After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 111

After that one sword strike, Wei Yunshu didn’t make another move. She simply used the sword’s intent to capture the aura within the Red Algae. It was neither demon nor not demon, retaining tens of thousands of years of malevolent energy, almost like a true demon, but it wasn’t unkillable. As long as it could be whittled down by her sword light, she didn’t have to worry about the Red Algae corroding her. A moment later, vast swaths of Red Algae surged over with the waves, seeming to want to swallow the sword light. But even after the dragon boat had left the area, the silver light on the sea’s surface had not disappeared.
Several days later, the dragon boat gradually approached the center of the Red Sea. The Red Algae in this area was of a higher level, so dense that even the seawater became sluggish. The restrictive light on the boat was repeatedly worn down and regenerated, and its speed was no longer what it once was. Wei Yunshu stood at the prow with her hands behind her back when she suddenly sensed a rolling aura. She looked up to see a white rainbow streaking across the sky. Within it was a female cultivator with her hair in disarray, her rainbow-like Daoist robe shattered and broken. Behind her, a heaven-toppling red wave like a hundred-zhang-high wall was collapsing down on her. Just as she was about to be swallowed by the Red Sea, she threw a jade pearl into the water. The moment the pearl fell, it burst into a brilliant, treasure-filled mist, but it only managed to hold for an instant.
“Fellow Daoists on the boat, I am a disciple of the Wu Shi Sect under the Wu Shi Heaven. Please open the boat’s restrictions and lend me a hand,” the pale-faced female cultivator shouted to Wei Yunshu and Yuan Chu.
Yuan Chu did not open the restrictions. She stared at the red tide forming a sky-shaking water curtain ahead and slowly stretched out her hand, pressing down. With a rumbling explosion, the surging seawater immediately crashed straight down. But the Red Algae attached to the water did not fall; instead, it remained standing there like an insurmountable wall. Seeing this, Wei Yunshu urged her Taiyi Sword, and instantly, sword light like a shooting star flew out, slashing at the Red Algae. The dazzling light split open the wall formed by the Red Algae, blazing and exceptionally bright. The Red Algae, like a crystal wall, developed cracks, and then like a bubble, it perished in the sword light.
Although the female cultivator hadn’t boarded the dragon boat, she had managed to escape the Red Algae’s attack. She gave Wei Yunshu and Yuan Chu a graceful bow, said “Thank you,” and then kindly added, “The Daoist Chi Xiao born from the Red Algae is just ahead. His cultivation is quite formidable. He has a divine ability called ‘Shadow Retreat, God Birth.’ As long as there is a single speck of Red Algae within a hundred miles, he can send his shadow avatar to it. And if the avatar is not destroyed, he can never be killed.” Seeing that Wei Yunshu’s expression remained calm, she paused for a moment and added, “That Daoist’s cultivation is around the Xuan Immortal realm. He does not allow anyone to approach the place where the Essence of Red Water will be born. Fellow Daoists, if you came for the Essence of Red Water, it is best to give up the idea.”
Wei Yunshu said, “Do you mean to let that Daoist Chi Xiao obtain the Essence of Red Water and increase his cultivation?”
The female cultivator said with a grim face, “There is no other way. When that evil demon’s cultivation reaches the True Immortal realm, a senior from my sect will naturally come to deal with him.” Seeing that Wei Yunshu and Yuan Chu were unmoved by her words, she didn’t waste any more breath. She gave them a Daoist salute, took a pill, and then turned and fled toward the outer sea. The dragon boat was already broken; she could only rely on herself to travel through the sea.
“Shall we continue forward?” Wei Yunshu asked calmly.
“What? Are you thinking of backing down?” Yuan Chu said, raising an eyebrow.
Wei Yunshu glanced at her and replied, “Daoist Yuan knows full well that is not my meaning.”
Yuan Chu replied with a faint smile, holding the restrictive talisman and urging the dragon boat forward.
The closer they got to the center of the sea, the more violent the rolling aura became. Some people, like that female cultivator, had retreated, but others had stayed, wanting to find an opportunity.
“This Daoist Chi Xiao is quite formidable,” Wei Yunshu said, her face slightly grim. When they first arrived in the Wu Shi Heaven Domain, there were several Xuan Immortal level cultivators among their companions, but now those people were gone. They had either fallen or retreated. Either way, it was not a good thing for them.
“As soon as Daoist Chi Xiao was born from the Red Algae, he was plunged into endless battles, with no Jun Tian Purple Qi to nourish himself. His divine will and primordial qi must have been consumed. We who came later still have an advantage,” Yuan Chu said with a faint smile. She looked up ahead. A cultivator in a red robe stood on a platform of red algae, his sleeves swaying in the wind, his body steaming with blood qi, full of malevolence. The Red Algae swayed with his thoughts, filling the sky with red. Yuan Chu said, “Let’s go,” and leaped from the dragon boat. The boat was useful for travel, but a burden in battle. She landed on the water’s surface, and wisps of clear qi flowed down around her, instantly pushing away the Red Algae on the sea. She cultivated a water technique, and walking on the Red Sea was like walking on flat ground for her.
Daoist Chi Xiao, who was fighting someone else, sensed that a part of the water was out of his control. His cold, merciless eyes immediately shot downward. With a thought, a shadow avatar was born from the Red Algae, its aura as complete as if it were his true body. Yuan Chu sneered. The water tide overturned, and a booming sound erupted. A great wave that pushed aside the Red Algae rose to the heavens, its extremely powerful aura contending with the ubiquitous Red Algae.
When Yuan Chu moved, Wei Yunshu followed her out. Her sleeves fluttered in the wind, and her Dharma Manifestation spread out behind her like the heavens descending. She channeled her spiritual power, formed a hand seal, and instantly, thunderclouds filled the air, and lightning erupted. Heavenly thunder poured down like a torrential rain, containing an immense power that destroyed the floating Red Algae. Then, she urged her longsword. A sword light suddenly appeared and then transformed into thousands of brilliant sword lights in mid-air, charging forward recklessly. In just a few breaths, they had reached Daoist Chi Xiao. However, due to the obstruction of the large area of Red Algae, the sword lights gradually slowed down, their momentum diminishing the further they went. Daoist Chi Xiao sensed the sword lights and snorted coldly. With a flick of his sleeve, several large, umbrella-like patches of Red Algae appeared before him.
Originally, there were a few other cultivators fighting Daoist Chi Xiao as well. But seeing someone else join in, not only did they not take the opportunity to attack, but they silently retreated to the side. This placed all the pressure on Yuan Chu and Wei Yunshu. Fortunately, Wei Yunshu hadn’t expected anyone else to help. Her gaze turned cold, and she unleashed another sword strike. This one was even sharper and fiercer, imbued with the sword’s divine ability. Wherever the sword qi passed, yin and yang were instantly separated. Before the two energies could intertwine, they were swept away by purple lightning and returned to nothingness in an instant.
Just as the sword light was about to reach him, Daoist Chi Xiao sensed its power. He stood on the Red Algae and pushed forward with both hands. Instantly, the red waves surged, and layers of Red Algae overlapped within them. He was born from the Red Algae, so when the sword light struck it, he would also feel it. As long as he didn’t die in the process, he would gradually adapt to this power, thereby reaching a state where external forces could not harm him. But just as he was activating this technique, a warning sign appeared deep in his heart. Before he could sense the sword qi, the Red Algae had already shattered! He had made a wrong move. He quickly adjusted his approach and used the divine ability “Shadow Retreat, God Birth.” With this ability, every piece of Red Algae had one of his shadow avatars. As long as the avatars were not destroyed, he would live forever.
But Wei Yunshu’s Taiyi Sword had been tempered by the Origin Stone. Once its divine ability was unleashed, it would not miss. Whether it was the true body or an avatar, as long as its aura was touched by this sword, a portion of its primordial qi would be split into yin and yang and dissipate. Those with lower cultivation than her would be killed in one strike. Those with higher cultivation, if they did not use a divine ability to resist, would definitely have their primordial qi damaged.
It was only when he was struck that Daoist Chi Xiao discovered the change in the sword’s aura. His avatar shattered, and he himself lost a great deal of power. His true body was still sitting on the red platform, but his aura was somewhat different from before. What he had lost could not be replenished from the Red Algae. He finally looked at this junior Wei Yunshu properly. Although her realm was not as high as his, that sword brought a strong sense of deterrence. It couldn’t help but make him think of the past… The past? What past? Daoist Chi Xiao’s expression sharpened, and a double image suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Wei Yunshu gently stroked her Taiyi Sword, her brow slightly furrowed. When her sword light struck Daoist Chi Xiao, she sensed a tiny change. It had nothing to do with her, but came from the Taiyi Sword itself. When she had tempered the sword with the Origin Stone earlier, she had sensed a barrier that had not been stripped away. Could it be that the sword needs to be tempered in battle? Wei Yunshu thought to herself, her gaze falling on Daoist Chi Xiao, her fighting spirit growing stronger. The stars behind her revolved, and the Taiyi Sword leaped. Instantly, dense sword lights, numbering in the thousands, appeared in the void and slashed toward him. The pervasive Red Algae quickly churned in the turbulent sword qi until it ruptured and perished.
On the other side, the avatar facing Yuan Chu also used various divine abilities, but the swaying Red Algae could not attach to the tide. The moment it touched, it shattered completely. And the tide gradually spread out in all directions, filling the space. There was no place to stand except in the water. This avatar had originally thought that since it was born from water, it could move freely in it. But once it was truly in the water, it suddenly found that its own spiritual energy had stagnated and wouldn’t circulate. The immense pressure squeezed its body, and in just half an incense stick’s time, the avatar had completely shattered. But after this avatar shattered, a new one was born. However, the new avatar lasted for an even shorter time. As one avatar after another perished, in the end, the avatars shattered almost as soon as they appeared, merely consuming the spiritual energy needed to operate the divine ability in vain.
Yuan Chu had energy to spare, but she stood on the vast river, a faint smile on her face, watching Wei Yunshu, who was completely absorbed in the battle. Back then, Sang Que had also fought Chi Xiao alone. Her cultivation was not as good as Chi Xiao’s, but with each sword strike, her understanding of sword intent grew. In the end, the tide turned, and Chi Xiao fell into a disadvantage, until he was finally slain by Sang Que. Tempering the sword with the Origin Stone was not enough. She wanted Wei Yunshu to break through that final barrier in battle and truly complete the refinement of the Taiyi Sword.
While Wei Yunshu and Daoist Chi Xiao fought a world-shaking battle, the other cultivators’ eyes darted around, and different thoughts arose. Their goal was the Essence of Red Water. As for whether Daoist Chi Xiao lived or died, it had nothing to do with them. Now that Daoist Chi Xiao was completely tied down, it was a good opportunity to head for the center of the sea! With the rise of greed, people’s hearts wavered. A high-crowned cultivator channeled his spiritual power, and layers of brilliance like a feathered robe draped over his body. He plunged into the water. However, with a “thud,” it was as if he had hit an invisible wall, unable to touch the water’s surface. The high-crowned cultivator frowned. He also cultivated a water technique. With a loud shout, he used a “Sea Moving” divine ability. However, his spiritual power was like being thrown into a bottomless pit, pouring out wantonly, but the water remained completely still.
“Daoist Brother, what are you doing?” a cultivator next to him asked, feeling perplexed as he saw the high-crowned cultivator’s face turn red. The man’s appearance was so comical that he almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
The high-crowned cultivator turned his head and saw a face hiding a sneer, and his own face turned red and white. He suppressed his anger and said, “Haven’t you all noticed that the Red Sea is a bit strange?”
“The Red Sea is full of Red Algae, and a great demon has been born. It’s not a normal place to begin with.”
“That’s right, Daoist Brother. You thought for so long just to say such a useless thing?”
The high-crowned cultivator was furious. He gritted his teeth and said, “The seawater is out of control. I can’t even enter the water. If I can’t enter the water, how can I retrieve the Essence of Red Water?!”
His words finally woke up the leisurely cultivators. “Really?”
“If you don’t believe me, you can try it yourself!”
As soon as he finished speaking, several cultivators who practiced water techniques indeed made a move. They were all repelled by the sea just like the high-crowned cultivator. At first, they suspected it was Daoist Chi Xiao’s doing. But on second thought, if he could still be distracted with this, Daoist Chi Xiao wouldn’t have been fighting an Upper Immortal for so long. After several attempts, they finally captured the change in the aura and turned their gazes to Yuan Chu, who was standing on the vast tide not far away.
“This person’s feet are clean, untouched by the red tide. She practices a water technique and can control the water of the Red Sea.”
“Perhaps she is the one who has sealed this area of the sea.”
After some discussion, they pushed the high-crowned Daoist forward and sent him to ask for clarification. The high-crowned cultivator really wanted that Essence of Red Water, so he didn’t hesitate for long. He flew over to Yuan Chu on his遁light and bowed to her. “Daoist friend, why have you sealed the Red Sea?”
“Does this even need to be asked?” Yuan Chu raised an eyebrow, looking at the high-crowned Daoist’s ugly expression in surprise. Then she smiled radiantly and said, “Naturally, it’s so you can’t retrieve the Essence of Red Water.”
The high-crowned Daoist’s face was cold. “The Essence of Red Water is a creation of heaven and earth. Why can’t we retrieve it?”
Yuan Chu blinked. “That’s right. So the able one gets it. You are all welcome to enter the water to retrieve it. I haven’t tied your hands and feet.”
The high-crowned Daoist understood her reasoning but was still furious. He raised his voice. “By doing this, aren’t you afraid of offending all of us?”
Yuan Chu laughed again. Her white hair fluttered in the wind, covering her deep, abyss-like eyes. Dark water droplets like inkfish leaped around the hem of her skirt. She retorted, “So what if I offend you?”
The high-crowned Daoist was enraged by Yuan Chu’s words. He channeled his spiritual power and struck out at Yuan Chu with his palm. Yuan Chu lifted her eyelids. Inky black heavy water instantly shot out like dancing dragons and snakes. The high-crowned Daoist cultivated a water technique, but this entire area of water was sealed. Even if he could barely move a bit of the tide, it would only be suppressed. After a few exchanges, he was defeated and sent flying by a blow from the heavy water. His fate made the remaining cultivators both angry and afraid. They all turned their spears on Yuan Chu. Yuan Chu curled her lips, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes. She simply released the true water in all directions. Instantly, the sky and sea merged, as if only this one thing remained in the world. Those cultivators couldn’t escape in time and were all plunged into the water. Yuan Chu didn’t strike heavily, only trapping them in the water. It wasn’t until a faint sigh sounded and a swift light descended, splitting the tide in two, that the cultivators were able to escape from the water.
Yuan Chu looked up. A female cultivator sitting on a clamshell suddenly appeared in mid-air. She had a rosy complexion, green hair, and an immortal, jade-like beauty. In her right hand, she held a folding fan adorned with a few pearls. As she opened and closed it, streams of flying light scattered out, cutting the vast water curtain into several pieces. Yuan Chu flicked her sleeve, retracting the heavy water, and looked at the female cultivator calmly.
“Bei Xuan, a true disciple of Supreme Immortal Teng Luo of the Wu Shi Sect, greets you, Daoist friend.” The female cultivator stood up and gave Yuan Chu a Daoist salute.
“Yuan Chu of the Wu Xiang Academy.” Yuan Chu raised her hand in return. Teng Luo was the Sect Master of the Wu Shi Sect. A true disciple under her had a very special status in the Wu Shi Heaven Domain. To think she had come personally for the Essence of Red Water.
“You are here for the Essence of Red Water, aren’t you? How about I give you half of it?” Bei Xuan said softly.
“No, thank you,” Yuan Chu said coolly. Why take only a small half when she could have it all? She glanced at Bei Xuan and laughed. “With your cultivation, even if you can’t kill Daoist Chi Xiao, it wouldn’t be difficult to hold him off. Yet you have been hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right opportunity. Can such actions be trusted?”
Bei Xuan said dismissively, “What do their lives and deaths have to do with me?” Seeing that Yuan Chu was unwilling to relent, she smiled. “Then pardon my offense.” With that, she activated her folding fan and used a Daoist technique called “Subduing Wind and Waves.” She was of the aquatic race, and having cultivated to the Xuan Immortal realm, she naturally wouldn’t be suppressed too much. As soon as the divine ability was activated, a heavenly wind howled. Instead of stirring up great waves, it suppressed all the surging tides. She waved her fan again, and instantly, thirty-six swift lights shot out, crashing into the suddenly leaping heavy water, emitting a series of teeth-grinding sounds. The cultivators who had been lucky enough to escape, seeing Bei Xuan make a move, also used their best skills. They would attack whenever they had the chance, without any regard for one-on-one dueling etiquette.
Yuan Chu’s expression turned solemn, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She grabbed at the air and instantly produced a sword. With a flick of her wrist, thousands of sword lights differentiated and shot forward. As her spiritual energy fluctuated, the water also changed. Large whirlpools formed on the water’s surface, spinning faster and faster, as if to grind everything in existence to dust. The tide rose with the force of the heavens, the water currents twisting like endless water swords, striking out in all directions. She couldn’t do anything to Bei Xuan, but it would be difficult for the other party to harm her either.
On the other side.
Wei Yunshu gradually found the knack. The thin barrier covering the Taiyi Sword began to dissolve. The sword light became sharper. Her eyes sharpened, and she once again slashed at Daoist Chi Xiao! Daoist Chi Xiao had already experienced the power of that sword strike. Dodging was useless; he could only rely on his own formidable strength to resist. So, with a shout, a layer of demonic essence flowed around his body, and he violently punched forward! But at the moment the fist and sword light met, a sudden change occurred. The giant, red fist shattered in the sword qi, and a sword mark was reflected in Daoist Chi Xiao’s eyes! This was not the sword strike from Wei Yunshu, but a sword mark deep within his divine soul that had been detonated, striking from the inside out. One external and one internal strike overlapped, one present and one past fused. The sword suddenly erupted with a world-destroying power. In a flash, it erased everything in existence. Daoist Chi Xiao’s true body shattered, and the avatars hidden in the Red Algae also scattered. A remnant soul stepped out from the debris, looked at Wei Yunshu, and said, “It’s you—” In an instant, like dust in the wind, it scattered completely.
Wei Yunshu frowned. As the Taiyi Sword flew back, she saw a phantom walk toward her and then disappear in a flash. Scattered images suddenly appeared before her eyes. Having experienced this several times before, she was now prepared. She suppressed the distracting thoughts and turned to look for Yuan Chu. However, what she saw was soaring spiritual energy and several figures in a chaotic battle! Spiritual power rained down like hail, and swift lights shot out like sharp arrows, mercilessly unleashing a world-shaking force!
Wei Yunshu’s expression suddenly changed, and she couldn’t help but cry out, “Yuan Chu?!” She inwardly cursed. She summoned her Taiyi Sword and slashed forward. The clanging impact was deafening. Scattered artifacts shattered under the impact of the heavy water, and dust floated down. Wei Yunshu couldn’t see the scene in the pervasive mist, but she felt that under such an attack, it would be very difficult to protect oneself. She and Yuan Chu had come to retrieve the Essence of Red Water. They couldn’t have Yuan Chu get into trouble after they had gotten the item. Moreover, they hadn’t even obtained the Essence of Red Water yet.
Time froze in that instant; everything was stretched out. A hurricane rose again, and the waves on the water were monstrous. The sharp sword light in the next moment split all obstacles apart, and Wei Yunshu also stepped into the formation. She looked up and saw the unharmed Yuan Chu standing on the tide with her hands behind her back. A sword of clear, brilliant light hung at her side. And in the water that filled most of the void, the water currents had transformed into sword forms, endlessly lashing out in all directions. A roaring sound filled Wei Yunshu’s ears. She was actually dazed during a battle. She stared at Yuan Chu without moving, her body trembling. She opened her mouth, and after a long while, she finally managed to spit out a few words: “Everlasting Sword.” Although the aura had changed a lot, its foundation had not. After the Taiyi Sword had been perfected, her perception of sword qi had become even sharper.
Grand Pure True Water, Everlasting Sword… How could it be such a coincidence? The figure from the past gradually overlapped with Yuan Chu. Wei Yunshu’s vision blurred. She couldn’t even hear her own voice, as if her whole person had fallen into a silent world. A tragic smile touched the corners of her lips.
Yuan Chu looked at Wei Yunshu in silence.
She raised her hand, and the sword light became even faster, carrying the force of creation itself, scattering the attacks that had almost enveloped Wei Yunshu. She walked forward slowly, and the great ocean surged forward with her movements, completely submerging the void in an instant. Although Bei Xuan and her group fought back, their attacks failed to split the tide. Instead, they were all swept in, as if entering a quagmire, with heavy pressure on their bodies, making it difficult to move a single inch.