After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 87

The Unveiling of Conspiracy

The discovery of the blood sacrifice altar deep within the mine tunnels, like a giant rock cast into a dark current, made the already confusing situation in Blackwater City even more treacherous. Ye Li’s team quickly reported the situation, immediately causing a shock among the high-level personnel.

Elder Muyun personally led a team to inspect the site and confirmed that the runes and black bones used on the altar were indeed remnants of an ancient, long-lost evil ritual used to communicate with the abyssal demonic energy. This suggested that the Zhao family massacre was highly likely not a simple demonic creature riot, but a premeditated bloody sacrifice orchestrated through internal and external collusion! The goal was perhaps to weaken the ancient tomb’s seal or summon a more powerful entity!

This news sobered the leaders of all the sects, and the atmosphere in the encampment grew tenser. New priorities were set: purging internal spies and tracing the source of the evil cultivators. When reporting, Gao Sheng took most of the credit for discovering the altar, downplaying the contributions of Ye Li and her teammates. However, Elder Muyun was no ordinary person; he had already discerned the truth from the subtle remarks of the disciples from the Artifact Hall and the Beast Taming Peak, but chose to remain silent for the time being.

The nature of the mission changed. The patrol teams were recalled, replaced by teams led personally by the Elders, who began a comprehensive search of Blackwater City and its surroundings, focusing on screening unfamiliar cultivators and suspicious individuals who had recently appeared.

The temporary rest allowed Ye Li time to organize her thoughts. She carefully studied the black bone she had collected, finding its texture to be neither metal nor wood, but incredibly hard. Although the runes on it were broken, they faintly emitted a chilling sense of resentment and spatial fluctuation. She tried to probe it with her divine sense but was repelled by a cold power. Even the fragment of the Samsara Mirror gave off a faint warning.

“This bone… is not simple.” Ye Li carefully put it away. It could be an important clue in tracing the “Shadow Demon” faction.

The Great Eruption

However, a greater upheaval was yet to come. Late one night three days later, earth-shattering noises suddenly erupted from the direction of the Buried Soul Mountain Range. Demonic energy shot into the sky, staining half of it ink-black! This was immediately followed by Elder Ling Yunzi’s urgent transmission: the outer seal of the ancient tomb had been forcibly breached from within by a powerful force, and a large number of demonic creatures were pouring out, including a demonic general at the peak of the Soul Establishment stage! The scout teams were scattered, suffering heavy losses, and urgently needed reinforcement!

The entire encampment exploded into action! All standby disciples, led by the Elders, rushed to the Buried Soul Mountain!

Ye Li followed the support team led by Elder Muyun, charging into the mountain range filled with demonic energy. Along the way, they could see traces of fierce battles: broken weapons, scorched earth, and scattered corpses of cultivators and demonic creatures—a tragic scene.

When they arrived at the valley where the ancient tomb entrance was located, the sight was even more shocking. A giant black hole, like the gaping maw of a demon, had appeared on the mountainside, spewing thick, substantial demonic energy. Inside the valley, cultivators from various sects were locked in a desperate, bloody battle against a tide of demonic creatures! The light of swords, thunder, fire, and exploding talismans intertwined with the roars of the demons; people were falling every moment.

“Form up! Block the demonic creatures! The Nascent Soul stage Grand Elder has already gone to pursue that demon!” Elder Ling Yunzi, covered in blood, shouted orders as his sword aura crisscrossed the air.

Ye Li immediately spotted Qin Yixuan, who stood out in the battle. She was surrounded by a faint blue water light, with the Azure Sea Bright Moon Pearl hovering above her head, casting beams of clear light that dissolved the demonic creatures in its path. However, her face was also pale, clearly indicating massive consumption of energy.

“Kill!” With Elder Muyun’s command, the support team immediately joined the battle.

Ye Li unsheathed her Profound Ice Sword, executing the ‘Star Silence’ sword technique without reservation! The extreme cold sword aura, infused with the power of the stars, was terrifyingly effective in this large-scale melee. Often, a single swing of her sword could freeze and clear a small area of low-level demonic creatures. She moved like the god of death on the battlefield, efficiently and coldly reaping the lives of the demons.

Lin Feng, Xia Zhihe, and Sun Xiaohou stayed close to her side. The four-person battle formation, like an indestructible flat boat in the chaotic battlefield, provided mutual support and exhibited a combat power far exceeding their individual capabilities. Lin Feng’s ‘Ice Heart Formula’ kept him calm at all times for precise tactical support; Xia Zhihe’s elixirs timely replenished their consumption; and Sun Xiaohou’s ‘Phantom Concealment Technique’ allowed him to easily evade the main attacks of the demons and launch sneak attacks on the stronger ones.

Their outstanding performance quickly drew the attention of the surrounding cultivators. Especially Ye Li—her terrifying lethality and extremely calm fighting style made many seasoned inner-door disciples feel ashamed of their inferiority.

“Is that Ye Li? How is she so strong!”

“Those three rogue cultivators next to her are not simple either! Their coordination is too seamless!”

“I heard they are her trusted aides? What was the name… Hidden Pavilion (You Ge)?”

The name “Hidden Pavilion” (You Ge) first entered the ears of some Xuan Yun Sect disciples, circulating in a small area amidst this brutal battlefield.

The Price of Growth

However, the cruelty of war far exceeded imagination. The demonic creatures seemed endless, with many formidable elites mixed in. A female disciple of the Azure Water Pavilion was carelessly ambushed by a stealthy Soul Establishment stage Shadow Demon and tragically perished. A Heavenly Sword Sect disciple, in order to cover his sect brothers, detonated his Golden Core, perishing along with several demonic creatures.

Ye Li’s team also faced a crisis. A savage Demonic Bear at the mid-Soul Establishment stage targeted them, breaking through the formation. Its massive paw struck with destructive force toward the weakest member, Sun Xiaohou!

“Xiaohou!” Ye Li’s eyes were tearing, but she was entangled by several other demonic creatures and unable to help!

Lin Feng roared, disregarding his own safety, and swung his saber to meet the Demonic Bear head-on! But he was only at the Meridian Condensation stage; how could he withstand a furious blow from a Soul Establishment stage demon?

“Clang!” With a loud noise, the long saber in Lin Feng’s hand shattered inch by inch. He spat out blood and flew backward, his aura instantly plummeting!

Xia Zhihe rushed forward to treat him, while Sun Xiaohou narrowly dodged the fatal blow with his movement technique, though he was drenched in cold sweat.

Seeing the Demonic Bear charge again, a trace of madness flashed in Ye Li’s eyes. The power of the Star Core in her body was once again activated! The ultimate transformation of ‘Star Silence’—Starfall!

She merged with her sword, transforming into a brilliant meteor, carrying an indomitable, resolute momentum, instantly piercing through the bear’s enormous body!

Boom! The Demonic Bear froze, and then countless star-blue sword auras burst from within, and it collapsed to the ground!

A single strike annihilated a mid-Soul Establishment stage demonic creature! This scene shocked the entire battlefield! Even Qin Yixuan cast a look of astonishment.

Ye Li landed, her face pale, her breathing disordered. This one strike had almost drained most of her spiritual power. But she ignored the need for rest and rushed to Lin Feng’s side.

Xia Zhihe was treating him with all her might, her expression grave: “Brother Lin’s meridians are severely damaged, and his Golden Core has a crack. He must be immediately sent back to the camp for rest, or there is a risk of his cultivation stage dropping!”

Ye Li’s heart sank. Casualties had finally occurred! Although Lin Feng had survived, he was critically wounded and needed a long time to recover. This was the inadequacy of their small faction; facing truly strong opponents, the people around her were still vulnerable.

Into the Ancient Tomb

Just then, a world-shaking demonic roar came from the ancient tomb entrance. The aura of the Nascent Soul stage Grand Elder rapidly retreated, seemingly pursuing something that had left. Concurrently, the demonic energy at the tomb entrance significantly weakened.

“The demon leader has been lured away by the Grand Elder! The seal breach is temporarily stable! All disciples, follow me and charge in to eliminate the remaining demonic creatures and explore the ancient tomb!” Elder Muyun seized the opportunity and shouted the command.

An opportunity! A sharp glint flashed in Ye Li’s eyes. Inside the ancient tomb, there might be spiritual medicine that could save Lin Feng, and the truth she sought!

She looked at Xia Zhihe and Sun Xiaohou: “You two immediately escort Lin Feng back to the camp for treatment! This is an order!”

“Pavilion Master! What about you?” Xia Zhihe anxiously asked.

“I’m going in to take a look!” Ye Li’s tone was firm. “Don’t worry, I have the power to protect myself.” She gave most of her healing elixirs to Xia Zhihe, then turned and, without hesitation, plunged into the bottomless ancient tomb entrance with the flow of people.

Sun Xiaohou looked at Ye Li’s determined back, gritted his teeth, hoisted Lin Feng onto his back, and broke through the encirclement with Xia Zhihe.

Entering the ancient tomb revealed a different world. The passages were intricate and complex, with residual restrictions and wandering demonic creatures everywhere. The disciples of the various sects quickly dispersed, each searching for opportunities.

Relying on her powerful divine sense and understanding of formations and restrictions, Ye Li avoided danger and ventured deep. In a secluded side hall, she discovered the remains of a seated ancient cultivator, with a jade slip and a cold jade box scattered nearby.

The jade slip recorded the cultivator’s identity: an outer-door steward of the Ice Soul Profound Palace, who had sat in meditation here after being severely wounded and unable to retreat in time. The end of the jade slip mentioned that he was once ordered to guard a treasure called the “Soul Stabilizing Pearl”, which had the miraculous effect of nourishing the soul and stabilizing the Golden Core.

Ye Li immediately opened the cold jade box, and inside was indeed a pearl the size of a longan, emitting a soft white light—the Soul Stabilizing Pearl! It was exactly what was urgently needed to save Lin Feng!

She carefully put away the Soul Stabilizing Pearl and the jade slip. This adventure was worth it!

Another Crisis

However, as she prepared to leave the side hall, a cold, sinister aura locked onto her. Gao Sheng, accompanied by the two Battle Maniac Peak disciples, blocked the doorway, their faces revealing undisguised murderous intent and greed.

“Ye Li, hand over what you got inside! Then, obediently accept death!” Gao Sheng sneered, his peak late-Soul Establishment stage pressure erupting fully. “This time, let’s see who can save you!”

The bloody battle had yielded a treasure like the Soul Stabilizing Pearl, but it came at the cost of Lin Feng’s severe injury. And now, an even greater crisis had descended. Ye Li faces the siege of Gao Sheng and his two allies alone, her situation precarious. Can she once again turn the tide from desperation? What are the secrets deep within the ancient tomb? All this will be revealed in the ensuing life-or-death struggle.