AUOF - 37

The competition had reached its white-hot climax.

Han Mang was the first to lose patience and launched an attack on her. Sensing his approach, Sang Li unleashed her flying blades. The sharp Xuan Mian Bone-Dissolving Blade spun a circle around them, slicing through two large trees at their trunks and blocking Han Mang’s path.

In the moment Han Mang dealt with the obstruction, Sang Li vanished from sight.

The next instant, a sharp weapon came whistling toward the back of his neck.

Han Mang swiftly dodged, his blade clashing with the flying dagger.

The crescent-shaped flying blade circled in the air before returning to Sang Li’s hand.

Her figure darted between the ink-black tree shadows, blending into the scroll like a drop of ink. Even with Han Mang’s years of combat experience, he found it difficult to discern which shadow was her and which was part of the painting.

“She knows how to play to her strengths and use the environment to her advantage—she’s somewhat clever.”

Lying Ningxi, observing the battle, rested his chin on his hand, beginning to show some interest.

“However, in terms of experience, Han Mang still has the upper hand.”

Han Mang had fought his way through countless demons. Compared to him, Sang Li was still weaker.

Inside the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map , Han Mang stood still, his ears twitching slightly.

Suddenly, he swung his blade, releasing a burst of energy. Something fell with a thud, and to everyone’s shock, it was a small figure.

[Has she lost?]

[For a little maid, lasting this long isn’t bad at all.]

Han Mang paused for a moment, observing the figure on the ground. When it remained motionless for a while, he frowned and cautiously approached.

But just as he drew near, the “person” on the ground suddenly transformed into a spirit net, binding him tightly to a tree trunk.

Whoosh—!

Countless flying blades came hurtling toward him, like falling meteors, their sharp glimmers flashing amidst the chaos.

Han Mang’s face turned pale as he used the technique Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell to break free from the net. Still, his arm was sliced open by the Xuan Mian Bone-Dissolving Blade .

Blood dripped onto the rice-paper-like ground.

Han Mang’s breathing grew heavy; he dared not let his guard down.

Throughout the fight, he hadn’t been able to locate Sang Li’s figure.

Even more unsettling was that he couldn’t sense her presence at all.

If she were using spiritual energy, there would be traces of it—he should have been able to detect its flow. What kind of technique was this?

The tree shadows swayed in the wind.

Suddenly, a fierce gale swept through, accompanied by a torrential downpour. A massive black Shu Si beast rose into the air, riding the storm.

This creature had the head of an eagle and human-like legs, its wings blotting out the sky—a man-eating ancient beast from primordial times.

The scent of blood attracted it. With a piercing cry, the Shu Si flapped its wings and flew toward Han Mang. Simultaneously, the crescent-shaped Xuan Mian Bone-Dissolving Blade returned once more, spinning like an unblinking eye.

Gritting his teeth, Han Mang dodged the flying blades and quickly retreated into the forest.

Seeing him flee, Sang Li, having achieved her goal, decided not to pursue him further. She had already checked her performance—her count of slain monsters was sufficient. As long as she exited before Han Mang, she would secure victory. There was no need to fight him to the bitter end.

Sang Li knew her own limitations.

The slight advantage she held was due to her cleverness and quick thinking. Her Wuwo Heart Technique wasn’t yet fully mastered—it could only temporarily conceal her spiritual energy. And Han Mang wasn’t stupid; once he figured it out, she wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

Sang Li activated her Skyflight Technique , heading straight for the exit.

Victory was now within reach.

Seeing this, the spectators outside erupted in excitement.

[Unless something unexpected happens, this little maid has won.]

[She does have some clever tricks up her sleeve—impressive.]

[AHHHHH! I bet two hundred thousand spirit stones! That’s all my savings! Han Mang is losing!]

[Don’t remind me—I’m about to cry over my four hundred thousand!]

Forget about them—Lying Ningxi was also on the verge of tears.

Not only was he about to cry, but he felt utterly miserable.

Unable to resist, Lying Ningxi glanced toward Situ’s seat.

No one sat around the goddess. Arms crossed, she exuded an air of superiority. Perhaps sensing his gaze, she looked over, sneered disdainfully, and then refocused on the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map .

Lying Ningxi turned to Yue Zhuqing with a pained expression. “Senior Sister…”

“You deserve it.”

Lying Ningxi: “…”

Qi shook his head in frustration: “I warned you earlier—small bets are entertaining, but big bets bring ruin.”

Lying Ningxi: “…”

Regret.

Nothing but regret.

As Sang Li drew closer to the exit and Han Mang’s figure remained absent, his heart ached as if pierced by a knife.

Those tens of thousands of spirit stones… they were money too!

If only he hadn’t been greedy from the start—if he had simply bet everything on the little maid, he could have made a decent profit. Thinking back, the goddess truly lived up to her reputation—she had foresight!

Lying Ningxi instantly admired Situ immensely. After only two blinks of consideration, he secretly sent a contract proposal through the Tongtian Mirror .

Ding.

The Tongtian Mirror chimed almost immediately.

Lying Ningxi eagerly looked at the notification, but his smile froze on his face—

Situ rejected your proposal. Please seek another suitable match, Immortal Lord.

Situ: [Get lost.]

Lying Ningxi: “…”

A rejection was one thing, but why did she have to be so harsh?

He sulkily set the Tongtian Mirror aside.

The outcome was nearly certain, and many had already moved on to the next event.

However, at this moment, Sang Li suddenly stopped in her tracks just as she was nearing the exit.

[Why isn’t the girl coming out?]

[Could it be that she wants to mock her opponent? That would be going too far.]

[She already won in an underhanded way, and now she’s trying to humiliate her opponent like this. In my opinion, winning the competition but losing her integrity—no matter if she enters the Demon Subduers, she won’t last long.]

The crowd assumed that Sang Li was waiting for Han Mang to arrive so she could exit right in front of him. The jeers and boos grew louder.

Only Yue Zhuqing, amidst the commotion, slightly furrowed her brow, as though lost in thought.

________________________________________

“Chirp—!!!”

The cry of the Shu Si sounded like a yellow sparrow, its voice sharp and drawn-out.

This long wail was filled with the agony of its final moments. Out of the corner of her eye, Sang Li glanced over, and in that instant, her body froze.

In the sky above the forest, the Shu Si ‘s chest had split open, revealing a familiar deep fissure. It slowly tore apart its body—not a wound, nor a cut.

The crack grew wider and wider, and the Shu Si gradually disintegrated amidst its cries of pain.

The Heavenly Gate…

It was the Heavenly Gate!

The exact same Heavenly Gate that had appeared on the mirror demon—it had now opened within the Shu Si ‘s body!

What about Han Mang?

Sang Li focused on the movements in the forest, closing her eyes to try and locate his presence.

His energy was faint—he seemed to have passed out.

Having witnessed the horrors of the Heavenly Gate before, Sang Li knew that anyone entering that world would meet certain death.

She looked at the exit, now within arm’s reach, then at the expanding crack in the air. After a brief internal struggle, she gritted her teeth and ran back into the forest.

“Huh? She ran back?”

“What’s going on?”

The people outside couldn’t fully see what was happening inside.

From their perspective, this was akin to a shadow puppet play performed within an ink painting. Even the participants blended seamlessly into the scroll. When the Heavenly Gate formed, it merely appeared as a tiny black dot frozen on the scroll—a detail easily missed unless one paid close attention.

By now, Sang Li had flown back into the forest. She shouted Han Mang’s name repeatedly, and eventually found him trapped in an illusionary snare.

Han Mang was pinned to a thorny tree, unable to move. The wounds from the flying blades had turned black, seemingly poisoned by some potent toxin.

Sang Li hurriedly freed him, catching his collapsing body as she did so.

“Can you walk?”

The poison had already spread, leaving Han Mang somewhat delirious. He had assumed Sang Li had already escaped, so he was surprised to see her: “Young lady, you…”

“There’s no time to talk. We need to leave quickly.” Struggling to support Han Mang, Sang Li’s tone grew urgent. “A Heavenly Gate has formed on the Shu Si . We must get out of here immediately.”

Han Mang raised his head in shock.

Amidst the ink-wash landscape, the abrupt crack disrupted the aesthetic of the entire painting. Within the pitch-black fissure, mist swirled—an ominous sign.

Soon, countless bat-like creatures surged forth from the rift, a dense black cloud blanketing the sky.

Han Mang’s scalp tingled. Full of guilt, he spoke to Sang Li: “It’s my fault—I accidentally touched the Wu Nu Grass . This poison isn’t fatal, but it temporarily seals my spiritual energy. My left arm is already numb. If you carry me, I’ll only drag you down.”

Han Mang’s arms were completely numb, and he lacked the strength to push her away. All he could do was stiffly lean on her shoulder as they moved forward.

“You should leave first,” he urged. “While I can still move, I’ll hold them off for you. Once you’re out, immediately ask Senior Lord to burn the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map .”

The Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map was an illusory realm within a painting.

If the entire painting was burned from the outside, the Heavenly Gate would collapse along with it.

The effects of the poison made Han Mang writhe in pain. “I’ve lost this match, and I accept defeat. But I still feel deeply regretful for my earlier offense.”

Han Mang’s entire family had perished at the hands of evil spirits. Afterward, he devoted himself to cultivation and, upon ascending, joined Gui Xu without hesitation to become a Demon Subduer.

Once committed to the path, he was willing to sacrifice everything.

Han Mang had never feared death—but even now, he harbored resentment over his earlier words. Seeing Sang Li risk her life to save him filled him with overwhelming remorse.

Sang Li wasn’t someone who held grudges.

To her, Han Mang had simply spoken out of turn, without malice. Compared to those who said one thing but meant another, his willingness to admit fault earned her respect.

Sang Li tightened her grip on Han Mang, completely ignoring his earlier remarks, and solemnly promised: “I will bring you out.”

Han Mang was stunned. “Young lady…”

“We haven’t reached a dead end yet. Don’t talk about giving up.”

The bat-like creatures had already discovered their location.

These creatures resembled bats but were smaller. Their bare wings were covered in sharp red spines, their bodies pitch-black and seemingly venomous.

Their cries echoed like a woman weeping, one after another swirling overhead, making one’s skin crawl.

With Han Mang on her back, Sang Li’s Skyflight Technique was significantly slowed.

She unleashed the Xuan Mian Bone-Dissolving Blade , which continuously split and multiplied—one blade became two, two became four, four became eight, until finally forming a massive web of blades above them, shielding them from the bat creatures’ attacks.

But there were still some that slipped through.

One bat creature darted through a gap, bypassing Han Mang and heading straight for her throat.

“Young lady, watch out—!”

Han Mang shouted and pushed her away with all his might.

The monster missed its first strike but relentlessly launched a second attack. Sang Li flipped to dodge.

A second, third, fourth… these creatures kept surging toward her endlessly.

In her frantic dodging, Sang Li could no longer keep an eye on Han Mang. He fell to the side, and with the enclosed area leaving him powerless, he could only watch helplessly as the swarm of creatures attacked her.

The monsters were relentless. Their fur was as hard as armor, and even if Sang Li managed to kill one, another would immediately take its place. They frenziedly pecked and bit at every part of her body.

Her arm throbbed in agony—a chunk of flesh had been torn off.

Sang Li clutched her blood-soaked wound, sweat pouring from her forehead in waves.

The silken parasite she had relied on hadn’t worked.

She glanced at her injured arm—or rather, at the painfully slow rate of healing, so negligible it was almost nonexistent.

Sang Li realized that Wu Yan Zhao Xu’s lingering spiritual energy within the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map was suppressing the effects of the love guinea worm. Even though the suppression was slight, Ji Hengyu would surely notice it.

With the Heavenly Gate forming here, he wouldn’t remain idle.

Sang Li quickly calmed herself, her gaze becoming clear and resolute.

“Han Mang—!” She shouted to him, “You must leave! They’re after me!”

Perhaps it was because traces of the previous Heavenly Gate still lingered on her, which is why the creatures ignored Han Mang. The continuous attacks made it obvious—they were targeting her.

After saying this, Sang Li didn’t hesitate further, clutching her wound as she ran into another path.

Han Mang was filled with anxiety but understood that staying there would mean neither of them could escape. Summoning his strength, he got up and sprinted toward the exit.

“What’s going on? What are they doing?”

“Why did the girl go back again?”

From outside, all they could see was the two of them battling a flock of beasts, after which they each ran down separate paths, leaving everyone confused about the situation.

Suddenly—

Yue Zhuqing stood up.

“Find Lord Ji,” she commanded decisively to her subordinates, grabbing Lying Ningxi by the arm. “Come with me.”

Lying Ningxi was still stunned. “What?”

Yue Zhuqing: “I’ve been meaning to say—there shouldn’t be any ancient beasts like the Shu Si in the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map !”

Wu Yan Zhao Xu had drawn a hundred extinct ancient beasts into the scroll for Ji Hengyu’s training. By the time the scroll came into Ji Hengyu’s possession, it became a training tool for the disciples.

But the disciples weren’t as capable as Ji Hengyu.

Considering their safety, Ji Hengyu had erased those ancient malevolent creatures from the scroll—including the Shu Si .

Lying Ningxi froze. “Then…”

Yue Zhuqing’s eyes grew sharp and cold. “During those days when Gui Xu was emptied, it’s highly possible that some prisoners escaped and took advantage of the opportunity to tamper with the Illusion Forest Map . We’ll discuss this later. For now, saving lives takes priority.”

Qi also turned serious, immediately ordering the evacuation of the disciples from the stands.

Just as the two of them reached the front of the stage, before they could enter, Han Mang emerged from the map, battered and collapsing heavily onto the ground.

Seeing someone approach, he didn’t care who it was and grabbed hold of Yue Zhuqing’s robes. “A small Heavenly Gate has appeared within the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map ! Lady Sang Li stayed behind to save me and can’t escape—quickly, call Lord Ji…”

Before he could finish, Han Mang succumbed to the poison and passed out.

Lying Ningxi was shocked, hurriedly checking his pulse. “He’s still alive, but…”

A small Heavenly Gate… opened within the painting?

Ever since Di Qi stole the Stone of Heaven-Opening, the world had never known peace.

For three thousand years, the six realms had grown accustomed to the occasional appearance of Heavenly Gates, uniting to resist evil forces. But this was Gui Xu, a place fortified with countless protective arrays. If Gui Xu fell, where else in the six realms could they find safe haven?

Amidst the chaos, a white figure descended to the stage.

They stared blankly at the newcomer.

Though he wore no armor and carried no weapon, the crowd immediately found their anchor.

A wave of relief washed over the group, and cheers erupted—

“It’s Lord Ji! Lord Ji is here!”

Ignoring the commotion, Ji Hengyu cast a faint glance at the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map and said to Yue Zhuqing, “Once I’m inside, burn it with the Red Lotus of Illuminating Fire .” He opened his palm, and a flaming red lotus materialized above it.

Yue Zhuqing hesitated. “But, my lord…”

Ji Hengyu’s voice was calm and detached. “Don’t worry. I’ll make it out before the map burns. Do as I say.”

With that, Ji Hengyu turned and leapt into the scroll.

“Heaven and Earth, conceal my presence.”

Ji Hengyu chanted under his breath, using the Xuan Ming Spell to mask his existence. Then, two streams of energy—one black, one red—emerged from his consciousness, taking on identical forms beside him.

Ji Hengyu soared into the air, his cold voice fading away—

“Find her.”