Chapter 63: The Border Defense Line

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

During these six months, the spread of the blood mist far exceeded everyone’s expectations. That eerie crimson fog expanded at a speed several times faster than before, not only enveloping most of the outer sea, but also infiltrating the minds of nearly all the low- and mid-rank demon beasts that failed to flee in time, turning them into bloodthirsty maniacs who no longer recognized kin.

Worse things lay ahead.

News from the border defensive line flowed like an undercurrent. At first it circulated only among a few Nascent Soul cultivators and high-ranking masters, and various factions tightly suppressed it for fear of panic.

Now there were shapeshifted great demons that failed to escape in time and were infected by the blood mist. Their cultivation hadn’t dropped, but their intelligence was gone; they had turned into vicious beasts that only knew how to kill.

Those eighth- and ninth-tier demon beasts were already comparable in strength to Nascent Soul cultivators. Now, without reason, they were even more troublesome. They felt no pain, feared no death, and launched relentless assaults on all living things.

But paper cannot forever hide fire.

When the first Nascent Soul cultivator was reported killed at the border, the entire human population of the Abyssal Sea was shaken. Then came the second and third. Among them were even two Nascent Soul powerhouses who were devoured alive by those rampaging great demons before they could escape, their souls shattered and gone.

For a time, everyone within the inner sea felt themselves endangered.

Morale at the border defensive line plummeted to rock bottom. Many cultivators wore despondent expressions, whispering privately, and some even began secretly preparing escape routes. Only after three great cultivators issued several strict orders and personally slew three frenzied ninth-tier great demons in succession was the military’s heart barely steadied.

Morale recovered somewhat, but the gloom did not dissipate.

On Soul Wraith Island, inside the Soul Wraith Great Hall.

“Canfeng.”

Jiuyou stood with his hands behind his back, habitually stroking his whiskers, his gaze fixed toward the border defensive line.

“You have now broken through to Late Golden Core. I have already informed your Blood Vine and Senior Danxuan. From now on, you, Gu Qing, and the other stewards will properly guard the island. With my reputation, no one dares stir trouble on my master’s island. You only need to keep the island in order. I will return in a year.”

Canfeng stood obediently at his side, bowing slightly, his palms rubbing together continuously, his face full of ingratiating smiles.

“Rest assured, Old Ancestor! A mere year, your grandson will run everything here in perfect order. Not a single mistake will occur!”

Jiuyou nodded slightly and did not speak further. His gaze turned cold as he returned to his abode.

A year is but a snap of the fingers for cultivators of his Nascent Soul level, and even for Golden Core cultivators it passes quickly.

But the situation was tense: the blood mist spread ever faster, and waves of sea and exotic beasts kept assaulting the inner sea defensive lines.

The entire border defensive line was changing by the minute and required constant rotation and replenishment. That was why rotations occurred as frequently as once a year: to prevent any gap in the lines that the surging outer sea creatures might exploit.

The next day at noon.

Jiuyou did not linger on Soul Wraith Island. He flew alone, directly toward the border defensive line.

Now the human defense had been compressed once more, reduced from over three hundred thousand li to under one hundred and fifty thousand li, and was less than one hundred thousand li from his Soul Wraith Island.

Jiuyou flew at an unhurried pace, watching the distant bloodlight growing nearer on the horizon, his face becoming increasingly grave.

The blood-hue was so dense it seemed as if it could drip.

After several hours.

A sudden, powerful fluctuation of magic erupted over the distant sea, spreading like a roaring tide. The sea within a hundred li was affected, giant waves several zhang high were raised, and countless low-rank demon beasts and human cultivators were flung into reefs or the sea, crashing hard with piercing screams.

“Damn it!”

An angry shout rose from the battle formation.

“Never expected to run into this ninth-tier demon beast at the end of my shift! This damned beast is so hard to deal with. Why haven’t the rotating Nascent Soul cultivators come to reinforce?!”

A middle-aged man wearing a golden robe embroidered with sword patterns was battling a colossal creature.

The demon resembled a centipede, jet-black in color, tens of zhang long, its countless legs razor-sharp like blades, and it breathed silver-white lightning. Each exhalation came with an ear-splitting thunder.

A Ninth-Tier Thunder Centipede.

The golden-robed cultivator formed an incantation, a surging reservoir of magic condensing at his side. A golden greatsword manifested, its blade flowing with golden light and sword qi soaring into the sky, slashing through the heavens and thrusting ferociously at the Thunder Centipede.

This man was the Grand Elder of Heavenly Sword Island from the Righteous Path Alliance, Fang Wuji.

Sword light collided with lightning, producing blinding sparks. Fang Wuji’s face had gone slightly pale, clearly having taken heavy strain. He was at his rotation handover, and of all times, several ferocious beasts had appeared. He had barely slain two eighth-tier demons when a ninth-tier Thunder Centipede emerged.

The centipede emitted a shriek, its massive body twisting in midair as its countless legs swept at Fang Wuji. Fang gritted his teeth and retreated, his form flashing in the air, narrowly avoiding the blow.

Just as the Thunder Centipede was about to strike again,

a streak of cyan light cut through the sky like a falling star. Its speed was so fast that even Fang Wuji only saw an afterimage.

Boom—

A towering mount of Heavenly Mountain descended from the sky, wrapped in blazing red-gold flames, smashing hard onto the centipede’s head. The great beast gave a mournful shriek as its enormous body was slammed into the sea, spraying a hundred-zhang-high tidal wave. Red-golden flames spread over its shell, sizzling and burning loudly.

Fang Wuji’s pupils shrank as he looked up.

In midair, a cloud of cyan mist slowly condensed, revealing Jiuyou’s figure. He stood with his hands behind his back, robes billowing, looking down from above at the struggling Thunder Centipede, a faint, unreadable smile at the corner of his mouth.

The Golden Sun Heavenly Mountain flew back from the sea and hovered at his side, red-golden flames leaping, warping the surrounding air with heat.

“Fellow Daoist Fang, trust you are well.”

Jiuyou turned his head to Fang Wuji. His tone was plain, but contained a few subtle implications.

Fang Wuji’s expression darkened. Surprise, vigilance, and a trace of disgust flickered in his eyes.

“Jiuyou… I didn’t expect you to be on rotation.”

He forced down his unease and spoke curtly.

Jiuyou chuckled softly and let his gaze sweep across Fang Wuji, lingering for an instant on the faint paleness of his face.

“Judging by your expression, you seem to have had a rough fight. My arrival was rather untimely—have I interrupted your spar with this beast?”

Fang Wuji’s face sank further.

He could not fail to catch the mockery in Jiuyou’s words. This old demon was clearly insinuating that his magic was insufficient, that he could not quickly defeat a mindless ninth-tier beast.

“You old demon, spare the snide remarks.”

Fang Wuji replied coldly.

“Give this beast to me. Though I’ve expended much, I do not need your help.”

“Oh?”

Jiuyou raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the Thunder Centipede, which had risen from the sea again. The shell on the beast’s head was cracked by the Heavenly Mountain’s blow, black blood seeping out. It was maddened, roaring as it charged the two of them.

“By all means, fellow Daoist. I was just resting and wanted to see how the leader of the Righteous Path fares.”

Jiuyou deliberately stepped back dozens of zhang, hands behind his back, adopting an attitude of hands-off observation.

Fang Wuji’s face turned ashen, but he had no time to spar with Jiuyou. The centipede was already upon him, and he could only respond with everything he had.

Golden sword light flared again, interweaving with the centipede’s lightning. Though Fang Wuji was heavily taxed, he was an established mid-Nascent Soul powerhouse. His swordsmanship was fierce, blow after blow striking the centipede’s shell.

Jiuyou watched coldly, his mind quietly calculating.

Fang Wuji’s reputation was well-deserved. Even depleted he could contend with a ninth-tier demon. If Fang were at full strength, Jiuyou likely wouldn’t need to intervene to slay the Thunder Centipede.

However—

Jiuyou’s lips curved slightly.

He had not truly intended to remain a passive observer. Fang belonged to the Righteous Path Alliance; should an accident occur during the handover, the fallout would not be good for Jiuyou. Moreover, the border defensive line needed fighting strength, not in-fighting.

Just as Fang severed one of the centipede’s legs and the beast howled in pain, Jiuyou acted.

The Golden Sun Heavenly Mountain condensed into a streak of golden light again, wrapped in red-gold flames, slamming into the centipede’s abdomen from the side. The beast howled miserably, its body tilting and a defensive gap appearing.

Fang Wuji’s eyes sharpened, and the golden greatsword in his hand swelled explosively, turning into a hundred-zhang sword light that came down in a single stroke.

The centipede’s head fell.

Its enormous body crashed into the sea, creating a towering tidal wave.

Fang Wuji sheathed his sword and turned to Jiuyou.

“Th—anks.”

He spat out two words, stiff and brief, his face unsmiling.

Jiuyou retracted the Golden Sun Heavenly Mountain and shrugged.

“No need for thanks, fellow Daoist. I simply feared this beast would harm you, and later the Righteous Path Alliance would claim we Demonic Path Alliance could not handle affairs. You know how it is—among the three alliances there is surface-level harmony, but below it everyone watches everyone.”

Fang Wuji snorted coldly and did not reply.

He of course understood that Jiuyou’s words still contained barbs.

The two fell silent for a moment.

Fang Wuji cupped his fists.

“Since fellow Daoist Jiuyou has arrived, I will take my leave. I entrust this defensive line to you.”

“Safe travels, fellow Daoist.”

Jiuyou’s expression remained calm as he waved his hand.

Fang Wuji’s face darkened. He said nothing more, transforming into a streak of golden sword light and flying toward the inner sea without looking back.

Jiuyou watched that streak of sword light recede. A deep solemnity slowly surfaced on his otherwise tranquil face.