freenovelworld Chapter 509 Is there still hope?
Chapter 509 Is there still hope?
Yun Yici carried the phoenix fire and led the way, illuminating the dim room with its light.
The flickering flames cast indistinct shadows on the wall.
As the fire spread, the scene on the wall gradually became clearer.
The walls and even the roof were covered with blood-red runes.
Its color was dark red, like flowing blood, and it gleamed eerily in the crimson firelight.
The runes were twisted and grotesque, like writhing venomous snakes, sending chills down one's spine.
Yun Yici's gaze narrowed slightly, and the phoenix fire in his hand seemed to sense something, its flames suddenly leaping higher.
She examined the runes closely and discovered that they were not random scribbles, but arranged according to some mysterious rules, vaguely forming a huge array.
“These runes…” she murmured softly, her fingertips gently brushing against the wall.
The runes under his fingers were icy cold, as if one could feel the resentment and malevolent energy contained within them.
As the firelight flickered, the runes seemed to come alive, flowing slowly across the wall and emanating a chilling aura.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept in from the depths, causing the phoenix fire to flicker.
Yun Yici's expression hardened, and the flames in his hand suddenly surged, illuminating the entire room as if it were daytime.
Qu Jianrou shouted loudly, "Master?"
Heavy breathing came from deep within the room, but no one answered Qu Jianrou's calls.
The plain-colored curtains in front of the bed hung down smoothly, revealing complete darkness inside, so Yun Yici couldn't see the figure inside.
But what is certain is that the breathing sounds were coming from inside.
Yun Yici looked at Shen Huaichuan: "I've never seen this array on the wall before."
Shen Huaichuan walked behind Qu Jianrou. When he met Yun Yici's gaze, he shook his head slightly and raised his hand to lightly touch his lips with his index finger.
Yun Yici immediately realized what was going on. She continued to examine the runes on the wall, secretly memorizing them to study later when she got out.
Qu Jianrou was tense at this moment, her eyes fixed on the back of the curtain.
"Sect Leader Yun, I see dark clouds looming overhead, the same aura as Elder Shen's. Could it be that my master has already...?"
Yun Yici pondered for a moment: "Since we're already here, we can't just leave now."
"Here, you hold the lantern for me."
Yun Yici handed over the Phoenix Fire, made a hand gesture with his fingers, and a gentle breeze came uninvited, blowing softly towards the innermost curtain.
Just as the breeze touched the curtain, Yun Yici clenched her hands, and the invisible wind materialized, lifting the curtain.
However, the moment the curtain was lifted, something unexpected happened!
A surge of overwhelming demonic energy erupted like a burst dam, enveloping the three of them.
"Xiao Ci, watch out!"
Qu Jianrou looked down in surprise; the sound was coming from the phoenix lamp in her hand.
Immediately afterwards, the phoenix fire in her hand seemed to have a mind of its own, surging again and transforming into a blazing light barrier that protected everyone inside.
However, the demonic energy was too terrifying; the area outside the barrier had fallen into complete darkness, so dark that one could not see their own hand in front of their face.
The sounds of ghosts wailing and howling filled my ears, as if countless vengeful spirits were wandering in the darkness.
Qu Jianrou's face was pale; she could feel her spiritual power being eroded by demonic energy.
If it weren't for the warmth of the phoenix fire in her hand, she felt she would have been devoured and torn apart by this demonic energy.
Yun Yici retreated calmly, then looked curiously at the phoenix fire in Qu Jianrou's hand: "Imperial edict?"
Outside the forest, the Emperor coughed lightly and said awkwardly, "Although I cannot advance in rank, my strength has increased significantly due to various reasons. Now that you are here with my fire, it is as if I have come in person."
"I'm worried about your safety."
The emperor originally did not intend to speak, but he did not expect that Yun Yici would let the female cultivator carry his fire.
In his haste, he finally spoke up.
Qu Jianrou, being sensible and perceptive, quickly returned the phoenix fire in her hand to Yun Yici.
The moment the Phoenix Fire entered Yun Yici's hands, it suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and a huge phantom of a fire phoenix appeared behind her, emitting a clear and melodious phoenix cry.
The phoenix spread its wings and soared high, its blazing flames spreading outwards like a tidal wave.
The demonic energy clashed violently with the flames, yet the demonic energy seemed inexhaustible, and the places purified by the flames were quickly swallowed up by darkness again.
Shen Huaichuan said, "Tell him to hold back his power. I can sense where the demonic seed is."
In the current situation, Qu Jianrou's eyes, which originally had considerable popularity, are the most useful tool.
But she saw nothing, which means that he has completely fallen into demonic possession.
Yun Yici nodded and said to Qu Jianrou, "Then let's go with Elder Shen."
Qu Jianrou, holding her sword, said, "Very well, thank you both for risking your lives to help me."
"If I manage to get out of here alive today, I will never forget your kindness."
The emperor's ulterior motives were out in the open, so he stopped pretending: "You're telling me to hold back, but I don't want to burn you down with me."
Shen Huaichuan smiled but remained silent. Di Zhao also found it boring, so he put away the Fire Phoenix Illusion. The barrier supported by the Phoenix Fire moved with them.
They remained inside the room, which was quite small, and following Shen Huaichuan's directions, they soon found Qu Jianrou's master.
But the scene before him was so bizarre that even Qu Jianrou himself dared not recognize it.
It was a girl of about five or six years old, whose hands, feet and neck were bound by five golden threads, and she was suspended in the darkness.
She hung her head, her white hair flowing freely, longer than her body, like a white, winding creature coiling in the darkness.
Ominous demonic energy continuously gushed from her body.
"Master..."
Qu Jianrou's voice trembled, filled with both tenderness and fear.
Yun Yici stopped the agitated Qu Jianrou: "Don't come closer, don't take her off."
"If I'm not mistaken, this was her arrangement when she was lucid."
"The first layer is the Demon-Dispelling Bell outside the forest, the second layer is the Demon-Trapping Array in the forest, the third layer is the runes pasted on the door outside the house, the fourth layer should be the runes on the wall, and the fifth layer is what she is bound to."
“Your master must not have looked like this child before.”
"So there should still be hope for her."
Qu Jianrou was extremely excited and grabbed Yun Yici's hand: "Really?"
Shen Huaichuan looked him over and said, "What the sect leader said is right. Your master must have been worried that he would harm you after falling into demonic possession, so he chose to begin his self-destruction as he lost consciousness."
"The outward manifestation is that the body gradually shrinks."
"When she becomes an infant, that will be the time when she is completely corrupted by demons."
The reason didn't need Shen Huaichuan to explain; Qu Jianrou understood it immediately.
Becoming an infant and having one's body bound beforehand, along with layers of seals, means that one cannot resist for a short period of time.
When the Demon-Slaying Bell rings, she will activate the sect-protecting formation. The formation's lightning and fire will ignite the Yang Wood, ensuring their safety.
"Master, you're so silly!"
"Sect Leader Yun, Elder Shen, please save my master!"
Without saying a word, Qu Jianrou knelt down in front of the two men and kowtowed deeply.
Shen Huaichuan said, "Your master has been corrupted by demons for a long time, and I am not entirely confident either, but I am willing to try my best."
Yun Yici then bent down and helped Qu Jianrou, who was kneeling on the ground, to her feet.
Qu Jianrou said firmly, "It's enough that Elder Shen is willing to give it a try! How can I help you?"