After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 103

The company traveled swiftly across the vast, snowy plain, eager to return home but treading as if on thin ice. Several days of non-stop travel, even for cultivators, was a tremendous drain. The wounded needed stabilizing, the captives required guarding, and, more importantly, a shadow of fear loomed in everyone’s hearts: the specter of the Shadow Demons’ retaliation and the potential presence of a trap within their own sect.

Elder Muyun Jushi and the Elder of the Azure Water Pavilion maintained a high level of vigilance, their divine senses extending as far as possible, searching for any unusual fluctuations. Ye Li and Qin Yixuan were arranged in the safest position in the center of the formation, yet they dared not relax. Having experienced life and death in the Mysterious Palace, they knew better than anyone the viciousness and strength of the hidden enemy.

As she traveled, Ye Li dedicated a portion of her focus to comprehending the “Ice Emperor’s Heaven Sealing Art” and familiarizing herself with the new abilities of the Mirror of Reincarnation fragment. With her improved cultivation, her control over power was more refined. She experimented with combining the sealing power of the “Frost Condensation Finger” with the “Boundless Universe Traceless Steps,” making her movement more ethereal and incorporating a retarding effect on opponents. Concurrently, she began to formulate how to integrate the “Ice Emperor’s Protection” into her defensive system.

Qin Yixuan silently absorbed the profound principles of the upper half of the “Nine Heavens Profound Water Scripture.” The complete version of the technique elevated her understanding of the Water Dao to an entirely new level, making her spiritual energy flow smoother and her recovery speed faster. She even faintly touched the threshold of converting the power of water into a life-nourishing energy, which held miraculous efficacy for healing injuries. Occasionally, she would look at Ye Li, who was deep in thought beside her, and the subtle bond that had formed between them through their shared life-and-death experience grew ever clearer.

On this day, the group finally reached the edge of the Burial Soul Mountain Range. Only the last treacherous Ice Wind Gorge remained before they could leave this frozen wasteland. Beyond this gorge lay the relatively safe Northern Plains.

Ice Wind Gorge, as its name suggested, was a narrow passage flanked by ten-thousand-foot ice cliffs. It was perpetually ravaged by blustery winds as sharp as knives. Those with weaker cultivation could be frozen to death or torn apart. The gorge entrance was cluttered with jagged rocks, making the terrain complex.

Standing at the gorge entrance, Elder Muyun Jushi’s brows were tightly furrowed. He raised a hand, signaling the team to stop. He keenly sensed that the aura of the place was slightly abnormal. The sound of the wind seemed sharper than he remembered, and the air was permeated with a faint, almost imperceptible trace of malevolent energy.

“Be careful, there might be an ambush in the gorge,” Elder Muyun transmitted gravely. Simultaneously, he formed a hand seal, sending an invisible detection ripple into the gorge.

The Azure Water Pavilion Elder also summoned a water mirror, whose light shone into the gorge, attempting to reflect any hidden dangers.

Ye Li and Qin Yixuan instantly entered a state of readiness, spiritual energy surging and weapons in hand.

However, just as the detection ripple and the water mirror’s light were about to penetrate deep into the gorge—

“BOOM!!!”

With a thunderous crash, the ice cliffs on both sides of the gorge entrance exploded! Countless massive chunks of ice, carrying the momentum of a landslide, rained down upon the group! Simultaneously, dozens of shadowy figures burst forth from behind the shattered ice cliffs and from beneath the accumulated snow! A thick Shadow Demon Qi instantly spread, engulfing the entire gorge entrance!

“Enemy attack! Form up for defense!” Elder Muyun roared. With a sweep of his sleeve, a colossal spiritual energy light barrier rose, deflecting most of the falling rocks. The Azure Water Pavilion Elder’s water mirror instantly magnified, transforming into a flowing, water-wave barrier, protecting the other side.

But the attackers were clearly prepared and incredibly strong! The aura of the two figures leading the assault was terrifying, like a deep abyss!

One of them was clad in a black cloak, his face sinister, his eyes savage, and his body enveloped in a furious battle intent and malevolent energy. It was none other than the Peak Master of the Battle Maniac Peak—Situ Kuang!

The other was completely shrouded in a distorted black shadow, his face indiscernible, save for a pair of emotionless eyes. His aura was chillingly sinister, many times stronger than the Shadow Demon Emissary they had encountered in the Mysterious Palace before! This was clearly a Shadow Demon General who had reached the Core Formation (Yuan Dan) realm!

“Situ Kuang! It really is you!” Seeing Situ Kuang, Elder Muyun’s eyes blazed with fury. “How dare you collude with the Shadow Demons and betray the sect!”

“Betrayal?” Situ Kuang sneered, his voice grating like metal. “Old man Muyun, only the sensible are heroes! The Profound Cloud Sect has long been stagnant and corrupt! Only by following the Lord of the Shadow Purgatory can one gain true power and supreme authority! Today is your day of doom!”

His gaze, filled with greed and resentment, locked onto Ye Li: “You little wretch! You’ve ruined my plans repeatedly and even killed my disciple Gao Sheng (he believed Gao Sheng was dead). Today, I will extract your soul and refine your spirit to vent the hatred in my heart! And the Mirror of Reincarnation fragment on you—hand it over too!”

Before his words fully landed, Situ Kuang attacked! His figure swelled, and he punched out. The savage fist intent condensed into a roaring Blood-Colored Giant Tiger, tearing through the air and charging directly at Elder Muyun! He intended to eliminate this greatest obstacle first!

The Core Formation realm Shadow Demon General let out a piercing shriek, his figure vanishing like a phantom. The next moment, he reappeared in the center of the formation, his target pointed squarely at Ye Li! A massive claw, condensed from pure shadow, descended upon her head, carrying a terrifying force capable of corroding the soul and freezing spiritual energy! Its speed far exceeded the reaction limit of a Spirit Mansion (Ling Fu) realm cultivator!

“Ye Li, watch out!” Elder Muyun was completely entangled by Situ Kuang and could not lend aid, only shouting anxiously.

The Azure Water Pavilion Elder was also besieged by several other powerful Shadow Demon masters, unable to assist immediately.

The other disciples of the Profound Cloud Sect and the Azure Water Pavilion were locked in combat with the emerging Shadow Demon cultivators, and the scene instantly plunged into extreme chaos!

The aura of death instantly enveloped Ye Li!

Facing the Core Formation realm Shadow Demon General’s fatal strike, Ye Li felt an unprecedented threat of death! The absolute disparity in cultivation made it extremely difficult for her even to dodge! Her pupils constricted, spiritual energy furiously burning within her. She pushed the “Boundless Universe Traceless Steps” to its limit, trying to retreat rapidly. Simultaneously, the Profound Ice Sword parried in front of her. The defensive divine ability of the “Ice Emperor’s Heaven Sealing Art,” the “Ice Emperor’s Protection,” was instantly activated, and a thick, icy crystal shield, inscribed with sealing runes, appeared before her!

However, the gap between the Core Formation realm and the Spirit Mansion realm was too vast! Before the shadowy giant claw even touched the shield, the terrifying pressure caused the icy crystal shield to emit sounds of unbearable cracking! Ye Li even felt her soul being frozen by that chilling aura!

In this critical moment!

“Don’t you dare hurt her!”

A clear, cold cry rang out! A figure in azure blue, without hesitation, stepped in front of Ye Li!

It was Qin Yixuan!

She didn’t even have time to cast any complex spells. She instinctively concentrated the power of the “Nine Heavens Profound Water Scripture” she had just begun to comprehend, along with the faint, dormant Sacred Origin and the full might of the Vast Ocean Bright Moon Pearl, in front of her. It materialized as a water-wave mirror that looked gentle but contained the true essence of the softest, most resilient water!

“Profound Water True Mirror, Reflect All Arts!”

This was an extremely profound defensive divine ability recorded in the upper half of the “Nine Heavens Profound Water Scripture.” She hadn’t even fully mastered it; she was only able to unleash it now purely by the conviction to protect!

“CRASH—!!!”

The shadowy giant claw smashed fiercely onto the water-wave mirror!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a grinding, corrosive sound that set teeth on edge! The water-wave mirror violently vibrated, instantly becoming covered in cracks! Qin Yixuan suffered a devastating blow. Blood spewed from her mouth as if without cost, staining the white snow in front of her. Her face instantly turned as pale as paper, and her aura rapidly dwindled like a flickering candle in the wind!

Yet, the shadowy giant claw, which could have instantly killed a peak Spirit Mansion realm cultivator, was indeed blocked by this hastily condensed mirror for the most part! The residual force pierced the mirror, slamming into Qin Yixuan’s body, sending her flying like a kite with a broken string. She crashed heavily into the snow some distance away, her life hanging in the balance!

“Senior Sister Qin!!!”

Ye Li watched helplessly as Qin Yixuan took a blow from a Core Formation realm powerhouse to save her. In that moment, her heart felt as if it were being fiercely squeezed by an invisible hand, almost stopping its beat! An unprecedented surge of fury, heartache, and overwhelming killing intent erupted from the depths of her soul like a volcanic explosion!

She had been betrayed by a trusted friend in her previous life and had perished. In this life, she had finally met someone she could entrust her back to, someone who could create ripples in her cold heart, only to watch her take a fatal blow for her sake again?!

No! Absolutely not!

“AH—!!!”

Ye Li let out a heart-wrenching shriek, her eyes instantly turning blood-red! The Mirror of Reincarnation fragment in her Sea of Consciousness felt its master’s extreme emotional fluctuation, erupting with an unprecedented, brilliant blue light!

“You! All! Deserve! To! Die!”

She held nothing back! Her peak middle Spirit Mansion realm cultivation exploded completely! The power of the “Profound Universe Imperial Scripture” and the “Ice Emperor’s Heaven Sealing Art” forcibly merged in an unprecedented manner! Upon the Profound Ice Sword, a deep blue icy chill interwove with the intent of star-annihilation, and streaks of golden, primordial runes belonging to the Mirror of Reincarnation surfaced!

“Time and Space… Stagnation!”

She recklessly burned her soul origin, forcibly activating this forbidden power once more! Although the range was still limited to a few zhang around her, this time, due to the integration of the Mirror of Reincarnation fragment and the impetus of her extreme emotions, the effect was a notch stronger!

The Core Formation realm Shadow Demon General was about to continue his attack to completely eliminate Ye Li when he suddenly felt the surrounding space become incredibly viscous. His movements were actually slowed by half a beat! Though this stagnation was incredibly brief for him, almost instantly broken free by his immense power, this fleeting delay was enough!

“Star Annihilation—Ice Emperor’s Heaven Sealing Slash!”

Ye Li merged with her sword, becoming a torrent of ice-blue light that pierced the heavens! This single strike condensed all her power, all her rage, all her killing intent! Wherever the sword light passed, space itself seemed frozen, and thin, black cracks appeared! Within the sword light, a vague, imperial, icy phantom, wearing an imperial crown, faintly emerged, radiating a majesty that seemed to freeze all eternity!

The Shadow Demon General had just broken free from the time-space stagnation when he saw this stunning sword strike, imbued with a sliver of Imperial Intent, slash towards him. For the first time, his eyes showed a look of horror! He hastily condensed Shadow power to defend!

“Schwing—!”

The ice-blue sword light violently collided with the shadow shield! This time, it was no longer a stalemate! The sword strike, infused with the Mirror of Reincarnation’s origin and Ye Li’s ultimate killing intent, tore through the Shadow Demon General’s defense like a hot knife through butter, slashing fiercely across his shadowy body!

“Ugh!” The Shadow Demon General let out a painful groan. A massive gap was sliced open in his shadowy body, and thick Demonic Qi leaked out! He was severely injured!

Though she failed to kill him, wounding a Core Formation realm Shadow Demon General with a peak middle Spirit Mansion realm cultivation was a feat that could shake the entire spiritual world!

“The Mirror of Reincarnation… is formidable indeed! Retreat!” The Shadow Demon General was both shocked and enraged. He gave Ye Li a deep look, as if to etch her image into his soul. He knew that their plan was doomed today. Situ Kuang was also desperately held back by Elder Muyun. If they lingered, they might not be able to leave before reinforcements from the other sects arrived. He made a decisive choice, transforming into a plume of black smoke, snatching up a few subordinates, and instantly vanished into the void.

Seeing the Shadow Demon General retreat and witnessing the terrifying, world-destroying aura emanating from Ye Li, Situ Kuang also felt a chill. Although he was strong, facing Elder Muyun and the potentially erupting Ye Li alone would not end well.

“Muyun! Ye Li! Just you wait! This isn’t over!” Situ Kuang flung a threat, forced Elder Muyun back with a punch, and also fled wretchedly as a streak of bloody light.

With their leaders retreating, the remaining Shadow Demon cultivators scattered like a collapsing sandcastle and were quickly annihilated or captured by the combined forces of the Profound Cloud Sect and the Azure Water Pavilion.

The battle ended, leaving the gorge entrance a bloody, scarred mess.

But Ye Li paid no mind to any of it. Her figure flashed, and she instantly reached where Qin Yixuan had fallen, trembling as she cradled her in her arms.

At this moment, Qin Yixuan’s aura was extremely faint, her face translucently pale, blood continuously spilling from her lips, and her body cold. Even though her divine ability had countered most of the Core Formation realm strike, the residual power had nearly destroyed her vitality.

“Senior Sister Qin… Qin Yixuan! Wake up! You are not allowed to die!” Ye Li’s voice was filled with an unprecedented panic and choked emotion. She desperately poured her pure spiritual energy into Qin Yixuan’s body, only to find it sinking like a stone in the ocean. The ominous Shadow Demon power was still relentlessly eroding her heart meridian and soul.

Elder Muyun and the Azure Water Pavilion Elder rushed over, their faces grim when they saw Qin Yixuan’s injuries.

“What vicious Shadow Demon power! It has practically severed her life force!” The Azure Water Pavilion Elder’s voice trembled. She quickly took out the best healing elixir and had Qin Yixuan swallow it, but the effect was minimal.

Ye Li looked at the nearly lifeless Qin Yixuan in her arms, her heart twisted with pain. She suddenly lifted her head, her eyes flashing with a look of frantic determination: “There must be a way! Master, Elder, no matter the cost, I must save her!”

She thought of the Mirror of Reincarnation, of the esoteric runes, of the descriptions of sealing and life within the “Ice Emperor’s Heaven Sealing Art”… A bold and dangerous idea arose in her mind.

No matter what, she would never let Qin Yixuan die because of her! Never!