, turning Compassion City into its breeding ground. They were stockpiled here in large quantities, and once they erupted…