Chapter 34 - 34 34 Seven Ashes Steps

34: Chapter 34: Seven Ashes Steps 34: Chapter 34: Seven Ashes Steps “Roar!!!!” The sky changed color, the stars shifted positions! The thick, blood-soaked air rushed in like a tangible tsunami. The ancient trees and giant rocks within the Stone Forest were coated in a layer of terrifying grey-black in an instant. Trees withered, and giant rocks turned to sand in monochrome. The overwhelming aura seemed as though it would flip over the very skies of the Heavenly Capital. The blazing bonfire was extinguished in a moment. Wen Yu finally shifted his gaze from Baili An and the young deer. His face was filled with shock, he took a deep, heavy breath, while the girl in his arms seemed to recall some frightful memories, letting out a shrill scream and burying herself into his embrace, her pale face trembling with fear, a sight pitiful enough to evoke sympathy. Qi Yang’s face showed not a hint of triumph anymore; instead, it was filled with terror as he flung himself at the feet of Wen Yu, seeking protection. Baili An’s gaze was distant and heavy, watching the figure that rolled towards them like silent mountains in the darkness. The pitch-black night could not hinder the sight of the corpse demon. He saw… A massive, burly silhouette, wrapped in terrifying and strong corpse energy, approaching on the winds of a storm! The beastly body, as colossal as a mountain, had a grimly pale human face with a dark purple Corpse Pearl in its mouth, two long ears each dangling a green snake as thick as an adult’s arm, hissing and spitting out grey and white corpse energy. Sёarᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the corpse energy descended, mortals on the ground had already perished in large numbers, unable to withstand it. In Baili An’s eyes, the huge corpse-like figure emitted an aura similar to those of its own kind. Corpse demon! And an extremely ferocious and terrifying one at that. He silently observed the vivid blood energy steaming from the surface of the colossal corpse demon, so vivid, so alive. That was human blood. Baili An’s eyes turned icy in an instant, feeling that this cultivator named Wen Yu deserved death. Such powerful corpse demons seldom appear in this world, yet now this one, with rage billowing throughout its body, did not even keep the Corpse Pearl hidden within but held it in its mouth. The Corpse Pearl was the fundamental root of a demon spirit within a corpse demon, of the utmost importance. A weak, newly awakened corpse demon like Baili An had no Corpse Pearl. Once a corpse demon cultivates the origin of the Corpse Pearl, it is naturally hidden in the deepest part of the body. Not carried in the mouth as a fatal weakness. This clearly showed that Wen Yu… must have done something to enrage the corpse demon to this extreme degree. Such a reckless act was one thing, but the human blood underneath the corpse demon’s feet was clearly fresh. This Wen Yu… actually led the corpse demon into a human village, using those numerous human bodies to delay the terrifying pursuit for his own escape. Such selfish actions were no different from evil demons! The towering corpse demon, with extreme demonic intent in its eyes and towering rage, looked down at the cultivator on the ground who dared to covet its Corpse Pearl. With a roar from its mouth, it raised the broken axe high, pulling all the air from the ground above with its terrifying suction force, whisking away all the living and dead mortals on the ground into the sky. Even Baili An struggled to keep his balance, only barely avoiding being sucked into the sky by thrusting his sword into the ground. Behind him, the young deer let out a shriek, its limbs immobilized, eyes filled with despair and horror as it was swept up into the tempest. The trio of master and disciples, on the other hand, were clever. Led by Wen Yu, each holding a disciple, they managed to barely sway away from the attack range of the corpse demon’s Battle Axe using Sword Control, hiding panting behind a half-sandified giant rock, eyeing the situation with somber gazes. The girl in Wen Yu’s arms burst into tears, streaking her face as she said, “Master, can we stop leading it on?” A hint of retreat flared in Wen Yu’s eyes but was immediately suppressed by a strong obsession upon recalling something. He gritted his teeth and said, “No! I’ve been expelled from the Taixuan Sect for many years, my life nearing its end. If there’s no breakthrough or fortuitous encounter, my life will remain stagnant here.” Saying this, he glared at the girl, saying harshly, “Without my protection, you would just be a passing wisp of dust on the path of cultivation.” The girl bowed her head deeply, no longer speaking. Qi Yang saw the villagers from his own village being swept into the sky, the Battle Axe powerful enough to cleave mountains and split seas about to fall. His eyes instantly reddened, and he cried out, attempting to break free, “Father! Mother! Master, don’t stop me! My parents are still in there!” Wen Yu, exhaustedly leaning against the rock, glanced faintly at the fierce-looking youth. He sneered, “I’m not holding you back; both my hands are holding your Senior Sister. Saving your life was just a convenience. If you wish to seek death, be my guest.” Qi Yang’s ferocious expression froze for a moment, the redness in his eyes slightly subsiding. His gaze met the fearful and pleading eyes of his parents above. In an instant, his own eyes seemed violently pierced by something, and he crouched down behind the giant rock, hugging his knees and trembling, saying pitifully, “Dad… Mom… I will live well to repay your kindness in raising me.” Watching him in this state, Wen Yu laughed heartily, stretching out his hand to vigorously rub the boy’s head. He looked at him with satisfaction and said, “When I took you as my disciple, it wasn’t for your talents, but for this cold and ruthless character of yours. The Dao is heartless, and if you harbor kindness, you don’t deserve to follow me.” In that instant, as if something had been cleanly severed by the master’s laughter, the youth’s dark eyes went from ferocious despair to accepting reality. Hugging his knees, he bit hard on his own arm, his face turning from grimacing despair to resignation. This rapid change lasted no more than the span of three breaths. Baili An suddenly looked up amidst the howling gale, with flying sand and stones stinging his eyes. His eyes turned bloodshot, watching the deer’s eyes shift from despair to pleading. He understood that plea; it was not one for help like the one from Qi Yang’s parents. It was a prayer not to act rashly, a plea to flee as fast as possible. In the end, the deer screamed out, the corners of its mouth twitching into a human-like smile learned from Baili An. The smile was ugly and heartbreaking. How could Baili An possibly leave!! He erupted in black energy while below him, under the frenzied push of Spiritual Power, a circle of fire spread out. Wen Yu, who had been meditating with closed eyes behind the giant rock, suddenly opened his eyes as if feeling something, and abruptly peeked out, eyes widening in shock at the scene before him! “How is it possible…” Wen Yu’s throat constricted as if suddenly seized, unconsciously letting out a couple of gasping sounds. Then, with a dry and husky voice, he said, “It’s the Seven Ashes Steps!” The girl shook all over, her beautiful eyes wide in disbelief, “Master, are you sure you’re not mistaken? The Seven Ashes Steps… that’s an untransmitted spiritual method of the Taixuan Sect!” Wen Yu’s face tightened and trembled, his gaze fixed intently on the youth who stepped out of the circle of fire into the air a hundred meters above. His eyes shook violently again, murmuring, “He’s actually a Taixuan disciple, but how can such a young Taixuan disciple know the Seven Ashes Steps… a hundred meters in one step… a hundred meters in one step…”