CHAPTER 756: 631 JIUHUA MOUNTAIN MURDER CASE

A Zhen still appeared as a young girl, dressed in a white garment and holding a flower basket in her hands, she eyed the Yi family aunt and nephew with caution and asked them what they were there for.

Though Yi Jing was proud by nature and disdained interactions with those of the Demon Path, particularly with disciples of her enemies, she restrained her demeanor for a few reasons: firstly, out of respect for Yang Jin, who was, after all, the sixth sister in Yang Jin’s current life; and secondly, it was said A Zhen would eventually renounce her evil ways and join the Emei Sect, becoming a fellow disciple. So, Yi Jing explained with patience.

"These Demon Humans deliberately lured us here, wishing to trouble us through your teacher. Fortunately, your teacher seems to revere heaven and know her fate, not daring to forcefully stand up for them..."

Yi Jing felt her explanation was unproblematic, that the facts were exactly as stated.

However, A Zhen found the words grating to her ears, as if her master was afraid of the three of them, and felt compelled to retort, "My master has been in closed-door cultivation for some time now, and she probably hasn’t emerged yet. Otherwise, I would have invited you in to sit for a while and, as a host, offer some modest hospitality. But I fear that you may be too busy for that."

In saying this, she not only excused Jiu Panpo for not appearing but also hinted that if they genuinely opened the Mountain Gate to invite them in as guests, they would probably be too afraid to enter.

Yi Jing caught the insinuation and scoffed coldly, "There’s nothing I’m too busy for. I’ve long heard that the scenery of the Nine Ring Mountain is beautiful and refined. I’ve always wanted to visit and broaden my horizons. It’s just a pity that your revered teacher is in seclusion and has sealed off the mountain, preventing anyone else from coming to disturb her."

Beside her, Yi Zhen was feeling bold and said with a laugh, "Sister, why not open the Mountain Gate now and let us in for a cup of tea? The Yi Family has always yearned for a visit to your Nine Ring Mountain one day. Since we’re already here by fate, perhaps you could open the gate and invite us in for a sit?"

After he spoke, Yi Jing couldn’t help but give him a glare. She knew Jiu Panpo was formidable and that she had not yet reached the pinnacle of strength; it was not the time for vengeance and she should not engage Jiu Panpo in battle now.

But Yi Zhen, spoiled by his sister-in-law, always acted recklessly, thinking that no matter what trouble he stirred up, the Yi Family and the Emei Sect could handle it without concern.

However, since Yi Zhen had spoken, Yi Jing could not retract the words without appearing timid.

A Zhen couldn’t stand being provoked, "Well then, in the past, we met at Dragon Elephant Temple at Yi Tian Cliff, let me be the host today and treat the three of you properly!"

After speaking, she formed a hand seal and opened the Array Gate. Only then did she realize that the Heavenly Secret Demon Formation, which protected the entire Nine Ring Mountain, was unexpectedly set to its highest defense. Normally, the Array Gate could be opened at will, but now it could barely open a small gap.

A Zhen had also refined her Lifebound Divine, and she sensitively felt that something was off today, but once words were spoken, like water spilled, she could not just retract the invitation.

She regretted considering asking the Yi family aunt and nephew in.

Yi Jing also regretted it very much, not wanting to step into this dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.

But the conversation had progressed to this point, and the mood was such that nobody could take the words back.

Yi Jing had no choice but to walk forward with a stiff upper lip. She was on full alert, concentrating as she carefully observed the surroundings, where invisible Demon Light and blood Qi surged in the shadows. Every plant and tree seemed to be under the secret dominion of Demon Gods. She thought to herself how formidable this was, allowing her two nephews to follow A Zhen at the front while she brought up the rear, ready to ensure a retreat and lead her nephews out at the first sign of any trouble.

A Zhen knew of the grudge between Jiu Panpo and Yi Jing, and her heart was unsettled by bringing her enemy into her home.

She didn’t dare take Yi Jing to the Demon Palace nor her cave dwelling, but only to a small pavilion atop a little hill. She cast spells to summon servant Devils, ordering them to present the finest tea and snacks and to choose the best fruits from the mountain.

"Our mountain home is modest, and my master is in seclusion. There are ambushes all around the cave dwelling, so we are hosting our esteemed guests here," A Zhen thought. Her plan was to let these three finish quickly and then send them away. She didn’t think a major disaster would occur mainly worried that Jiu Panpo might punish her for bringing Yi Jing, the enemy.

Yi Jing also was thinking to quickly eat and drink a bit to show courtesy, then find an excuse to take her leave.

If things were to proceed as both of them had hoped, it might have been fine, and even Jiu Panpo, secretly observing, would have breathed a sigh of relief.

But unfortunately, the Yi Cheng couple followed close behind.

When the green-haired immortal, Wei Qingqing, arrived and found the Array sealing everything, she saw only the clear mountain views, the silent expanse without a single bird, sensing the surge of Demon Light and knew she was at Jiu Panpo’s palace. Seeing signs of a fierce battle outside, she turned cold: "Ding’er and Zhen’er have been harmed by that Old Demoness!"

She burst into tears, clutching Yi Cheng’s arm, trembling, "What do we do? Cheng ge, what should we do?"

Yi Cheng managed to keep his composure, "Don’t panic just yet. They’re with their aunt, who will protect them. Don’t cry, let me calculate."

He tensely used the Yi Family’s divination methods and came to a conclusion: Yi Jing and the Yi brothers had pursued their quarry here without regarding Jiu Panpo, barging in after a group of Demon Humans. They had enraged Jiu Panpo, who activated the Blood River Formation and trapped all three of them. Now, they were caught in the Demon Formation, their lives in danger at any moment!

Yi Zhou was renowned throughout the land for his divinatory abilities, often swelling with pride, believing that even the Emei Sect—a true Mysterious Sect—could barely match him in divination, definitely not surpass him.

The Yi Family took great pride in this, and Yi Cheng obviously believed the manipulated results, confiding in his wife.

Upon hearing that her two treasured sons were trapped in the Blood River Demon Formation, Wei Qingqing threw caution to the wind, summoned all her Flying Sword Magical Treasures, and rushed into the mountains.

Yi Cheng, worried about his sons and wife, hurriedly followed.

Although the couple knew the power of the Demon Formation, they advanced side by side, their Flying Swords in parallel, their Magical Treasures forming a continuous force, ready for both attack and defense.

At first, Yi Cheng tried hard to calculate the changes in the Array, but the Demon Formation relied entirely on the hidden control of Divine Demons, completely different from the Daoist numerical arrays; he calculated over and over but couldn’t figure out a thing, instead becoming trapped in the Heavenly Demon Illusion unable to find his way out.

Wei Qingqing, unable to rescue her sons, broke down crying. Yi Cheng was helpless, constantly attempting to find the correct direction, but under the Heavenly Demon Illusion, the mountains, waters, and trees all around them were a mix of real and fake, even causing them hallucinations. The Divine Demons also influenced their minds and emotions. Wei Qingqing had been possessed by the sorrow demon, crying incessantly with tears streaming down her face.

Though they were the elders, having cultivated for a long time, their innate talents and spiritual roots were the poorest in the Yi Family—not even comparable to the twin sisters-in-law, Lin Mingshu and Lin Fangshu.

Now, their Daoist power was not only inferior to Yi Jing’s but also far behind their two sons!

Fortunately, Jiu Panpo didn’t wish to take their lives and redirected the Array, trapping them in a valley.

While Jiu Panpo didn’t want to kill them, she also couldn’t let them directly find the small mountain where Yi Jing and the others were hiding. If they broke into Nine Ring Mountain so easily and found their destination, the Red Body Sect would become a joke to the world.

Her plan was to temporarily trap this couple until Yi Jing and the others left; then, she’d allow them to meet on the road and leave together, preserving the Red Body Sect’s face without causing irreparable casualties.

She thought it was a good plan, but just after trapping Yi Cheng and his wife, Yi Zhou arrived with his wife, Yang Guipo, and his two concubines.

Yi Zhou also calculated and divined. He was much better than his son, but the outcome was similar to Yi Cheng’s and even more ominous.

His divination showed that his son and daughter-in-law were already trapped in the Demon Formation.

His daughter-in-law was possessed by sorrow, and it wouldn’t be long before the Demonic Qi seeped into her heart and lungs, significantly depleting her Essence Energy and spirit, her body quickly aging, her hair turning white, and soon she would cry out in madness and die.

As for his son, he was possessed by a foolish demon, dull and confused, his Primordial Spirit losing control, and soon to be devoured by a Divine Demon.

His grandsons were protected by his daughter Yi Jing, and with the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Demon Extinguishing Divine Shuttle present, despite being trapped in the ferocious Blood River Demon Formation, they were not in immediate grave danger.

But he calculated that Jiu Panpo was seeking revenge, preparing the Nine Ghosts Devouring Souls, ready to tear his daughter and grandchildren to shreds with Divine Demons and devour them!

Upon reaching this conclusion, Yi Zhou felt a buzzing in his head, somewhat dazed.

He knew the ferocity of Jiu Panpo, but the situation was urgent, and he couldn’t afford not to enter.

Quickly, he made a decision, instructed the two concubines, Lin Mingshu and Lin Fangshu, to stay and seek help from the Emei Sect while he, along with his spouse, Yang Guipo, charged directly into the Array. He calculated the position where his son and daughter-in-law were trapped and rushed straight towards it.

Lin Mingshu and Lin Fangshu, though of the older generation, had only a few hundred years of cultivation and still looked like young women. The twin sisters were identical in appearance.

They also recognized the urgency of the situation. On the spot, they decided that Lin Mingshu would remain to monitor the site, while Lin Fangshu would go back to seek Li Yingqiong’s help.

Li Yingqiong, aware of the Yi Family’s predicament, was leading a group of Emei disciples in a whirlwind rush to their aid. Lin Fangshu flew at great speed, quickly encountering them head-on, briefly explained the situation to Li Yingqiong, who then became urgent, choosing not to bring the group, instructing everyone to cast spells and rush to Nine Ring Mountain as quickly as possible.

Li Yingqiong and Zhou Qingyun were at the forefront, leaving Lin Fangshu behind.

Arriving at the gates of Nine Ring Mountain, the two caught up with Lin Mingshu. Both at the Heavenly Immortal Cultivation level, they sensed something amiss with Lin Mingshu.

Indeed, after exchanging only a few words, Lin Mingshu suddenly let out a shrill scream, flung her arms open, and clawed at Li Yingqiong.

Li Yingqiong and Zhou Qingyun hurriedly enveloped Lin Mingshu in Taiqing Divine Light. Trapped within the divine radiance, Lin Mingshu scratched frenziedly, soon bleeding from all orifices, wailing loudly, then slowly collapsed, her flesh rapidly dissolving into a pool of blood, leaving behind nothing but a skeleton.