The Legend of the Princess' Counterattack

Chapter 702: Feeding the Lotus with Blood

Yun Yao's gaze was instantly drawn to the shattered "Heart-Protecting Bell" around Xiao Cui's neck, and memories of the past flooded back like a surging tide. That "Heart-Protecting Bell" had been a gift from her, a symbol of deep sisterly affection and a promise of protection for Xiao Cui's life. But now, it was shattered in two, a cruel foreshadowing of Xiao Cui's impending demise.

Xiao Cui's eyes were filled with terror and despair, tears welling in them. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to scream, but the Blood Demon Sect's Great Elder tightly clamped his hand over her mouth, forcing her to whimper only faintly. The Great Elder, with disheveled hair and a hideous, twisted face, resembled a demon from the depths of hell. A strong, pungent, bloody odor permeated the cave. In his hand, he clutched a gleaming dagger, the blade pressed against Xiao Cui's neck. The slightest movement would easily pierce her fragile skin, sending blood gushing out.

"Hand over the Black Ice Lotus, otherwise this girl's head will fall off!" The Great Elder's roar echoed in the cave like thunder, shaking the cave walls and causing sand and gravel to fall.

Yun Yao's heart instantly ignited with rage, as if a raging fire burned within her chest. This rage was fueled by hatred for the Blood Demon Sect's evil deeds, anxiety over Xiao Cui's impending danger, and even greater indignation at their attempts to seize the Mysterious Ice Lotus. Yet, beneath this rage, her rationality remained unshaken, like a taut string. She knew that if she wasn't careful, Xiao Cui would die.

"Want to take her life? You'll have to get past me first!" Yun Yao's eyes widened as she shouted angrily. Her figure flashed with ghostly speed, and with a flick of her wrist, the "Star Chain" she had obtained from the Taixu Secret Realm, like a dragon emerging from the sea, roaring towards Elder Xuesha. The twelve night-shining pearls embedded in the chain burst forth with a dazzling light in the dim cave. Like a sharp sword, the light instantly enveloped Elder Xuesha, transforming him into an impenetrable web of light.

Elder Xuesha's expression suddenly changed upon seeing this. He had clearly not expected Yun Yao to possess such a powerful magical weapon. However, as the Demon Sect's Grand Elder, he was also a seasoned warrior, and he would not yield so easily. He stamped his foot fiercely, and a strong bloody aura surged around him, transforming into a physical shield, attempting to block the radiance of the Star Chain. The bloody aura, like sticky ink, swirled and surged, emitting a sickening, rancid odor. It collided with the dazzling light of the Star Chain, and for a moment, the cave was filled with flashing lights and surging air, a wave of shock that was so deafening that it hurt the ears.

Yun Yao seized this opportunity to return her full attention to Chu Mochen. Her eyes were determined and resolute. Without a moment's hesitation, she rapidly formed hand seals with her fingertips, muttering something to herself. Under her control, the "Nine-Transformation Mysterious Ice Lotus" transformed into a stream of light, precisely merging with Chu Mochen's brow. Instantly, an icy aura emanated from Chu Mochen's brow, rapidly forming a thin layer of frost across his skin. His face, previously contorted with pain, relaxed slightly.

However, Yun Yao knew this wasn't enough. She gritted her teeth, a sharp pain piercing the tip of her tongue as blood gushed out. Using the blood as a guide, her fingers danced rapidly in the air, creating a complex and profound "Soul-Locking Formation." The formation shimmered, each line imbued with mysterious power. Following her gestures, it slowly descended upon Chu Mochen's chest.

At this moment, unnoticed by Yun Yao, the lotus mark between Chu Mochen's brows was quietly changing. As if it had come to life, it slowly seeped into his sea of consciousness. Deep within his chaotic, ruined soul, a golden lotus flower emerged from the earth and slowly blossomed. The petals unfolded, emitting a soft, mysterious golden light, as if lighting a bright lamp within the darkness of his consciousness.

Meanwhile, though Elder Blood Evil was temporarily trapped within the Star Chain's web of light, he didn't cease his struggle. His eyes were red, his face grim, and he swung his dagger repeatedly, attempting to sever the web. Each swing was accompanied by a surge of Blood Evil energy, which eroded the web like a venomous snake.

"Hmph, you think you can trap me with this broken chain!" Elder Xuesha roared.

Yun Yao snorted coldly and increased her spiritual energy input to the Star Chain. The Star Chain shone brighter, and the Night Pearl's radiance became even more dazzling, trapping the Blood Demon Elder even tighter. However, the prolonged, intense confrontation had left Yun Yao's face increasingly pale. Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, and her back was already soaked with sweat.

"Hold on, you must hold on..." Yun Yao secretly encouraged herself in her heart. She knew that if she relaxed even a little, not only would Xiao Cui's life be in danger, but Chu Mochen would also be in an irretrievable situation.

At this moment, the golden lotus blossomed in Chu Mochen's sea of consciousness at an ever-increasing pace. As its petals unfolded, golden ripples spread outward from the lotus. Wherever they reached, the chaotic spiritual space seemed to be infused with life, and fragments of shattered memories, like awakened ghosts, began to appear and disappear in the golden light.

The scene flashed, revealing the young Chu Mochen in a world of ice and snow. His clothes were thin and worn, the chill wind cutting through his skin like a knife, yet he was oblivious. His tiny body knelt in the snow, his hands tightly clasping half a cold, hard steamed bun. The bun was frozen solid, yet his eyes were filled with longing and cherishment. His face was red from the cold, his lips chapped and flaky, yet he gingerly brought the bun to his lips and gently took a small bite, as if it were the most delicious delicacy in the world.

Then, the scene suddenly shifted. A woman in white appeared at the edge of the cliff. Her face was stunningly beautiful, yet shone with a chilling coldness. Chu Mochen stood before her, his eyes filled with trust and dependence. However, the woman in white suddenly reached out and ruthlessly pushed Chu Mochen over the cliff. As he fell, Chu Mochen's eyes filled with fear and confusion, while the woman in white curled her lips in a cruel smile, a smile like frost in the cold winter, chilling one's heart.

In reality, Yun Yao was struggling to hold on to the Star Chains while keeping an eye on Chu Mochen's condition. She noticed that Chu Mochen's brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was experiencing some pain.

"Host, please note that the target's soul is severely damaged and requires the reconstruction of the 'Bridge of Heart and Soul' in the sea of consciousness." The system's voice suddenly sounded at this time, with rare seriousness, "But there is a powerful restriction deep in the sea of consciousness, which may be related to his life experience."

Yun Yao's heart tightened. She wanted to go deeper into Chu Mochen's sea of consciousness to find out what was going on, but the current crisis made it impossible for her to do so.

"Damn it!" Yun Yao secretly hated him. She once again urged her spiritual power, and the star chain glowed even brighter, almost drowning the Blood Demon Elder.

Elder Xuesha also felt unprecedented pressure. His shield began to crack under the erosion of the light. A trace of light penetrated like a sharp sword, cutting his skin.

"Bitch, when I get out, I will tear you into pieces!" Elder Xuesha roared madly.

Yun Yao ignored his threats, her entire focus on Chu Mochen and Xiao Cui. Frantic, she pondered how to find a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation. Suddenly, an idea struck her: another magical weapon she'd found in the Taixu Secret Realm—the "Ethereal Jade Pendant." This jade pendant had the power to absorb spiritual energy and disrupt the enemy's mind.

Yun Yao, suppressing her fatigue, formed a hand seal with one hand, and summoned the ethereal jade pendant. The pendant spun in the air, emitting a melodious, ethereal sound. The sound, like the gurgling of a mountain spring, instantly pierced the Blood Demon Elder's eardrums. He felt a sharp pain in his head, and his once tight shield instantly frayed.

The star chains took the opportunity to tighten, and the light bound the Blood Evil Elder tightly like a rope. The Blood Evil Elder struggled more violently, but it was in vain.

Seeing the time had come, Yun Yao turned to look at Chu Mochen. She took a deep breath, ready to enter his sea of consciousness. At this moment, Xiao Cui suddenly let out a faint cry, "Princess...save me..."

Yun Yao's heart suddenly tugged. She looked at Xiao Cui, her eyes full of guilt and determination: "Xiao Cui, don't be afraid, I will definitely save you!"

With that, she flashed, transforming into a stream of light. With a resolute aura, she plunged headfirst into Chu Mochen's sea of consciousness. As soon as she entered, a chaotic scene overwhelmed her. Fragments of shattered memories fluttered like snowflakes, drifting everywhere. Yun Yao moved forward cautiously, trying to avoid any restrictions that might conceal danger.

"Don't come over...this is all lies..." Chu Mochen's voice echoed in the void, revealing endless pain and confusion.

Yun Yao's heart ached, and she quickened her pace, running towards the source of the sound. Along the way, she saw more of Chu Mochen's past. There were memories of him cultivating alone in the darkness, his resilient figure repeatedly falling and getting up; there were scenes of him bravely facing powerful enemies, never flinching, fighting bloody battles; and there were also the sweet moments of him and her getting to know each other.

These memories flowed like a stream of warmth into Yun Yao's heart, further solidifying her resolve to save Chu Mochen. Finally, she saw the golden lotus blossoming amidst the ruins. A glow swirled around the lotus, seemingly filled with endless mysteries.

Yun Yao slowly approached, feeling a powerful and mysterious force drawing her in. Just as she was about to touch the lotus, a dark shadow suddenly emerged from the darkness and pounced on her. Yun Yao reacted quickly, dodging to the side. Upon closer inspection, she saw a vicious beast formed from the condensation of demonic energy.

The beast was enormous, more than two people tall, its body covered in spikes. Its fangs gleamed coldly in its bloody maw, and its red eyes stared intently at Yun Yao, as if ready to tear her to pieces in the next second. With a roar, it opened its maw, spewing out a strong, demonic aura that swept towards Yun Yao.

Yun Yao didn't dare to be careless. She quickly made a hand gesture, and a magical sword appeared in her hand. This magical sword, obtained after enduring hardships in the secret realm, was extremely sharp, and runes shimmered on the blade, imbued with powerful spiritual power. She swung the magical sword, and a sharp sword energy slashed at the evil beast.

Seeing this, the beast raised its front paw and swung it, a blood-red shadow colliding with the sword energy. Instantly, a surge of energy erupted, radiating light. Yun Yao felt a tremendous force bearing down on her, causing her to lose her balance and take several steps backward.

"Hmph, no one will stop me from saving him today!" Yun Yao roared, charging at the beast once more. Unleashing all her might, her spirit sword danced through the air with impenetrable force. Threads of sword energy crisscrossed the air like a vast net, enveloping the beast.

The beast refused to give in, continuously spewing demonic energy and using its claws to block the sword's energy. For a moment, the two sides were in a stalemate. Yun Yao knew time was running out; she couldn't afford to waste too much time here. Her eyes focused, and she suddenly remembered a spell she had read in ancient books—the "Spiritual Insight Demon-Breaking Technique."

This spell required the use of one's own spiritual energy, combined with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, to be cast. Without hesitation, Yun Yao immediately channeled her spiritual energy, mobilizing the spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth. Instantly, the clouds in her sea of consciousness shifted, and spiritual energy converged towards her like a vortex.

She poured her spiritual energy into the sword, which shone brightly, the spiritual pattern on the hilt gleaming with golden light. Yun Yao shouted loudly and thrust her sword forward. This strike, imbued with all her spiritual power and determination, pierced the evil beast's chest like a meteor, instantly piercing it.

The beast let out a scream, its massive body collapsing with a thud, dissolving into a cloud of black mist before vanishing into thin air. Yun Yao sheathed her spirit sword and quickly approached the golden lotus. The lotus's glow grew softer, as if welcoming her.

Yun Yao reached out and gently touched the lotus petals. Instantly, a warm and familiar power flowed through her fingertips and into her heart. She closed her eyes, feeling the power, and silently prayed in her heart, "Chu Mochen, you must hold on. We will get through this together..."

In the real world, the Star Chains still bound Elder Xuesha tightly, while Xiao Cui looked at Yun Yao and Chu Mochen with concern. The atmosphere in the cave was extremely tense, as if a greater crisis would erupt at any moment. But Yun Yao was now deep within Chu Mochen's sea of consciousness, about to face an unknown challenge closely linked to Chu Mochen's fate, as well as a shocking secret hidden in the darkness that held the future of the entire cultivation world in question...