Spectating the Angsty Romance of the Master and Disciple from the Sect Next Door Chapter 157

The sky truly had a large hole in it.
In Li Jin’an’s inexplicably shocked gaze, the Heavenly Demon Clan’s nine members had both their normal eyes closed, but the eyes on their foreheads suddenly opened. Their hands were still rapidly forming seals, and the light on their bodies converged and shot up into the sky, directly ripping open the fabric of the sky.
Light from beyond the realm shone in.
In an instant.
Gentle valley winds, towering mountains, no grass untouched by death, no tree spared from wilting.
The Misty Forest was originally a densely vegetated deep mountain forest, with all trees growing lush and green. But as soon as the light from beyond the heavens shone down, flowers, grass, and trees instantly withered and died, their life force completely drained away.
Then…
Li Jin’an saw a giant closed eye suspended across the sky.
It was very different from the eyes on the Heavenly Demon Clan members’ foreheads; not a concrete eye, but more like an ancient tribal totem. It wasn’t complex, just a few strokes, simple lines, as if a child’s casual doodle. It wasn’t sinister, and even carried a touch of childlike innocence.
But the moment she saw the eye from beyond the heavens, Li Jin’an’s thoughts instantly froze, in a state of chaos. She found she couldn’t control her body; she wanted to draw her sword, but her fingers wouldn’t budge. She wanted to look at Xie Huaixue and Jingting Dao Lord, but her head wouldn’t turn at all. She could only feel extreme anxiety in her heart.
An ineffable beauty and deterrence, as if facing a great terror directly.
The totem, simply by being there, exuded supreme majesty and etherealness.
Impartial and selfless, the kingly way is vast and broad.
Clearly, the totem had already exerted absolute suppression without even opening its eye, making it impossible for anyone to even think of resisting.
Facing the Heavenly Dao of the Lancang Continent face-to-face would be no different.
This was the last trump card of the Gui Clan of the Ancient Eight Clans, which ultimately was used on the Lancang Continent.
At the same time, Li Jin’an also perceived another ethereal and illusory gaze falling upon her, as if sweeping over her.
Just as she thought.
The Heavenly Dao finally looked over.
The Misty Forest ushered in its busiest day.
Li Jin’an didn’t know what Xie Huaixue and Jingting Dao Lord’s plans were. She couldn’t bring herself to give up on saving herself. She secretly gritted her teeth, struggling against her chaotic and rigid thoughts, exerting all her strength to grip the Blazing Radiance Sword.
She was unwilling!
Even if a sword cultivator were to die, they would die in battle, die while swinging their sword. They would never sit still and await death, nor offer their neck for slaughter. Even if they died, they would die a clear and satisfying death!
What if it’s outer-realm power? Just draw the sword.
Talent might be the threshold to becoming a sword cultivator, but willpower is the fundamental reason a sword cultivator constantly surpasses themselves.
Perhaps the Heavenly Dao was resisting the pressure of the outer-realm power, for Li Jin’an suddenly realized that the eye totem’s absolute suppression and restraint on her had greatly weakened. She seized the opportunity to grasp the hilt of the Blazing Radiance Sword. The moment she drew her sword, Xie Huaixue beside her moved.
A familiar black butterfly fluttered tremblingly out of Xie Huaixue’s sleeve, its wings trembling incessantly from fear.
Li Jin’an saw this scene from the corner of her eye and, in surprise, directly drew her Blazing Radiance Sword.
The painted skin butterfly demon from Purple Leaf Town? The spirit beast that made her and Xie Huaixue fall into an illusion?
Why was it here!
The black butterfly clearly had no expression, but inexplicably, one could see it charging towards the large hole in the sky with a timid yet heroic air of self-sacrifice, flapping its wings and flying higher and higher.
What was going on? What exactly happened!
“Attack!”
Jingting Dao Lord let out a loud shout, making Li Jin’an instantly snap back to her senses. Ignoring her surprise, she subconsciously swung her sword with all her might.
The sword rose.
The Blazing Radiance Sword, the Gleaming Radiance Sword, the horsetail whisk… simultaneously and tacitly attacked the nine Heavenly Demon Clan members who had merged with the light mass.
Not only that, several other supreme attacks followed from the horizon, precisely striking Gui Li and the others, who were still chanting incantations and accelerating their spellcasting speed.
The timing was just right, perfectly appropriate, not missing the fleeting opportunity.
This was a long-planned assault.
BOOM!!
Pillars of light from all directions completely submerged the nine Heavenly Demon Clan members, severing their connection with the outer-realm totem eye.
Li Jin’an squinted her eyes, stimulated by the intense light. In her heart, she had a guess about the other attacks.
Xie Huaixue stepped forward, shielding her from the dazzling light.
After she could see clearly, Li Jin’an was astonished to find that the totem, which had now opened its eye, was slowly falling towards the Lancang Continent.
“…Aren’t we running?”
Xie Huaixue took Li Jin’an’s wrist, her fingertips rubbing over it, and she smiled gently, “The dust has settled. No need to run.”
“Huh?”
Soon, Li Jin’an’s question was answered.
The totem, with its eye open, was no longer as suppressive to the people of the Lancang Continent as it had been when closed. It descended gently and merged with the black butterfly that had flown against the current.
The Heavenly Dao’s aura flashed by, and the large hole torn open in the sky began to heal.
Jingting Dao Lord’s expression was cold. She continued to wave her horsetail whisk, precisely harvesting the lives of the Heavenly Demon Clan members.
For a cultivation world tyrant who had fought her way up, Mahayana stage cultivators built up by secret arts and elixirs were no different from docile lambs.
With a flick of her horsetail whisk, she instantly took the life of a Heavenly Demon Clan member.
Gui Li still had the strength to resist, but ultimately, she couldn’t turn the tables.
“…What exactly happened?” Li Jin’an, feeling carefree, turned to look at Xie Huaixue, raised her Blazing Radiance Sword, and blinked blankly.
She had prepared for a desperate fight with the eye totem, but the outcome of every event was beyond her expectations, leaving her dazed and completely bewildered.
So, was this what Yinyue Monarch meant by telling her to trust Xie Huaixue and the Heavenly Dao?
As long as she showed up, her Dao companion and elders would handle everything, completely without needing her to worry or exert effort… It was good, yes, but it would have been even better if they had informed her beforehand.
Li Jin’an used to vigorously mock Chixin Sword Lord for being kept in the dark by Yinyue Monarch. Now the boomerang had struck her, and she could finally empathize with her own master, feeling exasperated and wanting to cry but unable to.
Xie Huaixue pinched Li Jin’an’s ear, and with one sentence, coaxed her into a better mood. “It’s not deception. It’s precisely because your existence is crucial to each of us that we must ensure your safety.”
Li Jin’an puffed out her cheeks, couldn’t continue her tantrum, and gave an ultimatum, “When we go back, you must tell me the plan from beginning to end, no more fooling me.”
Didn’t she know Xie Huaixue? What could be told, she would definitely tell her; what couldn’t be said, even if a knife were held to Xie Huaixue’s neck, Xie Huaixue wouldn’t reveal a single bit, unless everything had settled like now.
She hadn’t said anything before, and now there was no need to hide it from her anymore.
The Dao companion she chose herself, no matter what, she had to endure it. What else could she do?
There was no way out.
A sword cultivator who constantly charged forward with loud cries, encountering a Dao Sect schemer whose every thought took eighteen turns on a mountain path… she didn’t know whether to call it retribution.
“Alright.” Xie Huaixue’s brows and eyes moved slightly; she was utterly responsive to Li Jin’an’s every request and readily agreed.
Li Jin’an silently turned around, her mood extremely complex, unable to say anything. She could only roll her eyes at Jingting Dao Lord.
Jingting Dao Lord, who had just slit Gui Li’s throat, looked up and met Li Jin’an’s rolled eyes. She didn’t plan on indulging this brat. “Is your eye twitching, or did you get sand in it?”
“Hmph!” Li Jin’an was practically a powder keg now. She brought her fingertips together and ran them across the cold, gleaming body of the Blazing Radiance Sword, then raised an eyebrow. “Neither. I just broke through, my cultivation is unstable, and I’d like to spar with you, old one.”
If she couldn’t fight the Heavenly Demon Clan or the eye totem, fighting Jingting Dao Lord was just the same.
Jingting Dao Lord gave a grim smile. “So your wings have hardened?”
“Not really,” Li Jin’an smiled reservedly, “I just feel like I’ve surpassed my master.”
“This Venerable will grant your wish!” Jingting Dao Lord naturally had no objections.
Sword cultivators were all like this: arrogant when strong, humble when weak, possessing two faces. They bowed down when weak and turned hostile once their strength rose. All with terrible tempers, they needed a thorough beating to be put in their place.
Beat the master, then beat the disciple.
On that side, a major battle was on the verge of breaking out. On this side, Xie Huaixue extended her hand, and the black butterfly with eyes on its wings landed in her palm.
The black butterfly flapped its wings and said with immense pride, “Thankfully, I did not fail my mission.”
Li Jin’an immediately abandoned Jingting Dao Lord and leaned over to curiously poke the black butterfly. “Isn’t this an old acquaintance butterfly? Truly, you kept silent, but amazed us with your capabilities.”
The black butterfly, having achieved a life reversal, chuckled and blurted out, “Little Li, ah.”
Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue simultaneously looked over with subtle warning.
“…To serve Jijin Sword Sovereign and Qingxiao Immortal Venerable like a dog or horse, this little butterfly is supremely honored and will not shirk,” the black butterfly said, stiff as a dead butterfly, speaking against its will.
Could these two not show some respect for a butterfly that had contributed greatly to the Lancang Continent!
“Let’s go, time to return triumphantly to the capital!” Jingting Dao Lord said cheerfully, her brows and eyes smiling, her peach blossom eyes sparkling brightly. “In a mortal empire, this Venerable would be considered to have personally led the expedition.”
As for such self-congratulatory remarks, Li Jin’an simply pretended not to hear.
The moment the three appeared at the Three Realms Mountain, the human and demon cultivators who participated in the battle, and the secretly observing, spectating beast cultivators, already knew the final outcome of this great battle.
Li Jin’an met the gazes of Jiang Fengmian and the others, her phoenix eyes solemn. She waved her sword towards the Demon Realm and only said one word, “Kill.”
The atmosphere in Fufeng Domain was instantly ignited. All cultivators charged towards the demon armies outside the city to enjoy the slaughter and the fruits of victory, putting a perfect end to the great war between humans and demons.
This was the meaning of the human Venerables’ existence. Thus, no matter what Li Jin’an did, she wouldn’t provoke opposition from low-level cultivators. They firmly believed that Jijin Sword Sovereign and Qingxiao Immortal Venerable would lead them to victory again and again.
Jingting Dao Lord shook her head disdainfully. “Showing off.”
Li Jin’an crossed her arms and glared sideways.
If it weren’t in public, these two would have already started fighting.
The elder and younger one exchanged glances, tacitly turned their heads, and said in unison, “We’ll discuss this back home.”
They didn’t end up fighting back home.
The speed of three Mahayana stage cultivators traveling at full power was terrifying, especially with Li Jin’an and Jingting Dao Lord still competing.
Upon arriving at the gates of the Dao Sect, they saw Yun Liuguang, her face full of solemnity, who bowed to Jingting Dao Lord. “Ancestral Master has a message.”
Yun Liuguang’s ancestral master was precisely the Dao Venerable of the Dao Sect who had been in secluded cultivation for a long time.
Jingting Dao Lord turned to look at Li Jin’an. “I remember when you were little, you used to fuss and clamor to see the Dao Venerable. Now your wish has been granted. Are you happy?”
After she finished speaking, she realized Li Jin’an’s expression was knowing, not at all surprised.
“You actually guessed it?” Jingting Dao Lord was greatly surprised.
Li Jin’an restrained the urge to roll her eyes at an elder again. “I am a Mahayana stage cultivator, after all. There aren’t many people on the Lancang Continent who can evade my sight. It would be strange if I couldn’t guess!”
Who else could those few pillars of light be? The old ancestors of the various sects, of course.
The Heavenly Demon Clan did not die unjustly. To kill them, the cultivation world even dug up all their sleeping old ancestors.