Chapter 105: Another Towering Stele Reaches the Sky
Song Yue stepped forward half a pace, positioning Qian Qianxue slightly behind him, and calmly fixed his gaze on the newcomers.
“It’s him!”
Among the crowd, some who had been brutally beaten by Song Yue earlier limped forward, their injuries severe. Their eyes burned with resentment upon seeing him.
“These people… are all your doing, aren’t they?”
A grand mage from the Western faction, appearing to be in his fifties, pointed toward the now lifeless Western cultivators and questioned Song Yue.
Song Yue denied outright, “Those around you I did fight, but these few were not killed by me. If you had thoroughly studied their causes of death, you would know they’re unrelated to me.”
“Unrelated to you?”
The elder scrutinized Song Yue from head to toe, sensing that this young man was not the arrogant and brash figure described by the injured. At least, he was honest—he didn’t deny what he had done and wasn’t enraged by false accusations.
The elder could clearly tell that these few who died within the secret realm were not slain by humans. Coupled with the disgusting corpses of the insect creatures and the nature of this realm, he had already formed a judgment.
Yet, this did not mean he would let the youth go.
Despite his age, Song Yue’s strength was formidable. Most of these insects had likely perished by his hand. Moreover, the fact that he dared to venture deep into this poisonous, miasma-filled jungle indicated he either possessed potent detoxifying elixirs or his cultivation realm was high enough to render the toxins harmless.
He leaned toward the former explanation.
Although they themselves carried anti-toxin pills, why wouldn’t they want better ones?
“Yes, it’s unrelated to me. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”
Song Yue regarded the group without fear, simply unwilling to invite unnecessary trouble. The greatest opportunity within the castle had already been seized by him and Qian Qianxue; even if these people reached it, they would gain nothing.
Release the sealed entity inside that stone coffin? Even if they dared, they lacked the strength.
The carvings on the coffin were not mere decoration—the seal suppressed far more than just what lay within.
“After injuring so many of us, you just walk away like that?”
From among them, a black-haired youth wearing a mask spoke out, his flawless Chinese—no, beyond fluent—caught Song Yue’s attention. He was certain this youth was Han Chinese!
Moreover, the voice sounded oddly familiar.
Frowning slightly, Song Yue ignored the masked youth and instead fixed his gaze on the Western elder, clearly the leader.
The elder pondered for a moment before saying, “If you lend us some of your detoxifying items, I think the earlier minor conflict can be overlooked.”
The black-haired youth on the side indignantly retorted, “He seriously injured so many of our people! How can that not be a big deal? People like him… deserve to die!”
Suddenly, Song Yue recalled that voice! The scion of the Li family who had barged in during his dinner with officials in Hang City—the younger brother of the well-meaning Li Bing.
The Li family had since been annihilated; he hadn’t expected to encounter such a major fugitive here.
Their hatred was deep as the sea; it was no surprise Li Bing’s brother sought revenge through others.
His presence among these Westerners confirmed some hunches Song Yue had earlier: these Westerners were likely not here by mere chance, but had unfortunately stumbled upon this sinister, twisted secret realm.
They must have known what awaited them.
It was even possible they were after the castle itself.
It seemed those possessed by insect demons before were mere pawns; the fifty-year-old elder and his group were the true principals.
Contemplating this, Song Yue said to the elder, “We have no detoxifying items. We only circled the forest’s edge; the toxic miasma inside is too dense for us to venture further. This cursed place has nothing of value and is filled with terrifying insects.”
“He’s lying!” The masked Li Xu shouted excitedly, unwilling to reveal his true face. “Seize him and interrogate him! If he resists, start with the girl beside him—that’s his girlfriend!”
Song Yue had no intention of responding to him, just as he had ignored Zhang Zichen before, but Li Xu’s words stoked his anger.
He looked at the leading Western elder and said sternly, “I do not want trouble, but this is Han territory!”
Laughter erupted from the crowd.
A young Western cultivator sneered, “So what if it’s Han? Does Han mean you can’t come? The secret realm belongs to all humanity! Little one, you’d better be sensible.”
A voluptuous Western woman looked at Song Yue and said, “We have strength in numbers; you’d best think carefully.”
“What’s left to discuss with someone like him? Take him down!” Li Xu said coldly.
He harbored deep hatred for Song Yue—more so for Song Yue’s master! Unfortunately, he dared not provoke that person, not even revealing his true face while in Hang City, hiding behind a mask.
Song Yue turned to the Western elder. “What do you say?”
The elder shrugged and sighed, “Young man, I advise you…”
Before he could finish, Song Yue raised his blade!
What was there left to say?
Action spoke louder than words!
The Dragon-Patterned Immortal-Slaying Blade whipped out a long gleaming arc, slashing fiercely toward the elder.
The Western cultivators were furious—he dared to strike first, showing blatant disrespect.
Instantly, an energy shield appeared around the elder, and he spread his hands, summoning two fiery dragons that lunged at Song Yue.
Coldly, he said, “In your Eastern words, this is called ‘offering wine and being refused, then forced to drink the punishment wine!’”
Boom!
Song Yue’s aura erupted, emitting formidable blood energy that drew all eyes.
Qian Qianxue, accustomed to Song Yue’s impulsive fighting style, immediately activated the flower within her spiritual sea the moment he struck.
Above the heads of the Western cultivators, petals began to fall profusely.
Countless pink petals created an extremely romantic scene.
Some struck and clung to the cultivators, eliciting pained screams—the petals appeared tangible but actually attacked their minds!
Song Yue was already locked in fierce combat with the Western grand mage.
The two fiery dragons could not approach Song Yue’s body; before nearing, they were shattered by the blood energy radiating from him.
With a ghostlike step, Song Yue swiftly closed the distance to the grand mage and slashed hard.
The grand mage’s energy shield was instantly sliced open, leaving a long gash.
Startled, the elder swiftly produced a distinctly Eastern-style candelabrum with three candles burning eerie black flames.
As the candelabrum rose, the flames morphed into three fiery tornadoes that surged toward Song Yue.
Song Yue executed the Star-Splitting Palm.
Under the dim sky, starlight shimmered brilliantly.
He shattered the three black fire tornadoes outright.
Yet, as the flames dispersed, they quickly reformed, relentlessly sweeping toward Song Yue.
Qian Qianxue, watching the elder, softly whispered, “Freeze!”
The elder was immediately immobilized.
Song Yue’s Dragon-Patterned Immortal-Slaying Blade slashed down.
Bang!
The energy shield shattered, and the elder’s head was severed.
Several nearby startled Westerners were dumbfounded—the young Eastern man was so formidable, he had just beheaded their strongest mage.
The candelabrum lost control, falling from the sky, and Song Yue swiped it into the spatial dimension of the Jade Void Ascension Stele.
At the very moment he decapitated the grand mage, Song Yue swung his blade toward Li Xu, the Li family fugitive.
Li Xu screamed in terror, “Help me!”
Pink petals descended, enveloping him, and his spiritual sea seemed to ignite, causing him to scream in agony.
Swish!
Song Yue’s blade felled him in one strike.
The mask split in two.
Those who liked to hide their faces would forever keep their masks on.
Turning, Song Yue charged at the others.
Either not fight at all—or fight to the end!
Among these Western cultivators, the grand mage was the strongest. The rest were mostly foundation-building level, with several at the Qi Cultivation stage.
The one who had sneered at Song Yue was a Qi Cultivation ninth level mage.
The voluptuous Western woman nearly wet herself, crying for mercy, but Song Yue ignored her. She was engulfed by the burning petals attacking her mind, collapsing and dying on the spot.
Those previously beaten badly by Song Yue were now utterly terrified.
Some tried to flee but were hunted down and killed one by one.
In the end, only a middle-aged mage at the Penetration stage remained, pale-faced and looking at Song Yue.
“Please, stop killing. We bear no grudge…”
“I ask you—what is your purpose here?”
Song Yue deliberately spared one alive, wanting to know the reason behind their presence.
“Esteemed Eastern powerhouse, if I tell the truth, will you spare me? I swear on my family’s honor to forget all that happened today!”
The middle-aged mage was terrified. At first, he thought this young Eastern man was an ordinary prodigy, but upon fighting, he realized he faced a terrifying tyrannosaurus. And the beautiful Eastern girl beside him, silent and reserved, wielded powers both romantic and chilling.
“Speak first. I want to see if what you say is worth hearing.”
The mage’s face fell; luck was not on his side. But he understood that withholding information meant certain death.
“The masked man you killed earlier was Li Xu of your Han Li family. After the family’s destruction, his heart burned with hatred and a desire for revenge…”
As the mage spoke, Song Yue and Qian Qianxue learned the group’s intent.
Li Xu, a fugitive of the Li family, sought revenge but would never have the chance with his own strength.
So, he set his sights on this secret realm!
Though undeveloped, the Li family already knew of this place.
Years ago, they had paid a high price to glimpse the castle and knew a terrifying demon race was sealed beneath.
In the past, that demon had sought a deal with the Li family, which was accepted.
But in the end, not even the stone gate was entered before two golden-armored war gods mercilessly slaughtered all who descended.
The survivors fled, carrying the dead.
But the event was recorded in full.
Li Xu, as a legitimate scion of the Li family, inherited vast wealth and secrets after the family’s fall.
He contacted former Western allies, promising all gains from this realm to them, plus five unexplored realms, if they released the sealed entity beneath the castle.
Li Xu was reckless, unconcerned with the catastrophic consequences of unleashing that demon.
The middle-aged mage grimly said, “We’ve heard legends—some secret realms imprison ancient demons. If the seals are broken and released, unimaginable rewards await…”
Qian Qianxue’s cold gaze fixed on him. “You don’t understand the consequences of releasing a sealed demon?”
The mage smiled bitterly, “Humans are selfish. When benefits are great enough, who cares about consequences?”
He looked at Song Yue. “I bear you no hatred; I never intended harm. I swear, once I leave, I won’t speak of today.”
Song Yue nodded. “You may go.”
The mage blinked, surprised. “You’ll really let me go?”
Song Yue frowned. “Did you want to explore further inside?”
“No, no! I don’t want to!”
Surprised by the mercy shown, the mage turned and left without hesitation.
Song Yue and Qian Qianxue followed.
Once outside, the mage fled, fearing the young pair might change their minds.
He swore never to utter a word about today.
Betraying them would gain him nothing, but bring obvious harm.
The wise survive longer.
At the secret realm’s entrance, Song Yue furrowed his brow.
Qian Qianxue asked softly, “You intend to destroy it?”
Song Yue nodded.
“Besides the terrifying sealed entity, the toxic miasma alone can easily claim lives. If someone accidentally enters, there’s almost no chance of survival.”
The entire realm was thoroughly polluted; even the insects had become dark, bloodthirsty fiends.
“Is there any way to do that?”
Qian Qianxue looked at him.
“I’ll try.”
Song Yue used his spiritual power to probe and analyze the realm.
After persistent effort, he finally destroyed the entrance.
At last, Song Yue exhaled deeply.
Though he hadn’t obliterated the realm entirely, at least no one could enter through the entrance anymore.
He had done all he could.
If someone else knew to enter by “frequency,” there was nothing he could do.
Later, he and Qian Qianxue boarded their flying saucer and swiftly returned to Hang City.
The following days were peaceful.
One day, Song Yue brought Qian Qianxue and Wen Rou to work as usual.
Suddenly, Wen Rou rushed in, flustered, holding something.
“Brother, look at this. It mysteriously appeared on my bed a few days ago. I threw it away, but it keeps coming back, appearing before me.”
Song Yue glanced and was stunned.
Another Ascension Stele!
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