The Only Chance to Escape

This is my only way out.

A ruthless glint flashed across Ye Xuan's eyes. As long as I get this talisman, combined with the strength of a successful Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, I can completely disappear from her world!

However, the Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge is fraught with danger. With my current strength, forcing my way in means almost certain death.

But if I don't go... staying by her side means absolute death!

Rather than sitting and waiting for death, it's better to give it my all!

Having made up his mind, Ye Xuan put away the map, straightened his clothes, and pushed the door open.

Since he was going to leave, he had to do it with a perfectly justifiable excuse.

Cold Moon Peak, the forbidden area in the back mountain.

The temperature here was much lower than elsewhere, with light snow falling year-round.

Xia Lengyue, clad in a white dress that outshone the snow, sat cross-legged on a block of profound ice. Her body exuded a terrifyingly cold aura. Just by sitting there, the surrounding space seemed to freeze, and even the light became distorted.

Standing outside the forbidden area, Ye Xuan felt the oppressive aura rushing toward him, and his heart couldn't help but feel bitter.

This female demon was unreasonably strong!

If she knew I wanted to run away, she could probably crush me to death with a single finger, right?

Come in.

A cold, clear voice pierced through the wind and snow, ringing in Ye Xuan's ears.

Ye Xuan took a deep breath, put on a respectful expression tinged with a hint of longing, and walked into the forbidden area.

Disciple Ye Xuan greets Senior Sister.

Xia Lengyue slowly opened her eyes.

For a moment, Ye Xuan seemed to see a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood flash past the depths of her pupils, but it instantly turned into water-like tenderness.

Great Circle of Qi Condensation?

Xia Lengyue looked him up and down, a satisfied smile curling the corners of her lips. Not bad, even faster than I expected. It seems you've truly worked hard to be worthy of me.

Ye Xuan cursed inwardly: I'm doing this to run for my life!

But outwardly, he spoke with deep affection, To be able to stand openly and honorably by Senior Sister's side as soon as possible, what does this little bit of hardship count for? As long as I can marry Senior Sister, even if I have to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of fire, I, Ye Xuan, am perfectly willing!

Smooth talker.

Xia Lengyue rebuked him playfully. Although she knew he was acting, the words still sounded pleasant to her ears. Speak, why have you come to find me? Are you preparing for Foundation Establishment?

Exactly.

Ye Xuan nodded, then revealed a trace of difficulty. However... Senior Sister also knows that I am aiming for the Five Elements Heavenly Dao Foundation. This method defies the heavens, causes a massive commotion, and requires an extremely strong physical body and state of mind to coordinate.

While in seclusion, I always felt that my state of mind was still lacking a sliver of perfection, and my physical body was just a bit short of the final threshold.

So... Ye Xuan raised his head, his eyes firm. I want to go down the mountain to temper myself!

Go down the mountain?

Xia Lengyue's gaze focused slightly, and the surrounding temperature instantly dropped a few degrees. Where to?

I consulted ancient texts and found that there is an Earth Fire Magma Pool in the Sunset Mountain Range in the western part of the Eastern Continent. I want to go there to borrow the power of the earth fire to temper my body, and incidentally slay some demonic beasts to hone my state of mind.

Ye Xuan had already fabricated this lie.

Although the Sunset Mountain Range and the Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge were in the same direction, their natures were completely different. It was relatively safe and served as a perfect cover.

Xia Lengyue stared into Ye Xuan's eyes as if trying to see through his soul.

Ye Xuan fought back his inner nervousness, trying his best to keep his gaze open and sincere.

A long time passed.

The coldness in Xia Lengyue's eyes dissipated, and she nodded gently.

You are right. Flowers in a greenhouse cannot grow tall. Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment indeed requires life-and-death tempering.

Ye Xuan was ecstatic inwardly: She agreed?!

However, Xia Lengyue's next words made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cavern.

You may go. But the outside world is treacherous. There are many who want to kill me nowadays, and you are my weakness. It would be bad if someone with ulterior motives captured you to threaten me.

Xia Lengyue clapped her hands.

Come out.

As her voice fell, a series of heavy and stiff footsteps echoed from the shadows deep within the forbidden area.

Clack, clack, clack.

With every step, the ground seemed to tremble.

A tall figure slowly walked out of the shadows and stood behind Xia Lengyue.

When Ye Xuan clearly saw the figure's face, his pupils violently shrank to the size of pinpricks, and an uncontrollable chill shot straight up to the crown of his head!

It was a man wearing black armor.

He had a burly build and a resolute face, but his complexion was a bizarre livid gray. His eyes were hollow and lifeless, devoid of any vitality; only two clusters of eerie green ghost fire danced in his pupils.

And around his neck was a circle of fine scars stitched together with red thread, looking incredibly hideous and terrifying.

This was not the most terrifying part.

The most terrifying part was that Ye Xuan recognized this face!

Zhao Wuji!

To think that Xia Lengyue had actually turned Zhao Wuji into a puppet.

Truly, a woman's heart is the most poisonous.

Ye Xuan hastily put on a pleasantly surprised look: Senior Sister, with such a puppet watching over me, I feel much more at ease.

At this time, Xia Lengyue took out an exquisite storage bag and stuffed it into Ye Xuan's hand.

Inside here are three high-grade Tier Two defensive talismans, a Minor Spatial Shift Talisman, and five thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

In addition, there are a few bottles of healing pills, all personally refined by me.

If you encounter danger, don't be reluctant to use them. Items can be earned back if lost, but if you are hurt even a single hair...

Xia Lengyue reached out and gently straightened Ye Xuan's collar. Her eyes revealed a suffocating possessiveness: Senior Sister will be heartbroken. Moreover... I will make the person who hurts you regret ever coming into this world.

Holding the heavy storage bag, Ye Xuan had mixed feelings.

Was he moved?

A little bit.

With such generosity and care, if this were a normal female lead, even an old fox like Ye Xuan would probably fall for her.

But...

As soon as he looked at Zhao Wuji standing to the side like the grim reaper, and saw the crazy paranoia in the depths of Xia Lengyue's eyes, that tiny bit of emotion was instantly swallowed by fear.

Thank you, Senior Sister! You treat me so well, I will definitely return as soon as possible and never disappoint your profound love!

Ye Xuan said with a touched expression.

Go.

Xia Lengyue kissed him gently on the forehead.

Come back early. I'll be waiting to... marry you.

Half an hour later.

Ye Xuan, accompanied by the puppet Zhao Wuji wrapped in a black robe, walked out of the mountain gate of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Looking back, Cold Moon Peak still towered into the clouds, like a giant eye coldly watching him.

Phew...

It wasn't until he had walked dozens of miles away that Ye Xuan dared to breathe heavily.

He glanced at Zhao Wuji, who was as silent as a shadow beside him, and cursed his bad luck inwardly.

Running away with a ticking time bomb... this difficulty is simply hellish.

However, despite Xia Lengyue's endless calculations, she probably never figured that I know a weakness of this Zhao Wuji.

A gleam of sharp light flashed across Ye Xuan's eyes.

The Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge... the yin energy there is extremely heavy, making it the perfect nemesis for immortal dao puppets!

As long as I operate it properly, I can use the terrain to temporarily block this puppet's perception, and even... make him my cannon fodder to snatch the Ten Thousand Mile Untraceable Talisman!

A cold sneer curled up the corners of Ye Xuan's mouth.

Xia Lengyue, I will gladly accept this bodyguard you have gifted me.

Let us go!

Ye Xuan summoned his flying sword, transforming into a streak of light as he sped towards the west.

Behind him, Zhao Wuji, his black robes fluttering wildly, walked on air. He followed closely, like a maggot attached to the bone.

A life-and-death race of escape and control had officially begun.

Life after leaving the sect was not as easy as Ye Xuan had imagined.

Although he had the resources Xia Lengyue gave him, he did not dare to be too flashy, for fear of attracting the attention of other experts. After all, having a puppet following him around made for an incredibly bizarre combination.

Along the way, Ye Xuan did not head directly to the Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge. Instead, he stopped here and there, truly acting as if he were out gaining experiential learning.

He first visited a few small demonic beast gathering spots, putting on a show of killing several tier-one demonic beasts to hone his sword skills.

The puppet, Zhao Wuji, just stood aside and watched. Unless Ye Xuan's life was in danger, he absolutely would not make a move.

This allowed Ye Xuan to breathe a slight sigh of relief.

It seems this puppet's directive is to protect, not to interfere.

As long as I do not make any obvious attempts to escape or attack him, he is just a walking surveillance camera.

This gave Ye Xuan room to operate.

Ten days later.

The two arrived at a major border town in the western part of the Eastern Continent, Black Wind City.

This was the intersection of the righteous and demonic paths, and also the necessary route to the Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge. The city was a mix of good and bad people, with no rules to speak of. The only rule was strength.

Ye Xuan wore a bamboo hat that concealed his face, and Zhao Wuji was wrapped up even more tightly.

The two walked into a rather gloomy-looking inn.

Two premium rooms. Ye Xuan tossed out a spiritual stone.

There is only one left. The innkeeper was a one-eyed man who sized the two up with a sinister look. Take it or leave it.

Ye Xuan frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Wuji behind him suddenly took a step forward.

Boom!

A terrifying aura of murderous intent instantly swept through the entire lobby!

The innkeeper's expression drastically changed. His legs gave way, and he almost knelt down, S-Senior, please forgive me! I was blind! I will clear a room for you right now! Hey you, the guest in the Heaven-grade room, get the hell out here!

Ye Xuan was speechless.

Is this what it feels like to exploit someone else's power?

He had to admit, it felt pretty good.

After checking into the room, Ye Xuan immediately set up several soundproofing restrictions.

Zhao Wuji stood at the door like a guardian deity, completely motionless.

Ye Xuan sat on the bed, pretending to meditate, but in reality, he was scheming in his heart.

The Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge is just three hundred miles outside Black Wind City.

It is shrouded in ghost fog year-round, which restricts divine sense.

After entering the ghost ridge, I need to first find the entrance to that ruin, the Crying Soul Ravine.

In the Crying Soul Ravine, there is a type of pack-living demonic beast called the Spirit-Devouring Ghost Bat. The sonic waves they emit can interfere with soul connections. That will be the best opportunity to shake off this puppet's surveillance!

Just as Ye Xuan was pondering the details of his plan.

Suddenly.

The previously silent Zhao Wuji suddenly turned his stiff neck.

Those eerie green eyes stared fixedly at the map Ye Xuan had placed on the table.

Sunset... Mountain... Range...

A hoarse, broken voice squeezed out of Zhao Wuji's throat.

Ye Xuan was so startled he almost jumped off the bed!

Holy crap! You can speak?

He looked at Zhao Wuji in horror.

Did Xia Lengyue not say this was just a puppet that retained its combat instincts? How does it still have consciousness?!

Zhao Wuji ignored his panic. He simply raised a stiff finger, pointed in the direction of the Sunset Mountain Range on the map, and then pointed out the window, towards the direction of the Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge.

Not... here...

Wrong... way...

Cold sweat instantly poured down Ye Xuan's back.

This puppet not only had consciousness but could also judge the route?

Did this mean that Xia Lengyue could not only see but even speak through him?

Ahem!

Ye Xuan forced himself to calm down, his brain working rapidly. Um... Brother Zhao, there is something you do not know. I heard there is an auction in Black Wind City recently. I wanted to see if there are any treasures suitable for Foundation Establishment, so I took a little detour.

Once we finish buying things, we will head to the Sunset Mountain Range. It absolutely will not cause any delays!

Zhao Wuji stared at him for a long time.

The eerie green ghost fire in his eyes flickered a few times, seemingly communicating with his master thousands of miles away.

A moment later.

Zhao Wuji lowered his hand and reverted to his wooden, statue-like state.

Not... to... be... repeated.

These words conveyed Xia Lengyue's uniquely cold tone.

Ye Xuan collapsed onto the bed, his heart pounding wildly.

That was too close!

This was simply dancing on the edge of a blade!

Although Xia Lengyue had agreed to let him descend the mountain, she clearly knew his every move like the back of her hand.

If she discovered he had deviated too far from the route or had intentions of escaping, this puppet would probably drag him back immediately!

I must speed things up.

The auction is a good excuse. I can use this chance to go to the black market in Black Wind City and buy some special items targeting ghost entities, using that to cover up my true intention of going to the Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge.

I will just say... I am going to the outskirts of the Myriad Burials Ghost Ridge to hunt a few ghost entities and harvest their soul orbs to assist in cultivating my divine sense, preparing for Foundation Establishment.

She should believe this excuse.

A trace of determination flashed through Ye Xuan's eyes.

This was not just an escape; it was practically a battle of wits and psychology.

Losing meant eternal damnation.

Winning meant boundless freedom.

Xia Lengyue, just you wait and see!

In the dead of night.

The night in Black Wind City was filled with slaughter and sin.

Ye Xuan looked at the pitch-black night outside the window and clenched his fists.

Tomorrow, enter the black market.

The day after, brave the ghost ridge.

The path to escape is right before my eyes!