As time passed, Ding Yuan had unknowingly lived in the Black Bamboo Pavilion for more than half a year. As he watched autumn pass and winter come and spring bloom again, his height also rapidly increased and he was almost as tall as the Immortal Danyan.
After spring, Ding Yuan had successfully passed the Golden Tribulation and entered the Realm of Ascending to the Hall. At this time, he had already controlled his zhenqi to circulate through his meridians, but that zhenqi was still very weak. Ding Yuan had already memorized the "Record of Seeking Knowledge" thoroughly. Now, he was holding the "Poetic Tales of the Poetic Forest" in his hands all day long, but he had also read more than half of it. As for the iron pen he used to practice writing, the ball hanging at the end of the pen was enlarged by half a size. Otherwise, it would not be a problem for Ding Yuan to write ten pages of small words in a morning.
After practicing calligraphy for half a year, Ding Yuan had long grasped the trick and understood the Immortal Danyan's intention. It turned out that with the help of that thick iron brush, Ding Yuan needed to concentrate when writing, and with the help of his dantian, he could control it freely. As long as he was distracted by external things, he would not be able to control his strength. The paper would either be a pool of ink stains or earthworms.
In the past half a year, he did not bring up the topic of leaving. Although he was sometimes indignant about the old Taoist priest, he endured it for the sake of Cuiwei Jiuge. The only fly in the ointment was that no one had come to the Black Bamboo Pavilion for half a year. Most of the time, he and Ah Niu were just staring at each other.
If Ah Niu had a lively temperament, it would be fine, but this guy only knew how to work and practice all day long. Sometimes, Ding Yuan would tease him, but he would only smile foolishly, making it boring for Ding Yuan. When he was really bored, he would sneak out of the Purple Bamboo Forest to play while Ah Niu was not paying attention, and at the same time, he would get some wild game to secretly satisfy his craving.
Although Ah Niu would complain every time, he would not tell the Immortal Danyan. As time passed, Ding Yuan became bolder and often ran to the sky until it was almost dark. However, this did not delay his cultivation progress too much. After all, it was really difficult for him to tie a thirteen-year-old youth to the remote Black Bamboo Pavilion all day.
Ah Niu had been practicing swordsmanship since winter, and the Immortal Dan Yan had taught him the "Thirty-six Billowing Azure Forms" of the Cuixia Sect. It was said that other disciples could start practicing this sword technique in the third year, but this rule did not apply in Black Bamboo Pavilion.
At first, Ding Yuan clamored to learn swordsmanship with Ah Niu, but the Immortal Danyan only said no. Ding Yuan was so angry that he cursed "old antique" and "old stubborn" again, but he no longer begged him. Even when Ah Niu was practicing his sword, he resisted the urge to peek and took a gamble.
It was a sunny day. Ding Yuan was writing three pages in the study. He felt his hand go numb and put down his pen. Feeling bored, he suddenly thought,"That old Taoist priest went out again today, and Ah Niu is also out chopping firewood now. I might as well take the opportunity to sneak out and play." Anyway, I still have thirty-one lines of the incantation that the old Taoist priest taught me that I haven't had time to practice, so I'm not in a hurry to ask him for the rest.”
He did what he wanted and walked down the mountain through the Purple Bamboo Forest. After walking along the quiet path for half an hour, there was a mountain valley in front of them. It was the Flying Waterfall Temple where Luo He lived. Of course, Ding Yuan wouldn't go there. He went around and headed east.
After a while, the sound of flowing water gradually rose. A silver-white waterfall flowed down from a distant mountain ridge, gathering into a deep pool of blue waves on the ground a thousand feet high. Water mist rose and jade beads flew everywhere, like a painting of paradise. Looking up, Luo He's Flying Waterfall Temple was standing majestically on a mountain ridge, bathed in a cloud.
Ding Yuan stood on the rock beside the green pool and took off his clothes. He placed them under the rock and jumped into the pool, leaving only his underpants. It was mid-spring, and the water was still icy cold. Ding Yuan did not feel cold even though his zhenqi was flowing through his body.
There were many fish and prawns playing in the pond. Ding Yuan had come here half a month ago and caught a few fish for lunch. These days, the Immortal Danyan hasn't left the house, and Ding Yuan had to endure it until today before he had the chance to sneak out.
He first took a comfortable bath, then dove into the depths of the pond to swim. Just as he was having fun, he suddenly heard a young girl's impatient voice from the rumbling sound of the waterfall."Senior Brother Zhao, we have arrived at the Blue Ripple Pond. If you have anything to say, say it quickly!”
Ding Yuan recognized Ji Xueyan's voice and was shocked. He felt that it would not be good for her to see him like this. He suddenly remembered that ever since she left in anger, she had not come to Black Bamboo Pavilion again. It had saved him a lot of trouble.
He quietly swam to a huge rock beside the pool and hid behind it. He heard footsteps and two people walking over.
In the thunderous sound of the waterfall hitting the rocks, ordinary people could not hear the subtle sound of footsteps, nor could they hear the words of others. Ding Yuan's internal immortal energy had just reached the initial stage, so his eyes and ears were much smarter than ordinary people.
"Junior Sister Xue, I used to play with you by the Blue Ripple Pond when we were young. We even caught a lot of small shrimps. Do you remember?"”
Ding Yuan felt that this voice was familiar. He suddenly remembered that he was one of the people who beat him up in the Purple Bamboo Forest that day. He could not help but feel a long silence of resentment.
Ji Xueyan snorted and said coldly,""You insisted on inviting me here just to say this?”
Senior Brother Zhao was silent for a while before he said," Of course not. I feel that you've suddenly become much colder to me in the past six months. You don't pay much attention to the other senior brothers either. You only say that you want to concentrate on your cultivation." But many times, I saw you staring into space, secretly blushing.”
"Nonsense!" Ji Xueyan said angrily.”
Senior Brother Zhao sighed." You can't hide it from me. Thanks to Master, we grew up together. I know your temper very well." I know, you must have someone in your heart, right?”
Ding Yuan was curious, thinking that such a fierce little girl would also like someone. He could not help but carefully poke out half of his head and look at the two.
He saw Ji Xueyan sitting on a smooth mountain rock. She had become more and more beautiful after half a year. Her skin was as smooth as ice and her bones were as smooth as jade. She was so charming that Ding Yuan was stunned.
Hearing Senior Brother Zhao's words, Ji Xueyan's snow-white cheeks blushed slightly as she whispered,"Don't make wild guesses. I've never thought of liking anyone.”
"You still want to lie to me?" " Who is that?" Senior Brother Zhao asked angrily." Is it Senior Brother Qi, Junior Brother Wu, Junior Brother Sun, or Senior Brother Li?"”
He recited a long list of names in one breath, but Ji Xueyan only bit her lips and did not say anything.
"Could it be Qu Jiannan?”Senior Brother Zhao refused to give up and continued to ask,"He's the only grandson of Yuexiu Sword Sect's Sect Leader Qu Hen, and he's a handsome boy. During the half a month that I stayed at the Billow Jade Villa, I asked you to spar with me almost every day.”
Ding Yuan thought to himself, This Zhao kid is really strange. Why does he have to ask who I like? So what if he did? It didn't look like it was him anyway. Besides, what's so good about this tigress? She's bossy, unruly, and willful. It's a blessing to stay away from her.”
On the other side, Ji Xueyan still didn't say anything. Her delicate hands gently fiddled with the grass beside the mountain rock, and her bright eyes revealed a trace of confusion.
Senior Brother Zhao thought that he was right and shouted,"It really is him! I, Zhao Zhuoshan, am not as good as him in any way other than my family background, but you don't care that we have been childhood sweethearts for more than ten years, yet you still like that pale-faced scholar?!”
His face was red and his veins were bulging. He looked very terrifying.
Ji Xueyan seemed to have been awakened from her thoughts by his angry roar. Seeing his appearance, she frowned slightly and said,"Don't talk nonsense. Who's your childhood sweetheart? That Qu Jiannan has nothing to do with me. I've even forgotten what he looks like. If you continue to pester me, I'll tell Father!”
Zhao Zhuoshan was overjoyed when he heard Ji Xueyan deny that she liked Qu Jiannan. He didn't think much about it and said,""It's true, Junior Sister Xue, is it true?”
Ji Xueyan glanced at him impatiently, stood up and said,"You should be satisfied now, Senior Brother Zhao.”His voice was even colder than before.
Zhao Zhuoshan looked at Ji Xueyan in a daze and said with a flushed face," I'm sorry, Junior Sister Xue. I just, just-"
Ji Xueyan's heart softened when she saw his happy and sad expression. She sighed faintly and said,"Senior Brother Zhao, I'm no longer a ten-year-old girl. I naturally know your feelings for me. However, I have always treated you as my elder brother. I have no other thoughts. I hope you won't think the wrong way.”
Zhao Zhuoshan was stunned when he heard that. He seemed to be unable to accept it all of a sudden. He was stunned for a long time before he said with difficulty,"Junior Sister Xue, are you saying that your best friend has never liked me?”
"And it's impossible in the future. Who would like their own brother?" Ji Xueyan nodded.”
For some reason, Ding Yuan suddenly thought of the little girl who kept calling him "Brother Ding". She must have forgotten about him now, right? Thinking about it, he was just a grain of sand in the mortal world, or even trash in the eyes of many people. Who would care about him?
What he didn't know was that on the Gathering Cloud Peak, thousands of miles away, there was a little girl who was silently praying in her childish voice for her "Brother Ding" to be safe and sound.
"Impossible!" " You always liked to sneak out with me in the past," Zhao Zhuoshan shouted." Sometimes, you don't even bring Junior Brother Wu and the others. That's impossible!"”
Suddenly, he widened his eyes and stared at Ji Xueyan,"Tell me the truth. You still have someone else in your heart, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have said such heartless words to me!”
Ji Xueyan's expression turned cold as she said indifferently,""Why do you have to force me? Alright, I'll tell you. I do have someone I like in my heart, but this person is neither you nor someone you know. You'll never guess who he is!”
Senior Brother Zhao's face was ashen as he shouted,""Who is he? Even if I have to die, I have to die with an explanation!”
A disgusted expression appeared on Ji Xueyan's face as she turned her head and snorted,""I don't have time to talk nonsense with you. I'm going back. Otherwise, father will definitely scold me if he finds out that I'm missing.”
"Junior Sister Xue!" Seeing that Ji Xueyan was about to leave, Zhao Zhuoshan reached out and grabbed her sleeve in a hurry.
Ji Xueyan's face was as cold as ice as she said coldly,""Senior Brother Zhao, what are you trying to do?"
Zhao Zhuoshan met his cold gaze and felt guilty. He stammered,"I-"
At this moment, everyone clearly heard the sound of six bells ringing in their ears. It was distant and slow.
Ji Xueyan and Zhao Zhuoshan looked surprised at the same time. Zhao Zhuoshan took the opportunity to let go and said,"It's our sect's 'Bronze Sparrow Bell'. It rang six times in a row to summon all of our sect's disciples on the mountain.”
"Hurry up and leave!" Ji Xueyan glared at him.”
As he spoke, a gust of wind suddenly blew above his head. It turned out to be a purple-red figure that was drifting down from the top of the Baizhang Cliff, descending toward the Blue Ripple Pond.
Ding Yuan saw it too and asked in his heart,""Who's tired of living and wants to jump off the cliff to commit suicide?”
Ji Xueyan and Zhao Zhuoshan were also bewildered. They stopped and looked up.
The figure landed steadily on the surface of the Blue Ripple Pond, but Ling Feng didn't sink immediately after stepping on the water surface.
The three of them looked at him from different angles and saw that this visitor from the sky had a head full of red hair and an ugly appearance. A pair of fangs protruded from his mouth. He looked to be in his fifties or sixties. His short beard was also red, and he held a walking stick in his right hand.
There were several tears on his clothes, and blood was seeping out from them, sticking to his body.
Zhao Zhuoshan saw his strange appearance and suspicious behavior. He stood in front of Ji Xueyan and shouted,"Who are you to barge into my immortal mountain?”
The red-haired man glanced at Ji and Zhao, then squeezed out a weird laugh and said,""You guys are Old Ghost Ji's disciples and grand-disciples, right? You guys deserve to be unlucky to bump into me.”
Ji Xueyan was displeased when she heard him talk about her grandfather like this. She snorted coldly and said,"Who are you, old freak? How dare you insult my grandfather?”
The red-haired man's eyes lit up when he heard that. He laughed and said,""So you're Old Ghost Ji's granddaughter. Good, good!”
Ji Xueyan felt uncomfortable under his strange gaze. A strong sense of disgust rose in her heart and she shouted in a delicate voice,"What's good? I can see that you are acting sneakily. You are definitely not a good person.”
She waved her hand and a scarlet sword light shot into the sky. She was as beautiful as a jade sword and turned into a ball of fiery red light that stabbed straight at the red-haired man. This was the "Eighteen Swords of Flying Waterfall" that Ji Xueyan had just learned, and the one that she used the best was the "Milky Way Reversal".
The red-haired man stood motionless on the surface of the water, a hint of admiration in his expression. He clicked his tongue and said,"Not bad, this move is more like it." As he spoke, his sleeves fluttered slightly, and each of them shot out a bright silver light.
Ji Xueyan was fearless as a newborn calf. The sword in her hand,"Snow Vermilion", glowed brightly under the urging of her true energy and slashed at the light that was shooting at her.
However, the two silver threads of light suddenly exploded in midair, splitting into thousands of thin threads that were almost indistinguishable with the naked eye. They layered on top of each other and enveloped Ji Xueyan.
Zhao Zhuoshan, who was by the pond, hurriedly stood up to support him and shouted,"Junior Sister Xue, be careful!" He had already vaguely recognized that this was the famous demonic treasure of the Heavenly Continent, the "Three Thousand Mortal Dust Silk". If so, the red-haired man opposite him should be one of the nine demons of the Heavenly Continent, the "Red Beard Heavenly Venerable". This man's fame was almost not as great as the red-robed old demon who was known as the leader of the Nine Demons. He had no choice but to disappear because he had offended the righteous path forty years ago and was hunted down by everyone. He did not expect to appear again on Emerald Cloud Mountain.
Ji Xueyan had also recognized the red-haired man from the Three Thousand Red Dust Silk as the notorious Red Beard Celestial Master. However, the cold wind was howling around her, and the light danced wildly. She could not retreat. He could only fight with his back against the wall, relying on the birthday gift his grandfather had given him,"Snow Vermilion", to deal with that old monster.
After more than ten years of hard work, Ji Xueyan had already reached the "Observing the Microcosm" realm, which was at least one level higher than Zhao Zhuoshan and his fellow disciples. As for the Snow Vermilion Treasure Sword, it was an immortal magic treasure that repelled water and suppressed evil. It was Ji Bietian's sword in his early years, so it was naturally different from ordinary items.
Ji Xueyan knew that she had encountered a strong enemy, so she raised her power to 100%. The snow-red gave off a crisp sound, and the red light shone brightly.
However, the sound of "silk" could be heard endlessly. In an instant, dozens of silver threads that were heading towards Ji Xueyan were cut off by Xue Zhu, turning into catkins that flew in the wind. However, the 'Three Thousand Red Dust Threads' that came out of Heavenly Venerate Red Beard's sleeve was not limited to this. They were still dancing in the sky and shrinking toward Ji Xueyan's delicate body.
As soon as Zhao Zhuoshan stood up, he heard Heavenly Venerate Red Beard's thunderous roar."Get lost!" A demonic wind blew above his head, and the dark purple cane, which seemed ordinary just a moment ago, flew into the sky under the incantation of Red Beard Heavenly Venerate. It emitted bursts of purple light, and in an instant, it became a giant pillar that was more than ten feet long and pressed down on Zhao Zhuoshan's head.
Zhao Zhuoshan turned pale with fright and shouted,"Red Sandalwood Staff!"”In a panic, he hurriedly rode his sword to seal the battle, hoping to escape.
"Dang!" The long sword in Zhao Zhuoshan's hand shattered inch by inch. A cold demonic aura passed through his body and sent him flying. Fortunately, most of Heavenly Venerate Red Beard's energy was focused on Ji Xueyan. Otherwise, how could he have survived if he had used all his strength?
Even so, Zhao Zhuoshan was still sent flying a few dozen feet away. Purple blood spurted out of his mouth. It turned out that the poison contained in the purple sandalwood staff had attacked his heart. Zhao Zhuoshan's soul was torn apart by the exchange. He did not care that Ji Xueyan was still surrounded by the 3,000 Red Dust Threads. He struggled to get up and ran towards the mountain path, not even daring to look back.
Even Heavenly Venerate Red Beard could not stand it and said disdainfully,"Coward!" But he didn't chase after her and only kept his rosewood staff.
Although Ding Yuan did not have a good impression of Zhao Zhuoshan, he even felt a little disgusted. However, seeing that Ji Xueyan did not appreciate his infatuation, he felt a little pitiful. However, when he saw that he completely ignored Ji Xueyan at the critical moment and only cared about running for his life, he could not help but laugh disdainfully in his heart.
He was also a little surprised to see Heavenly Venerate Red Beard, but it was really not a good time to show himself. Putting aside the fact that he was topless, the conversation that he had eavesdropped on just now was amazing. Even if those two didn't make things difficult for him now, who knew if they would cause him trouble in the future?
However, he did not expect that this old monster who looked comparable to the old Taoist priest would be so troublesome. Not only was Ji Xueyan in danger, but Zhao Zhuoshan was also so scared that he fled.
However, before Zhao Zhuoshan could even make it 100 feet away, he suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream and spat out a mouthful of blood. In the blink of an eye, his skin turned purple-red, and it was a terrifying sight to behold. His body slowly collapsed, and the grass he touched immediately withered and turned black.
Ding Yuan was so shocked that he even forgot to retract his head. He secretly said,"What poison did this old monster use to be so powerful?”However, before his thoughts disappeared, light purple smoke rose from Zhao Zhuoshan's body. It gave off a rotten smell with the wind, making one feel nauseous.
With a soft " chi chi " sound, Zhao Zhuoshan's body and his clothes were corroded by a purple liquid flowing out of his body. He instantly turned into smoke, and in the blink of an eye, not even his bones were left.
When Ji Xueyan heard Zhao Zhuoshan's scream, she was slightly distracted. When she saw this strange and disgusting scene, she was shocked and the true qi in her body suddenly stagnated. In that moment of carelessness, the thousands of threads stuck to him like maggots. First, the Xue Zhu Sword was entangled, and then her entire body was wrapped up by strands of silver light.
Ji Xueyan was shocked and tried her best to use the Snow Vermilion Sword to break free, but her hands and feet were also bound by the thin thread, and the space she could move was getting smaller and smaller, just like a spring silkworm that was trying to make a cocoon for itself.
What was even more terrifying was that with the help of the bright silver 3,000 Red Dust Threads, Heavenly Venerate Red Beard released waves of icy poison that surged towards Ji Xueyan like a tide. Although she was close to using her full strength to resist, the difference in their cultivation was too great. Soon, she was unable to do anything. Her beautiful face was faintly covered in a layer of purplish red light.
Ji Xueyan wanted to call for help, but to her horror, she found that she no longer had the strength to make a sound. Her hands and feet were gradually becoming numb, and the Snow Vermilion Sword was almost out of control. She couldn't help but feel despair. Her bright eyes rippled as she thought,"Am I really going to die here? He couldn't even see his parents for the last time? It's all my fault for coming to this remote place with Senior Brother Zhao. If I die, my parents and grandfather will be heartbroken, but that person must be glad that a willful and unruly little girl can finally stop pestering him..."
Thinking of this, his heart ached even more, and he was increasingly unable to resist the attack of the Three Thousand Red Dust Threads. His entire person was gradually in a half-conscious state.
The reason why she could persist for so long was because her foundation was deep and her cultivation was much higher than her peers. On the other hand, Heavenly Venerate Red Beard had been injured previously, so his cultivation was inevitably reduced. Otherwise, how could he allow a young girl to drag him into danger for so long?
Seeing that he was about to subdue Ji Xueyan, he was quite proud in his heart. The resentment that he had caused in the Emerald Afterglow Temple earlier was slightly relieved. However, Heavenly Venerate Red Beard did not want to kill Ji Xueyan just like that. After all, she was Ji Bietian's granddaughter, and her status was different from that of an ordinary disciple. If he captured her, he would be able to bargain with Emerald Cloud Sect.
Ding Yuan naturally saw all this clearly in the water. He was also at a critical moment in the battle between heaven and man. Ji Xueyan was in danger. As a fellow disciple, he should have saved her, but that girl had bullied him last year. It could be said that she was the culprit for that beating. Moreover, he didn't have a good impression of Ji Bietian. Ding Yuan was furious when he thought of the faces of the old fellows in the ancient cave that day. Most importantly, so what if he made a move? He was only at the second level of the Jade Mountains Jiuge, so he didn't know any sword techniques or immortal techniques. It would be useless for him to go up, and he might even be worse than Zhao Zhuoshan.
However, he could not bear to see Ji Xueyan struggling in pain with tears in her eyes. He only felt that although this girl was a little unruly, she was not a bad person. It would be a pity if she died like this. Moreover, he had just despised Zhao Zhuoshan for running away without fighting. Wouldn't he be even more shameful than him by doing so?
The words of the old Taoist priest in the immortal temple that day were still ringing in his ears. How could he forget?
Thinking of this, he felt his blood boiling in his chest. He could no longer care about the difference in his strength.
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As time passed, Ding Yuan had unknowingly lived in the Black Bamboo Pavilion for more than half a year. As he watched autumn pass and winter come and spring bloom again, his height also rapidly increased and he was almost as tall as the Immortal Danyan.
After spring, Ding Yuan had successfully passed the Golden Tribulation and entered the Realm of Ascending to the Hall. At this time, he had already controlled his zhenqi to circulate through his meridians, but that zhenqi was still very weak. Ding Yuan had already memorized the "Record of Seeking Knowledge" thoroughly. Now, he was holding the "Poetic Tales of the Poetic Forest" in his hands all day long, but he had also read more than half of it. As for the iron pen he used to practice writing, the ball hanging at the end of the pen was enlarged by half a size. Otherwise, it would not be a problem for Ding Yuan to write ten pages of small words in a morning.
After practicing calligraphy for half a year, Ding Yuan had long grasped the trick and understood the Immortal Danyan's intention. It turned out that with the help of that thick iron brush, Ding Yuan needed to concentrate when writing, and with the help of his dantian, he could control it freely. As long as he was distracted by external things, he would not be able to control his strength. The paper would either be a pool of ink stains or earthworms.
In the past half a year, he did not bring up the topic of leaving. Although he was sometimes indignant about the old Taoist priest, he endured it for the sake of Cuiwei Jiuge. The only fly in the ointment was that no one had come to the Black Bamboo Pavilion for half a year. Most of the time, he and Ah Niu were just staring at each other.
If Ah Niu had a lively temperament, it would be fine, but this guy only knew how to work and practice all day long. Sometimes, Ding Yuan would tease him, but he would only smile foolishly, making it boring for Ding Yuan. When he was really bored, he would sneak out of the Purple Bamboo Forest to play while Ah Niu was not paying attention, and at the same time, he would get some wild game to secretly satisfy his craving.
Although Ah Niu would complain every time, he would not tell the Immortal Danyan. As time passed, Ding Yuan became bolder and often ran to the sky until it was almost dark. However, this did not delay his cultivation progress too much. After all, it was really difficult for him to tie a thirteen-year-old youth to the remote Black Bamboo Pavilion all day.
Ah Niu had been practicing swordsmanship since winter, and the Immortal Dan Yan had taught him the "Thirty-six Billowing Azure Forms" of the Cuixia Sect. It was said that other disciples could start practicing this sword technique in the third year, but this rule did not apply in Black Bamboo Pavilion.
At first, Ding Yuan clamored to learn swordsmanship with Ah Niu, but the Immortal Danyan only said no. Ding Yuan was so angry that he cursed "old antique" and "old stubborn" again, but he no longer begged him. Even when Ah Niu was practicing his sword, he resisted the urge to peek and took a gamble.
It was a sunny day. Ding Yuan was writing three pages in the study. He felt his hand go numb and put down his pen. Feeling bored, he suddenly thought,"That old Taoist priest went out again today, and Ah Niu is also out chopping firewood now. I might as well take the opportunity to sneak out and play." Anyway, I still have thirty-one lines of the incantation that the old Taoist priest taught me that I haven't had time to practice, so I'm not in a hurry to ask him for the rest.”
He did what he wanted and walked down the mountain through the Purple Bamboo Forest. After walking along the quiet path for half an hour, there was a mountain valley in front of them. It was the Flying Waterfall Temple where Luo He lived. Of course, Ding Yuan wouldn't go there. He went around and headed east.
After a while, the sound of flowing water gradually rose. A silver-white waterfall flowed down from a distant mountain ridge, gathering into a deep pool of blue waves on the ground a thousand feet high. Water mist rose and jade beads flew everywhere, like a painting of paradise. Looking up, Luo He's Flying Waterfall Temple was standing majestically on a mountain ridge, bathed in a cloud.
Ding Yuan stood on the rock beside the green pool and took off his clothes. He placed them under the rock and jumped into the pool, leaving only his underpants. It was mid-spring, and the water was still icy cold. Ding Yuan did not feel cold even though his zhenqi was flowing through his body.
There were many fish and prawns playing in the pond. Ding Yuan had come here half a month ago and caught a few fish for lunch. These days, the Immortal Danyan hasn't left the house, and Ding Yuan had to endure it until today before he had the chance to sneak out.
He first took a comfortable bath, then dove into the depths of the pond to swim. Just as he was having fun, he suddenly heard a young girl's impatient voice from the rumbling sound of the waterfall."Senior Brother Zhao, we have arrived at the Blue Ripple Pond. If you have anything to say, say it quickly!”
Ding Yuan recognized Ji Xueyan's voice and was shocked. He felt that it would not be good for her to see him like this. He suddenly remembered that ever since she left in anger, she had not come to Black Bamboo Pavilion again. It had saved him a lot of trouble.
He quietly swam to a huge rock beside the pool and hid behind it. He heard footsteps and two people walking over.
In the thunderous sound of the waterfall hitting the rocks, ordinary people could not hear the subtle sound of footsteps, nor could they hear the words of others. Ding Yuan's internal immortal energy had just reached the initial stage, so his eyes and ears were much smarter than ordinary people.
"Junior Sister Xue, I used to play with you by the Blue Ripple Pond when we were young. We even caught a lot of small shrimps. Do you remember?"”
Ding Yuan felt that this voice was familiar. He suddenly remembered that he was one of the people who beat him up in the Purple Bamboo Forest that day. He could not help but feel a long silence of resentment.
Ji Xueyan snorted and said coldly,""You insisted on inviting me here just to say this?”
Senior Brother Zhao was silent for a while before he said," Of course not. I feel that you've suddenly become much colder to me in the past six months. You don't pay much attention to the other senior brothers either. You only say that you want to concentrate on your cultivation." But many times, I saw you staring into space, secretly blushing.”
"Nonsense!" Ji Xueyan said angrily.”
Senior Brother Zhao sighed." You can't hide it from me. Thanks to Master, we grew up together. I know your temper very well." I know, you must have someone in your heart, right?”
Ding Yuan was curious, thinking that such a fierce little girl would also like someone. He could not help but carefully poke out half of his head and look at the two.
He saw Ji Xueyan sitting on a smooth mountain rock. She had become more and more beautiful after half a year. Her skin was as smooth as ice and her bones were as smooth as jade. She was so charming that Ding Yuan was stunned.
Hearing Senior Brother Zhao's words, Ji Xueyan's snow-white cheeks blushed slightly as she whispered,"Don't make wild guesses. I've never thought of liking anyone.”
"You still want to lie to me?" " Who is that?" Senior Brother Zhao asked angrily." Is it Senior Brother Qi, Junior Brother Wu, Junior Brother Sun, or Senior Brother Li?"”
He recited a long list of names in one breath, but Ji Xueyan only bit her lips and did not say anything.
"Could it be Qu Jiannan?”Senior Brother Zhao refused to give up and continued to ask,"He's the only grandson of Yuexiu Sword Sect's Sect Leader Qu Hen, and he's a handsome boy. During the half a month that I stayed at the Billow Jade Villa, I asked you to spar with me almost every day.”
Ding Yuan thought to himself, This Zhao kid is really strange. Why does he have to ask who I like? So what if he did? It didn't look like it was him anyway. Besides, what's so good about this tigress? She's bossy, unruly, and willful. It's a blessing to stay away from her.”
On the other side, Ji Xueyan still didn't say anything. Her delicate hands gently fiddled with the grass beside the mountain rock, and her bright eyes revealed a trace of confusion.
Senior Brother Zhao thought that he was right and shouted,"It really is him! I, Zhao Zhuoshan, am not as good as him in any way other than my family background, but you don't care that we have been childhood sweethearts for more than ten years, yet you still like that pale-faced scholar?!”
His face was red and his veins were bulging. He looked very terrifying.
Ji Xueyan seemed to have been awakened from her thoughts by his angry roar. Seeing his appearance, she frowned slightly and said,"Don't talk nonsense. Who's your childhood sweetheart? That Qu Jiannan has nothing to do with me. I've even forgotten what he looks like. If you continue to pester me, I'll tell Father!”
Zhao Zhuoshan was overjoyed when he heard Ji Xueyan deny that she liked Qu Jiannan. He didn't think much about it and said,""It's true, Junior Sister Xue, is it true?”
Ji Xueyan glanced at him impatiently, stood up and said,"You should be satisfied now, Senior Brother Zhao.”His voice was even colder than before.
Zhao Zhuoshan looked at Ji Xueyan in a daze and said with a flushed face," I'm sorry, Junior Sister Xue. I just, just-"
Ji Xueyan's heart softened when she saw his happy and sad expression. She sighed faintly and said,"Senior Brother Zhao, I'm no longer a ten-year-old girl. I naturally know your feelings for me. However, I have always treated you as my elder brother. I have no other thoughts. I hope you won't think the wrong way.”
Zhao Zhuoshan was stunned when he heard that. He seemed to be unable to accept it all of a sudden. He was stunned for a long time before he said with difficulty,"Junior Sister Xue, are you saying that your best friend has never liked me?”
"And it's impossible in the future. Who would like their own brother?" Ji Xueyan nodded.”
For some reason, Ding Yuan suddenly thought of the little girl who kept calling him "Brother Ding". She must have forgotten about him now, right? Thinking about it, he was just a grain of sand in the mortal world, or even trash in the eyes of many people. Who would care about him?
What he didn't know was that on the Gathering Cloud Peak, thousands of miles away, there was a little girl who was silently praying in her childish voice for her "Brother Ding" to be safe and sound.
"Impossible!" " You always liked to sneak out with me in the past," Zhao Zhuoshan shouted." Sometimes, you don't even bring Junior Brother Wu and the others. That's impossible!"”
Suddenly, he widened his eyes and stared at Ji Xueyan,"Tell me the truth. You still have someone else in your heart, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have said such heartless words to me!”
Ji Xueyan's expression turned cold as she said indifferently,""Why do you have to force me? Alright, I'll tell you. I do have someone I like in my heart, but this person is neither you nor someone you know. You'll never guess who he is!”
Senior Brother Zhao's face was ashen as he shouted,""Who is he? Even if I have to die, I have to die with an explanation!”
A disgusted expression appeared on Ji Xueyan's face as she turned her head and snorted,""I don't have time to talk nonsense with you. I'm going back. Otherwise, father will definitely scold me if he finds out that I'm missing.”
"Junior Sister Xue!" Seeing that Ji Xueyan was about to leave, Zhao Zhuoshan reached out and grabbed her sleeve in a hurry.
Ji Xueyan's face was as cold as ice as she said coldly,""Senior Brother Zhao, what are you trying to do?"
Zhao Zhuoshan met his cold gaze and felt guilty. He stammered,"I-"
At this moment, everyone clearly heard the sound of six bells ringing in their ears. It was distant and slow.
Ji Xueyan and Zhao Zhuoshan looked surprised at the same time. Zhao Zhuoshan took the opportunity to let go and said,"It's our sect's 'Bronze Sparrow Bell'. It rang six times in a row to summon all of our sect's disciples on the mountain.”
"Hurry up and leave!" Ji Xueyan glared at him.”
As he spoke, a gust of wind suddenly blew above his head. It turned out to be a purple-red figure that was drifting down from the top of the Baizhang Cliff, descending toward the Blue Ripple Pond.
Ding Yuan saw it too and asked in his heart,""Who's tired of living and wants to jump off the cliff to commit suicide?”
Ji Xueyan and Zhao Zhuoshan were also bewildered. They stopped and looked up.
The figure landed steadily on the surface of the Blue Ripple Pond, but Ling Feng didn't sink immediately after stepping on the water surface.
The three of them looked at him from different angles and saw that this visitor from the sky had a head full of red hair and an ugly appearance. A pair of fangs protruded from his mouth. He looked to be in his fifties or sixties. His short beard was also red, and he held a walking stick in his right hand.
There were several tears on his clothes, and blood was seeping out from them, sticking to his body.
Zhao Zhuoshan saw his strange appearance and suspicious behavior. He stood in front of Ji Xueyan and shouted,"Who are you to barge into my immortal mountain?”
The red-haired man glanced at Ji and Zhao, then squeezed out a weird laugh and said,""You guys are Old Ghost Ji's disciples and grand-disciples, right? You guys deserve to be unlucky to bump into me.”
Ji Xueyan was displeased when she heard him talk about her grandfather like this. She snorted coldly and said,"Who are you, old freak? How dare you insult my grandfather?”
The red-haired man's eyes lit up when he heard that. He laughed and said,""So you're Old Ghost Ji's granddaughter. Good, good!”
Ji Xueyan felt uncomfortable under his strange gaze. A strong sense of disgust rose in her heart and she shouted in a delicate voice,"What's good? I can see that you are acting sneakily. You are definitely not a good person.”
She waved her hand and a scarlet sword light shot into the sky. She was as beautiful as a jade sword and turned into a ball of fiery red light that stabbed straight at the red-haired man. This was the "Eighteen Swords of Flying Waterfall" that Ji Xueyan had just learned, and the one that she used the best was the "Milky Way Reversal".
The red-haired man stood motionless on the surface of the water, a hint of admiration in his expression. He clicked his tongue and said,"Not bad, this move is more like it." As he spoke, his sleeves fluttered slightly, and each of them shot out a bright silver light.
Ji Xueyan was fearless as a newborn calf. The sword in her hand,"Snow Vermilion", glowed brightly under the urging of her true energy and slashed at the light that was shooting at her.
However, the two silver threads of light suddenly exploded in midair, splitting into thousands of thin threads that were almost indistinguishable with the naked eye. They layered on top of each other and enveloped Ji Xueyan.
Zhao Zhuoshan, who was by the pond, hurriedly stood up to support him and shouted,"Junior Sister Xue, be careful!" He had already vaguely recognized that this was the famous demonic treasure of the Heavenly Continent, the "Three Thousand Mortal Dust Silk". If so, the red-haired man opposite him should be one of the nine demons of the Heavenly Continent, the "Red Beard Heavenly Venerable". This man's fame was almost not as great as the red-robed old demon who was known as the leader of the Nine Demons. He had no choice but to disappear because he had offended the righteous path forty years ago and was hunted down by everyone. He did not expect to appear again on Emerald Cloud Mountain.
Ji Xueyan had also recognized the red-haired man from the Three Thousand Red Dust Silk as the notorious Red Beard Celestial Master. However, the cold wind was howling around her, and the light danced wildly. She could not retreat. He could only fight with his back against the wall, relying on the birthday gift his grandfather had given him,"Snow Vermilion", to deal with that old monster.
After more than ten years of hard work, Ji Xueyan had already reached the "Observing the Microcosm" realm, which was at least one level higher than Zhao Zhuoshan and his fellow disciples. As for the Snow Vermilion Treasure Sword, it was an immortal magic treasure that repelled water and suppressed evil. It was Ji Bietian's sword in his early years, so it was naturally different from ordinary items.
Ji Xueyan knew that she had encountered a strong enemy, so she raised her power to 100%. The snow-red gave off a crisp sound, and the red light shone brightly.
However, the sound of "silk" could be heard endlessly. In an instant, dozens of silver threads that were heading towards Ji Xueyan were cut off by Xue Zhu, turning into catkins that flew in the wind. However, the 'Three Thousand Red Dust Threads' that came out of Heavenly Venerate Red Beard's sleeve was not limited to this. They were still dancing in the sky and shrinking toward Ji Xueyan's delicate body.
As soon as Zhao Zhuoshan stood up, he heard Heavenly Venerate Red Beard's thunderous roar."Get lost!" A demonic wind blew above his head, and the dark purple cane, which seemed ordinary just a moment ago, flew into the sky under the incantation of Red Beard Heavenly Venerate. It emitted bursts of purple light, and in an instant, it became a giant pillar that was more than ten feet long and pressed down on Zhao Zhuoshan's head.
Zhao Zhuoshan turned pale with fright and shouted,"Red Sandalwood Staff!"”In a panic, he hurriedly rode his sword to seal the battle, hoping to escape.
"Dang!" The long sword in Zhao Zhuoshan's hand shattered inch by inch. A cold demonic aura passed through his body and sent him flying. Fortunately, most of Heavenly Venerate Red Beard's energy was focused on Ji Xueyan. Otherwise, how could he have survived if he had used all his strength?
Even so, Zhao Zhuoshan was still sent flying a few dozen feet away. Purple blood spurted out of his mouth. It turned out that the poison contained in the purple sandalwood staff had attacked his heart. Zhao Zhuoshan's soul was torn apart by the exchange. He did not care that Ji Xueyan was still surrounded by the 3,000 Red Dust Threads. He struggled to get up and ran towards the mountain path, not even daring to look back.
Even Heavenly Venerate Red Beard could not stand it and said disdainfully,"Coward!" But he didn't chase after her and only kept his rosewood staff.
Although Ding Yuan did not have a good impression of Zhao Zhuoshan, he even felt a little disgusted. However, seeing that Ji Xueyan did not appreciate his infatuation, he felt a little pitiful. However, when he saw that he completely ignored Ji Xueyan at the critical moment and only cared about running for his life, he could not help but laugh disdainfully in his heart.
He was also a little surprised to see Heavenly Venerate Red Beard, but it was really not a good time to show himself. Putting aside the fact that he was topless, the conversation that he had eavesdropped on just now was amazing. Even if those two didn't make things difficult for him now, who knew if they would cause him trouble in the future?
However, he did not expect that this old monster who looked comparable to the old Taoist priest would be so troublesome. Not only was Ji Xueyan in danger, but Zhao Zhuoshan was also so scared that he fled.
However, before Zhao Zhuoshan could even make it 100 feet away, he suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream and spat out a mouthful of blood. In the blink of an eye, his skin turned purple-red, and it was a terrifying sight to behold. His body slowly collapsed, and the grass he touched immediately withered and turned black.
Ding Yuan was so shocked that he even forgot to retract his head. He secretly said,"What poison did this old monster use to be so powerful?”However, before his thoughts disappeared, light purple smoke rose from Zhao Zhuoshan's body. It gave off a rotten smell with the wind, making one feel nauseous.
With a soft " chi chi " sound, Zhao Zhuoshan's body and his clothes were corroded by a purple liquid flowing out of his body. He instantly turned into smoke, and in the blink of an eye, not even his bones were left.
When Ji Xueyan heard Zhao Zhuoshan's scream, she was slightly distracted. When she saw this strange and disgusting scene, she was shocked and the true qi in her body suddenly stagnated. In that moment of carelessness, the thousands of threads stuck to him like maggots. First, the Xue Zhu Sword was entangled, and then her entire body was wrapped up by strands of silver light.
Ji Xueyan was shocked and tried her best to use the Snow Vermilion Sword to break free, but her hands and feet were also bound by the thin thread, and the space she could move was getting smaller and smaller, just like a spring silkworm that was trying to make a cocoon for itself.
What was even more terrifying was that with the help of the bright silver 3,000 Red Dust Threads, Heavenly Venerate Red Beard released waves of icy poison that surged towards Ji Xueyan like a tide. Although she was close to using her full strength to resist, the difference in their cultivation was too great. Soon, she was unable to do anything. Her beautiful face was faintly covered in a layer of purplish red light.
Ji Xueyan wanted to call for help, but to her horror, she found that she no longer had the strength to make a sound. Her hands and feet were gradually becoming numb, and the Snow Vermilion Sword was almost out of control. She couldn't help but feel despair. Her bright eyes rippled as she thought,"Am I really going to die here? He couldn't even see his parents for the last time? It's all my fault for coming to this remote place with Senior Brother Zhao. If I die, my parents and grandfather will be heartbroken, but that person must be glad that a willful and unruly little girl can finally stop pestering him..."
Thinking of this, his heart ached even more, and he was increasingly unable to resist the attack of the Three Thousand Red Dust Threads. His entire person was gradually in a half-conscious state.
The reason why she could persist for so long was because her foundation was deep and her cultivation was much higher than her peers. On the other hand, Heavenly Venerate Red Beard had been injured previously, so his cultivation was inevitably reduced. Otherwise, how could he allow a young girl to drag him into danger for so long?
Seeing that he was about to subdue Ji Xueyan, he was quite proud in his heart. The resentment that he had caused in the Emerald Afterglow Temple earlier was slightly relieved. However, Heavenly Venerate Red Beard did not want to kill Ji Xueyan just like that. After all, she was Ji Bietian's granddaughter, and her status was different from that of an ordinary disciple. If he captured her, he would be able to bargain with Emerald Cloud Sect.
Ding Yuan naturally saw all this clearly in the water. He was also at a critical moment in the battle between heaven and man. Ji Xueyan was in danger. As a fellow disciple, he should have saved her, but that girl had bullied him last year. It could be said that she was the culprit for that beating. Moreover, he didn't have a good impression of Ji Bietian. Ding Yuan was furious when he thought of the faces of the old fellows in the ancient cave that day. Most importantly, so what if he made a move? He was only at the second level of the Jade Mountains Jiuge, so he didn't know any sword techniques or immortal techniques. It would be useless for him to go up, and he might even be worse than Zhao Zhuoshan.
However, he could not bear to see Ji Xueyan struggling in pain with tears in her eyes. He only felt that although this girl was a little unruly, she was not a bad person. It would be a pity if she died like this. Moreover, he had just despised Zhao Zhuoshan for running away without fighting. Wouldn't he be even more shameful than him by doing so?
The words of the old Taoist priest in the immortal temple that day were still ringing in his ears. How could he forget?
Thinking of this, he felt his blood boiling in his chest. He could no longer care about the difference in his strength.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]