Dark clouds covered the sky, and demonic energy surged.
The black serpent, leading a tide of small demons, struggled to break through the barrier, crashing heavily onto the ground of Wuyue Forest along with countless other demons.
The demons spread out like water, while the black serpent, sensing human presence, instantly leaped forward in a frenzy, biting down on the nearest disciple!
Half of the disciple’s body was swallowed by the serpent, while the other half fell to the ground.
Like ants devouring an elephant, the remaining demons swarmed over the severed body.
A blood-curdling scream echoed through Wuyue Forest.
Without hesitation, Gao Wen rose on his sword and shouted, “Run! The barrier of the Nine Nether Realm has broken! Run, now!”
Hearing these words, Jiang Zhaoxue was completely stunned.
Her mind raced, filled with a single thought: It’s over.
The barrier of the Nine Nether Realm is broken?
Why?!
(In the book, Pei Zichen was only supposed to obtain the Heaven’s Secret Spirit Jade here. The barrier wasn’t supposed to break for several more years! He was framed for colluding with demonic cultivators only after he stole the Mirror of Light from the Spirit Sword Immortal Pavilion. If this spirit-jade-infused black serpent was supposed to be born in the Nine Nether Realm, how could the barrier be breaking now?!)
“Stop worrying about that!”
Ah Nan flapped his wings and flew back, shouting anxiously, “Look at the situation around you!”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue finally noticed—Pei Zichen was holding her close, cutting his way through the swarm of demons, sprinting forward against the tide of monsters.
Jiang Zhaoxue sucked in a sharp breath.
Just as she was about to yell “Stop!”, she saw Gu Jinglan grab Pei Zichen’s arm and urgently say, “Senior Brother, we have to go!”
“There’s a town at the foot of the mountain.”
Pei Zichen’s voice was calm and collected.
“You go get reinforcements. I’ll stay behind. And take her—”
Pei Zichen pulled Jiang Zhaoxue out and handed her to Gu Jinglan, instructing, “Take her and leave.”
Without waiting for a response, Pei Zichen pushed Gu Jinglan away and charged forward.
His sword light flashed as he slashed at the demons.
Then, he soared into the air and began forming hand seals toward the breach in the barrier.
Seeing Pei Zichen’s actions, Gu Jinglan finally understood.
There was a mortal town at the foot of the mountain.
The demons of the Nine Nether Realm feasted on humans.
If they reached the town, the people would be slaughtered within moments.
Gritting his teeth, Gu Jinglan no longer hesitated.
He held Jiang Zhaoxue tightly against his chest and shouted, “Senior Brother, wait for me!” before fighting his way out.
Jiang Zhaoxue, nestled in Gu Jinglan’s arms, felt her heart pounding wildly.
These disciples won’t last long.
Within moments, they’ll be devoured, and the demons will head straight for the town.
But more importantly—if the barrier isn’t repaired, the crack will only widen, and the Nine Nether Realm will inevitably declare war on the True Immortal Realm.
She vividly remembered the battle at Cangming Sea.
The mountains of corpses and rivers of blood flashed through her mind, making her heart tremble.
This can’t happen.
The book never mentioned this.
Everything is happening differently because of me.
She couldn’t just stand by and watch.
But the only way to repair the Nine Nether Realm’s barrier was the grand formation she had prepared to slay the spirit-infused serpent.
If she used the formation now, she would have to set it up again to kill the serpent and she wasn’t sure she’d get another chance.
But she had no choice.
Without hesitation, Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath and leaped out of Gu Jinglan’s arms!
“Hey!” Gu Jinglan shouted in alarm.
But Jiang Zhaoxue had already sprinted away.
Gu Jinglan had no time to chase after her—he cursed under his breath and continued fighting his way forward.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhaoxue ducked behind a large tree, slipped into a tree hollow, and pressed a talisman against the opening to block the demons.
Peering out from her hiding spot, she saw Pei Zichen still fighting his way toward the barrier.
She immediately realized his intent—he was trying to seal the barrier of the Nine Nether Realm by himself.
“That fool!” Ah Nan cursed angrily.
But Jiang Zhaoxue remained unusually calm.
“Pei Zichen.”
She bit her finger, swiftly drawing a rune in the air.
“You seal Wuyue Forest. I’ll repair the barrier of the Nine Nether Realm.”
Hearing her voice, Pei Zichen quickly turned his head, scanning the surroundings.
He spotted a large tree completely covered in demons.
Instantly realizing that a powerful figure was hiding nearby, he dared not delay.
With a flick of his sword, dozens of glowing swords formed around him, and his hands rapidly formed seals.
At the same time, Jiang Zhaoxue tipped her divination tube and chanted, “The way of Heaven is unpredictable.
Fate is left to chance. Supreme fortune, repair the Nine Nether Barrier—seal!”
The moment she finished speaking, a jade lot fell from the tube, glowing with the words “Great Fortune”—not as powerful as “Supreme Fortune”, but still sufficient.
Jiang Zhaoxue slashed her hand through the air, and the lot transformed into a radiant light that landed on the ground.
A massive formation lit up the clearing, its intricate patterns surging toward the breach in the barrier, rapidly sealing the cracks.
Simultaneously, a golden formation appeared above Pei Zichen.
He pressed his hands together, sending a dozen beams of sword light into eight directions.
The eight beams instantly formed a golden barrier, enveloping Wuyue Forest and locking the demonic energy and monsters inside.
The two of them—one inside, one outside—completely sealed Wuyue Forest.
The black serpent and the demons instantly realized what was happening.
They turned their attention toward Jiang Zhaoxue’s hiding place.
“That serpent is looking this way!”
Ah Nan’s voice was filled with alarm.
“They’re coming! The barrier is going to break!”
Jiang Zhaoxue had anticipated this.
Since she was repairing the barrier, the demons of the Nine Nether Realm would stop at nothing to prevent her.
She was ready for this outcome, so she wasn’t afraid.
“Pei Zichen.”
She felt her spiritual energy being drained.
Holding another talisman between her fingers, she calmly called out, “Come get me.”
“Yes, Senior!”
This time, Pei Zichen responded without hesitation.
Just as he rushed toward her, the black serpent let out a deafening hiss—summoning something.
A surge of overwhelming force crashed against the barrier, shaking the entire forest.
Outside, Pei Zichen’s footsteps rushed toward her.
Jiang Zhaoxue timed it perfectly.
The moment he got close, she threw a talisman outward, blasting away the surrounding demons.
Amidst the blood and chaos, she leaped into the air—just in time to see Pei Zichen racing toward her under the moonlight.
The black serpent lunged at her.
Pei Zichen’s eyes turned sharp—he accelerated, grabbed her, and raised his sword to block the serpent’s strike.
The impact sent them both flying!
He was only at the Golden Core stage—facing this serpent was like throwing an egg against a rock.
Yet, despite his injuries, he held her tightly, shielding her as they crashed to the ground.
Jiang Zhaoxue, still in his arms, gasped.
He had no hesitation—he was protecting her at all costs.
And she knew she had to act before it was too late.
She clenched her teeth, her fingers moving swiftly—completing the formation that would change everything.