After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 86

The Sect’s warship was extremely fast, and in just two days, the familiar, mountain-and-water-surrounded silhouette of Black Water City came into view. However, unlike the prosperity in her memory, Black Water City was now enveloped in an atmosphere of suppression and panic. The city’s great defensive formation was fully activated, spiritual light flickering, and the number of patrolling cultivators on the city walls had doubled, each looking highly stressed.

The warship did not enter the city directly but landed at a temporary camp cleared outside the city. Many cultivators had already gathered there. Besides the disciples from the Profound Cloud Sect who had arrived earlier to take up station and the surviving local family cultivators of Black Water City, banners from neighboring sects like the Azure Water Pavilion and the Heavenly Sword Sect were also visible. Clearly, the matter had alarmed the entire Northern Domain cultivation world.

Elder Mu Yun, acting as the overall commander, immediately entered the main camp tent with the leaders of the various sects and the current City Lord of Black Water City (temporarily appointed by the Deputy City Lord after the destruction of the Zhao family) to discuss countermeasures. Ye Li and the other disciples were arranged to rest and await orders.

The moment Ye Li stepped off the flying boat, she keenly sensed several hidden gazes falling upon her. One of them was filled with resentment, clearly coming from Gao Sheng. Without changing her expression, she found a secluded corner and quietly let her spiritual sense spread out, gathering various pieces of information within the camp.

“Did you hear? The Zhao family died terribly; the entire manor was stained with blood, and not a single person was left alive!”

“More than that! I heard the corpses were shriveled up, like their essence, blood, and soul had been sucked dry!”

“It must be the demonic creature that escaped from that ancient tomb! That demonic energy makes people feel uneasy even dozens of miles away!”

“A few Spiritual Mansion realm seniors went to scout the outskirts of Soul Burying Mountain yesterday and were nearly ambushed by a bizarre black shadow…”

“Now all the major sects have sent people. It’s a race to see who can find the demonic creature first, or… who can get into that ancient tomb first.”

Amidst the discussions, panic and greed were intertwined. The lure of the ancient tomb was immense, but the ferocity of the demonic creature was even more terrifying.

Ye Li noticed that Qin Yixuan and the Azure Water Pavilion disciples were settling down on the other side of the camp, maintaining a deliberate distance from the Profound Cloud Sect. Gao Sheng, on the other hand, had a brief, covert interaction with a few cold-aura, rogue-cultivator-looking individuals, but it did not escape Ye Li’s perception.

“Sure enough, something is amiss,” Ye Li sneered inwardly. Gao Sheng’s eagerness to come here was definitely not just for the sake of eliminating demons and defending the righteous path.

In the evening, Elder Mu Yun gathered all the disciples involved in the mission to assign initial tasks. Given the unknown situation of the ancient tomb and the elusive nature of the demonic creature, it was decided to send out several elite small teams for separate actions:

• • Team One: Led by Elder Ling Yunzi and Sword Peak disciples, would directly enter the Soul Burying Mountain Range to search for the main demonic force and scout the ancient tomb entrance.

• • Team Two: Led by Elder Miao Yin and disciples from Danxia Peak, along with some disciples skilled in formations, would be responsible for stabilizing Black Water City’s defense, treating the wounded, and attempting to purify the pervasive demonic energy.

• • Team Three: A mixed squad led by several Spiritual Mansion realm core disciples, would patrol the areas surrounding Black Water City, clear out any low-level demonic creatures that might have dispersed, and investigate more clues regarding the Zhao family annihilation.

Ye Li was assigned to Team Three. Coincidentally, the leader of her squad was none other than Gao Sheng! The team members also included two other War Maniac Peak disciples, one Artifact Hall disciple, and one Beast Taming Peak disciple. This arrangement, while seemingly reasonable (Gao Sheng was strong and experienced), was in fact full of malice, clearly intended to place Ye Li under his direct control.

Gao Sheng looked at Ye Li and said with a fake smile, “Junior Sister Ye, this trip is dangerous. You must follow your Senior Brother closely and never act rashly, lest you run into trouble.” The threat in his words was unmistakable.

Ye Li maintained a poker face and replied calmly, “Senior Brother Gao worries too much. Ye Li will naturally be careful.”

Her vigilance rose to its peak, but she did not back down. Such blatant targeting was easier to guard against than a conspiracy conducted in secret.

Just as the team was about to depart, three travel-worn rogue cultivators arrived outside the camp. Two men and one woman, all around the mid-stage Coagulation Meridian realm, claimed to have heard about the demonic creature’s rampage and offered to help, requesting to join the patrol team. The leader was a middle-aged man with a simple, honest face, carrying a medicine basket on his back.

The guard disciple was about to turn them away, but Ye Li’s heart stirred. Her spiritual sense swept over the three, and though they were well-disguised, Ye Li recognized their identities from subtle habits and aura fluctuations—they were Lin Feng, Xia Zhihe, and Sun Xiaohou, expertly disguised!

She immediately understood that Lin Feng and the others, worried about her venturing out alone, had violated the “deep cover” order and risked coming to support her! Although their action was reckless, this show of loyalty warmed Ye Li’s heart.

She stepped forward and spoke to the Spiritual Mansion realm supervisor handling the registration: “Senior Uncle Wang, this is a time of need. Since these three fellow cultivators are willing, why not incorporate them into our squad? It will be an extra force.” As an elite disciple, her words carried some weight.

Supervisor Wang looked at Ye Li, then at the three seemingly reliable rogue cultivators, and nodded, “Very well. Then, Junior Niece Ye, you are responsible for introducing them to Junior Nephew Gao, and they will be incorporated into your squad.”

Gao Sheng frowned, wanting to refuse, but couldn’t find a suitable reason immediately. He could only let out a cold snort, giving his silent consent. He sized up Lin Feng and the three others, saw no flaws in their disguise, and stopped paying attention. In his eyes, three mid-stage Coagulation Meridian rogue cultivators were not capable of causing much trouble.

Thus, Lin Feng and the others successfully infiltrated the squad. In the momentary exchange of glances with Ye Li, they each saw the determination in the other’s eyes.

The patrol mission began. The squad traveled on a flying artifact, flying at a low altitude along the outer perimeter of Black Water City. Gao Sheng was clearly not focused on the task, going through the motions and spending most of his time meditating, seemingly waiting for something. The two War Maniac Peak disciples subtly separated Ye Li and Lin Feng’s group, forming a silent cordon of surveillance.

Ye Li paid them no mind, taking the opportunity instead to meticulously observe the ground. The Zhao family annihilation was full of doubts, and she didn’t believe it was merely the work of a demonic creature.

As they flew over an abandoned mine area, Sun Xiaohou (disguised as a skinny man) suddenly pointed at a hidden ravine below and whispered, “Captain, there are faint energy fluctuations down there, looks like traces of a formation!”

Gao Sheng opened his eyes lazily. His spiritual sense swept over the area, finding nothing abnormal. Impatiently, he said, “What could a deserted mine pit have? Stop making a fuss…”

However, Ye Li’s spiritual sense keenly captured an extremely subtle residue of demonic energy, which originated from the same source as the ancient tomb! She immediately spoke up, “Senior Brother Gao, caution is better than regret. Why don’t we go down and take a look?”

Gao Sheng initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Ye Li’s insistence and the curiosity shown by the Artifact Hall and Beast Taming Peak disciples, he had no choice but to agree: “Fine, let’s go down and check. Make it quick!”

The artifact landed in the ravine, which indeed housed a defunct spirit stone mine, its entrance half-hidden by rubble. The lingering demonic energy was definitely coming from deep within the mine.

Gao Sheng signaled one of the War Maniac Peak disciples to scout ahead. The disciple had barely stepped into the mine tunnel when a scream suddenly erupted! Immediately after, several black shadows rushed out of the cave like ghosts, bringing with them a foul wind and fierce attacks!

They were “Cave Demon Spiders” that had been corroded and mutated by demonic energy, their strength comparable to the late-stage Coagulation Meridian realm!

“Be careful!” Ye Li was prepared. Her Mystic Ice Sword instantly unsheathed, and a cold sword light slashed towards the first spider. At the same time, she shouted, “Form the defense array!”

Lin Feng and the other two reacted quickly, instantly moving closer to Ye Li. Their four auras were subtly connected, forming a small Four Symbols Battle Array (a combined attack technique Ye Li had taught them in advance). Xia Zhihe scattered demon-repelling medicine powder, Lin Feng met the enemy with his blade, and Sun Xiaohou used his flexible footwork to skirmish and sneak attack.

Gao Sheng and the other two War Maniac Peak disciples were caught off guard by the ambush and struggled to fight back, appearing somewhat flustered. The Artifact Hall disciple and the Beast Taming Peak disciple also deployed their respective means to battle the demon spiders.

The mine entrance was narrow. Though the demon spiders were few, they were extremely ferocious. Ye Li’s squad of four, especially Ye Li, fought with excellent coordination. Her swordsmanship was sharp, each strike aiming for the spiders’ weak points, and they quickly slew two. In contrast, Gao Sheng’s side, despite individually being stronger, lacked coordination and were forced into a somewhat embarrassing retreat by the demon spiders.

Seeing Ye Li’s excellent performance, Gao Sheng’s jealousy flared. A vicious look flashed in his eyes. While blocking an attack from a demon spider, he seemed to inadvertently kick his foot. A sharp stone, carrying a fierce force, shot towards Xia Zhihe’s back, who was focused on fighting her opponent!

This sneak attack was utterly insidious! If hit, Xia Zhihe would be severely injured, if not killed!

“Zhihe, look out!” Ye Li had been keeping a portion of her attention on Gao Sheng. Seeing the attack, she roared in anger. Her Universe Trace-less Steps instantly activated, her body moving like lightning. In the blink of an eye, she shielded Xia Zhihe’s back. The Mystic Ice Sword instantly flicked backward, shattering the stone fragment!

But in the very instant she was distracted to perform the rescue, a demon spider’s sharp claw struck at her side!

“Pavilion Master!” Lin Feng’s eyes were wide with shock, too late to help!

In this split-second crisis, as if having eyes in the back of her head, Ye Li twisted her body at an impossible angle, narrowly dodging the claw. At the same time, she pointed her left fingers like a sword, executing the Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger—Ice Trace! It struck faster than the spider, accurately hitting the monster’s compound eye!

Pfft! The demon spider let out a mournful shriek, its movements instantly freezing!

Ye Li didn’t stop. Her Mystic Ice Sword swung around, and a single strike severed its head!

In a flash of lightning, she neutralized the danger and counter-killed the demon creature! This series of actions was smooth and flowing, showcasing astonishing combat awareness and skill!

Everyone was stunned by this display! The Artifact Hall and Beast Taming Peak disciples looked at Ye Li with respect. Gao Sheng’s face, however, turned utterly grim.

The remaining demon spiders were quickly cleared out. After the battle, the team discovered a simple altar deep within the mine tunnel. It was stained with a strong scent of blood and demonic energy, and scattered with a few broken, black bones inscribed with bizarre runes.

“It’s a man-made blood sacrifice summoning point!” The Artifact Hall disciple, who was quite knowledgeable, exclaimed in horror. “Someone is deliberately summoning or attracting demonic creatures!”

Gao Sheng’s expression shifted slightly. He immediately said, “This place is not safe. We must report this finding to the elders immediately!” He seemed anxious to leave quickly, perhaps to conceal something.

Ye Li took a long, meaningful look at the altar and the unnaturally pale Gao Sheng. She said nothing, only silently placing a relatively intact rune-inscribed black bone into her storage ring. She knew the truth behind the Zhao family annihilation was far more complicated than imagined. And Gao Sheng was definitely involved!

Although small in scale, this encounter battle and the outstanding performance and seamless coordination of Ye Li and her “rogue cultivators” left a deep impression on the Artifact Hall and Beast Taming Peak disciples in the same team. The news that “Ye Li and her three rogue cultivator friends are very formidable” began to circulate in a small circle. Unbeknownst to many, those three “rogue cultivators” were the core members of the Silent Pavilion.

The name of the Silent Pavilion, though not officially revealed, had quietly displayed its formidable strength amidst the mist of Black Water City. And the conflict between Ye Li and Gao Sheng, amplified by this minor skirmish, was about to escalate toward a final, complete eruption.