Chapter 157 Happiness Came Too Suddenly

The grand hall fell silent once more; outside the formation, not a single soul remained.

The white mist was so dense it seemed it might drip.

Deep within that white mist, Ji Hongzhu sat cross-legged on the ground. She was already dressed in deep scarlet, and now, following the severe wound to her chest, fresh blood was welling up continuously, staining her attire even more brilliantly red.

The ground beneath her, despite having endured the bombardment of top-tier magic treasures, remained completely undamaged, a testament to the immense skill of the ruins' builders.

The bleeding from Ji Hongzhu's wound had stopped, but her complexion remained pale. At this moment, her alluring eyes, cautious as the wariest fox, stared fixedly in the direction of the great doors. A complex expression flickered in her gaze, a mix of suspicion and a faint trace of anticipation, which ultimately dissolved into a disdainful sneer.

"Gu Xijing, if you think you can use such a petty trick to lure me out and kill me, you can forget it!"

Ji Hongzhu had evidently guessed in the wrong direction.

However, Gu Xijing and the other two might genuinely have harbored such an intention—a plot within a plot; if it failed, it mattered little.

Silently, she waited...

No sound whatsoever came from beyond the doors.

After another half-cup of tea's time had passed, a black figure rushed in like a howling gale of wind.

"Is anyone within the formation? Which fellow Daoist is it?"

The newcomer was none other than Long Jinyu. He appeared slightly out of breath, as if he had just engaged in a fierce battle.

"Long Jinyu? Is it really you?"

Ji Hongzhu asked, startled.

"What a joke. Is there anyone in this world capable of impersonating me, Long Jinyu?"

With his characteristic tyrannical air, Long Jinyu spoke, his voice then dropping into a deeper tone: "So it's you, little vixen. One of the keys to open the doors must have fallen into your hands."

His tone was unkind!

Yet this very demeanor was true to Long Jinyu's style, as well as the ways of a demonic cultivator.

"Why? Does Fellow Daoist intend to seize it as well?"

Ji Hongzhu grew vigilant.

Long Jinyu gave a cold hum. "Naive. Do you think we demonic cultivators need to observe courtesy and modesty? Do you, Ji Hongzhu, not desire the other four?"

Ji Hongzhu sneered. "Then why don't you try breaking my formation and see? See if you can crack the one Gu Xijing failed to break!"

Long Jinyu remained silent, carefully inspecting the formation with the posture of one about to dismantle it.

After a moment, seeing that he made no move to attack, he instead let out a lingering sigh and said, "Forget it. Since Gu Xijing could not break it, neither can I. No need to try."

Hearing this, Ji Hongzhu burst into laughter.

Long Jinyu said, "Fellow Daoist, since that is the case, how about the two of us join forces to claim the fortune within the central palace?"

"Long Jinyu, are you planning to trick me out of the formation? I won't fall for your schemes. Gu Xijing is a hypocrite, and you, Long Jinyu, are no saint either."

Ji Hongzhu's mind was exceptionally sharp.

Hearing this, Long Jinyu merely replied faintly, "Believe me or not, we only have three days left. After three days, you can prepare to leave the fortune there to your disciple a thousand years from now! That is, assuming she manages to obtain the other four pieces."

With that, he flicked out several medicinal pills and swallowed them.

Ji Hongzhu fell silent...

After quite a while, Ji Hongzhu spoke again: "What did you do to Gu Xijing?"

Long Jinyu sneered. "Although that fellow consumed the greater part of his primordial spirit and mana, killing him is no easy feat. He managed to escape. Fellow Daoist would be wise to decide quickly; I need you to join forces with me to hunt him down and seize the imperial seal in his possession. He managed to escape with his life from the hands of a mid-stage Dragon Gate cultivator; if he is determined to flee, I cannot keep him by myself."

Ji Hongzhu remained silent once more, seemingly weighing the options.

"Even so, two pieces are still missing."

A moment later, Ji Hongzhu spoke.

Long Jinyu laughed heartily. "I forgot to tell Fellow Daoist, those two brutes who were with him have already been killed by me. The missing two pieces are right in their hands!"

As his voice fell, Long Jinyu brushed his hand across his waist, and three auras flashed forth simultaneously!

Emerald green, golden yellow, fiery red!

Three imperial seals lined up across Long Jinyu's forearm.

From within the formation, Ji Hongzhu could clearly see the scene outside; at that sight, her eyes widened.

Three top-tier magic treasures! Long Jinyu this fellow truly knew how to plunder!

At that moment, Ji Hongzhu was completely tempted. Coupled with the one in her possession, if she could seize Gu Xijing's seal as well, she would be able to enter the most mysterious palace and seek her fortune.

However, could Long Jinyu be trusted?

"Make your choice, decide quickly!"

Having put away the three treasures, Long Jinyu urged her impatiently. "I have no time to slowly waste on your shifting thoughts. Gu Xijing has no doubt fled far by now, and exploring that central hall will take an unknown amount of time."

Though impatient, his words were entirely reasonable.

After her gaze flickered rapidly several times, Ji Hongzhu finally said, "If you want me to join forces with you, you must swear a Primordial Ancestor Oath that you will not harbor ill intentions toward me during these three days. I, too, will swear not to harbor ill intentions toward you."

"Ji Hongzhu, I never knew you could be so naive!"

Long Jinyu mocked her mercilessly. "If there truly is supreme fortune within that central divine hall, how do you expect the two of us to divide it in the end? Naturally, each by our own means. You now possess a top-tier magic treasure as well; why should you fear me? At worst, it will end in mutual destruction!"

Such an oath was certainly something Long Jinyu could not swear.

Yet Ji Hongzhu was exceptionally cunning as well, letting out a delicate snort. "If you cannot give me a reassuring promise, I would rather leave this fortune to a disciple a thousand years from now. At the very least, I currently have a top-tier magic treasure in my hands."

Long Jinyu's expression darkened.

After feigning deep thought for quite a while, he finally spoke: "When all is said and done, you are still worried that I will seize the imperial seal in your hands. How about this: I can swear a Primordial Ancestor Oath that for these three days, I will not touch your seal with even half a finger, and you will not covet the seals in my hands. As for after these three days, the two of us will compete by our own means."

Once the three days were up and they left the mystic realm, clan elders would be there to provide protection, and there would be no further need for worry. Naturally, there was no need to calculate and fret over distant future events so early.

This promise could be considered quite sincere.

Moreover, Long Jinyu's latter half sentence displayed the true nature of a demonic cultivator, making him all the more believable.

Sure enough, Ji Hongzhu fell into deep contemplation upon hearing this, not rejecting it outright.

"Very well, I agree!"

After falling silent for a long while, Ji Hongzhu finally voiced her consent.

Hearing those words, Long Jinyu's eyes held no trace of abnormality, remaining as deep as an abyss.

"You swear first!"

Ji Hongzhu remained cautious.

Without further ado, Long Jinyu swore a Primordial Ancestor Oath that he would not touch the other's imperial seal with even half a finger for the next three days.

Seeing that he had truly sworn the oath, Ji Hongzhu finally set her mind at ease and swore her own oath.

"Dismantle your formation and let's go at once. We must hunt down Gu Xijing as quickly as possible!"

Long Jinyu said with a cold face.

Hearing no response of agreement from Ji Hongzhu, after waiting for a good while, she finally saw the white mist recede to reveal Ji Hongzhu's red-robed figure. Though she had suffered not insignificant injuries, time was short, and they had to depart.

However, Ji Hongzhu held a water-blue imperial seal firmly in her hand, maintaining a posture of wary defense against Long Jinyu, which earned her a cold smile from him.

"Please lead the way, Fellow Daoist Ji."

Long Jinyu gestured with his hand and said, "Since Fellow Daoist is still on guard against me, you surely do not wish to walk ahead of me. Coincidentally, I do not wish to walk ahead of you either, lest I be struck in the back by an imperial seal."

After gazing at him for a moment, Ji Hongzhu stepped forward, walked shoulder to shoulder with him, and headed toward the doors.

Within the span of just a few breaths, the two of them stepped outside.

The moment she crossed the threshold, Ji Hongzhu's mind suffered a violent shock, and her alluring eyes revealed an expression of utter disbelief.

Not far ahead, Gu Xijing was standing there completely unharmed, watching her with a beaming smile. Fang Junhui, Lushi Daolang, and White Horse Lightning—not a single one was missing!

"It's a trap!"

Panic gripped Ji Hongzhu's heart as she soared upward toward the sky. The formation in the hall behind her had already been dismantled, leaving only flight as her means of escape.

Swish—

Lightning crossed the void instantly.

Bang!

A heavy kick landed squarely!

Whoosh—

Immediately following came a sheet of block-like sword Qi, shooting forth to pierce through Ji Hongzhu's body almost instantly as she spewed blood from Lightning's kick, sending a spray of crimson into the air.

The third attack came from Long Jinyu.

Having closed in behind Ji Hongzhu, he slashed down with his sword. The howling of the wind erupted violently, and even more brilliant blossoms of blood burst forth.

Crack!

Ji Hongzhu's fine head tumbled heavily to the ground.

This Senior Sister of Wild Fox Nunnery, much like Xue Fenglou, had made wedding clothes for others. Moreover, she died a most unjust death, lacking even the time to deploy her methods.

In her still-alluring eyes, a look of lingering terror remained. Before her death, she had not even managed to hurl the imperial seal in her grasp, a testament to the sheer speed of the attacks from Lightning, Gu Xijing, and Long Jinyu.

Ambitious heroes and stunning beauties alike all turned to bones in the end; the world of cultivation was truly this cruel. Yet how many innocent male cultivators had been drained dry of blood by Ji Hongzhu to become mere skeletons? Her death stirred no trace of remorse in the hearts of the onlookers.

Clatter—

The water-blue imperial seal rolled a few times upon the ground after landing and came to a stop.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously fell upon the seal.

A moment later, Long Jinyu put away his sword and said leisurely, "I have sworn a Primordial Ancestor Oath not to touch her imperial seal with even half a finger for these three days. Take it yourselves."

This fellow was truly magnanimous.

Having failed to solo Ji Hongzhu, Gu Xijing felt somewhat embarrassed and naturally found it awkward to take the prize. Seeing Long Jinyu return the emerald and golden seals to Fang Junhui and Lightning, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he turned to Lushi Daolang. "Lushi lad, you deserve the top credit for being able to kill Ji Hongzhu this time. You take this imperial seal."

Happiness came too abruptly!

After blinking in a daze, Lushi Daolang cracked a wide grin and asked, "Are you really giving it to me?"

Gu Xijing nodded.

Still finding it hard to believe, Lushi Daolang looked toward Long Jinyu and Fang Junhui, both of whom nodded in assent.

"Haha, many thanks, Fellow Daoist Gu, Fellow Daoist Long! Many thanks, Brother Junhui! Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Overjoyed, Lushi Daolang scurried over on nimble feet and picked up the imperial seal, grinning from ear to ear!

With this, the fate of the five entrance seals was finally settled!

Long Jinyu tossed Ji Hongzhu's storage pouch toward Fang Junhui for distribution, then said, "Time is running out. Let us head straight to the central divine hall at once."