Zhen Xie Bell stood at the summit of Wuzhong Mountain. It was said to be a supreme-grade divine artifact, though its true function was known only to Taishi Xiaxin. Normally, the Bell served as Wuzhong Mountain’s emblem, hung at the center of the Main Hall to symbolize the Shénméng Covenant and suppress evil gods. Now that it had sounded, something momentous must be unfolding.
At that moment, the gravely wounded man perceived Ye Yu’s presence. The black lotus embroidered on his collar marked him as one of their own. Summoning his last strength, he cried out, “Quick—go save the Shenméeng Leader Taishi Xiaxin! We... we stand no chance against him!” With that, he drew his final breath.
Ye Yu’s expression turned solemn. Such a worthy senior of the Covenant, gone so completely... He could not bear to leave the body on the cold ground. With a sweep of his sleeve, Ye Yu buried him, then pried the Storage Ring from his finger and tucked it away.
What’s the problem? After handling his affairs, taking one ring hardly seemed excessive. Anyone who disagreed could contemplate their error in solitude. To Ye Yu, it was perfectly natural.
Leaving with the ring in hand, he headed the opposite way. Wuzhong Mountain truly was a fine Covenant, and Taishi Xiaxin was a capable leader—his cunning was no great flaw. After sensing an Evil God, he had personally confronted it. That honored Wuzhong’s reputation.
But so what? Was Ye Yu expected to risk his life for them? Absolutely not! If Taishi Xiaxin and those Golden God–realm masters could not handle it, why should a Great God–realm cultivator intervene? Did they really think he was the Divine Realm’s savior? Even if he were, he was not yet fully grown—why rush to die? Couldn’t it wait a few years?
Huh? Such presumption, asking me to rescue them—if I’d known, I wouldn’t have buried him in the first place!
Ye Yu smirked, turning the new ring over in his hand as he considered how to open it. The simplest method would be to overpower it by realm—force it apart. Unfortunately, as only a Great God–realm cultivator, that was impossible. He would need another approach.
Lost in thought, Ye Yu noticed two figures up ahead locked in confrontation. One was Elder Zhū Hónghóng of Wuzhong Mountain, a Golden God–realm warrior Ye Yu recognized. Despite the festive ring of his name, he treated Evil Gods with merciless cruelty. Rumor said that after three Evil Gods had slain his partner, his temperament had hardened to zero tolerance.
The other figure was Yínghuò—whom Ye Yu had only recently met. Hadn’t she just forged her divine body? Why was she at odds with Wuzhong Mountain’s people? A massive wound marred her shoulder; she was clearly grievously injured.
Ye Yu intended to hide and watch, but it was too late: both Zhū Hónghóng and Yínghuò had spotted him. Zhu Honghong barked, “Kid, come help me kill her! This woman’s badly wounded and can’t fight back. Just one spell and she’s done! We’ll split the credit!”
Forced out of concealment, Ye Yu stepped forward—and noticed that Zhū Hónghóng’s right hand and left leg had turned to stark white bone. “You call her wounded? From where I stand, your injuries look far worse, boss!”
Seeing Ye Yu hesitate, Zhu Honghong grew impatient. “Get moving, boy! I’ve heard of you—you nearly got eaten by your partner’s sister, right? Under these circumstances, shouldn’t you hate her? What are you waiting for?”
Ye Yu’s brow furrowed. He loathed being ordered about. “Zhu Honghong, your tone is extremely displeasing!”
He opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, a mass of flesh and blood materialized from thin air, enveloped Zhu Honghong’s body, and dragged him backward. In an instant, he vanished without a trace.
Ye Yu’s heart pounded at the bizarre sight. Yínghuo pressed a hand to her shoulder, pain etched on her face. “Go—he’s coming after us!”
She tried to turn ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ and fly away, but her injuries were too severe; she had almost no divine energy to even hover. Then, without warning, her body floated up, cradled on Ye Yu’s shoulder. He dashed forward, carrying her through the air.
“What was that thing just now? It was disgusting! And... how did you end up here?” Ye Yu drew a healing pill from the Storage Ring and placed it in Yínghuò’s mouth as he asked curiously.
The pill took effect almost immediately. Warmth spread through her body, and she felt the wound on her shoulder staunching. “Where did you get a pill of such high grade? Your cultivation isn’t even that strong!”
Unbeknownst to her, the pill was the product of over eighty refined elixirs fused into one—no wonder it was so potent.
Ye Yu glanced back at her. “Why so silent? I thought you’d passed out!”
“No, I’m... not unconscious.” Her voice trembled with exhaustion. “That thing... was part of Shenkang Ren’s flesh and blood. He assimilates other gods into himself to grow stronger—he’s truly... disgusting. I came here because of him. But you... your strength has increased a great deal. Why are you here?”
As he spoke, Ye Yu activated a teleportation array, whisking them both to a remote canyon a million li away. The mist-shrouded gorge was seldom visited by gods—safe enough for now.
He laid Yínghuo on a giant leaf, then examined her shoulder wound. “Hm, you’re recovering well. That Super Healing Pill is remarkable.”
Yínghuo weakly asked, “Why did you save me? As far as I know, you’re of Wuzhong Mountain too.”
